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I honor David McIlhiney, the first Episcopal priest I ever met, whose gentle kindness helped introduce me to what a loving God might look like at work in the world. I honor his stepdaughter, Rosemarie Plume '87, the first (but not the last) friend I ever had who thought it was totally normal to read the New York Review of Books and read two ancient languages, and that I would naturally wish to do these things too.

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Basil W. Kelsey, Jr, ("Buzz") arrived as renown q-back from Ottawa High, complete with cheerleader girlfriend and tremendous pizzazz.

We both some how struggled through the classes and academia, but found success with Ted Seabrooke on the wrestling mat and lacrosse field.

Without the fresh breeze from Kansas, honing a leadership personality now recognized as Class President, life would have been a pale ale.

The cheerleader has long been his lovely wife, mother of children and now grandparent, at whose farm I learned to milk a cow and shovel manure, skills which are well suited for today's political environment.

Hail to Buzz and Sue!

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To My Valentine: 36 years ago, I went on a date to a 20th Reunion at Exeter. It was fall; the campus was lovely; we drove up from Cambridge for the day and danced the night away in Elm Street. And now, I have attended 8 reunions for the Class of 1968 and met my husband's lifelong friends. Our son, Class of 2013, has had his graduation and two reunions on the same weekends as '68. I was blessed to watch our son enjoy two summers and four years on campus while my husband and I worked in IA. I could send valentines to at least 15 faculty who have made a lasting impact on our family's life. But it all started with that first trip to campus with Ron Suduiko '68; P'13. Thank you, Exeter!

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I have had many wonderful teachers at Exeter. The one I am most grateful to is Mr Peter Vorkink, my philosophy/religion teacher during senior year. Mr Vorkink introduced us to the amazing world of ancient and modern philosophers: Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, and even Zen Buddhism! He pushed us to think hard about what truth is, and taught us the  importance of looking at things from different perspectives - a lesson all the more important in this day and age! This gift is in honour of him.

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I'm so happy to make a gift in honor of Chris Matlack who was such a pivotal teacher during my time at Exeter. I was an incredibly quiet prep who struggled to find her place at the Harkness table. Chris created a fun and encouraging learning environment that brought me out of my shell. I thrived in his Bio class and was thrilled when I could take his environmental class senior year. His love of nature and the outdoors was (and is) contagious, and it put me on a path to UVM and an environmental degree. I will forever be grateful for teachers like Chris Matlack and I know he did the same for so many other Exeter students. I am so happy to still call him a friend!

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I am grateful to many for helping to make my PEA experience as good as it was, but I’m going to single out the late David McIlhiney who was my advisor for a while and whose kindness and wisdom I so dearly needed back then.

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My gift is in honor of my former English instructor James Valhouli, who taught me to love the book Crime and Punishment by Dostoyesky. We dove so deeply into a book that started out as something I had no interest in, and ended up something I felt profoundly moved by and a part of. Mr. Valhouli was also inherently kind, calm, and inclusive as an instructor, and my nervous system benefited greatly from his demeanor. I continue to miss his presence in the world.

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My mind turns to a couple of outstanding instructors who left this earth far too early --- Richard Parris and James Valhouli --- and to my old friend Ozzie Willet, a master stonemason at the Academy for nearly 30 years.

Mr. Parris was a gifted mathematician and a brilliant teacher who embodied the very spirit of Non Sibi.  Among the many things for which I am indebted to him, Mr. Parris provided some of the best advice a new student could receive.  When I told him early in my first term that I was going to stop by for some help when things slowed down, he looked at me with a knowing grin and replied, “It never slows down.”  True at Exeter, and true in life!  Whether teaching in the classroom, coaching on the fields, or keeping watch over Lamont, Rick Parris was one of the most compassionate souls to ever grace the Academy.

Another soft-spoken giant of that era was Jim Valhouli.  This was a man who could bring the written word to life, and his enthusiasm for the books he loved was exhilarating and infectious.  The combination of his quiet demeanor and personal magnetism had a way of inspiring students to always strive for excellence.  His is a loss that still stings almost two decades later.

Finally, a short tribute to someone who didn’t teach in a classroom, but who possessed and dispensed wisdom worth its weight in gold:  Robert “Ozzie” Willett.  An hour with Ozzie was a lesson on life, with more than a few laughs along the way.  As was once said of Barry Goldwater, so too could it be said of Ozzie:  He was a shot of whiskey in a wine spritzer world.

There are many others who deserve mention as well --- Charles Terry, Fred Tremallo and Steve Smith, just to name a few.  Exeter has been fortunate to attract such talented souls, and those of us who had the honor of knowing them are truly blessed.  Although our time together was brief, the lessons they imparted have lasted a lifetime.

