Former Teacher, Coach, Admissions Officer, and Friend Dalton ‘Mac’ McBee Dies at 93

McBee died of complications from heart disease in Newburyport, Mass., on April 6

April 23, 2009 Born in New Jersey, McBee was raised in Kent, Conn., and attended high school at Avon Old Farms in nearby Avon. Upon graduation, he attended Columbia University, receiving a BA degree in 1939 from Bard College. Before arriving at Phillips Academy in 1953, McBee taught at Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, N.H., and the Ransom Everglade School in Coconut Grove, Fla.

Over the course of his 28 years at PA, McBee performed multiple duties with a modest steadfastness that earned the respect of colleagues and students alike. In addition to his many years as an admissions officer in Hardy House, McBee served as varsity tennis coach, housemaster, English instructor, and director of financial aid.

Among McBee’s many legacies: he began the practice of journal-keeping as a tool for honing nascent writing skills in junior English classes, a method still practiced on campus today. In 1972, he published two books on writing, “Writer’s Journal—Experiments” and “Writer’s Journal—Explorations,” which, according to English Department Chair Emory Basford in an Andover Bulletin article at the time, were “full of useful material for the classroom.”

Although McBee retired from PA in 1981, he continued his love for learning and remained a voracious reader. He also discovered later in life his love for Italy, traveling there on several occasions and studying the language daily until his last days. 

McBee, who built and maintained a Japanese garden for his wife, Leona, at their Woodland Road home in Andover, continued his verdant ways for the duration of his life. The garden he built for his home in Newburyport, Mass., was twice a stop on the city’s annual garden tour.

In a 1981 Andover Bulletin article about his retirement, McBee is remembered fondly for his “unique communication with a certain student constituency, an interaction that can be observed at Commons. Whether it’s lunch or dinner, he can usually be found at a table with students. Think of the youngsters you see with Mac: so often they are youngsters for whom Andover represents a real opportunity, but who may need a lot of encouragement…. Modest, he never blows his own horn; kind, always a good listener. Mac, good friend, they will miss you, and so will we.”

McBee is survived by his son, Joel ’71, and by his companion of many years, Barbara Tompkins. He is predeceased by his beloved wife, Leona “Lee” McBee, and son Coles ’70.

For a link to Dalton McBee’s obituary, click here.