82-year-old Massachusetts woman receives honorary diploma at graduation ceremony

Superintendent Margo Ferrick has announced that Georgetown High School presented an honorary diploma to an 82-year-old member of the Class of 1959 at graduation ceremonies on Saturday morning.

In ceremonies held outside of the Georgetown Perley Elementary School, 82-year-old Jean Spurr as awarded an honorary diploma in recognition of her life experience and contributions to community. 

Spurr, 82, was a member of the Georgetown High School Class of 1959, met the love of her life at age 15, married at 18, and moved to Groveland where she raised two boys, waitressed for 30 years, and ended up owning the Groveland Square Restaurant. Spurr also drove a school bus for nearly 20 years, worked for the Groveland Highway Department, and currently volunteers at the Clerk’s Office in Groveland.

Spurr had an excellent attendance rate in school, but never completed all of her graduation requirements in 1959, falling just a few credits short.

Decades later, Spurr’s companion, Steven Sardella, asked the Georgetown School Committee to grant Spurr an honorary diploma based on her life experience since high school. The School Committee unanimously agreed.

Spurr was joined by family as School Committee Chairman Michael Hinchliffe presented her with her honorary diploma on Saturday morning. Spurr strode across the stage to accept her honorary diploma, share hugs with School Committee members and administrators, and then briefly thanked all those in attendance for the honor. 

“Jean your journey is one of unwavering spirit and love for your community. You have served with grace, faced life’s challenges head on, and now you come before us a graduate,” Chairman Hinchliffe said in remarks during the ceremony. “This diploma is a symbol of your life long journey of learning and service.”

“I would like to thank the Superintendent, the Georgetown School Committee, Steve Sardella, and by the Grace of God making this all possible for me,” Spurr said after receiving the diploma. “Thank you so much.”