Once in a blue moon someone like you comes along.
Thank you, Brian!
As you move forward into your next chapter, this tribute site stands as a testament to the profound impact of your leadership and dedication. Colleagues and friends have gathered to share heartfelt messages and cherished memories, each capturing the spirit of connection and progress you so tirelessly championed. Through these photos and words, we express our deep gratitude for the invaluable contributions you have made to our community. Your legacy of excellence and camaraderie will reverberate through the walls of 124 for years to come.
Thank you so much for your incredible leadership and for being such a champion of our efforts on behalf of Harvard. Thank you most especially for sharing your most important gift, your time, with us all. From a global pandemic to challenging conversations, you were there and made each day better.
Stephanie Skedros
Though I have just started here at Harvard, you have made such an impact on my time thus far. Your smiling face and genuine care for everyone at AA&D are some things that I admire about you. Getting to record the HallowAAD skit with you was a pleasure and a treat to get to know you a bit better outside of all-staff meetings. Thank you for cultivating a workplace that is welcoming and encouraging. I hope you enjoy your retirement and the holiday season! Best wishes,
Lucia Beurer
Thank you for your steadfast and tireless leadership! Enjoy a well-deserved retirement and time with your family. In gratitude,
Kristen DeAmicis
Congratulations on an impressive career! I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to work closely with you and learn from your leadership. Your guidance, calm demeanor, and kind spirit have been an inspiration to me and to many. I hope you enjoy this next chapter filled with family (and hopefully a little bit of Harvard, too). Thank you for everything,
Amanda Luongo
I'm wishing you all the best on your next adventure. Thank you for being such a remarkable leader! All the best,
Kaitlin Murphy (Gift Management, Operations)
Thank you for being such a thoughtful and genuine leader for AA&D! You and your leadership have made me proud to work at Harvard. Wishing you so much rest, relaxation, adventure, and fun in retirement! Cheers to you and a stellar career!
Laurel Piatelli
Thank you for your invaluable and unwavering support of the Harvard community. You've shown tremendous leadership and resolve during my time at AA&D, and I'm proud to represent an organization that you've championed. Wishing you a rewarding and relaxing retirement. Sincerely,
Nicholas Goudsmit (Class Report Office)
Thank you, Brian, for being a shining example of compassionate leadership for us all to follow. You cultivated a wonderful work culture that encourages and empowers people to bring their best selves to this community, which has made AA&D a better place to work and in turn has made our collective work even stronger. You will be sorely missed, but your impact will continue to be felt long after your retirement. I wish you every happiness in the next chapter of your life!
Ben Aaronson
Thank you, Brian, for your leadership. I'm especially grateful for the stability and calm you brought to the AA&D team throughout the pandemic. I'll never forget it. You are a great role model and we have all learned so much from you. Wishing you a very happy retirement filled with family, friends, music, and new adventures!
Sara Massari
Congratulations Brian! Wishing you days filled with curiosity, ease, and joy in retirement.
Rachel Lewellen
Many thanks for all that you have done for AA&D and Harvard. Your steadfast dedication, thoughtful leadership, poised demeanor, and occasional song recommendation will be missed but your legacy at 124 and beyond will live on for years to come. Enjoy retirement!
Maggie Scanlon (HCF)
Although we did not connect outside of the halls and elevator, I wanted to say that I have enjoyed your time here at AA&D. I found your candor and honesty refreshing and will miss you in our Wednesday stand-ups. I wish you and your family all the best for the future. Warmly,
Amber Young
Thank you for providing such an excellent example of good leadership. Those of us who are earlier in our careers learn so much from you, even if we don't work with you directly. With appreciation for that gift, and with best wishes for a well-deserved retirement,
David Weinstein
Thank you for your excellent leadership for AA&D, through both the hard and the good times! Your vision for our work, clear-headedness, compassion, and humanity have shone through and afforded us a sense of stability and focus that is deeply appreciated.
