20 minute read
In Memoriam
We offer the deepest condolences to the family and friends of the following members of our extended school community. To read more, please visit www.countryschool.net/milestones. You may also submit a notice on the website or contact Director of Alumni Affairs Holly Donaldson Casella ’04 directly at hcasella@countryschool.net or (203) 801-5687.
Alumni
Juliet “Judy” Delafield Fiske Harding ’39,
93, died Dec. 12, 2018, in Seattle. Following Country School, she attended The Chapin School in Manhattan and Vassar College. She is predeceased by her husband of 70 years, John McMillan Harding. Together, they had seven children and attended St. Therese Parish for 43 years. In the community, Judy used her considerable energy as a passionate humanitarian and social justice advocate. She visited senior centers, advocated for the poor, and engaged in political discussions and volunteered at church. Along with three others, Judy formed a local chapter of the Panel of American Women and shared experiences of growing up in their respective religions with organizations and schools. Condolences, photos, or stories may be sent to Judy’s family at RIPJudyHarding@gmail.com.
Eleanor “Nell” Lloyd Helm ’43,
91, died May 12, 2020, in Hanover, NH. Following Country School, she attended Choate Rosemary Hall. Subsequent studies at the Child Education Foundation and as a volunteer with the Frontier Nursing Service in Kentucky, where she acted as a courier assisting midwives and caring for their horses, led her to enter the Children’s Hospital School of Nursing, graduating as an RN in 1951.
In 1952, she married Bill Helm ’38 and continued to practice nursing, including specializing in respiratory care during the polio epidemic of the 1950s. As a resident of Weston, MA, where she raised her family, she served as a board member of the Weston Visiting Nurse Association and as a founding board member of the Parents’ and Children’s Services in Boston, at that time, a landmark program focused on providing relief to abused women and children. She also was instrumental in starting a women’s tennis program at the Weston High School. The family later moved to Philadelphia where Nell was an assistant first grade teacher at the Germantown Friends School, and later volunteered as a hospice case worker for the Wissahickon Hospice, one of the first hospice care programs in the Philadelphia area. Additionally, she worked as an RN at Foulkeways, a retirement community in Gwynedd, PA, where her mother lived.
Summers were spent at her grandparents’ summer place on Lake Chocorua, and in 2003 she and Bill moved there year-round before retiring to Kendal at Hanover.
She is survived by husband Bill; daughter Pam; sons Peter, David and Lloyd, six grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Nell’s memory to the Chocorua Lake Conservancy: www.chocorualake.org.
Lydia “Lydge” Thorne Lucy ’43,
90, died Feb. 13, 2019, in her home in North Conway, NH. An accomplished horsewoman at an early age, she rode both English and Western, but preferred bareback. Lydge had an unending appreciation for nature and was most content outdoors with her family and her two- and four-footed friends. Following Country School, she attended Choate Rosemary Hall and the University of New Hampshire, where competed on the ski and rifle teams and met her husband.
Lydia was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers Thad and Harry; a sister Mary; and her husband of 67 years, Chester “Chet” Lucy. She is survived by her children Peggy; A.O.; Dan; Nat and his wife Marianne; Polly; Annie, Sam and his wife, Brooke; and Jessica; and too many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews to name.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in Lydia’s memory be made to the Conway Lake Conservation Association (P.O. Box 803, Center Conway, NH 03813), the Upper Saco Valley Land Trust (2686 White Mountain Highway, North Conway, NH 03860) or Visiting Nurses.
John “Abijah” Reed ’50 died
April 9, 2020, at his home in Putney, VT, from complications of ALS. Following Country School, he attended the Putney School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, graduating with a degree in engineering. Together with his first wife, Suzanna, he had four children: Leslie, of Dummerston, VT, Jennifer, of Dunstable, MA, Adam, of Concord, MA, and Noah, of Putney, VT.
He enjoyed boyhood summers in the company of his siblings Anne and Bill and numerous cousins at Black Point, CT, and Bear Island, ME.
