Hundreds Celebrate Head of School at Retirement Gala

On June 17, more than 400 members of the extended Shore community—including current parents, alumni, parents of alumni, current and former Board members, current and former faculty members, old friends and colleagues, and many more—came to campus to mark the end of an era at "Griffin's Grand Slam," a gala retirement party celebrating Larry Griffin's 30 distinguished years as Head of School. He retires on June 30. Watch the complete celebration video below.



Larry and Cathy Griffin and their sons, Shore alumni David '00 and Robby '02, arrived early for the evening event, along with members of their extended families and the families of former Board members who elected Griffin Head of School in 1986, including Eijk van Otterloo, Neal Ryland, Ralph Sweetland, and Carroll Clark.

Mingling and reminiscing in front of the Lawrence A. Griffin Center for Creativity—the capstone of the vision to transform Shore that Griffin formulated with Board members shortly after he arrived at the school—these early arrivals were among the first to glimpse the elaborate sets and decorations that had turned the courtyard and field beyond into a baseball-themed tribute to the Head of School.

Under the direction of Dana Markos of Ipswich-based Dana Markos Events, workers had erected Fenway-style front gates and a classic green scoreboard to welcome guests, who were entertained by the beloved Red Sox mascot, "Wally." Ballpark-inspired appetizers and beverages were served by waitstaff dressed in authentic Shore baseball uniforms, and as the crowd grew, the party flowed toward a massive tent that dominated the upper sports fields. There, guest found more baseball-themed surprises, such as homemade cracker jack, cocktails and classic comfort food by Timothy Hopkins Catering, and cookies and cake pops handmade by Shore parent Carol Harlow-Carlson of Treat confections. Displayed all around the tent were photos, sports memorabilia, and trademark hats from Griffin's 30 years at Shore.

According to event co-chairs and Trustees Robin Ellis and Courtney Kagan, such a one-of-a-kind celebration took more than a year of planning. Kagan explained, "When we began brainstorming how to celebrate Larry a year or so ago, we knew that it would be fitting to celebrate the coach, the mentor, and the big-time hitter he has been for Shore. Given Larry’s long history of growing the baseball program here at Shore, baseball was the perfect theme."

"This has been a community effort," said Ellis, "calling upon the talents of our very own artists, musicians, and colleagues from school, along with a cadre of loyal fans eager to celebrate Larry and Cathy." The lineup of presentations scheduled for the evening made clear just how many fans had come for this special moment. 

Ellis and Kagan were first to the podium to welcome attendees and set the tone for the celebration. "We gather this evening," Ellis began, "to recognize Larry Griffin’s unparalleled dedication to students and family, his outstanding recruiting of teachers and staff, and his vision for this campus, which has made Shore what it is today—a vibrant community of teachers and learners gathered on a beautiful campus."

Continued Kagan, "In baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners, thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. Larry Griffin’s three decades of leadership as Head of School encompass his own grand slam for Shore. On first base, the children and families to whom Larry devoted both his compassion and his vision; on second, the faculty and staff he rewarded with trust and the highest respect; on third, the stunning campus and facilities whose renaissance he guided; and at home plate, Cathy, Robby, and David, the remarkable family whose history is thoroughly entwined with Shore’s, and whose strength and love nourished a Head’s heroic journey around the bases, and back to home."

After presenting Griffin with a hand-crafted wooden box of memory cards written by Shore community members, Ellis and Kagan invited to the podium President of the Board of Trustees Jennifer Borggaard, who revealed a new portrait of Griffin that had just been installed inside the Center for Creativity. "This is a wonderful addition to our campus," Borggard said, "and it's fitting to house it in the Center named for Larry."

The crowd next welcomed Shore Athletic Director Nancy McNall, who told the seldom-heard story that connects Griffin's career with her own. "Larry and I overlapped for one year at University Liggett School in Grosse Pointe, Michigan," McNall revealed. She was just out of college, and Griffin was head of the middle school. But what brought them both to Liggett and would eventually take them both to Shore was the influence of a single educator, fellow Liggett teacher and mentor Muriel Brock. It took Brock multiple phone calls and all her persuasive powers to get McNall to consider teaching at Liggett, but once she made the move after graduating college, "Her impact on me as well as my career only grew stronger."

As for Shore's future Head of School, Brock's influence was life-changing—both for Griffin and for the generations of students who would revere him. Their relationship began with tennis balls. "Larry grew up in Grosse Pointe," McNall recounted, "where his house happened to abut the tennis courts at Liggett. Sometimes the tennis balls would clear the fence and head into his yard; Rather than tossing them ball back, this little Griffin kid stockpiled the balls."

As the athletic director and a legendary coach at Liggett, Brock soon noticed the balls kept disappearing, and she visited the Griffin home for an explanation. However, instead of tennis balls, Brock found a young man whom she'd eventually hire as a camp counselor and, later, as a teacher at Liggett after urging him to pursue a career in education. "Several years later," McNall said, "Shore came calling, and Larry made the leap to become Shore’s youngest ever head of school—again with sage advice from Muriel." Griffin hired his colleague McNall away from Liggett just a few years later.

To the surprise and delight of the audience, McNall pointed out that Brock was seated as a guest of honor at the Griffin's table that very night. 
Later on during his retirement party, Griffin would again emphasize the significance of Brock's patient prodding, eliciting further applause for this guest of honor. "If you knew the misguided youth you hired as your Head of School!" he joked. "The reason I'm here today is because one woman saw something in a kid—a kid in high school, a kid in college—and said, 'You’re good with children, that’s what you should do.' That’s what Muriel Brock did for me."

