"Doctor Proctor" to retire

Author: Cloe Shasha

Dining Room Servery Worker Stephen Draper, affectionately known as "Doctor Proctor" by many students, is retiring this April after 20 years at the College.

Draper worked in Proctor Dining Hall for most of his 20 years at Middlebury and this year moved to the Freeman International Center Dining Hall (FIC).

"I'm retiring this April 2009," Draper said in an interview at a booth in the FIC lounge. "I signed all the papers a few weeks ago. Things have changed a lot since I started working here in March of 1989."

Chief Financial Officer Patrick Norton explained some of the details behind the early retirement program, through which Draper is retiring this spring.

"The purpose of this program is to give staff additional flexibility in planning their retirements while at the same time achieving necessary staff position reductions through voluntary means to prevent or minimize the need for future involuntary terminations," Norton said. "The Early Retirement Program provides incentives to encourage eligible employees to voluntarily end employment with the College."

The full list of retiring employees is confidential, as are the support and benefits of the program.

"The big thing about me leaving is that I'm at the right age," Draper explained. "A lot of people working in the dining halls aren't as old as I am. I think only a few dining staff are leaving. One is leaving from Ross."

Draper reminisced about his time working at Middlebury.

"I've gotten to know a lot of students here, especially by sight," he said. "As you go back in time, it's harder for me to remember them. But some of them I knew really well. And I remember when these booths here in the FIC lounge used to be in the old Crest Room until the summer of 1991."

When asked what he would like to do after he finishes working at Middlebury College, Draper said he would like to visit some people and spend time with his dog.