Sally Mann '52
Marshall-Offutt Circle member since 2008

My five years as a boarding student at Garrison Forest were very happy, full of growth and friendship, but it was to be many years before I would recognize my full capabilities and allow myself to express the talents which lay hidden behind a wall of reserve as a result of a very conservative upbringing. So, I cannot say that I left Garrison ready to embark upon great things, by any means. Partly that was just who I was and partly that was the era. However, in retrospect I have realized that the qualities of character which Miss Marshall and Miss Offut expressed, each so delightfully individually, and which were and obviously still are the backbone of the School and its marvelous spirit, have stood with me and fortified me in all my endeavors over the years since. I feel very fortunate to have been nurtured in such an environment and grateful to be able to support its continuation, particularly in the challenging times we are experiencing.

Margaret Gould Tyson '39
Marshall-Offutt Circle member since 2007

I am extremely grateful to Garrison for the foundation it gave me for my life. The values the teachers espoused made me want to strive to make a difference. I particularly remember how Miss Offutt and Miss Marshall, through their love of history and literature, taught us about the lives of great women—like Florence Nightingale--who became powerful role models for me.

I want to do whatever will help Garrison, which is why I was happy to remember the School in my will.

Catherine "Kit" Jackson '83
Marshall-Offutt Circle member since 2007

Garrison gave me a wonderful education and lifelong friends: the lessons I learned in and out of the classroom were fundamental in making me who I am today.

I had been meaning to join the Marshall-Offutt Circle for a long time but just kept putting it off. When I learned that I could join simply by making the School a beneficiary of my IRA, I jumped at the chance. Designating a nonprofit organization like Garrison Forest as the beneficiary of a retirement account makes enormous sense and it couldn't be easier.

I have always been a strong believer in the Annual Fund, but now I have the satisfaction of knowing that I am providing for Garrison students for generations to come. It's a great feeling.

Kitty Chaplin Martin '43
Marshall-Offutt Circle member since 1996

I am so delighted to see that the Service League, started by the Class of 1943, has endured and grown. My mentors at Garrison: Miss Marshall, Miss Offutt, the Rev. Jensen and so many more provided a home away from home. The very atmosphere at Garrison gave me enough confidence to raise five wonderful kids and to pursue an active volunteer career of 50+ years with the Red Cross. A college degree was not an option when I graduated. A GFS diploma was enough to open any door to further education, and the Red Cross training took over from there. Friendships at Garrison have lasted a lifetime, making the bumps in the road a lot smoother. Thank you, Garrison, for everything.

Shirley Aldrich Daiger ’47
Marshall-Offutt Circle member since 1994

Garrison Forest was one of the happiest experiences of my life. Thanks to my very special teachers and friends, I gained some self-confidence; my faith deepened; and I was encouraged to lead a life according to our school motto, Esse Quam Videri. Remembering the School in my will is my way of saying thank you for a lifetime of wonderful memories.

Eleanor Shriver Magee ’89
Marshall-Offutt Circle member since 2002

I learned about the importance of estate planning too early in life. When I lost my sister to cancer in 1997, I was reminded of my own mortality and the need to prepare for the future of my family. Being able to support GFS now and in the future is something that brings me great pride. I also hope that my proactivity will also be an example to other younger alums that it is never too early to plan for the future.

Crystal Lee ’96
Marshall-Offutt member since 2006

I often wonder what I have done to deserve the wonderful things Garrison Forest brings to my life. I have made my greatest friends because of Garrison Forest. I have had the greatest teachers (in and out of the classroom), and have learned my most valuable lessons at Garrison Forest. Countless times I have thought about what I could do to for my School over and above my annual support. I was absolutely delighted when I learned how easy it can be to join the Marshall-Offutt Circle. I have listed Garrison Forest as a beneficiary of a portion of my retirement plan. It took me about five minutes to complete the form, but the fulfillment I feel is eternal. Garrison Forest is my School, my job, and my home.

Sally Hoff Thomas ’81
Marshall-Offutt Circle member since 1996

Looking back and looking forward, that is why GFS is part of my estate plan. Garrison gave me a rich academic foundation that prepared me for college and my career. But even more lasting has been the gift of being educated in an atmosphere of integrity and connectedness by excellent teachers alongside lifelong friends; Garrison enriches my life each day.

Laura Franklin Dunn ‘47
Marshall-Offutt Circle member since 1999

Garrison Forest gave me a wonderful foundation from which I have drawn to get through several life challenges. Funding a charitable gift annuity with the School is my way of thanking Garrison for the major part it has played in my life.

