Steve Norman '60 has been a distinguished member of the Berkshire School community for more than five decades. His generosity and commitment to the School include 20 years of service as a member of the board of trustees, with four years presiding as chairman, as well as ongoing support of the Thomas L. Chaffee Endowed English Chair. In addition, his creation of a charitable gift annuity (CGA) in support of endowing a faculty chair will help ensure that Berkshire continues to recruit and retain outstanding faculty far into the future. More can be found about Steve's CGA in the forthcoming inaugural issue of Berkshire's planned giving newsletter.

What are your fondest memories of Berkshire?

One of the best parts of Berkshire was the daily involvement with large numbers of kids. In dining halls, classrooms, athletic fields, no one was ever alone. Moping and idleness were rare. Where else could you play sports all the time--three seasons, with enough teams to provide playing time for all skill levels? The boarding school experience can be hugely helpful to students at perhaps their most formative stage--one has all of these faculty members, coaches, advisers and staff all actively supporting the development of each student. It's tough to fail in an environment like that.

What advice would you give to today's students?

I shrink from advice giving, as advice givers, like graduation speakers, have said little new or useful in the history of school-going. I can only share what has worked for me: Develop an expertise or skill, one that is useful enough to be the basis for a solid career. Pay attention to your health and minimize your self-destructive habits. Lead an interesting life, especially one that enables you to be outdoors a lot. Marry well, and stick with it.

What motivates you to give back to Berkshire?

The reason that my gift was directed toward endowing a faculty chair is that I experienced some outstanding teachers at Berkshire. In fact, a strong and effective faculty has long been one of Berkshire's strengths. The quality of the instruction I received at Berkshire compares favorably with the instruction I later received at college and law school. Few things can have a more positive influence on a teenager than a great teacher. I'm happy to make a gift that supports the continuation of that fine tradition.