Fond Farewell

Exuberant reunions. Spontaneous “selfies” with the headmaster.And hundreds of hugs. The Bulldog Community Celebration on June 6 to honor Dennis and Beth Manning drew parents, grandparents, alumni, faculty, former faculty, and students to the campus’s favorite gathering spot, the

Pit.They stood in line, happily chatting and snacking on summery treats like ice cream, as they waited for

Board ofTrustees President Ran Randolph offered brief their chance to share a few memories with the Mannings and personally thank them. Lower and Middle School Choruses performed, and a world-class faculty, modernized the curriculum, transformed the campus, tripled the endowment, and remarks. He noted that the school has advanced with led the school through a global pandemic. “But to me,

Mr. Manning at the helm in myriad ways: He attracted his most important accomplishment, which has been no small feat, has been to serve as the keeper of the flame, the defender of the ideal that honor, integrity, and character must remain at the forefront of everything that we do, even when challenging and painful,” he said. He gave Mr. Manning a smaller replica of a formal portrait that will be placed, alongside a plaque, in the newly named Dennis G. Manning Lower School. Mr. Manning thanked theAcademy family for the love that they have showered upon him and his family, and closed by quoting from a beloved children’s book,

A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh: “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”