It is bittersweet that we announce the impending retirement of long-time staff member Cindy Buck P’01, ’05. Bearing several titles over the years, Cindy has been a steadying presence in the Alumni and Development Office since 1994, most recently as the Director of Alumni and Parent Relations. Through her work here, she has established and grown programs for our alumni, parents, faculty, and staff pouring her heart and soul into all facets she touched. From networking to newsletters, class notes to cocktail parties, Cindy’s attention to detail and thoughtful relationship-building has endeared her to generations of Huskies.
Cindy frequently visits her mother, Rachel Kirby, in Mount Dora, Florida.
Growing relationships
In her day-to-day life at the school, Cindy could easily be found having coffee with a parent in the morning, followed by a strategic conference call, more phone calls to recruit parent volunteers for events, a lunch with a former coach, and still have time to correspond with a recent grad seeking an internship, edit class notes for the Hamptonia, and perhaps send a congratulatory letter or two to new alumni parents on their wedding, graduation, promotion or family addition. Cindy is always there to congratulate and celebrate all of the many accomplishments of our alumni. As a constant reminder of Cindy’s values, a wooden sign sits in her office that states: “Because Kindness Matters.” Her unending kindness and her gifted memory which retains details that are the envy of most people have provided a strong foundation for what it means to work in ‘relations,’ but also to practice in all areas of our lives. Kindness does, in fact, matter.
Our community will formally celebrate Cindy’s retirement during an event at Reunion Weekend 2019 before her departure at the end of June. Details will be released in the coming weeks. Gratefully, Cindy will continue to serve as the Bicentennial Coordinator at New Hampton managing the Bicentennial Committee as co-chair alongside Pete Galletly ’73, P’09 until the school’s celebrations conclude in 2021.
A Family Legacy
The Buck Family has thrived in the New Hampton School community. Her two sons, Eric ’01 and Matt ’05, are both graduates of the school. Eric went on to receive bachelor’s degrees in Landscape Architecture and Ornamental Horticulture from the University of Connecticut. He currently owns and is principal landscape architect for Terrain Planning and Design in central New Hampshire. He lives in Hopkinton, New Hampshire with his wife Brooke and sons Keegan (5) and Reed (3). Matt went on to graduate from Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor, Maine and Kennebec Valley Community College in Farmington, Maine. He is a certified firefighter and full-time paramedic with the Bangor Fire Department. Matt and his wife Lana reside in Dover Foxcroft, Maine where his wife also works as a paramedic. Matt and Lana are also both full-time nursing school students.
Cindy’s husband Paul is a retired US Airways 737 captain who is a well-known face on campus, having spent time in years past on campus mowing lawns, plowing snow and transporting students to appointments, bus stations, and airports.
Cindy and Paul plan to enjoy their retirement at their home in Meredith, New Hampshire and spend more time with their children and grandsons – future Huskies!
Good Luck Cindy. Enjoy a well deserved retirement. I look forward to seeing you at our upcoming 50th reunion this May.