FENN Magazine: Leading Fenn Forward (Summer 2023)

Dear Fenn Community,

Happy summer! I am very pleased to share this issue of FENN magazine, as it unveils the 10-year Strategic and Long-Range Plan that will guide our beloved school from fall 2023 through spring 2033. It is the outcome of 18 months of evaluation, discussion, and prioritization of our areas of focus for the next decade, which engaged all facets of the community to ensure that diverse voices and perspectives were considered. Thank you to all who answered the call to participate.

An article beginning on page 2 details the path we traveled to arrive at the contents of the plan. Enclosed, too, is a highlights brochure featuring our revitalized school mission statement and the three strategic priorities that will guide us. People and their experience with Fenn are at the center of the plan, as they are in truly everything we consider or pursue. Enriching the student experience is a key pillar of the plan, as is investing in our talented faculty and staff who are the lifeblood of Fenn, challenging and uplifting students along their journeys from grades 4 through 9.

Stewarding Fenn’s future is the third area of focus that will help us to maintain our institutional strength. Fenn is thriving in all areas, buoyed by momentum from our successful previous 10-year plan. Yet we are eager to evolve and ensure that our approach is relevant to the people in front of us today (and tomorrow). The renovation of existing campus buildings, construction of new spaces, and development of North Campus are on the horizon. Equal attention will be directed to maintaining a balanced budget and a repeatable enrollment model, to carefully managing tuition increases, and to fueling our annual fund and endowment through the amazing generosity of our community. We also look forward to implementing a Sustainability Master Plan for the School. The future continues to be bright, and it is exciting to imagine the Fenn we will be as 2033 concludes.

While the early pages of this issue focus on our new plan, the remainder provides a snapshot of the recently completed school year. The year was full, as they all seem to be, and we were able to visit with many of you at events ranging from Reunion and Homecoming in the fall, to Founder’s Night at Fenway Park in the spring, to Graduation Ceremonies in early June. And there were a multitude of moments and experiences packed in-between, which you likely experienced in some measure based on your affiliation with us.

In any school year, we welcome new members to our community and say farewell to others who made a lasting impact on us. I urge you to visit pages 68-72 to get to know community members who recently finished their first years with us. We also said goodbye to seven members of our community, including Athletic Director Bob Starensier and faculty member Rob Morrison, retiring from Fenn after 41 and 23 years, respectively. The next issue of FENN magazine will share in-depth tributes to these two Fenn icons and highlight the festivities we hosted to express our gratitude for their service to Fenn.

Sincerely,

On the Cover:

Derek R. Boonisar Head of School

Each new student is assigned a team color of blue or gold during a NANBAM (“Not A New Boy Anymore”) ceremony that officially welcomes him into Fenn’s blue-and-gold brotherhood.

LEADING FENN FORWARD

New Strategic and Long-Range Plan Enriches the Fenn School Experience

BY JENNIFER EVERETT

NEARLY TWO YEARS AGO, an Executive Committee of Fenn administrators, trustees, and consultants set out to guide an in-depth evaluation of The Fenn School experience and operations to inform the development of a Strategic and Long-Range Plan for the School for the 10-year period stretching from the fall of 2023 through the spring of 2033. The planning process would aim to respect the history and heritage of the School while identifying and seizing prime opportunities for evolution and expansion. As many hands, hearts, and voices have shaped the ethos and culture of Fenn, so too were a vast array of Fenn constituencies invited to share their perspectives on and hopes for the future of their beloved Fenn School as part of the process. The result is a thoughtful and substantive plan that puts people and their Fenn School experience at its center.

“The strategic and long-range planning process is an exercise that the entire school community engages in once a decade,” shared Head of School Derek Boonisar. “The best time to take a look forward is from a position of strength, and what made this process exciting from the beginning was that Fenn is in excellent condition programmatically and financially. We were taking a truly excellent school that is thriving in all areas and seeking to make it even better.

“While we have a deep history about which we’re proud and a proven formula, we want to be able to say we weren’t complacent and instead were eager to evolve and ensure that our approach is relevant to the people in front of us today,” he

added. “Ten years is a long time, and at the five year-mark, we will evaluate how we are doing. We also will be poised to capture opportunities that arise. The availability of land that is now North Campus is a wonderful example of something intriguing that can transpire amidst a 10-year plan.”

The successful execution of all facets of Fenn’s Long-Range Plan for 20122022 provided momentum for the most recent planning process and next decade. One noteworthy achievement included an approximate doubling of

the racial and socioeconomic diversity of the Fenn student body. Students of color represent more than 30 percent of the incoming student body for the 2023-24 school year, up from a low of 18 percent during the previous 10-year period. Of this

percentage, 8.6 percent hail from underrepresented populations. The percentage of students receiving financial assistance, on the other hand, has increased from 11 percent to a high of more than 22 percent over the past 10 years. Twenty percent of incoming students for the 2023-24 school year will benefit from some aid.

During this same period, Fenn also benefited from growth of the endowment from $18.5M to over $54M and campus development that included completion of

a new meeting hall, library, science center, playing field, and Campus Center housing the Stone Family Innovation Lab, Moriarty Learning Commons, and expanded and upgraded Connolly Dining Hall.

A Chorus of Voices and Perspectives

Beginning in the fall of 2021, the Strategic and Long-Range Planning (SLRP) Executive Committee—with trustee Hilary Steinert P’15 ’16 as chair—launched the

work of five subcommittees focused on Mission, Philosophy, and Core Values; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; People; Program; and Resources. Associated working groups of faculty, staff, and trustees met in earnest to analyze Fenn’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Broad community input was also invaluable to the planning effort, with community conversations and online surveys capturing a multitude of perspectives from additional Fenn personnel, alumni,

“The best time to take a look forward is from a position of strength, and Fenn is in excellent condition programmatically and financially. We were taking a truly excellent school that is thriving in all areas and seeking to make it even better.” – Derek Boonisar, Head of School

current and alumni parents, former faculty and staff, and friends of the school.

The analysis and brainstorming process benefited from the expertise and guiding hand of former Board Chair and two-time board member Jim Kitendaugh P’97 ’05. He served as lead consultant for the effort—the same role he played during development of Fenn’s previous 10-year plan.

“Jim was not only an architect of the last 10-year plan, but also Board Chair during its implementation,” remarked current Board Chair Taragh Mulvany ’87 P’24 ’25. “His insights and perspective were incredibly valuable as we formulated the new plan, and you could sense a true passing of the baton into the next era of Fenn as our planning advanced and reached its conclusion. Hilary Steinert deserves significant praise, too, for the skill with which she directed a complex and multi-faceted planning effort for nearly two years. She was exceptional.”

The Executive Committee ultimately received recommendations from each subcommittee for actions that Fenn should consider pursuing in the coming decade. Priorities were confirmed and key decisions were made, and a substantive, nearly 20-page plan was expertly crafted by professional writer Leslie Goldberg to communicate the guiding principles and aspirations for The Fenn School through 2033.

“As the plan took shape, it was inspiring—though not surprising—that investment in Fenn’s faculty and staff and the student experience was at its core,” remarked Hilary Steinert. “Perhaps the most rewarding aspect of the planning process was the overwhelming enthusiasm among Fenn’s many constituencies to participate; current and past faculty and staff, students, and parents all provided guidance and input. It was an honor to lead such an important effort for a school I cherish, and I am confident that our plan strongly and successfully positions Fenn for the next decade.”

Revitalized Mission and Philosophy Statements

A deep exploration of Fenn’s mission statement was a key undertaking during the planning effort to ensure that it appropriately reflected the Fenn School of today.

“Because we are so mission-centric, and our core values are so essential to a boys’ education and mean so much to this community, we decided to make a change to the statement and lead with them,” shared Derek Boonisar. “Such an adjustment signaled their priority to the School.” A companion philosophy statement goes further in describing the nurturing, inspiring, and inclusive community that Fenn endeavors to provide.

The School’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) was also amplified as part of the revision. “In the earlier iteration of the statement dating back more than 15 years, Fenn committed to ‘honor diversity’,” added Derek. “While it was appropriately reflective of Fenn’s aspirations at that time, it wasn’t fully aligned with the school we are today and the school we are seeking to be. It needed to be strengthened.”

Fenn’s Director of DEI, Simone Hutchings, applauds the change in language. “I’m excited by how DEI has been integrated into the mission of the school,” she remarked. “The new statement affirms that we will continue to celebrate our shared humanity and embrace differences. How wonderful to have this as our North Star and to work towards justice and inclusion altogether!”

DEI is further woven throughout the plan. Increasing and nourishing the diversity of the student body and faculty and staff will continue to be a priority into the next decade, with a particular focus on attracting a greater number of student and employee applicants who identify as underrepresented people of color. Coupled with that is a commitment to ensure that Fenn’s program, schedule, and campus maximize the School’s ability to be as diverse as possible and establish and sustain a culture of true belonging across the community.

REVITALIZED MISSION STATEMENT

Guided by our motto, Sua Sponte, and inspired by our core values of honesty, respect, empathy, and courage, The Fenn School challenges each boy to take responsibility for himself, for his own education, and for the well-being of others. Our boys thrive in a diverse community that celebrates our shared humanity and embraces difference. As part of an ever-changing, interdependent world, Fenn empowers each boy to develop strong character and lead with integrity.

Strategic Priorities

Enriching the Student Experience

We will build on our successful relational, interdisciplinary teaching philosophy, increase and nourish the diversity of our student body, and enrich the campus experience.

1

Investing in Our Talented Faculty and Staff

We will encourage the passion and rigor of teaching boys within a close-knit faculty/staff community, strengthen Fenn’s professional teaching and advising pedagogy to foster excellence and enhance continuity in the student experience, and increase and nourish the diversity of our faculty and staff.

2

Stewarding the Future

We will maintain our sound financial position, nurture and cultivate relationships across all Fenn constituents, and implement Fenn’s Sustainability Master Plan. 3

A Trio of Priorities

Three strategic priorities form the basis of the new plan: Enriching the Student Experience, Investing in Faculty and Staff, and Stewarding the Future.

“Fenn is about the boys, first and foremost,” remarked Derek Boonisar. “They are the reason we are here. This new plan examines the School’s future through the lens of what is best for them.”

It makes a commitment to pursue a deep exploration of Fenn’s overall program of academics, arts, and athletics to ensure that all that Fenn offers and strives to achieve is reflective of best practice. One particular area of continued focus and growth for the coming decade is in the area of innovation.

Nathan Kraai, who joined Fenn as its new Director of Innovation and Design Thinking last fall, was enticed by

the opportunity to advance programming that creatively engages students in realworld problem solving and challenges them to take charge of their own learning and have an impact on issues and the people and communities around them.

A noteworthy assignment from the last school year that demonstrates the value of such project based learning was a collaborative venture across the Innovation, English, and Social Studies

A New Teaching and Learning Model

Beginning this fall, Fenn will employ a new teaching and learning model in the fourth grade that leverages small-group instruction to both challenge and support Fenn’s youngest students.

“During the strategic and long-range planning process, we discussed the overwhelmingly positive impact that small-group learning has had on the eight fourth grade and eight fifth grade students that have been enrolled in Fenn’s Intensive Literacy Program (ILP) each year,” shared Nat Carr ’97, Assistant Head of School and Lower School Head. “We saw an incredible opportunity to adopt a similar approach across all fourth grade Language Arts classes. While we initially targeted the 2024-25 school year to pursue that, a couple of key staffing opportunities arose to motivate an earlier start in the coming school year.”

Lower School Math classes have been benefiting from team teaching (and therefore smaller-group instruction) for more than five years. Extending small-group instruction to include Language Arts as well will enable Fenn fourth graders to interact and learn in groups of approximately seven students for half of their school day.

“As a teacher, it’s transformative to have such a small group in front of you and to be able to tailor your instruction to the individual needs of the students,” Nat continued. “That could look like an extension of the schoolwork for students who have mastered the key concepts and skills and are ready for greater challenge. Alternatively, some students will benefit from additional support and coaching. As the school year progresses, composition of the student groups would evolve in line with student successes and needs.”

“In small groups, it’s easy to create a safe environment for the boys to take risks and try out new things,” added Kathy Starensier, former Fenn faculty member for 33 years, including 26 years as an ILP teacher in the Lower School. “From the boys’ perspective, it’s fun too. Teachers are also better able to observe and assess their students and help boys understand their strengths and challenges as students. The boys are able to grow an age-appropriate self-awareness.”

Instruction on organization, planning, and time management will also be incorporated into the new fourth grade curriculum, equipping boys with a foundation for academic success. “This type of instruction will benefit all students across the age range we serve, regardless of where they are on the continuum of development and mastery of the curriculum,” Nat added.

Kathy wholeheartedly agrees. “Over the years, people would always comment that it would be wonderful if more boys had access to the executive functioning and study skills instruction that we were delivering as part of Fenn’s ILP program,” she shared. “It’s exciting that they now will.”

With this change, the coming school year will mark the conclusion of the formal ILP program as it has been delivered for decades. Fifth grade ILP students will complete their second and final year of the program with experienced faculty member Tricia Writer guiding them. The new teaching and learning model will then extend into the entire fifth grade beginning in the 2024-25 school year. Opportunities to weave elements of the model into the Middle and Upper School Divisions will also continue to be evaluated.

Small-group teaching and learning, plus skills instruction on organization, planning, and time management, are cornerstones of the new model the fourth grade will enjoy beginning in the 2023-24 school year.

Departments that challenged eighth graders to create a museum exhibit about the Holocaust that would help to preserve the memories of the diminishing legion of Holocaust survivors. Students conducted extensive research on topics of their choosing related to the Holocaust before bringing their subject matter to life with artifacts constructed from materials in the Stone Family Innovation Lab, documentary videos, and artist statements highlighting their inspiration and key observations. See pages 12-15 for an in-depth look at this thought- and emotion-provoking assignment.

Increasing Fenn’s emphasis on social-emotional learning will also be a priority into the next decade. “We are of the view that students aged 9 to 15 would benefit from increased attention and focus

on social-emotional learning, which in large part equates to building resilience, confidence, composure, poise, and friendship skills,” noted Derek Boonisar. “This will manifest in daily advisor meetings, All School Meetings, our Student Life program, and also moment-to-moment throughout the course of the school day. As we reflect upon our goals as a school to best prepare boys for the road ahead, strong social-emotional skills forged through meaningful experiences at Fenn are essential. We also are making a commitment to help our youngest students, as a start, grow into even more effective students.”

See page 7 for details about the new teaching and learning model that Fenn will be launching across the fourth grade beginning this fall.

An Investment in Faculty and Staff

As Fenn focuses on enriching the student experience, the care and support of faculty and staff who are daily stewards of it will remain an equal priority. The Strategic and Long-Range Plan reinforces the School’s commitment to provide competitive compensation and rich professional development and graduate study opportunities to help attract and retain high quality personnel who will fully embrace Fenn’s mission and core values.

Funding for faculty professional development supports this, more than doubling over the last few years from a previous annual budget of $50,000 to more than $120,000 in the current year. Annual Fund donations help to contribute $50,000 of this total, and the remainder

represents Fenn’s draw from $1.391 million in endowment funds designated for faculty professional development, which were augmented during the School’s most recent (“In Our Hands”) capital campaign.

Heading into the coming school year, Fenn is also increasing the availability of on-campus mental health resources to support all community members who could derive benefit from them. In June, a new Human Resources position was also added to Fenn’s Business Office team to expand the support provided to faculty and staff around hiring, onboarding, and retention, as well as management of personnel issues and needs.

Ongoing work by Fenn’s academic leadership team of Division Heads and Department Chairs on a project titled “Portrait of a Fenn Educator” will also benefit faculty, for one, as it will clearly define the School’s expectations for exemplary teaching and create pathways of support to assist faculty in achieving the high standards Fenn seeks to maintain.

“Our aspirational vision for teaching best practices will continue to cultivate Fenn’s relational teaching environment,” shared Kate Wade, Head of the Middle School. “We know that the clarifying language and familiar focus on our core values in and out of the classroom will aid us in exceeding our institutional priorities in the coming decade.