His interest in and facility for mathematics defined Abijah. He knew people by their license plates and their birthdays and could recite Pi to 100 places. He had a wonderful sense of humor, a kind smile, and a careful listening ear, which endeared him to many. He changed his name from John to Abijah at age 38.
His first marriage ended in divorce. With his second wife, Dorcas Gill, he moved from the Boston suburbs where he had been working as an engineer at Polaroid, to Putney. There, he pursued his love of woodworking, creating fine furniture and musical instruments, and took part in the Putney Craft Tour. He also taught mathematics and woodworking at The Putney School for many years. In retirement, Abijah volunteered extensively including at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, on the board of the Putney Library, for the Food Shelf, and at Next Stage.
Abijah is survived by his third wife, Sarah Cooper-Ellis. Donations in his memory may be made to the Putney School: www.putneyschool.org.
Cynthia Crump Crimmins ’51 83,
passed away Nov. 29, 2020, at home. Following Country School, she attended Brearley School in New York City, Convent of the Sacred Heart in Greenwich, CT, and Trinity College in Washington, DC, before earning her BA in English, with a minor in French, at Manhattanville College in 1959. She earned a Master of Arts in Teaching of English in Secondary School from Harvard University in 1960.
Cynthia dedicated herself to literacy as a tutor, volunteer and substitute teacher at local schools. Through the Junior League of Stamford-Norwalk,she initiated and later served as the Chairman of the Board of Program One-to-One, a pioneering early childhood language and literacy program. She also served on the boards of Convent of the Sacred Heart in Greenwich and the Darien Library. Cynthia avidly raised funds for programs and causes she cared about, often opening her beautiful home on Long Neck Point for events. In particular, she hosted fundraisers for Family Reentry and Convent of St. Birgitta in Darien after it was devastated by a fire in 2006.
She is predeceased by her first husband, Kevin B. Crimmins ’50 and her sister Constance (Crump Hume)’46.
She is survived by her second husband, J. Arvid Klein, whom she married in 2004, brother Walter Gray Crump III, three children, Pamela Crimmins of New York City, John Crimmins (Phyllis) ’78 of Nokomis, FL, and Lillian Crimmins Knight (Christopher) of Darien. She was a proud grandmother of five and a great-grandmother of one.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to Darien Land Trust at darienlandtrust.org.
John Twyefort Hubbell ’52,
82, died May 8, 2020, at Deerfield Skilled Nursing, in Asheville, NC. Following Country School and Princeton University, he served with Operation Crossroad Africa, having been prevented for health reasons from entry to the U.S. armed services. Upon his return, he earned master’s degrees from Wesleyan University and Rutgers University, and was a teacher of English and coach of varsity football, hockey and lacrosse teams in various prep schools.
After relocating to Asheville, NC, in 1991, he was a host at the Biltmore Estate for 12 years. A lifelong Presbyterian, he served as Elder in several churches.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Elizabeth Wolfe Hubbell, two sons,
Dr. J. Andrew Hubbell and his wife, Melissa, of Selinsgrove, PA, and Pastor Richard R. Hubbell and his wife, Jennifer, of Taylors, SC, and four grandchildren.
Memorials may be made in John’s memory to Deerfield Retirement Community, Attention Michelle Wooley, Director of Philanthropy, 1617 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, NC, 28803.
To offer condolences to the family, please visit www.highlandscare.com.
Thomas S. Adams ’54,
82, died June 13, 2020 in Dallas, of complications following hip surgery. Following NCCS, he attended Princeton University, where he lettered in basketball and baseball. He would go on to earn an MA from Harvard University.
