I.J. Pinkham and Toby LeConte – two icons of the Boothbay region school system – announced last week that they will be leaving their respective positions.

Having worked with them over the past 33 years as editor and sports reporter, I have gained much respect for what they have both accomplished in their many years of working with our region’s children.

Both began working in the school system in the late 1970s; I.J. as a math teacher and varsity boys basketball coach (and also as a longtime athletic director) and Toby as a special ed teacher and Special Olympics coach.

Their accomplishments are too many to list here but we plan to honor each of them with a feature story sometime soon — if they will oblige. And we’re sure that the schools will hold some sort of ceremony to thank both of them for their years of service.

Both I.J. and Toby taught their students and athletes about teamwork, discipline, respect, giving their best effort and other character-building skills that would help them get through life after their schooling was done.

Like the title says, it will be strange not seeing I.J. on the sidelines at Porter Memorial Gymnasium, at other schools in the Mountain Valley Conference and the Augusta Civic Center, and Toby not leading her Special Olympians at the various athletic endeavors the program participates in, including showing up for the annual Boothbay Charities Classic sports auction and golf tournament.

Good luck to you, I.J. and Toby. We are glad you have each worked with our children for nearly a half a century.