Derryfield Today, Spring 2004 by The Derryfield School

today

Derryfield

NEWS FROM THE DERRYFIELD SCHOOL

Finding the Right Fit The Final Step for 2004 From Every Perspective

SPRING 2004

Honk! see details on page 5

contents Table of

BOARD OF TRUSTEES Tricia Lucas Chair Manchester, NH

DERRYFIELD TODAY

John Allard ’83 Manchester, NH

Annie Branch Editor

Bradley Benson ’78 Derry, NH

O’Neil Griffin Bodi, Inc. Design

James Cahill Concord, NH

Puritan Press Printing

Steven Burke Treasurer Bedford, NH

Jim Davis New Boston, NH

CONTRIBUTORS

Pamela VanArsdale Secretary Bedford, NH

William Davis II Hopkinton, NH

Kathryn Robinson Director, Summerbridge

Dr. Louis Fink Bedford, NH

Ben Russell Director, The Philadelphia Story

by Annie Branch

Terry Flahive Bedford, NH

Sandra Townsend Language Department

From Every Perspective

Patrick Griffin Bedford, NH

ADVANCEMENT

Joseph Horton Manchester, NH

Alice Handwerk Director of Advancement

Maria Holland Law ’75 Bedford, NH

Gail Gordon Advancement Assistant

Donna K. Lencki Candia, NH

Annie Branch Director of Communications

David Lockwood Manchester, NH

Jen Pierce Director of Alumni Relations

Arthur Coviello Vice Chair Hollis, NH

SPRING 2004

features FEATURES

The Final Step for 2004

by Annie Branch

Dianne Connolly Corporate Secretary Windham, NH Randle Richardson Head of School Concord, NH

Finding the Right Fit

16 22

Ellie Cochran ’69

Distinguished Alumni

Major David Grosso ’78

departments DEPARTMENTS

Message from the Head

Lourdes Maldonado Manchester, NH

Around Campus

Eric Nickerson Windham, NH

Cougar Athletics

Jeffrey Pollock Bedford, NH

Summerbridge Spotlight

Gay Shanahan ’76 Duxbury, MA

Update on Alumni Life After Derryfield Alumni Profile

2 4 12 14 18 22 29

FRONT COVER: Seniors celebrate after Commencement Exercises on June 12th. INSIDE FRONT COVER: The Cat (John Bassett ’08) prepares to cook Ugly (Anthony Bernatas ’08) in a scene from Honk! Derryfield Today is published by the Advancement Office at The Derryfield School. If you note errors, please notify us at 603.669.4524 ext. 123 or send an email to abranch@derryfield.org. Correspondence may be addressed to: Director of Communications, The Derryfield School, 2108 River Road, Manchester, NH 03104-1396. The Derryfield School welcomes students of any race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin. The School does not discriminate in its hiring, admission policies, or programs on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, or disabilities.

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BACKGROUND: Students get a bird’s eye view of baseball and lacrosse games at the Upper Fields. TOP: Seniors line up for the graduation procession.

head

Message from the RANDY RICHARDSON HEAD OF SCHOOL

Strength of Values he end of the 2004 school year has been marked by culminating events and celebrations that have evoked a mixture of pride, sadness, and joy. These emotions are powerfully felt and expressed at times like these, and come from some core Derryfield values. Among these values are intellectual curiosity, creative expression, the pursuit of excellence, and strong educational and personal connections. While there were some challenging emotions, it was moving to feel the strength of these values at Derryfield.

“I was struck by the honesty, humor, compassion, talent, intelligence, and insightfulness of the student presentations” The eighth‑grade sendoff and twelfth‑grade graduation are different ceremonies by design, but each strongly reflects these values. Eighth grade sendoff is the graduation ceremo‑ ny of the Middle School, although smaller in scale and less formal than graduation. Faculty members effectively demonstrated their affection for and knowledge of their stu‑ dents through concise, creative, and penetrating tributes for each eighth grade student. The statements are filled with comments about academic and personal exploration and growth. Some of the teachers also revealed their talent and creativity, along with their fondness for the class by choos‑ ing and performing some beautiful songs. The Boettiger Theatre was full for the more formal 2004 graduation ceremony, but the intimate feeling and Derryfield values were still evident. Most impressive and heartening were the student speeches and performances.

The Welcome was delivered by Geoffrey Kirsch, the Valedictory by Mike Moran, and the Farewell by Beth Frieden. Many more seniors and some underclassmen played roles in the musical performances. I was struck by the honesty, humor, compassion, talent, intelligence, and insightfulness of the student presentations. They spoke and sang about intellectual growth, creative expression, mentor‑ ship, friendship, and personal growth. These students repre‑ sented their classmates and The Derryfield School better than we could have imagined. Impressively, many of the graduating seniors missed other social opportunities to attend an event at school on the evening of their graduation. They returned for a farewell celebration for 32‑year Derryfield teacher, coach, advisor, and friend, David Haight. Not only were there touching tributes from former Headmaster, Bill Pfeifer, and former Head of School, Nancy Boettiger, but David was also cre‑ atively and humorously roasted by friends and colleagues. David and the Derryfield faculty were also honored with over $35,000 in gifts to the Bailey Milne Fund to help ensure that faculty and staff children can attend the School. David’s commitment, kindness, creativity, intelligence, multiple tal‑ ents, and love for Derryfield make him both a symbol of our values and a mentor and friend to all of us. We certainly owe our thanks to David, our graduating seniors, and to so many others who have helped create this exceptional educational community.

Randy Richardson Head of School

Derryfield Today – Spring 2004

AUGUST – DECEMBER

events I M AG E S F R O M C O M M E N C E M E N T W E E K E N D

calendar

For more photos, visit our online gallery in the ‘What’s Happening’ section of www.derryfield.org. AUGUST Fall Varsity Preseason Begins

Alumni Golf Tournament

Retreats

30 & 31

SEPTEMBER First Day of School

Back to School Picnic

Back to School Night

OCTOBER Grandparents’ Day

Reunion

1-2

Country Fair

PSAT

Summerbridge Saturday

NOVEMBER Admission Open House

DECEMBER Holiday Concert

Summerbridge Saturday

TAKE A SWING!

golftournament Clockwise from top right: David Haight prepares for the ceremony as Chuck Sanborn looks on. n Ellie Cochran ’69 bids farewell to Drew Moerlein ’04. n Cara Bishop ’04 and Farrah Desrosiers ’04 line up for the procession. n Jennifer Melkonian briefs the Class of 2004 on the plan of action. n Faculty Member Jack Sanford accepts a

diploma from Tricia Lucas on behalf of his son, Bryan ’04. n Beth Frieden ’04 gives her farewell address.

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Join members of the Derryfield family for a fun day of golf on August 27th at the 10th Annual Kickoff Classic Golf Tourn‑ ament at Candia Woods. Come win prizes, relax with friends, and raise money for scholarships at Derryfield. Last year’s event raised $17,580 for scholarship. Call 603.669.4524 ext.137 for more information. 3

campus

Around

STORIES

Senior Blood Drive

This year’s Senior Blood Drive, organized by Ariana Hodes ’04, surpassed all expecta‑ tions. On March 2nd, 42 pints of blood were collected from 22 new donors and 23 previous donors. Red Cross representatives were amazed by the turnout, especially considering that donors must be 18 to give blood. Key Club advisor Kathy Hill said, “Seeing the veteran student, faculty, and parent donors help the first‑time donors through the process was wonderful.”

Hunger Banquet Service Awards

Honk! Senior Projects Thespians Honored Bon Voyage La Dictée

The Philadelphia Story Habitat

Middle School students line up for rice and beans during the Hunger Banquet.

anced diet ate beans and rice on chairs; and the 55% that represented the population that has an unsteady food supply ate rice and water on the floor. The students then split up into advisor groups to discuss hunger issues in the world. Students raised $300 for New Horizons Soup Kitchen.

David Haight Retires

Service Awards

Creative Writing Contest A Jimmy Buffett Evening Founders’ Day

Julia Spiegelman ’04 becomes a first-time donor at the Senior Blood Drive.

The Final Step for 2004 FIGURE THIS... The following members of the Derryfield community will be leaving this year:

32 years n Ellie Cochran ’69 after 16 years n Kathryn Robinson after 5 years n Bryan Duff after 4 years n Ben Russell ’94 after 4 years n Diane Allen after 3 years n Jeanne Mellish after 3 years n David Haight after

Hunger Banquet On April 29th, middle school students were told to bring a small donation in lieu of lunch. When they arrived, students were split up into groups to participate in a Hunger Banquet. The 15% that represented the population of the world that eats a reg‑ ular, balanced meal ate a full meal at tables; the 30% that represented the popu‑ lation that has enough food but not a bal‑

Eighteen seniors were honored with Service Awards on Awards Day this year. Cara Bishop, Joseph Cahill, Farrah Des‑ rosiers, Beth Frieden, Joseph Guerra, Ali Hafez, Samantha Keefe, Whitney Krause, Julia Lehman, Michael Moran, Catherine Reno, Emily Runnells, James Silvestro, Elizabeth Townsend, Julia Voorhees, Kath‑ erine Weber, Ashley Westbrook, and Robert Zeller were the recipients of the 2004 award. Service honorees must perform at least 50 hours of service per year and be involved in a significant way in either Key Club, Conservation Club, Summerbridge, or community volunteerism.