Tom had a 47-year tenure at St. Mark’s School of Texas teaching U.S. history, art history, and modern world history. As a varsity coach, “The Hawk” won 21 SPC championships (six in basketball and 15 in baseball). Additionally, Tom served as a co-sponsor in the junior/senior rotation and held the Cecil and Ida Green Master Teaching Chair in History. Tom was the recipient of seven Marksmen yearbook dedications. In 2016, the Thomas S. Adams Master Teaching Chair was given by a collective group of alumni to honor his longtime service to teaching and coaching at the school. Additionally, the Thomas S. Adams Athletic Plaque is awarded annually to a graduating senior student-athlete for exemplary performance and sportsmanship. Tom is survived by his loving and devoted wife Marcy; his stepsons, Travis Waldrop and his wife Jacquelyn of Atlanta, Tim Waldrop and his wife Stephanie of Seattle, and Mark Waldrop of Seattle; his brother Taggart Adams ’56 and his wife Inta of Wilton, CT; his sister Lucy Adams Billings ’63 and her husband John of New York City; his nephew Will Adams ’90; and his nieces, Anda Adams Pape ’93 and her husband Bob Pape, and Marion Billings Su and her husband Min Su. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes that memorial gifts be made to St. Mark’s School of Texas or Princeton University.
Charles “Daniel” Bergfeld ’58, 77,
died at home peacefully in Vero Beach, FL, on Sept. 25, 2020, after a long battle with cancer. Following Country School, Dan attended Milton Academy, and received a BA from Yale College in 1965, where he was a proud T1 with the Whiffenpoofs. He later received his MBA from the Stephens Institute of Technology.
He is survived by his wife, Holly Adams; stepchildren Lisa (Pope) Ward, Andrew Regier and Abby Regier (Burton Fletcher) and grandsons Tucker, Chris, Briley and William; brother-in-law John Adams (Melissa), sisters Lisa Bergfeld Soleau ’63 and Kristin Bergfeld ’59, stepsister Trina Mansfield Bayles ’64 and nephews Jason and Tyler Soleau. He was predeceased by his mother, Tina Mansfield, his father Albert Bergfeld, and his stepfather Walter Mansfield.
Contributions in his name may be made to a musical organization of your choice, or to his favorites: Greenwich Choral Society (Greenwich, CT), Vero Beach Choral Society (FL), Sea Oaks Chorus (FL).
Kathryn “Kathy” Graham ’62,
73, died suddenly and tragically from a fall on Aug. 28, 2020, at her home in Stamford. Following Country School, Kathryn attended The Ethel Walker School, Skidmore College and the Columbia School of Social Work where she received a master’s degree. She had a 40-year career in psychotherapy and lived a life that valued integrity, curiosity, gender and racial equality, compassion and loyalty. She was a voracious reader and incredibly knowledgeable art aficionado. She supported many charities, was an early board member of Lambda Legal, and was a longtime board member of the Overbrook Foundation.
She is survived by her partner of 16 years, Carolyn J. Cole, and brothers Robert C. Graham Jr. ’56 and Michael C. Graham.
Susan Lamont ’67 died Dec. 24,
2019, of cancer. She is survived by her sister Pamela Lamont ’64 and her cousin Chris Rafferty and his wife, Sara.
Peter Goddard Bronson ’68,
66, died July 18, 2020, at his Norwalk home, of prostate cancer. Following Country School, he attended the Dublin School in Dublin, NH, and the International School in Vienna, Austria. It was during his time in Europe that Peter became a committed Christian. He later attended Pacific Christian College in Fullerton, CA.
He is survived by his wife of 17 years, Ornella Mattera, daughter Sarah Danielle Ingalls Jones of Seattle, sister Amy Bronson Key of Falmouth, MA, and Elbow Key, The Bahamas, stepsister Phoebe Hodge Farmer and stepbrother Rex Hodge.
After obtaining his U.S. Coast Guard captain’s license, he worked for many years as a yacht captain in various locations, including Ft. Lauderdale, FL, San Diego and Long Beach, CA, and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. One of the highlights of his career was captaining a large yacht through the Panama Canal.
To offer online condolences to the family, please visit www.gallagher funeralhome.com.
Peter H.
