Farewell to the Oddens Farewell to the Oddens - The Taft School

S P O T L I G H T
many great statespeople were products of
families revered for political or social service;
also that many had been young
leaders as students. In other words, leadership,
like creativity can, at least, be
nurtured through increased opportunities
and motivated by role model teachers.
• • •
The Oddens themselves have set the standards
with their demeanor. To be sure,
they are natural leaders, but no one is
born with composure and compassion.
Masters of formal bearing and self-control,
the Oddens have never bent under
the weight of responsibilities. It is difficult
to remember when either one has
evinced frustration, confusion, fatigue, or
despair. Anger, perhaps, when confronting
an act of incivility or a stupid breach
of sportsmanship, but anger directed at
the act, with only disappointment toward
the kids. Moreover, for all their pride in
Taft and in themselves, the Oddens have
lived above vanity or arrogance. Humor
and a sense of reality have served them
like friends.
Of course, stormproof composure
must be seen to be believed. For examples,
Lance in one of those full-faculty
meetings “suddenly announced” or Patsy
coaching a pivotal hockey game on
Mothers’ Day. No one would know that
Lance is off to a New England or national
meeting and will have to polish his
speech between airports, or that Patsy,
as director of girls’ athletics, has spent
the morning checking the arrangements
for home and away teams, and, as First
Lady, directing the reception and lunch
for 500 parents of both sexes.
Undoubtedly the source of their
poise has been a “joy of duty” and a generous
spirit. All constituents have known
the Oddens’ far-reaching hospitality. For
dinner parties under thirty, Patsy has often
done the cooking. Their house in
Vermont is a veritable Green Mountain
inn for drifting Tafties. (Lance and Patsy
will play golf with almost anyone.) Also,
“until this year,” Lance has known every
student by name. Together he and Patsy
have rooted from the sidelines of every
game they could get to. (But don’t touch
Lance’s cap with the “T” on it.) Perhaps
most memorable will be the Oddens’
Lance with Kathy Sheridan ’79
Patsy greets mothers
on opening day
in 1992.
An accomplished hostess, Patsy graciously returns alumni
applause for her contributions in making the Centennial Celebration
an outstanding success.
One of the school’s greatest strengths has been Lance’s unerring
judgment in appointing administrators, here late assistant
headmaster Al Reiff Sr.
20 Spring 2001