“This coming school year, our academic team is also excited to design, in

partnership with our faculty and staff, our ‘Portrait of a Fenn Graduate.’ This will identify the key domains of academic learning and character development that our students will embody and exemplify by graduation and take with them as they enter the world stage.”

Stewarding Fenn’s Future

While people remain at the center of Fenn’s plan for the next decade, so must the financial stability of the institution that is nearing its centennial. Developing a repeatable and sustainable enrollment model for the School that is supported by a 10-year financial plan is paramount, according to Dave Platt, Associate Head of School for Finance and Operations,

who chaired the SLRP’s Resources Subcommittee with trustee Neville McCaghren P’23.

“To ensure the future sustainability of the School, we have to continue to invest in the endowment,” Dave remarked. “Doing so will enable the Board to limit tuition increases as much as possible and to continue to grow how we invest in the boys through our program and people. Tuition only covers 75% of costs, and our draw from the endowment equals almost 12% of our revenue. Annual Fund contributions and income from Summer Fenn help us to close the rest of the gap, and we are always exploring other income streams so we can continue to successfully navigate the increasingly difficult economic environment.”

“The level of commitment and dedication from our donors is a testament to the impact that Fenn has had on our students’ lives and their families’ lives. Maintaining the involvement and support of our many constituents will be critical in helping Fenn achieve the goals we are setting for the future. ”

– Dave Platt, Associate Head of School for Finance and Operations

Dave Platt points to the skilled management of Fenn’s endowment as the reason for the School’s successful financial position to date.

“There have been a few critical people in Fenn’s history who helped to reposition the School. Years ago, former trustee Dick Connolly P’98 ’99 ’03, for one, readjusted our approach to ensure that endowment was an important part of our fundraising goals. It hadn’t been a priority before then. Two other former trustees and Fenn parents also played their parts in more recent years. Mark Thomas P’09 ’12 reset how Fenn funds are invested, and Drew

Schilling P’13 expertly guided the School through the “In Our Hands” capital campaign that raised over $20.3 million for capital and endowment initiatives.

The remarkable philanthropy of the extended Fenn community also contributes greatly to Fenn’s success. “The level of commitment and dedication from our donors is a testament to the impact that Fenn has had on our students’ lives and their families’ lives,” added Dave Platt. “Maintaining the involvement and support of our many constituents will be critical in helping Fenn achieve the goals we are setting for the future.”

Campus Development

Among Fenn’s goals for the coming decade—and across decades—is the maintenance and transformation of the buildings and grounds that provide an inspiring platform for teaching, learning, and extracurricular pursuits.

The iconic “old gym” that dates back to 1954 will reach its retirement within the scope of the new plan, and improvements to the School House academic building and Arts spaces are also being discussed. Development of the North Campus will also advance within this timeframe.

As such development occurs,

“Our aim was to ensure that Fenn evolves with or ahead of the times while maintaining the tried-and-true traditions I’m seeing my two boys enjoy today.”

– Board Chair Taragh Mulvany ’87 P’24 ’25

sustainability will be top of mind. Final Board approval of the full-scale Sustainability Master Plan spearheaded by Director of Sustainability Cameren Cousins is on tap for the coming year, as is its implementation.

The Sustainability Master Plan represents an affirmation and recommitment to sustainability in Fenn’s education program and daily habits, according to Cameren. “Fenn has been doing a lot of hard work and asking tough questions about our impact on the environment and other communities for almost 15 years now, so we certainly didn’t start from scratch with the master plan. It now will allow us to more formally and meaningfully incorporate stewardship and responsibility into all that we do, modeling the environmentally sound decisions and solutions that we talk about regularly in class with our students. It also will provide important direction as we pursue more sophisticated—and complicated— climate, justice, and educational best practices.”

A Blend of Tradition and Evolution

It is Derek Boonisar’s belief that the extended Fenn community will embrace the spirit and planned achievements of the Strategic and Long-Range Plan for 2023-2033.

“When I became Head of School in 2018, I made a commitment to myself and to others to take the very best care of this school,” he shared. “I’ve made this my mission day in and day out, and the Strategic and Long-Range Planning Process provided me an opportunity to take a step back from day-to-day opera-

tions and management of the School and look across a 10-year horizon line with colleagues. Making decisions that will help to shape Fenn’s future was a humbling yet invigorating experience, and they will hopefully serve the School well for many decades to come.”

And a far longer stretch than 10 years was always top of mind during the planning effort, according to Taragh Mulvany. “While our focus was centered

on the next decade, we also took the time to reflect on how our decisions could impact Fenn well beyond that. Ultimately our aim was to ensure that Fenn evolves with or ahead of the times while maintaining the tried-and-true traditions I’m seeing my two boys enjoy today like I did in the 80s. The spirit and aspirations of founder Roger Fenn were surely a guiding force too as we sculpted this next evolution of Fenn.”

Sustainability Master Plan

For more than a decade, the Fenn team—with Director of Sustainability Cameren Cousins at its helm—worked intentionally to be sustainable and climate-forward. To advance its sustainability commitments and climate action on campus, the School decided to formally pursue and engage the Fenn community in a comprehensive master planning exercise that would thoughtfully integrate sustainability into Fenn’s programmatic, operational, and strategic goals. A core planning team convened in 2021 and led the effort for the next year and a half to understand the School’s values related to the environment and to set priorities for a five-year period. A robust Sustainability Master Plan for 2023-2028 took shape from the community-wide analysis and brainstorming, and Fenn’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved the goals, aspirations, and direction of the plan this past spring.

The plan’s three areas of focus include:

• Educating for Sustainability, aiming to arm students with tools and skills to live sustainable lives and to deepen the Fenn community’s connection to the natural world;

• Built and Natural Campus, aiming to achieve zero greenhouse gas emissions from Fenn buildings and to utilize the campus for ecosystem services and opportunities for well-being that enhance student education and development; and

• Sustainable Operations, aiming to have Fenn employ sound and sustainable operational practices that demonstrate a respect for its community and the environment.

Research on the plan’s more granular strategies and tactics is ongoing, and relevant additional details, data, and figures will be presented to the Board of Trustees for their approval. The final, comprehensive plan will be highlighted for and shared with the Fenn community after its full-scale approval.

Enjoy the enclosed brochure that highlights key elements of Fenn’s Strategic and Long-Range Plan for the fall of 2023 through spring of 2033. The brochure and full plan will also be available on the new Fenn website coming soon.

Preserving Memory

Eighth Grade Holocaust Exhibit Exemplifies Project Based Learning

BY LAURIE O’NEILL

ON A BRISK MARCH DAY in Fenn’s Stone Family Innovation Lab, it was clear that something special was going on. The windows were shrouded in black cloth to darken the space and visitors somberly made their way past displays that eighth graders had created using a variety of materials, symbolism, and colors.

The event was a Holocaust exhibit titled Preserving Memory. It was the culmination of weeks of study and preparation and an example of an educational approach called Project Based Learning that Fenn is increasingly utilizing.

Preserving Memory reflected a unique collaborative effort among Fenn faculty and students, the Concord Museum, and the organization Facing History and Ourselves, which offers resources and guidance to teachers who wish to engage their students in making the connection between history and the contemporary moral choices they face.

The components of the exhibit were artifacts, which symbolically represented the boys’ topics; artist statements, which explained in writing the deeper meaning behind each memorial and the choices they made; and short documentary videos, which presented their research on each topic using primary sources, history, and testimonials from survivors.

With pride and gravity, the boys talked with visitors about their displays, which represented places, subjects, and events including Auschwitz, Kristallnacht, Schindler’s Factory, Surviving the Ghettos,

and Nazi Propaganda.

Jonas Ahlgren and three classmates, Toby Cleary, Emre Sahin, and Alex Pattinson, created an exhibit on the Death Marches. Jonas called the effort “an emotional experience. I learned that there were more horrors than I had previously known about,” he said.

Toby agreed, saying, “You didn’t have to be in a camp to have had a horrible life.”

Seth Drabik’s team project with Hector Cruz, Tyler DeMichele, and Ethan Njenga, was titled Hiding Jews. Seth said he was struck “by the risks people took and the courage they had to help others.”

“It was a great experience,” said Chris Boonisar of his team’s exhibit titled German Artwork. He and classmates Cooper Walton and Jimmy Xu focused on the ways that prisoners expressed themselves through art.

“I thought it was very important to do something like this so that parents and students from different grades could learn what life was like during the Holocaust,” Chris said. “We were proud of what we created and were eager to share it.”

Guiding the class were the chairs

of the Fenn Social Studies and English department, Matt Ward ’00 and Jill MacKinnon, respectively; the eighth grade Humanities team; Nate Kraai, director of Innovation and Design Thinking; and the Library and Media Literacy staff, Siobhan Smith and Leonor Daley, who played a pivotal role in the design and execution of the project.

“I believe it is collaboration that made it a success,” said Jill of the endeavor. “Project based learning requires a team approach, and teachers can model that for students, conveying that what we are doing is important and that learning doesn’t happen in isolation.”

The project had many roots. Nate had been talking to Matt, whose class was studying the Holocaust, and to Jill, whose students were reading Elie Wiesel’s Night and other Holocaust literature. He wondered, “Why can’t we mesh those ideas into more of a super unit that crosses English and Social Studies and isn’t siloed?”

Around this time, Nate had received an email from the public school district in Acton, where he lives, about a swastika spraypainted on an elevator, and he

thought about the rise of anti-Semitism in the country. With the number of Holocaust survivors shrinking, he pondered the question “How can we share [their experience] generationally, so that we don’t lose or push under the rug what happened?”

The exhibit drew dozens of visitors, including a Holocaust survivor, Jack Trompetter, a Cambridge artist. Prior to the exhibit’s opening, he shared the harrowing account of his journey as an infant and toddler into and out of hiding before and during WWII and how the traumatic experience affected him and his parents.

Mr. Trompetter, his voice sometimes breaking, spoke in the Hammett Ory Library. “My Holocaust story defines me, and like all survivor stories it needs to be told,” he said. He held his audience rapt as he described his family’s ordeal, saying that “it was a terrible choice for my mother to make, but she was brave enough to send me away.”

Mr. Trompetter is part of a group of New England Holocaust survivors that regularly meets over Zoom. “When the last survivor is gone, what will happen?”

he asked the boys. “We don’t want our story to be reduced to a page in a history book, or worse, forgotten.” He left his audience with this message: “Never forget that when you make people into ‘others,’ you’re headed for trouble.”

The speaker’s story “personalized the history the boys had learned and had a real impact on them,” noted Matt. “Creating a product for an authentic audience that included a survivor and descendants raised the bar for them, adding motivation and seriousness of purpose to the project.”

Said Nate, “Kids gravitate towards projects, to real-life application, and when there’s an emotional piece to it, they understand the issue and want to take action. They’re empowered to make a difference.”

Project based learning is a great approach to teaching Middle School boys, their teachers agree. “They probably didn’t realize that they were doing twice the amount of work than if they’d been reading something and just answering questions or taking a test,” said Nate. “They were coming in before school, during recess, and after school to work on it.”

Jill noted that a list of “driving questions” fueled the project, including “Why is storytelling important to understanding and personalizing history?” and “What do stories of resistance teach us about our own agency and courage?”

Each team of boys decided who was going to work on the video aspect of each display and who would work on the artifact aspect. They were asked to draw up a plan and create a blueprint before they could start to create it. Employing symbolism was key. “They had to think about how to do this visually, by considering how artifacts look in a museum setting and how visitors interact with an exhibit,” Nate said.

For example, a display created by Evan Beetham, Gordie Gund, Jake Jones, and John Mulvany represented Liberation Stories. It was particularly poignant, featuring small clay birds escaping from a barbwire encircled cage.

Representatives of Facing History, including Jeff Smith of Newton and Karen Kirsten, an area survivor descendant, writer, and genocide educator, attended the event. Kirsten is the author of the forthcoming memoir Irena’s Gift, which was

inspired by her search for her mother’s rescuers in Nazi-occupied Poland.

Susan Foster Jones, director of Education at the Concord Museum, and Jenny Gratz, its director of School Programs and Family Learning, had talked to the boys about how to set up an exhibit. They suggested that students create a “reflection room” where guests could quietly share their feelings about what they saw, and this became part of the venue.

“They ran with [the project] so wonderfully and took it very seriously,” said Jenny. Added Susan, “We’re very proud of what they did.”

The exhibit was a “huge success,” said Nate, who hopes that “it grows the advocacy for these kinds of projects. It’s

scary to give up class time, and it’s scary to go really deep on one thing when you have a lot to cover, but I think it’s a way forward.”

The skills the boys are honing by doing such projects, he continued, are those they will need “tomorrow and ten years from now: How do I collaborate? Communicate effectively? Think critically? Respond when I fail? Pivot when I’m struggling?”

Preserving Memory is “an exemplar,” he said. “We’re going to continue to try to make this more of what’s happening with our Fenn boys.”

Laurie O’Neill is a freelance writer and former teacher and writer/editor at Fenn. She lives in Concord.

“I believe it is collaboration that made [this project] a success. Project based learning requires a team approach, and teachers can model that for students, conveying that what we are doing is important and that learning doesn’t happen in isolation.”

– Jill MacKinnon, English Department Chair

Graduation Milestones

A towering event tent rising up on the varsity soccer field with blue and gold flags flying atop it was a sure sign that Graduation Week had arrived on the Fenn campus. The 94th annual Graduation Ceremonies for the eighth and ninth grade classes took center stage on June 7 and 9, respectively, preceded by an Alumni Association Breakfast that welcomed the graduates into the ranks of Fenn alumni, Prize Day celebrating the accomplishments of boys across grades 4 to 9, and special class celebrations and Field Day. This graduation year also marked the end of Fenn careers of treasured faculty and staff, most notably Bob Starensier and Rob Morrison as they retired after 41 and 23 years of service to their beloved Fenn. Turn the page for highlights of this exciting time of year on Monument Street!

94TH Annual Graduation Exercises Celebrate Newest Alumni

BY JENNIFER EVERETT

GRADUATION WEEK AT FENN is an action-packed journey of celebration leading the proud eighth and ninth grade graduates to their final Fenn destinations. The community of faculty, staff, students, families, and alumni enthusiastically join in the festivities to envelop each boy with the warmth and appreciation to which they have grown accustomed across their Fenn years on Monument Street.

Kicking off Graduation Week with fanfare on Monday, June 5th was the battle of the blue and gold during Fenn’s annual Field Day of competition and camaraderie, which saw the blue team emerge victorious. The following morning, members of the Alumni Association welcomed this year’s 65 graduates into the ranks of the more than 4,400 Fenn alumni at a breakfast at which each student received an alumni tie that he would proudly wear on graduation day.

The breakfast treats and warm remarks from alumni speakers became fuel of a sort heading into the Prize Day celebration that followed later that morning, signaling the conclusion of the school year for the student body. Guided into Prize Day with an appreciative “clap-out” that stretched from the Boll Building across Carr Road and on to the event tent bordering Monument Street were Bob Starensier and Rob Morrison to recognize the milestone of their retirements. (See pages 28-33 for Prize Day highlights and keep watch for Fenn’s next winter magazine for extensive tributes to both retirees.)

Graduates at Alumni Association Breakfast

Graduation Ceremonies

On Wednesday, June 7, and Friday, June 9, two separate graduation ceremonies brought the community together to mark the conclusion of the Fenn careers of 47 students from the Class of 2024 and 18 “seniors” from the Class of 2023. Musical offerings by a troupe of Concord Minuteman, including Upper School Head Dave Irwin, helped to escort the graduates from Ward Hall to the event tent.

Presiding over the 94th annual graduation exercises was Head of School Derek Boonisar, who led the student procession and welcomed guests with words of gratitude for the young men who were receiving Fenn diplomas on these momentous two days.

“It has been incredibly rewarding to witness these graduates embrace our

core values of honesty, respect, empathy, and courage,” Derek shared. “They have understood the meaning of Sua Sponte by engaging, leading, and serving as role models to our younger students. They have demonstrated that having the courage to take risks in the classroom and on the stage and athletic fields has helped them to discover their best selves, and they have learned the significance of having empathy and respect for all whom they come to know.”

