20 minute read
Honoring Jack Smith
JACK SMITH
MATH TEACHER JACK SMITH RETIRES AFTER 45 YEARS
Middle School history teacher Wiz Montaigne Applegate ’79 read the following tribute to Jack Smith at the end-of-year faculty and staff reception in June.
Today we gather to honor the Multa Bene Facta contributions of Jack Smith, featuring many layers.
“Ask Jack”—it’s the usual response for any historical question posed here around school. “Ask Jack” is typically followed by a “Where’s Jack?”
“Ask Jack. Where’s Jack?”
Jack—in his Classroom “If I remember correctly” (A Jackism)
Jack has taught in many classrooms. It’s no surprise that he can pretty much tell you where each room was, what the room number was and the years he taught there. “Here’s what I can tell you” (another Jackism). His memory is encyclopedic.
If I remember correctly, Jack has taught every course in the Math Department—back in the day it was Alg, Geo, Calc, Stat, Trig. AP this, BC that ... today’s courses have fancier names!
“Well hold on now”
There were some years where Jack taught five sections, and there were a number of years as Department Chair when Jack taught four. Jack still has every single grade book going back to 1976. Imagine—fresh out of Franklin & Marshall with a mere two months of student teaching under his belt ... Jack began his rookie year teaching not one, but two of the Math Chair’s children!
A current colleague and former student Mary Hobbs Taylor ’09 shares, “In the classroom, one of the most impressive facets of ‘Mr. Smith’s’ teaching was that he would never move on from a concept until every single student in that room understood. Not only could he coherently present any material, from differentials to integrals to Lagrange Error Bounds, but he could also present it in five different ways to cater to all learning needs. Even when a student would give the fake ‘I understand’ nod, Mr. Smith would persist and work through another practice problem to ensure clarity for that student.”
This Kitchel Award winner purposefully made sure he didn’t teach any of his own children before their senior year. He taught all three Calc BC.
“Here’s what I can tell you”
To illustrate how fair he is ... Before his daughter Laurie’s senior year, Jack told her that if she ever needed any extra help, she had to go and see him in his office at school and that he wouldn’t help her at home.
Jalyn Miller ’22 sums it up: “Mr. Smith helped me understand things I never thought I would understand.”
Ask Jack. Where’s Jack? Jack in his office
10th grade HCA 9th and 10th grade dean Math Department Chair for 25 years And lifelong registrar That’s my recollection
If I remember correctly...
A long time ago, Day 1s and Day 6s were always Mondays; Fridays were always Day 5 or Day 10. Classes met at the same time every day for the same amount of time and most classes met either eight or
nine times a cycle. We’ve had Green days, White days, 12 days, 10 days, 7 days, 6 days, 5 days, 7 periods, 8 periods ...
Well hold on now ... I am sure there are other iterations ... I’ll have to ask Jack!
“Here’s what I can tell you” ... The man is a scheduling guru.
Jack began doing the Upper School schedule in 1985. The Upper School head at the time, Ernie Savage, tried to talk him out of it saying, “You don’t want to sit cooped up in an office doing the schedule. You don’t see anybody. You want to get out and be around everybody.” Thank goodness Jack didn’t pay a lick of attention to Ernie’s advice!
According to Harry Baetjer, another 40-plus-year lifer, and I quote, “Jack’s contributions at Department Chair meetings were knowledgeable, insightful, carefully considered and, as you might expect, had a significant influence on discussions. He has served on every major committee that has had a major influence on the life of the school.” Harry cannot count the number of times he heard “Ask Jack” or frequently heard Jack say, “Let me check on that,” which meant the final word was going to arrive because Jack was going to check his plan book or notes.
Ask Jack. Where’s Jack? In the park or on the track or on DeGroat (for Field Day!)
“If I remember correctly”
Jack served as varsity cross country coach from ’81 to ’86 and became the varsity track coach in the spring of ’82, and his last season was in 1985 (Matt Twyman ’88’s freshman year), but “let me check on that.” As his administrative duties increased, Jack hung up his whistle ...
“No, no, no ... I take that back ... That’s not quite right”
When Laurie, his eldest, started running spring track, Jack “unofficially” helped Stu Markley, the track coach at the time. During Laurie’s senior spring, Stu had surgery, and in typical Jack fashion, he filled in—and what a spring that was! The boys won states, and the girls took second. Wow!
And Field Day ...
The role of Field Day line judge is exciting, yet comes with great responsibility. As the first grade hula hoopers line up, Jack gathers the line judges to give his pre-race “pep talk.” If you are assigned to pick the first place winner (which Jack will remind you is the easiest job of the bunch!), consider yourself lucky!
