Dear Deerfield Alumni

by Joshua B. Binswanger '80

"Tempus fugit." Twenty-five years after graduating from Deerfield, the expression continues to resonate...as does my impression of the man who used it so often. He was an impressive figure on campus. With a perfectly coifed head of prematurely gray hair and crisp attire, he was seemingly everywhere, covering the academy grounds with a purposeful stride and an energy that was both inspiring and infectious. I was a first year junior, and as I made my way to the Dining Hall one afternoon, I passed him on the walkway. He was engaging several other students in conversation, exhorting them with the phrase, "tempus fugit." Not being a Latin student, I had to inquire as to the meaning of the term. Simple translation: "Time flies."

Aside from the obvious caution against procrastination, the true meaning of that phrase was lost on me. "Time? I've got plenty of time. I'm 17 years old. I've got my whole life ahead of me." Many of us shared those beliefs at that age: The sense of immortality; the thirst for adventure, and for knowledge. But Larry Boyle was getting at something deeper.

Life after Deerfield gets more complicated. We take on greater academic, professional and personal challenges. We accept greater responsibilities for family and businesses. And slowly at first, the days, weeks and months begin to pass by. And then the passing of time accelerates.

But it has been my experience that when I reconnect with someone from Deerfield, time stops, and I find myself suddenly engaged in a conversation that feels as if it started just the day before. It has been my good fortune to encounter Deerfield alumni around the globe. And what's most interesting is that the tenor of those encounters is unique. You may be engaging a captain of industry; a politician or even a member of royalty…but when the Deerfield bond is rekindled, it's as if the surroundings dissolve and the passage of time is transcended.

We on the Executive Committee want the opportunity to connect with as many members of the alumni community as possible. Elsewhere in this newsletter, you'll find a note from PB Weymouth '83, which expresses our sentiments and goals. All that's required is, your participation. "Tempus fugit."

Thanks, Mr. Boyle...you were right.