Eileen Cutler ’62 Still Cheering for Thayer—Including with a Bequest

(Left to Right) Tony Chamberlain ’62; Eileen Cutler ’62; Peter Benelli P ’75, ’80, ’81GP ’09; Arthur Valicenti ’51 P ’75, ’75, ’77 GP ’10 ’14; and Paula Nobili ’62

Eileen Cutler ’62 was a cheerleader when she went to high school at Thayer Academy. Today the retired teacher is still a cheerleader for Thayer, though she says “I’m not doing cartwheels any more—though I suppose I could.”

Cheerleading for her school has included years of volunteering as class agent, working in development as the assistant director of development, and financial support—including a bequest in her will.

“I have always had a gift to Thayer in my various wills—there never was a question that I would give a portion of my estate to Thayer,” Eileen says matter-of-factly. “It’s because I had such a wonderful experience, and I have always wanted to give back.”

Eileen’s connection to Thayer began at the age of 5 when she first attended Camp Thayer’s summer program, which has been around since 1934. She attended for many years.

“My older sister Jane Cutler ’58, my uncle Henry Cutler ’26, and my cousins Steve Cutler ’53 and Robert Cutler ’57 all went to Thayer,” Eileen says. “My parents felt that I would get a better education there than in the public schools, and, of course, I did. I first fell in love with the beauty of the place, then with the people, and then with the fantastic education. The curriculum was rigorous, but the classes were small and you received a lot of individual attention. I built a fabulous foundation for the rest of my education career.”

Eileen earned her undergraduate degree at Lesley University in Cambridge. She then earned two master’s degrees—one in English from the University of San Francisco and one in guidance and counseling from Bridgewater State; she also helped to train many teachers. She taught public school in several Massachusetts communities and outside of San Francisco and helped train many teachers. By 1986 she had moved back to Massachusetts to teach and was volunteering as the agent for her graduating class at Thayer.

“The need arose for a director of Alumni Relations, and Thayer asked if I would be willing to do it,” Eileen recalls. “It was an interesting idea, but I wasn’t sure because I loved teaching. So I said I would take a leave of absence from my teaching job and try it.”

She stayed at Thayer for seven years as the director of Alumni and Parent Relations while also serving as the assistant director of Development.

“My former English teacher, Peter Benelli, had become the headmaster,” Eileen says. “He was a mentor, a boss, a friend, and a colleague. It was totally fun.”

Benelli, who died in 2013, began teaching English at Thayer in 1958—the same year Eileen arrived—and worked at the Academy for 33 years, serving as headmaster from 1967 to 1991. The school’s writing center bears his name.

“It was great to give back to a school that I got so much from,” Eileen says.

She still had the drive to teach, however, and decided to go back into the classroom in a public school setting. She retired in 2001 and still lives nearby during the warmer months—and in Florida during the winters, where she currently stays active by bicycling 10 miles a day and golfing. And she continues to be involved with Thayer.

“We have a very active class—we have stayed close, like a family,” Eileen says. “Because I was running reunions and doing fundraising for all the classes, I am involved with many alumni, not just my own class. There is a large nucleus of people I am in contact with as friends.”

And she still cheerleads for the Academy where she got her start.

“Cheerleading is how I live my life,” Eileen says. “I have a huge enthusiasm for life and for joy—for trying to help people enjoy every day … including my Thayer family.”