At a fall reception a half-dozen PA volunteers were trumpeted for their service to the Academy. Pictured, from left, are Philip Bowers ’56, Nancy Donnelly Bliss ’54, Douglas Pirnie Jr. ’65, Katherine and Ronald ’66 Takvorian, and William Morris ’45.

HONORING THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN TIME & TREASURE

Phillips Academy recognized a half-dozen of its most dedicated volunteers, as well as one of its benefactors, at a Leaders Recognition Luncheon held October 21.

Harvey Kausel, of the Class of 1938, was honored posthumously as a benefactor of the Academy. Upon his death in 2003, he left Andover more than a million dollars via an unrestricted gift through his estate. Taking advantage of such generosity, the Board of Trustees created the Kausel Fund, income from which supports every aspect of the Academy. A scholarship student and fine athlete, Kausel thrived during his two years spent at Andover. The thoracic surgeon once recalled his days at PA as “a period in my life when I had freedom but knew instinctively I was protected by a great institution. It was a period of unbridled enthusiasm and happiness.”

Volunteers receiving Distinguished Service Awards were William Morris ’45, Nancy Donnelly Bliss ’54, Philip Bowers ’56, Douglas Pirnie Jr. ’65, and PA parents Katherine and Ronald ’66 Takvorian.

William Morris, of Rhinebeck, N.Y., has served as the Class of 1945 secretary and class agent since 2000 and 2001, respectively. The men of 1945 have a long history of serving the Academy and played a major role in the restoration of the Memorial Bell Tower; Morris was instrumental in garnering his class’s support of the project, and his communication skills helped engage others, as well. On an individual level, Morris is a regular speaker at Andover Drug & Alcohol Awareness Committee meetings.

Nancy Donnelly Bliss, of Brunswick, Maine, began a second stint as Abbot’s Class of ’54 secretary in 1999, reconnecting the class in plenty of time for a fantastic 50th Reunion. A member of her class’s 50th Reunion Planning Committee, she served as reunion chair and edited the Abbot 1954 Reunion Book. She also serves as mini-reunion planner for her class.

A resident of New York City, Philip Bowers has given generously of his time and money, planning a highly successful 50th Reunion and offering support for the Academy’s fund-raising efforts. He served from 2003 to 2006 on his class’s 50th Reunion Planning Committee, edited the Class of 1956’s 50th Reunion Book, and has led workshops for graduates from the classes of 1957, 1958, 1959, and 1960 on preparing such a publication.

Douglas Pirnie Jr., also of New York City, has organized reunions, served as a class secretary (1977–2005) and co-agent (2001–2005), and worked as an Alumni Council member (1982–1986 and 2001–2005). He took on head agent duties for the Class of 1965 in 2005. He also has served as a Non Sibi agent, Reunion Gift Committee leader, and special gift vice chair for Campaign Andover.

Katherine and Ronald Takvorian, of Concord, Mass., have donated their valuable time to PA on countless occasions: as parent admission representatives, members of the Gelb Science Center Advisory Committee, Campaign Andover special gift chairs, and members of the Parent Fund Special Gifts Committee. Additionally, Ronald has served previously as an admissions representative, and the couple currently works as national chairs of the Parent Fund. The Takvorians say they are grateful for all PA has done for their three children (Samuel ’02, Katherine ’03, and Sarah ’06) and value the Academy’s mission to provide the finest education available to youth from every quarter. “For all these reasons, it has seemed natural and easy to pursue every opportunity to say thank you,” says Ronald. “And it’s been fun along the way!”

RAMSEY RETURNS TO LEAD OAR

Peter Ramsey has returned to Andover as secretary of the academy, a post he left in 2004 to help establish a major fund-raising campaign at Babson College.

In June 2006, Ramsey resigned as Babson’s vice president for development and alumni relations, following a two-year stint in that position. He resumed his duties at Phillips Academy on September 18, replacing Elizabeth Roberts, who resigned in August after two years of dedicated service.

As head of Andover’s Office of Academy Resources (OAR), Ramsey once again is responsible for leading the school’s fund-raising activities and alumni relations efforts. An integral member of the Academy’s senior administrative leadership team, he works closely with the Head of School’s Office and Board of Trustees.

During his previous nine-year stint as secretary of the academy, from 1995 to 2004, Ramsey oversaw Campaign Andover, a successful six-year $208 million fund-raising campaign, which, at the time, represented a record for independent secondary schools. Among other initiatives, the monies raised during Campaign Andover helped fund scholarships and faculty chairs and expand and refurbish faculty housing to better the adult-to-student ratio in the dorms. Monies raised also helped fund the construction of the Gelb Science Center, the construction of the new hockey rinks, and the renovation and expansion of Cochran Chapel.

In 2004 Head of School Barbara Landis Chase said of Ramsey, “Peter has taken our fund-raising program to a new level and taught us much about the important business of building connections with our alumni and parents.”

In welcoming him back to Andover, Chase echoed those earlier accolades: “Peter is a consummate development professional and a great member of any senior team. We are both eager to work together again, and I know the Andover community will join me in welcoming him back into the fold.”

Chase offered thanks both to Roberts for her contributions to the Academy during the two years she served as secretary and to Gerrit Keator ’57 for stepping in as interim secretary prior to Ramsey’s return.

Ramsey sounded an equally positive note in discussing his return to Andover, calling it a “special privilege to be able to work with Barbara Chase, Oscar Tang, the Board of Trustees, and a faculty and staff who are so thoughtful and respectful of the process involved in growing and maintaining relationships with alumni, parents, and friends of the Academy.”

Asked about his past success with Campaign Andover, Ramsey was quick to credit Chase and David Underwood ’54, who was then president of the Board of Trustees, calling them the true leaders of the initiative. It was the quality of his relationship with Chase and Underwood, as well as his relationship with the rest of the Andover community, that makes returning to Andover such a pleasure, he said.

Prior to coming to Andover in 1995, Ramsey served as vice president for resources and public affairs at Wellesley College and as director of development at Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration. A graduate of South Kent School and St. Lawrence University, he has worked in the development field since 1974.

NON SIBI ASSOCIATION UPDATE

After 25 years without change, Phillips Academy has announced an increase in the minimum gift required for membership in the Non Sibi Association. As of July 1, 2006, the minimum gift requirement is $1,778, reflecting Andover’s founding year. Young alumni levels remain unchanged, and the Class of 1951 and older will be grandfathered at the previous level of $1,000. Membership, based on cash given during the fiscal year, is also available to non-alumni (parents, grandparents, widows, friends, etc.). The intent of the increase is to boost contributions to the Andover Fund, which supports 9 to 10 percent of PA’s annual operating budget, which, of course, increases each year.