Name That Alumnus! - December 2002


Special Faculty/Staff Edition

 
Previous Editions

 

Below are two pictures from our school's past. If you recognize any of these people, email us at NameThatAlumnus@PattersonSchool.org. Tell us the year the picture was taken, and the names of the people in the photo. Don't forget to give your name so we can give you credit! Winning entries will be added to the bottom of this page.

 

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Answer: from 1959 yearbook dedication, p. 3: Frances Chester

 

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Answer: from 1982 yearbook dedication, p. 2: Milton Little

 

December 16, 2002
 
Thanks to Mrs. Spoon, who wrote:
 
The lady is Miss Frances Chester.  I think I did meet her in my early years here  (@1983-86).  She liked to paint and we have two of her Campus paintings in the Sarah Joyce Lenoir Memorial Chapel.  I believe Chester Hall Classroom Building is named in her honor.  She was quite an efficient lady, according to what everyone says about her.

The gentleman is a seventies view of Mr. Milton Little, who was probably just a social studies and French instructor at that time.  He eventually became Academic Dean.  He was very creative and a favorite of students.  He left in 1991 to be Headmaster at a day school in the Chapel Hill area and now is an Educational Consultant.

 

December 17, 2002
 
Thanks to George Bryant, who wrote:
 
Wow! The top picture is Miss Chester circa 1964-66, maybe 67-69; she never changed her look. Wasn't she the registrar? I don't think she had much to do with the students - she handled the money, but I always ended up sitting at her table in the dining hall for 6 weeks at least once a year. She lived in the little house next to the Loopers on the driveway up to Cap Wiese's house and took up painting in her 60's (not unlike Grandma Moses) using bright, vivid colors. A lot of her studies were of the Patterson buildings and campus. She never would sell me one of her paintings! Are any of them hanging anywhere on the Patterson campus?
 
George R. Bryant (class of 1969)

 

December 19, 2002
 
Thanks to Paul Stanley, who wrote:
 
Greetings from Kuwait!!!!!! I hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving and will have an even better Christmas!!!! I am replying to the December edition of Name that Alumnus. The bottom picture is Mr. Little, who taught French, Sociology and Psychology. He left Patterson a few years after I graduated and is now a Headmaster at a school in Charlotte.
 
Merry Christmas!!!!!!

 

December 23, 2002
 
Mrs. Spoon writes:
 
Two of Miss Chester's paintings are hanging in our Sarah Joyce Lenoir Memorial Chapel on central Campus.  They are of the Chapel and of Hickory Dining Hall.  The Chapel painting was donated by Roberta Scott, a graduate and former employee, several years ago, perhaps 1999 or 2000.  Hickory's painting was donated by Charles '54 and Shirley (23 yr. employee) Lenoir after Charles's mother, Mrs. Faunie Lenoir died last year, leaving it in her possessions.  Mrs. Faunie had served the School for many years as well, I believe as a Dorm Mother, among perhaps other roles.  We are proud to display Miss Chester's work.
 
Miss Chester's love of painting is carried on by two present Faculty members, Ms. Sue Wilson and Ms. Clary Stimson, whose paintings are displayed in Hickory Dining Hall.  Ms. Wilson, like Miss Chester, did not begin painting until later in life, now three years ago.  Both she and Ms. Stimson obviously are gifted in this area, as their portrayals of pastoral beauty are realistic and lovely enough for any fine home or building.  We were delighted when they agreed to share them with us.

 

January 30, 2003
 
Thanks to Richard Wall, who writes:
 
The top picture is, as many have said, Frances Chester. She was the Registrar of the school and the right-hand-"man" of the Headmaster, George Wiese.
 
But to say that she had nothing to do with the students is not true. Miss Chester taught typing and also a business course and she was an excellent teacher. She was also the faculty advisor of the school newspaper and the school annual.
 
Learning to type from Miss Chester was a skill that literally kept me alive for several years in New York City while I was breaking into show business.
 
Richard Wall, Class of '62 (did not graduate)