Surprise Serenade: Community Joins Voices to Honor Rev. Hardy
When VIth former and Chapel Council leader Kingsley Brown ’25 got wind of Cam Hardy’s plans to retire at the end of the 2024–2025 school year, she knew she had to do something to honor Millbrook's long-time chaplain. Her idea was to surprise Hardy, who has been on the Millbrook School faculty for 35 years, by having the entire community sing the beloved chaplain’s favorite hymn, "Come Down, Oh Love Divine," in one of the final assemblies of the year. Brown took her idea to Head of School Jonathan Downs ’98, who gave the plan his blessing.
With approval in place, Brown and Downs then had to find a way to teach the community how to sing a centuries-old song without Hardy finding out. So, they colluded with Dean of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Patrice King, who scheduled a meeting with Hardy during a Friday assembly a couple of weeks before the surprise. The diversion created the opportunity for Art Department Chair Joe Raciti to teach everyone the hymn, playing just the melody on piano and singing solo before asking the crowd to give it a try—led by one brave student who hopped on the mic.
When the big day finally arrived on Monday, May 19, everyone was ready. The community gathered in the Flagler Memorial Chapel as usual, enjoying an instrumental Monday Melody performance and sharing announcements. Then, Brown pushed through bittersweet tears to introduce the special moment, and the student body rose to sing the solemnly beautiful hymn. Click on the Instagram post below to watch the moment captured on video:
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Hardy sang along, shedding her own tears. She expressed her gratitude and love for the entire community and accepted a gift from the girls of Guest House, who thanked her for caring for them as a dorm parent.
"Every time I try to describe today’s hymn sing in assembly to my family, I get all teary-eyed and speechless. And I’m still without proper words to thank you," Hardy later shared. "You have provided a memory and a blessing that will not leave my heart, ever."
The Rev is joining her husband, Bill Hardy—a former art instructor who made a profound impact at Millbrook for 30 years—in retirement.
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