News

By Marion R. “Robin” Foote ’63

When I think about who I am today and the people and the organizations that have most influenced my development, I think of North Shore Country Day first, along with family and church. The education I received at NSCD shaped the way I thought, processed and engaged with the world. It wasn’t just about absorbing facts — it was about learning how to learn, how to question and how to express myself. That kind of intellectual and personal grounding stays with you, and it’s something I want others to have an opportunity to experience, too, regardless of family circumstances or other considerations. 

North Shore taught me the value of learning by doing — of showing up and trying, whether you were good at something or not. For example, I sang in the chorus for the annual Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, even though I couldn’t carry a tune, and I played on sports teams, even though I was a mediocre athlete in most sports. What mattered was being part of a community that encouraged such growth, exploration and self-discovery. You do your best, learn what you particularly enjoy and what offers lifelong opportunities to develop, and you can focus increasingly on those as you mature. Many of us learned lifelong hobbies through such exploration. 

I was also incredibly lucky to attend during a time of remarkable faculty and administrative leadership when each of them took on the responsibility of leading at least one extracurricular activity. I remember running the short or long block during P.E., biking to build speed and endurance and doing homework whenever opportunities permitted. We also, unfortunately, faced hardships together, including the losses of several teachers and classmates. Witnessing the impact of these losses on the families and loved ones of those who passed left an enduring impression of how easily life can be cut short, prompting a reevaluation of one’s assumptions about the future. 

Later in life, I had a fulfilling career in consulting and banking, working with wonderful teams in each area for many years. Importantly, the habits that helped me succeed — critical thinking, discipline, collaboration and leadership skills — were nurtured early on at North Shore. 

Including the school in my estate plans felt like a natural way to give back. My goal is to support all dimensions of what North Shore provides: academic rigor, physical education and the arts. I’ve given annually since high school, but I also wanted to make a lasting impact. My estate gift will help ensure that future students — regardless of background or circumstances — can experience the same transformative education that I did. 

In addition to my planned gift, I’m particularly pleased to have been able to support the new Mac McCarty Athletic Center through the Healthy Futures campaign. Mac was a beloved coach when I was a student, and honoring his legacy feels deeply meaningful. I remember when the original Mac Gym was being built. The school recognized the need, drew up the plans and followed through with vision and determination. To see that same gym — now renovated and expanded into the Mac McCarty Athletic Center — still serving students 65 years later is wonderful. It provided an opportunity to honor a legacy I witnessed in the making. 

Through my estate plans, I hope to extend that impact even further, helping to sustain the school’s mission well into the future. My hope is that my estate gift helps students engage with both the content they’re learning and the deeper educational disciplines behind it. It’s one thing to study math or history — it’s another to develop the habits of mind that allow one to think critically, stay curious and keep learning throughout one’s life. 

North Shore is a place that instills such focus. I’m grateful to have learned these lessons young, and for their contribution to whatever success I had later in life.