Westminster Bulletin Fall 2021 by Westminster School

Fall 2021

Westminster Bulletin

Getting to Know the Community 50 Years of Coeducation Commencement and Reunion

Members of the Concert Band during a fall performance in Werner Centennial Center.

Westminster Bulletin

FALL 2021

FEATURES

Getting to Know the Community and Building Relationships

Celebrating 5o Years of Coeducation

Commencement 2021

DEPARTMENTS 2 Head of School Message

From the Archives

Hill Headlines

Martlets on the Move

Lawn Ceremony

Class Notes

2020 and 2021 Reunion

In Memoriam

Supporting Westminster

Closing Thoughts

On the cover, Chris White and Head of School Elaine White. Fall 2021

FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

THE FIRST LESSON Dear Members of the Westminster Community, It was just before study hall on a Wednesday night this fall when I headed to meet some Sixth Formers, but was distracted by the lights of a police car at Pettee Gym. My heart was in my throat as I fumbled with the door handle and hurried onto the floor of the gym to see several students and adults, including a police officer and nurse, huddled around a Third Form student. Don’t worry — the story ends well. Henry is fine. He endured a trip to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, some tests, an evaluation and a tremendous headache; he is playing basketball and burning off steam in Pettee before study hall with his buddies once again. This accident has become a story in their Third Form lore, destined to be one of many stories that gets dusted off, and embellished, for reunions. “Do you remember when Henry crashed into Dillon and somersaulted over the backboard in Pettee?” The stuff of legends, right? Here is the story that will not get told: When the collision happened and Henry was upended and crashed hard, very hard, onto the gym floor, his friends sprung into action. They called security and an advisor. They assessed the situation and supported his head and neck. They crouched by his side and promised him that he would be OK. And even after the professionals had taken over his care, his friends gathered up his belongings, gave his wallet and phone to adults, and took the remainder back to Henry’s room. They spent study hall worrying about him, and as Henry made his way back to school and recovered from his concussion, they laughed off their worry by retelling the story and beginning its embellishment. I do not worry that this other side of the story will not be told. It does not need to be because it is the very fabric of our expectations for students at Westminster; it is this type of care and kindness that builds our community and gives us the strength to endure challenges, explore new interests, hone skills and define ourselves. It is the story that does not get told — quite literally the story of “I’ve got your back (and neck)” — that creates the narrative of what it means to be a Westminster student. I have been seeing that story play itself out this fall as I settle in on Williams Hill, and it is a story that never gets old or tired. I see it in the Sixth Formers as they shoulder the mantle of their responsibilities and set the example for the underformers. Even as they juggle challenging classes, write college applications and squeeze in visits, they still focus on caring about the community. They are on the sidelines cheering on other athletes, they are tutoring fellow Martlets in the library, they are volunteering at the elementary school or a lacrosse clinic or Loaves and Fishes,

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and they are by the side of the crying, homesick student in the dormitory. It matters that we take care of one another. That lesson is, and should be, at the heart of everything we do at Westminster. It is not a lesson easily learned, especially by adolescents whose natural inclination is to turn inward and who struggle just to take care of themselves, and it is a lesson that is constantly undermined by the deluge of information and pictures in the media and on social media. Our job as educators is to reinforce that lesson implicitly and explicitly in the classroom, on the field and stage, and in the dormitory and the dining hall. Every. Single. Day. And we do. The staff and faculty at Westminster are committed to creating community, nurturing students, and building kindness and empathy. Even with my limited lens and time on the Hill, I see that commitment. Every. Single. Day. It should not surprise me, and it does not, that Henry’s friends acted with such swiftness and care. They are Martlets, after all, and they have had, even in their short time here, some very good teachers. With Grit & Grace,

Elaine White Head of School

HILL HEADLINES

Horizons at Westminster Holds Fourth Summer Program and Receives Grant Horizons at Westminster hosted 60 first through fourth grade students from Hartford on campus this past summer for six weeks. “We were so excited to welcome them back to campus in our fourth year of operation,” said Kathleen Devaney P’19, ’22, executive director of Hartford Partnerships and Horizons at Westminster. Horizons at Westminster is part of a national network of K-8 summer enrichment programs that aims to build a “bridge” from one academic year to the next and is designed to boost educational achievement and broaden access to opportunity for students from underresourced communities. With health protocols in place related to the pandemic, the Horizons students were on campus five days a week completing academic work in Armour Academic Center, participating in enrichment activities in Werner Centennial Center and Pettee Gymnasium, and eating breakfast and lunch in Armstrong Dining Hall. Many members of the Westminster community — students, faculty, staff and alumni — served as volunteers by greeting students when they arrived, providing math help, reading aloud with students and waving them goodbye at the end of the day.

Horizons will continue to add 15 first graders each summer through 2025, when the program reaches full enrollment with 120 students in first through eighth grades. In addition to its summer program, three Saturday academies take place during the school year with many Westminster students serving as volunteers. In April, Horizons at Westminster was awarded an E.E. Ford Traditional Grant of $100,000 to provide critical support for salaries and volunteer stipends in summer 2022. The grant comes with a requirement to fundraise an equivalent amount within one year to support the long-term sustainability of the program.

“Horizons at Westminster is at a crucial juncture and acutely aware of the significant funding needed to fulfill its promise of expanding educational opportunities for students from underresourced communities in Hartford and to deliver on Westminster’s commitment to ‘service beyond self,’” said Kathleen. The Edward E. Ford Foundation helps improve secondary education by supporting U.S. independent schools and encouraging promising practices. By making traditional grants to eligible schools and associations, the foundation helps programs like Horizons at Westminster to grow and develop in pursuit of their own missions.

Fall 2021

HILL HEADLINES

Westminster Begins 134th School Year

Westminster School welcomed 414 students to campus as it began its 134th academic year. The students hail from 27 states and 19 countries, and include 132 new students. The year kicked off Aug. 31 with a day student welcome that included a parent reception at Pratt House. The next morning, Sixth Formers, returning day students and international students arrived. Despite some rainy weather, Sixth Formers spent the afternoon participating in a form welcome, a college counseling meeting and an orientation program. On Sept. 2, members of the Prefect Board assembled at the top of Perkin Memorial Drive to greet new and returning students. Other Sixth Formers helped arriving students move into their dormitories. After completing some registration tasks in Armour Academic Center and attending meetings with their advisory groups, all students participated in afternoon form orientation activities. The day concluded with an all-school cookout and kickball tournament. Classes met briefly Sept. 3, and all new students attended a performing arts meeting. The school year officially got underway Sept. 4 with an assembly, and the traditional Pin Ceremony and Sign-In Ceremony. Head of School Elaine White welcomed everyone to the assembly in Armstrong Atrium of Armour Academic Center. “Soon we will listen carefully to the words of Cooper Kistler, head 4

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prefect for the 2021-2022 school year,” she explained. “I want to point out that Westminster taps a student to give the first address of the year to the entire school community, not a faculty member, not the head of school. Students are at the core of our community, and your voices are powerful and strong. Use them well.” She shared the history of the Pin Ceremony which would take place following the assembly: “The Pin Ceremony itself celebrates the Sixth Form. Head of School Graham Cole began the practice early in his tenure as a way of both recognizing the Sixth Form and emphasizing their responsibility as leaders to uphold our core values of character, community, involvement and balance. Sixth Formers wear their pin all year as a physical reminder of that responsibility.” She also spoke about the Sign-in Ceremony: “Underformers, too, are expected to commit themselves to doing their very best to live up to our community standards, and they embrace that commitment when they sign the school ledger, another tradition begun by Graham Cole, at the new student Sign-In Ceremony, which occurs in the chapel immediately following the Pin Ceremony. It should not be lost on anyone today that as we pin the Sixth Formers and remind them of their commitment to create the most inclusive and supportive community possible, we also welcome all new students into the fold and anticipate the ways in which they will make us even stronger as a community.”

HILL HEADLINES

Lastly, she discussed the Sixth Form flag and its role in announcing Hill Holidays throughout the year. During his assembly remarks, Cooper Kistler ’22 shared some of his early experiences at Westminster and highlighted the welcoming presence of Charles Ruffin at the security booth as Charles enthusiastically greets everyone arriving on campus. Cooper also mentioned the complicating factors of the pandemic last academic year. “So here we are now,” he said. “It is 2021, and our whole school community is back together. I’ve spoken with many students, faculty members and administrators, and it has become clear to me that we need to reboot our school spirit.” He announced the names of students who would be heading an effort to promote all-school events, such as night games, dances and the fall play. “Westminster is the strongest community I have ever been a part of, and now we are faced with an opportunity for growth and development,” he continued. “As we try to put the pandemic behind us, let’s embrace discomfort. Together let’s push ourselves to a space where we can all grow and develop new perspectives.” He encouraged everyone to try something new this year and to reach outside of their comfort zone. “Charles sets the tone on this campus every morning by greeting everyone with a smile and saying ‘hello,’” added

Cooper. “To all the new students at Westminster, an unwritten rule is that we smile and say ‘hi’ to everyone when we pass them. In a community built around kindness, you will never experience an environment where people are so supportive and caring. As a result, I encourage you all again to try new things, take new risks and embrace discomfort. There is no doubt that this will lead to some great successes and failures, but with the support of our community and the kindness within it, we will fail forward, we will grow and we will become stronger and better people because of it. Thank you all, and I look forward to an amazing year!” All students, except for Sixth Formers, then proceeded to the edge of the Sixth Form Lawn, where they positioned themselves for the Pin Ceremony. Sixth Formers followed by walking together onto the lawn to receive their Sixth Form pin or pendants from alumni faculty and honorary alumni faculty. The design of the pins and pendants was created by the form last spring. Members of the Prefect Board also brought onto the lawn new members of the Sixth Form and Head of School White. Continuing with another school tradition, all new students then entered Andrews Memorial Chapel to participate in the Sign-In Ceremony. They were greeted by Head of School White as they signed the book signifying their formal entrance into school. They were then welcomed by members of the Prefect Board. A pizza feed culminated the morning’s activities. Fall 2021

HILL HEADLINES

Students Recognized in National Merit Scholarship Program Westminster School Sixth Former Sung Min Cho the 2021 WALKS Constitutional Essay Contest. was named a Semifinalist in the 2022 National Merit “I want to take a moment to thank the Scholarship Program. He is among approximately Westminster faculty who have so generously 16,000 academically talented high school seniors to devoted their energies to my education, the men have an opportunity to continue in the competition and women who illustrated to me the power of for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships that will rigorous thinking and the thrill of fearless inquiry,” be awarded next spring. said Sung. High school juniors entered the 2022 National To advance to the Finalist level of the Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2020 competition, each Semifinalist and a high school Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship official must submit a detailed scholarship Qualifying Test. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, application in which they provide additional representing less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors, Sung Min Cho information about the Semifinalist’s achievements includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. in a variety of areas. National Merit Scholarship Sung is a boarding student from Westfield, Mass., who has winners of 2022 will be announced next April through July. taken a rigorous course of study and earned high honors during In addition, about 34,000 Commended Students throughout his Westminster career. He is a member of the Prefect Board, the nation were recognized for their exceptional academic co-editor-in-chief of The Westminster News, co-captain of First promise and received a letter of commendation. Among those Boys’ Cross Country, co-president of Global Forum and co-head are Sixth Formers Isaac Mullen, Charles Pappas, Jonah Prentiss of Westminster Model U.N. He has also been awarded the Brian and Kellen Seeley. Ford Writing Prize, and was a finalist and runner-up overall in

Olympian Shares Personal Lessons of Grit and Grace Olympic runner Abbey D’Agostino Cooper visited Westminster Sept. 17 to share her story of rising beyond adversity to exhibit the best in sportsmanship. She gave a presentation to students and faculty in Werner Centennial Center as part of Westminster’s yearlong celebration of 50 years of coeducation. Cooper is a longtime close friend of faculty member Arianna Vailas, who introduced Cooper to the audience. They were teammates at Dartmouth College. Cooper began her talk by showing a video of herself competing during a semifinal heat of the women’s 5000-meter run in the 2016 Summer Games in Rio, when both she and New Zealander Nikki Hamblin fell. Cooper got up, despite sustaining a major injury, and encouraged Hamblin to finish. Cooper also finished the race with Hamblin’s encouragement but ended up leaving the track in a wheelchair and could not compete further. The incident made international news, and subsequently, both athletes were recognized for their sportsmanship. Throughout her career, Cooper has faced injuries, but they have not eclipsed 6

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her spirit. And this year, during the 5,000-meter finals at the Olympic Track & Field Team Trials finals in June, she came in fourth place, narrowly missing a berth in the Tokyo Olympics. A graduate of Dartmouth in 2014, where she majored in psychology and competed as a runner, Cooper finished her collegiate career as a seven-time national champion, 16-time Ivy League champion and 12-time All-American. In 2012, she became the first Dartmouth woman to win a national title, and in 2013, she became the first Ivy League student-athlete to win the cross-country title. Cooper spoke about how grit and grace have defined her running career, saying about the video, “That was where I began to learn grit and grace.” She also spoke about how sustaining serious injuries during her career has caused uncertainty and fear, and how competing in the U.S. at Olympic trials can be more nerve-wracking than at the games themselves. During a question-and-answer session that followed her talk, she said that injuries are very hard for athletes

to face. “Going through something hard makes you better on the other side.” When asked about what is next for her, she said she continues to train and is hoping to compete in the 2024 Summer Games in Paris. Before that, she is looking forward to competing in the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Ore. (Please see related coeducation stories beginning on page 18.)

Abbey D’Agostino Cooper

HILL HEADLINES

Members of the Westminster Community Share Their Talents Westminster’s artistic talents were on display in Baxter Gallery during the opening reception for the Westminster Community Art Show Sept. 9. The show featured artwork and music from Westminster faculty, staff and community members. The show was open throughout the fall term. The visual and textile artists included Wendy Bestor, Mallory Doyle, Newell Grant ’99, Kerry Kendall, Karl Lund, Daniela Perez, Amanda Rappold, Janet Reed, Scott Stevens, Jane Toner and Rebeccah TuscanoMoss. Among their artworks were acrylics on canvas, a pen and ink drawing, relief prints, a watercolor, an oil on canvas, digital photography, textiles made of silk, cotton and acrylic yarn, and handmade quilts. In addition, those who attended the show could listen to recorded performances by Dan Aber on the clarinet, and the musical group Firetown Road that includes Dan, Grant Gritzmacher and Michael Cervas. The evening also featured the opening of Pratt House Gallery, showcasing student artwork. Head of School Elaine White has opened her home as a venue to display student artwork throughout the year with a current exhibit featuring pieces from 2021 graduates Nathalie Charles, Miranda Douglass, Rachel Ha, India Lalor, Ian Lee, Tatum McBreen, Claire Taylor and Alisa Toner, as well as Abigail Moss ’20.

“It was exciting to begin the school year with the grand opening of Pratt House Gallery featuring student artwork on the same evening that we celebrated the Westminster Community Art Show displaying artwork from faculty, staff and community members in Baxter Gallery,” said art teacher Kerry Kendall, who curated the exhibits. “I was thrilled when our new Head of School, Elaine White, approached me with her conception of the idea of a gallery in Pratt House. She has thrown open her doors and welcomed us into her home to appreciate the arts at Westminster. We have a lot of creative and hard-working artists on our campus. The opening night event was well attended and set a positive tone for the new school year. I hope more people will get involved and share their talent in future exhibitions.” Kerry’s goal is to present three shows a year in each of Westminster’s art exhibition spaces.

Top and above, the Westminster Community Art Show opening reception Sept. 9. Fall 2021

HILL HEADLINES

Focusing on Empathy Westminster students and faculty participated in a number of activities during Diversity Day Oct. 11, including a presentation by Andre Bradford, aka S.C. Says, a slam poet who has been performing since 2013 and is based in Austin, Texas. Bradford is a two-time Austin Poetry Slam Champion, a three-time Texas Grand Slam Finalist and is the author of the upcoming book “Golden Brown Skin.” He earned a bachelor’s degree in theater and marketing from U.S.C., and has toured at venues across the country. The one-hour presentation, titled “Kintsukuroi: On Empathy and Other Things,” focused on the importance of empathy. He began by sharing his Jamaican and Mexican heritage and how he grew up in a nonculturally diverse neighborhood in Grand Prairie, Texas. The first poem he read was “Crayon Box,” which described what that childhood experience was like. “I let you in a little bit on my life story,” he said. “One reason I like the art form is you can see some of my circumstances.” He added, “We will go through a roller coaster of emotions during this show.” He said empathy is “one of the most powerful tools we have to change the world around us.” He read a poem titled “A Kindness” and explained its background, and how it was a good example of how he made a snap judgement and the importance of learning a little bit about someone’s story. He also talked about mental health issues, his own life struggles and how showing empathy could save a life. “The best forms of empathy are intentional,” he said. “Intentional empathy requires skill. … Empathy fosters pleasurable feelings. … Empathy helps to heal painful and psychological issues. … Empathy is the active ingredient in conflict resolution. … I believe empathy is what we need to mend our pieces.”

Westminster Bulletin

Above and below, Andre Bradford gives a presentation to students and faculty.

He encouraged everyone to pay attention, tell their story and appreciate differences in life experiences. “If you want to change the world around you, start by trying to understand the people in it.” He responded to a number of questions from the audience, including how he got into slam poetry, how he builds selfcare into his daily routine and how he developed the courage to share his story. Following his presentation, students participated in workshops that involved a deep dive into empathy through two exercises.

HILL HEADLINES

Fall Performing Arts Concert Students in the Concert Band, Jazz Band, Dance Ensemble, Chamber Choir and Chorale gave performances during a concert held in Werner Centennial Center as part of Parents and Family Weekend.

Fall 2021

Getting to Know the Community and Building Relationships

Head of School Elaine White and Chris White.

Westminster Bulletin

Westminster welcomed Elaine White as its ninth head of school July 1. She and her husband, Chris, and their family relocated to Westminster following Elaine’s 33-year tenure at The Governor’s Academy. While at The Governor’s Academy, she served in a variety of significant leadership positions, including assistant head of school, academic dean, chair of the English Department and interim director of advancement, with some of those responsibilities overlapping.

Elaine earned a B.A. in English from Bates College and an M.A. in English literature

from Middlebury College. She knew she wanted to teach at an independent boarding school because she loves the total commitment of adults in the lives of their students. In addition to teaching English, she has served as a coach, advisor and dormitory parent.

Before relocating to Westminster, Chris served as a chiropractor in Rowley, Mass., where he owned his own practice for 27 years. He is a graduate of Bates College, where he completed an interdisciplinary major in biology and psychology, and is a graduate of New York Chiropractic College.

Elaine and Chris, who have been married for 31 years, are the parents of three

daughters: Emily is a graduate of Gordon College, Maya is a graduate of College of the Holy Cross and Dani is a freshman at Macalester College.

Elaine and Chris took some time to talk about their careers, their family and their new life at Westminster.

Elaine, where did you grow up?

Chris, where did you grow up?

Elaine: I grew up in a family of seven children in Weymouth, Mass. My father was the town’s lawyer, his father had been the town’s doctor, my mother was a nurse and their focus was on education. I grew up playing sports and being involved in the life of the town.

Chris: I grew up in Boonton, N.J. I am the eldest of three and played soccer and lacrosse, and ran track. I attended a public high school and knew nothing about prep schools, although we played a couple of them in sports.

Where did you meet? What sports did you play? Elaine: I played baseball and softball. I was actually the first girl to play ice hockey with Weymouth Youth Hockey. I was terrible, but I wanted to play hockey. My father, who was the town counsel, signed me up and was told he could not do that. He said he would sue the town if they did not let me play since it was after Title IX, and it was the law. I did play, although I had no skill whatsoever. I also played baseball with the boys in the town league through junior year of high school and softball in high school at Notre Dame Academy in Hingham, Mass., an all-girls school. Softball practice was right after school, and baseball practice would be in the evening after that. In the fall, I played volleyball.

Elaine: We met on the second day of our freshman year at Bates College and became friends. We were taking some of the same classes, including biology and chemistry in the first year, and even some chemistry in the second year. We did not start dating until January of our senior year. Chris: We also overlapped in the sports training rooms and practice schedules.

Did you play sports in college? Elaine: I played varsity softball as a catcher and dabbled in field hockey in my sophomore and junior years as the junior varsity squad goalie. How I started in that position is funny. In my sophomore year, the junior varsity field hockey team needed a goalie, and a friend’s theory was that I could be a goalie since Fall 2021

I was a softball catcher. I thought this could be fun, and then the varsity goalie got hurt. The season started with a bunch of the NESCAC schools competing in a jamboree, so the first field hockey game I ever saw, I played in at the varsity level. Luckily, Bates had a really good team with a phenomenal defense in front of me. Quickly, the varsity goalie got healthy, and I went back to junior varsity and enjoyed it.

We are pretty social and tend to have people over to hang out and play cornhole and other backyard games. Chris: I continue to play lacrosse in a competitive over-40 league called Olde New England Lacrosse League with the same group of core guys I have played with for 16 years. Some of them I played with in college. The league reaches from southern New Hampshire to the Cape, and as far as Providence, R.I.

Chris: I did primarily lacrosse but also soccer.

Were there any other extracurricular activities that stood out during your undergraduate careers? Elaine: We both were junior advisers and resident coordinators, so we lived in the dormitory. As juniors, we oversaw a pod of freshmen, and as seniors, we were in charge of a group of campus houses. These were leadership positions. As residential coordinators, we were making sure things did not get out of hand and nobody was injured or sick.

What are your three daughters doing? Chris: Emily, who is the oldest, lives and works at Colonial Williamsburg. Dani is in her first year at Macalester College. Elaine: And our second daughter, Maya, will probably be on campus more than the other two since she has a job that will leave her schedule open on and off for a week at a time. Maya and Dani grew up playing sports, and Emily has always liked the theater and exploring history activities.

What do you and your family like to do in your free time? Elaine: We love to travel and be outdoors on the water. The girls really like to tube and water ski. We had a place in Shapleigh, Maine, for 20 years on a lake. 12

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Chris, why did you want to become a chiropractor and what have you enjoyed about the profession? Chris: I was always interested in medicine as a profession. In high school and college, I served on my hometown’s volunteer ambulance squad. In college, I was a premed major and a student athletic trainer. I began to consider chiropractic as an option when I injured my neck lifting an object. I thought about the mechanical injury and realized a mechanical treatment approach made more sense than medication or traction. I responded well when I saw a chiropractor for this injury, and the experience opened my mind to a new direction. In my letter to patients about our transition to Westminster I wrote: “I have had the great privilege and honor to help so many of you, and I will always treasure my patients, many of whom I count as friends. One of the wonderful aspects of being a chiropractor is the opportunity to get to know patients on a deeper, more personal level than most other health care providers. I laughed with you, celebrated with you and at times cried with you. Thank you for letting me be part of your lives and trusting me to help you become a healthier you! There is a saying: ‘The greatest compliment a patient can give is the referral of a loved one or friend.’ You complimented me immeasurably, and I thank you gratefully.”