Wishing you a most wonderful next chapter and joyful times with loved ones. All the best,
Heather Julian
It has been a pleasure to work under your leadership at AA&D. Thank you for your incredible service to Harvard, your unwavering commitment to your colleagues, and your inspirational messaging to alumni, parents, and friends. Your advice on "lessons from your mentors" at the fall leadership retreat was particularly well received. I personally appreciated your insights on promoting high-performing teams, focusing on growth and expansive thinking as a leader, balancing emotions with composure, and the importance of connecting and caring. Thank you for providing the leadership needed to navigate these challenging times and move forward as an organization with expansive thinking and the courage to forge ahead. As you embark on this exciting new chapter, may you create countless cherished memories with family and friends. Wishing you a joyful retirement filled with health, happiness, and fulfillment! Warm regards,
Diane Metcalf (Director of Athletics Development)
Thank you for being an amazing pillar and leader for AA&D! As a development assistant on the Major Gifts team, it has been very inspiring to hear from you whenever possible, and we all find your work ethic and career journey remarkable. Wishing you all the best in your future endeavors!
Seika Ghavidel
Congratulations on your retirement! Your incredible work at Harvard has made a lasting impact, and we wish you all the best in this next chapter for you and your family. Cheers!
Lucas Simpson
I wish health and happiness for your retirement. I enjoyed our little chats in the lunch room. Have a wonderful time with your grandchildren. Best,
Patty Scanlan
Many thanks for sharing your passion, talent, and dedication with the AA&D team during your years of leadership! May your next chapter bring well-deserved rest and also new adventures.
Johanna Hagerty
I wish you so much happiness in your retirement. You have been one of the most inspiring leaders I have had the chance to work with in my 20-plus years. Your demonstration of transparency and warmness and ability to be vulnerable has created a place here in AA&D for all to feel truly heard, accepted, and comfortable. I wish you all the best time with your family and doing the things you love most in your many, many years to come.
Melisa Holzman
Your thoughtful and kind leadership has profoundly impacted us all, and your dedication and empathy have been truly inspiring. We'll miss your guidance but are excited for you as you start this well-deserved new chapter.
Samantha O’Shea
Congratulations on your well-deserved retirement! I'm so grateful for your leadership of AA&D, but was particularly appreciative of your steadiness as we navigated the uncertainty of the pandemic. You were candid and direct about a difficult and evolving situation, and it was a masterclass in leadership. I hope you enjoy this valuable time with your family and I'm wishing you well! Warmly,
Lily Gillespie
Thank you so much for all you've done for Harvard and the AA&D staff, Brian. You're leaving this place better than when you found it. We appreciate your kindness, candor, and transparency more than you can know!
Drew Rapa
It's been a truly rewarding experience working with and learning from you over the past five years. Your leadership has made a lasting impact on our organization and we are so fortunate to have had you at the helm during some of the most tumultuous times. I wish you peace and plenty of time with those who mean the most to you during this next chapter of your life. Warmly,
O'Malley Walsh Gordon
Thank you, Brian, for your years of steadfast leadership. We're lucky to have had you at the helm while we navigated incredibly strange circumstances. It's been a pleasure to learn from you and hear your tales. Wishing you peace and happiness in retirement. Brian, thank you for all that you have done for AA&D! You have steered our team through some challenging years with grace and candor. Wishing you all the best in your next chapter (which I hope will include many Van Morrison concerts!) Gratefully,
Kellie Celia
It has been a pleasure to work under your leadership. Your energy, candor, and remarkable way with words always inspire! I hope retirement is full of family time and adventure, with some relaxation on the side. You have AA&D and Harvard's gratitude. Best wishes,
Anne Gotfredson
Thank you for your service, leadership, and everything you've done for AA&D and the Harvard community, especially with everything happening at Harvard and around the world over the last several years! Enjoy your retirement! Best,
John Prince
From the start, you have made AA&D feel like such a warm and welcoming place to work. I am always so appreciative of your kindness to volunteers, alumni, and staff alike. Best of luck in your next chapter! My best,
Angela Wright Mullin
Add me to the long list of people who have deeply appreciated your leadership of AA&D. You have steered this big ship through some rocky weather! Hearing from you every week (or nearly every week) has made us all feel connected to you and to each other, beyond the (very important!) information sharing that has happened in those stand-ups. Especially when times have been hard. Your transparency has been reassuring and moving. It's very easy for the head of a large organization to be distant from most of the staff and we have never felt distant from you. Thanks for all you have done for us, for AA&D, and for Harvard. I hope you have a wonderful retirement! Best,
Jesse Hergert
I haven't worked here for very long, but even in my short time here at AA&D I have been so inspired by your gentle leadership, warmth, and humor. You are leaving behind some very large shoes to fill.
