Herbert S. "Pug" Winokur OPC '61 Receives the Alumni Award of Merit

The Alumni Award of Merit is given "to a graduate of the William Penn Charter School whose character and outstanding achievement have reflected lasting credit upon this school." 

I was born on third base. Not in the conventional meaning of this term. But, given the year in which I was born, the place in which I grew up, and, most important, the parents to whom I was born, I really believe that I was born on third base. Had I been born twenty years earlier, or in many other parts of the world—or even of the US—or to different parents, my life would have been totally different.

My parents believed Penn Charter’s motto: “Good Instruction is Better than Riches.” The 12-15 thousand after-tax dollars they spent on my K-12 education at Penn Charter represented a significant portion of my dad’s after-tax discretionary income. But they made my education a top priority, and they loved Penn Charter. I owe them much, and am very grateful.

The cliché is that you remember your high school teachers and your college friends. That expression may be overstated in my case, but certainly many Penn Charter teachers exerted important influences on my life. Time permits me to mention only three. First, Frank Osgood, my sixth grade teacher and a former Forest Hills tennis player, suggested one day during my sixth grade year that I should try playing squash. I tried it, liked it, and still play four times each week. How about that for a powerful influence.

Second, Bert Linton, my high school math teacher, helped me understand how much I could enjoy learning about math and its applications. That led to my majoring in math in college and applied math in graduate school.

And, third and probably most important, Fritz Kempner taught me four years of Latin and one year of Greek. Fritz helped my friends and me explore Greek drama by helping us organize the “Greek Society”, which met regularly at his apartment. He also taught me the importance of what people now call “fact-based reasoning,” reasoning objectively to conclusions based on data.

I wish my parents and these teachers were here so I could thank them personally. When I learned earlier this year that Fritz died, I forwarded the obituary notice to Drew Faust, Harvard’s President, who met Fritz when he was her AFSC trip leader to eastern Europe in the 1960s. Drew’s response sums up my feeling about Fritz and about each of the above: “I am so sad. I had so much more I wanted to say to him.”

Let me share a bit of my life and also illustrate some life lessons not taught at Penn Charter. The good fortune which led me to Penn Charter continued after graduation. I wanted to go to Harvard because it was there—and probably because Dr. Gummere wanted me to go to Williams. The choices of graduate programs and first jobs came from introductions offered by professors, graduate students and co-workers, suggesting the importance of staying alert ana networking. I also learned in my early jobs that while analyzing problems and proposing solutions was interesting, it was more fun to take responsibility for fixing the problems. After having the opportunity to work for a series of very successful entrepreneurs, I chose to try investing in and fixing troubled businesses myself, an activity in which I continue to be engaged.

People ask if my math background has been helpful—my standard response is that child psychology would have been more useful. Fritz and Penn Charter taught me how important it was to reason objectively to solve problems. But no one told me how hard it is to convince others to buy in to the proposed solution.

Another life lesson that couldn’t he learned at Penn Charter is that, inevitably, doors close but new doors open. My experience in 2001 as a Board member of Enron during that company’s collapse was extremely challenging. The prior almost 15 years as a Board member had been quite interesting but very time consuming. After that commitment ended, I had the opportunity to start two new non-profits: a program in New Haven for urban youth in grades 5-12 to learn squash and receive academic help with Yale student volunteers: and a number of economic development and public health programs focused on the Mississippi Delta, in partnership with Harvard Law School and Mississippi State University. In the former case, Squash Haven now is completing its sixth year, with 80 kids enrolled, 10 of whom are on full scholarships at boarding schools. In the latter case, residents, students and faculty have begun farmers markets, farm to school programs, and community gardens in the Mississippi Delta. Penn Charter taught me the importance of service. I feel fortunate to give back.

I especially admire three aspects of Penn Charter. The faculty were extremely dedicated to helping us learn their subject matter and develop strong personal values. The school was committed to enrolling an economically diverse student body. Both of these still are true.

Meanwhile, the school’s programs have expanded in many dimensions over fifty years: coeducation, interests in global issues, expanded commitments to arts, sports, and to different languages—while remaining true to Penn Charter’s Quaker values and its mission. Students also were encouraged to speak out and to pursue their own interests. (As an aside, I recall a mock Kennedy-Nixon debate in 1960 when it was hard for me to find a partner on the Democratic side.) We had an active, engaged, and some might say, almost out of control class. But at our recent 45th and 50th reunions, my classmates and I, now matured, all acknowledged the debt for what the school did for us.

I was born into a close-knit family. Naturally, I thought all families were like that. When I got to college, I learned how unusual my family structure was. But I feel extremely lucky that I have been able to have the same for myself. My wife Dee, who is here tonight, has taught me lots about non-profits and philanthropy. My two daughters, Annick and Andra and their families, all of whom live near us in Connecticut, have been active in both of the non-profit programs I mentioned, Annick as a co-founder of Squash Haven and Andra as an active participant in some of the Delta projects. I am blessed to have two lovely grandchildren. Family is very important to me, and I truly am grateful for mine.

Thank you for listening and for your support of Penn Charter. And to my Penn Charter friends, and especially to Pete and the Alumni Society board, thank you for inviting me here tonight and for the honor you give me. To Darryl Ford and Jack Rogers, and to the school leadership generally, keep up the good work.