In Memoriam

We offer the deepest condolences to the family and friends of the following members of our extended school community. You may submit a notice on the website or contact Director of Alumni Affairs Holly Donaldson Casella ’04 at hcasella@countryschool.net directly.

Alumni

Nancy Selinger

Summers ’42, 94, died peacefully Aug. 22, 2021, surrounded by family.

Following Country School, she attended Abbot Academy in Andover, MA, and graduated from Wells College in Aurora, NY. She earned a dual master’s degree in Organ and Composition from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. She was organist and choir director for several churches in Connecticut and St. Louis and gave piano lessons and taught music in public schools. In later years, she enjoyed spending time with her family and dogs, gardening, traveling and participating in a piano club. She was a supporter and volunteer to numerous local musical and philanthropic organizations.

Nancy is survived by her children Richard and Kimberly, granddaughters Jessica Farwell and Taylor Farwell, and great grandson David Farwell. She is predeceased by her sister Beverly Buder ’39 and her husband of 56 years, Richard S. Summers.

The family asks that any donations made in Nancy’s memory be made to St. Louis Symphony or the Humane Society of Missouri.

Priscilla “Peekie”

Stevenson Hunt ’44 passed away April 17, 2021, surrounded by her children, at Care Dimensions Hospice in Lincoln, MA. She is predeceased by her husband of 65 years, Richard M. Hunt, who died in April 2020.

During World War II, while attending Country School, Priscilla and her sister Helen lived with their grandmother while their parents were overseas, her father heading American Red Cross operations in Great Britain, North Africa, and Italy; her mother tending the troops and later authoring I Knew Your Soldier, released in 1946.

Following Country School, Priscilla attended the Putney School in Vermont and graduated from Oberlin College where her father was then president. She subsequently worked at the United Nations in New York City. During the 1960s, Priscilla traveled with a group of volunteers through Alabama to promote Black voting rights, and remained devoted to the cause and the Southern Poverty Law Center.

She was also dedicated to and volunteered much time at the League of Women Voters and FamilyAid Boston, formerly known as Travelers Aid. With husband Rick heavily committed to his teaching and administrative responsibilities at Harvard, Priscilla found her own niche as a docent at the Harvard Art Museums, the Sackler Museum in particular. She was also an accomplished pianist and enthusiastic tennis player.

Priscilla leaves behind daughter Helen Bouscaren (Cambridge, MA), daughter Sue Hollingsworth (Shaker Heights, OH), son Bill Hunt (Pittsburgh, PA), and eight grandchildren. The family asks that any donations made in Priscilla’s memory be directed to FamilyAid of Boston.

Anne Oliver Jackson ’50 passed away Sept. 28, 2021, in Portland, ME, surrounded by family. Following Country School, Anne attended Abbot Academy and earned a B.A. in Government at Smith College in 1957. Anne was a “forever learner” and an accomplished civic leader who worked to strengthen the governance of educational and philanthropic institutions. In the late 1970s, she became the first female board chair of Sewickley Academy and served as vice chair of the board of governors of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. After moving to Maine a decade later, she launched her own consulting business advising nonprofit leaders on strategic planning and board governance. She co-founded The Board Network, which recruited and trained nonprofit board members, and served as board chair of the Maine Community Foundation and president of the Portland Museum of Art, as well as a board member at Phillips Academy Andover, Phillips Academy

Exeter, Waynflete, Kieve Wavus and Hurricane Island Outward Bound School. Colleagues and friends remember her gentle, focused way of engaging with others; her insight into complicated interpersonal dynamics and her ability to get a lot done while also having a good time. As a civic leader, Anne focused on the process of decision-making as much as on the result. She helped nonprofit boards diversify their membership and develop into more than the sum of their parts. She is survived by her four children: Lee Warner (Hans Warner, children Chase and Morgan) of Portland, Bill Jackson (Jackie Holen, children Claire and Arlena) of San Francisco, Carol Miller (children Seth, Annie, and Will) of Portland, and David Jackson (Kathrin Jackson, children Isabel and Oliver) of Seattle, as well as sister Peggy Hedeman ’53 and brothers David Oliver ’57 (Christina Oliver) and Tom Oliver ’57 (Ann Oliver), and Simba, the last of a long line of yellow labs.

