Christmas 2016

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing”. Walt Disney

That is precisely what the classes of 1961 and 1966 did during our incredible reunion in OCT. The weather? Suffice it to say that nature seems to have read our Lenox School prayer as the sun shined brilliantly on all of us through the reunion. It was another record attendance as we filled the Lenox Club (yet again!) to capacity.

This all came about as a result of the advance work done by members of both ’61 & ‘66 to achieve such an outstanding turnout. So now we’re heading into the Christmas season and the time to start the “doing” is at hand for the Lenox School legacy classes of 1967, 1962, 1957 and 1952. The next reunion is (as always, the weekend following Columbus Day) on 13 and 14 October, 2017.

“If there ever comes a day when we can’t be together, keep me in your heart, I’ll stay there forever.” Winnie the Pooh

The events of the 2016 reunion included (for the first time!) the raising of a Lenox School flag, as well as the introduction of a meaningful and symbolic LSAA missing persons table ceremony at the beginning of dinner at the Lenox Club. We raised our glasses in tribute to those that could not be with us and among those that we remembered were Mr. Southworth, Mr. Terwilliger and Mr. Rutledge and Mr. Robert Clark (a class of ‘60 alum and recent benefactor to LSAA).

Class of ’48 Kline and Daniell along with Bob Sansone and Bud Wells ready the Lenox School flag while Allyn Burrows Prepares the Halyard

 

LSAA Missing Persons Table

“We make a living by what we get; but we make a life by what we give.” Winston Churchill

 As usual, we were blessed to receive the warm and generous help from Shakespeare and Co. by affording us the use of their campus. We owe S&Co a great deal of gratitude, for without their allowing us to assemble for part of our reunion on the old school grounds, one wonders where a Lenox School reunion could be held and have as much relevancy and significance to alumni, masters, staff, family and friends. Steve Ball, S&Co’s Acting Managing Director, has been a sustained and continual source of this tremendous support and assistance throughout the years, and we remain profoundly grateful to him for this.

“We want to be his favorite hello and his hardest goodbye.” Author unknown

We were privileged to meet S&Co’s new artistic director Allyn Burrows who gave us an insight as to the path ahead for S&Co. Allyn also ceremoniously became the latest member of our Lenox School little band of brothers as we bestowed upon him the Lenox T-shirt and new Lenox School lapel pin. Following the business meeting, Allyn graciously assisted us by raising our Lenox School flag on S&Co’s flagpole. Allyn finished the flag raising with a flourish, by quoting from Henry V’s St. Crispin’s Day Speech as our flag unfurled in the Berkshire autumn breeze- We few, we happy few, we band of brothers ......”

“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” Albert Einstein 

We made two very special donations this year, which benefitted not only the recipients but appropriately honored and recalled the incredible and selfless service of those in whose name these donations were made. We provided Shakespeare and Co. a substantial scholarship donation in the name of David Wood who not only served the school for so many years but who also established and led Lenox School in the artistic production of so many plays through the years.

“Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.” Albert Einstein 

Our second substantial donation was to Trinity Church. While we have always donated to Trinity each year as a reflection of the role that the chapel experience played in our matriculation from Lenox; we concluded that this donation needed to be in honor of two men who served not only Lenox School but also were instrumental in Trinity Church through the years as well (Rev Whitman as rector and Rev Curry as a vestryman). The Lenox School Rev Whitman and Rev Curry donation was enhanced by comments made at the chapel by Rev Whitman’s daughters Romi and Sally and by Rev Curry’s son David. Aside from Revs Thayer, Griswold and Monks essential roles in the founding of Lenox School, it is an understatement to assert that without Rev Whitman or Rev Curry, Lenox School would not have existed for us as it did.

The dates for the reunion are October 13 and 14. See you back at school!

Bob Sansone, ‘68