Derryfield Today – Spring 2004

AROUND CAMPUS

Mother Duck (Liz Baseman ’08) wonders where her son, Ugly, has gone.

as Ugly, delivered shining perfor‑ mances that conveyed the show’s mes‑ sage of tolerance while entertaining the audience. Liz Baseman ’08 warmed the audience’s heart with her performance as a loving and accepting mother to Ugly. Creative costumes and vivid scenery enabled the talented young actors to tell their story with style and flourish. According to Director Jim

Honk! This year’s Middle School musical was an entertaining combination of fantasy, slapstick humor, and morals. Written by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, Honk! is the story of Ugly, whose odd, gawky looks instantly incite prejudice from his family and neighbors. Separated from the farm and pursued by the hungry Cat, Ugly must find his way home. Along his adventurous journey, he not only dis‑ covers his true beauty and glorious destiny, but also finds love and accep‑ tance in all its forms. Supported by a cast of over 65, John Bassett ’08, as the Cat, and Anthony Bernatas ’08,

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Senior Projects This year, five seniors chose to spend the final six weeks of their senior year doing an Independent Senior Project. They shared their experiences in a brief presentation at an assembly in June. Laura Desjarlais completed an eques‑ trian work/study program at Cedar Crest Farm in New York. Shalini Patel volunteered with the Concord Feminist Health Center. David Pham produced a CD of original lyrics and instrumen‑ tals. Maura Spiegelman continued a volunteer internship with Planned Parenthood of Northern New England. Robby Zeller worked on program enrichment and restructuring at the Sentinel Baptist Camp.

Thespians Honored

The Cat (John Bassett ’08) woos a housecat (Julia Maldonado ’08).

Speigel, “The Derryfield Middle School kids were all totally and completely willing to suspend their disbelief, and transform themselves into all the won‑ derful characters from Honk! Because of their incredible effort and amazing talent the true meaning of the show was achieved.”

This spring, several Derryfield student performers were inducted into the International Thespians Society. The ITS is the only organization to honor secondary school students for out‑ standing work in theatre. Students must commit 100 hours to dramatic productions to be eligible for member‑ ship. The new inductees for 2004 include Cara Bishop ’04, Chris Connors ’04, Julia Spiegelman ’04, Ashley Travis ’05, Glen Frieden ’06, Jacob Keefe ’06, Robert Lemire ’06, Clinton Oas ’06, Tyree Robinson ’06, Alex Rolecek ’06, Kayla Sirkin ’06, Sarah Umberger ’06, and Evan Urtz ’06. The 2004 inductees join 15 other Derryfield performers as members of the most active New Hampshire chapter of the ITS.

AROUND CAMPUS

Mr. Townsend points out a local landmark to a group of Derryfield students.

Bon Voyage Combine ten days, ten students, and ten families. The result? A highly suc‑ cessful homestay in France last March. Saint Germain‑en‑Laye is a picturesque and historic city on the Seine River, within commuting distance of Paris. Arriving Friday, March 19th, students spent the first weekend with their host families, who had organized their own

FÉLICITATIONS

lanickdictée couraud ’04 Derryfield senior, Nicolas Couraud, placed a close second at the Manchester Club Richelieu’s Oratorical Contest, held at the Chateau Restaurant on March 3rd. Derry‑ field was one of five Manchester high schools represented in the competition. Nick presented a four‑minute speech on the influence of Médecins sans frontières in French‑speaking countries and in the world at large. Because the first‑place winner had other commitments on April 3rd, Nick was selected to represent New Hampshire that weekend at an international competition of “La Dictée” at the Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City. 6

cultural and recreational activities, in‑ cluding going to see Hair, attending a soccer match of Paris‑Saint Germain vs. Ajaccio, visiting Versailles, and seeing Paris by night. On Monday morning they were together again, weathering chilly March temperatures to walk the streets of Paris, accompanied by Yves and Roselyne Herpe, longtime friends of chaperones Mme. and Mr. Town‑ send. Students saw a wide range of sights, from the futuristic city of La Défense to the twelfth‑century remains of the fortifications of what was then Paris. Their French improved drama‑ tically, as they strove to follow Yves’ narrative and his wife Roselyne’s thoughtful conversation. They also rose to the daily challenge of commu‑ nicating with their French families. “The trip far surpassed my expecta‑ tions,” Mme. Townsend commented. Having done five previous homestays, in Limoges and Nimes, she knew the intrinsic value of the family experience, which eliminates the insular nature of group travel. “I applaud the students for their initial act of courage and leap of faith in signing up for the trip.

They were wonderful ambassadors, bringing their enthusiasm, curiosity, and good will to their families and the French community they lived in for a brief while. Perhaps they learned the essential lesson that traveling is less about the places you go than it is about the people you get to know there.”

The Derryfield group poses in front of the Eiffel Tower.

In exchange for the warm hospitality they encountered, three Derryfield families will be hosting their “corre‑ spondents” this summer. Families interested in hosting one of the French students, for all or part of their visit, should contact Madame Townsend immediately at stownsend@ derryfield.org.

Derryfield Today – Spring 2004

AROUND CAMPUS

The Philadelphia Story

Habitat

The Derryfield Players took a quieter turn after the ambitious challenge of mounting Les Misérables during the winter, turning their energies to the smaller ensemble production of Phillip Barry’s classic romantic comedy, The Philadelphia Story. Written in 1939 in collaboration with lead actress Kath‑ erine Hepburn, both writer and star were looking for a theatrical success to elevate them from difficulty and bad critical notice. The Philadelphia Story gave them each that renewed acclaim, just as it continued the string of suc‑ cesses in Derryfield’s theatrical season. The production was staged to reflect the world of 1938, the year the script originally indicated, as it was felt by director Benjamin Russell ’94 that the characters, their motivations, and their actions were set firmly in the events and culture of the times. The actors worked diligently not only to learn their lines, but to speak them with the rapid‑fire delivery that was common to the screwball comedies of the period. Additionally, the task of playing parts that were many years older than them‑ selves, not to mention possessed of a formality and body language that is no

While most students spent their spring vacation sleeping late or tanning on a beach, Drew Moerlein ’04 and Bryan Sanford ’04 were digging ditches and mixing cement. After three years of planning, the two seniors headed to Costa Rica for the first week of their vacation to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. They stayed in the home of the head of the organization and worked on a housing site for four days, leveling the floor, moving soil piles, sifting sand for cement, and digging most of a septic tank hole. During their free time they sampled local cuisine, played soccer with fellow workers, and took a trip to the nature reserve, Manuel Antonio, on the Pacific Coast. Moerlein says of the experience, “It is such a powerful experience to work with the people and families that will soon be living in the houses we were constructing. It was a beautiful and generous country, and working with Habitat for Humanity truly was a once‑in‑a‑lifetime experience.”

Tracy Lord (Ariana Hodes ’04) coaches Uncle Willie Tracy (Matt Connors ’04), who is having difficulty pretending to be her father.

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Liz Imbrie (Beth Frieden ’04) and Mike Connor (David Moore ’04) commiserate in an early scene.

longer extant in this day and age, was one that required significant effort to portray convincingly. But the actors brought an intensity to their roles, a determined honesty that pulled audi‑ ences in to speculate on the outcome of the complex matrimonial shell game that played out before their eyes. The story revolves around Tracy Lord (as played by Ariana Hodes ’04) who experiences a particularly frigid case of cold feet on the day before her second marriage. When her first hus‑ band (played by a very suave Glen Frieden ’06) forces her to realize that perhaps the failure of their marriage wasn’t entirely his fault, she seeks solace not in the arms of her seemingly ideal fiancé (Chris Kiley ’05), but in the raw, honest worship of reporter Mike Connor (David Moore ’04). This latest development doesn’t sit well with Connor’s photojournalist partner (as played by Beth Frieden ’04), who would much prefer that Tracy choose one of the other two men in her life as the wedding grows ever closer. Seniors Matthew Connors, Julia Lehman, Shaylen Roberts, and Andrew Tsai also delivered cunning comic turns in the final production of their respective Derryfield tenures.

Drew Moerlein ’04 and Bryan Sanford ’04 with tools of their trade at Habitat in Costa Rica.

AROUND CAMPUS

David Haight Retires

A Jimmy Buffett Evening

Before the dust had settled from grad‑ uation ceremonies, members of the Derryfield community were back on campus to honor a man who has quiet‑ ly dedicated 32 years of service to the School. David Haight has impacted the lives of over one thousand Derryfield students during his time at the School, and those numbers were reflected in the attendance at his retirement dinner. As guests arrived, they signed a book created for David by Andy Moerlein. After dinner, guests moved to the Auditorium to celebrate and roast their guest of honor. Faculty members Ed Lemire and Betty Jipson hosted the program, which featured reflections by former Heads of School Bill Pfeifer and Nancy Boettiger. Jim Speigel created a montage of all of David’s appearances in Derryfield dramatic productions over the years. Bruce Berk, Rob Bradley, and Dick Anthony lightened up the

The 2004 Parents’ Association Auction, chaired by Nigel Donovan, was the most successful auction ever. On the evening of Sunday, May 2nd, the Way‑ farer Inn was transformed into Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville by several cre‑ ative parent volunteers. Past parent, Rick Morgan, and current parent, Carol O’Reilly, arranged a $5,000 spon‑ sorship through their company, Boston Private Value Investors in Concord. The evening featured a reception and silent auction, followed by dinner and a live auction. The festive atmosphere loosened purse strings, and coercive auctioneer, Jim Morgan, frequently pushed the bidding to new heights. A trip to Tuscany raised the most money of all items, and Steve Cohen won a trip to LaQuinta Resort in the auction raffle. Some of the more popular items included dinner and a movie with Latin guy Chris McNeil, a pie a month for a year from Andy Moerlein, front row seats for graduation, and tickets to see Jimmy Buffett at Fenway. The event raised over $65,000 for the School and a fun time was had by all.

Bruce Berk, Rob Bradley, and Dick Anthony roast David Haight during his retirement party.

David Haight and his family laugh over memories of his time at Derryfield.

mood with a thorough roasting of their colleague and friend. The program was capped off by a few words from Jim Hendrix ’77, Ellie Cochran ’69, and Randy Richardson, who presented David with several gifts and announced that $35,000 had been raised in his honor for the Bailey Milne Fund. At the end of the evening, it was clear to all what a positive impact David has made during his time at Derryfield.

