This summer, Blair bids farewell to eight of our most beloved and veteran members. For 40 years, they’ve worked to quietly shape our school—a security guard, maintenance worker, administrative assistant, and teachers of English, math, history and drama—all leaving their mark on our community. As they begin the next chapter of their lives, we celebrate the legacy they’ve written into the story of the Academy.
To honor all that they have given to Blair over the last four decades, we asked those who’ve worked most closely with these veteran Buccaneers to share, in their own words, their favorite memories and reflections on the impact they have made on the hilltop. 

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Robert Brandwood                                                             Joanne Brandwood     
English teacher                                                                   History teacher
Started at Blair in 1985, 40 years ago                             Started at Blair in 2013, 12 years ago

By: Ann Williams, history teacher & Director of Timken Library

Anyone who has been at Blair five minutes wants to hear the classic Bob and Joanne Brandwood stories: Peace Corps volunteers, legendary parents of five superstar Blair kids, superb teachers, Bob as magical soccer coach and reader of poetry so beautifully delivered that Armstrong-Hipkins falls silent under his spell, and Joanne making the world a better place with her commitment and drive for community service. The Blair community holds a special place in the pantheon for them. But those aren’t my stories to tell. 

What is my story? Three days into my new job, I found myself at Sharpe House for a bridal shower, amid a sea of unfamiliar faces. The guessing game they were playing was shockingly personal and a bit embarrassing for the bride-to-be and I was trying to stifle an incredulous laugh when a friendly voice beside me assured me that everyone already knew this story and the laughter was fine. That voice belonged to none other than Joanne Brandwood, my first friend at Blair. I was instantly at ease. Her warmth and directness made me feel at home, but I was disappointed to learn that I will not be able to hang out with her at lunch or between classes since she is not teaching faculty. 

Many of my “firsts” at Blair trace back to the Brandwood family. During my first year in new faculty dorm-duty training, I was paired with veteran teachers and rookies to role-play what would happen if a student was suspected of being out of the dorm after-hours smoking. In the exercise, the “student” stubbornly denied everything, and it looked like this case would be “resolved” with nothing more than an ineffective finger wagging. Then Bob Brandwood gave a small sigh and very quietly spoke up. “Well, that is the 13th toll of the clock” (or something like that! This was not an expression I had ever heard before, and I assumed it meant a GIANT LIE). Everyone stopped and Bob pierced the “student” with a direct gaze. “Why,” he asked calmly but firmly, “would I believe anything you have said up to this point when you are clearly not telling the truth? You have one last chance to tell us what has actually happened before.…” At his slight shrug and outstretched palms, everyone froze. At that, the “student” quickly admitted every crime he had ever committed. I suspect he even made up a few to get the interview over with. Needless to say, I was dazzled and impressed. I tucked that moment away—ready to use later at home—but I think you really need the accent to pull it off.

Bob gave me my first chance to teach a class at Blair and I was hooked! That winter, I taught a semester of senior English where we wrote a research paper on Macbeth and all went well. Sure, some seniors groaned at the length of the paper, but they toiled away and their papers were eventually good. Bob was generous and helpful, dropping in on my class and giving pointers and compliments that I am sure were not so much earned as they were meant to be aspirational. Then the spring semester arrived and, with it, a seismic shift. The seniors stopped talking, reading or doing any perceptible work. In a panic, I turned to Bob, convinced we’d never make it to graduation at this rate. “Hmm,” he said thoughtfully. “I’ll come and stay the whole class and see what suggestions I can make.” Long story short, we launched into class and I gave them their warm-up exercise: three-minute speech prompts with seven minutes to prepare. Maybe two students scribbled down some thoughts, but most just sat there. Bob didn’t do anything, he just watched. 

When it was time to start, as usual, the first student mumbled something about needing more time and suggested we come back to him at the end. We moved on and Bob did not bat an eye as I began to sweat. The next student also tried to “pass” and that’s when Bob, in his unflappable way, gently said, “We’ll wait.” 

And so we did. Agonizing minutes and minutes went by. I may have been the MOST uncomfortable one around the table. Eventually, that student offered a decent response and, after that, the responses opened up and everyone participated.

The most valuable lesson I learned that day? Don’t let them off the hook. Sometimes, you have to just sit in silence until the student takes the risk and participates. Game changer, for sure, and I’ve carried that lesson with me ever since.

Later, when Joanne joined the teaching faculty, we became close collaborators and partners in the fun of teaching European history to sophomores. It made work a pleasure to have her to bounce ideas off of and share resources. Living off campus, I had often felt a little removed from the famous “Blair Bubble” faculty community. But, with Joanne as my friend, for the first time, I really felt integrated into the totality of Blair. 

