Winter Term Report Card - 2016

To the Great Class of 1969:

The Academy is on Spring Break, and I am delinquent in reporting to you for the first time since I adopted the school calendar for my updates. Like the swallows at Capistrano, we return each March to our seasonal destination, and time ran out this year before I could decide what news was fit to print this term.

Unfortunately, the news is neither good nor necessarily fit to print. We learned this term that the school had settled a case with a student involving Mr. Lambert for $500,000, three years after the Academy confirmed that Mr. Hindle had engaged in inappropriate behavior. This news was followed in short order by another lawsuit against the Academy involving Mr. Hindle dating back to 1979. Needless to say, these allegations are not unique to Deerfield or to all boys schools since there also was a report this term of abuse dating back to the same era involving a female student at St. George's School in Newport, RI.

On a more positive note, the Village Green has a new look this term. The Civil War Soldier who has stood guard since 1867 at the site of the original Meeting House on Old Main Street was carefully shored up and crated off down the road to the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association where he spent the winter. Work on the 29' pedestal which lists the residents of Deerfield who died in the Civil War is expected to begin this summer. The fate of the 1,300 lb. statue is still to be determined. While purists would prefer that he either be restored or remain in a museum, the former seems impractical due to the ravages of time, and the latter alternative would leave the pediment denuded. One alternative under consideration is to create a bronze replica which could be coated so that it appeared, for all intents and purposes, the same as the original. Although the Academy does not own the monument, the school has established a fund to assist with the restoration. If you are interested in learning more, please contact me.

News of the Class

Frank Henry, in his capacity of interim head of Bement, registered his opposition to a proposed 400 mile long natural gas pipeline which will run through the north meadows of Old Deerfield. As of earlier this month the Academy had not taken a position and, according to a spokesman, has no plans to do so yet.

AC Starkey was in St Barth's last month where he and his wife attended a small gathering with Jimmy Buffett. As the only known BowieNetter in the Class, AC is still coping with the untimely demise of David Bowie. As evidence of of his bona fides, AC attended six Bowie concerts during the Reality Concert Tour in 2006.

For the second year in a row, Rusty Young produced the "Masters of Music" series in Vero Beach, FL. This term's performers featured Peter Yarrow from Peter, Paul and Mary fame, the Kingston Trio and The McCartney Years, a tribute band celebrating the work of Paul McCartney.

Hank Minor and his wife have relocated from upstate New York where he had run the family business for many years to more temperate North Carolina where they bought a horse farm. Among his varied interests, Hank is a licensed falconer and has been training hawks for seven years. You can read what else he's been up to on his personal website.

I find myself continually surprised as how time seems to be accelerating. With most of the Class turning 65 this year, I suspect that there is more to news report than I have been able to uncover. Please help by emailing me your news or posting it to the school directly.

Best wishes to all.

DWS