President's Message April 2023

Presidents Message from Bob Sansone, LSAA President:

Next Date for 2023 Reunion

(Weekend after Columbus Day)

October 13 & 14, 2023

“Begin with the end in mind.” —

Stephen Covey

There are 4 more reunions to go before we reach the legacy funding goal and the 100^th anniversary of Lenox School in 2026. This is an all class call for reunion!

That said …. rumors from certain classes abound!

The class of 1970 is making sounds as if they’re going to flood the zone this year. If that’s the case, they’ll have competition from two other classes with legacy ambitions for their own 55th and 60th milestones:

At the same time the class of ‘63 marks its 60th year since walking between the masters. There are times when art imitates life, and perhaps this was so for the class of ’63 as the #1 song in the nation was “Surfin’ USA” by the Beach Boys.

Then there’s the venerable class of 1968 and their 55^th legacy year (validated by TIME magazine as the class that shaped a generation … or at least that’s how I interpret what they really meant …..)

Once again, we’re going old Lenox School style this year. Thanks to the ever-gracious hosts and friends at Shakespeare & Co. we’re 100% back on campus in what is the Bernstein Theatre (and what was the Sports Center).

That means Fri after golf, Sat luncheon after the business meeting and Sat night dinner will all be held in the Bernstein Theatre with incredible catered meals.

As I write this it is the first day of Spring and this morning it was 25F. If the saying holds true, March certainly needs to go out as a lamb, as despite the absence of snow here, we’re tired of the March lion that came in.

“What we have once enjoyed we can never lose; all that we deeply love becomes a part of us.” – Helen Keller

The relentless march of time brought us some very sad news recently – Jim Paterson, long standing Lenox School Master, passed away recently. Mr. Paterson was emblematic of the selfless, dedicated role model that the Lenox School experience provided. He embodied the mission of service that is within the ethos of the school, and through his life, became part of us.

We owe him and all others a debt that in reality can’t be repaid for what they provided. And yet, we have landed upon a way to honor Jim and the rest of the faculty, staff and families that served Lenox School and all of us:

“I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.”

Albert Schweitzer

There are many things that each of us think about when reflecting on our Lenox School experience. And while these may vary, there is one constant that prevails: service. And thus we embarked upon an effort some years ago to capture this and share it in perpetuity with the world:

2023 – The Legacy Fund ….Validating the Motto - Advancing toward the 2026 School Centennial

Aside from this year’s reunion, there are only 3 more LSAA reunions left before the 100^th anniversary final reunion in 2026 coinciding with the founding the school in 1926. Our focus and drive for the next few years is two-fold:

1. Keep alive our shared history, legacy and spirit of Lenox School by rekindling friendships and joining together for the next few years to honor the school, and the masters and staff that dedicated themselves to the school’s mission of service and to us.

1. Ensure that we reach the Lenox School Centennial fund goal of $600K (we’re currently at 55% of goal, with 73% in gifts and 27% in pledges yet to come.)!

This fund ensures that the donations, grants and scholarships we currently provide in the name and honor of Lenox School and Masters will endure past our time through the written instructions we provided to Berkshire Taconic Community Fund.

Perhaps most importantly, the fund supports the creation and maintenance of our new website in perpetuity. The website will display the digitized history of the school, all the yearbooks, images, important papers, memorabilia, etc. for posterity to learn about this special school, and what it was able to create and accomplish in consonance with its motto of service in its too-brief existence.

In short, the website will provide a history of Lenox School, the Masters, faculty and families that were the living role models who subordinated their lives in service of those of us who attended. It captures for all time its impact and as a captured history of all of us that were fortunate enough to have been part of the Lenox School experience. And it serves as a lesson of what a dedicated faculty and school can do despite the lack of an endowment.

“If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.”

-Dalai Lama, spiritual leader

In many ways, Lenox was a mosquito of a school when compared with the prep school leviathans that occupied the east coast. Yet Lenox School prevailed for years; punching way above its weight class in both academics and sports, matriculating Lenox Boys into the prestigious colleges and universities of the time.

A while back, in a distant Pen & Scroll, I made a reference to my sense that Lenox School served us not as “lost boys” they saved, but as “found boys” they nurtured in the spirit of Rev Curry’s “Growability of Boys” style. It was not an exclusive school, but it was exceptional in ways that sometimes defy explanation.

Headmasters and Masters immersed us in an ethos of “Sed Ministrare”. It wasn’t easy for us, just worthwhile in the end. The rose that was Lenox School also had its thorns. But in the end, it provided the launching pad for us and set us on the path we find ourselves today.

We owe something back in return for the selfless dedication of the Headmasters, Masters, staff and families who were Lenox School and dedicated themselves to our education and to the school’s mission. And we owe it to posterity to show that there is a way to educate that requires true dedication and selflessness, not just an endowment.

So how do we achieve this “Sed Ministrare” effort? We need to reach and even exceed the funding goal. Pitch in for whatever you can provide. Every donation or commitment is gratefully received. And the party we’ll have celebrating our school’s legacy and the shared achievement of reaching our goal for it will be phenomenal.

The Great LSAA Memorabilia Auction: Part Deux

Last reunion we had an incredibly fun filled time auctioning the collected memorabilia and the proceeds were distributed equally to the LSAA operating fund and the Legacy Fund.

It was so much fun, that we plan to do this at this upcoming reunion. Bidders and onlookers are cautioned: do not scratch your nose or make any other gesticulation while in conversation with others … these will be considered as binding bids!!

We also have a very special Hall of Fame ceremony planned, so …..

13-14 October 2023 - Save the Date!

Be there or …

(we just might come and get you)!