Farewell, Mr. Henry: ‘A life well lived’

Hundreds pack Penobscot school gym to say goodbye to former teacher and general store owner

Numerous people voiced their appreciation and shared memories of Jim Henry at his memorial service. Photo by John Boit.

Sept. 14, 2026

By John Boit

PENOBSCOT – More than 250 people packed the Penobscot school gym on Sept. 12 to say goodbye to Jim Henry, a teacher, store owner and town leader.

“I feel his impact will be felt in this town for many years to come,” said Lisa Heskett, his eldest daughter. Henry passed away last month at age 80.

Known to a generation of students as simply “Mr. Henry,” the former teacher was remembered with multiple stories from the audience, as a microphone was passed through the packed crowd.

Numerous speakers recalled he could have both a playful and a strict side.

“He taught me not to chew gum in class,” said Tammy Wardwell. “If you did, you had to walk around the rest of the day with it stuck to your nose.”

Jim Henry taught a generation of penobscot students how to dance, including “The Hustle,” popularized by Van McCoy on the 1975 album Disco Baby.

Wardwell added: “I can’t imagine Penobscot without him.”

Ryan Woodward agreed.

“Jim is Penobscot,” Woodward said.

For an hour, people reminisced about Henry as they gathered in the same school where he taught for decades. Along one wall was a floor-to-ceiling mural that said, “Home of the Tigers.”

“This is a perfect example of a life well lived,” said Sara Leighton, a member of the Penobscot select board.

Even after a stroke in 2023 caused him partial paralysis and necessitated specialized care, Henry still managed to make regular trips outside his home with the help of caregivers, who included his wife, Pat. He could often be seen at the grocery store, at public events, and casting his vote on election day.

Jim Henry’s official Penobscot school picture in 1993. Photo courtesy of Lisa Heskett.

But the world also came to him. His home on Southern Bay Road had a steady stream of visitors who would bring food, homemade goods, or drop by for a chat. The annual Penobscot Day parade made a point of lining up the floats in front of his house so that he could have a front row seat to the event.

Numerous people said that Henry, who was born in England and raised in Aroostook County, had found his home in Penobscot. And for the hundreds who gathered to say goodbye – from multi-generation Mainers to people “from away” who moved to town – Henry played a role in being a part of their home too. 

“This community really, really cared for him,” said Dave Drew, who lives just a few doors down from the general store Henry ran for three decades.

Henry was laid to rest at Bay Cemetery in Penobscot in a private ceremony.