Now, as we face the bittersweet moment of saying goodbye to Bob and Joanne…I have to admit to having been really salty toward them this final year. I’ve demanded to know: Who am I going to moan about Manchester United with? Who will laugh at my dumb stories of growing up? Only someone who grew up in a family of seven or more siblings could ever really “get it.” UGH. I did recently promise to stop haranguing them for abandoning me. But I never claimed to be a legend, only to have been lucky enough to rub shoulders with them. I am grateful for their love, care and humor, and I will do my best to carry on while their wisecracks echo in my head. And that, my friends, is no 13th toll of the clock.

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Craig Evans                                                                              Kaye Evans
English & performing arts teacher; Theatre Director         English teacher; Assistant Theatre Director
Started at Blair in 1994, 31 years ago                                  Started at Blair in 1994, 31 years ago

By: Carolyn-Conforti Browse ’79, English teacher, Dean of Campus Life & Director of Leadership Programs

Craig and Kaye are off to new adventures; for 31 years, they have been at the heart of all that makes Blair a place of growth and kindness. A list of all they have accomplished would take up all the space in this Bulletin. Both of these veteran professionals have worked to create community and teach the values of creativity, curiosity and compassion.

Craig is a builder in every sense of the word—of culture, of community and of art. Craig can always be counted on to raise our spirits—he is “Mr. Peddie Week,” and future Bucs will miss his ever-present shout of “Beat Peddie!” whenever our frenemy school is mentioned, as well as his annual inspirational speeches. 

Shakespeare’s monologue, “All the world’s a stage,” seems especially relevant to Craig’s approach to his service at Blair. It occurs to me that Craig has always worked to make every “stage” he occupies a home for others. Countless thespians have grown under his tutelage; his passion for theatre and literature has inspired both the professional (so many of his protégés have successfully made a life in theatre and film!) and the amateur. His coaching of kids has been extraordinary; all are welcome, safe and challenged in his theatre circle. With his guidance and energy, they find reservoirs of strength and courage they did not know they possessed and carry that newfound confidence throughout their entire lives. Craig’s own talents have been seen everywhere at Blair and in the wider community—galvanizing the faculty to put on plays, acting in local productions or playing during community events in town. He is able to occupy center stage delivering moving Chapels or to blend into the background of the set—he has always done what Blair needs of him, never missing class, dinners or meetings. His fingerprints are on so many Blair fixtures—whether inventing the Frisbee golf course or building the outdoor theatre by hand. An admirable example to others, both student and colleague, he never seeks credit or applause.

Much like Kaye Evans. Kaye is also a powerful builder of communities, just as Craig is, and ferociously dedicated to all lucky enough to be in her wide circle. When we honored Kaye for 25 years of service, I wrote: “There is no better copilot in the world. Whenever you may be steering, Kaye’s gentle guidance will help you find the better path.” You will not find calm, kind and patient Kaye seeking the spotlight, or on center stage, but you will always find her at the side of someone else, of course Craig’s, but also her friends, her students and advisees, or anyone in need of support or guidance. Her hallmark is her consistency of care, which takes the form of the encouraging note, the wise counsel, the baked goods in the department office, the birthday acknowledgments or a holiday treat for her advisees. As a fellow faculty member once said, “She is the invisible hand who gives you what you need before you even realize that you need it.” She has mentored all of the new members of the English department for years, and is perennially a sought-after advisor. As a teacher, she never fails to deliver for her students; she holds them to high standards (ask anyone who has been through her essay exhibition review) and knows how to elicit their best work. Her tenure has been marked by her overwhelming care and concern for others—be it designing the exhibition program or English 2 curriculum, establishing the Community Service program or taking on the oversight of the day student population. 

As this wonderful couple moves on to build their next adventures, they leave a legacy of kindness, dedication and excellence. Blair is immeasurably better for the time they gave us, and we wish them all the best!

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Andy Gramberg
Grounds team member
Started at Blair in November 1979, 46 years ago

By: Steve Fields, former grounds team member 

I have worked with Andy Gramberg for 40 years, and over 40 years, you really get to know a person! If there is one thing I can say for sure, it’s that there are two things that Andy Gramberg loves more than anything: Chinese food and NHL hockey. 

Andy started working at Blair shortly after getting his degree in horticulture from County College of Morris, and when I met him, he was wearing one of those triangle-shaped hats with a feather, straight out of Robin Hood. I remember thinking, “This could be interesting.” We both started on Blair’s golf course, maintaining the grass, and it didn’t take long to realize that, regardless of his fashion, Andy is a very hard worker. 

