HEBRON Spring 2019

spring 2019

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spring 2019 PHOTOGRAPHY Ben Wheeler Devin Harrington Bob Handelman CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Larch Fidler Paul Goodof ‘67 Leslie Guenther Pat Layman Kaila Mank ‘21 Kirby Nadeau ‘77 Tim Sample ‘69 Peyton Spurr ‘19 Dave Stonebraker Bob Waite ‘68 Sam Wheeler ‘14 ADVANCEMENT OFFICE Pat Layman James LeBlanc ‘02 Pat Hutter Judy Roy Beverly Roy COMMUNICATIONS Devin Harrington DESIGN Dianne Lewis Design

HEBRON is published by the Hebron Academy Communications and Advancement Offices.

Letters and corrections are welcome. Please send your feedback to Beverly Roy, at broy@hebronacademy.org Hebron Academy affirms its longstanding policy of nondiscriminatory admission of students on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, age, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental disability, or sexual orientation. We do not discriminate in the administration of our educational policies, admissions practices, scholarship programs and athletic or other school-administered programs. Hebron Academy is an equal opportunity employer. © Copyright 2019 by Hebron Academy www.hebronacademy.org

2 from the head of school

3 at the academy 8 a school for all seasons

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reunion/homecoming classnotes obituaries from the archives

21 events

Hebron Academy inspires and guides students to reach their highest potential in mind, body and spirit.

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FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

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elcome to the spring edition of the Hebron magazine. On campus we are presently engaged in an energizing period of strategic thinking and program enhancement.

As our present Hebron year draws to a close and we anticipate Commencement for the Class of 2019, we can also reflect on the great benefits of physical improvements and student centered building projects on campus. While there are a number of smaller scale projects, I would urge you to come visit and see for yourself the tremendous impact that the following improvements make to the student experience at Hebron: • The Kaneb Center for Science and Engineering opened this week, a hub for STEM-centered teaching and learning;

Paul Goodof

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• Hebron’s football, lacrosse and field hockey teams now all play and practice on an incredible new turf field, a real plus in weather-challenged seasons such as has been the case this year;

• New practice and recording studios in the Lepage Center for the Arts now allow greater opportunities for creative musicians to explore their craft;

• After renovations and an addition, Robinson Arena now has the capability for early-season ice, new boards, glass and a dehumidifying system as well as two new locker rooms for the Varsity teams and a new elevated heated viewing area for our parents and fans.

These improvements in our science, arts and athletic facilities speak to the desires and needs of our current and future students and complement the incredible campus and facilities we have known and loved for years.

While the buildings and facilities are critical, Hebron is fortunate to sustain the thoughtful, talented and creative teachers and staff who, through their continued dedication and service, make education come alive for our students, helping and encouraging all to find and realize their purpose for the future.

I would also like to personally offer my thanks and great appreciation to outgoing board chair Paul Goodof for his leadership, stewardship, and service. Paul has left an enduring legacy as Chair of Hebron’s Board of Trustees. He has led us through many critical projects and has worked tirelessly to be responsive and thoughtful in the important work of finding the resources for Hebron’s success. Thank you Paul for your impressive tenure and for your enduring love of Hebron!

We are fortunate that long time trustee and current Vice-President of the Board, Matthew Lyness ’76, will succeed Paul in what will be a smooth transition of leadership. I look forward to Matthew’s leadership as we continue the important work of advancing the mission of the school we all so dearly love.

I hope to see many of you at upcoming receptions in New York, Boston and Portland, and I especially hope to see you at Homecoming when we welcome back the classes of fours and nines for their reunions. Thank you all for supporting our great school, and we hope to see you on campus soon.

Dan Marchetti, Head of School

AT THE ACADEMY

Rooted in Service

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n a recent conversation, Paul Goodof, Class of 1967, who in June will hand the gavel of leadership of Hebron’s Board of Trustees to Matthew Lyness, Class of 1976, began to speak about his years of service to the Academy. Softly and in his always measured tones, he began by reflecting on a continuing life of service. “I think I have done this so long because it nourishes the soul.

Although I have worked for colleges and in real estate, serving the world of non-profits has always been at the core.”

Paul’s life calling in financial guidance and counseling began with a Harvard business degree followed by two decades of work in commercial real estate. During that period, Paul remembers, he got his first taste of volunteer work while helping with a building committee and later becoming trustee for the Perkins School for the Blind, a relationship that was to span thirty years. That time

allowed Paul to use his knowledge and experience with business to help the institution with key management decisions, a great contrast to his experiences in commercial real estate, a world that he found dominated by a mix of greed and self-serving ruthlessness. “Working with these wonderful institutions fed all the things I was interested in - helping students - for they are at the center of it all, regardless of the nature of the institution. Working with non-profits can never be a business, but one wants to bring as many ‘best practices’ from business to the management of these institutions as one possibly can.”

Paul’s experiences with Perkins led to a full career of service to more than a dozen

Paul Goodof with Elizabeth A. McKinnon ‘17 signs to play field hockey at Nichols College.

independent schools, colleges and museums before he was called back to Hebron by Board Chair Reeve Bright ’66, to join the Academy’s Board of Trustees in 2004, the year of the Bicentennial Celebration. “I began with two years as Chair of the Committee on Trustees but soon served concurrently on the Finance and Building Committees as the school began to lay the necessary financial foundation for building a new athletic center.”

Former parent and trustee, Jud Sommer picks up the theme of Paul’s consummate leadership skills. “I joined the Hebron Board in June of ’08 and became Vice-Chair in July of ’14 when Paul became Chair. He very emphatically, in his subtle but forceful manner, requested I join him as Vice-Chair and that we would go forward as a team – so very Paul, and so very accurate. We had first met when I joined the Board, and Paul “embraced” me immediately. Because I wasn’t an alumnus but rather a parent, I may have lacked some of the context, history and perspective of an alumnus, but ‘hanging out’ with Paul gave me a wealth of that heritage over the years as we worked together and became real pals. As a parental Board Member, my quick observations of Paul informed me that no one (Hebron history notwithstanding) could have ever cared more deeply about Hebron than did Paul as Board Chair and no less than Paul did as Board Member - Hebron coursed through his blood in all his waking moments.”

In 2007, Paul became Clerk of the Works for the project to create an exemplary athletic facility for Hebron, what would be named the Williams Family Athletic Center in 2018, dedicated to the memory of S. Barnitz Williams, iconic leader at the school as Hebron reopened its doors following World War II. Paul concluded, “The Williams Center became threefold a ‘great’ project - a great building completed with great pride at a great price to serve the students of Hebron in so many wonderful ways.”

As the conversation continued, Paul talked of the phases of an institution, reflecting on his sixteen years of service. A board chair may seem to have a more distant and broader view of the school, a perspective removed by necessity from the day to day life of the school; but when listening to Paul, it is clear that his thoughts remain grounded, always, in the people and programs of the school and hebronacademy.org • 3

AT THE ACADEMY the mission of the Academy to serve its students, together with the always present desire to provide faculty and students alike with the very best environment for learning and growing, for discovering purpose and passion to engage the future. Jud Sommer again touched these themes as he recalled working with Paul: “Paul had all angles of Board Chairmanship covered: leadership, financial stewardship, productivity and growth of the Board, and the efficiency of the Board as a whole and at its meetings. He became a consummate leader by combining his natural leadership capacity with his complete understanding of Hebron - a particularly unique set of qualities in a Board Chair. And Paul’s style was always firm but deferential –- everyone received his/her ‘innings.’ Always the gentleman – polite, thoughtful and determined always to get to the goal, Paul was never afraid to seek the advice of others about moves he sought to make. Paul was a wonder to observe when running Board meetings – on time, substantive, inclusive with full and meaningful discussion on all subjects.”

As Board Chair, leadership goals often face the realities of financial organization and planning to reinforce the school’s strengths and ensure stability, a critical undertaking at all times, yet ultimately the goals translate into “supporting people and community, the special character of Hebron created for each student.

The Hebron of today is vastly more complicated than in my day,” Paul summarized, “but it continues to manage itself to fulfill and sustain the vital mission that it does.”

As Paul succeeded as Chair of the Board in

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2014, he felt it critical for the Board to have a shared vision of the Academy. He instituted the method of conducting the Board’s business through ‘Committees of the Whole’ as a way to increase trustee awareness of all aspects of the school. That awareness, he felt, was critical to understanding the ongoing needs of the institution as well as conducting a national search for then Head of School John King’s successor, a process which culminated as Paul presided over the installation of Dan Marchetti on Homecoming Weekend in 2016.

As he summarized his tenure, Paul brought the wisdom of a personal mentor to bear on the evolution of the school, a friend who had suggested to Paul that the Japanese concept of ‘kaizen,’ often applied to constructive change in business and manufacturing, could be equally relevant to the growth and development of a school. Paul defines the idea this way, “kaizen seeks positive growth through a commitment to incremental change at all times.” As he thinks about Hebron, Paul finds the concept may capture the spirit of growth and change that is ever present in the people, programs, and facilities of the school. The faculty evolves as fresh and creative thinking inspires the traditional programs in arts and sciences. Innovative courses in the STEM program supported by new facilities in the Kaneb Center offer students specialized preparation in math, science, engineering and robotics for college and the future. Continuing modernization of the theater and performance spaces in the Lepage Center for the Arts provide theater students and musicians opportunities to explore their passions in

current facilities. Emphasis on wellness and mental health continue to be supported by the staff of the Academic Guidance Center and the dedicated counseling and services of the Health Center. And incremental growth in athletics comes in new outdoor programs utilizing an expanded trails system for mountain biking, cross country running and skiing, and backcountry experiences on Little Singepole. Even more, the Allen Field is now complemented by a new turf surface on the Dwyer Field. And under construction is a heated viewing pavilion and locker room facilities for Robinson Arena. Taken in the whole, these are the progress of incremental change during a surprising and wonderful span of years during Paul’s tenure on the Hebron Board.

From a different perspective, Kaizen may be seen in the metaphor of the annual rings documenting the growth of a sturdy tree.

While no one annual ring may be especially remarkable, taken as a whole, the record of incremental and inexorable growth in time, subject always to the vicissitudes of Maine’s climate, results in the remarkable century-old maples and oaks that grace the Hebron campus today. So to with the work of Hebron’s Board of Trustees and its leadership, constant since the school’s beginning, yet reflected especially in its leadership during Paul Goodof’s tenure, a time of stability, growth and strategic initiatives to support the people and programs of the Academy and to enhance its physical campus as well. Jud Sommer offered a coda to Paul’s tenure when he said, “I would venture to say that Paul clearly has left his indelible mark on the Academy about which he cares so deeply.”

When asked, ‘What’s next,’ Paul demurred. “It’s been forty years in Massachusetts, now, working on one project or another, and the years with Hebron particularly special and fulfilling. It always seemed good to cross the Piscataqua River Bridge into Maine. I felt more relaxed as I traveled up to Hebron, and I guess it was a feeling of being closer to home.” Perhaps the arc of a young man leaving Waterville for schooling and a life of service is now bending back upon itself.

Hebron is especially grateful for your time of leadership, Paul, and pleased that your next calling may bring you back to Maine for good. And we hope that you will come back to Hebron often, for it will always be a special home for you. n

AT THE ACADEMY

From the Chair

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e celebrate – with a tinge of sadness because their terms are ending – four extraordinarily able and wise individuals whose service as a Trustee has been exemplary.

Rick Bennett, father of Abby ’14 and Nate ’16, joined the Board in 2010, and has served ably and wisely on just about all of the Board’s committees, most notably chairing the Committee on Trustees for most of his term.

With substantial experience in the field of corporate governance, he nurtured most effectively the Board’s commitment to best practices. We are infinitely better as a governance body for his inspiring work.

Heather Fremont-Smith Stephens ’88 has served two full terms on the Board, and always brought a fresh and clear-thinking set of eyes to our work. Making the most of the student experience, and assuring that the faculty and staff were appropriately supported, were two causes she always championed, and her contributions to our deliberations and to all of Hebron were immensely catalytic and helpful in both areas. Wisdom and judgment aplenty, she will be much missed.

Meredith Strang Burgess, whose son Andrew was a member of the Class of 2011, has served as Trustee for a decade, and

brought all of her extraordinary skills and experience in marketing, advertising, branding and social media to advance the thinking of the Board and staff of the Academy. A common sense approach to just about everything we did was her hallmark, and we owe her much gratitude.

Debra Beacham Bloomingdale ’83 was elected to the Board in 2004 and during the last half dozen years has served as the Board’s Secretary. She and her family have a long and wonderful history at Hebron: She met her husband Andy while here; her brother was a member of the class of 1985; her father played a pivotal and hugely catalytic role as a member of the Board in the challenging 1980’s and 1990’s; and her two children, AJ ’11 and Molly ’13, were among the most exceptional and respected of students while here. Debbie’s imprint on our work over her fifteen years – ever-thoughtful counsel on all aspects of admissions, marketing, branding, and school culture – is simply indelible. She always asked just the right questions to advance our conversations, and we will deeply miss her wise voice and her many contributions.

On behalf of the Trustees, Paul S. Goodof ‘67, Chair

Hebron Board of Trustees William G. Becker ‘87 Falmouth, ME Richard Bennett P’14, P’16 Oxford, ME Devon M. Biondi ‘96 Mill Valley, CA Debra B. Bloomingdale ’83, P’11, P’13 South Portland, ME Felica W. Coney P’18 Waxhaw, NC Clement S. Dwyer, Jr. ‘66 Portsmouth, NH Wende Fox-Lawson P’15 Chicago, IL Paul Goodof ‘67 Hebron, ME Dr. Robert C. Greaves ‘82 Charleston, SC Wallace E. Higgins Newton, MA Matthew W. Johnson ‘93 Pittsburgh, PA J. Matthew Lyness ‘76 Bedford Corners, NY Barrett S. Mitchell ‘02 Boston, MA David S. Prout ‘83 Cockeysville, MD Robert J. Ryan ‘77 Houston, TX Heather Fremont-Smith Stephens ‘88 Weston, MA Meredith N. Strang Burgess P‘11 Cumberland Foreside, ME Robert E. Waite ‘68 Rockcliffe, ON

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AT THE ACADEMY

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ebron Academy hosted the NEPSAC Alpine Skiing Class C Championship at Shawnee Peak on February 27. After the race was postponed from its original February 13 date because of weather, the Hebron girls skied to a second place finish, while the boys team finished as NEPSAC Champions!