Creative Writing Contest Congratulations to winners of the 2004 Creative Writing Contest, announced at the final All‑School Assembly. For Non‑Fiction, first prize went to Nicholas Nardini ’05; second to Beth Frieden ’04; third to Jennifer Cox ’06 and Leslie Stonebraker ’04; and honorable men‑ tion to Geoffrey Kirsch ’04. For Fiction, first prize went to Nicholas Nardini ’05; second to Kimberly Cohen ’05; and honorable mention to Christina Nyquist ’05 and Geoffrey Kirsch ’04. For Poetry, first prize went to Beth Frieden ’04; second to Geoffrey Kirsch ’04 and Leslie Stonebraker ’04; and honorable mention to Isaac Wheeler ’06 and Geoffrey Blanding ’04. The Creative Writing Contest is judged by a panel of members of the English Department.

Derryfield parent Jim Morgan rallied the troops to bid on items during the live auction.

Derryfield Today – Spring 2004

AROUND CAMPUS

Founders’ Day On Friday, April 16th, members of the Derryfield community gathered for Founders’ Day, kicking off the School’s 40th Anniversary celebration. Many of the Founders of Derryfield were pre‑ sent, and their contributions to the School were honored. Founders Barbara Stahl and Selma Deitch Sigel, both leaders in the Derryfield and greater Manchester communities who passed away this winter, were remem‑ bered for their tireless efforts on behalf of the School. Dr. Selma Deitch Sigel was a Founder not only of Derryfield, but also of Child Health Services in Manchester, and was a strong support‑ er of Summerbridge Manchester. Dr. Barbara Stahl, who had been slated to speak at the ceremonies, was the senior faculty member at Saint Anselm College, a respected research scientist, and a member of the Board of Trustees since Derryfield’s founding. Dr. Stahl’s daughter, Susan Stahl Hardy ’70, spoke in lieu of her mother, remembering life at Derryfield as a member of one of the

2003 Founders’ Scholar, Robbie Zeller ’04, with the 2004 recipient, Alexa Warburton ’05.

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Derryfield Founders gather with Susan Stahl Hardy ’70 (right) after the Founders’ Day Ceremonies.

first classes to attend the School four decades ago. She spoke of how a Derryfield education encouraged her to be a better student and taught her skills that she uses to this day. The newest members of the National Honor Society were inducted, and Maria Holland Law ’75, President of the Alumni Council, awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award to Major Dave Grosso ’78, Battalion Operations Officer for the 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group, Fort Carson, CO. Major Grosso spoke of how he came to appreciate his Derryfield education only as he discovered a career he was passionate about. He also took a moment to honor those who are cur‑ rently engaged in combat (see page 29). Robert Zeller ’04, the 2003 Founders’ Scholar, spoke at the end of the cere‑ mony about keeping life in perspective and taking advantage of opportunities posed. He then announced the 2004 Peter S. Freedman Founders’ Scholar Award Recipient, Alexa Warburton ’05. Warburton, a member of the National Honor Society, Key Club, and Varsity Field Hockey Team, has maintained an exemplary academic record and set a

positive example for her peers. The Peter S. Freedman Founders’ Scholar Award is presented annually to that member of the Junior Class who has best combined academic achievement with personal responsibility, indepen‑ dence, and ethical sense.

NATIONAL HONOR SOCIET Y

2004 inductees The following Derryfield students were inducted into the National Honor Society during the 2004 Founders’ Day celebration.

Class of 2004 Joseph J. Guerra Ariana H. Hodes Geoffrey R. Kirsch Julia L. M. Lehman Andrew T. Tsai

Class of 2005 Jenna A. Bee Leigh C. Cameron Kimberly B. Cohen Julie E. Grimm

Brett A. McLarnon Nicholas R. Nardini Sammi A. Phillips

Class of 2006 Glen E. Frieden Connor R. Garstka Kristen M. Moran Katherine F. Myers Katherine J. Richey Anna K. Sims

award

2004

recipients The Final Step for 2004 COMMUNITY AWARDS

The D.A.R. Good Citizen Award n Farrah Desrosiers ’04 The Mayor's Award n Farrah Desrosiers ’04 The Alumni Service Award n Joanne Taube ’69 The Alumni Award n Farrah Desrosiers ’04 The Matthew L. Young ’88 Memorial Scholarship n Victoria Starr ’05 The Class of 1994 Award n Julia Lehman ’04 The Rotary Cup n Farrah Desrosiers ’04 Citizens Bank Scholar Award

Lejla Kadic ’06

ACADEMIC AWARDS English n Beth Frieden ’04 and Geoffrey Kirsch ’04 Music n Abigail Feinberg ’04 and Julia Spiegelman ’04 Art n Whitney Krause ’04 Drama n Shaylen Roberts ’04 and Drew Moerlein ’04 Dennis F. Holland Mathematics Award n James Silvestro ’04 Barbara J. Stahl, Ph.D. Life Science Award n Geoffrey Kirsch ’04 Physical Science n Andrew Tsai ’04 History n James Silvestro ’04 French n Julia Spiegelman ’04 Latin n Geoffrey Blanding ’04 Spanish n Beth Frieden ’04 and Whitney Krause ’04 Computer n George Dirth ’04 SPECIAL AWARDS Rensselaer Medal n Brett McLarnon ’05 The Wellesley Book Award n Jenna Bee ’05 The Harvard Book Award n Leslie Stonebraker ’05 The Dartmouth Book Award n Alexandra Warburton ’05 The RISD Book Award n Shalini Patel ’04 THE HEAD OF SCHOOL AWARDS The R. Philip Hugny Award n James Silvestro ’04 The Ralph J. Scozzafava Award n Michael Moran ’04 The William B. Pfeifer Award n Katherine Weber ’04 The Marcus D. Hurlbut Award n Robert Zeller ’04

Seniors arrived early on Saturday, June 12th, gathering in the courtyard to collect flowers and take a few last pic‑ tures as Derryfield students. As the Class of 2004 lined up on the walkway leading to the graduation ceremony in the auditorium, the faculty gathered by the schoolhouse. The procession was led by Board Chair, Tricia Lucas; Head of School, Randy Richardson; and Commencement Speaker, David Haight, who was retiring after 32 years of teaching. Once the students had gathered in the auditorium and Chuck Sanborn had given the Invocation, Geoffrey Kirsch ’04 came forward to give the Welcoming Address. Kirsch pulled from the wisdom of William Shakespeare, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Campbell, finishing with a quote from the play, Waiting for Godot: “At this place, at this moment of time, all mankind is us, whether we like it our not. Let us make the most of it, before it is too late!” David Haight’s Commencement Address, entitled ‘Dr. Ruth and the sensual side of history,’ certainly kept the audience’s attention. Haight revealed that a few seniors had recent‑ ly expressed regret that they had never taken his World Civilization II class, so he decided to give them an overview, dividing his presentation into thirteen different time periods. Haight began with the Renaissance, speaking of this period as, “an attitude, a perspective on life, a time of intellectual creativity,

of imagination, of a willingness to try new things and to think in new direc‑ tions, to look at things in ways that have never been viewed before.” He described a table with the era’s most influential people, discussing the changes that had occurred at their hands in such a short period. Haight glossed over the next eleven periods in a few sentences, classifying them as too romantic, too violent, or covered by Mr. Berk, quickly arriving at the Modern Renaissance. Haight advised the seniors, “All of the assumptions that have been made about you and all your own assumptions about the world will begin to change today. You already have all the talents of a Renaissance class – balance and per‑ spective, creativity and knowledge, Mike Moran ’04 gives the Valedictory Address as Commencement Speaker, David Haight, looks on.

Derryfield Today – Spring 2004

AROUND CAMPUS

Tricia Lucas leads the graduation procession for the last time as Chair of the Board of Trustees.

and a sense of humanism. And now you have the opportunity to bring to life those changes you can envision.” He referred back to the table of influ‑ ential minds of the era, this time at the close of the Modern Renaissance, and he told the class of 2004, “I want those people to be from this class. I want them to be you.” Concert Choir, joined by its senior members, sang You Raise Me Up, after which Mike Moran ’04 gave his Valedictory Address. Moran spoke of how, during his time at Derryfield, he learned to deal with stress in a more productive way. He gained a new per‑ spective on academic success, learning that knowledge is more than repetition of facts. “I won’t leave Derryfield and be ready for college because I know the derivative of sine is cosine or that duodenum is found in the small intes‑ tine; I will be ready because my brain has been molded and has acquired a deep capacity for thinking. And with the ability to think, I have faith that all else will fall into place.”

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Senior Class President, Farrah Desrosiers ’04, then announced the 2004 Class Gift, which included a DJ station for the McIninch Room and a speaker system for the gymnasium, with the remaining funds being donat‑ ed to the Bailey Milne Fund in honor of David Haight. Randy Richardson presented the Head of School Awards with the help of David Haight. The R. Philip Hugny Award was given to James Silvestro, The Ralph J. Scozza‑ fava Award to Michael Moran, The William B. Pfeifer Award to Katherine Weber, and The Marcus D. Hurlbut Award to Robert Zeller. After the fac‑ ulty chorus performed a heartfelt ren‑ dition of Walking Tall, it was time to confer diplomas to the 55 members of the Class of 2004. For the last time, out‑ going Chair of the Board of Trustees, Tricia Lucas, handed out diplomas to the graduating seniors. Faculty mem‑ ber, Jack Sanford, accepted a diploma on behalf of his son, Bryan ’04, who had already left for basic training in the Marine Reserves.

