/ Class Notes /
he did at Vassar. Devon O’Rourke writes: “Everyone who’s watched the comedy Tommy Boy knows the scene between Chris Farley’s bumbling character, Tommy, and his acerbic companion in David Spade: “Lots of people go to college for seven years,” claims Tommy. “Yeah, they’re called doctors.” If there was ever a postgraduation quote to use, this would be the one for a couple of reasons, but namely as it begs to ask why anyone would stay in one place for so long. The answer is simple: Berkshire continues to provide an excellent place to live, to work, to learn. I’ve spent seven years at Berkshire— two as a student and five as a teacher— and the attraction to a way of life that is both caring and challenging has been strong. Leaving a place where you’ve spent so much time, invested so much energy and value so highly, brings up feelings similar to what we shared at graduation over a decade ago: you’re sad to leave but extremely proud of your heritage. And if you haven’t been back to campus in a long while, you really need to visit. It’s astonishing both in terms of physical growth but more so given the tremendous capabilities of our student body. The most consistent refrain among long-tenured faculty is that kids make working here a joy because of the quality of their character. While we seem to raise the bar every year with regard to admis-
sion, we’ve never forgotten our core values. If anything, it seems like the collection of people working on campus edges closer and closer to the mission of the school in creating an environment where you do actually get to learn for something more than just school. Berkshire has been an endless resource of human compassion, professional growth, enduring relationships to kids and adults alike, and a turning point in my life on several occasions. While I’ll be attending UNH next fall to begin a doctoral program in microbiology, my wife, Jackie O’Rourke (who taught here for five years also) will be working at Tilton Academy in much the same capacity that she fulfilled at Berkshire. We will both think fondly of Berkshire as our first true home together, and I can’t imagine a better place to have a chance to return.”
Nat Ridder ’03 and his wife Sarah
Brooke, daughter of Hilary Day Callton ’03
Hilary Day Calton writes: “Things here in Colorado are great! My daughter Brooke turned 6 this past December. She loves kindergarten and just tested 80th percentile in reading nationally and 90th percentile for math. I also remarried this past November to Bill Calton. He is a senior level executive for Comcast.” Nat Ridder writes: “Life is good out here in Denver, CO. I am currently teaching 8th grade history and working towards obtaining another Master’s, this time in School Administration. I recently married my beautiful wife Sarah and we are expecting our first little Ridder in August.” Samantha Shaw writes: “I just completed my MBA from the Bordeaux School of Management with a background in Wine and Spirits. This June, I accepted a job from Hourglass Winery in Napa Valley, CA, but will be based in
03 Jane Walker Blake janewblake@gmail.com
Emily Eisen-Berkeley Wenner ‘03 and children Rosalynd, Lilly and Logan
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Julio Arata and his wife recently had a baby. Jane Walker Blake writes: “My husband, Tommy, and I welcomed our daughter, Holland Holder Blake into the world on March 20, 2014. Hollis, as we call her, is also the first grandchild of my father, Web Walker ’73.”
Carter Stern ‘04 and wife Beth Taylor