Alumni Weekend 2021

Members of the Class of 1970 escape to the shade on a beautiful, sunny day on campus.

The lawn of Battle House was decked out with a delicious luncheon for alumni and their families.

Alumni Weekend

Thanks to the efforts of many alumni volunteers, staff, and cherished faculty, the 2021 Alumni Weekend was a great success. The gloom of having to cancel last year’s alumni events lifted as dozens of Barons from many graduating classes filled the lawns, shared stories, reminisced, cheered the football team, and paid tribute to classmates.

The weekend kicked off on Friday afternoon with a kickoff as the Barons varsity football team took the field to play North Cross of Roanoke. Alumni enjoyed the beautiful weather and tailgating along the fence at Alumni Field. Following the game, the Baron faithful gathered at McKenry Terrace to recognize the 1994 State Champion football team. We were delighted to have team coaches present: Defensive Coordinator Carl Frye, Line Coach Eric Gauss, Scout Bill Ramsey ’82, and Head Coach Don Woodward. The players were represented by Team Captain Dan Frye ’95. Coach Frye presented Coach Woodward with a commemorative football signed by his fellow coaches. Alumni Leadership Council President Burke Earley ’86 presented a second commemorative football to Coach Frye for his continued support of Baron athletics. Everyone toasted the team with Lost Boy Cider provided by the company’s founder and CEO Tristan Wright ’95.

Because of last year’s unfortunate cancellation, two classes were honored with their 50th Reunion this year. Many alumni from the Classes of 1970 and 1971 were on hand Friday night for cocktails and dinner at Battle House. Headmaster Trip Darrin and Associate Headmaster Franklin Daniels P’23 presented Distinguished Alumnus Awards to Bill Massey ’70, Ben Hiatt ’71, and John Joseph ’70. (See page 23 for more information about their accomplishments.) Two more alumni were honored: Bill Burruss ’71 received the Baron Fund Spirit Award for his excellent leadership and long tenure as a Class Agent, and Bob Watt ’70 received the Anthony T. Noel ’78 Award for demonstrating a dedication of time, energy, and support to Blue Ridge School and his fellow alumni.

Saturday morning, Baron golfers hit the links at Charlottesville’s Meadowcreek Golf Course. The foursome of Brannon Schmidt ’12, Mason Schmidt ’13, Ari McDonald ’10, and Sarah McDonald birdied 8 holes in a row on the back nine to clinch top honors for the day. Mason Schmidt also nabbed Closest to the Pin on the par 3 9th hole and former BRS staff J.C. Ignaszewski won the Longest Drive Challenge with a 300 yard shot on the par 4 16th hole. Tony Lewis ’06 won the Best Dressed Award, while Ed Diggs ’91 and his son Gabriel won the BRS Spirit Award and the Beach Award, respectively.

The competition continued back on campus with the inaugural Five Stand Shooting Tournament at Rymer Range. Ari McDonald was about to rack up his second win (followed by golf) before Burke Earley eked out victory by a single clay.

Saturday’s luncheon at Battle House, sponsored by the Alumni Council, featured a state of the school address by Burke Early and Parker Perkins ’84, who recognized the outstanding efforts of key alumni and invited Will Scipio ’02, Tim Bennett ’76, and Cary Justice ’90 to serve on the Alumni Council.

Saturday afternoon, the Class of 1990 gathered in Morris Courtyard for a toast of Pappy Van Winkle bourbon. The outstanding duo of Lee Shore ’90 and Cary Justice ’90 were recognized by Baron Fund Director Cathy Boyd for their continual excellence with the Baron Fund Spirit Award. They also received the Anthony T. Noel ’78 Award given to those who have dedicated their time and energy to support their fellow alumni and their alma mater.

The final event of Alumni Weekend was a memorial service held in Gibson Memorial Chapel on Sunday morning. Those gathered remembered classmates and former faculty members who have passed away. In addition to the alumni present, attendees included several former faculty and their spouses such as Paul and Gail Fehlner, Carl and Nancy Frye, John Young, Jim Niederberger, Phil and Claudia Clark, John and Abigail James, Jo McKeown and Bill Henry, Rodney and Carol Rullman, and Jerry Jared.

Thank you to all of the alumni who make the trip back to The Ridge this year; we can’t wait to see you again soon. If you were not able to attend, please know that you are always welcome back on campus. Stop by any time!

Coaches from the 1994 State Football Champion Team Carl Frye, Don Woodward, Eric Gauss, and Bill Ramsey ’83.

Members of the Class of 1975 gathered in Gibson Memorial Chapel to remember their classmates who have passed away.

Members of the Class of 1970 and 1971 gathered on Saturday evening at their joint 50th Reunion with cocktails Morris Santuary Garden and dinner at Battle House.

English Teacher Dan Dunsmore (center) reconnected with William Scipio ’02 and Michael B. Johnson II ’03.

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS AWARDS

The highest honor given to a Blue Ridge School alumnus is the semi-annual Distinguished Alumnus Award. It is presented to those alumni who have specifically distinguished themselves in their community and career and is not necessarily presented each year. This year, because we were celebrating two 50th Reunion classes, Blue Ridge School presented the award to three alumni.

Bill Massey ’70 of Richmond, Virginia, is a leader in the coal and energy industries of Virginia, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Tennessee, as well as a philanthropist supporting colleges and schools across the Mid-Atlantic region, the arts in all their forms, and health and human services agencies, including VCU’s Massey Cancer Center. Bill was a Blue Ridge School Trustee from 1976-1984. His financial leadership provided for the construction of Massey Gymnasium, an incredibly important building which has enabled the School to remain competitive among our peers. Bill and The Massey Foundation have the added distinction of regularly being the first annual donor of the year, usually on the first day of the new fiscal year. S. John Joseph ’70 of Powhatan, Virginia, served twice on the Blue Ridge School Board of Trustees, from 1982-1994 and again from 2002-2013. He has served on a number of important committees, though his greatest influence arguably was on the finance committee where he served as Committee Chair and Treasurer. Many of the protocols and measures he put in place are still being used today. Thanks in part to his parsimonious approach to spending, the School’s endowment has grown beyond $24 million, a strong level for a school our size. John had a successful 31-year career as vice president of finance for Old Dominion Truck Leasing in Richmond. In retirement, he and his wife Susan enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren. Ben Hiatt ’71, a leader in the food and beverage industry, has served Blue Ridge School for many years. He has been a helpful guide through the construction of the new dining hall. For 25 years, Ben, along with James Crocker ’72, led the highly successful Alumni Golf Tournament, which engaged hundreds of alumni and raised more than $250,000 for the School. Ben is a member of the Board of Trustees and has served as chair of the Buildings and Grounds Committee and as Treasurer. Ben and his wife Beth live in Fairfax Station, Virginia, where he is managing member of The Optimum Group, a consulting firm serving restaurants, corporate food service, cultural institutions, and schools.