Do you foresee practicing in Connecticut? Chris: I don’t know, so that is one of the big questions. I will probably at least do some per diem work in some offices that might need someone to fill in while people are away from the office. This is a time for me to reflect and decide what I want to do, and there is no rush. I am on campus full time, and we will figure out what I do. Really, it is about giving me the opportunity to get to know Westminster and the community of Simsbury.

Elaine, what were some of your proudest accomplishments while working at The Governor’s Academy? Elaine: I am most proud of the way in which I worked collaboratively with colleagues across different departments. I was young when I started and grew into understanding the importance of collaboration and collegiality. Embracing the role of the team became the center of all of the work that I did, whether it was working with colleagues to coach junior varsity softball or to reinvent the school during COVID. It ranged from the very minor to the major, like ensuring the health and safety of the students in the learning environment. Another important accomplishment was making pedagogy and methodology — the ways in which people are staying on top of new methods and embracing pedagogy — a part of the hiring of new teachers. In the last 12 to 14 years, those have become important factors in hiring faculty. At independent schools, we used to hire somebody and say, “You can coach this, and you can teach that,” even if they had no experience whatsoever with those things. Now, we are more specialized, but at the same time, still thinking about the way in which someone is going to fit into all aspects of the school’s life: academics, the afternoon program and residential life. I am also proud of the work I did in helping Governor’s Academy develop its Seven Essential Skills, which are the foundation from which many of its programs stem. Again, that was tied up with working together in a collaborative fashion to think about what students need and to figure out the ways to best get them to that end. Teachers in independent schools enjoy a certain degree of autonomy in the classroom, and that is really appealing. Who doesn’t like to design courses and think carefully about the ways in which they can reach students? But we also can’t work in silos. The reality is that we have to be sharing, talking, processing and creating with colleagues, so we can go back into our classrooms and be the best kind of teacher for the students in that moment.

for a year or two. I also really like the community aspect of a boarding school. It is fun getting to know the families on campus, including faculty children and see those children as they grow and have the opportunity to, hopefully, attend the school. Elaine: My favorite part of this sort of life is the growth over time that we get to see with students as they come in at one place in their life, and we have this opportunity to help them move to an entirely different place. We know that we have a program that will work and have plenty of adults who will help that student grow into that person that we all imagine they could be. I treasure most that there is this opportunity for growth and then celebration for when it happens.

Why did you want to become head of school at Westminster? Elaine: I really love the philosophy that forms the foundation of all of the work at Westminster. I believe in it. I believe in the school motto, Grit & Grace. I believe in the school values: community, character, balance and involvement. Those six words — grit, grace, community, character, balance and involvement — are all I need to live my life. And, of course, I want to work at a place that focuses on those things. I was, honestly, truly lucky to have felt pulled to look at Westminster.

Elaine, how would you describe your management style? Elaine: I come back to being a collaborator. I like a team with a variety of voices. I like people to voice their opinion, I like

What is your favorite aspect of boarding school life? Chris: We really enjoyed our time when we were living in a dormitory, although we have been out of that setting for a long time. In fact, we had an opportunity to move out at one point, but we decided we were not ready to do that and put it off Fall 2021

to tap their expertise, and I like to work as a team to then figure out the direction in which we should head. I surround myself with people who believe in the same things that I do, people who have passion for education and enjoy working with students. It is a veritable brain trust at Westminster. I find it easy to be myself and to work with colleagues and collaborate in ways that best serve the students and the school.

How have you been getting to know Westminster? Chris: We have done grill nights and held receptions at Pratt House, and we have attended school events on and off campus where we have had an opportunity to meet people on a real social side of things. I plan to participate in family-style lunches at the table with Elaine. I will also be helping to coach junior varsity lacrosse in the spring. And I enjoy meeting people while walking the dog or eating meals in the dining hall. Elaine: We would love to do some spontaneous trips with students such as hiking on a Sunday or going to a museum. We also like having students over to Pratt House. There is a new student art gallery in Pratt House in the first floor living room and some overflow into the library where student artwork is now hanging. We thought that since Pratt House is the school’s house, it would be wonderful to be able to celebrate the talent of the students and see their artwork hung every day there. It also gives students a reason to come by and see their work or parents an opportunity to see their child’s work in another space in addition to Baxter Gallery and in Fearn Hall.

What about getting to know Simsbury and Hartford? Elaine: With respect to Hartford, I am sitting on the Board of Directors of Hartford Youth Scholars, which is a terrific entry into Hartford and the really good work of that foundation. Chris and I will end up throwing ourselves into volunteer work like Loaves and Fishes and taking advantage of that connection and serving meals. It will be interesting to get to know the local area and perhaps find some interests. I would not be surprised if Chris finds himself a local lacrosse team to play on. There will be things that unfold, for sure. But again, right now, the priority is making sure that we are making all the connections and learning about the school and the community. Chris: We have done some driving around Simsbury, West Hartford and Hartford and are looking forward to walking, biking and hiking on many of the local trails and visiting the many parks. 14

Westminster Bulletin

How was your transition from The Governor’s Academy to Westminster? Elaine: My transition was remarkable and that started with my predecessor, Bill Philip, at the helm. He made sure I had access to everyone and provided me with extensive information. He was supportive of making sure that I had everything I needed to make the shift. I would go up against any new head of school in this country this year and say I had the best transition to my school because of the access and the support of everybody. Chris: And Jenny Philip was wonderful, too. She did a video tour of Pratt House before we moved in, so we could share it with the girls, and they could start to sense what it would be like living there. It seems not so big, but it certainly made us feel very welcome. Another one of the things Elaine has talked about as one of the positives that came out of all the Zoom meetings earlier this year was the fact that soon after her appointment, she was able to attend many Westminster meetings virtually. In January, it was five to 10 meetings, and it grew exponentially over six months. Elaine: I also had the opportunity to speak with every member of the Board of Trustees before officially starting July 1, and they have all gone out of their way to make me feel welcome, to offer help and to show support. Chair of the Board Brad Raymond ’85 has led the way in that, and from the beginning, my interactions with Brad and Mary Peck ’90, who were co-chairs of the search committee, made me want to work for these two people because they were so engaging and supportive, even during the time when I was interviewing. And that has continued. Brad and I talked regularly over the course of the transition period and continue to do so, and he has been a wonderful support and teacher. He has taught me quite a few things and is a partner in the work that we need to do together.

I also had great talks with emeritus trustees Bill Egan ’64, and former Board of Trustees chairs John Armour ’76 and Tread Mink ’77. It gave me a chance to learn about the work they did and the way in which they continue to be engaged with the school. They provided wonderful advice and are positively delightful people who understand their role on the big team. In addition, I had conversations with alumni, former faculty and both former heads of school. These were opportunities that helped form a good foundation for me.

Chris: The fact we can joke about the lightning strikes being the biggest surprise says it all. We even had a couple of students and alumni stop by and introduce themselves over the summer.

Is there anything about Westminster that has surprised you since arriving on campus?

Elaine, what do you view as the most important responsibilities as head of school?

Elaine: The lightning strikes! We had two within three weeks that affected Pratt House. In fact, the second one struck a tree in the backyard of Pratt and threw shrapnel everywhere, causing some minor damage to the house, but really more damage to electrical systems. But overall, I don’t think there have been any substantive surprises. I think if anything is surprising, it is that it is so good. It has panned out very much like people said it would. When I was first appointed, people came out of the woodwork, saying, “Oh my gosh, you’re going to love Simsbury, Westminster is awesome and the people there are incredible.” It came from all different constituents, including parents at The Governor’s Academy. Some of them had gone to Westminster, and some were friends who had lived in Simsbury or visited. The way in which this group in northeastern Massachusetts was very happy for us, but also knew so much of the area

Elaine: I am always thinking about the safety of the students, and I absolutely want to make sure that their experience is topnotch. And I know that is the case as I look at our academics, athletics, arts and community service programs. There is so much that is really good at Westminster. I am also always thinking about what is in the best interest of the school in moving it forward. Those are my two focal points. And there are certainly initiatives and concerns that grow out of those two, but those are the two pieces that I think about every single day.

and Westminster, reinforced everything that we have come to understand is true. It is a wonderful community. The school is just so sure and steady and caring.

Elaine: They were excited about my coming in and for the school. They were so very genuine in their interest. Honestly, we had a great time coming right in.

What are your initial priorities? Elaine: During this first year, I hope I will have an opportunity to get to know the community, to listen, to see how things are done, to come to better understand its essence, and to build relationships with colleagues and students. Creating that foundation is an important part of this first year. I also want to get out and meet with parents and alumni. As I look more toward the future, we need to start thinking about the next strategic plan for the school that will come early in my tenure. It takes about 18 months to create a good strategic plan, and it requires that we tap a variety of voices for all different kinds of input. It will start to spell out the priorities that will drive our work and significantly influence the next capital campaign. It is going to give us a framework going forward for the next 10 years. I think, in part, Westminster has done so well because it has been clear about what it intended to create. The school has worked with people in all different capacities — faculty, parents and alumni — in order to achieve its goals and that is really important for forward momentum. We have to be able to do that again. We also will need to keep an eye on what is happening in the day-to-day life of the school, in the community and in the growing understanding of brain science and the way in which it affects learning. Another significant part of the work ahead will be the way in which Westminster continues to commit itself to issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. There has been good work done already and good work that is planned moving forward.

Fall 2021

Have you found any urgent issues facing Westminster? Elaine: Bill Philip left Westminster in terrific shape. There is nothing broken. I am so lucky to be able to come in and have the time to build relationships and get to know the school better because there are not any fires to put out. While Westminster is in such a great space, there are lots of schools that are not. One of the things I did this past summer was attend the New Heads Institute held by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), where I met different people who were talking about the situations they inherited. I stayed quiet because I felt so good about the way in which I had just been welcomed into Westminster and the way in which everybody on the team is pointed in the same direction. I could not check any of those boxes of concern that other people were talking about and that is really because of the wonderful work of the people in the school community.

How has the pandemic reshaped Westminster? Elaine: Not only did we have a whole new set of students come in this year, but we have a significant number of students who came to Westminster for the first time last year during a pandemic. And even though Westminster did a fabulous job of bringing as many students onto campus as possible and providing them with as many programs as possible, it was still an incredibly challenging year. We are in the third academic year of a pandemic, so almost our entire student body has not had a normal year on campus. The COVID Task Force continues to meet weekly, and remains nimble to figure out multiple plans to address any challenges and make sure that students are safe and healthy, and having the kind of experience that they really want, which includes socializing, playing sports, being onstage and learning in the classroom. The challenge of the pandemic for schools has been the way in which sands underneath our feet are shifting. There are some changes that we made due to the pandemic that we would like to continue, and at the same time, there are some traditional programs and activities we have restored. We are just starting to think about the impact of the pandemic on the learning needs of students and the ways in which that could influence changes in our curriculum moving forward.

You have talked about coming back to community this year at Westminster. What do you mean by that? Elaine: While the start of this school year was shaped by the pandemic, we have put ourselves in a position with a fully vaccinated school community to make community be the focus of our work. We can talk about all facets of why we do what we do: Why do we have family-style lunch? Why do we have an afternoon program? What is the value of the dormitory experience? Why Grit & Grace? How do I show my Grit & 16

Westminster Bulletin

Grace as this year unfolds? It matters for each one of us — students, faculty, staff — to be thinking about the ways in which we take on that responsibility for being in community. And coming out of a pandemic means reengaging by putting down the phone, stepping away from Zoom, and being helpful, supportive and engaged. It means thinking about who we are, who we are with our character and how who we are shows itself within this community: Am I holding doors? Am I looking up and saying hello to people? Am I hanging out in the dining hall and sitting with a variety of people? Am I watching games and attending Dramat performances? These are things for everyone in our community to consider. If we say we are a community, then we have to think about this kind of involvement. I know students were really excited about coming back this fall, and I think, in particular, members of the Sixth Form have been giving us momentum with their enthusiasm and involvement. Certainly, the younger students are looking up to the Sixth Formers and getting their cues about what is entailed in living in community at Westminster.

Is there special meaning for you in being the first female head of school for Westminster? Elaine: It is something I have thought a lot about, and it is wonderful that the 50th anniversary of coeducation is in conjunction with my first year as a female head of school. And that is serendipitous, but what does it mean? In some ways, it means nothing because this is a school that for the past 50 years has been welcoming women and young girls, and including them as part of the community. In so many ways, it is nothing because the same work is moving forward, whether a male or female sits in this position. And that is great to be able to say. It does not matter whether I am male or female in this role. It is about the work moving forward and doing that work together.

But at the same time, to be first in anything sends another message about that next step in inclusion. To think that women can be the head of something and lead is an important message about inclusion. It is the first time that Westminster has been able to send that message in this particular role, and I think that is important. I do not think the school thought twice about the fact that they were hiring a woman. That was not the intent. It just happened. And again, that is such a positive. But it does encourage us, not just in terms of gender, but in so many different areas of diversity, to think about ways in which Westminster, as it moves into the future, will look different from what it looked like in 1888 in Dobbs Ferry or in 1940 in Simsbury.

Why is it important for Westminster to celebrate its 50th anniversary of coeducation this academic year? Elaine: First, it is a historical moment in the life of the school. And, again, it is important to celebrate it because it is an example of inclusivity, change and the school’s commitment to evolve. I think of the women who came and taught on the faculty and about the faculty wives before the move toward coeducation. Those faculty wives dedicated their life to the school and helping the boys who went to Westminster to grow. Celebrating coeducation also celebrates those women and brings their history to the front. Also, there has been significant change, even over the last 50 years, with the ways in which young women have found their voice and their strength at Westminster. Westminster is far different in 2022 than it was in 1972. There is such value in celebrating that growth and thinking about what will another 50 years bring. What will we say then?

Following the successful conclusion of the Soar Together Campaign, how do you hope members of the Westminster community will continue to support the school philanthropically? Elaine: We want to continue that momentum, although it will be different for a while because we are not currently involved in a major comprehensive campaign. There will certainly be initiatives that we move forward with that will rely on the generosity of donors, and those initiatives are important. Philanthropy is always about making the school stronger and creating a foundation for our students, so as they move on after graduation, they are in a position to succeed academically, socially and emotionally in their life. The continued success of The Westminster Fund remains paramount in affording these opportunities. There is incredible dedication and commitment to this school from faculty, staff, alumni and parents. Because we all take pride in the work at Westminster and the growth of the students, I know we will continue to experience philanthropy that will help Westminster grow and meet new goals.

How do you intend to be engaged with the larger Westminster community of alumni and parents around the U.S. and the world? Elaine: We intend to start that engagement this academic year, although the pandemic will have some control over that. But as much as I am able, I will be at the receptions we hold in different cities and am looking forward to attending some admissions events, too. We will continue to use Zoom for some hybrid events. And maybe there will be some travel next summer to Asia. Let us see what happens. There are numerous events planned for the second semester that will bring people onto campus such as the Williams Hill Society Dinner to celebrate the 50th anniversary of coeducation and a mega reunion in June. I will do some travel this year, but my primary space will be on campus. Again, it is really important that I spend time on campus and get to know the community.

What are some of the major issues facing independent schools right now? Elaine: One of the significant issues facing independent schools is affordability and trying to continue to attract a wide variety of people to this sort of education. We know the value of the education and the pandemic helped us to understand even better the importance of the work that we do and the kind of attention that we can provide for students as they mature, which is central to their education, their citizenship and their character. The cost of that work is challenging, and we have to continue to think about ways in which to make this education affordable for more people. Another challenge for independent schools is helping our students understand the world they are inheriting and helping them build their character and accept the responsibility to be living in that world and addressing its challenges.

Fall 2021

This fall, Westminster launched a yearlong celebration of 50 years of coeducation to showcase the important role of women in the school’s history since the first group of 12 girls arrived on campus as day students in 1971. Special programming is taking place throughout the 2021-2022 academic year, including panel discussions, guest readers and a celebratory event in April. For the most up-to-date schedule, please visit www.womenofwestminster.org/events. The Bulletin’s coverage of this milestone year begins in this issue with reflections about coeducation from six alumnae across the decades, a timeline of firsts for women at Westminster and highlights from some of the events that have taken place. Planning for the celebration has been spearheaded by a committee composed of alumni and faculty, and co-chaired by Trustee Renée Lynch Carrel ’84, P’19, ’21 and Director of Advancement Operations Shannon O’Shaughnessy.

Westminster Bulletin

ALUMNAE REFLECTIONS ABOUT COEDUCATION

A Great Decision for Westminster By Former Trustee Gena R. Carter M.D. ’76 I had no trepidation about being one of the 39 young women to enter the student body at Westminster School in the fall of 1972, the second year of coeducation. The “Dirty Dozen” (as some fellow students “affectionately” called the first 12 young female coeducation pioneers — there was an award-winning movie with that name in 1967 — it had nothing to do with girls or coeducation) had already taken the shock out of seeing girls in the classroom or in the dining hall. In fact, I think I could have been the only female in the Westminster student body, and it would not have fazed me at all: I grew up as the only sister with four energetic and inquisitive brothers in nearby Hartford, Conn. Only six years separated the oldest sibling from the youngest. My oldest brother, Wayne ’75, was already a day student at Westminster. I think his excitement fueled my interest. Before coming to Westminster as a female scholarship night, I always had a place to sleep on campus. I remember student in September 1972, I may have spent a nanosecond no shortage of offers to stay overnight with the Werners, thinking about the coeducational experience; it was all I had Brooks, Burdettes, Ilzarbes, Rodneys, Adams or other faculty known. I was just glad to have been admitted to a school where at the time. I had a greater opportunity to go to the college of my choice, Every coeducational need and comfort could not have if I put in the necessary time and work. I had had the privilege been anticipated in those early years, but when they arose, they of attending public schools in Hartford that were rigorous and were addressed. For example, there was no dedicated place for challenging, and I was looking forward to continuing serious young women to rest or relax between classes and choir, or academics after eighth grade. Once the school year began, I was while waiting for sports practice to start, or while waiting to singularly laser-focused on learning everything I could in the be picked up from school on a late night or weekend, unless classroom. I also wanted to expand you hung out in the school library my interest in choral singing that (it closed by 10 p.m., I think) or the began in elementary school and had “Before coming to Westminster waiting area of Cushing Hall, or continued since that time. in a dormitory lounge area (which as a female scholarship student in I felt accepted, welcomed was not encouraged). So, the school and at home in my new learning September 1972, I may have spent business manager repurposed an environment as a Third Form unused faculty apartment on the a nanosecond thinking about the student. I felt like I was surrounded second floor of Cushing as the Girls’ by nurturing and supportive Fourth, coeducational experience; it was all Lounge. We even got to choose the Fifth and Sixth formers (more like paint colors and made suggestions I had known. I was just glad to have brothers maybe?). As saccharine about furniture for the lounge. as it sounds, the faculty, staff and been admitted to a school where I Because I sewed almost all of my their families made me feel like I and accessories back then, had a greater opportunity to go to the clothes was a part of a larger extended the business manager asked me to family. I had the same comfort level college of my choice, if I put in the make the curtains for all the rooms. at school as I did in my familial Our lounge was ready at the start of necessary time and work.” home. Although I did not have the my Fourth Form year. option to be a boarding student There was also a tea social in the early days of coeducation, I in Keyes House prior to the start still felt a sense of community and inclusion. I thought that was of school every year, welcoming the returning and new girl how boarding schools were supposed to operate. Frequently, students. It was a gathering of female students, faculty and involvement in activities outside the classroom like choir or staff, that had no hidden agenda or cause. It was just an theater extended well into the late evening or night. If it did not opportunity to visit and share with one another socially. make sense to trek home to Hartford after a very late school That was such a special touch, I thought. Fall 2021

I was the first African American young woman to attend Westminster and the first to graduate (because Carter came before Davis). If I had been a member of the initial coeducation class, I could have been part of the “13th Warrior(s)” or “13 Lead Soldiers” (also movies that had nothing to do with girls or coeducation). This trifecta would have caused me to have my own little internal celebration. Remembrances of the bitter and

bittersweet moments did not overshadow the graceful days. I was much more excited that the greatest number of honors and accolades at graduation were awarded to young women in the Class of 1976. It was a great decision for Westminster to become coeducational and “amp up” its excellence.

“Looking back now, I realize that I was surrounded by many strong female role models and supportive male faculty — and that allowed me not to think twice about being a female at Westminster.”

Looking Back at the Coeducation Journey By Trustee Renée Lynch Carrel ’84, P’19, ’21 I arrived on Williams Hill in September 1981 — exactly one decade after Westminster welcomed its first female students to campus and four years after the first class of female boarders took up residence in Westminster House (later renamed Squibb House). I have to admit I had no idea that I was entering Westminster in the early stages of coeducation. That’s partly because I was oblivious to the important societal shifts in the ’70s that afforded me the opportunity to attend a school like Westminster. But more importantly, I attribute my blissful ignorance to those first brave women who paved a smooth road for those of us who followed and to Westminster’s nurturing and empowering environment that allowed young women to participate, flourish and compete equally with the boys in all the school had to offer. Looking back now, I realize that I was surrounded by many strong female role models and supportive male faculty — and 20

Westminster Bulletin

that allowed me not to think twice about being a female at Westminster. Although I didn’t realize it at the time, Nancy Urner-Berry ’81 (aka NUBs) was the first of those role models. As I sat on Commencement Lawn at my older brother’s Westminster graduation in the spring of 1981, Nancy Grahame Urner was repeatedly called to the stage to receive numerous awards. I didn’t have the pleasure of meeting Nancy until 35 years later when my daughter arrived at Westminster. Still, her name stuck in the back of my mind as a shining example of an outstanding female student and community member. So, it’s no wonder that I entered Westminster with the implicit knowledge and confidence that the girls could be just as successful as the boys. While at Westminster, I spent three, often challenging, years in Priscilla MacMullen’s French class. She was an excellent, passionate and demanding teacher who inspired me to follow in her footsteps and spend my junior year in college studying in France. My favorite English teacher was Susan Castle, who made the arcane rules of grammar accessible and was an excellent writing coach. I attribute my love for writing and obsession with grammar to her dynamic teaching. Finally, I was extremely fortunate to have the wise and steady support of Robert Rodney as both my dorm parent and advisor — and the incredible kindness and encouragement of Mike Jackson ’49, who gave everyone the confidence they could conquer calculus. These are just a few examples of the fantastic faculty who allowed me — and many other Westminster women — to build confidence, find our voices, weather disappointments and achieve success right alongside the boys. When I started at Westminster, I was focused more on what lay ahead than what had come before. Forty years later, as an alumna and mother of two daughters who have graduated from Westminster, it’s been incredible to reflect on the coeducation journey that started with those first 12 trailblazing women and has been filled with so much growth, grit and grace.