As head judge, not only does Jack help determine the winners for every single Field Day race, but he also is talented enough to pick out second and third place. As the judges dodge hula hoops and dash to ID the finishers, in the background you’ll hear “Green, White, Green” or “White, Green, Green” or maybe “Green sweep” (my personal favorite!). “Here’s what I can tell you.” There are six people assigned to the finish line to try to do what Jack can really do all by himself.
“Well hold on now”
We must again highlight fairness ... One year Jack disqualified his daughter Laurie’s fourth grade team because someone stepped over the line in the hurdle event, and he may have even disqualified his other daughter’s team in the same event years later! (But “let me check on that.”)
“You don’t know Jack”
What’s interesting about these expressions is “You don’t know jack” actually means the same thing as “You know jack.” Both phrases literally mean “you don’t know anything.”
Jack Smith, pictured with his wife, Melva Carveth Smith ’72, and daughter, Laurie Smith Finnical ’98, was recognized for his 45 years of service with a THS chair with his name on it and portrait of the school.
Certainly, there are many layers to Jack—teaching, admin, coaching—but really “you don’t know Jack.”
Well hold on now ...
Consider how during a majority of Jack’s formative
Jack Smith at a track meet in 1977 and Field Day in 2017.
years at Tower Hill, he cross pollinated with at least 18 30-plus-year lifers and another five who were 40-plusyear lifers.
Did you know he’s a poet? At an athletic assembly, Jack recited a poignant poem about the track team. Ask Jack.
Did you know he can sing? He recently sang the alma mater for an alumni office challenge. Ask Jack.
Did you know the man does not age? Ask Jack.
Did you know that the ONE thing Jack has NOT done while at Tower Hill is chaperone a prom. Imagine—45 years of getting away with that! Nice!
So back to the math—triangles, rectangles, cubes, polygons, octahedrons (Ask Jack!) and the circle ... the full circle ...
How many of you weren’t yet born in 1976?
In the fall of ’76, only 46 students were in the senior class. The “new” library building was only 3 years old. The Upper School was in what is now the Middle School hallway. There was no du Pont Theatre, no Field House, no Math and Science or Music buildings.
And in fall of 1976, I was a Tower Hill 10th grader, and “Mr. Smith” was in his first year teaching. He was trying to teach me geometry, and math was not my forte. As the man has the uncanny ability to recall most everything, I am sure he can tell you the exact grade I earned. But don’t ask Jack—he is far too polite for that!
You don’t know Jack. You know Jack. Just ask Jack. Where’s Jack?
Jack, you always deliver as a colleague and never as an expert. Your personal integrity, reflected in the respect with which you treat everyone, is a model for all of us. You are a true lifer in all senses of the phrase. We know Jack, and Jack knows all.
In recognition of Jack’s 45 years of service, Kevin Waesco took a look at the significance of the number 45 and reports that ...
Forty-five is a triangular number. It is the sum of a series of natural numbers. Forty-five is the sum of all the single digits 0 through 9, so in other words 0+1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9=45.
Another interesting fact: 45 in binary is 101101—it has perfect symmetry and balance.
Jack really is the sum of all things as an educator. “We know Jack”—master teacher, scheduling magician, parent, advisor (to both students and colleagues), Department Chair, dean and coach.
And Kevin, true math teacher that he is, came up with another statistic. Chances of an amateur golfer hitting a hole in one is approximately 1 in 12,500. Probability of hitting a hole in one on your birthday jumps to 1 in 4,562,500. In the summer of 2010, Jack did just that. What are the odds?!
What’s the probability of Tower Hill having another master teacher like Jack? Frankly? Zero. (Is that even a number?) Ask Jack.
And with that, let’s all raise a glass in appreciation for Jack’s service to Tower Hill. Thank goodness we have all had the improbable opportunity to know (and love) Jack. Melva, Laurie, Jason and Amy, thank you for sharing him with us for all these years.
YEARS OF SERVICE RECOGNITION
Faculty and staff were recognized in April for their years of service to the school at an event hosted by the Tower Hill Board of Trustees. SCHOOL LIFE
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1. Wendy Liu, Andrea Glowatz, Pat Carlozzi, Kevin Bryant, Kerry King-Brown, Josh Boughner, John Tchinnis, Patty Vattilana, Nancy Tate, Cindy Sardo, Marina Attix, Kristin Mumford, Anthony Pisapia and Andrea Sarko are recognized for five years at Tower Hill. Not pictured: Jane Chesson, Ashley Gillerlain, Blaine McQueen, Abby Patterson and Matthew Twyman ’88. 2. Jack Smith, pictured with Board Chair Eric Johnson, M.D., and Head of School Bessie Speers, is recognized for 45 years at Tower Hill. 3. John Bartlett, Harry Neilson, Tara Tatasciore, Noreen Jordan and Greg Spear are recognized for 10 years at Tower Hill. Not pictured: Rachel Marlowe and Linda Palmer. 4. Jerry Dais, Beth Anderson, Ida Leader, Bill Ushler and Amanda Blackstone are recognized for 15 years at Tower Hill. 5. Scott Zeplin, Amy Bickhart and Cherie Martinez, pictured with Johnson, are recognized for 20 years at Tower Hill.
