Sue Cesare Celebrates 95th Birthday at King's Championship Semifinal
When a packed gymnasium breaks into song for a single person, it must be somebody special. On Saturday, November 15, King School welcomed back one of its most beloved figures as former Head of School Sue Cesare LH’48, KP’78, ’81, GP’12, ’26 returned to campus to celebrate her 95th birthday in spectacular fashion: watching the Vikings Volleyball team advance to the NEPSAC Class A championship match.
Accompanied by her son, former trustee Edward Cesare K’78 P’12, and her grandson, Matt, a member of the Class of 2026, Cesare witnessed the kind of athletic excellence she championed throughout her remarkable 73-year career with the school.
"Today, we have the tremendous honor of celebrating a woman whose leadership and impact have shaped this community for decades and continue to do so to this day. We are thrilled to welcome her back to campus today on her 95th birthday," said Athletic Coordinator Mike Lasky, who introduced the special guest. To mark the occasion, the two teams and all in attendance sang "Happy Birthday" to the former headmistress.
Head of School Carol Maoz presented Cesare with flowers and a birthday card with the warmth and deference befitting one of the school's most influential leaders.
“It was an honor to welcome and celebrate Sue on such a special occasion,” said Maoz. “A visionary trailblazer, her love and commitment to our school are an inspiration to us all.”
The timing couldn't have been more perfect for a woman who once coached multiple sports herself: King's top-seeded Volleyball team delivered a commanding 3-0 victory over Loomis Chaffee in the semifinal round, extending its winning streak to 59 matches and improving its season record to a perfect 22-0. Meanwhile, over on the Armstrong and King Family Field, Field Hockey earned a thrilling 2-1 victory against Frederick Gunn School. Volleyball went on to secure its 10th straight NEPSAC title the following day against Buckingham Browne & Nichols School.
Cesare's connection to what is now King School spans more than five decades of transformative leadership. She began her career at Low-Heywood School in 1952 as a faculty member and coach. After a brief departure in the mid-1960s, she returned as Dean of Students and Director of Admission, quickly rising to become the school's 10th Headmistress in 1970.
Her tenure as Head of School guided two major institutional transitions: the 1975 merger of Low-Heywood and the Thomas Schools to form Low-Heywood Thomas, and the subsequent merger with King School to form King Low-Heywood Thomas. Cesare led the combined institution through 1996, serving a combined 26 years as Head of School before her retirement. She visits campus as often as possible, spending time in the Simon House as an archivist and connecting with alumni at Homecoming and Reunion weekends.
For Cesare, Saturday's semifinal visit was a fitting celebration — surrounded by family, watching King student-athletes embody the excellence, leadership, and competitive spirit she fostered for generations.