Carrying on the Legacy of Grit & Grace By Trustee Kirsten Sichler Webb ’98 Admittedly, I did not think much about coeducation while I was a student at Westminster in the late 1990s. It was a time of global technology advances related to the internet and computers (I received my first email address at Westminster!), and coeducation at the school had marked a 25-year milestone in 1996. I was surrounded by strong women and men among my student peers and the faculty, and we were all expected to conduct ourselves according to the school’s motto, Grit & Grace. Every day it was expected of you to live, learn, compete and give back in this way. The school’s mission truly imbued itself in every aspect of my Westminster experience. I felt equally challenged and supported by my male and female friends, teachers and coaches to engage in the classroom, to participate in our school community, and to try new things that would not only strengthen my character, skills and confidence, but also prepare me for the eventual transition to life in a greater community beyond Westminster. In particular, both of my French teachers and my field hockey coach were supportive female role models. Mme. Sara Deveaux and Mme. Kristi Shanahan brought to life the experience of learning such a beautiful language. They were not

only precise about how to become competent in French, but their teaching styles encouraged me to broaden my love of the language through appreciation of its classic literature. By our Sixth Form year, our petite French cohort had shrunk to just three girls and, together with Mme. Shanahan, this made for a most special ladies-only learning experience. Outside the classroom, Ms. Suzanne Walker helped me develop many valuable skills. As my field hockey coach, she taught me the skills and the strategy necessary for the sport. She taught all the girls on the team to learn from each other and how to celebrate our wins and learn from our losses, and she showed us the importance of supporting each other on and off the field. She also mentored me in my first role as a team captain, holding me to the highest standards as a player and developing leadership skills, which have since served me well. From my perspective, the school worked to create an authentic balance between making its most cherished traditions and experiences available to all students, while at the same time offering various opportunities to showcase one’s particular talents or contributions. For example, I have fond memories of singing with a talented group of ladies as part of the Westminster Belles. Most importantly, Westminster strived to engender an environment in which all of its community members could form special, lasting bonds. As I reflect on 50 years of coeducation at Westminster School, my immediate thoughts center around this community spirit on Williams Hill and the culture fostered by Grit & Grace. I am thankful for those first few classes of female alumnae who took the leap of faith on Westminster, when many of its peer schools had yet to welcome women. I am likewise thankful for the women who walked beside me during my years on campus, and for those who came afterward. In my adult life, I often run into former female classmates or other alumnae, and I never cease to be amazed by all of the astounding things they’re up to. They each carry on the legacy of Grit & Grace and embody the community spirit we all developed during such a special time in our life at Westminster.

“I felt equally challenged and supported by my male and female friends, teachers and coaches to engage in the classroom, to participate in our school community, and to try new things that would not only strengthen my character, skills and confidence, but also prepare me for the eventual transition to life in a greater community beyond Westminster.”

Fall 2021

Learning to be Confident and Enthusiastic About Who You Are By Lindsay Leal ’01 When I reflect on my time at Westminster in the late ’90s and early ’00s, I can conjure up a thousand emotional memories of classes and games, traditions and new experiences, and, of course, normal teenage highs and lows. And while I think about that time incredibly fondly, I would not say my own performance as a high schooler was especially outstanding. I was neither a stellar athlete nor groundbreaking scholar. I liked to make art, but after arriving at Skidmore College as an undergraduate, I realized I was not a particular standout in that realm either. If you compared my academic and extracurricular records to the records of my current students or showed my records to a current college counselor, the college counselor would likely balk at my underachievement or politely hand me a list of “safety schools” and send me on my way. And despite this, while a student at Westminster, I never felt more content, important or seen. Now, I realize that a large part of this stems from the colossal shift in the competitiveness of the college application process over the last 20 years, and the undue pressures that teenagers (especially young women) face on a daily basis. The onslaught of “should be, should do, should want, should produce” messages that young women see every day, frankly, just did not exist in 1998. Fair enough. But I also suspect that a large part of the contentment I felt came from the role models I found while at Westminster, in faculty, staff, and my friends and family. And for this gift of female role models, I am forever grateful for my experience at Westminster. At Westminster, I was surrounded by women who were strong, funny, fearless, brilliant and brave. They were women were scaffolding to me during a time when I was trying to build who didn’t hide or downplay any parts of their personalities, myself. They showed me that the most important thing you can their bodies or their lives to fit a certain type. And I in turn, be is confident and enthusiastic about exactly who you are. was celebrated for being smart And then consider the friends I and funny and brave — even if I made while on the Hill. The female “At Westminster, I was surrounded wasn’t the smartest, funniest or friendships I built at Westminster by women who were strong, funny, most courageous. I belonged and are unparalleled by any other friends felt important for just being my from any other stage of life. I truly fearless, brilliant and brave. They authentic self. The list could never be consider these women my sisters. were women who didn’t hide exhaustive, but to start, women like We’ve raised each other during Molly Woodroofe, Amanda Tucker, arguably the most difficult stage of or downplay any parts of their Kathleen Devaney, Barbara Adams, development. They are women I learn personalities, their bodies or their Manon Pratt, Robin Newman, from, grow with and keep in touch Christine Werner, Amy Stevens, Sara with daily, even 20 years later. They lives to fit a certain type.” Deveaux, Siobhan Ulrich, Kathryn gave me the freedom to be silly and Warner, Pat Thompson, Rhonda authentic in a totally judgement-free Smith, Caroline Haskell, Kristin Walton and Suzanne Walker zone. I handle pressure, cope with hardship, and move through displayed a dynamism, encouragement and dedication to their my life with grit and grace because of the lessons they have work and to students that was formative to say the least. They taught me and the constant support they have provided. 22

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My sister, Meghan Leal Campbell ’96 and my cousin, Samantha Fiske ’92 are two additional Westminster women who helped me foster this sense of self, and a confidence in my authenticity that I think shaped me as an adult and an educator today. When I see my own students as a faculty member at Taft or nieces and nephews being silly, laughing with abandon surrounded by people who love and support them, I am elated

to know they might have even fleeting moments of that same feeling of confidence and security I did while at Westminster. I’ve dedicated my life and career to being one of those women in the lives of my students and the young people in my life; one who brings her whole authentic self to each moment and creates and holds space for my students to do just the same.

Supported by the Community Around Me By Julia Krys ’19 After my four years at Westminster, I can say without a doubt that all of the leadership roles on campus welcome and encourage the involvement of female students. Though I occupied many leadership positions at Westminster, there are two particular experiences I had where female teachers pushed me to lead, and I was so deeply enriched because of their mentorship. During my Third Form year, I worked with faculty members Lisa McGrath and Kathleen Devaney to develop the Jewish Union (Jewnion). Had those two faculty members not given me the confidence to pursue this club, it would not have grown into the fixture it was by my Sixth Form year — a place for all students to learn about Jewish culture. The second leadership experience that was very impactful for me was being a co-head of the All As One Feminist Alliance (AAOFA), for which faculty member Jessica Keough encouraged me to apply. Being a co-head of the AAOFA taught me so much, not only about how to raise awareness about the inequities women face both on campus and around the world, but also about women’s history. During my Sixth Form year, we curated an exhibit for Women’s History Month called “Nevertheless She Persisted,” where both students and faculty took part in highlighting women in history who were trailblazers in their respective fields. This exhibit was a huge triumph for AAOFA, and I felt an enormous sense of pride in having lesserknown women’s history be illuminated in Fearn Hall. I had several role models at Westminster — both male and female, my peers and faculty members — who all empowered me to pursue what I am passionate about. Now I am at my dream school, Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, studying theater, music and business of entertainment. Although it’s hard to imagine Westminster before coeducation, I am sure that the presence of female students, especially in leadership positions, enriches campus life. The female voice, which is so often excluded from leadership, has a different perspective to offer, and I am so grateful that I had

the chance to contribute to Westminster’s landscape during my time there as a young woman who was well-supported by the community around me. All of the aforementioned faculty members, and so many more, helped me to develop personally and academically as I made my transition to college. It truly is such a tight-knit community at Westminster, and I feel like I owe my time there and all of my successes in college and beyond to each and every member of the community who supported me along the way.

“The female voice, which is so often excluded from leadership, has a different perspective to offer, and I am so grateful that I had the chance to contribute to Westminster’s landscape during my time there as a young woman who was wellsupported by the community around me.” Fall 2021

Coming Together to Make the School Our Own By Allie Masthay ’21 When I first arrived at Westminster, I knew very little about the relatively short history of coeducation at the school and honestly did not give it much thought. I never assumed that my gender would hold me back at school, and in many ways, this was true. The teachers and coaches pushed hard for achievement from all students, regardless of gender. For the four years I was a part of the softball team, it was the winningest sport at the school, grateful that the teachers at Westminster were so immediately and we had female head prefects for two out of my four years helpful and supportive when I wanted to start the club, and at Westminster. I was surrounded by girls who succeeded in I’m especially grateful to the first few girls who decided to every area of school life. However, as time went on I noticed give the club a try. Over the next three years, the club became that there were still some discrepancies between boys and girls in very well attended, and each new member brought their own the classroom: girls still found themselves trapped in superficial ideas and excitement. academic stereotypes. While loud, confident boys were praised Another important role model for me was Mike Lawler, in class as excellent collaborators, their female counterparts a new English teacher for the 2020-2021 school year. He were criticized as too loud or too confident. The fear of falling was only my teacher for the last three months of my senior into these stereotypes made me initially not participate in class elective, yet it was one of the most engaging three months as much as I could. Luckily my advisor, Cara Hugabonne, was of my Westminster career. This a perfect role model and mentor for was the first time that a teacher me. As a woman in education herself, “I was surrounded by girls who spoke openly about feminism and she was able to give me advice on how succeeded in every area of school encouraged honest debates between to make my voice assertive in class, my classmates. The elective was and to actively engage to better my life. However, as time went on I centered around theater, and each own learning. I started to look closely noticed that there were still some play that we discussed was related at my classmates and teachers, and noticed that strong female teachers like discrepancies between boys and girls to feminism and gender inequality in some way. Though these themes Mrs. Hugabonne were crucial to the in the classroom: girls still found had surfaced in English classes development and success of girls before, I had never been part of such at Westminster. themselves trapped in superficial a passionate, lively conversation This whole experience made academic stereotypes. While loud, on the relevance of these themes in me realize that, while girls had the same opportunities and resources confident boys were praised in class my daily life. Mr. Lawler provided a safe environment for everyone to that boys had at Westminster, there as excellent collaborators, their share their opinions, even if they could be other students like myself conflicted, and it meant a great deal who struggled with problems related female counterparts were criticized to hear a teacher vocally support to attitude or confidence. I started as too loud or too confident.” and defend gender equality. to get involved with feminism at Reflecting on the last 50 years Westminster by joining the All As One has made it clear that I (and all of my female peers) owe a lot Feminist Alliance (AAOFA), a club that allowed all students to to the girls who came before me, who paved the way for my share their ideas and stories about feminism. It was the perfect own opportunities and success at the school. To a teenager forum for female students to be completely honest about their who just graduated high school, 50 years can seem like a long own struggles and help each other brainstorm solutions. I loved time, but considering the immense progress that girls have AAOFA, but I also wanted to add my own, unique touch to made at the school, it is a very tight window. It’s also inspiring feminism at Westminster. At the beginning of my sophomore that even after all of this progress, none of the female students year, I started a branch of SWENext (the high-school level of the have gotten complacent, and they are dedicated to carrying Society of Women Engineers, a national organization dedicated on the work that female students have now been doing for to supporting women in STEM) at Westminster. The club five decades. I’m very excited to see how all the girls after me encouraged girls to come together for fun projects and to learn continue to come together and make the school their own. more about feminism in the STEM fields. Looking back, I’m 24

Westminster Bulletin

Fifty Years of Firsts During the past 50 years, numerous firsts have happened for women at Westminster. Some of those achievements are highlighted in the following timeline.

Women 1971 of Westminster

1972

C E L E B R AT I N G 5 0 Y E A R S O F C O E D U C AT I O N

1971–2021 Penny Stone is appointed assistant dean.

Beth-Ann Gentile graduates as a member of the Class of 1972.

Twelve girls enroll as day students at Westminster School.

The first coed Track team is established. Joan O’Brien is appointed as an admissions officer.

English and dramatics teacher Wendy Wilson is appointed to the faculty.

The first coed Swimming team takes to the pool.

Gena Carter ’76 becomes the first female student of color. At commencement in 1973, she is awarded the Butler Bowl, which is presented to a member of the Third Form for character and leadership.

The first Girls’ Soccer team begins play.

Fall 2021

1972

1973

Girls join Black and Gold, known then as Student Guides.

The first Dance Program is established with nine students.

The first Girls’ Lacrosse team begins competition.

Ann Culver ’76, Gena Carter ’76 and Lisa Mitchell ’74 become members of the Student Council.

The first coed Squash team takes to the courts.

A coed Third Tennis team takes to the courts.

Coached by Roger Bevan, the first Girls’ Basketball team is formed.

Lisa Mitchell ’74 is elected to the Prefect Board.

Mary Ann Rice, center, is named the first Field Hockey coach.

During academic year 19721973, Anne McDermott ’76 becomes the first threesport varsity athlete: soccer, swimming, and track and field.

Westminster Bulletin

The first Girls’ Tennis team is established. Jocelyn V. Kurosky ’73, front row, is the first editor-in-chief of the Spectator (yearbook).

1974

1975

Carol Taylor ’75, pictured with John Ford, is named the first female president of Dramat.

The first Softball team steps up to the plate.

1976

Captain Anne McDermott ’76 leads the first Girls’ Swimming team to a second-place finish at the New England championships.

Gena Carter ’76 is the first female junior prefect.

Ann Kimberly Elliott ’76 ties with classmate Frederick Rendol Barlow ’76 as the top-ranked student in the Sixth Form.

1977 Pamela Louyse Hansen ’77 earns solo distinction as the top-ranked student in the Sixth Form. Mary Ann Leavitt is named head of girls’ athletics.

Margaret Barlow joins the faculty as a college counselor.

Caroline Britton ’75 becomes the first female Choir president.

1978

Paddle Tennis is offered as a sport. Fall 2021

1980

1984 Megan Elizabeth Kemp ’84 is awarded the Keyes Bowl at commencement. Considered the most prestigious commencement award, it recognizes a Sixth Former who displays the qualities of loyalty, courage, leadership and humanity.

1987 Cross Country becomes a coed sport.

First Girls’ Hockey takes to the ice.

Deborah Stanton ’80 is named Outstanding Scholar. She is the first female editor of The Westminster News.

Betsy Bradford ’80, from Somerset, Bermuda, becomes the first female international student to graduate from Westminster.

1983

The Spectator is dedicated to Jacqueline L. Schmitz, the school nurse and health education coordinator.

The first Richard K. LeBlond II Honor Award is presented to Shirene Brown ’87 at commencement. The award is given to a Sixth Former who exemplifies dedication to academics and loyalty to the school.

1988

Coached by Mary Eckerson, the first Girls’ Volleyball team takes to the court. While none of the girls had played volleyball before, the team managed to win its final two games of the season.

Westminster Bulletin

Debbie Riegel P’90, ’95, left, and Dr. Gena Carter ’76, right, are elected to the Board of Trustees.

1989

1993

Martha Kurtz is named the first female athletic director.

1991

Faculty member Joyce Wilson is named head of the Mathematics Department.

Suzanne Daglio ’94 is elected as the first female head prefect.

1997 Ann Gilman, who served as organist, choir accompanist, voice coach, music director for Dramat productions and choral arranger beginning in 1956 and was appointed to the faculty in 1972, receives the Swayze Award. This annual award recognizes a member of the faculty for outstanding contributions to the life of the school.

Lucia Quartararo ’91 is the first female John Hay president.

1998 Jennifer Kleeman Wall ’92 is the first student editor, male or female, of The Martlet.

1992

Faculty member Joyce Wilson is named director of studies.

Faculty member Tally Briggs receives a 20-year service pin.

Coached by Greg Marco, Margot Weil ’94 joins the golf team. Fall 2021

2000

2004 At commencement, the inaugural Wilbraham Bowl is given to Meriwether Hardie ’05. The award is presented to a member of the Fifth Form who best embodies the qualities of Geoffrey Wilbraham, who gave distinguished and loyal service to Westminster from 1958 to 1994.

Julia Eells joins the Westminster School faculty as assistant headmaster.

2007

2001

Under the leadership of coach Mitch Overbye, the Softball team earns the first of 11 Founders League titles.

English teacher and Chapel Program coordinator Barbara Adams receives the C. Hiram Upson Family Chair. Established in 2003 by former trustee and alumnus Hi Upson ’50, the chair is awarded every five years and honors a faculty member in the humanities who is a master teacher of writing. Sara Anderson is named director of information technology.

2002

2008

The Softball team completes the season with a record of 18-0 and earns the first of nine Western New England championships for the program.

Kathleen Devaney receives the O’Brien Award, which recognizes a faculty member who has been especially selfless and generous with time and care in the nurture and support of students and whose extraordinary, ongoing personal commitment to young people sets an example to the Westminster community. 30

Westminster Bulletin

The Girls’ Hockey program wins the first of six Founders League championships, the most recent coming in 2020.

2009

2016

Led by captains Eliza Mell ’16, Erin Haydon ’16 and Michelle Sciafani ’16, and coached by Scott Stevens, the first Girls’ Golf team is established. First Field Hockey earns its first Founders League championship.

2010

Maggie Pinney is named director of development.

2018 Eda Chen ’20 is awarded the Adams Bowl, which is given to the member of the Fourth Form who best embodies the qualities of Richard and Barbara Adams, who gave devoted service to Westminster for over 40 years, showing outstanding personal qualities and concern for the community and unwavering dedication to students.

Led by coaches David Pope and Jessica Keough, First Girls’ Hockey earns its first New England championship.

2012 Appointed to the faculty as assistant head of school in 2005, Nancy Spencer is named associate head of school. Nancy served in a leadership role at Westminster for 15 years and taught history.

2013 Moy Ogilvie Johnson ’86 receives the Alan Brooks ’55 Distinguished Alumni Award, which is presented to an individual who exemplifies in thought, word and deed the school’s mission and who practices Westminster’s core values of community, character, balance and involvement.

History teacher Mary Pat Gritzmacher is named the holder of the Walter Edge Jr. ’35 Master Chair. The chair is awarded every five years to a “distinguished teacher whose performance sets a standard of excellence for others.”

Julie Collins becomes chief financial officer.

Longtime faculty member Kathleen Devaney is appointed executive director of Horizons at Westminster. The Horizons summer program and follow-up academies are designed to boost educational achievement and broaden access to opportunity for students from underresourced communities. Fall 2021

2019

Girls’ Cross Country is crowned Founders League champions.

First Girls’ Squash wins the Division III title at the HEAD U.S. High School Team Squash Championships.

2020 History teacher Betsy Heckman is named the first recipient of the Coumantaros Family and William V.N. Philip History Department Chair. The chair was established in 2020 by John and Elena Coumantaros, along with their daughter, Sophia ’21, to honor William V.N. Philip, the school’s eighth head of school. Faculty member Jessica Keough is named dean of faculty.

2021

Elaine B. White is named the ninth head of school.

Women of Westminster C E L E B R AT I N G 5 0 Y E A R S O F C O E D U C AT I O N

1971–2021 32

Westminster Bulletin

Top row, Renée Lynch Carrel ’84, P’19, ’21, Shannon O’Shaughnessy and Euni Han-van Vredenburch ’84, P’21; middle row, Elaine White, Dallis Alvarez ’18 and Dr. Gena R. Carter ’76; bottom row, Sakinah Carter Suttiratana ’90 and Devonna Hall P’25

Women of Color Panel Discussion As part of Westminster’s celebration of 50 years of coeducation, a Women of Color virtual panel discussion was held for the school community Oct. 11 that was moderated by Euni Hanvan Vredenburch ’84, P’21, an anchor-correspondent with ABC News Audio. Panelists included Dallis Alvarez ’18, a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; former trustee Gena R. Carter M.D. ’76, a radiologist in Tennessee; Devonna Hall P’25, dean of diversity, equity and inclusion at Westminster; Sakinah Carter Suttiratana ’90, a Yale School of Public Health associate research scientist; and Westminster Head of School Elaine White. Faculty and students viewed the online discussion in Werner Centennial Center as part of Diversity Day, and other members of the school community were able to participate via Zoom. Euni began the discussion by saying, “I am so happy to be here to help tell some stories and also to listen to some.” She then asked the panelists to discuss what it was like growing up; what surprised them about Westminster; which word in Westminster’s motto better describes their career path, grit or grace; what obstacles remain in their industry; as a mother, sister or daughter,

what is one thing they would like to tell the dads, brothers and sons out there; how can diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) be merged into daily learning at Westminster to better understanding; and what kind of environments would they like for the next generation at Westminster, about 25 years from now. The participants also responded to questions submitted by faculty members, panel registrants and students about how the new focus on DEI has had an impact on them and their career and how they integrate that into their profession, parenting and public life; whether there is something they wish they knew as a younger person growing up that they know now; whether in late 2021 there is an emerging word, phrase or title for this important work that resonates for them more than the current DEI; and whether they have a favorite quote or phrase. In closing, Euni thanked the panelists for sharing their time and their stories, Renée Lynch Carrel ’84, P’19, ’21 and Shannon O’Shaughnessy, co-chairs of the 50th Anniversary of Coeducation Celebration, for organizing the event, and everyone for listening. “I hope we all learned something today,” she concluded.

