TaborTalk Blog

John Quirk joined the throng at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, February 11, where over 200 alumni, parents, and friends gathered to celebrate Tabor at our annual Tabor Together New England event. What follows are his remarks in that very inspirational place. We hope you were able to join us!

Many of you have heard me talk about the state of the school, the state of our plans, our vision for the future. How inspiring to be standing here in front of you, in a location that symbolizes for me what it means to be competitive, and to try to extrapolate from this message and this organization’s accomplishments, our own lessons.

Everyone knows that Tabor’s winter musical is one of the largest drama productions of the year. But what goes into making such a large-scale production work by the time the first note is sung on opening night? Having gotten the chance to experience first hand what goes into the making of the musical let me tell you there’s a lot more than meets the eye.

[vimeo 130328333 w=650 h=340]

Hearty congratulations to the Class of 2015 on their graduation! At last, we may finally welcome them as alumni of our great school by the sea; and proudly so knowing all the good this talented and civic oriented class will produce in the years ahead.

Commencement services on May 26th will honor of the Class of 2015. We are fortunate to have two engaging speakers who are both successful and important social entrepreneurs. Like many of our students who are devoting more and more of their time to community engagement, these speakers have learned the right ways to best impact the course of people’s lives in lasting ways. It is going to be an inspiring series of talks: indeed, a last lesson from Tabor Academy for the Class of 2015.

[vimeo 114353890 w=500 h=281]

Tabor will be hosting our second annual Graboys Leadership Symposium on November 18, a day long event when we discuss the importance of leadership as a community. The event honors George '50 and Lois Graboys, who have been champions for youth and leadership education their whole lives.

The Class of 2014 went out in fine fashion!

Reunion 2014 was a record breaking success for Tabor! We had the largest turnout of any reunion with over 600 people attending. The classes of 2009, 2003, 2004, 2005, 1989, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1979, 1974, 1964, 1959, 1949, 1944 and all Admirals were on hand to celebrate in grand fashion.

The success was all thanks to our alumni volunteers who stepped forward early on to help encourage classmates to come back, as well as to help support Tabor's fundraising efforts through the Fund for Tabor. Class committees were formed and monthly conference calls were scheduled to keep the teams on track. It was great to have so much involvement and we appreciate the effort from each of our volunteers.

Another factor in our success was the faculty. The weekend was moved up two weeks in order to be able to allow more faculty participation. They eagerly stepped forward to run fun activities with their former students such as kayak tours, teaching about our new oyster farm, small boat sailing, our famous Tabor Boy cruises, fun runs, yoga, a museum quality archive display, a golf outing, pottery demonstrations and so much more. Bruce Cobbold gave his "Last Lecture" at the Alumni Memorial Service, and alumni shook his hand and wished him well in his retirement as they exited Chapel, a wonderful moment for Mr. Cobbold. And Chef Andrew joined the fun to do a cooking demonstration!

Finally, I think the retooling of Reunion for our youngest guests was a smashing success. Noel Pardo, Director of Tabor Summer Programs, organized a mini-camp managed by his best camp counselors. The kids did arts and crafts, they swam and learned about the critters in our touch tank, they were all over campus enjoying all that Tabor has to offer.(Heads up to the moms and dads: we just might have put some ideas for their future education into their little heads!!)

Reunion Weekend is a time that all of us in the Advancement Office absolutely love. No matter what the activities, our alumni come back engaged and happy to be at Tabor. It is the spirit that makes the weekend so special. Everyone is happy and ready to have some fun, and eager to visit and catch up with faculty and friends. We eat, drink, dance, talk, relax, and just generally enjoy each other. It is the best of times and you really just shouldn't ever miss it! I think we should rename it the Tabor Family Reunion, because that is really what it is after all!

To enjoy more photos from the weekend, please visit our page on Facebook: Tabor Academy Alumni. Or visit our Shutterfly share site to view our photos and add your own.

Next year, our plan is to return to the classic format of five year reunions.

0's and 5's: YOU'RE UP!

On November 9, the undefeated football team of 1963 reunited on the legendary Tabor field. They came from far and wide to remember the glory days of that fall season as young men, invincible. And, they came to honor one of their own, Bill Illingworth ‘65, a war hero in Vietnam who earned a Purple Heart and served fifteen years with the Army Medical Corps as a Lt. Col., and as a doctor for his community ever since. The team had collected memories and stories, and gathered to unveil and celebrate a more permanent memorial, a commemorative bench overlooking their field, and a scholarship for future Tabor students in Bill’s name. Little did the men know that they would become a part of a larger story, also one of permanence, unfolding around them.