Similar words of respect and recognition graced the personalized Head’s reflections that he delivered for each graduate before each boy proceeded to the stage to receive his sought-after diploma from Chairman of the Board of Trustees Taragh Mulvany ’87.

Musical selections from Fenn’s String Ensemble, Treble Chorus (with faculty and staff accompaniment), and

Fenn Band were woven amidst the reflections during the eighth grade ceremony. Director of Instrumental Music Virginia Morales also offered solo performances on the French Horn at both ceremonies, supplemented by ninth grade graduate Akshaj Ghanta offering a Ludwig van Beethoven piece on keyboard during the ninth grade ceremony and Associate Director of Admission and Financial Aid

Allegra Maletz and eighth grade graduate

Alex Ning sharing a moving duet of the Beatles’ “In My Life” on cello and violin as part of the eighth grade ceremony.

Another duo that surely entertained during the ninth-grade graduation were veteran faculty members John Fitzsimmons and Ben Smith ’85 as they shared a rendition of “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King. Before the graduates and guests were invited to sing along to the familiar tune, “Fitz” and “Smitty” asked

“It has been incredibly rewarding to witness these graduates embrace our core values of honesty, respect, empathy, and courage. They have understood the meaning of Sua Sponte by engaging, leading, and serving as role models to our younger students. They have demonstrated that having the courage to take risks in the classroom and on the stage and athletic fields has helped them to discover their best selves, and they have learned the significance of having empathy and respect for all whom they come to know. ”

– Head of School Derek Boonisar

the graduates to rise one-by-one and pledge that they would stand by the Fenn “brother” by their side until all graduates were standing as one, linked by blue and gold brotherhood.

Celebrating a Culture of Kindness

During each graduation ceremony, the gathering of graduates, faculty and staff, and loved ones were treated to thoughtful reflections about the Fenn student experience from two graduating students. Farewell reflections from Fenn’s Student President Tommy Doherty and Vice President Will Manchuso during the ninth-grade graduation recognized and praised the culture of kindness that is palpable at Fenn.

“On the first Thursday of the year [I joined Fenn in sixth grade], I got Luke Waldeck ’22 as my big brother,”

Tommy recalled. “We went to the gym to play basketball, which is not my strong suit. Every time Luke touched the ball, he would pass it right to me, even after I missed five shots in a row. Making me feel included in the game was more important to him than winning. Everyone [at Fenn] is always willing to help someone out, hold the door for someone, or sit with someone who’s alone during lunch. Small acts of kindness like these are what make Fenn so unique.”

Will Manchuso agreed. “We spent this last week reflecting on the memories that we made at Fenn and the importance of the brotherhood that will last forever,” he shared. “Fenn has given me the opportunity to meet so many good friends and to share so many wonderful moments. I would like every one of my fellow graduates to think of that moment

that you will carry with you for the rest of your lives. Fenn will always be a special place to me, and I will never forget where I came from.”

Two days earlier at the eighth-grade graduation ceremony, eighth grade student speaker Jake Jones shared his experience with the same depth of kindness.

“What I will remember most is the kindness that is everywhere throughout campus,” he shared. “The teachers are always so supportive and willing to give you help even when they’re extremely busy, the dining hall staff is always working to prepare an amazing meal, and the maintenance crew always keeps the campus in its best condition. This is where boys truly come to thrive … Fenn pushed me outside my comfort zone and gave me more confidence than I thought I’d ever have. It also taught us all to be independent, reliable, and respectful young

“Fenn has given me the opportunity to meet so many good friends and share so many wonderful moments … Fenn will always be a special place to me, and I will never forget where I came from.”

– Student Vice President Will Manchuso ’23

“Everyone [at Fenn] is always willing to help someone out, hold the door for someone, or sit with someone who’s alone during lunch. Small acts of kindness like these are what make Fenn so unique … Fenn is a special community that has taught me lessons that I will embrace and value for the rest of my life.”

– Student President Tommy Doherty ’23

men and to always incorporate the value of Sua Sponte.”

And according to eighth grade student speaker Owen Beauvais, whose remarks highlighted the three most important lessons that he had learned across his Fenn years, it is important to consciously embrace all that the Fenn experience offers.

“One of the three important lessons that I learned was to slow down, take a step back, and take it all in,” he remarked. “We must enjoy where we are instead of worrying about what’s next… Some of my best memories at Fenn were when I was just being a kid, like playing knee hockey and pickle ball during recess even though applications were stressing me out or taking the time to play the guitar in Fitz’s room even though I had many other things that needed to be done.”

Two other lessons shaped him equally. “Find challenges and let them change you and say yes (because great things happen when you put yourself out there and step outside your comfort zone),” he added. “Fenn was a safe place where I

knew I could take risks. To my classmates, teachers, and teammates, thank you for making Fenn a place where we could all say yes – for me it was basketball, maybe for you it was trying out for the school play or performing in All School Meeting. Whatever it was, you said yes, and I bet you are better off because of it.”

Passing The Baton

After all graduates received their diplomas and the second graduation of the week neared its conclusion, two final presentations at the ninth-grade graduation gave a sure nod to the future.

Following tradition, outgoing Student President Tommy Doherty and Vice President Will Manchuso conferred upon rising ninth graders Patrick Carolan and James Creelman the authority of the executive offices of The Fenn School student government. With that act, newly elected Student President Carolan and Vice President Creelman were officially charged with the responsibility of serving the Fenn student community to the best

of their abilities during the 2023-2024 school year.

Ninth grade graduate Paul Trotto also took the stage to present Fenn with a senior class gift on behalf of Class Gift Committee peers Tommy Doherty, Read Hoose, and George Yerid, and the entire Class of 2023. In a nod to departing Athletic Director Bob Starensier and his deft management of the ever healthy “lost and found” collection on campus, the Class aptly gifted Fenn two new wooden “lost and found” bins that Paul joked would “hopefully help Fenn students do even more finding than just losing.”

After closing remarks from Derek Boonisar, “Raiders March” by John Williams signaled the end of each of the ceremonies and the start of the next chapters of the eighth and ninth grade students moving on from their Monument Street home.

Congratulations to all of Fenn’s graduates and newest alumni!

“Fenn was a safe place where I knew I could take risks. To my classmates, teachers, and teammates, thank you for making Fenn a place where we could all say yes ... great things happen when you put yourself out there and step outside your comfort zone.”

– Eighth Grade Graduate Speaker Owen Beauvais ’24

“Fenn pushed me outside my comfort zone and gave me more confidence than I thought I’d ever have … What I will remember most is the kindness that is everywhere throughout campus … Fenn is truly where boys come to thrive.”

– Eighth Grade Graduate Speaker Jake Jones ’24

GRADUATES OF THE CLASS

Thomas Barry Doherty

Evan James Fitzgerald

Sebastian Allen Gear

Akshaj Krishna Ghanta

Finn Salvatore Giacalone

Edward Charles Gillick

Read Hoose

Jackson Matthew Kilmartin

Harry Cooper Lavoie

William Todd Manchuso

Charles Timothy O’Brien

Zheyu Sunny Qian

Parker Allen Reesey

Mohammed Ebrahim Saeed

Paul Francisco Trotto

Devin Ram Whiteford

George Michael Yerid Maxwell Steven Yerid

OF 2023

GRADUATES OF THE CLASS OF 2024

Berk Akay

Owen Michael Beauvais

Isaac Nathan Beeson

Evan Michael Beetham

Penn Rush Boger

Cole Patrick Brennan

Tobin Nicholas Cleary

James Joseph Collin

Claude Nathaniel Defay

Tyler Dean DeMichele

Seth David Drabik

Andrew Lloyd Durkin

Jake Juergen Erston

Colin George Fitzgerald

Dylan Ziheng Fu

Jiazi George Gao

Keaton Michael Gaynor

Finn Robert Gower

Tasman Martin Greenland

Jacob Taylor Jones

Otto Arthur Kroeger

Tadhg Samuel Ledlie

Cedric Odyssey Lin

Oliver William Lucchini

Kenji Charles Ma

Colin David MacInnis

Nolan Hugh McNeill

Blue Mathias Muir

Glen Perkins Murdough

Alex Ning

Ethan Mutethia Njenga

Sam Craft Oblak

Graham Tilton Pace

William Paul Parks

Henry Muir Paterson

Giovanni Liam Rosenfeld

Schools Our Fenn Graduates Will Attend

Acton-Boxborough Regional High School

Austin Preparatory School

Baylor School

Beaver Country Day School

Belmont High School

Belmont Hill School

Boston University Academy

Brooks School

Buckingham Browne & Nichols School

Cambridge Rindge and Latin School

Cambridge School of Weston

Concord Academy

Concord Carlisle High School

Deerfield Academy

Governor’s Academy

Groton School

Kimball Union Academy

Lawrence Academy

Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School

Littleton High School

Middlesex School

Milton Academy

Newton North High School

Phillips Academy

Emre Sam Sahin

Julian Anthony Schmitt

Edward Weizhe Shi

Owen Hobart Spring

Elliot James Barclay Stiga

Turner Scott Van Houten

Jacob Terran Wachs

Cooper James Walton

Owen Michael Walton

James Runming Xu

Chenhang Christopher Zhang

Pingree School

St. George’s School

St. Mark’s School

Tabor Academy

The Newman School

The Rivers School

Awards and Prizes

EACH SPRING, THE FENN SCHOOL FACULTY recommends and votes on students who should receive special recognition for their academic successes, as well as their character, effort, achievement, and growth. Join us in congratulating the following students, upon whom awards were bestowed during Prize Day and the Graduation Exercises for the Classes of 2023 and 2024.

Tete Cobblah Award for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

(Recognizing graduates who worked tirelessly to realize Fenn’s mission to honor diversity and embrace the ideals of equity, justice, and inclusion): 9th grade/Ebrahim Saeed; 8th grade/Cole Brennan and Julian Schmitt

Faculty Prize

(Fenn’s highest honor, recognizing ninth graders for their character and involvement in school life): Will Manchuso and Tommy Doherty

(Recognizing ninth graders for noteworthy personal growth and citizenship): Ebrahim Saeed, Evan Fitzgerald, Harry Lavoie, and Finn Giacalone

(Recognizing graduates with generous and unselfish spirits who helped to foster the success, happiness, and self-esteem of teammates): Ebrahim Saeed and Tommy Doherty

Philip S. Burbank ’36 Prize

Mark Biscoe Award

(Recognizing ninth graders for exceptional community service and helpfulness to teachers and peers): Ebrahim Saeed

(Recognizing students who persevered in meeting academic challenges): 8th grade/Keaton Gaynor and Jake Wachs; 9th grade/Parker Reesey, Devin Whiteford, and Paul Trotto

(Recognizing a graduate’s determination, hard work, positive spirit, and cheerfulness to his athletic teams): Tommy Doherty, Ebrahim Saeed, and Sunny Qian

(Recognizing eighth graders for exceptional character, effort, and achievement that enriched the life of the school): Blue Muir, Jake Jones, Cedric Lin, Alex Ning, and Owen Beauvais

Dr. Samuel C. Fleming Memorial Prize

P.G. Lee Memorial Prize

Walter W. Birge III Prize for Philanthropy and Support of the Fenn Community

Lovejoy Prize

(Given in memory of Austen, a Fenn student from the class of 1955, to Lower School students who most resemble “Autie” in their helpful effort contributed in work and play):

9th grade/George Yerid and Max Yerid (with Jim Carter)

8th grade/Christopher Zhang, Owen Beauvais, Henry Paterson, Colin MacInnis, and Alex Ning (not pictured)

8th

9th

James R. Carter III ’54 Prize for History and Social Studies

Eleanor B. Fenn Modern Language Prize

8th grade/Owen Beauvais; 9th grade/Devin Whiteford

Austen Fox Riggs Award

Jasper Hall, Andrew Bates, and Bode Johnson

Alan S. Moats Mathematics Prize

grade/Christopher Zhang, Alex Ning, and Teddy Shi

grade/Akshaj Ghanta

Kirsten Gould Arts Awards Christopher Zhang (music), Cole Brennan (visual arts), and Julian Schmitt (drama)

Lennox Lindsay Latin Prize 9th grade/George Yerid; 8th grade/Sam Oblak

David S. Huston Band Award Graham Pace

Joseph A. Hindle, Jr. Science Recognition Award Parker Reesey, Jake Jones, Sam Oblak, Nolan McNeill, Max Yerid, and Cedric Lin

Millar Brainard Science Prize Akshaj Ghanta and George Yerid

William O. Travers Writing Contest (4th grade) Poetry/Sam Lavoie, Fiction/Kevin Yu, Narrative Essay/Quentin Napoli; (5th grade) Fiction/George Ruch (not pictured), Poetry/Robert Collings, Narrative Essay/Bode Johnson; (6th grade) Fiction/Nathan Xu, Poetry/Arda Akay and Renzo Ma; (7th grade) Poetry/Colter Martin, Narrative Essay/Ben Gao, Fiction/Hanwen Tang; (8th grade) Fiction/George Gao, Poetry/Elijah Donnalson, Narrative Essay/Teddy Shi; (9th grade) Fiction/Parker Reesey, Poetry/Harry Lavoie, Narrative Essay/ George Yerid

Around Campus

As the curtains closed on another school year (which included March performances of the musical Newsies, JR., pictured here), we looked back fondly at the remarkable classroom experiences our students enjoyed; at the dedication of our faculty and staff to provide compelling avenues for learning and growth across academics, arts, athletics, and extracurricular activities such as service learning; and at the tireless efforts of the Fenn Parents Association to weave into the calendar unique events that further enrich the Fenn School experience. This past year, PA-sponsored events spanned performances by Boston Bhangra dancers to assemblies with hip-hop violinist Rhett Price and music producer Brent Daniels, and more! Alumni Clint Bajakian ’77 and Winston Pingeon ’08 also visited us for two All School Meetings to share their crafts and life experiences (see pages 86 and 44, respectively). Turn the page to dive into snapshots of the year, followed by an introduction on pages 68-73 to the new faculty, staff, and trustees who joined our community or embraced new roles!

“Get Ya Papes!” Newsies JR. Shines on Stage

After a three-year hiatus due to COVID, a Fenn musical finally returned to the Ward Hall stage in March. The spirit of Sua Sponte came vividly to life as a community-wide cast of students, faculty, and staff presented Disney’s Newsies, JR., inspired by the true story of newsboys in turn-of-thecentury New York City who rose up against powerful newspaper publishers raising prices at their expense.

“I have been a fan of this movie turned Broadway show for a while, and as soon as they made a junior version, I knew we had to do it,” said Amy Menkin, the show’s director. “I love how the message from over 100 years ago still resonates today. Together, the newsies learn they are stronger united and create a movement to fight for what is right. As they move forward in the world, I hope our students remember that even the youngest voices can make a difference.”

While the primary roles and responsibilities for the musical remained with the talented eighth and ninth grade actors and technical crew, they were joined on stage by Lower and Middle School students by audition and a handful of enthusiastic faculty and staff, according to show Music Director Mike Salvatore. “We already have students and faculty looking to help for next year!”

A special thank-you goes out to Nichole Collins for her choreography and unbridled passion for the show, to Sarah Zeitman for her technical direction and can-do spirit, and to the many parent volunteers!

Historic Speaking Contests Feature a Repeat Victor

On Monday, March 6, 2023, eighth grader Owen Beauvais accomplished a feat not witnessed since 2016 when he officially secured back-to-back, first-place victories in the 2022 and 2023 W.W. Fenn Public Speaking Contests. His rendition of “The Village Blacksmith” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow inspired immediate consensus on his win among the judging panel of Head of School at Belmont Hill School, Greg Schneider, former Fenn faculty member, Gisela Hernanez-Skayne, and alumnus John Moriarty ’04.

“From the moment Owen opened his mouth, there was a different energy in the room,” Schneider remarked. “With clarity and passion, he shared how a seemingly ordinary life can be special.”

Eighth grader Julian Schmitt and ninth grader Max Yerid secured honorable mention victories in this 77th iteration of the Fenn contest—Julian with an engaging rendition of “We Shall Fight on the Beaches” by Winston Churchill and Max with passionate delivery of an excerpt from Walden by Henry David Thoreau.