Anne is predeceased by her husband of 63-years, William R. “Dick” Jackson. Memorial gifts in Anne’s honor may be made to Preble Street (preblestreet.org), an organization dedicated to empowering people experiencing homelessness and poverty in Maine, or to the Maine Coast Heritage Trust (mcht.org) an organization dedicated to keeping the Maine coast healthy, open and beautiful.

Elizabeth “Ebit” Speers ’77 died peacefully, surrounded by family, Oct. 16, 2021, following a 30-year battle with cancer. After graduation from Country School, Ebit attended the Emma Willard School and Connecticut College.

A gifted and tenacious lifelong athlete, she excelled at field hockey, lacrosse and tennis. Her favorite activities included walking with friends, playing tennis, hiking in the mountains, and being at her beloved Squam Lake in New Hampshire. After college, she worked in advertising in New York and Boston. When she and her husband moved to Southern California, she found great purpose and satisfaction in working in development at the Marlborough School, an all-girls high school in Los Angeles.

Jill Stevens, wife of former Country School Headmaster George E. Stevens (1963–1979) and mother of Link ’74, Scott ’76 and Jed ’78, grandmother of Nick, Abby, Will, Natalie, Jackson, Gretchen, Emma ’13, Walker ’15 and Nate ’17, and great-grandmother of George W. Stevens, passed away peacefully at home in New Canaan on Oct. 30. She was 89 years old.

Jill was deeply involved in the life of the school and of New Canaan. She loved to entertain, taught cooking classes, played tennis and golf and served on the Planned Parenthood Board. Westminster School of Simsbury, CT, to which her sons matriculated, asked her to join their Board of Trustees, a position she held for eleven years. Upon her retirement, she was appointed a member of the founding session of Westminster Fellows.

For many years, Jill was also a member of the Board of Directors and later on the Board of Governors of Horizons at New Canaan Country School, a program providing academic and enrichment activities for underserved children, which was founded by George and a consortium of like-minded Country School faculty and parents in 1964.

Ebit was a committed volunteer, serving with quiet dedication for her schools, her churches and civic organizations. She served on the Emma Willard Alumnae Association Council for many years and co-chaired their Annual Fund for two years. She served on the board of the United Way of Acton-Boxborough (MA) for many years, culminating in three years as its president.

A natural leader, she led through dedicated hard work and always with kindness, making sure everyone was heard and represented, always striving for harmony and consensus. She is remembered by friends and family as a consummate connector of people. She remembered every birthday, anniversary and small detail people shared. She was an exceptional listener and confidant, always available, always with an empathetic ear, a welcoming smile, a twinkle in her eyes and an easy laugh.

Ebit is survived by her husband of 33 years, David McCormick; children Sam and Ellen McCormick; mother, former NCCS faculty member Susan Speers; brothers and their spouses, Will Speers ’72 (Heidi Rowe), Tom Speers ’73 (Bessie Speers), and Sam Speers ’75 (Lisa Brawley); nine nephews and nieces; one grand-nephew. She is predeceased by her father, the Reverend Gutherie Speers. Memorials in her honor may be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (dana-farber.org) or the Adenoid Cystic Cancer Research Foundation (accrf.org).

Jill is remembered by faculty, staff, friends, alumni and past parents as loyal, thoughtful, gracious and caring — with a marvelous chuckle and impish sense of fun. She could often be found on the sidelines of a rink or athletic field, planning a meal train for an ailing faculty member or walking the campus with the family’s golden labrador, Maile. She took pleasure in making “Gatehouse,” on the corner of Frogtown Road and Ponus Ridge, a gracious home and took joy in decorating and gardening, frequently bringing bouquets of cut flowers to the school’s front desk or a special event.

She was predeceased in 2009 by George, following 52 years of marriage and by her older brother, John C. Walker, Jr. In addition to those previously mentioned, she is survived by Jodi Hill (Link) of South Portland, Amy Stevens (Scott) of Simsbury, CT and Former Director of Horizons at NCCS Kerry Stevens (Jed) of Rowayton. Services will be held at a later date. Condolences may be sent to 8 St. James Place, Rowayton, CT 06853 c/o Jed Stevens. The family gratefully welcomes any donations in Jill’s memory to Horizons at New Canaan Country School, 635 Frogtown Road, New Canaan, CT 06840 or www.horizonskids.org.

