Each of our lives are shaped by individuals who take the time to appreciate our individuality, to ask questions, to challenge us to dream, and, in turn, push us to become better versions of ourselves. Institutions are no different. It is with great sadness that we share the passing of former Head of School David Fowler, a leader who transformed Proctor during his 25 years as Head of School and inspired generations of educators and students with his vision for what high school could be.
Proctor Academy launched an Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017 with the intent of recognizing athletes, coaches, and teams who have distinguished themselves as outstanding contributors to athletics while at Proctor and who have continued to exemplify the values core to the community: respect, responsibility, compassion and honesty in their personal and professional lives. During 2022 reunion, we publicly recognized three classes of inductees. Read more about these individuals and teams below:
For the past two plus years our alumni have lived in a virtual relationship with Proctor. They attended the more than a hundred online events offered through our Alumni Office since March 2020, and while a few came to campus on special occasions, our annual Alumni Reunion weekend was twice postponed. The result of a two year hiatus on reunion? Record numbers and an absolutely amazing weekend in relationship with each other.
Proctor Academy alumni are no strangers to the Olympic Games. Five Proctor alums have competed in the Olympics, with many others directly involved in the Games through leadership and support roles. During this winter’s Beijing Olympics, three Proctor alumni were directly involved in supporting the United States' efforts.
Traditional New England, all-boys boarding schools throughout the 1950s and 1960s (like Proctor during that era) were male dominated institutions: in the classrooms, on the athletic fields, and in the leadership of the school. A glance at Proctor’s yearbooks from these decades scream order, discipline, and structure. And yet upon closer examination, the Proctor community and experience of the students themselves relied as much on the impact of strong, confident, capable women to lead the school from the inside. Nancy Wright was one of these women during her 20 years of service to Proctor. Today, we share her passing at the age of 94.
The American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) 2022 Awards have been announced, and Proctor is thrilled to share that two Proctor alums—Caroline Heatley '91 (The Joe Burke Award) and Gary Wright '72 (The John "Snooks" Kelley Founders Award)—are recipients. Caroline and Gary will be recognized at the AHCA Convention this April. Please help us congratulate these two lifelong Hornets!
We all remember where we were on the morning of September 11, 2001. Andrew Sandoe ‘94 had recently moved to Washington, DC from New York where he had completed his training with Morgan Stanley on the 63rd floor of 2 World Trade. He recalls, “The director of security at Morgan Stanley had been in the British military and was vigilant about accountability and drills. It drove all of us nuts, but when the first plane crashed (into One World Trade), he overrode the Port Authority police and evacuated the entire Morgan Stanley staff. Then he physically cleared every floor. Morgan Stanley lost 13 employees (out of 3,500), or 0.37%, while Cantor Fitzgerald lost 70% of their team. That day changed the trajectory of my life.”
When William Negley ‘02 sat in the Proctor Admissions office for his interview more than 20 years ago, he asked Director of Enrollment Chris Bartlett, “Can I really do all the stuff in these brochures?” Chris responded, as he has to thousands of prospective families during his 25 years at Proctor, that each student has the opportunity to find their own path through Proctor. For William, a teenager hungry for experiences, these words laid a foundation of exploration within a world of opportunities at Proctor.