Maia Cataldo
Brian,
You are an empathetic, authentic, and steadfast leader. Thank you for guiding all of AA&D with thoughtful and kind words and actions for so many years. Your leadership, and dad jokes, will be greatly missed. With all my gratitude,
Hester Breen
Dear Brian, congrats on your retirement! Thank you for your leadership of Harvard through these most unusual times—and for leading with humanity and kindness amid it all. I wish you the very best in this new season and hope it includes lots of joy, music, family, and happiness! With gratitude,
Georgia Shutzer
Dear Brian, I am truly grateful for your kindness, thoughtfulness, and unwavering support for our entire staff. You should also know we consider you an honorary member of our 124 North (a.k.a. Portland, Maine) contingent! We will all miss you.
Christina Spaulding
From the very beginning—an auspicious President Faust event in LA and a rainy President Bacow evening in San Diego—you have always been front row in support of alumni communities. Thank you for championing the importance of alumni engagement at every step. You will be missed!
Heather Gain
Brian, thank you for being a genuine, thoughtful, and caring leader of AA&D. You've made a great place to work even better. We will miss you, but I am thrilled that you are taking time to enjoy family and retirement. Best,
Jill Martyn
Brian, working with you has been one of the greatest privileges of my career. I will never forget that you took the time to meet with me years ago when I was a candidate for a low-level position at CalTech—and I can hardly believe my good fortune that, when my heart ultimately kept me at Harvard, I was still lucky enough to work under your superlative leadership. It’s hard to imagine more challenging times than we’ve faced in the past five years, but thanks to your steady hand on the keel, they’re full of proud and joyful memories. Thank you for your generosity, your candor, and the warmth with which you’ve brought our community together. I wish you every happiness in the years ahead! Fondly,
Kelly Hahn
Thank you for your many years of dedication and leadership to Harvard and the advancement world. I am grateful to have worked with you for the past three years. You are a model leader who remains calm even under the most strenuous of situations and a kind, approachable person who treats everyone with respect and genuine compassion. I hope that retirement does not remove you too far from the Boston-area fundraising world, as I hope to continue to learn from your expertise. But I do wish you well-deserved rest and relaxation in this next chapter. Thank you again, Brian. Sincerely,
Natalie Hachem
Thank you so much for all your thoughtful leadership, guidance, and mentorship to all of us at AA&D! While we didn't overlap too much during my nine months at AA&D, in the opportunities we did have to connect I always left with the impression of how much you seemed to care not just about the success of the department on a professional level, but also each of people who contributed to that—regardless of their role. Coming from an animal welfare nonprofit, it made me feel especially welcomed learning about your background fundraising for veterinary medicine! I loved knowing our team was being led by a fellow animal lover! Thank you for being such a fantastic example of leadership and kindness! I wish you all the best in your well-deserved retirement with your family and hope you'll stay in touch with the Harvard community! With best wishes,
Danielle Mazandi
Thank you for everything, Brian! We have been so fortunate to be under your fearless leadership. I hope this next chapter of life brings you joy, a lot of family time, and good health! We will miss you greatly.
Best wishes,
Keira (Walsh) McLarey
Though I’ve been with AA&D for just over a year, my experience here has been greatly enriched by your grounded, approachable, and genuine leadership. Having spent years in alumni affairs from other parts of the University, I can truly say that I have greatly appreciated your warm and empathetic approach, not only with the alumni community but also with the AA&D staff. Your leadership has truly made a lasting impact on me. As you embark on this new chapter, I wish you a wonderful and well-deserved retirement. May you enjoy every moment with your family and loved ones. Farewell and happy retirement!
Rachel Tsavalakoglou
Thank you for helping make Harvard such a wonderful place to work. You always bring such a wonderful energy to those around you, whether it be the few times seeing you at 124, the numerous stand-up meetings, or the thoughtful communications sent out, thank you for everything. I wish you all the best and congratulations on a beyond well-deserved retirement!
Heather Lombardi
Congratulations on your retirement! Your leadership leaves an incredible legacy at Harvard. I’ve always appreciated how you demonstrate a genuine interest in our new members during new hire introductions. I always look forward to hearing everyone's fun facts and have admired the way you engage with everyone. Thank you for your vision, inspiration, and the ways you’ve strengthened the Harvard community. Wishing you all the best as you embark on this exciting new chapter, you will be greatly missed!
Minori Cohan
Thank you, Brian, for your dedication to Harvard over the last several years. What I appreciate most about you is your commitment to getting to know every member of AA&D and making them feel valued. Best of luck in retirement!
