Liz Dyke '01

In the midst of Deerfield's most crucial and accomplished time in history, three key members of the Board of Trustees will be retiring April 30, 2000. Robert Dewey '49, president of the board, and Vice President Arthur Clement '66 will conclude their ten-year terms. George Lee '67 will also step down after serving as the Chairman of Annual Support for the past three years.

When Mr. Dewey and Mr. Clement first joined the trustees, Deerfield was amidst a transition to coeducation. Soon thereafter, the trustees oversaw the turn from Headmaster Mr. Robert Kaufmann to Deerfield's current Headmaster, Eric Widmer.

Throughout the past decade, the Board, including Mr. Dewey, Mr. Clement, and Mr. Lee, not only worked to make those changes possible, but also launched the capital campaign, a fund-raising venture aimed to raise $125 million dollars for the school.

In addition, Mr. Dewey, Mr. Clement, and Mr. Lee oversaw the Bicentennial celebration, worked to further assimilate technology into the curriculum at Deerfield, raised a greater endowment, and made possible and oversaw the construction of the two new dormitories, Louis Marx and John Louis. The trustees also strove to further diversify both the student body and faculty.

Each trustee emphasizes Deerfield's need to continue shaping itself as a strong, academic institution. Mr. Lee, current Chairman of Annual Support said, "I believe Deerfield Academy is the top secondary school in the country, and it will stay there. The challenge will lie in continuing investment in necessary capital projects to remain number one."

President Dewey said, "Deerfield must continue to hire and develop the very best faculty possible. Also, we are blessed to have Eric Widmer and Meera Viswanathan, who are not only great educators in the classic sense, but who also lead by example in maintaining the traditional moral and ethical values of this great academy."

Vice President Clement said, "There must be a stronger emphasis on moral development." He hopes that in the future, the trustees will continue "to take Deerfield into the world and bring the world into Deerfield."

Deerfield will recognize and continue the legacy of Mr. Dewey, Mr. Clement, and Mr. Lee. The work that these three Board members have accomplished during their terms is remarkable. Headmaster Eric Widmer said, "Mr. Dewey and Mr. Clement have been immensely important trustees for Deerfield, and there is no way that we can adequately thank them or think of replacing them. We will do our best to follow in their footsteps. Mr. Lee has been a Chair of Annual Support and we will miss him as his term comes to an end this year."

As published in the April 19, 2000 issue of the Deerfield Scroll, the monthly newspaper of Deerfield Academy.