Brewster Magazine Summer 2023

B rewster

Head Lines

Each fall at the start of school, I have the privilege to present to our students and faculty a theme for the academic year. For the 2022-23 school year, that theme was uplift. I see in the pages of this magazine a reflection of that idea in all its varied forms, as seen through the people, events, and innovations that make Brewster so vibrant. The people and stories contained herein cross generations and demonstrate qualities we’ve come to expect of Brewster graduates and educators. They are caring, curious, creative, and persistent in their pursuit of purpose. People like Lynne Palmer, Peter Mann, Kate Turner, and Matt Hoopes, who have lifted up countless Brewster students and programs through their unfailing belief in each individual’s unique talents and strengths.

The stories in this issue reflect treasured traditions and inspired initiatives that will build upon Brewster’s time-tested strengths. Traditions like Reunion Weekend and celebrations like the dedication of the new Grayson Student Center in the reimagined Rogers Building. It brings me tremendous joy to be a part of Brewster’s journey at this particular moment. As you explore what follows, I hope you will share my excitement.

In particular, I want to call your attention to our feature article about Brewster’s global vision. Former Head of School and now President of Brewster and BA International, Craig Gemmell, is leading a dedicated team charged with opening Brewster’s first branch

campus in Madrid, Spain, in September. This initiative is a reflection of the power of the Brewster Model of education as well as an example of Brewster’s bold leadership, a quality that has come to define this school.

I hope you’ll also enjoy the alumni feature—fantastic examples of our mission in action: diverse thinkers pursuing lives of purpose on both a local and global scale.

Each of these stories is a component of the Brewster ecosystem, one defined by interdependence and connection. Each individual is indelibly connected to the people and environment around them. Through those connections, we each come to better understand ourselves, our values, and the role that others play in shaping our world views.

In your hands you hold a chapter of our now more than 200-year-old Brewster story, one that began humbly on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee, and now spans the globe. Thank you for your role in this story. It is a tale shaped by many—and one with blank pages yet to write. In that spirit, I invite all to connect with us and with each other as we move forward into a very bright future for our school and its students.

In partnership,

LET’S CONNECT

Stay up-to-date with us on your favorite social media channels @brewsteracademy and tag #BrewsterAcademy or #BobcatNation when you post your Brewster news! For more in-depth info, visit the website at brewsteracademy.org for the latest on all things Brewster.

ON THE COVER:

KRISTY KERIN HEAD OF SCHOOL kkerin@brewsteracademy.org

These two young students represent Brewster’s first school in Spain’s capital city that will open its doors to learners grades K through 12 in just a few weeks. With this venture, one that has been years in the making, Brewster will begin a new era of global expansion that has the exponential power to transform education, communities, and the lives of all the students in our care—abroad and in Wolfeboro. Read our cover feature to learn everything about this extraordinary next step for Brewster. Photo by Borja Martin.

REFLECTIONS OF THE SPIRIT OF “UPLIFT”

Kristy Kerin, Brewster’s 13th Head of School

Wolfeboro Bay

Features

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Brewster in Madrid

BA International opens its first school very soon!

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The Gemmell Era

A look at the impact of Dr. Craig Gemmell’s years as Brewster’s Head of School in Wolfeboro.

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The Vision Has Become Reality

The Grayson Student Center at the Rogers is a game changer for Brewster. Peek inside!

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Lives of Purpose

Meet three alumni who share how Brewster set them on their unique paths.

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Bobcat Nation Rising

A recap of how Brewster’s student-athletes excelled in their fall and winter seasons.

Enrique Vargas, Marketing Manager for Brewster Madrid, posed with his daughter (far right) and her pals to highlight that Brewster’s first international school will be K-12!

In Every Issue

1 Head Lines

A message from Head of School Kristy Kerin, who reflects on the inspiring theme she selected for the 2022-23 school year: UPLIFT.

4 Editors’ Note

It’s been a while, let’s catch up! Editor Suzanne Morrissey shares thoughts on this issue and the importance of small kindnesses.

6 Campus Notes

Must-see highlights of what has been happening on campus, including Commencement, prom looks, Athletics Hall of Fame Induction, faculty kudos, Brewster’s newest National Honor Society members, Interim Studies, and a lot more.

Departments

SUMMER 2023

54 Alumni News

Reunion glee, a thank you to Matt Hoopes, Class Notes, and our In Memoriam section. Plus, a moment of gratitude for Fall Family Weekend gifts, and a reminder to send in your news for the next issue!

TOP LEFT: Class of 2023 graduates Kellye Nguyen and Al Zaharaa Al Zaabi were all smiles with family members at Commencement this May. TOP RIGHT: Reunion Weekend 2022 included a hike at nearby Castle in the Clouds, led by faculty member (and avid outdoorswoman!) Maria Found. ABOVE: Troy Brown ’90 was inducted into the Brewster Academy Athletics Hall of Fame at a special ceremony in August 2022—noted for his exceptional contributions to Bobcat Basketball from 1986 to 1990 and for his career accomplishments as a professional player and mentor.

WAYS

TO KEEP UP WITH BREWSTER

THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS TO CONNECT WITH YOUR SCHOOL. HERE ARE A FEW OPTIONS:

www.brewsteracademy.org

alumni@brewsteracademy.org

Alumni Office, Brewster Academy 80 Academy Drive, Wolfeboro, NH 03894

G BrewsterAcademyAlumni and BrewsterAcademy

Ö BrewsterAcademy

e BrewsterAcademy

S flickr.com/photos/brewster_academy

Ö vimeo.com/brewsteracademy

k Brewster Academy

THE MAGAZINE OF BREWSTER

ACADEMY

SUMMER 2023

HEAD OF SCHOOL

Kristy Kerin

DIRECTOR OF INTEGRATED OUTREACH

Kris Light

EDITOR and DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Suzanne Morrissey

DIRECTOR OF INTEGRATED MEDIA AND MARKETING

Mary Roetger

SPECIAL EVENTS AND PROGRAM MANAGER

Caitlin Ward

DIGITAL MEDIA MARKETING MANAGER

Kara McDuffee

ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTORS

Meredith Fidrocki, Beth Hayes ’81, Maura Sullivan Hill, Matt Hoopes

PHOTOGRAPHY

Brewster Academy Archives, Rob Bossi, Marta Carreño, Maria Found, Borja Martin, Kara McDuffee, Pat O’Connor, Robert Ortiz, Phil Stiles

DESIGN

O’Connor Creative Design Studio oconnorcreativestudio.com e oconnorcreativestudio

Brewster, The Magazine of Brewster Academy, is published twice a year and mailed to alumni, parents, and friends of Brewster Academy.

Brewster Academy 80 Academy Drive Wolfeboro, N.H. 03894

brewsteracademy.org

© 2023 Brewster Academy. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

Brian Ballentine ’97

Roy C. Ballentine (Chair of the Board)

Richard W. Blackburn (Estate Trustee)

Ronn Bronzetti ’92

C. Richard Carlson (Estate Trustee)

B. Martha Cassidy

Arthur W. Coviello, Jr. (Vice Chair of the Board)

James C. Curvey

J. Scott Curvey

Dr. George J. III Dohrmann

Karen W. “Karey” Fix

Gabrielle Joy “Bri” Gatta ’05

Peter Grayson

Joan Hill

Yong Hak Huh ’77

Robert J. Mueller (Treasurer of the Board)

Carlos Noble ’70 (Secretary of the Board)

Ashley Pettus

Andrew Reyes ’06

Reverend Nancy Spencer Smith (Estate Trustee)

Steven R. Webster

Richard III “Rich” Wood

David L. Carlson ’54

P. Fred Gridley ’53

Michael Keys

Daniel T. Mudge

EX-OFFICIO

Dr. Craig N. Gemmell (President of Brewster and BA International)

Kristy Kerin (Head of School)

BREWSTER ACADEMY 2022-2023 BOARD OF TRUSTEES

TRUSTEE EMERITI

Springtime beauty at Brewster

From the Editor

Long Time No See

Well, readers, it’s been a while. Our last issue celebrated Brewster’s Bicentennial, and then WHOOSH—more than a year has flown by before we could get our feet back under us to create another issue of Brewster’s magazine for you. COVID and all its inherent delays and hurdles certainly played a role in that, but truth be told, it has also just been an extraordinary time of change and great new challenges. But now, I am thrilled that the magazine is back in your hands and we can get reacquainted!

In the time we’ve been apart, magazine readers, so much important goodness has taken place that filled our work days and beyond: Kristy Kerin has stepped into the role of Head of School with aplomb. Craig Gemmell has moved into his role as President of Brewster Academy and BA International, and is leading our team in Madrid on an exciting venture (see our cover feature, “Brewster in Madrid,” page 30). The Reimagined Rogers building project has wowed every student and visitor who steps through its doors into the Grayson Student Center (see page 40). And let’s not forget the hundreds of students who have been learning and living together here on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee, each carving their own path and finding their own voice through the arts, academics, and athletics. I’m so glad to be with you again, sharing the stories in these pages. I’d like to start with a personal one:

Last summer, I was leaving the drugstore near campus behind a group of four local boys. They seemed to be about the age when a walk to the store with your buddies—and a few dollars in your pocket—was the ultimate freedom. They had stocked up on a pucker-inducing assortment of sour fruit candies and burst through the store’s double glass doors ahead of me, chattering and laughing about heading over to the town docks to watch the boats. Then one of them stopped short in the walkway and turned back. He put something on the ledge outside the doors, and another boy instructed quietly and

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

earnestly, “No, spread it out so they can see it.” Curiosity got the better of me, and I called out, “Hey kids, what are you doing there?” They explained that they were leaving change on the ledge in case another person needed it. “Like, someone who might’ve lost their job,” the lead boy said. And they were on their way, lips somehow already stained in tropical colors from their purchases. That exchange has stuck with me all the months since. Knowing I wanted to share this story with you, I began looking for behind-the-scenes kindness on our campus. Not surprisingly, I didn’t have to look very far or very hard. This past school year, I noticed more and more students glancing over their shoulders when they entered Estabrook to see if they could hold the door for someone behind them. I’ve seen long lists of students and employees signing on to help local causes and events, like Wolfeboro’s Fall Festival, the DAR’s Field of Flags on Veterans Day, the local ski and skate sale, and countless others. Word reached me that when our crew team found themselves competing against a younger group of opponents, they paused to offer some peer coaching for the less-experienced team. I saw the broad smiles of the middle schoolers who were each paired with our student mentors during a visit from the New Hampshire Student Leadership Program as they attended an All-School Meeting and experienced Brewster. And once again in September, an anonymous tribute of flowers was left at our memorial to two Brewster alumni lost in the attack of 9/11 when that sad anniversary arrived again. It is these small gestures of kindness that create the layers of life at Brewster and in Wolfeboro, our hometown—and they certainly are the building blocks of what our Head of School gifted to us in our theme of the year: uplift.

I hope you are uplifted by the pages ahead, and please, please reach out with suggestions and feedback. This is your magazine, and I am honored to be its steward.

SUZANNE MORRISSEY EDITOR

smorrissey@brewsteracademy.org

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR can be sent to smorrissey@brewsteracademy.org or mailed to Suzanne Morrissey, 80 Academy Dr. Wolfeboro, N.H. 03894. All letters will be reviewed for length and appropriate content.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS?

Alumni readers, it’s very easy to let us know if you’ve moved to a new location:

VISIT brewsteracademy.org/update

CALL (603) 569-7198

EMAIL alumni@brewsteracademy.org

This little friend is the daughter of Brewster’s CFO, Susan Harrington, and was volunteered by Mom to model as a Brewster Madrid student to help populate the new school’s website ahead of its first class. Visit the site at brewstermadrid.com

YOUR MAGAZINE IS BACK! AND I HOPE YOU ENJOY EVERY PAGE.

Campus Notes

WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING AT BREWSTER ACADEMY

IT’S GOOD TO BE TOGETHER AGAIN

The Campus Notes section is your peek into what has been happening on campus since we last “met” in Brewster Magazine. That’s a lot of ground to cover, so we’ve pulled the highlights, starting with this beauty shot of the heart of campus, the Academic Building. On Christmas Weekend, while students were home snug in their beds, a water leak at the top of “the Ac” wreaked havoc on several offices, classrooms, and lab spaces. The damage was significant, but repair work began immediately and offered a chance to make some merry improvements, including a new lobby area. Stay tuned for the big reveal—all new spaces are scheduled to be open in the fall. There have also been three in-person Commencement ceremonies since our Bicentennial issue…turn the page to experience all the joy and meaning of those important days.

Special Note: Class of 2020

As we prepped the coverage of recent Commencement ceremonies for this section, we were reminded that your class was not able to have an in-person event due to the pandemic. The Events team is eager to work with you to make your upcoming 5th year Reunion in 2025 very special. Please share your ideas with the team at alumni@ brewsteracademy.org.

The Academic Building is undergoing repairs after springing a leak this winter!

WORLD WIDE!

Diversity is our strength, and Estabrook was buzzing in April with what has become one of Brewster’s most anticipated annual events: Culture Night! Students, staff, and faculty prepared dozens of activities, presentations, and games to share more about their cultures with our entire community. The Dining Services Team also put together a delectable menu of international food, including Korean BBQ Beef, Chicken Yassa, Pork Adobo, Vegan Borscht, and Strudel—and that’s just naming a few!