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Every professor frankly was awesome especially Mr. Buisan, Mr. Samiljan, & two from SYA Barcelona Mr. Sainati & the incomparable Angel Vilalta… I consider my self extremely blessed & lucky to have experienced Exeter in general & SYA specifically… Spanish language & culture have enriched my life beyond my wildest expectations & lemme tell ya it’s pretty freakin’ wild bordering on madness no doubt at times for extended periods but The Good Lord has shown tremendous mercy in my case & I liked to think I have answered that call

From the students to the teachers

I remember you all fondly well minus the future fascists of America some turned out to be.

Honorable mentions to Ms Kiel,

Henry Pleogstra, Mr & Mrs Kane

JJ Jackson, Ralph J. Lovshin, Mitch Bradbury, Will Krause, Carla Schell, Karen Day, Sally Onesti, Bob Burley, Leland Lawder, Tom Scot, Vince Taylor, Geoffrey Rosenberg, Dick Mestres, Ned Spurgeon, Don Roy,

Jake Emery, Chris Mow, Doug Mandel, Kathy Mahoney, Ruth Ernst, Rudy Morrisette, Ms MacDonald, The Doors, Davis Bowie, ABB,

The Grateful Dead, The Crater

Dunbar Buttroom, Class of ‘78

All of you really & Jay N. Whipple I, II & III God Bless All of you

Sometimes at night, I see their faces,
I feel the traces they've left on my soul
Those are the memories that make me a wealthy soul
Those are the memories that make me a wealthy soul

✌️🫶🔥

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Judge Mason taught Japanese History in the early 70s and was resident with his wife Holly in Cilley Hall. He was cool, gentle, man with a disarming smile and an exceptional natural talent in introducing us to Japanese history and culture through the Harkness method. Think Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance meets Exeter in the wild seventies. No teacher has been as influential in my life. He inspired a life long love affair with Japan where I lived and worked for many years. He drove a group of us to DC to join the huge Moratorium protest against the war. And he was a good friend and bridge playing partner for my mother who lived in Exeter for a year while my Dad was overseas. Judge passed some years ago while teaching at the Verde Valley school in AZ and that school somehow found me to write an obituary. An honor to do for a teacher so professional, inspirational, loved and life changing.

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This amazing, brilliant, talented, kind, patient, and beautiful woman has changed my life and blessed me with an amazing family and home full of love. I'm honoring Aeona Wasserman Magliola '99 and in celebrating her, I have to thank Exeter for my experience as a student, as an alumnus, and the many wonderful connections it has made in my life - especially this one in particular!

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Irving Forbes let me be in the Choir, even though my singing talent was nowhere near good enough. Maybe he saw in me the desire to create wonderful music, if not the ability… But I’ll always be thankful to him for embodying the joy of creating music. The world seems a little quieter, now that his cheerful double-bass voice is gone.

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When I arrived in Exeter my lower middle year my Spanish teacher was Percy Rogers. It wasn't easy (as my grades showed) but after three years of Spanish with Mr. Rogers and then Mr. Dion & Mr. Cortes I was graduated and went to UNC-CH and continued with my Spanish (advanced Spanish) while majoring in Business Adm. & Economics. These studies led me to be selected for a one year exchange program between UNC-CH and the Universidad de Antioquia in Medellin, Colombia and from there working in Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Colombia for a number of years before moving to South Florida. Being fully bi-lingual has always been a valuable asset. Doy mil gracias a mis profesores.

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Among the many outstanding teachers I've had at Exeter, Mr. Charles Terry, my upper-year English teacher, holds a special place in my heart. He was the catalyst for my enduring passion for writing and storytelling. Moreover, he became an invaluable mentor in helping me navigate senior year and during my transition to college. I am forever grateful to you, Mr. Terry!

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I made a gift in honor of the Rev. Robert Thompson who was an instructor of mine at Exeter many years ago. I know he's a good guy with a good heart and I feel like the Academy has treated this man badly. We all know that sometimes in life, circumstances conspire to make for excruciatingly difficult situations. These things happen on a regular basis at boarding schools and administrators have to deal with them the best they can, but I think no one should feel proud of how Reverend Thompson was run out of Exeter. I honor the Reverend for helping me and so many other students over the years. We miss you Reverend Thompson!

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David Weber was the first person I ever met who was a true ally. As faculty advisor to the GSA, I assumed he was gay or had a gay child or some personal connection, but no, he just knew homophobia was unjust and worked tirelessly to fight it. As I got to know him and enjoy our friendship, I learned that his sense of justice extended beyond the GSA - he fought for justice for anybody who needed it. He took his white, male privilege, and used it as a (very soft spoken and kind) battering ram to advocate so that we didn't have to quite as hard. Thank you for your work. We live better because of it.

