A Newsletter from the Abbot@Andover Committee
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Winter/Spring 2024 Edition
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"...celebrating and facilitating interaction among alumnae and perpetuating Abbot's spirit within the Andover Community"
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Note from the Co-Chair: Anstiss Bowser Agnew ’67
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"December" by Julia Alvarez ’67
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Julia Alvarez ’67 originally sent this moving new poem to fellow 1967 classmates as a holiday greeting filled with affection. She has graciously agreed to share her poem with Abbot Alumnae via this newsletter. Entitled "December," the poem beautifully captures the life lesson of slowing down and achieving balance in the face of chaos. A heartfelt thanks, Julia!
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Erratum: Abbot's Laundry Building Repurposed
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After an onsite visit to the SHED Children's Campus, it became obvious that this newsletter had inadvertently printed an incorrect current photo for Abbot's former laundry building. Linda Shottes Bouchard, SHED's Executive Director for over 30 years, kindly led a detailed tour of the former laundry building. An enthusiastic steward of all things Abbot that remain on the school's campus, Ms. Bouchard recounted the efforts undertaken to ensure the building was brought back to its original state as much as possible. The unusual exterior brick patterns were painstakingly recreated. The interior ceilings, which had been lowered over time, were brought back to their former lofty heights. Floorboards were recreated to match the ruined linoleum-covered originals.
Please enjoy these photos of the current exterior and interior of Abbot's former laundry building.
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Photos by Sara Ingram ’71
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Abbot Alumnae Awards from Andover
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Elaine B. Finbury ’68, P’99 Receives Her Andover 2023 Alumni Award of Distinction
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| This past October, Elaine "Lanie" Finbury received her Andover Alumni Award of Distinction for her unique ability to achieve consensus and public purpose in revitalizing communities through the development and historic preservation processes. Among her many achievements over her long career, Lanie's admirable and prescient work in preserving the Abbot Campus is undoubtedly what resonates most with her fellow Abbot Sisters.
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Left: Elaine "Lanie" Finbury ’68, P’99 poses with Student Alumni Representative, Angelique "Angi" Ceballos Cardona ’25
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Anstiss Bowser Agnew ’67 Receives Her 2023 Andover Distinguished Service Award
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Anstiss Bowser Agnew ’67 with Head of School Dr. Kington -- Photo by Marc Harrison
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| Anstiss has shown a strong, clear and strategic voice as she achieves impressive goals over her volunteerism at Andover.
Anstiss' work over multiple reunions was crowned in 2022 when Anstiss played a critical role in Abbot ’67 hitting an admirable 58% class gift participation, which was the highest percentage of all reunion classes. Ever. Not content to simply serve on the Andover Alumni
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Award of Distinction Committee, Anstiss has been instrumental in ensuring alumni are recognized both individually and as a full slate. To Anstiss, it is important to highlight alumni and send the message to current students that there are many different paths to take in life. Finally, in her role as a leader on the Abbot@Andover Committee, Anstiss' thinking takes the legacy of Abbot Academy and ensures its vibrancy is celebrated well into the future.
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Abbot Archives:
Disposition of Abbot Memorabilia at the 1973 Merger
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Abbot's prescient efforts to ensure the safe-keeping of its memorabilia, architecture, decorative arts, books, papers and etc. are detailed in the final Abbot Alumnae Bulletin, which went out in 1973. It is made clear that careful thought, planning, cataloguing and hard work went in to making sure Abbot's history, as represented in these categories, was well taken care of.
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| Additionally, the team decided to restore the Chapel in Abbot Hall as a key architectural focus to represent Abbot's history. Steps were taken to have Abbot Hall recorded in the National Register of Historic Places and the hope was that it would
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eventually be designated as a National Historic Landmark. Over time, some of the team's choices were undone for various reasons, but Abbot alumnae have an impassioned group of people to thank for the fact that much of this history still exists to appreciate and study.
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"Heavenly Goo" Served in Paresky Commons
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By Susan Peters ’75, P’09, ’12
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Campus Colleagues Naomi Mashburn ’08 and Jonathan Kapaldo
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| Of course, all Abbot alumnae remember Heavenly Goo. But not all Andover students have had the chance to savor this fudgy, gooey dessert. The situation was rectified last October when Heavenly Goo was served in Paresky as a celebration of Abbot & Andover at 50. The classic Abbot Academy dessert was spooned over vanilla ice cream. Culinary tastes may evolve over the decades, yet Heavenly Goo is still a huge hit with students and alumni.
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Abbot Academy Fund: Grants Update
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| The Abbot Academy Fund team was particularly pleased to approve the following two grants, especially since they directly touch the Abbot legacy.
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Photo: Abbot Archive, 1935
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| The grant submitted to repurchase the historic Abbot Telescope from its longtime owner, John W. Briggs ’77, was approved. Submitted by Caroline Odden, Dean of Studies and Physics Instructor, the grant covers the telescope's purchase, the accompanying original wooden observing seat, and several books, some of which were from the Abbot Library. Additional provisions of the grant include the cost of Mr. Briggs personally bringing the telescope to the Andover campus.
Abbot Academy purchased the telescope in 1875 from the highly respected firm of Alvan Clark & Sons, located in Cambridgeport, MA, to be placed in the purpose-built observatory in Abbot Hall.
