70 | Summer 2017 BY: JANE GUTSELL, RETIRED GDS UPPER SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHER Libby Alspaugh: “All in the Family” When I sat down recently with Libby Alspaugh and asked her to share what she considered most special about Greensboro Day School, she replied, “It was being able to provide our children – and then later our grandchildren – with the best possible education, which allowed them to broaden themselves not just academically but in many ways, knowing that they would go off to college well-prepared for every challenge.” One cannot be in conversation with Libby for long before the word “family” becomes the most important theme. So let us back up to the fall of 1971. At the beginning of that school year, three Alspaugh children entered Greensboro Day School: Anne in the 6th grade, Elaine in the 4th, and Andy in the 1st. During that time Libby helped out on a volunteer basis with whatever needed to be done but primarily with the then all-school library, which was located where the Head of School’s office is now. Everything – all classes, the lunchroom, and library – were in that one building. Libby had earned a bachelor’s degree in religion and a teaching certificate in social studies from Greensboro College, but did not have any classes in library science. In the summer of 1973 her youngest Michael entered the Kindergarten program when acting headmaster Jack Wenrick called her and said, “Libby, our librarian has just resigned and school will open in a week. What should I do?” To which she replied, “Jack, don’t worry. I can open the library while you look for a permanent librarian.” All on her usual voluntary basis. Now all four of the children are there, and days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. “Jack,”