Rivers Community Hosts Farewell for Tom Olverson

Members from across the Rivers community came together Friday evening to wish Head of School Tom Olverson farewell as he prepares to leave Rivers. An amazing cross-section of nearly 500 people – alumni, faculty, staff, trustees, and current and past parents – gathered to celebrate the tremendous impact that Tom has had during his tenure which began in 1997.

After a lively reception marked by the enthusiastic reunion of faculty and former students as well as parents who shared a deep appreciation for Tom, the guests enjoyed a dinner program that covered a gamut of emotions.

Laurie Schoen, trustee and emcee for the evening, presented Tom with a number of parting gifts, including a bound collection of reflections gathered from the Rivers community and a framed poem written for the occasion by Rivers alumnus and parent Jim Lowell ’79. Assistant Head of School Jim Long and trustees Bob Davis and Dan Kraft added their thoughts and thanks to Tom. Gifts on the lighter side were a Patriots jersey and a crossing-guard outfit, both sporting the Olverson name, as well as a Rivers diploma to Tom for “retiring with distinction.”

Board President Clint Harris announced the establishment of The Olverson Fund, a financial aid fund, “to recognize Tom’s 17 years of leadership, during which academic excellence, supportive relationships, innovative thinking, character development, and the overall quality of each student’s experience have become central to the mission of the school.”

“We wanted to find a meaningful and long-lasting way of recognizing Tom’s impact at Rivers,” said Harris during the program. “Student financial aid has always been among Tom’s highest priorities, enabling Rivers to welcome students who are as diverse and talented as possible.”

After a video tribute to Tom, the faculty surprised Tom, and the rest of the audience, with a flash mob to one of his favorite songs, “Satisfaction.”

Click here to see slides of the evening’s festivities.