CLASS NOTES
IN MEMORIAM BY NOELLE ANSON
Antony U. Chastain-Chapman On January 14, 2013, at age 82, Antony U. “Tony” Chastain-Chapman passed away from complications of pneumonia in an assisted living facility in Edgewater, N.J. Tony was an English teacher at NMH from 1978 to 1999 and was an enormously skilled woodworker and builder of fine furniture. Born in London, England, on March 26, 1930, Tony was an only child. He attended St. Martin’s School of Art before serving for two years in the military. Cambridge University came next, and he earned a bachelor’s in English in 1953, and then a master’s in English and social anthropology in 1958. In between the two degrees, Tony lived in Canada, earning a diploma in advertising from the University of Toronto and working both in advertising and as executive director of a trade association. From 1959–1962, he worked in advertising in Toronto before his love of English literature lured him back to the classroom and into what became a distinguished teaching career. Tony spent five years at the DeVeaux School in Niagara Falls, N.Y., where he taught English, art history, and music history; coached fencing; and chaired the English department, in addition to acting as director of studies. He then moved to Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio, where he taught regular and AP English classes, chaired the English department and the curriculum
committee, and coached fencing and soccer. He also earned his Ph.D. in Renaissance English literature from Kent State University in 1975. His first marriage having ended in divorce during this period, Tony met and subsequently married his Western Reserve Academy colleague, Sarah Chastain, in early 1978. That same year they moved to NMH, where both had been offered positions teaching English. Tony taught sophomores and seniors and AP English at NMH for 21 years. In addition, he coached fencing and served for several years as chair of the Department of English. The late Audrey Sheats commented that Tony brought order to their departmental deliberations and enabled faculty to discuss previously untouchable subjects. She said: “Tony is to be credited for openness, plain good sense, an appetite for proper procedure…and a determination to get a rather diverse bunch of folk to work together until we produce a real result.” In addition to his academic duties, Tony served for a time as design coordinator at the school, advising plant facilities and other departments on design matters; he also served as a member of the computer advisory committee. Outside the school, Tony built furniture, which he exhibited and sold in New York City. He had a lifelong interest in art and antiques, and during the 1980s published articles on furniture and design in American Craft Magazine. After he retired, he devoted his time to restoring his 1840s home in Northfield. Other interests included classical music, travel, fly-fishing, camping, and hiking. Tony is survived by his two children with Sarah, Sydney Chastain-Chapman Navarro ’96 and Alexander ChastainChapman ’00. Other survivors include two children from his first marriage and three grandchildren. The family has asked that memorial gifts be sent to Kristin Kellom ’80 in the NMH Office of Advancement. ♦
Gerald Francis Squier NMH chef extraordinaire, Gerald Francis “Jerry” Squier, passed away March 12, 2013, after a battle with leukemia. He was 73. Jerry was known to many alumni as the chef at Hibbard Hall on the Northfield campus from 1980–2001. Born on August 19, 1939, Jerry grew up in Brick, N.J., where he graduated from high school. He attended Seton Hall University for two years and then joined the Army, serving from 1963 to 1966. After his discharge, he toured Europe with friends and then returned to New Jersey, where he worked in restaurants on the Jersey shore and attended Rutgers University, earning a certificate in the health care and dietary supervision program. From 1972 to 1978, Jerry was food service manager and chef at Medicenter of Red Bank, a large New Jersey nursing home. In 1978, he began a similar job at the Anchorage Nursing Home in Shelburne Falls, Mass. Two years later, Jerry began his career at NMH as supervising
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