Greenhill marked its 76th birthday on Sept. 11 with annual celebrations including a school wide assembly and a dinner honoring longtime faculty members known as “Greenhill Legends.” But this year, the many festivities centered on one person: second Head of School Phillip Foote, who passed away in January.
Associate Head of School for Mission, Community and Culture Tom Perryman ’81 – the main organizer behind these activities – invited many members of Foote’s family to visit Greenhill during the week of Founders Day.
Currently, most of Foote’s family members reside in Los Angeles and New York. Upon returning to campus, they said that even though the buildings are dramatically different, the essence Foote has left on the school has not changed.
“He really brought a lot of warmth to the Greenhill campus,” said Mary S. Foote, the widow of Phillip Foote. “And I think it’s still here.”
Their visit began on Sept. 9 with a celebration of life ceremony for Foote in the Marian M. and Williams S. Montgomery Library. Memorabilia such as a portrait of Foote, old editions of school publications and other artifacts were showcased alongside a slideshow of pictures.
One of Foote’s sons, Andrew Foote ’86, said that his father thrived at Greenhill during his 16-year tenure by connecting with others around him.
“He would see people 40 or 50 years after they graduated and still remember their names,” Andrew Foote said. “He walked into a room, shook people’s hands, said hello and wanted to learn all about them. He was always interested in you and what you were doing.”
The Foote family’s visit continued during Founders Day at the all-school assembly which commemorated Foote through a remembrance video.
Through taking a firsthand approach to administrative work, Foote created the idea of “The Greenhill Family,” a mantra aimed at representing the connectiveness of Greenhill alumni, students, families and faculty members.
In addition, Foote increased the number of full-time faculty members from 95 to 135 during his time as Head of School.
“He wanted to provide an environment where you could succeed,” said David Foote ’85, the other son of Phillip Foote.
Foote’s legacy will live on through the Philip G. Foote Lower School, a building name which was given by some of his former students and meant as a nod to his initial position of Lower School head at Greenhill.
Foote’s family ended their visit by visiting the Lower School to participate in a Q&A with the fourth graders. A new portrait of Phillip Foote was unveiled as well.
“He loved being here and serving all those years,” said Amy Foote McCooe ’89, the daughter of Phillip Foote.
