Remembering Ferdie
Excerpts from the Online Message Board It is a testament to Ferdie that so many people from around the world and beyond the Taft community wrote of the impact this man had on their lives. The headmaster, Admissions Office and the Wandelt family received many more letters, of course, but we would like to share a sample of the public tributes here.
“
He was old school, and integrity meant everything in his book. But he had empathy, perhaps because he made a mistake or two along the way. He always gave a second chance—and often a third, fourth and fifth. He believed in the goodness of people. In 60 years of friendship, Ferdie never said an unkind word about anybody to me.
”
“
—Kevin Kennedy P’96 Princeton, NJ
~
When Admissions Director Joe Cunningham informed me that he would be retiring he recommended that Ferdie be his successor. This would be my first major appointment as a new headmaster, so I called Josh Minor, longtime dean of admissions at Andover, whom I’d known as a student, for advice. ‘Do you have any candidates? Should I have a national search?’ His answer was immediate: ‘Appoint Wandelt. He has the best instincts of anyone I have ever seen.’ And the rest is history.
“
I remember that he calmly listened to my thoughts and ideas about my plans at Taft and warmly encouraged me to pursue those visions. For the first time in my life, I felt respected as a young adult, someone with full potential to flourish and make a mark in the world.
“
“
”
Mr. Wandelt became like a second father to me at Taft. He could read me like a book.
”
—Emily Morris ’04 Reston, VA
Together, Ferdie and Lance Odden redefined the heart of the school’s mission. 24 Taft Bulletin Fall 2013
—Sara Lin ’99 Taipei, Taiwan
I felt very honored to be working next to him. He taught me so much about the world of admissions...building relationships, connecting to families and how to advocate for students whom I felt strongly about. But more than that, Ferdie taught me how to understand people and my role in helping to bridge communities.
—Lance Odden, headmaster emeritus Manchester, VT
~
~
”
”
—Felecia Washington Williams ’84, former faculty Columbus, OH
“
Ferdie was sanctuary in so many ways. He was my psychology teacher, my adviser and my lacrosse coach. But perhaps what mattered most to me was his home, his family—even his dog. Advisee feeds, chats in the kitchen, babysitting Topher and Allison, and feeling safe, cared for—soundly and deeply. It was only a short walk across the fields to a lit house and the benevolence of a truly exceptional man and his family.
”
—Amanda Unger Leahy ’85 Carbondale, CO
~
“
Ferdie’s positive impact on Taft and all those with whom he came in contact both inside and outside the school is immeasurable. He learned from the best admissions director at the time [Joe Cunningham] and then went on to be the best—an admissions director without equal. The Taft community has truly lost a legend.
”
—Sam Crocker ’60 Redding, CT
“There are a lot of us here who looked to Ferdie and Joanna when we think of what the best marriage looks like.” —Willy MacMullen ’78