A senior chemist at General Electric and an active member of the community, John W. Eustance served on the South Glens Falls Board of Education for 19 years, including a stint as board president, from 1967 to 1985, helping to guide the district through a period of unprecedented growth.

Born in Ithaca, N.Y., Mr. Eustance attended the United States Naval Academy during World War II and graduated from Harvard University in 1948. In 1991, he retired from General Electric, starting at GE in Schenectady and then moving to the capacitor department in Hudson Falls/Fort Edward.

At GE, he secured four patents on textured surface polypropylene film.
His leadership on the school board as the district’s enrollment grew was critical, according to former school superintendent William B. Wetherbee.

“I had the good fortune to serve as South Glens Falls Central School District Superintendent during John Eustance’s service as a Board of Education member,” Mr. Wetherbee said. “John was also elected President of the Board during a portion of his tenure as a board member.

“John Eustance could serve as the prototype for board of education membership. He was truly committed to public education, but recognized the imperatives of economy, balance, objectivity, and reality in school management. He possessed special qualities of analysis and was a creative problem solver. South Glens Falls was a most fortunate beneficiary of the selfless service and leadership of John Eustance.”

In addition to his service on the school board, John and his wife, Nancy, were active community members. He was a member of the Friends of Crandall Library and the Hyde Collection Fellows and was on the board of the Southern Adirondack Audubon Society, serving as editor of the newsletter. In addition, he was a charter member of the Academy for Lifelong Learning in Saratoga Springs.

An accomplished carpenter, he worked on several local Habitat for Humanity homes. An avid reader with an ever-curious mind, he had many interests, including woodworking, bird watching, fishing, sailing, astronomy, traveling, music and technology.

John was honored by several of the organizations he served, but as his daughter, Amy, said, “He considered service to be its own reward!”
John and Nancy’s four children all graduated from South High: Lynn, Kerry, Roger and Amy.

Mr. Eustance passed away on March 5, 2002, at the age of 75.

He was nominated by Ginny Morin, a retired South Glens Falls teacher and a former neighbor of the Eustances on Merritt Road.