Community unites to christen Axinn

Author: Stephanie Joyce

When Donald Axinn '51 looked out the south-facing window of his First-year dorm room in Starr Hall fifty years ago, he never imagined that one day the building he was looking at, Starr Library, would bear his name. Thirteen years of planning culminated in the dedication of the newly remodeled Donald E. Axinn '51 Center for Literary and Cultural Studies at Starr Library on Oct. 18.

After graduating from Middlebury, Axinn went on to pursue a career in real estate and, later, writing. Axinn was the recipient of an honorary Doctor of Letters from Middlebury College in 1989 for his contributions to the field of literature. The generous donations of Don and his wife, Joan, made the restoration and reopening of the Starr Library possible.

Preceding the dedication ceremony, Axinn held a poetry reading in the newly restored Abernethy Room. The Abernethy Room, built as an addition to the Starr Library in 1927, is currently used as a study space and for readings. Axinn read selected poems from his eight published volumes of poetry on topics ranging from electrons to alligators, and several about his lifelong passion for flight.

The dedication ceremony itself was held in the foyer of the Axinn Center and was accompanied by the soothing trickle of the water wall, conceived by Axinn as way to help students relax while studying.

Professor Glenn Andres spoke about the planning process and the challenge posed to the architects of the firm Childs Bertman Tseckares to "honor the past of [the Starr Library] and plan for the honorific future [of the Axinn Center]." Andres also spoke of the desire to preserve the original building's good features, such as the Reading Room and the Abernethy Room, while outfitting the building for a new life. He concluded his remarks with resounding praise of the new building by a Vermont conservation association, who said the building was "the very model of what we should aspire to achieve for historic buildings across the state."

President of the College Ronald D. Liebowitz echoed Andres' sentiment of honoring the past and looking to the future in his address, while praising those who had made the project possible. He also spoke to the palpable excitement of "having a place where creative writing, literature and culture could all come together under one roof."

Concluding the dedication ceremony, Axinn spoke of his somewhat spontaneous matriculation at Middlebury that, while not planned, "was a fortuitous and wonderful surprise." He also noted that in the intervening years he developed a "feeling of belonging and a strong sense of family [at Middlebury]," that prompted a desire to live in the area permanently. Don and Joan Axinn currently reside in Weybridge, Vt. Offering his reaction to the completed building, Axinn said he "felt very proud and deeply honored [by] the imposing yet graceful composition." He also reflected on the construction of the building, praising the clear foundation of the design in functionality.

Professors, alumni, students and local community members attended the ceremony. Art & architecture major Jesse Catalano '11 commented that "the light in the winter garden, together with the big armchairs, makes for the perfect study place." Devon Jersild, a longtime friend and neighbor of Axinn, reflected that the completed building was more than she could ever have imagined and expressed delight at its official opening.

The celebration continued into the evening with musical performances by the Middlebury College Choir and the Sound Investment Jazz ensemble. The night finished out with the Black and White Ball on the Axinn Center lawn.