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Where are they now?
Jul 31, 2002 8:00 AM
By Stefan Eady - Faculty
Where are they now?
What will we most remember twenty years from now?” This question, proposed in the 1965 Jabberwokk is a perpetual one asked, implicitly or explicitly, each year, and the answer becomes immortalized in school publications. The answer most often is the faculty.
“We shall remember them all: generous, demanding, angry, laughing, fiendish, punning, frustrating, and preposterously eccentric – above all, one of the most amazing collections of warm-hearted human beings one will encounter anywhere,” the same Jabberwokk editors said, a statement echoed by alumni throughout Darlington’s history. Not only do they remember them, alumni ask how and what faculty members are doing today. Many come back to see their favorite teachers, if they are still teaching at the School, like George Awsumb, Gordon Neville ’55, Carl Paxton, Jim Van Es, Rick Buice, Gloria Eberhart, Sally Rudert T’66, and Randa Mixon.
But, what about those faculty who have moved on from Darlington, either to new positions or into retirement – for example, Timothy Green, Joanne Woods, Charles Upchurch, Jean Barnes, Wesley Boyd, Jane Eaves, John Inscoe, Beverly and Robert Pels, Larry Muschamp, Joan Myers, Juliana and Doc Regester, Carl Whipple, Mary McDonald, and Sylvia Lanier?
A few former faculty members are profiled here, but there are many others to track down. E-mail communications@
darlingtonschool.org or call Gloria Eberhart, 1-800-520-9040, to bring the School up to date about former faculty.
Charles Davidson lives in Rome, Ga. His last Darlington positions were athletic department head and drivers education instructor. He retired in 1988. Davidson likes to golf and spend time with his family, including his eight grandchildren. He reports that he still spends much time on the field, mowing the lawn. Davidson’s son, Mike, followed in his dad’s footsteps and coaches the Walton High School, Marietta, Ga., football team.
Jack Fuqua lives in Augusta, Ga. His last Darlington positions were School chaplain and ethics instructor. After leaving Darlington, Fuqua worked at Equifax Credit Company, Pensacola, Fla. (1988); attended seminary (1990); pastored a church in Thompson, Ga. (1991-94); then moved on to be a pastor for Burns Memorial Methodist Church, Augusta, Ga. (1995-99). Fuqua retired in 1999, and has been working for White Oak United Methodist Church since his retirement. His son, Rob, attends Presbyterian College on a football scholarship.
Jack Ellis lives in Chattanooga, Tenn. His last Darlington position was plant and auxiliary services director. After leaving Darlington, Ellis taught school at Ringgold High School (1986-92). In 1994 he married Kathy Vandergriff. After his retirement in 1992 he traveled to Scandinavia, Spain, Portugal, New Zealand, and Australia. Ellis says he enjoys playing bridge and spending time with his two grandchildren.
Nell Candler lives in Rome, Ga. Her last Darlington position was Upper School science instructor. From 1995-2001 she has been a volunteer at Harbin Clinic and Redmond Regional Medical Center. Candler says she enjoys retirement with her grandchildren, Wil and Martha Tucker, who both attend Darlington. Wil is a rising freshman and Martha will be in the fifth grade next year. Among other things, she enjoys her newest hobby, photography.
Brad Gioia lives in Nashville, Tenn. His last Darlington position was headmaster. After leaving Darlington, Gioia become headmaster of Montgomery Bell Academy (1994-present). He still teaches senior English and spends time traveling. Lately Gioia has been to England, Egypt, France, Italy, and various locations in the United States. He enjoys working out, biking, running, and playing golf. Gioia has a son, Christopher, 15, and daughter, Gabrielle, 13.
Gordon Bondurant lives in Memphis, Tenn. His last Darlington position was president. After leaving Darlington, Bondurant became headmaster of Montgomery Bell Academy, Nashville, Tenn. (1979-88); moved on to headmaster of Porter-Gaud, Charleston, S.C. (1988-99); and retired in 1999. He came out of retirement in 2001 to become the interim president of St. Mary’s Episcopal, Memphis, Tenn. (2001-2002). He is currently the executive director of the Country Day School Headmaster Association.
Jack Summerbell lives in Rome, Ga. His last Darlington positions were academic dean, college adviser, and AP American History instructor. He retired from Darlington in 1998, but he is a frequent face on campus. Summerbell oversees AP exams and SAT testing, works in the Darlington archives room, and serves as a substitute teacher. He has traveled a great deal, visiting Monaco, France, Spain, Ireland, Scotland, and England. In Summberbell’s spare time he collects political buttons.
Jeff Gaither lives in Chattanooga, Tenn. His last Darlington positions were assistant athletic director, head cross country coach, head track coach, Middle School math, and English instructor. Gaither has been with Girls Preparatory School, Chattanooga, Tenn. since 1998, where he teaches American literature, coaches middle school cross country, and is the middle and high school track coordinator. He has four children, Katherine, Ellen, Stephanie, and Joseph.
