Around THE ARCH
FAREWELL TO THE STIVALS Longtime Blair faculty members Lew and Lois Stival said farewell to Blair at the end of the 2019-2020 school year to begin a new chapter in their lives in Florida, where Lew now leads the college counseling office at Ransom Everglades School in Miami. “Lew and Lois have touched countless lives at Blair over the last three decades. Lew as a college counselor and coach, Lois as a tutor, and both as advisors, mentors and friends to generations of students and teachers,” said Head of School Chris Fortunato. “I know I speak for all of us when I say I am grateful for their dedication and service to making Blair the exceptional school it is today, and they will be deeply missed by everyone on our hilltop.” Over their 33 years at Blair, the Stivals served in many
For her part, Lois will miss Blair day students, who she
roles, including dorm heads of Insley and Mason Halls.
calls “an exceptional group of kids” and “the backbone
In addition to her position as day student coordinator
of Blair Academy,” but notes that she and Lew look
for the last 22 years, Lois planned many Blair events over
forward to reconnecting with them during future Alumni
the years, including the prom, Parents’ Weekend, Alumni
Weekends. They also will miss their Carriage House
Weekend and various fundraisers, such as the Blair Parent
dining room overlooking Blair Lake, where they spent
Auction that was a staple during the 1990s. A former
countless evenings relaxing with each other, students and
English teacher, Lew headed up the School’s college
faculty friends.
counseling office for most of his Blair tenure and coached girls’ and boys’ varsity tennis for many years. When asked what they will miss the most about Blair,
But the “big warm weather fans” look forward to starting their next chapter in Florida. “Our kids [Michael ’03, Lauren ’05 and Anthony ’07] are all on
they agreed it will be the people. “We will miss all of the
their own now, so this is the right time to move,” said
students we’ve come to know and our friends among the
Lois, adding that they are excited to form deep personal
faculty and staff,” Lew said. “We’ve worked with some of
relationships with Ransom Everglades students in the
these people for 30-plus years. I am going to miss my
same way they did with kids at Blair.
college counseling colleagues, who have made a huge
The Stivals shared some parting advice with the
difference in Blair’s ability to connect and partner with
generations of Bucs they have impacted over the years
Blair families and admissions officers at schools around
before leaving campus. “Don’t be afraid to be who you
the world.”
really are and be your best self,” Lois said. Lew added:
Looking back over his long career counseling students
“It has been our pleasure to work here and know you.
as they prepared to leave Blair for college and beyond,
Don’t forget the valuable lessons you learned at Blair and
Lew says he is most proud of how well Blair students
the wonderful opportunities those lessons will continue
presented to colleges and universities. “When I took
to make possible for you.” The Stivals also encourage
over, my charge was to make sure that colleges and
any Blair student, parent or alumnus/alumna who wish
universities everywhere recognized the quality of Blair
to stay in touch to email them at loisstival@gmail.com or
kids. We accomplished that and then some.”
lewisstival@gmail.com. ■
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