Martha Bitner '61

I have come full circle! I began my journey as a GA student in Group VIII---making many new friends, wearing a green tie, button down tan shirt, brown oxfords, scratchy wool jacket and skirt, and now I am member of the faculty at GA/Cowan Easrly Learning Center. How did this happen? Thanks to my dear friend Emily Battle for encouraging me to visit GA seven years ago and to Sandy Banyard and Sandy Helmer for embracing me and helping me use my gifts at the Cowan Center, I have come home.

My greatest achievements are being the mother of two loving children who are finding success in their lives, having a lifelong career as an early childhood teacher (38 years), starting a school for young children when my children were born and now being member of the incredible Cowan Center family. My path has brought me full circle.

I cannot believe it has been almost 45 years since I graduated from GA. I can't believe it. It feels like yesterday. Graduation day, June 6, 1961, was sunny and hot, and I didn't know the final outcome of the voting for the Good Companion Lamp. When Miss Zierleyn announced that I, Martha Bitner, was the winner, I felt honored to be given such a vote of confidence by my classmates. It meant a great deal to know that my peers saw in me the qualities I value so much in others. My leather-bound book of The Collected Stories of Katherine Mansfield sits on the top shelf of my desk and whenever I look at it I am flooded with memories of dear friends in the Class of 1961 at GA.

TGC Lamp is a testament to the importance of good relationships with others. Being recognized for possessing these qualities has given me confidence in my ability to be a good friend and to relate to others in a meaningful way.

As I work at the Cowan Center, I realize how central relationships are to all that we do with children, colleagues and parents. The success or failure of what we do is measured by the quality of our ability to communicate with one another---child to child, teacher to child, teacher to parent and teacher to teacher. It is exciting to witness the amazing growth and development of each precious child at the Cowan Center.

When people thank me for being kind and supportive---whether they be friends, colleagues, parents, children or members of my family---I am grateful for having had the gift of being a student at GA where "Toward the building of character" was the central focus. Thank you GA for launching my lifelong love of learning and friendship.

Phyllis Carlson Freeman '55

Receiving the Good Companion Lamp at my graduation 50 years ago was a great honor--one that I still cherish today. I really had forgotten that my peers were the ones who voted for this award, and that makes it even more special. At the time, I was delighted to receive the award and the keepsake green and gold leather bound book of poems from Mrs. Campbell. Through the years, I have often thought of the meaning of being a “good companion” and have tried to be one to my family, friends, fellow board and committee members and, of course, my classmates. In my mind, being a good companion means listening, caring, being there when needed, and doing the best you can to understand and respond to the needs of others.

After graduating from the Academy, I received my BA degree from Mount Holyoke College and married my childhood sweetheart, Don Freeman. Since we started dating when I was an Academy girl, he knows and loves all my ’55 classmates. During our marriage, we have moved to St. Paul, Houston, New Orleans (we were there when Hurricane Betsy roared through), and back to Riverside/Old Greenwich. Along the way we had Pamela, Laurie and Tripp (who helped paint the trim of RWC Hall for a summer job), and we are now the proud grandparents of eight wonderful grands..

Once our children were grown, I worked for 10 years as a financial secretary for a local church. I always enjoyed the interaction with people, which was good thing because I served on so many committees over the years--at church, school, Junior League, sailing and swim club and alumnae groups. I always will remember our “Let’s Go, Mets” fund-raiser for the Academy when we convinced Miss Zierleyn to go with us to Shea Stadium for dinner and THE game. When Joan Wadhams Leigh '55 and I drove to Shea in April 1970 to get the tickets, little did we know that the Mets would be in the thick of a pennant race in September and our purchase would be so valuable. Tom Seaver and Bob Gibson of the Cardinals had a pitching duel, and we could have sold umpteen more tickets. It was a most exciting game, and two weeks after it, I gave birth to Tripp. What a memorable time!

The 50th reunion of the great Class of ’55 was a marvelous event, and we thank everyone at the Academy for making it such a success. At the same time, we also thank the Academy for all those memories growing up, giving us a firm foundation of academics, sports and friendships and instilling in us the importance of “the building of character.” It has been my pleasure to remain connected to this fine school.

