Some legacies are built in a single moment. Others are built over a lifetime - in classrooms and kitchens, around dinner tables and campfires, through friendships, family, and the simple act of showing up for the community you call home.

For Tom and Sally Kemmis, it was all of those things, and when Tom decided to do something to honor Sally’s memory after she passed away in August of 2023, he knew he wanted those efforts to carry their shared legacy forward.

In 2026, he established the Sally and Tom Kemmis Fund, a permanent fund at the North Central Michigan Community Foundation (NCMCF). This fund honors Sally’s passion for teaching and reflects Tom’s own belief in the power of community, and it will provide grants to Ogemaw Heights High School where Sally taught to support teachers through projects that enhance foreign language and cultural study curriculum and programs.

Sally was a beloved Spanish teacher who had a gift for making students excited about learning. She loved languages and cultures, and she poured herself into her students, often spending her own money on classroom supplies, materials and little things that made learning more engaging.

“She loved kids, school, education and community,” Tom says. “I can’t tell you the amount of money she spent out of her own pocket on posters, materials, supplies, candy, and fun things for the students. I think she would love the fact that this fund is supporting teachers that share her passion for education. The trickle effect of it supporting students is icing on the cake.”

For Tom, that approach also reflects his own values. He was born and raised in Oscoda County and graduated from Mio-Ausable High School. He and Sally, a Rose City native, maintained strong ties to their community throughout their lives. Tom built his career in the grocery business, first as manager of the meat department at Hub Market in Prudenville, Mich., then at Glen's Market and Family Fare in Rose City. He has been known fondly as “the meat man” – the friendly and familiar face in the meat department.

“I value education so much, and I can't stress enough about how much it meant to Sally, and this fund honors that. My hope is that people will say her name for a long time and remember her,” he says. “And for me, that people might say, ‘yeah, Tom, he’s that quiet “meat man” we’ve known for years.’”

With encouragement from longtime friends, including Nick Holton, who helped connect Tom with the Community Foundation, Tom made the decision to establish the permanent fund. Friends held auctions and made donations to help get it started along with him - a decision he says has been deeply rewarding.

“I’ve never regretted going in fully last fall to start this fund. I feel it's one of the best charitable things I've ever done,” he says. “We have always been grateful for the school and the fine people in this community. To be able to give a little back is wonderful.”