Letters
No Small Accomplishment
I read with interest Andy Larkin’s account of his rowing days at Harvard for a then very young Harry Parker, an American icon for USA and collegiate rowing. Andy isn’t giving the whole story! He and Francis “Beak” Watson ran cross country for John Small, and they would be part of the early cornerstones that led to Jim Sterling, Parker Mills and Mike Macy leading us into the years of power and success in running at Taft. Watson went to Yale and Andy to Harvard and rowed against each other several times. Beak told me he finally hung up his oar after handing his racing shirt to Andy on several occasions. Andy is considered one of many of the great oarsmen at a school that has a bunch of great oarsmen. In the winter of 1978, a group of us from UNH were allowed to use the Newell boathouse indoor rowing tanks. I ran into Coach Parker one Sunday morning (almost literally), and we talked about Andy and the influence that John Small and his brother Bruce had on guys that either ran for them or rowed for them. If Taft had had rowing, Small would have coached crew, as his brother did, and it would have been an awesome time for schoolboy rowing. As it is, they both had great impact on runners who for whatever reason decided to row in college. I do not think I can adequately describe what the 1968 Harvard Heavyweight boat accomplished, and it would be the last USA boat to be selected from the collegiate system. Andy and that entire 1968 boat are considered legends for many reasons—like they won the Harvard-Yale boat race (4-mile distance row) and then turned around and won the collegiate nationals (2,000-meter sprint) and then headed for Mexico City. I heard Small say he was there at Red Top when Harry Parker gave them their Harvard diplomas. In Andy Larkin Taft has a real gift. —Charlie Wemyss, Jr. ’74
Exceptional
Often times in life you don’t know you’ve had an extraordinary experience or been around someone great until years later when there is a moment of introspection. As a day student, I only had Mr. Cobb for one year in Latin. The way he taught was radically different. He used the Socratic method. He addressed students formally (Mr. Liu). My personal and brief encounters only scratched the surface of his greatness that “The Legendary Mr. Cobb” beautifully illustrated, the depth of his preparation, richness of his character and his humanity. In retrospect, they were there all the time, but as someone just trying to get through the class and as an adolescent, I didn’t appreciate it or see it. Now, as a physician leader who supports and inspires over 500 doctors to provide care that is even more personal, convenient, and affordable, Mr. Cobb’s quiet and thoughtful leadership through his various roles at Taft resonated with me. Because doctors traditionally are a notorious bunch to lead, do not like to be told what to do, and yet are incredibly intelligent, leadership is about influence and persuasion and not so much about power or titles. No doubt, this too is the mark of a brilliant teacher. Doctor comes from the Latin verb docere, which means to teach. In the business school literature, there is discussion on whether leaders are born or made. I believe in the latter. Reading the article and reflecting, I realize that all Taft teachers are excellent, but is it possible someone might be exceptional? You know someone has made an indelible mark on your life when decades later one voice and quote still rings in your ears and you repeat, “You have a 50/50 chance, but 95 percent of the time you’ll be wrong.” And decades later one tribute to a teacher provides further mentoring and guidance without saying a single word. Thank you, Mr. Cobb.
—Davis Liu ’89
The Larger World
Congratulations on another superb Taft Bulletin! I was a student at Taft in 1949–50, my junior year, and returned to Friends Seminary in New York City. The real reason for my leaving was that the culture of the school seemed selfish and materialistic. I wanted to go to a school that cared about the larger world and imbued students with a sense of responsibility. Now, if I had a chance to spend a year at school anywhere, I would certainly be delighted to go to Taft. The turnaround came pretty quickly after Paul Cruikshank left and was replaced by a headmaster with a great vision for the larger world and a gift for communicating that vision to students, faculty and alumni. That dramatic change has been massively sustained and deepened over the years. A very big job. The Bulletin has done a brilliant job of communicating the excitement and satisfaction of life as a student and as a graduate devoted to serving others and engaging in further learning for its own sake. Not just smiling faces all in a row getting awards, but people on the scene, doing their thing, in faraway countries. With students from exotic lands coming to Taft and being made thoroughly welcome, I just want to be right there because you make it so attractive! —Steve Chinlund ’51
Love it? Hate it? Read it? Tell us! We’d love to hear what you think about the stories in this Bulletin. We may edit your letters for length, clarity and content, but please write! Julie Reiff, editor Taft Bulletin 110 Woodbury Road Watertown, CT 06795-2100 or juliereiff@taftschool.org
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