MiddlesexFall 2018 Opening the Rachel Carson Music and Campus Center MIDDLESEX FALL 2018 i From the Head of School Becoming through Bonding Last week, I heard a marvelous sentence attrib- delight, or any experience that reveals the uted to the American poet e e cummings— human spirit.” Issues can engage us, and that’s “It takes courage to grow up and become who important, the capacity to engage and want you really are”—and yes, when we articulate to contribute; and urgency can inspire us, the values of honesty, gratitude, kindness, galvanize our ability to organize, to plan, respect, and courage, that is the kind of cour- to strategize. But building relationships— age perhaps most important to the formation the real connections with others, based on of identity: the courage of integrity. At its understanding, respect, and yes, true affec- most basic, integrity requires a unity of mind, tion—is what will sustain us, motivate us, body, spirit, principles, and actions. Achieving and ultimately, over the hopefully long run that unity with consistency—building integ- of our lives, come to satisfy us. In the words rity into our lives as habit—makes us people of Carmen Beaton, our beloved, now-retired worthy of others’ trust. I would offer that any colleague, they are “the gift we give each definition of success in “finding the promise” other”—and they are the proverbial gifts that presupposes that we are worthy of trust. keep on giving, in that they join us together, Integrity is a significant challenge for all past, present, and future. of us these days, as screens offer unlimited Almost 20 years ago, the late Chase opportunities for anonymity, along with a Peterson ’48 wrote about the “intimacy and freedom from ethical responsibility that so intensity” of Middlesex as a crucible for a Middlesex often seems to accompany it. It is clear to young person. That crucible of experiences Fall 2018 me in my sixth decade that the growing up has evolved into its twelfth decade in a world Head of School process extends throughout our lives, as long very much changed from the one that Mr. Kathleen Carroll Giles as the “becoming” continues, and as long as Winsor contemplated in founding this school Director of Development Heather Parker there is an “up” to which we as people aspire. —and yet, not so much changed in address- Director of Advancement That growing up certainly starts for all of us ing the needs of young people at this critical, George Noble Editor in childhood, and just as certainly, it never formative time in their lives. We still work Maria Lindberg really ends. with young people whose growth and devel- Design But e e cummings also offers an insight opment can be stimulated, nurtured, and, at NonprofitDesign.com Photography as important for us today as we celebrate this times, accelerated by the presence of terrific Joel Haskell, Tim Morse, work of growing up and becoming who we peers and caring teachers. Together, we grow Robert D. Perachio, Tony Rinaldo really are. Cummings writes, “We do not in pursuit of those best selves that we like Letters to the Editor Letters to the believe in ourselves until someone reveals to imagine—and perhaps more importantly, editor are welcome and may be edited for clarity and space. Please send your that deep inside us something is valuable, the contributions those best selves can make. letters to Editor, Middlesex Bulletin, worth listening to, worthy of our trust, sacred 1400 Lowell Road, Concord, MA 01742, or e-mail [email protected]. to our touch. Once we believe in ourselves Alumni News We welcome news from we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous alumni, parents, and friends of Middle- sex School. Please send your news and labeled photographs to Alumni News, Middlesex School, 1400 Lowell Road, Concord, MA 01742, or e-mail alumni@ mxschool.edu. Address Corrections Please notify us of your change of address. Write to Middlesex School, 1400 Lowell Road, Concord, MA 01742 or e-mail alumni@ mxschool.edu. Parents of Alumni If this magazine is addressed to a son or daughter who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please advise us of his or her new address. Thank you! Contents Mission Statement Features 16 Alumni Weekend Middlesex School is an independent, non-denominational, residential, From the opening clambake to the closing class college-preparatory school that, for parties, hundreds of alumni reconnected with old over 100 years, has been committed friends and enjoyed a full schedule of ceremonies to excellence in the intellectual, and celebrations, gatherings and games. ethical, creative, and physical devel- opment of young people. We honor 20 Fond Farewells the ideal, articulated by our founding Whether their Middlesex days were spent in a Head Master, of “finding the promise” classroom or studio, an office or workshop, this in every student, and we work year’s retiring faculty and staff members gave together in an atmosphere of mutual their