tête-à-tête: GIL GROSVENOR
with
GILBERT M. GROSVENOR
Gilbert M. “Gil” Grosvenor ’49 sat down with Deerfield Magazine’s Julia Elliott at National Geographic Society headquarters this past winter. Mr. Grosvenor, whose family had been at the helm of National Geographic since 1899, retired as the Society’s president in 1996, after a long and varied career; his positions at “Nat Geo” included photographer, writer, and editor, among others. Below, Mr. Grosvenor recalls some of his favorite Deerfield memories. Look for part two of Mr. Grosvenor’s interview, which focuses on his time at National Geographic, in our fall issue.
DM: Do you remember your first impression of Deerfield? GG: Oh, easily. Came from Washington, DC . . . Arrived on campus and there was a sign that said ‘registration.’ So I went through the door to register and this man stuck his hand out and said, ‘Hi, Gil Grosvenor. Welcome to Deerfield.’ And it was Henry Poor. Henry Poor was an amazing man. He would greet every kid at the door by his first name. If that isn’t the best way to start a new experience when you’re young, you’re nervous, and you’re not sure what you’re getting into . . . That was my first introduction to Deerfield. Later, I used to kind of wander around sometimes and watch him when new kids came in, and he never missed one. And that’s just part of Deerfield. I think a hallmark of Deerfield is the quality of teachers who are attracted to the place. They are attracted by the aura, the spirit, the cohesiveness.
44
Spring 2014
DM: When you look back and think about who had the most influence on you, who do you think of? GG: Setting the Head aside, probably the next most influential person in my life at Deerfield was Red Sullivan. He was the master of the John Williams House and I—I took a PG year at Deerfield in order to be a proctor in John Williams. I really wanted to go to Yale University and the Head didn’t think I was mature enough, so I agreed to stay the extra year. I learned a tremendous amount from Red Sullivan. He wasn’t a teacher, but I learned as much from him about life as anybody at the school.
DM: When you say you learned a tremendous amount, is there anything specific you can tell me about?
James P. Blair/National Geographic Creative
’49
Tête-à-Tête