Georgian, Fall 2001

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September 11

Alumni eQuizzes

Head of School Nancy Starmer shares how the school responded to the tragedy, page 8.

Georgian shares survey results, page 6.

eorgian

A Publication of George School, Newtown, Pennsylvania

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Fall 2001

NEWSWEEK Thrives on Alumni Talent

By Carol J. Suplee

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wo of the top positions at NEWSWEEK, one of the nation’s most respected weekly news magazines, are held by George School alumni.

Mark Whitaker ’75 is the editor and Mark Updegrove ’80 is the US Publisher.

That’s good news for George School and the rest of the news-reading public.

Whitaker, who was named editor in 1998, called the recent appointment of Updegrove a “happy coincidence.”

“We didn’t know each other,” Whitaker said. “We were first introduced when he came to NEWSWEEK as publisher this year. I knew and could trust that his heart was in the right place, that he held values that I respected.”

For his part, Updegrove said he enjoyed an immediate rise in his “comfort level” knowing that Whitaker was at the editorial helm. This sense of shared culture and beliefs has enhanced their association. The two have become good Photo by Cliff Chase, NEWSWEEK

friends and they cooperate when it is appropriate, but in their professional spheres of responsibility—editorial and business—they maintain a strict separation. “We are like ‘Church and State,’ at NEWSWEEK,” Updegrove said. “Mark is ‘Church’ and I am ‘State.’”

Several years after graduating from high school, Mark Whitaker ’75 (left) and Mark Updegrove ’80 crossed paths when Mark Updegrove began working at NEWSWEEK.

(Turn to page 2 to read more)

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(NEWSWEEK, continued from page 1)

NEWSWEEK’s ‘Church’ — Mark Whitaker ’75, Editor

By Carol J. Suplee

A

s editor of NEWSWEEK, Mark Whitaker’s influence is felt at every level of the publication.

He guides the editorial team in making all story decisions and then reads and approves—or sends back for rewrite—every significant piece destined for print in any given week. He says he does not read every word every week, but he comes close.

The New York Times described Mark’s leadership as “a strong, even-keeled intellectual presence,” which has been crucial in the magazine’s coverage of numerous major national stories.

The Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky scandal was first unearthed by Washington, DC, NEWSWEEK reporter Michael Isikoff. While covering the Paula Jones story, Mark explained, Isikoff had developed a stable of dependable sources who had been providing information about Clinton’s more recent conduct while in the White House.

“We were pretty sure that we had a solid story,” Mark said. “It was a tricky thing. If we rushed into print with this information about a sitting president, without being sure, it would be disastrous. If we were a daily, we knew we would be only one or two days away from print. But as a news weekly, our options were limited. No one else had it, so we felt it wiser not to break the story that week.”

By Wednesday of the next week, other media came out with stories that contained far less information than Isikoff had. NEWSWEEK immediately posted its own long and detailed story on the web that same day.

“Then I reserved 15,000 words in that week’s magazine for a full exposition of the Lewinsky story. That is very rare—usually a major cover piece is about 3,000 words,” Mark said.

NEWSWEEK subsequently won a National News Magazine award for reporting. Mark said that while it was exciting and challenging to direct their coverage, the sordid story was “not fun.” Nevertheless, he felt the public had to know and he was proud of the work the staff

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had done.

“As any good editor will tell you,” he said, “the magic lies in the reporters, and in giving them the support, the length and the space to do their best work.”

Mark also has distinguished himself with occasional essays on race issues. One cover story, “The Hidden Rage of Successful Blacks,” written in collaboration with a colleague, won awards from the Society of Professional Journalists New York Chapter and the National Association of Black Journalists. Mark is proud of the magazine’s efforts to shed light on other compelling issues that concern Americans. For example, NEWSWEEK led the national political debate on stem cell research months ahead of other major media.

Mark believes the weekly news magazine has a more solid niche in the information age than ever before, despite the doomsayers’ lament that print will disappear. “I consider a weekly news magazine the ‘stop and think’ print medium,” he said. “It is well-suited for allowing coverage of dramatic news events to develop more slowly. We can tell the story at greater length with more time for thoughtful analysis. We are not just covering stories, we want to shed light on— if not always to solve—the problems of the nation.”

A lifelong Quaker and the son of college professors, Mark grew up attuned to what was happening in the world. He stayed informed by reading NEWSWEEK. “As I was coming of age in the late sixties and early seventies,” Mark said, “I was riveted by the magazine’s coverage of such stories as the Vietnam War and war protests, the civil rights movement and the Watergate scandal. I have always loved good writing and NEWSWEEK always had a premium on good writing.”