Once the members of the class had received their diplomas, Beth Frieden gave the Farewell Address. She spoke of the impact her classmates have had on each other, and that this influence has helped to shape each member of the Class of 2004. “At one time, we were all undiscovered countries. As we have discovered each other, we have changed. Honest connections help us make decisions, they help us survive, and they help us become the people we are now. We cannot expand our worlds without expanding ourselves.” The thirty‑seventh Commencement Exercises culminated with a duet by Katherine Weber ’04 and Abby Feinberg ’04, For Good, the singing of Sing Out for Derryfield, and a Benediction from Chuck Sanborn. Upon filing out of the auditorium, the graduates formed the traditional receiving line in which faculty, family, and friends could convey best wishes for the future to the Class of 2004.

Seniors Joelle Emery, Whitney Krause, and Elizabeth Townsend listen as David Haight gives his speech.

athletics

Cougar

A BUSY SEMESTER...

2004 ATHLETIC AWARDS

lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer THE LAMPLIGHTER ATHLETIC AWARD adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh Farrah Desrosiers ’04 euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna THE SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARD aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad Katherine Weber ’04 and Michael Moran ’04 minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation THE KEN PIATT MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut Bryan Sanford ’04 aliConsequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse Bryan Sanford ’04 molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et Joelle Emery ’04 accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blan2004 COACHES’ AWARD dit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue Jeffrey Lyford ’04 duis dolore te feugait nulla 2004 COACHES’ AWARD Joelle Emery ’04 A BUSY SEMESTER... OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN AN lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer INDEPENDENT SPORT adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh Noah Harwood ’06–Cycling euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna Martin Topol ’06–Olympic Style Weightlifting aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad TOP TEN CLUB minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation Christopher Cameron ’04 ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut Farrah Desrosiers ’04 aliConsequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure Joelle Emery ’04 dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse Ali Hafez ’04 molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu Whitney Krause ’04 feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et Jeffrey Lyford ’04 accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blanMichael Moran ’04 dit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue Catherine Reno ’04 duis dolore te feugait nulla Bryan Sanford ’04 Ethan Schwelling ’04 A BUSY SEMESTER... Elizabeth Townsend ’04 lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer Julia Voorhees ’04 adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh

Spring wrap-up Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse

Girls’ Varsity Tennis

Season Record: 6-8 Farrah Desrosiers ’04, Co-Captain, All-State (Honorable Mention), Class of 1970 Award Kate Dewey ’05, All-State (1st Team) Julia Lehman ’04, Co-Captain, Class of 1970 Award Rachel Romanowsky ’06, All-State (2nd Team)

Season Record: 14-3 NH Championship Finalists (Class M/S) Juliane Katz ’04, Co-Captain, Granite State All-Conference, Class of 1970 Award Danielle Nolitt ’06, All-Conference Elizabeth Townsend ’04, Co-Captain, Granite State AllConference, Class of 1970 Award Shenley Searing ’06, Granite State All-Conference, Player of the Year

Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse Season Record: 7-1 James Silvestro ’04, Captain, Class of 1970 Award

Varsity Baseball Season Record: 14-5 NH Championship Quarter Finalists (Class S) Derek Boelig ’05, All-State (1st Team), Granite State AllConference Ian Law ’07, All-State (2nd Team) Jeffrey Lyford ’04, Co-Captain, All-State (1st Team), Granite State All-Conference, Class of 1970 Award Bryan Sanford ’04, Co-Captain, All-State (3rd Team) Nick Stepro ’05, All-State (2nd Team)

Varsity Softball Season Record: 13-6 NH Championship Quarter Finalists (Class M/S) Joelle Emery ’04, Captain, Senior All-Star, Granite State AllConference, Class of 1970 Award Victoria Starr ’05, All-State, Granite State All-Conference

Girls’ Varsity Crew Founders’ Day Regatta: 1st boat – 10th; 2nd boat – 9th Northeast Junior Regional Championships: 1st boat – 6th; 2nd boat – 7th NEIRA: 1st boat – 12th Winner of 2004 Davison Cup Julie Grimm ’05, Captain, Class of 1970 Award

Boys’ Varsity Crew Founders’ Day Regatta: 1st boat – 8th; 2nd boat – 2nd Northeast Junior Regional Championships: 1st boat – 4th; 2nd boat – 5th NEIRA: 1st boat – 9th; 2nd boat – 4th Winner of 2004 Davison Cup Thad Duprey ’04, 2004 U.S. Junior National Team Ben Jundanian ’04, Class of 1970 Award

Boys’ Varsity Tennis Season Record: 16-0 New Hampshire State Champions (Class M/S) Charles Carrier ’05, Granite State All-Conference Doug MacKenzie ’05, Granite State All-Conference, Player of the Year David Moore ’04, Co-Captain, Class of 1970 Award Ethan Schwelling ’04, Co-Captain, All-State, Granite State All-Conference, Class of 1970 Award

Clockwise from top left: Melissa Law ’05 swings through with a pitch. n Members of the varsity baseball team watch as a teammate takes a swing. n Julie Katz ’04 swings through on a serve during warmup. n Nathalie Morison ’06 escapes with the ball on a sprint. n Boys’ first boat digs in off the starting line. n Ethan Schwelling ’04 connects on a serve. n Ali Hafez ’04 blocks a pass by an opponent. n Girls’ first boat takes a move in a race against Gunnery.

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Derryfield Today – Spring 2004

C O U G A R AT H L E T I C S

drive

www.derryfield.org

spotlight Summerbridge

A BREAKTHROUGH

DIARY: A STUDENT’S SUMMER MORNING n

The bus pulls into the Derryfield parking

lot to cheering teachers dressed as superheroes with spangly masks and towels and sheets pinned around their necks. Jed gives me a cape when I get off the bus. n

During morning attendance, Tulani

teaches us all a new cheer and Carrie reads a poem with two of her students. I’m eating breakfast when my name is called, and my mouth is full, so I only say, “Here.” I’ll ask a riddle tomorrow! n

English. We are reading A Game of Catch

and Aaron has us divide into groups and draw the characters, but we can only draw something that has been described in the story! We look for adjectives and write the descriptions next to our drawing. My group’s drawing doesn’t have a nose or hands! n

Math. Vylinh gives us a recipe and we

have to multiply or divide the ingredients so that the recipe makes just the right number of cookies for the class. A lot of the amounts of ingredients are fractions, and dividing fractions is hard. Vylinh tells us we can eat the cookies during snack. n

Forensics. Megan teaches us about

blood types and how to properly use a microscope. We look at slides. My blood type is AB-negative. n

Italian. Jason videotapes us as we read

(in Italian!) a pretend newscast using our new weather vocabulary. We will play the

irecting Summerbridge has been a gift. When I was first introduced to Summerbridge and Derryfield, I had no idea how much my involvement with these communities would shape my professional and personal life. It took me a while to fully grasp the power of this pub‑ lic/private partnership and its role in the community; yet as the program does for its students and teachers, it gave me time to build my skills, take risks, challenge myself, develop my educational convic‑ tions, and reach for my potential. This summer marks my sixth and final summer directing Summerbridge. This has been the most challenging, consuming job that I have ever lived, and yet it has been the most rewarding. I don’t know many schools like Summerbridge. It is a place that is full of spirit, academic rigor, hon‑ esty, diversity, and positive energy. It’s a safe community where students know they will be supported and valued in their dif‑ ferences. Summerbridge is the most student‑ centered environment that I know of. I have learned a great deal about myself as an educator and leader, and being a part of this mission has allowed me to shape my understanding of education. At the end of the summer, Kate Erskine, the current Assistant Director, will take over as Director. Kate is excited and eager to take on new challenges and responsibilities, and

PROGRAM

to lead the new professional team. Kate brings great experience as an educator, a deep understanding of the mission and need of this educational model in Man‑ chester, and an unyielding commitment to both the students and teachers. We are for‑ tunate that we found Kate four years ago. Ben Russell is also leaving at the end of the summer session to pursue a master’s degree in library and information sciences. As a Derryfield graduate, Ben has been a valued member of the Summerbridge and Derryfield communities for many, many years. For the past four years, Ben has been our Administrative Assistant. In that job he oversees many of the clerical aspects of running a school, but he has also strength‑ ened our team by being a mentor teacher; librarian; database manager; writer of our newsletter, The Sizzler; designer of our pub‑ lications; writer and overseer of the eighth grade school‑year curriculum; and a mem‑ ber of the Derryfield faculty (teaching and directing). Ben’s honesty, high standards, humor, and commitment to this unique and powerful model of ‘students teaching students’ have shaped and strengthened the program for the past eleven years. This is a year of transition for our profes‑ sional team. We make a point to let our stu‑ dents and teachers know that the program isn’t defined by the “professional team”; the purpose, magic, and mission comes

video at All-School Meeting next week.