Fall 2021

Friday Nights at Westminster Series Celebrates 50 Years of Coeducation The Friday Nights at Westminster series of readings for this academic year is paying tribute to Westminster’s 50 years of coeducation celebration with its lineup of writers who are visiting campus for readings and to talk with students in English classes. Bestselling memoirist and humorist Gina Barreca kicked off the series with a reading Oct. 8 in Werner Centennial Center. She has appeared on “20/20,” “The Today Show,” CNN, the BBC, “Dr. Phil,” NPR and “Oprah” to discuss gender, power, politics and humor. She is the author of “If You Lean In, Will Men Just Look Down Your Blouse?” “It’s Not That I’m Bitter, Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying About Visible Panty Lines and Conquered the World,” the bestselling “They Used to Call Me Snow White But I Drifted: Women’s Strategic Use of Humor” and “Babes in Boyland: A Personal History of Coeducation in the Ivy League.” She talked about writing and being the first in her family to attend college. She also read excerpts from “Babes in Boyland,” a humorous and provocative account of being a female undergraduate at Dartmouth College in its turbulent first years of coeducation. She shared stories about the challenges of being one of the first female students attending Dartmouth in the 1970s and how the college had to adapt when female students were admitted. “We all felt like we didn’t belong,” she said. She also talked about using humor in writing, saying, “Humor allows you to reach across a great distance.” She added, “You have to pay attention to the details in your life. Out of the details comes the story.” The second reading in the series featured bestselling novelist and short story writer, Jennifer Haigh, who gave a reading Nov. 5 in Andrews Memorial Chapel of her short story “Sublimation,”

Jennifer Haigh 34

Westminster Bulletin

Gina Barreca

which was published in Ploughshares. Haigh is the author of the highly acclaimed novels “Mrs. Kimble,” “Baker Towers,” “The Condition,” “Faith,” “Heat and Light,” and a book of short stories, “News From Heaven.” Her new novel, “Mercy Street,” will be released in February. Other scheduled readings include journalist Daniel D’Addario ’06 Dec. 10; singer-songwriter Dori Freeman Jan. 28; and poet Mahogany L. Browne April 29. Student and faculty readers are also regular participants in the Friday Nights at Westminster readings, which is directed by former faculty member Michael Cervas P’96, ’01, ’10. The Michael Cervas Visiting Writers Program, which includes the Friday Nights at Westminster series of readings and concerts, is supported by generous gifts from the Ford-Goldfarb English Department Enrichment Fund, the McKinley Fund, the Connell Fund and the Friday Nights at Westminster Fund.

The Lawn Ceremony

This year’s Lawn Ceremony took place May 8, rather than the night before commencement. Attendance was limited to members of the Fifth and Sixth forms, and the event was livestreamed to others. As in previous years, enthusiasm was palpable for this longtime Westminster tradition. Members of the Sixth Form escorted members of the Fifth Form onto the lawn one by one and led faculty members Tony Griffith, David Chrzanowski and Mary Pat Gritzmacher onto the lawn as honorary alumni faculty. Lastly, the Prefect Board pulled on members of next year’s Prefect Board: Priscilla Ameyaw, Sung Min Cho, Margot Douglass, Daniel Lurie, Jamai Miller, Shelby Oken, Kellen Seeley, Sawyer von Jess, Benno Wurts, Christian Yalda and Janessa Yan. The last two Fifth Formers brought onto the lawn were next year’s junior prefect, Bella Tawney, and the new head prefect, Cooper Kistler.

Fall 2021

Commencement 2021

Westminster Bulletin

Westminster School celebrated the graduation of 114 students during commencement exercises May 16. It was an extra joyous occasion as it marked a return to an in-person ceremony, which could not occur in 2020. With health protocols in place, family members gathered in socially distanced seating throughout Commencement Lawn, and others were able to view the ceremony online.

Fall 2021

Head of School Bill Philip

Head Prefect Will Rizzo ’21

Outstanding Scholar Jean-Claude Lane ’21

Head of School Bill Philip welcomed everyone and spoke about the remarkable year that no one will ever forget and how the Class of 2021 led with enormous Grit & Grace. “Your courageous leadership made it possible for us to reflect upon and to strive to advance in our school community the enormous challenges accompanying our national and worldwide reckoning on diversity, equity and inclusion,” he said. “Thanks to the Class of 2021’s leadership, as well, we enjoyed a very successful year of in-person teaching and learning on Williams Hill. We were here on campus together, and we accepted the health protocols that were necessary for us to remain here. All of this was so hard, but the goodwill and energy of this class never wavered.” He described how the Admissions Office received more than 1,000 applications for fall 2021 for about 130 openings, while simultaneously reinventing the admissions process to accommodate health and safety protocols on campus. He also recognized the work of the College Counseling Office, saying the college admissions results for members of the Class of 2021 were excellent, with students admitted to many of their top choices, including many of the most selective colleges and universities. “Needless to say, this achievement underscores the impressive talent shared by all of the graduates we are celebrating today,” he said. He cited the accomplishments of the Soar Together Campaign in transforming the campus setting and significantly expanding available resources to support students and faculty. “At over $101 million in total funds raised, the Soar Together Campaign deserves recognition as one of the most successful fundraising

accomplishments by any small boarding school and vastly exceeds all previous campaigns at Westminster School,” he said. “This school is flourishing thanks to the passion of our school community, including students, faculty, parents, alumni and friends here on campus today, as well as those around the country and the world who cherish and seek to advance this great school as it makes a difference in the lives of students.”

Looking ahead, he told his classmates: “Undoubtedly, we will face times in college and in life where we get knocked down. We will come eye to eye with challenges even greater than the ones we have faced this year. And when we approach them, we will feel the confidence to know that nothing life throws at us will stop us from being who we are — from being problem solvers and knowledge seekers, from being curious and inquisitive, from being positive forces of good for those around us — but most importantly, from being the great men and women that our time at Westminster has prepared us to become.”

Westminster Bulletin

Salutatory Address In his Salutatory Address, Head Prefect Will Rizzo ’21 spoke about how the Martlet is a very appropriate mascot for Westminster. “The mythical and legless bird dates back to 1632 and has come to symbolize hard work and perseverance,” he explained. “The inability to land is indicative of the Martlet’s constant quest for knowledge, learning and experience. We also often equate the Martlet with the attitude of students at Westminster: constantly soaring. And there is no question, this is a class that has soared tremendously over our four years here.” He talked about the achievements of his class, and its disappointment in not being able to experience a traditional Sixth Form year at Westminster due to the pandemic. “It was difficult; there is no question about it,” he said. He shared how members of the class persevered and never sacrificed their commitment to each other or their school. “We found value in the little things, the relationships we’ve built with each other, with the students who can’t be here today and with faculty members,” he said. “We put ourselves in the shoes of others who have sacrificed for the school, classes that have graduated through turbulent times and difficult circumstances.”

Outstanding Scholar Address In his Outstanding Scholar Address, JeanClaude Lane ’21 talked about his early education journey that focused on success in academics over other opportunities, even to the detriment of himself and others. He explained that when he arrived at Westminster he was surprised by the breadth of activities in which students were involved. “I found people who all seemed to radiate an aura of warmth and friendliness and were each eager to play key roles in the wider school community,” he said. “Over the next four years, I was continually surprised by the amazing things that my friends had to offer. I realized that I had something to offer here that was appreciated, too, and it is the time I have spent with these amazing people that allowed me to grow and develop into the person I am today.” He concluded by telling his classmates: “It has been a great privilege to have spent the last four years with each and every one of you. All of us and the experiences that we have created for each other are what make this school unique and memorable.”

Keynote Address The keynote speaker was Jeff Artis ’72, president and CEO of Genesys Works, a national workforce development program that connects high school students from underserved communities to paid internships with major companies. He spoke about some chapters in his life including his arrival at Westminster and how a school tradition at the time had the effect of creating a common sense of belonging. He also spoke about the lone female Sixth Former entering Westminster in fall 1971 and the challenges she and other girls faced in the early days of coeducation at the school. He clarified the difference between equality and equity and said, “I am not sure any of us — students, faculty or staff — truly understood what achieving equity and inclusion for these young women really meant at the time.”

He then addressed the graduates about making choices. “Your chapters of your journey will be made up of the things you choose to do and not by the things you choose not to do, for even this is a choice,” he said. “Every choice you make will lead you on a different journey — to different experiences and challenges. I have had an amazing journey sparked in large part by my choice to attend Westminster.” He urged the graduates to write their own chapters, enjoy the journey, to get out of their comfort zone — at least occasionally — and to make a difference in someone else’s life. “I encourage you to always be aware that you benefited from the sacrifices of and or stand on the shoulders of those who came before or helped you along the way, and I humbly suggest that you pay it forward, backward or sideways in your own manner,” he said. (See full text of his remarks on page 43.)

Awarding of Diplomas Following the awarding of student prizes, Head of School Philip and Chair of the Board of Trustees Brad Raymond ’85, P’19, ’20, ’24, ’24 presented diplomas to members of the class.

Closing Remarks In his closing remarks, Head of School Philip congratulated the Class of 2021, saying: “What a year we have experienced together! Despite so many challenges, we sustained our defining programs and student experiences, whether in the performing and visual arts, athletics, classrooms or extracurricular activities, not to mention by hosting this morning’s in-person Commencement Ceremony. Even more than is usually the case, this year we were all emphatically reminded that it is the people who comprise our community who are Westminster School’s most precious attribute.”

Fall 2021

Student Prizes The following prizes were awarded to students at commencement:

Excellence in Science Ji Woong Park ’21

Lewis J. Powers Photography Award SoJung Kwon ’21 and Jiefei Wu ’21

Excellence in Physics

J. Lawrence Gilman Award for Achievement in Music and Participation in Musical Activities Anne Brewer ’21 and Eva Pfeiffer ’21

Excellence in Dance

Allison Masthay ’21

Olivia Goldstuck ’21

Gordon McKinley Award for Excellence in English

Edward Scull Jr. ’71 Award for Excellence in Architecture

Allison Masthay ’21 and Hudson Stedman ’21

Excellence in Chemistry Cooper Organ ’21

Joyce Wilson Prize for Excellence in Mathematics Ji Woong Park ’21 and Jiefei Wu ’21

Gretchen Hupfel ’82 Art Purchase Prize Choong Yoon Lee ’21 and Alisa Toner ’21

Cowing Art Award Yoo Jung Ha ’21 and India Lalor ’21

Hudson Stedman ’21

Peter Briggs Prize for Excellence in Economics

Critchell Rimington Creative Writing Award Nathalie Charles ’21

Hudson Stedman ’21

Class of 1941 Peter Mars Memorial History Prize

Burdett Prize for Excellence in the Study of French Simonne Ponce ’21

Anne Brewer ’21

Dramatic Award for Service and Leadership in Theater

Moncada Prize for Excellence in Spanish David Harris ’21

Jane Burke ’21 and Elena McGuigan ’21

Brian T. Bruyette ’77 Senior Athletic Award This award is given annually to the Sixth Form boy and girl who best exemplify excellence in athletics and who contributed to the character of the team. It is given in memory of Brian T. Bruyette ’77, who in his enthusiasm, sportsmanship, effort and skills, represented all that is best in this school. Samantha DeLeo ’21 and Bennett Ostern ’21

Richard K. LeBlond II Honor Award

Paul Winship ’35 Alumni Book Prize

This award is given annually to a member of the Sixth Form who exemplifies dedication to academics and loyalty to the school. Allison Masthay ’21

This book prize is awarded to a Sixth Former who has made an unusual commitment in both breadth and depth to the school’s programs and activities. Isabel Bailey ’21

Outstanding Scholar Award This award is presented to the Sixth Former who, in the opinion of the faculty, is the outstanding scholar of the class. The award is not necessarily determined by rank in class but is based, rather, on the attributes of the true scholar: curiosity, imagination, power to associate new observations with prior experience, thoroughness, appetite for ideas rather than for grades as an end in themselves and the ability to move easily in the realm of concepts. Jean-Claude Lane ’21

Westminster Bulletin

Keyes Bowl Established by the Class of 1966 and recognized as the school’s most prestigious commencement award, the Keyes Bowl is presented annually to a member of the Sixth Form and recognizes the qualities of loyalty, courage, leadership and humility. Olatunji Osho-Williams ’21

Faculty Awards The following year-end faculty awards and academic chairs, which are traditionally presented at commencement, were announced at a May 26 luncheon for faculty and staff:

Twenty-Year Service Pin

Nadal Sportsmanship Award The Founders League awarded the 2021 M.D. Nadal Sportsmanship Award to Mitch Overbye P’05, ’09, Westminster’s longtime softball coach and senior associate director of admissions.

Anthony Griffith

The Swayze Award Presented annually in honor of distinguished alumnus, trustee and former chair of the Board of Trustees Townsend Swayze ’55, this award is given to a member of the faculty for outstanding contributions to the life of the school. Greg Williams

The O’Brien Award

C. Hiram Upson Family Chair

This award is presented annually in honor of Marianna and Junie O’Brien P’81, who devoted their lives in service to young people and to schools. It recognizes a member of the faculty who has, over the course of the year, been especially selfless and generous with time and care in the nurture and support of students and whose extraordinary, ongoing personal commitment to young people sets an example to the Westminster community. Grant Gritzmacher

The C. Hiram Upson Family Chair for faculty in the humanities who are master teachers of writing rotates every five years and was made possible through the generosity of C. Hiram Upson ’50, P’86, who served on the Westminster Board of Trustees for 11 years. Arianna Vailas

David Chrzanowski

Mary Pat Gritzmacher

Coumantaros Family and William V.N. Philip History Department Chair John and Elena Coumantaros, along with their daughter, Sophia ’21, established this chair in 2020 to honor William V.N. Philip, the school’s eighth head of school and a lifelong historian and educator. The chair supports the Head of the History Department. Charles Griffith P’11, ’14, ’17

Fall 2021

Class of 2021 College Matriculation Katherine Jude Ashe University of St Andrews Eleanor Augusta Bailey Hamilton College Isabel Lowry Bailey Washington University in St Louis Aleyna Berfu Baki University of California, Los Angeles Zachary Lee Blest Boston College Francesca Pizzagalli Bradley Middlebury College Anne Campbell Brewer Vassar College Maxwell Case Brownback University of Denver Alexandra Scott Buerck Northwestern University Jane Fields Burke Lehigh University Amanda Nicole Busky Colby College Alexander Cardia Bowdoin College Charlotte Lynch Carrel Southern Methodist University Nathalie Anashka Charles Princeton University Jean-Rene Gabriel Charleston Christian Brothers University Wylie Alexander Clarke University of Miami Tatum Holloway Constant Trinity College Seve Luis Cordero Marist College Lawton J. Corrigan Denison University

Sophia Maria Coumantaros Wake Forest University Tatum Leigh Courtmanche Connecticut College Charles Wilson Crowther Denison University Tremaine Dawson Vassar College Samantha Cathern DeLeo Wesleyan University Miranda Carlin Douglass University of Richmond Zachary Lowell Eckerson Tunxis Community College Connor Hart Eddy Marist College Benjamin Paul Ferrell Southern Methodist University Rex Walker Flinn Hamilton College Kendrick Davis Freeman Tufts University Olivia Rae Goldstuck Wake Forest University Gemma Elizabeth Green Brown University Lexi Rose Guerin Arizona State University, Tempe Emma Elizabeth Gurnell Postgraduate/Deerfield Academy Yoo Jung Ha New York University Layton Peter Harmon California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Westminster Bulletin

David Douglas Harris Indiana University, Bloomington Kieran Raghuvir Haug University of Colorado Boulder Siena Sidney Holowesko Georgetown University Hunter Avery Hoogkamp Hamilton College Brennan Lenox Horn Tufts University Ryan Huntley Texas Christian University Lucy Townsend Jones The American University of Paris Natalie Halliday Keenan Bucknell University Leonid Kolomeiskii Gap Year/New York University Jenna Lynne Kosior College of the Holy Cross SoJung Kwon Washington University in St. Louis India Anderson Lalor The New School Jean-Claude Edouard Lane University of Pennsylvania Choong Yoon Lee University of Southern California Harrison Lehman University of Richmond Hanxiao Li University of California, San Diego Domenic Jack Luppino Wesleyan University Edward Mangiarotti Claremont McKenna College

Nicholas Edward Mascolo Northeastern University Allison Donna Masthay Brown University Alison Michelle Mayer College of William and Mary William Mazzaro Providence College Patrick Ryan McAleavey Providence College Tatum Margaret McBreen University of Denver Grant McCargo IV Washington University in St. Louis Elena Dure McGuigan New York University Dylan McLamore Wake Forest University William Bradley Mell Campbell University Charlie Lawson Moses University of Wisconsin, Madison William Owen Murphy III Northeastern University Phoebe Elizabeth Naylor Denison University Jordan Tyler Nelson Lehigh University Brian Michael Opdenaker Villanova University Cooper Scott Organ Villanova University Ann Morgan O’Shea, University of Wisconsin, Madison Olatunji Akilade Alfred Osho-Williams Northwestern University Bennett Cummings Ostern Trinity College

Andrew James Paladino University of Denver Ji Woong Park University of Pennsylvania Laine Holley Partington University of Vermont Olin Lang Peterson Pacific University Eva Morgan Pfeiffer University of Richmond Shui Se Phoe Trinity College Morgan Pineault Colgate University Peter Quinlan Plumb Villanova University Simonne Ponce Johns Hopkins University Grace Margaret Rabley New York University Louisa Chase Rasmussen University of St Andrews Rainerio P. Reyes Wesleyan University William George Rizzo Colgate University Eliza Roach Denison University Peter Ellsworth Sanger Postgraduate, Salisbury School Sydney Grace Schuster Bates College Jason Rongqi Shi University of Toronto Justin Rongkai Shi University of Toronto Edward Kunmoo Shin Boston College Annabelle Loren Smith University of Denver Katherine Celia Sotirhos Georgetown University Hudson Joseph Stedman Princeton University

Nathaniel Wells Stevens St. Lawrence University Campbell Ann Swift Colgate University Claire Vivian Taylor University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Elizabeth Trippe Thorson University of St Andrews Kien Trung To University of Massachusetts, Amherst Alisa May Toner Vassar College Diana Maria Tsibikova Boston University Sasha Mien van Vredenburch University of St Andrews Ella R. Varano Lehigh University Anna Grace Veber Wake Forest University James Dylan Vincent Southern Methodist University Charles Crisp von Stade University of Richmond Lucas Edward Wahlberg Belmont University Andrea Bessing Warrick Occidental College Casey Lynn Winslow Colby College Elizabeth Jane Winslow Trinity College Beck Winsor Bishop’s University Jiefei Wu Columbia University in the City of New York Hope Emma Zimmerman University of Richmond

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

Chapters on a Journey Jeff Artis ’72 gave the keynote address at Westminster’s Commencement Ceremony May 16. He is president and CEO of Genesys Works, a national workforce development program that connects high school students from underserved communities to paid internships with major companies. Jeff joined Genesys Works in January 2021 and is responsible for leading the organization through its next phase of growth, including expanding its geographical footprint and skilled development curriculums, and strengthening its position as a strategic talent pipeline for corporate America’s diverse, professional talent needs. Prior to assuming his current position, Jeff spent seven years at the helm of corporate engagement for nonprofit Year Up, where he served as the architect of its enterprise growth strategy. He has more than 40 years of experience leading workforce development solutions for Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 companies and leading sales for industry leaders like AgileOne, BMC and IBM. Jeff earned a B.A. in English literature and psychology from Williams College and is a former board member of the Indianapolis Urban League.

THE FOLLOWING ARE HIS COMMENCEMENT REMARKS: When Bill Philip called earlier this year to ask me to join you here today, it took me a while to respond. I was in a bit of a shock, as the request was totally unexpected. While Bill and I have communicated several times over the past few years, this had never been one of our topics of conversation. I would even go so far as to say that this was not even an opportunity or honor that ever crossed my mind. You see, when I sat in those chairs many years ago, I was just an average Westminster student — no special graduation honors, not a prefect and never played a varsity sport — just one of 41 young men and one pioneering young lady about to move on to the next chapter of life with no real idea of what that journey would entail. However, after accepting Bill’s invitation, I started to spend time thinking about what I would say to you today and how I was going to relate my time here — 1968–1972 — to yours. The world and current events of my time were very different: • After 30 plus years on the faculty and over a decade at the helm, the head of school was transitioning. • NASA was celebrating a historic first landing and a milestone in space exploration. • Questions were being raised on whether the president had engaged in illegal activity. • America had been engaged in an unpopular war overseas for almost 20 years. • The country was deeply divided on many mainstream issues and struggling with issues of race and equal justice.

Jeff Artis ’72 delivers the keynote address at commencement.

• Civil unrest and riots had taken place in many of our major cities with the National Guard having been deployed in some instances. • Policing tactics were being called into question. • Here on campus, faculty and students were having tough conversations about diversity, equity and inclusion. • Elizabeth was the Queen of England. I will be honest; I have struggled to find ways to help you understand what these times were like. Nevertheless, I will attempt to find some common ground as I share some thoughts on my journey. The start of the Westminster chapter in my journey began the moment the taxi carrying my mother pulled away from campus and the reality of this particular choice really sunk in. I have been abandoned — alone — in a “foreign land” surrounded by people and an environment unlike the one I had left a mere four hours ago. Actually, I wasn’t totally alone. There was Pete. Pete and I had been classmates back in Harlem since fifth grade and had both arrived here having been participants in the A Better Chance program at J.H.S #88. Let me explain that last point. In introducing ourselves to our new classmates, they would often recite the name of their previous school, which was usually either a local or national figure of some historical import or a “country day” school. In contrast, Pete and I were proud products of the New York City public school system, which had a much more utilitarian approach to school nomenclature, and ours was appropriately Junior High School (J.H.S.) #88. Fall 2021

Now I have done some checking, and Westminster happens to be the 17th oldest private school in Connecticut, and given its New York roots, and with just a little bit less creativity, could have easily been named Connecticut Private School #17 or C.P.S. #17 for short, but I digress. The feeling of being alone — new and unsure of how or where to start, left out, etc. — is truly uncomfortable. For while there are many moments in life when you “are alone,” one never wants to “feel alone.” We all have an innate need to “belong,” to be a part of something, to be included. However, in order to “be included,” you often have to “be included.” Inclusion is the difference between being “let in” and being “brought in,” and traditions can play a role here by either lowering or raising barriers, as I quickly learned. For on that first evening, we were introduced to a well-established tradition that no longer exists.