FACULTY KUDOS

Book Nook

THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT HAS ADDED A FEW NEW SELECTIONS TO THE SUMMER READING LIST THIS YEAR. (PUT ONE IN YOUR BOOK BAG AND FEEL LIKE A STUDENT AGAIN!)

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jaouad

CAILEY MASTRANGELO AND YU LUI

In the fall, Brewster bestowed its highest faculty honors, the Arthur Morris Kenison Faculty Awards, to Cailey Mastrangelo and Yu Lui. Mastrangelo (left) was honored with the award for Career Growth. She has worn many hats in her short time at Brewster: Spanish and ELL teacher, dance instructor, advisor, soccer coach, basketball coach, curriculum writer, community life parent, and more.

Lui, the Mathematics Department Chair, received the award for Excellence in Teaching. “Yu has served Brewster for more than two decades with consummate professionalism and care for his students, while also creating wonderful ways to have healthy fun for the whole community,” Head of School Kristy Kerin said, adding that he has served as a dorm parent, a gregarious game show host, and a maestro of movies… always making sure students are having fun and keeping engaged in their learning.

STEVEN DAVIS

World Languages faculty member Steven Davis has been awarded the highly selective Klingenstein Summer Institute Fellowship for Early Career Teachers. For two weeks this summer he lived with

other independent school teachers from around the world for an intensive exploration of curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment design, informed by current research and practice in three key areas: mind-brain education; equity, inclusion, and belonging; and socialemotional learning.

Advanced Studies Director and History Department Chair Dr. Marta FilipFouser served as a panelist at the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel Summit. In her session, “Diversity, Equity,

and Inclusion: Teaching and Acknowledging with Global Students (TAGS),” she shared her research and practice as it relates to international students within the DEI framework. “It was great to have an opportunity to present my research to a wider audience of stakeholders—mostly organizations that recruit international students,” she said.

Code Girls by Liza Mundy

Everybody Lies: Big Data, New Data, and What the Internet Can Tell Us about Who We Really Are by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz

The Fifth Season by J.K. Nemison

I, Robot by Issac Asimov

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

My Ántonia by Willa Cather

Rebel Ideas: The Power of Diverse Thinking by Matthew

Syed

DR. MARTA FILIP-FOUSER

From top: Elisha-Grace King ’23 and Sylvie Skibicki ’23, teacher Margarita Proulx and Christa Badilla Chaves ’26, Erin Gallagher ’23 and Emma Tutaj ’23

COMMENCEMENT | 2021

Keynote Speaker

Diane M. Foley leads the Foundation named in memory of her son, Jim, who was kidnapped in 2012, tortured, and ultimately murdered while covering Syria’s Civil War. She told the Class of 2021: “Please consider answers to four fundamental questions: What really matters to you? What makes you happy? What makes you the most sad? And what would you change if you could? Your answer may give you a purpose—a reason for being.

Helping families with loved ones held hostage and promoting journalist safety through the Foley Foundation has been healing for me. … I sincerely wish each of you graduates a life filled with a passionate purpose that will give you deep joy. Dare to care deeply about yourself and others. May you have the moral courage to choose to make our world a better place.”

The Class of 2021’s commencement ceremony had an extra layer of gratitude: COVID prevented the Class of 2020 from gathering in person, so just being able to be together felt like a gift in 2021. Precautions were still in place, including an outdoor rain-or-shine mandate, and a limited number of guests for each graduate so all families could be spaced apart in seating pods. Led by Class Marshals Mitchell Coope, Dawson Cunningham, Katherine Martin, and Christopher Webb, the Class of 2021 processed onto Brown Field holding onto their caps in the gusty winds but smiling wide. At his last Commencement as Brewster’s Head of School, Dr. Craig Gemmell set the tone with four words: gratitude, reflection, remembrance, and celebration, beginning, “I’ve never felt so grateful to be attending a commencement ceremony because WE HAVE ALL MADE IT despite the wild changes our world has endured over the past stretch.” He also asked the audience to stand in ovation for the “soon-to-be legendary Class of 2021” that has been “united and positive and mature, and have more than risen to one mighty challenge after another this year!”

JUST THE FACTS

WEATHER REPORT: Brrr…unseasonably cold, windy, and rainy.

VALEDICTORIAN: Reese Richmond “As a class, we have taken a year filled with curveballs and made the most out of a lessthan-ideal situation. We created memories filled with happiness and laughter that will without a doubt transcend both time and place.”

SALUTATORIAN: Neilie Alperin

GRADUATES

MUSICAL MOMENT:

POSTGRADUATE AWARD: Kopchon Sittithammachoti

MILITARY APPOINTMENTS: Gus Schoenbucher, The United States Merchant Marine Academy.

AS IS TRADITION…The Winnipesaukean dedicatee, Peter Mann, had the honor of reading the names of the graduates as they received their diplomas.

EXTRA-SPECIAL MOMENT: Reese Richmond and her family kept the news of her receiving the Valedictorian’s spot from her grandmother, who was in attendance. Grandma Marty was indeed surprised, especially when Reese made her the star of her speech. “My grandma, Marty, has a little fun fact that she loves to share,” she began. “If you can spell the word ‘socks,’ in English, S O C K S, then you can speak Spanish. In Spanish ‘es o sí que es’ translates to ‘it is what it is’.”

FINAL MESSAGE: “Dare to care deeply about yourself and others. Dare to be bold and think big. Dare to bring hope into our world. Be daring in these ways and you will surely live lives of purpose. Good luck and godspeed.” —Craig Gemmell

DIANE M. FOLEY, PRESIDENT OF THE JAMES W. FOLEY LEGACY FOUNDATION

Alison Ansorg ’21 performing Mariah Carey’s hit “Hero.”

1. For the Class of 2021, masks were the norm. 2. Jade Knowles and Kalia Steede. 3. Valedictorian Reese Richmond. 4. More smiles under those Class of 2021 masks. 5. Alison Ansorg. 6. The 2021 ceremony was Craig Gemmell’s last as Head of School in Wolfeboro. 7. Yezena Degu Endeshaw.

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1. A bagpiper heralded the graduates’ arrival. 2. Head of School Kristy Kerin and keynote Speaker Aminatta Forna processing off the field. 3. Valedictorian Levi Brekke. 4. Libby Harris and Khelsi Petigny. 5. Paige DeGeorge and Jade Hall. 6. The Tamborello Twins with Morgan Bovardi. 7. The toss!

COMMENCEMENT | 2022

Keynote Speaker

AMINATTA FORNA, AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR

Aminatta Forna captivated with her address, advising, “People say, ‘Find the thing you love and make it your job, and then you’ll always be happy.’ I’d say discover what makes you curious, because life is about more than what you do for a living or even just being happy. It’s about living a good life, a decent life.”

In her first Commencement as Head of School, Kristy Kerin began the day’s joyful ceremony by saying, “At our first All-School meeting of the year, we gathered here on Brown Field at sunset. As the sun cast an orange glow and we came together after a summer apart and a year of COVID distancing, it was one of those evenings that felt impossibly perfect. Serene and electric at the same time.” She then encouraged the students to be curious—Brewster’s theme of the 2021-22 school year—and practice gratitude to invite joy into their lives. She repeated this request on Commencement Day: “Because no matter what may be going on in the broader world or in our lives, we are all here, on this day, at this incredible school, in this amazing location, so I know we all have reasons to be grateful as we celebrate with the Class of 2022.”

JUST THE FACTS

WEATHER REPORT: Overcast with a mild breeze (in other words, perfect!)

GRADUATES

MUSICAL MOMENT: Jaila Richards ’22 and Morgan Johnson ’22 performing “How Far I’ll Go,” written by Lin-Manuel Miranda

VALEDICTORIAN: Levi Brekke “COVID rocked our world. Due to limited travel, my sister and I spent multiple trimesters in Saudi Arabia with our family and attended school online. Although we cherished the unexpected time at home, we missed our Brewster family terribly. If anything positive has come out of the worldwide pandemic, it’s that it has forced us to take a deeper look at ourselves and ask, what’s really important? My answer is this: Human connections. The deep bond formed between people when they are seen, heard, valued, and understood.”

SALUTATORIAN: Morgan Johnson

POSTGRADUATE AWARD: Teshinee Kukamjad

MILITARY APPOINTMENTS: Axel V. Keller, United States Air Force Academy

AS IS TRADITION…The Winnipesaukean dedicatee and reader of the graduates’ names was retiring Assistant Athletic Director Kate Turner!

EXTRA-SPECIAL MOMENT: Kerin recalled the shocking accident earlier in the year when Hiba Al-Nabhani, a senior from Oman, was hit by a truck while riding her bike. “Hiba was airlifted to Maine Medical Center, had surgery,

and spent weeks recovering from her injuries. The night of her accident, Hiba’s friends helped me gather her belongings to bring to the hospital. They then made it clear that they were determined to travel with me to be by her side. I explained that COVID regulations were in full force at the hospital—only a school nurse could get in. But that didn’t stop them from nearly blockading my car, insisting that I take them along. It’s hard to describe how proud I was of those students in that moment as they held their ground and told me, ‘You don’t understand, we are her family here in the U.S.’ ” Many heads turned toward a well-healed Hiba, who sat smiling among her friends awaiting her moment to walk across the stage and receive her diploma.

FINAL MESSAGE: “Seek to find ways to be part of something larger than yourself. Be persistent about the things you care most about. Stay curious and keep growing and learning, always. And stay connected. We look forward to seeing you back here at Brewster as often as you are able.” —Kristy Kerin

COMMENCEMENT | 2023

Keynote Speaker

LAUREL J. RICHIE, MARKETING INDUSTRY LEGEND AND FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE WNBA

Laurel J. Richie told the assembled graduates:

“Brewster Class of 2023: You are prepared. You are ready. And the world is ready… for you to discover your passions and to transform your passions into a life of meaning, purpose, and impact,” she ended with force. “So go out there and make your mark…in any and every way you see fit. There is so much good yet to be done, and my generation is counting on your generation!”

Commencement 2023 began, as it has in many previous years, with the peals of a bagpiper playing as the graduates processed from the Smith Center to Brown Field. Head of School Kristy Kerin invited all in attendance to enjoy the day’s special moments, remember all the hard work and dedication that led to graduation day, and feel gratitude for the deep, lasting friendships formed at Brewster. She then recognized VIP guests who joined the festivities on the field, including Trustee Emeriti Dan and Kathy Mudge, who have been devoted to Brewster for more than 26 years; Sheila Smith, an influential former director of admission, and David Smith, Brewster’s longest-serving head of school.

JUST THE FACTS

WEATHER REPORT: Glorious!

GRADUATES

MUSICAL MOMENT:

VALEDICTORIAN: Lam Kellye Nguyen Using a Vietnamese proverb that translates “Each hand-span of road brings back a basket full of wisdom” as a metaphor for the journey the class had made, and will make, together, Nguyen said, “...At this momentous point of intersection, I urge you, fellow travelers, to allow yourself a moment of rest. And as you do so, I want you to think about the places you’ve walked on, ran through, crawled by, both physically and mentally, that have gotten you here. Cherish them, and know that it is enough. You are enough.”

SALUTATORIAN: Hannah Yang

POSTGRADUATE AWARD: Seth Suangburanakul

MILITARY APPOINTMENTS: Meghan Shippos, The United States Merchant Marine Academy

AS IS TRADITION…The Winnipesaukean dedicatee and reader of the graduates’ names was Waterfront Coordinator Kyle Williams!

EXTRA-SPECIAL MOMENT: As Commencement took place during Memorial Day Weekend, Kerin invited all military personnel on the field—active duty and retired—to stand and be recognized and appreciated with an extended round of applause.

THAI FRIENDS: Each year, representatives from the Office of Educational Affairs with the Royal Thai Embassy in Washington D.C. travel to Wolfeboro to celebrate Brewster’s graduating Royal Thai Scholars. They honor us by reading those students’ names as they cross the Commencement stage. This year, we welcomed Pajita Diskul Na Ayudhya and Korn Thepnorarat.

FINAL MESSAGE: Quoting favorite author Lucy Maud Montgomery, Kerin said, “There’s something so mystical about lakes, almost like they’re gateways to another world. You can stand on the shore and look out at the water, and it feels like anything is possible.” She then said, “As you leave here today, remember the power of shared experiences. During your time on campus, you have seen firsthand how moments of shared joy can lift us up, bring us closer together, and help us navigate the ups and downs of life. Take all that you have learned on these shores, stay connected with one another, and show us what is possible through your individual and collective actions. And when you need a dose of this special community, come visit. We’ll be waiting to see you.”

KARA MCDUFFEE, ROBERT ORTIZ

The Artful Noise String Quartet played before and after the ceremony, and bagpiper Travis Cote joined us once again for the processional.

1. Shannon Murphy and family. 2. Graduates process from the Smith Center, past the Bobcat statue, and through the back gate of Brown Field. 3. Angelina Lewis fans provided visual proof of how far she has come! 4. Annie Perry. 5. Reid Ducharme and Aaron Clark. 6. Lake Winnipesaukee and the Belknap Mountains offer an impressive Commencement background. 7. Kieron Kankam and family.