Derryfield Today – Spring 2004

SUMMERBRIDGE

Ethan Schwelling ’04 helps Julian Alonso with the subtleties of Japanese calligraphy as Kevin Lee looks on.

from the students and teachers. Still, a strength of the Summerbridge Man‑ chester program has been the longevity of its professional staff in their posi‑ tions. As we make this transition, we will look to the larger Derryfield, Manchester, and National communities to support the mission, students, teach‑ ers, and new professional leaders in their work. As I pass the baton, I’d like to share the primary areas of focus for the program as it nears its fifteenth‑ year milestone. Development for the program, pub‑ lic relations, and future sustainability are critical. The key to the program’s financial security and sustainability lies in building our endowment. Currently our endowment is $1.6 million; that has been a wonderful and critical pillar for the program. Still, we believe the funding and ability to provide this educational model lies in building our endowment, allowing the model of ‘students teaching students’ to exist in

summerbridge.derryfield.org

perpetuity. Our goal is to significantly increase the endowment over the next five years. The program has worked with Derryfield trustees and communi‑ ty members to build a five‑year finan‑ cial plan that will address the funding needs and goals of the program. We plan to share the work and success of this educational model with more cor‑ porations, foundations, and individu‑ als who are interested in strengthening opportunities in the educational field in the city of Manchester. Building a larger endowment will help bring the program out of adolescence and into maturity. Support of graduates in their high school years continues to be an area of focus for the program in truly meeting our mission and serving students in their academic pursuits. As many of you know, we have an outstanding and effective summer session. When our school is in session, we are able to engage, support, and challenge our students in meaningful ways. We feel that we serve our students well during the summer session and throughout middle school, but there is still consid‑ erable room to strengthen our connec‑ tion and appropriate services for our alumni during their high school years. We hope to make our Alumni Program‑ ming more structured, intentional, and valuable for our Summerbridge gradu‑ ates as they transition into high school and navigate the path to higher educa‑ tion. Building our alumni services and program is the most important pro‑ grammatic work during the next five years. In next year’s staff transition,

our new Office Manager will also serve as an Alumni Coordinator to work closely with the Directors in assessing our current alumni program and developing some of the key services and support that the program can pro‑ vide to its graduates. There are many ways for individu‑ als to connect to and support the Summerbridge mission; we welcome the chance to share this inspiring and powerful model of ‘students teaching students’ with you. I have truly appre‑ ciated the opportunity to work for Summerbridge and Derryfield, and thank you for your support of the pro‑ gram and its students. – Kathryn Robinson

Ngan Hoang waits cheerfully for her turn with her makeshift drum as students perform traditional Japanese music during a recent Summerbridge Saturday.

options

College

Undecided

Samantha Keefe

Clark University

Pace University

Geoffrey Kirsch

Tufts University

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Whitney Krause

Vassar College

Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Julia Lehman

Vassar College

Colby College

Jeffrey Lyford

University of Hawaii at Manoa

University of Vermont

Cale MacMichael-Magruder

Carnegie Mellon University

Trinity College

Timothy Mastrogiacomo

George Washington University

University of New Hampshire

Drew Moerlein

Syracuse University

University of New Hampshire

David Moore

Tufts University

Loyola University New Orleans

Michael Moran

University of Pennsylvania

University of Vermont

Shalini Patel

Syracuse University

University of New Hampshire

David Pham

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Lake Forest College

Sarah Pitman

Trinity College

Boston College

Katy Reno

University of New Hampshire

George Dirth

Oregon State University

Shaylen Roberts

Skidmore College

Thaddeus Duprey

University of Pennsylvania

Emily Runnells

Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Tufts University

Bryan Sanford

University of New Hampshire

Boston Conservatory

Ethan Schwelling

Emerson College

Brooks Institute of Photography

James Silvestro

George Washington University

Whitman College

Nicole Speidel

University of New Hampshire

Julia Spiegelman

Bryn Mawr College

University of New Hampshire

Maura Spiegelman

Smith College

(Honors Program â&#x20AC;&#x201C; School of Engineering)

Elizabeth Townsend

Middlebury College

University of Vermont

Andrew Tsai

Rochester Institute of Technology

University of New Hampshire

Julia Voorhees

Smith College

Cedarville University

Katherine Weber

Bucknell University

University of New Hampshire

Ashley Westbrook

Norwich University

Ursinus College

Robert Zeller

Middlebury College

Samuel Adams A BUSY SEMESTER...

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A BUSY SEMESTER...

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A BUSY SEMESTER... lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna

Finding the Right Fit for Every Graduate by Annie Branch

n a time when US News and World Report ranks colleges annually and The Wall Street Journal publishes articles on how well high schools place their students, it is no wonder that students and parents are increasingly anxious about life after graduation. Students at The Derryfield School are constantly testing the limits of their ability in and out of the classroom, to the extent that the additional pressure of getting into the right college can be detrimental. The goal of the College Planning office at Derryfield is not to place as many students as possible in the Ivy League, but to find schools that meet each student’s specific academic and social needs. College Counselor, Bruce Berk, reinforces this point of view: “In these days of increasing com‑ petition and parental expectations, Derryfield continues to fare extremely well in the college process, yet for this school, and for all schools, the mission of college planning should be to find the right fit and not the right name for each of our graduates.” Dr. Michael Thompson, the 2003 E. Charles Sanborn Visiting Fellow, spoke in part on this topic when he visited the School last fall. Thompson, a prominent psychologist who works with schools around the country, emphasized to a group of juniors and

www.derryfield.org

seniors that there are more choices out there than just the top ten ranked col‑ leges in the country. In his opinion, the fit is what is most important, and there are over 3,000 institutions in the U.S. alone to choose from. According to Beth Frieden ’04, who will be attending Whitman College in the fall, “When I was sifting through the tons of college mail and hundreds of college reputa‑ tions, it turned out to be really helpful to get recommendations from someone who knows me and knows colleges. A lot of people are forthcoming with advice, but Mr. Berk’s advice is person‑ al and professional, and it led me to my final decision.” Frieden chose Whitman in part because of a foreign exchange program that enables stu‑ dents to study drama in England. In the Class of 2004, students who have a definite idea of what they want to do are attending specialized institu‑ tions like the Boston Conservatory, Brooks Institute of Photography, and Rochester Institute of Technology. Other students are drawn to special programs at larger schools, like the act‑ ing program at Syracuse and the politi‑ cal science program at George Washing‑ ton University. Knowing what they are passionate about allows these students to develop their talent in programs that are designed to meet their needs.

For those who are less sure of their future, colleges are increasingly encouraging students to take a year off before college, to allow them to gain experience and perhaps arrive at school with a new vision of their aca‑ demic plan. There were three members from the Class of 2002 who deferred college for one year, and instead pursued language opportunities in Germany, made handmade guitars in London and served as a medical intern in Costa Rica, respectively. Each admits there are challenges, but all are enthu‑ siastic about their decision. Regardless of the path taken, Derryfield strives to help each gradu‑ ate find an environment where he or she will continue to flourish as a life‑ long learner.

ABOVE: Alumnae Katy Reno, Juliane Katz, and Julia Lehman laughing as they form the receiving line. OPPOSITE: The Class of 2004 leaves the Boettiger Theatre after receiving their diplomas. TOP: Class of 2004 senior portraits.

alumni

Update on Cecilia Mackenzie Sweeney (Chris ’84)

THE ALUMNI SERVICE AWARD Joni Taube ’69 has been honored with The 2004 Alumni Service Award. Taube is not only a dedicated alumna, but also a Derryfield parent. She co-owns Art-3, a shop

The news contained in this section covers the period of March 6, 2004 – June 16, 2004. For more recent news, or to post a note, please visit the Alumni Community at www.derryfield.org.

McCallum Graduate School of Business commencement in Waltham, MA.

1968

Hilary Chaplain writes, “I’m in New York between trips and just thought I’d send out a quick update and a Hong Kong invita‑ tion. I’ve just returned from Brazil where I was in attendance at the FILO International Theatre Festival in Londrina, Brazil. I taught Hospital Clowning with three Clown Doctors from Doutores da Alegria ‑ Thais, Soroya, and Wellington. In case you don’t know, I have been working with the Big Apple Circus Clown Care as a clown nurse (Nurse Nice) entertaining hospital‑ ized children and their families for the past 16 years. The Brazilian group was started by Wellington Noguiera, who originally worked with us in New York. We had an incredible exchange in Londrina – teaching together was an amazing experience. We spoke the same language both in terms of clown and in terms of the hospital work. It was like family! And to top it all off, they’re fun and talented remarkable people that I felt very fortunate to have as friends. At the end of the week of teaching, we all participated in a Clown Cabaret. We were joined by a well‑loved, 82‑year‑old Circus clown named Picolino II and his partner Fusca Fusca; Xuxu, a well‑known street,

that offers prints, framing services, and gifts, as well as consultations for corporate clients. Taube has been an active Class Agent, and was involved in the creation of the Sculpture Garden. She helps set up Derryfield art shows, and donates artwork and art books to the School. Taube lives in Bedford with her husband, Eliot, and daughter, Kayla ’05. Her daughter, Jenna ’00, recently graduated from Tufts.

IN MEMORIAM Robert Quay ’99, who attended Derryfield

Kathryn Worrell Newton writes, “Craig and I enjoyed our class reunion dinner and wish we could get together more often. It was a fun time! Our new house is coming along well – but slowly. We now expect to move in during July. After we move, we would love to have any of you come and visit. Vermont is beautiful in the fall!”

in the 8th grade, died as the result of a mountain biking accident in New Mexico in June. After leaving Derryfield, Bob went on to attend Souhegan High School and was a graduate of Williams College. He was an active volunteer and President of the Williams Outing Club. A memorial service will be held on August 14th at the Amherst Congregational Church.

1971 Rick Kalil co‑curated an art exhibition at Tufts University this May of work by fel‑ low alumnus Marshall Carbee, entitled ‘Pardon My French: The Art of Marshall Carbee,’ at the Slater Concourse Gallery in the Aidekman Arts Center.

ERRATA The Bailey Milne Fund was listed as having been founded by former Headmaster Bill Pfeifer in the Winter Issue of Derryfield

Today. We neglected to mention that Pfeifer’s son, Brad ’79, co-founded the fund with his father.