The Black Tie During my era, new students were issued a black tie and required to wear it at all times on or off campus, except during athletics or on your corridor, and this was meant literally: • Playing Frisbee on a Sunday afternoon wearing shorts and a T-shirt — black tie. • Walking into town — black tie. • Casual game of tennis — black tie. • On another corridor — black tie. I think you get the picture. Oh, and by the way, consequences for being caught without your black tie could be quite severe. For example, one classmate had to drag a Fisher-Price quacking duck behind him for a week. Another had to dribble a basketball constantly, even on staircases, which was a bit of a challenge and caused him to be late to several classes. Now, while you might think this is a bit humiliating and unnecessary, which I won’t debate, it also had the effect of immediately creating an “inclusive” group to which all of us new Third Formers (the former Second Formers among us had undergone this ritual the previous year) felt a common sense of belonging. As we progressed over the years playing on teams, sharing classes, dining and living together, invariably this bond as members of the Class of 1972 became stronger. It was comfortable being a member of this inclusive group and easy to forget those original feelings of “aloneness” and our obligation as members of the “majority” to offer inclusion to those on the outside, especially if they are “different.” In the fall of 1971, a lone entering female Sixth Former was introduced to this group, and we collectively were anything but inclusive. As is often the case when it comes to decisions on inclusion, we were more concerned about what we might lose rather than what we might gain. We were more focused on ourselves and our desire not to change than on the needs and desire of our classmate to be included. This fall, Westminster will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its admission of female students. Every young lady graduating 44

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today, and those who have done so before you, as well as female members of the faculty and staff, owe this first cohort of 12 young ladies an extreme debt of gratitude, and, in particular, its lone Sixth Form entrant. For while the school had been having discussions about race and the pending addition of women, these conversations had centered primarily around diversity and equality and their impact on the school and not the individuals involved. The “challenges” brought on by the addition of these young ladies were more around equity. Allow me to clarify the distinction: • Equality equals everyone having access to the same. • Equity equals recognizing individual differences and allocating the resources and support that make equality possible. I’m not sure that any of us — students, faculty or staff — truly understood what achieving equity and inclusion for these young women really meant at the time. Remember the black-tie tradition that had previously lowered the barriers for entering students? How do you utilize this for students wearing dresses and skirts versus coat and tie? Sports and the camaraderie and shared experiences that come from team sports are not possible if there are no women’s sports. Day students have always had a bit more challenging route to being fully included, mainly because they missed out on all of the hijinks associated with dorm life. But they could at least visit classmates in the dorms and on rare occasions spend the night to feel more included. But for some odd reason, the faculty banned this traditional method of inclusion for our new female classmates! These are just a few of the challenges that your predecessors faced. Yet despite all of this, they displayed amazing determination, perseverance and grit, marshalling through this challenging first year even though many of us did not often provide them with the grace they deserved. I have often thought about how much easier we as students could have made this for each of them and for my classmate in particular. For while the 11 others had at least one other classmate to draw upon, ours did not! How much better might all of their early experiences have been with just a little effort on our part? Being inclusive isn’t very difficult; it just requires making a choice. As I have gone along my journey, I have come to understand or better appreciate a few other things, and I would like to share a few of them with you:

It’s All About Choices Your chapters of your journey will be made up of the things you choose to do and not by the things you choose not to do, for even this is a choice. Every choice you make will lead you on a different journey — to different experiences and challenges. I have had an amazing journey sparked in large part by my choice to attend Westminster. It has led to numerous opportunities and adventures I otherwise would never have experienced and relationships and bonds that are among some of the most

meaningful in my life. It was the impetus or precursor to other choices and options I have had later in life, all of which have led me to stand before you today.

Write Your Own Chapters Don’t be a spectator. It is far too easy at times to let the currents of life take over and set you adrift. This can happen at any time: at work, in relationships or social settings. Don’t let that happen! This is your journey, and you should set the course. Over the years, I have come to truly admire those I have met who are not just living life but are living their lives. Those who do not let something or someone else write their chapters. This may sound simple, but it is harder than you might imagine. However, for the moments when you do, the journey is enhanced.

Enjoy the Journey As you embark on your journey, keep in mind it’s a marathon, not a sprint! Take the time to enjoy the journey. The destination is waiting. As you go about your journey, you want to have chapters that are replete with “I remember the time when…” or “I’m so glad that I/we…” No one wants to read a book about things you wish you had done. Try new and different things.

Get Out of Your Comfort Zone — At Least Occasionally Sports are an integral part of the Westminster experience, and arriving on campus, I knew I wanted to play soccer and baseball. But selecting a winter sport was a bit trickier, and despite what I said earlier, this one was a bit less of a choice. In the Third Form, I was just shy of 5 feet, 1 inch, negating the option of basketball, was not a swimmer and was pretty sure squash was a vegetable (or was it a fruit?), but I had been to Central Park to skate a few times so ice hockey became my choice. Now, I have previously mentioned that I never played a varsity sport. What I neglected to mention was where my hockey career started: not on the junior varsity or third team or even the fourth team. I was a proud member of Westminster’s fifth hockey team. As you might imagine, there was not a great deal of diversity in the hockey community (actually none) but a great deal of equality, as we were all equally bad and everyone was included. We practiced hard, lost often and had an inclusively good time. On Saturday nights, we would go down to the Upper Rink and practice our “skills” for hours, playing pickup games with the only group we thought we could legitimately beat: a group of 7- to 10-year-olds with names like Jackson, Wilbraham, Burdett, McKinley, Werner and Hovey. We usually lost these games, as well, but always won the obligatory mock “hockey fight” after the game with this usually ending with a Hovey kid with his jersey over his head and a face full of snow. Great times! Displaying customary Westminster grit, many of us played together for our entire time here and in our Sixth Form year

made up the nucleus of the junior varsity team. The point here is I loved the game and went on to play on the freshman team at Williams College, ending my collegiate hockey experience after one season playing with teammates from Minnesota and Canada who had clearly never played fifth hockey. I continued to play off and on in various leagues for the next 20 years but never would have had these experiences and made some lasting friendships if I hadn’t tried something new and different.

Make A Difference in Someone Else’s Life If you are brutally honest with yourselves, you will come to realize or recognize that very little of what you have or have done has been achieved solely by yourself. Somewhere along the way, someone else provided a boost or paved the way — a relative, friend, mentor or teacher or complete stranger — in a manner large or small, subtle or direct. You may not even be aware when, where or how it happened, but it did and will likely happen again. As I have already stated, for the young ladies in the audience, it was those first 12 pioneering women who braved 83 years of testosterone-enabled culture and traditions to lower barriers for you. For me, it was the many Black young men, whose names I do not know, who walked this campus before me. I encourage you to always be aware that you benefited from the sacrifices of and or stand on the shoulders of those who came before or helped you along the way, and I humbly suggest that you pay it forward, backward or sideways in your own manner. I spent the entirety of my business career in the corporate sector. However, several years ago, I made the transition to the nonprofit sector. The organization I lead today, Genesys Works, strives to provide young people from underserved communities with support, training and access to meaningful work-based experiences in corporate America, giving them the equity to achieve equality, the ability to make their own choices and the opportunity to have more successful journeys. Today is yet another brief stop along my journey, and I would like to thank Bill again for luring me back to campus and allowing me to write this chapter. Prior to this weekend, the last time I was on campus was to attend my 15th class reunion in 1987, which I attended with my then girlfriend. She joins me again today, now as my wife of almost 34 years and the mother of our three amazing and wonderful daughters. Tracy did not attend Westminster, but she has displayed remarkable grit over these last 34 years, for I am a constant work in progress, and always does so with uncommon grace. She and I are continuing our combined journey and, hopefully, will have many more chapters to write. I have no doubt that each of you, too, will go on to have amazing journeys and write many chapters, which I am sure you will chronicle in the C.P.S. #17 (aka Westminster) alumni Bulletin. I look forward to reading about your accomplishments, but even more so, about the grace with which you have achieved them. Congratulations and thank you for allowing me to celebrate this significant moment in your journey with you.

Fall 2021

Reunion 2020 and 2021

While everyone missed the opportunity to gather in person on Williams Hill for reunions in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic, more than 400 alumni from classes ending in 0s, 1s, 5s and 6s participated in a virtual Reunion 2020 and 2021 on March 12-13. It included virtual class gatherings, a campus update, a chapel and memorial service, a campus tour, panel discussions, faculty-taught classes, videos and slideshows. Reunion committees worked hard to make the weekend special.

A highlight for most alumni were the 28 class-specific Zoom gatherings that allowed classmates from all over the country and around the world to connect and engage with each other. Some of the calls lasted for hours and allowed alumni to come together as a community during unusual times to celebrate their experiences, accomplishments and friendships on Williams Hill.

Meet the Martlets During a Meet the Martlets panel, Sixth Form Dean A-men Rasheed moderated Members of the Prefect Board participate in a discussion moderated by Sixth Form Dean A-men Rasheed. a discussion with five Sixth Formers on the Prefect Board: Izzy Bailey, Nathalie Charles, Chapel and Memorial Service Olatunji Osho-Williams, Will Rizzo and Casey Winslow. After sharing In a chapel service and memorial service that was prerecorded in information about their school activities, the students responded to Andrews Memorial Chapel, the speaker was Sixth Former Olatunji questions about their favorite aspects of school life, the one thing that Osho-Williams, the Westminster Alumni Association Scholar, who tied them to Williams Hill from the very beginning, the challenges and talked about the power of names and the power of names to evoke rewards of attending Westminster away from home, their favorite feelings. He said he grew up feeling uncomfortable with his first name class, the role alumni can play in supporting students, favorite school “not because my parents gave me a unique name but because of me.” traditions and what they will miss most after they graduate. 46

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Below, Olatunji Osho-Williams ’21 gives the chapel service talk and, right, Cris Gomez ’10 reads names during the memorial service.

He explained how it showed him he was different, and he didn’t want to feel different. “I wanted to fit in,” he said. He recounted a summer camp experience that forced him to confront what he was doing and how his older sister had proclaimed her name. “I realized I had nothing to be ashamed of when I said my name,” he said. “I could not love my culture and my family with only half of my being. I had to love my whole self.” He described how he began to take his sister’s lead and got better saying his own name. “Introspective thinking made me realize why I didn’t have to alter my name anymore,” he said. “It is a part of me that I knew was essential to my sense of self. Names stick. They evoke feelings and whenever I say my name now I feel pride.”

During the memorial service, Director of Alumni Relations Cris Gomez ’10 read the names of the 41 alumni who had died since May 2019, and the Chamber Choir sang “The Lord Bless You and Keep You.”

Campus Update Head of School Bill Philip began a campus update by saying that while the campus looks different with many new buildings, it continues to maintain its ethos and focus on people and community. He talked about the work of Equity and Inclusion at Westminster — a coalition of trustees and faculty that is addressing all aspects of the Westminster experience for students and alumni regarding racism — the success

Participating in the campus update are, top row, Shannon O’Shaughnessy, Newell Grant ’99 and Bill Philip; bottom row, Miles Bailey ’94, Elaine White and Greg Williams. Fall 2021

of the Soar Together Campaign and about how the school had to reimagine all aspects of campus life during the 2020-2021 academic year because of the pandemic. “It was a year like none of us ever imagined,” he said. He also introduced Elaine White, Westminster’s ninth head of school. Elaine spoke about her early introduction to the school during the search process and how she had been participating in transition meetings via Zoom with members of the school community. “I can’t wait to be able to meet with more alumni, and I am excited to hear your stories and to come to understand why you love Westminster as much as you do,” she said. Dean of Admissions Miles Bailey ’94 explained how the Admissions Office had to recreate its admissions process due to the pandemic and that the school had received approximately 1,000 applications for about 130 spaces for fall 2021. He said it had been a rewarding year, and Westminster competes at the highest level for students. Similarly, Director of College Counseling Greg Williams described how Sixth Formers had to get to know colleges in a new way because most colleges did not offer campus visits during the pandemic. He also talked about the test-optional policy that many colleges had recently adopted. He shared that the Class of 2021 had prepared 999 applications to 233 colleges throughout the world. “It has been a really good year for students going through the process,” he said. Lastly, Director of Advancement Operations Shannon O’Shaughnessy and Director of Advancement Newell Grant ’99 talked about the efforts of the past year to keep alumni engaged with Westminster through online classes, networking events and class Zoom meetings, and thanked alumni volunteers who helped make that possible. They also gave an update about the Soar Together Campaign. “We are very eager to get you all back to campus,” said Shannon.

Conversation Around Diversity, Equity and Inclusion In a webinar about diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), Associate Dean of Faculty Lee Huguley outlined how over the course of the school year, Westminster had developed and launched several DEI initiatives driven by an institutional need to address the issues confronting Westminster’s faculty and students of color. He also mentioned the creation of the coalition Equity and Inclusion at Westminster. He then introduced a chapel service from Feb. 19 in which eight student members of the Black Affinity Group shared their experiences as a Black person at Westminster, in the U.S. and in the world at large. The students included Priscilla Ameyaw ’22, Nathalie Charles ’21, Gabe Charleston ’21, Daniel Edwards ’24, Jamai Miller ’22, Olatunji Osho-Williams ’21, Ariel Seidu ’22 and Andrea Warrick ’21.

Participating in a webinar about diversity, equity and inclusion are, above right, Lee Huguley and, above, student members of the Black Affinity Group during a chapel discussion. 48

Westminster Bulletin

Artwork in the Alumni Art Show by Jeff Sturman ’71, on the left, and Charlotte Bloome ’81, on the right.

Alumni Art Show

Online Classes

This year’s Alumni Art Show took the form of a slideshow of works by 23 Westminster alumni who are artists. The works included images of watercolors, oils on canvas, acrylics on canvas, rock art, wood, sculpting models, stained glass, pen and ink, mixed media, beaded jewelry, photography and architectural design.

Those participating in reunion were able to attend four online classes that included “Should I Buy an Electric Vehicle” taught by science teacher Greg Marco P’08, ’11; “The Rise of Stoicism” taught by lead civic engagement teacher Todd Eckerson P’09, ’11, ’17, ’21; “The Rise of Cities” taught by history teacher and executive director of Hartford Partnerships and Horizons at Westminster Kathleen Devaney P’19, ’22; and “New Works From the Artists Collective: Stories, Poems, Essays and Songs by Westminster Teachers” taught by former English teacher Michael Cervas P’96, ’01, ’10.

From the Archives Replacing the traditional open house in the Westminster Archives usually held during reunion, Westminster archivist Scott Reeves P’03, ’05, ’05 prepared a slide show of items from the archives involving Westminster’s early history, the school crest, athletics, school leaders, campus buildings and historical artifacts. Among the items were a concert program from 1891, trophies, building renderings and models, and the first issue of the Martlet.

While Reunion 2020 and 2021 did not offer the customary gatherings on campus, the march of alumni, class photos and in-person tours, it did offer an opportunity for alumni to reconnect and learn about current life at Westminster.

Looking ahead, on-campus reunion gatherings are planned in 2022 and will include a Class of 2020 celebration June 4 and a mega reunion for alumni from the Classes of 2017 through 1942 and all classes in between ending in 0, 1, 2, 5, 6 or 7, spanning the fifth through 80th reunions, on June 10–12. Information about those events will be forthcoming.

Fall 2021

Supporting Westminster

New Trustees Join Board for 2021-2022 Five new trustees and one new ex officio trustee were named to the Westminster Board of Trustees at its September meeting.

Jeffrey H. Artis ’72 is president and CEO of Genesys Works, a national workforce development program that connects high school students from underserved communities to paid internships with major companies. He earned a B.A. in English literature and psychology from Williams College, and is a former board member of the Indianapolis Urban League. He resides in Alpharetta, Ga., with his wife, Tracy, and they are the parents of Jacqueline, Corinne and Devon. Jeff has served as a Westminster class agent and gave the keynote address at Westminster’s 2021 commencement ceremony.

Harvey C. DeMovick III ’90, P’24

Gary L. Simpson P’24 co-founded

is an architect at Arnold Design Group and DeMovick Design & Development, which specializes in coastal residential design. He is a graduate of Gettysburg College where he earned a B.A. in political science with a minor in studio art, and of The Catholic University of America, where he earned a master’s degree in architecture and urban planning. Harvey joined the Westminster Alumni Executive Committee in 2019 and has been a class agent. At Pine Point School in Stonington, Conn., he is a member of the Board of Trustees and previously served as a trustee from 2004 to 2006. He lives in Westerly, R.I., with his wife, Susan, and their children, Harvey ’24, Reagan and Daphne.

Transit Wireless, where he serves as director, and Windmill Capital, where he serves as chief operating officer. He earned a B.S. in biology from The University of Vermont and an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business. He serves on the Finance Committee of the UVM Foundation, the Board of Advisors at the UVM Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Board of Directors of the North Park Hockey Association. Previously, he served on the Board of Directors of the Council on the Environment of New York City, the Center Against Domestic Violence and the Metro New York Chapter of the Young Presidents’ Organization. Gary and his wife, Sandi, live in Water Mill, N.Y., with their son, Max ’24.

Westminster alumni gathered with their children who are Westminster students during Parents and Family Weekend in October.

Westminster Bulletin

Supporting Westminster

Helen Sun Lin P’24 is the managing

Sara L. Whiteley ’91 is vice president

Ex Officio Member

partner of Octave Capital and a director of Sparc Capital Management Ltd. She earned a B.S. in finance and music from Boston College and an MBA from Columbia Business School. She serves as co-president of the Columbia Business School Alumni Club of Hong Kong, and is a member of the Development Committee of the Hong Kong Arts Festival, a member of the PR and Audience Building/Artistic Committee of Opera Hong Kong and a member of the CTY East Asia Advisory Council. A graduate of Milton Academy, she previously served on the Milton Academy Board of Trustees, and was a founder and president of Milton Academy Alumni Association of Hong Kong. Helen and her husband, Leland Sun, live in Hong Kong with their children, Nolan and Logan ’24.

and owner of W. Vernon Whiteley Inc. and earned a B.S. in civil engineering at Tufts University. She returns to the Westminster Board of Trustees, having previously served as a trustee from 2010-2019, including as chair and member of the Faculty and Students Committee, and as a member of the Committee on Trustees, and the Advancement and Marketing Committee. In 2019, she was presented the Alan F. Brooks ’55 Distinguished Alumni Award. She has also served as a reunion committee member and on Westminster’s 125th Anniversary Committee. She lives in West Chatham, Mass., with her daughter, Chloe. Sara is a former member of the Board of Directors and a corporator of The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod.

As president of the Young Alumni Council, Katherine B. Kelter ’14 is an ex officio member. She lives in San Francisco, where she is an associate on the Strategic Partnerships team at a global nonprofit called Kiva. She is a graduate of Trinity College, where she earned a B.A. in economics and urban studies. Katherine has served as a Westminster class agent and as vice president of the Young Alumni Council. Her philanthropic engagements include being an advisor of Battery Powered at The Battery in San Francisco, a volunteer at Rift Valley Children’s Village in Tanzania, Africa, and a mentor at Hartford Youth Scholars in Hartford. Her sisters, Elizabeth ’12 and Caroline ’19, are Westminster alumnae, and her father, Jeffrey Kelter P’12, ’14, ’19, served on the Westminster Board of Trustees from 2011-2020.

Join the New Westminster Online Community Connect with fellow Martlets, parents, faculty and staff. The Graduway network brings the community together by providing a running feed of campus updates, interesting content, photos and information about events both on and off Williams Hill.

Sign up today, and encourage fellow Martlets to join over 550 members of the Westminster community at www.westminstercommunity.org. Fall 2021

Supporting Westminster

The Impact of Financial Aid The goal of the financial aid program at Westminster is to remove any financial barriers for students and provide them with a high-level experience regardless of their family’s financial situation. “The program aims to ensure that all students have an equitable experience during their time on Williams Hill, and it also allows Westminster to draw top talent from around the world,” said Kelly Babbidge, Westminster’s director of financial aid. For the 2021-2022 school year, Westminster awarded $6 million in financial aid, increasing from $5.2 million in 2020-2021. “It is the largest budget we have had to work with, and our hope is that it continues to grow,” said Kelly. This year, the program provided awards to 54 students, all based on need. Westminster does not give academic, athletic or merit scholarships. “Our philosophy is to spend our financial aid dollars on families who have demonstrated financial need,” said Kelly. Families of new students find out about their award with their admission decision March 10. Returning families receive their award along with their reenrollment contracts in early March. Kelly Babbidge The financial aid program and other financial aid gifts help ensure that each student has what they need summer program funding in our admission decision. to fully participate in all aspects of student life at Westminster. This additional money helps us attract and enroll the “We have students who take part in Model U.N. and are invited most talented students.” to competitions,” said Kelly. “We can help them cover the cost Kelly finds it very rewarding working with students of the competition and the lodging required to attend. When a and their families regarding financial aid. “When I went to student wants to try a new sport, we can provide the necessary boarding school, I was a full-financial aid student and have equipment. We’ve been able to pay for summer academic and always been appreciative,” she said. “I realized what financial enrichment programs as well as athletic team trips. Sometimes aid had done for me and my family and always wanted to give students just need $20 to order dinner out with their friends.” back in some capacity. I worked in finance for a number of Gifts to the recently completed Soar Together Campaign years, and when the opportunity to work at a boarding school and the newly established Jenny and Bill Philip Student Support was presented, I jumped on it. I wanted to be able to offer this Fund help continue and even increase the level of support experience to as many students as possible because it was life provided for students who need it the most. “The additional changing for me. In addition, I get to work with the students funding gives us the flexibility to support students in more ways throughout their time at Westminster. The financial aid process than before,” explained Kelly. “For example, we can include can be cumbersome, so I enjoy walking them through it.” things like mental health support and counseling, in addition to academic support services. Students who qualify will start to receive a weekly allowance, which also comes with a budgeting lesson.” “Gifts to financial aid have a direct impact on students currently enrolled at Westminster,” added Kelly. “From an admissions perspective, the additional aid allows us to offer more competitive financial aid awards. We compete with schools who have unlimited financial resources, so it is important for us to offer the same level of support. As an example, we can now include items such as a weekly allowance, a laptop, books and 52

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“The program aims to ensure that all students have an equitable experience during their time on Williams Hill, and it also allows Westminster to draw top talent from around the world.”

Supporting Westminster

Day Student Parent Reception Head of School Elaine White hosted a reception for parents of day students Aug. 31 at Pratt House.

Elaine White welcomes day student parents.

Ryan Bloom P’23, ’23, Matt and Meredith Crowther P’25, and Marybeth Bloom P’23, ’23

Howard and Joy Khuu P’24, and Mark and Sheryl Tyler P’24

Gina Eddy P’19, ’21, ’25, and Anna and Manny de la Fe P’25

Torrey Hall P’25, Tim and Jane Goundrey P’24, Devonna Hall P’25 and Katarina McKinney P’23, ’25

Jill Prentiss P’22 and Caroline Larock P’22

Leslie and Craig Hurty P’23, and Kim and Bryan Tawney P’15, ’17, ’19, ’22 Fall 2021

Supporting Westminster

Mothers’ Lunch Alison Pappas P’22 and Allegra Kelly P’22 hosted a lunch for Westminster mothers at the Colony Club in New York City Sept. 14.

