7 minute read
Legendary: Honoring Scott McCarty ’76, P’02, P’05
Next Article
Legendary
Honoring Scott McCarty ’76, P’02, P’05
To honor Scott McCarty ’76, P’02, P’05 as he transitions from Athletic Director to the Advancement Office as a Major Gifts Officer, we spoke to an array of people who have known Scott in all of the various roles he has played at Forman: student, teacher, advisor, coach, parent, and Athletic Director. From the words of alumni to colleagues, the portrait that emerged of a kind, generous, and thoughtful man devoted to Forman students is heartwarming. To understand why Scott will shine in his new role, read on.
Scott has been a member of the Forman community since 1971, beginning with his five years as a student back when Forman started at eighth grade. He is a committed and highlyregarded member of Forman, embodying its values in all that he does. By using a combination of positive reinforcement, discipline, and fun, he has helped the School make a difference in students’ lives, just as it once did for him. His advocacy for students and confidence in their abilities have made lasting impressions beyond their years at Forman.
From the words of alumni to colleagues, the portrait that emerged of a kind, generous, and thoughtful man devoted to Forman students is heartwarming. To understand why Scott will shine in his new role, read on.
“When Scotty and I met as Forman students, we were like The Odd Couple. He’d been a jock his whole life and I really wasn’t into sports at all. Still, we used to call each other brother and sister. Our differences didn’t matter and we became really good friends.”
Jane Benson, Forman Cognition and Learning Teacher, 2009-present
“I can’t say enough wonderful things about Scott McCarty. From the first time I met him when he came to the School as a student to the last time I caught up with him on the phone, he has been a wonderful student, colleague, and friend. No one has served Forman better in its entire history and his love for the School and its mission is evident in all he does.”
Gil Yule, Teacher, Coach, Athletic Director at Forman for 27 years
“Not everyone knows this about Scotty but Forman School saved his life. He came as an eighth grader in 1971 and he had some things to figure out. Which he did. Forman and Scotty is so much more than a 40-year career. The School is his life.”
Tammy Grella, Arts Teacher “Scott is the Forman School. He is the heart and soul of all that is good about the Forman community. He attended the School during the era of John and Julie Forman and has wisely used what he learned from the Formans to enrich the lives of every student he encountered.”
Lea Dmytryck, Math Teacher and Academic Dean at Forman from 1980 to 1999
“If a student is feeling low, or like they don’t belong at Forman, Scotty will take hours of his time to sit and talk with that student to show that they do belong at Forman and he will make them see it. He isn’t just telling them what they want to hear, either. He really means it.”
Florence Colantino ’21
“One of Scotty’s gifts as an educator and coach is his ability to get kids to stretch themselves a bit. He would say to a student, “I know you don’t necessarily want to run cross country but I think you’d be good at it and have fun as well.” He was encouraging them to step out of their comfort zones to see what happens.”
Craig Lombardi,
Assistant Athletic Director
“The summer we moved to campus, our daughter Madeline was preparing to start at Litchfield High School. As part of getting to know people in our new town, Maddiy played for the Litchfield Rovers, a summer soccer team coached by Scotty and Nigel Daniel. Watching Scotty run that team that summer encapsulates my entire experience with him and shows who he is. Maddiy isn’t a soccer player but she wanted to make friends while learning a bit about the game. She brought what she had to the field, which was more about who she was as a person than as an athlete. Scotty saw that immediately and worked with her in just the right way. That’s how he works with everybody.”
Beth Man P’15,
Health and English Teacher, and Archivist
“One time Head of School Richard Peirce and his wife, Dorothy, went on summer vacation. Scotty and I were looking after Peirce’s parrot, Cyrano. We went to their house every day and fed Cyrano and let him out of his cage. The problem was getting him back in the cage. He resisted our efforts every time. And Cyrano had a salty tongue! There we were trying to wrestle this bird back into his cage and he’s saying all these naughty words. We were laughing as he slipped away from us again and again. Just imagine Scotty in that situation! We’d get him in the cage before we left but it was never easy.”
Noreen Kausyla P’11,
Assistant to the Head of School
“Scotty is exceptionally authentic and caring. He puts people at ease immediately, even someone he’s meeting for the first time. He is also extremely dedicated and hardworking. The effort he puts in, day after day, is unmatched in my experience.”
Mike Kowalchick,
Associate Head of School
“Scotty always finds time to check in with his coaches during the season and he’ll do it in his own Scotty way. One time, I walked into my living room in Hamilton and there was Scotty. No knocking on the door for him! He wanted me to know that he appreciated my efforts and asked if there was anything he could do for me. He also asked how I was doing on a personal level. I’ve always known that Scotty cared about how I was doing as much as how the team was doing.”
Jeoffrey Langill, World Languages Teacher, Varsity Baseball Coach “Out of all the great qualities Scotty has, I would say his willingness to help people shines through the most. No matter how busy he is, he will drop whatever he is doing to help you. Even if it inconveniences him in the short term, he will turn to you because he knows that helping students is a very important part of what he does.”
Ryan Capozucca ’21
“When I arrived, Scotty was the Boys’ Varsity Soccer Head Coach and in his first year as Athletic Director. But Richard Peirce, who had a great sense of humor, pitched me as the soccer golden boy coming in from England. As a result, that first year was pretty frosty between Scotty and me. The next season, I saw things that needed improvement but I was careful. It was Scotty’s team. Things changed between us because Scotty listened to me with an open mind. He saw I was only trying to help. We developed a rapport. By rapport, I mean that he became my best friend. He has a spirit that is so real and so deep, it’s hard to put into words.”
Nigel Daniel P’11, Forman Cognition and Learning Teacher, Coach, 1987 to 2018 “I’ve walked up to Scotty as he is wrapping up a conversation with a student many times. I’ll hear him say something like “ … And that’s why you should never eat lunch with your hat on.” I have no idea what he’s getting at but the student smiles and says, “Thanks, Scotty!” He says things in his own way and the students understand him.”
John Strawson, Athletic Director
“My first interaction with Scotty was at orientation for my daughter Maggie ’18. Maggie had not played a lot of sports but she had to pick one that day. She decided on rock climbing. So we walk up to Scotty and introduce ourselves. He says he’s sorry but rock climbing is full. Then he suggested she try volleyball. She balked at first but Scotty said it would be good to try it. So, she did. Later on, we found out that rock climbing wasn’t full. But Scotty had an instinct, after only a few minutes of knowing her, that Maggie would thrive on a team sport. He sensed her personality would be an asset to any team and that she’d enjoy the experience. He was right as Maggie played all four years and was co-captain her senior year.”
Jon E. Zagrodzky P’18, P’19,
President of the Board of Trustees
“I have many fond memories of Scotty. I had so many wonderful talks with him in the kitchen of Dobbins. One time my dog, Finny, hadn’t returned from his nightly excursion and Scotty went looking for him early the next morning. Scotty found him down the road on Route 202! But when I looked in the back of his SUV, the dog I saw was not Finny!”
Paula Wiley, Math Teacher, Dorm Parent, Coach, and Dean of Students at Forman for over 15 years