Mark has long been one of the reasons NEWSWEEK is so respected. He has contributed since he was hired as a reporting intern in 1977, through his years as a stringer, then as a full-time staff writer on the International section for which he covered trouble spots all

“As any good editor will tell you, the magic lies in the reporters, and in giving them the support, the length and the space to do their best work.”

Mark Whitaker’s ’75 (right) role at NEWSWEEK gives him the opportunity to meet many influential figures from around the world. Here he is in the home of UN Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke with the 56th Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger (left), and the Former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela (center).

around the globe. Later, as business editor, he directed the coverage of the Black Monday market crash, insider trader scandals and the savings and loan meltdown. Mark led the magazine as managing editor through a crucial period when then-editor Maynard Parker had fallen ill with terminal leukemia.

Mark graduated summa cum laude from Harvard in 1979 and attended

Balliol College of Oxford University on a George C. Marshall Scholarship.

News, as NEWSWEEK delivers it, is a family passion. Mark is married to Alexis Gelber, director of Special Projects for NEWSWEEK. They have two children, Rachel, 15, and Matthew, 11. ■

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NEWSWEEK’s ‘State’ — Mark Updegrove ’80, Publisher

By Carol J. Suplee

Photo by David Hume Kennerly

A

lthough Mark Updegrove will try to tell you his career had an “inauspicious” beginning, his rapid rise, first to the top at TIME (he was President of Time Canada) and now at NEWSWEEK, belies his modest claim.

As US Publisher for N EWSWEEK, Mark oversees the business end of the magazine. That means he is in charge of advertising sales, sales development, special opportunities and a host of other hard-to-define efforts vital in keeping NEWSWEEK competitive in an ever-expanding and challenging media marketplace.

Mark recalls speaking to George School students at a career assembly not long ago, “I asked how many knew exactly what they wanted to do,” Mark said. “About six students raised their hands. Then I asked how many had no clue and all the rest of the hands went up.”

Mark advised the students not to worry, to trust what they had learned at George School and to have faith in their instincts. He assured them they would “figure it out along the way.”

“George School gave me a moral foundation that I will have for the rest of my life,” Mark said. “The school provides students with all the tools they need to make their way successfully through life. That allows you to form yourself as an individual, to have confidence in the person you are and the choices you make.”

Mark concedes that, “It took a long time for me to find my way,” he said. After trying out a few colleges, he earned his bachelor of economics degree from the University of Maryland in 1984.

After college, Mark began selling ads for magazines and worked his way up through a variety of sales and marketing positions until he was hired at TIME in California as a sales representative. In

In November 1999, then Texas governor George W. Bush and his staff invited Mark Updegrove ’80 to hear Bush’s first campaign speech on foreign policy. The event took place at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, CA. You would not notice the difference in your edition of NEWSWEEK, but across the country, advertisers are able to pick and choose from a number of options.

Ads may be crafted and strategically placed to attract certain consumers— women, businesses, city dwellers, Californians, for example—but the editorial content remains constant. The magazine has a circulation of 3.1 million with a readership of 20 million. With the exponential proliferation of news entities battling for advertising, Mark’s job is complex and challenging.

“We have to work harder to keep up,” Mark said. “With the economy foundering, advertising dollars are not as plentiful as just one year ago. My job is to persuade our clients that NEWSWEEK is vital and relevant, that it serves a need that other media are not serving.” Part of Mark’s job description reads “special opportunities,” an open-ended category that allows him to be creative in promoting the NEWSWEEK brand. Currently, he is working on a special project with Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer David Hume Kennerly. Their goal is to

four years he rose to the position of division manager for Los Angeles. Early in 2000, he was named President of Time Canada, where he directed the entire business operation.

“Impressive” was the word N EWSWEEK officials used in announcing Mark’s appointment as US Publisher this past spring. From this position of leadership, Mark helps determine how the magazine is “branded” to the advertising community, making sure that the sales force accurately communicates the magazine’s quality, character, mission and consumer appeal to corporate clients. NEWSWEEK’s relationship with NBC, MSNBC and MSNBC.com creates additional opportunities to “pitch” the NEWSWEEK brand.

“George School gave me a moral foundation that I will have for the rest of my life.”

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create a portfolio of compelling photographs documenting the inner workings of the three branches of national government—executive, legislative and judicial. The photographs will also be published in a special advertising section of NEWSWEEK. While the air may be rarefied at his management level, Mark still pauses often to breathe deeply of his years at George School.

