A Kind Soul: Gregg Willett

Whether in dorms, houses or academic buildings around campus, Facilities employee Gregg Willett’s presence is greatly appreciated. He’s gregarious, caring and incredibly helpful; he never fails to fix whatever you put in front of him.

Some may recognize Willett from the speech he gave during last year’s Nov. 21 Thanksgiving assembly, in which he gave thanks to the Academy “family” for its flexibility and its acceptance of his son, senior Jake Willett.

“It is not easy when a father can no longer help but only stand there and try to support his son,” Gregg Willett said. “But the faculty here has been there for my son every step of the way, and has helped mold him for the better. The Academy has made a commitment to him, and we have felt that commitment.”

Willett has been at the Academy for more than 25 years. All over campus, he works as a maintenance mechanic for HVAC: heating, ventilation and air conditioning. In addition to that, he is familiar with the mechanics and chemistry of the Academy swimming pool, and serves as the back-up pool operator.

Willlett’s job is his passion. “What I enjoy here is having something that doesn’t work,” he said. “I like to repair it and make it work again. It’s rewarding, even though it’s behind the scenes. It’s not cosmetic, it’s not something you can see, but going in and fixing someone’s heat is, to me, something I can do.”

For three generations, Willett’s family has been at the Academy. Willett’s grandmother worked in the laundry department and his father was a mason. However, he originally did not wish to work at the school—in fact, he shied away from the idea. But the economic downturn of the 1980s left the jobs on the market limited and he looked to the Academy.

“I didn’t want to stay here, and a guy at the boiler plant started calling me a ‘lifer’. I was like, ‘I’m not a lifer. I’m just staying here ‘till things get better.’ Next thing you know, it’s been 25 years,” Willett said.

Willett had never expected to work at the Academy, even though he grew up in the town of Exeter. When he attended Exeter High school, his main focus in school was sports; he played football and baseball avidly, and a little wrestling and basketball on the side.

Now, at the Academy, some of Willett’s most memorable experiences are tied in with the Facilities Department. Every year, Facilities creates a softball team that plays twice a year, once against Andover’s Facilities team and once against the Academy’s boys’ JV baseball team.

Facilities has also started a tradition called “Lunch Bucket,” in which a group of staff and faculty play sports during lunch. Every day there’s something, from basketball to squash, ice hockey to baseball. “It’s kind of like our gym class.” Willett said.

English instructor Johnny Griffith, a Lunch Bucket participant, commented on Willett’s personality. “He’s been the ‘commissioner’ of our Lunch Bucket Basketball group throughout my time here, always trying to encourage people to get out on the court and play some hoops, getting some exercise and spending time with other people,” Griffith said. “He’s a connector. He likes to make people feel connected and at home.”

Willett is commonly praised for his dedication and thoroughness. During his twenties, when he first arrived at the Academy, he painted street lines and marks on the road. One morning, starting at one end of the campus with a team, he traversed the school and painted every line in every parking lot. The job wasn’t finished until eleven o’clock that night. Willett recalls it as one of many experiences at Exeter he won’t ever forget.

Another story that many recall when asked about Willett is the time he fixed Principal Tom Hassan’s heat on Christmas day. “I was reluctant to call Gregg away from his own family on the holiday. But by day’s end, it was simply too cold in our house, so I did ask to see if Gregg could come over,” Hassan said. “He was there in a flash, fixed the problem and we invited him to join our family holiday dinner.”

Associate director of college counseling Cary Einhaus, who has known Willett for 18 years, attributed the story to Willett’s caring personality. Einhaus also described him as “one of the most gregarious people you’ll meet.”

“Mr. Willett embodies everything we believe in, when thinking about the Academy’s ideal of ‘goodness’,” Einhaus said. “He is intensely loyal to the school, its employees and its students, and demonstrates deep selflessness in his support of anyone.”

Griffith described Willet as just a “solid guy” and “Steady Eddie.” “[Willett] gives and gives to other people… he’ll go out of his way to make sure the problem gets solved, even if he has to invest extra time or energy making sure,” Griffith said.

Willett’s kind demeanor and sense of humor are other attributes appreciated around campus. Senior Colby Chaffin complimented Willett’s ability to have light conversations and make others feel at ease. “He always greets me with a smile and a handshake, making time for small talk and casual conversation.”

Many people on campus agree that Willett makes them feel comfortable talking about anything. “I can talk to him about the school’s sports team, the college hunt, or just how our days are going.” Chaffin said.

Jake Willett called his father a “very easygoing guy,” and he appreciates his dad’s support in all of his decisions. “My dad is my mentor and my best friend. I can always turn to him for advice or help,” Willett said. “I’ve struggled at the Academy, and there were times that I didn’t think I’d be able to make it, but he always believed in me.”

“I know how cheesy it sounds, but he was always there for me when I needed it and that’s something I’ll be forever grateful for,” he added.

All of Exeter is in agreement that Gregg Willett is an incredible asset to the Academy, both professionally and personally. Jake Willett, especially, commended his father’s personality and his capacity for care. “My dad has always told me how much better of a person I will be than him,” he said. “But the truth is, if I were just half the man he is, I’d be doing alright.”