In Memoriam: Remembering Phil Hansen, Faculty Emeritus

Remembering Phil Hansen, Faculty Emeritus

Phil Hansen—longtime history department chair and Scribner Professor of Global Studies Emeritus—died on June 25, at the age of 79, at a memory care hospital in Saco, Maine.

As his brother wrote in Phil’s obituary: Phil’s teaching career included faculty positions at Kimball Union Academy (English); the Woodstock (VT) Country School (English and Headmaster); and for 23 years, The Roxbury Latin School, where he taught world history, western civilization, U.S. history, modern European history, African history, and political theory. When, at age 28, he was asked to take the helm at Woodstock Country School, he became the youngest headmaster in the country.

At Roxbury Latin, his accomplishments included reviving the school’s debate team and founding the Model U.N. and public speaking programs, all of which, under his tutelage, became the school’s most popular activities and distinguished RL in competitions, nationally and internationally, leaving the school (in a retirement tribute in 1998 by a fellow faculty member) “an empire and a dynasty which are glory of the school and the admiration of the world.” When Phil retired in 1998, he was described as “a towering intellect” and “one of the truly great minds on the RL faculty.”

Equally important to Phil was the positive impact he had on hundreds of students who engaged in his classes and extracurricular activities. His retirement tribute included many accolades from grateful former students: “a positive driving force in my life.” And another: “his relentless efforts to teach, discipline and advise. . .are testament to the devotion, dedication, and loyalty he possesses.”

Phil was particularly adept at nurturing the academic and personal lives of students who struggled. Said one former student: “He never seemed to be afraid of the worst in a student and approached his frailties with uncommon humanity.” In addition to teaching and mentoring RL students, Phil served as a foster parent for at-risk youth referred to him by the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services.

His compassion and commitment to social justice were

evident early on. As a student at Bowdoin College, he became involved in the Civil Rights Movement. He was instrumental in establishing a student exchange program with Morehouse College and in bringing Dr. Martin Luther King to the Bowdoin campus for an address to the student body and community at large. For these activities, Phil was awarded the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Prize presented to the student “whose vision, humanity, and courage most contribute to making Bowdoin a better college” and was commemorated, in 2014, in the Bowdoin convocation as an inspiration to current students.

Phil also worked with inner-city youth groups in the New York City area while a student at Union Theological Seminary. In retirement, he volunteered on the Jefferson School Committee, as the Bowdoin debate coach, and for LGTBQ support groups.

Headmaster Kerry Brennan wrote to the Roxbury Latin community the following, in memory of Phil and his long, storied relationship with the school:

“Phil had a distinguished career of social activism and academic excellence at Bowdoin and other schools before arriving at Roxbury Latin in 1975. One of Tony Jarvis’s first appointments, Phil went on to serve for 23 years as chair of a colorful department and as a teacher of virtually every course in the history curriculum. Not long into his stay, Phil would be named Director of Studies, a position that would allow him to influence the curriculum writ large. Perhaps Phil’s most enduring and distinctive contributions were as director of the debate and Model United Nations programs. While scores of RL boys would hone their public speaking and interest in global affairs thanks to these programs, Phil was also responsible for forming the regional association of debate programs (DANEIS) and, indeed, was one of the founding fathers of the international organization through which RL debaters have competed over the years. Phil was famous for supporting the underdog both at school and in the community. Many boys whom he advised or otherwise supported are the beneficiaries of his great care. We are grateful for Phil’s long, generative career at RL and his model of engaged stewardship.” //

“Phil Hansen was more than a great teacher, he was a great person—in the conduct of his life, both in and out of the school. He inspired me to expand my interests and embrace philosophy and history, in my academic and personal interests, as well as in my professional career. I did not encounter him until Class III, but his influence was immediate. I owe him an enormous debt. More than anyone else in the school, he fulfilled its mission for me, in setting me on a course of service.” — David Henkel-Wallace ’82

“Phil Hansen was my debate coach, and he believed in me. May his memory be a blessing to all who had the privilege to know him.” — Yale Pearlson ’77

“Mr. Hansen was a great teacher and, more importantly, a very good man. His mastery of history and debate was excelled only by his kindness and humanity. Thanks for everything, Phil.”

— Greg Noonan ’94

“Phil Hansen, in his sweet and soulful way, touched so many of our lives. He shaped my love of history and politics, for which I will be forever grateful. May his memory be a blessing.”