very best to students and colleagues trust and shared responsibility to alike, as four Bulletin tributes attest. help students bring their talents to fruition as knowledgeable, capable, 25 Graduation responsible, and moral citizens With their final exams finished and plaque- of the world. As a community, we respect the individual interests, carving complete, 104 members of the class strengths, and needs of each stu- of 2018 were ready for their Middlesex diplomas dent. We also value the rich diversity —and the journey ahead. of belief and experience each of us brings to the School. We expect that each student will bring his or her best efforts to the Departments shared endeavor of learning and that the School, through its faculty, 2 Life 360 will engage and encourage each Leadership Transitions; Sheldon Chair student’s growth, happiness, Reappointed; Welcoming New Colleagues; and well-being. We aspire for all Community Service Commences; The Middlesex students to develop Addams Family; Online Concerns; Chemical personal integrity, intellectual Contamination; Praising Paine Barn vitality and discipline, and respect for themselves and for others. We expect each student to engage 10 Middlesex People energetically and cooperatively in Graduation Speaker Duane Jones ’70; the life of the School, and we seek A Fulbright First; Distinguished Alumnus to inspire in all students the desire Victor Atkins ’63; New Trustee Ted Mehm ’83 to seek understanding of them- selves and the larger world, 14 Team Highlights both now and in their futures. Girls’ Lacrosse Retains ISL Title; Track Among Top Teams at New England Championships On the Cover 28 Alumni Notes and News On a mid-week game day Class Notes; In Memoriam in October, the “Go Middlesex” banner brightly adorned Eliot 48 Back Story Hall. Photo by Joel Haskell. Setting the Stage MIDDLESEX FALL 2018 1 360° Life on the Circle that Head of School Kathy Giles will become the next Rector of St. Paul’s School in Con- cord, New Hampshire, making this her last year at Middlesex. In turn, a search has begun for her successor, the sixth head of school in Middlesex’s 117-year history. As Board President Stephen Lari ’90 conveyed in his July letter to the School’s constituencies, Kathy will be leaving a school that “due to her stewardship, is flourishing in every way.” From outstanding students to record statistics in both admissions recruit- ment and in fundraising—and with a dedi- cated faculty and staff, beautifully enhanced campus, and healthy endowment—Middlesex has never been stronger, positioning the School well for a successful search process. A Communal Effort During August, the executive search consult- ing firm of Spencer Stuart was selected to Next summer, at the close of assist in finding excellent candidates, and her remarkable 16-year tenure Leadership seven trustees joined the Head of School at Middlesex, Head of School Kathy Giles will become the Transitions Search Committee: Mary Lou Boutwell, next Rector of St. Paul’s School. John Brooke ’81, Rodney Clark, Joy Connolly Middlesex’s 2018–2019 academic year began ’87, Abby Doft ’87, Ben Nye ’83, and Andy with customary energy and optimism— Pitts ’84. Three faculty members were also as well as anticipation for new and unique named to this committee—Chief Financial curricular initiatives. A new Citizens course Officer Terry Cunningham, English Depart- is being launched with the help of junior ment Chair Jecca Hutcheson, and Mx Global volunteers, who are discussing what it Director Rob Munro—and an Advisory means to be an ethical citizen in a democ- Committee of past trustees and former racy. Volunteers from the junior class are faculty was created to capitalize on their also embarking on the first phase of the expertise in independent school leadership. Middlesex Scholars program, which will In September, the consultants and search guide them through a process of self-assess- committee began to meet regularly to iden- ment and résumé building, culminating in tify the most important qualities to look for a plan to find potential summer opportu- in the next head of school. After synthesizing nities in their areas of interest. And the input gathered through a community-wide construction of new and renovated arts survey and a campus visit by Spencer Stuart facilities has continued apace, approaching —which included interviews with faculty and completion in the New Year. staff—a formal, detailed position specification document was drawn up in early October and Embracing Change subsequently posted on the School’s website Along with these developments, another at https://www.mxschool.edu/head-search. process has been making steady progress. As Since then, the process has moved on to many alumni, parents, and friends are aware reviewing potential candidates, and the com- by now, last July brought the announcement mittee has been pleased and impressed with 2 MIDDLESEX FALL 2018 the quality of leaders inter- ested in the position.