PARENTS OF ALUMNI RECEPTION

On January 19, Lisi Miller Vincent ’86 and Rob Vincent (P ’15, ’17, ’24) welcomed parents of students in the Class of 2015 for an evening to gather together. Head of School Adam Rohdie updated the group on our two campuses and former parents enjoyed conversation while reconnecting with Country Day Friends.

1 Lisi Miller Vincent ‘86, Lilla Arnaboldi Kelley ‘78 2 Michael Keigher, Michael Dubilier, Polly Hanson 3 Jim DeNaut, David Kelley 4 Jim Knight ’84, Adam Rohdie 5 Anne Denaut, Alison Knight, Adrienne Westerfield 6 Rob Vincent, Marie Cosgrove, Sunil Khanna, Sue Khanna, Wendy Dziurzynski 7 Louisa Winthrop, Jay Winthrop ‘79, Allyson Cowin 8 Alisa Brockelman, Cary Keigher

Betsy

A member of our Distinguished Faculty and GCDS legend Betsy Mena passed away on February 11. Betsy had retired from Country Day in 2021, after an amazing run that started on Old Church Road in 1994 in the Developmental Learning Program and then as a second grade teacher. Upon Betsy’s retirement, her colleague Chrissy Baird shared a few words, which are excerpted below and beautifully express how so many of us at Country Day think about Betsy.

By Chrissy Baird, GCDS Nursery Teacher, Distinguished Faculty, June 2021

Betsy brought an unflinching commitment to her students year after year, which manifested itself in ways big and small. Arriving early, staying late, crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s, guiding anxious parents to better understand their child . . . Betsy’s work ethic is stitched in her DNA. She set a high bar for the children in her class and guided each child to meet it, helping each boy and girl live the Country Day mission while in her care. Preparedness, thoroughness, and a healthy dose of humor are hallmarks of her teaching.

When I met Betsy and Dan, their three children were just about college age and Betsy’s mom, Oma, was a towering presence in all their lives. Now, the Mena children are grown and have families of their own...and Betsy carries her mom’s light forward as she has become the beloved grandmother. Betsy and Dan will now have more time for globetrotting, for adventuring with their grandchildren and while I haven’t seen it yet, I’m sure Betsy’s new homewill include a table with a picture puzzle, a stack of books ready to be devoured, bird feeders and bird houses . . . and flowers and music and friends.

Betsy, I speak for your colleagues when I thank you for the steady, intelligent, thoughtful, no-nonsense presence you have been for us. Your students and their families have been blessed to have you in their lives. The Country Day community is richer for your years of service and we all thank you for that and celebrate you today!

As described in her 25 Year Tribute hanging in the halls of Middle School, “Betsy combines the best of youthful verve with the wisdom of a seasoned educator and preserver of GCDS’s most cherished values.”

Barbara Shepley Beard King of Stamford, CT, passed away on December 30, 2022. Born on July 6, 1927, she was the daughter of the late John and Elizabeth Beard of Philadelphia, PA. For the first six years of her life, she lived with her parents and brother John Beard, Jr. of Charlottesville, VA, in Bryn Mawr, PA. She raised two daughters, Muffy King Fox ’72 and Boo King Huth ’75, both of Riverside, CT. She is survived by her son-in-law Andy Fox, and seven grandchildren and their spouses: Peter (Tayler) Fox ’06, Carter (Carrie) Fox ’08, Jack (Morgan) Fox ’09, Halsey Huth ’09, Abby H. (Peter) Donohue ’09, Phebe Huth ’12, and Brecky Huth ’13. Her son-in-law Henry C. Huth, Jr. predeceased her in August 2022.

Barbara graduated from Rogers Hall in Lowell, MA. She received degrees from Bradford Junior College in 1948 and Northwestern University in 1950 where she was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. Following Northwestern, Barbara came to New York and worked as a copywriter for the advertising firm Batton, Barton, Durstine, and Osborn. Barbara met William “Bill” A. King at P.J. Clarke’s in New York and married the love of her life at Christ’s Church in Rye, NY, in 1953. After they were married, she changed careers and became a teacher at the Brearley School for two years in New York. Soon after, they moved to Riverside, CT. They were married for 67 years. He preceded her in death in 2020. Barbara and Bill were members of the Riverside Yacht Club, where Bill was a commodore for three years.

She was a trustee of Bradford College from 1985–1997, after many years as the quintessential Bradford volunteer. She served as a class agent, class correspondent, reunion chair, leadership council member, alumni association board member, and member of the annual fund executive committee. She was awarded the Jean Pond Medallion in 1993 and the Jane Cooke Runyan Award in 1998 for her service to Bradford. She was on the membership board of the Greenwich Chapter of the American Red Cross and St. Paul’s Church Day School. Other civic involvement included many roles at Greenwich Hospital, where she was a member of the cancer/hospice team from the early 1990s to 2015. She was chairman of volunteers at the Bendheim Cancer Center and secretary of the Greenwich Hospital Auxiliary. She served on the Ethics Committee from 2000–2022. Her dedication to the work of the Junior League of Greenwich was extensive. She helped launch the pre-kindergarten project at Hamilton Avenue School and Childcare 2000, which is now known as the Children’s Day School. She was co-chairman of the Greenwich Cotillion for two years. Barbara was the recipient of the Phyllis Finn Mentor Award in 1999, and the Betty Hinckley Award in 2004. She received the YWCA Spirit of Greenwich Award in 2009.

Barbara loved teaching kindergarten at Greenwich Country Day School for 18 years and enjoyed keeping up with former students and their families. She stayed active at Country Day long after her retirement through her involvement with the grandparents’ committee.

Above all, Barbara was a thoughtful and empathetic friend. She cared deeply about others and never forgot a name or a birthday. She could tell you something about everyone with whom she came into contact no matter how briefly. She was a terrific listener and her thank you notes were legendary. Crane & Co. has lost a valuable customer!

Kindergarten students traveled to the Stanwich Road Campus and made a presentation to Upper School students about their Souper Bowl Soup Can Fundraiser. Afterward, they went on a tour of the building, including science and art classrooms. They were especially amazed by the plasma globe atop the spiral staircase!

Kindergarteners Tour the Upper School!