In Memoriam

Huiyuan (Nicole) Chen chenhuiyuan0519@gmail.com

Dania Sofia Flores Lopez danias.floreslopez@gmail.com

Former Faculty

Jacqueline (Jackie) Rogers, who served as Director of the Health Center in the 1980s and ’90s, passed away on January 28. Jackie also served on the Counseling Team and the Safety Committee, and was a member of the Drug and Alcohol Core Group. Her husband, William O. Rogers III, was a member of the English Department. Their son, Duncan M. Rogers, writes, “I had the good fortune to grow up on campus and even appear in several of the school’s theatrical productions. On top of which both my brother and I held our wedding receptions on campus.”

Former World Languages faculty Nikki Descoteaux passed away on March 27 after a nearly 4-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Nikki taught French at Dana Hall from 1971-1983.

Virginia Simpson Aisner, former Classic Department faculty member from 19751980, died of metastatic breast cancer on May 29. While she taught at Dana Hall, Virginia met her spouse, James Aisner, who was later named head of the Classics Department. They married in 1981.

1937

Susan Bulfinch Ritger 4/23/2022

1941

Emily Frederick DiMaggio 2/21/2022

1945

Grace Fletcher Gordon 2/23/2022

1946

Peggy Smith Pratt 2/10/2022

1947

Ann Learnard Bowman 4/13/2022

1948

Nancy Wood Wellman 3/12/2022

1951

Martha Goodell 3/25/2022

Eleanor Fischel Ruben 4/6/2022

1955

Elizabeth Blackinton Crawford 2/28/2022

1961

Jane Emerson Linnell 4/24/2022

1974

Christina Pesek Glen 3/24/2022

A Closer Look

The Early Days of the Classroom Building

In September 1956, the Upper School Classroom Building opened its doors to Dana Hall students and faculty. Former English teacher Winifred Post described the scene in “Purpose and Personality” The Story of Dana Hall: “With workmen underfoot and classrooms cluttered with cans of paint, classes opened right on schedule in quarters so beautiful, so spacious that teachers were at first in awe of the new magnificence.” At the time of its planning and construction, the building represented a bold vision that ushered in a new era at Dana Hall. Former Archivist Pam Kaplan wrote, “In the 1940s, [Headmistress] Mrs. Alnah Johnston began planning for new buildings at Dana Hall. She realized that to compete with other educational institutions, Dana had to have modern and fireproof facilities. The land around the Pond was recommended as the site for the new Dana Hall. In 1947, the Trustees gave active support to the Building Fund and began to formulate building plans. This decision was a turning point in the history of the School. The Classroom Building was ready for students in September 1956, the start of Dana Hall’s 75th year. At the dedication, Judge Dewing, the chairman of the Board of Trustees, addressed Mrs. Johnston, “This new Classroom Building is the result of your dream. You were not satisfied with dreaming. You worked energetically and inspired others to work with you.” As work begins to revitalize the building to meet the needs of 21st-century learners (see page 24), the Bulletin went into the Nina Heald Weber ’49 Archives to look at the early days of the building that has served as Dana Hall’s academic center for 66 years.

Top to bottom: History class, fall 1956; The February 1956 Bulletin highlighted the Classroom Building construction project; Study Hall, November 1957; Art Studio, November 1957; Building under construction, August 1956; Science Class, 1957

DANA HALL SCHOOL 45 Dana Road / P.O. Box 9010 Wellesley, MA 02482-9010

PAID

PERMIT #375 Nashua, NH

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Page 26

MEET THE CLASS OF 2022! The Class of 2022 has traveled a journey like no other, but they are strong, compassionate and ready to take on the world.

Page 24

ARCHITECTING THE DANA HALL

EXPERIENCE - Work has begun on a major project to revitalize the Upper School Classroom Building.

Page 37

DISTINGUISHED YOUNG ALUMNA

AWARD HONOREE - Determined to pay it forward, Marynee Pontes ’12 gives back in both her professional and personal life.