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My gift in memory today was to Lauren Caldwell. I met Lauren in 2018 when I worked in HR as a temporary employee and Lauren was an HR Partner. Lauren made me feel like I was part of the PEA community from day one. When I left, we kept in touch and I considered her a good friend. I always thought I wanted to return to this amazing place. Where my experience mattered, and I was in an environment where I could learn, feel like I was contributing and use my strengths in ways I was not able to in previous jobs.

November of 2021 I applied for another temporary job. This time in The Exeter Fund office. Lauren spoke on my behalf to Lynn Taylor, director of The Exeter Fund, who I know took a chance on me because of Lauren.

Three months later, Lauren passed after being diagnosed with an aggressive, fast moving cancer. Life puts us where we need to be when we need to be there. And I was meant to meet Lauren, because here I am over two years later loving this new career and forever grateful.

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I am delighted to make a gift because of Fred Tremallo who was my English teacher when I was an Upper. During a very stressful time, his wonderful English class required a very long paper as the final and only grade. Instead, what came out of me was a poem. Not only did I get a high-grade, but the very next term he invited me to his class and sat me in the back so that I could witness a group of preps, analyze poems from famous poets. He included mine without letting them know, and that was one of the most thoughtful gifts I have received in my life. You are missed Fred!

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Lifelong Friendships. Today, I’m offering deep appreciation for our current class leaders, Bob Nichols and Heather Kollar, for bringing their beautiful minds, hearts and souls to keeping our class (#pea93) connected to one another and to the Academy. Also, a gift in memory of a very important member of our class, Christine Shim, who always had love to give the world. A reminder, today, to include ourselves in that boundless equation. After all, if love is universal, no one is left out. 💞

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I am pleased to honor David Coffin, my Latin teacher whom I had for 3 semesters. With a name like that, he was a bit scary - and sometime he lived up to that name: he was exacting, had high expectations for us and always wanted us to do our best. And at the same time, he understood we were 16 or 17 yr olds trying to figure out things, without parents nearby for a hug or an understanding presence. He was quietly supportive and always enthusiastic about whatever I was doing. The fact that I was a scholarship kid from a small farm town in upstate CT made no difference: he gave me confidence that I could make it in the world, and would make it. He was a terrific role model - taking actions on issues of importance in the country and the world. We stayed in touch and saw each other over the years; his wonderful wife Rosemary went to my bridal shower 19 years after I graduated. When he died, I heard all kinds of amazing things about him that he was too modest to share. Another lesson! ... Thank you, Mr. Coffin.

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As a newspaper boy scholarship student, I'm grateful for Hammy Bissell, who had the courage to recruit kids like me from across the country. Never having ventured out of Ohio, as a 13-year old Prep I felt I landed in a foreign country in NH, with a completely different language and set of conventions. What's a frappe? Fortunately, Coach Ralph Lovshin (from Hibbing, MN) saw potential in me for cross country and track. He taught me how to set and work towards goals, humility, and resilience. And most of all, how to embody knowledge and goodness. I was able to take this learning into the rest of my Exeter experience, college, career, and life experiences, small and large.

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I became an Exeter parent this year and it would be impossible for me to capture all the people that have positively impacted my family's journey! Exeter Summer's Jeff Ward and his team were the first to introduce my daughter to a transformative Exeter Experience and had her hooked from day 1. A matter of months later, she sat in Bill Leahy's office in admissions and his welcoming presence, curiosity, and authenticity sealed the deal for my daughter that Exeter was where she wanted to be. Adviser Caitlyn Sarno's steadfast support and compassion have meant everything this first year. History instructor Troy Samuels' joyful teaching caused an existing love for ancient history to explode. Physics instructor and Robotics Coach Charles Mamolo opened the doors for an energetic non-STEM kid to first imagine and then find herself a place in a STEM environment. Music administrator Barb Darby and harp teacher Angelina Savoia's support and encouragement are matched only by their kindness. Registrar Sarah Herrick's professionalism and can-do attitude make the inevitable last-minute schedule changes seem like no big deal when I know they are anything but. Most of all though ... I am eternally grateful for all the people on this board - Because of YOU, my daughter's dream of an Exeter Experience has become a reality.

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On this Valentine's Day, I'd like to honor my darling stepfather, Walker (Kim) Kimball, class of 1956. Kim was a proud PEA alum, and embodied the ideal of Non Sibi. He was thrilled when his three daughters and three of his grandchildren followed in his footsteps. Today would have been his 87th birthday.

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Mr. Irving Forbes was the idiosyncratic, affable, highly energetic and brilliant head of the music department when I arrived on campus in the fall of 1975. His support of my talent and joy of singing completely changed my life. In the select choir, the glee club, and in the musicals with the drama department, he gave me endless encouragement and guidance. I credit my later success on Broadway mostly to him, but more importantly he instilled in me a sense of self-worth that I had previously lacked. I'll be forever grateful!

