Lucky in Love—Faculty on Their Relationships

Chappy B is married to the “funny, smart, compassionate, playful, [and] competitive” Laura Clay, who happened to be my field hockey and lacrosse coach back when I was a freshman at Chatham Hall—and I have to say, the five adjectives that Chappy B gave me are perfect descriptors. The two of them have been together for over twenty years, though Chappy B admitted that Coach Clay could give a much more precise number. 

The two of them certainly have a unique meet-cute story—they were neighbors for two years before ever getting to know each other! Chappy B told me that they had “very wrong impressions of each other—I was the work-focused executive banker, she was a public school teacher and wannabe rockstar.” Coach Clay played in a band (and still does!), and at the time, they would practice every night—so loudly that another neighbor called the police. At first, Coach Clay’s band suspected that Chappy B had reported them, but in typical Coach Clay fashion, she simply walked over to Chappy B’s house and invited her to see the band perform. Chappy B sent the band a huge gift basket in return, and thus began a friendship that would last another two years before the two ever coupled up. They got married in 2014, and their son, Kip, is about to graduate from college!

Ms. Ally and Dean Doyon, on the other hand, met in a very Chatham Hall-esq way—during new faculty orientation at a boarding school they were both starting at! Three days together in a conference room served as the start to their love story, which has now lasted nearly 17 years. Dean Doyon describes Ms. Ally as “strong, focused, pensive, passionate, and loud,” and he described a memory that he felt best captured the dynamic the two of them share. This involved an extreme horseback riding mishap for Dean Doyon—apparently only one of the pair possesses a penchant for riding. Dean Doyon told me that “it was a horrible experience– I hated every moment. I was sore, I hadn’t ridden in a while, my girth was loose, and the horse just ran. [Ms. Ally] was behind me yelling, trying to tell me to hold on. She was pushing me to do something I didn’t want to do, being loud, and keeping me focused. I stayed on—barely. It went fine, but never again.”

At the end of the day, Dean Doyon survived his riding experience and came out with, at the very least, a story to tell—and hopefully a reinforced bond with Ms. Ally, who got him through it. 

Dean Doyon and Ms. Ally are going to dinner together for Valentine’s Day, and although Chappy B likely won’t be able to see Coach Clay on the 14th, as Coach Clay lives on their farm back in Winston-Salem, she did share with me some of the sweet things they’ve done for each other in the past. Coach Clay has a love for writing, and will often make cards for Chappy B, and Chappy B enjoys planning dates, dinners, and other things to do together.

At the end of both interviews, I was left with some advice to pass on. 

From Chappy B: “Focus on Valentine’s Day as a way to share peace and love and not limit yourself to thinking of it as a romantic holiday…think of it as a way to include and care for one another!”

And from Dean Doyon: “Take risks!”