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

Craig Ambrosio
Insight Studios
INFLUENCE AND IDEALS
Lance reveled in student accomplishments
and spent innumerable Wednesday
and Saturday afternoons out by the athletic
fields rooting for the Big Red.
Over the past 29 years, that hand has
steered our school to prosperity and
prominence, which we take for granted
but which were unattainable for much
of Taft’s history.
That we are an equal and a rival of
the greatest boarding schools in the
country, that we rest on a $132 million
endowment, that our facilities are new
and first-rate, we know. And we recite
The happy task of awarding diplomas at
Commencement
that list every time we try to explain
what Mr. Odden has done for Taft, and
why we revere him for it.
And yet, we cannot help but feel
that there is more—more than money,
more than buildings, numbers, and
fundraisers—to account for Mr. Odden’s
success as headmaster of Taft.
For while the numbers so often
quoted—the soaring dollars, the shrinking
As master of ceremonies, Lance dedicates the Weaver track last spring with the help
of captains Venroy July ’00 and Kim Noel ’00, and of course, Bill Weaver.
It’s been a long day, longer than usual.
The fluster of six classes over, I want
to talk to someone. About my day,
myself, about me, me, me. I want
someone’s full attention, even though
I have no significant problem. As I pass
his office, I see the open door. I wonder
if he’s too busy... I wonder if I could
pop in for no reason at all... I wonder
if he would mind...? I peek in.
“Hello, Mr. Odden.”
He sets his pen on his desk, leans
back, and motions me to the “advisee
chair” located nearest to his own. This
is the man who runs The Taft School,
who is readying for his retirement,
whose daily desk work is more crucial
than my end-of-year exams, whose
schedule for every day of next week is
already booked. But he drops everything,
his eyes on mine, his chair facing
mine, and asks, “How are you, Annie?”
I am struck by his genuine interest
in me. For 20 precious minutes, he
devotes his attention, knowledge, advice,
support, and encouragement to
me. Amidst all of his influence and
power, Mr. Odden is a teacher. Although
he has never taught me a class,
he is the best teacher I have ever had.
—Annie Olson ’01
Mr. Odden has been so much fun to
work with this year. Our school monitor
meetings with him are influential
yet entertaining. He is always concerned
with what we see going on in
school, and asks how we think any
problems should be dealt with. Mr.
Odden has led by example, showing
us how to be patient and understanding,
yet influential and strong in the
face of any problem. He is always interested
in how we are doing. By
having us be involved in everything
that goes on at Taft, Mr. Odden has
allowed us to see what it takes to run
such a successful school.
—Ashley Cecchinato ’01
I really enjoy getting to know Mr. Odden.
I used to think he was always formal, but
now that I’m one of his advisees, I can
talk to him in a casual way. I am comfortable
talking to him about anything.
He always has some piece of advice, like
a wise godparent. I am amazed by his
smarts and by his knowledge of the
world. He knows how to read people,
and he takes care of the students at Taft
so well. I don’t know what the school
will be like without him here. I know that
I will miss our meetings, and his Morning
Meeting speeches.
—Hannah Baker ’03
Taft Bulletin 29