Over the years, we’ve covered the whole campus and more tasks than I can count. We’ve jumped into the water to clear logs from Blair Bridge and bunked in the maintenance building on Park Street, getting up in the middle of the night—Andy driving the plow and me shoveling walkways—to make sure the kids and teachers got to class safely in the morning. In the summer, we have worked side by side, keeping the grounds looking sharp, pulling weeds and planting flowers. That is no small task. But, no matter how hard the job, Andy has always been dependable. The man is never late. 

Now, Andy’s real quiet most of the time—except when it comes to food. He’s got strong opinions about food, and trust me, you don’t want to get into a debate with him about the best dumplings in town. He’s been known to go on about lo mein. Honestly, I’m not sure what Andy will do when he retires, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he had been training all these years for a second career as a food critic. I do hope he gets season tickets to the Islanders. He deserves it.  

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Dale Klaver 
Safety Director
Started at Blair in March 1991, 34 years ago

By: Chuck Warner, security team member

A few months ago, a member of the maintenance team and I saw Dale driving across campus, with thick clouds of smoke rolling out from under his vehicle. We radio’d him right away, saying, “Dale, you better pull over, the Jeep’s on fire!” Dale reacted the way he always does–calm and cool. “All right, I’ll check it out,” he replied casually, pulling over as if it was just another day. 

I have worked with Dale Klaver on Blair’s security team for 16 years, and he is always like that. He may be letting a student into a building after being locked out, helping the campus execute a security drill or reacting to an emergency, but Dale is always calm and collected. I’ll never forget the time after a hurricane knocked out power to campus. We spent 10 hours in the cold and dark, starting all the campus generators. Despite the long day, Dale volunteered to finish, insisting that I go home and rest. He is a very nice man to work with. 

If you happen to ever get in the security Jeep and hear country music on the radio, you can bet Dale was the last one to drive it. Now, after 34 years at Blair, Dale is retiring. But, knowing him, he will not be slowing down. He and his wife, Millie, plan to take their camper and spend more time with their kids, DJ ’05 and Krystal ’00, and three grandkids. And with a little extra time on his hands, I have no doubt Dale will finish restoring that ‘53 Chevy.

It’s been a pleasure working alongside Dale all these years. Blair won’t be the same without him, but I’m sure wherever he goes next, he’ll bring the same calm, steady hand that made him such a good colleague and friend.

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Kathy Otinsky
Administrative assistant, student life office
Started at Blair in the summer of 1976, 49 years ago

By: Karyn Schar, print shop coordinator

My sister, Kathy, started her career here at Blair in 1976, working in the printing office. Just a few years later, in 1979, she stepped away to start a family, and that’s when I joined Blair, also in the printing office. In 1985, Kathy returned, this time as the secretary for the School. It was an exciting time—we both learned to use computers, which made our jobs easier, though it took some getting used to! Fast-forward to 2009, and Kathy and I got to work together again. This time around, she helped me log in packages, and it felt like when we were children again, happily “playing school” and having fun with each other.

Kathy has always been the kind of person who steps up to help whenever she can. On 9/11, she calmly answered calls reassuring parents that their children were in no immediate danger. It’s no wonder she’s lovingly known as “the voice of Blair.” During the pandemic, we worked together to send students their textbooks so they could continue their lessons online, making sure Blair learning never stopped. I am extremely grateful that we got this opportunity to work together, and I will surely miss her, especially during the busy times when I look forward to her help. Happy retirement, Kathy!! 

–Your loving sis, Karyn 

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Dave Naysmith

Mathematics teacher 
Started at Blair in 2004, 21 years ago

By: Latta Browse, mathematics teacher 

Dave Naysmith put the finishing touches on an incredible teaching career this spring, retiring after spending the past 60 years—60!—teaching the wonders, joys and mysteries of mathematics to generations of high school students. At Blair, Dave was known for his patience and ability to break down even the most complex of mathematical ideas, his boundless willingness to meet students for extra work outside of class, and the kindness and courtesy with which he treated every student. Dave’s popular Family Weekend project, demonstrating the maximum volume of a box cut out of a sheet of construction paper by filling it with the greatest number of Starburst possible, was a highlight for every student, Dave himself and his wife, Elaine, who documented the day each year and decorated the classroom with photos of everyone who took part. Dave has a knack for personalizing his classroom and ensuring that every student who steps into it feels valued, comfortable and confident that they can handle the mathematics to come. He is also known for his signature sartorial style—bolo ties and snakeskin boots—as well as his customized red Camaro with its “46 Peaks” personalized license plate commemorating his love of, and lifelong exploration of, the Adirondack Mountains. Dave is a die-hard Yankees fan who, in a different life, would probably wish he could have been Mickey Mantle. Dave, you might never hear 60,000 people roaring your name on a beautiful October evening in the Bronx while delivering another World Series championship, but in our little world of high school math it is you who are the GOAT!