Brad Bloom, president of the board, expressed on the board’s behalf profound gratitude to four trustees whose service on the board concluded in May of this year.
Caroline Hyman P’00 was elected to the board in 2009. Caroline clearly understood and appreciated Milton, and she helped Milton in many ways during four important years of our School’s history. Caroline and her husband, Ed, directly and powerfully affected Milton students’ experience through their philanthropy. Caroline’s generosity took many forms: She unfailingly hosted warm and lovely events to help Milton connect and communicate. Academic Affairs, Student Life and Enrollment, along with External Relations, were Caroline’s committees. We will recall her service to the board within the framework of a remarkable time—during the introduction of a new head of school, the completion of a New England Association of Schools and Colleges re-accreditation, and the development of a comprehensive strategic plan. Caroline’s demonstrated confidence in Milton is inspiring to all.
Vicky Graham ’81, Jide Zeitlin ’81, and Jack Reardon ’56 devoted 17, 18 and 22 years, respectively, to Milton, and their dedication relates directly to Milton’s strength today. During that time, not only did Milton enhance the facilities that serve students and faculty—the Athletic Center and Fitzgibbons Convocation Center, Schwarz Student Center, Millet and Norris houses, Pritzker Science Center and the Art and Media Center—but also, all key institutional markers advanced significantly. Milton mounted its first comprehensive capital campaign and in addition, met major building and endowment goals. Admission applications tracked steadily upward, and enrollment was rebalanced to reflect Milton’s history as a boarding and day school. Leadership and programming in residential life gained depth and quality. Milton restructured its former grade alignment into K–8 and the Upper School. The science department led Milton in substantive curriculum revision, and optimized students’ learning opportunities in the Pritzker Center. Of course, the list is much longer, including recruiting Todd Bland and culminating with the creation of our Strategic Plan.
Within this framework of progress, Vicky’s, Jide’s and Jack’s individual projects and responsibilities were many, but to highlight a few:
Vicky Graham chaired the Annual Fund and vigorously helped oversee our finances as budget chair, a crucial contribution during the financial crisis. She helped set the foundation for the upcoming capital campaign, and with Jack Reardon, co-chaired the national head of school search in 2007–2008 that helped Milton identify and recruit Todd Bland as Milton’s 12th head of school. Throughout her tenure, Vicky was asked to address vital issues, particularly in the financial area, and she leaves Milton with a robust and transparent financial reporting system.
As Milton’s Investment Committee chair, Jide Zeitlin set high expectations—meeting the investment performance of the top quartile of similarly sized endowments and reported successfully against those metrics. He piloted Milton’s endowment during a financially perilous time. Jide’s study of student life in 2000, undertaken along with trustee Tom Hill ’66, led to defining changes in residential life, including rebalancing the enrollment. During his service on Milton’s board, Jide was asked for his counsel on many of the critical challenges we faced. A man of few but precise and powerful words, Jide often clinched the issue at hand and articulated the pathway forward for Milton.
Jack Reardon’s first challenge, as chair of the Steering Committee in 1992—preparing for Milton’s first comprehensive capital campaign—was helping Milton understand that professional-level fund raising is the linchpin to fulfilling the School’s mission. Jack chaired the Trustees Committee during his tenure, guiding trustees and trustee practices in supporting Milton. That position signaled a much broader portfolio: trusted emissary, diplomat, counselor, honest broker, or change agent when that was necessary. On the board and in the School, Jack was an astute listener, and always promoted the broadest possible understanding of an issue. Co-chair of the search for Head of School Todd Bland, Jack implemented a process that stands as an example of open, responsive communication with the full Milton constituency. Milton is extremely grateful for Jack’s seemingly limitless service over 22 years, helping Milton to be evermore daring and true; he has prepared Milton well for the future.
Throughout change and growth over the last two decades, these trustees devoted countless hours on innumerable teams for Milton’s well-being. We are all most grateful for their enduring care and commitment.