“I don’t call myself a Quaker,” Mark said, “but I subscribe to most Quaker principles. I believe there is the light of God in everyone and it is up to each one of us to find that light. I value the Quaker concept of community that respects differences and celebrates diversity.”

Mark said his appreciation of what his parents and George School gave him grows with each passing year. “My father worked three jobs and my mother also worked to give me those four wonderful years at George School. This is very precious to me,” Mark said. He and his wife, Evelyn, and their 18-monthold son Charlie, are settling into their new home in Rye, NY, after moving from Toronto, Canada. ■

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Curious George Staff Shares News

Georgian Shares Survey Results

By Marie Duess, parent ’01

C

Photo by Joe Wallace, Ross Photographics

olette Weber, English teacher and faculty representative for The Curious George, won’t take credit for the success and popularity of this student-run newspaper at George School. Anne Curtiss ’02, editor of the newspaper along with Nicole Blum ’02, feels differently, however. ’“Colette is great. She helps to get us excited about the paper and about the articles we want to write. She guides us through the entire process.”

“I like the freedom we have at the The Curious George,” Anne said. “Colette allows all of us to be creative and to come up with stories we really want to write.”

Credited as an art class, the newspaper has a staff that meets three times a week. “[Students on the staff ] have to do interviews, research, write the articles, and then lay it out … and they come up with such interesting topics,” Colette explained.

“At the Curious George,” she explained, “I think we have a responsibility to report on whatever’s happening at George School.” But in addition, Colette said she “would like the paper to become a source

Technology Survey

of information that will get the kids connected with the outside world as well.”

“We have students who want to do controversial stories,” Colette said, “and I tell them to go ahead but to make sure that it’s a well-researched piece and not an opinion. They must put forth both sides of the argument.”

“I have a few pioneering students who are really interested in current events and who want to go beyond what happens here at George School. They want to delve into what happens outside the school community.” For instance, in some of the most recent issues, students have covered the presidential election, the US government’s control of on-line music sharing, sleep deprivation, and teachers’ salaries. The September 11 terrorist attack will surely be covered in an upcoming issue.

For the most part, Colette gives the students freedom to come up with their own stories, leading them gently, and working with them as if they were her English students. ■

Elizabeth Gimelson ’90

Alison Harris ’64

Field of work: Retail Five-year plan: To work from home on my Internet store How best to use the Internet: Own a gift store on-line Mac or PC: Mac Favorite Web site: yahoo and Iwon.com

College attended: Antioch College, BA in Theatre Profession: Executive Director of the Westport Country Playhouse If you were to give an assembly at George School, what would its title or subject be? Career Path: More Like a Meander through the Woods.

Define professional success: Holding a job where I make a difference and where my contributions are appreciated. Being a good mentor. Having enough money to live comfortably, not lavishly.

Define personal success: Content with who I am, have been, will be.

Good friends. A husband who loves me and cares for me. Good health.

Workplace Survey John W. Zinssner ’81 Qualities of success? Compassion, integrity, commitment to communication Profession?

Ombudsman for the Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research Admirable female: Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina. She has succeeded in a very male realm. She has led her organization on a path to be a true standard bearer for a better workplace for woman, people of color and other under-appreciated groups.

Act of kindness: Tell the truth to each other and hear the truth in an unbiased manner from each other.

Footnote: The Curious George predecessors reported only the local campus news for the most part, according to Kingdon Swayne, George School archivist. The first student-run publication called The Ides, which ran from 1902 to 1922, was both a student newspaper and an alumni bulletin.

That newspaper was replaced with The George School News, which dealt strictly with campus news.

Kingdon believes that the present newspaper was started around 1992.

Colette Weber, faculty representative for The Curious George, came to George School from Great Britain in 1997 along with her husband David. They reside in Drayton Dormitory where he is a dorm advisor.

Education Survey

Education Survey C. Peyton Rufe ’49 Colleges attended: Cornell U., BA; Indiana University, M.A.; Catholic University, M. S. If you were to give an assembly at George School, what would its title or subject be? Personal integrity.

Define professional success: Good performance in a well-liked job.

Define personal success: Good family relationships and personal comfort.

➥

Turn to page 6 to read more results from the four alumni surveys.

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The Evolution of the Alumni E-quiz Technology Survey

Workplace Survey

George School launched its first electronic survey in August 2000 by prompting alumni, through e-mails, to participate in an on-line questionnaire about technology.