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William (Bill) Saltonstall was Exeter's principal in the 1950's, when I was there. He had a commanding presence -- tall, sturdy, distinguished, but he was also gracious, friendly, charming, and easily approachable. I revered him as my hero, my role model. And I continue to think of him that way.

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As the youngest of three sisters, everything I do is to make Hannah Fier ‘14 and Sam Fier ‘16 proud. Had it not been for their bravery and determination to attend Exeter, I would have never had the guts to do so myself. Because of them, “non sibi” is a part of me forever and I’m eternally grateful.

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My first exposure to managing a large group of people was watching Andy Hertig '57 wrangle 40 girls in Wheelwright. As I started managing folks in my business career, I would often ask myself "What would Mr. Hertig do?" (Only after serving as a Trustee for a few years could I bring myself to call him Andy.)

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My Exeter story began with my mother in Germany at the end of WWII. She, Katharina Berger, was the most sought-after stage and film actress in Germany. As many of her colleagues fled Hitler's madness and the devastation of war, she stayed and gave birth to a healthy baby boy in 1944 (me). From evading Nazi fanatics and helping Jews escape, to scrounging for food and shelter as she searched for her missing husband (my father), she survived on the small thread of hope that she and I might live to see a better world.

She did survive, many times barely, and made her way (with me in tow) to Australia and then to the US. Though she landed a smattering of TV and movie parts in the US, there were not many roles for a fortyish woman with an accent. She made her way with domestic housework of all kinds.

One of her employers, an Exeter grad from 1941, suggested she might see about getting her son to attend. She and I had an interview with legendary Hammy Bissel. I still remember it. He asked what I had been reading. I said I had just finished the Mutiny on The Bounty "tri-ology". He gently corrected that to trilogy. Not long after, we received two items of mail in the same postal delivery. One was a negative letter from a German lawyer. The other piece of mail was positive news from Exeter of a full scholarship for me!

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Honoring Jan Woodford, Lynn Taylor, Ally Richardson - our 1974 50th Reunion Dream Team

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David Webber was my teacher, friend, and mentor. He was an extraordinarily kind human being, who thrived on understatement and quiet empathy.

His obituary still stands on my dinner table. I see the photo of him, dressed as a bird watcher likely, with that wry smile, every day now.

I miss Dave. We would often meet for early morning breakfast at Steve's Diner in Exeter, conversing about the state of the world (all the turmoil), maybe some Exeter stuff, and a little of what was going on with us personally.

We would always end our meetings with a big hug.

Ours was a 50-year relationship. I am so fortunate and blessed to have known Dave.

Rest in peace and eternal love, my friend.

Yours always, Mike

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Inspiration for religion, literature and scholarship. The courses I took in Religion and English as an upper and senior at PEA under Rev. Gleason, Mr. Terry and Mr. Brookfield inspired me to study the history of Christianity in Antiquity, the Middle Ages and the Reformation and to become a pastor and missionary.

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Today, I would like to honor Jan Gosselin, Hon. ’62, ’65, ’71 and Nancy MacDonald, Hon. ’73, ’78, ’91, P. ’88, whom I had the privilege of working alongside here on The Exeter Fund team. I am grateful to them for their friendship, mentorship and wisdom throughout our time together here at the Academy. Their work with class volunteers over the years has taught me so much about successful relationship building, active listening, and how much staying connected means to Exonians. Thank you Jan and Nancy, for all that you have done for your classes throughout the years, and to those of us who have had the honor of working with you!

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I had always been a pretty decent math student . . . until the end of Upper year, when the ever-cheerful George Major marked my final exam with the outstanding grade of F - - - -. After class he said "I know you're better than this. I'll just have to leave this out of your semester average." Grateful for his kind pardon, I avoided numerical study for the rest of my Exeter and college years.

I'm also grateful for the Latin & Greek teachers I had (Mssrs.Coffin, Echols, Phillips, Thomas &) especially Howard Easton whom I hoped to emulate in my own future as a teacher. They prepped me well for continued classical studies through college. Sadly, in that subsequent era, the market for Latin teachers proved to be non-existant. After some restoration in night school, I spent the rest of my career immersed in numbers as an accountant.

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Coach Ralph Lovshin was a mentor and inspiration to me and hundreds of track athletes at Exeter. His impact on those students lives was quiet but amazing and immeasurable.

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I honor my dad, Al Lincoln '63, without whom Exeter would surely have never crossed my mind.

I honor the PEA admissions office, for the imagination to picture me there. I was living in Douala, Cameroon at the time, had never been to school in English, never known winter, and never seen so many perky white people in once place.

I honor the countless members of the Classes of 1989 to 1992 who taught me so many things about the world.

I honor Roger Nekton, Jack Herney, Kendra O'Donnell, and Frank Gutmann.

Fast forward to my experience as a PEA parent, I honor the PEA admissions office again - in this case Bill Leahy and Eleanor Down, for their incredible zest for life, intellect, and thoughtfulness.

