John C. Jakobek
JohnâŻC.âŻJakobek served as Superintendent of Schools for the Pentucket Regional School District, which includes Groveland, Merrimac, and West Newbury. He held the position for approximately 30 years, including oversight during the districtâs formative decades following its establishment in 1954. Records from the Massachusetts Education Directories in the early 1960s identify him as the districtâs superintendent, based at the West Newbury office . His leadership guided the early development of Pentucketâs regional governance and educational framework.
Stephen 'Steve' Puleo
Pentucket Class of 1990
Steven displayed exceptional talent at Pentucket in football, hockey, and baseball. Widely considered to be the most dominant male athlete in the schoolsâ history, Steve earned 11 varsity letters between 1987 -1990.
In football, Steve was a 2-time Daily News and CAL Player of the Year. First running back at Pentucket to gain 1,000 yds in a single season. Rushed for 3,584 yds in 3 seasons, averaging 6.3 yards per carry while scoring 36 touchdowns. Linebacker on defense amassing over 300 tackles.
Punishing forward in Hockey. 1989 Conference All Star and member of All Area Hockey team.
In Baseball Steve was a 4-year starter at catcher finishing with a career .429 batting average and batted .528 his Jr season. Cape Ann League Player of the Year 1989 and 1990. Boston Globe Division 3 Player of the year 1989 & 1990. Gatorade Circle of Champions Massachusetts Baseball Player of the Year 1990.
Continued baseball career at University of Maine and played for legendary coach John Winkin. Was a 2 year captain at Maine and played in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League in 1993 and 1994. Starting All Star catcher in Cape League 1994.
Additionally, a retrospective post celebrating Pentucketâs athletic past acknowledges âthe great Steve Puleoâ among their most memorable sports heroes.
Steve Kidd
Pentucket Class of 1993
Steve Kidd, PHS Class of 1993, is a nationally recognized actor, director, and educator based in Providence, Rhode Island. A Resident Artist at The Gamm Theatre, he has performed in and directed over 50 professional productions. He founded The Gammâs education department and its PLAY Project, which brings literacy-based theatre to schools, community centers, and prisons across southern New England. His solo show, Sigh/Omelas, has raised over $500,000 for Camp AmeriKids, where he served as Program Director for 20 years. He has performed the piece for thousands of Pentucket students. Steve chairs the Performing Arts Department at Moses Brown School, teaches at Brown University, and lives in Rumford with his wife and two sons.
Dudley Farquhar
Pentucket Class of 1967Â
For almost 50 years, Vietnam War veteran Dudley Farquhar's life mission has been to honor the memories of the US militaryâs prisoners of war and soldiers missing in action, as well as dedicating his life to those currently serving. Dudley served in the U.S. Army, 1st Infantry, attaining the rank of staff sergeant. He was a military policeman at San Francisco Prison at Presidio, served a year in Germany and then volunteered for Vietnam. He received the Bronze Star and later served in the Army Reserve for seven years. He survived exposure to Agent Orange requiring a liver transplant in 2012. He established âOperation Platoon Momâ to help support deployed personnel with personalized care packages from local veteran organizations around the world to our troops.
Dudley has worked tirelessly as a national advocate for veterans, POWâs/MIAâs and their families, homeless veterans, veterans in VA hospitals, soldiers in Afghanistan, and children in shelters. There is no doubt that Dudley has made a difference in the lives of many people.
Tom Flaherty
A significant figure in Massachusetts high school football, Tom Flaherty coached Pentucket from 1963 to 1981 before moving to Milton Academy. Heâs known for being honored in 2002 by the Eastern Massachusetts Chapter of the National Football Foundation for his decades of impact on the game. A 2021 StoryCorps interview featured Flaherty praising the âbeauty of coaching kids,â reflecting on his early years and longâlasting influence. Tom also was the president of both public and private school coaches associations and the founder of private school football playoffs.