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Ms. Odden hopes that the telescope will be on permanent display in the Oliver Wendell Holmes Library. Ms. Odden said that the school anticipates bringing the telescope outdoors for use once each term. When he delivers the telescope, Mr. Briggs will train astronomy instructors in its use, speak to students, and more.
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Photo: Abbot Archives, Bachrach Photography
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| Allyson Irish, Director, Editorial and Creative Services Andover Magazine, Tracy Sweet, Chief Communications Officer, and Jill Clerkin, Director of Publications, had their grant application for the revitalization of the Abbot Secret Garden approved. The grant funds the creation of a new schematic design for the garden.
See the separate story below to learn more about the Secret Garden.
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Oliver Wendell Holmes Library Abbot Book Festival
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Thanks to the generous grant from The Abbot Academy Fund, the OWHL is hosting the first Abbot Book Festival on May 11, 2024, from 12 to 4 p.m. The Festival will be a celebration of books in our community and will include student performers and clubs, storytelling and spoken word, and food trucks. We would love to invite Abbot alumnae to attend and/or participate in the event. For more information, please contact Stacy Collins or Jess Wallis, or call (978) 749-4230.
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Abbot Archives: Abbot's "Secret Garden"
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| Abbot's Secret Garden is over one hundred years old, yet many Abbot alumnae are unaware of its existence on the Abbot campus. Find out more here by going to page 28 of Andover Magazine's Fall/Winter 2023 edition.
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Abbot & Andover at 50:
1974 Alumni Discuss their Merger Experiences
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From left to right: Gary Lee ’74, Priscilla Martel ’74, Katy Gass Walker ’74, P’07
Photo by Neil Evans
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| During an All-School Meeting last October, Jack Gray ’74 acted as moderator for three ’74 alumni panelists; Priscilla Martel ’74, Gary Lee ’74, and Katy Gass Walker ’74, P’07, as they discussed their experiences during the 1973 merger. The panelists were very transparent, discussing both their tribulations and triumphs during this turbulent time. Students later reports that this All-School Meeting was very impactful as they felt the merger had been brought to life by the participants. Watch the recording of this meeting here.
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Abbot's Service Staff at the Merger
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All photos: Abbot Bulletin, 1973
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| What happened to Abbot’s service personnel when Abbot merged with Andover?
You will be happy to know that, with the exception of people at or over retirement age, all Abbot service workers were employed by Andover. This meant that many familiar faces among the kitchen, grounds crew, and housekeeping staff were present to greet the students after the merger. In particular, Jes and Marie Bonde continued their incomparable management of Abbot's kitchen, as did Sarah Proctor, Abbot's Director of Food and Housing.
We thank both Abbot and Andover for taking care of the people who worked so hard to make our lives comfortable and happy while we were at Abbot. Please see more pictures here.
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Abbot Alumnae are cordially invited to Abbot Day 2024
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| Abbot alumnae, family, and friends are cordially invited to Abbot Day, on Friday, June 7, 2024. This annual tradition allows for all Abbot alumnae to gather back on the Abbot Academy campus for a day of celebration and shared memories. The day will be filled with programming specific to the Abbot experience, and plenty of time to gather and spend quality time with old friends. More details to follow.
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Abbot Edibles: Blender Chocolate Mousse
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By Sandra Castle Hull AA ’58, P’81, ’84
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Photo from The Circle, 1973
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| This recipe for Blender Chocolate Mousse was submitted to the Andover Cookbook by Laurie Woodworth
Gilligan ’73.
Sandra Castle Hull ’58, P’81, ’84 has used this recipe extensively and says it is a hit with friends and strangers alike, and is very easy.
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National Girls and Women in Sports Day
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| In celebrating the Abbot legacy, captains of the girls' sports teams met up to take a photo for National Girls and Women in Sports Day. This year, athletes are wearing commemorative patches to honor the 50th anniversary of Abbot Academy and Phillips Academy becoming a singular institution. The all-gender wrestling team is even competing as "Team Abbot." The Abbot legacy continues to pave the way for girls today.
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Abbot Academy Scarves Available for Purchase
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| Alumnae have a limited time opportunity to purchase this timeless scarf, which was specially created based on an original woodcut by the artist Abbie Owen Read, Abbot Class of 1973.
In Abbot Blue, black and white, the design reflects the Abbot Academy Gates, Draper, McKeen and Davis Hall, and the Circle, and the Abbot Academy Circled AA symbol, used for generations of Abbot women. The scarf is pure silk, medium weight twill, sized 36” x 36,” and finished with a hand rolled hem. Designed exclusively for Abbot Academy women by Candor Threads. Click here to order. Must order by Monday, March 4, 2024 to secure production.
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Co-Chairs: Lori Goodman Seegers ’73, P’05, Anstiss Bowser Agnew ’67
Committee Members
Nathalie Taft Andrews ’59, Faith Barnes ’74, Martha Mason Denzel ’62,
Sandra Castle Hull ’58, P’81, ’84, Sara Ingram ’71, Noreen A. Markley ’73, P’11,
Priscilla A. Martel ’74, Mary F. McCabe ’71, Chandri Navarro ’82, P’15,
Susan W. Peters ’75, P’09, ’12, Holly Robertson Taylor ’59
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