Months earlier, on December 9, 2022, the popular Hector J. Hughes Extemporaneous Speaking Contest—a Fenn tradition since

1950—delighted a Fenn audience of hundreds in Ward Hall as students spoke for two minutes on topics that they received only minutes before taking the stage.

Owen Beauvais claimed a spot in the winner’s circle of this contest too, as an honorable mention finalist for his description of life “if squirrels took over the world,” along with sixth grader Arda Akay, who masterfully tackled “the real reason dinosaurs went extinct.”

Claiming the top prize in the contest was sixth grader Ngwa (Peter) Mokoro with his wildly entertaining response to “The humans still think I’m one of them,” which had him masquerading as the superhero Big Mac Boy fueled by the power of McDonald’s.

Library teacher Leonor Daley, Director of Innovation and Design Thinking

Nathan Kraai, and English teacher Amy Salvatore served as judges of the alwaysunpredictable test of thinking on one’s feet. Congratulations to English Department Chair Jill MacKinnon who guided the myriad preparations for and successful presentation of both contests!

W.W. Fenn Participants: 6th graders Joseph Blake, Landan Cleary, and Peter Mokoro; 7th graders Milo DuBois, Ruben Lee, and Eli Waldek; 8th graders Owen Beauvais, James Creelman, Cedric Lin, and Julian Schmitt; and 9th grader Max Yerid

Hector J. Hughes Participants: 6th graders Arda Akay, Michael Frahm, Peter Mokoro, Hugh Morgan, and Warren Turner; 7th graders Ruben Lee, Sean Park, and Patch Remington; 8th graders Owen Beauvais and Evan Beetham; and 9th grader Tommy Doherty

Interdisciplinary Study Encourages Empathy and Understanding

The #1 New York Times bestseller A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park inspired a thoughtprovoking, interdisciplinary unit of study for Fenn’s sixth grade. To deepen their understanding of a powerful story of two Sudanese children who had to overcome mortal dangers to improve their lives and the lives of others, sixth graders had the opportunity to hear from Jok Ngor and William Maluil, two Lost Boys of Sudan who visited Fenn to share their own stories of adversity, from food shortages to face-offs with wildlife.

Fenn’s Kane Gallery also hosted a collection of artwork created by lost children of Sudan, depicting the beauty and struggle of the people in the region and the hardships of war. Students were challenged to study the art and share their perspectives on what they believed the pieces represented.

As impactful for the students was the challenge given to them to step into the shoes of A Long Walk to Water’s female protagonist, Nya, who walked up to eight hours daily to find clean drinking water for her family. While only a sliver of a window into Nya’s trials, students had to venture to North Campus to collect water from the Concord River and hike it back to main campus. The addition of wintry weather during the trek surely added to this lesson in empathy and understanding.

Campus Visitors Extend Learning

Each school year, our community is treated to a wide range of compelling campus visitors that enrich the Fenn student experience. This past fall, for one, brought the arrival of New York Times bestselling author and illustrator, Jerry Craft, and on the far other end of the spectrum, a visit by Fenn parent Dr. Todd Francone P’25 ’27 and the da Vinci Xi surgical system that he employs regularly as a surgeon and as director of Newton-Wellesley Hospital’s Robotics Program.

In an entertaining assembly, Mr. Craft offered students a window into all that inspired him to pursue writing and illustration as a career and showcased his award-winning graphic novel, New Kid. Students were treated to a book signing later in the day to meet their writing idol and have his signature and a special note added to their copies.

With the da Vinci Xi surgical system (literally) rolling into the Stone Family Innovation Lab off a flatbed truck, students were able to try their hands at using robotic consoles to complete surgery simulations and even operate on the likes of grapes, peppers, and more. A presentation by Dr. Francone on the system and its current applications, as well as the future of robotic surgery, readied the boys for the unique experience of being surgeons for a day!

Honoring Service on Campus

On April 20, Fenn was honored to welcome James McConville, the 40th Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, as well as nearly 900 military personnel, first responders, and civilians who challenged themselves to participate in the 2023 Tough Ruck Marathon with Fenn as its home base. Our eighth and ninth grade student ambassadors proudly represented Fenn as they cheered on the ruckers, provided beverages, fruit, and even cookies to grateful ruckers crossing the finish line, and welcomed the hundreds of visiting family and friends there to support loved ones. A sure highlight was seeing Connor Soukup ’20 bearing his Boston Athletic Association medal at the finish line!

Later in the spring, Winston Pingeon ’08 returned to campus to speak at a special assembly about his service as a U.S. Capitol Police Officer and lived experience during the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. Winston also shared his love and passion for the arts, which he first discovered during his Fenn years and later relied on as a critical outlet and safe space to help him process the trauma he endured on that fateful January day. We applaud Winston for his courage and dedication during his service at the Capitol!

Fall Sports Recap

In the early days of fall, the Fenn athletic fields were filled with energy and optimism for the start of a new sports season. This enthusiasm translated into some wonderful team victories and helped to build team chemistry throughout the season.

Varsity Cross Country

Following an undefeated season in 2022, Fenn Cross Country picked up right where it left off. The team enjoyed strong finishes early on, including over Lexington Christian Academy and Carroll School. The team also finished in the top spots against Park School and Fay School.

Notably, co-captain Charlie Gillick was the top finisher in every one of his races, matching the production of former teammate J.T. Gally ’23.

“Charlie made it look so effortless on the course,” said Coach Dave Duane. “He set the tone and supported everyone every day.”

Fenn also had great finishes from ninth graders Seb Gear and Sunny Qian, as well as eighth graders Dylan Fu,

Gordie Gund, Daniel McGowan, and Alex Ning.

Coaches Duane and Derek Cribb were very pleased with the performances of the boys, but knew that some of them still had more to give as the season headed to its conclusion. Their theory would be put to the test in the final race at the Roxbury Latin Jamboree.

The field of over 150 runners and 16 teams hit the course with Fenn facing much larger teams. Fenn ultimately emerged as the top junior team at the Jamboree, finishing fifth overall, one point behind St. Sebastian’s and also following Roxbury Latin, Belmont Hill, and Nobles.

Gillick was sensational again, placing second overall. Fenn’s top five was rounded off by Ning, Fu, Gund, and Nolan McNeill.

“We’ve been lucky to have such driven runners these last few seasons,” said Duane. “We had a great time coaching this group of boys.”

Varsity Football

Coming off an undefeated 2021 football season, Coaches Chris Ryan ’10 and Ryan Burgess were eager to build on that success with their new roster of players. The 2022 squad rose splendidly to the occasion, finishing the season 4-1, with two key wins over rival Fay School.

In the first matchup, Fenn hosted Fay during Fenn’s Fall Homecoming. The wet weather would not dampen the spirits of the spectators or the boys in blue and gold as the team excelled on both sides of the ball. It was Fenn’s running game that stifled Fay’s defense all day, notably the ground games of eighth graders Elijah Donnalson and Henry Paterson.

Co-captain Evan Fitzgerald was a ball hawk on defense, running down every Fay player with the ball and accounting for double-digit tackles. When the scoreboard hit zero, Fenn claimed an opening season win, 22-6.

After a convincing home win over Nobles during the team’s “Pink Out” game, Fenn traveled to Dexter for its first away game. Fenn dominated from the

first whistle, outplaying Dexter at every spot on the field.

“We knew they would be a tough matchup, but we felt we had a great game plan to stifle them today,” said Coach Burgess.

Fenn gained great production from eighth graders Donnalson and Ethan Njenga running the ball, and co-captain Will Manchuso was excellent protecting the ball from the quarterback position. Fenn’s dominant 36-6 win on the road moved the team to 3-0.

The following week, Fenn traveled to Fay in a rematch of the early season matchup with the Fenn-Fay Football trophy on the line. This game was much tighter than the first meeting between the teams, as defense ruled the day on both sides. Fenn was able to capitalize on a quarterback scramble from Manchuso that would be the difference in the game. Fenn held on to win 8-6 and keep hold of the coveted trophy.

“I’m glad we came out with a win and did it with this group of guys,” said Manchuso.

Fenn finished the season at home against Dexter, falling to the visitors in another close battle and preventing a perfect season.

“It may not be how we wanted to end, but the drive and effort to compete each week was something I truly loved seeing out of this team this season,” said Coach Ryan.

Varsity Soccer

1984. That was the first year that Coach Bob Starensier took the reins of Fenn’s Varsity Soccer program. Thirty-eight years later, Star decided to hang up his cleats to prepare for retirement.

The Varsity Soccer team came out firing to begin the season, as if in tribute to their leader, “Star.” After a preseason tune-up against Belmont Hill, the blue and gold went on a three game winning streak, taking down Dexter, St. Sebastian’s, and Nobles. Co-captains Ebrahim Saeed and Harry Lavoie led the way offensively as Saeed notched four goals in the first three games, and Lavoie, the team’s goalkeeper, managed to score two goals and post three clean sheets to begin the season.

“We saw early on that we had a deep team, including a lot of young guys whom we needed to rely on,” said Coach Jason Rude. “Everyone was playing for each other.”

As the season progressed, Fenn saw great production on the field from forwards Griff Dewing, Finn Gower,

Andrew Voss, and Eli Waldeck, as well as stout defensive play from ninth grade co-captain Devin Whiteford.

Fenn found itself at 6-1-1 on the season when it went up against a historically strong Fessenden team. Coach Rude called this “the game of the season” as both teams battled up and down the Fenn turf field. Lavoie was excellent in between the posts for Fenn, as the ninth-grade keeper made 13 saves. Neither team was able to score, but the tone was set for the remainder of the season as Fenn earned a 0-0 tie.

Coaches Starensier, Rude, and Andy Rentschler praised their players for the character and determination they displayed in supporting each other and never giving up in the face of adversity.

With the regular season complete and a final record of 7-2-2 posted, Fenn prepared for the New England Junior School Soccer Championship hosted by Eaglebrook School. The team would place seventh overall in the tournament, after playing in three

tightly contested matchups, including a 1-0 victory over Eaglebrook. Following the final game, Star was honored by tournament organizers with a plaque commemorating his 37 tournament appearances, five tournament championships, and five second place finishes in his career as coach. Assistant coaches Rentschler and Rude congratulated him for his inspirational leadership and enormous impact on the lives of generations of Fenn players.

Junior Varsity Soccer (Blue)

With a pool of talented middle school soccer players, this year’s JV Soccer team was divided into two teams that would face two JV schedules. The JV Blue squad was led by Coaches Billy Hackett ’87 and Dominic Dipersia. As the season got underway, it was clear that the younger players would play an integral role for the team.

The team opened up on the road at Dexter in Brookline, MA, where co-captain Emre Sahin and seventh grader Nkosi Dube each had a pair of goals to help Fenn start the season with

a 7-1 win. The tandem of goalkeepers in eighth graders Ben Kugeler and Eric Olson shared time between the posts, as they would throughout the season.

As the season progressed, Fenn saw itself in some tight matches. After two narrow defeats to Fay and Belmont Hill, Fenn went on the road to Fessenden, a team they had not scored against in the last two seasons. From the opening whistle, Fessenden seemed the stronger (and taller) team, firing shot after shot on Olson in net. At the halfway mark, Fenn was down two goals.

In the second half, Fenn opened up with a beautiful corner kick from eighth grader Graham Pace, who placed it right onto the foot of Sahin to bring the game to within one goal. Seventh grade defender Peter Belin was a difference maker for Fenn on the back end, going up against players twice his size and winning the race to the ball. Fenn fell on the road 3-1, but the coaches were pleased with the team’s effort.

“Fessenden was bigger, faster, and stronger when you did the eyeball test, but our boys’ grit and heart showed up today,” said Coach Hackett. “This kind of effort is what makes these games worthwhile.”

That effort was on full display for the matchup on the turf against Brimmer and May School. Following

back-to-back ties against Carroll School (4-4) and Sparhawk Academy (1-1), Fenn came out dominant in all areas of the game. Solid defense from eighth grader Kenji Ma and seventh graders Belin and Van Rowan kept Brimmer and May at bay. Co-captain Tadhg Ledlie and seventh grader Cass Myler had excellent vision in the midfield, and Pace and Kugeler pushed forward up front, accounting for all three goals in the win.

“This was a culmination of every practice and game we’ve had this season,” said Coach Dipersia. “It was really special seeing it all come together for these boys.”

Junior Varsity Soccer (Gold)

With the JV Soccer teams split into two squads, Coaches Dave Sanborn and Quinn Writer got to work in preparing their roster of boys for the season ahead. The competition was fierce; however, Fenn would enjoy some moments of brilliance on the field.

Early in the season, Fenn played their best game as a unit against the visitors from Park School. Eighth grader Jonas Ahlgren had a remarkable run for Fenn, striking for three goals in the first 13 minutes of the match. While this performance seemed to signal a runaway for Fenn, Park rallied for two fine goals before halftime.

As the second half unspooled at a high pace, Ahlgren notched two more goals. This would be the first five-goal entry on a JV score sheet in at least fifteen years! Ninth grader Akshaj Ghanta and eighth grader Owen LaCamera tucked in one goal apiece to push the final tally to 7-2.

“The team really gelled today,” said Coach Sanborn. “But we can’t be complacent. We have to keep working on getting better each day.”

After a mid-season lull in games, the team was back at it against Rashi School. It was a tough matchup for Fenn, but three sterling moments produced attractive goals for the blue and gold, helping to lift the spirits of the team.

Nate Defay got things going with a pair of handsome strikes on quick counterattacks—a twenty-yard lob to the far post after collecting a sharp pass from Ghanta and a firm strike on a breakaway that was neatly set up by LaCamera’s alert delivery. These sparkling sequences reflected encouraging tactical development in Fenn’s play since early fall. Eighth grader Otto Kroeger would tally the third and final goal for Fenn.

“It’s not always about the destination, but rather the journey that you take along the way,” said Sanborn. “I’m proud to say these boys kept at it until the very last whistle.”

Winter Sports Recap

From the cool ice inside of Valley Sports, to the hardwood floors of the New Gym, to the cushioned wrestling mat in Fenn’s Multi-Purpose Room, the winter sports season was all about rising to the occasion. Whether facing a stronger opponent and prevailing with a win, filling in for an injured teammate, or stepping into a new leadership role, the Fenn boys gladly embraced each challenge.

Varsity Basketball

Coaches Chris Ryan ’10 and Ryan Burgess had to face their own challenge right out of the gate – rebuilding their entire roster with twelve new players willing to work together towards one common goal: winning games. Coach Sam Winneg ’15 joined the twosome to help prepare Fenn for what would be a tremendous season. With strong ninth grade experience, a core eighth grade group, and two stellar seventh graders, the squad was set.

After early season wins over BB&N and Nobles, Fenn hosted the game of the year on January 13 against the then also-undefeated Rivers School. The New Gym was filled with spectators from end to end, and the crowd buzzed with energy. Fenn showed streaks of offensive

greatness, thanks in large part to eighth grader Ethan Njenga, who ultimately finished the game with 30 points and helped Fenn enter the second half with the lead.

Both teams went back and forth in the second half, with five different lead changes. Eighth grader Andrew Voss stepped up on the defensive end, causing a slew of turnovers and putting his body on the line. In the end, Rivers closed out the game with a narrow win, but the energy level was set for the rest of the season.

“Even in defeat, it was incredible to have the gym packed for an early season game like that,” said Coach Burgess. “The boys matched that energy with their level of play on the court.”

At the midway point of the season,

Fenn stood at 6-2 as they headed on to the Mark W. Biscoe H’95 Memorial Basketball Tournament on Saturday, February 4. On the coldest day of the year with wind chill dropping to -30 degrees, Fenn stayed warm on the court with their hot shot selection thanks largely to eighth graders Nate Defay and Eric Olson. After a strong first win over BB&N, Fenn faced off against rival Fay School for the championship.