— Wyatt Lipman ’00

“Professor Hansen was of profound influence and support to me during my years at Roxbury Latin… In many ways he set the tone for my studies at RL, in college, and in my subsequent professional pursuits. The challenges he set forth, and the support he offered to me as a student and young adult, are richly remembered.” — Daniel Mackay ’82

“Mr. Hansen was one of the kindest and smartest people you will ever find. I loved the Model UN trips and the thoughtful advice he gave me when he was my advisor.” — Jean-Pierre Jacquet ’01

These tributes were submitted by alumni via Facebook, in response to the announcement of Phil’s passing.

In Memoriam

Professor Gordon Hemenway Pettengill

’42 died peacefully at his home, at the age of 95, on May 8, 2021. Gordon was born on February 10, 1926 in Providence, Rhode Island, the son of Frances Hemenway Walton and Rodney Gordon Pettingill. Just before Gordon’s ninth birthday, his father died unexpectedly. As a child, Gordon lived in Dedham with his mother and sister. He attended Dedham Country Day School and Mount Prospect School for Boys in Waltham until the eleventh grade. Quite unusually, he then gained admission to Roxbury Latin as a member of the senior class for the 19411942 school year.

Although he struggled with English and history, Gordon was a superb math student, earning straight A’s throughout his senior year. His teachers awarded him high marks in deportment, attention, and neatness. In his college letter to MIT, Headmaster Northrup wrote: “Pettengill is a quiet, keen-minded person of unusual powers of penetration for one so young. This young man is half-way there in his first year here, and already has roused our admiration for the poise and the solid work he has shown. He has a clear mind with quite remarkable powers of analysis. I believe he will go far.” Indeed, far he went.

At the age of 16, Gordon matriculated at MIT, following in his late father’s footsteps. Just as he was delving into his college studies, Gordon was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1944. He served in the Infantry Signal Corps until 1946 and spent the closing months of WWII in France (where he saw combat), Germany, and Austria. Upon his discharge from the Army, Gordon returned to MIT, where he completed his B.S. in Physics in 1948. Gordon then spent two years in Los Alamos, New Mexico (the creation place of the atomic bomb), where he worked in the field of radiation health physics. At UC Berkeley he studied high energy physics, and he earned his PhD in 1955. Gordon then worked at MIT’s Lincoln Labs, where he began his career in radar astronomy. In 1963, Gordon moved to the newly opened Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, and in 1968 he was appointed its director by Cornell. During his stay, he more accurately measured the rotation of Mercury. Gordon returned to MIT in 1970 as Professor of Planetary Physics and used both MIT’s Haystack Observatory and the Arecibo telescope to further conduct research on other planets in the solar system. In 1977, he became Principal Investigator of the radar aboard the Pioneer Venus Orbiter that created the first near-global topographic map of any planet—better even than Earth, whose ocean floors were largely unmapped at that time. In 1980-1981 Gordon spent a sabbatical year at the University of Sydney (Australia) as a Guggenheim Foundation Fellow. Later, he served as the Principal Investigator of the Magellan Mission to Venus, whose measurements from 1990 through 1994 remain the most detailed description of the surface and interior of that planet. Gordon was the author of more than 100 publications. He was elected to both the American and National Academies of Science and served as director of MIT's Center for Space Research from 1984 to 1989. In 1992, Gordon delivered the Cum Laude address at Roxbury Latin. For 53 years, Gordon shared his life with his beloved wife, Pamela, whom he married in 1967. He is also survived by two children and two grandchildren. Gordon and Pam loved to travel. Once Gordon became Professor Emeritus in 1995, he retired to Concord, Massachusetts, where he pursued interests in hiking, ornithology, and genealogy. Gordon had a love of ham (amatuer) radio threaded throughout his life, and he continued to operate on ham radio with his friends throughout his old age.

Dr. Paul Silverstein ’56 died at age 82, after a long illness, on April 19, 2021. He was born in Boston on July 11, 1938, the son of Lena Rudd and Dr. Charles Silverstein. Paul grew up on Morton Street in Mattapan and attended the Robert Treat Paine School prior to gaining admission to Roxbury Latin.

