IN MEMORIAM / NEWS & NOTES

IN MEMORIAM Alan Davis Grant (NCS 56)

Alan Davis Grant passed away on October 31, 2019. After North Country School, he enrolled in Colgate University and earned his B.A. in economics there. After graduation he joined The Equitable Life Assurance Society, and during a 33-year career he held several positions at the vice-president level. Alan was instrumental in developing and introducing the first variable life insurance policy to the sales force. In 1987 Alan served as the president and CEO of a marketing subsidiary of AXA/Equitable Life, and after his retirement he worked at VEMEX, an upstart computer company in Yonkers, until 2003. Alan adored his wife, Michelle, his children, Jennifer and Gregory, and his granddaughters, Karina and Annika. Alan and his wife were avid travelers, and he enjoyed tennis, golf, and skiing.

Gregory Rowland Farrell (Trustee 90–96)

Gregory Rowland Farrell passed away on March 29, 2020. He grew up in both Chicago, Illinois, and Columbia, Missouri, and attended Princeton University from 1953 to 1957. Gregory led an anti-poverty agency in Trenton, New Jersey, which is where he hired and eventually married Cathy Otis. Gregory felt a strong connection to the Adirondacks—his second date with Cathy was a hike up Mount Marcy. Gregory went on the become executive director of the Fund for the City of New

York, a foundation that worked to improve the functioning of city government and the quality of life in New York City. Before retiring in 2008, Gregory served as president and CEO of EL Education (formerly Expeditionary Learning), which he founded in 1992. The goal of the organization was to transform public schools into something more like an Outward Bound course—the approach now thrives in hundreds of schools and serves more than 500,000 students across the country. Gregory also served on several community boards, including the High Peaks Education Foundation, the Keene Valley Country Club, the Keene Valley Library, North Country School, and Camp Dudley.

Jane Crowell Rieffel (CTT 34–46)

Jane Crowell Rieffel passed away on January 30, 2020. After graduating from Columbia University, School of Nursing, she and her first husband, Thomas W. Francis, spent many years in New York City consulting with designers to improve access for differently abled people to things like buildings and trains. She also took art classes at the Museum of Modern Art, beginning a life-long career and love of painting and collage. After Thomas passed away, Jane married Marc Aurele Rieffel of Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1966. Together they built a home in the French West Indies and traveled frequently until Marc’s death in 1994. Throughout her life, Jane maintained an interest in the medical concerns of families and was an active supporter of Planned Parenthood and Visiting Nurse Services and Hospice of Santa Barbara. She supported numerous local organizations in Santa Barbara including the Music Academy of the West, the Santa Barbara Symphony, UCSB, and the Encore Theatre.

FRIENDS’ WEEKEND ANNOUNCEMENT

It is with deep disappointment that we share the news that we have made the difficult decision to cancel Friends’ Weekend 2020. After careful consideration and research, it became clear that we cannot hold an event of this size with the proper safety and health protocols recommended by New York State and the CDC. We are, first and foremost, committed to the safety and well-being of our community. While we are saddened by this decision, we look forward to celebrating Camp Treetops’ Centennial with you August 18-22, 2021.

NCS ALUMNI/AE 1962

Wende Melissa Richter

“Still loving running my PYO apple orchard in NH—for 33 years! Family comes first. Loving life.”

1965

Peter Anthony Thacher

(Also, CTT 61)

After 42 years in the Kingdom, we retired from Saudi Aramco and are settling into The Woodlands, Texas, for the winter months. We are continuing to restore a house on North Haven, a small island off the coast of Maine. We look forward to reconnecting.

