President's Message July 2015

Message from the LSAA President:

“Enthusiasm is the mother of effort, and without it nothing great was ever achieved.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

If Emerson was correct, then the Class of 1965 might just be the poster child for this quote. As I write this, they already have over 50% of their class committed to returning for their 50^th reunion. They started their planning after last year’s reunion (motivated no doubt by the stellar example provided by the class of 1964) and ‘65 has been relentless in finding and contacting their classmates across the globe ever since. As a result, it looks like we’re headed for another record turnout.

Each year I marvel at the incredible (yet concurrently improbable) overflow gathering of alums, masters, staff and family members who assemble to recall their respective time. Why improbable? Because after all, we’re having a reunion at a school that ceased to exist over 40 years ago. The school has now been closed longer than it was open!

“Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family ... in another city.”

― George Burns

Maybe that is what we have become as a result of our Lenox experience: a large family, albeit in different cities, who are seldom in contact. And yet, we have this annual gathering that in many ways represents a more active alumni than some schools that still exist to this day. What gives here? I’m sure there are many opinions on what is at work that compels us to sustain this connection.

“The real threat to society is darkness. 

Humanity is our common lot. All men are made of the same clay. There is no difference, at least here on earth, in the fate assigned to us.” ― Victor Hugo, Les Misérables

Perhaps our continued connection to the Lenox experience stems from the school being an academic analog for a pottery enterprise: the masters were entrusted with the clay of our youth. Their mission was to throw this clay on the Lenox wheel and form it into something that they would be willing to pass along with a “Made in Lenox School” sticker affixed. In the process, their selfless dedication served as a life lesson to us to live in accordance with our motto.

Some may think the connection is akin to the Lost Boys – “(Lost Boys) are the children who fall out of their perambulators when the nurse is looking the other way. If they are not claimed in seven days they are sent far away to the Neverland to defray expenses. Are none of the others girls? Oh no; girls, you know, are much too clever to fall out of their prams.” ― J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

No! We weren’t the Lost Boys and Lenox was not Neverland! In a sense we were the Found Boys. After all, it was at Lenox that Rev. Curry’s “Miracle of Growability” was practiced. We developed camaraderie during these formative years of our youth that remains to this day.

No doubt, Lenox memories vary for each of us – for some it is in the classroom; for others on the playing field (gilded no doubt by the passage of time). One thing is consistent however - age has brought us the wisdom and perspective we probably lacked as self-absorbed adolescents to better appreciate the unique experience we were privileged to have by attending Lenox School. No, it wasn’t all roses, but the thorns probably served us as well.

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…” – Dr. Seuss, Oh the Places You Will Go

I had the great privilege of joining Paul Denzel and Ed Miller in representing LSAA at the end of May for our annual scholarship trip to Miss Hall’s and Berkshire Country Day School. At Miss Hall’s we conferred the LSAA Pickett Scholarship to two deserving young women - Ifunanya (Nanya) Okeke and Emma Bullock. At BCD, we conferred the LSAA Fawcett scholarship to two deserving students - Ruby Merritt and Nicolas Adams.

It was especially meaningful for us to have Mr. Fawcett at BCD to provide his comments and to present the scholarships. This year we created a certificate to go along with the scholarship, which briefly tells the story of Lenox School and relates the motto and meaning. A copy of the template we used for the Fawcett certificate is in this edition.

“If we don't change direction soon, we'll end up where we're going.” - Professor Irwin Corey

As many of you may already know, our good friends at Shakespeare & Co (S&Co) have undergone some leadership and organizational changes. I met briefly with some of the new leadership team in May, and while it was understandable that anxiety existed (internal and external) when change like this occurred; it appeared that this was dissipating.

I expect that this will smooth out and afford them the opportunity to continue the wonderful work S&Co has accomplished thus far. In addition, their financial strength appears to be sound and they are well into their performance season without disruption to any production.

S&Co have become not only wonderful custodians of the property, but we have made enduring friendships with them through our relationship. They have always been warm and gracious hosts to us during our annual October reunion, and I look forward to seeing them again this fall for our get-together.

“Good times and bum times,

I’ve seen them all and, my dear,

I’m still here.

Plush velvet sometimes,

Sometimes just pretzels and beer,

But I’m here.”

Lyric from the song “I’m Still Here” written by Stephen Sondheim for the 1971 musical Follies.

Here’s the thing: We’re still here! If we change a few of the words, this could be the Lenox School theme song! I have described Lenox as the “Hotel California” of boarding schools (You can check out, but you can never leave.). The question is, will you be with us for this annual celebration of endurance, survival, friendship, remembrance and homage to the school and people that connected us?

The Lenox School Class of 1965 will lead us to another incredible reunion. Lenox School Classes of ‘60, ‘55, ‘50 and ‘45 will likely be there as well, along with a myriad of other classes that simply enjoy coming back to school while their legacy years approach.

Please join us and witness what that “Miracle of Growability” produced!