Tania Lawson-Johnston McCleery ‘71
Marshall-Offutt Circle member since 2001

It wasn't until years after graduation that I recognized the impact GFS had on me and my adult life. I went away to school as a shy, insecure girl looking for a place where I felt I would "fit in". I didn't realize it during my years there, but later appreciated the self-confidence I had gained and the sense of security I had grown to know in life-long friendships. The relationships and education I received have stayed with me, and my appreciation for Garrison and its "gifts" have become embedded in who I am.

The wonderful years I spent on the Board at GFS have taught me the importance of giving back to the School financially. Although I try to be generous every year to the Annual Fund, I get frustrated that I can't be more generous at this time in my life. By putting GFS in my will, I now have the confidence that I can give more to a place that has given me so much.

Molly Polk ‘92
Marshall-Offutt Circle member since 2006

Garrison Forest holds a very special place in my heart. I arrived on campus as a shy, homesick 14 year-old kid from a dusty West Texas town.

Three years later I graduated with a better sense of the world and confident that I could accomplish anything I set out to do. The principles Garrison taught me are ones I carry with me every day. I have always wanted to thank the School for everything it gave me and there is no better way than to remember Garrison Forest in my will.

Lila Boyce Lohr ’63
Marshall-Offutt Circle member since 2006

I've come to believe that who we are and what we value is often determined early in our lives. Seeds are planted by our families but pruned and nurtured by our peers and teachers. At Garrison we learned to weigh alternatives, make choices, and live with the consequences of our decisions. We left with curiosity, confidence in our ability to express ourselves, an appetite for adventure, and a commitment to our communities.

My charitable gift annuity is my way of saying thank you to GFS for the way it has shaped my life. While I'll never be able to donate a wing for the new Middle School, this annuity has allowed me to make a larger gift than I ever thought possible. I couldn't be more pleased.

Miriam Vanderveer
All legacies begin with a spirit of generosity

It was 1930 and Garrison Forest School was in need of a Latin teacher. Headmistresses Jean Marshall and Nancy Offutt informed their new English teacher, fresh out of college, that she would now be teaching Latin. Miriam Vanderveer rose to the challenge. Those first few months, she stayed a chapter ahead of her students in the text book. Soon, she - and her students - had mastered the subject.

For the next 42 years, Mrs. Van, as she was known to generations of Garrison Forest students, continued to teach Latin. Her lessons went well beyond verb conjugation. Determined and direct, she taught integrity and respect. Eloquent and articulate, she encouraged each student to embrace her own intellect and go beyond expectations. From 1959 until 1977, she brought these same qualities to the Garrison Forest Board of Trustees. That year she was named Trustee Emerita, a title she held until her death in October 2001.

Mrs. Van helped to set the standard for teaching and learning at Garrison Forest. Though her profession has changed a bit since 1930 'teachers now join the School as experts in their disciplines' the caliber and character of each teacher today are as constant as they were decades ago. Mrs. Van’s high expectations for herself, her students, and the School that she considered her family inspired her lifelong generosity to Garrison Forest. Dedicated to ensuring that teachers be fairly compensated, Mrs. Van gave generously to the Annual Fund and Faculty Endowment throughout her lifetime.

Upon her death, Mrs. Van bequeathed the largest gift in the School’s history: $4.2 million. Arguably the biggest gift ever given to an independent school by a faculty member, the Board of Trustees has chosen to honor her remarkable generosity to Garrison Forest by designating this bequest for Faculty Endowment. Mrs. Van’s greatest gifts were her abiding influence, keen intellect, and deep compassion as a teacher and person. Her unparalleled bequest ensures that these qualities remain steadfast in the classrooms and character of Garrison Forest faculty today and for generations to come.

Katharine McLane Hoffman '37

There are many words to describe Kitty Hoffman, but one that comes to mind instantly is ubiquitous. She seems to be everywhere - all at the same time! For the past 70 years, Garrison Forest School has been blessed to be on her "to-do" list.

She has often said that her years as a student here were a very strong influence in her life, and she has spent many years giving back to her beloved GFS.

During World War II, Kitty volunteered in the Red Cross on posts in New Guinea, Indonesia, and the Philippines, providing support for the troops on the line. After the war, she returned to the United States and to her previous professional positions in insurance and interior design. But her passion was riding. In 1964, after the tragic death of her sister Ethel, class of '38, Kitty was hired to carry on her sister's work at Garrison. For the next 12 years she taught hundreds of students, many of whom she still sees, and she has come to know their children as well.

Kitty is a familiar presence on the GFS campus as a dedicated Annual Fund volunteer and participant in Alumnae events, including every Reunion Weekend and Commencement. She supports the school every year with a generous gift to the Alumnae Fund and has shown her commitment to its future by including Garrison Forest in her estate plans and becoming a member of the Marshall-Offutt Circle.