Geralyn White-Dreyfous
Pentucket Class of 1980
Geralyn White Dreyfous, an Academy Awardâwinning documentary producer, is a proud alumna of Pentucket Regional High School in West Newbury, MA. She went on to attend Harvard University before achieving significant acclaim in film. Kolkataâs red light district (âBorn Into Brothelsâ) to the beauty pageant stage (âBrave Miss Worldâ), the woods of Northern Italy (âThe Truffle Huntersâ) and beyond. Beginning her career at programs like âNOVA,â âFrontlineâ and â20/20,â Today, Dreyfous boasts over 180 credits as a film producer and several award wins and nominations for films like âThe Day My God Died,â âThe Invisible Warâ and âNavalny.â In 2002, she founded the Utah Film Center in Salt Lake City, where she currently serves as board chair.âand reflected on her Pentucket roots in a 2023 WHAV feature titled âPodcast: Groveland Native Says Her OscarâWinning âNavalnyâ Aims to Bring Justiceâ.
Roger Roy
Roger has been a longstanding and cherished presence at Pentucket Regional, famed for his versatility, warmth, and intellectual curiosity. Known as âthe bilingual gem of Pentucket,â Roger substitutes in classrooms almost daily, seamlessly filling diverse subject needsâfrom French to hall monitoringâmaking his contributions invaluable. A fluent French speaker raised in a bilingual household, he delighted students with witty puns, avid crossword puzzling (sometimes in French!), and humble acts like collecting recycling or spare change in school hallways. Roger also coached the 1994 baseball team to the D III state championship and was added to the Massachusetts Baseball Coaches Association Victory Club, which recognizes coaches with decades of service, indicating a substantial and impactful coaching career. His dedication, humor, and quiet wisdom gave him nearâlegendary status among staff and studentsâa humble educator whose consistent presence and gentle mentorship left a lasting impression on the Pentucket community.
Stephen H. Meline
Stephen H. âSteveâ Meline was a beloved science teacher and coach who dedicated more than three decades to the Pentucket Regional School District. A fixture in the classroom and on the athletic fields, Steve taught science at the junior high, middle, and high school levels for 35 years before retiring in 2004. He coached cross-country for 30 years, building a strong and respected program that saw numerous championship seasons. Known for his sharp wit, kind demeanor, and deep connection with students, Steve inspired learning both inside and outside the classroom through his work with the Outdoor Club, science enrichment, and countless student events. After retirement, he and his wife traveled the world, visiting places such as the Galapagos Islands, Antarctica, Africa, and Tibet. His legacy of mentorship, curiosity, and community involvement continues to resonate with former students and colleagues alike.
Maria (Nionakis)âŻStephanos
Pentucket Class of 1984
Maria Stephanos, a Groveland native and graduate of Pentucket Regional High School (Class of 1984), has become one of Bostonâs most trusted news anchors. With over 30 years of experience in New England, Maria is co-anchor of WCVBâs NewsCenter 5 newscasts at 4:30PM, 6:00PM, 7:00PM, and 11:00PM as well as The 10 Oâclock News on MeTV Boston. Previously, she was an anchor at WFXT (FOX25). She has covered many major eventsâfrom the 9/11 attacks and the Boston Marathon bombings to World Series and Super Bowlsâearning a sterling reputation for journalistic excellence.
Steve Hayden
Steve Hayden coached Pentucket football from 1982 into the most recent seasons, serving a legendary 43-year tenure. He compiled an impressive 251â202â2 record, ranking 16th in Massachusetts high school history. Steve was also an outstanding athlete in his years at PHS 71-73 where he was the football and wrestling Captain. Steve is also a member of the Massachusetts High School Football Coach' Hall of Fame, Pentucket student news chronicled his retirement in 2015 after 36 years as a gym teacher and celebrated his playful spiritânicknamed âPickle Ball Player of the Yearâ for mixing fun with competition.
Thank you to the
Institution for Savings
PAA (Pentucket Athletic Association)
Pentucket Football
who generously donated as
of the Pentucket HOF
And thank you SDS Signs for all of your help and support!