The emotional tributes continued when David and Robby Griffin took the stage to recount some of their dad's finest moments, and to remind the audience of their parents' partnership as a "pair of master educators," whose combined dedication and compassion made the school what it is today. 

Robby Griffin explained, "Truly my mom and dad care about people more than anyone else I know, and they make sure that everybody feels loved, and that is going to be a lasting legacy."
 
"We’re both teachers," David Griffin said. "I teach high school English. Robby teaches middle school history. And that's because of the influence of both of our parents. We want to remind everybody that it’s both our mom and our dad who brought us here today."

David continued, "Our mom has modeled for us, and I think for the whole community, the way to live in service to each other. Mom and dad’s dedication to us has always come first. But after the commitment to family, comes their commitment to their extended family, which is Shore. So whether as a teacher or mentor or a host of countless events—her roles are too many to list—my mom has always been integral to the job of being Head of School. When we’re celebrating my dad and his 30 years as Head of School, we’re really celebrating Larry and Cathy together, who’ve lived a life that’s been intertwined with Shore."

Next to come to the podium was Cathy Griffin, who was emotional as she described the extraordinary devotion that's been central to her husband's tenure as Head of School. "Students who were experiencing struggles—whether it’s family, behavioral, emotional, financial—they confided in Larry. On any given night or weekend throughout these 30 years, it was more usual than not for Larry to be offering comfort, counsel, shelter—at times tough love. Kids in distress showed up on our doorstep in all kinds of weather, at all hours, looking for Larry’s support and understanding. He always understood their pain, their need for stability, their search for someone to believe in them."

She recalled a consultant's once citing two chilling statistics: the average tenure of a school head was three years. Even more frightening was that of all occupations—with the exception of Hollywood stars—the rate of marriage failure was highest among independent school heads. Yet, she noted with wonder, "Larry, through thick and thin, heart attack and migraines, camping trips and Board meetings, raising our boys, juggling our schedules and becoming empty-nesters, and now facing the terrifying idea of you without a maintenance crew, kitchen staff, and JoAnn to take care of you, and without 400 kids to adore you on a daily basis, we are looking back at 35 years together—and God willing many more to come—and we are still partners, and we’ll always be partners."

Robby Griffin then returned to the stage to sing for his father the inspirational "You Raise Me Up," followed by a faculty rendition of "Sweet Caroline," featuring altered lyrics that charted Larry Griffin's three decades of leadership. Following these, senior faculty member and third grade teacher Sam Hamlin said simply, "Thank you for 30 years of leading us, cajoling us, maybe pushing us when we didn’t want to be pushed, laughing with us, letting us laugh at you. It’s been a wonderful time, and we’re so grateful to have had a chance to know you and work with you."

To conclude the evening's formal program, Kris Trustey and Rose-Marie van Otterloo came to the stage to announce several "presents" for the Griffins. The first: a three-week trip in Europe graciously underwritten by several longtime Shore families and special friends.

The second of the announcements was even more exciting. Trustey revealed that members of the Shore community have generously donated $600,000 in addition to the transformational gift of $1 million from The Van Otterloo Family Foundation to establish the Lawrence A. Griffin Endowed Fund. This endowed fund in Larry's honor, now totaling $1.6 million, will support tuition assistance and a new student beginning in 2017-2018.

The Head of School was understandably awed when he came to the stage to thank van Otterloo and Trustey and to share a few closing remarks. 

"I’m humbled; I’m overwhelmed. More than anything I simply want to share how much that I appreciate all of you for what you have brought into the lives of my children, my dear wife Cathy, and me. As I’ve said previously, I consider myself one of the luckiest men in the world. I’ve devoted my career to just two schools. In both, I’ve been encouraged, I’ve been supported, and I’ve been appreciated for doing what I enjoy the most, which is simply giving children the best possible educational foundation and environment for personal growth that one can imagine.

"I’m forever grateful for those of you who brought me to Shore. You took a chance on a young, inexperienced, upstart leader with passion for the possibilities in education. I’m humbled by the generosity of the Shore community in repeatedly getting behind my grandiose ideas on how we could become better. I’m forever indebted to an entire generation of colleagues, teachers, staff, and administrators for their vision, for their passion, for their expertise, and their love of children, which has created the atmosphere that is Shore."


Read the retrospective about Larry Griffin's 30 years as Head of School in this fall 2016 Bulletin feature.
Griffin went on to thank Muriel Brock, the mentor who shaped both his and Athletic Director Nancy McNall's careers. He then said goodbye to the Shore community with optimism and affection.

"This is an amazing community, and you are poised for your best days still ahead. ... I leave you with confidence in the future of Shore, an incredibly deep appreciation of what it has meant to me, to Cathy, and to our sons, David and Robby, whose choice to become teachers could not have made us more proud.

"As you all know, when you hired me, you hired someone whose partner in life has always been with me every step of the way. Shore would be a different school if Cathy had not been my closest advisor and most loyal supporter. We depart with the best memories that anyone could possibly imagine, and deep appreciation for all of you."

Guests, many moved by Griffin's emotional words, rose for a prolonged standing ovation as he and Cathy hugged friends, colleagues, and family members, bringing a close to an incredibly special occasion and a defining era in the history of Shore Country Day School. 

Back


    • Robby, David, Cathy, and Larry Griffin

    • Grand Slam organizing committee members

    • Fenway gates

    • The new portrait in the Center for Creativity

    • Under the massive tent

    • Griffin with mentor Muriel Brock

    • David and Robby Griffin

    • The lyrics to "Sweet Larry G"

    • A standing ovation for Larry and Cathy Griffin

Shore Country Day School

545 Cabot Street, Beverly, MA 01915
(978) 927-1700
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.
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