Sadness for the Williams, Hamilton, Haverford, Colgate & Woodward Academy families

[swatparent]

<p>In reading about his death, he gave a rousing speech to the faculty about the new year and then went and jumped out of a window at a hotel in the city he lived in. He must have been extremely depressed, especially because such a dedicated educator would think of the effect on the young students (he was head of a private academy). I am sure that these young students will have a very hard time with it, even more than college students or fellow professors would. Imagine explaining to fairly young kids about this kind of event? Something horrible must have precipitated it. Very sad for the students of the Woodward Academy.</p>

[mythmom]

<p>jym: why was this fundraising a hot button issue? Is this why he left Williams?</p>

[MikeyD223]

<p>You can do a search on the back issues of the Williams Record if you are interested in the circumstances surrounding Hank Payne’s departure from Williams…</p>

[jym626]

<p>

At Williams, Payne was credited with overseeing the creation of a new science center, opening a new student center and nearly doubling the endowment to $800 million. A room and a professorship at the college bear his name. He resigned from Williams at a time of controversy — Payne and a prominent donor were proponents of a theater project that was fought by Williams faculty and by people in the town.The flap was one reason he left Williams, McIntire said. The opportunity to work on new challenges in a vibrant big city was another, Johnson and McIntire said. “He really wanted to get out of small towns like Williamstown and Clinton and Hamilton, New York,” Johnson said

</p>

<p>[Dr</a>. Hank Payne, at 60; led Williams College from '94-'99 - The Boston Globe](<a href=“http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/obituaries/articles/2008/01/12/harry_c_payne_at_60_led_williams_college_from_94_99/]Dr”>http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/obituaries/articles/2008/01/12/harry_c_payne_at_60_led_williams_college_from_94_99/)</p>

[mythmom]

<p>Oh, and the '62 Center is so beautiful. It is hard to have more vision than those around you.</p>

[icy9ff8]

<p>Jym: Is the prominent Catholic to which you referred Marist?</p>

[jym626]

<p>Yes, icy9ff8, the Catholic school to which I referred is indeed Marist. And sadly, this is what was posted on their website today:

After being in a coma for ten days, Father Egan passed away early this morning at St. Joseph’s Hospital. His sister, Martha, and his brother, Fred, are very grateful, as are the Marist Fathers of Atlanta, for the concern and prayerful support expressed by so many during this time. I know I speak for us at Marist when I say that we are, for our part, thankful for the care that Father Egan exercised on behalf of all of us in his role as President.
Funeral arrangements will be announced as soon as the details are known. In the meantime, I ask your continued remembrance of Father Egan’s family and your prayers for the repose of his soul.

So tragic that two private school presidents have died within the same week.</p>

[mythmom]

<p>Your students are lucky to have you at this time, jym, and as one of my dear friends used to say, “This too shall pass.”</p>

[jym626]

<p>^^ Thank you, mythmom, for your kind words. I just returned from a wedding shower. Several of the women there know Dr. Payne’s wife. The outpouring of support has been immense and wonderful, but the shock and sadness will remain for quite some time. Graduation this year will be a difficult time- joyous but sad. Without boring you all with details about the ceremony, it is pretty neat, with each student, name called one by one, their college, awards, etc announced as they ascend the stairs on one side of the building (heres a photo of the building, its stairs and its portico-- the ceremony is held outdoors [Woodward</a> Academy Richardson Hall](<a href=“http://www.newsouthconstruction.com/Woodward_Richardson.htm]Woodward”>http://www.newsouthconstruction.com/Woodward_Richardson.htm)) to receive his/her diploma on the portico from Dr. Payne, and then descending the stairs on the other side. Each year the seniors pull a prank (e.g., frequently someone puts a condom on the cigar of the statue out in the main courtyard). Last year, the “prank” was that each senior, instead of shaking Dr. Payne’s hand, gave him a big bear hug. That is going to be a tough act to follow this year…</p>