Beyond Record Gifts: Tabor's Esteemed Donors Invest in the Past, Present, and Future 

This past fiscal year has been defined by momentum and promise, beginning with the historic $10 million commitment by John Fish ’78, P’15 and his wife Cynthia Fish P’15. Growing on that support, Tabor Academy is proud to celebrate four additional donors making gifts of $1 million or more during this past fiscal year. Supporting a wide range of priorities, these donors are affirming their belief in Tabor’s mission and investing boldly in its mission, values, and vision. 

Building Access and Opportunity: Steve Sprague and Cathy Capasso 

For Steve Sprague ’68 and Cathy Capasso, supporting Tabor is deeply personal. With long-standing ties to the school and a deep belief in the value of independent school education, Steve and Cathy have consistently demonstrated their commitment through both action and transformative philanthropy.  

Last year alone, their gifts—totaling nearly $4.5 million—are helping fund student financial aid, vital campus improvements, the 150th anniversary celebration, Fund for Tabor unrestricted giving, and the historic schooner SSV Tabor Boy. To further inspire giving, Steven and Cathy launched a dollar-for-dollar challenge match (up to $2.5 million) to encourage additional support for Tabor Boy and its experiential learning program, ensuring the long-term viability and support for this important part of life at Tabor. 

“Tabor has been a part of our lives for a long time, and we’ve seen firsthand the impact it can have on students,” says Steve. “Our support is about helping the school stay strong and forward-thinking—ensuring that future generations can benefit from all that makes Tabor special: the people, the place, and the opportunities that define a Tabor education.” 

Stephen Ginter, Director of Advancement, says, “Steve and Cathy’s support of Tabor is both wide-reaching and impactful. They care about this school on every level—its people, its programs, and its future. Whether it’s ensuring access through financial aid or preserving traditions like Tabor Boy, their generosity consistently reflects their belief in what makes Tabor special. I’m incredibly grateful for their partnership and the trust they place in our work.” 

Investing in Campus Sustainability and Coastal Resilience: Robin Dripps ’60 and Lucia Phinney 

When Robin Dripps ’60 and Lucia Phinney made their recent $4 million commitment to Tabor, they did so with a vision to help this School by the Sea thrive for generations to come. Their generous support focuses on campus resiliency, sustainability, and adaptive design—key areas for coastal institutions like Tabor, facing climate change and environmental challenges. 

Robin, a proud Tabor alum and T. David Fitz-Gibbon Professor of Architecture at the University of Virginia, has long held a personal and professional interest for design and architecture. This investment by Robin and Lucia will directly support campus resiliency, ensuring Tabor can maintain its distinct seaside campus and adapt to environmental, technological, and societal changes, while remaining anchored in its mission, preparing students to tackle urgent environmental issues.  

“Tabor is a unique institution with its location and commitment to the sea,” Robin says. “While it provides the means for strong sailing and rowing programs and supports students learning essential skills while engaged with an ancient schooner, the sea is also a powerful index about the state of a changing environment. My return to Tabor more than 60 years after graduating revealed an exciting campus animated by committed students. These students will be crucial players in a future needing to contend with difficult questions about the environment and the state of democracy. If our gift supports a curriculum and campus design further preparing students to lead in these difficult times, then this is money well spent.” 

James Bonsey, Chief Financial Officer at Tabor, adds, “This extremely generous and forward-thinking contribution from Robin and Lucia demonstrates their genuine resolve to make a difference by significantly boosting Tabor’s ability to prepare the campus for a resilient and sustainable future, while enabling the school to become a recognized leader in thoughtful strategic planning and implementation.” 

Preserving Tabor’s Story: A Transformative Gift to the Archives Endowment

Tabor is proud to recognize the generosity of an anonymous donor, whose giving last fiscal year of $1.5 million to the Archives Endowment Fund brings their total giving to this initiative to $3 million. This fund, established through the donor’s initial investment, was created to support the preservation and sharing of Tabor’s rich history, ensuring that the School by the Sea remains deeply connected to its roots even as it thinks about its next 150 years and beyond. 

The Archives Endowment Fund is intended to support the salary of the school archivist, as well as research, teaching, administrative support, and related services. It represents a profound and ongoing commitment to honoring the people, traditions, and events that have shaped Tabor since 1876. 

Now housed in the beautiful new Archives Room within the Travis Roy Campus Center, the collection has quickly become a favorite stop for visitors, especially alumni returning to campus. With its thoughtful design and immersive exhibits, the Archives Room is more than just a repository of documents, it is a living space that tells the story of Tabor’s evolution through generations of students, faculty, and friends. 

Sophie Arnfield, Tabor Archivist, shares, “I’m deeply grateful for this transformational gift, which ensures that the history of Tabor—once tucked into library corners—will now be preserved, shared, and celebrated for generations to come. It’s a powerful affirmation of the role our archives play in building community through our shared story.” 

Championing Student Access and Immediate Impact: Dan Fireman ’90 

Dan Fireman ’90 and the Paul & Phyllis Fireman Foundation committed $1 million to strengthen Tabor’s operating budget and expand financial aid. For families seeking a boarding school education in Massachusetts, access and affordability are crucial—and this gift makes a direct and immediate impact. 

“My family and I gave this gift to Tabor as the school prepares to celebrate its 150th year with a focus on both the present and the future. “While our gift supports the immediate needs of the school, we do so with the confidence that Head of School Tony Jaccaci and the Board of Trustees have made growing the endowment, to ensure long-term stability and sustainability, a priority,” says Dan.  

Together with his sister Stephanie Fireman Rogers ’88 and father Paul Fireman ’62, the Fireman family’s lifetime giving exceeds $4 million. Their philanthropy has helped fund the Fireman Performing Arts Center, the Robert V. Sweeney Scholarship Fund, and the Assist Center in the Travis Roy Campus Center—demonstrating how alumni giving shapes the lives of students for generations to come.  

The Fireman Family’s cumulative philanthropic support is tremendous, but this gift, specifically designed to enable the school to be financially nimble today, is having a different kind of lasting impact and one that is sure to inspire others to consider how both immediate impact support and endowed support both contribute to Tabor’s long-term success. 

"Thanks to the Fireman generosity, we’re able to say ‘yes’ to more incredible students who might not otherwise have access to a Tabor education,” emphasizes Eric Long, Director of Enrollment Management. “Their support isn’t just financial—it’s life-changing. They're opening doors, creating opportunity, and making our community stronger.” 

A Shared Commitment to the Future 

These remarkable gifts come at a pivotal time for Tabor. With its Mapping Our Journey strategic plan, the school is advancing with a vision for a transformative decade ahead. None of this progress would be possible without the dedication of the school’s philanthropic donors. 

“Each of these remarkable gifts reflects a powerful belief in Tabor’s mission and an inspiring commitment to our students,” says Tony Jaccaci, Head of School. “These donors are helping shape the future of the School by the Sea—making it more accessible, more sustainable, and more visionary. Their generosity strengthens every facet of the Tabor experience, and we are deeply grateful to Steve & Cathy, Robin & Lucia, our anonymous donor, and Dan and the Fireman Family for their leadership, partnership, and belief in what’s possible here.” 

As Tabor continues to educate and empower students to lead with courage, curiosity, care, and collaboration, the school does so with sincere gratitude for the donors, alumni, families, and foundations whose generosity makes this journey possible.