In the Giant Slalom, the Hebron girls skied steadily to finish with 35 points and find themselves in a tie for second place.

The Hebron boys team put down some impressive GS race runs as well, scoring second, third, and eleventh place finishes for a total of 16 points, good enough for first place after the morning session.

In the afternoon slalom, the Hebron girls finished with 27 race points, just two points behind the 1st place slalom team.

The boys continued their strong performance, this time placing three skiers in the top-10 for a total of 17 race points.

Overall, the Hebron girls earned a combined total of 62 points to finish as the Runners’ Up in the championship, while the Hebron boys finished with a

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With coach Dave Stonebraker Sarah Wood ‘85, who skied a NEPSAC championship at Middlebury College with her son, Will Klien ‘19, at this year’s championship

combined 33 points (17 points ahead of the second place team) to earn the NEPSAC Class C Championship! In addition to our team success, five Hebron skiers were recognized as “All-New England” for their top-10 finishes: Joe Godomsky ’20 led the team with

2nd place finishes in both the slalom and GS. Brody Hathorne ’21 finished 3rd in the GS and 7th in the slalom. Maja Mulley ’24 finished 4th in the slalom and 6 th in the GS. Will Kline ’19 and Thekla Jubinville ’20 each earned 8th place finishes in the slalom. n

AT THE ACADEMY

Going the Distance

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group of Hebron faculty members are pursuing their passions, literally, by challenging themselves in a variety of road and off-road running events. Pictured recently with some of the ‘bling’ they have brought back to campus are: Eric Lundblade, English; Jennifer Godomsky, Health Services; Leslie Guenther, Athletic Director; Courtney Marchetti; and Jennifer Ridley, Enrollment Management. n

Eric Lundblade is an accomplished distance runner who has completed six marathons, the 55K Laugavegur in Iceland, the “Madhattan” run around the perimeter of Manhattan (~33 miles), and the North Face Endurance 50 mile race. Last October, Eric ran the Chicago Marathon, and he looks forward to participating in the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington DC in the coming fall.

This summer, Jen Godomsky will run in Maine’s Beach to Beacon 10K road race for the 10th consecutive year, and she has previously completed the Maine Half Marathon and Maine Marathon relay. In May she will run in her fourth Sugarloaf 15K. Although she raced a handful of 10K races in high school, Leslie “Mitzi” Guenther didn’t participate in another organized race until she joined her Hebron colleagues Jenny and Jen in 2016 for her first of four Sugarloaf 15K races. In February, Mitzi and a close college friend completed their first 26.2 miler - the New Orleans Rock and Roll Marathon - following their goal to be “fit in our fifties.”

Courtney Marchetti has previously run a number of 5K, 10K, and 15K races, but she has more recently made the move to ultra running. Last September, Courtney was among the top finishers in the Vermont 50K, and she is currently training for the Marathon du Mont Blanc (complete with a 10,000 foot elevation gain!) in Chamonix, France. In the fall, she has her sites set on the Bromont Ultra 55K in Quebec.

Jenny Ridley is no stranger to running, and those up early enough on campus may see her logging the miles on the track and trails. Jenny has run the Portland Half Marathon, and she will participate in her fourth Sugarloaf 15K, having finished “on the podium” for her age group in two of her three previous races. hebronacademy.org • 7

A SCHOOL FOR ALL SEASONS: Students and Alumni Reflect

This feature gathers reflections and profiles of Hebron students, past and present.

We asked them to reflect on their time at the Academy that helped shape their experiences with respect to Learning, Living, and Working and as they developed careers and joined communities beyond the small town of Hebron, Maine.

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tudents and graduates responded in a variety of formats, always in unique voices. Some chose to answer directly within the email that contained the questions. Two individuals shared their thoughts in interviews with David Stonebraker. Another three wrote personal narratives. And two current students shared their experiences of extra-curricular dog-sledding in February of this year.

In a variety of formats, in a diversity of voices, these students and graduates provide perspectives from different points of their life-experience about how Hebron Academy shaped their experience of Learning, Living, and Working.

By design, our questions were open-ended. We were not certain how themes might emerge. As

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we collated responses, we found that there was a remarkable convergence of viewpoints.

We came to understand that Hebron is, truly, a School for All Seasons in the life-experiences of students and graduates. Just as the seasons of the calendar year enrich the lives of the Hebron community in distinctive ways (football, skiing, and – yes – dog-sledding), so students and alumni(ae) report how their Hebron experiences have shaped opportunities to learn, live, and work at different points in their lives.

In what follows, we invite you to explore with a variety of persons, in different seasons of their lives, how Hebron Academy is a School for All Seasons.

Emily

I’m an extremely driven and ambitious person who works hard to complete my goals in life.

I’m also a people-person, and I love being around new people and learning about their lives and backgrounds and how [their] lives are different from mine.

Konstantin

Hebron is exciting and challenging because it was my first time being away from home for more than three weeks. It is enriching because I got to meet a lot of new people not only from the US, but also from all over the world. I got to know new people, cultures, languages, foods, and traditions – and definitely made some good friends.

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ur first section collects observations from those who chose to answer questions directly in the emails that they received. We give Emily McCarthy ‘20, Konstantin Hellge ‘19, Giselle Pomerleau ‘02, and Jim Kelly ‘95 (PG) opportunites to speak in their own words about the ways that Hebron has shaped their experiences of Learning, Living, and Working.

Emily is a current student in her Junior Year; Konstantin is a current PG student; Giselle is establishing a career as a Federal Public Defender; and Jim has established himself as an officer in a staffing firm. Asked to describe themselves using key words, Emily, Konstantin, Giselle, and Jim first introduce themselves. We have provided a selection of quotations grouped under the headings of Learning, Living, and Working. hebronacademy.org • 9

A SCHOOL FOR ALL SEASONS

Giselle

I chose the word individualized because…I received an education that was tailored to me as an individual. I chose evolution because being at Hebron…allowed [me] to …evolve as a person and learn what it was that I was passionate about.

I chose balance because there was an emphasis at Hebron to take classes in various disciplines, explore arts and culture, and participate in sport and outdoor activities

Jim

I’m Jim Kelly, husband to my wife, Jen, father to my four-year-old boy, JJ, and dog-walker to my first “boy,” Trotter. Throughout my life I’ve been committed to my deepest passion – discovering how to help people reach their full potential through coaching, work-ethic, fortitude, and…principles of spirituality, health, psychology, and personal development.

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Learning

Emily [As a current student], I am constantly pushed by my teachers with my workload and their high expectations.

Konstantin Besides a lot of teachers and other faculty members who were always helpful and very friendly, one person who really stood out to me here at Hebron is Coach Radulski…. Even before I came to Hebron, he already helped me [by] creating opportunities to show myself to college [football] coaches, and as soon as I arrived, he started working with me to help me achieve my goals.

Giselle Academically, I had teachers who would not let you slip into the cracks and [who] pushed you to reach your potential. I shed my shyness and became more confident in class, which translated to more confidence and leadership ability outside the classroom.

Jim My post-graduate year was one of the most impactful experiences of my life. I learned how to work through the assignments from great teachers…. [These teachers] continue to positively impact my curiosity and perseverance to this day.

Emily …I struggle with certain math concepts….

My teachers saw that I struggle to comprehend… material because I want to know all the how’s and why’s, and we often meet to…discuss what we learn in class in a one-on-one session….

Konstantin In the classroom, one thing that stood out to me were the labs in the science classes. I think labs are the best way to learn in those classes because they allow us to experiment on our own and find answers by ourselves.

Giselle We were able to utilize the amazing landscape of Maine as part of our education. The utilization of experiences outside of the classroom to enhance the understanding of concepts within class is so important in terms of connecting learning to the world at large.

Jim I was a late bloomer, and Hebron sparked my aptitude to learn and discover new fields of interest. I learned how to work through the assignments from great teachers…. I grew more in that one [PG] year than the previous 18 [years].

Giselle I do not remember the names of most of my professors in college or middle-school, but I remember all of my teachers and coaches at Hebron.

Living

Emily “Family-oriented” is a word that sums up part of my Hebron experience….My teachers are not only my teachers, but my dorm parents and coaches.

Konstantin My time here at Hebron taught me how to live on my own in an environment that was unknown to me.

Giselle I struggled to be comfortable with who I was or how I fit into the world. I was so fortunate to have teachers and coaches [who] helped me find some confidence in myself and who allowed me to feel that my interests or ideas were valid.

Konstantin I also learned how to share a room with someone I had never met before and who was completely different from me. I learned to be more independent and what it is like to live on the other side of the world without any family members.

Jim I fondly remember long talks and hanging out with many friends… I’ll never forget jumping down from the bell tower after winning the New England Prep School Football Championship to meet up with my best friend, Sean Morey.

Konstantin One thing I really like about the traditions here is the rivalry against Kents Hill. Every student as well as the faculty gets excited when it comes to playing Kents Hill.

Emily Keep the Hebron/Kents Hill football game!

Even if you’re one who doesn’t understand football, you’re still there experiencing the connection and enthusiasm…. Extracurricular activities have also allowed me to discover many new passions and to diversify my interests and to try new things.

Giselle Hebron allowed me the freedom to explore so many different things: academically, in sports, in arts, and in social awareness. In sports, I engaged in activities that I never would have otherwise….

Konstantin Football and basketball provided the opportunity to travel through New England and see a lot of new places and schools….

Jim After a season of pouring ourselves into the [football] team and school, the big [New England Prep] win was a crescendo of celebration and pure gratitude.

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A SCHOOL FOR ALL SEASONS Emily …I am faced with friendly competition with myself and am pushed by my teammates to do better than what I already had been doing to improve myself.

Jim Things slowed down for awhile in this sleepy little town which allowed time to develop deeper relationships [than at my previous school].

Giselle Once you set foot on that campus in the middle of Maine, you are all on an equal footing.

[Hebron’s] small size, diversity of population, and natural surroundings should always be regarded as a strength….

Working

Emily Being Junior Class President is just one example of an activity that I do that has developed… pre-existing skills of leadership and management.

Konstantin When I came to Hebron, I knew what my passion was and what I had to do in order to achieve my goals. But I definitely experienced how teammates who never played [football] before discovered their passion for it.

Giselle I work in a profession [Federal Public Defender] where I am routinely required to relate to people with very different backgrounds from my own…. I certainly believe that Hebron played a part in honing the ability to absorb another person’s life experience and [in] being able to forge a connection with strangers no matter how dissimilar they might initially appear to you.

Jim Hebron helped build the foundation of what it takes to work with others both inside and outside the workplace. I’ve never stopped questioning or challenging the status quo, and that has allowed me to stay engaged and actively solving problems with a number of Fortune 500 companies.

Emily Being Class President has…allowed me to [manage and plan events while] collaborating with others on the Council so we can incorporate all ideas into the events we do.

Giselle Most importantly, through all my wonderful English teachers, I learned how to write at Hebron, which has served me well in college, law school, and now in my career as an attorney.

Jim Being pushed outside my normal framework at Hebron allowed me the courage to take some

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chances that made all the difference in my life. I learned to adapt and broaden my sights to bigger challenges and have not looked back since.

Giselle [In a changing marketplace], I believe that Hebron helped me to become confident in my ability to quickly learn new subjects and adapt to new requirements of a profession. I certainly take a jack-of-all-trades approach to my career, which is something that I think was honed at Hebron through wanting to experience all types of learning and experience….

Concluding thoughts

Emily …I enjoy everything Hebron has to offer me, whether it is pushing me academically in the classroom, or hiking up Singepole and taking in all the beauty of the land, or night-canoeing on Marshall Pond.

Konstantin My hopes for the rest of the year?

Warmer weather. I hope to make the varsity tennis team and to enjoy my last couple of months on campus with my classmates.

Giselle Part of the beauty of Hebron…is that it is a place where a jock could also be an emerging artist and celebrated by peers not only for their accomplishments with a hockey stick, but also because of a gallery opening [when they exhibited] their paintings in the library. It was a haven for people who had interests across many disciplines and wanted to explore all of those sides of themselves. It was a place where jocks were friends with theater geeks because often those people were one and the same.

Jim Hebron opened my mind and expanded my horizons in a number of ways beyond academics and athletics. After a serious injury playing sports, I yearned for something new and decided to transfer from the East coast to the West coast. This was a big change for me, and I think the positive experience that I had at Hebron had a lot to do with my ability to make the change. The experience of being pushed outside my normal framework at [Hebron] allowed me the courage to take some chances that made all the difference in my life….

I learned to adapt and broaden my sights to bigger challenges and have not looked back since. n

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n this section, David Stonebraker interviews Molly Curtis, MD ’02, and John Thompson ’84.

Concentrating on Molly’s passion for medicine and John’s passion for skiing, David draws a nuanced picture of how experiences of Hebron shaped the lives of two graduates who have two richly rewarding paths as they learn, live, and work. In turn, Pat Layman reports her interview with Jie “Jolie” Chen ’21.

She evokes the experience of an International Student as Jolie finds her way at Hebron and in the United States.

Interview with Molly Curtis ’06

“You never know what is going to come in the door!”

Dr. Molly Curtis laughs during a recent phone conversation. “But that is both the challenge and the reward.”

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early seven years after beginning Tufts Medical School, Dr. Molly is completing her Pediatric Residency at Children’s Hospital (an affiliate of Brown University School of Medicine) in Providence, Rhode Island. She is about to embark on a new trajectory in her career as she becomes a Fellow at Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. Her fellowship, which begins this year, involves specialized training in Emergency Pediatric Care as well as teaching, leading, and supervising interns, medical students, and residents at Indiana’s primary teaching hospital. Her journey has extended far beyond the dawn commute from Turner to Hebron.

Molly’s time as a Hebron day-student developed a passion for science that was followed by four years at Middlebury College with concentrations in science. After graduation, two years of teaching life-science followed at Worcester Academy. This was a time when her experiences teaching and her love for children reinforced one another. Molly then began at Tufts University Medical School.

“I decided on Pediatrics pretty early in my time at Tufts, because I connected so strongly with children and teaching. Being with children was always something that I enjoyed, and so working with pediatrics was something that naturally fit.”