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Rock On

During the height of COVID, many of us found delving into new creative pursuits helped ease the stress of the pandemic. For Kirsty Ridings, Brewster’s Head Athletic Trainer, picking up a paint brush became a great escape. In fact, her charming painted river stones turned into an Etsy side gig, selling to fans all over North America (in June she made her 2,000th sale!) Some of her most popular creations are the strawberry rocks: Scattered in the garden, these beauties attract birds who peck and are displeased by the stone, thus deterring them from returning for the real fruits of the garden. You can see more of her creations at the Etsy shop: Garden Charms by Kirsty. (And check out what she’s been up to on the professional front on page 18!)

POLAR PLUNGE

Once the ice is out on Wolfeboro Bay, a group of very brave souls meet at the docks every Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. Then they do something extraordinary: They jump in. That’s right, with water temps just in the 50s (sometimes colder!), these students dunk. Jumping 80% of the total plunges earns a coveted Polar Plunge shirt. Ah, youth.

DRESS UP

Sylvie Skibicki ’23 created this stunning gown, entitled “Chipper,” for the Winter Art Show. A devoted environmental warrior, Skibicki used recycled paint supplies, chain, and mesh to create the piece, which friend and fellow artist Liam Fahey ’24 proudly modeled.

BEAMING WITH PRIDE

As has become tradition, graduating students record the colleges and universities they’ve applied to on a chart outside the College Counseling Office. After they get those coveted acceptances and make a decision, they mark their choice with a star. Congrats to all the grads who will represent Brewster so well across the country this fall, including (clockwise from top left) Hannah Yang (UCLA), Roffee Loosigian (University of Denver), Seth Suangburanakul (Columbia), Al Zaharaa Al Zaabi (Northwestern), and Aaron Clark (Wake Forest). Congratulations to all our students and best of luck on your next steps!

Helping Hands (and Hearts)

SERVICE TO OTHERS RINGS TRUE FOR BREWSTER

In addition to their academic workload and their athletics, arts, and club pursuits, Brewster students performed 3,654 hours of community service in the 2022-23 school year. That’s more than 152 full days of lending a helping hand. Their projects included working with nonprofits like End 68 Hours of Hunger and Wolfeboro Serves, tutoring Brewster peers and students from neighboring schools on campus and off, teaching our local retirement community residents how to use their hi-tech gadgets, supporting inclusion of all kinds and raising cultural awareness, pitching in on environmental causes, hosting holiday parties and games for campus “Littles” (AKA the children of faculty and staff), gaining new friends through Unified Sports, and so many more we don’t have room to mention here. To a person, these student volunteers report their experiences are as fulfilling for them as for the people they are helping. Plus, it’s a lot of fun! Shout out to Director of Community Service Maria Found who organizes all these efforts.

Faculty and staff get into the spirit of the day, too, wearing gear from their own alma maters (yes, that’s Dean of College Counseling Laura Duffy behind Aaron sporting her Tufts University jersey!)

Hannah Yang

Aaron Clark

Roffee Loosigian and Seth Suangburanakul

Al Zaharaa Al Zaabi

PROM TIME!

Members of the Class of 2023 enjoyed a lovely evening at Bald Peak Colony Club, following a special promenade on campus. Enjoy these pics, a sample of all the glamorous looks!

TWO SPECIAL WEEKENDS

Two family events bookended the school year on campus: Fall Family Weekend and Spring Student Showcase. In each case Brewster hosted parents (as well as siblings and grandparents!) on campus for receptions, games, presentations, and more. In the fall, parent-teacher conferences and a welcome from Head of School Kristy Kerin were highlights, helping parents understand what their students would be embarking on for the academic year. At the Spring Student Showcase, families enjoyed campus together and got to see all their child had achieved through the academic year in performances, gallery shows, and competitions on the fields and courts.

High Honors

In January, the John Brewster Chapter of the National Honor Society inducted 11 students into its ranks. Each of the inductees was selected for their achievements in the organization’s four pillars: scholarship, leadership, character, and service. During the ceremony, the current Honor Society officers handed each student their certificate and pin, placed a tassel around their neck, and lit candles representing the four pillars. After new members recited the NHS pledge, they each held a yellow rose and shared a message of thanks to the people who have influenced them the most. Maggie Doyle ’24 (front row, left) thanked her Grandfather Ted for “showing me how to live life to the fullest, happiest, and most fun.” Paulina Trott ’24 (just behind Maggie’s left shoulder) included one of her Brewster teachers, saying, “I would like to thank Ms. Cornwell for guiding me and helping me grow as a person.”

WINNI CLASSIC ROCKED

With more than 30 alumni, staff, faculty, and friends taking the ice on the new outdoor rink between Anderson Hall and the Smith Center, the Winni Classic returned to Brewster on January 7. Dozens more fans (plus a few pooches) cheered from the sidelines, and by all accounts, it was a great time—especially for the victorious White Team, led by former hockey coach TJ Palmer. Everyone enjoyed refreshments and a chance to reminisce at the post-game reception in the Grayson Student Center at the Rogers.

Learning Outside the Classroom

This year’s Interim Studies period—10 days of hands-on learning at the end of the Winter Trimester where students get to select a faculty-created experience they’d like to try—allowed students to explore a wide range of adventures outside the classroom. Some learned about Adaptive Equestrian programs, created masterpieces in the style of Bob Ross, improved their photography skills, or dared to ice climb (like Zak Maxey ’23, above). Others upcycled fashion at the local Makers Mill, studied peace and sustainability at the UN, tried their hand at woodworking, earned their lifeguard certification, interned with local businesses, or got into dozens of other Interim Studies offerings that opened them to new ideas, skills, and even possible future careers.

From left: Class of 2003 came to play with Chris Betti, Evan Carlson, and Ryan Tracy!

Zak Maxey ’23 tackled ice climbing during his Interim Studies period, while some students opted to head south and sail the Florida Keys.

Front row from left: Maggie Doyle ’24, Kellye Nguyen ’23, Zoe Schwartz ’24, Al Zaharaa Al Zaabi ’23. Back row, from left: Liam Fahey ’24, Paulina Trott ’24, Haojia Sit ’24, Patrick Rae ’24, and Naim Ibroci ’23. Not pictured: Zoe Hausler ’24 and Haven Varney ’24.

Left: Nicholas Sanza Stribling ’25 with Grandma Lola Perez, Dad David Sanza Perez, and Grandpa Alfonso Sanza at April’s Spring Student Showcase. Right: Henry Blackburn ’24 with Dad Christopher Blackburn taking in the Spring Art Show.

HALL OF FAME INDUCTION

The 2022 Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Dinner took place August 6 in the Grayson Student Center at the Rogers, and the Hall of Fame Committee was honored to welcome 11 alumni, one coach, and two teams into the 2022 inductee class: Troy Brown ’90, Teraysa White ’08, Emmanuel Negedu ’08, Thomas Robinson ’09, Louise Warren ’10, Coach Seth Ahlborn, CJ Fair ’10, Melvin Ejim ’10, Will Barton ’10, Jakarr Sampson ’12, Mitch McGary ’12, TJ Warren ’12, the 2012 Prep Basketball Team and the 2014 Prep Basketball Team. Congratulations to all!

Strength and Power

Brewster has debuted an Advanced Strength and Conditioning program for female athletes. “The Advanced Strength and Conditioning Programs that are offered for Basketball, Ice Hockey, and Lacrosse had become tailored to the needs of the sport, but also to the needs and goals of the male athlete,” Head Trainer Kirsty Ridings explains. “This new program is tailored for female field sport athletes and their goals. Female athletes have the same physiological responses to strength training as male athletes; however, a specific focus on preventing lower extremity injuries through strengthening and developing upper body strength is very important.”

Jared Terrell ’14 and his son.

The Hall of Fame inductees

Teraysa White ’08

BEACH DAY!

Warm temps lingered into September, so students got to enjoy weekend BBQs, swimming, and volleyball at Brewster Beach after their arrival on Labor Day Weekend!

While Brewster’s unique curriculum builds students’ minds, community life events like this one build the bonds of friendship that Bobcats carry into their college years and beyond.

A TRIBUTE TO LEADERSHIP

THE

HONORING OUR 12TH HEAD OF SCHOOL

By Suzanne Morrissey

“I believe that when the next chapter of Brewster’s history is written a decade from now, to supplement the wonderful history book that the Richardsons created, this era will be viewed as one of the most important inflection points in Brewster’s development and course…that it will be literally a defining moment in Brewster’s history. And Craig Gemmell is right at the center of making that happen.”

—Roy Ballentine, Chair of Brewster Academy’s Board of Trustees

Dr. Craig Gemmell, Brewster Academy Head of School from 2015 to 2021.

Roy Ballentine, Chair of Brewster’s Board of Trustees, says his initial impressions of Craig Gemmell happened at the Hilton hotel at Boston’s Logan Airport—and they were strong. “It was early 2014, and we were seeing our Head of School candidates pretty

much back to back over a two-day period. We scheduled breaks to give ourselves some time to think and stretch. And during one of those breaks, I walked across the hotel lobby,” Ballentine says. “Craig was sitting at a coffee kiosk, and jumped up to introduce himself. In that moment, when I shook Craig’s hand

and looked at the smile on his face, I felt the energy that he brought just to that greeting. I thought, Wow, this is going to be interesting! There was some sort of electrical connection.” Ballentine recalls being impressed that his questions about Gemmell’s 2006 dissertation, entitled “Untangling the Tangled Bank: Toward a Unitary Pedagogy of Nature,” didn’t fluster the interviewee at all—even when he drilled right down to the minutiae of word choice. “He took it all with good humor,” Ballentine says, chuckling.

Gemmell’s recollections of that day are similarly fresh and friendly. “I remember that first meeting like it was yesterday,” Gemmell said recently. “I entered the lobby of the hotel and found myself in this huge, abstracted space. I walked around unclear about where exactly my round of interviews were to happen. Roy had clearly spotted me from across the lobby and walked up to me in trousers and a pressed white shirt and introduced himself to me. He said, ‘Livingstone, I presume.’ I giggled and was in awe at the same time. He had a four-inch-thick stack of papers and just seemed so dialed in— focused and impressive and filled with energy. I liked him immediately.”

The rest, as the saying goes, is history. On July 1, 2015, Gemmell came on board as Brewster’s twelfth Head of School. Moving to Wolfeboro from Groton, Massachusetts, he and his family—educator Nancy Hughes and their boys, Jobe and Teddy—immersed themselves in campus life. Gemmell has often said he found a warm welcome from the campus community when he arrived. But, as Ballentine notes, “Being a new head is a tight

Dr. Craig Gemmell’s nearly six-year tenure as Brewster’s Head of School anchored his love of the school’s approach to education and spawned a revolutionary plan for its future. In his current role as the President of Brewster and BA International, LLC, his vision for bringing the Brewster Model to a cohort of new schools around the globe is taking shape. (See our feature about Brewster Madrid in this issue). As Gemmell’s work expands to reach thousands more students, Brewster Magazine is taking a look back at how it all began, and the first years of what is already being called “The Gemmell Era.”

FIRST MEETING FIRST MEETING

IN THE GAME Craig Gemmell became part of Bobcat Nation after the impressive tenures of Mike Cooper and David Smith.

MAKING

Gemmell welcomed by Board Chair Roy Ballentine at the 2015 Head of School Installation Ceremony.

FIRESIDE CHAT Gemmell is energized by conversations with students, like this one in his campus home, Lord House.

wire act. You’re stepping into a new environment where your predecessor has been a smashing success: Mike Cooper was very beloved—he did a really outstanding job. So the next guy has nowhere to go but down, right? What a way to start off!”

Known as a disciplined but nonlinear thinker, Gemmell quickly—and, says Ballentine, tactfully— oversaw a period of transition, reshaping his leadership team. “Craig organizes things in his own way, which is different, but it really works,” Ballentine notes. He took on a few campus issues right off the bat, including the need for tighter supervision of students 24/7 and overhauling Brewster’s cumbersome 80+ word manifesto about prepping students for college into the clear, concise mission statement every Brewster employee now knows by heart: “Brewster prepares diverse thinkers for lives of purpose.”

Brewster’s serene backdrop of stunning lakes and mountains may also have been an ideal landing spot for Gemmell, an avid outdoorsman, birder, and grower of dahlias. Raised on his great grandfather’s mostly fallow farm (inherited by his parents when he was 3), and earning degrees in Ecology, Biology, and Environmental Studies, he has cultivated a lifelong relationship with the natural world, from which he draws frequent inspiration for his work. “That bond with the earth is a central part

Seeing the Possible

of who he is, and is ever present in his use of metaphor,” explains former Director of Integrated Outreach Kris Light, adding that the language of “Our Watershed Moment,” the seminal capital campaign that Gemmell launched, was certainly a product of this devoted naturalist’s worldview.

Though a science scholar by training, Gemmell also brought his love of literature to his role, often quoting notable scholars, from authors Wendell Berry and C.S. Lewis to contemporary poet Billy Collins and fellow head of school Albus Dumbledore. Not one to keep his door shut, Gemmell’s accessibility was (and is) his trademark. He famously gave out his cell phone number to the assembled group of parents at Orientation each year and said, sincerely, “Text or call at any time.” (This was a move his early colleagues admit they deemed “completely nuts,” until they witnessed the bonds that it built.) He made sure students knew that door was open to them, as well, and they took him up on the invitation, often stopping in for free-flowing conversation and just to check in. These seemingly small gestures and practices only bolstered what his new community of students, families, employees, alumni, and donors came to know of Gemmell’s warm charm, crisp humor, and

“Craig has an uncanny knack for seeing the possible in all things, and through his own energetic pursuit of aspirational goals, he inspires others to follow. Whether that means convincing colleagues to join impossible running challenges or setting timelines for projects that feel out of reach, his conviction and eagerness make everyone believe in the success of the endeavor—and that belief generally wins the day. Though at times I think his goals made even him nervous, he wasn’t afraid to go out on a limb for initiatives he cared about and believed were best and right for Brewster.”

