Be Worthy of Your Heritage: What does it mean to you?

Mr. Lambert addressed this question in the June 2002 issue of the Deerfield Today newsletter, which I've reproduced below:

"All around us at Deerfield we see those challenging words: "Be Worthy of Your Heritage." Yet, how often do we take time out to think about their meaning? In general terms, the word heritage means anything acquired from a predecessor. At Deerfield we think of heritage as something handed down by decades of former students and faculty and school personnel who have established something of quality--of class--of style.

"Is it possible to walk into the Dining Hall lobby, then into the dining room itself, without being aware that we are in a building of distinction? Is it possible to walk into the Main School Building without being conscious that this building has quality, inherent merit, and elegance? Can anyone walk into the classroom building without noticing the same things?

"One afternoon when the Main School Building was under construction, I walked in with Headmaster Frank L. Boyden. Looking at the lobby, I asked him, "Isn't it extravagant to put pillars and expensive paneling here?" He replied, "Now we are proud of this building and a century from now, people walking in will be proud, too. Doesn't that make it worthwhile?" He was so right.

"How wonderful we feel when hundreds of alumni and friends return to campus for an alumni reunion, bicentennial celebration, or the dedication of a building, often the gift of an alumnus, and appreciate the care that has gone into every aspect of the academy.

"Many years ago the school was observing Memorial Day on the village common, along with students from Bement and Eaglebrook. A stranger drove up, parked, and watched our simple but sincere Memorial Day program honoring the service people who had given so much to America. Then she drove away. Several weeks later the Headmaster received a letter from that woman, who, for the first time in her life had happened upon one of our regular services. She said she was so impressed that she wanted to do something for the school--and she asked him if he would accept a dormitory where students lived. We named that building for its donor, Mrs. McAlister.

"What pride she had in Deerfield's heritage!

"This then is our heritage. Take just a minute to think about it. Look around you. Think of how proud you are to show this campus to your families and friends. And may you have that pride all the days of your life. Indeed, it is a priceless inheritance and a worthy heritage."

For me at least, I feel the urgency of Mr. Lambert's words with his passing – the duty to preserve and pass on those simple, but significant traditions.

I actually volunteered for this...

I actually volunteered for this when Sydney sent me the info to become a part of this group. I figured that it would be a lay up, but after I had promised to post something on Friday I felt somewhat unworthy. I was looking through the accomplishments of so many people in our class, and what meaningful ways so many of our classmates have contributed and the successes that they have had and I began to feel a little sheepish. It was not until I was out having dinner with a friend last night, and we were talking about Deerfield, that I got back in touch with that sense of pride that DA had so successfully ingrained in all of us. I am still proud to be a part of this group, or club, of people who even if we have in touch for too many years still have this foundation that was laid almost 23 years ago in the Pocumtuck Valley.

As I began thinking about what I wanted to share, and how to describe or define the last 20 some odd years, I knew I wanted to avoid a few traps. I did not want this to turn out like some sort of personal ad or a Christmas letter. Like a lot of people (I think), I hit 40 in June and hit a transition. For the last 15 years I have been working my way up the ladder in a career in sports television, curently working as an independent producer for the likes of NBC, ESPN, Versus and Colege Sports Television. It is a career that I fell into when my dreams of being a professional sailor and competing in events like the America's Cup and the Volvo Ocean race did not pan out. This summer I found myself in Valencia, Spain producing the 32nd America's Cup for the Versus network. It was the ultimate goal for me in my career and I found myself being responsible for sharing the biggest and most competitive cup with the US television audience. I worked harder then I ever have over a longer period of time feeling fortunate every day I was there that someone was actually paying me for something that I would have done for free. In a 15 year run that has had a lot of highlights this was the ultimate. For the youngest child who was too small and too slow, who talked too much and listened too little I was entrusted to run this multi million dollar project. I think about it now and it still amazes me. A career I fell into and approach with no real plan except keep working toward the next job and I made it. It is pretty cool.

