There is no better way to end my 100 stories than with a short ditty about Alex De Santis P ’84.

Alex has been a beloved presence at The Harley School since his days as an English teacher (1971–2009). Even in retirement, he remained a familiar face, swimming in the pool most mornings.

In 2021, Dave O'Brien P ’19 (English, 2011–present) invited Alex to join one of his English classes—not as the teacher, but as a student. Over the years, Alex completed outlines, drafts, and final papers, collaborated on group projects, and became a cherished classmate. Like so many of us, the students came to adore him.

As the school year drew to a close, Alex's classmates decided to celebrate his contributions. Though class was over, Mr. O'Brien invited Alex back to school, and his classmates surprised him with a special gift: a book collecting his writing from his recent years as a Harley student.