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Nina Stefanovic Carlton
Attended Thornton Hall 1983-1984
e-mail: ncarlton@icao.on.ca
October 3, 2000
I
got to work this morning and there was an e-mail from Doug McTaggart alerting
me to the existence of the Thornton Hall site you've developed. Of course,
workload notwithstanding, my curiosity was piqued, and off I went for a trudge
down memory lane. I too am always surprised at the depth of emotion that
Thornton evokes in me. Your reminiscences could have been mine -- except
I spent much of my time at Fran's.
Thornton is an experience that can't be fully explained to anyone who didn't experience it -- it comes across nutty (which it was), old-fashioned (which it was), and yet, I can say confidently, that although I only spent my Grade 13 year there, it was the best year of education I've had, university included.
Miss Greig pushed me beyond what I believed my capabilities and talents to be, and gave me a confidence that has served me well in my life since -- the belief that I can do anything if I just apply myself. The proof would have to be that I was an English major at university, but am now webmaster and telephone system programmer at the professional association where I work. I have a business on the side making wedding cakes and catering.
The fistful of Pentels and ruler programming followed me to university where my fellow students spent more time riveted to the bizarre note-taking technique taking place next to them than to the lecture at hand, but hey, it worked for me -- my notes were easy to read, easy to study from and complete (though I couldn't afford mylar-edged paper in university).
The book Doug mentions in his letter, "The Truth Teller," has been extensively reviewed here in Toronto. The author and book were briefly mentioned in this month's Toronto Life magazine in the gossip section -- the author lived just a block away from Thornton, and the school was clearly her inspiration for the book. I understand that some former Thornton faculty and students now teach at a new institution called The Abelard School and the book has caused some ripples.
I would love to participate in a Thornton reunion as I have been out of touch for many years. My parents still see Stuart and Angela every so often in the Yonge and St. Clair area. I don't know where they live, and since the school was closed, the building was bulldozed and another house put up on the site, so it's all gone. I guess I'd really like an opportunity to honour Stuart and Angela. For all of its failings, I believe that Thornton had a profound impact on every student who spent any amount of time there.
I did have one funny experience recently, when I was lost in thought at the grocery store selecting apples and a man materialized by my side and said, "I know you." Startled, I looked up and drew a complete blank -- face vaguely familiar, name could be anything. His next statement was, "You went to Thornton Hall. Your name is Nina something-complicated." I replied, "I'm sorry, I don't remember your name." "Jay Oelbaum," he said, and walked away. Then I remembered him.
Life is funny that way.
Have a great day, and thanks for bringing a tear to my eye and some warm memories to my heart.
School Ties: Thornton Hall Alumni
Yearbook: Photos and Memorabilia
Thornton Hall Private School, Thornton Hall Private High School
Thornton Hall High School, Thornton Hall School