Hundreds Pay Tribute at Vigil
More than 300 guests filled Shore's Dining Hall on the evening of Thursday, July 30, to grieve and to pay tribute to former Board of Trustees President Joe Trustey and his daughter Anna, a Shore graduate of the Class of 2013, who were killed in a Milwaukee plane crash on July 29.
Head of School Larry Griffin greeted and hugged visitors, including many classmates of Anna and her younger sister Claire, who graduated from Shore in June. Some had just come from the Trustey home, where they had visited to console Kris, Claire, and oldest sister Caroline. Parents, faculty, and friends joined the students in writing notes of condolence and remembrance to be delivered to the Trustey family.
Earlier in the day, as the Shore community reeled in shock at the news of the deaths, Griffin had sent an email to the community, writing, "The tragic accident that took the lives of Joe and Anna '13 is a shocking and profound loss for our school and for the region - one that's compounded by our memory of the passing of Kris's and Joe's son A.J., who passed away in the fall of 2014."
The Trusteys have been part of the Shore Country Day School family for many years: Joe as Board member and then president, daughters Claire and Anna as exemplary students, athletes, artists, and performers, and mom Kris as their biggest supporter, lead volunteer, tireless fundraiser, and friend to countless students and parents, faculty and staff.
At the evening vigil, community members who came together in 2014 to mourn the death of A.J. lit memorial candles for Joe and Anna, and again listened as Griffin paid tribute. He referred back to remarks he made on the occasion of Anna's graduation from Shore:Head of School Larry Griffin greeted and hugged visitors, including many classmates of Anna and her younger sister Claire, who graduated from Shore in June. Some had just come from the Trustey home, where they had visited to console Kris, Claire, and oldest sister Caroline. Parents, faculty, and friends joined the students in writing notes of condolence and remembrance to be delivered to the Trustey family.
Earlier in the day, as the Shore community reeled in shock at the news of the deaths, Griffin had sent an email to the community, writing, "The tragic accident that took the lives of Joe and Anna '13 is a shocking and profound loss for our school and for the region - one that's compounded by our memory of the passing of Kris's and Joe's son A.J., who passed away in the fall of 2014."
The Trusteys have been part of the Shore Country Day School family for many years: Joe as Board member and then president, daughters Claire and Anna as exemplary students, athletes, artists, and performers, and mom Kris as their biggest supporter, lead volunteer, tireless fundraiser, and friend to countless students and parents, faculty and staff.
"Energized and upbeat, Anna's personality attracted strong friendships. Her grounded, positive outlook propelled her as a community force for good. An artist, actor, dancer, athlete, and peer-elected Senator, Anna's pursuits were deep and purposeful. She was looking forward to being the captain of her soccer team at Brooks School this fall - showing that she carried forward the kind of leadership she developed here at Shore. None of us could be more proud of her and her family and what they stood for."
Griffin also remembered Joe, with whom, as Board president, he had worked closely for three years.
"My first impressions of Joe were formed at a retreat in 2011, when he was a newly-elected Board member. He had been invited to attend to help us solidify the vision for a major capital campaign. We've all been in this situation at one moment or another in our lives: all of us in the room were struggling to come to a common vision, yet we were all struggling with the details and the scope of the decisions we're being asked to make. Suddenly, one individual speaks up and the room goes silent to listen. In a few concise statements, your sentiments and those of others are perfectly captured, your heart races, and you recognize that this figure has just nailed consensus with a bold visionary statement. This was one of the first moments Joe showed his stripes.
"In my lifetime, I've met few truly visionary leaders, with the confidence, the charisma, and the bravado to literally turn the tide of a group and raise expectations at the same time. This is Joe Trustey."
As Board President from 2012-2015, Joe’s decisive leadership and clear vision for the future pushed the school to think differently about how and what Shore should teach. He made important strategic decisions during a short time that have already made a lasting impact on Shore’s campus and programs, including launching the campaign that built the Center for Creativity and bolstered the endowment."In my lifetime, I've met few truly visionary leaders, with the confidence, the charisma, and the bravado to literally turn the tide of a group and raise expectations at the same time. This is Joe Trustey."
The Trustey presence has been equally significant in the larger North Shore educational, philanthropic, arts, and social communities, where the family has made an impact through their work and selfless generosity.
The thoughts and prayers of all at Shore are with Kris, Claire, and Caroline Trustey at this incredibly difficult time.
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A student holds a memorial candle.
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Shore's Inspiration Garden, where Anna Trustey's name will be inscribed on the memorial bowl
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Anna, front row center, was on campus as recently as June, when she coached young athletes at Shore's lacrosse camp. "Her genuine cheer and interest in the campers made her a favorite. She was always smiling," recalls Shore Athletic Director Nancy McNall.
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Flags fly at half-staff in memory
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Cards of condolence and remembrance fill a basket
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Griffin pays tribute to Anna and Joe Trustey
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Guests hold candles at the vigil
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Shore Country Day School’s mission is to provide an education that inspires a love of learning and encourages children to embrace academic challenge. We seek to build character, cultivate creativity, and value diversity as we help our children become healthy, compassionate citizens of the world.
The School admits qualified students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, sex, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law, and extends to them all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, sex, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law in the administration of its admissions, scholarships, and loans, and its educational, athletic, and other programs.