I honor Bill Rawson for his dedicated and inspiring leadership of the Academy through the COVID years.

I honor Morgan Dudley for her candor and graciousness.

Last but not least, I honor Amadou Talla, Betty Luther-Hillman, Barb Desmond, Meg Blitzshaw, and Marcus Rabb for being fabulous exemplars to my children.

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I think fondly of all the afternoons I spent with Marty Taft Elkins as my coach. What a great role model for all of us. I really appreciated her warm personality, high standards, and commitment to all her players.

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I gave in honor of Ann Lockwood '81 who is a wonderful mentor, friend, and PEA volunteer.

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I first met E. Arthur Gilcreast as an Exeter summer student in 1985. Unlike many of the summer instructors, Mr. Gilcreast was a long-time full-time member of the faculty and, unknown to me, had just finished chairing the New Curriculum committee. I wanted to learn about economics (people on Wall Street seemed to be having fun) and we used summary Harvard Business School cases just like the pros. I was in the right place learning the right materials but was dismayed when my instinctive answers proved to be not very good. As in, always wrong.

Fortunately Mr. Gilcreast was patient and I, at 15, was still somewhat intellectually malleable. I did well in the class but, at the end of the summer term, I still wanted more. After my last class with Mr. Gilcreast I marched over to Gilman House and put in an application for the fall term of 1986 as a new upper, helping to swell the numbers of the largest class in Academy history.

I can’t remember if I kept Mr. Gilcreast up on my plans during my sophomore year in public high school. When I got back to campus, now clad in jacket and tie, I caught up with Mr. Gilcreast after a mid-September assembly. There, under the valedictory boards I had absolutely no hope of ever achieving, I was most happy and proud to tell him that he was the very reason I was there.

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As an AFS scholarship student from Sweden, I got the best of two worlds. I got to stay in a dorm with my room mate Warren Cooney '83. And I was able to spend weekends and school holidays in beautiful Kensington with Fox Smith ´83 and his family. Fox and Warren, what a combo. You (together with a group of classmates, you know who you are), gave me the year of my life. Thank you for being there, then and now!

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Ms. Breen was an incredible dorm head and advisor, and I can never thank her enough for everything she has done for me. Her kindness, support, and endless faith in me have made such a difference, and I know so many other Exonians feel the same way. Thank you for being in my corner and for being the best role model anyone could ask for!

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I made my gift in honor of classmate Jimmy Tufts and in recognition of his service to his community, to the Academy and more recently, to his Exeter class of 1970.

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I am honoring the STARs Council. This group of Uppers and Seniors bridge relationships between the alumni community and the student body. They volunteer to give campus tours, sit on student panels, fundraise for the Senior Class Gift and so much more! These students are amazing and I am lucky to work with them.

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As a new parent of an Exonian, it is clear to me that my daughter's path to Exeter only became obvious when she met Exeter's Dean of Enrollment, Bill Leahy. He opened her eyes to the opportunities Exeter could bring to her life with an objective energy, honesty, and excitement that got her genuinely interested in applying and eventually attending the school. I thank Bill for doing this for our family and, I am sure, for hundreds of other kids over the years who have applied and eventually attended Exeter.

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I grew up in San Antonio, Texas and almost no one went to boarding school. The exceptions were my two next door neighbors (Carolyn and Josie) and Kristen from around the corner. They all three went to PEA. By mid-way through my freshman year at home, Josie convinced me to join her. I started as a Lower in 1991. These three friends from San Antonio (two of whom were in Hoyt with me!) made me me feel at home -- even though we were 2000 miles from home in New Hampshire. Convincing me to go to Exeter changed my life. I met my husband (Dan Gilbane '94) and many, many friends. I am forever grateful.

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I've had a few years now as an active alum, following in my father's footsteps (and he was still active at age 100). When I began as a co-class agent in the early 1980s, two stalwarts in Gilman House were Joe Gould '64, then the director of alumni affairs, and Morgan Dudley '77, a newcomer in the Annual Giving office. Their warmth, their decency, their devotion to the Academy, their genuine concern for others not only exemplify Non Sibi but also inspired me to do as they were doing for the Academy. Many are the legends in Gilman House: Jim Theisen, Wayne Loosigian, Mary Clancey. Joe and Morgan were my earliest influences. I'm still trying to live up to their examples.

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I am grateful to Dave Baker '50 for his enduring loyalty and support of Exeter and The Exeter Fund. You are the model volunteer and your dedication to your role as Class Agent is beyond compare. Zooming with you during COVID helped get me through such a difficult time. Thank you for always being there, for your willingness to go the extra mile, and for your friendship.