Wright ’68, 67, of
California, formerly of New Canaan and Jamestown, RI, passed away May 4, 2020. An emeritus professor at California University of Pennsylvania, Peter devoted his career to engaging and empowering college students in the field of technology education. Following graduation from Yale University, he served in the Peace Corps in Zaire from 1976 to 1978. Peter had a passion for live music, playing in bands throughout his lifetime. He ran a weekly open mic at a community arts center in California for 10 years. He loved sailing and kayaking with friends and family, and spending time in his beloved Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
He is survived by his wife, Lydia “Lee” Stivers, sons Matthew S. Wright of Tokyo, Japan, and Noah D. Wright of Austin, TX, stepson, Stuart Young, a sister, Mary “Missy” Wright Engelhard ’70, a brother Tim Wright ’71, sister-in-law B.B. Wright, former wife Karen DeGrange, stepsister Julie Hansen, stepmother Mary S. Wright, stepfather Don MacNary, daughter-in-law Elizabeth Buchanan, and many nieces and nephews.
Donations may be made in his memory to the Augusta Heritage Center of Davis and Elkins College, Elkins, WV, to support traditional music and arts education: www.augustaheritagecenter.org.
Dr. Nancy Ryan Lowitt ’70,
64, of Homeland, MD, died May 18, 2020, at Greater Baltimore Medical Center, from complications of metastatic breast cancer.
Following Country School, she attended Dana Hall School, Middlebury
A Legacy of Love & Flowers
Ann Gamble Blechta, of Osprey, FL, formerly of New Canaan, died suddenly at Sarasota Memorial Hospital April 7, 2020, of heart failure, not related to coronavirus. Ann will be remembered for her complete devotion to her family, her boundless generosity, her concern for others, her creative spirit, and her love of flowers, butterflies and birds. She is survived by daughters Daphne Gamble Macnaughton ’71 and Christine Gamble Brooks ’75.
Her son, Robert Gamble ’82, died while a fifth grade student at Country School, of leukemia. Named in his memory, the school’s Robert Gamble Award is presented annually to the student who exemplifies, to the highest measure, the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Each year since Robert’s 1978 passing, Ann has gifted the school a bushel of daffodil bulbs, which students have planted around campus. It was her wish to spread joy and beauty in the place where Robert felt happiest.
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College ’78, Harvard University and the George Washington University School of Medicine ’87. She completed a residency in internal medicine in 1990 at the Harvard Medical School and New England Deaconess Hospital, now Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, in Boston.
From 1992 to 1994, she was a fellow in general internal medicine and clinician educator track at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and from 1993 to 1994 was also a facilitator-in-training in the Johns Hopkins Faculty Development Program in teaching skills, also at the school of medicine, and in 1996, she completed a curriculum development program there.
Nancy served as assistant, associate and finally as program director of the General Internal Residency Program at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, and as a teaching attending in a primary care clinical practice. In 1998, she was elected to the American College of Physicians, and the next year joined the University of Maryland School of Medicine as an assistant professor, subsequently being appointed associate dean of graduate and continuing medical education. She was later promoted to senior associate dean for faculty affairs and professional development, a position she held at her death.
She enjoyed cooking and working in her garden and was a fan of poetry, literature and animals.
In addition to her husband, Dr. Mark H. Lowitt , she is survived by a son, Alexander R. Lowitt of Homeland; two daughters, Amy R. Lowitt of Harbor East and Diana R. Lowitt of Homeland; and her mother, Lynne Raymond Ryan of Timonium. She was predeceased by brother Bill Ryan ’72.
Scott William Goeglein ’80,
56, died Nov. 21, 2020 in Meridian, ID, following several strokes. He is survived by his wife, Lulu, and his children, Gabby (Max) and Gage (Chloe). Scott was a doting father and enjoyed a true
partnership with Lulu. His gentle nature and silly sense of humor will be sorely missed. In true Scott fashion, he saved four lives through multiple organ donations.
