Anyone who is courageous enough to brave the crowd of students filing into Moulton Union at lunchtime is also lucky enough to be greeted by Pat Pye.
After 32 years of service to the college, in which she checks students into the dining hall, Pye has become a cherished member of the Bowdoin community through a combination of her friendly smile, extensive collection of Polar Bear sweatshirts (she has 25), and her amazing ability to greet the majority of students by name as they walk through the door. Few students however, are aware of Pye's personal history, the nature of her connection to the Bowdoin community, and exactly how she became so astute at learning the names of hundreds of Bowdoin students.
After many years spent raising her four children, Pye joined Bowdoin in 1974 once her youngest daughter entered school. At that time, Moulton Union served as the student union, with a post office, dining hall, pub, and grill. Pye worked for 14 years as a cashier in the evening at the grill. When Moulton Union began to close earlier, she became responsible for checking students in at lunch and dinnertime.
For years Pye checked students' names off a list as they walked through the door. Although this was more a difficult processthan using the current electronic system, the pen-and-paper method helped sharpen her ability to remember students' names so that today she is still able to personally greet students (and can even recognize the children of students that she checked-in 30 years ago!).
Pye has lived in Bath, Maine, for the majority of her life, where she raised four children and is now a grandmother to six. In the summer, in addition to watching her beloved Red Sox, she pursues her love of gardening by working part-time for a landscaping company. Pye is also an avid fan of the Bowdoin Men's Hockey Team and gives hockey players a "good luck" hug on game days as they enter Moulton Union.
Although Pat officially retired seven years ago, she continues to work at Moulton Union for the lunchtime shift because she thinks that "the students here are the greatest kids on earth," and she believes that they help keep her young.
Bowdoin students are equally appreciative of the effect that Pye has on the college community. On a daily basis, Pye demonstrates to the student body the importance of treating others with kindness and courtesy, and, through her warm personality and enthusiasm, she has become valued member of the Bowdoin community.