Elizabeth “Liz” Sherwood

Frank ’09, 27, of Houston, passed away Aug. 20. Following Country School, Liz attended Greenwich Academy where she pursued her many academic and athletic passions including gymnastics. While her favorite event was uneven bars, she also loved the vault, floor, and balance beam. Liz attained Level 8/10 and medaled in numerous competitions around the country. Liz had to conclude her gymnastics career following injuries suffered in her early teens and when the development of an autoimmune condition curtailed her athletic activities, she channeled her energy toward intellectual pursuits, especially mathematics. During her senior year of secondary school, Liz won the Leo J. Whelton Award for excellence in mathematics, the Upper School Science Department Award, and the Spanish Language Award. She was also a two-year member of the Cum Laude Society.

Liz continued to pursue her passion for mathematics at Williams College, even as she followed a pre-medical course of study. In 2014, Liz won the Erastus C. Benedict Math Prize. In her senior year, Liz wrote and defended a thesis entitled “Blowing Up Toric Varieties with Multidimensional Continued Fractions.” Liz graduated Magna Cum Laude with Honors in Mathematics in 2016. Wishing to gain real-world experience prior to medical school, Liz joined Dana Farber Center for Pediatric Cancer Therapeutics in Boston. Performing statistical data analysis in support of childhood cancer research, Liz was co-author on five published scholarly articles.

Taking the next step in her journey, Liz matriculated at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and was in her fourth year of study, planning to specialize in pediatric oncology after graduation. Liz saw a career in pediatrics as the natural progression of her lifelong devotion to caring for children. She was in the process of applying to pediatric residency programs at the time of her passing.

Liz is survived by her parents Jane and Stephen, her sister Caroline ’11, her brother Will ’06 and his fiancée Avani Madappa.

The family asks that you please consider supporting childhood cancer research in Liz’s memory by donating to Alex’s Lemonade Stand. To make a contribution, please navigate to Liz’s online memorial page: www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/3124191.

Faculty & Staff

Adelaide “Muffy” Gifford, age 94, passed away peacefully on July 17 at Mountain Vista Memory Care in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. She was a mother first and foremost, but was also a Country School librarian (1972–1992), where husband Garret “Garry” Gifford was on the faculty for over two decades. Muffy was a voracious reader and enjoyed sharing her knowledge of books with others. She also loved to knit and needlepoint. Her knitted sweaters and hats were and still are infamous for their unique proportions and styles.

After retiring from Country School, she and Garry spent a year volunteer-teaching at the Wilson School in Jackson Hole, WY. They then moved to Weaverville, NC, where she continued to play golf, hike the Blue Ridge Mountains, take continuing education classes at UNC-Asheville and volunteer as a docent at the Biltmore Estate. In the early 2000s they moved to Colorado to be close to their two sons and grandchildren.

She is survived by Garry, her children, Garret A. Gifford Jr. ’74 (Kim); Lesley Gifford Gibson ’76 (Craig); and Donald S. Gifford ’79 (Julie); and eight grandchildren.

Condolences should be sent to G.A. Gifford, 11800 W 49th Ave. Room 206, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033.

Carolyn “Lyn”

McNaught died at home on Oct. 4, 2022, after a gallant fight with congestive heart failure and a number of other ailments.

Lyn attended the Thomas School, Rosemary Hall School in Greenwich, and later Smith College, from which she graduated in 1959. After teaching at the Buckingham School in Cambridge, MA, for several years, Lyn moved to New York City in 1963 to teach at St. Bernard’s School for Boys, where she met husband, Michael. They were married in 1966 and both continued to teach at St. Bernard’s until 1968. In that year Michael accepted a job as Headmaster of the Berkshire Country Day School in Lenox, MA, where they remained until 1975.

Lyn first arrived at Country School in 1976 with Michael who had accepted the position of Head of Upper School. Two years later, she took over as the executive director of the Horizons Student Enrichment Program, at that time a summer academic enrichment program for underserved children in Fairfield County held every year on the school’s campus. During her subsequent 27 years as director, Lyn saw over 2,000 students go through the program and raised millions of dollars to put Horizons at New Canaan Country School on a sound financial footing.

In 1995, Lyn founded the Horizons National Student Enrichment Program and became its first executive director. Upon her retirement in 2003 she joined the Horizons National board of directors, a position she held at the time of her death. By summer of 2022, Horizons National had 74 affiliate programs in 21 states and Washington, DC, and served over 6,500 students.

