He saw the advertisement in the nick of time. 

It was November 1984. Ronald Reagan had just won his re-election to the presidency. The song “Footloose” echoed on the airwaves, and the Rev. James R. Kelley had been steering Blair Academy as the Head of School for eight years. Meanwhile, Steve Fields had recently relocated from Frederick, Maryland, to New Jersey to lend his wife’s grandparents a hand on their dairy farm. Steve was flipping through the New Jersey Herald in his wife’s grandparents’ kitchen when he spotted a small ad requesting help on the grounds at a boarding school named Blair Academy.

Little did he know, that single ad would change the course of Steve’s life. Now, four decades later, as Steve is preparing to retire from his position on Blair’s buildings and grounds team this December, he reflects on the long and fulfilling journey that began with a serendipitous glance at the newspaper. 

Q. You are one of the reasons that Blair’s campus has been ranked one of most beautiful private high schools in the state of New Jersey. What does a typical day look like for you?

A. On the grounds team, we like to say we “set the table” for the admission office! On a typical day, we meet at the grounds buildings first thing in the morning, grab our radios and check the whiteboard for our to-do list. The one thing I’ve noticed–the list never gets shorter; it keeps getting longer! It’s really busy before events like graduation and Convocation. [Fellow building and grounds team member] Andy Gramberg has actually been here five years longer than me. Yesterday, Andy and I spent the entire day working together. We’ve been doing that a long time. 

Q: The first time I met you, I was brand new to Blair and did not yet know anyone. Swinging a grocery bag filled with apples, you introduced yourself in the dining hall and made me feel right at home, offering me apples from your organic orchard. Will you continue to grow your apples? 

A: Oh yes, I have 14 apple trees that I planted myself. I grow all kinds of apples: Empire, Gala, Liberty. I like Gala the best because they can be used for anything. I also have three disease-resistant apple trees. I don’t use any [chemical] sprays on my trees. And, one peach tree. It’s just enough for one peach pie every year. 

Q: Over the course of four decades at Blair, what stands out most in your memory? 

A: My kids’ graduations stand out in my memory. My wife, [Children’s Learning Center preschool and lead group teacher] Jeanne Fields, works here and I remember that our son, Matthew’s, first day was September 11, 2001. That was a day I’ll never forget. There are small memories too, like my daughter, Courtney Fields, class of 2004, napping in the day student lounge in West Hall. Also, I remember the 150th and 175th celebrations. Those were big years. I’m not going to make the 200th! 

Q: Forty years is a long time to work for any organization. What has kept you at Blair for four decades?

A: The people. It always comes down to the people. I have made good friends here, and people I enjoy talking to, like Marty [former history teacher Dr. Marty Miller, Hon. ’81] and Razz [former chemistry and math teacher Wayne Rasmussen]….I remember meeting Jack Bogle once. He was out on the golf course and I recognized him. He was coming around the fifth tee, and, jokingly, I said to him, “Sir, do you pay to play here?” He looked at me, a smile spreading across his face, and said, “I think I’m covered.” A few years ago, I met him again, and he kindly remembered me. I am going to miss the people. 

Q: What are you going to do with your free time when you retire? Are there more apple trees in your future? 

A: Oh, no. The past three years, the frost bug has zapped them. Those trees are a lot of work. But, there is a nine-hole golf course here at Blair that I’ve had my eye on. I might be playing a little more golf.