Fred Steel Science Center Dedication | October 14th, 2006
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“Steele, Stainless Fredericus, is a native perennial.” So began the remarks of Linda Clark McGoldrick, class of 1955, at the 1972 dinner roast celebrating Fred Steele’s 25th anniversary as a teacher at St. Mary’s in the Mountains and White Mountain. What followed was a hilarious verbal “dissection” of Fred Steele, describing the “specimen”:
“ Steele, Stainless Fredericus is essentially alpine and highly localized by nature. Commonly found on the slopes of the White Mountains, it is infrequent at points farther south and rare in Boston or New York, apparently not liking the warmer clime or dense soil.
The species can be described as upright and sturdy, with baggy stem-coverings and diminishing foliage at the apex. Not susceptible to disease, the specimen is hardy, and, although somewhat weather-beaten, appears impervious to the vicissitudes of natural change”
For a man who, his reverential students believed, could “name every wildflower, plant, and tree,” it was especially fitting.
Today, we hope the Steele Center is an equally fitting tribute. In the words of Ellen McMillan Aman, class of 1949, “Fred Steele was special. … Night after night he tutored me in the great hall. (He) was a man of endless patience and kindness. I hope he can look down and see this building … in his honor.”
Fred Steele was born in Tamworth, New Hampshire, in 1912. After attending Phillips Exeter, he graduated magna cum laude from Harvard. His first job as a teacher was at a boys’ boarding school in Massachusetts. The story goes that Fred was thumbing through a newspaper and came across an ad which read “Wanted: a young Dartmouth graduate or the equivalent.” Fred responded by sending off the following inquiry: “When you speak of an equivalent, do you mean two Yale men or a Harvard man part-time?”
Six years later, Fred joined the army and served during World War II in England and the Pacific. Then, wishing to return to his native Northern New Hampshire soil, he learned of a job opening at a school in Bethlehem. On his way to the interview he saw the sign that read “Saint Mary’s in the Mountains, an Episcopal boarding school for girls,” and he almost turned back. Luckily for generations of students, he continued up the hill. That was 1947. Fred didn’t stop teaching here until 1980, and his dedication continued for the rest of his life.
In Fred’s early years, male teachers were a rare commodity at the school, so the news of his engagement to Mary Lloyd, a Vassar girl who summered in Tamworth, caused quite a stir. A large contingent of students made arrangements to attend the wedding, which was held at the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York. Being good Episcopalians who thought theirs was the only kind of church, the girls dutifully showed up at and sat through the wrong wedding – at St. James Episcopal.
Fred and Mary settled into life at Vaillant House, and their three sons, Nat, Ben, and Ted became part of the school family. For Fred, all the girls were part of his family, and the Steeles made Vaillant House a home away from home.
As a teacher, coach, mentor, father figure, and friend to his students, Fred was endlessly patient, encouraging, and enthusiastic. He also was a role-model, as botanist, outdoorsman, nature writer, and conservationist of unexcelled passion. Marilyn White Sowles ’75 wrote, “It took me years to appreciate fully the way of seeing the world that I learned at White Mountain. Fred Steele’s teaching deepened my understanding of the value of nature and wilderness.”
Fred was also renowned as a writer, both of report card comments such as – “She’s doing much better. She is almost at the top of the list of those who failed this term.” – as well as of published articles and books on the flora of northern New England.
Fred’s love for the natural world, particularly the White Mountains, was boundless. When Fred was the 1978 commencement speaker, he chose to talk about his favorite subject: the preservation of undeveloped New Hampshire. “I have talked about our natural heritage,” he said. “what it means to me and what I think it means to you seniors. How can it be preserved? In the long run it is citizen interest. All the rules and regulations in the world won’t do any good unless people care.”
Fred Steele is perhaps the most revered teacher in our history. Again, at his 25th anniversary celebration, he was summed up well as a teacher – for his loyalty, devotion, diligence, patience, and heartfelt caring; as a coach – for his tireless energies and constant enthusiasm; as an outdoorsman – for his zeal; as a botanist-naturalist – for his knowledge; as a conservationist – for his awareness of our dependence upon nature and our need to preserve its beauties and resources; and finally as a friend – generous, kind, truthful, brave.”