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I am honoring Kevin Treehan '24. Kevin is the current Student Council President and has been an invaluable volunteer. This year he has worked with The Exeter Fund to create multiple videos - including this video for the Because of YOU Campaign. His talent and creativity knows no bounds. I am so excited to see what his future holds.

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The moment I told my parents I was applying to Exeter

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I met Ashley Maddox '90 at a summer tennis camp at Williams College. While showing me fun photos of Exeter/Andover weekend, she told me that everyone at Exeter was smart, so you could be the person you wanted to be. I was sold! Thank you, Ashley, for changing my life. Go Big Red!

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1958, 13 years old from south Texas, headed to Exeter as a prep. Because of Larry Palmer and Jef Fellows, I survived my prep year and graduated in 1962. Without those two it would have never happened.

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Like many of us, I came to Exeter as the top kid in my middle school, only to find myself as just one more average student struggling to keep up. Math was one area where I struggled in particular. I had taken algebra in eighth grade, so I was placed in 200 level courses in freshman year. I managed to survive those first two semesters, but first semester math lower year quickly became too much. Fortunately, my teacher that semester was Anja Bankoski. She took me under her wing when she saw I was flailing. With her kind tutelage, my test scores steadily improved. By the end of the semester, I was getting B's and B+'s (which at PEA were the equivalent of A's anywhere else). She encouraged me so much that the following semester, I found myself in the "advanced" math section. My classmates were a bunch of truly brilliant mathematicians who would go on to get doctorates in subjects such as particle physics. While I never rose to their level of excellence in math, I remained with that group for the rest of my time at Exeter and became a math tutor in Upper year. To this day, I view the world quantitatively.

Ms. Bankoski married Peter Greer some years after I took her class. It just so happens that Mr. Greer was my first English teacher at PEA. He helped me learn to write clearly and logically, a skill I use with joy most every day of my life.

I was so lucky to have two of the best teachers that Exeter had to offer to my generation, and together they profoundly influenced who I am today.

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In 1952 I was barely passing all of my courses. Seeking sympathy I pored out my woes to Hammy Bissell. He listened patiently and told me to "apply the seat of my pants to the seat of the chair". I got the point.

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We met in the fall of 1972. It was the third year of co-education, second year of boarding girls.  She was a new lower.  I was an upper in his third year, still trying to find my footing at Exeter.  Vivian was adjusting well to the academic rigor. I was on restrictions for missing too many classes.  I was smitten the first time I saw her.  Smitten was the last word she would use to describe any impulse relating to me.  But I was relentless and she was gracious.  I joined Poetry Stage because she joined. I began to study more because she was a good student.  I went to church on Sundays, initially  because she attended regularly.  Somewhere along the way, we fell in love.  Fast forward, we married while in college and 47 years later are now the proud parents of 4 children and 3 grandchildren.  It is and has been a wonderful life and it all started at Exeter.  Amazing.

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When I think of a special friend at Exeter, I think of Hank Swan '56, who was largely instrumental in persuading me to go to Yale. We were roommates for three years at Yale, until our senior year when Hank dropped out and graduated the following year. Hank was very bright, an excellent skier, a singer, and well liked by the ladies. He, like me, served in the Navy, though he was on the west coast, and after service, he did some secret mathematical work for the US government. I saw him twice after graduation: once for a dinner in San Francisco, and then he came to see me in England for a few days, during which we found a Roman ruin, he found a Swan pub and cooked us a complicated, savoury, North African cake. Later that year, his special girlfriend reported that he died peacefully in her arms.

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I want to send out my Valentine's Day gratitude to my coach, mentor, and friend Roger Nekton. Coach Nekton, you made Exeter feel like home for me when I arrived upper year and I made some of the best friends of my life on our swim team. Even more significantly, and beyond the call of PEA duty, I learned so much from the years of mentorship that came when I started coaching at Hotchkiss; the conversations we had on various pool decks about swimming and water polo soon morphed into much more significant advice from you about career and marriage and children and all sorts of life wisdom. Thank you for always being in my corner, Coach. Here's to you on this Valentine's Day!

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We have often been asked which teachers, classes, sports, or activities at Exeter most affected our development. Alums have shared the importance of learning to think through writing, critical thinking, disciplined work habits, and active Harkness Table discussions. Yet, to me, what affected me most 56 years ago continues to challenge, bolster, and guide my overall development and wellbeing – are my classmates/peers.

“Back Then” it was easy to recognize and admire many types of classmates. There were the Jocks - big muscular guys sporting facial hair that made them resemble teachers rather than students. Arriving at Exeter as an Upper, I was amazed at the intellect of certain students – The Brains. The effect they had on me back then has continued to challenge and drive me throughout the years. The Popular Guys always knew what to say and surrounded themselves by their ardent supporters. And then there were the Leaders – who had just the right combination of these attributes.

