After another successful Children’s Holiday Party, the Family Life Committee is hard at work preparing an exciting 2025 with a new Chairman at the helm. Please join us in officially welcoming Bro. Carl D. Durham Jr, better known around Masonry as “Skip”, as the Chairman!
Bro. Durham was born in August 1969. During his youth, he was a member of Boston Chapter, Order of DeMolay, and was an avid marcher in the Drum and Bugle Corp. He marched the Contra Bass (marching tuba) with the Heightsmen of Arlington from 1977 to 1990, the Boston Crusaders in 1984, the Diplomats until 1987 and the Cadet of Bergen County in 1990. While with the Cadet of Bergen County, he won the Drum Corp International (DCI) World Championship, which ironically, his grandfather had told him not to march that year, that he should forget about it and start working. As it was his last year to march, he ignored his grandfather and would never have been a World Champion had he listened.
In September of 1987, Bro. Durham entered service for the United States Navy as an Aviation Electrician. The day he entered the Navy was a day before his successor was installed as Master Councilor of Boston Chapter, so he never got a chance to step down officially. Skip credits his time in DeMolay for his love of the stage and performing. The degree work that we did drove his passion for performing, which led him to Scottish Rite after he joined Masonry. To advance this passion, Bro. Durham studied at the Actors Workshop and spent thousands of dollars on voice and singing lessons.
For education, Bro. Durham enjoyed English in school because he loves to write and finds the process amazing, and he went on to study instrumentation technology and robotics.
He joined the Craft in May 2013, as he was raised in Norumbega Fraternity Lodge. Due to his love of planning, he has earned the moniker of “Party Warden” of the Fifth District. Serving as Master from 2018 to 2020, he had to lead his lodge through the learning curve of the COVID-19 pandemic, Zoom meetings, and keeping everyone in touch despite the world outside being shut down. Bro. Durham joined the Valley of Boston during the Grand Master’s Class in 2019.
Outside of Masonry, Bro. Durham keeps his hands full with a variety of things. He is the Chapter Dad for Greater Boston Chapter, Order of DeMolay, works in the automotive parts industry, is a member of the Northshoremen Barbershop Chorus in Beverly, and the award-winning Quartet Fourshadow. The Quartet Fourshadow won the Northeast Regional Novice Quartet Championship this past April in Hyannis.
Skip met his wife, Lisa, upon his return from the DCI Championship. He was visiting a rehearsal of Malden High School’s marching band, where she was a student marcher. His prior instructors were the instructors of Malden, and they offered him a job after they learned who he recently marched with. They didn’t start dating until after the season was over. Together they have two children, Abigail who is a Past Worthy Advisor of Wakefield Assembly for Rainbow, and Carl III “Trip” who is a Past Master Councilor of Greater Boston DeMolay and Past State Junior Deacon.
Bro. Durham hinted at an upcoming “Adults Only” event at Skyview in the Prudential Center and heading back to Water Country this summer. The Family Life Committee’s goal when hosting events is to say thank you for not only your involvement in the Valley of Boston but also to your families. They are giving you up for these reunions. We want to say thank you to them as well.
When asked for a comment on entering this position, Bro. Durham responded “I am humbled and deeply appreciative of the trust given me by the Heads [of Body] of the Valley of Boston to run this organization. My biggest hope is that my team and I can put together events that are interesting and fun. I am looking forward to my tenure as Chairman, but I give all the credit to the amazing team of guys and gals who are dedicated to the Family Life Committee. I also ask that if planning events is your thing or you have an idea for an amazing event, please reach out to me.”