It was Olson again who helped carry the team, along with ninth grader Evan Fitzgerald, as they poured in 19 and 18 points, respectively. With the game tied late at 57-57, Coach Ryan drew up one last play that had eighth grader Elijah Donnalson grab the ball around the free throw line and hit the final shot with

0:03 on the clock. With the win, the boys piled onto the court as Fenn claimed their 15th title in the 43-year history of the Fenn tournament.

“We were short-handed for these two games, but our boys rose to the occasion,” said Coach Ryan. “This was one of the best games I’ve had the privilege to coach at Fenn.”

With another title under its belt, Fenn would carry that momentum through the rest of the season, finishing with a record of 12-3.

Junior Varsity Basketball

Wins were also abundant for the JV Basketball team this season, as the squad of twelve rattled off an astounding nine wins in a row and finished with a record of 11-3. This was one of the winningest seasons for JV Basketball under Coach Freemon Romero ’04 across his eight years at the helm. And it was the younger players who stepped up to carry the team, proving that the future is bright for Fenn hoopers.

Seventh grader and co-captain Will Lyon, along with fellow seventh grader Spencer Heim, commanded the offense, leading the team in scoring in 9 of its 14 games. Ninth grade co-captains Sunny Qian and Ebrahim Saeed also showed tre-

mendous leadership on and off the court, with Saeed a force down low and on the boards.

“We saw a lot of growth in our players through the first couple of weeks,” said Coach Dominic Dipersia. “We knew we had the talent—we just needed to come together as one unit.” After a difficult defeat to a talented Dexter team early in the season, the cohesiveness of the team began to show in contests against Belmont Hill and Pike School, where the effort on both ends of the floor was apparent. Heim would chip in a season high 13-points, including four three-pointers against Belmont Hill, while fellow seventh grader Rex Hudson would lead the charge against Pike as one of three players in double figures.

With a record of 7-1, Fenn went on the road for a highly anticipated matchup against a historically strong Fessenden team. “We knew they had a good team, but we felt we could win going into it,” said Saeed. After Fenn found itself down by nine points with 6:00 minutes left, the boys showed unmistakable grit.

Great defensive pressure from seventh grader Nkosi Dube and eighth grader Otto Kroeger led to some quick baskets. Fenn was able to cut the Fessenden lead to 29-27 with three minutes left until Heim

added six of his 10 total points in the final 90 seconds of the game, putting his team ahead for the first time. Fenn prevailed with a 37-35 win thanks to a “no quit” team effort.

“This win on the road against a formidable opponent really defined our season,” said Coach Dipersia. “With our team, it was always next man up, and we continued to meet the challenges head on. [Coach Romero and I] couldn’t be prouder of the boys’ effort throughout the season.”

Varsity Hockey

Leadership and experience were the driving forces for the ’22-’23 Varsity Hockey season. Ninth grade returners included Tommy Doherty, Paul Trotto, and co-captains Harry Lavoie and Will Manchuso. Even with these pillars of the Fenn hockey bench, Coaches Jeff LaPlante and Ryan Miklusak knew they had to replace significant offensive production from graduated seniors.

“It is never easy losing great talent and leadership year in and year out,” said LaPlante. “Yet, each year, we see our boys step up into new roles and lead the charge.”

It was a smooth start to the season with wins over Austin Prep and Fay School. Fenn relied on the offense of Lavoie, Manchuso, and eighth grader

Owen LaCamera to propel the team to victory. Eighth grader Patrick Carolan started off strong between the pipes for the blue and gold until a season-ending leg injury called for seventh grader Tristan Moran to step into the starting goalie role for the remainder of the season.

After starting 2-2-1 on the year,

the Fenn boys found their stride in the middle of the schedule with four backto-back wins over St. Sebastian’s, Pike School, BB&N, and Rectory, which saw them outscore their opponents 27-9. After setbacks at the hands of Fessenden and Roxbury Latin, Fenn looked forward to a rematch with Rivers School.

“We knew we had a big challenge ahead of us, but we felt confident going into the game knowing the crowd would be there to cheer us on,” said Manchuso.

The boys in blue and gold did not disappoint the 50+ students, faculty, and staff who trekked to Rivers to cheer on the home team. With help from the ever-reliable Lavoie and Manchuso, and a late season surge from seventh grader James Doyle, Fenn ran out to a 6-1 lead. Rivers would not go quietly, pulling back to within one goal of Fenn at the end of two periods.

In the final period, it was the offensive push and determination of Fenn’s top line that put Rivers away for good as they took a 9-7 win to close out

their home slate of games.

“It was really special having the community at Valley Sports to watch the boys play,” said Coach Miklusak. “They fed off their energy and definitely wanted to win in front of their friends. This was big for our seniors to go out with a win like this.”

Fenn Varsity Hockey finished the season with a record of 7-5-1.

Junior Varsity Hockey

The JV Hockey program at Fenn has been a stellar feeder for the varsity team, and this year’s team did not disappoint with a great deal of skill coming from the sixth and seventh grade. The youth of the team may have influenced the wins and losses on the ice this season, but the growth in all players was a clear win from the coaches’ perspectives.

“Due to the larger and younger group of players, we knew there would be a range of skill on game days,” said Coach Jason Rude. “It was the practices that we hosted on both dry land and the ice that gave the coaches the confidence in this group to rise to the occasion.”

There was no better example of the growth of this team than during the last game of the season on February 10 as Fenn took on The Carroll School after a stinging 7-0 loss to them only two weeks earlier.

Carroll picked up where they left off with an opening goal, but Fenn responded with a series of scoring opportunities that kept Carroll playing defense for much of the first period. With Carroll clinging to a 1-0 lead in the second period, defenseman Ian Oblak fired a slapshot from the point that blew past the outstretched glove of the Carroll goalie, tying the score 1-1.

In the second and third periods, Fenn forwards Jay Freda, Alex Signorovitch, Renzo Ma, Wes Roehl, and Alex Feldman all had chances to add to Fenn’s goal total, but in the end, Carroll was able to rely on strong goaltending and impressive individual efforts to secure a 4-1 victory.

Fenn co-captain Tadhg Ledlie summed up the feelings of the players and coaches despite the loss: “The 4-1 score doesn’t tell the full story behind this game; the real storyline was the amazing progress that we made over the course of the season.”

Coaches Rude, Kate Wade, and Billy Hackett were equally proud of how their players supported each other, the sportsmanship they displayed, and their undeniable progress across the season.

Varsity Wrestling

“This was one of the most successful wrestling teams in Fenn School history,” proclaimed Coaches John Fitzsimmons and Steve Gasper as their group of nearly 30 wrestlers closed out their season following the Fessenden Junior School Wrestling Tournament.

With only four seasoned wrestlers and close to twenty newcomers to the sport, Coach Fitzsimmons knew he had to lean on the leadership and mentorship

of his three captains: ninth grader Parker Reesey, eighth grader Penn Boger, and seventh grader Milo Davis.

The Fenn wrestlers hit the mats with a lot of confidence for such a young group early in the season and never looked back. Wins over Fay School, Belmont Day, and Fessenden showed the depth of the team and a sign of things to come. Davis was so proficient and experienced as a wrestler, he often was unable to find comparable opponents. Newcomers who showed they could handle the varsity-level competition were eighth grader Isaac Beeson, seventh grader Phinneas Dwyer, and sixth graders Ryan Betts and Daniel Collins.

For the Fessenden Junior School Wrestling tournament, Fenn would bring six of its top wrestlers to go up against twelve strong teams including powerhouses Roxbury Latin and Belmont Hill. Fenn ultimately placed fourth overall, with a first place medal for Davis, second place medals for Beeson and Boger, and a third place medal for Dwyer.

“It was amazing to see the growth in the young guys on the team throughout the season,” said Boger. “And now we get to add another trophy to the Fenn trophy case, which is pretty cool.”

Spring Sports Recap

Spirited senior leadership, solid contributions from younger players, teamwork, and a sheer desire to win for the School and each other defined the impressive spring season for Fenn athletics. The highlights reel was rich across all teams, including the setting of a phenomenal new school record for the turbo javelin on the track & field team.

Varsity Baseball

As the frost thawed on the Fennway Park infield, the Varsity Baseball team warmed up its arms to prepare for the start of the spring season. Coming off a strong 2022 campaign of double-digit wins, Coaches Jeff LaPlante, Ryan Miklusak, and Bob Starensier were aware they had lost some firepower yet they remained confident in the group they had assembled for the season.

With stiff competition early in the schedule, it wasn’t until a home game against Dexter on April 26 that the team began to believe they had something special. Trailing 11-2 in the bottom half of the last inning, Fenn would overcome all odds and score 10 runs to walk off with a miraculous win. After pitching challenges brought the score to 11-8, co-captain Will Manchuso knocked in a run on a hard-hit

single, and eighth grader Otto Kroeger followed suit with a two-run double to tie the game at 11-11. Manchuso would later capitalize on a passed ball to steal home and secure the win for Fenn, 12-11.

“That’s why you play the game,” said Coach Miklusak. “The boys never gave up, and they earned a well-fought win.”

The win propelled the team into a 6-1-1 stretch to complete the season, including earning back-to-back championship wins at the New England Junior Baseball Tournament at Fay School. Offensively, eighth graders Kroeger, Isaac Beeson, and Dan McGowan led the way, while seventh grader Vinny Hogan was dominant on the mound, earning a 3.50 ERA and a team-leading 22 strikeouts. Captains for the 2023 season were ninth graders Tommy Doherty, Evan Fitzgerald, and Will Manchuso.

Junior Varsity Baseball

With a team of over twenty players, the Fenn JV Baseball team divided itself into groups and took the competition head on. Due to an influx of rain-outs, the game schedule shrunk quite a bit over the course of the season. This, however, did not hinder the enthusiasm or growth of the players.

Coaches Dave Irwin, Paul Heinze, and Chris Ryan were impressed overall with the development of the boys and their ability to remain flexible during a season of sure ups and downs. A most memorable game for the three coaches was their 12-8 win over St. John’s Prep on May 18.

Eighth grader Andy Voss and seventh grader Bryce Nash were solid on the mound for the blue and gold, while eighth grader James Collin continued

to mash the ball for a couple of hits, including a rocket ground rule double. Spencer Heim and Tyler DeMichele were also key members of the team this season. A core group of seventh graders accumulating solid game experience this year should pay promising dividends during the 2024 season.

Varsity Lacrosse

From start to finish, the Varsity Lacrosse season was a success, but it did begin with some uncertainty. Coaches Matt Ward ’00 and Billy Hackett ’87 were on the hunt for a player who would agree to assume the goaltender position. After some convincing, it was eighth grader Henry Paterson who took on that challenge and performed quite well for the blue and gold. With the fastest player on the field in net, Fenn looked to assemble a balanced attack with the leadership of captains Charlie O’Brien, Keaton Gaynor, and Owen Beauvais. This trio helped to set the tone and get their team off to a 5-1 start, including big wins over Fay and Belmont Hill.

The second half of the season saw a goalie change for Fenn as ninth grader Finn Giacalone became available to play

after recovering from a serious leg injury suffered during a fall football game. Facing Giacalone and his teammates was some of the toughest competition of the spring. In one mid-May game against St. Sebastian’s, Fenn took a 5-4 lead late in the game. Giacalone made two huge saves in the last minute of the game to help Fenn hold onto a well-deserved win.

“His ability to jump into a position he hasn’t played before just to benefit his teammates was the kind of leadership we love to see from Fenn boys,” said Coach Hackett. “He worked so hard to get back on the field, and his team rallied around him throughout the process.”

To close out the season, Fenn would face Fay one more time, this time trailing in the second half, 5-2. With great faceoff wins from Nick Francone, solid long pole play from Kenji Ma, and scoring up front from Gaynor, Beauvais, Eli Waldeck, and Colter Martin, Fenn concluded its season with a 8-6 comeback win, finishing 7-4 overall.

Varsity Tennis

Following extremely competitive tryouts, the Varsity Tennis team took to the courts on College Road to get

to work. With the leadership of the team’s three returning eighth graders (and 2023 captains) Jake Erston, Glen Murdough, and Giovanni Rosenfeld, plus the injection of six strong seventh grade players, the team was primed for a great season. With early wins over Nobles, St. John’s Prep, and Milton Academy, it was clear that the depth of the team would be a strength for Fenn across the season.

Coaches Dominic Dipersia and Amy Stiga were impressed by the skill and determination of the boys as they needed every last match to decide who won or lost.

“At the end of the day, we want our boys to play competitive tennis,” said Coach Dipersia. “These boys showed up and competed at every match. As they continue to grow in the game, that level of competition will truly benefit them.” After three tight matches against Fay and Fessenden, Fenn finished off its season with a sweep of Belmont Hill, earning wins during both of the team match-ups.

Seventh graders Kyle Wang and Daniyal Mian were undefeated at 2nd doubles before Mian suffered an injury halfway through the season. Charlie

Whitmore made huge contributions at singles and doubles, finishing with an individual record of 9-3. Overall, the team finished 6-4 on the season and is primed for a competitive season again next year.

Junior Varsity Tennis

Fenn’s overall tennis program thrived this spring season. With over 40 students playing middle school tennis, and Varsity Tennis excelling, the JV Tennis team reaped the benefits of that program depth and assembled a steady and consistent group of players. Coaches Dave Sanborn and Simone Hutchings noted how much each player improved over the course of the season, especially in their doubles play.

After tying both Fessenden and Fay 4-4 in back-to-back matches, the team went on a run of very consistent team play. Eighth grader James Creelman, who spent the second half of the year playing both Varsity and JV Tennis, worked extremely hard and played with integrity at the 1st singles spot. Ninth graders

Ebrahim Saeed and Jackson Kilmartin took turns playing 2nd singles, as well

as playing together in doubles, and kept the energy high for the team. Fenn could also depend on eighth graders Penn Boger and Jake Jones to play level-headed and make the right shots.

To close out the season, Fenn would earn rematch wins over Fay and Fessenden, as well as wins over Beaver Country Day and Pike School, posting an impressive 7-2-3 record. With the Fenn tennis program as vibrant as ever, JV Tennis will be primed to continue its momentum next year.

Varsity Track & Field

When assembling a track and field team, you try to place students where they will perform best. When putting together a Fenn track and field team, Coaches Dave Duane and Corrie Fenn needed to rely on multiple students across multiple events. It was this flexibility that helped Fenn surge to the top of the leaderboard in most of their events this season.

Fenn boasted a wealth of leadership experience this season, relying on the ninth grade captains to set the tone for their teammates. This group included

Sunny Qian, Charlie Gillick, George Yerid, and Devin Whiteford, as well as Parker Reesey and Paul Trotto as alternate captains.

Whiteford started the season as the school record holder in the turbo javelin with a throw of 85 feet 7 inches. In an early April meet, Reesey went on to break that record, and even improve on that in a later meet to set a new record that still stands today. He became the first-ever Fenn athlete to throw the turbo javelin over 100 feet, posting an impressive 111 feet 8 inches.

The track season concluded with the Fenn Relays, at which Fenn placed second as a team. Eighth grader Cole Brennan won the high jump, continuing his impressive season in that event. Fenn also was able to win the mile relay with Trotto, Qian, Ethan Pearson, Jimmy Xu, and Joe Galante, as well as second place in the 4x400 relay with Jonas Ahlgren, Emre Sahin, Van Rowan, and Nolan McNeill.

An Infusion of Talent and Passion

The warmth and dedication of the adult members of the Fenn community are palpable across the Monument Street campus, and our talented corps of faculty, staff, and trustees are true stewards of the enriching Fenn School experience that our students and families enjoy. Highlighted here are the friends and colleagues who joined the community, returned to us after time away, or embraced new responsibilities during this past school year.

FACULTY AND STAFF

We were thrilled to welcome Meaghan Geary Cryan to Fenn this past fall as a new Learning Specialist after more than 13 prior years in education. Meaghan served in a similar capacity at peer independent schools including The Fessenden School, Hillside School, and St. Mark’s School, and most recently completed Carroll School’s Orton-Gillingham program.

Leonor Daley joined our Hammett Ory Library team as the new Library Assistant last fall. Leonor came to Fenn from the Wayland, MA Middle School, where she served as a sixth and seventh grade English teacher since 2014. Prior to teaching, she worked as a project coordinator at GEAR UP, a college and career awareness program serving the Lowell Public Schools.

