Milton Magazine - Milton Academy

Retiring in 2008Frances A. and Thomas J. FlahertyJoined the faculty in 1982When Tom Flaherty arrivedat Milton, he was already alegend at Pentucket High School,in West Newbury, Massachusetts,because of his outstandingrecord as head varsity footballcoach. During his 10 years asMilton’s head varsity footballcoach, five years as head ClassIV football coach, and then 11years working with coach KevinMacDonald, Tom added to thatreputation. Tom’s leadership inteaching generations of footballplayers the importance of competingfearlessly, holding to thehighest standards of sportsmanship,and listening to instruction,led to his induction into the NewEngland Private School AthleticConference Coaches Hall ofFame in 2007. Tom has alsoserved as Milton’s head varsitybaseball coach since 1983, teachinghis baseball players the samelessons. Tom is known throughoutthe Independent SchoolLeague for maximizing the athletictalent of the boys who havebeen on his teams, whether theywere varsity, junior varsity orthird-squad players.Tom and Fran Flaherty joinedMilton in the fall of 1982, at theencouragement of their longtimefriends Dick and Ellie Griffin,moving right into WolcottHouse, where they lived until2003, having served as househeads for 21 years (1984–2003).During reunions, graduates fromthe 1980s on seek out Tom andFran because of the effects theyboth had—whether in WolcottHouse, in athletics, or in thedeans’ office—on students’ lives.Tom and Fran gave their ownlife to the tradition of in locoparentis, that concept essentialto boarding-school life. Studentsknew that Tom and Fran representedkindness, wisdom andunderstanding, and so did theirparents.Tom and Fran FlahertyAs athletic director for boysbetween 1984 and 1994, Tomworked tirelessly to cultivate thehigh standards of competition,sportsmanship, and learningamong all Milton teams, at alllevels, that he demanded in hisown work. Tom injected fun andtradition, as well. We have himto thank, largely, for the adoptionof the Mustang as Milton’smascot, including the Mustangcostume—now a staple at ralliesand special athletic contests.Tom believes passionately in thebenefit of competitive athletics.To that end, he worked creativelywith fellow athletic directorsto develop ISL football seasonscheduling that ensures fairand educationally sound sets ofcontests among all 16 schools,a challenging goal, given therange of school sizes and studentcompositions.Tom and Fran have helped makeMilton a warm and supportiveplace in so many ways duringthree decades of the School’shistory, touching, since theirarrival, virtually every UpperSchool student. Their workhas involved countless interactions,weighty and light, everysingle day of the academic year.Many students have discussedan attendance case with eitherTom or Fran over the years, forinstance, or negotiated a workprogram assignment. In thisand every other facet of theirwork with students at Milton,Tom and Fran have ensured thatMilton upholds reasonable standardsbut also recognizes life’scomplexities.Fran Flaherty’s love for youngadults has shaped all her manycontributions to the School.Sharing the responsibility ofhouse head with Tom, Franfound not merely a way to integrateher family into the life ofWolcott House, but rather theway to make the Wolcott boyspart of her own now very largefamily. A constant presence atcheck-in and always available,Fran set a standard for bestowingboundless attention that fewcould match. With food and asympathetic ear, she guided andsupported the more than 200young men who came to livein her house. As she patientlyexplained the reasons behindthe rules, all of them understoodthat she cared deeply about theirsafety, character and growth.In addition to her work inWolcott, Fran helped in variouscapacities in the Upper Schooloffice. Ever the team player, shepitched in wherever needed.Recently, her most importantrole was making sure we knewwho was here: patiently butfirmly monitoring lists of stragglersand doggedly trackingdown those who failed to checkin. Many times she went throughthe dormitories, waking studentswho were sleeping during anexamination or for whom onemore unexcused absence wouldresult in dire consequences.From morning until afternoon,her cheerful smile and warmhello formed a bright spot inthe day for both faculty andstudents. She even made a tripto the deans’ office less forebodingfor students summoned to ameeting. Her conviction shonethrough that, whatever the mistake,the student was “a goodkid.”Laura and I, along with Tom andFran’s other neighbors, watchedfrom Robbins House as Tomand Fran raised three of theirchildren at Milton. We could notmiss the fact that Tom and Frantake huge pleasure in their closefamily, in parenting (and nowgrandparenting), and have raisedan impressive group of individuals.We are not alone in seeingTom and Fran as inspirations toour own parenting.We will miss Fran and Tom—their warmth, decency andready laughter. Their manylucky grandchildren will be thebeneficiaries of our loss. Miltonwithout Tom and Fran is hard toimagine, but we know that theircontributions will live on. As theMustang is here to stay, so is theaffection of 26 years’ worth ofstudents, parents and faculty.John WarrenMilton faculty, 1981 to 200678 Milton Magazine