Liz Hausman P’25, Ellen Ball P’22, Steph Lynch Douglass ’88, P’21, ’22, Amy Stroh P’23 and Jennifer Muhlrad P’25

Liz Massie P’23, Lisa Wolf P’19, ’23 and Jennifer Oken P’22

Lara Trafelet P’23 and Allegra Kelly P’22

Amy Orenstein P’23, Kelly Wosleger, Sandra Davella P’25, Lisi Vincent P’25, Jennifer Muhlrad P’25 and Teresa Fenner P’22, ’22 54

Westminster Bulletin

Melissa Merrill P’25, Susan DeMovick P’24, Angela Clofine P’22, ’23, Lydia Heenan Marshall ’95, P’25, Elaine White and Kristin Ursano P’23

Annie Nugent P’22, Jennifer Oken P’22 and Alison Pappas P’22

Keisha Hamblin P’25, Devonna Hall P’25, Chelsea Staniar P’23 and Sanny Warner P’22, ’25

Supporting Westminster

Edge Society Dinner Catherine and Håkan Swahn P’22 hosted the Edge Society Dinner Oct. 19 at Aquavit in New York City.

Beth Baker P’09, ’12, ’15, and Mary and Ted Dardani P’14, ’18

Sanny Warner P’22, ’25, Jennifer Oken P’22, Matt Warner ’91, P’22, ’25, Erik Oken P’22 and Todd Baker P’09, ’12, ’15

Martin Kelly P’22, Bill Brewer P’17, ’21, Brad Raymond ’85, P’19, ’20, ’24, ’24 and Bryan Martin ’86

Alison Pappas P’22, Tony and Kristin Ursano P’23, and Håkan Swahn P’22

Tom Bradley P’19, Chris Nugent P’22, Elaine White, Gary Simpson P’24, Annie Nugent P’22 and Sandi Simpson P’24

Chris Beck P’08, ’13, Powell Holly ’82 and Evan Stewart ’70, P’11 Fall 2021

Supporting Westminster

Young Alumni Gathering, Brooklyn A get-together for young alumni that was hosted by Jay Wainwright P’22 was held June 23 at The Hull in Brooklyn.

Sarah Migliori ’16, Emma Merlin ’16, Annie Mayer ’15 and Bryson Tomcik ’15

Ellie Baker ’12 and Foster Baker ’09

Brecky Huth ’16, Julia Carter ’16, Alexandra Aiello ’17 and Sam Monte ’17

Young Alumni Gathering, Boston Young alumni got together at the Harpoon Brewery in Boston Sept. 30.

Eliza Mell ’16, Katie Simeon ’16, Emma Filler ’15, Mary French ’15, Margot Frank ’15 and Katherine Berry ’16

Cris Gomez ’10, Ben Sudduth ’16 and Mac McCormick ’16 56

Westminster Bulletin

Ted Sirbaugh ’16, Devin Selvala ’16, JP Schuhlen ’16 and Ben Sudduth ’16

Elaine White, Emily Worcester ’11, Darby Drake ’12 and Carter Walsh ’11

Maddy Paro ’17, Eliza Mell ’16 and Kelcie Finn ’14

Supporting Westminster

Members of the Class of 1966 at their 50th reunion.

Make Westminster Part of Your Legacy The Class of 1966 has created a legacy that involves some of Westminster’s top distinctions. The group established the Keyes Bowl, which is presented at commencement to a member of the Sixth Form that recognizes the qualities of loyalty, courage, leadership and humility; the Alan F. Brooks ’55 Distinguished Alumni Award, which is awarded annually to a former student who exemplifies in thought, word and deed Westminster’s mission and core values; and a campus plaque recently dedicated to the wives and mothers of Westminster. This year, Dick Stewart ’66 challenged his classmates to increase their legacy by becoming the class with the most members in the Thring Society. He started by admitting that his perception of the Thring Society had been wrong. “I assumed that the Thring Society was a special recognition for the very large donors to the school,” he said. “I was mistaken.” The Thring Society honors anyone who includes Westminster in their estate plans at any gift level. Dick Stewart ’66 He shared his plans: “In my particular case, I am leaving a percentage of my individual retirement account (IRA) to the school.” Finally, he appealed to their personal legacy. “When each classmate makes a bequest, his name goes onto a handsome plaque that hangs in the entry of Cushing Hall.” Dick’s efforts were successful. The Class of 1966 has the most members in the Thring Society. Several of his classmates also used their respective IRAs as an easy and effective way to support Westminster. The Thring Society plaque in Cushing Hall has been updated and stands as a new reminder of the legacy of the Class of 1966. Make supporting Westminster part of your legacy. Here are some simple ways to include the school in your estate plans: If you would like to learn more

• Beneficiary of your IRA or 401(k)

• Beneficiary of a mutual fund

• Beneficiary of a life insurance plan

• Beneficiary of a donor advised fund

Jennifer Keyo at (860) 408-3039

• Start a charitable gift annuity

• Add a codicil to your will

or jkeyo@westminster-school.org.

about the Thring Society, contact

Fall 2021

From the Archives Following the arrival of female day students at Westminster in fall 1971, girls participated in coed athletic teams in swimming, track and tennis. By the 19721973 academic year, girls’ teams had been established in a number of sports. The following are photos of some of the earliest female student-athletes at Westminster.

Girls’ Soccer competes in fall 1972.

The Field Hockey team in fall 1972. A Girls’ Lacrosse game in 1974 during the team’s second year.

Girls’ Basketball coach and captains in winter 19741975. The team doubled its size, doubled the number of games, tripled the previous years’ average game score and elected tri-captains.

Girls’ Tennis in spring 1974.

Westminster Bulletin

Cecily Cannon ’76 breaks the string first during a track meet in 1975.

Girls’ Paddle Tennis in the 1975-1976 season.

Girls’ Softball in 1976.

The 1978 Girls’ Swim Team was Westminster’s largest ever with 21 members, 11 of whom were Fourth Formers.

The winter of 1979 will be remembered as the first official year for the Girls’ Squash team. The team won two of its three matches. Fall 2021

FACULTY INSPIRE

At Westminster School, inspiration happens around the clock and across the campus. Faculty members, who make a vocational commitment to the school community, play a vital role in the health and success of our students. Between early mornings in Armour Academic Center and late nights in the dorm, they engage in advisor meetings, family-style lunch, team practices, rehearsals, club meetings and dinner with their own families. By modeling Grit & Grace through their commitment to young people, in all that they achieve and sacrifice, they inspire Westminster students to live and learn with Grit & Grace. Gifts to The Westminster Fund support the learning opportunities for students in the classroom, on the fields and in the dining hall while also providing opportunities for faculty members to focus on their own personal and professional growth. Your gifts make this transformational opportunity possible and fill our community with Grit & Grace.

To support the The Westminster Fund, visit www.westminster-school.org/2022 60

Westminster Bulletin

Leading Efforts to Address Health Disparities Yale School of Public Health associate research Sakinah came to Westminster as a Fourth scientist Sakinah Carter Suttiratana ’90 is Former from Jefferson Junior High School leading efforts to overcome health disparities in in Washington, D.C. At Westminster, she Connecticut — where life expectancy for primarily completed the most demanding academic white residents in affluent census tracts is more program of study, and under the mentorship than a decade greater than for residents living of faculty member Mike Jackson ’49, she in the state’s lowest-income neighborhoods. became increasingly interested in applying Her lab focuses primarily on disparities among her math and science studies to real-world members of African American, Hispanic and challenges. lower socioeconomic status communities who She was also strongly influenced by Todd have difficulty accessing prevention services for Eckerson’s modern European history course. noncommunicable diseases such as cancer “The way he taught aligned with my ethics,” and diabetes. recalled Sakinah. “We learned through the “In Connecticut, African American and lens of the history, but also realized that you Hispanic patients are often diagnosed later, when were creating history, so you had to think treatment options are limited,” explained Sakinah. about what you wanted to create in the “People don’t realize that there is a preventable world. It taught me to think about social Sakinah Carter Suttiratana ’90 element to cancer risk. They often have no sciences differently and as essential for guiding clear sense of the tests that are available.” She scientific advancement.” and another researcher supervise a team of Reflecting on her time as a student, multilingual and multicultural community health Sakinah said that working on the team that educators, navigators and students who engage formalized the Westminster chapter of the in direct community education to encourage National Student Campaign Against Hunger timely health screenings and preventive care. was most predictive of the direction of her “We translate scientific knowledge into practical career. “Since then, I have sought to use the literature or activities to support people’s efforts tools I’ve had at my disposal toward things to live healthier or prevent or minimize the risks that are important to me,” she said. “I want of cancers or chronic illnesses,” she said. to help people who are not often seen by Sakinah also helps translate health science others.” to practice by training future clinician leaders as Sakinah served as Westminster chapter a core faculty member for the National Clinician president of Campaign Against Hunger, and Scholars Program, a two-year fellowship that coordinated weekly trips to St. Elizabeth’s prepares doctors and Ph.D.-level nurses to be House, a Hartford shelter for the homeless. “change agents driving policy-relevant research She also participated in Dramat, Chorale, and partnerships to improve health and health Chamber Choir, the Student Activities care.” She teaches classes in qualitative research methods and Committee, Black and Gold, and was a staff writer for The community-based participatory research. This faculty role draws on Westminster News. She played junior varsity soccer and managed Sakinah’s past work in women’s leadership development for healththe girls’ lacrosse team. focused nonprofits and philanthropy. As an undergraduate at Yale, Sakinah was first a chemical Sakinah joined the faculty of the Yale School of Public Health in engineering major, but quickly found herself with a desire to be 2018 after completing a Ph.D. in sociology (health and illness) from more involved with people. While a student, she volunteered with the University of California, San Francisco. women’s organizations in New Haven and Brazil, and earned a B.A. Before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, her team in Latin American studies in 1994. Between 1994 and 2018, when relied on in-person health fairs and screening events that were held she joined Yale as a faculty member, Sakinah worked for various throughout the state to connect with residents. “We were forced private, public and nonprofit entities in public health or health to convert to online workshops, podcasts and radio interviews,” research, including positions with the World Health Organization, said Sakinah. “We have been producing videos on how to use Gallup, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the technology they possess to access telehealth services, but it’s The California Endowment and several colleges and universities. challenging from a communication perspective. The people we work Internationally, she has partnered with groups in the Dominican with are already on the other side of the digital divide and are more Republic, Guatemala, Brazil, Cape Verde, Iraqi Kurdistan, China, impacted by COVID.” (continued)

“We translate scientific knowledge into practical literature or activities to support people’s efforts to live healthier or prevent or minimize the risks of cancers or chronic illnesses.”

Fall 2021

Mexico, India and the United Kingdom. In addition to her B.A. and Ph.D., Sakinah earned master’s degrees from Emory University (M.P.H., international health: behavioral science and epidemiology) and Yale School of Management (MBA). Sakinah met her husband, Eddie Suttiratana, at Yale School of Management, and they married in 2007. The couple now has a 13-year-old son, Elan, and they live in North Stamford, Conn. As Sakinah and her team prepare to return to in-person outreach, they are also testing ways to scale up programs and reach new audiences. “We are hoping to move the needle on the stage of diagnosis,” said Sakinah. “But moving that needle takes time.” Sakinah with her son, Elan, and husband, Eddie, at a family event in Key West, Fla.

Helping Children Undergo Medical Procedures Stay still. Hold your breath: Anxiety-producing instructions for anyone undergoing a medical procedure. For a child, those instructions may be impossible. Pediatric sedation specialist Dr. Jesse Sturm ’94 makes the most difficult tests and treatments happen for his young patients at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center (CCMC) in Hartford. He leads a team that treats children who would not otherwise be able to be still for the procedures required to care for them, including children with autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome and those undergoing cancer treatments. The team’s goal is to help minimize discomfort and reduce the psychological impact for patients during procedures and tests. CCMC’s pediatric sedation division is one of only 10 National Pediatric Society Sedation’s Centers of Excellence in the United States. “With the help of a great team, I am fortunate to help children through challenging procedures that take place outside of the operating room,” said Jesse. “Sedation allows painful procedures to occur with less anxiety and creates a more optimal environment for families.” Jesse is board certified in both pediatrics and pediatric emergency medicine. “I worked in emergency medicine for nearly a decade,” he said. “The hours and the things that you see are difficult. While I continue to practice some emergency pediatrics, sedation is a unique place to be.” Medicine was not an interest for Jesse while a student at Westminster. Though he did well in science and math, he did not have family members or other role models working in the medical field. Several Westminster faculty members, including chemistry teacher Deborah Foley, physics teacher David Prockop and then director of studies Greg Marco, strongly influenced Jesse’s continued work. “The classes were so small; it was easy to build a mature rapport with teachers,” he recalled. “I appreciated the one-on-one attention.” Dr. Jesse Sturm ’94 at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. 62

Westminster Bulletin

Jesse with his family on vacation in New Jersey: Peter, Alison, Lucy, Jesse and Benjamin.

Jesse and his twin brother, Dr. Eron Sturm ’94, both came to Westminster as Fourth Formers after attending Granby Memorial High School for one year. “We had always been in school together and gravitated toward the same things,” said Jesse. As a Westminster student, Jesse played soccer, basketball and lacrosse; was a member of the Debate Club, Chorale, Serving our Neighbors and S.P.H.E.R.E.; and was a volunteer student tutor. He received the Excellence in Chemistry and the Excellence in Science awards, as well as other academic prizes. Jesse and Eron also hold the distinction of being jointly named Outstanding Scholars, and together gave the Outstanding Scholar Address at commencement. “We each had seven minutes to speak,” said Jesse. “What I remember most is Eron’s quote that he was ‘a three-year JV sports professional.’” Jesse said that he and Eron made an intentional decision to separate for their undergraduate studies, although they both became physicians. (Please see related story below.) “I knew I wanted to do something in the science and math realm with a societal benefit,” said Jesse, who enrolled at Duke University as an engineering major. However, a summer experience shadowing

medical staff at CCMC sparked an interest in medicine, and the following year, he had the opportunity to work with pediatric staff at Duke Children’s Hospital. He graduated from Duke with a B.S. in civil and environmental engineering in 1998 and consulted for an engineering firm in Washington, D.C., for a year while preparing to attend medical school. “Duke has a unique medical school curriculum,” explained Jesse. “I was able to complete four years of medical school in three years with an extra year for other interests.” He earned a Master of Public Health from the University of North Carolina in 2002 and his M.D. from Duke University School of Medicine in 2003. Jesse and his wife, Alison, a primary care pediatric physician, married in 2003 and did a couple’s match for their pediatric residencies — his at Johns Hopkins University and hers at University of Maryland Children’s Hospital. Following the end of their residencies in 2006, Jesse completed a fellowship in pediatric emergency medicine at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. Jesse and Alison’s family has grown with their careers: Lucy, 15, was born in Baltimore; 12-year-old Benjamin was born in Atlanta; and Peter, 8, was born in Hartford. “I loved growing up in Connecticut,” said Jesse. “We came back when my daughter was 6, and we live four doors away from my parents in West Hartford, which allows the children to see their grandparents a lot.” Jesse also enjoys the many Westminster connections the family has nearby, including Emily Fuller Rooney ’94, Jim Heneghan ’94 and Miles Bailey ’94, who serves as dean of admissions at Westminster. An avid fly fisherman, Jesse recently returned from a fishing trip to Colorado with Eron and Mike Gagne ’95. “My wife and children don’t fish with me, but we are big hikers,” said Jesse. “We do national park trips every year, and we have traveled to Chile to visit Patagonia.” Jesse attended his 20th Westminster reunion and has brought his family to campus for Dramat performances. He recalls his time as a day student: “There was a strong community feel between classes and after-school activities, and being so busy helped with time management in college and beyond. It was a magical experience that I value a lot.”

Performing Life-Saving Heart Procedures Against the Clock Dr. Eron Sturm ’94 is an interventional cardiologist and clinical assistant professor of medicine at Jefferson University Hospitals in Philadelphia. He diagnoses and treats coronary artery and peripheral arterial disease, dividing his time between performing structural heart procedures and heart stents for people having heart attacks, and working in a hospital or office setting. “As much as we want to work in prevention, we need to be available to treat,” said Eron. “Cardiologists get called in at 2 a.m. for an emergency to save someone’s life. There is a lot of risk and a lot of reward. You need a good team you can trust. We do lifesaving procedures against the clock.” In addition to patient care, Eron works closely with medical residents and cardiology fellows. “Of the many residents whom I train, about 60% to 70% of them have parents who are doctors,” he said.

“Neither of my parents were doctors, but both my twin brother, Jesse ’94, and I are physicians. It is unusual to find two siblings with no family affiliation to medicine become physicians.” (Please see related story on opposite page and above.) Both Eron and Jesse became Westminster students as Fourth Formers. “Kathryn Warner in admissions was a good connection and family friend who guided us through the process,” said Eron. “She was always someone whispering in our ears. It was a gut feeling that Westminster was the right place. Part of it was also logistics. Nine other students from Granby with whom I grew up also attended. We migrated en masse in the ninth and 10th grades.” The opportunity to be a scholar-athlete at Westminster appealed to Eron. As a Martlet, he played soccer, basketball and lacrosse. He was (continued) Fall 2021

also a member of the Debate Club, volunteered at The Governor’s House, was editor of The Westminster News, was president of S.P.H.E.R.E. and was president of the volunteer student tutors. His love of math and science was nurtured by faculty member Deborah Foley. “She inspired her students,” he said. “I didn’t know I loved chemistry and physics until I got to Westminster.” He received the Excellence in Chemistry, Excellence in Physics and Excellence in Mathematics awards, as well as other academic prizes. He and Jesse were jointly named the Outstanding Scholar. “Classes at Westminster were small, conversational and intimate,” said Eron. “Teachers knew all about what was going on in our lives. My experience there was instrumental. As twins, Jesse and I already had a competitive nature. At Westminster, we were inspired to be ourselves.” Eron earned a B.A. in economics from Yale University. “I liked the logic of economics, but I also finished my premed requirements as an undergraduate,” he explained. Following graduation, he joined Washington, D.C. - based Lewin Group as an economics and health policy consultant. “I came out of college during the time of Hillary Clinton and health care reform, and I wanted to be a part of it,” he said. “We worked with hospital Dr. Eron Sturm ’94 at Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. associations and government agencies to deliver health care to everyone, not just the underserved.” “I had spent so much time with children, and you can effect a lot Though he enjoyed consulting work, he missed the human touch more change with a 10-year-old than you can with an 80-year-old. and gratification of teaching. After two years with Lewin Group, he But the more time I spent with cardiology, the more I loved it. The enrolled at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, where he earned logic is constantly evolving, and it forces you to reinvent yourself.” his M.D. in 2004. After completing his residency in 2007, Eron stayed at the Hospital During his internal medicine residency at the Hospital of the of the University of Pennsylvania for a cardiology fellowship and an University of Pennsylvania, Eron almost chose pediatrics as a specialty. interventional cardiology fellowship. Eron said his time at Westminster was formative in choosing his future career, and he keeps a core group of close friendships that stemmed from his time on the Hill. He has also attended reunions. This year brought renewed travel opportunities for Eron and his family. He and his wife, Carmen, whom he met while they were students at Yale, often accompany their three children, Sophia, 14; Anna, 12; and Alexander, 10 to frequent soccer games, and tennis and lacrosse matches throughout the mid-Atlantic region. The family also traveled by RV to Grand Canyon National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park and Zion National Park this year. “Our entire family had COVID in early March 2020, and after convalescing at home and being holed up for 16 months, it was a nice way to stretch our legs,” said Eron. Eron emphasized that in terms of athletics, his children have their mother’s genetics, but the rigor of the scholar-athlete lifestyle they lead hearkens back to his time at Westminster. “It is great for the kids’ social development and self-development,” he said. “We love the physical aspect of leading Eron with his family on a dune buggy trip in southern Utah: Sophia, Anna, Eron, an active lifestyle.” Carmen and Alexander. 64

Westminster Bulletin

Inspired by Creative People and Project Possibilities A year of travel restrictions and stay-at-home orders upended the regular course of business for Megan Van Linda ’94, the founder and creative director of MVLD Design Studio, which is based in San Francisco. Megan designs custom interiors, gardens and rooftop spaces for her residential and hospitality industry clients. “Everyone is spending more time in their primary homes, and they want to optimize functionality in all their rooms, especially outdoor space,” said Megan. When COVID started, she anticipated a slowdown in her business. “Instead, it started like a geyser,” she said. “The collective content of my projects is the most extraordinary of my career.” But as demands on her business increased, the availability of the goods she sources for her projects became more limited, and she lost staff during quarantine. “The supply chain issues are frustrating,” said Megan. “From Italian furniture to Indian rugs, it is challenging in every way. And there is no time to stop. It is an unsustainable level of work, but nothing is more exciting than going to a new property.” Megan was not formally trained in design. She earned a B.A. from Columbia College in urban studies. “Urban studies was a new major at Columbia at the time,” she explained. “It encompassed many of my interests — anthropology, economics, art, political science and history. It is an interdisciplinary approach to looking at the world, and it also had the most field trips!” After completing her undergraduate degree, Megan traveled in Asia for a year and eventually became an assistant on design projects with San Francisco designer Davis Dalbok. Though she considered enrolling in a master’s degree program, she, instead, did additional coursework at University of California, Berkeley, as she developed her own business. She cites correlations between urban studies and design work in coalescing use of space, function and budget.

Above and below, Megan Van Linda ’94 in her garden, including with her dog, Ziggy, above.