—Kristy Kerin, Brewster Academy Head of School

LEADER, MENTOR, FRIEND The announcement that Gemmell would be succeeded by Kristy Kerin, making her Brewster’s thirteenth (and first female) Head of School, was met with excitement. The leaders-turned-friends were able to give the community a seamless transition. Gemmell calls his successor “extraordinary,” and in his last letter of reflection to the community, said, “She believes as mightily in the dual promise of this school as I do, and is unquestionably the most talented and well-prepared incoming head of school I’ve ever met.”

The Curveball

The Gemmell Era also included an immense curveball that no one saw coming: the COVID pandemic. He led with clarity and action, pulling together close advisors who regularly assembled to not only meet the requirements of the state and federal government, but often to exceed them in an effort to create the safest environment for students, employees, and surrounding town neighbors. Gemmell asked everyone to be patient, vigilant, and—using one of his favorite words—nimble. In an affirming message to all Brewster constituents at the time, he said, “We opened our doors in September 2020 amidst a landscape filled with uncertainty…simply opening and operating during COVID could be considered a victory. But we’ve been inspired by the work of those who preceded us in leading this school, by current successes, and the bold objectives we laid out in our vision: an approach to learning with the exponential power to transform education, communities, and the lives of students in our care. Thus, we have dug deep as an institution to ensure that even in the face of much uncertainty, we continue to make strategic decisions and investments to ensure Brewster grows ever stronger.” And in what is a Gemmell trademark, he deflected the credit for the school’s perseverance during the most frightening months of the pandemic with these words: “This was not the work of a team of administrators. Nor teachers. Nor experts from afar. This was the work of a team composed of all who are actively involved with Brewster: employees, students, parents, grandparents, friends, and Trustees. Our students embraced a yearlong mantra—make lemonade! Without question, the positive energy of students inspires all of us to seek ways for positive change.”

SHARING THE LOVE

unwavering belief in the importance of educating cognitively diverse learners.

That first year sluiced by, and supported by Ballentine, then Director of Institutional Strategy & Advancement Kristy Kerin, and Trustee Art Coviello, Gemmell began seeking solutions to a serious challenge the Board had made clear was to be squarely on the new Head of School’s plate once he had his feet on the ground: navigating Brewster around the difficult financial hurdles all secondary schools like Brewster faced. “Increasing costs were slowly but steadily pushing the cost of a private secondary school education beyond the reach of most families without

significant financial aid,” Ballentine shares, “we had to find a solution.” The team also had a desire to expand the education landscape using Brewster’s unique approach. Gemmell and a growing team set to work and their brainchild, BA International, was born.

But there were almost five more years for the Head of School to develop the team’s revolutionary idea while steering the campus community in Wolfeboro. Asked about Gemmell’s evolution as a leader, Ballentine says, “The first thing that comes to mind is it was fun. Which is not what you probably hear in response to that question in a lot of places. It’s not like Craig and I are best buddies,

Through the height of the COVID pandemic, Gemmell modeled the behavior required of students—and clearly shared the love as he encouraged humor and patience to get everyone through the storm.

“...when I shook Craig’s hand and looked at the smile on his face, I felt the energy that he brought just to that greeting. I thought, Wow, this is going to be interesting!”— ROY BALLENTINE, CHAIR OF BREWSTER’S BOARD OF TRUSTEES

LIMITLESS Craig is a lifelong runner. It’s so important that he gets in a run every day, in fact, that former Director of Integrated Outreach Kris Light recently noted goodnaturedly, “If he can’t make that happen, he starts to lose it a little bit, and you can tell. He’s kind of like a border collie in that way.”

SOLIDARITY On June 5, 2020, Gemmell stood with more than 500 demonstrators during Wolfeboro’s Black Lives Matter rally that lined the town’s main thoroughfare and extended onto Brewster’s campus.

FAMILY MAN Craig with wife and fellow educator Nancy Hughes and their children, younger son Jobe and oldest Teddy, in their first month in Wolfeboro.

A RARE MOMENT All four living heads of school attended a retirement celebration for Lynne Palmer, creating this special moment. From left, Kristy Kerin (2021-present), Craig Gemmell (2015-2021), Lynne Palmer, Mike Cooper (2003-2014), and David Smith (1974-2003).

TOP: SUZANNE MORRISSEY (2)

GRADS Craig with Shemar Joseph and Trinity Townes at their 2019 Commencement.

The Word

As Head of School, Craig Gemmell began a tradition of announcing a Word of the Year, giving the community a guiding notion that would weave its way through that school year’s campus and scholarly life. Head of School Kristy Kerin has continued this tradition, with “uplift” as the word of the 2022-23 school year.

2015-16: Culture

2016-17: Integrity

2017-18: Community

2018-19: Awareness

2019-20: Legacy

2020-21: Connection

2021-22: Curiosity

2022-23: Uplift

but we’ve actually had a lot of fun! We’ve been skiing together, and he lived on a 53’ sailboat with me for a week. How many heads of school would voluntarily go off and live with their board chair in a confined space for a week?!”

Gemmell’s next years as Head of School saw more than its share of peaks and valleys—from the highs of National Championships, breaking ground on the Reimagined Rogers project, and the launch of “Our Watershed Moment, The Campaign for Brewster” to the terrible lows of unexpected deaths of students and young alumni that shattered the community. Gemmell was alternately cheerleader and leader, consoler and counsel, all the while showing his deep understanding of emotions at those seminal moments in the lives of a school community.

That trademark understanding and connection, when reflected in his students, is perhaps the most meaningful aspect of Craig Gemmell’s legacy as a head of school. And nowhere is that more evident than in Ceara Caffrey ’16. Caffrey was the very first student Gemmell met as the newly named Head of School when she arrived early at a July 2014 Brewster reception.

“Yes, I was the first Brewster student he ever met, and I don’t know if that raised the bar or lowered the bar,” Caffrey said recently, laughing. After that first meeting, student Caffrey “fully abused Dr. G’s open door policy,” forming a bond over impromptu conversations about class projects and life. When sharing ideas with

Gemmell, she says, one leaves feeling that “he is on your team, believing in you. It helps build your confidence.” It also helped Caffrey form a plan for her future: “I knew I always wanted to be a boarding school teacher, coach, and dorm parent. I wanted to be the Lauren Hunter for someone…I wanted to be the Coach Yau for someone,” she says, citing faculty who influenced her at Brewster.

Caffrey credits Gemmell with helping her along her path, as she earned her undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies from Sewanee in 2020, secured her first teaching position, and most recently completed her Masters of Science degree in Sustainability at Nashville’s Lipscomb University. In fact, she used Brewster as the case study for her thesis: a strategic plan for sustainability in secondary schools. This spring, she met with her mentor, Gemmell, as well as other Brewster administrators and staff to complete the massive project.

“Dr. G is an amazing person,” Caffrey says. “I’ve known him as my head of school, as a former teacher who inspired me, and now as a colleague of the same profession. I know I can always count on him for advice, a recommendation, or really anything. He is simply one of the best people I have met.”

It’s a sentiment shared by many who have come to know and admire Gemmell as he has cultivated his vision of what independent education could be. Now, as that vision is extending to another continent, the community here in Wolfeboro can reflect on all The Gemmell Era has meant and will mean to the school.

FULL-CIRCLE MOMENT Gemmell has been a mentor to many, including Ceara Caffrey ’16, shown here with partner Henry at her 2023 graduation from Lipscomb University. Caffrey received her Masters of Science degree in Sustainability and worked closely with Craig and other Brewster mentors on her thesis. In a full-circle moment, she’ll be joining the Brewster faculty soon!

THE MISSION “The promise we make to kids, families, our community, and the broader world is simple in conception and is embedded in our mission statement: Brewster prepares diverse thinkers for lives of purpose,” Gemmell, shown here watching the Bobcats with son Toby on the Brown Field sidelines, often reflected.

LEARNING FROM EACH OTHER Craig always emphasized that one of Brewster’s strengths is the diversity of cultures represented in the student body. Here, he shared a fun moment with Sioni Ayubu Mollel ’18 (left) and Memusi Saibulu ’19, who joined Brewster through its partnership with the Orkeeswa School in Tanzania.

ROB BOSSI

Madrid is Spain’s capital and home to more than 3.5 million residents. It will now be the home of the first two Brewster International campuses.

inBrewsterMadrid

Brewster Academy has launched an initiative unprecedented in its 203-year history: Bringing the unique experience of a Brewster education to the world in a network of international schools. This endeavor has been years in the planning, and represents a revolutionary new era for the institution—one with innumerable opportunities for growth both overseas and in Wolfeboro. And it all begins in Madrid!

By Nancy Hughes and Suzanne Morrissey

n approach to learning that has the exponential power to transform education, communities, and the lives of students in our care.”

With a vision statement this bold and this ambitious, Brewster Academy seems practically bound to share its unique model of education outside its idyllic Wolfeboro home campus. And with the founding of BA International LLC in 2020, the exciting journey of building a global network of schools officially began. What led to this defining moment in the school’s history is a story of leadership, collaboration, research, and good old-fashioned necessity.

It began with a conversation between then Head of School Craig Gemmell and Chair of Brewster’s Board of Trustees, Roy Ballentine. Early in their partnership, Gemmell recalls, Ballentine issued a five-word request: “He asked me to ‘fix Brewster’s broken business model.’ ”

Gemmell, for his part, dug into ensuring strong fiscal oversight, realizing strong admissions and fundraising results. But despite success in these realms, by 2017 Brewster’s Board and senior administration were confronting an emerging paradox: Brewster was simultaneously growing in strength in its institutional capacity and in the market, yet financial indicators suggested that conventional approaches were not reversing troubling financial trends. Demographic shifts among families with high-school age students seeking a New England boarding school experience, Brewster’s historically small endowment, and rising costs of offering state-of-the-art facilities that wooed the best candidates for enrollment were all concerns facing the Board and its Head of School.

In a 2017 breakfast meeting of Board Chair Ballentine, Vice-Chair Art Coviello, then Assistant Head for Institutional Advancement Kristy Kerin, and Gemmell, Coviello encouraged the team to be bold—to leverage what makes Brewster special and to approach challenges as an opportunity.

THE BOLD IDEA

Together, Gemmell and Kerin built a working group to begin this auspicious task. The earliest team included Lisa Braiterman, Jonathan Fouser, Matt Found, Tim Cushing, Marcia Trook, Allie Cooper, Peter Gilligan, Lynne Palmer, and Raylene Davis. Coviello led the working group, later passing that role to fellow Board member Carlos Noble ’70 in 2021. The team investigated what exactly gave Brewster its “special sauce.” Certainly Brewster’s unique location was (and is) on the list. As are the dedication and warmth of the faculty and staff who find meaning in living and working at the school—and caring for its students. Brewster’s engaged parent and alumni communities who maintain close ties through the years are also key factors. But what was the common thread—the underpinning that gave all these positive aspects a structure to build on? The group found that the resonant answer was deceptively simple: Brewster’s broad set of approaches to learning, collectively referred to as The Brewster Model. “The Model is our differentiating factor,” Gemmell says, “and once we recognized that with clarity, we set about creating the vision statement to guide the school’s work in the future.” That statement, as noted above, became the mantra of how Brewster approaches learning, in a way that truly does have “the exponential power to transform education, communities, and the lives of students in our care.” It is as vital to the institution as its mission statement to prepare diverse thinkers for lives of purpose.

But how to leverage this in a way that strengthened Brewster financially? The senior administrative team researched how other institutions have scaled their influence using their differentiators to become both more vibrant and sustainable. In the final analysis one concept emerged that aligned with mission and vision and could fix the ailing business model: develop other campuses globally where we were able to recognize unmet demand for Brewster’s particular approach to education and to do so in ways that bring financial resources back to Brewster, thereby delivering on a double bottom line. In short, Brewster was going global. But how?

THE GLOBAL PLAN TAKES SHAPE

The “how” of it all started with the 2018 hiring of Ricardo Carreño, a son of Madrid who had uprooted himself and his family to come to the States to teach Spanish at one of Brewster’s New England peer schools, and fell in love with the boarding school life. Through his years, he dreamt of bringing American education back home with him to Madrid. With his move to Brewster, that dream could come true. “Ricardo has been utterly critical in this endeavor; his ability to turn possibilities into reality is unparalleled. He was the person we needed and he appeared serendipitously at the right time,” Gemmell explains.

Next, the team undertook a global scan of locations for Brewster campuses. What would make the most sense in terms of finances, the education market, stability, and many other factors? Carreño had the instincts to keep his eyes firmly on Madrid, a city he knew and loved and wished to improve by bringing a wholly American school to his home. Amazingly, months of market research underscored what he knew intuitively all along: Madrid was the place.

