16 minute read
In Memoriam
OBSERVATIONS ON A STELLAR CAREER
Remembering Tom Dixon
By Hannah Van Sickle
Tom Dixon was a consummate educator. He arrived under the Mountain in 1961 to teach math and science and quickly gained momentum—not unlike a roller skate traversing an inclined plane, one of the signature tests in his physics classroom. Over the ensuing six decades, he emerged—in the words of Head of School Pieter Mulder—“a veritable lion among those who have shaped Berkshire’s history and future.”
During his “official” tenure, Dixon wore many hats: he served as a teacher, department chair, dean of students, coach, founder of Berkshire’s radio station, senior master, and the School’s first technology director; he educated over 3,000 high school students during a storied career in academia spanning 45 years. All the while, he modeled passion, patience, and perseverance.
The Dixons’ generosity ran deep. In 1983, they established the Cum Laude Society Fund, in memory of their former student and close friend, P.L. Anderson ’65, while The Thomas H. and Cynthia W. Dixon Fund for Performing and Fine Arts supports visiting musicians, actors, lecturers, and artists. Dixon served two terms on the board of trustees and, in 2008, was honored as the Kellogg Volunteer of the Year for his longtime service and dedication to the School.
His legendary influence on generations of students was cemented in 2012 with the Bellas/Dixon Math and Science Center, a fitting tribute to Dixon’s unconditional commitment to continuing education in math and science. In keeping with the tradition of celebrating Berkshire’s faculty greats, in September 2021, the School rededicated the building as Morgan-Bellas-Dixon in honor of Mandy Morgan’s remarkable 47 years of service—news her ever-gracious colleague was delighted to hear.
The Class of 1968, who named Dixon an honorary classmate on the occasion of their 50th reunion in 2018, thanked him for “your early attempts to make us smarter, and also for your ongoing steadfastness, dedication, and friendship.”
Dixon passed away on July 30, 2021. He is survived by two stepbrothers, Arthur and Delafield Kribben, and 15 grand nephews and nieces. In a final thoughtful gesture, he requested that all memorial gifts in his name be directed to Berkshire School.
In 1978, following his marriage to former faculty member Cynthia White, Dixon took a brief hiatus from Berkshire. Upon their return in 1980, he became director of development, and she led the School’s music department. Together, they operated Dixon Antiques from their home in Sheffield, cultivating what was a shared passion during their 33 years of marriage.
A lifelong learner himself, Dixon ultimately took to astronomy. He taught an elective for 14 years and—inspired by the possibilities presented by computer automation and new electronic cameras—Tom and Cynthia made their gift of the Dixon Observatory during the Berkshire 2000 campaign. The iconic structure overlooking Stewart Pitch remains a highlight of campus life to this day, and Dixon House graces East Campus across the road.
—Ben Dixon ’17, Tom’s nephew
“Tom was so calm and measured about everything; he was just one of the nicest guys. There were certain teachers [we] trusted just absolutely implicitly, and he was one of those.”
—Keith Reed ’68
—Davis Anderson ’68
— K.C. Clow ’69
“Tom Dixon was a Cynthia and Tom Dixon passionate educator. stargazing
He loved sharing his knowledge of physics and his own passion for learning with his students. He tried other things in his career, even stepping in as dean of students for a year, but he always ended up back in the classroom. His loud, booming voice could be heard all over the science wing of Berkshire Hall, especially when his students were having trouble grasping a difficult topic. After he retired, he stayed in touch with other science teachers, sharing interesting articles he had found in science journals—he was a teacher to the end. Tom never believed one had to stop learning when formal schooling was over. He was the epitome of a lifelong learner and a lifelong teacher.”
—Mandy Morgan, former faculty
“I knew when I was six I wanted to be a rocket scientist, and I chose Berkshire because of its outstanding math and science program. Tom encouraged, and signed off on, my independent project to study fusion engines, which is what propelled me through all my graduate work. I remember his gentle, wonderful nature as a teacher; Tom always had the right answer, and I never saw him get angry. He’s just one of my heroes, one of the great guys.”
—Dr. Jack Bacon ’72 “I was immensely fortunate to know Mr. Dixon. He cared deeply for my academic growth, and my decision to continue learning astronomy and pursue a Ph.D. in the field was significantly influenced by my time at Berkshire, my projects with the Dixon Observatory, and Mr. Dixon’s continued guidance and mentorship.”