Presently, Molly is wholly focused on finishing her residency. She reflected on some of the experiences along the way that shaped her calling for pediatric medicine. “Early on, residency was pretty daunting. Some have described it as ‘drinking from a fire hose,’” an allusion to the sheer quantity of information and experience a resident is expected to ingest.

Molly recalled that her first year at Tufts was dominated by long hours in the hospital and intense educational demands, accompanied by periods of self-doubt that first-year residents often experience.

In her second year, Molly’s program provided more latitude for exploration, allowing her to sample the range of pediatric medicine: pre-natal care, premature care, delivery and post-natal care, newborns and healthy babies, and outpatient practice.

On my first day of residency, I was given a panel of patients, and these have been ‘my babies,’ now, for nearly three years. Some were only a day old in July of 2016, and now I am getting to see them grow up longitudinally in the patient clinic. In my second and third years, I also spent a lot of time in the Pediatric ICU (Intensive Care Unit) and the Pediatric Emergency Room, which is where I found my calling. There I often deal with true emergencies (children who appear with life-threatening diseases or trauma), but also with somewhat more routine situations like the toddler with an ear infection who comes through the door at two in the morning in the arms of a distraught mother. I see such a range of patients, and I find it challenging and fun. hebronacademy.org • 13

A SCHOOL FOR ALL SEASONS Interesting descriptors for the skills that Molly practices? Suturing, splinting, and relocating joints for trauma patients; as well diagnosis, prescription, and advice for parents unsure about how to care for their children in difficult situations.

Further specialization in Pediatric Emergency Care will be the focus of Dr. Molly’s Fellowship at Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana Health Center, a large academic hospital. She will not only dive deeper into the study of emergency care for children, working with a team of pediatric specialists to address the most difficult cases ‘coming through the door’ of a major regional children’s hospital, but she will also work to improve care for children generally, both in the hospital and in the community.

Research suggests that the majority of childhood emergencies are preventable, but often underlying social factors relating to poverty, environment, education, and substance abuse play a role in these situations. I will be doing research on issues of health literacy because so many of children’s health issues are preventable. Poverty becomes a big reason for lots of medical need. The judgmental term is ‘negligence,’ but closer to the truth may be the reality of parents who are doing the best they can in a bad situation - parents working and not at home or the situations of the unemployed or underemployed.

Increases in wages and creation of universal health care could ultimately improve the prospects for many children, and the teaching hospital can play a major role in those initiatives. And although professionals in academic medical centers may not have the same earning power as those in private practice, being part of a teaching hospital is compelling for Molly. She reflects: I think I will stay in academia for several reasons. Working with this sort of patient population is truly gratifying and impactful. You feel good knowing that you may have changed the outcome of a particular patient, and ultimately the life-path of a young person. Academic centers are institutions that are built upon different levels of interaction. Many levels of learners circulate through the hospital at all times, and as a doc, I could be working on a team with an undergraduate student, an intern, a resident, a fellow or an attending specialist - all people who generate a very rich environment for learning and practice, for medical education as a whole, something which I feel will continue to be an important part of my practice.

While the reality may be that the pay in private practice can make the academic teaching world less

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of a career-incentive, “I hope I won’t be swayed, and I do think that the other benefits of the teaching hospital make up for [diminished earning power].”

For Molly, it is critical that a practitioner also be a teacher. “Now, teaching is constantly built into my practice at an academic institution, not necessarily classroom teaching, but what we call ‘bedside teaching’ or clinical teaching, which are the moments that occur during patient care. Essentially, we are all learners, and that is really crucial to good practice.”

Being part of a team and having the opportunity to influence the future are also touchpoints for Molly. It is not simply a matter of providing the best care possible, but also of becoming an advocate for the vulnerable.

I think the social justice piece is something that I am really passionate about; a reason why I probably could not leave this [underserved] population of kids. As a pediatrician, I think a lot of people look to you for professional, expert advice, and we can become advocates for children, whether in the medical field or in the community. We have the potential to make changes on a larger scale.

The symbols of such change may be programs in children’s hospitals that give parents gunlocks, helmets, and car seats as well as advice. The implication of Molly’s thinking is that doctors become advocates for changes in public policy that alter the ways in which communities manage the realities of living.

Dr. Curtis summarizes her sense of opportunity in this way: Part of the fun is not knowing what will come through the door but knowing that your training has made you capable of managing it. No one can do that completely by themselves, so the biggest part of managing critical situations is being able to manage a team, because medicine is really a ‘team’ sport. What is important for me is learning how to manage the team, how to be a good team leader, how to be organized and making sure that everyone is working at the top of their training, that everyone is involved. The best team leaders are those who are able to make the most of resources for the best outcomes.

Dr. Molly is a young doctor on the cutting edge of pediatric practice and public policy. For her, purpose and passion are intertwined in pediatric emergency medicine—an opportunity to change young lives and to give voice to the needs of those most vulnerable. n

Interview with John Thompson ’84 “I was ten years old when I first saw Sugarloaf. It was 1975, and I was on a trip with my Dad. It was a big mountain, and I loved it the first time I was here.”

S

itting in the Competition Center at Sugarloaf recently, John Thompson (aka JT) reflected on two things that he felt had given purpose to much of his life.

I was in love with skiing from the very start here, and it remains an important part of what I do. Mark Sweeney, a coach here at Sugarloaf, was a great influence . . . teaching me some of life’s lessons, that you don’t always win, that you have to get back up, that you have to be prepared, be resilient.

Good lessons for a skier, but equally important for a student or for a career person. As another Hebron skier (a ski-team captain who later competed for Colby) once quipped, “Ya gotta love the sport, ‘cause you don’t win a lot.” JT would agree.

In addition to his love for skiing, John credits the decision to take a postgraduate year at Hebron as critical to his development.

I can’t quite remember how it happened; but my parents say that I came and asked one night. I was on a ‘road to nowhere’ in my high school. I loved sports - skiing and soccer - but I was just getting by, not really excelling at anything. My Dad traveled a

lot for business, and he had an important contact in South Paris. That may have been why we visited Hebron, that and its closeness to Sugarloaf.

John’s story rings true for many alumni who once made a similar choice.

Many people helped me to get a new purpose, new direction, especially Mr. Willard, Coach Curtis, Dr. D(avidson) and Mr. Chase. It was life lessons . . . learning to get your work done and focusing on what was important. Hebron was a huge part of life for me, and I’m ever thankful to my parents for allowing me to do it.

Successful academically and athletically during his postgraduate year, John felt prepared for the challenge of college. His postgraduate year at Hebron became a springboard to St. Lawrence University.

I had hoped to ski at St. Lawrence, but it was not to be. Looking back now, I know that it helped me to focus on other things. I could take care of myself and concentrate on economics and history, the out of doors and the good friends I made there.

Building at St. Lawrence on the foundation laid at Hebron, John has developed a career in chemical distribution companies that supply raw materials for tanneries. At present, he is a corporate vicepresident for Tannin Corporation, based in Peabody, Massachusetts. Tannin is a leading supplier of chemical products used in the manufacture of leather goods including shoes and boots, handbags and satchels, automotive upholstery and furniture.

In the midst of all that corporate management entails, John has held fast to his passion for skiing.

As his family grew, the weekend routine of driving to Sugarloaf each Friday was a constant. “Those trips have always been a family time. . . what we all do together.” And as his children were bitten by the race-bug, just as Dad had been, JT became a coach and later an alpine official for the Sugarloaf Ski Club.

He has also volunteered to coach the Marblehead High School ski-team and enjoys seeing his children’s schooling from that perspective. “I like it

hebronacademy.org • 15

A SCHOOL FOR ALL SEASONS that I can be called ‘Coach’ and not Mr. Thompson by the kids on the team.” It has now been forty years of travels to Sugarloaf; of weeknight practices with the school ski-team at the Nashoba Valley Ski Area; and of occasional forays into recreational racing. And there is no end in sight.

“I do still like to be on the hill with the athletes,” he says. “I do enjoy seeing the progress, [and] the transformation as they develop and learn skills, but there will probably be an end to the weekend coaching before too long. It is a huge time commitment. But I know I will continue with the officiating. It is [a] really good way to give back to the sport. I like to remain current with racing and to see other ski areas and programs.”

As a TD (Technical Delegate for the United States Ski Association), John is the lead official for ski races in Maine and New England. This means that John is responsible for the safety and fairness of competitions for various age-groups. He also assists clubs and ski-areas to host the best possible racing experiences for developing athletes.

Skiing as discipline and as fun has enriched in equal parts his commitment to career, to family, and to community.

As John reflects on nearly half a century on skis, he feels that his passion and dedication to skiing remains as strong as ever, a tribute in part to the love of snow nurtured by his experiences with ski-racing at Sugarloaf and at Hebron. n

Interview with Jie “Jolie” Chen ’21 Jolie says that what she likes best about Hebron are her friends who come from all over the world and she also feels great appreciation for her supportive teachers.

J

olie has been playing the piano for fourteen years. In China, she joined the chorus in elementary school where she competed in international competitions. Her friends kept saying that she was really Americanized and that she should study in the United States. Her parents took Jolie on annual family trips abroad and said to Jolie, “We think America is where you should go to school.” They hired a consultant to help them find an independent school in New England that had a good music program. When Jolie toured Hebron, she was excited to learn about the HeBeGeeBees and knew that she wanted to be part of this dynamic a cappella group.

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During her first year at Hebron, Jolie stayed in her comfort-zone and spent most of her time with students who spoke Chinese. This year, her second at Hebron, she says she sometimes doesn’t speak Chinese for an entire week. Her English has improved greatly; she is a star in Hebron’s music program, and she was chosen to participate in both the District and All State Music Festivals.

Jolie says that what she likes best about Hebron are her friends who come from all over the world.

She feels they really care about her. Jolie also feels great appreciation for her supportive teachers.

Although she is a fine musician, when asked what her college plans are, Jolie says that she doesn’t want to go to a music school. She sees music as a hobby. She wants to combine her love of music with business and thinks that a school like NYU or Columbia would be a good fit for her. Both schools are located in New York, the diversity-hub of America – a place where she can have access to great music and academics.

When asked if she had any mentors, Jolie mentioned some of her friends. She looks up to people who are good at academics, but who also know how to have fun. Jolie is an independent young woman. She knows what she wants, and she has a plan to ensure that she gets there. Jolie is an integral member of the Hebron community, and we look forward to witnessing her accomplishments in the next two years. n

O

ur selection of profiles concludes with three personal narratives. In the first, Field Peterson ‘15 reflects about how his experiences learning, living, and working at Hebron have informed his college experience at Colorado State University where he is studying National Resource Management.

In the second and third narratives, Kaila Mank ‘21 and fellow student Peyton Spurr ‘19 reflect about their experiences while dog-sledding in February of 2019. Each student, in his or her distinctive way, creates a vivid picture of how their education at Hebron shapes their lives in real time as present students.

field peterson

Field Peterson ’15

This photo was taken in Zion National Park in January 2018, when a group of friends and I traveled around the Southwest, hiking and photographing everything we could. One of the reasons I love photography is that it brings all of us together and we can all create our own unique images, even in the same place.

I

graduated from Hebron in 2015 after attending for seven years, from 6th grade on. I believe that the sense of community at Hebron had the biggest impact on my experience. From students to faculty and administrators, I was able to make close friendships with many people even though I was a day-student. Living close to one another, in a small town, we all shared a sense of place, and Hebron was home.

Although I struggled academically, the incredible teachers that I had were always willing to put in extra effort to help me meet my challenges. One of the constant struggles that I’ve seen with our education system is that rigid structures fail to accommodate those who learn in different ways.

For example, I struggle with standardized testing but thrive in group projects and creative projects.

At Hebron, I was able to find ways to thrive in my own way.

For my senior year, I had the opportunity to live

on campus. This experience helped me to prepare to live away from home at college. Hebron was also a place where I discovered some of my greatest passions, such as love for biology from Dr. Swenton and for photography from Ms. Wilmot. I also had great role models to look up to, like Mr. Brouwer and Mr. Middleton. Hebron was where I grew up and started to become the person that I am proud to be.

Now in my fourth year of college at Colorado State University, studying Natural Resource Management, I am ready to take on global challenges facing our planet. My time at Hebron helped me to grow from being extremely shy to loving public speaking and communication. Since then, I’ve created my own photography business, and I’ve worked in various communications roles as well as in conservation projects. Eventually, I want to combine all these elements to make a unique contribution to the world. n hebronacademy.org • 17

A SCHOOL FOR ALL SEASONS

Winter Wonder

by Kaila Mank ‘21

T

he definition of a risk is putting yourself or others in some sort of danger, but that is not the only definition. It can also mean doing something you’ve never done before or trying something that you may once have said “No” to. A risk is an opportunity. If you’re given a chance, take it. You may never be given the same chance again.

Last November I was introduced to the idea of dog sledding. My first instinct was to say “Yes” and to sign on. But then I learned more about the risks and challenges I would be taking. I began to become skeptical about the whole idea. Knowing myself, I knew I might talk myself out of the opportunity. So I thought, “Just go for it. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.” I did it!

Getting ready to go on the trip, we did a crosscountry ski run because about half the group had never done this before. What an experience! But we had fun doing it.

About a week later we got on busses and headed out to join Mahoosuc Guide Services. On our arrival, we met our two guides, Polly and Kevin, who own the guide-service. Our first day was too warm to take the dogs out on the lake, so we decided to go snowshoeing, knowing that overnight everything would freeze again. Before we began snowshoeing, we met the dogs – the most amazing dogs I have ever met with creative names like Jiminy Cricket and Olga.

On our snowshoeing adventure, we all dressed heavily. Within the first five minutes we had all stripped a layer or two. Now, you would think that by getting too hot the first day, we would have dressed lighter on the second day. But we didn’t learn.

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On our next day, the guides split us into two groups, Polly’s and Kevin’s. I was in Polly’s group along with seven others. These groups were then divided into two more groups: people who would ski and people who would mush (dog-sled). I was in the skiing group. We all started with Kevin’s group.

Then, after about a mile and a half, we split into different groups. Within the first minutes skiing, there was a downhill slope. Every single one of us fell. From then on, we knew that this was going to be an experiment. There were ups and downs, but I can’t name one person who didn’t have fun.

