John A. Pidgeon ’49 died on May 12, 2008, in Indiana, Pennsylvania.

Born in Lawrence, Mass., he was raised by his single mother, who worked as a cleaning woman. He won a scholarship to Phillips Academy, served in the U.S. Navy in the North Atlantic during World War II, and then graduated from Bowdoin in 1949, with a degree in German.After a short stint with U.S. Steel, he became a teacher at Deerfield Academy in Mass., teaching German and Latin and coaching swimming and football before becoming assistant headmaster. He left Deerfield in 1957 to lead the Kiski School in Salsburg, Penn., and he inspired generations of young men there over his 45 years as headmaster. He received the Distinguished Bowdoin Educator Award in 1985. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Hafer and by two sons, John A. Pidgeon of Great Falls,Va., and Kelly C. Pidgeon of Indiana; two daughters, Regan Hauser of Indiana and Beth Hafer of Pittsburgh; and four grandchildren. His first wife, Judy, preceded him in death.