FRED LOCKE: HEAD OF SCHOOL
Fred Locke served as our second Head of School from 1960-1963.
Neither book on Graland contains details on this man’s tenure at Graland. Many years ago, when I asked Mrs. Gorham about Mr. Locke, she did not offer enough information to satisfy me. I admit I was intrigued about this man because he had worked with such icons as Ruth Gorham, Genevieve Jones, Chet Preisser, Colette Guiberteau, Nancy Nye Priest, Dave Rice, etc. In addition, when Lisa Johnson, a dear friend and a former colleague, worked at the Gordon School, I visited the school and stayed in faculty housing for more than a week as I cared for her daughter and walked the dog. I even visited the library hoping to learn more about this man. No luck.
A few days ago, I found Mr. Locke’s obituary online. With thanks to the Day Funeral Home:
“Frederic Winslow Locke (“Fred”) died in his home in Randolph, Vermont on Memorial Day, May 26, 2014.
“Fred was born in Boston, Massachusetts on April 9, 1926, to Richard Baldwin Locke and Helen Joyce Locke. He grew up in Belmont, Massachusetts, and graduated from Belmont Hill School (Class of 1944), Yale University (B.A., 1949) and Harvard Graduate School of Education (M.A., 1955). He joined the Naval Air Force during World War II, arriving too late to see action. His professional career as a teacher, administrator and educational consultant, started out at The Shady Hill School Teacher Internship Program (Cambridge, MA) where he met Holly, the love of his life and wife of nearly 63 years. Fred served as Headmaster of Gordon School (Providence, RI), Graland School (Denver, CO), and Oak Lane Day School (Philadelphia, PA), taught at Germantown Friends School (Philadelphia, PA), and helped establish the Philadelphia Teacher Center, a resource for elementary school teachers affiliated with the Philadelphia Public School System. Fred was passionate about education that served creativity, the heart and soul, as well as, of course, the mind.
“Fred married Charlotte Rose Welles (“Holly”) (Smith College, 1949) on June 23, 1951. Fred and Holly had 4 children, Majida Miller, Frederic W. Locke, Jr. (married to Holly Huillet), Robin Locke Nagele (married to Drew A. Nagele), and Katy Locke (married to Steve Chase). Fred and Holly have three grandchildren, Christopher Hastings Nagele, Alexandra Rose Nagele, and Emily Welles Locke. He is also survived by one of his four siblings, David Locke of Sedona, Arizona. His family was at the center of his life. Fred’s greatest joys were times spent with his family and close friends: sailing and cruising off the coast of Westport Point, Massachusetts; canoeing in the waters of Belgrade Lakes, Maine and Lake Temagami, Ontario; body surfing in the ocean, skiing (downhill and later, cross country) in Colorado and Vermont and out the front door of his farm in East Brookfield.
“After fulfilling his lifelong dream of owning a farm in Vermont (in 1972) Fred and Holly commuted to East Brookfield for holidays for over 20 years. In 1993, following retirement, they lived at the Locke Farm for 14 years, until 2007, when they moved to Randolph. Fred was an active and beloved member of Bethany Church and was active in the community. He served for many years in the Orange County Court Diversion Program and was a member of its Board of Directors. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Randolph Area Food Shelf and donated the extra lot next to his house in 2011 to establish the School Street Community Garden, after becoming passionate about local sustainable agriculture in Community. Fred was a quiet, humble servant of many, a close, deep personal friend to a few, a wonderful listener, a farmer at heart with a sharp eye, and a quick wit. He died peacefully at home in his bed, surrounded by loving family. He will be sorely missed, especially in this final community he chose to call home.”
This man led a wonderful life. Given his connection to schools in Philadelphia, where I worked for seven and a half years, I wish I had met him. This “mystery man” has become a real person to me. Now, you know about our second Head of School.
Graland Country Day School
Graland Country Day School is a private school in Denver, Colorado, serving students in preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. Founded in Denver in 1927, Graland incorporates a rich, experiential learning approach in a traditional classroom setting, emphasizing the development of globally and socially conscious leaders who excel academically.