My closest circle of friends gravitated around the Ed Gilman House. We had all of these types of guys – and each one of them, in his own way, changed my life. But looking back, there was one classmate who also came to Exeter as an Upper who influenced our entire House in his own quiet and unassuming manner. Although he was physically smaller and unimposing (like me!), he demonstrated a quiet confidence.  He played racket sports and ran track well. In classroom and other discussions, he never was the first to talk, but when he spoke, others listened. Although he was our dorm proctor and was very well respected, he never sought undue privilege, attention, or admiration.

David Noyes was the quiet yet strong leader that helped me and all of our Ed Gilman brothers through both the toughest Exeter times while also celebrating the most amazing and joyful experiences. He had a way of looking at you with his keen and sensitive eyes and with his gentle chuckles – and intently listened and helped guide us. David was never presumptuous, always asked the right questions, and used humor and compassion in helping us make good decisions.

Each of my closest Exeter friends shared his own strengths/gifts with me – and each continues to do so. But, at the forefront, I want to honor David Noyes for being an exceptional influence on me and many others during our formative years at Exeter. And to this day, David continues to provide us with friendship, guidance, and a lot of laughs!

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I was the beneficiary of an early D.E.I. effort by Exeter to diversify the student body away from the New England and NY states. Hammy Bissell, then Director of Scholarship Boys, found me in Kansas City, Missouri and I spent four wonderful years at PEA as a scholarship boy, graduating in 1954. I weighed 80 pounds when we met and Hammy, being a coxswain himself (Harvard Varsity 1932-33), must have thought that I had some potential for sitting in the driver’s seat of an Exeter crew.

In the spring of 1952, I was the cox of Exeter’s varsity crew that won the New England Interscholastic Rowing Association championship on Lake Quinsigamond and a week later, at the same venue, beat Harvard and California in the first heat of the 1952 Olympic rowing trials, to advance to the semi-finals. Sadly, we lost the next day to Washington (who won a Bronze in the Helsinki Olympics), and Cornell. But that wasn’t the end of it. I was also the cox of the Yale 1956 Varsity crew that won the Gold Medal in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics with three Exonians aboard – Dave Wight ’52 (the stroke of my Exeter boat), Bob Morey ’54 and myself.

Thank you, Hammy Bissell.

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Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Chapman entirely made my time at Exeter. You both opened your homes to myself and everyone in Webster and stayed up with us at odd hours doing puzzles, eating cookies, or just talking. You made Exeter feel like a family, and I am forever grateful for the love you showed me, and the roles you played in my life!

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In January 1978, I was a brand new Upper starting mid-year at Exeter.  Two weeks after my arrival my father died. I went home to Virginia for the funeral in shock, then returned to Exeter in a fog, with no family nearby and no idea how to cope with my lonely and overwhelming grief.  I was also unaccustomed to New England winters, and the cold biting air somehow made my misery even worse.  Going to the pool for swimming (my sports assignment) in the late winter afternoons, and then rushing to French class across campus with icicles forming in my wet hair, stretched my nerves nearly to the breaking point.  Someone advised me to talk to Dr. John Tuthill, the school doctor, as I was clearly in need of some sort of counseling. When I showed up at the infirmary sad and shivering, he gave me a sports excuse from swimming (such a gift!) and then spent an hour listening to and quietly reassuring me as I spilled out my sadness. For several days after that we repeated the pattern. With his bow tie, rumpled suit, and what looked like a 1940’s era stethoscope around his neck, I had initially thought he was unlikely to be of much help. But I could not have been more wrong. He was approachable and kind and insightful.   And thanks to Dr. Tuthill, and to my supportive friends in Will House (and later Langdell) I began to heal.  With Dr. Tuthill’s support I left Exeter later that month to focus on my emotional recovery at home, then came back the following year as a one-year senior. In light of the tremendous gifts and friendships Exeter has given me over the years, that decision to return to Exeter may be the single smartest thing I’ve ever done.  Although he has long since passed away, Dr. Tuthill continues to inspire me. Thank you, Tutt!

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Dear Coach Breen, because of you I felt the love of a true supporter during my entire time at Exeter. Thank you for pushing me to reach for more, holding me up when I needed it, and cheering me on the whole way. Your guidance means more than you will ever know.

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Bob Bates was a mountain of a man and, like so many towering figures, he played a major role in the lives of many Exonians.  I first came to know Bob in the fall of my Lower Year when I joined the Mountaineering Club, Bob was the club advisor.  Over the next three years I learned to boulder in the Pawtuckaway State Park, rock climb and repel on Mount Washington’s Pinnacle and how to survive minus 30 degree temperatures on Mount Lafayette, skills that proved valuable as a dog sled driver on Operation DeepFreeze in Antarctica.  To say that Bob changed the course of my life would understate his importance.  He shared his love of the mountains with hundreds of Exonians and we were all the better for having known him.