ATHLETICS
SPRING SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS
BASEBALL The baseball team had a successful 14-2 regular season. The Hillers competed in the DIAA state tournament, losing in the third round. In April, head coach Billy Cannon broke the baseball all-time win record at Tower Hill with 234 wins! Cannon was also voted the DISC coach of the year. Paul Gillerlain was voted DISC assistant coach of the year as well as allstate assistant coach of the year, and Marty Coyne ’23 earned all-state honorable mention recognition.
BOYS’ LACROSSE The boys’ lacrosse team had a successful 9-6 regular season and made it to the second round of the state tournament. Brendan Hickey ’22 earned first-team all-state honors.
GIRLS’ LACROSSE The girls’ lacrosse team went 10-4 in the regular season and made it to the second round in the state tournament. GIRLS’ SOCCER The girls’ soccer team ended the season with a 4-8-3 record, with many young players who will be back next year.
TRACK AND FIELD The track and field team had a successful season and competed at the DIAA state championship, with the girls’ team finishing 7th in the state. Below are highlights from the meet.
• Cameron Haskins ’23 placed 4th in the triple jump • Hannah Zhou ’22 placed 8th in the 100m • Girls’ 4x200 placed 5th • Girls’ 4x100 placed 4th • Jalyn Miller ’22 placed 7th in the 800m • Girls’ 4x400 placed 4th • Girls’ 4x800 placed 3rd • Boys’ 4x800 placed 3rd • Boys’ 4x200 placed 6th • Boys’ 4x100 placed 6th • Boys’ 4x400 placed 5th • Vincent Grillo ’23 placed 4th in the shot put
COLLEGE ATHLETICS
Congratulations to our student-athletes who will continue their athletic careers in college!
Reese Mullins ’21 - Immaculata University (basketball and track) Caroline Deyrup ’21 - Oberlin College (swimming) Matthew Spruance ’21 - Occidental College (swimming) Phin Pilson ’21 - Carnegie Mellon University (soccer) Annie Malatesta ’21 - Franklin & Marshall College (field hockey)
THIRD GENERATION BLUE-GOLD
On June 18, Emmett Simpler ’21 competed in the annual Blue-Gold football game, which benefits the Delaware Foundation Reaching Citizens with Intellectual DisABILITIES. Simpler is the thirdgeneration athlete to play in the game; his grandfather, Ken Simpler Sr., played in the 1962 game, and his father, Tower Hill trustee Ken Simpler Jr., played in 1985. An article was featured in The News Journal. Read more at towerhill.org/bulletin.
STATE CHAMPS
Kathy Franklin, Olivia Schwandt ’21, Rylie Heflin ’21, Avery McCrery ’25, Henry Stone ’23, Karen Sinton and Maurice Rapp
Congratulations to the golf team on winning its fifth consecutive DIAA state championship! Rylie Heflin ’21, John Koenig ’21, Nick Lenhard ’21, Avery McCrery ’25, Olivia Schwandt ’21 and Henry Stone ’23 participated in the tournament. Heflin (2), McCrery (5), Stone (10) and Schwandt (13) all placed in the top 15.
BOYS’ TENNIS WINS DIAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP, GIRLS PLACE SECOND
Congratulations to the boys’ tennis team on winning the state championship and to the girls’ team on placing 2nd! On the boys’ team, Michael Dignazio ’24 was the 3rd singles state champion; Matthew Heinle ’23 and Demetrios Moutsatsos ’24 were the 1st doubles state champions; and Davis Bland ’22 and Jack Allen ’24 were the 2nd doubles state champions.
On the girls’ team, Claire Dignazio ’21 was the 1st singles state runner-up; Siena Sysko ’21 and Ella Shepherd ’22 were 1st doubles state champions; and Meghan Mumford ’24 and Ava Etlinger ’24 were 2nd doubles state champions.
