Bon Voyage, Madame Brzys by Megan Tady

EARLY ON IN HER TEACHING TENURE, NANCY BRZYS GAVE SOME SERIOUS THOUGHT TO WHAT KIND OF FRENCH TEACHER SHE WANTED TO BE.

Blessed with her own positive educational experience, she recalled a particularly poignant remark made by one of her favorite teachers, who said to her: “You’re not going to remember anything, and you’re not going to have good memories, if you’re afraid.”

That struck a chord with Nancy. “As I was developing my educational philosophy, I kept thinking about how some old-school teachers believed they had to ‘put the fear of God’ into their students or ‘show them who’s the boss,’” she recalled. “But I think, especially with language, you need to get kids to take risks. And in order to take risks, they need to feel safe. To feel like it’s okay to make mistakes. And that’s hopefully what I did in my classroom.”

It’s exactly what she did in her classroom for 39 years at Portsmouth Abbey, introducing generations of students to a new language and culture that they would remember for a lifetime because they weren’t afraid to take chances. Instead, they were emboldened.

This summer, the Abbey bids a bon voyage to Madame Brzys as she retires as the head of the Modern Language Department and the international student advisor. The School celebrates her tenure, her achievements, and her lasting impact on hundreds of students.

Nancy arrived at the School in 1982 nine years before coeducation. “It wasn’t easy at first,” she recalls, about being among the first female faculty members on campus. “We were outsiders, and the students Thank you, Ms. Brzys, for being such an incredible teacher, role model and friend to me. Any tough days I had at the Abbey were easily remedied by seeing you; you always brought a smile to my face! I am so grateful to you for everything you’ve done for me, and I feel very lucky to have been in your class, and to have experienced the Abbey while you were there. I couldn’t have done it without you! – Bissou, Amie Conlan ’19

Congratulations to Ms. Brzys on an incredible career. Her mark on the Abbey will stretch forever, and she made every student feel both welcome and special from their first day on. God Bless. – Jack Keating ’05

CONGRATULATIONS on retirement and to a long-lived career of teaching French, being an affiliate, houseparent, advisor, listening ear, friend, and so much more. Ms. Brzys was a foundational part of my time at Portsmouth Abbey and holds a very special place in my heart even to this day! She always knew how to put a smile on my face. She is the sweetest, most kind-hearted, enthusiastic, goofy, witty, (I could go on forever), woman that I know. – Nicole Kerno ’14

I have fond memories of Ms. Brzys as my teacher because she made learn-

Nancy on campus in the 1980s

ing French look so easy and fun. I still keep my French textbooks. Thank you for the positive impact you made in my life while at Portsmouth Abbey. I wish you a happy, peaceful and fulfilling after-Abbey life. – Miguel (Mike) Bichara ’94

The very first day I entered Nancy Brzys’s French 3 Honors class, she greeted me with her dazzling smile and instantly all anxiety or fear dissipated. When I initially toured the Abbey, even before deciding to apply, I was told over and over again how Portsmouth Abbey is more than a school, it’s a home. Your friends become your siblings, and your teachers become your parents. I am so thankful for the three years of French class I got to take with Ms. Brzys, as she taught me so many priceless lessons. Despite Ms. Brzys’s retirement, she imparts a legacy of 39 years that will continue to live on at the Abbey. Congratulations Ms. Brzys, I am so excited for what this next stage has in store for you. Félicitation et bonne chance! – Molly Longson ’17

I am certain I speak for many, if not all, in saying how fortunate we are to have known you, and had you nearby at Portsmouth Abbey. Your arrival was a breath of fresh air, and the pleasant breeze seems never to have abated. Obviously, the indoctrination you received by the class of 1983 did not result in the frequent “new faculty retreat.” Instead of one and done, you went on to a long and successful career at the Abbey. That alone is an amazing feat of discipline and persistence. Hopefully, our hijinks with the yearbook produced that first year were more a source of amusement than angst. For anyone who later expressed complaints about

tested us.” During her first year, as she was washing her hands, boys let a mouse loose in the bathroom and closed the door, hoping to rile her – but Nancy was unflappable, quickly earning students’ respect and admiration. Being the faculty member who organized precoed dances – and thus brought girls to campus – didn’t hurt, either.