Since then, working with the team in Wolfeboro and a growing team in Madrid, Brewster has developed sound corporate and governance structures, selected excellent investors, and acquired two ideal campuses in Madrid—one in the center of the city (Chamberí) and one in a suburban community (La Moraleja).

“Ricardo’s expertise as we’ve focused on Madrid as our first international location has been remarkable,” Gemmell emphasizes, adding that building the right team has been vital. As Gemmell moved into his new role as the President of Brewster and BA International LLC, and Kristy Kerin became Brewster’s Head of School in Wolfeboro, the team quickly took shape. First, Gemmell engaged two experienced Brewster faculty members to play pivotal roles in the launch: Bret Barnett and Jonathan Fouser, both of whom serve as Founding Deputy Heads of Brewster Madrid. Brewster’s brand is now a familiar one in Madrid as a result of a robust social media campaign, thanks in part to this talented duo’s ability to describe the Brewster experience to a new audience in ways that are igniting great interest.

The Madrid project also welcomed Micaela Carney as Dean of Admissions, Javier Menendez Acosta as Financial and Human Resources Manager, Enrique Vargas as Marketing Manager, and Nancy Hughes as Dean of Faculty.

Ariane Baer-Harper, a noted international school industry leader, helped guide the team in its earliest days before heading to Austin, Texas, to lead another school. At the helm, Craig Gemmell is once again in the role of Head of School, one he relishes. “When I first came to Brewster, I saw truly happy students who exuded a calm confidence and gratitude for being at their school. And the culture of collaboration among adults at Brewster seemed unique, and it inspired me,” he recalls. “Now, I have a chance to foster those same amazing qualities in our new home, and the possibility of recreating that experience for an entirely new group of young scholars is, frankly, one of the most exciting times in my career.”

Since October, this core team has been culling thousands of

OPPOSITE AND NEXT PAGE: These architect’s digital renderings showcase the innovative learning spaces that will be a hallmark of Brewster’s first campus in Madrid, in the Chamberí neighborhood. Local architects are revitalizing historic buildings to their former glory to create a warm and beautiful space for students, but also for the local community.

“We have been able to secure two of the most emblematic real estate sites in Spain’s capital—a 600-year-old city with the strongest cultural offerings in all Europe and I would argue also all the world. These sites send a message to the local and foreign market that Brewster is here to stay.”

—RICARDO CARREÑO, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF

BA INTERNATIONAL

LLC

resumes from candidates in the United States and around the world to build the Madrid school’s “founding teaching team,” who will begin together as all Brewster Academy teachers do—by attending Brewster Summer Institute (BSI) in July. Barnett says while he’ll miss the cool Winnipesaukee waters (it’ll likely be around 100 degrees in Madrid at that time of year!), he’s looking forward to having everyone together. “And I’m equally excited about continuing to collaborate with the folks in Wolfeboro to create network partnerships that enable both schools to get better,” he says.

As the team has grown, another milestone in this journey has been reached: Brewster Madrid’s first campus is well into renovations, the admissions process is yielding wonderful students, and Brewster’s first international school is poised to launch.

SCHOOL IS IN SESSION

Through all the research and planning, the team realized this endeavor’s goals were best reached by launching not just a school to service high school students, but K-12. Why? Dean of Faculty Nancy Hughes explains: “The school that opens in September will feel like Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro in many ways; however, the look will inevitably be different, set as it is in the heart of a European capital— and given that students from ages 3 to 18 will be filling its halls. The decision to open as a Kindergarten to 12th grade school is largely a response to market demands. In Spain public and private schools are traditionally K-12.” This decision has also proven to be one of the most exciting aspects of the endeavor, as it has pushed the academic team to learn about the process of educating young people in new ways and brought them into rich dialogue with experts in the lower and middle years. Welcoming young students has led to some interesting moments, too. Gemmell reports that one of the best days he has had in Madrid was when he interviewed a 4-year-old boy who left his mother’s side and happily crawled into his lap!

Like any start-up organization, the team members on the ground in Madrid have all been juggling many roles. Everyone is meeting with parents (on Zoom and in person), interviewing students, and giving tours. Micaela Carney, Dean of Admission, shared that, for her, the best part of this experience thus far has been meeting with the wide range of families and students: “It seems like so many of the families who are finding us are looking for something different. Each day it is this interesting mix of Spanish families who want their children to learn to think independently, expat families thrilled to have an American school right in the center of Madrid, American families moving to Madrid to expose their children to life beyond the States, and international families from across the globe attracted to the school’s diversity.”

In September, the first international school will open in the Chamberí neighborhood, and Brewster’s mission and vision will have traveled with the team over to the Iberian Peninsula. “It has been fabulous to see that the right students are finding us here,” Gemmell says. “We are accepting a really fantastic collection of ‘diverse thinkers,’ and we are so excited to help prepare them for their lives of purpose.” He acknowledges that the strength of Brewster’s reputation in the United States has been an enormous asset as the school enters into a wider market and begins its admissions process. “Our history is an extensive

one in the States, and we are known to be successful working with a wide range of students. We keep meeting with families with multiple children, whom they acknowledge are very different. These parents are coming to us because they are trusting that we can serve all of them well. And we know we can.”

Of course, the magic behind serving these diverse thinkers well is Brewster’s unique team approach, and that too is a central component of Brewster Madrid. The team has spent hours and hours in interviews and on tours explaining to prospective families how our team-based approach—the Brewster Model—works and how it allows teachers to provide individualized instruction that both challenges and supports each student. This approach that has been a hallmark of Brewster’s education for close to 40 years is not only finding an enthusiastic audience among families, but also among teaching candidates. “Surely, Madrid is a draw! It’s a walkable, beautiful European capital city with lots of green space and is just teeming with world-class museums,” Hughes says. “But if I had to find a common denominator among all of the faculty candidates we’ve been seeing, it would be a desire to collaborate with other colleagues in a deliberate way. Most of the candidates we have seen have done their research well. They know Brewster Academy, or are learning about Brewster Academy, and they are excited to work at a place that expects teachers to collaborate—that sets aside time for such critical work.”

As one of the Deputy Heads of School, Barnett is also charged with overseeing all of the non-academic parts of the program. He is busy selecting furniture for classrooms, playing with the nuances of the daily schedule, writing student and family handbooks, and drafting

Madrid

provides an urban setting soaked in European history that students can immerse themselves in as the school year proceeds. A history teacher’s dream!

emergency protocols—to name a few of the tasks that are keeping him busy. Barnett is also organizing after school activities. “Working to bring hallmark extracurricular programs like drama, basketball, lacrosse, and soccer to our school is an interesting project to undertake,” he says, “as most Spanish schools do not offer athletics or drama—rather, students seek these programs out themselves after the school day, playing for club teams or going to local theaters. I look forward to being a leader in the Spanish market in terms of what it means to educate the whole child.” The best work, however, will be bringing the culture and sense of

Madrid

Where is Brewster located in Madrid?

The first of two campuses in Madrid to open is located in downtown Madrid’s Chamberí neighborhood…near the popular Museo Nacional del Prado and the Palacio Real (the Royal Palace). The second school, Brewster La Moraleja, will be in the northeast region of the city (and is on track to open its doors in 2024).

Jonathan Fouser describes Madrid as “cosmopolitan and cool,” with distinct neighborhoods that make it feel accessible, warm, and welcoming. Dean of Faculty Nancy Hughes notes that “just as Brewster in Wolfeboro is able to use N.H.’s mountains and lakes as outdoor classrooms, our team will be able to leverage the city as a campus.”

inclusion of Brewster Academy to Madrid. As Barnett explains with a smile, “Building community is my jam.”

BACK AT HOME BASE

Brewster’s first international campus is a significant point of pride for Brewster Academy. Back in Wolfeboro, this project will have resounding effects on the Academy’s long-term strength and development. It will extend Brewster’s brand and reputation, dramatically increase the number of students the school is able to serve, fuel innovation, open

puesta de Europa edificio telefonica Royal Palace

P laza de Cibeles Alcala Gate

puesta de toledo

new opportunities for study and teaching exchanges, and, importantly, it will generate resources that will fund Brewster’s ongoing growth.

Once the Brewster Madrid campuses are fully enrolled, Brewster will serve upwards of 1,200 more students each year, changing the educational landscape in Madrid and supporting the aspirations of wonderful students. By expanding its reach, Brewster will showcase its unique approach to teaching and learning, thereby influencing broader conversations about education and how best to support the needs of today’s students.

Funded entirely by outside investors, the international endeavor will also generate significant financial returns. The investors are driven by a double bottom line: an opportunity to be part of a project that will be a fruitful financial investment while meaningfully changing educational offerings for students and families in Madrid. Revenue generated through Brewster Madrid will be put to work immediately at Brewster Academy, funding need-based financial aid, investments in the Wolfeboro campus and programs, and supporting one of the school’s greatest assets: its faculty.

Academically, Brewster will evolve from a single school with 200+ years of experience and history to a group of schools, all operating under The Brewster Model. Students will have opportunities to move among campuses and study in different environments and cultures. Brewster faculty will expand their professional network, gaining professional development opportunities and sharing best practices and new ideas.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

All of the Madrid team’s efforts right now are directed toward a group of key objectives: matriculating a great group of mission-appropriate students, building a remarkable faculty to serve each of our students the way each needs to be served, building a strong culture shaped by kindness, engagement, respect, curiosity, and joy. “In short, our work is to recreate the inimitable culture of Brewster in Madrid,” Fouser says. In the short-term, the path ahead includes the launch of the second campus in La Moraleja, a suburb of Madrid. Additional interest has been expressed from others in cities on the Iberian Peninsula and further afield for additional Brewster campuses. But the founding team is keeping its planning horizon short and its focus right now on September 7, 2023, when the first students will enter through the gates of a school that will feel both very new and equally familiar. And so begins Brewster’s next chapter.

TOP: Opening Brewster Madrid is a ground-up operation, and the team has been working anywhere and everywhere to make it happen. Exhibit A: Craig Gemmell working on his laptop in a deskless storage space! ABOVE: Brewster Madrid will include lower (grades K and 1-5), middle (grades 6-8), and upper (grades 9-12) schools. The upper school program is grounded in the liberal arts and sciences and offers a challenging, yet supportive, academic experience.

“I have been fortunate to join the Madrid project as a founding team member. The experience has been challenging, thrilling, and quite humbling. I am so looking forward to…seeing the many ways our school transforms the lives of students, one family and one kid at a time!”

—MICAELA CARNEY, DEAN OF ADMISSIONS

Two Bobcats in Madrid

We asked Bret Barnett and Jonathan Fouser, the Founding Deputy Heads of Brewster Madrid, what it has been like moving from the hamlet of Wolfeboro (population 6,300) to the metropolis of Madrid (population 3.6 million).

What was your first impression of the city?

What’s the vibe like there?

BB: I have forever been looking for a city that had the cultural depth and feel of NYC, but with less hustle and bustle. I think I have found it in Madrid. Very liveable and clean.

JF: A wonderful mix of tranquility and vibrancy. Within a short walk one can wander the bustling Gran Via and then quickly escape into the Caso Campo, a large park on the western side of the city.

BB: And the people in Madrid are very welcoming and very laid back. They take their midday siestas seriously and do not take themselves too seriously—they work to live, no one lives to work.

Where do you enjoy spending your free time?

BB: While the museums and parks are great, I like the theater productions. I’ve been to see Matilda, Mamma Mia, and The Lion King all twice and all in Spanish. I’m also loving my neighborhood restaurants. When I walk in and the folks already know my order, it is such a good feeling, as if Madrid is truly becoming home.

JF: Caso Campo, Retiro, Prado, Reina Sofia. I love walking around with Bret and exploring. An afternoon stroll can take many hours and include stops at numerous cafes. Even getting lost is so much fun.

What is the food like? Have you discovered any favorite dishes?

JF: The options can be overwhelming. I like visiting local establishments for the menu of the day. The soup is always great!

BB: Yes, you can find any kind of food here that you want, minus a few American staples. You’d be hard-pressed to find mac and cheese, maple syrup, or anything with processed sugar. The food tastes clean. And the traditional Spanish food is delicious… craving tortilla de patata as I type! In terms of food culture, I found there is rarely ever salt and pepper on the table and finding butter is a task.

Can you tell us something that surprised you about Madrid?

JF: Although always busy and lively, the city truly comes to life late at night. As Hemingway said, “Nobody goes to bed in Madrid until they have killed the night.”

BB: Everything is very inexpensive. This surprised me: A full grocery shopping trip only costs about 40 euros. Amazing!

Any funny anecdotes about getting to know the city?

BB: In Spain, the ground floor is 0, not 1 like in the U.S. This took a bit to adjust to as my neighbors in apartment 2B had to direct me up to my 3B apartment a couple of times.

JF: Don’t try to eat dinner between 5 and 9 p.m.!

What has been the toughest transition?

BB: Being around Spanish 24/7. As my Spanish is only mediocre, I have struggled at times to communicate and have certainly developed so much empathy for anyone trying to live in a second language. Nevermind a third or a fourth.

JF: Being away from my daughter, Névé, and my wife, Marta [Dr. Marta Filip-Fouser is the Dean of Teaching and Learning and Educational Research in Wolfeboro].

What has been the most fun?

JF: Entering each day with no expectations and being open to all new experiences.