When we arrived at Polly’s camp, the mushers had beaten us and had started working. They had already gotten the dogs protected with a tarp over them, and the dogs had found a water hole in the lake. My group’s task was to find dead trees to cut up for firewood. Two people went to do that.

While two people sawed trees, we fed the dogs and gave them water, and anyone who was free set up tents. After chores were completed, we gathered in the cook’s tent to get ready for dinner, all the while listening to the dogs howl to each other from different camps.

After an amazing mac ‘n cheese with sausage, we bundled up and headed to the campfire. Standing around telling jokes, we enjoyed the peaceful stars and quiet breeze as we looked across the empty lake. Then, resting in our tents, feeling the warmth of the fire on our faces, we slipped into our sleeping bags. The night seemed to creep, little by little, into our tents, and we snuggled together like penguins for warmth.

As the sun rose, the dogs’ howling woke us, and we started our morning chores.

Feed dogs, fetch water, cook breakfast. Get ready for the day, pack lunches, pack tents. Gear up, bundle up. Skiers off. Unleash dogs. Attach them to the nearest sleigh. Gear up, bundle up. Two sets of mushers off. I am on the mushing team. My partner and I take turns with Polly to stream the dogs as we watch the scenery.

After our last lap, we stood in a circle describing our trip. Amazing, unique, breathtaking, outstanding.

There were new friendships as well. I had never talked to some people before that trip – or, if I had, it was only a “Hi” now and then. Now these are people that I talk to every day.

If someone ever asks you to take a risk, take it, because you may never get another opportunity quite like it. n

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A SCHOOL FOR ALL SEASONS

Dog Sled Zen

by Peyton Spurr ‘19 For someone who loves the sound of a fan at night, the hug of a comforter, and a nice hot shower, dog sledding was out of my comfort zone.

My fan turned into the whispers of the wind, my comforter turned into my sleeping bag.

Instead of water, hot air from the wood stove bathed me.

Spontaneous as I am, saying “Yes” to dogsledding was a risk – a risk I took.

The instructors, Kevin and Polly, are two of the nicest humans I know. They were patient with all of us and answered every question.

They let us take charge even when we weren’t sure what we were doing so we could learn and grow.

I did not know what to expect.

Studying for dog sledding is not as easy as studying for my statistics class. n

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RECEPTIONS IN ASIA

Clockwise: Nam Hee Kim, Ji Hwan “Simon” ’19, and Young Chul Hwang hosts of the Hebron reception in Seoul, Korea: Parents, alumni, students and friends at the Seoul reception; Head of School Dan Marchetti chats with parents in Shanghai; Shanghai reception; Beijing reception hosted

by Huaijie Sun P’19; Guests at the Beijing reception.

hebronacademy.org • 21

HOMECOMING/REUNION

Recipe for a Reunion

by Bob Waite ‘68

I

t is accepted wisdom that getting alumni from the late 1960’s and the early 1970’s to show up at class reunions can be a real challenge. Those were years of great social upheaval and institutional alienation. Hebron was not immune to these winds of change.

Indeed, it was during this period that the school made the transition from a traditional all-boys boarding school under the leadership of a long-serving, larger-than-life Head, to a more relaxed co-ed school with a significant day population.

Given all of this residual angst, how do you get classmates from that era to turn out for a 50th Reunion?

This was the challenge facing the Class of 1968, a cohort that very much chaffed under rules and restrictions that seemed more suited to a school set in a Charles Dickens novel.

Most in the class had not returned to campus – a few, legend had it, had even taken a blood oath to never come back.

Despite all of this, we had approximately 20 classmates show up – about four times the number who returned for their 50th the previous year.

I was asked by Hebron to reflect on this relative success. Let me begin by saying that there is no magic formula on offer here. But we are happy to share a few tips that might be useful to others.

Start Early Our class agent, Robert Lowenthal, laid the groundwork for our reunion through consistent correspondence over a number of years. He also wisely suggested that we get together at Homecoming a year prior to our own reunion, just to observe. Paul Goodoff, who was organizing the 50th for the Class of 1967, generously invited us to attend all of their events. This proved invaluable. Among other things, we got to ask attendees what drew them back. The answer? Each other.

Secure the Date Individuals in their late 60’s are often remarkably busy and often plan things like vacations well in advance. As soon as the school selects the dates for Homecoming Weekend, send out a “Save the Date” notice.

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Engage Different Tribes

Create an email Thread

One thing we learned from the Class of 1967 is that it is important to engage different sub-groups within the class. In their case, a number were football or hockey players who were looking to re-connect with former teammates. Most classes have clusters around things like the school paper; or drama; or chess. Cast the net as wide as possible.

To the extent you have working email addresses, use them to send out updates. Also, prompt classmates to say a few words about what they’ve been up to over the decades.

You’ll be surprised at how quickly people jump in – and by the wide range of life experiences they will relate.

Don’t Just Rely on the Advancement Office Hebron keeps an alumni list, but it has limitations. Using the internet (and armed with a classmates middle initial provided by the yearbook listing), you can track down a surprising number of classmates deemed to be lost. I even found one classmate who school records indicated had passed away in the 1980’s (I called him on the phone – but did not tell him he was in need of resurrection).

Write a Personal Letter I know this will sound so last century, but write a letter to every individual for whom you have an address. Not a form letter, but a personal letter, tailored to the individual. If they were a skier, ask them if they are still skiing; if they have just changed careers and become an emergency room nurse, express your admiration; if you know they are running a children’s theatre or a kayaking lodge (these are all live examples), ask about that. Include a telephone number and email address. Mention other classmates you have heard from.

Make It About Each Other, Not the School Attending a boarding school as an adolescent in the 1960’s was not everyone’s cup of java. Feelings towards the school were mixed, hovering, for many, somewhere between a stretch in San Quinton or a stint at Shawshank. Focus on the friendships and the shared experience. Today’s very different school will speak for itself. I also promised not to hit people up for money – and I didn’t.

(But a number volunteered to give anyway, once they got on campus).

Play the Mortality Card Try to find a way to gently remind classmates that their opportunities to gather together to sing “Sow Ye Beside All Waters” are diminishing with the passage of time. Our class had lost several students already – and in one instance, I came across a beautifully written memorial to a particularly beloved classmate that specifically mentioned his love of literature, fostered by Hebron Academy.

Yes, I included a copy with each letter. You may not have something quite so powerful, but do remind folks that attending their 75th Reunion might be something of a stretch.

Ignore the “Do Not Solicit” heading The class list provided by Advancement designates some classmates under the heading “do not solicit”. For these purposes, ignore it.

Not one person complained about being contacted.

Accommodate Outliers We had one classmate who would not come onto campus, but admitted he liked the idea of seeing old friends. The solution was to turn Saturday evening over to him – and he ended up organizing a very successful dinner in a private dining room at a Lewiston restaurant.

Judging from comments during the event and via follow-up phone calls and emails, classmates were uniformly pleased they made the effort. Indeed, they –as well some who could not make it due to previous commitments (or, in two cases, due to the freak snowstorm that arrived on the Saturday) – said let’s not wait until the 60th to return – let’s do a 55th. With a little luck (a lot of planning) the Class of ’68 plans to be back in force in ’23. n

HOMECOMING/REUNION

Homecoming/Reunion Weekend was held later in the fall than usual, but that did not deter any hockey fans from participating in the Alumni Hockey Game. Usually held in the winter, the newly upgraded Robinson Arena hosted one of the biggest crowds in recent years.

Recently outfitted with a new air conditioning system, boards, team benches, and seamless glass, the rink has never looked better. Hebron has a long and storied hockey history, and it’s in great part due to the dedicated group of alumni who mark this date on their calendar every year.

The game sparks some cherished memories and is always a spirited and friendly competition.

The weather on game day was cold, around 20 degrees with the wind whipping off of Mount Washington. The forecast of six inches of snow arriving around lunchtime proved true, it was hockey weather after all. While many alumni recalled playing outdoors in such weather, all were grateful for what Robinson has come to be.

There are additional improvements to the arena happening over the summer, which will include a heated viewing area and new Varsity locker rooms. If you are interested in playing in the next alumni hockey game be sure to register for Homecoming/Reunion Weekend on October 19, 2019.

hebronacademy.org • 23

HOMECOMING/REUNION Thank you to everyone who attended Reunion Weekend 2018. It was a wonderful time of renewed friendships, visits to old dorm rooms and commitments to stay in touch. The message from the weekend: Don’t wait 20, 35, or 50 years to come back! Classes ending in 4 or 9 - plan to be on campus October 18 and 19, 2019!

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HOMECOMING/REUNION

hebronacademy.org • 25

classnotes ALUMNI ET ALUMNAE

1949

Art Cooper writes “No big news down here. Enjoyed the last Hebron magazine--things seem to be going well and the new Head has settled in. I’d like to get up sometime but I fear that is probably not in the cards. Now that my wife is gone and her property in Maine has been sold that reason for treking north is gone—furthermore, air travel has become such a nightmare that one thinks long and hard before pressing the reserve button for an airline ticket.

1951 Saul B. Cohen reports that he is “Retired (at last) in 2017 after selling my company Hammond Residential Real Estate. Extended winters in Sarasota, summers in The Berkshires, in between. Still in the house of 50 years in Chestnut Hill.”

1952

a staunch supporter of Hebron Academy. There is solid reason that the loop road through the campus bears his name. It was an honor to serve the Hebron board when he was its chair.

1954 Llewellyn Ross is “hoping to get back to Hebron someday-it appears that the school is doing very well on all fronts!”

1959 Jim Harberson shared that he “hopes all my classmates are doing well!”

1962 David T. Hartgen shared the following: Pretty much retired from University of NC, then consulting. Working on several novels, crime-related. Fondly remembering Masters Williams and Willard

who immensely improved my writing. Not pleasant at the time but well worth it. Also McGanter’s latin classes, which I am “using” again reading old classics.

1966 Peter A. Larsen is still working as Financial Advisor with Edward Jones. He traveled to Vietnam and Cambodia in March of 2018 and Slovenia and Croatia last summer. Looking forward to Marrakech and Casa Blanca in Morroco next year! Must be the viking blood in me!

1968 Condolences to Chris Sample on the death of his mother Leah Sample

1969 Condolences to Tim Sample on the death of his mother Leah Sample

Charles W. Barrett has retired after 55 years as a trial lawyer. “I am now retired...but the mouth keeps talking-if only Barney Williams was still around to keep me under control.”

Condolences to Leonard A. Mintz on the death of his wife Tina Mintz

hebron • SPRING 2019

Paul L. Bartlett is working in and about restaurants in Baltimore as a consulting chef in particular: St Vincent de Paul Society “KIDZTABLE” feeding program for pre school, after school, shelters, etc. Cider Maker and Orchardist still in the throes of coming to market. www.facebook.com/fallingspring cider/

Hopefully you can save a three day weekend when the dates are set. Friday will be a casual gathering. Saturday, we have Convocation, Lunch with the Headmaster, sporting events in the afternoon and a reunion dinner. Sunday will be a last chance to chat before we go our separate ways.

1953

26 •

1970

Dear Classmates, plans are now starting for our 50th reunion in the fall of 2020. Dates are not yet set but we are hoping to have a great time.

Condolences to Peter F. Jeffries on the death of his wife Jeanne Arnold Jeffries

Len Mintz writes Payson (Perkins) was a classmante of mine, a principled man dedicated to doing the right thing and was

From Jonathan Moll “When I walked across the stage to receive my diploma from Claude, I never imagined that fifty years later I’d be writing to you about our reunion. A lot has transpired in that time and this is our chance to reconnect and share our stories about Hebron, our lives since and what’s in store for the future.

I’ve put together a reunion committee with James Brown, Bill Burke and Dave Cleveland. If you want to help or have ideas shoot me an email. As we get our act together more information will come your way. Make sure to save the dates, Friday & Saturday, October 18-19.”

Dick Forte ’62 and Bill Allen ‘62 at the northern most point in Europe, the North Cape of Norway, well inside the Arctic Circle. They were on a successful quest to check off a bucket list item, seeing the northern lights.

Hope to see you maybe this coming fall and more importantly, next year. Craig Clark

ALUMNI ET ALUMNAE

Kingsley N. Meyer writes that climate change is real! Spoken like a true tree farmer. What is your personal carbon load?

classmates. (Save the date! October 18 and 19!)

1971

Marjorie Bobbitt writes Earl and I moved back to the lower north shore of Quebec about eight years ago and will probably move back to Alberta in three or four years.

My two children live out west and Earl has a son there, and a daughter in New Brunswick. I see a lot of John Hadley’s ’76 pictures on Facebook and also regular postings by Steve McGuire and Rob Thomas. I also have Eric Bateman, Mark Joy. Patrick Lyness, Jessica Feeley, Toni Tillotson, Mike Geiger, Michelle Ouellette (nee Odamo) and Murray and Tim Nadeau. It’s a great way to keep in touch. Mel Nadeau lives in Calgary and I usually see him and Denise, when I’m there.

Douglas Gordon My wife, Kim, and I continue to enjoy our late career dual life with most of our time spent in the San Francisco Bay area and a bit of time in Portland. I am still juggling a lot of other travel, but this year to China and Southern California. If any of my classmates are visiting, give us a call.

Peter C. Hoople Inspired by Witon Beauchamp, I retired from teaching English in my local school district after 20 years. Would love to add a couple zeros to my pledge!

Say “Hey to Scott Wilson, et al.

Hebron is good folks.

Condolences to Stephen Pollard on the death of his father David Frank Pollard

1972 Stephen R. Gates says that it was so good to be back on campus at Homecoming/Reunion weekend with classmates Dave Jacobs and Rick Cravin, along with Jack Cooney and Nick Carter ’73. To see fellow Trustee Emeritus Eric Morse ’68 after all these years was a special treat, too.

1973 Gregory M. Burns shares that he has semi-retired and enjoying his three grandchildren. Looking forward to two more in 2019. I am blessed as I try to figure out what to do to contribute to society.

