Written by Neil DeStefano, a post-graduate member of the Class of 1973.
As a one-year post-graduate (PG) student in the early 1970s, my limited time at New Hampton School was the catalyst for a series of events in my life that helped facilitate a personal and professional life of immense joy and success. Fast forward 50 years later, I find myself reconnecting with my alma mater in a deeply meaningful way—through a provision in my estate plan to support the school’s football program and science department. This decision was started when I decided to retire from the corporate world now having the time to reflect on my life, what got me to where I am, and thinking about my legacy. This time of deep reflection provided a mix of nostalgia, gratitude, and a desire to give back to the place that laid the cornerstone for my personal and professional success.
I am the second generation of immigrants born in the U.S. with parents who were only able to get to the eighth grade but deeply believed in the importance of education. I was told I “had to go to college” yet we did not have the resources or knowledge of how to go about it. My older brother was a great athlete but lacked the grades to get into college, so he did a PG year. In my case, I did not decide to really start studying in high school to get into college until my senior year, making the honor roll each term, but it was too late. So I decided to follow my brother’s path and do a PG year. Football was my favorite sport but because of losing my right eye in a toy accident when I was seven years old, it was a continuous battle with my parents concerned about my safety to let me play. Yet, I was determined to play football in college. A guidance counselor suggested New Hampton School and I applied. We went up to interview and met with Austin Stern and Lou Gnerre and had an immediate connection. I was accepted and they put together a financial package combining grants, scholarships, and a job in the kitchen so that my family could afford it.
Finding a path forward
While at New Hampton I developed sound study habits, was exposed to top-notch teaching in limited class sizes (vs. the Boston area high school I attended with triple the class size), exposed to students from all kinds of demographics and ethnicity, got to play college level football (back then we played colleges like Middlebury, Plymouth State, and Dartmouth as well as other prep schools), wrestled which is something I always wanted to do but was not allowed to, and play pick-up lacrosse, a sport I had never played. One of the key classes I took at NHS was Nature driven by my experiences as an Eagle scout. It helped facilitate my decision to major in this area in college. My nine months at New Hampton not only got me accepted to the University of Maine but got me recruited to play football, only to be denied once again because of my eye. I decided to stay at Maine and help start the club lacrosse program. I could play because it was not a varsity sport, played for four years, and helped me deal with my deep disappointment of not getting to play college football. This would not have been possible without being exposed to lacrosse at NHS.
Upon graduating from Maine with a double major in Natural Resource Management and Plant and Soil Sciences, I became, along with my brother, the first generation in our family to graduate from college – again not possible without NHS taking a chance on me. After graduating from Maine, I had a successful 43-year career in the agricultural chemical industry working for New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)-listed companies where I held multiple leadership positions in various functions of marketing, business development, and product development. Upon retiring from the corporate world, I started a successful global consulting company where I still work today.
Reconnecting with New Hampton
Reconnecting with New Hampton in advance of the Bicentennial Gala celebration in 2022, after almost five decades, brought back a flood of memories and emotions. Walking through the somewhat familiar school buildings, now completely renovated and beautiful, the campus was stunning and seeing how the school has evolved filled me with a sense of pride and gratitude. I realized just how important NHS was in setting in motion a series of events in my life to provide the opportunities and blessings I have enjoyed. I hope that my gifting expresses the deep appreciation I have for New Hampton taking a chance on me 50 years ago and helps give PGs in the future the same opportunities afforded to me.
The decision to give back through a planned gift felt like a natural step. It is a way of expressing my gratitude for the opportunities, experiences, and education I received at New Hampton School. I chose to express this by creating two named endowed funds. Knowing that my contribution will support the two programs closest to my heart provides me with joy and fulfillment. For me, it’s about investing in the next generation of students and ensuring that they have access to the same transformative experiences that I had. “It is my pleasure and with gratitude to provide these scholarships. I also am proud of the naming rights for the football office and planting room and hope my children and grandchildren one day get to see them, developing a greater appreciation for their legacy.
Giving back to NHS also brings a sense of connection, purpose, and comfort as I reflect on my life. Following my 50th Reunion in 2023, I am eager to stay involved with the school community and make a lasting impact on its future. Knowing that my gift will contribute to the school’s continued success is incredibly rewarding.
My journey of reconnecting with New Hampton as an active member of the Alumni Association and by making a planned gift to support the football program and science department has been a gratifying experience. It’s a testament to the enduring impact of a quality education and the importance of giving back to institutions that have shaped our lives. I encourage my fellow alumni and friends of New Hampton School to consider how they too can make a difference by leaving a lasting legacy that aligns with their philanthropic interests.
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Have you considered how you can make a lasting impact on the causes you care about most here at New Hampton School? Do you know that there are ways that your values and philanthropic interests can be realized long into the future while helping to sustain the school and its mission? A planned gift can have a positive and enduring impact on the lives of future New Hampton School students and may offer tax benefits and financial advantages for you and your family. A potential ‘win-win’ outcome! To learn more, please contact Rob DeFreitas, Leadership and Planned Giving Officer, at 603-677-3562 or rdefreitas@newhampton.org.