Nathan Kraai joined Fenn as Director of Innovation and Design Thinking after serving in a similar role as Innovation Lab Director and Tech Coach at Oak

Hill School in Nashville, TN.

Nathan also taught in Amman, Jordan and Denver, CO.

Nathan has a wife and two children, including rising Fenn sixth grader, Ryker. Outside of Fenn, Nathan enjoys skiing, running, biking, and traveling. One of Nathan’s goals for Fenn is to design and create immersive learning experiences for students that are grounded in empathy and finished with action and impact. He believes that if boys are given the opportunity and support, they can make an impact on their world today.

Jen Lannan was thrilled to join the Fenn community as a part-time Learning Specialist providing support in Language Arts and in executive function skills across the curriculum. Jen has been a private tutor for more than 20 years and also held positions as a third grade teacher at the Thoreau School in Concord, a fourth grade teacher in Ashland, MA, and earlier in her career as an assistant in the pre-kindergar-

ten at The Belmont Day School. She also taught at the Concord Carousel Preschool. When Jen is not at Fenn, she is on the paddle courts, walking her pug, or at her summer house in Maine on Penobscot Bay.

Becca Newhouse joined Fenn as the School’s new Payroll and Benefits Administrator. She most recently served as the Director of the Extended Day program for Lexington Public Schools, where she managed all aspects of the program including payroll and benefit administration and most personnel issues. She received her MFA in Sculpture from Massachusetts College of Art and Design and her Bachelor of Arts from the College of Wooster in Wooster, OH.

Oliver Parke ’09 returned to his alma mater as a part-time Learning Specialist while studying for his actuary exams. After earning a degree in Applied

Mathematics from Lehigh University, Oliver spent a year teaching mathematics and mentoring students at the Island School semester program in the Bahamas. Following that experience, he worked as a math teacher at Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, CA, and Berwick Academy in ME. When he is not at work, Oliver enjoys watching old movies and reading even older books.

Nancy Romanik joined Summer Fenn in 2021 as the Camp Office Administrator and has become a valuable team player at Fenn in the camp offseason too, using her administrative acumen to pitch in on projects for the Advancement and Business Offices. With a B.S. in Environmental Science–Wildlife from Unity College, Nancy has worked in a variety of fields with animals, but also as an environmental educator for over 20 years. Her diverse background has always included camp too since her first experience as a NJAS Weis Ecology Center Nature Day Camp counselor in 2004. Nancy lives locally with her husband and her own camper, as well as their boxer dog and several other pets.

Linda Rosenburg is a friendly face greeting visitors in the W.W. Fenn building each afternoon as part of her role as Office and Events Coordinator. Linda also enjoys helping to create and facilitate the many on-campus Fenn events throughout the year and to manage the always-busy afternoon dismissal. For more than ten years before Fenn, Linda served as the Office Administrator and Event Coordinator for Congregation Or Atid in Wayland and leveraged her talents in a similar capacity for four years at Temple Aliyah in Needham. Linda lives in Ashland with her husband Barry and is happiest when surrounded by her children and grandchildren.

Tim Seston was thrilled to rejoin the Fenn community as a Faculty Associate serving boys across all six grades. He had previously taught sixth grade science at Fenn in 2017. Tim most recently served as a fourth and fifth grade teacher

at The Birches School in Lincoln, MA. Beyond teaching, he has been a self-proclaimed “musical storyteller” since 2006 in Massachusetts and around the country (and remembers Fenn boys who attended his performances as young children). Tim is available for classroom workshops, school assemblies, and private parties, and more information about his talents and performances can be found on his website at www.frompagetoplay.com.

Sarah Zietman, daughter of retired faculty member Rob Morrison, joined Fenn’s Arts Department as a Theater Tech Teacher. Since then, she has focused on helping technical theatre students design and create sets, costumes, props, and lighting. Sarah’s background includes stints at several game companies and serving as the Director of The Bishop Players at the John A. Bishop Elementary School in Arlington since 2016. She also was an Assistant Preschool Teacher and Afterschool Teacher for Carlisle Kid’s House. Of note, too, is her adoration for her young daughter Annie and her unique choice of pets: sheep!

NEW ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

Stacey Low, mom to Cooper in eighth grade, also stepped into a new role at Fenn last year. Following a temporary stint in the Lower School, she was appointed a full-time visual arts teacher. Stacey offers a deep background in the visual arts, with experience in drawing, painting, and ceramics, plus twelve summers working with middle school students in studio art classes. She also previously held leadership positions at Groton School, Lawrence Academy, Applewild School, and Indian Mountain School.

“I feel so fortunate to be able to practice my first love, teaching art, in a community that I have come to love,” she shared. “The boys have proven to be thoughtful, creative, and a lot of fun in the art studio, which makes it a joy to come to work each day.”

COMING HOME

The Fenn community benefits from educators who have committed themselves to decades of service to the School. Others have departed from Fenn to pursue other opportunities only to find themselves drawn back to the community years later. Billy Hackett ’87 and Amy Salvatore, wife of Arts Department Director Mike Salvatore, are two faculty members whom we welcomed home last fall.

Billy returned to Fenn to serve as a math teacher, coach, and advisor after filling these same roles on Monument Street from 1999 to 2004. In the interim 18 years, he spent 16 years working in education in Los Angeles before returning to Massachusetts in 2020 to be close to his parents. He taught in Concord and Lincoln for two school years before the Fenn opportunity arose.

“My fondest memories of Fenn were the fullness of the school days and the learning happening in the classrooms and hallways and on the fields of play,” he remarked. “The daily rituals are similar [to when I was a student and faculty member]—from singing and moments of silent reflection in All School Meeting to lunchtime announcements, study halls, and sports, to name a few. The arts program has grown significantly though!

“I was most excited to return to the people though—the students, the families, and my colleagues. It is the people that make the culture and the experience, and for that, I am lucky every day.”

Amy echoed Billy’s sentiment in naming her Fenn community of friends as one distinct benefit of returning for a second act. She fondly remembers during her earliest days at Fenn when colleague Carol Valchius agreed to watch her baby daughter Helen to enable her to take on Learning Specialist tutoring hours at Fenn. The arrangement ended up lasting three blissful years, and now the two

women are reunited again as colleagues.

Amy enjoyed time teaching seventh grade English at Fenn last year after 18 previous years at Pike School as an English Department Chair and teacher. Before Pike, Amy served for seven years at Fenn as a Learning Specialist, teacher, and advisor. She also spent time in the public school system.

“Returning to Fenn has also allowed me to get to know another generation of motivated and talented teachers,” she

shared. “While I am honored to return to this remarkable place that honors traditions, I also am invigorated by Fenn’s Department Chairs and Division Heads, who balance vision with a solid grounding of best practices to challenge and support students. I see Fenn moving in a direction that encourages critical thinking, reinforces skill development, and fosters creativity, while inculcating the value of doing good in the world and acting from empathy.”

TRUSTEES

Melissa (“Lisa”) Der P’08 ’10

Lisa lives in Winchester with her husband, Rex Green, and has three children, Boyd ’08, Trent ’10, and Meredith. She graduated from Tufts University with a B.A. in Economics and Classical Studies and has a joint J.D./M.B.A. from Boston College Law School and Boston College Graduate School of Management. She has clerked for the New Hampshire Superior Court and worked as a litigator for a small law firm specializing in product liability defense and as a staff attorney for the Federal Aviation Administration handling enforcement cases

and environmental and procurement matters. After stepping away from the working world to manage her household and raise her children, she returned to work part-time as an assistant for a wealth management team at Merrill Lynch for five years.

At Fenn, Lisa was active as a phonathon caller and served, with Rex, as a grade captain and Parents of Alumni Co-Chair of the Annual Fund. She has remained an engaged member of the Fenn community, joining the Board of Visitors in 2017.

Jeff Gower P’24

Jeff has led global high-tech B2B service organizations internationally in the mobility and telecommunications industry and is currently an investor in and CEO of MarketSpark, a managed service provider in the telco space in Boston. Prior to MarketSpark, Jeff was a founding member and CEO of TRUX, a B2B two-sided marketplace in the construction industry. TRUX was acquired in March 2020. Before TRUX, Jeff was part of the founding leadership team of LoopPay, a mobile payments platform that was successfully sold in 2016 to Samsung Electronics. Previously, Jeff

spent a decade with Brightstar Corporation, where he served as President of the AsiaPacific Region and Global Head of Services.

Jeff has an M.B.A. from the Sloan School of Business at M.I.T. and a B.S. in Engineering from Union College. In addition to his son Finn ’24, he has two daughters—Sophie, who attends Scripps College, and Emma, a junior at ConcordCarlisle High School. Jeff is married to Belinda Gower, who runs a Pilates studio on Thoreau Street in Concord, and enjoys coaching soccer, surfing, and swimming in Walden Pond.

Matt Kilmartin P’23 ’25 ’27

Matt is a co-founder and CEO at Habu, a venture-backed technology start-up in the data and analytics software industry. Matt dedicated 20 years of his career to working for innovative software and data companies, including executive leadership roles at Salesforce, Krux, and Akamai. He is passionate about innovation and entrepreneurship, which have been constant themes in his professional career. Matt received his B.A. from Wofford College in 1997 and his M.B.A. from Babson College in 2006.

Matt lives in Concord with his wife, Ashley, who has been active in Fenn’s Parents Association, and their four children, including three Fenn boys: Jackson ’23, James ’25, and Austin ’27. Matt also serves on the Board of Visitors and has been a co-chair of 42 Days for Fenn, the School’s parent-focused Annual Fund effort. He is also an active volunteer and leader with several other nonprofits serving youth and people from varied backgrounds.

Tanya Oblak P’24 ’26

As Senior Managing Director and Head of Human Capital at private equity firm Rockpoint, Tanya oversees Rockpoint’s human capital management function, with responsibility for the firm’s recruiting, professional and leadership development, employee engagement, and human resources activities. Prior to her current role, Tanya was involved with Rockpoint’s U.S. capital raising and investor relations activities for six years. Before joining Rockpoint in 2015, she worked at Silverpeak and its predecessor, Lehman Brothers, for 15 years, most recently as a Managing Director and Head of Investor

Liz Nadzo P’26 (term completed)

Liz served as president of the Fenn Parents Association during the 2022-23 school year so completed a corresponding one-year term as trustee. Concord residents since 2013, she and her husband, Eric, are parents to Ben, who will be in seventh grade at Fenn this fall, and daughter, Sarah, and youngest son, John. Professionally, Liz is an attorney specializing in corporate litigation and government policy and administration. Her most recent position, before taking time away to focus on family and community volunteer work, was as legal counsel to then-Governor Deval Patrick. Liz has served (and continues to serve) on various non-profit boards in the local Concord community, including the Willard

APPOINTMENTS

As we welcomed new community members last year, we also celebrated well-earned internal appointments. Three academic departments received new leaders: Jill MacKinnon as English Department Chair, Ryan Miklusak as Math Department Chair, and Matt Ward ’00 as Social Studies Department Chair. Åsa Ewing also became

Co-Director of Student Government. The responsibilities of Fenn’s three Division Heads—Nat Carr ’97/Lower School, Kate Wade/Middle School, and Dave Irwin/Upper School—also evolved following the June 2022 departure of John Sharon, formerly Assistant Head for the Academic Program. The trio shared his responsibilities while also

Relations and Marketing. Prior to joining Lehman’s Real Estate Private Equity Group, Tanya worked in the firm’s Real Estate Investment Banking Group for two years. Tanya received a B.A. from Middlebury College and an M.B.A. from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

Tanya and her husband, Steve, live in Winchester and are parents to Sam ’24, Ian ’26, and Stewart ’28. Tanya recently completed her term as Treasurer of the Parents Association and continues to serve as a member of Fenn’s Board of Visitors. She also was involved in the development of Fenn’s Sustainability Master Plan.

Elementary School Parent Teacher Group, the Concord Middle School Parent Teacher Group, the Middlesex Chapter of the National Charity League, and the Jericho Road Project.

At Fenn, Liz served as a grade parent for Ben’s fourth grade class and as the PA’s Vice President of Parent Programs and Events before assuming the role of PA President this past year.

Liz grew up in nearby Lexington, and attended Middlebury College and graduate school at Columbia University with her husband Eric.

remaining singularly focused on guiding the vision and operations of their respective divisions.

As a result of this shift, Dave Irwin stepped down from his former position as Director of Secondary School Counseling, and long-time Assistant Director Amy Stiga assumed leadership of the department.

A NEW CHAPTER FOR FENN ATHLETICS: Ben Smith Appointment

In preparation for the June retirement of Bob Starensier (“Star”), a national search was conducted to name a new Director of Athletics. Fenn was pleased to share in early 2023 that the next chapter of Fenn Athletics would be led by Fenn legend in his own right, Ben Smith ’85 P’22.

Ben has been an adored teacher in Fenn’s Lower School for 26 years, and his deep understanding of Fenn’s mission and philosophy, commitment to age-appropriate athletic programming at all levels, relational skills with students and adults, and administrative experience from work at summer camps and in youth sports positions him for great success in the role.

For the last 30 years, Ben has spent summers working for Star Camps, a Concord sports camp for boys and girls ages 5-15. He has served as a counselor in charge of soccer, baseball, lacrosse, flag football, and multi-sport groups, and was named assistant director of the camp in 2017 along with Fenn faculty member Matt Ward.

He also spent 19 years as a Summer Fenn staff member, working with various camp groups and helping to create sports offerings for the camp. Ben also coached baseball, basketball, lacrosse, and soccer for boys’ and girls’ teams in the Town of Acton for the past 14 years and served on the Acton-

Beginning this fall, he will balance his Director of Athletics’ responsibilities with advising in grade eight, teaching Student Life in the Upper School, and coaching across the seasons in various divisions. Congratulations, Ben!

CELEBRATING YEARS OF SERVICE HONOREES

At an annual “Years of Service” special event in February, Fenn faculty, staff, family, and friends gathered to toast, roast, and applaud colleagues celebrating five-year milestones. There were plenty of laughs and tears (of joy) as each colleague was honored. This special night continues to be a reminder of the camaraderie and community constantly on display at Fenn!

Honorees included (back row/l to r) Amy Menkin (5), Kate Wade (5), Geoff Cohane ’93 (10), Maria Gupta (5), and (front row/l to r) Chris Ryan ’10 (5), Lauri Wishner (20), and Ben Smith ’85 (celebrating 25 belatedly).

Boxborough Travel Basketball Board for five seasons.

Alumni News and Community Connections

In this throwback photo, students from the Class of 1972 sport their finest 70s attire and personal styles as they gather before Thompson Hall. Some of these same boys returned to Fenn this past fall to celebrate their 50th reunion, many sharing their amazement at how effortlessly these Fenn “brothers” reconnected and resumed friendships forged in decades past. Across the coming pages, enjoy highlights of Founder’s Night festivities at Fenway Park and Founder’s Day on campus this past spring, as well as the Reunion and Homecoming gatherings in the fall that honored Dr. Thomas Lincoln ’74 as Fenn’s 2022 Distinguished Alumnus. Class Notes follow on page 84, concluded by tributes to Fenn community members whom we fondly remember in the wake of their passing.

Celebrating the Founding of Fenn

This past April, the annual celebration of Roger Fenn’s birthday and the founding of Fenn stretched from the Dell Technologies Club overlooking pristine Fenway Park in Boston to our Monument Street campus where Fenn’s own Fennway Park hosts legions of talented baseball players each spring.

Founder’s Night at Fenway Park

On the evening of April 13, nearly 130 alumni, parents of alumni, and long-serving current and past faculty and staff basked in the history and beauty of America’s oldest Major League ballpark while reconnecting with old friends, enjoying remarks from Head of School Derek Boonisar and Bob Starensier, and snapping photographs with gleaming Red Sox World Series trophies.

Lindsay Boger, wife of Matt ’84, mother of Penn ’23, and owner of Sugar Bake Shop, brought to life perfect mementoes for such a unique evening—Fennway Park replica scoreboard cookies that had Gold team alumni cheering as they featured a routing of the Blue team, 21-7!