Some of the questions were directly related to technology, such as: “What type of computer do you use, PC or Mac?,” “What is your favorite Internet site,” and “How do you use the Internet?” Other questions, such as: “What items would you bring if you were stranded on an island?,” were less serious.

Approximately 2,500 George School alums were asked to participate in this survey; these were alumni for whom we had e-mail addresses. Of those 2,500 individuals, 450 (18 percent) participated.

The responses to the technology survey complemented the Fall 2000 Georgian article about Steve Weimar ’75, a George School graduate who co-directs The Math Forum (www.mathforum.com), an on-line learning community.

Here are some responses gathered from the alumni survey. Our sample consists of 100 respondents.

Mac or PC?

Mac 23%

No

The second Georgian survey, conducted in December 2000 dealt with issues related to the workplace. The feature article of the winter 2001 Georgian was entitled “Changing Leadership at George School.” Through the stories about Cynthia Zealy Coleman, George School’s first female business manager and treasurer, and the story about Laura Kinnel, school registrar and math teacher, we showed some professional roles of women in the community.

We polled 459 alums, whose e-mail addresses we had, and who were celebrating their reunions. Thirty-one men and 32 women yielded a 14 percent response rate.

We learned how alumni handle childcare. Of the 41 alums who have children, 53% have a parent at home; 25% use an after-school program or childcare; and 8% depend on extended family for childcare; 11% did not respond.

Education Survey

In the summer 2001 Georgian, we featured Sarah Dunphy-Lelii ’96 and the educational path she followed. After graduating from Pennsylvania State University, Sarah studied chimpanzees at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Since that internship, she has been enrolled in a five-year Ph.D. fellowship program at the University of Michigan. She is studying the theory of mind.

Conducted in May 2001, the third e-quiz helped us learn about other alums’ educational experiences. Yielding a 22 percent response rate, 597 of the 2,695 alums, who were contacted by e-mail, participated in the survey. We took a sample of 100 survey rePreference sponses and here is what we learned:

7%

PC 68%

How much time do alumni spend working with computers?

2% Neither Have alumni reached their idea of professional success?

reached professional success 94%

What do alumni prefer?

68% PC 23% Mac 7% No preference 2% Neither

Average response:

6 hours

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Have alumni reached their idea of personal success?

would choose same college 98%

Would alumni choose the same college again?

reached personal success 91%

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Journalism Survey In this issue of the Georgian, we are featuring three alums, Mark Whitaker ’75, Mark Updegrove ’80 and Diane Brenner ’81, all professionals in the field of journalism. Read their stories on pages 1 through 4 to learn about their roles in the media.

In August 2001, we conducted a journalism survey which gave alumni the opportunity to share their thoughts on topics related to the news and the coverage of it. Of the 2,780 who received notice of the on-line questionnaire, 497 responded, an 18 percent response rate. For profiles of individuals, see the class notes section.

Here is what we learned from the 278 men and 219 women who participated in this survey.

How well informed are you on international news?

43% 30% 15% 11% 1%

Adequate Well Not well Very well No response

How well informed are you on US news?

Due to high news coverage, which one of the following events do you remember best?

23% 20% 15% 13% 9% 8% 6% 2% 2% 1% 1%

Columbine shooting Kennedy assassination Princess Diana’s death Vietnam War Challenger shuttle disaster Watergate scandal Rodney King beating Armstrong moon landing No response John Lennon assassination Princess Diana’s wedding

44% 34% 14% 7% 1%

Well Adequate Very well Not well No response

1%

Note: Survey conducted before the September 11 event.

3% 3%

5%

How do you get your news?

13% 41%

42% say they spend 31 to 60 minutes a day gathering news.

% 20%

14

How many minutes a day do you spend gathering news?

41% 20% 14% 13% 5% 3% 3% 1%

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42% 23% 18% 12% 4% 1%

Publications (newspapers, magazines, newsletters) Public radio Commercial television Internet Public television Commercial radio Word of Mouth No response

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31-60 16-30 61+ 6-15 0-5 No response

If you would like to participate in upcoming surveys, visit us at www.georgeschool.org/alumni/ updateinfo.html, where you can submit your e-mail address.

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Into the Second Year

September 11: Community Responds with Compassion

By Nancy Starmer

Photos by Joe Wallace, Ross Photographics

It seems remarkable that an entire year has passed since my family and I moved onto the George School campus. Meeting new people, learning about George School’s unique history and culture, working with the George School Committee and the faculty on a number of important projects—all of this has made the time pass very quickly.