On retiring to Falmouth, MA, in 2004, Lyn took her passion for education and children to the Falmouth Education Foundation, where she served as a board member and de facto development director until 2017, when legal blindness caused by macular degeneration severely limited her activities.

Lyn is survived by her husband of 56 years, Michael (NCCS 1976–2004); son Andrew ’84, daughter-in-law Natasha Murphy and five-year old granddaughter Maggie; daughter Marnie McNaught Hinze ’87, her husband Mark, and grandchildren Carter and Charlotte. Burial will be private, but a celebration of Lyn’s life and legacy will be held in Falmouth in the spring.

We offer our condolences to the family and friends of the following members of our extended community:

Stephanie Antoszewski

Mother of Claire ’90 and James ’95

Nancy Bean

Mother of Kerin Bean Grall ’80, Chris ’83 and Kevan ’87, mother-in-law of Jeannie Staunton Bean ’83, grandmother of Bella ’14, Anna ’15 and Finley ’17

Arthur Bettauer

Father of Karen Bettauer Harris ’77 and Nic Carson-Bettauer ’77

Clarence W. Brodnax

Father of Carl ’76, Chanda Brodnax-Nino ’80 and Cheryl Talley ’80, grandfather of Cuyler ’11 and Cayden ’16

Allison Caesar

Mother of Pete Caesar ’61 and Brew Caesar ’65

John Herdeg

Father-in-law of Cara Burnham Herdeg ’86, grandfather of Emma ’18, Benjamin ’20 and Sam ’24

Richard Irwin

Grandfather of Caroline ’25 and Henry ’25

Jill Iscol

Mother of Zach ’94 and Kiva ’96

Lucille King

Mother of Larry ’70 and Peter ’75

Janecke Madsen

Mother of Peter ’76, and step-sister of Karen Naess Budd ’55, Astrid Naess Gifford ’57, and Fred Naess ’64

Patricia Reighley

Mother of Jill Christensen ’66, Nancy Cavanaugh ’68 and Bill Reighley ’72, grandmother of Jen Moroney ’00, Brooke Reed ’01 and Allie Cavanaugh ’05

Elizabeth “Tippy” Shutkin

Mother of Kathie Mandel ’78, Bill ’80 and Nancy Portman ’83, grandmother of Julia Mandel ’12

Christine Smith

Mother of Sarah Smith Betz ’93

Robert White

Father of Katie Welles ’78, Andrew ’82 and David ’82, grandfather of Elsie Welles ’17 and Henry Welles ’19

In lieu of flowers or cards, please consider a donation in Lyn’s memory to either of the institutions which were the center of her life: Horizons National Student Enrichment Program, 120 Post Road West, Suite 202, Westport, CT. 06880, or online at www.horizonsnational.org; or the Falmouth Education Foundation, PO Box 1061, Falmouth, MA 02541, or online at www.falmoutheducationfnd.org

Margaret “Molly” Peckham passed on Aug. 17, 2022, in her home at Meadow Ridge, in Redding. After receiving a master’s in literature from Columbia University, Molly taught English at Rosemary Hall and then worked at the New Canaan Bookstore. She joined the Country School faculty in 1979 where she taught Latin and Classics until 1999.

Following an amicable divorce in 1981, she began a lifetime of psychological and spiritual exploration. During subsequent years Molly courageously undertook intensive therapy in an effort to overcome childhood and intergenerational trauma. In 1982, she joined the Benedictine Grange in Redding, CT an inclusive Catholic spiritual community of which she was an active member until her passing.

In 1999, Molly took a sabbatical from the Country School and used it to teach English to Tibetan refugees in Dharamsala, India. She stayed in Dharamsala after her sabbatical to co-author a textbook on Tibetan history for Tibetan refugee children under commission by the Dalai Lama’s sister. From Dharamsala, Molly then went to Kathmandu where she practiced Tibetan Buddhism with Lama Kalsang for more than a decade.

Molly returned to New Canaan during the annual monsoon seasons to be with family and friends, and she began teaching English as a second language at Norwalk Community College. Empowering immigrants from a diversity of backgrounds and cultures to master English and realize their American dream was, perhaps, her most fulfilling work.