BB: Working with this amazing team. It is not easy to live abroad and also not easy to start a school. I feel so fortunate to have such a committed team of professionals around me to help bring this vision of a K-12 school in Madrid to fruition. I think the most fun is truly ahead—September 7 (the first day of school), here we come!

Bret Barnett and Jonathan Fouser are two familiar faces in Wolfeboro— and now Madrid! KARA MCDUFFEE

One of the unique features of the main level of the Grayson Student Center is its long-lasting end grain flooring.

The Vision Has Become Reality

THE REIMAGINE ROGERS PROJECT IS BREWSTER’S MOST AUDACIOUS CAPITAL PROJECT IN ITS HISTORY—AND IS ALREADY A DIFFERENTIATOR FOR THE SCHOOL AND ITS STUDENTS. BY SUZANNE

MORRISSEY

It didn’t take long at all for the reimagined and freshly renovated Grayson Student Center at the Rogers Building to become the hub of the arts and student life at Brewster when the doors opened in December 2022. With all three levels of Phases 1 and 2 now complete, the space is impressing students and visitors alike. At registration this fall, one wide-eyed incoming 9th grader was overheard saying in awe to his father, “Whoa, this is even better than the pictures I saw online!” With arts classrooms, gallery and lounge space, huddle rooms for small group meetings and flex rooms for larger ones, a professionallevel dark room, and the Palmer Café (boba tea and smoothies are big hits!), plus state-of-theart features in the Coviello Dance Studio and Faith Theater, Brewster’s offerings have been immeasurably enhanced by this showpiece facility. None of this would have been possible without the generosity of more than 130 donors (including the visionary leadership and gifts of several anchor donors). Construction on Phase 3—which will add an expansive outdoor space with lake views and seating, a ceramics studio, and the Tyler Balint ’21 Robotics Lab—is underway and projected to conclude in the fall. Readers, we’ll let the photos in this story speak for themselves, but we do hope your plans in the coming months include a visit to Wolfeboro so you can see this incredible addition to your campus in person.

1: Lounge and art gallery space 2: The original 1964 facade of the Rogers Building, maintained but enhanced 3: “Huddle” rooms for impromptu study sessions and club meetings 4: The main level and its expansive lake views 5: Lower level arts classrooms designed for collaboration 6: The blackbox-style Faith Theater 7: The Palmer Cafe with lots of menu options

Phase 3 of the Reimagine Rogers project is scheduled to be completed this fall. See the architect’s illustrated vision for the final phase on the back cover of this issue!

This winter, DSK Architects + Planners received the prestigious Boston Society for Architecture Award for their work on the The Grayson Student Center at the Rogers. It was also featured in Architect magazine in April 2023!

LIVES OF PURPOSE

Meet three alumni who share how their Brewster experience has given them the solid footing to pursue their very different lives of purpose.

Tracy Small ’96

WRITTEN BY KRIS LIGHT

“I have an educator’s heart. That’s always been there.” This has been the through line in the career of Tracy Small ’96, founder and executive director of Denver-based Hands to the Future, a nonprofit dedicated to helping students achieve their dreams regardless of their immigration status. “Even before coming to Brewster, I knew I was an educator,” she says, adding with a laugh, “and I was very upset about it. I tried to become a lot of things that I knew I wasn’t.” In the end, there was no avoiding what she saw as her purpose in life.

Fortunately, it is Small’s perspective as an educator that has increased her impact in her field of refugee resettlement and in the lives of those she serves. After earning her Master’s of Arts degree in International Education-Conflict Management from the School of International Training: Graduate Institute in Brattleboro, Vermont, she explored career options. Rebuking multiple offers to become a case manager, Small shifted the focus of her work to education and skill development, providing job training and cultural orientation to refugee communities in the U.S. “People would ask me, ‘Why are you trying to teach them? We just need to check a box.’ And I would say, because this is generational cultural impact. If I teach this one, then they teach 10. Now

“When I think about Brewster, I think that’s where I became a leader.”

— TRACY SMALL ’96

those 10 people are asking how they can be more involved, how they can serve and lead their community. Now we can scale it. I’m not looking to serve 100. I’m looking to serve 1,000 or more, because it’s such a problem.”

Over the past 25 years, Small has worked in education, refugee resettlement, human trafficking, youth advocacy, and women’s empowerment. She has made it her mission, and that of Hands to the Future, to expand opportunities available to those of various backgrounds and all immigration statuses to complete their educational dreams, increasing the number of students from immigrant, refugee, or multicultural backgrounds completing college and master’s degrees, certificates, and licenses. She and her team connect Colorado-based students and their families to educational opportunities and provide college advising, leadership development, and resources to succeed in their pursuits. The numbers drive their mission: According to the Pew Research Center, only 26% of adults between 22 to 59 who do not have a college-educated parent have a bachelor’s degree. First-generation students are more than twice as likely to leave school within three years (33%) than students whose parents have a bachelor’s degree (14%). And only 48% of first-generation students are on track to graduate three years after enrollment, compared to about 66% of nonfirst generation students.

AS A BOBCAT

Small can easily connect her work today to her time at Brewster, where the spirit of creativity and structure gifted her opportunities for

discovery. “You had leadership opportunities, and for the most part Brewster felt like a leadership academy. I was able to become curious about the world and unafraid to lead it. That has carried me the last 30 or so years. When I think about Brewster, I think That’s where I became a leader.” For her, this was a culture that flowed from the caring investment of the staff who nurtured these early sparks: the conversations around a dorm kitchen table…the walking talks spent processing and guiding. Small recalls often being advised that she was taking on too much, but she would push back, feeling like she could handle it. “They didn’t stop me. They supported me. They said ‘Let’s see how far you can go. We’re not going to cap your ability.’ And there were times I fell, and fell hard. And they were there, to catch me and help me understand limitations as something separate from my ability.”

Small says wise words from former Headmaster David Smith have stayed with her since her days on campus. “At All-School Meetings, Mr. Smith would say, ‘Today is the first day of the rest of your life.’ I think about that all the time,” she says. “Life changes. I start from square one today. It’s so important in the hard times and the happy. Seriously, that statement has changed my life. I used to make so much fun of it as a student, but of course, now it’s the thing that gets me through each day.”

EDITOR’S

NOTE: You can learn more about Tracy Small’s work and impact at hands2thefuture.org.

Tracy Small ‘96

Leverett Ball ’11

WRITTEN BY MAURA SULLIVAN HILL

If you watch ESPN Plus, you might catch Leverett Ball ’11 announcing Boston University lacrosse games. Watching Ball conduct a post-game interview with one of the coaches, clad in a sharp gray suit and holding an ESPN microphone, you will see a confident, knowledgeable broadcaster, even under the pressures of live TV. What you won’t see is his hard-fought journey to work in sports broadcasting, manage ADHD, and overcome abuse in his childhood home. Ball has broadcast live from Gillette Stadium and the TD Garden, worked for the likes of NESN and WEEI Sports Radio Network, and has interviewed stars including Michael Strahan and the late Coolio on his podcast, The Lev & Marques Show.

Ball has come a long way from the Fall of 2008, when he arrived at Brewster with only the clothes he was wearing. He came to campus as a sophomore, on the recommendation of

a family therapist who wanted to remove him from a traumatic home environment, where he described being abused by his mother, who suffers from mental illness. His home life was so chaotic that his suitcase and cell phone got left behind when he came up to New Hampshire, and it took some time to retrieve his belongings.

“I actually started stealing clothes out of the lost and found, because I had nothing to wear. I was the new kid with the name that was hard to pronounce and the clothes that didn’t fit,” Ball recalls. “A lot of the kids who go through stuff like that don’t even live to tell the tale. How do you go from being an absolute mess to being successful? The clear turning point in my life was going to Brewster. There were so many people who helped me, and Brewster helped me get on a better path.”

Ball’s mentors and teachers at Brewster helped him harness his skills and talents and manage his challenges. Janis Cornwell, was his first Instructional Support (IS) Teacher. “There were multiple reasons that I went to Brewster, but one issue was that I have ADHD and my learning style doesn’t really fit a classroom. And Brewster has a great Instructional Support program,” Ball says. “Everyone learns in different ways, and at multiple schools that I had gone to, my teachers didn’t understand that I learned differently. At Brewster, they taught me that it doesn’t mean you are stupid or lazy; you can have ADHD and still be intelligent. Ms. Cornwell helped me a lot.”

Cornwell called it a privilege to work with Ball, and fondly remembers his love of sports and how they would take time at the end of each trimester to reflect on his goals and progress.

“Leverett explored various systems to bolster his academic efforts and learned the value of leaning into the supports and structures offered here,” Cornwell says. “He was an intelligent, outside-of-the-box thinker who began to embrace his unique learning style to come into his own.”

Today, Ball uses what he discovered at Brewster about the best learning strategies for him to prepare for his TV broadcasts. He is more of an auditory than visual learner, so he reaches out to head coaches before games to do Zoom interviews with them to talk about the team and the upcoming matchup.

“Some people memorize stats and records. I learned that a conversational approach is best for me,” he says.

Ball was also grateful to former

Community

Residence Life Director Jaime Laurent, who helped him find a post-grad summer job with housing so he did not have to return to his difficult home environment. “It was going beyond her job description and was honestly a lifesaver for me,” Ball says.

Exercise and physical fitness were also lifesavers, giving Ball a healthy outlet for stress. It is a habit he still maintains today. “Physical fitness was really helpful for me, as someone who was very angry and confused and needed an outlet,” says Ball, who also played on the baseball team at Brewster. “It was something that helped me from a mental health standpoint.

“Brewster is a unique experience, and they hold you accountable,” he adds. “I will always be very grateful for my time there.”

Ball went on to play baseball for a year at Wittenberg University in Ohio, and then transferred to Curry College in Milton, Mass., where he played baseball for two

Leverett Ball ’11

Leverett in 2009

LEFT: MICHAEL IVINS, MICHAELIPHOTO.COM

years and graduated in 2016 with a degree in communications with a TV/radio emphasis.

BECOMING A BROADCASTER

When he first started out as a sports broadcaster, Ball would drive two hours each way to American International College in Springfield, Mass., to announce their basketball games—for free. The games weren’t even on TV; the school broadcast them over Facebook Live.

Ball jokes that maybe he can’t call it his first broadcasting job, since he didn’t get a paycheck. But his career grew from there, bolstered by the persistence that helped him succeed at Brewster.

“That was how I got my foot in the door. If you want to be a broadcaster, you have to have a very high tolerance for struggling and failing, because that’s just how the industry works,” he says. “I have to fight for my spot on ESPN every day.”

Ball lives in Arlington, Mass., now and his TV work currently focuses on New England pro and college sports, with appearances on ESPN for college lacrosse and NESN for the Massachusetts Pirates indoor football team. He does play-by-play

commentary, as well as pre- and postgame analysis and interviews as a sideline reporter.

He also started his own sports podcast, The Leverett Ball Show, when he was bored during the COVID-19 lockdowns, and then pivoted that to an interview show hosted with former NFL player Marques Ogden. Ball met Ogden when he was a guest on The Leverett Ball Show, and they decided to team up for a new podcast. The Lev & Marques Show launched in May 2021, and they have put out more than 300 episodes, sometimes multiple per week, and have a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts. The show focuses on the worlds of sports, business, and entertainment, and episodes cover everything from their thoughts on the NFL Draft to interviews with coaches, CEOs, or contestants from “The Bachelor” TV show.

“There are a lot of people in these really competitive industries—whether that’s professional athletes, movie stars, people who do what I do—who had traumatic childhoods. There are plenty of downsides to having a rough childhood, but it prepares you for these really hyper-competitive industries in a way that a comfortable childhood doesn’t,” Ball says. “Being comfortable being uncomfortable, whether it is going away to boarding school or living in employee housing at my job the summer

after senior year, it prepared me for the lifestyle as a broadcaster, because it’s very, very uncomfortable.”

For Ball, part of living his life of purpose is sharing the personal challenges and adversity he has overcome, to hopefully inspire kids experiencing something similar.

“Very few people are comfortable talking about the worst experience in their life, or talking about it publicly, like I am. It’s not for everyone,” says Ball, who is grateful to his dad for sending him to Brewster when the situation at home became too difficult.

“But if you can own the worst thing that ever happened to you, that is incredibly empowering. That’s my advice for anyone.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: You can find Leverett’s podcast, The Lev & Marques Show, wherever you download your podcasts. And follow Leverett on Twitter and Instagram at @Leverett_Ball12.

“The clear turning point in my life was going to Brewster. There were so many people who helped me, and Brewster helped me get on a better path.”

— LEVERETT BALL ’11

Leverett at work

Christian Marchesi ’19

WRITTEN BY MEREDITH FIDROCKI

Christian Marchesi ’19 doesn’t hesitate when asked to share about his post-graduate (PG) year at Brewster. Mostly because he hopes his story connects with any high schooler out there looking to discover their passion, build confidence, and strengthen their skills as a student. “When I was in high school, I could not picture being at the point I’m at right now—being as happy as I am, feeling proud of myself, and like I’m on the right track in life,” Marchesi says. “I would not be where I am today without Brewster.”

Today, Marchesi is a recent graduate of Marist College, where he majored in communications with a focus on public relations and minored in fashion merchandising. While an undergrad, he completed an internship at Coyne PR, a midsize firm where he regularly drafted pitches and participated in brainstorm meetings to craft client campaigns. He and a group of fellow interns even participated in a competition and had their original campaign selected to be pitched by the agency to a major pain relief brand.

