Part II: In Their Own Words - A Look Back

In preparation for our coverage of this historic merger, the Hopkins Communications Department, in conjunction with the School’s Advancement Department, welcomed all alumni who were present before, during, and briefly after the merger to offer their experiences.

As the responses came in, and in the in-depth discussions that followed, one thing became clear: There is no one story of the merger.

MIXED EMOTIONS 

For some, the changing of traditions came as a disappointment. At the boys school, for example, uniforms were mandatory. Students stood when their teachers walked into the classroom. When the schools merged, uniforms went away as did some of the formalities, to the dismay of some boys in the upper classes. Likewise, those coming from Day Prospect Hill saw their beloved tradition of participating in a ring ceremony as juniors phase out over time, as did a perk for seniors who were allowed to study and socialize in the headmaster’s school house at the back of school. This caused many to feel a sense of loss. Wendy Read Cusick ’77 referred to the merger as “chaotic,” citing bullying and teasing by the boys as what stood out to her. Some, like Sara Glaser Dumont, decided not to come over to Hopkins altogether, and graduated elsewhere in 1973. Dumont says she did not want to attend the merged school “for a variety of important and negative reasons having to do with how the merger was established.” She was also concerned that DPH’s “unique culture would be canceled out by HGS, which indeed happened.” For many, however, the excitement of being a part of a new experience was the prevailing emotion. This may have been due to the fact that many already felt a familiarity with the Hopkins campus before day one, thanks to “merger days” held by both schools a year prior. On these days, students attended classes together and mingled socially to become acclimated with the curriculum and each other. This also allowed students to become familiar with their potential teachers.

Willa Perlmutter ’76 recalls being “elated” when she learned of the merger. She was familiar with the campus, having worked on a junior school musical at Hopkins, but enjoyed the experience even more when she was able to “expand the pool of potential new friends,” several of whom she stays in touch with today.

Then there are the stories that pull on one’s heartstrings, like how Wendy Parente ’75 (then Wendy Florentine) initially met her future husband, Oscar “Ozzie” Parente ’75, on one of the merger days and began dating him when the schools officially merged. Parente, who now works in the Hopkins business office in Hopkins House (coincidentally in the exact same room where she attended classes along with her husband) fondly remembers coming to Hopkins as a sophomore after attending DPH. Despite a few frustrating elements (she loved to golf but was not allowed to join the all-boys golf team), the merger represented an exciting new chapter for her and her fellow classmates.

Gail Brundage ’76 called her experience “completely positive” due to what she perceived as a stronger academic course load. “I am a math/science type over humanities, so the switch to Hopkins for high school with its much stronger math/science curriculum was a life saver for me,” she recalled.

A NEW "FAMILY" 

Jonathan Goldberg ’77 entered Hopkins from a New Haven public school in the fall of 1971, the start of the final school year of the all-boys class. He has vivid memories of the formal nature of school before the merger, which extended to the lunchroom. 

“Students were assigned to tables in the cafeteria, each one headed by a teacher. Food was passed around family style, and no one ate until all were served. I believe we said grace before eating. Again, we stood until told to sit,” he recalled. Goldberg recalls the buildup to the merger from the perspective of his fellow classmates, which he says was a time of “great anticipation.”

Rick Shannon ’72 HGS, a member of the last male graduating class, says the merger seemed “so natural,” and that his brothers who attended school after him had “even better experiences post merger.” Although Shannon’s classmate Gary Pantaleo ’72 HGS also just missed the integration, Pantaleo says he benefited years prior as some female teachers came over as part of the early blending experiments. His only regret, he says, is “not being there for the long-needed integration.”

Then there are those who came to the merger without preconceived notions or biases. Irwin Gelman ’76, who joined the merged school as a freshman via Hebrew Day School, referred to his experience positively but also called it “odd.”

“The ‘oddity’ was akin to marrying into a family, only to learn at the first Thanksgiving that (of course) there was history and baggage between groups of family members. I distinctly remember students underlining that such-and-such a teacher was from DPH, whereas another announced that this other teacher was from Hopkins; none of these distinctions made any sense to me past their historical reference.”

Despite the varying perspectives, the common denominator among many of those who offered their opinions was the ease of being able to name several impactful teachers and administrators who helped shape them in their adolescent years, a testament to the high standards of academic excellence that remain intact today.
Many also were quick to note that despite its early obstacles, the merger was necessary and ultimately worthwhile. While full progress did not happen overnight (for example, the first female Head of School, Barbara Riley, did not assume the role until 2001), today’s vibrant and inclusive community stands as a realization of the merger’s promise 50 years ago.

Interested in sharing your perspective of the merger? Throughout the spring, we will be sharing more stories on our website and social media channels; please send your perspective to communications@hopkins.edu.

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Our coverage in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the merger of Hopkins Grammar and Day Prospect Hill Schools continues in Part III: A Perception Changed Through Time and Progress by Connie Frontis ’67 DPH

This article was originally printed in the 2023 Issue 1 edition of Views from the Hill.