She is survived by her daughter Margie Peckham Depew ’83; her son Hoyt Peckham Jr. ’88 and granddaughters Marina, Isabel and Anaís of Hoyo de Manzanares, Spain, and by her siblings Jim, Sally, and Bill Drake of Maine and Anne Mowat of Oregon.

Memories may be posted at www.boutonfuneralhome.com. Please, no flowers unless you pick them yourself as Molly always appreciated, and send any donations in her honor to the Tibet Fund (www.tibetfund.org).

Lavone

Roberson, 41, died on Oct. 10, surrounded by friends and family following a 7-year battle with ovarian cancer.

From a young age, Lavone was a leader who recognized the impact of education and service. She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology with a minor in Spanish from Hampton University, a Masters in Elementary Education from the University of Bridgeport and an ABD Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Phoenix. In 2018, Lavone became a member of Delta Sigma Theta Inc., a private, not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to provide assistance and support through established programs in local communities throughout the world.

She began her teaching career at Naramake Elementary School, where she was a third grade teacher and curriculum writer for fourteen years. She joined the Horizons Program at New Canaan Country School as Academic Director in 2019 where she developed and implemented the academic components of the summer and school year programs and managed staff. Outside of her professional life, she loved traveling, fashion, music, spending time with family and her beloved dog, Worthy Rue.

Following her cancer diagnosis in 2015, she established the Now I AM Foundation (“NIA”) with a mission to purposefully nurture, inspire and advocate for communities in need by organizing community service, fundraising and charity events. NIA’s goal is to provide ovarian cancer awareness and support to other cancer patients and caregivers and to inspire people to consider God’s purpose. Lavone is survived by her mother; Jacqueline Cobb-Roberson, father; Joseph Roberson, Jr., brothers; Gerald Roberson, Joseph Roberson, III and Tilford Cobb (Diana), sister; Jasmin Roberson (Ashley), nieces; Najera Roberson, Jaelyn Howard and Priseis Roberson, nephews; Tymel Roberson and Divine Roberson, paternal grandmother; Alma Roberson, aunts; Essie Mae Tindall (Raymond), Daphne Cobb, Alice Roberson and Valerie Roberson Edwards (Stefan), uncles; Robert Lee Cobb and Terrence

Roberson, her significant other; Sean Smith, godchildren; Jonaja Beamon, Jacob Tomlin, Cynai Tomlin, Chace Hawthorne, Braylynn Smith, Cannon Smith and Nova Terry, and a host of cousins, extended family and friends. Lavone was predeceased by her maternal grandparents; Garieen Cobb Smith and Robert Lee Cobb, Sr., paternal grandfather; Joseph Roberson, her aunt; Sandra Cobb-Ancrum and uncle; Terry E. Cobb.

Memorial gifts in Lavone’s memory may be made by visiting www.horizonskids.org/support.

Patricia Stoddard, 91, died peacefully in her sleep at home on Sept. 10. She taught Upper School English, history and anthropology and served as Academic Dean (1968–1978). Following Country School, she worked as the assistant to the chairman of Champion International Corporation (now International Paper) and in that capacity served as speechwriter and oversaw employee and shareholder communications. She retired in 1993.

A New Canaan resident since 1956, Pat served on numerous community boards and civic organizations. She was a founding member of New Canaan’s Staying Put organization, which provides essential services to seniors who wish to stay in their own homes, and served on the boards of the New Canaan Library, the Horizons Student Enrichment program and the League of Women Voters, and served on three separate New Canaan Charter Revision Commissions.

She is predeceased by her husband of 63 years, Hud Stoddard, who passed away in 2017.

Pat is survived by her three children, Daniel Stoddard ’71 (Milagros Lecuona), former Country School Board Chair Jane Stoddard Williams ’72 (Brian Williams), Alexander Stoddard ’75 (Lisa Wyatt Stoddard), and by her grandchildren Allison Williams ’03 (Alexander Dreymon), Douglas Williams ’06 (Emily Altieri), Caroline Stoddard and Country School Visual Arts Teacher Isadora Gacel Machado Lecuona. Pat also leaves behind a great-grandson, Arlo Dreymon-Williams.

The family gratefully welcomes memorial donations to The Speers-Stoddard Apprentice Teachers Fund at New Canaan Country School (PO Box 997 New Canaan, CT, 06840) or Staying Put in New Canaan (PO Box 484 New Canaan, CT, 06840).