But as a senior at Darien High School in Connecticut, this future felt out of reach for Marchesi. “I knew I was personally not ready for college,” he shares. “If I had gone directly, I wouldn’t have thrived.” Luckily, Brewster was on his radar from exploring

boarding schools as a sophomore. A PG year now seemed like the perfect fit. On his accepted student visit, Christian was sold, thanks to his “super friendly” tour guide, the school’s proximity to welcoming downtown Wolfeboro, and an indescribable feeling of being “at home.” Plus, it was one of the most beautiful campuses he’d ever seen. “And I’ve toured a lot of boarding schools in my day,” Marchesi says, laughing.

At Brewster, Marchesi was in the Instructional Support (IS) program, where he mastered how to self advocate, a skill he says he now uses all the time. Before Brewster, he had been reluctant to talk to

teachers. But John Anderson, his IS teacher at Brewster, pushed him to build those connections. “I’ll always be thankful for the things that he did for me,” Marchesi says. “Today, I communicate with my professors, my organization is completely different, and I keep a weekly planner—all skills I learned at Brewster.” He adds, “More recently in my internship, I reached out to several executives at the company and even the CEO. Brewster helped me [learn to] just put myself out there.”

Christian Marchesi at Marist College

PHOTO BY MATTHEW MORASKI, MATTHEWMORASKI.COM

FINDING THE ARTS

Marchesi also credits Brewster with fostering his love of art, now a major part of his life, whether he’s drawing, painting, or visiting museums. “Brewster allowed me to explore that love, and it’s turned into a life-consuming passion.” Alicia Childers ’01, his advisor and fine arts teacher, encouraged him as an artist, and the two bonded over study hall time spent in the common room of the dorm. “Ms. Childers was a really big advocate for me,” he says. “She believed in me and encouraged me to do my best, going out of her way to help me.” Favorite memories from PG year (in addition to all the fun times with friends in Hughes House, of course), include two campus gallery openings, where his ceramic pieces and paintings were on display.

“I felt so much pride

seeing my art,” he recalls. “I felt, Wow, this place is allowing me to do this, they’re encouraging me to do this, and it’s turned into a true passion.”

During his year at Brewster, Marchesi joined a trip Ms. Childers organized to Italy, where the group made stops in Milan, Florence, and Rome. The student travelers soaked up the culture, architecture, and art. “I am very proud that Christian was allowed the opportunity to flourish artistically here at Brewster,” Ms. Childers said, “and that he remembers all his amazing work and support he received here. It is so encouraging that he has allowed the creative spirit and his appreciation of art to continue to grow.”

“Before coming to Brewster, I was not a very artistic student. I enjoyed art and I loved looking at it, but I never engaged in actually making art. I was extremely passionate about fashion, but I just wasn’t actually creating anything,” Marchesi recalls. “Brewster really pushed me into starting to create and helped me discover my passion for art and creating art myself. And it’s something that’s stuck with me today. I regularly draw or paint or go visit art museums with my friends, and it’s become a major part of my life and my future. And that’s totally because of Brewster.”

Marchesi’s big dreams for his future include owning a PR agency focused on the video game industry, a fashion retail store, or (the ultimate dream) an art gallery. “I did not believe in myself as a student or just in general before I went to Brewster. And going there gave me that motivation,

Christian and Alicia Childers in Italy.

and it planted that seed of belief in me and belief in my own abilities. And from that time and from the skills I learned while I was there, I was able to nurture that seed, and now it’s grown to who I am today. It was the start of all this self-confidence,” he says, adding, “Brewster helped me thrive and mature, and kicked the gears in motion for me to get where I am today.”

“I would not be where I am today without Brewster.”

— CHRISTIAN MARCHESI ’19

BOBCAT NATION

RISING

Determination, teamwork, strength, and spirit all helped Brewster’s student-athletes excel in the fall and winter seasons.

BY KARA McDUFFEE

Asoccer goal kicked in with 10 minutes left on the clock after 80 scoreless minutes. A basketball 3-pointer sunk in the fourth quarter that decisively seals the momentum of the game. A golf putt dropped into the hole for a birdie to take the lead. These are the moments that athletes remember, because these are moments that we feel. They’re the culmination of hours of practice, countless conversations, and years of dedication converging into one ultimate goal set at the beginning of a season: a championship.

In the last year, Brewster’s teams have racked up a number of championships. In the Winter 2022-23 season, both our top Boys’ Prep teams and Girls’ Varsity Basketball team won the Class AAA and Class C New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Championship, respectively. We earned two more championships this fall with our Girls’ Varsity Soccer and Varsity Golf teams. And that’s not to mention the many other successes in Brewster Athletics, including huge achievements by our growing Varsity Crew program and the inaugural interscholastic season of Mountain Biking.

However, any athlete who played at Brewster knows that the magnitude of these victories goes beyond achieving one goal. Playing for your school creates a beautiful alignment among individual pursuits, the relationships we form through sports, and the school name we wear proudly on our chest as we compete and cheer each other on. It’s also the tiny moments in between––the practices, the bus rides to games, the daily opportunities for growth and leadership––that foster unbreakable connections.

“It’s about knowing, ‘I’m part of this sport, of this team, of Brewster, of this culture, of the Lakes Region, and I’m representing all of these parts on a daily basis. There’s a lot of pride that comes with this understanding,” Athletic Director Connor Wells says. And while Wells is proud of the teams’ accomplishments, he knows how much personal growth takes place through athletics.

“The biggest win for us as coaches is getting that text message or phone call that says, ‘Thank you, because my experience on your team has improved my life. And I feel better, stronger, and more equipped for the world ahead of me because of that experience,’” he says. “To really hear that their athletic experience helped them in their life, whether professionally or personally––those are the biggest pieces of pride that we can have.”

WINTER 2022-23

Back-to-Back Basketball Championships

GIRLS’ VARSITY BASKETBALL WINS NEPSAC CLASS C CHAMPIONSHIP

Our talented Girls’ Varsity Basketball team secured the #1 seed in NEPSAC Playoffs to end the regular season in 2022, and we lived up to the seeding with a decisive win against Hamden Hall in the championship game on our home court. “The core of this group had been together since 2019-20, when they lost by three points in the NEPSAC semi-finals,” Head Coach Rebecca Brooks reflected. “They had an agenda to get another chance, and some new key players only added to their resolve.” Fiona Connolly ’22, who now plays at Lasalle University, earned NEPSAC Class C Player of the Year in the triumphant season. As for life lessons, Coach Brooks says she saw the team learn, “That everyone brings something to the table, even if it’s not obvious. The more real time you spend with your teammates, the more you see and appreciate their value.”

BOYS’ PREP BASKETBALL WINS 2022 NEPSAC CLASS AAA CHAMPIONSHIP

Our top Boys’ Prep Basketball team defeated Northfield Mount Hermon to win the NEPSAC Class AAA Championship on Radley Court. We earned a #2 seed in the National Prep Championship and advanced to the Quarterfinals. Matas Buzelis ’22 was recognized as the New Hampshire Gatorade Player of the Year in the impressive season. Reid Ducharme ’23, a two-year starter on the team, credits last season’s success to team chemistry. “It was crazy how fast we all became super close together,” he says, citing that he only knew one teammate going into the year. “Even when we first started open gyms in the fall, Coach [Jason] Smith told us it was rare how quickly we all got along. We enjoyed playing together.” This camaraderie clearly translated to the court in our 31-8 season. •

INAUGURAL INTERSCHOLASTIC SEASON

Brewster Mountain Biking Debuts

For Fall 2022, Brewster launched its first interscholastic mountain biking team. We competed across the Lakes Region in events, and raced in the Northern New England High School Mountain Biking Championship to end the season. “The sheer variety of trails located right out of our front door allows every day of riding to be different and a new challenge,” says Coach Justin Connell. He also noted the many lessons for our riders: “Over the course of a season, a Brewster mountain biker will develop

FALL 2022-23

Strong Programs Add to Their Legacy

VARSITY GOLF WINS UNPRECEDENTED MAISAD CHAMPIONSHIP

Our Varsity Golf team didn’t just win the MAISAD Championship this year—it did so unlike any other team has ever done. Our top six golfers finished in the top six positions overall in the Championship match after an undefeated season. “That’s never been done before,” Coach Byron Martin shared, adding, “This year’s team was deeper than ever before. Every single position on the ladder was challenged by the golfer behind them.” Another differentiator this year? The team’s leadership. “Leadership is putting into practice what we should be focusing on, rather than just playing for fun. It’s playing for fun with a purpose, and that’s what our guys did this year,” Coach Martin said proudly. He also shared how much he enjoyed having some of our alumni golfers keep tabs on this year’s team to see how their seasons compared.

GIRLS’ VARSITY SOCCER WINS REPEAT LAKES REGION AND NEPSAC CLASS C CHAMPIONSHIPS

Our Girls’ Varsity Soccer team has a long history of strong seasons, and this one was no different. We went 18-1, tallying 74 goals and 13 shutouts, while only conceding eight goals. We won Lakes Region and NEPSAC Championships for the second year in a row, which is a program first, and Abigail Jarvi ’23 earned

NEPSAC Class C Player of the Year. “The 2022 team played incredible soccer that was almost magical to watch at times: They passed and possessed with total composure, confidence, and teamwork, and they defended collectively and effectively in those rare moments where they were not in possession,” Coach Matt Butcher says. He also noted the team’s commitment to respect. “Throughout the season, opposing coaches and referees complimented the team not only on their level of play but also on their respectfulness and decorum.” •

PROGRAMS ON THE RISE

Crew Program Adds Accolades

BREWSTER CREW GOES TO THE HEAD OF THE CHARLES

While our Brewster crew program isn’t new, our past two seasons have brought enormous success and growth under the leadership of Head Coach Katy Varga-Wells. On average, we placed in the top third of our competitions, including several notable finishes: at the New England Championships, Novice Boys and Girls won gold and Varsity Girls won bronze; at the Head of the Fish, duo Melanie Rundall ’26 and Liam Carey ’23 won bronze; and both Varsity Boys’ and Girls’ competed at the Head of the Charles, the first

MORE TO COME IN THE NEXT ISSUE

time in school history for Girls’ Crew. Coach VargaWells knows that this success has a lot to do with the team’s mindset and chemistry. “Our team is special because we are a close-knit group of folks who are undaunted by the hard work that goes into building a successful program,” she reflected. “In the sport of rowing, there are very few things one can control on race day. We recognize that good teams deal with the ‘uncontrollables’ really well, but great teams are laser-focused on the things that they can control, such as attitude, effort, and intensity. This lets us put our energy into performing well as a team.” •

Brewster Joins the NIBC

The spring season for Brewster Athletics was as impressive and exciting as fall and winter—and we’ll have all the coverage in the next issue. Plus, we’ll report on how Brewster’s storied basketball program is prepping for its first season in the National Interscholastic Basketball Conference (NIBC), an association of the most competitive teams from across the country.

“We are extremely excited to be joining the premier high school basketball league in the nation, the NIBC!” says Coach Jason Smith. “We

Kate Turner Retires

At the end of the 2021-22 school year, Associate Athletics Director Kate Turner, an icon of Brewster Athletics, retired. The founder of the Bobcat field hockey program, Ms. Turner coached alpine skiing, lacrosse, JV tennis, field hockey, and most recently JV field hockey in her 35 years at Brewster. Last spring, students dedicated the yearbook to her, and Head of School Kristy Kerin announced that Brewster’s annual Athletic Director’s Award will forevermore be called the Kate Turner Athletic Director’s Award (an announcement that shook the Smith Center rafters!). At that time, current colleagues showered her with words of praise, including tireless, dedicated, relentless devotion, inspiring, and compassionate.

We reached out to former Director of Athletics Matt Lawlor, who worked with Kate for 11 years, and asked for his reaction to his friend’s retirement:

are very grateful for this opportunity and humbled to be included with this selective group of elite programs and institutions.” The conference currently comprises member schools from nine states across the country. The decision to join the NIBC will give Brewster players the opportunity to compete against top talent, bring Brewster into the national spotlight with a slate of nationally televised games, and host games throughout the year, something that will draw more eyes to the school as well as the beautiful town of Wolfeboro. •

“Kate Turner is a legend and one of my favorite people in the whole world. When I think of her, the first thing that comes to mind is how she always advocated for the JV athletes and the teams. Kate always stood up for the sub-varsity teams—she was a strong voice for those students. The kids took notice and appreciated her lobbying for them. I have so many anecdotes, I could write a book, but one of the best is how Kate handled crowd control at games. During my earlier years, I would have a few strategies on how to ensure that our students demonstrated exemplary sportsmanship as fans (which they usually did). There were times, however, when I needed to call in for support and that support was Kate. She would not raise her voice or have any conflicts with students, she would just sit kindly in the middle of the pack and take out her knitting! Yes, knitting! It was brilliant. We could have the most high-maintenance group of kids watching a game, but if Kate sat next to them and started knitting a sock for her grandson, she would have them helping with the heel by the end of the game! It was her presence and the immediate respect that all Brewster students had for Kate that made me feel fortunate to spend 11 years with her. We need more Kate Turners in the world of athletics!” —Matt

Lawlor

ALUMNI NEWS

A Return to Reunion

AFTER THREE LONG YEARS, BREWSTER WAS THRILLED TO WELCOME ALUMNI BACK TO WOLFEBORO FOR A WEEKEND OF LAUGHTER AND RECONNECTION.