Vicky von Gontard Skouras '74

Vicky was shocked when she received the Good Companion Lamp. She also found it very amusing that she made it to the front page of the Greenwich Time, pictured with the valedictorian of the class. After seeing the picture, all her parents' friends thought she was the smartest graduate at GA. However, Vicky knew that only a few days before the photo appeared, Miss Zierleyn had congratulated her on just making it through. Thus, the ear-to- ear smile on Headmistress Katherine Zierleyn's face was genuine when she presented Vicky with the award at graduation. And Vicky is so genuine in her humble remembrance of the occasion, "I was touched. It was an honor. I loved all my classmates, but I could not believe they chose me, considering everyone else in the class. I also appreciated the beauty of the award — it is so unique."

After finishing GA, Vicky was graduated from Hollins College in 1978, spending junior year abroad in London, where she met her future husband. She traveled all over Europe and then became a travel agent, working in both New York City and Los Angeles. In 1987, she began her career in motherhood. Vicky has a son at Taft and two daughters at the Academy. She has been very active on campus, serving on the Parents Association Board from 2002 to 2004 and on the GA Alumnae Board since 1998. She is class agent and has worked as reunion chair for her class, also. Vicky is very active in the local community as well as with the Greenwich Riding and Trails Association, this year as chairman, as a school board member at Putnam Indian Field School, as commissioner of the Greenwich Pony Club Joint District and as a volunteer at the Performing Arts Center of SUNY Purchase, New York. When not volunteering, Vicky enjoys playing tennis, skiing, shooting, riding and breeding dachshounds.

Vicky is very fond of GA. "I was surprised that there was no academic significance to the Good Companion Lamp Award and pleased that GA would acknowledge the value of friendship by awarding this special prize every year at Commencement. I have loved everyone who has received this award. I feel very close to GA and love it for its sports, academics, friendships and passion for excellence."

Vicky has been the class agent for her class since graduation, and she feels very comfortable getting in touch with everyone. She says that although she might not know everyone well, she knows everyone. "A few months ago, a classmate's mother passed away. I contacted some of her friends to tell them the news. A friend wrote to thank me for making this effort. That is when I feel special." Vicky says she thanks GA and the Class of 1974 for honoring her with the award and giving her the warm gift of friendship, which she shares with her classmates whenever she gets the chance.

Nancy Hathaway Healy '63

Nancy says that reflecting on this award really took her back. She remembers when the class was voting, and they had to vote three times because Miss Zierleyn really wanted it to be a clear vote for one person, claiming it was always hard when there was a tie. Nancy couldn't understand why the award could not be shared. Actually, it has been shared in several years. Nancy says, "Not being the athletic or academic award-winning type, I never thought about the possibility of winning, and I had only been at the Academy for three years. I was so taken aback at graduation that I could hardly get up."

Nancy did volunteer work, raised her children and worked at Greenwich Hospital before entering the real estate business. She has been a full-time realtor for more than fifteen years as a partner with Shore & Country Properties in Riverside, Connecticut. It's clear from her success in her profession that Nancy has lived up to the guidelines of the award. Real estate requires a friendly personality and good listening skills. Nancy ranked third in Greenwich for sold and/or listed properties from 1992 to 2003 and was president of the Greenwich Association of Realtors and the Greenwich Multiple Listing Service from 1999 to 2000. The Good Companion Lamp Award was not the last award for which Nancy was honored by her peers. She was voted by Greenwich peers as America's Most Referred Realtor from 1998 to 2000 (America's Most Referred Realtors is an international referral and relocation association). Nancy is also a member of the board of directors of the Connecticut Association of Realtors. She and her husband, James, have two sons, Steven and Andrew, who have both followed in their mother's footsteps and work in real estate in Greenwich.

Nancy remarks that throughout her life, she has been a cheerful person. "I was lucky because I had an extraordinary class full of other cheerful people; I cherish my days at the Academy and liked everyone in my class." She adds, "I think I find the ability to pay attention to what someone is saying is a quality that should be possessed by all recipients of the Good Companion Award. I know that being a good listener is one of my strongest assets, and it contributes to my success at my job. I also believe honesty and a strong sense of ethics are the monogram qualities of this award."

"Every once in a while, I remember my moment, and I am so honored. The Academy gave me so much, and then, in addition, I received the brass ring at the end. Wow."