1974 Leo Hill is still working as Director of Facilities for Local Housing Authority. He retired after 23 years in the Merchant Marines as Chief Engineer. Wife Lisa and I went to Australia for our 30th anniversary in 2018. Big reunion coming up, and hope to see some

1975

Condolences to Peter Wells on the death of his father Richard Wells

1976 Condolences to Mark Nason on the death of his father Wendall Nason Condolences to Rob Thomas on the death of his wife Barbara Thomas Condolences to Bill Percival on the death of his father Roger Percival Condolences to Dan Thayer on the death of his father Richard Thayer Reed Chapman sent us the following updates from his classmates: Rob Thomas’s wife Barbara died in February. She remained cheerful and active in the lives of her friends and family despite her difficulties. She had two daughters before meeting Rob and they enjoyed their grandchildren. She deeply appreciated Rob’s stability, kindness and good humor. She worked at the Adams School in Castine (where I spent the third grade) for many years. She was an excellent cook and worked in the

kitchens of the Castine Inn too.

She was an avid gardener. There will be a memorial service in the spring to celebrate her life.

Rob and Barb traveled to Alaska many years back; I still have an Inuit-style Ulu knife they brought back for me. They also enjoyed a vacation in Ireland whence came some of Barb’s ancestors.

I remember for awhile after her stability became impaired that she rode a bike with training wheels on it. I also remember her disapproval of a dinner I tried to make for them many years ago while staying in their rustic cabin on Dyce’s Head in Castine.

I didn’t know that steamed clams are really boiled and I insisted on taking pictures while the food got cold... another monument to my foolishness!

Bill Percival moved to Naples Florida, but we caught up with him. He and his wife are downsizing, but they have room for visits from their children. I asked about the (Gulf-side) ocean water temps in winter and he said it’s about the same as the air temps: about 70F. I found my local pool temp is about 80F, which I still think of as a bit chilly! I’ll have to look much farther south. I’m forever spoiled by my experience in Hawaii. I’m still waiting for Hebron to get a pool again. I guess it’s up to us somehow.

Ralph Schroeder is a bit coy about being on our mailing list, but we caught up in emails. Sarah found him via a website for the Turing Institute. It’s a quasi-UKgovernment-supported think tank around issues of computer technology. He still spends most of his time as a professor at Oxford and writes books about the social impact of social media, big data, cyber security and surveillance, etc. He came back to the Berkshires in the summer of 2018 to hike in VT with wife and kids.

He recalled his time at Williams where Becky Webber and Peter Wells were contemporaries.

1977 Condolences to Teddy Wells on the death of his father Richard Wells

1978 Condolences to Alice Senko on the death of her father, Charles Canning

1979 Condolences to Gena Canning on the death of her father, Charles Canning

1980 George Urlwin submitted the following note: Hi All, Just a quick note to let you know I got married on March 31st of this year.

My wife Mimi is from Cuba, we met at the Rolling Stones Concert in Havana a few years ago and we have a little girl named Sarita who was born in Cuba.

1982 Bob Greaves says “Hello, to all my ‘82 classmates! I am really enjoying my time on the Board of Trustees and hope my contributions will help present and future students. My wife of 22 years Ronda and I are still living in Charleston, SC. We have enjoyed going to recent homecomings and look out for classmates and friends. Hope to see more of you all in 2019.”

1983 Condolences to Debra Bloomingdale on the death of her father.

1985 Condolences to Peter Beacham, Jr. on the death of his father.

hebronacademy.org • 27

ALUMNI ET ALUMNAE

1991

2003

Scott Nelson writes - After working on a campaign in Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional district for eighteen months, my work paid off on Election Night when my candidate won handily. What’s more, she is the first Democrat ever elected to federal office in Chester County, PA (the previous time someone other than a Republican has represented this county was in the 1840s, when a member of the Whig party held this seat!). I now work for Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) in her district office focusing on economic development, community outreach, and constituent advocacy. These last two years have been quite an exciting ride!

Sarah Longley shared: I got married on February 16th and I am disgustingly happy.

2001 Congratulations to Sid Thaxter and his wife, who welcomed a son named Warren.

2002 Cole Willard Murphy, born on January 2, 2019 and big sister Penelope (2), who was born in 2017.

Parents Emily Geismar Murphy and Phil Murphy. We recently moved to South Hamilton, MA.

Sara Barker writes: Things are well in Haverhill. In a few weeks, Ryan and I will be celebrating four years of marriage - which is ridiculous to think that it’s already been four years. Time flies.

New with us, Ryan’s working towards breaking into the custom furniture business. I’ve been utilizing my marketing skills - if you get a chance, take a look at www. ryanbarkercarpentry.com - and man, if you know anyone that wants to commission a custom piece of furniture - send them our way!! The house is good - Spring projects may include some or all of the following: Replacing all/ some of our windows, rebuilding our front porch, light facelift on our downstairs bath/laundry room... so - that will be fun. We are also having more routine conversations about what the future looks like for us with respect to the house - staying, building, buying... #headaches.

Work is going well - We just had a company reorganization and it gives me the opportunity to lead without authority and influence others - so that’s kind of where I am with that right now. I’ve been fielding calls from recruiters; I’m a huge advocate of being open to the next opportunity, even though I’m not actively looking for a new role.

And it’s fun getting to spend time with my niece/nephew - it’s fun to spend some time with them without being responsible.

Mike Kelly ’13 with Kale Johnstone at the Fenway Crush.

2006 Uta Schulz wrote: In the summer of 2017, I finished my three-year vocational school as an Office Manager, in the Black Forest.

During that time, I also worked in the office for a medium sized food factory. For the last 1.5 years I worked as an accountant in the head office in Bremen (north Germany) for the same

28 •

hebron • SPRING 2019

company. They offer only temporary work contracts, which means that my main focus in life is at the moment to find a new job. I look forward to finding a job as an Office Manager as it is much more interesting and the work days are usually varied.

2007 Katherine Cole will be receiving her MBA at Yale’s School of Management, class of 2019.

ALUMNI ET ALUMNAE

2011

2015

Condolences to AJ Bloomingdale on the death of his grandfather.

Mack Telfer is a secondary Education History Major at UMF and doing really well!

2013

2018

Condolences to Molly Bloomingdale on the death of her grandfather.

2014 Evan Kalish graduated from Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky majoring in Sports Management with a minor in business. He played defense at a D1 level for the Bellarmine Knights lacrosse for three years.

Evan is now enrolled at Lynn University, Boca Raton, FL completing his masters in Sports Business/Management while playing his last eligible year of lacrosse for the Lynn University Knights.

Evan is grateful for his experience at Hebron and feels it made a difference in his life, both on and off the field!

Great to see two members of the class of 2018 following a soccer game at Bates College in Lewiston, ME in September 2018.

Freddy Hohman and the Bates Bobcats beat Christian Quinones and the Wesleyan Cardinals 1-0 in a hard fought battle. Both Freddy and Christian consumed a lot of minutes for their respective clubs.

Faculty Trevor and Molly Paul welcomed Caleb Mikail Paul. Mrs. Paul and baby are doing fantastically, he came in at 8lbs. 1 oz. and 20.5” long.

We love hearing from you! Please send news or contact updates to your class agent or to broy@ hebronacademy.org.

L to R Justin Payson ‘97, Bill Becker ‘87, Nancy Marshall ‘78, Andy Stephenson ‘96, Meredith Strang Burgess ‘P11

hebronacademy.org • 29

ALUMNI ET ALUMNAE

New Friends, New Experiences, New Joy

Samuel Wheeler ’14

I

n late February, I was invited on an eight-day service trip to Ghana, Africa, by a group of close friends. The primary goal of the trip was to conduct malaria tests at the Rabito Clinic, a small healthcare facility in the city of Koforidua, which is located in Southern Ghana.

After thinking about it for all of 10 seconds, I said “yes.” I kept telling myself that going to Africa is a once in a lifetime opportunity, something I could never pass up. After staying there for over a week, it’s safe to say it’s the best place I’ve traveled to in my life.

After dealing with nearly a day of layovers and plane rides, we reached the Oyinka Hotel in Koforidua on the evening of Tuesday, May 22. The hotel proved to be more than accommodating and made for a great place to stay throughout our visit.

After a night of adjusting to the intense humidity, I forced myself out of bed for the sunrise at 5:15 a.m. My friends and I found a good spot near the hotel to sit and wait. After 20 minutes, orange and yellow colors meshed in the sky over the mountains, creating an incredible picture and ridding

30 •

hebron • SPRING 2019

me of the yawns I had gotten up with. At 7 a.m. we left for the clinic, which was a two-mile walk from the hotel. At first the streets appeared hectic to us. Handcrafted fabrics and tools dangled from many of the shops, while the aroma of cooked food filled the air around us. Cars zig-zagged their way through traffic, avoiding the many people that walked on each side of the street. The heavy vehicle and foot traffic had the entire group on alert our first day. However, by our last, we had mastered the art of navigating the busy streets.

After a 45-minute walk, we reached the clinic. It was located in the more populated part of the city. Inside the clinic there were a few different stations, all laid out for the work that was ahead of us. What grabbed my attention most was this DJ who was playing music in the back. He played mostly African music but mixed in a few American songs to make us feel at home. I had the chance to talk to him a few times throughout my days working there. He’s one of the many friends I made, and we’re still staying in touch through Facebook.

We worked a total of four days at the clinic, but honestly, none of it felt like work to me. I helped out at two different stations. I spent the first two days at the checkin desk, writing down patients names and date of births. Many

patients names were a challenge to pronounce and spell, but with some help from the staff, I managed to figure things out. I will say I heard some of the coolest names ever while doing this job.

My second task consisted of taking vital signs. I was hesitant at first, only because it involved taking blood pressure, something I had never done. But I had to learn at some point, right? One of the nurses walked me through it step by step, with my hands shaking through it all. I overthought the process without a doubt. It did not take me long to get into a groove, and I ended up spending the bulk of my time taking vitals. The best part of vitals were all the connections I made with the patients. Even though these interactions lasted only a minute or two, it meant so much to them.

Many of the people being treated had never had their vitals taken, or been to any sort of healthcare facility in general. Getting hugged, high fived, or receiving a simple “thank you,” from each patient after they were done being tested gave me an indescribable feeling, and I assume many of my friends would concur. Regardless if they tested positive or negative, a difference was being made, and getting them this help will hopefully lead to a healthier life in the future. We tested over 650 people during our four days of work.

My favorite moment on the

trip came when the children showed up. They would come in small groups after school got out, and it’s safe to say their presence affected all of us.

They were excellent dancers.

We quickly realized we could not compete with them in that category. One of us did demonstrate the “worm” to them, so at least we had that going for us.

What I learned from the children was that it didn’t take too much to make them happy. All they wanted to do was laugh and dance, and they were good at both.

Our off days consisted of making a day trip to Accra, the capital of Ghana. In Accra, we shopped at a few markets in search for souvenirs. We haggled for each item we wanted (sellers enjoy doing this), and with some work, were able to agree on a fair price.

Another day we attended a church service and were applauded by all its members for our work at the clinic. We also surprised the head of the clinic, who wasn’t expecting us to be there. She could hardly contain her excitement when she first saw us. The rest of our free time was spent touring other parts of the city and indulging in the hotel restaurant.

Being immersed in a completely different culture than the one I was accustomed to made for the best trip of my life and bettered me as a person. Being in a country deprived of the many privileges I was used to gave me a greater sense of appreciation for what I had back home.

Regardless of the circumstances that surrounded me, Ghana was an amazing place.

The welcoming people I met on nearly every street, along with the connections I made with people at the hotel and clinic, will stay with me forever.

About Wheeler: He is currently a staff writer for the Bethel Citizen newspaper in western Maine.

He graduated from the University of Maine at Orono in May 2018 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism.

ALUMNI ET ALUMNAE

Class Agents 1949 Robert P. Rich Manakin Sabot, VA rprich@erlanger-inc.com

1968 Robert L. Lowenthal Victor, NY bob.lowenthal68@gmail.com

1984 Deborah S. Cote Harrison, ME debscote@yahoo.com

2005 Bettina T. Herrick Saco, ME bettina.herrick@gmail.com

1951 Edward L. Ruegg N. Haven, ME rueggnh@gmail.com

1969 Jonathan G. Moll Berwyn, PA jonathangmoll@gmail.com

1986 T. Scott Downs Middleton, MA suffolkd@aol.com

2006 Allison M. Coombs Minot, ME hebron2006@outlook.com

1952 Kenneth A. Boyle Hopkinton, NH revken60@aol.com

1970 J. Craig Clark Rindge, NH jcclark@myfairpoint.net

1987 Catherine T. Crowley Cambridge, MA thocro@comcast.net

2008 Jennifer A. Duguay Venice, CA duguayjen@gmail.com

1953 Dean E. Ridlon Needham, MA sdridlon@yahoo.com

1971 Harvey A. Lipman Ashland, MA harveylipman@hotmail.com

1988 Ann S. Mooradian Severna Park, MD mooradia@comcast.net

Andrea J. Hart Natick, MA andrea.hart207@gmail.com

1954 J. M. Maher Holland, MI stormhawk1936@gmail.com

1972 Stephen R. Gates Andover, MA stephenrgates@msn.com

1989 Hayes McCarthy Saunderstown, RI mccarthyvideo@me.com

1955 Richard J. Parker Chestnut Hill, MA sparker72@comcast.net

1973 James R. Moulton Bowdoin, ME jrmoulton@gmail.com

1990 Andrew M. Haskell Gardner, ME andyhaskell22@yahoo.com

1956 Kenneth P. Mortimer Tacoma, WA kmortimer5@gmail.com

1974 Roger T. Clark Phippsburg, ME rclark@lcpgroup.com

1991 Scott R. Nelson Wynnewood, PA scott.ryan.nelson@gmail.com

1957 Michael A. Mentuck Marblehead, MA mikem@salvor.com

1975 Ellen L. Augusta Hebron, ME eaugusta@msn.com

Marcus A. De Costa Long Island City, NY marcus.decosta@trinityschoolnyc.org

2011 Sophia M. Bartolomeo Intervale, NH hebronscribe2011@gmail.com

1957 Charles B. Swartwood Cotuit, MA cbswartwood@comcast.net

1976 Reed Chapman Skillman, NJ creedclark@yahoo.com

1993 Marko I. Radosavljevic Portland, OR mradosav@comcast.net

2012 Maxwell A. Middleton Hebron, ME maxmiddleton2@gmail.com

1959 Bernard L. Helm Rocky Mount, NC hebron59@aol.com

1977 Robert M. Hernon Winchester, MA robert_hernon@yahoo.com

1994 Erica J. Litchfield Riverview, FL ericalitchfield@yahoo.com

2013 Kathryn M. Couture Harrisville, RI kcouture15@yahoo.com

1960 David J. Williams E. Haddam, CT djwill1942@yahoo.com

1978 George M. Dycio Lewiston, ME gcldycio@roadrunner.com

1995 Jessie D. Parker Sammamish, WA jmaher@wheatonma.edu

2014 Donita G. Sharkey Memphis, TN donita.sharkey2000@gmail.com

1962 Bill Allen Yarmouth, ME gwmallen@gmail.com

1979 Brian O. Cloherty Northfield, MN brianboru@compuserve.com

1996 Devon M. Biondi San Francisco, CA dmbiondi@gmail.com

2015 Rachel H. Jurek Ashburnham, MA rjurek79@gmail.com

1963 William C. Harding Gainesville, FL 2ndwavewill@gmail.com

1980 Elizabeth S. Graves Portland, ME betsy_graves@hotmail.com

1998 Kirsten L. Ness Portland, ME kirsten_ness@hotmail.com

2017 Summer Surgent-Gough Hamilton, NY summersurgent13@gmail.com

1964 John R. Giger Groton, MA john@cybergiger.com

1981 Jane E. Fiore Lake Forest, IL fancyjane@comcast.net

1965 Evan E. Mahaney San Diego, CA evmo321@gmail.com

1982 Tucker Cutler Harrisville, NH tandgcutler@myfairpoint.net

1966 Harvey L. Lowd High Point, NC hlowd@hotmail.com

1983 Debra B. Bloomingdale South Portland, ME dbbloomingdale@yahoo.com

2009 Ye Chen Fairfield, NJ wanchen917@gmail.com 2009 Claire E. Cummings Norway, ME clrcmmngs@gmail.com 2010 Emma L. Leavitt Somerville, MA emmalleavitt@gmail.com

