Penguin
NATION
A Legacy 60 Years in the Making Tony Steere ’61 and the Anthony A. Steere Family Memorial Scholarship Fund When Tony Steere ’61 received a provisional acceptance in 1957 to enroll at Cushing
Academy, a seed was planted.
Describing himself as a “work
in progress” in the classroom, Tony remembers reading the letter and acknowledging
to himself that Cushing had taken a chance on him. He
thought, “One day, I want to Anthony A. “Tony” Steere Jr. ‘61
repay that debt.”
loved his experience, sharing his memories of life on campus where he played football, ran track, and made frequent use of the thenexistent campus ski jump. The stories made an impression on Tony and on his younger sister, Diane Steere Nobles ’68, who later followed her father and brother to Ashburnham. This scholarship fund honors the family’s Cushing experience by paying it forward.
Diane Steere Nobles ‘68
That idea stayed with Tony over the next 60 years. He also noticed
Taking advantage of the opportunities Cushing offered, Tony
the steeply rising cost of private high school tuition, remembering
achieved his desired success in the classroom and both on and off
that as a freshman, “I helped clean Ash House as a scholarship
the ice, including as a member of the track and football teams like
student, when tuition was $1,500.” Tony’s experience showed him
his father. He especially credits faculty members Bill Davis and Dave
the transformative power of a Cushing education, and he wanted to
Halvorsen, his hockey coaches, for their pivotal roles.
make that possible for students who could not otherwise afford it. After Cushing, Tony enrolled at Cornell University, where he played Tony shared his vision for partial scholarships for multiple students
limited hockey and continued to stress academics. After four
each year, and the idea came to fruition in early 2019 with his
great years, he graduated from the College of Agriculture (now the
creation of the Anthony A. Steere Family Memorial Scholarship
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences), majoring in horticulture
Fund. The fund, which he endowed with a $1 million gift, will
with a minor in entomology. Tony applied to several graduate
provide in perpetuity three partial scholarships each year for
schools and accepted a fellowship at University of Maryland, where
freshman and sophomore students from the United States. “Cushing
he received his master’s and doctorate, working on plant growth
is deeply grateful for Tony’s extraordinary generosity and his
regulators in horticulture.
landmark gift, which provides greatly needed scholarship aid for students,” says Head of School Dr. Randy Bertin. “In establishing
Upon ending his academic career, Tony joined the family business,
this endowed fund, Tony has ensured this legacy of commitment and
Hamden Garden Center, selling all sorts of agricultural supplies.
support will be available for generations of students to come.”
Following his parents’ deaths, he continued the business for many years before selling it and returning to Rhode Island, moving to
Tony was born in Rhode Island and
Narragansett, where his late mother’s family roots run deep. As
raised in Hamden, Connecticut, a
Tony settled in, he took a job as a driver and aide in the town’s
town known for hockey. As Tony
school transportation system. Tony notes that the connections with
relays the story, his academics were
the students and their families in a small town made it “a great
lacking and a new mindset was
retirement job.” Now fully retired, he enjoys volunteering with
needed to prepare for the future.
Meals on Wheels and finds satisfaction in being able to help Cushing
He applied to two prep schools
students and others.
and was accepted at both; a visit convinced him that Cushing was the
“Cushing is a wonderful school, and the campus today is
right choice. His father, Anthony
beautiful,” said Tony. “I am pleased to help current and future
A. Steere Sr. ’32, also known as
Penguins receive the benefits of a Cushing education, as my father
Tony, had transferred to Cushing
and sister and I did.”
as a sophomore and had frequently told his children how much he had
28
CUSHING TODAY
Anthony A. “Tony” Steere ‘32