While at Roxbury Latin, Paul participated in a host of activities. As a freshman, he played soccer, wrestled, and participated in baseball. He contributed to the soccer and wrestling teams as a sophomore, as well. Additionally, he competed for the Debate team and worked on Tripod as a photographer. As a junior, Paul participated on the track and field team. He broadened his involvement, and worked on the Yearbook in addition to Tripod. He maintained his commitment to these various pursuits as a senior. Academically, Paul found success in a variety of areas. As a freshman he won the history prize, and as a junior he won the French prize. He was a strong science and math student, having inherited an interest in medicine from his father. In his college letter, Headmaster Weed wrote:

“Silverstein has a lot of poise and common sense and is a hard-working boy. He has varied interests of a worthwhile nature and makes the most of his abilities and opportunities.”

Paul matriculated at Harvard College, where he studied biology. He graduated magna cum laude in 1960, having been elected to Phi Beta Kappa in his junior year. Paul subsequently attended medical school at the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned his MD in 1964. He then returned to Boston for a five-year residency at Boston City Hospital. Beginning in 1969, through the Berry Plan, Paul was able to defer his service in the Vietnam war so that he could finish his general surgical training. In return, he enlisted for three years. Paul was already skilled in acute and reconstructive phase treatment of burns. He was assigned to the burn unit of the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. He then completed a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship at Emory University. In 1974, Paul relocated to Oklahoma City where he joined a plastic surgery practice. Paul set out to design and direct a state-of-the-art burn treatment center, which became a reality in 1975 at Baptist Hospital. The facility grew to include giant hyperbaric oxygen therapy chambers in 1989 and special facilities to promote wound healing. After 25 years of Paul’s leadership, the burn unit was renamed the Integris Paul Silverstein Burn Center by Gubernatorial proclamation, and May 31, 2000, was designated “Dr. Paul Silverstein M.D. Day.” In 2000, Paul stepped down as director but continued his involvement with the Burn Center. In 2019, Paul was honored at the Oklahoma Creativity Ambassadors Gala as a “surgical innovator for burn victims.” His research, publications, awards, and testimonials are numerous. He rose to the rank of First Vice President of the American Burn Association and he was recognized for his work both nationally and internationally.

Beyond his professional responsibilities and interests, Paul served as Chairman of the Board of the Integris Foundation. He was a collector of museum-quality art and sculpture and was an accomplished pianist, a waterski instructor, scuba diver, boater, and fisherman. Paul is survived by his beloved wife, Amalia, a brother, his four children, and nine grandchildren.

Richard Harlow “Dick” Daly ’48

died on May 29, 2021, at the age of 90, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on September 6, 1930, the son of Eva Hinchcliffe and Harlow Daly. Dick grew up just blocks from Roxbury Latin, on Bellevue Street, and attended the Randall G. Morris School prior to gaining admission to Roxbury Latin.

While at Roxbury Latin, Dick made a name for himself as a wrestler in Class II and Class I. He also helped with the play on stage crew and as an usher. While at Roxbury Latin, he was a strong student in the quantitative disciplines. Headmaster Weed wrote in Dick’s college letter in February 1948, “Daly has an attractive manner and a pleasing way with people. He is a capable student with good ability in math and science… He will mature into a fine citizen, I feel, and will be a credit to his college and community.”

Dick matriculated at MIT where he studied electrical engineering. There he earned his B.S. in 1952 and M.S. in 1953. Subsequently, Dick served in the U.S. Air Force for three years, flying Boeing KC97 Stratofreighter refueling planes during the Korean War.

Dick married Jean Gaston in 1953 and had three children. His first wife died at age 38. He then married Linda Tyler and adopted her two children. Together they had two children. Dick and Linda divorced, and he then married Laurie Evans in 1981.

Dick worked at Raytheon Company as a Radar Engineering Manager for 35 years. Beyond his professional pursuits, he became quite involved in his local community, serving on several Framingham town boards including as President of the Framingham School Committee. Dick was active in the Framingham Unitarian Church and the Framingham Historical Society. Although Dick was not a particularly strong student of history at Roxbury Latin, he embraced history as he got older. In Framingham, Dick and Laurie owned and restored the Thomas Nixon House, c. 1786, which was featured on HGTV’s If Walls Could Talk. The couple was also active in the Sudbury Militia for 10 years, where, outfitted in Colonial garb, Dick marched eight miles to Concord, reenacting the Battle of Lexington and Concord. Dick and Laurie moved to Newburyport in 2004, where they similarly became active members of the community.

In recent years, Dick had lived at Atria Senior Living. He is survived by his wife, Laurie, his children and their spouses, as well as many grandchildren and great grandchildren. //