the suffield bell e sse qu am vi de ri established 1835
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su f f i e ldacadem y . or g
2018 comme nce me nt e di t i on
may 25, 2018
David J. Rockwell ’58 served on the Suffield Academy faculty for 54 years. After a postgraduate year at Suffield, Rocky went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s in history from Emporia State University in Kansas. A staunch advocate of lifelong learning, Rocky also completed a certificate of advanced studies from Wesleyan University in 2000. Rocky taught nearly 20 different courses including sociology, archaeology, anthropology, and philosophy. He chaired the history department for 25 years and was Director of the Leadership Program from 2005 to 2018. Rocky earned many honors for his inspirational impact including Suffield’s Richter Award for excellence in teaching in 2002, the Elijah B. Andrews Award for service to Suffield in 1994, and the WALKS Foundation Swan Award in 2007. Rocky started Suffield’s Alpine Ski Team in 1967 and was head coach until 1996. He established Suffield’s SOLO Program (Suffield Outdoor Leadership Organization) in the early 1990s. He influenced hundreds of Suffield students through outdoor experiential learning on campus and on trips to places including the coast of Maine and Zuni, New Mexico. Rocky and his wife, Bonnie, have four children. They were all raised at Suffield Academy and are alums: Jennifer ’79, Geoffrey ’82, Jed ’86, and Hillary ’88. Headmaster Charlie Cahn, who is Rocky and Bonnie’s son-in-law, said, “The Rockwells have made Suffield their home for six decades. They truly love this place. Rocky has been a legendary teacher, coach, and role model for thousands of students. He has made a monumental impact on Suffield Academy.”