Boys: Michael Dignazio ’24, Jack Allen ’24, Davis Bland ’22, Gaurav Rastogi ’21, Drew Allen ’23, Matthew Heinle ’23, Anish Vakalapudi ’24 and Demetrios Moutsatsos ’24
Girls, front row: Ava Etlinger ’24, Ella Shepherd ’22 and Bridget Heinle ’25. Back row: Anna Schiltz ’24, Siena Sysko ’21, Claire Dignazio ’21, Selina Chen ’21 and Meghan
Mumford ’24
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1. The entire school got out of afternoon classes to gather in Rockford Park, enjoy water ice, play games and share Hiller History for Tower Day on May 19. 2. A Lower Schooler enjoys a water ice treat. 3. Head of School Bessie Speers welcomes students and faculty to the annual event. 4. Middle School students pose for a photo. 5. Solomon Miller ’25 shares Hiller History. 6. Upper School English teacher Asha Smith and teaching and learning specialist Jessica Douglass enjoy the afternoon in Rockford Park. 7. Middle and Upper School students scoop water ice.
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More than 400 visitors joined students virtually on April 1 for a wonderful Grandparents’ and Friends’ Day! Grandparents and friends received an update on teaching and learning at Tower Hill by Head of School Bessie Speers, followed by special programming in the Lower, Middle and Upper School divisions. 1. A Lower School student shares artwork with her grandparents. 2. Middle Schoolers wave to grandparents and friends on Zoom. 3. A Middle Schooler meets one-on-one with her special guest. 4. A Lower Schooler shares a school project with her special friend. 5. Kindergartners perform a dance for their visitors. 6. Madison Fisher ’21 greets her visitors on Zoom.
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Teachers and staff were treated to custom coffee, breakfast treats, a food truck lunch and raffle items on behalf of Home and School in recognition of Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week in May. 1. Beatriz Mendez enjoys custom coffee on DeGroat patio. 2. Abby Patterson enters to win raffle items. 3. Teachers and staff are treated to custom coffee. 4. Teachers and staff enjoy breakfast treats on DeGroat patio. 5. Kim Schiccatano orders lunch from a food truck. 6. Home and School volunteers Amy Connolly, Erika Bohman, Becky Allen and Katharine Maroney serve lunch to teachers.
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Upper Schoolers enjoyed a variety of experiential learning for the fourth annual Tower Term in June. 1. Students create landscape paintings at Goodstay Gardens. 2. Mark Sheehan ’22 and Ben Miao ’22 enjoy backyard and lawn games. 3. Ben Jordan ’23 and Angel Pedraza ’23 program a robot in the Robot Coding and Drawing Tower Term. 4. Tara Fletcher leads a yoga class as part of the Yoga Nature Retreat Tower Term. 5. Miriam Pallant instructs Kaiya Whitfield ’23 in the Knit Chat Tower Term. 6. Students learn how to create abstract masterpieces in the Teach Yourself to Pour Paint Tower Term.
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1. A Middle School student works on a sculpture in ceramics class. 2. A Lower Schooler practices guitar in music. 3-4. Lower and Middle Schoolers took inspiration from traditional Buddhist prayer flags to create Unity Banners, which were hung outdoors to promote peace, compassion, strength and wisdom. 5. The Middle School orchestra performs for Lower Schoolers in the Experiential Outdoor Classroom. 6. Middle School students take their art class outdoors.
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7-9. The Annual Evenings of the Arts Celebration took place in April. 10-11. Fourth graders perform their annual show, Dancin’ Through the Decades, on DeGroat Field. 12-13. Cast members of Into the Woods perform songs in St. Amour Garden as part of Tower Term; pictured are Claire Dignazio ’21, Billy Nunn ’21 and Jade Harnish ’21.
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1. Middle Schoolers cheer on the Green team, which won the 2021 Field Day. 2. A Lower Schooler prepares for the dashes. 3. A Middle School student participates in the football relay. 4. Lower Schoolers celebrate earning ribbons. 5. A Lower School student participates in the jump rope race. 6. Faculty members Jennifer Houston, Andrea Sarko, Luisa Sawyer, Jill Zehner, Greg Spear and Pat Kaiser ’02.
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7. Jack Smith is presented with a “45” jersey in recognition of his 45 years at Tower Hill. 8. Teachers and students cheer on Jack Smith. 9. The 2020 and 2021 captains march onto DeGroat Field. 2020 captains: Layna Gerhard ’24, Michael Dignazio ’24, Robby Saunders ’24 and Olivia Kushkin ’24. 2021 captains: Jack Chesman ’25, Hannah Graveline ’25, Lainey Kushkin ’25 and Colby Twyman ’25. 10. Spanish teacher Ida Leader and Mandarin teacher Wei Yang, Ph.D., cheer from the sidelines. 11. Kindergartners prepare for their event. 12. Eighth grade boys participate in the tug-of-war.
