Possessing an Audrey Hepburn elegance coupled with the intelligence of Madeleine Albright, Anne Gifford Ewing from the Class of 1992 speaks with an arresting precision and poise. One could point to her training and current profession as a trusts and estates lawyer as the key ingredient for her competence as a wordsmith. One could also note her passion for literature, writing, foreign language, history, music, and theater as influential in shaping her career interests and encouraging her to lead a reflective and well-examined life. While all of these factors played integral roles in honing Anne’s skills, what stands out the most is her time at Clairbourn, which laid the foundation for her future and cultivated a love of learning.
Her daughter, a current Clairbourn student, represents the third generation at Clairbourn. Both Anne’s parents were active in the school, with her late father, G. Grant Gifford serving as a Trustee for several years, and helping to fundraise to update the campus, and her mother, Carolyn Gifford, volunteering with the CFA, doing carpools, and contributing in countless ways to the community at Clairbourn. We are so thankful for legacy families, and new ones as well, because they bring a much-needed perspective and history that bridges the past to the present day.
Anne also offers useful and inspiring advice for our students – advice that has served her well in her profession and in her personal life. Speaking on the virtues of Clairbourn, Anne adds: “It has a real sense of optimism, energy and freshness, while thoughtfully preserving so much of what was good about the past. The school is better than ever and we feel lucky to be a part of it.” Read her full interview here.