The Photography of Jed Kirschbaum '67 - The Taft School

L E T T E R SThe PeachI just received the winter issue, and whenI turned to the inside there was JuddieConant [“Victory Mail”], who was a beauof my mother’s! On the first page of thearticle, I could even see in his handwriting,“You will have to meet Ann “Rookie” Faustfrom St. Louis, my best girl. She is reallysuper.” My mother! So sweet.I always go and touch his photo [inLincoln Lobby] whenever I come to Taft. Ifirst noticed it, I think, when my son Sam’05 was a senior and I wondered if it couldbe the same man. And now there he is. Wefound some letters from him years ago, butmy grandmother decided to burn them becauseshe didn’t think they were appropriatefor anyone else to see. How wonderfulFrom the EditorWhen I arrived at Taft in July 1988,the school had just broken groundfor a new dormitory to celebrate theschool’s Centennial. When the dormopened in 1989, Louise and JoeBrogna, who retire this spring (seepage 30), chose to give up their houseon North Street and move in alongside41 upperschool girls. Louise, aregistered nurse, has run the dormever since.Not many faculty live in thedorms for 18 years (and that’s onlythis go-round). I’ve never askedLouise why they made the move, orwhy they stayed—even though I nowlive on the other end of the buildingfrom them—but perhaps it has somethingto do with the proximity to theBaseball Field.In Joe’s honor, the AlumniBaseball Game is back on the schedulefor Alumni Day. So whether you cometo play or to watch, it’s a wonderfulopportunity to say “hello,” “goodbye,”or simply “thank you.” It’s the end ofan era after all.I am thrilled by the number ofletters we received after the winter issue;I hope you keep them coming!—Julie Reiffthat you have these and what a treat to seemy mother’s name right there.Now I have even more reason tovisit Juddie. My mother, who died quiteyoung, rarely talked about him, but Igather he was a remarkable, sweet, good,kind man. I just wanted to say how thrillingit was to see him and to see her name,so thank you.—Mary Dangremond P’05,’10A Friend in FerdieI’ve just read the winter Bulletin in whichI fondly encountered the article on myclassmate Ferdie Wandelt. I valued Ferdie’sfriendship as a student and have enjoyedour reunions. His accomplishments are anunsurprising testament to his character, insightand common sense.Many have praised Ferdie with moreexperience and skill than I can attempt.I respond, however, because I so enjoyedthe writing that, on finishing the piece, Iturned back to the beginning to see whoachieved the feat of so engagingly wadingthrough the range of material that Ferdie’scareer has generated. I should have guessedthat Barclay Johnson ’53, my Taft Englishteacher, was still displaying his talent.Bravo, Barclay, for your wonderfulwork on a wonderful fellow.—Mike Cutler ’66Taft TriviaDo you know?Although many women were a big part ofschool life from the early days, includingWinnie Taft and later Nurse Grant, it wasmany years before any woman joined theranks of the faculty. Can you name Taft’sfirst female teacher?A Taft key ring will be sent to the winner,whose name will be drawn at randomfrom all correct entries received by June 1.Becca Fine ’04 was the winner of theprevious question, correctly identifyingtoday’s McIntosh House as the formerMartin Infirmary, or “Grant’s Tomb.”Thanks to all who replied.Love it? Hate it?Read it? Tell us!We’d love to hear what you think aboutthe stories in this Bulletin. We may edityour letters for length, clarity and content,but please write!Julie Reiff, editorTaft Bulletin110 Woodbury RoadWatertown, CT 06795-2100orReiffJ@TaftSchool.orgHow the CookieCrumblesI read Peggy Rambach’s article about theHydrox with great interest, and noticedthat in all these years of hearing about thegroup, the naming story has never beenfully rendered. But now it can be told—Inamed the Hydrox.Huh? What’d he say?Yup. And in the spirit of MelanieGriffith in Working Girl (remember the elevatorscene where she explains her thoughtprocess and saves her job?) I will now takeyou through the steps that led to this event.Back then I was a theater nerd. Thatyear, it was Boys From Syracuse, which I—continued on page 38 Taft Bulletin Spring 2007