Allison'S Speech For Dad'S Retirement (Page 2 of 3) in pdf

It’s not surprising that Ryan, Travis and I have all chosen to pursue lifelong careers in academia. All

three of us work with student-athletes in one way or another, and each of us are either currently

coaches, or have coached high school teams in the past. This is not coincidental. Either consciously or

unconsciously, I am quite sure that all three of us are striving to achieve the same love and connection

to our work as we observed in our father.

Dad, on behalf of our whole family, congratulations on an outstanding career at Middlebury College.

Thank you for modeling for us what it means to be a leader, a motivator, and a person with the right

priorities. Thank you for leading a life so worthy of our efforts to follow in your footsteps . We love you

and we are so proud of you.

Travis & Ryan’s Speech for Dad’s retirement (read by Allison)

Well, both boys were intentionally left off the invite for this celebration in case we may have

planned a trip to be back here. So, instead, Dad will have to accept a few words from his sons.

To celebrate our father’s retirement we thought it would be meaningful to highlight some of

our memories how Middlebury and its community has played into our lives.

Middlebury students have been coming over to our house on Ridge Road since we were born.

From baby-sitting to pond hockey, and dinners at the house, we have been able to know many

wonderful people over the years, thanks to our father’s role. I have two broken collar-bones to

show for the epic games of pond hockey. And, something I am sure the Midd folks don’t know,

our father sank his old red Ford-F-150 into the pond trying to clear it for a game…we’ll let him

share that story.

In addition to the bountiful garden vegetables our father is always eager to share traditional

Vermont Cuisine-Venison. In fact, please raise your hand if you have tasted any of these! If

not, you’re due for dinner at the Aldrich’s and puts pressure on the Old General for this fall’s

hunting season. In all seriousness, it was always a special night when my father would invite

captains or others over for dinner; while demonstrating both his and my mother’s hospitality, it

also allowed his children the opportunity to meet incredibly motivated, passionate, and

talented students, which no doubt, inspired us to attend like-minded institutions. Often, either

team would have an international student who my father would offer a place during the

holidays. During one Thanksgiving, Ebba, a Scandavian, had an epic eating contest against other

guest, and finished five full plates! I believe he also put down 15 pancakes...

Our father’s schedule often precluded him from being around on weekends, which resulted in

more memories from Middlebury students. In this story, it was Halloween. My father

Allison'S Speech For Dad'S Retirement Page 2