“Alaska” Rowland

Class Notes
Class of 1955
Posted on October 2, 2015

Mark Rowland followed his dream to go to Alaska where he has resided 50 years as an attorney and judge in our 49th state. He says that living in Alaska “is rather like falling in love with an absolutely gorgeous woman who’s seriously mean about half the time! It’s quite a place. The winters get long and sometimes I wonder why I stayed but I’m here for the duration.” .. He remembers years ago running into George Rentschler by chance down by the docks at Valdez. Mark has also stayed in touch with Alex Pagel who was his freshman roommate at Deerfield. Mark mentioned talking with Brady Coleman once in the past 60 years and commented “It was just like I’d seen him yesterday.” Brady also followed his dream and became an actor who’s now been in eight movies. .. Also very interesting is Terry Dobson ’56 who went on to become a great Aikido master and
has several books written about him. Mark gave up flying five years ago after being able to “extend my adolescence firmly into old age.” After Pony Duke passed away in October, 2014, Mark and Felicia took a trip to Italy in June together with Mary Ellen Duke and saw Pony’s son, George, who had accompanied her as far as London.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of the Alumni Association?

Upon graduating from Deerfield, alumni enter a diverse network of former Deerfield students. Deerfield alumni have ventured into almost every area of employment, and many are at the top of their respective fields. The advantages of this vast network are numerous and significant, as every member of the Deerfield family receives the following:

Automatic subscription to Deerfield Magazine
Online subscription to the Deerfield Scroll
Access to the Deerfield Mobile App and directory
Invitations to special events both on and off campus
Eligibility for membership in a number of recognition societies

Alumni are also eligible for alumni awards, such as the Ashley Award, Heritage Award, and the Mimi Morsman Award.

As a member of the Alumni Association, do I have dues?

There are no membership fees or dues for members of the Deerfield family, but Deerfield does ask for assistance in a few areas. First of all, in order for Deerfield to have the most up-to-date records possible, we encourage members to keep us apprised of their current contact info. Alumni are also urged to direct all concerns and suggestions regarding Deerfield’s operations through the Executive Committee, the governing body of the Alumni Association. The committee acts as the voice of the alumni body, and works closely with the school administration. In order to keep tuition affordable and the quality of a Deerfield education at its highest, the Academy depends upon the continuing support of alumni and their families. This support can take the form of annual or capital gifts, or time spent volunteering on behalf of Deerfield.

How can I network with other alumni in my area?

There are regional events in many major American cities. Please visit here for more information on regional engagement.

As a Deerfield alum, am I invited to campus athletic events and performances?

Of course! Be sure to read the latest issue of From Albany Road in your email’s in-box for current news of what is happening on campus. As we also send out periodic invitations, it’s always best to make sure we have your current physical address. And if you do plan on visiting campus, why not tell us ahead of time?

Contact the Office of Advancement

alumni@deerfield.edu
413-774-1474

7 Boyden Lane, PO Box 306
Deerfield, MA 01342

7 Boyden Lane, PO Box 87, Deerfield, MA 01342

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS: Deerfield Academy admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.