BARNEY HALLOWELL
Trustee Emeritus
“I feel great about what we built and accomplished; it was one of the most interesting and challenging periods of my life. I am deeply appreciative of being given the opportunity to be part of the new Hurricane Island adventure.”
Back in 2010, Peter O. Willauer (POW) asked Barney to come up with a plan for a new innovative educational program on Hurricane Island. Together with POW and wife Carol, and Dr. Stan Cobb, they created the basic concept for what is now the Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership. Barney was principal of North Haven Community School on North Haven Island at the time, and had worked with POW at Groton School, where he taught art and coached hockey, and at the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School, where Barney was a watch officer and director of the seamanship program in the late sixties and early seventies.
Hallowell briefly served as chair of the board of the Hurricane Island Foundation and then, after retiring from the North Haven school in 2012, was hired as Executive Director to transform the plan into reality. He spent the next five years commuting by boat from North Haven to Hurricane and Rockland.
His daughter Maddie was a student on the first Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership course, and his son Sam was the Island Director for seven years - he designed and built the solar electrical and water systems on the island and his son’s partner, Cecily Pingree, was a founding board director of Hurricane.
Barney retired for good in 2018, but still writes a monthly column for the North Haven News called East of the Breakwater, and open the coffee shop daily at Waterman’s.
Barney Graduated from Colby College, BA in American Civilization, in 1964 and attended the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, studying drawing & sculpture. He then pursued a MA in Educational Leadership from UMaine School of Education, Harvard Principals Center, and Maine Principals Academy. Later educational posts included teaching at Phillips Academy, Groton School, Lincoln-Sudbury HS, Vinalhaven School, and at North Haven Community School for 40 years, 21 as principal.
Other notable achievements include sailing a Hurricane Island pulling boat with a crew of Riker’s Island inmates from Hurricane to New York City in October 1969, holding a USCG 100 ton Masters License and commercial diver certifications.
Barney Hallowell is married to Christiane (Christie) Hallowell, Executive Director of Waterman’s Community Center in North Haven.