By Chad Feehan / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
They called him Iron Mike.
After teaching at Fatima School, Holy Cross School, Jacques Fontaine High School and St. Kevin’s High School, Mike Sutton would serve the rest of his career making sure students at O’Donel High School got the best education they possibly could, whether in his role as physical education teacher or as principal of the school.
Before retiring in 2012, the Trepassey native touched the lives of countless students and members of faculty, many of whom remember him by his tireless efforts and unshakeable empathy.
English teacher Susan Pearcy reflects on just why Sutton, who died peacefully at the age of 65 on December 19th, will forever be known as Iron Mike.
“He was unbreakable in his pride for O’Donel, unwavering in his support for his staff and students, unbending in his determination to make O’Donel a flagship school within the district,” said Pearcey. His iron will was something to see and to experience as a colleague and student – what he said, he meant.”
She remembers Sutton as always speaking positively and leaving you after every conversation with him with a fuller heart than before.
“The day he announced his retirement in a staff meeting, there were tears and a feeling of uncertainty – something we hadn’t experienced before Mike’s leadership,” she said.
O’Donel math teacher Brian Fitzgerald knew Sutton since the 1970s. He said his friend was committed to physical education in the school in all its permutations, going above and beyond for the school while somehow being totally committed to his family at home.
“The rest of us work on a 24-hour slot but Mike would be able to squeeze more hours into his day,” Fitzgerald said
As part of the school's physical education program, Sutton would arrange for overnight camping trips to wooded areas in the region, such as the plot of land that would go on to house Costco. Students would hike up to the area and build their shelters that would be their refuge from the elements for the night, all while carrying on and having a cook-up over the fire.
“For some kids it was the highlight of high school,” Fitzgerald said. “They talked about it throughout the school year… Kids today won’t experience that again.”
After becoming principal of O’Donel, Sutton showed the same solid foundation of character that he displayed at the other schools.
“He made no attempts to gain favor with the school board or anything like that,” said Fitzgerald. “His decisions were to benefit the students, and the families, and the teachers of O’Donel.”
Music teacher Sean Carroll remembers Sutton as burning the candle on both ends, but always managing to treat everyone with respect, even those who did not always give it back.
“He was firm in dealing with issues, but figured out that relationships, even the boys having a smoke, is what makes a school safe and special,” Carroll said.
Sutton’s compassion for his students is perhaps no clearer than a tale from sometime in the mid-nineties when a young fellow was being bullied by a group of hockey players for reading the early 19th century novel Ivanhoe by Walter Scott.
“Look, sir! He’s reading a romance novel, luh!” one of the students blurted as the student read the book before gym glass began.
Sutton, visibly displeased, grabbed the book from Walsh, examined it, then gave it back while the class looked on in silence.
“Never mock a man for reading!” Sutton barked, as he met every pair of eyes in the room with his own.
Pearcey said the hockey players befriended the student after that. Something in their heads must have clicked after witnessing such a performance.
Pearcey said she recently spoke with that student, who described Sutton as “a great teacher and tough as old nails. He turned out to be the kindest of men.”
