Henrique Cordeiro Guerra Remarks
Delivered at Marvin Shagam Memorial Service
Good morning!
I would like to welcome everyone that has joined us here to celebrate a wonderful life of dedication to Thacher and to several generations of students that were augmented by Marvin Shagam's character and most generous spirit.
Mr. Shagam, I speak from the heart (in Latin).
Those that knew you were better as a result and I am one of the many. Since we met 30 years ago, when I first visited Thacher together with my family from Brazil for an interview, your genuine concern and interest made us feel more secure. I never thought that this was the start of a friendship that would provide most valuable comfort and wisdom for me far into the future, just as you did for many who were fortunate to meet you here.
Mr. Shagam, you were global before the term globalization became widespread. Indeed, you brought the world to us in various ways. Thank you for standing for what you thought was right and for showing compassion to those that were in need. As importantly, thank you for teaching us in your own unique way to analyze the facts and form our own judgment. Through the Marvin H. Shagam Program for Ethics and Global Citizenship, we will seek to perpetuate your legacy as an educator. Through its curriculum The Marvin Shagam Program will emphasize the necessity for students to be cognizant of -- and eventually to be imbued with -- a sense of ethics as they approach the dominant issues of our time.
This beautiful valley was enriched by your presence. You dignified us and brought hope to our lives and to the ones that interacted with you well beyond the borders of this School.
I will miss our talks and your sense of humor.
More About Thacher
Interested in learning more about Thacher? Sign up for a virtual visit here.
A college preparatory boarding school for grades 9-12
Notice of nondiscriminatory policy as to students: The Thacher School admits students of any race, color, national, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national, and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other School-administered programs.