The Reverend Hobart “Hobey” Heistand ’46 Member of the St. Michael’s Society
I
n 1940, my dad (The Very Reverend John Thomas Heistand), soon to become The Bishop of The Diocese of Harrisburg, asked me if I would like to go to SKS. The only thing I knew about the school was that it was small and a selfhelp school. The reason Dad knew about the school was that his friend, Benjamin Rush, (one of the greatgrandchildren of Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Constitution), would help fund my education at South Kent. I agreed and came to the Hillside to meet with Mr. Bartlett. I was invited to start as a freshman, which meant that I would repeat the third form. I left Harrisburg early in September, arriving at SKS a week before any other students. I unpacked in the Schoolhouse and had my pick of beds. I took the one closest to the closet where clothes were hung, and closest to the washroom. The next day, I was off to the fields to help with the harvest! My “job”, other than keeping my personal space in order, was the Chapel, which I did for my years at SKS. What else for the son of a priest? Other jobs that were assigned to me included cutting wood with single and double bladed axes, and working a two-man cross-cut saw with Ray Anderson ’44. These chores helped me to “pay the way” for my SKS education. All in all, my years at SKS helped to form my life from 1940 to the present. Sam Bartlett, the faculty, staff and my fellow
classmates all were part of my education which enabled me to live through and enjoy my years serving in the U.S. Navy during WWII, finishing high school after the war, and on to college, graduate school, and 37 years as an Episcopal priest in New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Illinois. I retired in 1991 to Jackson, NH where I live with my wife, Jacquelyn. What do I do now? Hunt, fish, and teach (oldest substitute teacher in New Hampshire). I teach fly-casting and enjoy cooking, baking, and gardening. I also help in an antique store and exercise every day, (except Sunday). All of this because my upbringing, my family, my schooling and, in all honesty, my years at SKS gave me a solid foundation that has sustained me all these years. I also had, of course, my faith in a loving God, the example and teaching of Jesus Christ, and the ever present love of friends and family. I have made a provision in my estate plans that will benefit SKS as a way of giving thanks for the opportunities I had during my time on the Hillside and will benefit future generations at South Kent School. I can think of no school more worthy or deserving of my support. I invite others to join the St. Michael’s Society as well. This special society is for the members of the SKS family who have made arrangements for a planned gift to South Kent School. Our gifts will have a direct and lasting impact on the School.
For more information regarding planned giving options available at South Kent School, please contact Tim von Jess, Director of Development, at (860) 927-3539 x205, email him at vonjesst@southkentschool.org, or visit the planned giving section of the School’s website at www.southkentschool.org/alumni/planned_giving.php