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since it was difficult for women at that time to get educated and get a good job. They both came to the States and found themselves and their good fortune here. I would like the boys in this room to make a pledge to look at your family members more closely in the weeks, months and years ahead. Talk to your grandparents, your aunts, your uncles, your fathers and mothers. Learn about their lives and the challenges they have faced and are facing and how, with good grace and hard work, they have succeeded. Although I never knew my grandfather, and I only knew my father for nine short years, their lives and the lives of my grandmother, aunt, and mother have played an immense part in making me understand what psychologists are now finding out-curiosity, hard work, good thinking, taking good risks, exploration and passion go a long way to making an individual happy and successful. Finally, I would like to talk for a minute or two about schools. I went to two all-boys schools in the UK, Crosfields and Wellington College. I came to the States and went to The Lawrenceville School in NJ. I have now worked in about six or seven different schools around the world including Lawrenceville most recently before becoming the Headmaster at Riverdale Country School. I am now honored to come and talk to you at this fine school, Allen-Stevenson. One thing that I believe binds these schools together, but I also think is where these schools need to focus their attention in the years ahead, is in developing both mind and character together and intentionally in young people. It is not enough to be good at science or math or English. The question is how are you all going to use your learning to do good for yourself, your family and especially for others? I have no time for schools, or teachers, or students who just "do school.” You are young and so we all say that school is just good for you, that it is something you all need to do at your age. I would like you to challenge yourselves, your parents, and your schools to start thinking now about how this work you do every day is part of something bigger, something more impressive that you are now working towards. It is the chance to fulfill your dreams, and the hard work, although difficult and boring at times, is important in making you become the person you want to be and will help you to lead meaningful and purposeful lives. It is important because even though you are young, you are all in the process of becoming wise -- and wisdom is something we all need moving forward, something that will make the world a better place, and a capacity that will make us and others happy. So think about mind and character together in your lives -- make a pledge to be wiser and to find ways of making school count in your day-to-day lives. I thank you for your time, your patience and kindness in listening to me this evening. I wish you all the best in your endeavors and thank you for the honor and privilege it is for me to be here tonight.
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S P R I N G
2009
Alumni Dinner in Honor of John E. Pariseau h’98 For the 2008 Alumni Reunion, the School hosted a cocktail reception on November 14th. This year’s reunion broke records with 175 alumni, faculty, and past faculty in attendance. Classes with graduation years ending in three and eight celebrated their milestone reunions. The event also honored John Pariseau h’98, who after 39 years of service to The AllenStevenson School, recently announced his intention to step down from his role as Associate Headmaster. David Kersey h’98 served as the master of ceremonies for a special presentation, which included a performance by the Upper School Chorus and speeches thanking and honoring Mr. Pariseau. Two representatives of the alumni body, Eric Rothstein ’81 and John Bicks ’75, shared their memories of Mr. Pariseau, which surely resonated with the audience. Eric Rothstein shared his feelings about Mr. Pariseau’s departure, "It is with sadness that I learned that you will be retiring this summer, knowing all you have done for the School. John truly cares about us and has enjoyed watching us grow into the men we have become." John Bicks remembered the many lessons he learned as a student and said that when Mr. Pariseau “walked into the building, he brought with him incredible energy and
enthusiasm that went through the building like a hurricane. John taught us how to work hard, how to work with each other, how to respect each other, and how to be leaders. He has been a teacher, an example, and an inspiration to more than 1,000 Allen-Stevenson boys. He has left behind not only in this building, but in every corner of the world where an A-S boy is in charge, many, many men who have the conviction and the will to carry on the skills that they have learned here -- not only to make their own situations better, but also to make the world a better place. For that, I owe John a tremendous debt of great gratitude." Past faculty member at A-S and current Headmaster of The St. David’s School, David O’Halloran, gave a rousing speech as he read his original poem reprinted on page 32. Headmaster David Trower shared his hope that his relationship with Mr. Pariseau might resemble that of Mr. Allen and Mr. Stevenson, adding, “John's work has been a labor of love. Fortiter and Recte. John is always one of the first to say we must do things strongly and rightly. I have always appreciated that moral vision. He has a strong sense of traditions and vision of the School. John's comprehensive knowledge and perspective over these 39 years have often made the job of Headmaster easier. John is the model for others of a Scholar and a Gentleman and he exemplifies the Allen-Stevenson code.”
John Bicks ’75, David Trower h’95, Eric Rothstein ’81, David Kersey h’98, John Pariseau h’98, Dario Sacramone, Richard Pariseau, and David O’Halloran