Hester Goodenough Caldwell

Putney, Vt. — Hester Goodenough Caldwell, born Nov. 30, 1928, died on Tuesday, April 10, 2018. Hep died as she lived: sustained by her love for her family and her ability to meet challenges with laughter and quick wit. Hep was born in Woodbridge, Conn. to Erwin and Helen Goodenough. She grew up loving the outdoors and playing alongside her three older brothers and male cousins, excellent preparation for her future schooling and her later ability to simultaneously embrace and challenge traditional gender roles. At the age of 10 she entered Putney School, where she met the boy she would later wed, John Caldwell. After graduating from Smith College in 1950 and marrying John, she returned to Putney School in 1953, where she taught history for 37 years even as she raised four children and earned her Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from Wesleyan University. During her tenure at Putney School, Hep also held a variety of positions including head of the history department, dean of faculty, field hockey coach, and ski coach. An avid hiker, she led student ski trips to Tuckerman’s Ravine, drawing on her years of skiing for Putney School and on the ski patrol at Smith. Together, Hep and John exemplified partnership as they raised their four children, worked at Putney School, and traveled to Switzerland, France, Italy, Austria, Finland, Norway, Australia, Tonga, Wales, England, Japan, Yugoslavia, China and Russia on learning, hiking and skiing expeditions. 

In their later years, Hep and John became co-sponsors of Camp Caldwell, a series of mini-camps for their 10 grandchildren, where they nurtured family ties, promoted the benefits of physical labor, and cultivated a respect and love for the natural world. In the spirit of 5:00 AM barn duty at the Putney School, the little grandkid campers could not have 7 AM breakfast until they had dipped in the icy cold spring-fed pond at the bottom of the hill, which of course Hep and John had done themselves an hour or so earlier. Other camp activities ranged from “waking up the chickens and feeding them” to drawing straws to see which pair would have to wade into the swamp mud to remove the water-cress that had infested the pond’s water. Now adults, some of the grandkids’ fondest memories include their time together with Hep and John.

Hep contributed significantly to her community, serving as a founding member of the new Putney Library, Chairperson of Brattleboro Community Chorus, head of the Putney’s Democratic Party and as a Justice of the Peace, presiding over scores of marriages. Inspiring her children, grandchildren and students to do good in this world, lifting hearts with her piano playing, Hep’s legacy lives on in her children and grandchildren, all of whom love skiing and other outdoor activities, many of whom are engaged in teaching and coaching. 

Hep faced old-age challenges in her final years, but she never lost her quick laugh and ability to find levity in whatever was happening around her.  She was pre-deceased by her daughter, Jennifer and her brother, Ward.  She will be greatly missed by her husband, John, her three children, Tim, Sverre, and Peter and her ten grandchildren, Tyler, Alexa, Anya, Lucy, Sophie, Lucinda, Heidi, Austin, Isabel, and Patrick, and her brothers, John and Jim. A gathering to reflect on and celebrate her life will be held at the Putney School Aug. 4.