When the Abbey went coed, Nancy was instrumental in helping to smooth the transition and support the new female students. John Cummings ’83 wrote about Nancy, “As the stage was set for a sea change to transition from a traditionally same-sex institution, your abundant grace and carefree humor were instrumental in easing concerns from top to bottom. From start to finish, in all your roles there, what a tremendous job you’ve done for the many students, some of them our daughters, and

The Social Committee with Nancy in May 1997 at Hammersmith Farm in Newport, RI

for the community at large. Merci beaucoup is simply not enough in bidding you adieu.” And José Vicini ’96 concurred, “Thank you, Ms. Brzys, for nurturing those young ladies at the Manor House during the first years of coed at the Abbey, many of whom are still my friends. Thank you for being a beacon of light and supporting student life. You brought such a warmth to the Abbey.”

Nancy served as a houseparent in the Manor House from 1991 to 2001. During her last year, she was diagnosed with cancer and underwent chemotherapy– and she was deeply touched by the support she received from the Abbey community. “Other people did my dorm duty for me,” she said. “Somebody was always bringing me meals because I didn’t have the energy to cook.” She was adamant that she at least wanted to keep teaching. “I needed to have something to do, and to have a little bit of control over my life,” she said. This year, she celebrated her 20-year anniversary of being cancer-free.

One could say that Nancy wore a lot of berets at the Abbey. She’s served as the yearbook advisor, director of student activities, dean of student life, assistant headmaster of student life, and dean of faculty. Her favorite role, the finished product, let me clarify for the record. As advisor, you judiciously invoked your veto power over a few rare (and raw) submissions that might have ended your career prematurely, but not before enjoying some good laughs. We sure had a great time doing it, and had even more fun with your assistance. Yearbook or not, we all recognize that we were blazing a trail in the early 80s that probably looks more like Main Road today. Chaperoning social events must have been like herding cats for you as our boys knew every inch of that campus, and you had a measuring device to keep things at proper distance. What is quite mundane by current standards, was pushing the envelope back then, and you, Nance, always kept your cool. – John Cummings ’83, son of ’63, parent of ’99

I remember Ms. Brzys always treating students with such kindness and care. While I was at the Abbey she was running the social committee and went above and beyond to give students special experiences to enjoy. I would like to thank her for giving so much of her time and energy to the School community over the years. I wish her all the best in her well-deserved retirement. – Jamie Cannarozzi ’06

I am grateful to be writing about Ms. Brzys as she retires, for she cared for me with true love. She is more than a teacher and an advisor to me. She helped me overcome and survive. Thank you for being my advisor and a great mentor. Your love and kindness will always be with me. – Sarah Kim ’16

I am so, so excited for you and cannot wait to hear about all of your fun adventures! While a student at the Abbey, I did not have a super strong connection with you, but I am so happy and fortunate to have been given a second chance to form that bond as a faculty member years later. I cannot thank you enough for being such an amazing department head, mentor and friend in my three years of teaching at the Abbey. You have made an unforgettable impact on my life. I so miss living right down the hall from you in Manor House, but if these last few years away have shown me anything, it’s that I will have you in my life forever - and I’m so grateful for that! Wishing you the happiest retirement. You deserve it! – KK Villareal ’12

Your presence at the Abbey will be missed. I still remember that you were the first person from the Abbey that I spoke to when I was 12 and looking at independent schools. I knew nothing about the school or the culture; I just knew you, and all I had was your word. You were a kind face on campus and a wonderful educator, and I hope you can relax and enjoy some ample spa time now that you don’t have to worry about 300+ teenagers haha. Thank you again for your service and for being a light to all of us. – Horace Allen ’09

As a Third Former in a French class full of Fifth Formers, Ms. Brzys was incredibly supportive and helpful in my first year at the Abbey. I continued my French studies and ended up in an independent study with her in my Sixth-Form year. It was so nice to be able to spend one on one time with her, and her guidance helped shape my years at the School. I always felt that she was looking out for me, even when my choices weren’t the best! I truly thank her for that. Thirty-nine years is an amazing

Nancy with alumna and former Portsmouth Abbey Spanish teacher Caitlin Villareal ’12

she says, was advising the Student Council and the Social Committee. “I loved helping the students plan things and come up with ideas that made their lives better.”