Jennifer Clifford
Thank you so much for your dedicated leadership of AA&D! Congratulations on all that you have accomplished (and helped us accomplish) over the years and congratulations on this exciting next chapter of your life. Best,
Kayla Ryan
The tone for a group is set by its leader—thank you for setting a tone of inclusiveness and empathy by modeling authenticity and vulnerability in your leadership. I'm grateful that in the aftermath of October 7, you were steering the ship for AA&D. Wishing you all the best for your retirement!
Jessie Loew (ADS)
Thank you for your incredible leadership, especially during the challenging times. I have always appreciated your ability to remain calm, communicate effectively, and foster collaboration. I know you will enjoy retirement, especially the extra time that you will be able to spend with your grandchildren and family. Best wishes,
Erin Stanton
Thank you for your leadership, sincerity, kindness, and counsel. You have left a lasting legacy here at AA&D and your presence will be deeply missed (particularly at the weekly stand-up with your uncanny ability to relate to every fun fact shared, no matter how obscure). You have truly left an indelible mark on this community. Here's wishing you an absolutely wonderful next chapter. Happy retirement! Warmly,
Lori LoTurco
Thank you for your impactful and steadfast leadership of AA&D, Brian. Wishing you a retirement filled with happiness and fulfillment.
Philip White
In the short time I've been at AA&D, I can tell why my colleagues have been so impressed by your leadership. You've shown authenticity and care for your coworkers, vulnerability in speaking about your reasons for retiring, and grace with everyone during some hectic times. Thank you for being such a wonderful leader and I wish you only the best for your retirement. I'm sure your wife, children, and grandchildren are so happy for you. They must be looking forward to spending time together as much as you are looking forward to being with them. Cheers to your health and happiness. Sincerely,
Laura Ruch
Thank you for your leadership, compassion, and transparency that you've given AA&D. You will be truly missed, and we are all so grateful for your unwavering support of each and every one of us. AA&D won't be the same without you but I am so thrilled that you will be able to spend more time with family and friends. Thank you for steering this ever-changing ship. Happy Retirement! Cheers,
Kara Cafasso
Thank you for being such a kind, thoughtful, and steady leader, Brian! It’s been a true honor to work with you at AA&D. Wishing you a blissful retirement with plenty of opportunities to catch up on good reads and add new birds to your life list. All best,
Hillary Casavant
Thank you for all you have done to support the AA&D teams at Harvard. We have been so fortunate to have you leading us over the last six years. Your steadiness in the face of unanticipated and unprecedented times was invaluable, inspiring, and comforting. To say you will be missed is truly an understatement! I wish you a relaxing and joy-filled retirement. May the days and months ahead be filled with the quiet joys of life: reading, enjoying music (Van Morrison and many others), exploring the natural world, and spending precious time with those you hold most dear. I wish you all the very best and hope our paths cross at some point in the future. Thank you for everything. Warmly,
Sarah Hall
Thank you for your caring and expert guidance in helping us navigate thro' change and thro' storm. You were just the calming presence we needed and we were so lucky to have you at the helm when we did. From the Age that is past, to the Age that is waiting before—you both respected Harvard's time-honored traditions while simultaneously encouraging AA&D to forge new paths. And all the while you reminded us not to lose sight of our mission and the University's greatest strength—its people. You have left big shoes to fill and I extend every best wish for your much-deserved retirement. Congratulations and thank you for six and a half wonderful years! With profound Crimson gratitude,
Jennifer Downing
Thank you for your genuine and inspiring leadership! Wishing you all the best in retirement!
Deborah Ryan
Thank you, Brian, for your outstanding leadership, guidance, and support. AA&D and the Harvard community are fortunate beyond words to have benefitted from your extraordinary service over the past several years. You will be deeply missed and we wish you all the very best. Kindest regards,
Liz Kinsman
Thank you for being the right leader at the right time for AA&D. You helped us shape a new culture, navigate a pandemic, evolve to a successful dynamic workforce, and respond to unimagined difficulties. Your leadership style is a model for many. We thank you for your investment in all of us. We are a better organization than when you arrived and we all feel the difference. We will miss your empathy, vulnerability, candor, humor, and love of words. We wish you all the best in this next chapter.
Julie Broad
Over the past four years I've learned so much from you and your steady leadership of AA&D. Thank you for always putting our AA&D community at the top of your priority list and for the countless contributions you've made to Harvard and its mission. Wishing you all the best as you explore interests new and old. We will miss you!
