In Memoriam Jennifer Pham, a member of the Class of 2012, died as the result of a cardiac event on Sunday, January 16, in a hospital near her home in New Jersey. Jennifer was a devoted member of Millet House; she loved her English classes, appreciated the beauty around her, and found great pleasure in the diversity of her friends.
Once, in talking about her early experience at Milton, Jennifer said, “Milton was the only school I applied to, and I didn’t know quite how I would get here, but I could visualize myself here so clearly. Milton is so welcoming. You can be yourself here, whoever you are. One of the most valuable things about Milton is what you learn out of class: how to build relationships, how to get along, how to persevere.” On Thursday, January 20, a memorial service was held on campus in Jennifer’s honor. Upper School students, faculty and staff were joined by members of Jennifer’s family in a
tribute to her life and her time here at Milton. Both Nicole Colson, head of Millet House, and Head of School Todd Bland were among those who offered eulogies at the service. *** “Jennifer was an extraordinary young woman. It was clear to all of us who lived with her that one of Jennifer’s primary goals was to become an integral member of Millet House; she certainly was. Jennifer was kind to everyone. The Millet House community members experienced her genuine care and compassion for their feelings. Jennifer truly gave of herself in a myriad of ways. She forged special relationships with faculty children, who related to Jennifer’s genuinely joyful nature. It was important to Jennifer that her Millet House sisters felt her presence and support. They did. In ways both tangible and intangible, Jennifer left the community a more beautiful place than she found it. The genuine kindness Jennifer exhibited toward others will not dissipate simply because she is no longer physically with us. We, as individuals and as a community, are forever changed by our brief time with this extraordinary young woman. The knowledge that her impact is permanent can be a source of comfort and strength. Yes, Jennifer is gone, but her joyful nature, compassion, and kind-
Deceased
1938 Tarbell Clay Hoes
1928 Robert G. Fuller
1939 Henry R. Walcott, Jr.
1932 Lewis Perry, Jr.
1940 Warren Arnold Mary Hunting Smith
1934 Martha Allis Cowan 1936 Helena Edgell Franklin Susan Miller Jackson 1937 Daphne Withington Adams
1942 Nicholas G. Andrews Alexander Hawthorne “Sandy” Hadden 1947 Donald W. White
Jennifer (third from left) with her advisee group during dorm bowling night.
ness remain behind. Somerset Maugham once noted that goodness is the most powerful force in the world. Our proximity to Jennifer’s goodness has made each one of us a better person, and it has strengthened the Milton community.”
But above all she was a generous and joyful spirit. She was called by many an angel, and that she was—and is. Jennifer possessed the finest qualities of human character. In this way and in many others, she was a model Milton student.”
— Nicole Colson, Millet House Head
—Todd Bland, Head of School
*** “My life was made richer by my connection to Jennifer, but also by what I have learned from all of you who knew her best: her sisters in Millet, her many friends, her teachers, advisors, mentors and her very close cousin, Ashley. Jennifer was an inspiring student with a wonderful mind—a writer who could make amazing connections between seemingly unrelated topics. She was creative. Active in theater, and in speech; she inspired her audiences.
1948 Charles C. Abeles Joanne Sage Ceraso 1950 Timothy F. Nichols 1952 Charles B. Flynn 1954 Helen Hibbard Hayes 1956 Robert C. Cabot Daniel H. Stebbins Helen Twombly Watkins
*** To continue Jennifer’s quiet but profound influence on the School, Milton Academy established a scholarship, with the following words: The Jennifer Pham Memorial Scholarship was established in 2011 to honor the memory of Jennifer Pham, a Millet House girl who died during her Class II year. This fund supports a young woman with exceptional promise. If you wish to participate in the scholarship fund, please send contributions to the Milton Academy Development Office, and indicate your desire to allocate the gift to the scholarship.
1959 Donald E. Cummings 1961 Corinna Prentiss Shillingford 1969 Jeffrey R. Hewitt 1974 Gordon Sherlock 1996 Anne Harrison Hawley Friends/Former Faculty Daniel Gregory Mary E. (Myers) Stubbs
Milton Magazine
59