Remembering Joyce McCray

The McCray Theatre is named for Joyce McCray, who led Friends Seminary from 1977 to 1989, the first female and non-Quaker to serve as principal. Joyce started her tenure during a turbulent time, but restored the School’s equilibrium within the first year and went on to lead the Friends through a period of significant growth. Jon Cohen, a former member of the School Committee, alumni parent, and current grandparent reflects, “Joyce was a visionary educator, with significant financial expertise and management skills. In the beginning, the only place we were great was in her words but by 1980 it was true. The McCray is an enduring reminder of her contributions and her personal love of theater. After all Joyce was a flamboyant character with a flair for the the theatrical, who never shied away from making her point.”

Note, Joyce commissioned Nancy Gibbs ‘78 to write Children of the Light: Friends Seminary 1786-1986 in celebration of the School’s bicentennial.