“In addition to just helping people, I like the changing environment. The place is always changing, we’re always trying to get better, find a better way to draw in students and help the students become successful, which is why we’re here.”

We recently caught up with Housekeeper Chris Beckford. Faculty and staff were recognized on Monday, May 5, during an all-school meeting for milestone years of service, starting with those who have worked for the school for five years. The final person recognized — Chris — has worked at Loomis Chaffee for 40 years. As his name was called, everyone stood and cheered for the Milestone Award recipient, whose tenure started in 1985 and whose workday starts at about 6 a.m.

“It was only a summer job,” is how Chris termed first coming to Loomis, laughing while making air quotes. That “summer job” for Chris turned into a job for life. Chris’s father, Oswald Beckford, also worked at Loomis, starting as an outside cleaning contractor then taking a job in housekeeping in 1984. Ozzie, who will turn 96 this summer, worked at the school into the early 2000s. "We were kind of instantly a team,” Chris said of himself and his father.

 

Hometown: Bloomfield, Conn.

Job: Housekeeping

On the standing ovation at the all-school meeting: “I’m still blown away. I'm a humble guy, and to be so warmly recognized, and when [Head of School Jody Reilly Soja] announced ‘the legendary Chris Beckford,’ it was awesome. The applause and the cheers definitely were amazing. I never had anything like that in my life. Guess that was my moment of stardom. I’ll take it. It felt warm, and that I have been doing the right things.”

What about your job do you enjoy? “In addition to just helping people, I like the changing environment. The place is always changing, we’re always trying to get better, find a better way to draw in students and help the students become successful, which is why we’re here.”

On the pride in his work: Students’ parents want to know their children will be educated but also safe while at Loomis, Chris said. “Part of cleaning is safety. If you go into a clean environment, you feel safer, you have a bit more trust. If you went into a hotel room and there was food sitting there, it kind of rubs you the wrong way. You don't feel as welcome. We're trying to provide welcome spaces, caring spaces.”

Favorite memories: “Commencement is always special. When you're seeing men and women get ready to walk the stage, and you see how they’ve grown and you flash back — ‘You were probably a foot shorter when you first got here.’ Just to see their maturity and growth is a favorite memory.”

Favorite things about LC: “The sense of hope, the possibilities, and the overall nurturing qualities of the environment. It is a special place surrounded by special people trying to do special things for special people so they can go out and do special things.”

Hobbies: Chris enjoys cooking, photography, and gardening. Any specialties as a cook? “I’m always working on it.” He enjoys smoking briskets and grilling meat and fish. His garden has varieties of tomatoes and peppers and herbs.