IN MEMORIAM… his infectious laugh, his soccer playing, and his way with women. He was truly likeable and fun to be around. Everyone loved him. Carlos was a loyal member of the class of 1960 and attended most of the major Thacher reunions, including the 50th, where we enjoyed catching up and trading stories. Many classmates had the good fortune to visit the Lazartes in Peru and were treated royally. He was a consummate host and loved entertaining. Carlos, we will all miss you. Rest in peace.
FREDERIC J. HAMMOND CdeP 1963 Frederic “Ric” Hammond passed away on March 17, 2012. Ric came to Thacher in 1959 with an interest in electronics, especially radio, and acquired the nickname, “ClunkWit” because of electronic bulletins he received that were addressed to “CW Hammond.” His classmates joked that his native language was the codes used in ham radio communications. Also an outdoorsman, El Archivero notes, “Ric has been known to roam as far north as Mammoth Lakes and as far south as Burroughs’ Electrodata Division. He also takes to the sea if the water is not above surfboard depth.” In athletics, Ric was a talented baseball player who brought chagrin to many a pitcher and was competitive on the soccer team. He was also, amongst other School activities, an ASL delegate, a Thacher Letterman, and, of course, president of the Radio Club. STEVE GRIGGS CdeP 1963 shares: Ric was one of the steady guys in our class; reliable as a classmate and a friend. It was great to be able to reconnect with him at reunions over the years and to learn of the successful and fulfilling life he led post-Thacher.
FRIENDS OF THACHER SHARON CRARY GRIFFIN Sharon Crary Griffin died on November 7, 2011. She was the first wife of Thacher Headmaster Emeritus Willard G. Wyman II, mother of three children, including WILL WYMAN CdeP 1978, and grandmother of eight grandchildren including CAITLIN CdeP 2006, CASEY CdeP 2010, and Molly ’12.
BARBARA GRIGGS Barbara Griggs, mother of STEPHEN CdeP 1963, passed away peacefully at the age of 94 on May 5, 2011. As Steve wrote: “She was a vital member of the Thacher community from 1940-1954 alongside her husband, legendary teacher Van Griggs. Her influence on the musical and theatrical aspects at Thacher in those days was profound. Following Van’s death in 1954, she replaced him in the classroom, teaching his French and Spanish sections for the 1954-55 school year. She moved off campus after that, but continued her involvement with the School, particularly after Steve arrived as a smut in 1959. Once again, she helped behind the scenes with Mr. McDougall’s lavish Shakespeare productions and filled in for Mr. Erhardt in the music department when needed. When Steve and NICK THACHER CdeP 1963 formed the Honeytones barbershop quartet (with classmates ARNIE MOORE and FRED KEELER), she became the primary teacher and guide spending hours at the piano trying to wrestle some harmonies out of that dubious foursome. Even after moving east in the 1960s, Barbara maintained close ties to Thacher and returned for the centennial celebration among many visits. Her ties to the classes of 1944 and 1963 were particularly strong, and she communicated with members of those classes until her final days.”
ROBERTA DE LUCE HARTNACK Roberta De Luce Hartnack died on November 11, 2011; she was 93. She was the mother of Gretchen Milligan (wife of MARSHALL CdeP 1969) and two sons; grandmother of seven grandchildren, including LUCY MILLIGAN CdeP 2000, CLAIRE MIL LIGAN CdeP 2002, AMANDA HARTNACK CdeP 1998, and PETER HARTNACK CdeP 2000; and five great-grandchildren.
ARTHUR ACHILLE MILLIGAN Arthur Achille “Bud” Milligan, Thacher’s fourth president of the Board of Trustees, and father and grandfather of five Thacher students, passed away on November 3, 2011, in Santa Barbara at the age of 94. Born in Oxnard, Bud was named after his grandfather Achille Levy, who proclaimed that the boy would follow him in the banking business. After graduating from Oxnard High School, he majored in political science at Stanford University, where he met his future bride, Jeanne Welch, whom he married in 1942. After serving on a naval destroyer in the North Atlantic, Bud made good on his grandfather’s prediction, and joined Bank of A. Levy, where he spent his entire career. He followed his uncle, Joe Levy, as president of the Bank in 1954 and, as Ventura County grew rapidly in the post-war era, so did the bank. Bud lived the role of the town banker and served as a leader in numerous volunteer community roles. He was held in high esteem by his peers, who elected him president of the California Bankers Association in 1962 and president of the American Bankers Association in 1975. Bud was elected to Thacher’s Board of Trustees in 1966 as one of the few non-Thacher graduates; he served as vice president from 1969-1970 until he became president of the Board for a three-year term beginning in 1970. Board discussion during this era focused on the ultimate size of the School (“don’t make it larger, make it better”); construction of the gymnasium, Matilija Dorm, and the Headmaster’s residence; acquisition of Golden Trout Camp; consideration of coeducation school with a trial Emma Willard School exchange of students; and implementation of the Ninth Decade Fund (raising $500K a year for five years) which started an Endowment for the School and resulted in the “burn the mortgage” event on June 13, 1973. Other Boarddirected activities at this time included founding the Boot Hill Association, developing the Friends of Thacher Library, and hiring DAVID G. LAVENDER CdeP 1951 to run the new Development Department. Additional achievments included greater diversity of the student body through the program, “A Better Chance;” dedicating the Jesse Kahle Horse Center; and emphasizing the 12 concepts on which the School was based. Bud thought his role as president of the Board was “basically one of presiding and trying to keep the constructive, self-starting Trustees on their own tracks… and making sure that we used those talents and those energies to best serve The Thacher School.” On his 65th birthday in 1982, Bud handed the reins of the bank to his two sons, MI CHAEL CdeP 1962 and MARSHALL CdeP 1969. Subsequently, he and Jeanne retired to Santa Barbara to enjoy many healthy years of golf, travel, and frequent visits with their three granddaughters: KIMBERLEY CdeP 1987, LUCY CdeP 2000, and CLAIRE CdeP 2002. Jeanne passed away in 1998.