Founder’s Day on Monument Street

The following day on Friday, April 14, the celebration wound its way through campus and to the Head of School’s house after an all-school assembly honoring the long and storied history of Fenn Athletics with Bob Starensier as chief storyteller.

Upper School Head Dave Irwin and his Concord Minutemen brethren led the annual all-school parade, with Grand Marshals of the festivities, Rob Morrison and Bob Starensier, following closely behind in their seats of honor as they approached their retirements at the close of the school year.

The Fenn Band was next to serenade the crowds as it displayed mastery of its music after hours of rehearsing for its march in the following Monday’s Patriots’ Day parade in Concord. Students, faculty, and staff fell in-line behind our student musicians and their leader Virginia Morales, trekking together to the Boonisar home for a final performance and delicious blue and gold cupcakes!

A Reunion and Homecoming Celebration

AS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH DAWNED, the Fenn campus was poised to welcome home scores of alumni and friends later that day to celebrate milestone reunions and to usher in the start of the annual Homecoming Weekend.

Nearly 70 alumni gathered for an evening program that began with an Alumni Association Annual Meeting in the Kane Gallery, which was hosting an art show featuring the varied talents of current and former Fenn faculty and staff. Among the contributions were watercolor paintings from former faculty member Jane Cooper, depicting past Fenn Heads of School and other beloved faculty and staff from across the decades.

Festivities quickly shifted to the Connolly Dining Hall patio for a cocktail reception as dusk descended over campus, before guests were invited to enjoy a delicious dinner and program inside the hall. As the festive crowd transitioned inside, Brad Bailey ’72 took to the microphone to propose a new reunion tradition that would honor classes celebrating milestone reunions like his 50th reunion group was that evening. Each attending member of the class of 1972 and their accompanying partners and friends were treated to a personal introduction by

Brad as they entered the hall to take their seats amidst a sea of applause. Nearly a third of the members of the class of 1972 had made it back to Concord to enjoy the milestone together, thanks to persuasive outreach from Brad and fellow reunion committee members James Owens ’72 and John Reichenbach ’72.

“It’s a trip down memory lane to see all of these old characters and faces,” shared Chris West ’72. Ames Stevens ’72 concurred. “Everyone looks remarkably the same,” he shared. “There are wrinkles and a few new hips, but there’s

something really fun about recognizing everyone. We’ve obviously gone our different ways, but we have this connection that is hard to explain.

“For me, Fenn was unlike any other place I went to school. It was a warm and nurturing place that I was happy to come back to,” Ames concluded.

A Lasting Fenn Foundation

As alumni settled into their seats, Derek Boonisar kicked off the program with a “State of the School” address that vowed that Fenn had stayed true

“Fenn was unlike any other place I went to school. It was a warm and nurturing place that I was happy to come back to…”

– Ames Stevens ’72 celebrating his 50th reunion

to the foundation laid by Roger Fenn. “While the skin of the School looks different, the bones are very much the same,” he remarked. “If you read our mission statement and spend time reflecting on Sua Sponte and the core values of honesty, respect, empathy, and courage, you’ll be heartened to know that what we identified as important as a school when you were boys here still stands the test of time.”

Retiring Athletic Director Bob Starensier took the podium next as a

special guest, echoing Derek’s pride in Fenn’s lasting impact on the more than 90 years of students who have benefitted from schooling at 516 Monument Street. “What makes Fenn special are a few things: we’re a moral institution without being preachy with values that we try to ingrain in the boys to urge them to be kind, to be of service to others, and to live by Sua Sponte. When you put this value system together with letting boys be boys and with hiring faculty and staff

who really want to be here, this room [of successful alumni] is what comes out… it’s incredible.”

Dr. Thomas Lincoln ’74 was one such alumni who received special recognition following Star’s remarks, as Alumni Council member Matt Boger ’89 honored him with Fenn’s 2022 Distinguished Alumnus Award. Learn more about Dr. Lincoln and his work providing medical care to marginalized communities in the story on the following page.

“While the skin of the School looks different, the bones are very much the same… what we identified as important as a school when you were here still stands the test of time.”

– Head of School Derek Boonisar

Dr. Thomas Lincoln ’74

Community Health Pioneer Named Distinguished Alumnus

DURING FALL REUNION FESTIVITIES, Fenn’s 2022 Distinguished Alumnus Award was officially bestowed upon Dr. Thomas Lincoln ’74.

Tom is a primary care physician at Baystate Brightwood Health Center in Springfield, Mass., Medical Director of the Hampden County Correctional Centers, and an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School-Baystate. His early interest in community healthcare led to a career caring for the underserved and incarcerated in Western Massachusetts and beyond, and he is recognized as a true pioneer in ensuring that this marginalized population receives high quality healthcare.

To that end, Tom and his colleagues developed and successfully implemented a now nationally recognized program to care for inmates while they are incarcerated and to facilitate their transition back into their home communities. The program serves as a model for the development of community-oriented jail health programs across the country, garnering grant funding and national recognition including the Armond Start Award of

Excellence from the American College of Correctional Physicians.

In 2021, the American College of Physicians also awarded Tom the prestigious W. Lester Henry Award for Diversity and Access to Care. The award recognizes a member with outstanding accomplishments in advancing diver-

sity in clinical medicine or research, or in access to care for diverse populations.

“Much of what I do does really grow out of my time at Fenn,” Tom shared after receiving his Distinguished Alumnus Award during a reunion gathering. “There was an obvious focus on community and looking out for each other. From the sports side, it was how you played and also how you treated the other team at the end of the game. You learned ethics on the field and also talked about them in groups in the classroom.”

Congratulations to Dr. Lincoln for his selflessness and life’s work building bridges with and supporting marginalized individuals and communities!

Homecoming Day Extends the Celebration

Rain moved in Saturday morning for Homecoming Day, but the weather did little to deter the spirit of the students, families, faculty, staff, and friends who came to participate in the two-mile Kevin White ’93 Memorial Run that began the day. Registration fees from the run benefit The Kevin P. White ’93 Fund, created in 2016 by family and friends to honor and celebrate Kevin’s life and love of Fenn and to help support students enrolled at Fenn who are from socioeconomically, racially, or

ethnically diverse backgrounds and in need of tuition assistance.

The Luke Rogers ’06 Memorial Soccer Game also took to the field in spite of the weather and surely entertained the spectators who had gathered at Reynolds Field. It was a tightly contested battle until the end, with Team Blue snatching the win 3-2. Fenn’s Varsity Football team was next up on the turf under slightly drier skies and buoyed by a spirited cheering section for the Homecoming Day contest. The boys in blue-and-gold shot out to a quick lead over Fay School, 22-0. While

the opponents fought back admirably in the second half, Fenn’s defense held strong, ultimately claiming a satisfying 22-6 victory.

The Homecoming slate of activities was rounded out by a BBQ, kids’ carnival games and crafts supported by Summer Fenn Day Camp team members, and an Alumni and Parents of Alumni Beer Garden featuring Allagash Beer (from the namesake company founded by Rob Tod ’83), live music, tasty food truck offerings, cornhole, and more. It was a banner blue-andgold weekend!

Class Notes

1952

John Beale passed along a list of some of the interesting experiences he’s had following his time at Fenn and Middlesex. “Varsity hockey at Cornell Army Security Agency Ski Patrol Leader at Blue Knob in Pennsylvania Field Director, Alpine Rescue Team, in Evergreen, Colorado Amateur Extra Class ham radio operator Head Usher as St John’s Episcopal Church in DC’s Lafayette Square, including escorting both Bush 41 and Bush 43 during their inauguration services Racing Flying Dutchman, 12 Metre, and a 53’ Swan At 84, playing golf, skating, and recreational sailing my Flying Dutchman, Sunfish, and Laser.”

1958 Reunion

1963 Reunion

1965

On Fenn’s first day of school last September, Greg Wellman made an impromptu visit to campus with his wife and family members to show them his childhood stomping grounds. See photo below of Greg in front of the still-familiar Thompson Hall.

1966

Randy Whitney shared news of a summertime reunion with classmates Randy Plimpton and Dave Tew: “Sorry we couldn’t make Homecoming, but we did have a reunion of our own last July at Dave’s house in Boothbay, ME. Beautiful weather, too many laughs, lots of memories, which we so easily revisited as if it were yesterday...but... What happened at FENN stays in Boothbay! Our best to any of our classmates who might have returned.” See photo below.

1968 Reunion

1970

Alumni Class Senator

Charlie Denault, cadenault@gmail.com

1971

Alumni Class Senator

Jamie Jones, jbjones@seamanpaper.com

1973 Reunion

In January 2023, Peter Thomson authored a major article in the Ideas section of the Boston Sunday Globe. Titled “The radical, forgotten experiment in educational integration that changed my life,” the article looks back on Peter’s participation as a seventh grader in the Sidetrack program. This yearlong collaboration between what was then the Lewis School in Roxbury and Brooks

Greg Wellman ’65

Class of 1966: (l to r) Randy Plimpton, Dave Tew, and Randy Whitney

School in Lincoln involved about a dozen students from each school, including Peter. They spent “half the year in gritty, redlined Roxbury and half the year in bucolic, twoacre-zoned Lincoln, 15 miles away. Even the teachers would be 50-50 — two Black, two white, two male, two female.” To read the full article, scan the QR code at right.

1977

On January 9, Fenn welcomed Clint Bajakian back to campus, where he addressed the school community during All School Meeting and spent the day attending music classes and speaking with students. See more details and photos to the right.

1978 Reunion

Reunion Committee

David Brown, dhbrown333@gmail.com

Bill Lawrence, lawrencewa@gmail.com

1980

Alumni Class Senator

Jon Cappetta, cappettajon@gmail.com

1983 Reunion

Reunion Committee

Andy Majewski, amajewsk@fas.harvard.edu

Scott Van Houten, smvccc01@gmail.com

Tim Cipriani writes, “Hello, Class of 1983! I’m trying to get more of you back at Fenn....besides me.....for our 40th reunion this year. Toward that end, I have found and converted from VHS to a thumb drive our May 1983 class play, Mr. Roberts. Hope this may be an incentive to come back to Concord!”

Bajakian ’77 and His Musical Journey

Curiosity was piqued at All School Meeting on Monday, January 9, when word spread through Ward Hall that a video game guru who had worked on properties such as Star Wars and Indiana Jones was about to head to the podium. That guru was Fenn’s 2002 Distinguished Alumnus Clint Bajakian ’77.

Clint’s enthusiasm for his profession in music, sound design, and video games (with credits on over 200 titles since 1991) was palpable as he stood before the sea of middle school faces that morning, then later joined music and band classes during his daylong visit.

According to Clint, his love for music began in part during his Fenn days, thanks to David Huston, longtime Fenn music and band director who introduced the boys to a range of instruments. Clint fondly recalled “winding up with the baritone horn,” on which he partnered with then best friend and now popular actor Steve Carell. The twosome even serenaded President Gerald Ford with their bandmates when his helicopter landed on a Fenn sports field in 1975 during a visit to Concord.

For many years since, Clint has excelled at a career that has challenged him to make great music and integrate it seamlessly into video games to provide users with a realistic, powerful, and emotional experience. And he clearly has hit this mark with regularity if his 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Game Audio Network Guild, Distinguished Alumni Award from the New England Conservatory of Music, and other impressive accolades are any indication. Thank you, Clint, for sharing your passion and talents!

A Collection of Connections

A farewell tour for now retired Athletic Director, Bob Starensier, kicked off in earnest last fall at alumni events spanning the East Coast from Concord to Palm Beach, Florida. New York City was the first stop on November 15 at an evening reception at StoutGrand Central, followed by a Pub Night a few months later in early February at Carrie Nation Cocktail Club in Boston. A second Pub Night would grace Concord’s new Nosh by Concord Market restaurant on March 2, featuring the musical stylings of Fenn’s own John Fitzsimmons. Warmer weather festivities at the home of Drew and Kiki Shilling P’13 in Palm Beach also welcomed alumni, parents, grandparents, and friends on February 15 for an evening of cocktails, conversation, and reminiscing with guest of honor, “Star.”

Nestled among this slate of events was a Fenn outing to Boston’s Symphony Hall for the Holiday Pops! on December 14. A festive gathering at the Tennis & Racquet Club of Boston was the perfect first stop for an enjoyable evening celebrating the season.

When you’re a specialist in European sculpture, furniture, and decorative arts for a world-renowned art and luxury auction house, there is little that is more thrilling than discovering works that are extremely rare or that have been lost without a trace for centuries.

Will Russell ’81 has had many of these experiences. He has helped bring to sale an exquisite, enameled silver and gilt bronze elephant automaton clock with darting eyes and a howdah, or seat, in the form of a castle tower. The stunning timepiece dates to the early 1600s and among its owners were members of the Rothschild family in Germany.

And there was the late Renaissance marble figure, created in the 1580s, of Andromeda, who in Greek mythology is rescued from death by the Greek hero Perseus and becomes his queen. The celebrated sculpture had been untraceable for 264 years and was found hidden in a Gilded Age tower in upstate New York, wrapped in dirty packing blankets.

“She had been there for 35 years, like a sleeping beauty,” says Will of the perfectly preserved sculpture. Christie’s sold Andromeda for a bit over $500,000.

Still another extraordinary moment involved a private collection of museum quality art that disappeared in the late

1970s when its wealthy owner, Paul Doll, who was prominent in New York society, turned his back on civilization and vanished into the Appalachian Mountains. The works had been created for kings, princes, and popes and were historically significant and so rare that no other examples had been seen at auction for decades, Will says.

When Doll died in 2020, his estate came to light and the collection was found in a North Carolina rainforest, having not been seen in almost half a century. “It had just fallen off the art world’s radar,” Will says.

Will’s interest in art history is “very closely tied” to European history and “I can certainly credit Jim Carter’s Russian history course on getting me pointed in that direction.”

After ninth grade, Will attended Pomfret School, then Connecticut College, and earned an M.A. at New York University’s Institute of Fine Arts. Before graduate school, he worked for Skinner’s, the Boston auction house, and after, was awarded fellowships at the J. Paul Getty Museum and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. From 1996-2000, Will was the curator of the Lobkowitz Collections in Prague, the most important private art collection in the Czech Republic.

Will has worked for Christie’s since 2000. He explains his role as head of European sculpture for North and South America this way: “I look for great works of art, and I compete to get them in for sale, research them, and then sell them at auction.”

Right after he joined the auction house, he was involved with the spectacular sale of French decorative arts from the Riahi Collection that realized $40 million, the highest total for a single-owner sale of French furniture at auction. Since, he has worked on many of the most important decorative arts collections sold by Christie’s.

Will Russell ’81, sculpture specialist, finds “sleeping beauties” in the art world

Will is based at Rockefeller Center in NYC, but Christie’s has offices in London and Paris, too, and he spends time in all three places. Sometimes his travels, which he made less often during the pandemic, have taken him to such diverse locations as a castle perched on the Hungarian/Austrian border and a fishing lodge in Patagonia.

The best part of his job, Will says, is that rare pieces come to his attention in different ways. “Every project, and every collector, is individual and original.”

Will and his spouse, Rob McQuilkin—the two were married in November 2022—owned a farmhouse

in the Bohemia region of the Czech Republic for twenty years. They sold it in the summer of 2016, “thinking our life was now largely in the U.S., and that the U.S. was headed in just the right direction, politically. Because what possibly could go wrong…?”

The couple gave up their NYC apartment during the pandemic and moved full time to their country house in Tuxedo Park, in the Hudson River Valley. There, Will enjoys tending to his orchard and meadows and the couple keep company with their rescue cats, Xeny and Augito.

Rob is the founding partner of Massie & McQuilkin Literary Agents, and over his

career in publishing he has shepherded noted books of fiction, poetry, memoir, history, and cultural criticism into print and has worked closely with authors including Anita Hill, Phillip Lopate, Natasha Trethewey, and Lois Gould.

Will’s Fenn years definitely laid some groundwork for his career, he says, and they inspired his future love of travel. “Mme. [Patsy] Edes’ French class got me started on a lifelong connection to France. Her seventh grade exchange trip to Paris was a revelation,” he says. “My Paris trips for Christie’s are, hands down, the best part of my job.”