1999 Joseph J. Patry Reston, VA joseph.patry@gmail.com 2000 Erik P. Yingling Provincetown, MA erikyingling@gmail.com 2003 Sara M. Barker Haverhill, MA sara.marquis.barker@gmail.com

hebronacademy.org • 31

obituaries ALUMNI ET ALUMNAE

1941

Dr. Walter Ernest Stone Jr., resident of Vero Beach, Florida and formerly of Madison, Connecticut, passed away peacefully at home on May 30th at the age of 95. Dr. Stone was born in Wellesley, MA, and attended Hebron, Boston University and Dartmouth College. After service in the Navy, Dr. Stone graduated from Tufts University School of Dentistry and practiced dentistry in New Haven, CT, for 35 years. Dr. Stone retired to Vero Beach, FL in 1988 where he continued to enjoy a passion for nature until his early 90’s. He was predeceased by his wife of 65 years, Florence Jeanne Stone, and is survived by 5 children, 8 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

1943 Forrest H. Taylor, 96, of Bethlehem, PA, passed away peacefully on February 5, 2019. Born and raised in Bethlehem, Forrest was a graduate of Liberty High School of Bethlehem and Hebron. He was honorably discharged from the US Army, having served as a Sergeant First Class during World War II. He received a Bronze Star and was named Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, France’s highest distinction. Following the war, Forrest began a successful 45-year career with Bethlehem Steel. He lived a life of great purpose and pursued diverse passions. He was a member of Wesley Methodist Church in Bethlehem since the 1930’s and was a dedicated volunteer in the Bethlehem Police Department. Forrest became a glider pilot at age 60 and went parasailing in his 80’s. He remained an active walker through age 95. Forrest was predeceased by his beloved wife of 63 years, Patricia Anne (Tahaney) Taylor; his son, Dennis Taylor and his 32 •

hebron • SPRING 2019

sister, Lillian (Taylor) Kehoe; and he is survived by his two daughters, Priscilla Taylor of Hamilton, NJ and Jane Taylor of Santa Rosa Beach, FL; 5 grandsons, 3 greatgrandsons, 5 nieces and numerous great-nieces and nephews.

1948 Robert H. Atkinson Sr., of Mattapoisett, passed away peacefully at the age of 88 on September 18 in Dartmouth, MA. He was 88 years old. After attending Winchester High School, and graduating from Hebron Academy, Bob graduated from Harvard University in 1939 and was commissioned as an ensign in the US Navy where he served aboard the USS Chewaucan. He subsequently graduated from Harvard Business School, and enjoyed a very successful career with IBM for 35 years. After retirement from IBM, he dedicated himself to civic affairs in Mattapoisett. Two of his proudest contributions to the town were his involvement with the construction of the seawall around Munro Park (Mattapoisett Land Trust) and the complete renovation and expansion of the Mattapoisett Public Library. Mr. Atkinson is survived by his wife Elizabeth and their two children, Robert (Jr) and his wife, Christine, of Charleston, SC and Sarah (Cammiso) and her husband, Marty, of Vienna, VA. Bob also leaves behind seven grandchildren, three greatgrandchildren and his younger brother, John, of Orrs Island, Maine and Ft Lauderdale, FL.

1950 The Reverend Robert A. Bryan, who launched an aerial ministry in the remote reaches of the

Quebec and Labrador coasts and then built a foundation that now does environmental work across the globe, passed away peacefully in Sherbrooke, Quebec, on Dec. 12, 2018, surrounded by his three daughters from his marriage to the late Faith Lamb Bryan. He was 87 years old. Bob was born in Mill Neck, Long Island, where many of his first experiences with the outdoors took place. Hunting and fishing were the passions of boyhood, and he graduated from Hotchkiss School - where, by his own admission, he put more effort into athletics than academics - and Hebron Academy, where he later served on the Board of Trustees. He attended Yale University and graduated from the Yale Divinity School in 1957.

He married Faith Lamb in 1955 and was ordained as an Episcopal priest in 1958.

Passionate about aviation since childhood, Bob learned to fly during his college years. His first taste of the Quebec wilderness was a canoe trip he took with Faith on their honeymoon in 1955. He later convinced the Anglican Archdiocese of Quebec of the idea to serve the settlements of the Quebec North Shore as a priest with an airplane, and the idea was accepted in 1959. With the help of the royalties from the Bert and I albums, he bought his first seaplane, and by the next year he had flown into Labrador, “and that was when I had this impression of vastness and the total beauty of the rivers and rapids rushing down into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, one after another, as I flew along the Coast,” he said.

For over five decades, Bob Bryan served people of isolated fishing villages and remote summer outposts as an Anglican priest and air ambulance pilot, always in his signature yellow seaplanes that announced his presence.

Bob first worked with the International Grenfell Mission, a long-serving medical network in the North, and then started the Quebec-Labrador Foundation.

He initially took a few students from the Choate School, where he served as chaplain and teacher, north to run a summer day camp in Harrington Harbour, Quebec, which became his base of operations. Over the decades, this effort blossomed into a volunteer program involving more than 125 high school and college students placed in villages from Maine and New Brunswick to Quebec, Labrador and Newfoundland.

Its mission is to foster stewardship of cultural heritage and the environment. QLF focuses its home region efforts on rural communities throughout eastern Canada and New England where it emphasizes local participation and conducts much of its work using interns and volunteers drawn from schools and universities across Canada and the United States. Bob quickly fell in love with the people of the Coast. They had, he wrote in his memoir, Robert Bryan: The Flying Parson of Labrador and the Real Story behind Bert and I, “a way of life that bred a nobility of spirit, pride, tenacity and instinct for self-sufficiency that I deeply admire.”

In 1958, Marshall Dodge and Robert Bryan raised Maine humor and storytelling to an art form. Today, the phrase “You can’t get there from here” may seem rather clichéd, but when the phrase was recorded on a vinyl album in 1958, it was fresh - ground-breaking even. It was the cleverly ironic punchline to a story on the now-legendry Bert and I album by Marshall Dodge and Robert Bryan. The two nonnative graduate students at Yale University put Maine storytell-

ALUMNI ET ALUMNAE ing and the rural Maine sense of humor on the modern popculture map. Together with Dodge, who died after being hit by a car while on his bicycle in 1982, Bryan told dryly comic stories from Downeast Maine. First recorded for friends and family, the albums were later produced for the public and remain for sale today. Bob himself was a raconteur who had a story for nearly every occasion, and his warm and outgoing personality, his confidence in people, and his relentless focus on service earned him lifelong friends.

An avid fisherman who described the great pleasure he derived from teaching his three daughters to flyfish on the Quebec Coast, Bob was a board member of the Atlantic Salmon Federation.

He also served on, among others, the boards of the New England Grenfell Association, the Seaplane Pilots Association (International) and the Waterfowl Research Foundation, Inc. Bob is survived by his daughters Sarah Bryan Severance, Kerry Bryan Brokaw, and Sandy Bryan Weatherall, nine grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. He is also survived by his sister, Hazel Tracy and his second wife, Patricia Shannon Peacock.

1951 Gerald Thompson Jerry was born in 1933 in New York City. After serving in the armed forces in Germany and completing his schooling, he visited Newport Beach in the late 1950’s and decided it was his version of paradise. He became a Charter Boat Captain and followed his love of the outdoors. He traveled from Canada to Mexico hunting duck, dove and geese and fishing for albacore, marlin and swordfish.

He is survived by Kathy Marlowe Thompson, his wife of 56 years whom he described as his “greatest catch;” daughter, April Egbert, sons, Todd Thompson and Jerry Thompson, grandchildren, Spencer and Pierce Egbert, Ava Lee, Tayden and Josiah Thompson.

1952 William T. Brightman III, 79, of Middletown, RI, passed away in September of 2013. Born in Providence, he was a graduate of Classical High School, Hebron Academy and Brown University.

Mr. Brightman was a former president of Old Colony Newport National Bank. In addition to his wife of 55 years, Martha; he is survived by his sister Barbara Northrop of Barrington, RI, and his four children, Gail Carter, Janet Morin, Jennifer O’Brien and Thomas Brightman as well as his 8 grandchildren.

Howard Noble Eagan passed away in December at the age of 84. He was born in Hackensack NJ and grew up in New Hampshire, graduating from Hebron Academy in 1952 and joining the United States Navy to serve a four-year enlistment. He relocated to Mansfield where he worked at various radio stations and car dealerships in the Richland and Ashland County area. He moved from the area in 1976 when he sailed his boat Eager from Sandusky through the St Lawrence Seaway to NYC and then on to Florida. He became a licensed captain and spent many years doing yacht deliveries along the East Coast, the Bahamas and the Mississippi River. He later relocated to Washington State and spent several summers driving a tour bus in Alaska. In 2006 he moved to Tucson where he resided the past 12 years.

83, entered eternal life on October 19th at home with his wife Antoinette (Toni) by his side. Payson was born in Portland, Maine in 1935, a son of Elliott and Evelyn (Ross) Perkins. He was raised by his Grandma Ross, after losing his mother at a young age. Payson graduated from Hebron Academy and went on to Bowdoin College where he graduated in 1957. He began a career with Mobil Oil Corp in sales management before purchasing his own company, ER Warren, in 1970. After 22 years as President and owner, Payson decided to retire to a life of boating and fishing, or so he thought.

Payson spent his retirement years, first as a member of the Board of Trustees at Hebron Academy and later as its Chairman. He served the Academy continuously from 1979 to 1995, and upon his retirement was named Distinguished Trustee Emeritus.

Payson’s life of sevice extended to the Board of Overseers at Bowdoin College and the Board of Trustees at Kennebunk Savings Bank. He also served as President of the Maine Oil Dealers Association and as President of the Kennebunk Rotary Club. Payson was predeceased by his brother Peter and is survived by his wife Toni, who he married in 1996, and three children, by a previous marriage, Sally Perkins, Margaret (Peggy) Perkins, Stephen Perkins and his stepchildren, Mathew and Nicole. He had a special love for his five grandchildren, his niece Christina and his nephew, Douglas and their families.

George Rudolph of Sarasota, FL, formerly of Wenham, MA and Jupiter, FL, passed away after a brief illness on October 3, 2018.

A graduate of Hebron Academy and Colby College, George was a kind, loving and soft spoken man, an entrepreneur, Army veteran and 60 year member of the Free Masons.

John Slattery ’04 Remembers Payson I first met Payson Perkins during my sophomore year at Hebron.

As Maine boys who shared a passion for the outdoors as well as for Hebron, we connected immediately. Second only to my family, Payson became as supportive a benefactor and friend as I could have hoped for.

1953

As a recipient of the Perkins Scholarship, I am living proof of the power of Payson Perkin’s philanthropy to change lives. His generosity enriched my participation in the Hebron Community immeasurably.

George M. Decamp passed away on May 6, 2017 Hebron lost a revered member of its community as Payson Perkins,

Students other than recipients of the Perkins Scholarship owe much of their treasured Hebron experience to Payson. As Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Payson worked long and hard to make Hebron what it is today.

Even after Payson stepped down from the Board, Payson and his wife, Toni, continued to show their love for the school.

Payson and I stayed in touch throughout my college days and into Payson’s retirement.

In all, our friendship continued for nearly fifteen years. When I visited Payson and Toni, I also appreciated the warmth of Toni’s welcome. She was as genuinely interested in my life as Payson.

When I reflect on my Hebron experience, I think especially of Payson’s generosity towards me.

Payson’s support of the School, his establishment of the Perkins Scholarship, and his friendship changed my life. In these ways, Payson enriched my life and the lives of all members of Hebron Academy.

Dean Ridlon ’53 Salutes Payson This past year saw the passing of a true legend from the Hebron Family. He was known for many years as a graduate who rolled up his sleeves to work and who shared his treasure with the school. During his term as a member of the Board of Trustees (1988-1996) and as Chairman of the Board (1992-1996), his vision and problem-solving abilities led to a stronger and more viable school. Whether he was leading the Search Committee for a Headmaster, guiding the school through difficult times, or making sure the oil tanks were full, his presence was felt throughout the school.

