Deerfield welcomes the Evans Family

Jake Nichols '07

When Hurricane Katrina struck, Deerfield Academy immediately wanted to help. Yet, according to Headmaster Eric Widmer, over enrollment "greatly limited" the number of hurricane victims who could be admitted. There was, however, one vacant house on Main Street to which Mr. Widmer, on behalf of the Deerfield community, invited the Evans family to stay.

A member of the Board of Trustees and former resident of New Orleans, Sidney "Skip" Evans '73 thanked the Deerfield community for having "lessened the pain of Hurricane Katrina." This thanks referred not only to the headmaster and the members on the board, but everyone in the community, from the physical plant, to the dining hail and the athletic store. When your house, car, clothing, school, and all things that are familiar to you are taken away, recovering can be a trying transition.

Mr. Evans said, "I think mentally our family would not have been able to start to get our life back together if it had not been for Deerfield."

Mr. Evans who graduated with the class of 1973, had kept in touch through the executive alumni commit- tee. This most recent visit however, was particularly special. Not only was he returning as a new member of the Board of Trustees, but the "wonderful hospitality" with which his family was greeted with was also "very special."

The Evanses did not know the extent of the damage done to their house until about ten days ago when Mr. Evans traveled to New Orleans to claim his car. He described the sight as "the most devastation I have seen in my adult life." Even though the flooding has stopped and most of the city is dry, Mr. Evans compared it to a "war zone." Mr. Evans, who recalled viewing footage from previous natural disasters, said, "You never think about that happening to you; it happened to us."

The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina left the Evanses here in Deerfield, but within a year they plan to purchase a house in the Washington, D.C. area, where Mr. Evans will be working. They also hope that they will have completely recovered, both physically and financially, from the disaster and that their daughters will continue to attend school in Deerfield.

Morgan Evans is a freshman here, and Taylor Evans is currently attending the Bement School.

As published in October 12, 2005 issue of the Deerfield Scroll, the monthly newspaper of Deerfield Academy.