PA/AA 50th Reunion Book

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PA/AA 1958 50th Reunion Book

• In January, classmates received a letter requesting biographies, recent photographs and personal essays.
• A 50th Reunion Book (similar to the Pot Pourri) using biographies/photos/personal essays was prepared and mailed to all classmates in March, 2008.
• Below are some excerpts of biographies from a few of our classmates.  Here's what they remember...

“My three years at Abbot were a very positive time in my life. It was a place where I was able to grow and thrive amidst many awesome young women. Sadly, many of those special people are no longer with us.
My life since Abbot has been all that I could have wished it to be… In my careers I’ve been lucky in that I’ve been able to be incredibly creative while connecting people in volunteerism with the larger community. Though there are not many financial rewards in this area, the differences that this outreach has made for many isolated and at risk families are immeasurable.” - Betsy G. R.

“Abbot was for me, a world of its own! One in which I felt a marginal member. From the South and late in arriving (junior year), I found myself a stranger, unfamiliar with this new Northern world!... But my beautiful, small group of friends, and most especially Sally, Bev and Faith, pulled me through! So, in retrospect: Abbot was indeed very tough for me!
But when I arrived at Tufts, I was more than ready! No bells, no oxfords, no hockey, and plenty of guys! And I knew how to study; Lord, how I knew to study, thanks to Abbot! So play and study I did!”   -  Nancy R. C.

“My Abbot Experience” was surely a major part of my development – and all remembered fondly. Why, then, have I not stayed in touch? It is grand to think that this 50th will permit many of us to reconnect. How easily I recall looking out of our window from Draper Hall at the OLD ladies returning for reunion.  Well, here I come! - Ruth G. S. 

“From a ‘small island ‘ girl – to Abbot grad- to finishing school in London – to Big Sur in the 60’s- to the high seas in a homemade trimaran, sailing west ‘until a great continent hove into view’ (Australia! Yikes!) – we swapped the battered hulls for two one-way tickets to San Francisco – and parted company.” -  Jenny N. F. 

“I guess you could say that I started my lifelong career in the theatre with the Abbot production of ‘Twelfth Night’ – ‘if music be the food of love, play on!’  That and fencing are the two most significant contributions which Abbot made to my future.”- Anne B. K.

“ As the beneficiary of a great education (at Andover), I asknowledge my debt to the place.”  - Peter Bienstock

“(At Andover, I) learned to appreciate the value of lifelong learning.” – Dick Bland

“Andover provided a great foundation.”  - Mike Cardozo

“Andover was a life-changing experience for me... academically challenging, confidence-building.” – Jack Clymer

“Andover was a truly formative experience: teachers were brilliant, students curious, learning appreciated and rewarded.” – Tom Gildehaus

“My Andover experiences gave me the confidence to take on challenges where there are  no obvious roadmaps.” – Corbs Corbin

“Andover taught me discipline, hard work, staying the course, and the meaning of real        excellence.” – John Hughes

“Adjusting (to Andover) was difficult, but I survived, grew stronger and more resilient, and eventually flourished.” – David Kleinberg-Levin

“I learned of the miracle of the results that can be achieved by consistent application of your best efforts over time.” – Roger MacKenzie

“(At Andover) I discovered who I am, what I am capable of, found sorely needed self-confidence.” – Tom Mason

“All of them -- as teacher, housemaster or friend—challenged me to think, to grow, to become who I am.” – Nick Nicholas

“The discipline and hard work at Andover prepared me for the rest of my life.” – Pete Perez

“There were almost no teachers at Andover who didn’t expect more of me – pulling me forward.” – Steve Rieber

“(At Andover) I learned to work hard (as) a habit of mind and a comfort of effort.” – Mal Salter

“Andover was a great experience…not always easy with academic pressures to get into college and social pressures to act cool.” – Dave Winebrenner