The closing words of that 1972 tribute still ring true: “How hard it is to sum up all his qualities into a single statement. But there might be one we could try…. We’d like to close by repeating an ancient Sanskrit verse: Good men are like trees. They furnish shade to others while standing in the sun themselves. The fruit they bear is for others’ sake.”
Following Fred Steele is as tough an assignment as anyone can draw. I should know. In one of my first years here at the White Mountain School, I began presenting the Frederick L. Steele Prize for Excellence in Science at graduation. After introducing the prize by reminding everyone that Mr. Steele was, quote, a noted alpine botanist and author as well as a dedicated teacher, I invited Mr. Steele to the podium to say a few words and help me present the prize. The audience was breathless. He spoke slowly, drawing on his encyclopedic knowledge of the school and always reminding us just how beautiful a place it really is. Then, after he was warmed up, he would regale us with stories of headmasters past and present that only an icon of his stature would dare utter in public. With the crowd recovering from their laughter, he would yield the podium and I would be left to fumble through my own presentation.
As my years at WMS rolled by, I saw the pictures of Mr. Steele in yearbooks and on the walls of the school and learned I was teaching in a space he helped design. I heard the stories of his dedication to students, of his love of his subject and of the spirit he brought to the school. At reunion weekends, I watched alum fall speechless and grin with warmth and admiration at the mere mention of his name, and I began to realize that following Fred Steele at graduation was the least of my challenges.
Among the indelible marks he left on this institution are his enormous collection of dried flowers and, I kid you not, boxes of rocks, that we are still dealing with as we move into the new building that bears his name. It is a building I am sure Mr. Steele would be proud of. He would love its space and light. He would appreciate its respect for the environment, and he would approve of how it will allow us to exploit the latest technology to teach not only the facts of science but the practice of science as well. We are all honored and humbled to work in a building named for such an outstanding educator, and we know that all of our hard work and enthusiasm is a continuation of the teaching traditions Fred Steele made an essential part of the White Mountain School.
FRED STEELE SCIENCE CENTER DEDICATION
Fred Steele clearly instilled in generations of White Mountain-ers a lasting love of science and an abiding concern for the stewardship of our natural world. There could be no more fitting tribute than to name this new science center, built using environmentally friendly technology and dedicated to the teaching of science and conservation, in his honor.
As most of you know, the Center greets entering students and faculty with beautiful images of the earth that span two floors, reminding us of the beauty and majesty of the planet we call home. Natural light streams through expansive windows, permeating classrooms and laboratories and enabling students to see and feel the connections between their experimental work and the beauty of our world.
In keeping with White Mountain’s philosophy of sustainability and earth stewardship, the Center was built using “green” technologies, including its integrated solar electric system, the first of its kind in the state of New Hampshire.
The Center will clearly immeasurably enhance our science instruction, with its four state-of-the-art, fully equipped classroom laboratories which facilitate expanded experimental capability, emphasize original scientific work and personal discovery, and enable today’s teachers to preserve and perpetuate the Fred Steele legacy.
Dedicated in memory of
Fred Steele,
conservationist,
botanist, and devoted
White Mountain School science teacher
1946-1980,
by alumnae/i,
trustees,
and family.
“ Our Mr. Chips” instilled in his
students a lasting love of science
and an abiding concern
for the
stewardship
and preservation
of our
natural world.
October 14, 2006
Beyond Fred, the Steele Center honors others – and exists because of others. Over one hundred and fifty members of the White Mountain family invested in this project – many here today. Six of those collective and individual gifts demand special recognition.
First, the generosity of many members of the current and recent White Mountain family on behalf of creating the Lee Zanger Room. Students and parents from all Lee’s 1992 to 2006 years wanted to honor this era’s exemplary science teacher, advisor, coach, mentor, and friend. The tributes accompanying the amazing number of youthful checks are being archived for the inevitable Lee Zanger tributes of White Mountain’s future. May I present to Lee – who, with his family, has “followed” Fred Steele in so many tangible and intangible ways – the plaque which will be hung in his room to honor his service to White Mountain and to our ongoing mission.
