New York City Reception
Date
April 30
Time
6:30 pm
Location
310 Bowery Bar NYC
Rumsey Hall is coming to the Big Apple! Save the date to reconnect with alumni,…
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Winter at Rumsey is a season of reflection and momentum. In this edition of The Rumsey Bell, we share stories that capture both—featuring life on campus and the enduring influence of a Rumsey education.
In this Issue:
Feature Stories
What Students Learn When Service Is Part of School Life
This fall, Rumsey Hall students dedicated more than 500 hours to community service through projects that were often conceived and led by students themselves. The result was meaningful, hands-on learning that connected students to their community and to one another.
From Vision to Victory: Rumsey Hosts Inaugural Home Mountain Biking Race
This fall, Rumsey Hall marked an exciting milestone by hosting its first-ever mountain biking race on campus. The event celebrated the growth of a student-driven program and showcased a purpose-built trail designed to challenge riders and build confidence.
Stephen Spooner ’94 Honored with Locker Room Dedication
A familiar presence at Lufkin Rink, Stephen Spooner ’94 has shaped the Rumsey hockey experience for years. This winter, his impact was celebrated with the dedication of the Boys’ Varsity Hockey Locker Room in his name.
Rumsey Hosts the 37th Annual Auction and Celebration
To kick off Fall Parents’ Weekend, Rumsey welcomed more than 140 guests to the 37th Annual Auction and Celebration, hosted by the Rumsey Circle Parents Association. The evening featured spirited live and silent bidding, joyful traditions, and raised $187,000 in support of the School.
Fall Recap
From classrooms buzzing with new ideas to crisp afternoons on the athletic fields, fall at Rumsey marked a season of beginnings and shared purpose. Students and faculty came together to learn, perform, compete, and uphold traditions that define our School. Explore the gallery below for moments that captured the energy of the year’s start.
Swipe
Rooted in the Valley: The Legacy of Tillie Laird Brown
Tillie Page Laird Brown’s bond with Rumsey Hall went far deeper than that of a typical neighbor; it was woven into her family history. Her roots in the Shepaug Valley trace back to the family that once owned the farm that became part of Rumsey Hall’s campus and with her own mother Frances Swan Laird Mygatt growing up in Solley House. After an impressive professional life that took her from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange to the royal circles of London, Tillie moved to the Valley in a home on Sabbaday Lane.
She became a cherished member of the Rumsey family in the truest sense, a constant, cheerful presence known for walking her dog through campus and always joining the Blue Dog Parade. To the students, Tillie was a storyteller, a gardener, and a joyful presence on campus. She frequently visited the Lower School, bringing her curiosity into classrooms to share items from her collections and talk about gardening and the wonder of growing seeds.
As part of her estate planning, Tillie and her husband, Hunter Brown, made the generous decision to leave their longtime home to Rumsey Hall through a bequest, a gift that came to fruition following her passing in October 2023. In June 2024, their property formally became part of Rumsey Hall’s campus, expanding the School’s footprint and standing as a lasting example of a meaningful and personal way to give. Tillie’s legacy now lives on, not just in the memories of her kindness, but in the very home and grounds she loved so dearly.
Alumni Spotlight – Jami Huang ’22
Jami Huang ’22 remembers Rumsey as the place where she first grew in confidence, learned to lead, and discovered who she could become. The experiences she had, and the community she found, paved her way to Hotchkiss and Princeton, and stay with her today. Watch her story:
Class Notes
The Class Notes section offers updates from alumni across the decades, sharing news of professional achievements, personal milestones, and community engagement. We are proud to highlight the many ways Rumsey graduates continue to make an impact in their fields and in the world. We welcome you to share your own news for inclusion in a future issue.
Send us a Class Note
Liz Dayton P’32, ’35, Scott Dayton ’05, Eliza Dayton ’32, Mackenzie Dayton ’35, Alan and Dana Dayton P’05, ’07 enjoyed catching up with Sam Fifer ’07 and his children in beautiful St. Thomas, where Sam lives.
Rumsey welcomed back alumnae Evelyn Coasman ’26, Kate Blaicher ’23, and Elena Cosgriff ’23, now members of the JV hockey team at Kent, when Kent and Rumsey recently met on the ice. It was a meaningful moment to see these former Blue Dogs return to campus as competitors, reflecting the lasting connections formed at Rumsey.
At a fall football game hosted by Avon Old Farms, alum Beaux Fleming ’25, Rumsey’s quarterback last year and now at Avon, came out to show his support for the Blue Dogs!
Upcoming Events
Boston Reception
Date
May 5
Time
6:30 pm
Location
-
Rumsey Hall is coming to Boston! Save the date to reconnect with alumni, parent…
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