Jenni Watson
Thank you, Brian, for leading by example during your time at Harvard. Your steady, thoughtful, transparent approach meant a lot during the crises of COVID and the Israel/Gaza protests—and your influence will remain long after you've gone.
Brad Wiss
Thank you for your leadership and commitment to both Harvard's well-being and the well-being of the people who work here. We will miss you! With gratitude,
Rachel Barker
Congratulations on such an illustrious career! I hope you enjoy your next chapter of rest and relaxation with your loved ones. I truly appreciate the profound impact you've had on my career and what I was able to learn working closely with you.
Kelsey Manning
Thank you for your leadership, concise, and kind communication, and for steering the AA&D ship through successes and choppy waters. You will be missed. Wishing you a wonderful retirement. Sincerely,
Erin Chandler
Thank you for leading AA&D with kindness and care! I’m grateful for your thoughtful edits on countless drafts—and I appreciate that you’ve always answered my emails despite being extremely busy. I will miss working with you and I hope that you have an absolute blast being retired.
Daniel Browning
Thank you for your leadership these past almost seven years! It has been wonderful getting to work with you and to be a part of all the accomplishments over your tenure. Wishing you a very happy and healthy retirement with your family!
Kelley Barnes
Writing in your voice for Your Giving Matters has been a privilege. Your warmth, tact, honesty, and ability to gracefully communicate sensitive topics are appreciated. You are the real deal and I wish you all the best! Warmly,
Kaitlin Buckley
It has been a pleasure working with and learning from you over the past several years. You've made AA&D a remarkably rewarding place to work and I'm very grateful. I wish you a glorious season of retirement—may this next chapter be your best one yet! Best wishes,
Sarah Bartlett
In the brief time I've been a part of AA&D, I have seen how beloved you are by your division. You are a wonderful leader and I'm happy that you will be starting a new chapter in retirement. Best,
Melissa Meyer
Congratulations, Brian! This is such an exciting next chapter you are taking on. I am grateful for the dedication and support you have shown to us all at AA&D. You have truly set the standard for organization leadership, respect, and community.
Michael Dunn
I joined AA&D at the end of October 2018—my first-ever position in higher education—around the same time you took the role of vice president, and I’m so grateful my first experience in higher ed was under your direction. We will all miss your thoughtful leadership, which steered us through many challenges (including a pandemic) and toward many more successes. Enjoy spending more time with family and best of luck on whatever adventures come next!
Abbie Barrett
I'm so grateful for your leadership during an extraordinarily tough time for the world, for higher education, and for Harvard. Your steady hand has had such a calming effect through the challenges of the last few years, and your candor and compassion have been greatly appreciated. I'll always remember you admitting to us that you thought remote work wouldn't be successful—but that you were, happily, wrong. Your willingness to share how your thinking evolved was admirable and inspiring; the world could use more leaders like you. Wishing you all the best in retirement!
Melissa Kane
You have been the exact kind of leader that I have always wanted on a team. You treat us as equals and with a clear goal for our work. Thank you for giving the support staff your time and I wish you the absolute best ahead of you. Sincerely,
Josh Lewis
Thank you so much for the welcoming environment you have cultivated in AA&D. Your leadership and care have helped to make this a great place to work. Best wishes for your next chapter (and especially for lots of time with your grandbabies!) All the best,
Piper McInall
Thank you for all that you have done for AA&D. Under your leadership, we have not only weathered many storms, but we as a culture and an office have truly blossomed. We will miss your steady hand immensely, but your impact will always be felt. Thank you! Brian, thank you for all of your guidance, candor, and humor that have so greatly enriched our AA&D community! Working with you has been such a valuable experience. I hope you enjoy a truly well-deserved retirement—please know that your friends in AA&D will be cheering you on in this exciting next chapter. With gratitude,
Anna Sangalang
It’s hard to imagine AA&D without you. Your thoughtful leadership, steady presence, and commitment to transparency and openness have left an indelible mark on us all. You’ve built a work culture that truly embodies its values—one rooted in trust and collaboration, which will continue to inspire us moving forward. I’ll especially miss you leading our AA&D weekly stand-up meetings—your warmth and your gift for bringing people together as their authentic selves is something truly special. While your absence will undoubtedly be felt, I couldn’t be happier for you as you step into this exciting new chapter. Wishing you endless happiness and new adventures ahead. No one deserves it more! Warmly,
Laura Speers
Congratulations on your retirement, the end of an extraordinary career, and the beginning of new adventures! As you sail into the mystic, may you enjoy good health, happiness, and quality time with your family. The strength and stability of AA&D are a result of your leadership, kindness, candor, and humanity. I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked with you and learned from your example. Thank you! With warm wishes,
Christina LeBlanc
You have been such an inspiration as a truly great leader through difficult times. Thank you for greeting everyone with such warmth and intentionality every time we pass you in the hallway, share a fun fact in the stand-ups, or see you at events. We have been incredibly lucky to call you a boss. Wishing you nothing but the absolute best in your retirement. Thank you again for all you've given to us in AA&D.