—Sam Cabot ’13
ETCHED IN STONE
A tribute to Ed Hunt ’61 and his legacy beneath Black Rock
By Hannah Van Sickle
Ed Hunt left an indelible mark on the classmates, students, colleagues, and friends he encountered over nearly five decades spent under the Mountain. He arrived at Berkshire in 1958 from Cohasset, Mass., and—in just three years—became an eight-letter varsity athlete in hockey, baseball, and football (serving as co-captain of the 1961 team). Hunt was an active singer and community-minded student who, upon graduation, received the Fentress Citizenship Award—evidence of the caring nature and quiet confidence for which so many remember him.
Upon his graduation from Tufts University in 1965, Hunt returned to Sheffield, where he joined the faculty and remained until his retirement in 2006. Over the ensuing decades, Hunt was central to School life. Despite wearing many hats over the course of his tenure, Hunt’s favorite place was the classroom; there, he actively applied his thirst for knowledge (and all things history), inspiring generations of students in the process. As his responsibilities expanded—to ultimately include dorm head, assistant class advisor, department chairman, form dean, alumni director, and athletic director—Hunt was adamant that he keep one foot firmly in the classroom.
“One thing was constant, my love of the classroom,” Hunt wrote in his 50th reunion yearbook entry in 2011. Six years prior, emerging from Berkshire Hall on his last day of teaching, then Senior Master Hunt was greeted by applause from the full faculty who, along with students and staff, created the traditional gauntlet. “On hand,” the Bulletin recounted that year, “was his biggest fan and his wife of thirty-one years, Fran Hunt, former assistant to the dean of students.” The couple was married at St. James Episcopal Church in June 1974.
Hunt’s impact on Berkshire athletics was equally legendary. While teaching was his vocation, athletics were his avocation—a sentiment Hunt shared widely while donning the cap of coach for countless sports teams and athletic director for 13 years. He was particularly proud to have been part of three undefeated football seasons with the Bears, one as head coach and two as an assistant. A peer coach wrote the following in a note after a meet versus former faculty Bill Gulotta’s cross country team: “Although Berkshire did not win this race on the scoreboard, they went home winners in our book ... I can only hope that our athletes will follow Berkshire’s leadership as positive role models for sportsmanship and their school.”
Head of School Pieter Mulder acknowledged there are few who, like the Hunts, have made such an extraordinary impact on so many
—Peter Kellogg ’61
in our community. “Ed Hunt indeed epitomized the faculty who are at the heart of every student’s experience under the Mountain—and his presence will live on in the memories of his students, classmates, colleagues, and friends,” he said in a message to the community upon Hunt’s passing in April, a loss felt by many.
“I’ve known Ed Hunt since he arrived on campus our sophomore year in the fall of 1958,” said Trustee Emeritus Peter Kellogg ’61. “He always had time for everybody. It was such a pleasure to witness Ed’s 40-plus-year career at Berkshire in many leadership positions.”
Across the decades, Hunt remained ever-present in the Berkshire community—no matter the arena. He was equally at home playing on Coach Stewart’s alumni squad in a game versus the varsity hockey team as he was documenting the School’s history leading to the Centennial in 2007; he served on his class Reunion Committee and was a loyal donor to Berkshire’s Annual Fund. In a 1991 Reunion Weekend address, former Headmaster Tom Lord commended Hunt (recipient of the 1988 Kellogg Vacation Grant) and colleagues Twiggs Myers Hon. ’57 and Tom Dixon Hon. ’68 for their enduring tenures at Berkshire, remarking that they “make Berkshire School what it is.” In recognition of this unwavering commitment to his alma mater, Hunt was named Berkshire’s 2006 Distinguished Alumnus.
This celebrated professional career was surpassed only by Hunt’s dedication to his family. A devoted husband and loving father, he lived to enjoy moments with his family—which grew over the past six years to include a trio of grandchildren.
Upon his retirement, Hunt continued to mold the lives of those around him by modeling integrity, loyalty, and passion. His dedication to helping others lived on through his work at the Mason Library in Great Barrington, where he was a favorite among his peers and a fixture among patrons—always willing to offer a friendly smile or helping hand. Hunt’s library post satiated his thirst for knowledge, not unlike his time spent teaching at Berkshire, and served as a vehicle for sharing his love of reading with others.
