Dublin Core
Title
Donald Asford Lent (1896 -1978)
Athlete - Educator - Public Servant
Athlete - Educator - Public Servant
Description
Donald Lent was born in Tiverton, Nova Scotia, Canada. His parents were Charles and Harriet Lent, Don being the youngest of seven children. The family immigrated to Maynard in 1899. They were farmers in Tiverton and were farmers in Maynard. The Lent 52-acre farm on Puffer Road was one of the parcels taken by eminent domain in 1942 to make way for the Maynard Ordnance Supply Depot. Don served in the Canadian Expedition Force during WWI becoming a naturalized US citizen in 1932.
Don excelled as a three-sport athlete while attending Maynard High School: football, baseball, and basketball, graduating in 1916. He was acclaimed in the 1971 History of Maynard book as Maynard's finest athlete. After the war, Don attended Massachusetts Agricultural College (now UMass) in Amherst. He continued starring in football, baseball, basketball, and track, being named in 1920 as the All New England football player of the year.
1921-1926:
During this time, Don played semi-pro baseball, coached the high school football, baseball, and basketball teams, and married Evelyn Pineo. They had four children: Ann, Donald, Jr., Charles, and David. He started his teaching career in 1926: Math, Biology, and Science. Don continued to coach until 1932. His teams won both the Midland and Middlesex League championships.
1930s and 1940s:
Don was Superintendent of Maynard Schools, 1939-1941; served as a Selectman for five years, 1934-35, 1937-39, 1940-42; administered the E.R.A. and W.P.A. that implemented many projects: construction of Alumni Field, the Field House, bandstand at Crowe Park, Alumni Field grandstands, the hockey rink, and the track. He also oversaw extension of the town's drainage system, sewer system, sidewalks, and water system.
Throughout his life Don was active in a variety of civic and private endeavors including: as a member of the Masons, coaching Little League, United Co-operative Society Board of Directors member, served on the town's Finance, By-Laws and Power & Light Committee. He was Superintendent of Public Works from 1960 to 1966 improving water and sewer system, creating a road management system and updated financial controls. In his retirement years, he still stayed involved. Don consulted with the Centennial Committee in 1971 and was always available for a question at his Fowler Street home. After his death a tribute memorial was published in the 1978 Annual Report.
See 1999.882 for a renowned story as a baseball coach
Photos:
1. ca 1915 Teenage Athlete
2. 1916 MHS Yearbook
3. 1921 Senior Year at Massachusetts Agricultural College
4. 1926 MHS baseball coach
5. ca1966 Superintendent of Public Works
6. 1989 Dedication Stone of Don Lent Field adjacent to the Green Meadow School
7. In his Mass Aggie Uniform
8. His college record as a graduate
9. A memoriam of him printed in the Maynard 1978 Town Report
10. A tribute to him printed in the Assabet Valley Beacon of March 6, 1978
Don excelled as a three-sport athlete while attending Maynard High School: football, baseball, and basketball, graduating in 1916. He was acclaimed in the 1971 History of Maynard book as Maynard's finest athlete. After the war, Don attended Massachusetts Agricultural College (now UMass) in Amherst. He continued starring in football, baseball, basketball, and track, being named in 1920 as the All New England football player of the year.
1921-1926:
During this time, Don played semi-pro baseball, coached the high school football, baseball, and basketball teams, and married Evelyn Pineo. They had four children: Ann, Donald, Jr., Charles, and David. He started his teaching career in 1926: Math, Biology, and Science. Don continued to coach until 1932. His teams won both the Midland and Middlesex League championships.
1930s and 1940s:
Don was Superintendent of Maynard Schools, 1939-1941; served as a Selectman for five years, 1934-35, 1937-39, 1940-42; administered the E.R.A. and W.P.A. that implemented many projects: construction of Alumni Field, the Field House, bandstand at Crowe Park, Alumni Field grandstands, the hockey rink, and the track. He also oversaw extension of the town's drainage system, sewer system, sidewalks, and water system.
Throughout his life Don was active in a variety of civic and private endeavors including: as a member of the Masons, coaching Little League, United Co-operative Society Board of Directors member, served on the town's Finance, By-Laws and Power & Light Committee. He was Superintendent of Public Works from 1960 to 1966 improving water and sewer system, creating a road management system and updated financial controls. In his retirement years, he still stayed involved. Don consulted with the Centennial Committee in 1971 and was always available for a question at his Fowler Street home. After his death a tribute memorial was published in the 1978 Annual Report.
See 1999.882 for a renowned story as a baseball coach
Photos:
1. ca 1915 Teenage Athlete
2. 1916 MHS Yearbook
3. 1921 Senior Year at Massachusetts Agricultural College
4. 1926 MHS baseball coach
5. ca1966 Superintendent of Public Works
6. 1989 Dedication Stone of Don Lent Field adjacent to the Green Meadow School
7. In his Mass Aggie Uniform
8. His college record as a graduate
9. A memoriam of him printed in the Maynard 1978 Town Report
10. A tribute to him printed in the Assabet Valley Beacon of March 6, 1978
Creator
Charles Berriel
Date
1896-10-25 to 1978-02-24
Contributor
This narrative was arranged by Thomas Sheridan who worked part time (1964-66) for Don as an assistant/gopher. Thomas Sheridan later became Superintendent of Public Works in 1975.
Identifier
2023.468
2024.26
2024.27
2024.28
2024.29
2024.30
2024.31
2024.33
2026.53
Still Image Item Type Metadata
Original Format
Photo copies
Physical Dimensions
One 8" x 10"
Two 4 x 6 "
Two 5 x 7 in.
Two 4 x 6 "
Two 5 x 7 in.
Storage
PB7
VF100
SU18-5
SU21-3
Donald Lent Folder