1972 The ‘Your Business’ section of The Concord Monitor on May 9th reported that Gary Hirshberg will speak at Bentley College’s

1974

Derryfield Today – Spring 2004

U P DAT E O N A L U M N I

theatre, and circus clown who is also a very well known actor in Brazil named Luiz Carlos Vasconcelos; Medical Doctors from Buenos Aires who also work as clowns; and some local clown doctors from Londrina. It was a fabu‑ lous night of performance and I felt that I was truly at my best. As a result, they hope to invite me back next year with my solo show, and they will rec‑ ommend me to other festivals. I’m thrilled – I’ve been working very hard towards this and I’m starting to really see my efforts rewarded! Lastly, I will be performing in a festival in Hong Kong in mid‑June and want to spread the word. If you know anyone living there, please forward them the infor‑ mation about the shows. And make sure they stop to see me after the show! My brother and his family live in Hong Kong, so I’ll be able to visit with them while I’m there. And who would go all that way without a little vacation! My friend Rima and I are spending eleven days in Sabah, Malaysia, on the island of Borneo before I start at the festival. Please note, lots of rain and cool weather in

Woofie Fleming Amidon ‘79 and her husband, Arnold, enjoying the Derryfield Alumni gathering at a Red Sox Game in May.

www.derryfield.org

Brazil – the rainy season is starting in Asia. No sun jealousy! Here is the festi‑ val information: A Life In Her Day, June 16th‑18th at Faust International Theatre Festival, Hong Kong. For fur‑ ther details and ticket info, the website is http://www.faustworld.com/ festival/. Please forgive the impersonal nature of a group letter, but I figured it was the best way to get to everyone quickly and efficiently! I haven’t been in touch with some of you for so long!”

1978 Pete Norton lives in Boothbay, ME, with his wife, Sue, daughter, Kate (8), and son, Tim (2).

1982 Karen Haack married Mark Ravanesi in June of 2003. They honeymooned on the Amalfi Coast and live in Boston.

1984 Mary Downes writes, “We just bought a house in Goffstown, just off the back road, near the old route I used to take to Derryfield every day with Matt Purington, Todd Clow, and Jay Villani and various other Weare‑ites. Very strange! We just joined the Allard Center YMCA, too. Our two kids, Haley and Rowan, are happy to have their own back yard to romp in, and my commute to Concord is actually

Former Summerbridge Director, Natalie Gray, with her husband, James, and daughter, Alice Antha.

very calming. I’m looking forward to our 20th Reunion!” n Edward Haletky just moved to Wrentham, MA. He writes, “It is nice to be back in New England.” After renovating a barn for his office, Edward is enjoying the sight of trees while he writes two books. He has also published two more articles. n Christopher Sweeney writes, “Christy Crabb and I are delighted to announce the birth of our second daughter, Cecilia Mackenzie Sweeney, 7 pounds, 14 ounces, at 2:32 a.m. on Monday,

SAVE THE DATE

reunion 2004 schedule Look for an invitation in the mail!

Friday, October 1 Reunion Cocktail Reception

Saturday, October 2 Country Fair Round Table with Chuck Sanborn Cougar Athletic Events Class Parties

U P DAT E O N A L U M N I

April 12, 2004. She joins first daughter, Fiona (3). Fiona dotes on her little sis‑ ter, though she’s a little put out with Mom and Dad for actually paying attention to the new arrival. You’ll note that Cecilia (named for Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music and musi‑ cians), due five days earlier, was con‑ siderate enough to wait until just after Easter, so that Mom and Dad could fin‑ ish their Eastertide church choir duties without drama or interruption.”

1985 John Van Hooser writes, “Tracey and I are proud to announce the birth of our second son, Scott Xin‑Cheng, on February 28, 2004. Scott joins his big brother Jack, who turns two on May 1st.”

1986 Heather Koerber Nunes writes, “I’m still living in the semi‑suburbs of Boston, where we manage to maintain a vegetable garden, raise chickens, and make a few gallons of maple syrup on our one‑acre plot. I now have three children: Hadleigh (6 1/2), Emmett (4), and Ada (1). I tutor middle‑school math weekly at a school in Cambridge, in addition to my sewing business and habit. I started training for triathlons this season – see anyone at Walden Pond? My brother Christopher ’89 got married to Amy Marx last July.” n Natalie Searle Wrightson’s parents wrote, “We are the joyful grandparents of Myles Robert Wrightson, born May 19, 2003 to Kyle and Natalie Searle Wrightson.”

Chuck Sanborn, Lindsay Allen ’94, and Tracy Allen ’89 catch up during the Red Sox game in May.

Debra Dupont Tremblay with her daughters, Piper and Hailey.

1987 Debra Dupont Tremblay and her hus‑ band, Craig, announced the birth of their daughter, Piper Grace, born on January 25, 2004.

1988 Jennifer Scott writes, “With my husband David Jefferds, I want to announce the birth of my daughter, Arden Maria Jefferds, on October 16th, 2003. Luckily, she gets to see Aunt Rae‑ Rae (Rachel Scott ’92) relatively often, and she’s quickly hit the babbling and rolling stages. We’re delighted with her!” n Barbara Brittell’s mother e‑ mailed Chuck Sanborn and gave the following news about Barbie: “After a time in the Soviet Union/Moldovia she left once ‘the wall came down’ and practiced rural, and emergency medicine as a PA/MPH in Maine. She has also been on the teaching staff of Wilderness Medicine Associates and has taught all around the country. Barbie now has the first class running

Derryfield Today – Spring 2004

U P DAT E O N A L U M N I

on the Antarctic front. She embarked on her Antarctica adventure last year. She is serving with the NSF in Antarctica, where it is winter now. There will be no more daylight until late August, and the weather will drop from ‑30 to ‑150 before the winter ends.”

Alumni Honor David Haight Derryfield alumni, parents, and faculty gathered on the evening of June 12th to celebrate David Haight’s 32 years of service to The Derryfield School. For more images from the evening, visit the What’s Happening section of www.derryfield.org.

1989 Erin Perry Bourgeois and her hus‑ band, Jon, welcomed a son in the fall of 2003. n Rebecca Gallagher Thomas writes, “I’m here in Germany and lik‑ ing it a lot. I’d like it a whole lot more if my husband wasn’t in Iraq fighting a war. I’m working at the dental clinic at the army base where we’re stationed, which is about 30 miles from Frankfurt. Germany is beautiful. I haven’t seen a whole lot. I did some traveling over the summer with my two sons. My oldest started kinder‑ garten this year and he loves it.” n Kimberly Frederick writes, “I’m teach‑ ing U.S. and Middle Eastern history at Concord Academy in Concord, MA. I’m also a houseparent and basketball coach, and I’m loving it!” n Shelley Emley‑Jones and her husband, Ben, are moving with their two kids, Ely (3 1/2) and Ruby (1 1/2), to California in June to begin a new adventure. Ben will work for Electronic Arts and Shelley will continue teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).”

continued on page 24...

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Andy Kosheff ’78, Brad Benson ’78, Jon Kosheff ’78, Neal Winneg ’78, and Jim Hendrix ’77.

Zach Learner ’00, Meredith Johnson ’00, Josh Lucas ’00, and Lori Evans ’00.

Bitsy Jorgensen ’99, Chris Nickerson ’01, Alex Moerlein ’01, and Christopher Callaghan ’02.

LIFE AFTER DERRYFIELD

From Every Perspective Ellie Cochran ’69 Derryfield for much longer than that. Her son, Andrew ’01, attended the School while she was working as Director of Community Relations. Also known as Ms. Derryfield and Ms. Manchester, Ellie and her knowl‑ edge of the community allowed her to create a flourishing Community Service Program and to continuously promote the School to the Manchester commu‑ nity. Ellie spent this year working with a new staff in the Advancement Office as Assistant Director. Her knowledge of the people and history of the School encouraged a successful transition. This Ellie’s 1969 yearbook portrait.

“I have found throughout my life that you get so much more out of life's experiences if you get involved.” llie Cochran ’69 has seen The Derryfield School from nearly every angle possible. She has been a student, alumna, volunteer, trustee, employee, and parent. She knows every face in the Derryfield and greater Manchester communities, and has used that knowledge to make Derryfield the best school possible. Ellie graduated in the second class of the School’s history, after which she attended Colby‑Sawyer College. Ellie created the School’s first alumni maga‑ zine, and was later invited to join the Board of Trustees. She has been an employee of the School for sixteen years, but she has been working for

summer, she begins work for the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, but continuing in her tradition of volun‑ teerism, Ellie will Chair the 40th Anniversary Planning Committee and her 35th class reunion. Before heading out the door, Ellie took a moment to reflect on her time at Derryfield.

did not want to send me to boarding school. Those early days at the Boys Club and Manchester Institute were an adventure. It was great being down‑ town and feeling like you were part of an experiment, although when we moved to our new campus on River Road we were thrilled to be in a brand new building out in the country.

Which teacher had the greatest impact on you as a student? I was so fortunate to have Ed Bailey in my life. He was my science and math teacher, and had the patience of a saint! I was definitely not a science or math student, but he always took the time to help me with my work and, more im‑ portantly, keep it all in perspective. He was Derryfield’s original multi‑tasker. One of my greatest joys at Derryfield was returning as a staff member and having my office next to Ed’s. He was a wonderful mentor and friend. Ellie with her son, Andrew ’01.

What was it like being at Derryfield in the early years? I arrived at Derryfield as a sophomore, after spending my freshman year at Central High School. Many of my friends from Webster School were attending Derryfield. I really wanted a smaller environment, and my parents

Derryfield Today – Spring 2004

Capital Campaign to raise the funds for the auditorium. After one year I was hooked, and kept coming up with ideas of things I could do at the School.

Ellie dressed as Twiggy her senior year at Derryfield.

How has the School changed most in the past 40 years? I think the biggest change has been in the physical plant. When I was a stu‑ dent at Derryfield we had one build‑ ing, and over the last 30 years we have added the gym, library, auditorium, and middle school. What hasn’t changed is the amazing faculty and their desire to get the most out of their students. They constantly inspire me to want to do more to make Derryfield an even better place.

What made you come back to Derryfield? I had always enjoyed my volunteer work at Derryfield, having the oppor‑ tunity to work with people like Chuck Sanborn and Steve Hahn. I actually felt a loss when I went off the Board of Trustees. I happened to mention that to Kathy Barger, the Director of Develop‑ ment at the time. The next thing I knew, Headmaster Marc Hurlbut was asking me if I would be interested in coming to work as the Director of the

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students and teachers and get a real sense of why you have chosen to be at Derryfield. It is unique.