A letter from Nancy Starmer, head of school South Africa. Their thoughtful reflections and questions told much about both the academic and spiritual education they are receiving at George School.

You might be pleased to hear that students in our International Baccalaureate Program are also distinguishing themselves. This is a program in which students prepare for a set of rigorous exams on which they are scored in comparison with thousands of students worldwide.

Individuals must receive high marks on all six exams in order to receive a diploma. All of our IB students in the Class of 2001 earned a diploma, with the average score earned by our students besting the international mean by a full point!

While on the topic of academics, I want you all to know that after twenty years as director of studies, Fran Bradley has stepped down to take a year’s sabbatical and then return to the classroom.

On September 10, 2001, Nancy Starmer began her second school year as head of George School.

This year we will be welcoming 540 students, 162 of whom are new students. They Nancy Starmer announced the promotion of come from 12 foreign coun- two deans (James and Nate) and the hiring tries and 16 different states, of two others (Vikki and Pippa). (From left bringing the geographic diver- to right) Dean of Students James Grumbach, sity of our student population Associate Dean Pippa Porter Rex, Assistant to 32 countries and 25 states. Dean Vikki Sloviter, and Associate Dean Twenty-three of our new stu- Nate McKee ’79. dents are Quaker.

The diversity of George School is Scott Spence will succeed Fran. Scott something of which we are extremely has been teaching history and coaching proud. We are proud as well of our at George School for the past nine years. students’ accomplishments in their Wendy Gross Nierenberg ’67, too, has academic, athletic, arts, and service ac- moved on from her position as dean of tivities. One of the highlights of last students, in this case to take a new job year for me was the service project as- as principal of the Upper School at semblies, in which students who had Westtown. James Grumbach, who has participated in one of our national or been associate dean for the past ten years, international work camps presented re- succeeds Wendy.

Come visit the campus some time flections on their experiences. We heard from groups who had been to soon and see for yourself the energy and Cuba and Vietnam, to a Navajo reser- delight that students bring. ■ vation in Arizona, to Nicaragua and to

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The George School community has re-

ing questions in their classes, in special

sponded with extraordinary compassion

assemblies and in town meetings ar-

in the wake of the tragedy that befell our

ranged for this purpose. Meeting for wor-

nation on September 11. I am particu-

ship, however, provides a place where

larly proud of our students. They’ve come

students can express feelings of conflict

together in exceptional ways, not only to

and fear and others are obligated not to

support each other but to find ways to

react or debate, but to reflect. Issues

respond constructively to these terrible

that are raised in meeting often get taken

events. By organizing groups to give

up in the classroom later, but even there,

blood and to support rescue efforts, in

the tone of the conversation is affected

the last week alone students have raised

by the spirit of openness and reflection

over $3,000 for the Red Cross.

that is at work at meeting.

While we can be thankful that here

These next weeks will not be easy for

on campus no student or adult has lost

us in the United States or here at George

an immediate family member, I know that

School. Though we are all grateful that

many in the extended George School fam-

we have traditions of reconciliation and

ily are suffering the losses of relatives

of truth seeking and the structure of

and of longtime friends and associates.

meeting for worship to help us, we know

My heart goes out to all of you.

that we will not be immune from conflict

Throughout the past couple of weeks

over how the United States should re-

we have worked to respond with care to

spond to this attack. And feelings of grief

the situation as it has affected students

and loss will continue to affect us all.

and adults at George School. On Tues-

I am reassured by the knowledge that

day, September 11, we called the school

adults at George School will be here for

together at 10 a.m., shortly after receiv-

students through these next challenging

ing news of the attacks on the World

weeks, as they struggle to interpret

Trade Center and on the Pentagon. Once

events and to move forward, just as I am

we’d given what information we knew, we

reassured by the knowledge that our stu-

were able to spend some time in worship

dents will be here to remind us of all that

together. Though this was only our sec-

is good and hopeful in our world.

ond day of classes, both new students

We are blessed to be members

and old were comforted and reassured

of such a community as this. ■

by the knowledge of being part of a supSeptember 2001

portive community that meeting for worship afforded us at that time. Students and faculty alike carried that support

Note: On September 13, 2001, Alumni

through the rest of that harrowing day,

Director Bonnie Bodenheimer e-mailed all

as friends waited to receive word of loved

alumni for whom we have e-mail addresses,

ones in New York or Washington.

asking them to check in with us so we would

Throughout the ensuing days, meet-

know how they were doing after the Septem-

ing for worship has continued to be a

ber 11 tragedy. Since then, we have received

source of stability and comfort for all of

almost 200 messages, many of which can be

us. Listening to our students’ messages,

read at http://www.georgeschool.org/alumni/

I’ve been struck by how lucky we are to

home.html

have this forum for expression. Like students all over the country, ours are rais-

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NOTE: Pages removed from this document to protect the privacy of GS alumni.