For his efforts over the years, his name appears on many facilities such as the faculty locker room in the Williams Athletic Center and a locker room in Robinson Arena. He was also named a Deacon William Barrows Trustee Emeritus, the greatest honor capable of being awarded to a retired Trustee at Hebron.

hebronacademy.org • 33

ALUMNI ET ALUMNAE As a classmate and as a fellow Trustee, I enjoyed working with Payson for many years. Payson’s devotion to Hebron Academy will be missed.

1955 The Honorable James A. Goodman, of Naples, Maine and Boca Raton, Fla., passed away on February 9, 2019, at the age of 82.

Jim was born in Bangor in 1936 and attended Hebron Academy, Tufts University and graduated from Boston University School of Law in 1961. His primary career focus was bankruptcy law, serving at times as an attorney, judge and a mediator/arbitrator after he retired from the bench. He served as United States Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Maine 1981-2001 and chief judge of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maine 19901997. Throughout his judicial career, he presided over courts in New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Florida, Puerto Rico and Louisiana in cases involving a variety of industries. Among his greatest loves was spending time in his workshop creating beautiful furniture for his family and friends - baby cradles, rocking horses, poker tables and desks.

He also enjoyed antique automobiles, and once restored two English automobiles, a Morgan and a MG TD. His other great love was his family, and he cherished every moment he could spend with them. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Marjorie (Golden) Goodman; his children, Lisa (Goodman) Stern, Joseph Goodman and wife, Hilary (Cooper) Goodman, David Goodman and partner, Felecia Cooper, Samuel Goodman and wife, Jennifer (Schatz) Goodman. In all, he was a loving husband, father and papa to 10 grandchildren.

1959 Morgan C. Elmer Jr., 77, died in an accident in October. He was born in December of 1940 and graduated from Hebron Academy in 1959 before earning a degree in Physics from MIT in 1963 and 34 •

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beginning a career as a computer programmer Morgan enjoyed hiking in New England and he once hiked most of the Appalachian Trail. He was an avid reader and bridge player throughout his life.

Morgan moved to Auburn NY in 1998 and walked throughout the city every day. He was predeceased by his youngest brother, Scott Elmer, and by his parents, Morgan and Margaret (More) Elmer, of Wolfeboro, N.H. He is survived by his sons and grandchildren, Robert Elmer (Kristan), Zachary, and Sarah, of Redmond, Wash.; James Elmer (Megan), Hannah, and Nathan, of Bellefonte, Pa.; brothers, Bruce Elmer, of Bridgton, Maine, and Mark Elmer, of Fair Haven, N.Y.; and former wife, Judy Elmer, of Frederick, Md.

1960 James P. Cassidy, Jr. of Moody Point, Maine and Naples, Fla. died unexpectedly on Sept. 19, 2018, after a short illness. Born in 1941 in Lowell, MA, Jim attended Lowell public schools, graduated from Hebron Academy and the University of Pennsylvania before earning his law degree from Boston University and proudly serving clients from Lowell and beyond for more than 40 years.

He built a practice based on his willingness to take on any challenge, listen to people, and help them to find the path through sometimes difficult situations.

After a start on A Street in Lowell, the family moved to Westford where Jim thrilled in mowing the grass, raking leaves, and chopping down trees for firewood - all easily accomplished tasks if you put your back into it, stayed focused, and had three strong boys to help. He lived a long and fulfilling life of hard work and good play and strong friendships built around shared adventures on sailboats, golf courses, beaches and over the occasional cold beer.

His strongest friendship, though, was with Mary Jo, with whom he shared the thrills and spills of parenthood, home ownership in Florida, Massachusetts, and Maine, travel, golf, and a love for New England. Jim is survived by his wife of over 50 years, Mary

Jo (Maley); sons Trey, Matt, and Tim, and their wives, Bonnie, Shari, and Becky; three beloved grandchildren, Page, Bridgette, and Ryan; his sisters Patricia Petkiewicz and Mary Conway and their husbands Chet and David.

1961 Thomas Angell died peacefully May 26, 2017.

1973 George B. Robinson, 63, son of John and Elizabeth (Betty) Robinson, died Nov. 5, 2018, at home in Otisfield following a long illness. George was born in Lewiston and grew up in Oxford village. He was educated at Oxford schools and graduated from Hebron Academy before attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute. George worked in the family business, Robinson Manufacturing, in Oxford and particularly enjoyed overseeing construction projects for the mill. George was married for 35 years to the former Harriet Lewis of Auburn. He and Harriet raised three children.

Over the years, his family and his children’s activities were the most important parts of his life. An excellent father, George was always supportive of his family’s activities. He enjoyed the rural land of Otisfield where he lived, and an early curiosity about the weather became a lifelong focus as he first made daily calls to WKTQ with Hebron’s data through his school years with Hebron’s weather club and later became a spotter for the National Weather Service reporting from Otisfield. He also enjoyed boating, fishing, hunting, skiing and taking photographs.

George is survived by his wife Harriet; sons Andy (Trena) and Tom all of Otisfield, and daughter Geneva (Kristen) of Penang, Malaysia. He is also survived by his brother Joe (Carrie) and sister Barbara of Paris, and his brothers-in-law Henry (Jackie) Lewis and Ed (Sue) Lewis; his father-inlaw Bud Lewis; and many nieces and nephews.

1996 Jason J. Spindler, director of the international business development firm, I-DEV International, was one of the group killed January 15th in the terror attack on an upmarket hotel complex in Nairobi, Kenya. Spindler was born in Houston, Texas, and attended Memorial Drive Elementary, Spring Branch Middle School, and Memorial High School before leaving for Hebron Academy to persue his love for competitive swimming. Jason went on to attend the University of Texas in Austin, McCombs School of Business, where he received his B.S. in International Business and Finance. He was a member of the school’s water polo club and an honorary founding member of the UT Latin Crew.

Upon graduation, Jason accepted a position at the prestigious firm Solomon Smith Barney, in New York City’s financial district. On the morning of September 11, 2001, Jason’s life was profoundly changed. Upon emerging from the subway tunnel covered in dust, he ran towards the rubble, tirelessly rescuing people. In the days after the attack, Jason felt compelled to leave his career on Wall Street and began his transition to a life of public service. He became a Peace Corps volunteer in 2005, where he helped farmers in Cajamarca, Peru, build a successful agribusiness selling Tara (an indigenous Peruvian crop) to international markets. There, he discovered the challenges of raising capital and accessing the resources that farmers needed to build a professional business.

These experiences encouraged Jason to return to the States, where he earned his doctoral law degree studying international development policy at NYU Law School. Upon graduation, Jason was awarded the Arthur Helton Global Human Rights Fellowship and went on to co-found I-DEV International. During the past 10 years, he worked in 45 countries with more than 300 investors, companies, iNGOs, and DFIs such as World Bank, the UN Foundation and USAID to build high impact businesses and a

ALUMNI ET ALUMNAE stronger private sector in emerging markets. Jason and I-DEV’s work was recognized by foundations such as the Clinton Global Initiative, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Rockefeller Foundation. He was an adjunct professor at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies as well as a key note speaker at countless development conferences around the world.

Beyond his big ideas and vision, Jason was an exceptional leader, adventurer, avid climber, DJ, and king of the dance floor. When not working, one of his favorite past times was taking his nephews and friends’ children rock climbing.

He loved to teach and share his enthusiasm for life and sports.

Jason was truly a global citizen.

The world and humanity lost one of its most compassionate innovators and advocates. Jason was a tireless promoter of justice, equality, and human rights.

He dedicated his life to serving developing communities and truly believed in the potential of underdeveloped economies and their people. Jason’s energy, ideas, infectious smile and joy, will be forever missed. Without doubt, his legacy will be carried forward and we should all strive to live as he would. Jason was a true mensch, incomparable brother, amazing uncle, mentor, best friend, and a truly brilliant mind.

Spindler’s friend Chris Schroeder remembered him as “one of those rare men who was loved by pretty much anyone he touched in Kenya and around the world. He chose a life of hope and inclusion. I am grateful to have known and learned from him.” Jason leaves behind his parents Dr. Joseph and Sarah Spindler; brothers Aaron and Jonathan; nephews Aiden, Turner, and Schaffer.

Former Faculty A beloved Hebron teacher and coach, Bruce Gardner passed away peacefully at his home in North Grafton, MA on February 25, 2019. He was 94. Born in Cambridge and raised in Melrose, MA, Gardner served in the US Navy as a signalman in World War II before attending Colgate University, where he earned his

undergraduate and master’s degrees in Education. He excelled at hockey and was a center on an undefeated 1947 team. He also earned varsity letters in baseball. Bruce was inducted into Colgate’s Athletic Hall of Honor in 1979. After playing several seasons of professional hockey, Bruce began his teaching career at Hebron, where he taught French and coached ice hockey from 1957-1973. His teams garnered remarkable success, always noted for their team-spirit and tenacity. Gardner left Hebron to teach and coach at St. Mark’s School where he taught French, served as College Counselor, and from1975 through 1986 coached boys’ varsity ice hockey. Bruce was a member of the Athletic Hall of Fame for Hebron Academy and for Colgate University.

After retirement, Bruce and his wife Audrey ran for many years an antique shop in Contoocook, NH. Bruce was pre-deceased by his wife, Audrey, and is survived by his two children, Beth McCabe of North Grafton, MA, and Duncan Gardner, his granddaughter Elise O’Conner and her husband Matt O’Conner and his great-grandson Nathan. He also leaves his brothers Charles Hines of Florida, and Jack Hines of Weare, NH, many nieces and nephews, and a great many good friends of his time at Hebron and St. Mark’s.

Former Trustee Former Hebron Academy Trustee, John K. Dineen, a Boston attorney who helped shape the city’s skyline over a 65-year legal career, died on February 4th, surrounded by family at home in Nahant. He has 91. Born in Gardner, Maine, Dineen was a graduate of Gardner High School, the University of Maine and Boston University Law School. In his legal career, he served four Boston firms as well as being appointed a special assistant attorney general for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. As well he served tirelessly on numerous boards including Hebron Academy, of which he was a member from 1978 – 1985.

He was happiest when surrounded by family and in the 1980’s converted an old cow barn, horse stables, and granary on Kezar Lake in Maine into a retreat that could be enjoyed by his extended family. Today that property has become a focus for Dineen gatherings, a spot for special family occasions. John was preceded in death by his first wife, Carolyn Foley Reardon and Susan Lowell Dineen. He is survived by his five children: Jane Ellen Reardon Dineen of Lovell, ME, Martha Dineen Wales and her husband Ralph Wales of Providence; Louisa Dineen Attenborough and her husband Neale Attenborough of Boston; Jessica Dineen and her husband Terence Culver of Brooklyn, N.Y, and J.K. Dineen and his wife Megan Fletcher of San Francisco. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren, his sister Jane Ryan of Action, and brothers Dr. James Dineen of Boston and Dr. David Dineen of Gardiner, ME. Peter W. Becham of Rockport, passed away peacefully on March 21, 2019. He was the husband of Janice (Mills) Beacham. Born in Wayland, he was the son of the late Harold R. and Maxine (Wesselhoeft) Beacham. Educated at Belmont Hill and Lehigh University, Peter started his career at Peabody Office Furniture where he spent 28 years, and rose to become Senior Vice President. In 1986, he and a small contingent founded Office Environments of New England, where he served as Executive Vice President. Building on his expertise in style and design, in 1976, Peter opened Woodbine Antiques, catering to clientele who desired contemporary office design augmented with traditional aesthetics. In doing so, he was able to turn his passion into his vocation. Upon retiring in 1995, Peter and his wife Janice made Woodbine their full time calling. Following their storefront opening in Rockport in 1994, Peter and Jan traveled extensively, seeking to build a business that reflected their unique style and taste. Peter is most known for his active leadership within the communities in which he lived.

Peter led, served, and contributed

on multiple town committees in both Topsfield and Rockport. He was driven by his heartfelt desire to enhance and improve the community culturally and economically. Through his vision, energy, and commitment, he drove results through action. He served as President and Director of the Rockport Chamber of Commerce, Board Vice-Chairman at Hebron Academy, and President of the Rockport Rotary Club. He lived by the ideology of “Service Above Self”. His contributions are too numerous to mention, but they will not be forgotten by those who knew and worked with him.

Over the tenure of his community involvement, Peter received many commendations including, the Rockport Businessman of the Year, and the Paul Harris recognition from the Rotary Foundation.

Among his proudest accomplishments was his leadership of the economic initiative to permit the sale of alcohol in Rockport, and the instrumental role he played in re-establishing Boy Scout Troop 20. He was a true patriot and a proud member of his community.

Peter was loved by his family, respected in his community, and a cherished friend of many. Peter was a consummate gentleman, a man of unbreakable integrity, and was forever an optimist. He passes without regrets and leaves the legacy of a life well-lived. In addition to his wife, with whom he shared fifty-five years of marriage, he is survived by one daughter, Debra Bloomingdale ‘83 and her husband Peter Hall of South Portland, ME; one son, Peter W. Beacham Jr. ‘85 and his wife Colleen of Needham; five grandchildren, Andrew Bloomingdale ‘11 and his wife Sarah, Molly Bloomingdale ‘13, Thomas Beacham, Caroline Beacham and Grace Beacham and one brother, Harold R. Beacham and his wife Ceelie of Westport and Aiken, SC. Please send edits or corrections to broy@hebronacademy.org. We apologize for any misinformation.

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ALUMNI ET ALUMNAE

Remembering Bob Bryan ‘50 Kirby Nadeau ‘77

Bob Bryan, or ‘Chief’ as I came to call him, was a champion of stories, and while his ‘sphere of influence’ was immense, he had a unique way of making you feel that what you did or said was important. Those who met him will know what I mean. These few stories come back from times I spent with Bob over the years.

After graduating from Hebron in 1977, I attended Bowdoin College and during summer holidays, Bob always had a project or job to do at his home in Ipswich, Massachusetts. I cut trees, mowed lawns, painted houses, organized his tools and helped him prepare for flights with the yellow N369E. One summer he asked me to look at a vintage Bombardier ski-doo from 1965, that he had stored in a special place. When I saw the ski-doo I was impressed with the condition. “Bert,” he said, for that was his nickname for me, “she hasn’t worked in years. Suppose you could get her going?” “Chief,” I said,” no guarantees, but I’ll do my best.”