Mariah Bensley
Congratulations on your well-deserved retirement! Your kindness, candor, and steadfast leadership have been truly inspirational and have left a lasting impact on us all. Your dedication and vision have guided us through many challenges, and your wisdom will be greatly missed. Thank you for everything you've done for AA&D. Wishing you lots of time gazing at the stars and charting new paths with your loved ones.
Katie Connors
Congratulations on your upcoming retirement, Brian! As you embark on this exciting new chapter, I want to express my deep admiration and gratitude for your extraordinary leadership. Under your guidance, I've had the privilege of engaging in some of the most fascinating projects of my career, with ample room to learn, grow, and explore new ideas. Thank you for believing in me and fostering an environment where I could do my best work. Even when some gift conversations took unexpected turns (e.g., we ventured into corporate philanthropy), you trusted my judgment, providing support when needed. Few leaders possess the remarkable ability to nurture and inspire as you have, perfectly balancing encouragement with wise counsel. It's been an honor to learn from you and see firsthand the profound impact you've had on AA&D and Harvard. Wishing you all the happiness in the years to come. You will be missed! Warm regards,
Kasia Allen
It has been such an honor to work with you! It has also been wonderful to connect so much on our shared love of Maine, as well. I will secretly feel quite responsible for your return to Biddeford, having given you the Elda tip. :-) You have been a terrific leader and I've been so fortunate to work with you so closely on GAC and to have you only a few doors down the hall at 124. May your next chapter be an amazing one. I look forward to staying in touch! Warmest,
Susan Lyons
Brian holds open a door for the presence of our authentic selves.
Roger Sussa
Thank you, Brian, for your years of steadfast leadership. We're lucky to have had you at the helm while we navigated incredibly strange circumstances. It's been a pleasure to learn from you and hear your tales. Wishing you peace and happiness in retirement.
Kim Delehanty
Brian, thank you for all that you have done for AA&D. Under your leadership, we have not only weathered many storms, but we as a culture and an office have truly blossomed. We will miss your steady hand immensely, but your impact will always be felt. Thank you!
Molly Sparrow
Thank you, Brian, for your incredible leadership. Your dedication to Harvard and to AA&D has guided us through ups and downs, bringing us closer together as a community and ensuring we continued to thrive even in the most turbulent times. Your support and inspiration have left a lasting impact on all of us. I wish you a joyful and fulfilling retirement.
Delaney Barry
Dear Brian,
You have made a significant impact on AA&D, and I hope as you reflect on your time with us, you will take great pride in being an authentic and strong leader. It has been a pleasure to know you as a colleague, a genuinely kind human, and possibly the best VP we have had here at AA&D.
“Let your soul and spirit fly into the mystic” and into retirement.
Thank you and congratulations,
Susan Marchand
Hey Brian, thanks for everything. Your amazing leadership got this place through so many difficult times and you managed everything flawlessly; always telling it like it is and providing direction and thoughtfulness. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Kevin Miller
Mr. Lee, or Brian, as you once corrected me: As copyeditor of this book, I have the great fortune of having the last word. At Harvard, I must balance supporting my employer and gently antagonizing them (sorry about that, but I am a union rep), so I say without a hint of irony that you are the best head boss I've ever had. You will be sorely missed as an authentic character and good-faith partner. You made following your lead easy; if I could encapsulate your tenure in a single Van Morrison lyric, it would be “sing a happy song / and we’ll sing along.” Your ability to lead through some of the most truly difficult times in Harvard’s and the world’s history will be remembered for much longer than your six years here. I always felt secure with you at the helm and I knew everyone else felt the same even before I had the pleasure of copyediting this book of thank-yous. Cheers (and make it a double),
John Baglione (Creative Services Copyeditor/writer & HUCTW Rep)
