11 minute read
In Memoriam
We offer our 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 Patricia Edwards Dennis ’42, 91, formerly of Beckwith Lane, Old Lyme, and New Canaan, died Aug. 12, 2019, at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital.
Following Country School, Patricia graduated magna cum laude from Bryn Mawr College. She married David Wood Dennis on Oct. 2, 1948; he predeceased her in 2008. She was employed for many years as a librarian at the Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library in Old Lyme.
Her family celebrates her devotion to her loved ones and service to the community as a Girl Scout leader, volunteer librarian at her children’s schools and Chapter President of American Field Service. She was an avid reader and gardener. She loved theatre and music, especially opera.
Patricia is survived by her children, Patricia “Kylie” Dennis of Saint Louis, MO, Charles Dennis of Hanover, NH, David Dennis Jr. of Lolo, MT, five grandchildren, and a great-grandson.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may made to the Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library in Old Lyme or the Alzheimer’s Association.
Pamela Miller Gerard ’49, passed away peacefully on Aug. 18 at the age of 85. A lifelong New Yorker, Pam had a career in retail fashion that spanned over 50 years, working for many of the industry’s great names. She was one of the first women to be named a Vice President at Saks Fifth Avenue. A patron of museums, ballet and theater, Pam also cherished dinners and travels with friends.
Pam is survived by her sisters Gail Miller Stoddart ’51 and Dixie Miller de Koning ’63 and her husband Joep; nieces Penelope Potter (Ted), Liska Yealland, Daria de Koning (Theo) and nephew Tim Stoddart (Pam); grandnieces and grandnephews Gus and Maggie Potter, Perry, Isabel and Miles Stoddart, Cairis, Tristan and Freya Yealland. All greatly loved and treasured by their “Auntie.”
Edward Tuckerman Esty II ’54, 80, of Chevy Chase, MD passed away peacefully on Aug. 23, 2019, with his wife of 56 years, Mary Lee, at his bedside.
Following Country School, Ed attended Deerfield Academy, then graduated from Harvard College in 1961 with a major in mathematics, and received his master’s degree in education the following year. His doctoral dissertation explored Piaget’s writings about conservation of space in young children. Ed’s academic work was awarded the Phi Delta Kappa and Pi Lambda Theta prizes for Distinction in Studies for the Degree of Doctor of Education by the Harvard Graduate School of Education Faculty in 1970.
After briefly teaching, Ed served as a research scholar in mathematics education for the Comprehensive School Mathematics Program, one of the early innovative mathematics curriculum projects that focused on problem-solving rather than rote drill, and subsequently became an influential figure in American mathematics education. He was a senior project director at the Mathematical Sciences Education Board at the National Academy of Sciences, and later was a mathematics and research consultant for Square One Television, an educational series that the Children’s Television Workshop produced for PBS. Ed also consulted with the John Glenn Commission, chartered by the U.S. Secretary of Education, which produced a well-known report, “Before It’s Too Late,” on preparing the math and science teaching force for the 21st century, and also with Change the Equation, a nonprofit launched at the White House by President Obama.
A talented composer and pianist, he wrote several accompaniments for the Suzuki violin repertoire that continue to be used regularly by violin students around the world.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, Scott and Elizabeth Esty, and his five grandchildren, Sophie, Isaac, Willem, Odin and Julia. In lieu of flowers, the family asks to please consider contributing in Ed’s name to the ACLU or the American Lung Association.
Susan “Susie” Gerli Smith ’62 of Old Greenwich, passed away Dec. 16 at home. She was 72.
She is remembered by the NCCS community for her starring role as “Matchmaker” in the ninth grade play and for the summer she spent as an assistant in the Boost Program, the precursor to what ultimately became known as Horizons.
Following graduation from Country School, she attended Dana Hall School in Wellesley, MA, where she played the lead in the school’s spring production of Brigadoon. Susie received a B.A. degree from Smith College and a master’s degree in teaching from Columbia Teachers College.
She worked for three years in the New York City Mayor’s office during the John Lindsay Administration in the areas of education and environmental protection. She also participated in a task force on single-room occupancy housing.
In later years, she lived in Washington, DC, where she worked as a consultant for the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching on a national study of high schools, and then returned to Connecticut, where she taught school and worked as a clinical therapist at the Franklin S. DuBois Center in Stamford.
Survivors include a brother, Timothy Smith ’67, of Aurora, CO. Susie’s marriage to Eric Peterson ended in divorce.
Sarah Andrews
Brown ’66, her husband, Damon, and their 25-year-old son, Duncan, tragically died on July 24, 2019, when their private plane crashed in Nebraska. They were on their way to their California home from Wisconsin where they had attended the Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture convention.
