FORT COVINGTON - Students, staff, and family gathered to pay tribute to Suzanne Bilow on Tuesday afternoon in the high school cafeteria as the Salmon River Language department donated a Japanese lilac tree in her honor.

Mrs. Bilow passed away May 7, 2012 after a courageous battle with cancer. Mrs. Bilow was a Spanish teacher at Salmon River Central for 22 years.

“Suzanne always had a positive outlook and always looked for the good in everything. I could always count on her for a laugh and a smile, and this tree represents all of those fine attributes,” teachers union President John Lepage said.

Jodi Mackey and Vivian Smoke also spoke of their fond memories of Mrs. Bilow and how much she will be missed among faculty, staff and students.

Senior Tanner Beaudin ended the short ceremony by singing Run by Snow Patrol; Tanner has recently been accepted at the Crane School of Music in the music education program.

At the end of the ceremony, students in the 21st Century agriculture program planted the tree just outside the cafeteria, where a plaque will be hung in her honor.

The tree was purchased from Bonesteel’s Gardening Center in North Bangor. Mr. Bonesteel is a former agriculture teacher at Salmon River Central.

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