Like most good things, they end. In July I found myself back on Martha's Vineyard to reconnect with my 10 year old son, Cooper and the rest of my family. I ran into Jon Emery, who is the first person from DA I had seen in way too long. Mostly I spent my time watching Coop sail (deciding that it is much more difficult to watch him sail the play hoops or goalie in lacrosse) and winding down from this incredible life experience and settling back in to a normal life.

Circumstance has found me in Pittsburgh, home of my ex-wife and keeping me close to Coop. I am proud to say that he is a really good kid. He is smart and engaging, curious about the world and has developed a good sense of adventure. It always amazes me that we can produce kids like this. his life began and I had no clue what I was doing and I'm not sure his mom did either. We both have tired to do what we thought was right and as much pride as I take when he accomplishes something in school or on the field nothing compares to getting heartfelt compliments from others about the quality of person he is. I have never really thought, until recently, about what I would like my legacy to be. He's 10 and I get to watch it grow on a regular basis.

Now I am trying to decide what is next. I reached my goal in sports TV and am fortunate to have had time this fall to try to sort things out. Seeing what so many people have accomplished in our class has given me a jolt of inspiration. Much like the atmosphere around DA when we there I have a sense that I do not want to get left behind, that I want to do something that will continue to give me pride in association with this group and the group pride in being associated with me. I am not sure what that will be but after spending 15 years doing nothing more significant then helping to entertain people I want to make a difference.

It has been way too long since I have been in touch with everyone. I do feel like I have sort of fallen off of this map. Getting the letter from Chuck and Syd brought me back to a really good place and time and drew up some fond memories.

Life is good, full of challenges, full of surprises and full of those innocuous little moments that make me think and make life complete.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Cheers,

John Wilson

Class of 1985 Trivia

Who was the first member of the Class of 1985 to earn a varsity letter and in what sport did he earn it? All members of the class of 1985 are eligible to participate except for the answer to our question.

[Warning the degree of difficulty on this question is 9.5 on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the hardest).]

Chuckie B

post from Chris Bailey

Ok, so first, thank you to Syd and Chuck for getting this idea off the ground. And thanks for asking me to participate – but then telling me to go first! So --

Deanna & I and our two boys (ages 10 and 8) live in Barre, VT in a great spot. We ski when there’s snow (me on telemark and XC), I get on my bike once a week or so, and we otherwise enjoy the hiking and lakes nearby. I do some hobby-scale farming on our 3+ acres as well.

I’m spending most of my time these days growing two businesses. I’m CEO of Vermont Smoke and Cure, a small but rapidly growing smokehouse business (see our Smoked Pepperoni in the November Gourmet magazine). We’re planning for a new facility & starting an equity raise for that. Exciting stuff, but of course it requires some hours.

Vermont Smoke and Cure, in addition to its own brand of smoked meats, offers meat processing services (a crucial piece of the ag infrastructure) for farmers in Vermont as well as creating & taking to market value-added products from meats from small farms.

The Farmers Diner is the sister company of Vermont Smoke and Cure. I’m (fortunately decreasingly) part-time Controller and point on external marketing there. The Farmers Diner is basically a rural development project masquerading as a diner. It connects customers with local farmers by buying about 2/3 of food from local farmers and processors.

Yes, there’s a theme here. I’m working to try to create demand and value for local and regional-scale farms so that they have a better chance of thriving economically. Seven years of farming and then an MBA gave me motivation and some tools to hopefully make some progress on this challenge.

I hope all are well, and that people will get in touch if headed to Vermont, especially if for some skiing at or nearby Sugarbush. I get to the Boston, NY City and now Chicago areas increasingly regularly and would welcome the chance for a coffee or beer with folks there.

There – I look forward to hearing what each of you are up to.

Best to all,
Chris

Maybe it was turning 40, or having my third child, or breaking free of corporate life to start my own business. I wanted to get back in touch with my Deerfield roots – find out what folks are up to, and just possibly help others to reconnect as well.

And while we're all curious to see how old friends are doing, I suspect and hope that we'll also discover new friends along the way, as Chuck and I already have.

Let's hear from each other. Send us photos, notes and links about you and others. Tell us about your families and your lives.

This is our forum. Enjoy it!