It is with sadness that we report the passing of our classmate, John Thorn. His obituary was written as follows: “John Franklin Thorn, 77, passed away on Friday (6-13-14) at home. Born on April 24, 1937 in Greenfield, he was the son of Franklin H. and Muriel J. (Johnson) Thorn. He was a 1955 graduate of Deerfield Academy, furthering his education with an associate’s degree from Stockbridge School of Agriculture. He worked with his father on their strawberry farm, best known for their “pick your own” fields, taking it over at the time of his father’s passing and was a mail carrier for many years. John did volunteer work within his community: he had been a volunteer firefighter for Old Deerfield, and worked with the water department. He enjoyed painting, especially watercolors of covered bridges. He enjoyed camping and day trips, especially to Vermont, and did extensive gardening. Survivors include his daughter Jennifer Wood ’92 and her husband Brian of Northfield, grandson Nathan and granddaughter Rachel. He was predeceased by his wife, Diane E. (Coombs) Thorn in 1977 and his sister Wilma (Thorn) Colella in 2004.” Photo: John Thorn ’55 A special moment for John and his daughter, Jennifer Wood ’92, at her wedding in 2003.
John F. Thorn
- Class Notes
- Class of 1955
- Posted on January 27, 2015
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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.
There are Deerfield Clubs in many major American cities. Please visit here for more information on specific clubs and their sponsored events.
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