But, of course, it was in the classroom where Nancy particularly shined. While she was always challenging her students, she also pushed herself to evolve as a teacher, to never remain stagnant. “To learn a language, you cannot be a passive learner,” she said. “I realized that students needed to really use the language in order to learn it, so I had to grow as a teacher to incorporate all of the language skills. Every day, we did listening, speaking, reading, and writing – and everybody did it.”

Molly Longson ’17 says Ms. Brzys always went above and beyond to make the Abbey feel like home for everyone. “She was so welcoming. She made sure to decorate her classroom with the cutest French posters, corresponding them with the changing holidays and seasons. During exams, she would ease our worries by passing along a container filled with sweets and offering us an encouraging, ‘Bonne chance!’ She motivated her students to take pride in their work and taught us how to cultivate a deep appreciation for both the French language and French culture.”

For many students, Nancy introduced them not only to France, but to all of the Francophone countries in the world, and she taught them the historical importance of the country, dismantling, as Kevin Legein ’12 said, “my stale conceptions of an artsy country famous for wine and cheese. It was her course that laid my foundational understanding of French history, which remains a favorite reading topic to this day; from our chapter on the great Druidic menhirs to Louis-le-Grand and down to the present day, she unfurled a richer history of that civilization.”

Students wrote in the 1994 Gregorian, one of many yearbooks that were dedicated to Nancy during her time at the Abbey, “Not a day seems to go by when Miss Brzys fails to say hello. Her cheerful smile, enthusiasm and interest greet us in the hallways, in her office or on the playing fields. When a student has a problem or a parent has a concern, she is often the first person consulted. In the dorm, she adds that kindly touch – by making cookies, that special birthday card, helping with homework, chatting in the common room. Whenever we need her, she is always available. Without her, life at the Abbey would not be the same.”

As Nancy looks forward to her future – spending time with her parents in Western Massachusetts, traveling again, and remaining open to new opportunities– she’s also reflecting with great fondness on her nearly four decades at the Abbey, 30 of which she spent living in the Manor House.

“The Manor House has great views of the Bay, and it has beautiful gardens that Father Damian planted,” she said of her favorite spot on campus. “As I prepare to leave, I’ll look out at the open water and the open space and think about all the people, how beautiful it’s been, and how much it’s meant to me over the years. It also faces west, and that’s the way the sun goes down, so it’s a good place to look out as my career sets.”

Bonne chance et bon vent, Madame Brzys!

– Megan Tady accomplishment, and I wish Ms. Brzys all the best in her retirement. Thank you for everything, Ms. Brzys! I hope your retirement brings many trips to France and a lot of relaxation. – Tara Tavares Winston ‘98

My experiences with Nancy Brzys ranged from casual conversations at Abbey sporting events to formal speeches in support of The Ali Fund. Many descriptive terms come to mind, and each one brings an inner smile of appreciation. Intelligent, clever, personable, interesting, grounded, kind, empathetic, gracious and engaging immediately come to mind, but the list is a very lengthy one. I am fortunate to have Nancy as part of my life experience. I treasure each memory and am enriched by them. She represents the best of the Abbey’s culture. Nancy’s natural presence, commitment to her core values, and service to others serve as a role model for all of us. – Sam Sacco, parent of Ali ‘05 and Libby ‘09

Each experience with Nancy reflected her thoughtfulness, kindness and devotion to the Abbey and the students. She has been a champion for the Ali Fund in memory of our daughter, Ali, a Fifth-Former who passed away suddenly in 2003. Her kindness was shown to us in many ways over some difficult times. Nancy made certain that our other daughter, Libby, was taken care of at the first funeral she attended after Ali died. Nancy always supported us. Her help with the Ali Fund will be missed. Nancy was so helpful and gave a lovely speech at every Ali fund event. She is one of the most pleasant people we have ever met. Nancy touched our lives in many ways. – Ann-Marie Sacco, parent of Ali ’05 and Libby ’09