Joseph Goudreau, 20-Year PO Employee, Retires

By CARLY CANSECO, V MURDAYA, and ALEXA MOREL    

Picking up packages, mail, or assessments from the mailroom is a ubiquitous experience for all Exonians. It is usually a setting for anticipating an Amazon package, some food from home, or a paper grade. Behind the emails a student or faculty receives whenever they have a package arrive, the delivery of the new copies of The Exonian in Agora, and the search for missing packages is the team of hardworking mailroom employees, managed by Joseph Goudreault, who is retiring this year after working at the Academy for twenty-one years. 

Goudreault has spent his years at Exeter creating a legacy of dedication and community. He has worked extensively across campus and described his time at the Academy as diverse. “I worked in the catering service department. Then, I became interested in the different avenues, the library, and various parts of the Academy.”  

He attributes these experiences to his feelings of belonging in the Exeter community. “When I worked in the catering service department, I met and went to different buildings for the faculty and the principals. I have worked with Tom Hassan, a former principal, and a few other principals over the years. It’s been rewarding because I feel I’m part of the community as much as the students are.”

Goudreault has also tried to help his colleagues connect with the community. Mailroom staff member Jane Augevich described his efforts to push staff to integrate themselves with the school as much as possible. “[He has a strong] belief in community and the importance of interacting with others. He’s constantly promoting us to go out there and connect with other departments.” 

Goudreault also recalled several instances where he connected with students and further described his appreciation for the community. “The students have been very nice, and I love interacting with them. Plus, we work with a group of students in the mailroom, the ESSO group that helps us. Interacting with the students, even as a mailroom employee, is nice—it feels like a home. They’re working with us to help us out because we’re so overloaded with packages, and they help a lot.” 

The support for the community goes both ways - students sincerely appreciate what Mr. Goudreault adds to the Exeter community. Lower Michelle Choo remarked, “As hard as boarding school life gets, I think his presence and his help make everyone’s day better, and I think it makes everyone’s life much more convenient and happier because of his contributions.” Goodreault is essential to the mailroom—a key resource for students to feel more connected with their family and friends.

Students note his kind disposition and complement Goudreault’s compassion. “Mr. Goudreault is always so nice and overall a very kind man,” described Senior Jackson Parsons. “He’s very perceptive, and he takes care of you.”

His colleagues especially revere his commitment to the school. “I would say he’s very, very, very dedicated to Phillips Exeter Academy and his responsibilities,” Augevich said. “He even comes in on Saturdays,” she added.

His devotion to his role is evident to students as well. “I had a friend who ordered a bunch of clothes, and it was like six packages,” said Parsons. “He helped us carry it back to her dorm, which was nice and something above and beyond.”

“I remember one time I couldn’t open my mailbox,” Prep Ian Koo recalled. “I asked many other people, but they told me I should just search for a tutorial and do it myself. Then Mr. Goudreault actually got out and showed me how to open it, which stood out because he did it without me even asking and when nobody else would help me.”

“My dad once sent a package to my old mailbox and then also used my preferred name instead of my legal name, which is usually what they should say,” lower Daniel Chen described. “The other mailroom workers just told me they couldn’t find it. They eventually asked Mr. Goudreault, and he found my package.”

Goudreault’s kindness even extends beyond in-person interactions. “One time when I lost my package, and I was very worried, but Mr. Goudreault sent me a long email telling me what I should do,” Choo said. Even after spending long hours every week in the mailroom, he takes the time to answer all his emails and does so with admirable thoughtfulness.

Other mailroom staff describe several memories of Mr. Goudreault bringing smiles to their faces. Augevich said, “When it was Halloween, Mr. Goudreault pranked me with a plastic spider… He was joking around, took it, and tried to scare me. Of course, I was a little bit startled. His sense of humor is great.” 

Goudreault’s thorough care shows his commitment to going above and beyond for his employees. “I had my car out in the Jeremiah Smith parking lot, and we had a bad rainstorm,” mailroom employee Dwight Holbrook said. “The parking lot flooded, and he waded out to my car and saved it.”

Over the years at Exeter, Goudreault has found his most memorable moments are various peculiar items that have been shipped to the Academy’s mailroom. He explained, “There was one student about four years ago who had shot a wolf, and he had it shipped here. It was a full-size replica of the wolf, which was stuffed.” 

“Another time, a couple of paintings for a student’s dorm came in, worth over $7,000,” he added. “We had to go through security to find out why this student was getting these paintings for $7,000.”

After his tenure at Exeter, Goudreault has plans to relax and enjoy doing what he loves. “I love fishing. I’m a fisherman. And now I’m gonna be retiring. I have ten grandchildren and want to spend time with them.”

Goudreault’s presence will not be forgotten at the Academy. Augevich said, “He is the best boss I’ve ever had. I genuinely mean that. I don’t just say that—I’ve had a lot of bosses, and I truly like working for him.”

Despite not being a student, Goudreault is a vital community member who embodies the Exonian spirit of Non-Sibi, and his presence at Exeter will be dearly missed.