12 • THE GRYPHON Summer/Spring 2021
LONGTIME FACULTY & STAFF RETIRE Rich Bird came on as CSW’s Director of Athletics in 2001, though he had already been working as a coach for the school since 1999, taking the ski club out to Nashoba Valley during D Block. He has also stepped in to coach or lead a number of other teams and activities over the years — tennis, cycling, field hockey, crew — and even served a few years as director of CSW’s summer day camp. Having bought his very first stock at age 13, Rich found himself working in corporate finance as a young adult, but C E L E B R AT I N G 2 0 Y E A R S he’d always wanted to work in physical education and sports, despite his father’s caution that he “wouldn’t make any money.” But after years of working behind a desk and crunching numbers, Rich couldn’t resist the call to get outside and do something more active. His uncles, who were baseball and basketball coaches, were two of his role models.
RICH BIRD
In Rich’s first ten years as Athletic Director, the CSW athletics program flourished. Boys’ Soccer won the league championship in 2001 and 2010; Cross Country won the championship in 2009, as did the Boys’ Basketball team. Girls’ Basketball won in 2010, and Baseball won in 2010. Ultimate Frisbee won back-to-back championships in 2014 and 2015, and Boys’ Tennis won in 2015. The final athletic competition under Rich’s leadership (before the pandemic hit) was the Boys’ Basketball championship winning game, in February 2020. It was also during Rich’s tenure that the athletic fields were redone (Rich was closely involved in the planning with Larry Frye), and Rich was immensely pleased to play a role in the construction of the Health and Fitness Center. Rich takes great pride in the wide scope of offerings available to students at CSW. “I want everybody to fall in love with something athletic,” Rich says. “I really hope the kids here can find something they fall in love with.” Students and colleagues have always appreciated Rich’s humor, level-headedness, and steadfast dedication and commitment to his role. “As a student at CSW, I was inspired by Rich’s drive to bring out the best in his students both on and off the field of play,” says former student and colleague Arlo Furst ’04. “For Rich, athletics at CSW was about learning how to be a good teammate, treating your opponents with respect, and pushing through tough obstacles with perseverance and heart. Athletics could mean several things — outdoor recreation, competitive sports, mindfulness and meditation, and so much more.” In retirement, Rich is excited to spend more time out on the water on his paddle board or aboard his power boat, and he is equally as eager to travel and see his grandchildren, but he will miss seeing his friends and colleagues every day. He has fond memories of sitting down to lunch with Jim Cook, Patricio Hernandez and Frantz Batoh, Steve Scrimshaw, and Michael Weinstein and Gustavo Brasil, among many others. “Continue to be different,” he says, when asked what parting advice he has for the CSW community. “I love it.” And in the spirit of the great Jim Valvano, former North Carolina State basketball coach: “Life is short. Laugh, think, and have your emotions brought to tears.”
KAREN BRUKER
C E L E B R AT I N G 2 1 Y E A R S
Ask Karen Bruker what her favorite courses to teach have been and she doesn’t hesitate: chemistry — anything and everything related to chemistry. Indeed, it was a part-time role teaching chemistry that brought Karen to CSW back in 2000, but she has since taught courses covering topics in physics, biology, anatomy and physiology, zoology, and of course, robotics. After she led a D Block called “Tinkering,” two of Karen’s advisees asked if she could help them start a robotics program at CSW. Karen enthusiastically accepted and soon found herself running the program out of her basement, with much of the work taking place over the weekend. Although it has taken on many forms since then, the robotics program continues to be an important part of CSW’s math and science offerings. While helping to bring the robotics program to CSW is among Karen’s proudest accomplishments, she derives the most joy out of helping students discover a love and enthusiasm for science, especially when they weren’t expecting to. “I think our students are just really curious. And when you can nurture that curiosity, that’s a win-win for the teacher,” Karen says. She strives to give lab blocks (which can last three to four hours each day) an interactive, camp-like atmosphere, where students can experiment and develop new questions about the world. She favors a style that encourages learning by doing, bringing in lecture at the end, rather than the beginning of a lesson. As a teacher and colleague, Karen radiates enthusiasm, energy, and a can-do attitude. “As a teacher, Karen made sure to engage the class, from dressing up as a mole on Mole Day to checking in on anybody who might need help.” says Kaylee Law ’19. “She was a key contributor to my success, and that of both my brothers, with her unending support and mentorship.” Looking ahead to retirement, Karen hopes to travel — the Galapagos is on the top of her list — and spend more time with her family and grandchildren. Her parting advice to the CSW community? Always be curious and always put your all in.