When he departed for his office, I examined my task, tentatively pulling on the starter cord. The machine turned over, which was a good sign. I took the motor off the main frame, turned the frame over and emptied the residual “old” gas. I filled the tank with fresh gas, cleaned the carburetor and put everything back together.

My first pulls got a few bangs from the motor so I was encouraged; however, I could not get the single cylinder motor running like it should. Eventually, I pulled the feed gas line off the carburetor to suck on it, then pinched the line and attached it quickly to the carburetor. When I pulled on the starter again, the motor sprang to life and idled properly. With a sense of pride, I walked to Chief’s office and asked him to check it out. When he approached the ski-doo, I told him to ‘heave her over.’ He pulled on the starter, and she started immediately. The grin on his face was memorable.

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He was beaming with joy. Bob pulled the throttle and, in the month of June, took off across a grassy field with smoke spouting from the running boards - one of the funniest scenes I remember!

He came back to the shed and wanted to know all the details. I told him that I was ‘some tough’ and had to suck gas to clean the carburetor. “Well, for sure, boy,” Chief said, and we sat on the skidoo and laughed heartily for long, precious moments.

Bob loved stories from the Coast, especially those involving sports.

Whenever we met for breakfast on Sundays, we would share stories and laughs. I once told him a story of Tim Nadeau and I learning hockey when we were kids growing up in Saint Paul’s River. Hockey was religion on the Coast. As kids, we tried to attend every men’s game for support, but mostly because we would jump on the ice to salvage any broken sticks and nail or screw them together for our personal use. Once the Old Fort Bombers were leading the St. Paul’s Flyers by a 2-1 margin after two periods, and at the break, we boys approached Don Wellman, the second goal scorer from Old Fort as he was leaning on his hockey stick between periods, smoking a cigarette. We asked him the secret of being a good hockey player. Don took his final drag on his cigarette, threw the butt over the boards and said, “Boys, you gotta skate ‘ard and dance in the karners.” Chief would shake with laughter every time I dropped into the North Shore dialect to recount that childhood experience.

Bob always loved a good story and a good prank. In his early years in Harrington Harbor, aviation fuel for his plane was shipped by freighter in red and yellow 45 gallon drums. It was a challenge to roll the drums to a convenient location for refueling his float plane. Local people with a view of his house would watch him constantly. Uncle Fred,

a close neighbor, always checked in to see what Bob was doing.

After a winter stash of drums had been landed by freighter, Chief had them stored near his house; and one night, when he knew Uncle Fred was asleep, he secretly siphoned gas from one drum and refueled his plane, leaving only a few gallons in the much lighter drum. The next morning, when Chief noticed Uncle Fred watching, he casually strolled down to the tampered drum, pretended to roll it a few yards and then, with apparent frustration, heaved the lightened drum onto his shoulders and carried it to a location near his plane. It didn’t take long for Uncle Fred to spread the story around the village, “Don’t mess with Reverend Bryan. He’s the strongest man to ever land in Harrington. I seen it with me own eyes.” Chief confessed that he revealed the truth of his mortal strength in a sermon for his congregation that Sunday, the sort of thing that enabled him to create a

unique bond with the community.

If you were with Bob for any length of time, you inevitably flew with him in his yellow Cessna, N369E. Once, when he and I were returning from the North Shore to Ipswich, he said to me, “Bert, we might meet some fog on our way and have to land quickly.” I wasn’t worried because I had full trust in Bob. His flying record was impeccable; however, within minutes we were in thick fog somewhere east of Bar Harbor, Maine. “Bert, we’re going to land on the ocean.

Watch for lobster boats, boy.”

Bob had the plane on the water in a short time, and he kept blasting his airplane horn to alert lobster fishermen within the immediate vicinity. Eventually the fog bank lifted and we took off, headed for Ipswich at last. I said to Chief, “We were taking some chances there.” He just chuckled.

Later in life when Bob had restricted mobility, the phone

ALUMNI ET ALUMNAE would sometimes ring when Chief wanted to talk to me. Once, at Christmas, I visited him, taking Christmas dinner and the bottle of rum he had requested. We ate together and exchanged a multitude of stories. My jaws ached with laughter, and when I left for home, I said “Skate ‘ard and dance in the karners, Chief.” He replied, “Don’t take any chances, Bert.”

That became our farewell message from then until he passed away.

In his book, The Flying Parson of Labrador and the Real Story Behind Bert and I, Bob recounted stories of the kind people of the North Shore. All Coasters will be forever blessed with the kindness he shared with us. The QuebecLabrador Foundation reaches many parts of the globe, continually promoting the values and ideals Bob cherished because of the people he chose to be with and administrate. Larry Morris, past president of QLF, commented at his funeral service that Bob had hired him after several conversations, without a formal interview, because he had the innate ability to judge character. Bob had also asked me to be the director of a summer camp for native children in Mud Lake, Maine, and another canoe camp at Robertson Lake in La Tabatiere, Quebec. He wouldn’t take no for an answer.

When I explained that there were applicants more qualified than I, he refused to believe it. He assured me that I could handle the responsibilities, and I did. Those experiences gave me confidence to deal with people in various settings.

As I remember my friend now, I come back to a quote, “Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.” Bob Bryan was that special friend for many, many people, and he certainly knew how to fly! In his book, he said he liked to “turn with the sun.” All of us who were touched by his grace or had the privilege to spend quality time in his circle know that the sun is flying with him now. His warm rays will forever shine through in this lifetime and beyond.

Tim Sample ‘69

Like so many others whose lives were touched by his, my introduction to Robert Bryan came by way of a 33 1/3 rpm vinyl LP entitled Bert and I and Other Stories from Downeast. It was 1958 and I was a precocious seven-year-old growing up on the Maine coast.

I loved that timeless collection of tall tales featuring bone-dry oneliners delivered in a chowdahthick native dialect.

Fast forward nearly two and a half decades to a bitter cold winter’s day in a drafty, stone chapel on the campus of Yale University where I finally met the legendary storyteller face-to-face.

Alas, the circumstances under which that meeting took place could hardly have been more dispiriting.

Bob was there in, what he liked to call his “official capacity” as a clergyman, conducting the memorial service for his dear friend, (and Bert and I performing/recording partner) the late Marshall Dodge.

The fact that I had been touring the state of Maine as one half of a comedy duo with Dodge for most of the year just prior to his untimely death at age 45 was not lost on Bobby. Although we’d never met, Bob had heard about me from Marshall and following the service, he offered me (not for the last time), exactly the sort of compassion, understanding and empathy, which I now recognize as the hallmark of his personal relationships as well as his pastoral work with his far-flung flock “Up North”.

A couple of months later I visited Bob at his home in Ipswich, Mass. After meeting his wife Faith, and a couple of his daughters, we retired to a sunny garden patio, where, over iced tea and sandwiches we proceeded to lay the foundation for what was to become a wonderful personal and

professional partnership, which would ultimately span the better part of four decades.

To say that we hit it off that day would be an understatement. We were soon chatting as though we’d been old friends for years (which I now understand to have been one of Bob’s great gifts). At one point I mentioned that I’d been “…thrown out of one of the best prep schools in New England.” Leaning close and adopting a conspiratorial stage whisper, Bob said, “ Timmy, you give me twelve boys who were tossed out of the best New England prep schools and I could rule the world!”

That was in the spring of 1981.

A few months later Bob and I recorded our first album “How to Talk Yankee”, one of the five albums I’d eventually record for the Bert and I label.

The years flew by and we shared many personal and professional adventures. We appeared in a number of radio and TV specials and performed together in dozens of venues, including alumni events at our shared alma mater (one of those aforementioned prep schools) - Hebron Academy.

But, as any friend of Bob Bryan

Bob and I often reminisced about our years at Hebron. He confided in me that Hebron was the place that gave him direction and a moral compass. He was grateful for the advice and guidance bestowed on him by teachers, coaches, and especially Claude Allen. Hebron always held a special place in his heart. At his funeral service in Lennoxville, he would have been touched by the presence of Bev Leyden, Bev and Marc Roy, Ellen Augusta and Dean and Cricket Wilbur. The Hebron bell rang true for him, always. hebronacademy.org • 37

ALUMNI ET ALUMNAE will tell you, any list of professional achievements pales in comparison to the pure pleasure of his company.

There were of course, those memorable flights in Bob’s famous “Yellow Float Plane”, fishing expeditions to the salmon camp at Tabusintac, NB, lavish meals in fancy NYC restaurants and burgers and fries at roadside diners all accompanied by a seemingly inexhaustible exchange of great stories.

In his later years as failing health limited his mobility, I was drafted into an elite corps of hand picked “Bobby Bryan Chauffeurs.” My responsibilities involved hauling Bob, his portable wheelchair, assorted duffle bags, fly rods, artwork, navy blue blazers, rep ties, memorabilia, ancient film projectors etc., along thousands of miles of highways and back roads crisscrossing New England, Quebec Province and the Canadian Maritimes.

On the very last of these excursions Bob, his legendary charm and powers of persuasion undimmed by physical infirmity, managed (against my better judgment and over the strenuous objections of several family members) to convince me to escort him on what would likely be his final visit with some of his “oldest and dearest friends” on Mt. Desert Island.

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On a warm late-summer morning we departed the hotel parking lot in Ellsworth without benefit of maps, street addresses or GPS, just a cell phone with spotty coverage and a few names and phone numbers scrawled on scraps of paper along with Bob’s absolute assurance that “I’ll recognize the place when we get close.”

piled up and Bob’s “take a left, take a right, not that right, now can you back up? Okay, let’s try down this way…” directions failed to yield the desired results.

An inauspicious start and yet, somehow, against all odds, buoyed by that special amalgam of grace, curiosity, serendipity and wry humor which frequently marked any adventure with Bobby we managed to make every connection flawlessly.

“Sure thing, Bobby.”

Our first stop in Seal Harbor for a visit with centenarian and longtime F.O.B. David Rockefeller set the tone for the remainder of the day. At noontime our plans called for a luncheon with old friends of Bob’s aboard their beautiful, handicap-accessible motor yacht on Frenchman’s Bay. After disembarking from the vessel we set out to locate our last stop of the day, a waterfront estate in Northeast Harbor, the summer home of yet another prominent global philanthropist and a dear friend of Bob’s dating back to grade school days.

By this time I’ll admit to a certain amount of weariness as the hours

Then, suddenly, Bob turned to me and asked…”Timmy, can you drive out onto that dock over there?”

When we reached the end of the dock Bobby instructed me to turn the car around so that he could scan the nearby shoreline from the waterside. “There!” he shouted, a grin spreading across his face. “That’s it, the green Victorian with the white trim!”

Bob explained that in all his previous visits to his friend’s home he had arrived via seaplane. So he needed to be out on the water in order to locate the place. Ah, yes.

I see. It’s all about perspective.

Which. Looking back on it now, is what that whirlwind tour of some of Mt. Desert Island’s most elite enclaves and by extension my long friendship with Bob Bryan was really all about.

At every stop the themes were repeated: the value of enduring friendship, overcoming adversity with grace and good humor and above all the importance of maintaining family connections.

Geopolitics and partisan perspectives didn’t make an appearance all day. Rather, the conversations tended to center around the weddings and funerals, births and baptism’s Bob had conducted for these folks down through the years.

There was talk of schoolboy crushes, model boat races, mirthless schoolmarms, legendary hockey coaches, epic fishing trips and the like, in short the vast patchwork of mundane experience, from which our sense of common humanity is forged.

Shortly after that trip Bob’s complex health issues progressed to the point where he required full-time care. Although I kept in touch regularly by phone, I only visited once.

Maybe I should have visited more often. I’ll never know. But, the difficulty was that each time we did speak Bob would inevitably steer the conversation around to the topic of our “next road trip”.

The one I knew that we would never take.

Shortly after he passed in December of 2018 I found and saved a voice message Bobby had left on my smartphone a few months earlier; “Timmy old man, it’s Bobby Bryan…I really need to talk to you.”

Me too, Bobby, me too.

from the archives Ski Like a Girl

’78, Margie Sayres ’77, Jane McKay First Girls’ Ski Team, 1977, L to R: Cricket Corwin ’78, Alice Canning Beth Hanson ’77.

Ginny Goodwin ’79, on course, 1978

C

harlotte and Dave Stonebraker coached Hebron’s first Girls’ Ski Team in the fall of 1976, and that first season, the girls were victorious in six dual meets against state high schools and MAISAD rivals. In their second year, the Hebron girls won the Maine Class C meet and raced for the first season on the expanded trails at Little Singepole. The image here from 1979 shows Virginia ‘Ginny’ Goodwin, Class of 1979, skiing Giant Slalom on straight sticks in stretch pants and a CB team top in a time before one-piece speed suits. Coach Charlotte Stonebraker sewed the GS panels for the course which attached to the bamboo with cloth ties - impossible to secure tightly in freezing temperatures! And before fixed wires and electric timing, racers

’77, Ginny Goodwin ’79, Sue Hanson ’78,

were started on course by a flag-start. The starter, shown here and visible to both the top and bottom of the course, dipped a flag in rhythm to the count of 3 – 2 – 1 – GO!, signaling the racer at the top to start and the three timers at the bottom to click their watches. Like a track or swimming meet, official time was the average of the three times recorded on the watches as the racer passed the finish.

Little Singepole was the scene of alpine competitions until 1983, a place for racing but also great place for recreBig Air, freestyle from the ‘70’s ational skiing on a Sunday afternoon. The area gradually returned to forest over the decades, but now a spirited group of students and faculty have thinned the trees for a backcountry glades experience, ‘earning their turns’ by skinning up the lift line and pausing at the top to look out toward the campus and Marshall Pond, dreaming perhaps of a time when competitive skiing and snowsports might return to the area. hebronacademy.org • 39

Hebron Academy

PO Box 309 • Hebron ME 04238

Come Home to Hebron

JOIN US!

October 18-19 Members of the class of 1968 celebrate their 50th reunion. L to R Fred Seufert, Bob Edmonstone, Eric Morse, Morton Furber, Sam Stafford, Bob Lowenthal, Mike Mishou, David Wildes , Dan Steinway, Jim Cram, Bob Waite

Visit hebronacademy.org/homecoming hebron • SPRING 2019 or call 207-966-5266 for more information

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