What will we most remember twenty years from now?” This question, proposed in the 1965 Jabberwokk is a perpetual one asked, implicitly or explicitly, each year, and the answer becomes immortalized in school publications. The answer most often is the faculty.
“We shall remember them all: generous, demanding, angry, laughing, fiendish, punning, frustrating, and preposterously eccentric – above all, one of the most amazing collections of warm-hearted human beings one will encounter anywhere,” the same Jabberwokk editors said, a statement echoed by alumni throughout Darlington’s history. Not only do they remember them, alumni ask how and what faculty members are doing today. Many come back to see their favorite teachers, if they are still teaching at the School, like George Awsumb, Gordon Neville ’55, Carl Paxton, Jim Van Es, Rick Buice, Gloria Eberhart, Sally Rudert T’66, and Randa Mixon.
But, what about those faculty who have moved on from Darlington, either to new positions or into retirement – for example, Timothy Green, Joanne Woods, Charles Upchurch, Jean Barnes, Wesley Boyd, Jane Eaves, John Inscoe, Beverly and Robert Pels, Larry Muschamp, Joan Myers, Juliana and Doc Regester, Carl Whipple, Mary McDonald, and Sylvia Lanier?
A few former faculty members are profiled here, but there are many others to track down. E-mail communications@
darlingtonschool.org or call Gloria Eberhart, 1-800-520-9040, to bring the School up to date about former faculty.
Charles Davidson lives in Rome, Ga. His last Darlington positions were athletic department head and drivers education instructor. He retired in 1988. Davidson likes to golf and spend time with his family, including his eight grandchildren. He reports that he still spends much time on the field, mowing the lawn. Davidson’s son, Mike, followed in his dad’s footsteps and coaches the Walton High School, Marietta, Ga., football team.
Jack Fuqua lives in Augusta, Ga. His last Darlington positions were School chaplain and ethics instructor. After leaving Darlington, Fuqua worked at Equifax Credit Company, Pensacola, Fla. (1988); attended seminary (1990); pastored a church in Thompson, Ga. (1991-94); then moved on to be a pastor for Burns Memorial Methodist Church, Augusta, Ga. (1995-99). Fuqua retired in 1999, and has been working for White Oak United Methodist Church since his retirement. His son, Rob, attends Presbyterian College on a football scholarship.
Jack Ellis lives in Chattanooga, Tenn. His last Darlington position was plant and auxiliary services director. After leaving Darlington, Ellis taught school at Ringgold High School (1986-92). In 1994 he married Kathy Vandergriff. After his retirement in 1992 he traveled to Scandinavia, Spain, Portugal, New Zealand, and Australia. Ellis says he enjoys playing bridge and spending time with his two grandchildren.
Nell Candler lives in Rome, Ga. Her last Darlington position was Upper School science instructor. From 1995-2001 she has been a volunteer at Harbin Clinic and Redmond Regional Medical Center. Candler says she enjoys retirement with her grandchildren, Wil and Martha Tucker, who both attend Darlington. Wil is a rising freshman and Martha will be in the fifth grade next year. Among other things, she enjoys her newest hobby, photography.
Brad Gioia lives in Nashville, Tenn. His last Darlington position was headmaster. After leaving Darlington, Gioia become headmaster of Montgomery Bell Academy (1994-present). He still teaches senior English and spends time traveling. Lately Gioia has been to England, Egypt, France, Italy, and various locations in the United States. He enjoys working out, biking, running, and playing golf. Gioia has a son, Christopher, 15, and daughter, Gabrielle, 13.
Gordon Bondurant lives in Memphis, Tenn. His last Darlington position was president. After leaving Darlington, Bondurant became headmaster of Montgomery Bell Academy, Nashville, Tenn. (1979-88); moved on to headmaster of Porter-Gaud, Charleston, S.C. (1988-99); and retired in 1999. He came out of retirement in 2001 to become the interim president of St. Mary’s Episcopal, Memphis, Tenn. (2001-2002). He is currently the executive director of the Country Day School Headmaster Association.
Jack Summerbell lives in Rome, Ga. His last Darlington positions were academic dean, college adviser, and AP American History instructor. He retired from Darlington in 1998, but he is a frequent face on campus. Summerbell oversees AP exams and SAT testing, works in the Darlington archives room, and serves as a substitute teacher. He has traveled a great deal, visiting Monaco, France, Spain, Ireland, Scotland, and England. In Summberbell’s spare time he collects political buttons.
Jeff Gaither lives in Chattanooga, Tenn. His last Darlington positions were assistant athletic director, head cross country coach, head track coach, Middle School math, and English instructor. Gaither has been with Girls Preparatory School, Chattanooga, Tenn. since 1998, where he teaches American literature, coaches middle school cross country, and is the middle and high school track coordinator. He has four children, Katherine, Ellen, Stephanie, and Joseph.
