For Waterville native and proud Colby College Class of 1969 graduate Jon Eustis, campus is not just a place of learning, but a second home. Having grown up in Waterville, his decision to attend Colby was a natural one. Jon’s relationship to the College spans decades: long before his time as a student living in Johnson Hall, his family played a major role in the process of relocating Colby’s campus to Mayflower Hill, where we call home today.
Beyond helping with the campus move from downtown, Colby has been a part of everyday life for the Eustis family for many years. His siblings graduated from Colby in 1952 and 1954, and his daughter, 1996. In addition, Jon and his wife Paula Eustis take daily walks of the campus and attend many Colby sporting and musical events. Now living just down the road from Colby in his family home, Jon and Paula have resided next to Colby for over 40 years. With more than four decades of proximity, the Eustis’s have seen many of the changes that have taken place for the college, but continue to see other traditions stay alive, such as Colby’s school spirit and sport rivalry with Bowdoin. While we have expanded this rivalry to the Colby-Bates-Bowdoin (CBB) conference, this competition remains an integral part of Colby culture and tradition.
Another element of student life that has shifted in location but not in spirit is the late-night visits to the Spa. Late night Spa runs were also a big thing for Colby students in the late 60’s. However, in contrast to the present location in Cotter Union, the Spa at the time was situated in the library. Just like today, Spa runs were a very big part of student culture, and many students would find themselves taking a break before continuing to work on their homework. While these campus traditions evoke considerable nostalgia, Jon still holds one fond memory closely.
Jon first met his wife Paula in a shared first-year biology class. They had grown up in adjacent towns; Paula coming from Fairfield, Maine, yet they had never met before coming to Colby.
“The joke was that I always asked for her notes because she took really good notes and mine were a little sketchy, so I would sit down and say, ‘What do you get from yesterday’s lecture,’” Jon recounts.
Even though their graduation was over 50 years ago, their Colby connections still remain strong to this day. Both Paula and Jon were involved in the planning of many of their class reunions, including their fiftieth reunion, and still keep in touch with fellow classmates all from California to Maine.
After having all of these years to take in Colby, Jon’s biggest advice for all Colby students is to study hard and fully embrace everything that Colby has to offer, especially the challenging academics, the excellent faculty and staff, the beauty of Maine and student support. Places like Acadia National Park and the Allen and Benner Islands are some of the beautiful places in Maine for Colby students to explore. Jon also believes that all students should get involved with DavisConnects, and find ways to take advantage of the variety of opportunities offered by the school.
Thanks in part to the Eustis family, our campus has been able to grow and thrive on Mayflower Hill. Ultimately, Jon Eustis’s enduring connection to Colby College, marked by family history, cherished student memories, and a lifelong bond with his wife, proves that this campus is far more than a place of learning, but a place that holds many memories.
~ Catherine Galvez `29
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