Alumni may login to the alumni community at http://alumni.georgeschool.org to view the full version of this issue.

Graduate’s Gift Gives Opportunity of a Lifetime

By Ayeola G. Elias It takes some people many years before they begin to live their lives to the fullest and before they begin to do what they really enjoy. For Bob Quinn, living his life to the fullest has never been a problem. Ever since he graduated from George School in 1939, he knew what he loved and went for it. For him, that was, and still is, art.

Bob studied his favorite subject at Yale for two years and then at the University of Arizona for two more. A year after graduating, he went back to the University of Arizona to teach art and art history. Now a retired college professor, Bob has the precious memories of 40 years of teaching that he will cherish forever.

“For over 40 years,” he said, “I’ve taught more than 10,000 students.” “[Teaching] was exactly what I wanted to do. It allowed me to learn tremendous amounts about art,” Bob explained.

After witnessing his enthusiasm for art and for teaching, many of his students decided to become teachers and some decided to become artists. “Some,” he explained, “just wanted to learn art.”

Bob did more than teach his students art, he also taught them how to be themselves. “I helped them find their way, just as George School helped me find my way,” Bob, now a Quaker and a member of a meeting in Arizona, explained.

“At George School, I learned that what was important was helping other people.

I tried to help my students. If they wanted to talk about anything, I talked to them.”

Art is Bob’s passion, but his true love has always been his family. “I would always take my family with me,” Bob explained of his travels, some of which were extended half-year and full-year stays granted to him by the university in the form of sabbaticals. Together, Bob, his wife Jacqueline and daughter Georgianna traveled to many countries throughout Europe where they learned firsthand about people, cultures and ways of life all throughout the world.

Tragically, during the last seven years, Bob has lost both his wife and daughter to cancer. He still thinks about his family daily. “I don’t want to forget them, but I don’t want their deaths to ruin my life either,” he explained in a soft voice.

“Yes, I’m thankful for the time we’ve spent together. I’m thankful for the memories that I have.”

“The one single thing that changed my life is George School,” Bob explained. It was about two years after his wife died that he decided to give back to the school.

“It all started with $14,” Bob explained of his first deposit into a savings account over 40 years ago. As Bob and

Through his gift to the school, Bob Quinn ’39 receives a fixed monthly payment for the rest of his life. For more information about gift annuities and other life income gifts, go to www.georgeschool.org/alumni/plannedgiving.html or call Director of Advancement Jim McKey at 215-579-6563.

Jacqueline’s savings increased, Bob said they “put it into stocks and bonds and very seldom took anything out,” he said.

“The only time I ever violated that rule, was once or twice for traveling expenses,” he explained. He said friends helped him make the right investments, and over the years, his stock and bond values increased significantly.

After Bob and Jim McKey, George School’s director of advancement, spoke, they decided that it would be in Bob’s best interest to enter into a gift annuity.

Bob gave George School appreciated securities and now receives a fixed monthly payment for the rest of his life.

Bob said he has told other people of his gift to George School and how it has benefited him and the school simultaneously. “People were shocked,” he said.

Georgian

Advancement Office George School Box 4000 Newtown, PA 18940-0962 www.georgeschool.org

Volume 73 • Number 3 • Fall 2001

IN THIS ISSUE NEWSWEEK’s ‘Church’ .... 2 NEWSWEEK’s ‘State’ ........ 3 eQuizzes ....................... 5 Nancy Starmer .............. 8 Class Notes ................... 9 In Memoriam ............. 18 Annual Gifts Report ... 19

E

Ayeola G. Elias, Editor E-mail: Ayeola_Elias@georgeschool.org 215.579.6568

PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER

“I’ll bet you there are lots of people who don’t know about this option who would donate if they knew of the benefits,” he commented.

Thinking back on his two years at George School, Bob explained, “It was a lot of fun.” Now 80 years old, Bob still visits museums with friends and takes five- to six- mile hikes in the beautiful mountains of Arizona. Even today, “I have good times when I do things,” he explained. With his gift, Bob hopes to give students the opportunity to study at George School where he is confident they will find their path towards life-fulfillment. “I want young people to make sure that they end -up doing what they really want to do,” he said. ■

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