Q: What brought you to St. Mark's?
I first visited St. Mark's when we dropped off my brother John '57 in the early '50s to enter as a First Former. I was only five, but it made a big impression on me. Over the next six years, I loved reading his Lion yearbooks and I knew most of the students from their pictures. I couldn't wait to enter as a Second Former in the fall of 1959.
Q: What does St. Mark's mean to you?
St. Mark's represents the highest level of secondary or high school academics and sports. It attracts an outstanding group of bright, talented students, many of whom become important, lifelong friends. It has a rich tradition that one feels immediately upon driving up to the Cloisters at the front entrance. There is a tremendous pride that develops among St. Markers while at the School and in the years beyond. The modest size of the student body means everyone pretty much knows each other, making St. Markers feel closer to one another compared to other schools.
Q: Why do you continue to support St. Mark's School?
I support St. Mark's not only for the gratitude for what it gave to me, but because I believe it is evolving in such a positive, exciting direction. The St. Mark's I attended was all boys, very structured and disciplined, but civil. Today's St. Mark's is diverse, environmentally conscious, and interested in the community well beyond its campus. It offers so many more opportunities to build new skills and interests, and it encourages the development of collaboration capabilities which are such an important part succeeding in today's world. I also love the culture at the school. I was fortunate enough to recently attend a School meeting, run entirely by the students, which was upbeat, positive, and very informative.
Q: What is your favorite memory?
I have two favorite memories of St. Mark's. On Sunday afternoons in the spring, Mr. Sawyier, our favorite math teacher, would pick up me and classmate David Foster in his truck called "The Green Hornet" and take us to the St. Mark's golf course for nine holes of golf. It was the highlight of our week. Another memory was at the VI Form Dance Weekend where I invited my future wife, Paula Cook, who was a freshman at Smith College. On Sunday, it began to snow heavily and all the other girls raced to leave. Paula decided to stay and cut Monday classes. I was stunned that Headmaster Bill Barber let me do the same. I can still recall the jealous stares from other St. Marker's in their classrooms as Paula and I walked outside in the snow hand in hand.
Q: How has your time at St. Mark's prepared you to lead a life of consequence?
St. Mark's prepared me for a productive, fulfilling life because I learned important leadership skills. I also learned how to take good notes, which not only helped me in college, but has been a very useful skill in business. St. Mark's taught me how to compete. Sports were such an important part of my life at the School. Also, I learned the importance of hard work, fairness and integrity. There is no question that St. Mark's gave me the tools and the intangibles for a life of consequence.