Pam McArdle, Member of the faculty, 1989–2012
“Everything has its season. Everything has its time. Show me a reason and I’ll show you a rhyme.” For many a season, Pam McArdle, versatile performer that she is, found the reason and rhyme to play countless roles in various venues such as admission, the Upper School principal’s office, the studio theater, Thacher, and, most recently, the costume shop. Pam and I shared a summer up in the dusty southeast corner of Kellner, cleaning— folding yard after yard of wool; playing animal detectives trying to identify bedraggled fur pieces;...
read moreAnne Neely, Member of faculty, 1974-2012
Anne Neely has given 38 years to persuading her Milton Academy students that beauty and truth, as embodied in artistic expression, is a powerful way to fi nd and to declare oneself. As she has grown—as a teacher, artist, mother, colleague and free spirit—so have her students. The evidence is the extraordinary work of her students. This includes the many Class IV students who never suspected they would fall in love with art until they did their first interpretive self-portrait with Ms. Neely; the Studio Art students who were proud to see...
read moreJohn Charles Smith, Member of faculty, 1974-2012
When John Charles and I arrived at Milton in September 1974, Richard Nixon was president, and Jerry Pieh was headmaster, his office in the basement of Straus. Deval Patrick had just graduated; Elaine Apthorp was a senior; and Andre Heard wouldn’t be born until the following summer. There were about 175 boy boarding students and 60+ girl boarding students. Milton was three largely separate schools, each with different histories, standards and practices. John Charles has been an important part of several of the changes that have made us the...
read moreCarlotta Zilliax, Member of the faculty, 1992-2012
A champion of literature and literary history in Milton’s Upper School English department since 1992, Carlotta Zilliax began her career with 17 years as a primary and elementary teacher. Not many could successfully cover the scale from The Runaway Bunny to King Lear, but Carlotta has done so with brio and with a wise appreciation of the Möbius-like continuum that connects the very young with the not quite so young—the let’s-play-grownup first graders with the how-sillycan-we-be-today high-school seniors. At either end of the spectrum,...
read moreAnne Foley, Member of the faculty, 1987–2012
Just like the North Star, Anne Foley is trusted, steady and constant. A number of constellations circle around her: students, faculty and library colleagues, and family members. We have all been the benefi ciaries of the tireless and conscientious manner in which Anne performs her duties. We have seen her retrieving a wayward piece of trash to beautify the campus. We have noticed her at sporting events and performances, supporting her advisees or former students. Slouching or goofing off when Anne is around is difficult; instead, trying a...
read moreLenna Dower, Member of the faculty, 1973–2012
Passing by Lenna Dower’s seventh-grade classroom, you might hear her say “Confucius said, ‘I want you to be everything that’s you, deep at the center of your being.’” This statement epitomizes Lenna’s values. She has served as a supreme mentor and teacher to many students and faculty during her 39 years at Milton. In her 22 years as head of Hathaway House, Lenna gave selflessly of her own life and that of her family members—Rick, Lara and Graham. As Middle School head and revered history teacher, she changed the curriculum to...
read moreCarolyn Damp, Member of the faculty, 1978–2012
After teaching in the Concord Public Schools for seven years, Carolyn Damp assumed her destined role teaching Grade 4 in Greenleaf Hall more than 30 years ago. Carolyn was the consummate professional, ably instructing her charges in math, social studies, literature and reading. Many years ago she narrowed her focus, pursuing her passion for the culture of the Middle East. She worked tirelessly to develop a comprehensive and rich curriculum embracing the Mesopotamian and ancient Egyptian civilizations, as well as the modern Middle East. Her...
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