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Marilyn Boyle, recipient of the Louis E. “Doc” Lamborn Master Teaching Chair, and Denise Wolf, recipient of the first Paul E. Smith Teaching Chair
There was much to celebrate at the annual Winter Faculty and Staff meeting on Thursday, March 3 as Head of School Dave Farace ‘87 announced the creation of a new science fund and a new faculty chair. In addition to awarding the first recipient of the new chair, he also had the honor of presenting the Louis E. “Doc” Lamborn Master Teaching Chair.
Gordon B. Shelton '64 Science Fund Established in honor of A. Ogden "Bugs" Ramsay Gordon Shelton ‘64 was on hand for the announcement of a new science fund he established and named in honor of A. Ogden Ramsay—fondly known as “Bugs.” A member of the science faculty for 44 years, Ramsay earned the nickname “Bugs” because he was known to make microscopic slides of insects he gathered at the pond. He arrived at McDonogh in 1927, and throughout his career employed a life-ready teaching style giving direction to his students’ inquiries and then stepping aside–suggesting, guiding, correcting, admonishing, encouraging, and applauding their work.
His enthusiasm for science was infectious and throughout his tenure, he nurtured the interest of countless boys and sparked the successful science careers of many of those, like Shelton, who studied under him.
The Gordon B. Shelton '64 Science Fund in honor of A. Ogden "Bugs" Ramsay will be used by the department to follow in the footsteps of “Bugs”—to teach students to become self-reliant, critical thinkers who can form, test, and revise their ideas.
The Louis E. “Doc” Lamborn Chair Awarded to Marilyn Boyle
The evening continued with the announcement of the sixth recipient of the Louis E. “Doc” Lamborn Master Teaching Chair. Creating a sense of mystery, as is tradition, Farace described the deserving qualities of the honoree, Upper School history teacher Marilyn Boyle.
He spoke about her favorite part of her job: getting to know her students and building lasting relationships with them. He continued with why she is such a good teacher: she delights in sharing her knowledge, constantly hones her craft, and is always learning. And, he shared one of the lessons she learned as a teacher that has served her well throughout her career: take the time to make connections with your students because when they feel seen and understood, they are more engaged and committed to learning.
Boyle’s identity became known to most audience members when Farace enumerated her commitment to Model UN and to McDonogh’s exchange program with Seijo Gakuen Senior High School in Tokyo. He noted, “With the utmost professionalism, today’s honoree happily does whatever is asked of her—often going above and beyond what is expected.”
Farace concluded his remarks saying, “In view of her many accomplishments, her sense of service, and her genuine love for the School, it is my honor to present the Louis E. Lamborn Master Teaching Chair to Marilyn Boyle.”
Paul E. Smith Teaching Chair Established by Neal Moszkowski ‘84
Next on the agenda was the announcement of the Paul E. Smith Teaching Chair—established with the generosity of Neal Moszkowski ‘84. Smith, a physical education teacher and coach from 1974 to 1990, was the first African American member of the school's faculty. During his 16 years at McDonogh, he made a substantial contribution to the PE Department and coached JV football and varsity basketball.
His profound gift for relating to students on a personal level, building a sense of camaraderie, and inspiring athletes of all abilities to do their best impacted countless students during his tenure. In the game of life, Smith coached his students to be winners by stressing the essential skills for success: effort, integrity, resilience, and honor.
Moszkowski, who was in attendance for the announcement, says he believes these characteristics, instilled during his time at McDonogh, contributed to his personal and professional success.
Denise Wolf Named the First Recipient of Paul E. Smith Teaching Chair
After the Paul E. Smith Teaching Chair was announced, Farace kept the audience in suspense as he revealed the first recipient of the honor—Middle School art teacher Denise Wolf. Again, he dropped clues as to Wolf’s identity as he described the qualities that rendered her worthy.
“The person we are honoring tonight is considered by many to be both fearless and flexible,” Farace said. “She has an easy-going demeanor and a willingness to take on new roles. But this teacher-coach, who leads with humility, would probably attribute her confidence to being part of a loving community that is both safe and encouraging. In turn, it’s the type of environment she has created for her students.”
He spoke about Wolf’s understanding of the challenges middle schoolers face and noted that she accepts her students for who they are and what they need. Farace also spoke about her willingness to coach a sport she had never played and how she rose through the ranks to become a championship-winning field hockey coach.
If the audience was still unsure who the recipient of the Paul E. Smith Teaching Chair was, the mystery was solved when Farace mentioned her role in establishing the Middle School Academy. He concluded by inviting Moskowski to join him in presenting the first Paul E. Smith faculty chair to “our confident, creative, and colorful colleague—Denise Wolf.”
