Alumni Profile: A Conversation with William Hanway ’76, Executive Director of Operations - Europe for AECOM, in London, by Robert Burge '76
Memories of
Robert Perry Zuckert ’84 After graduating from Allen-Stevenson in 9th Grade, Robert attended Phillips Andover Academy, Alliance Francaise in Paris and the University of CaliforniaIrvine. He was injured in 1994 while playing rugby for the University of California-Irvine, and at the young age of 24 became quadriplegic and lived with that disability for the rest of his life. He died in April and is remembered fondly by friends. “His classmates may have known him better. For my own part, I basically idolized the guy, who was the best example of a renaissance-man-in-the-making I've ever known. He was larger than life, the best athlete I've ever known, literally able to take on the entire defense single-handedly in football, lacrosse and hockey, weaving his way to a score whenever needed; he was fast, powerful and incredibly graceful all at once. He was also kind and inclusive, always letting us younger classmen play along, though he often hid his kindness behind a rough exterior that could be intimidating. When I consider, sitting here today, some of the key passions and experiences of my life, Zuckert's influence is unmistakable. His sports became my sports and he was perhaps the #1 reason for my desire to go to Andover -- if Zuckert went there, it had to be the best.” Andrew Mercy ’85 “I have rarely known anyone, much less any boy, whose personal magnetism was as strong as his. Such was the force of Robbie’s personality and powerful presence in the School that, as an eighth grader, he actually brought his girlfriend to class for an entire day and not one teacher or administrator commented on this unique visitor’s presence! I remember his love for David Kersey – expressed in a talent show by dancing his impression of that great teacher’s zeitgeist to the song, “Owner of a Lonely Heart” by Yes. I certainly remember vividly his take on the role of Count Orsino in Mr. Kersey’s Twelfth Night: his Orsino was no dreamer, but a haunted, angry lover who spat out the line, “If music be the food of love, play on…” as if it broke his heart. I remember his deep, almost ferocious love for his brothers and for his mother and father. He said he once dreamed that Sandy had bought him a leopard as a pet, and that she had brought it to a football game and let it run across the field to him in victory. That leopard is iconic of Robbie Zuckert: alert, intelligent, graceful, powerful, and agile – a symbol of the natural world he loved inside the noisy hive of our urban existence. He last wrote to me from a mountaintop in Montana before he made the decision to pursue acting in Paris – he was excited by the new adventure in front of him, not at all worried about the challenges of the theater or life in a foreign country that would have daunted me.” Caroline Berry, former faculty
Hanway’s firm is master planning the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games as well as the post games legacy framework. Bill has been involved since 2003, helping to secure the original winning bid for London in 2005. Classmate Robert Burge ’76 spoke with him about this high profile project: “The Olympics represent a unified moment of celebration for the world, of people coming together from all corners of the globe,” described Hanway. “The delivering of an Olympic Games is a huge undertaking, with the creation of an Olympic Park which includes the Olympic village to house some 17,000 athletes and coaches as well as the sporting venues and the supporting infrastructure. This requires a dedicated team of professionals working together under severe time pressures, with a fixed deadline (Summer 2012). Delays are clearly unacceptable,” stated Hanway. He is pleased to report that all of the work is on schedule. Hanway particularly enjoys that he is working with celebrated architects, from around the world to build new edifices for the Olympics. They include Michael Hopkins on the Velodrome, Zaha Hadid on the Aquatics Centre, Ken Shuttleworth on the Handball Arena, and HOK Sport on the Main Stadium. “Most importantly, the Olympics are a catalyst for investment and regeneration of the ‘East End’ of London – long regarded as the poor cousin of the tourist destination we all know,” said Hanway. “The infrastructure of this area of London is being completely rebuilt. There will be new schools, health facilities, transportation hubs, housing and a new 200 acre public park." Hanway and Burge were not only classmates at Allen-Stevenson, but at Hotchkiss as well. Hanway has two sons, Will (15) and Colm (13). Will attends Eton and Colm is at The Hall, an all boys primary school not dissimilar to Allen-Stevenson. Hanway’s wife, Christine Chang, is also an accomplished architect. She was responsible for the Holocaust Exhibit at the Imperial War Museum and the masterplan for the V & A Museum in London.
Legacy Admissions: We are delighted to note an increase of interest in Allen-Stevenson among alumni who have sons of school age. Because of this situation, the School has developed a policy to handle Legacy Status: alumni may request an early admissions decision although Legacy Status does not mean an automatic or guaranteed acceptance. Alumni who are interested in applying their sons should call the Admissions Office at 212-606-0884. L
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