Class Ring Returned to Owner After 55 Years
Recollections Experienced Alumni Recall Their Brewster Days
In August, Annual Fund Director Beth Hayes ’81 received a call from Thomas Obey Jr. of Wakefield, who had been using a metal detector on Brewster Beach. He had uncovered, in about six inches of sand, a 1956 Brewster class ring engraved with the initials JWR, and Obey was hoping that
In Recollections, Alumni Correspondent and for-
Brewster might be able to locate its owner. Hayes
mer faculty member Matt Hoopes shares memo-
looked up names from the Class of 1956 to see if
ries collected from alumni who attended Brewster
she could find one that matched those initials.
before 1965. We encourage these “experienced” alumni to share their stories with Hoopes for possible publication in this column. See page 27 for
“My first call was to Jim Rogers from Mirror Lake
Hoopes’ contact information.
and it was his,” Hayes said. “He lost it on the beach around 1955 – 55 years ago!”
Jim Rogers ’56 and wife Thea stand where his ring was found at Brewster Beach.
Marion (Gleason) Peterson ’37 Scottsdale, Arizona
Rogers drove to Wakefield that day to pick it up
his class ring, Rogers had given his girlfriend Thea
and was delighted that it still fit.
Bennett ‘60 (now his wife) the soccer ball on a
“I had the best of both worlds – I was a boarder
silver chain that he had earned, and she in turn
in the lovely and pleasant Estabrook House dur-
During the 1950s, it was customary for a senior
teased him that he had really given his ring to
ing the week but was able to go home to [nearby]
boy to give his class ring to his girlfriend if he
another girl, Rogers said. “After all these years I’m
Ossipee on the weekends to be with my family
intended to marry her after high school. Missing
finally exonerated,” he joked.
and friends.” A city girl originally, she “… loved living in the country, swimming in the summer
commuted to Houston for almost three years, flying
always enjoyed working with my hands, Beachmark
a 48-passenger prop plane for Continental Express. I
Construction Company was formed in 1996, and later
worked next for FedEx, first as a simulator instructor;
I merged with another company to form Carpenter
then as an engineer first on the 727 and then the
Beach Construction Company. In 2009 we formed a
DC10; and as a first officer (co-pilot) on the bigger
hardwood lumber business called Local Wood, spe-
MD-11. I’ve traveled all over the world. Michelle and
cializing in locally harvested and reclaimed lumber.”
I enjoy living outside of Memphis on two acres with our four cats and two dogs.”
Charles Bedford writes, “I attended The University of Denver where I met my first wife, Shannan – the
and skiing in the winter. I was jealous, however, of the students who were on campus during the winter weekends because they could ride their toboggans down the wooden ‘snow chute’ [see BrewsterConnections, Summer 2007, page 58] that ran from Brown Hall down to the lake.” Peterson enjoyed playing center on the field hockey team all four years along with Jane (Smith) Piltz of Utah, with whom she is still in contact, and the late Betty (Kirkland) Ferris, who drove from
Dorianne (Sands) Barr writes that she did not travel
mother of son Joshua who is now 14, a freshman
far from Brewster. “I have lived in East Kingston,
in high school, and a level-9 gymnast. Later I met
New Hampshire, for 17 years and visit Wolfeboro
Samantha, a wonderful South African/British woman,
every summer. My husband of 18 years and I have
and we married in March 2008. We have a son Wil-
four children, and I am pleased to report that two
liam, 1. My career has taken me from small to large
of them attend Brewster – Rebekah is a junior and
private companies and finally to the U.S. Depart-
“When I was 13 in 1939 I matriculated from a
Joshua is a sophomore. Daughter Tabitha is in sev-
ment of the Interior.”
one-room schoolhouse with 16 students and one
enth grade and Moriah is in fifth grade. My passion
Wolfeboro in her camper each year to visit. Roger Thurrell ‘43 Conway, New Hampshire
teacher to Brewster Free Academy with over 140
for lifelong learning began at Brewster and my hope
John Bolling graduated from Hope College in 1990
students. As a freshman I was not allowed to eat
is that our children will take advantage of all the op-
and began an 11-year career in the banking industry.
lunch in one of the three cars parked out back
portunities available to them. I completed my Ph.D.
“My wife Lindy and I have been blessed with son
of the school building …. I could, however, walk
in organizational psychology in early 2010.”
Trey, 7, and daughter Olivia, 3. We moved to Princ-
down to the Town Diner and get beef stew for
eton, New Jersey, to start a construction company
35 cents.” … With no school transport to away
Charles P. Beach graduated from West Virginia Uni-
(Synergy Remodeling) in 2004, being fond of the
sports games he recalled, “[My brother] Philip
versity with a B.A. in history and a minor in political
East Coast and feeling the need to be entrepreneurs.
’40 and Dick Pascoe ’40 would load up their
science and geography. “After three years out West,
We enjoy annual ski trips to Montana, frequent trips
cars with players and see who could get to the
I moved back to my home state of Virginia, married
to New York City, and I will return to Michigan this
other high school first. A hazardous experience
my wife Mariena, and we had two children. As I
summer to sail in the Queen’s Cup.”
for many!”
www.brewsteracademy.org
35