Part 5: Pat's Scholarship

While we were concentrating on the headstone, Pomfret School chose a recipient for Pat’s Scholarship and designed a silver bowl and plaque. By June 2007, we had received about $25,000 in donations (with much thanks to my father). It was enough to award a $500 prize to a very deserving young lady named Hannah Leo from St. Mary’s School in Putnam, Connecticut. She would be entering ninth grade in the fall, and the Pomfret admissions office felt she was outstanding, much like Pat. She had maintained the highest grade point average in her class and was of exceptional character. She was a go-getter, and the minute we presented the award at her graduation ceremony, we knew she was the right choice--beautiful, focused, and sharp-eyed. Bob gave a magnificent speech. Honestly, I don’t think I was the only one crying. The irony of being the constant recipient of these awards to being the one giving them was too stark. I kept asking myself, How did this happen? But I could not make the connection from one rarity to another. It was too big. I found myself standing by the alter, looking down, while Bob read his remarks, another eulogy actually. I was grateful that I did not have to function as well as he. When Hannah stepped forward, I shook her hand, looked into her warm dark eyes and said congratulations, Honey.

We were passing on the mantel that Pat had worn his whole life, a mantel in which we had wrapped ourselves along with him. We let the glory rub off on us, and now we were giving it up. Instead of receiving, we were taking it off, humbled at how small we felt without Pat’s greatness. I tried to find Hannah after the ceremony to explain some of that to her, but she had disappeared with her friends. We packed up our empty gift bags, which had carried the silver bowl for Hannah and the plaque for St. Mary’s School, and found the car. Hannah’s mother later wrote me a loving poem, and Hannah has already had her picture in the paper for a science project. Her first semester, she received straight A’s and did “some of the best work in the entire freshman class” according to her mother. She was the perfect choice. But her mother has not allowed herself to be proud without worry. She struggled with the decision to let Hannah go on a chorus trip to Japan:

“It's probably one of the hardest things I have had to decide as my co-worker in the early 90's lost her HS aged daughter on a terrorist plane bombing over Lockerby Scotland. Her daughter was returning from a HS trip w/her classmates from Central MA when the plane imploded in mid air. I watched her grief for years and now I am faced w/a decision that
frankly scares me to death.”

She has allowed herself to contemplate what if, a reality that she knows exists. It’s no preparation. I went through the same what if. It’s a judgment that I can guarantee will haunt every parent who loses a child.

Patrick D. Wood '01 Memorial Prize
Established in Memory of Patrick D. Wood,
Pomfret School Class of 2001, who was a
Top Scholar, Accomplished Musician, and
Outstanding Member of the Pomfret School Community

Awarded to the Top 8th Grade Student From
Windham County Matriculating at
Pomfret School


Bob’s presentation remarks
June 9, 2007

Following the loss of our son Patrick to a sudden and severe episode of depression in Berlin, Germany in January 2006, and after his family had attained a measure of composure, we--Pat’s mom Lisette, here with me this PM, his twin sister Libby, and his older brother Colin-- decided to try to honor his memory in an appropriate manner. To this end, we approached Pomfret School with our intention, and to our immense gratitude the school willingly assented to help us to establish a merit award in his name to go to a deserving Windham County elementary school student accepted for attendance at the School. This year’s prize of a silver bowl and cash prize to that student, and a plaque to St. Mary’s School, is the first presentation and it will go to a local student whose academic performance at St. Mary’s and in standardized testing, as well as in extra-curricula activities, upholds the rigorous study, self-discipline, curiosity and enthusiasm for learning so evident in Patrick. Before presenting the award, allow me to tell you just a little about him.

Pat graduated from Pomfret Community School in 1997, was awarded the full four year Peck Scholarship to Pomfret School, and became a member of the class of 2001, where upon graduation he was honored by being named first in class. He was awarded numerous other academic prizes during his four years there, as well. Besides excelling in the classroom, Pat was a three-time winner of the Ct State Music Teachers’ classical piano competitions when at Pomfret, while also participating in the interscholastic sports of cross-country, crew, and lacrosse. Upon graduation, he attended Stanford University, graduating in 2005 with distinction in mathematics, and had been accepted into Stanford’s prestigious Graduate School of Computer Science for the 2006 fall term.

All in all, not a bad resume for a country kid from Windham County. It demonstrates that we have the educational resources here to prepare our young people for great things. Obviously, St. Mary’s School has prepared this year’s winner, and we commend it. Now, let me get to the business at hand and present the two--part awards: first is to the student chosen by Pomfret School’s admission office, and the second to St. Mary’s.

To Patrick’s Loving Family,

We can’t comprehend just how sad you must feel

For the loss of someone you love.

This sorrowful time must still feel unreal

While you’re looking for strength from above.
Our hope, from our hearts, that your pain will decrease,

That your spirits will gain strength again,

And we pray that your faith will create inner peace

And that God will send blessings…Amen

-The Leo family