She was an award-winning author, pilot, artist, teacher and professional geologist who brought the excitement of geology to the public through her mystery stories. Under her maiden name, Sarah Andrews, she wrote a series of novels chronicling the adventures of a female forensic geologist, Em Hansen. Her tales did well enough to warrant more than 10 books, and positive testimonies from readers on Goodreads, a social media site dedicated to reading, indicate that her work hit home with people who loved finding a good murder mystery with in-depth knowledge of the natural world.
Following Country School, Sarah earned her B.A. degree in geology at Colorado College and her M.S. in Earth resources at Colorado State University.
Sarah was frequently invited to lecture on a wide range of topics, including geology, mystery writing, communicating science to the public, women in geology, how geologists think, the controversy between science and religion, and the life of Eddie McKee. A Fellow of the Geological Society of America, Sarah received several significant awards: the 2016 President’s Medal of the Geological Society of America, the 2009 Louis T. Benezet Award from Colorado College, the 2006 Antarctic Service Medal, the 2003 Special Award of the Association of Engineering Geologists, the 2001 James T. Shea Award of the National Association of Geoscience Teachers, the 1999 Journalism Award of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, and the 1997 Journalism Award of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists.
She is survived by her sister Judith Andrews Green ’61 and predeceased by her brother Joseph “Charlie” Andrews ’63.
Kendall Lione Gleason ’73,
a resident of Gwynn Island, VA, passed away on Sept. 29, 2019, after a year-long struggle with ALS. She was born in Stamford to the late Sallianne Cordiner Lione and Frederick M. Lione Jr. Kendall went on to New Canaan High School and received a BA from Franklin and Marshall College in 1980. She later earned an MBA from Marymount University. Kendall had a rewarding career on Capitol Hill, initially as a legislative aide to Senator Harrison Schmitt, R-NM, and later to Senator James McClure, R-ID.
During her time in Washington she met and married Michael Palmer Gleason, who died in 2013 after 29 years of marriage. They lived in the DC area for many years, then moved to Gwynn Island in 1999 where, as Gleason Publishing Inc., they edited and published “Virginia – A Magazine on History and Travel.” They also published Virginia History Timeline 2000 and other books. In 2001, Kendall wrote a book titled Wyonegonic: The First 100 Years to celebrate the centennial of a camp where she had spent many summers in Denmark, ME.
Kendall is survived by her father, Frederick M. Lione Jr., and his wife, Nancy Smith Lione, of Norwalk, CT, and brothers David Lione ’77 and his wife, Catherine, of Clifton, VA; John Lione’79 and his wife, Susan, of Sudbury, MA, and sister Sarah Lione Zarucha ’88 and her husband, Edward of Seymour, CT. Also, her nieces Cara Boyle (Kevin,) and Tess Lione and nephew Nicholas Lione. In addition, surviving are stepsons D. Palmer Gleason and Trevor E. T. Gleason (Celeste) and three step-grandchildren, along with four step sisters and brothers.
Kaleigh Elizabeth Griffiths ’19,
age 15 of New Canaan, died peacefully Sept. 17, 2019, in New York City, surrounded by her family. Born in Greenwich in 2004, she is the daughter of Jacqueline and Sean Griffiths.
Kaleigh attended Country School from Beginners on and New Canaan High School for part of ninth grade. She loved playing lacrosse, ice hockey and soccer for the Town of New Canaan, Winter Club and her school teams. In addition to being exceptionally smart, athletic and witty, she was an accomplished backyard gymnast (scaring and amazing her parents on a regular basis), and a captivating dancer. Kaleigh had an effervescent and spunky personality, was always fun to be around, and had a remarkable and contagious zest for life.
In addition to her parents, Kaleigh is survived by her paternal grandfather William Griffiths of Brooksville, FL, her maternal grandparents Natalie Abrams of New York City and Robert Abrams of Larchmont, NY, and her siblings, brother Liam ’16 and sisters Meghan ’18 and Sloane Griffiths. She was predeceased by her paternal grandmother Kathleen Griffiths.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks contributions in memory of Kaleigh Griffiths be made to Friends of Karen, 118 Titicus Road, North Salem, NY 10560 or made online at www.friendsofkaren.org.
Faculty Mary Whitman,93, of Beaufort, SC, died Nov. 17, 2019, in Beaufort Memorial Hospital.