Faculty & Staff
Leroy
Anderson, 63,
died Dec. 27, 2020, in Wilmington, DE. A 29-year member of the NCCS Maintenance Team (1986–2015), Leroy was a valuable colleague and friend to all he met. In remarks made at a retirement party in his honor, former Head of School Tim Bazemore remembered him as “a loving family man with a heart of gold and a great sense of humor,” and former Trustee Susan Schulz said, “Leroy was always on the job, ensuring that school could open. Over the years he touched so many aspects of school life, all the while with enthusiasm and a smile. He was deeply cared for by everyone in the school community.”
Bob Hepner, 58,
died Sept. 27, 2020 in Las Cruces, NM, of cancer. In addition to teaching visual arts at Country School (1996–2001), Bob taught art at the Smith College Campus School for fifteen years. An active community volunteer, he helped out as a cook at the Amherst Survival Center and designed and helped build a playground for Leverett Elementary School. In his short time living in Las Cruces, he was a Justice Advocate, a volunteer for AVID in the Chihuahuan Desert (working with detainees at the Otero Detention Center), a bus driver for Las Cruces Public Schools, and a rider with middle schoolers in the Scorpion Bike Club. He is survived by his partner Lauren Rosenberg, daughters Bess ’09 and Ella ’12 and their partners Parker Ziegler and César Ignacio Pérez De la Rosa.
Memorials may be made to: Optimist Club of Las Cruces (attn Scorpion Bike Club www.lascrucesoptimistclub.org/ programs/fundraisers).
Hugh Whitman
Sr., 93, of Monroe, died May 30, 2020. A veteran of the U.S. Army, he taught at Country School for over 30 years (1954–1991). Hugh is predeceased by his wife, Mary Conant Whitman, who also taught at Country School (1967–1991). Survivors include his children, Hugh Whitman Jr. ’67, Michael Whitman, Steven Whitman ’70, and Elizabeth Whitman Memishian ’76, nine grandchildren, Kathryn Whitman, Joshua Whitman, Michelle Whitman, Mike Whitman Jr., Jennifer Whitman, David Whitman, Brian Whitman, Wendy Memishian and Eric Memishian, and four great-grandchildren, Bryce Whitman, Nicholas Davenport, and Bella and Mia Whitman.
Trustees
John Poole
Horgan Jr., 96,
a World War II veteran and one of the nation’s first venture capitalists, died June 9, 2020, of natural causes. In addition to New Canaan Country School, which all his children attended, he served on the board of Beloit College, which a daughter attended. He organized conservation efforts in New Canaan and on Nantucket Island, MA, where he and his family began spending summers in the 1960s and where he took up competitive sailing.
He is predeceased by his first wife Joan Horgan, who died in 1989 after a long struggle with cancer. He is survived by his second wife, Lois Keates, as well as his five children, Wendy ’65, Patricia
Horgan-Howell ’65, John “Chip” ’68,
Matthew ’71, and Martha Horgan Gantsoudes ’72; his three stepchildren, Debra, Nancy and Harry Keates; and his 10 grandchildren and seven step-grandchildren, including Sarah Gantsoudes ’00 and Spencer Gantsoudes ’02.
Dr. Robert “Bob” Jay
Schneider, 71, of
Bedford, NY, passed away on Oct. 1, 2020, at home. Bob attended the Fieldston School, Boston University and The Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He trained in internal medicine at Jacobi Hospital, after which he completed his oncology fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering. In 1981, while affiliated with Memorial Sloan Kettering, he began a private practice in Northern Westchester where he devoted himself to his patients throughout the remainder of his life.
Bob served on the board of New Canaan Country School (1988–1995) and was involved in fundraising at the Lawrenceville School. He had a love for and was a patron of the arts and was an avid reader on an endless quest for enlightenment. He will be remembered for his widespread generosity, devotion to family and fondness for his Weimaraners.
Bob is survived by his wife, Barbara, his son, Matthew ’93 (Michelle) of Montclair, NJ, his daughter, Kirsten Schneider Ayaz ’97 (Neil)of Ridgefield, CT, and his three grandchildren, Zachary, Isabel and Maya.