Her first interior design clients were the owners of a fully detached 1937 home designed by modernist Bay Area architect William Wurster. “The clients visited my home and hired me to do an interior project,” said Megan. “As time went on, I did more interior and exterior work for them.” Megan designed her own garden space when she settled in a condo with a courtyard garden in the Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco. “I have spent the last five years putting a lot into it,” she said. “With soft furnishings and a fire pit, it is a lot more eclectic than what I do for clients. It’s filled with art, artifacts and plants.” As a teen, Megan had long been interested in photography, and she studied photography at Westminster with faculty member Jerry Powers. After her Fifth Form year, she had an opportunity to take an internship on Martha’s Vineyard with photographer Alison Shaw that resulted in Megan having her own show at the end of the summer. In addition to serving as a photographer at Westminster for the yearbook and The Westminster News, she participated in volleyball, cross country and lacrosse, and served as a Habitat for Humanity volunteer and an admissions tour guide. Though she says she is not the best “keeper-in-toucher,” Megan recently connected with former cross country coach Jane Houston, and stays in touch with many classmates on social media. Normally a voracious traveler, Megan has been working remotely for the past year but is looking forward to returning to both recreational and business travel. She has plans to return to Montana, where she spent two months early in the pandemic. She is also set to attend Maison&Objet Paris, the flagship event for the international design, home décor and lifestyle sectors to be held in Paris this winter. “Going, seeing and sourcing on behalf of clients is fun and productive,” said Megan. “Being around creative people inspires me.” Fall 2021

Class Notes Send alumni news and class notes via email to Cris Gomez ’10, Director of Alumni Relations: classnotes@westminster-school.org • Send updates to contact information to spierson@westminster-school.org

1952

1962

Tad Harvey writes that fall 2021 marks

Rob Carson and his wife, Serena, moved

the 74th year since he entered Westminster as a Second Former and met what were to become most of his lifelong friends. He adds: “52’s ranks have thinned considerably in recent years, but I can still pick up the phone or drop an email, share words of wisdom, humor, nostalgia with such classmates as John Barlow, Rocky

to Moss Creek in Hilton Head, S.C., “in search of warmth and year-round activity. We have a beautiful view of a pond, which we share with herons and alligators.”

Bartlett, Bob Baydush, Toby Crawford.

Nice feeling! May such friendships still be forming among today’s classes.”

1955 Dave Allen writes: “My wife, Sally, and I

Woody Jewett writes: “My brother

Jonathan died after a long struggle with COPD at age 77 July 9. Smart, funny, generous, opinionated and family oriented. I last saw him a year ago. Jon was 13 months older, and I remember when I grew just a bit taller than he. Sadly, the COVID-19 disaster has prevented us from gathering to mourn him. More family change: my sister Jennifer sold

her house here and moved to Ohio to be near one of her twins. I will miss her. … A few successes: I’ve been reading a lot more. Also, I’ve tackled the piles of old photographs and albums, and have seen progress in getting them sorted and organized into three-ring binders. … I’m still not very good with Zoom, but I am trying. Lots of exuberant chats with grandkids.”

1971

moved to a retirement community called The Springs at Greer Gardens in Eugene, Ore., (June 2020). The move involved considerable downsizing, but it was time to make the move. Hope to get back to Westminster in 2022, health permitting.” Hal Anthony writes of the reunion:

“You did an outstanding job getting us together.” He also wrote a remembrance of David Werblow (Spring 2020 Bulletin notice): “David was my roommate while I was there. After graduation, David came to Providence, R.I., to visit, and I went to visit him in Bennington, Vt. His family had a big farm there. In later years, David would drive his daily-driven car, a 1950ish MGB, to a big car show in Manchester, Vt., where I would join both David and his wife, Ginny. David became president of the MG car club of Connecticut, something he was very proud of. I was able to go visit David and his wife and her children at his home in Portland, Conn., just before he passed. David’s children were away at the time. One son of David’s got his MGB. This son is now living and working in Japan. I will miss David greatly.”

Westminster Bulletin

Woody Jewett ’62

1970

Arch Montgomery ’71 made this catch on the Green River in western North Carolina. He says it was a good day for an enthusiastic but amateur fisherman.

Some members of the Class of 1970 gathered for a tour of campus in October. They were in Simsbury for an informal celebration of their 50th reunion at the home of Chris Rice. Left to right, David Grant, Bim Oakley, Chris Rice, Gary Mah, Matt Pook, Doug Yorke, OP Jackson, Evan Stewart, Wedge Green, Ben Steele, Tim Goodman and Peter Hitt.

sports as learning platforms. In doing so, student’s acquire valuable life skills such as teamwork, communication, perseverance, confidence and self-control. NESS has also done work with Horizons at Westminster. The NESS website address is www.nessf.org.

1987 Peter Sonne writes: “I am currently still

Spike Lobdell ’75 (photo courtesy of the Westerly Sun)

1975 Former Westminster trustee and vice chair of the board Spike Lobdell was named Ocean Community Chamber of Commerce 2021 Citizen of the Year. An article in The Westerly Sun stated: “Michael ‘Spike’ Lobdell, founder, president and CEO of New England Science & Sailing (NESS) in Stonington, Conn., has joined a distinguished group of local residents. Lobdell, widely applauded for creating one of the most successful community sailing programs in the country, is this year’s Citizen of the Year, an award bestowed by the Ocean Community Chamber of Commerce and considered by many to be the highest honor for business leaders in the two-state region.” “‘I am incredibly honored to receive this recognition,’” said Spike in the article, “‘but I’m also humbled to be singled out. …The recognition is really for the whole team whose dedicated work in support of the students has transformed lives. That’s the real recognition. I am proud of the team.’” Spike founded NESS in 2002 with a vision of enabling everyone to get out on the water, learning and having fun, regardless of financial needs, race or ability. The core values of inclusiveness, experiential learning, personal growth and stewardship remain his passion in leading NESS, which teaches 9,000

students annually, many of whom are on scholarship. Spike works as a full-time volunteer for the foundation. NESS is the first, and only, program of its kind to be accredited by New England Association of Schools & Colleges (NEASC). Its STEM-based curriculum includes using marine science, sailing, power boating and adventure

1989

in South Carolina, raising two teenagers with my wife of 18 years. I am also still in metal sales but have switched over to the manufacturing side. I am also now living with my sister’s kidney after having lived with my father’s for over 20 years.”

1990 Ty Black writes: “Returned back to

Goodwin University in East Hartford, Conn., as the vice president for student affairs and dean of students. My college counseling business, T. Carlton Educational Consulting LLC, just purchased a former elementary school in Stafford Springs, Conn., and is now offering college counseling sessions with room and board. Really excited about the new facility.”

A crew of Martlets from the Class of 1989 gathered on the Chesapeake Bay to celebrate their 50ths! Front row, Hector Gordon and Will Beckford; and second row, Aishling Watterson Peterson, Suzanne Oppenheimer, Randy Richardson Beckford, Dinah Steward, Suzie Lowry Bailey and Sloane Andrews Bergien.

Fall 2021

CLASS NOTES

1994

2002

Charlotte, daughter of Kristyn Keene Benton ’02, in her Westminster T-shirt. Kristyn is married to Kenneth Benton, a graduate of Hotchkiss Class of 1997.

Lynn Tibbles Grimes ’94, right, enjoying Grand Teton National Park with Heather de Vries Jordan ’94.

2004

Jourdan Kurtz ’94 and his wife, Jodie, welcomed Brooklyn Corin Kurtz to their family. She was born in Chicago Feb. 14. He writes, “Jodie and I could not be more elated to share this news with the Westminster community.”

Westminster Bulletin

Lindsey Armstrong Strawn ’04 and her husband, Ryan Strawn, welcomed the newest member of the family, Elisabeth “Elsie” Jane Strawn, who joins big brother James.

CLASS NOTES

2005 Katie White O’Riordan writes that she

and her husband, Brendan, and daughter (now big sister) Madison welcomed Sarah Kelly O’Riordan Feb. 20. The family of four recently moved to Milton, Mass., and is enjoying nights playing in the yard with dog Colby and making new friends. Paul Fanelli and his wife, Emma,

welcomed Welles James and Lily Jean Fanelli July 14 in Norwalk, Conn. Alexa Siroy McCaffrey ’04 and Cmdr. Andrew McCaffrey were married June 5 at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.

Attending the June wedding of Alexa Siroy McCaffrey ’04 were Lindsay Stewart ’04, matron of honor, Charlie Daniel ’05, who was in her sword arch, and Lindsay’s mom, Jill Muir P’04.

Bailey Harris ’05 married Michael Caspani Oct. 2.

At the wedding of Bailey Harris ’05 to Michael Caspani are Meriwether Hardie ’05, Maggi Warner Comeaux ’05, Bailey, Lindsay O’Brien Bababekov ’05 and Maddie Brooks Hamilton ’04.

Welles James and Lily Jean, children of Paul Fanelli ’05 and his wife, Emma.

Madison and Sarah, children of Katie White O’Riordan ’05 and her husband, Brendan.

Fall 2021

CLASS NOTES

2007

2010

Tim Gavrich ’07 and his wife, Kara, welcomed daughter Alice Nora Gavrich June 2.

Tom Cavazuti ’10 married Stephanie Manley Aug. 14, 2020, in Vail, Colo. Stephanie is Class of 2011 at Taft.

2011

2018

Tom McKeown ’11 married Kristin, Dec. 5, 2020, in Glencoe, Ill., at his wife’s parents’ house.

Natalie Wilson ’18, Scott Wilson ’19 and Simon Aber ’18 played at the Wood-n-Tap in Enfield, Conn., with their band, Deck Party, in June.

Westminster Bulletin

Isabelle Hill ’10 married Harry Perkins May 8. A celebration is planned for family and friends Sept. 17, 2022. They are pictured with groomsman, very good dog Marvin.

Welcome Home, Alumni! Mega Reunion 2022 June 10-12, 2022 | Worth the wait. Save the date. We are welcoming our largest ever crowd to return to Williams Hill as we celebrate the current reunion classes and make up for lost time with those classes that we have been unable to host in person! Alumni from the Classes of 2017 through 1942 and all classes in between ending in 0, 1, 2, 5, 6 or 7 should plan to celebrate these milestones with us. Whether you are celebrating your 5th or 80th reunion, this is an opportunity to reminisce about the place where it all began, reconnect with classmates, fellow alumni and faculty, and make new memories. Join us for the alumni parade, classes with faculty in Armour Academic Center, meals on Baxter Lawn and in Armstrong Dining Hall, stickball on the quad, dancing under the tent and so much more. Register and learn more at www.westminsterreunion.org. Questions? Contact Thea Leach, Director of Advancement Programs and Events at (860) 408-3724.

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In Memoriam Richard Prentice Hopley Former longtime Westminster faculty member Richard Prentice Hopley of South Windsor, Conn., died May 7. He joined the faculty in 1958 and retired in 1987. Dick, who was born and raised in Fitchburg, Mass., attended local schools and was a graduate of Fitchburg High School, Class of Dick Hopley 1951. He then earned his B.A. in Latin and classics from Bowdoin College in 1955. He continued his education with a master’s program at Columbia University until being drafted into the U.S. Army. He served his country during the Korean War until his honorable discharge. While at Westminster, Dick taught Latin, classics, English and drama,

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and coached hockey, football and baseball. He continues to be honored at Westminster with the annual award of the Richard P. Hopley Excellence in Latin Prize, which is presented to a student who has demonstrated excellence in Latin. Additionally, his legacy is recognized at each term’s awards ceremony when the HopleyJackson Award is given seasonally to the Westminster lower team with the best season. The award is named for Dick and Michael Jackson ’49, who were both lower team coaches for many years at Westminster. Dick was an avid gardener and enjoyed playing and watching sports.

He is survived by his sister, Jean Hopley Klein; his nephew, Stefan Hopley Klein and his wife, Laura, and two grandnieces, Marlena and Caroline Klein; his stepdaughter, Connie Buch; and three stepgrandchildren, Amy Sach, Ben Woodhouse and Abigail Woodhouse ’12. In addition to his parents, Dick was predeceased by his dear friend Shirley Buch and two stepdaughters, Marcia Buch and Lori Woodhouse ’80. “Our school community, in particular, alumni who learned Latin from him, who played on his teams, and who benefited from his advice and care, will join me in mourning his passing and celebrating his inspiring legacy,” said former Head of School Bill Philip in announcing Dick’s death. “Personally, I will always remain grateful for the lessons I learned from Dick’s kind and patient perspective, when I was a new, young teacher at Westminster.”

TRIBUTES Dick Adams, former faculty member In remembering “Hop,” I can’t help but think how fortunate Westminster and I, a brand-new teacher to the school, were to have him on the faculty. However, to me the greatest beneficiaries of his tutelage were the new Third and Fourth Form boys who had him as their Latin teacher or their coach on the football and baseball fields. Hop brought with him an extraordinary caring affect to his relationships with these boys while quietly instilling the discipline that they would need in the years ahead. He was a “standards man.” In 2021, we can easily forget the challenges these boys faced at Westminster, wearing the black ties, ever fearful of stepping on the Sixth Form Lawn or going out the “in door” in the dining room. To me, they seemed always on guard. Hop made thirds football and baseball a place where for two hours each day they could be themselves — relax and have fun — and in football (which was strongly encouraged for all new boys) confront the physical nature of the sport. As his assistant, I was immediately aware of the fear that a number of these boys felt playing football, but Hop wonderfully encouraged them that they were up to those challenges and up to all the other challenges that lay ahead of them. It was a great introduction for those boys to Westminster. Their respect and commitment to him were a wonderful testament to a man who was deeply committed to Westminster and the students in his care.

Alan Brooks ’55, former faculty member I have many fond feelings for Dick Hopley, my next-door neighbor for many years on Hopmeadow Street, not the least of which for his patient assistance in helping my oldest child get through his third year of Latin.

But equally dear in my mind was the assistance Dick gave me one afternoon when mowing my lawn, I stupidly drew the machine over my right toe. My wife was unavailable at the time, and our two very young boys playing in the yard, finally recognizing my agonized groans, could offer little help. But Dick from his window spotted my situation and, without missing a beat, managed somehow to get me, roughly twice his size, into his car and off to the emergency room at Hartford Hospital. Along the way, ignoring the mess I was making in his car, Dick chattered away, fearful I suppose that I might pass out on him. Dick stayed with me at the ER until my wife showed up. Thank you, Dick, for being a great teacher, neighbor and friend.

Nelson Van Atta ’64 I have very vivid memories of Mr. Hopley. He helped guide me through my early years at Westminster. He had a large amount of empathy and his kindness is not forgotten. My condolences to all in his family.

D.G. Van Clief Jr. ’66 Although I was not a Latin scholar, I played on Mr. Hopley’s football and hockey teams. He was a wonderful teacher and caring mentor at all times, and all of us who benefited from his skills as an educator will always remember him with great fondness. Fall 2021

In Memoriam TRIBUTES Jim Mendillo ’67 I never had Mr. Hopley in class, however, he coached us in hockey and football. Back then, in the fall, we had JV and varsity soccer and four full teams of football! I had the pleasure of being one of his “grunts” as a novice fourth team offensive and defensive lineman my Third Form year. I was a third line forward, defenseman and backup goalie on Fourth Team Hockey for two years. Coach Hopley commanded respect and taught us fundamentals, teamwork and discipline. RIP, coach!

Keith Barrand ’68 One thing I remember about Dick Hopley is the dog he had that used to run around the athletic fields. The dog’s name was “Boozer,” and if you threw a rock into the woods, Boozer would retrieve it and bring it back to you. It might take him an hour, but when he finally came back, he had the rock. Not just A rock, THE rock! He was my coach on the third and fourth hockey teams.

David Hays ’77 Sad to hear of Mr. Hopley’s passing. No offense to anyone, but my favorite teacher. Perhaps it was because I was not all that good at Latin, but he never made you feel so. Perhaps it was the five-point bonus questions on every test: What is the name of the hill that the school sits on? Or, the baseball field is named for what former teacher? Two of his favorites. Or when we all had a good laugh one class, when he had a piece of chalk in one hand and a cigarette in the other, and mistakenly put the chalk in his mouth. “Dum vivet,” Mr. Hopley. Long live, Westminster School!

William Graham ’77 Mr. Hopley had great patience when he tried to teach a North Carolina boy Latin! He also had great patience when he coached some thirds teams I was on. He is one of the most memorable faculty members I had.

Tony D’Agostino ’80 Mr. Hopley was a kind gentleman and scholar. He made Latin easy. Impossible for a lesser man to have done so. I had the privilege of living in “Hopley House” my Sixth Form year. Mr. and Mrs. Hopley treated us like extended family. I cannot credit Mr. Hopley with this, but Mrs. Hopley made the best apple pie that I have ever had in my life. She refused to give me her family recipe. To Mr. and Mrs. Hopley, to Lori, may you rest in peace.

John Hamblett ’80 Mr. Hopley was a great person, coach and advisor. He was very thoughtful and patient and really helped me during my first two years at Westminster. He taught me the love of the game and to keep working hard. I have many fond memories of him. 74

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Gay Sheffield ’81 Mr. Hopley was a patient teacher, a good human being and kind. Obtaining a classics minor along with a Bachelor of Science degree later in college may seem a paradox, but it was directly a result of the lessons he taught in the translation of ancient words, in rhythm, conveying timeless emotions. Thank you, Mr. Hopley. Sincerest condolences to his family and grandchildren.

Roderick A. Smith ’81 Mr. Hopley was my Latin professor for my freshman through junior years, and my lower team football and baseball coach for my first two years. Of the many excellent teachers and influencers who helped shape my academic growth at Westy, he was by far the most impactful and, undoubtedly, my favorite. I imagine I’m not alone in that sentiment. Thank you, Mr. Hopley. I will always remember and be grateful for the important role you played in my life.

Perry Welch ’81 My remembrances go out to Dick Hopley. He was one of my favorite teachers in the early ’80s. I actually use Latin all the time in my profession that involves botany. I think of Mr. Hopley from time to time. Thank you, Dick. You made a positive impression on my life.

Peter Sonne ’87 I have some fond memories of Mr. Hopley and am deeply saddened to hear of his passing. He was my faculty advisor and my Latin teacher for all four years. He definitely had a positive influence on my experience at Westminster!

OBITUARIES

1945 James Barnett Slimmon Jr. died Aug. 10.

Born in Hartford, Conn., he is survived by his wife, Julie Ann Hovey Slimmon, and three children, Jamie Somes ’76, Ann Woolsey, Andrew Slimmon, and eight grandchildren. He lived in West Hartford before moving to Bloomfield, where he was part of the Duncaster community. He served in World War II in the U.S. Army. Jim was the former owner of the James B. Slimmon Jr. Insurance Agency in Hartford, which merged in 1972 with R.C. Knox & Co., where he was a senior vice president until he retired in 1987. He was a devoted member of the greater Hartford community, serving as a trustee of Westminster from 1972-1976 and Renbrook School in West Hartford, a corporator of Hartford Hospital and as a committee member of Asylum Hill Church. At Westminster, he was also a class agent 1994-1998 and reunion chair in 2010. He was equally passionate about his summer community in Weekapaug, R.I. An avid sailor, he was a former commodore of the Weekapaug Yacht Club and of the Off-Soundings Club.

1953 Thatcher Magoun Brown III died June

25, 2020. A native of Rye, N.Y., Tim spent a year at the Stowe School in Buckinghamshire, England, returning to attend Yale University, Class of 1958. He enlisted in the U.S. Army, Military Police Battalion 728, serving in Seoul, South Korea, until 1960 when he joined the Wall Street office of Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. He received his master’s degree in business and finance from New York University in 1966. At a waltzing party in 1961, he met Sarah (Sally) Louise Brown, and they were married in 1963. Their dance together lasted 56 years and was enlivened by three children and six grandchildren.

His interest in the management of philanthropic organizations led to the establishment with Sally of ST Brown Associates, a fundraising advisory firm for not-for-profit organizations and a two-year position as the first advancement director at the Yale School of Organization and Management, (now Yale School of Management). Tim and Sally went on to purchase the Barrows House in Dorset, Vt., a country inn which they ran as a family enterprise for seven years. An apartment on Central Park West remained Tim’s true home for 50 years, and he referred to Central Park as his “country place.” For a time in the late 1960s, Tim served on the executive committee at Westminster.

1954 Harry D. Conkey II died March 26,

2020. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend and longtime Mendotan. Harry was born in Mendota, Ill., and attended Blackstone School until 1943, when his father, Robert, purchased the Matthiessen home and property in Deer Park. There, he attended a one-room country school and developed a lifelong love for the outdoors. He learned to hunt, fish and trap along the Vermilion River. He routinely hit 20 of 25 clay pigeons, even well into his 70s and with his grandfather’s dependable old Browning 12 gauge. Harry attended Cornell University, but only for his freshman year. He often said all the activities that accompany living in a fraternity contributed to his “failing out.” His father, unamused, recommended the military, and in November 1955, Harry enlisted in the U.S. Navy for two years and was assigned to Great Lakes Naval Academy. In 1956, he started dating the love of his life, Lynn Sitterly. They were married in the spring of 1957, and their marriage lasted 63 happy, adventurous years. Harry graduated from Lake Forest College in 1959 with degrees in both religion and business. He considered attending seminary, but he joined the family business, H. D. Conkey & Co.,

founded by his grandfather in 1907. Harry’s love for Mendota and community was boundless. He was a board member for 19 years and past president of the Mendota Community Hospital, a pioneering volunteer with Lynn of the Mendota Community Ambulance Service, a volunteer with Mendota Civil Defense, and a charter member and past president of Mendota Rotary Club. He also served on the board of the National Bank of Mendota. In addition to his wife, Harry is survived by three children and many grandchildren.

1957 Keith B. McCulloch died March 30. Born

in 1939, he was an accomplished artist who studied at Yale School of Art. His paintings can be found hanging in homes all over the world. After art school, he sailed the high seas for a few years. He was also an accomplished fisherman and owned a few deep-sea charter boats in the 1970s in Sarasota, Fla. He is survived by his wife, Karen, two sons and their mother, two stepchildren and several grandchildren.

1958 Henri Morton Whitman died Feb. 5. His

wife Jennifer, whom he married in 1974, writes: “One of the first trips we made after our wedding was to your beautiful campus. He told me many stories about his years at Westminster; a lot of them were hilarious. He had a huge fund of funny stories.” Mort was born in Manhattan right at the beginning of World War II, and the war left its mark on him. He remembered seeing flashing lights across the water when on vacation on Long Island, legacy of the Battle of the Atlantic. And he remembered his mother’s anxiety over her family in Holland under the Nazis, and her brother in a Japanese concentration camp during the war. He maintained a lifelong interest in the war. Mort sang in choirs all his life, starting at the age of 8. He learned music by ear. Fall 2021

In Memoriam He attended grade school in New York and spent two summers on a working cattle ranch in Wyoming. Mort was a storyteller, and many of his funniest stories came from those two formative summers. He was told he was not college material and went into the U.S. Army after graduation. While in the Army, he met Roger Fleming, his lifelong friend and mentor. After resigning from the army, he attended Lycoming College in Williamsport, Penn. He graduated with a degree in English literature in 1964. From there he went to Westminster Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania, working all kinds of ministries while on summer break. After receiving his master’s degree in divinity from Westminster Theological Seminary, he received a call from students at the College of William and Mary to come and start a church. The church he started as Westminster Chapel, OPC, is still going strong as Grace Covenant PCA. Mort pastored at several churches, became a missionary and worked as a hospital chaplain. He leaves behind his wife and two children. Warren Sanford Stone III died July 9.