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Because of you, Dad (Laurence "Laurie" A. Pierce '48), I knew about Exeter for a long time.  Because of you and your stories, I knew how much Exeter meant to you, how it fed your intellectual curiosity and helped you realize your academic potential, and what a pivotal role Exeter played in your life.  Because of you, my journey also included Exeter, leading to enduring friendships and a lifelong love of learning.  Because of you and your generosity, numerous students have benefited from the scholarship you created through the Pierce Family Foundation, providing important financial aid support and enabling them to experience all that an Exeter education offers.  With love and gratitude.

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Dear Grandpa, (Laurence "Laurie" A. Pierce '48) Because of you, we have three generations of Exonians in our family. Because of you, my Exeter education was possible, and for that, I'm deeply grateful. Thank you so much for your fastidious planning, generous spirit, and thoughtful support of me as both an Exeter student and your grandchild. Not a day goes by that I don't think about you and all the blessings you gave me. Thank you for the greatest gift of all: an Exeter education.

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Our “Because of You” shines the spotlight on Mr. Robert “Bob” Brownell.   In the early 1970’s, Mr. Brownell headed the Academy’s admissions, and in that capacity, in the winter of 1972, he had to make the call on a particular application which had been submitted weeks after the deadline.  The application came from a Hong Kong-born girl who had immigrated to the states a few years earlier, whose English was still very much a work in progress, and who, because her mother was a cleaning lady and her father a night janitor, would require substantial financial aid in order to enroll at Exeter.   Blessedly, he said “yes”, and Amy Ka Ling Chan enrolled that September.

The same Mr. Brownell had interviewed an aspiring prep a few months before.  That young man was an eighth grader at the Buckley School in New York City, a veritable feeder school for the Academy.  The 13 year old bounded into Gilman House confident in his ability to prove himself a worthy, if not compelling, applicant.  After cordial small talk, Mr. Brownell turned to the lad and asked “What’s seven cubed?”.  What a softball the candidate thought and immediately responded “147”.   With knitted brow Mr. Brownell inquired “How did you come up with that” to which the deflated interviewee answered “I multiplied 21 times seven and I blew it”.  Strike one.  At which point Mr. Brownell handed the humbled kid a Steinbeck novel and asked him to read the first paragraph aloud.  The kid, determined to redeem himself, gave the dramatic reading of his life, avoiding all um’s, ah’s and mispronunciations.  “What was the paragraph about?  Who was the main character?”  asked Mr. Brownell.  The interviewee did not have a clue; his comprehension of what he had just read was confined to a suspicion that the paragraph had been written in English.  Strike two.  Thankfully, the interview wrapped up before the inevitable strike three, and again, blessedly, Mr. Brownell said “yes” and Tony Downer also enrolled that September.

Now fifty-two years later, Amy and I will celebrate our 38th wedding anniversary, and all three of our children treasure their Exeter experiences.  We are a family who are grateful beyond words for the role that Exeter has played in our lives, and it is all because of you, Bob Brownell.

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Exeter has a very special place in my heart.  It not only has hosted three generations of our family in three centuries, my great uncle Jim (1899), my son, Alex (2022), and me; but also is a wonderful personal connection for me to my late Great Aunt Rachel, who partially raised me and then sponsored me to come to Exeter.  She knew how important Exeter was to her husband, my Uncle Jim, and wanted me to share in that experience. Exeter was a beneficiary in their will, and, likewise, it will be in mine.

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Richard arrived at Exeter from a mining town in northern Chile in the fall of 1970.  Betsy arrived from rural Virginia in the fall of 1972. We met Upper year in Chem 32. Our romance blossomed Senior year.  Richard went to Cornell, Betsy to Princeton. We kept in touch but really got back together in 1978 when Betsy took a job in Houston and Richard started grad school at UT Austin. We got married in VA in 1981 when Richard finished at UT.  Dan Stoddard ‘74 was a groomsman and Marna Pierce ‘74 attended the wedding. In June, we will celebrate 43 years of marriage.  We have 3 kids and 5 grandkids (so far). Our life together has been one big adventure!

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I think we all hope that our children will have the opportunity to outdo us in some way.  I think that my father, Walter Nance ’50, smiled with pride and anticipation when I came to Exeter in 1973, my birth turning out to have been strategically timed so that I could even attend the school that he loved, in the fifth of the first five years of “girls at Exeter”. Left arm withered from childhood polio, he could only serve as manager of the swimming team, and I know he was thrilled to see me captain the girls’ swimming team for two years in a dramatically upgraded pool (compare the Roger Nekton Championship Pool to the Thompson Gym Swimming Pool).  I know that I smiled with…pride and anticipation…last spring when I fulfilled his final wishes by making a substantial donation to Exeter from his estate—a week after I helped my son and his wife tentatively but tenderly bring home their newborn daughter, my first grandchild (who could just be PEA ’41!)