Lida Famili, Member of the faculty 1987-2012
For 25 years at Milton, Lida Famili has embodied John Dewey’s idea: “Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.” Lida views her role primarily as helping students develop into young adults, and teaching chemistry only secondarily. Lida deeply respects and cares for students; her focus, in combination with her excellent background in chemistry, has made Lida the heart and soul of the science department. As one Class II student said, “Ms. Famili brightened my day every time I saw her. I will miss her daily hugs....
read morePam 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 moreJosé Ruiz Is Milton’s New Dean of Students
This year, Milton welcomes José Luis Ruiz as our new dean of students. José was most recently the associate dean of students and director of residential life at St. Mark’s School in Southborough, Massachusetts. He has been active in independent school life for many years in numerous, valuable roles. He graduated from the Westminster School in Simsbury, Connecticut, and has worked in independent schools for 13 years. He is looking forward to learning Milton’s culture, and to getting to know the students—in the Student Center at recess,...
read moreMerilin Castillo ’12 Earns the 2012 Princeton Prize in Race Relations
After each day of classes at Milton, Merilin Castillo ’12 would travel to the Southern Jamaica Plain Health Center in Boston, where she worked until 7 p.m. on the Racial Healing and Reconciliation (R&R) project. Merilin is a founding member of the project, and her work earned her the 2012 Princeton Prize in Race Relations from Boston. The R&R project offers to youth groups and community leaders training and workshops on racism awareness and the effects of racism on health. In recognition of her hard work and dedication, she received...
read moreMessages: Li-Young Lee
Li-Young Lee is the author of four critically acclaimed books of poetry, his most recent being Behind My Eyes (2008). His earlier collections include Book of My Nights (2001), which won the 2002 William Carlos Williams Award; The City in Which I Love You (1991), which was the 1990 Lamont Poetry Selection; and Rose (1986), which won the Delmore Schwartz Memorial Poetry Award. Mr. Lee’s honors include fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Lannan Foundation, and the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. Mr. Lee was this...
read moreMessages: Dr. Sylvia Earle
World-renowned marine biologist and ocean explorer Dr. Sylvia Earle shared her passion and wonder of discovery with students this spring. An advocate for the research and protection of the ocean, Dr. Earle is co-founder and director of Deep Ocean Engineering, Inc. Formerly chief scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, she is an explorer-in-residence at National Geographic. Recognized by the Library of Congress as a “Living Legend” and inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame, she is the author of more...
read moreMessages: Razia Jan
Founder of the Zabuli Education Center in Kabul, Afghanistan, Razia Jan spoke to students about her improbable achievement: under difficult political, economic and cultural conditions, opening a school for young girls. Mrs. Jan was this spring’s Margaret A. Johnson Speaker, a series that brings noted female leaders to campus each year. Mrs. Jan is a member of the Interfaith Council and No Place for Hate, as well as a member of the board of directors at Jordan Hospital. She has received awards for her humanitarian work, including the 2007...
read moreMarshall Schwarz ’54 and Fritz Hobbs ’65 Receive the Milton Medal
Trustees do not confer awards, typically, at Milton. The Milton Medal is the exception. Established by the board in December 1982, the medal considers candidates from the ranks of trustees, faculty and administration, alumni and parents. On Reunion Weekend in June, trustees made this prestigious award to H. Marshall Schwarz ’54 and Franklin W. Hobbs IV ’65. Both men hold trustee emeritus positions today. Marshall Schwarz began his tenure as a trustee in 1985, and he led the board as president from 1997 through 2002. Fritz Hobbs was elected...
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