Warren was born in Washington, D.C., to the late Warren Sanford Stone II ’26 and Margaret South Stone. He was preceded in death by his wife of 37 years, Jane, in 2006. Warren grew up in Bethesda, Md., and graduated from Duke University in 1962. After joining the Air Force ROTC in college, he served for two years in San Antonio, Texas. Upon completion of his active duty tour, he began his career in investment banking in Washington, D.C., before joining the Wilmington Trust Company in Wilmington, Del., in 1972. He worked in the personal trust department until 2000. He carried on managing personal trust assets, retiring in 2016 after an extensive and successful career. Warren enjoyed traveling, with favorite trips including Antarctica, Norway, France, the Caribbean and the American West. He is survived by three daughters, six grandchildren and a sister.

Westminster Bulletin

1963

1966

Dennis A. Diemand died Aug. 16.

William W. Bodine III, who died April

Although Dennis began battling serious health issues starting in his 30s, he always found a way to smile. He was born in the middle of a blizzard in New Britain, Conn. He grew up in Middlebury, Conn., and attended McTernan School in Waterbury before heading to Westminster, followed by Dickinson College. A former resident of many Waterbury suburbs, he resided in Wolcott until 2015. Dennis began his career at Uniroyal in the footwear division. He went on to work for BIC pen and Paparazzo Construction before buying Thomaston Industries in the late 1980s. Dennis worked to modernize all aspects of the Thomaston factory and continued as president of the company until it was sold in 2014. Some of Dennis’s fondest memories took place at the Country Club of Waterbury. He spent many summers there in his youth learning to play golf and tennis, and perfecting his swimming. In fact, it was reported that he was the first person to dive into the club pool when it opened in the mid-1950s. As an adult, he enjoyed playing golf there every weekend and joined the Night Riders league weeknights. One of his favorite golf moments was when he birdied the 18th green at St. Andrews in Scotland, the day after the British Open had been played there. In 2010, Dennis began spending winters in Venice, Fla., where he loved the beaches, sunsets and the community where he lived. In 2012, he was elected to the board of directors of the community and served as a board member, president and treasurer before retiring in 2020. He was predeceased by his parents and his siblings, Judith Diemand and Robert Diemand ’60. In addition to his wife, Rosalind (Finn) of 33 years, he leaves his children, stepchildren, five grandchildren and his loyal rescue dog, Buddy.

30, grew up in Villanova, Penn. Many of Warren’s Westminster classmates remained his lifelong friends. In 1969, after his second year at Lake Forest College in Illinois, he entered the U.S. Army and was assigned as a sergeant to combat forces in Vietnam. A year later, he received the Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster for helping save the life of his commanding officer, then captain, now retired, Gen. Wesley K. Clark. Later that same year, Warren received a near fatal head wound and was awarded the Purple Heart. After the war, Warren settled in Rockland, Maine, where he became an active and much respected member of the community. In 1978, he bought the local independent bookstore, The Reading Corner, and the following year, expanded the business by moving it across the street from its original location where it remained a vital part of the downtown shopping district for almost 40 years. Warren loved his staff and customers at The Reading Corner, and his business is often credited with leading the 1980s revival of downtown Rockland. Warren’s longtime housemate, friend and bookstore manager, Brian Harden, remembers the store being “remarkably well stocked by Warren, who always bought too much for the budget … but the customers loved it. … He also refused to cut hours or lay off staff when business was slow, knowing that they depended on him for their employment.” Warren and Brian co-ran The Reading Corner and stayed active in the Downtown Rockland Association until Warren closed the store and retired in 2015. He later sold the building to Loyal Biscuit Co. Perhaps most personally rewarding was Warren’s longtime involvement in the Rockland Historical Society, where he was a founding member and served for many years on its board and as treasurer. He helped the society’s landmark effort to purchase and restore the birthplace of Edna St. Vincent Millay and to set it up as an independent nonprofit.

Warren was predeceased by his parents, his younger sister and favorite aunt. He is survived by his brother Lawrence Dilworth Bodine ’69 and his family; his sister Anne Bodine Cresci and her husband; as well as Anne’s son and his family; and by his friend Brian Harden. Retired U.S. Army Gen. Wes Clark writes: “To me, he was Sergeant Bodine, the best of our hand-picked sniper team. Competent, calm, totally reliable, an outstanding soldier and leader. He walked point on the day I went on patrol with second platoon, A Company, 1-16 Infantry. We were on foot, on patrol, in a woodcutting zone near the village of Long Thanh in Vietnam, Feb. 19, 1970. We were tracking an enemy force. It was almost 4 p.m., the sky cloudless, the sun beginning to sink. The jungle was thick, green, with a broad, hard-packed path. We knew the enemy was close. We crossed a little footbridge, quietly, well-spaced out, alert and Sergeant Bodine looked back at me and whispered, ‘We’ve lost the trail.’ He was the best ... how could he have lost the trail? I wondered. I went forward and he was right. The trail ended. Just then the enemy saw us and opened fire. I was hit in the first burst. We scrambled back. Sergeant Bodine covered me, returning fire and placing himself between the enemy and me. We called for the rest of the platoon, and they charged up and we overran the enemy position. But for a few moments it was the ‘gunfight at OK Corral,’ with the bullets whizzing by and the outcome in doubt. Sergeant Bodine saved my life. I have always been grateful. I was evacuated and sent home to recover. He soldiered on. I’m glad he survived and had a good life, did good things for his community and had a family. Fiftyone years ago. Seems like only yesterday. He was a good man. I send my deep condolences to all the family and my everlasting gratitude to Sergeant Bodine for his courage that day.”

1971

1974

Jonathan P. Edwards died May 28. Jon

John Robert Huber Jr. died March 7. Born

grew up in Villanova, Penn., with a sister, Lee, and two brothers, George and Ned ’76. Jon attended The Haverford School in Pennsylvania and Franklin & Marshall College. At Franklin & Marshall, he helped pioneer the squash program while also captaining the tennis team. He moved to New York after college, working in metals trading at various firms. Jon met his wife, Libby Edwards, in 1979 in New York, and they were married in 1986. Jon and Libby have two sons, Reed ’05 and Charlie, and raised them in Bedford, N.Y. Jon worked locally at Ginnel Real Estate. He was actively involved in the local sports community and helped shape the tennis program at Bedford Golf and Tennis Club as well as being club champion in tennis, paddle and golf. He is survived by his wife, sons and brothers.

in Tuxedo Park, N.Y., to Hanni and John Huber, Jack was humble, hardworking, honorable, kind, sweet and charismatic. He spent his life protecting his family, making certain they were well taken care of through love and support. Jack will continue to be the glue that keeps his family together. Jack is survived by his mother, sister, wife, eight children and 12 grandchildren. Classmate Tom Browne writes: “After graduating Westminster, he earned his degree in economics from Hobart and William Smith Colleges, before spending his career in the financial industry in New York City. I have known Jack since early our freshman year, but it wasn’t until we went to Hobart where we became close, lifelong friends. Humble, quick-witted and with an endless sense of humor, he was the friend you always wanted to have around. But I most admired his devotion to his tight-knit, loving family. I wish I had asked him what his secret was to raising such an amazing clan. I’m sure it would have been met with a quick flip answer that would only make me laugh.”

1973 Michael S. Kennedy died Oct. 3. Born

in Danville, Penn., he graduated with a degree in economics from Gettysburg College in 1977 and completed two postgraduate programs in benefits and retirement plans at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Mike was in the financial services business since 1977, holding various management, sales, consulting and administrative positions with Wachovia, Meridian Bank and American Bank. Most recently, he founded the Kennedy Group at Merrill Lynch and served as a senior financial adviser and vice president. Michael is survived by Leda Kennedy (Noecker), his wife of 44 years, as well as his two children. Michael was one of the founders of the Wyomissing Area Basketball Club, and coached youth basketball, soccer and baseball. He loved collecting Lionel trains, playing guitar and working on home improvement projects. He also served as president of Rho Beta Fraternity at Gettysburg College.

1975 James DeCamp Redway died Feb. 7. The son of the late Albert ’48 and Eleanor

(Nonnie) Redway, he was the husband of the late Elizabeth (Liza) Bean Redway who predeceased him last year. The couple had dated since 1974 and were happily married for 38 years. Jim is survived by their two sons. Jim received his bachelor’s degree from Hartwick College in 1979 and worked as a laboratory researcher for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Jim’s independent work in marine biology led to a peer-reviewed publication in Bios magazine. Entrepreneurial by nature, Jim launched James Redway Furniture in the early 1980s, which specialized in 18th-century furniture reproductions and other fine handcrafted pieces. His award-

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In Memoriam winning work was displayed at The Silver Cherry, a fine American crafts shop that he and his wife operated in Woodbury, Conn. By the mid-’90s, he launched Knightlite Software LLC, which created computer study software for firefighters, EMTs and paramedics. Jim was a longtime member of the Middlebury Volunteer Fire Department, where he formerly served as a fire officer and EMT. Jim enjoyed cooking and developing recipes, which he shared in his Silver Cherry Cookbook. He was particularly fond of carrying on family traditions, which included annual treks to Nantucket, making the most of every Christmas and donning tricorn hats and firing the family “cannon” July 4. He also took over, along with his brother, his paternal grandparents’ second home in Stockbridge, Mass., which he regularly visited and rented to vacationers. In addition to his immediate family, he is survived by his brother and his wife. Had he lived a month longer, Jim would have been a grandfather for the first time.

1976 Edwin Weinberg Davidson, who died

Sept. 1, was born in New Britain, Conn. He was loved by his siblings, Jodi Davidson, Larry Davidson ’74, Andy Herrmann and Diana Davidson. He was predeceased by his father, stepfather and his stepmother. Ned attended the University of South Carolina, where he earned a degree in finance. After graduating, he went to New Orleans, where he took part in the retail training program at D.H. Holmes stores. After a detour to Dallas, he made his way back to Connecticut and the family business, D&L Stores. While Ned had worked in the stores and warehouse during the summers of his high school and college years, it was time to share in the behind-the-scenes of merchandising. He later became senior vice president and merchandise manager of The Weathervane stores, another division of D&L Venture Corp. Ned left Weathervane in 2004 to start Jade Marketing Group. Along with his partner, John McKelvey, Ned 78

Westminster Bulletin

established a successful and well-respected denim business. Ned met his wife, Carla Brunalli Davidson, when they worked together at D&L. They were married for 33 years. Inducing laughter was one of Ned’s greatest talents, which contributed to his success as a dad. He excelled at being a father to his two children. His family was his priority, and he was never happier than when spending time with them, meeting their friends and witnessing their accomplishments. Ned was a gifted athlete and enjoyed sports all his life. His golf swing was a thing of beauty, and his drives enviable. He loved the Yankees and spent a number of happy days at the stadium with his family. He loved to vacation, and beach trips with his family to Grand Cayman were cherished times. He was always ready to do something or go somewhere. His spirit and zest for life will be missed by many.

2001 John Spencer Morton, who died May 10,

is survived by his wife and two children. Most recently, Spencer was living and working in Jackson Hole, Wyo., where he was the owner of the Jackson Hole Fly Fishing School. In 2012 and 2013, he was designated as a Top Wyoming Guide and continued to play hockey for the Moose Hockey team. Following Westminster, Spencer attended the University of Vermont. Former faculty member Tom Earl, who coached Spencer in hockey, writes: “I remember Spencer as an athlete who was committed to the game of ice hockey. I will always remember him as a kind and authentic young man who just loved to play the game of hockey for Westminster.” Former faculty member Peter Briggs ’71 writes: “I’m grateful that the Westminster community got to know and work with this special, caring young man. The pride of Stowe, Vt. I’m also thankful that Spencer’s occupation in adulthood provided him the love and joy of the outdoors, his true passion in life. He will be sorely missed.”

2018 Sam Leopold died unexpectedly in July. Classmate Matt Cosentino writes:

“During Sam’s four years at Westminster, he was known for his great sense of humor, his humble demeanor, his kindness and his maturity. Athletically, Sam was a great teammate and everyone enjoyed taking the field with him. Sam was a very talented baseball player and was one of the varsity baseball team’s captains during his Sixth Form year. Sam will be remembered most for being a loyal friend and for how much he loved his family. Sam adored his parents, all five of his siblings, his two nieces, his grandfather and his late dog, Tessie.”

Members of the Westminster Community William Nairne Bailey, who served on the

Westminster faculty from 1955-1963, died March 5. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Jeannette, three children, several grandchildren and an extended family. A native of Baltimore, Md., he attended Catonsville High School and then continued his studies at the College of William and Mary. During college, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and joined Columbia University’s Midshipmen School, eventually becoming a member of the U.S. Navy Air Corps. During his service, he earned the World War II Victory Ribbon as well as the American Area Campaign Ribbon. Following Pearl Harbor, he returned to his love of learning, studying at Princeton University and then resuming his studies at the College of William and Mary to earn both bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Bill successfully worked as a buyer for WR Grace Shipping for several years, but his love of academia, guided him to education once again, this time as a beloved math teacher; coach of swimming, football, track and baseball; and as a mentor to students, student teachers and colleagues alike. He was a

teacher, department chair and headmaster in prep schools up and down the East Coast, as well as the island of Aruba, for over 40 years. C. Stephen Heard Jr., a former trustee

from 1986-1991 and a member of the Centennial Campaign Committee in 1988, died Sept. 6, 2020. He is survived by his children, Erica Heard Reilly ’86 and Lindsey C. Heard ’89, five grandchildren and his wife, Perrin B. Heard. Originally from Westwood, Mass., Steve went on to study at Dedham Country Day School, Milton Academy, Harvard College — graduating cum laude in 1958 — and Stanford Law School in 1964. Steve became passionate about education and, in turn, giving back to the schools that helped guide him. Former faculty member Dora Moncada died Aug. 15 in Washington, D.C. She served on the faculty teaching Spanish and was involved in the community service program from 1997–2005. Her husband, Luis, was a fixture on the faculty for almost 20 years (1986–2005), teaching Spanish, coaching soccer and serving as Language Department chair. They were warm, vital members of the Westminster

community, always ready to share their time and energy with students and colleagues alike. Dora’s students over her 34-year teaching career included those from Dublin School, Ethel Walker School and Westminster, where she taught various levels of Spanish including Advanced Placement courses. Dora and Luis had been enjoying their retirement years in the country of their birth, Colombia, South America. They spent summers in the United States visiting family and friends from coast to coast. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her daughter and grandson. Linda Sullivan Powers died July 17. She

grew up in Wellesley, Mass., and attended Bates Elementary School and Wellesley High School, where she played field hockey and thrived in a strong academic program that nurtured her curiosity about languages, cultures and the workings of the world. She graduated from what is now known as Manhattanville College in 1969 as a Russian language major. In June 1969, she married Lewis (Jerry) Powers. They lived in Hartford until 1972, when they moved to Westminster where Jerry taught art as a faculty member while

Linda, having earned her master’s degree in teaching, taught first grade in Windsor Locks. Linda thrived in the community atmosphere of Westminster. She and Jerry had two sons, Lewis (Jay) and Sam ’94, and she stopped teaching to focus on being a mother. She later returned to the classroom as a wonderfully creative volunteer in Simsbury and as a long-term substitute on Block Island. While raising her sons, she became a dedicated wrestling and soccer mom. Linda took great joy in people and served as a second mother to countless soccer and wrestling teammates, Westminster and Yale students, and West Point cadets. One of the great highlights of the family’s life was living in a small town in southern France for a year when Jerry had a sabbatical. In 2000, Linda and Jerry moved to Block Island where they became part of another extraordinary, small community. Among her recent enthusiasms were gardening, selling jewelry at the Not New Boutique and learning American Sign Language. She is survived by her husband, sons, grandchildren and siblings.

Fall 2021

Closing Thoughts

Showing Kindness to Strangers By Katherine Kelter ’14 President of the Young Alumni Council There was a torrential downpour on my revisit day at Westminster. All day. On my other revisit day at a different school, the weather was gorgeous. Everyone was outside, bands were playing and students were picnicking on the quad. Anyone would have bet that I would choose the other school based on the weather. Despite Mother Nature trying to sway my decision, I chose Westminster in the end because of the warmth of the people; the rain did not matter. I distinctly remember being welcomed with genuine smiles on campus and a feeling of belonging, which continued throughout my four years. Westminster had an incredible sense of community when I was there as a student and continues to do so now that I’m gone. Some of my fondest memories from Westminster were the small conversations I had with people in passing: on the quad, in the academic center, walking to sports practice. Even if you hadn’t yet met the other person, you would always say “hello.” We were asked to put away our cellphones when walking around, to be present with the people around us. I expected this to be the same in college, as I was going to a small liberal arts school with just over 2,000 students. I remember walking down the main walkway as an incoming freshman with butterflies in my stomach during the first week. I waved to the first person I walked by and said “hello,” keeping my phone in my pocket like we were encouraged to do at Westminster. I did not get a wave back. Actually, I never got a wave back. Not one. Even though my wave-back rate in college was far lower compared to Westminster, I continued to greet strangers because of the warmth I felt when strangers greeted me on my rainy revisit day back in 2010. I continue to do so now living in San Francisco, and some really amazing connections have been formed with strangers whom I have sparked up conversation with when I could have easily just walked right by. Fast forward to the present day, I am now heading into my fourth year of “the real world.” Since graduating, I have continued to be very involved with the Westminster community. In 2019, I joined the Young Alumni Council (YAC) as vice president and have now stepped into a presidential role. I was lucky enough to have my five-year reunion pre-COVID, and yes, it was just as fun as everybody says it is. It was great to reconnect with old classmates, some of whom I speak to often and others whom I haven’t seen or heard from since graduation. It felt just like we were back on campus as students. When COVID-19 hit, we were all shocked and forced to stay at home. After a few months of very little human interaction, I remember receiving an email from Westminster in May. It was a link to sign up for weekly, virtual classes with Westminster 80

Westminster Bulletin

Katherine Kelter ’14

teachers. I had to read it over twice because, at first, I assumed it was for students. To my surprise and excitement, the opportunity was indeed for alumni; it was a chance to relive their favorite Westminster classes and participate in the conversation as an adult. I was thrilled to see my Fourth Form Moral Philosophy teacher, Todd Eckerson, offering one of my favorite classes. I immediately signed up and was very happy I did. It was the highlight of my week to debate philosophical topics with alumni from all over the world, in multiple different phases of life. My virtual class was filled with new faces in a variety of professions, who all brought different perspectives to the conversation and were not afraid to jump in to the discussion. At Westminster, I learned to be confident in my opinions and to always speak up. I was constantly encouraged to voice my thoughts in class, which has helped me excel in professional settings. As the president of the Young Alumni Council, I am excited to take on the challenge of increasing young alumni engagement. I feel that we have an opportunity to connect with one another more so than we do now, and it will be my goal to make that happen. As we navigate to new colleges, new cities and new experiences, we need to lean on each other for advice and support. I feel very grateful for such an expansive network of smart, genuine and selfless Westminster alumni. My closing advice is to always show kindness to strangers. Even if they don’t wave back, it will bring you happiness and will probably make their day.

TRUSTEES 2021-2022 Madeleine Ekholm P’19, ’20 Greenwich, Conn.

Ian M. Morton ’87, P’22 San Francisco, Calif.

Elisabeth M. Armstrong P’04, ’06, ’07 Emerita Dallas, Texas

Joseph L. Gitterman III ’55, P’86, ’86, ’90, GP’24 Emeritus Washington Depot, Conn.

Alison P. Pappas P’22 Ex officio New York, N.Y.

Jeffrey H. Artis ’72 Alpharetta, Ga.

Eunice J. Han-van Vredenburch ’84, P’21 Rye, N.Y.

Stephen W. Bailey ’89, P’21 McLean, Va.

Powell W. Holly III ’82 Fredericksburg, Va. David H. Hovey Jr. ’78, P’09, ’11, ’14 Chatham, Mass.

John S. Armour ’76 Emeritus Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.

Elisabeth Gailun Baird ’98 New Canaan, Conn. Christopher M. Beck P’08, ’13 Ex officio Harpswell, Maine William L. Beckford ’89, P’23 Baltimore, Md.

Martin R. Irani ’83 Encino, Calif. Martin Kelly P’22 New York, N.Y.

William D. Brewer P’17, ’21 New York, N.Y.

Katherine B. Kelter ’14 Ex officio San Francisco, Calif.

Christopher J. Campbell ’91 London, U.K.

David W. Kistler ’87, P’22 Tiburon, Calif.

Renée Lynch Carrel ’84, P’19, ’21 Boston, Mass.

Jane Kessler Lennox ’88, P’16, ’18 New Albany, Ohio

Edward V. Dardani Jr. P’14, ’18 Waccabuc, N.Y.

Bryan Martin ’86 Larchmont, N.Y.

John H. Davis P’05 Emeritus Longmeadow, Mass.

Thomas W. McCargo ’82, P’21 Sewickley, Pa.

Harvey C. DeMovick III ’90, P’24 Westerly, R.I.

Andrew D. McCullough Jr. ’87 Houston, Texas

Lori P. Durham P’13, ’15 Denver, Colo.

T. Treadway Mink Jr. ’77, P’11 Emeritus Greenville, S.C.

William C. Egan III ’64, P’92, ’95, ’00, ’02 Emeritus Jackson, Wyo.

Jakub B. Mleczko ’00 Ex officio New York, N.Y.

Westminster Bulletin

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FALL 2021 Published by:

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William Pappas P’22 Ex officio New York, N.Y. Mary Minns Peck ’90 Denver, Colo. C. Bradford Raymond ’85, P’19, ’20, ’24, ’24 Chair of the Board New York, N.Y. Thomas D. Sargent II ’77, P’10 West Hartford, Conn. Gary L. Simpson P’24 Water Mill, N.Y. Helen Sun Lin P’24 Hong Kong Samuel Thorne ’46, P’74, ’76 Emeritus Bedford, Mass. Kirsten Sichler Webb ’98 Greenwich, Conn. Elaine White Head of School Ex officio Simsbury, Conn. Sara L. Whiteley ’91 West Chatham, Mass. Benjamin D. Williams IV ’81 Carpinteria, Calif.

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Westminster Bulletin Fall 2021

Articles inside

Class Notes

Martlets on the Move

In Memoriam

2020 and 2021 Reunion

Hill Headlines

From the Archives

Head of School Message

Celebrating 5o Years of Coeducation

Lawn Ceremony

Getting to Know the Community and Building Relationships

Supporting Westminster