What was it like having your son, Andrew, attend Derryfield while you worked here?

Do you have any words of wisdom from your experience as a student, alumna, trustee, parent, past parent, and faculty member?

I’m not sure how Andrew would answer this question, but for me, it was a dream come true. I could watch our son mature, get to know his friends, and probably keep him out of some trouble! I loved being here while he was a student, watching his games, seeing him understand the value of his Derryfield education, and I really missed him when he left for college.

I have found throughout my life that you get so much more out of life’s experiences if you get involved. The friends that you make and the interest‑ ing opportunities that come your way only happen if you are willing to take a risk and try to grow from the experi‑ ence. I have been blessed to have been a part of this community and I cherish the memories that were created here.

What’s next for you? Derryfield has created a life‑long learn‑ er out of me, and the lessons I have learned while I have been here will be invaluable in my new position as Senior Foundation Officer for the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. One of the things that drew me to my new position was the ability to remain in contact with so many of the wonder‑ ful people I have come to know from the extended Derryfield family. I know I will always maintain a strong connec‑ tion to this special place.

Ellie hard at work for Derryfield on the phone.

What will you miss most? I have always thoroughly enjoyed my relationships with the students and their parents, and I will definitely miss those ongoing relationships. But most of all I will miss the walks in the halls when you have the chance to talk to

U P DAT E O N A L U M N I

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1990 Ian Czaja and his wife have had their second child in May of 2004, a son named Nikolai. n Joshua Harding writes, “Greetings all! I just returned from a 3‑month stint in Balad, Iraq, where I was the wing protocol officer for the 332nd Air Expeditionary wing (of Tuskegee Airman fame). My wife of seven years, Nicole, and our two chil‑ dren, Gabe (4), and Ava (1), are moving in July to Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX.”

1991 Heather Rotch Bradeen and her hus‑ band, Rex, welcome a son, Wes Bradeen. n Christopher Perry writes, “Hello! Kirsten and I are very pleased to announce the birth of our son, Evan Michael Perry, and daughter, Nolette Mae Perry. The twins were born on March 21, 2004, at Southern New

Rebecca Haight Gibson ’92 with her husband, John, and new daughter, Lila, at her father’s retirement party in June.

Derryfield student Tim Allen ’05 sits with recent graduates Lindsay Nolitt ’02, Kyle Rushton ’03, and Matt Rushton ’00 at David Haight’s retirement dinner.

Hampshire Medical Center in Nashua. They were born at about 34 weeks’ ges‑ tational age and weighed 4 pounds, 11 ounces and 4 pounds, 10 ounces, respectively. After a brief two‑week stay in the NICU, the twins came home and Kirsten and the babies are doing very well. The twins decided to be born on the day of their baby shower, which was being planned by Karin Loscocco Witt. We felt blessed that Karin and her husband, Mike, (both doctors) were in town for the birth and were able to consult on the care of the twins and provide moral support through the initial scary hours after they were born. We are all doing well and adjusting to the lack of sleep that comes with newborns. The twins have a website at www.PerryTwins.com, and they would love it if you could check in on them from time to time.” n James Galluzzo writes, “Greetings from me and my family, currently in Germany. I am studying Russian in Garmisch. I recently visited Moscow on business, and it was great. I hope all is well with each of you. Drop me a line.” n Lee Barger moved from Denver to Glenwood Springs last sum‑

mer to a new position with the same engineering firm. He enjoys living in the mountains with mountain biking, fly fishing, and kayaking out his front door. That is, when he’s not skiing.

1992 Rebecca Haight Gibson and her hus‑ band, John, welcomed their first child, Lila Grace Gibson, on April 16, 2004. Proud grandfather, David Haight, reports that she weighed in at 9 pounds, was 20 inches long, and is “wicked cute.” n Willis Turbyne writes, “I am spending a few weeks in Ogden, UT, at the Utah Music Theater overseeing the construction of the set for Zorro. It’s a beautiful area.” n Andrew Sklarin reports, “In the fall I will become the Director of Marketing and Sales for Van Der Meer Tennis! I am not on‑court as much as I would like, but it’s a good job and I am excit‑ ed to undertake it. I am getting settled in to my home and still learning my way around Hilton Head Island and surrounding area.”

Derryfield Today – Spring 2004

U P DAT E O N A L U M N I

1993

1997

Katherine Hurlbut Chappell writes, “My husband, Andy, and I are getting ready to celebrate our son Brady’s first birthday on April 2, 2004. We are also planning to write our theses this sum‑ mer to finish our master’s degrees at Dartmouth.” n Ryan Tuttle reports that Brant Hughes moved to Salem, MA, sold his Harley, and is pretending that he is an adult. Mikey Spector still lives in Atlanta and has a yellow lab named Daley, after his favorite golfer. David Botsford lives in Phoenix and is studying to get his Ph.D. in clinical psychology. n Margaux d’Auteuil is teaching in New York City at a Quaker School (Friends Seminary), which is the oldest private school in the city. n Lisa Boucher and Mark van Oosterum are happy to announce that they were married on April 10, 2004, and are now living in Cambridge, MA.

Jessica Shute writes, “Hi Everyone! Hope the year is going well for Derryfield. I have taken up new resi‑ dence in Charlestown and am in the midst of teaching my third year of sev‑ enth grade English in Melrose. Best wishes to all.” n Amanda Fiedler writes, “I just finished my first year of graduate school at The School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. I am still playing soccer once a week with other Derryfield alums, Jessica Shute, Matthew Purtell, Geoff Fiedler, Tyler Merrill and Ryan Garceau. Sadly, I am realizing that expertise in soccer does‑ n’t seem to translate very well in the

1994 Michael Wall is engaged to Autumn Johnston. An August 7, 2004, wedding is planned.

art world – oh well, they are keeping me on my toes.” n Andy Moerlein passed on the following email from Emily Newick: “Greetings from Kathmandu. Namaste! (The only Nepali word I know.) Kathmandu has such great energy – a little different from Vermont. The streets are packed with people and crazy drivers, driving on the left hand side of the road too, which makes crossing the street life threatening for this country girl. You have to contend with the cars, buses, bikes, motor bikes, cows, and carts, all of which operate in some form of chaos, wildly passing one another and constantly beeping. Aspects of the city remind me a lot of the cities in Central

THE CLASS OF 1999

storiesfenway from park On the evening of May 7th, under the lights and a spectacular sunset, a group of 20 Derryfield alumni gathered at Fenway Park to watch the Red Sox take on the Kansas City Royals. The Red Sox pulled off a narrow win and everyone had a great time catching up. The Class of 1999 wins the award for best representation – in attendance were (from left to right) Kate Davis, Chris Norwood, Pike Severance, Ben Kinder, and Julie Aguiar (and Stacey Starner, not pictured).

1995 Lesley Keiner is leaving Washington, DC, to attend UMass graduate school. She is working towards a degree in decorative arts with an eye to becom‑ ing a museum curator.

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U P DAT E O N A L U M N I

America. Developing cities everywhere share a certain sameness – an intrigu‑ ing recklessness; concrete buildings with painted advertisements and old wooden doors, broken streets and side‑ walks, garbage, little bodega‑style mini shops in closet size openings, open markets with fruit, and goats and live animals abound. One major difference is the Asian aspect – many of the women wear what I would consider typical Indian dress in beautiful mate‑ rials. And there are temples and

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

farewell Ben Russell ’94 Benjamin Russell ’94 is leaving his post as the Summerbridge Administrative Assistant and Derryfield Faculty Member to pursue a degree in the Library Sciences in the fall at Mount Holyoke College. Ben has been an integral part of the Summer‑ bridge Manchester community for the past eleven years. At Derryfield, Ben con‑ tinued to challenge and engage the com‑ munity as much as he did when he was a student. As a member of the Derryfield faculty, Ben taught semester courses in Speech and a new history course he designed, Joan of Arc. This past year, Ben also directed the winter play, The Philadel‑ phia Story. Ben’s passion for ideas, discov‑ ery and understanding helped to shape and strengthen the Summerbridge pro‑ gram; there are many students and teach‑ ers in the program who were influenced by his teaching and mentoring.

shrines, not churches. It is really fun to drive through and just look out the window – a lot of stimulation. I spent the last three days at the Pulhari monastery outside of Kathmandu, where a remote eye camp was being held. The monastery was unbelievable – up on a hill overlooking the Kath‑ mandu valley and with a new building being constructed that is so magnifi‑ cent, it is hard to describe. It was about six stories, with amazing painting on the exterior and interior (they have been working on the paintings for the last three years and everything is done by hand by the monks). The exterior is hand carved in many places with dif‑ ferent geometric shapes. There are walkways all around it at the ground and top level, so it is light and airy. All over the hill where the monastery is, there are Tibetan prayer flags blowing in the wind. I’ll have to show pictures, as it is hard to describe. One of the best images was on the steep hill leading up to the monastery, which made switchbacks back and forth, narrow road with very sharp curves. I was walking down it and some kids were at the top of one of the descents with plastic soda crates that glass soda bot‑ tles come in, probably two feet by two feet, like a shallow milk crate. They flip them up, with the skinny side on the ground and they sit on the top, about 18 inches off the ground, and then they “sled” down the paved hill. They flew. It was so funny. Anyway, that’s the word from Kathmandu for now. Work is going well. Always interesting to try to get stuff done in a non‑deadline cul‑

Sara Brennan ’98 and her new husband, Christopher, at their wedding in September.

ture. But it has been great to meet all of the people that I have been ”working” with over the computer for the past six months. And the eye hospital here is really amazing. I’m here for another week, so hopefully will have some other snippets to share. I hope this finds everyone well and that spring is moving along! Best wishes.”

