Page 6 - Alumni Horae: Vol. 93, No. 4 Summer 2013

AWARDS
TOM BAZOS: RETIREMENT
Tom Bazos got a glimpse of life at St. Paul’s through
the eyes of his three children, all of whom attended the
summer Advanced Studies Program at the School. It was
2001 when Bazos learned that ASP was searching for a
new director.
“I had seen its success as a parent and I appreciated
what it offered to New Hampshire high school students,”
he said at the time.
Bazos served as ASP director from 2001 to 2009,
becoming immersed in the culture of the “winter” school
through coaching and advising duties. In the spring of
2009, he was appointed dean of students by Twelfth Rec-
tor Bill Matthews ’61. The role was not an unfamiliar one
to Bazos, who had spent three years, from 1998 to 2001,
as assistant principal at nearby Concord High School.
Prior to that, he served two years in the same position
at Merrimack (N.H.) High School. His background also
includes stints as a middle school and high school guid-
ance counselor, as a mathematics teacher at Greenwich
Country Day School in Connecticut, and as a teacher and
administrator for various international schools during
several years spent working in the Middle East.
Bazos, who came to the United States from Greece
with his family at the age of two, has cherished his time
in the dean’s office, particularly the opportunity to
interact with students. He is known both for his outgoing
nature and keen sense of humor (for years he has had an
ongoing “battle” with Director of Security George Panga-
kis about who is the “toughest Greek” on campus) and as
a respected and fair disciplinarian.
“You have to make yourself available and interact
with the students whenever you can,” he says. “That
means having your door open all the time, being out in
the hallway, and making sure you greet every student
who passes by. All that translates to students feeling like
they know you and you know them, so when you have to
discipline someone, it’s easier for them to accept.”
During his four years as dean of students, Bazos has
overseen the growth of the weekend activity program for
students and has worked to improve the advising system
by seeking student and parent feedback. “We also asked
advisers to reflect on their own practices,” he says, “to
think the process through a bit better. We have tried to
make people more aware that advising is one of the most
important things we do here.”
An Open Door All the Time
Bazos and his wife, Dotty, will remain in New Hamp-
shire after he retires June 30. They recently purchased
what he calls a “gentleman’s farm” on Stickney Hill, less
than a mile from the end of the boat docks on Turkey
Pond. In the fall, Bazos will travel to Greece with his two
sons, Peter ASP ’96 and Nicholas ASP ’97, and spend
time with family in the area. He will make regular visits
to New York City, where Peter, Nicholas, and daughter
Elizabeth ASP ’00 live. He and Dotty look forward to dot-
ing on their young grandson for many years to come.
“I will miss the students and my colleagues,” he says. “But
part of retiring now is opening up time, which is precious.”
“You have to make yourself
available and interact with
the students whenever you
can. That means having your
door open all the time . . .”
PETER FINGER
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