Those years also nurtured his natural curiosity. A vivid Fenn memory is his English class with Tom Beal, “who was simply amazing.” When Will gave a book report on Alive, the story of the rugby team whose plane crashed in the Andes in 1972, he was excited to be given permission to “read aloud the part where they first experimented with cannibalism!”

Will says he was very shy as an adolescent, a time that can be challenging for most young boys, but that “looking back, I realize what an unusual place Fenn was. It provided an accepting, innovative, and original atmosphere.”

“Looking back, I realize what an unusual place Fenn was. It provided an accepting, innovative, and original atmosphere.”

1984

Matt Baker retired in 2022 as Head of School of the Metropolitan Arts Institute in Phoenix, AZ, 25 years after founding the independent, arts-focused chartered school in 1997. Matt is currently living in London and sitting on the other side of a desk as he pursues a master’s degree in brand management. Matt also recently published a book titled, The Way of the Mystic-Wizard: A Guidebook for Creating a Nondual Shamanic Spiritual Practice. Matt writes that his book “is the result of 20 years of teaching a course I developed called ‘poetry, myth and the art of transformation.’ It is a direct outgrowth of my work as an educator and my experience of the unique small English classes run by Mrs. Hall all those years ago at Fenn. She helped me learn to read and learn history and math.” Matt’s book is available on Amazon.com, and you can check out his website at matthewthomasbaker.com. We are sad to report that John Newcomer passed away on February 28, 2023, after a brave battle with liver cancer. Our thoughts are with his wife, Jennifer, and his family.

1988 Reunion

Reunion Committee

Woody Woodman, byron.woodman@me.com

1989

Alumni Class Senators

Matt Boger, mattboger@yahoo.com

Brian Davidson, bw_davidson@yahoo.com

1990

Alumni Class Senator

Alex Zavorski, zavorski@gmail.com

1993 Reunion

1994

Alumni Class Senator

Breman Thuraisingham, breman_t@yahoo.com 2001

Matt Kilfoyle got married to his longtime fiancée Laura Howard in St. Tropez, France, on October 8, 2022. Laura and Matt met while working on the Romney 2012 presidential campaign and now reside in Charlestown, MA.

1997

Alumni Class Senator

Nat Carr, ncarr@fenn.org

1998 Reunion

Reunion Committee

Patrick Jones, Patrick.jones.p@gmail.com

Andy Sjogren, pandrew.sjogren@gmail.com

Bret Bechis’ wife, Claire Clark, gave birth to Revy Brenner Bechis last winter.

1999

Alumni Class Senators

Ryan Connolly, ryan.connolly@ms.com

Sam Takvorian, stakvorian@gmail.com

2000

Alumni Class Senators

George Carr, gcarr4@gmail.com

Matt Ward, mward@fenn.org

Enjoy the newborn photo of Whit Finson, son of Brad Finson, below!

2001

Class Senator

Jimmy Hall, jkhall4@gmail.com

Dave Khuen and his wife, Moe, welcomed the arrival of Grace Ray Khuen on March 21, 2023, at 9:09 p.m. Congratulations to the new parents! See photo below.

Whit Finson, son of Brad ’00

Dave Khuen ’01 and family

2002

Alumni Class Senator

Harris Rosenheim, hrosenheim@gmail.com

Tory Hayes and Rachel Fiddelman celebrated their wedding at Artists for Humanity in Boston on October 9, 2022, surrounded by their family and friends. Members of the wedding party included Jon Weigel (best man) and Mark Berger ’03. Harris Rosenheim, Bob and Kathy Starensier, and other Fenn friends and colleagues were also in attendance. See photos below. Ned Levering and his wife, Alex, celebrated the arrival of their first child, Quinn Purdy Levering, on June 16, 2022. Also of note, Ned’s pottery studio in

Belmont, Indigo Fire, celebrated its 10th anniversary in October 2022. His second studio, located in Watertown, opened in 2021. Alexander Manshel ’02, assistant professor of English at McGill University, was featured in NPR’s On the Media podcast on March 3, 2023, in a “deep dive into how historical fiction became a rich resource for reckoning with our past.” Xander’s book Writing Backwards: Historical Fiction and the Reshaping of the American Canon will also be published by Columbia University Press later this year. Follow him on twitter at @XanderManshel. Jon Sillari and his wife, Nicky Dine, welcomed the arrival of their first child—a son, also named Jon—on April 22, 2022.

2003 Reunion

Reunion Committee

Jack Carroll, je.carroll10@gmail.com Christian Manchester, christian.d.manchester@gmail.com

On November 29, 2022, Kyle Hutton and his wife, Caroline, welcomed the arrival of their son Owen William Hutton. Born at 4:21 p.m., Owen joined his two-year-old sister Zoe in the Hutton family. Congratulations, Kyle!

2005

Alumni Class Senators

Spencer Lovejoy, slovejoy424@gmail.com

Will Stone, william.l.stone12@gmail.com

Pete Valhouli-Farb, pvalhoulifarb@gmail.com

Chris Schelzi married Ilona Abramova on October 13, 2022, in San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Chris and Ilona both work for AppSumo—Chris as head of growth and Ilona as vice president of business operations. AppSumo curates and promotes one-off deals for software tools and SaaS products to help entrepreneurs and startups grow their business.

Joe Shapiro married wife Jane on June 18, 2022, in Skaneateles, NY, then embarked on a seven-week honeymoon circumnavigating the globe. They started in France for a friend’s wedding, then South Africa/ Botswana/Zimbabwe for safari and Victoria Falls. “I would live in Cape Town in a heartbeat,” writes Joe. Phuket in Thailand for a week came next, then a week in Hanoi/Ha Long Bay, followed by a week in Seoul, before they left on their last leg in Hawaii! Joe and Jane accepted new jobs in Lake Placid, NY, at North Country School, a junior boarding school. Joe teaches history for grades 6 and 7, and serves as a secondary school counselor, while Jane provides learning support services. Joe notes, “This is a big 180 for us, but a slower pace of life in the mountains is exactly what the doctor ordered. They gave us the nicest house on campus and plenty of flexibility. There are lots of young families on campus and hopefully lots of free babysitting when the time comes.”

Hayes Fiddelman wedding: (l to r) Kathy and Bob Starensier, Harris Rosenheim ’02, Tory Hayes ’02, Jon Weigel ’02, Mark Berger ’03, and Fenn staff Allegra Maletz, Andy Rentschler, and Jennifer Everett

2006

Alumni Class Senators

Tyler Davis, davist.boston@gmail.com

Luke Eddy, luke.a.eddy@gmail.com

On December 31, 2022, Luke Eddy and Jamie Grinavic were married at Blessed Sacrament Church in Walpole then enjoyed a lively reception at the Renaissance Hotel at Patriot Place. A fitting venue for Patriots fans! Celebrating in the group photo below are (l to r) Chandler “Scooter” Manly, Ames Stevens, Tooey Rogers (father of Luke Rogers), Tyler Davis, Jack Dailey ’28, Fred Essien, newlyweds Luke and Jamie, Henry Amoah ’07, Duncan Gillespie, JB Henderson, Adam Reeve, and Joseph Eddy ’93.

2007

Alumni Class Senator

Will Joumas, wbjoumas@gmail.com

David O’Connor married Paris Marsh on May 28, 2022, in New Orleans. Paris is a critical care registered nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital.

2008 Reunion

2009

Alumni Class Senators

Sam Doran, saminthenewsroom@gmail.com

Thacher Hoch, thachmo94@comcast.net

Thomas Cooper and his wife, Jessica Tsang, welcomed the arrival of their first child on November 8, 2022, the day after Thomas’ birthday. They named their son Thomas Franklin Cooper after his grandfather.

2010

Alumni Class Senators

Drew Coash, drewtcoash@gmail.com

Will Crowley, crowleywi@gmail.com

Gabe Lekorenos-Arnold, gabelekorenos@gmail.com

2011

Alumni Class Senator

Nate Sintros, nathaniel1756@gmail.com

2013 Reunion

Reunion Committee

Reid Shilling, rshilling97@gmail.com

2014

Alumni Class Senator

Chad Arle, chad.w.arle@gmail.com

In 2022, Daniel Kramer completed the Boston Marathon, running to raise money for Mass General Hospital pediatric oncology. See photo below. Daniel has moved from New York City to San Francisco and is working as an analyst at PJT Partners. He is enjoying living on the West Coast, especially biking, running, and hiking in and around San Francisco.

Wedding of Luke Eddy ’06

Daniel Kramer ’14

A Warm Welcome Home

The month of November 2022 was bookended on the Fenn campus by welcome visits from Fenn’s Board of Visitors (BOV) and our youngest classes of alumni. The BOV group of past and present trustees, former employees, parents, alumni, and friends gathered on Friday, November 4, for an Annual Meeting exploring Fenn’s athletic program. Remarks from Bob Starensier in his final year at the helm of the program and from a panel of current students and coaches informed the conversation and discussion with this trusted group of advisors. Alumni from the Classes of 2018 - 2023 descended on the same campus space weeks later on Tuesday, November 22, to celebrate the annual Young Alumni Thanksgiving Reunion. Fenn faculty and staff in attendance were thrilled to hear about the many ways that the Fenn boys have been thriving following their Monument Street days.

2015

Alumni Class Senator

Walker Davey, daveywa@bc.edu

Ben Zide, benjaminzide@gmail.com

Hayden Galusza graduated from Wesleyan University in May 2022 with a degree in economics/data analysis. He was named a 2022 Intercollegiate Rowing Associate Scholar Athlete and captained the men’s crew team that was ranked No. 9 nationally. Hayden currently works for Wells Fargo in San Francisco where he is a fixed income/currency and commodities analyst. See photo below.

2016

Alumni Class Senators

William Locke, wlocke2000@comcast.net

Tad Scheibe, scheibetm@gmail.com

2017

Alumni Class Senator

Nico Bowden, nicobowden@gmail.com

2018 Reunion

2019

Alumni Class Senators

Adam Ewing, adamrewing@comcast.net

Noah Lippa, njlippa@gmail.com

Ishan Narra, ishannarra@yahoo.com

Surya Rajamani, suryabrajamani@gmail.com

2020

Alumni Class Senator

Theo Randall, theorandall118@gmail.com

2021

Alumni Class Senators

Ryan Bettenhauser, rbettenhauser@icloud.com

Jack Doherty, Jackpdoherty17@gmail.com

Panha Sam, prksam33@gmai.com

Eli Zahavi, as most of his friends may remember, is a pool shark, and surely an imposing figure at the pool table at 6’ 8”. He has been playing pool for six years and is one of the top Junior players in the United States. This past March, Eli won the USA Pool League (USAPL) National Single 10 Ball Championship at the prestigious CueSports International (CSI) World Billiards Championships in Las Vegas. He competes frequently in CSI, Billiards Education Foundation, and Pro events. Eli continues to be sponsored by Predator Cues and was

Hayden Galusza ’15

Eli Zahavi ’21 and family

Jake Athanasoulas ’20 (St. George’s) and Buck Lewis ’19 (St. Mark’s)

Ben Cook ’20 and Andrew Heinze ’19 following a hockey match-up

also very recently signed by Onboard Sportswear, one of the largest specialty athletic sportswear companies in the world that promises to unveil a custom

Eli “The Giant” Zahavi shirt in due time.

When Eli is not studying or playing pool during the school year, he’s playing varsity football and baseball for St. Mark’s. This coming October, he also will be representing Team Israel for the Predator

World Junior National Championships in Austria! Best of luck, Eli!

2022

Alumni Class Senators

Alex Murdough, amurdough@icloud.com

Timmy Smith, timothymsmith108@gmail.com

Luke Waldeck, lukewaldeck@icloud.com

Lyle Waldeck, Lylewaldeck10@gmail.com

2023

Alumni Class Senators

Lach McCaghren, lachlan@mccaghren.org

Tyler Wells, twellsie10@icloud.com

Rivers wins Moose Curtis Bowl with Gabe Fonte ’22 and Alex Murdough ’22

Eli Zahavi ’91

Lawrence Academy wins Todd Marble Bowl with Josh Brennan ’22, Jack Doty ’22, Jake Fahey ’23, Garrett Lanagan ’21, Teddy Livens ’22, and Liam Gidlewski (Photo by Adam Richins)

in memoriam

We extend our heartfelt sympathy to the families of these Fenn graduates, former trustees and faculty members, relatives, and friends of the School.

Gordon Frazier ’36

William C. Badger

July 14, 2022

Father of Chris Badger ’73

William H. Baker, Jr. ’65

November 20, 2022

Jean C. R. Becton

February 3, 2023

Fenn Trustee 1990-1993

Mother of Will Becton ’93

Margaret “Margo” Fenn Borden

January 18, 2023

Daughter of Roger and Eleanor Fenn

Sister of Abbott Fenn ’34

Aunt of Ethan Fenn

John Bagley “Gus” Buttrick, Jr. ’45

July 2, 2022

Arthur P. Charbonneau

November 8, 2022

Father of William “Billy” Charbonneau ’75

Donna L. Damalas

March 16, 2023

Mother of Nick Damalas ’98

Christopher M. Davies ’44

February 2, 2023

Fenn Faculty 1955-1958, 1999-2003

Husband of Susie Davies, Fenn Faculty 1999-2004

William DeFord, Jr. ’51

March 20, 2023

Michael A. Foley

June 21, 2023

Father of Nick Foley ’05 and Tom Foley ’08

December 7, 2021

Brother of Donald Frazier ’38

Winthrop D. “Don” Hodges, Jr. ’46

April 9, 2023

Philip M. Keyes ’72

November 16, 2022

Brother of Jared Keyes ’75

Uncle of Simon Keyes ’03

Nephew of Henry Keyes ’52

Christopher H. Logan ’62

July 4, 2021

Brother of Michael Logan ’57

George A. Miller ’50

July 15, 2020

Gregory Neal ’49

July 11, 2022

Father of John Neal ’73

John W. Newcomer ’84

February 28, 2023

William J. Ryan

June 3, 2023

Father of Chris Ryan ’10

Burton A. Sage

March 18, 2023

Father of Mark Sage ’80

Harold H. “Kim” Sears ’50

April 28, 2020

John D. Shaw, Jr. ’65

July 22, 2022

Sheila Spooner

October 3, 2022

Fenn Staff 2001-2002

Matthew S. Vokey ’80

January 29, 2023

Brother of Luke Vokey ’84

George Remey Wadleigh ’63

November 7, 2022

Brother of David Wadleigh ’62

H. Richard Wait III

February 20, 2021

Fenn Faculty 1970-1973

Benjamin D. Williams III

March 7, 2023

Father of Ben Williams ’78, Joe Williams ’81, and former Fenn faculty member Fred Williams

Barbara A. Winstanley

October 20, 2022

Mother of Adam Winstanley ’82, Carter Winstanley ’85, and Melissa Bonzagni

Grandmother of Cole

Winstanley ’13, Jalen Winstanley ’15, Tucker Winstanley ’19, and Henry Bonzagni ’26

Fenn Connect at Work

"I love Fenn Connect because I can see everything in one placemembers, announcements, photos, and Facebook feed. It brings the Fenn alumni experience to life in a centralized community. I'm looking forward to using this new tool!"

“Fenn Connect not only helped me connect with my old classmates, it has been a powerful tool to network with the entire Fenn community. I especially appreciated how easy it was to download my profile.”

NetworkingMentorshipEvents Jobs

Access a directory of global alumni; search for people by grad year, region, university, industry or company

Find trusted mentors through the platform or offer to become a mentor yourself

Stay informed about alumni events happening in your region or create and host an event yourself

View and apply for jobs posted by other alumni, or post jobs yourself on the Fenn Connect Job Board

Join now @www.fennconnect.org to reconnect with other Fenn Alumni and establish trusted professional and personal associations.

The Fenn School

516 Monument Street

Concord, Massachusetts 01742-1894

Parents of Alumni

If this publication is addressed to your son, and he no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify the alumni office of his new mailing address (978-318-3525 or aboudreau@fenn.org). Thank you!