Among his other hobbies, Hunt sang passionately with his church choir at Christ Church Episcopal in Sheffield and with The Housatonics, a local barbershop group, where he was a strong and enthusiastic baritone. Hunt was an avid golfer (recording two holes-in-one in his lifetime!) and a longtime member at Wyantenuck Country Club in Great Barrington. Despite 15 years living with Parkinson’s disease, which slowed his pace, Hunt never complained. Instead, he continued to play his many parts to the fullest, no matter the stage. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Fran, and his sons, Brad ’95 (Lauren) and Tom ’97 (Julie); grandchildren Lincoln Kellogg, Eveline Harper, and Andrew Phillips; brother John Phillips Hunt; niece Allison Hunt; sister-in-law Anne Andrews; and brotherin-law John Tryon and family.
In Memoriam
The Berkshire School community extends its sincere condolences to the families of the following alumni and friends of the School. To send obituaries or remembrances of classmates or family members, please email alumni@berkshireschool.org. To view the obituaries for those listed below, please go to www.berkshireschool.org/inmemoriam.
Trustee Emeritus 1989–2022
Hugh Knowlton, Jr. April 4, 2022
Trustee 2009–2016
John E. Toffolon, Jr. April 26, 2022
Faculty
James K. Ervin March 1, 2022
Edward H. Hunt ’61 April 26, 2022
1944C
John H. Schofield March 10, 2022
1950
Leonard G. Swartz February 17, 2022
1954
Edwin G. Klinck January 10, 2022
1958
Richard P. Stringer January 26, 2022
1961
William L. Duschatko June 14, 2022
1968
David B. Anderly February 12, 2022
1972
Stephen W. Gitt March 1, 2022
1979
Peter K. Gersky April 21, 2022
A note to our readers:
The list of names for the In Memoriam section is reported from January 1 through June 15, 2022. If we have missed a name, please accept our apologies and email us at alumni@berkshireschool.org. Former Trustee Tom Dixon and former Interim Head of School Hawley Rogers were listed in the In Memoriam of the Winter 2022 issue of the Berkshire Bulletin Class Notes Edition.
We Remember...
Hawley Rogers ’56
Former Head of School • August 20, 2021
Hawley Rogers ’56, devoted alumnus and lifelong friend to Berkshire, was a consummate team player—a trait best evidenced by his stepping up to shepherd the community through a period of uncertainty following the sudden death of Larry Piatelli in 2003. “Hawley and Wendy Rogers answered the call,” Davis Andersen ’68, former Chair of the Board of Trustees and trustee emeritus, said. “From their happy and warm retirement in Florida, they came to Sheffield just as the one o’clock sunsets and howling winds of winter were right around the corner; there was no complaining and always a smile. Hawley loved Berkshire, and he and Wendy were here for the School at a sad and tragic time of need.”
Following his brief tenure, when asked how he hoped the Berkshire community would remember him, Rogers responded: “That I acted with integrity and with Berkshire’s best interests at heart, and helped establish stability at a hard time.”
The following year, Hawley was honored with the 2004 Distinguished Alumni Award, which recognized Wendy as well for her dedication and graciousness. In 2006, Hawley’s classmates established the Class of 1956 50th Reunion Scholarship Fund— awarded to a student whose family may suffer sudden financial hardship during the school year—in his honor.
“Hawley faced a behemoth of a disease with the same qualities that made him a great educator: courage, hope, and grace,” Dan Goodyear, Sr. ’56 said of his friend. “What better role model could any of us have than one who embodies what he believes.” In addition to his wife of 60 years, Rogers is survived by children John “Randy” Rogers, Dr. Laura Rogers Towne, Paul Rogers, and five grandchildren.
Hugh Knowlton, Jr.
Trustee Emeritus • April 4, 2022
Hugh Knowlton, Jr.—trustee emeritus, past parent and grandparent, and dedicated friend to the School—was generous beyond measure with his time and talents. Over the years, he was instrumental in both securing and providing significant philanthropic support for Berkshire. Knowlton gave a decade of service on the Board of Trustees, culminating in 1989, and drove annual giving to a record high in the early ’80s—serving as chair in back-to-back successful Annual Funds—which he credited to “renewed class agent concern and a tremendous response from the parents.” He chaired a capital campaign that brought in $1.3 million for faculty salaries, led the Board Nominating Committee, and served as a member of the Endowment and Executive Committees.