1998 Gerard Murphy dropped by Derryfield for a visit. He continues to work for Readak Educational Services, but is now covering the Caribbean for the sales department. He is also engaged to Elizabeth Kay of North Reading, MA. They met while he was teaching at the school where she works. Gerard is living in Somerville, MA, just two blocks from his good buddy, Andy Young, who is working at MIT.

Derryfield Today – Spring 2004

CONGRATULATIONS

alumni

1999 Christina Hancock writes, “Hey! I hope everyone is doing great. My life has been a bit of a whirlwind since I left Derryfield. I graduated with dis‑ tinction from Worcester Polytechnic Institute with a B.S. in Industrial Engineering, and landed a great job with General Electric Aircraft Engines in their Operations Management Leadership Program. I have done a lot of traveling in college to England, Scotland, California, Texas, and Florida for school conferences and competi‑ tions. I am now living and working in Kansas, but will be moving in the end of July to my next rotation for GE. Congrats to Kara, Sherrie and Kendra for their upcoming graduation from college, I love you girls!” n Meredith Steele writes, “Hi everyone. After graduating from Middlebury this February, I have moved out to Summit County, CO. I have no job here, but my dream of becoming a mom has finally come true. In the past month my boyfriend and I have adopted two babies! One is a beautiful, six‑month‑

old lab/husky mix named Sadie. Her baby brother Otis is a three‑month‑old Newfoundland/Lab cross. They love going for hikes with their unemployed mom, and wandering the high plains where we live. I am due to start school again this summer in order to eventu‑ ally have a career. After studying Music and English at Middlebury, I now want to be a Physician’s Assistant, so it looks like I will be taking science classes again. I hope all is well with everyone. Take it easy.” n Joseph Dvorak writes, “I graduated from WPI in May last year with a BS in Industrial Engineering. I took a position with MeadWestvaco as a Production Assoc‑ iate, and have recently been promoted to Manager of Purchasing. Also, I am engaged to Sherrie Foote ’00. We’ll be getting married in August of 2005. She’s finishing up her undergraduate degree in psychology, and will be attending the University of Dallas this fall to get her MBA in Human Resource Management. If anyone is in the Dallas area, feel free to email me at jdvorak 888@yahoo.com.” n Elizabeth Jorgensen writes, “Hi there fellow classmates. I hope everyone is doing well. I just wanted to write to tell you that Chris Nickerson ’01 and I just got engaged and are planning to marry sometime in the early summer of 2005. We are both excited, and happy. I hope you all are just as happy!”

parents To Christopher Sweeney ’84 and his wife, Christy Crabb, a daughter, Cecilia Mackenzie, on April 12, 2004. To John Van Hooser ’85 and his wife, Tracey, a son, Scott Xin-Cheng, on February 28, 2004. To Heather Koerber Nunes ’86 and her husband, Jake, a daughter, Ada, on May 8, 2003. To Natalie Searle Wrightson ’86 and her husband, Kyle, a son, Myles Robert, on May 19, 2003. To Debra Dupont Tremblay ’87 and her husband, Craig, a daughter, Piper Grace, on January 25, 2004. To Jennifer Scott ’88 and her husband, David Jefferds, a daughter, Arden Maria, on October 16, 2003. To Erin Perry Bourgeois ’89 and her husband, Jon Bourgeois ’89, a son in the fall of 2003. To Ian Czaja ’90 and his wife, Ekaterina, a son, Nikolai, in May of 2004. To Heather Rotch Bradeen ’91 and her husband, Rex, a son, Wes. To Christopher Perry ’91 and his wife, Kirsten, twins, Evan Michael and Nolette Mae, on March 21, 2004. To Rebecca Haight Gibson ’92 and her husband, John, a daughter, Lila Grace, on April 16, 2004. To faculty member Jeanne Mellish and her husband, Todd, a son, Jackson David, on March 11, 2004. To faculty member Jen Pierce and her husband, Dave, a son, Tyler David, on May 24, 2004.

CELEBRATING

alumni

weddings Karen Haack ’82 to Mark Ravanesi in June of 2003. Lisa Boucher ’93 to Mark van Oosterum on April 10, 2004.

Recent alumna Shay Roberts ’04 and her sister, Latin teacher Gillian ’99, at graduation in June.

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Paul Barney ’00 to Georgiana Mitrus on June 16, 2004, in Bedford, NH.

U P DAT E O N A L U M N I

2000

2003

Rebecca Maglathlin’s mother reports, “Becca is a senior this year at MIT and co‑captain of the varsity softball team. She will attend Purdue in the fall on a full scholarship/stipend Ph.D. program in neuro‑pharmacology. She has worked remarkably hard at MIT, with great success, and is looking forward to life in Indiana.” n Paul Barney is engaged to Georgiana Mitrus. Paul is currently attending the University of Arizona, and expects to graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in lin‑ guistics. A June 16th wedding is planned at the Bedford Village Inn, although Paul was considering having it at Derryfield. n Morgan Melkonian received her Bachelor of Science degree in hospitality administration from Boston University at their May 16th Commencement. Morgan was named the 2003‑2004 David S. Meader Scholar by the Country Club Managers of New England and has been awarded the Koph Family Foundation 2004 Fellowship in Wine Studies. This Fellowship includes an extended trip to visit and study with producers of fine wines in California, Italy, and France.

Katherine Maglathlin’s mother reports, “Katie is achieving successful‑ ly, co‑hosting a radio show, loving her freshman year at UPenn and exploring Philadelphia. We find the train from Philly to DC a very useful one.” n Matthew Whalon writes, “Hi, every‑ one. I just wanted to let you all know that my family has moved back to Florida to South Venice, about an hour south of Tampa. Because of how much cheaper it becomes to go to school there, I’m transferring from VMI to the University of South Florida at the end of this year. I’m still in Naval ROTC, and still hope to get a commission in the Navy. I’m going to double major at

2001 Darren Bishop is currently studying abroad at the European Business School in Frankfurt, Germany.

Paul Barney ’00 with his fiancee, Georgiana Mitrus. They were married on June 16th.

USF in History and History Education. I hope everyone else is doing well! Semper Fi.”

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Dana Keiner ’98

recovering On August 23, while out jogging near her family’s summer cottage in Maine, Dana ’97 received a bee sting that set off seizures in her brain lasting almost five hours, which resulted in damage to her brain. Regaining consciousness after five days, and following two weeks of difficult complications, Dana began a long process of recovery at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital of Boston in mid‑September, where her progress was near miraculous, but also the result of a truly dedicated staff of doctors and therapists. She was released from Spaulding on November 7th to enter local out‑patient therapy programs while living at home. Although this second round of therapies has had its ups and downs, Dana has continued to make pro‑ gress. She has regained her driver’s license, volunteers at her local library, and has begun art classes at the Currier Gallery. She meets monthly with a brain injury support group, and continues to be monitored by many doctors. Her goal is to regain a totally independent lifestyle as quickly as she can. A story relating her case aired on Boston’s Chronicle on April 26th.

Derryfield Today – Spring 2004

THE DERRYFIELD SCHOOL 2004 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI

profile

Alumni

Major David Grosso ’78 ajor David Grosso ’78 was honored on Founders’ Day as the 2004 Distinguished Graduate of The Derryfield School. Major Grosso, who has served in the Army for 22 years, spoke to the Derryfield community after receiving the award. He spoke of how his aca‑ demic record at Derryfield was less than stellar, to the point where it was uncertain whether he would receive his diploma the day before graduation. That evening, David Haight stayed up to help Grosso write a term paper that allowed him to graduate. Of Haight he said, “His dedication, professionalism, and personal regard for his students have set the example for all to follow and have helped develop generations of future leaders.” Grosso spoke of how it was not until after he left Derryfield that he discov‑ ered what he was passionate about. Grosso enlisted in the U.S. Army and has had a distinguished career, receiv‑ ing several honors, including the Bronze Star Medal. Grosso concluded by discussing how those who succeed or fail in the arena deserve more credit than those who criticize from the side‑ lines. He urged students to find what they are passionate about and then to go do it.

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In 1981, Grosso enlisted in the U.S. Army. After attending Basic, Advanced and Airborne Training, he served at Fort Lewis, WA, as a rifleman and fire team leader, eventually rising to the rank of Sergeant. He then attended and graduated from the U.S Army Special Forces Qualification Course in 1984

Major David Grosso speaks at the Founders’ Day Assembly in April.

and was subsequently assigned as a Special Forces Engineer Sergeant at Fort Devens, MA. Sergeant Grosso ended his enlisted service in 1986 in order to attend UNH and pursue a career of military service by being com‑ missioned back into the U.S. Army through ROTC. Dave graduated Cum Laude from UNH in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, having been commis‑

sioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Infantry. After attending initial officer training, Lieutenant Grosso served in Operation Desert Storm in 1991. He has served as a Special Forces “A Team” Commander and Special Forces Company Commander during deployments in support of Operation Joint Endeavor in Bosnia, Operation Guardian Retrieval in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Train and Equip Program in the Republic of Georgia. Grosso noted that the efforts of Madame Townsend were rewarded in 1995 when he was able to convince warring factions in Sarajevo to stop shooting during negotiations that were conducted entirely in French. Grosso has since attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and earned a master’s of science degree from Long Island University in leader development and counseling. In March of 2003, Major Grosso deployed to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He is currently serving as the Battalion Operations Officer for 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group located at Fort Carson, CO, and is pending assign‑ ment to Special Operations Command Europe in Stuttgart, Germany. He and his wife, Claire, have three children, Jacob, Allison, and Matt.

Farewell! Rebecca Haight Gibson ’92, John Gibson, Lila Gibson, Barbara Haight, David Haight, Michael Diaz, Alex Haight ’88, and Maria Diaz gather for a family portrait after David’s retirement party.

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