Second, Neill Osgood, ’83, and his father and family, took the opportunity of this building to honor Neill’s mother, Dr. Patricia F. Osgood. Fred Steele’s early advocacy for women in the once highly male-dominated world of science seemed to parallel Dr. Osgood’s distinguished career – and naming the Gallery/Entrance seemed a perfect way to honor her as a ground-breaking scientist, outdoorswoman, and beloved White Mountain parent. Dr. Osgood served for many years as a professor of anesthesia (pharmacology) at Mass General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and Boston’s Shriners Burns Institute and was a lead contributor in the birth of a field — pain research and pathology. She was dedicated to improving the pain care of burned children – and her work continues to influence clinical care at all levels of medicine. She was honored by a renowned colleague recently for her amazing “combination of science and kindliness, her unique style of technical mastery and collegial, nurturing …, (and) her wonderful role model(ing) for young women and men whose interest in science will lead them, if they are as dedicated, inquisitive and industrious as she is, to improve the quality of life for (future) patients and their families.”
Third, Dan Shugar, ’81, who is now President of PowerLight Corporation of Berkeley, CA, took this building’s opportunity to give back to his school by providing us with the first roof integrated solar power system in NH. PowerLight is a leading global provider of large-scale solar systems and state-of-the-art residential roof integrated systems.
Fourth, an anonymous donor – who cared deeply about the project – but not about recognition – made possible one of the classroom labs. A plaque in that donor’s honor will be on Dan Crosby’s classroom.
Fifth, when we knew this wonderful new home for science would happen, we recognized that it would free invaluable previous science space for the humanities – and that the Academic Wing would require substantial renovation. We turned to our most loyal senior alumnae to take on what we designated as the 30’s/40’s Project. Did they ever rise to the challenge! Would all those donors from our Concord and early Bethlehem days who are here rise to “accept” this academic wing plaque in their honor?
Sixth, as is so often true in such endeavors, one individual, behind the scenes, stepped forward to lead. This donor has done so for White Mountain before – because love of this school – her school – is so immutably a part of her life. There’ll be no plaque in the Steele Center to designate her decisive role – but, where she has allowed White Mountain to applaud her incredible commitment and generosity, at the top of the “walk” made possible behind McLane, the former tiny “thank you” notation there has been replaced by a more representative – and appropriate – sign. As much as she wants our honoring to go to others – and just to our school – she can not deny us this moment. May I hand a small memento of her new “Barbara’s Walk” sign – with our most sincere gratitude – to Barbara McFadden Sirna ’63?
Finally, thank you’s. To so many – who are here. And who aren’t.
To our dedicated – and project adopting and loving – architects – who so faithfully adopted our mission and made possible our hopes. Rick Renner (who is also a WMS family member) and Jim Robbins.
To the amazing Bruss Construction team, specifically on-site supervisor Al Cyr – but also Rick Albrandi and John Bruss – and all the Bruss crew. From start to finish, you were conscientious, courteous, careful – professionals. Than you all!
Now, as has been true at White Mountain for two decades, our gratitude needs
to go to two very quiet individuals.
The first – who was always there for any project or counsel – who
was our “clerk” of the academic wing work – former trustee,
neighbor, plant counsel, and incredibly ideal, ever-willing friend: Jack Cook!
The second often amazingly invisible individual should be no surprise. This building’s driving force – this building’s advancement officer volunteer – the individual who is ALWAYS, ALWAYS!, there for White Mountain – in any and every capacity. Our Board Chair and heart-and-soul, Ruth Cook.
Special leadership thanks, as well, to our co-Clerks-of-the-Works – from concept-origination – to planning – to guiding the Renner-Bruss Team – to caring about every major and minor detail – Alan and Cindy Popp!
And our applause and thanks to other donors. Would every one of you please stand?
And to our trustees!
And to the Hill House team!
And our Science Faculty!
And to Karen Foss and Bill Rathman and Mike DiDomenico and WMS staff!
And to all of the WMS Family!
We’ve done our school proud.
We’ve done Fred Steele proud.
We’ve done the St. Mary’s and White Mountain mission proud.
MOST SINCERE THANKS TO ONE AND ALL!