She arrived at Country School in 1954 alongside husband Hugh Whitman (1954–1991), who had been hired to teach sixth grade homeroom and coach boys’ hockey. Three of their four children, Hugh Jr. ’67, Michael, Steve ’70 and Elizabeth Whitman Memishian ’76, entered school and Mary became active in the parent community. In 1967, she became the assistant to Beginner’s Teacher Betty McCarty, working on the Apprentice Teacher Training Program. In 1976, she became an Assistant Teacher in the Lower School, and by 1979, was a Head Teacher in the multi-age group. She completed her master’s in Open Education at Fairfield University in 1982, and by 1985, took on the additional responsibility of overseeing the Apprentice Teacher Training Program.
Upon retirement in 1991, she was described by colleagues in the Bulletin as indefatigable, constantly executing special activities such as exploring the salt marshes and camping out at the Pound Ridge Reservation with students, and for creating a tennis club for colleagues. She and Hugh moved to the shores of South Carolina shortly thereafter, where she enjoyed sailing, golf and travel.
Surviving in addition to Hugh are sons: Hugh Jr. ’67; Michael and Steve ’70; one
Angela Bothwell
Mother of Stephanie Bothwell Grillo ’87
Frank Burr
Grandfather of Miller ’21, Drew ’23,
Hudson ’26 and Hannah ’28
Margaret Burden Childs
Mother of Rick ’72, Lore Childs
Macdonald ’73, Nick ’73, Connie ’75,
Shirley Childs Kelly ’76, Hilary ’83,
Pindy Childs McKee ’85
Shirley Kearns
Mother of Todd ’83 and Andrew ’85 daughter, Elizabeth ’76; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Sandra “Sandy” Pauline Burn, 77, of Stamford, died Jan. 22 of a brain tumor. Sandy was born on April 1, 1943, and taught second grade at New Canaan Country School from 1982–2002.
Surviving are daughter Lisa Burn Barocas ’88, who also worked at the school (2000–2004); son-in-law Morris Barocas ’83 and granddaughters Carly Barocas ’15 and Hayley Barocas.
Trustee
Katharine “Katie” Babcock Mountcastle,
89,passed away Jan. 22. Born in Philadelphia, Katie was the daughter of Mary Reynolds and Charles Babcock. She was educated at Madeira School, Sweetbriar College and graduated from Salem College. In 1951, she married Kenneth F. Mountcastle.
In addition to raising her family, Katie had a long and renowned record of community service. In addition to serving as a Trustee for Country School (1990-1992), she served on the boards of the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation
Frida Klykova
Grandmother of Sasha Valdes ’23
Nigel MacEwan
Stepfather of Michele Elliman ’76 and Jackie Elliman Leonard ’78 and Grandfather of Caroline Leonard ’09, Annie Leonard ’11 and Bobby Leonard ’14
Bill Mackey
Grandfather of Will ’21, Colin ’22, Logan ’24 and Hunter ’27
William “Bill” Pike
Father of Lisa Pike Sheehy ’83 and Dan ’89 and the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. Additional board service included Sapelo Foundation, Fairfield County’s Community Foundation, International Social Service, Friends of the Earth, People for the American Way, Wake Forest University, American Farm School, League of Conservation Voters, NARAL, UNC Public Television, Horizons National, Rural Advancement Fund, New Canaan United Way, Lockwood-Mathews Mansion, and Family and Children’s Aid Advisory.
“Katie spent more than 60 years advancing work that made a difference to struggling people and communities. She was a force to be reckoned with! Full of life, strong opinions and a deep sense of justice, she will be missed by all of us who were fortunate enough to know her,” said a friend and former colleague.
She is survived by her children, Mary Mountcastle ’69 (Jim Overton), Laura Mountcastle ’71, Ken Mountcastle III ’75 (Lisa) and Kathy Mountcastle ’78 (Mark Koster); and five grandchildren, Holt and Kemble Mountcastle, Kara Mountcastle and Alex and Katie Koster.
The family asks that commemorative donations be made to Fund for Women and Girls at Fairfield County’s Community Foundation, 383 Main Ave, Norwalk, CT 06851 or Southern Environmental Law Center, 201 W. Main St., Charlottesville,
VA 22902.
Marie Polk
Grandmother of Annie Nichols ’21
Elizabeth “Betsy” Rodiger
Mother of Greg ’74, Will ’77 and Bert ’80
Sidney Staunton
Father of Sid ’78, Jody Staunton Mallory ’79, Steve ’80, Jeannie Staunton Bean ’83 and Ed ’85; Father-in-law of Chris Bean ’83 and Grandfather of Bella Bean ’14, Anna Bean ’15 and Finley Bean ’17
Mary-Starke Wilson
Mother of Scott ’65 and Kiki ’67
