What You Give Away, You Keep Forever — book cover

What You Give Away,
You Keep Forever

Lessons in Leadership from a Lifelong Teacher

by Thomas H. Farrell

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Pre-order Ships end of July 2026 from Townshend, Vermont. Every copy directly supports the Foundation.

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About the Book

What does it actually mean to lead? Not in theory — in practice, in the hallways of a school, in a disciplinary meeting, in the last minutes of a losing game. Dr. Tom Farrell spent fifty years answering that question as a teacher, coach, and superintendent across Maine, Colorado, and Taiwan.

This is his story, told in his own words, with a foreword by his sons and tributes from the students, colleagues, and communities whose lives he changed.

Every copy sold supports the Future Leaders of Maine Foundation scholarship in his honor.

Praise for the book

"There are many things one can say about Tom but the most true and accurate to me is the fact that he was a gentle, loving, optimistic giver who always thought of others first. People like Tom are very few and far between. He was a joy."

Gregg Popovich — NBA Hall of Fame Coach, San Antonio Spurs

"My thought is that you are probably one of the most outstanding teachers I ever met and I am not alone in this thought."

Margaret Chase Smith — Former U.S. Senator, Maine, in a letter to Dr. Tom Farrell

"Tom helped me see what was possible. That my dream of becoming an Olympic snowboarder was possible. At a time when I did not have the highest regard for myself, and at a time when I really didn't have adult, in-person mentorship or leadership, he showed me that — in the form of showing me kindness, showing me opportunity, and showing me that he valued me. That is the greatest gift that anyone could receive in this lifetime."

Gretchen Bleiler — Former student, Olympic silver medalist