The family asks that any donations in his memory be made to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Howard R.
Greene of Wilton and Lakeville, CT, passed away peacefully in his sleep Sept. 12, 2020, at home. Howard graduated Dartmouth College in 1959 and received graduate degrees from New York University in history and American studies and from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Utilizing his experience as an Associate Dean of Admissions at Princeton University, Howard founded a profession in 1968 when he began privately counseling students through the educational planning process from secondary school and college to graduate and professional schools.
Howard was deeply committed to the belief that given the right educational opportunities, all children could thrive. Driven by this principle, Howard was dedicated to increasing educational access for all students, which he enacted as a board member of A Better Chance and Horizons National, organizations focused on opening the doors of independent schools to under-served children.
Howard also shared his strategic and educational guidance as a trustee of New Canaan Country School (1994–1998), Choate Rosemary Hall, Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, the Connecticut chapter of the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Advisory Board of the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. As the author of more than a dozen books and host of two national PBS programs on educational and financial planning, as a board member of the Wilton Library Association, and as an Elder of the First Presbyterian Church of New Canaan, Howard worked tirelessly to spread his expertise widely and in his home community.
In addition to his wife of 46 years, Laurie Sheldon Greene, Howard is survived by his children, Adam, Matthew, Katharine “Kate” ’95 and Andrew ’02, and his six grandchildren.
The family asks that any donations made in Howard’s memory be made to Dartmouth Partners in Community Service through the Dartmouth Center for Social Impact, Wilton Library Association, or any other educational or public library organization.
Kenneth Ambrecht
Father of Justine Mullin ’88, K.C. ’90, Reeves ’93 and Townie ’99
Donald Brigham Jr.
Father of Michael ’76, Chris ’78, Jean ’79 and Kathleen ’82
Margaret “Miggie” Bryan
Mother of Chris ’72, Peter ’74, Sukey ’76 and Sallie ’80
Daisy Dillan
Mother of Food Services Worker Neville Brevitt
Pamela Dimond Renwick Dimond
Parents of Ren ’82 and Ashley Dimond Giese ’83
Edwin Green
Grandfather of Anya Mohindra-Green 16, Sophie Mohindra-Green ’16 and Kieran Mohindra-Green ’22
Thomas Greig
Grandfather of Finn ’29 and Charlie ’32
Hugh Hall
Father of Elizabeth Hall ’22
David Hastings
Father of Grade 4 Teacher John Hastings
Jed Isaacs
Husband of Former Faculty Sue Isaacs (1976–1990), father of Jane Isaacs Schoenholtz ’80, and grandfather of Katelyn Schoenholtz ’12, Megan Schoenholtz ’13 and Teddy Schoenholtz ’17
Francisca Jimenez
Mother of Food Services Worker Yahaira Mendez
Len Levitt
Father of Jen ’97 and Mike ’00
Marion Lister
Mother of Grade 5 Teacher Wendy Root
Kenneth Peters
Father of Xandy ’04
Elizabeth Pfohl
Grandmother of Ben Bilden ’21, James Bilden ’24, Caroline Bilden ’27 and Zach Bilden ’29
Frederick Reding
Father of Early Childhood Assistant Teacher and Physical Education Teacher Byron Reding
Antonio Romeo
Father-in-law of Co-Director of Secondary School Counseling and Upper School Learning Resources Teacher Lauren Romeo, and grandfather of Antonio ’21 and Lilah ’24
Thomas Schultz
Father of Ivy ’96 and Greg ’99
Cleo Siderides
Mother of Elizabeth Theofanidis ’74 and Elliot ’75, and grandmother of John ’05, Andrew ’07 and Cleo ’10
Annika Sotirhos
Mother of Sabrina ’15, Celia ’17, Alexander ’20 and Sophia ’21
Terrence Tashji
Father of Performing Arts Teacher Laura Tashji Clauss
Linda Upson
Grandmother of Stewart ’23 and Daphne ’24