A loyal Annual Fund donor himself, Knowlton made additional generous contributions to Berkshire that endure to this day. He established The Guest Speakers Fund Endowment which, for four decades, has enabled the School to welcome visitors to campus to engage and inspire students. His gift toward the restoration of Chevalier Senior Lodge, named in fond memory of his daughter Stephanie Y. Chevalier ’77, reinvigorated a long treasured, tech-free classroom space on campus upon its rededication in 2018.
Knowlton died on April 4 at the age of 99. He is survived by his children: Shelley, Hugh Gilbert ’69, and Emily Hunsicker; stepchildren Frank Black and Sally Wacht; eight grandchildren, including John Knowlton ’99 and Madeline Hunsicker ’11; and 12 great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife, Betty Simpson Knowlton, and four stepchildren.
John E. Toffolon, Jr.
Past Trustee • April 26, 2022
John E. Toffolon, Jr., former Berkshire trustee and father to a pair of graduates, contributed selflessly to the world around him—no matter the arena. Details of an extraordinary career in investment banking, service as a volunteer and philanthropist, and ardent love for and dedication to his family rank among his many accomplishments. Toffolon died on April 26 following a courageous battle with cancer.
As noted by Head of School Pieter Mulder in his remarks to trustees, “I remember John best for his irascible nature, love of a good joke, and his belief in the power of Berkshire for his daughters’ many successes here and as young professionals.”
Former Board Chair Chip Perkins ’73 echoed these sentiments: “I will miss John’s combination of wit, dedication to the School, and excellent advice on many of the challenges that our board has faced.” Toffolon brought a commanding and jovial presence to his service on the Board of Trustees. During his tenure, from 2009 to 2016, he chaired the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee and served on the Finance Committee; he also participated in the Hail Berkshire Campaign Committee.
A staunch supporter of education, Toffolon’s generosity ran deep. At Fordham University Gabelli School of Business, from which he graduated with a B.S. in finance and an MBA, he served as both trustee and trustee fellow; Toffolon was also co-founder of the Fordham Basketball New Era Fund and a major supporter of the University’s student scholarships and men’s and women’s basketball. A welcome reminder of this giving spirit remains under the Mountain as evidenced by The Toffolon Family Bridge—spanning Glen Brook between de Windt and Buck Valley—given by John and his wife, Joan, in honor of their daughters Ashley ’11 and Alli ’14.
LEAVE A LEGACY.
SUPPORT BERKSHIRE’S FUTURE.
“The three years I spent under the Mountain continue to pay dividends 20-plus years after graduating. The concept of including Berkshire in my estate plan goes part and parcel with our motto: Pro Vita Non Pro Schola Discimus. The investment one makes in Berkshire can provide for the current school year or capital project, and it can also provide for future years, projects, and people, ensuring that the experience Berkshire has given us will be given to those who succeed us under the Mountain.” —Joe Seigle ’01
Joe Seigle is a proud member of the John F. Godman Society, Berkshire’s planned giving society. He graduated in 2001 and was all-school president his senior year.
“While I attended another boarding school, I grew up at Berkshire. I arrived as a 23-year-old and spent my 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s with my Berkshire family of teachers, students, and staff. When I look back at how lucky I was to be a part of this great school, it was an easy decision to make a legacy gift to Berkshire. I will forever cherish my time under the Mountain and take great joy in knowing that I will be giving back to Berkshire.” —Rick Bellas
Rick Bellas was a Berkshire faculty member from 1974 to 2005 and is a member of the John F. Godman Society, Berkshire’s planned giving society.
PAY IT FORWARD.
In this constantly changing world, we know everyone is carefully considering which deserving organizations to support. We would be honored to discuss the many ways you can support Berkshire’s future with a tax-saving legacy gift.
If you’d like to explore planned gifts that will benefit you, your family, and Berkshire, please contact Director of Planned Giving and Major Gifts Bill Bullock at (413) 229-1368 or wbullock@berkshireschool.org.
