David Pond, Associate Head of School for Alumni Affairs and Development, will be retiring at the end of the 2013-14 school year. Mr. Pond has served Deerfield Academy for 33 years.
Head of School Dr. Margarita Curtis praised Pond’s achievement, saying, “David is regarded as a legend, and inspires both deep respect and admiration.”
Mr. Pond said, “My wife and I came to Deerfield with two young daughters—a 7-year-old and a 10-month [-old baby]. Now they are 40 and 33. We were so fortunate to be able to raise our family in this very special community.”
He continued, “I have been blessed to work at a fantastic school and have met so many wonderful alumni and parents.”
The impact of Mr. Pond’s hard work and dedication to Deerfield Academy can be seen on many fronts, from the improvement and expansion of educational programs to the growth and ongoing refurbishment of campus, to the significant increase in financial aid and compensation budgets.
Pond has supervised multiple comprehensive capital campaigns since his arrival in 1981; and under his guidance, Deerfield’s endowment has grown to over $200 million. The Annual Fund grew from $1 million in 1981 to $6 million in 2013. Similarly, the yearly gift income has grown from $2 million to $27 million in the same period. He also established over 400 new endowment funds for teachers, students and programs.
The campus has undergone renovations and additions in Mr. Pond’s time, including two turf fields, seven dorms, the Koch Center, the Koch pool, and the Dewey squash courts. The significant renovations of the Main School Building, the Dining Hall, the Greer Store, and the Fitness Center would not have been possible without Mr. Pond’s efforts.
How has Mr. Pond become such a successful fundraiser? “[H] is success is due to his loyalty to the school, trustworthiness, work ethic, discretion, and humility— and to his ability to develop meaningful relationships with alumni, parents and friends of the school,” Dr. Curtis said.
John G. Knight ’83, Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving, said, “I’ve benefitted from his wisdom and positive attitude the most, and it’s wonderful to work for a person who has no ‘panic’ in him!”
“[Mr. Pond’s] wise, patient, and personal approach, matched with his keen listening skills, account for his distinguished record as a fundraiser and educator,” Dr. Curtis said. She continued, “Few people have represented the school with such generosity of spirit, conviction, and grace as David.”