100th Anniversary of the Fathers Dinner

The annual Fathers Dinner began in 1922, making this year the 100th anniversary of the tradition.  

The Fathers Dinner provides an opportunity for fathers of St. Bernard’s boys to enjoy dinner with the school’s faculty and staff.  Over 200 fathers gathered at the University Club on the Monday night before Thanksgiving.  Over dinner, we heard from Tom Kempner, President of the Board of Trustees, and Joy Hurd, Head of School.  Mr. Hurd honored employees who have reached certain milestones of service.  The thunderous applause for Cindy Milstead who started the kindergarten program at St. Bernards twenty-five years ago was an especially touching moment, as was the standing ovation for Dean Kripalani who announced his departure from St. Bernard’s after 35 years in the development office.

The evening’s guest speaker was Mary Jo White, a parent of an Old Boy (Class of 2000) and a former member of the Board of Trustees.  Ms. White was the chair of the SEC from 2013 to 2017 and served as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 1993 to 2002.  Her remarks were focused on the subject of non-partisan, respectful discourse and how we can better communicate with one another to reach common ground on important issues like gun control.

Many thanks to Jane Nealy for organizing the evening.
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