1991

Sara Hudson

“My husband, Tom, got a job as a critical care paramedic flying fixed-wing medevac missions all over the state of Alaska, and after a year of commuting back and forth we decided to move up. It took us nine days to drive from Richmond, Virginia, to Fairbanks, Alaska, and the trip navigated us through some of the most outrageously beautiful vistas I’ve ever seen. We drove through the interior and upper Midwest of the United States before crossing the border into Canada, where we eventually picked up the Alcan Highway, which brought us through the Yukon and, eventually, Alaska. We have settled in Fairbanks and are now in the midst of our first subarctic winter, which includes only about four hours of sunlight each day and temperatures of negative-40 without wind-chill. I am considering applying to be a 911 dispatcher, because after 22 years of being in EMS I think it would be an interesting next step to make. I would be dispatching police, fire, and EMS, multiple agencies in different parts of the state, places you can only reach by air. Fun fact: dispatchers here work eight-hour shifts in the winter and 12-hour shifts in the summer; this allows them to hunt and fish to fill up freezers and take full advantage of the “Midnight Sun.” Isn’t that wild? And I will make it back for another Intersession! A part of my heart will always be in that little valley under the Balanced Rocks. Perhaps next year my husband and I could both come teach an EMT-lite type of course for those interested.”

2012

John Canning

“I am currently a second-year law student at Villanova University School of Law. This summer, I will be interning at the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.”

2020 Bladen Reese

Bladen visited Dylan Roussey (NCS 19) in Venice Beach over spring break in 2020.

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Ncs Staff

Peter Helmetag (NCS staff 78–80, parent 88–93)

I continue to run my sheep farm in Vermont and climb, this winter in Morocco. The big trip this November will be Lima to Cape Horn vintage endurance car rally with my brother.

CTT FRIENDS

Michael Churchill (CTT 48–52)

“Still working full time as a public interest lawyer in Philadelphia. Growing organic food and thinking of NCS/CTT often as I watch my grandchildren learn about the world.”

Penelope Corbett (CTT 48–52)

“When I studied at North Country School my name was Penelope Corbett. My husband and I run a craft business from our home, Penny Arts Studios— painting, printmaking, pottery and Artee is a blacksmith, master craftsman, woodworking, etc. And, our three cats. Would love to hear from old friends.”

Keith Spence (CTT 63–65)

After spending 35 years in education (10 years in private high schools teaching math and computer science classes, 24 years in public elementary guidance, and one crazy final year teaching 6th-grade math), I decided to retire. I have lived in Jacksonville, FL since 1982, and married my present wife, Bonnie, in 1992. I have sung in the 40-voice St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral choir for over 30 years. Have raised two stepsons and a handful of animals (I have told Bonnie that the present cat will be the last!). I was very saddened to learn that one of my first childhood friends David Chandler (CTT 63–66) died in October/November 2018, following a freak accident in a Wal-Mart parking lot.

Emma Dryden (CTT 74–77, Staff 82)

Emma and her partner of 35 years are currently living in Bristol, Rhode Island, where Anne is upgrading and repairing racing sailboats in Newport and environs. Emma’s children’s editorial and publishing consultancy firm, drydenbks LLC, celebrated its tenth year in business in March, and she’s loving it.

Margaret Sloane (CTT 81–85, staff 87–94)

With great joy and gratitude, I would like to introduce my son Nathaniel James Brownell Sloane. I gave birth on Tuesday, March 31, 2020, at 8:27 a.m. at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC, under the excellent care and attention of Dr. James E. Benson. Nathaniel was born weighing 7 pounds, 1 ounce and measured 19.5 inches long. We are home with big brother Nicholas, now five years old, and all are doing well, adjusting happily to our new life as a family of three. Sending good wishes to you and your families for health and happiness in these strange and difficult times.”

Abigail Pines (CTT 99–03)

“Happy 100th summer CTT!!

I’ve started a new job as an associate veterinarian at Hope Animal Hospital in Brooklyn, NY. We have remained open and are doing drop-off appointments due to COVID. It has had its challenges, but the community is so grateful that we are still open for their pets. Sending love to everyone at CTT and hoping we can all be reunited at Friends’ soon!”