WRITTEN BY BETH HAYES ’81, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT

Reunion 2022 was a blast for more than 100 alumni who returned to campus for the weekend of events. At the kickoff reception in the Grayson Student Center in the newly renovated Rogers Building, alumni and their families were struck by the building’s transformation and subsequent splendor. Our time together included a variety of activities, including the 200 Women photography exhibit, a hands-on rowing clinic (we safely made it to the middle of the Bay and back!), walking tours of campus and trolley tours of Wolfeboro, the Head of School address, a presentation on the evolution of Brewster’s global programs, a hike at Castle in the Clouds (waterfalls galore!), and a private dinner cruise on the

M/S Mt. Washington. I can report that the Class of ’96 led the charge on the dance floor while the Class of ’82 and friends claimed the top deck as their base of operation. The closeknit classes of 1960 through 1962 celebrated their overdue and current 60th reunions as the Mount made its route around Lake Winnipesaukee. By Sunday morning, we were ready for the slower pace of the famous Reunion Brunch at Pinckney Boathouse. Special thanks to all the volunteers who helped the team here at Brewster make Reunion so special by sharing ideas, rallying their classmates, and being up for the fun! We could not have done it without you!

Gratitude Moment

At the annual Parent Reception and Live Auction during October’s Fall Family Weekend, parents and special guests from all over the Brewster map mingled, sharing stories and laughter. The evening culminated with the live auction and Fund-a-Need challenge for student scholarships, and raised more than $115,000 in support of Brewster financial aid. Thank you all!

EDITOR’S NOTE: REUNION 2023

Dear Readers, Reunion 2023 was taking place just as this issue was wrapping up, so on these pages we celebrate the 2022 Reunion, and invite you to visit Brewster’s Flickr albums at brewsteracademy.org/ flickr to see all the happy pics from the recent 2023 event! Here’s a sneak peek (above): At the Reunion 2023 Lobster Dinner, Peter Ford ’80 was honored as Brewster’s 2023 David L. Carlson Outstanding Alumnus of the Year! A member of our Board of Trustees, Ford attended UNH, served in the U.S. Navy, and went on to build a career in real estate development. He attributes much of his success to his Brewster education, and gives back generously to his alma mater and Wolfeboro. The Fords established the Peter and Lani Ford Scholarship at Brewster to help more students access the education he enjoyed. Congrats, Peter!

The Rowing Clinic was very popular. Don’t they look like pros?

From left: Peter Ford ’80, Kristy Kerin, John Northrop

Thank you, Hoopes

WRITTEN

Matt Hoopes has served Brewster’s students and mission for many years—beginning in 1975 as a member of the English faculty and the enthusiastic advisor to the school’s student publications. “When I taught Journalism,” he told us, “I had a ball with kids writing zinging editorials eight times a year—the Head of School and the Dean used to dread the arrival of The Browser!” In 2000, the Hoopes Journalism Room, now a space in the library of the Academic

Building where the journalism club meets, was dedicated in his honor for founding the journalism program at Brewster. Mr. Hoopes also advised the Student Council and Student Court, fostering deep connections through his positive impact, authenticity, and commitment to his students.

After many successful years in the classroom, Hoopes (as his friends call him!) already enjoyed a legacy of character, contributions, and care when he switched gears to a role with our Alumni team, using his handwritten postcards to rally alumni for news of their lives, careers, and adventures to share in Brewster’s magazine and in his “Hoopla” column—all from his beloved home in The Bahamas. Each year at Reunion, Hoopes made the journey back to Brewster via planes, boats, and automobiles. He has been a long time fixture at Reunion, a magnet for alumni looking to swap stories and memories. Hoopes always left each Reunion Weekend with more friends than he arrived with, thanks to his uncanny abilities to build goodwill and connections across the generations.

Matt also started his own non-profit, the Islesmon Camaraderie Foundation, which aims to help Bahamian students find the funding to attend Brewster. Even in retirement, he continues to spread the good word of Brewster, and importantly, make a difference in the lives of young people.

Now, as his work with Brewster comes to a close and he is able to enjoy sunny Bahamian beach days even more (are we a little jealous of those turquoise waters and pink sands? Yes!), Hoopes shares this final reflection with us (see “Hoopla,” opposite) and we say thank you, Hoopes, for the many years of hard work, good humor, and shared memories.

Perhaps the highest compliment comes from Hoopes’ friend and former Brewster Headmaster, David M. Smith, who says, “Your entire adult life has been focused on making a difference in the lives of young people—and maintaining your integrity while doing so. Well done!”

Thoughts on Hoopes

BREWSTER’S STUDENTS AND COLLEAGUES SHARE THEIR HOOPES STORIES

“Hoopes, congrats on a beyondsuccessful run as the face of BA for so many graduates. Lots of memories (including editing the paper under your watch!), but the most meaningful were the many breakfasts we shared. Moments like those make the boarding experience unique, and I hope the current generation of students enjoy similar mentorship.”

—Peter Baron ’91

“Hoopes and I worked together to rally the Class of 1993 to reunions and to support the school. He has become a dear friend and is such a stellar guy. I will miss him but hope he will still make appearances at our Reunion, and hopefully will run into him when I am traveling.”

—Elizabeth Traverso ’93

“Hoopes was one of the ‘cool’ teachers. He, at the time, was the quintessential mad professor: Dumbledore (without the magic or stature). His long white beard stained yellow-brown from his curved pipe, which rarely left his mouth, the tweed sport coat with leather patches on the elbows. His enigmatic past and hermitic present gave him an air of mystery that was fascinating to me. A month or so before spring break of my sophomore year (circa 1980) he called me into his classroom and handed

FROM WINNIPESAUKEE’S SHORES TO BAHAMIAN BEACHES, MATTHIEU HOOPES HAS BEEN A STEADY FORCE.

BY BETH HAYES ’81

me a pamphlet he had just pulled out of a stack of mail, and said, half joking, “You want to sail to the Bahamas?” I, of course, said yes. I was able to round up enough students to charter two boats; one with a captain and one with Matt (really me) as skipper. We stuffed his Range Rover full of food and gear and headed to Ft. Lauderdale (30 hours, stopping only for gas). We sailed/motored from Ft. Lauderdale to Miami. We were bound for Bimini, which does not have a lighted harbor, so one had to arrive during daylight. This meant leaving Biscayne Bay at 2 a.m. and sailing through the night. I followed the lights of the other boat all night. We were greeted at dawn by a pod of porpoises who escorted us to the narrow passage into Bimini. It was an unforgettable adventure.” —Bill

Esty ’81

Hoopla

BY MATTHIEU HOOPES

“Many of us who attended or taught in boarding schools 40 to 50 years ago fondly recall faculties that were blessed with colorful eccentrics. Part of the charm—and I would suggest the effectiveness—of these schools was that such teachers imparted wisdom in their mere presence that exceeded the value that their classroom teaching might impart. Such a teacher at Brewster was Matt Hoopes. Style and substance made him memorable: Arrival in the morning from his Tuftonboro retreat in his forest green Toyota Land Cruiser (vanity plate: “Oopes”), breakfast with students at The Estabrook (always apple slices with peanut butter), English 10 classes (grammar lessons and lit crit), then afternoons photographing Bobcat athletic contests, journalistic enterprises, and evening judicial council hearings (Matt was a long-time chair) were all important, but perhaps more so was Matt’s devotion outside of school to Brewster students. For years he invited Bobcats to his northern Maine island, Guvspuny. For years he has served as an indefatigable correspondent to a generation of alums. And while his handwritten notes are not always legible, his sincere interest in the lives of Brewster grads rings crystal clear. He’s in the Bobcat Hall of Fame for sure! —G.

Cyrus Cook, former English faculty, 1977-1982

“I was never a writer. I’m still not a writer and I’m pretty sure I never will be. Somehow, with his persuasive scholarly powers, Hoopes convinced me to become co-editor of The Brewster Browser. Anyone who has worked on a school newspaper knows that being the editor means that you write 60 to 100 percent of the articles in each issue. If only he had used his powers for good.” —Tom

Esty ’82

Alas, eventually, all good things must come to an end. This will be the last of many columns in which I interviewed and highlighted alumni with interesting careers, hobbies, and unusual adventures. And those who have been receiving my hand-written postcards for the last 26 years, pleading for class notes, will no longer have to spend hours trying to decipher my flowing penmanship.

I’ve enjoyed being part of Brewster and watching the school grow from the 118 students and 15 faculty members it had on my arrival in 1975 to the amazing school it has become today. I’ve loved my alumni job as it has allowed me to stay in touch with the students I taught in English 10; those I rallied to meet deadlines for The Winnipesaukean, The Browser, and Outcroppings; and those I took notes for as they debated issues for the Student Council and dealt with the difficult cases of the Student Court.

With nearly 50 years at Brewster—and at age 82—I still need time to write the Great Bahamian novel. But I’ll continue to manage my nonprofit, The Islesmon Camaraderie Foundation, which raises funds to help Bahamian students attend Brewster. (We’ve sent three so far, and hopefully more in the future!) Those interested in learning more about the nonprofit or simply touching base can email me at matthieu@hoopes.com.

Now alumni can send me postcards to Box 189, Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, The Bahamas. And any alums vacationing on Eleuthera, please stop by my place: I’m in the pink house with two towers on Honeycreeper Lane, Rainbow Bay.

Best wishes to all,

Hoopes

“...while his handwritten notes are not always legible, his sincere interest in the lives of Brewster grads rings crystal clear.”

— G. CYRUS COOK

Class Notes

Did you know industry studies show the Class Notes section is the first place everyone checks when they receive their school’s magazine? We don’t mind, because Brewster’s alumni share such interesting life updates and fond memories of their time on campus! We hope you enjoy this extra-large batch of Class Notes—it spans a meaty time frame from mid 2021 until late 2022.

Please send us your news for the next issue, already underway. Weddings, tales of travel, new jobs, retirements, family additions? They all belong here! Email us at alumni@brewsteracademy.org, and be sure to include a large photo.

1977

Rob Spano writes “Greetings all. I’m still playing and writing music. Check out ‘Rob Spano-Music of a Lifetime’ at www.secretcovemusic.com. Still waiting and hoping for Congress to make the Affordable Care Act affordable while managing existing insurance contracts. Blessed with good health and grateful for two Tylenols first thing in the morning!”

1980

1974

Bonnie Hoyt writes “It’s hard to believe it has been 48 years since I graduated from Brewster! I’m retired now and able to spend more time in my art studio. As I settle into retirement, I’m hoping to do more exhibitions, a little design work here and there, as well as traveling again!” Bonnie shared an image of her piece entitled “L.I.F.E.”, which features smokefired rings with a gold leaf orb. See more of her work at bhoytceramicarts.com.

John Abbe writes “Life is good! My daughter, Hannah, is my best accomplishment. She is in her second year of pre-med studies in Boston with lots of scholarships. She is working at New England Baptist Hospital doing COVID testing. I was working for Worcester Public Schools prior to the pandemic and I am now playing the stock market and reading a lot of history. I had heart surgery last year, but I am now fully recovered.”

1981

Back in 2021, at the height of COVID lockdown and work-from-home situations, Michael Kiesling shared that he had a breakout year for his business, though

life in the Philadelphia suburbs had been restrictive with “my college son, Reece, taking a gap year, and my younger son, Thomas, not enjoying virtual school—but does love not getting up early. My wife, Susan, has enjoyed her second year at Princeton University as a Research Administrator, but would prefer the campus rather than the home office.”

1982

Randy Elkin writes “I sold my gyms in 2014 and am currently working at Seven Cycles in Watertown, Mass. It’s fun working with the artists and engineers on fully custom bicycles that are truly rolling works of art. I had both knees replaced with titanium models three years ago and am back mountain biking and walking pain free. Truly a new lease on life!”

1983

Tony Bryant writes “My family and I are doing well. I have two children, Maya (8 years old/third grade) and Eden (6 years old/first grade). My wife Greta and I both work full time, currently from home, and keep busy with the girls’ activities and coaching Maya’s basketball team.” / Jonathan Hibbard writes “I have so many good memories of Brewster—it’s tough to single out one. I have moved back to N.H. and into the area. I look forward to watching many home sporting events and seeing some old friends.”

1984

Ron Burt writes “My favorite memory of Brewster was the last night of final exams. My family is all healthy and safe. My youngest is a sophomore at University of Maine—how does the time fly by! Last fall I was promoted to a Senior Project Manager at a construction company in Maine and I continued to work during the pandemic.” / Bill Moore writes “I am still working for the Federal Aviation Administration. My wife Karen (now cancer free since 2018) and I still love cruising and RVing.

To

SENDING

L.I.F.E by Bonnie Hoyt

My favorite Brewster memories include fall soccer, Student Center bands and weekend ‘cocktails.’ ”

1987

Tamah French-Proops writes “My favorite memory while attending Brewster was when Heather Monroe Rohner ‘87 introduced herself on the first day of school and invited me to walk to the All-School Meeting with her. We are still best friends 36 years later! Thanks BA for all the memories!

1988

1985

John Bolling writes “We moved back to Michigan from Princeton, N.J., 10 years ago and are loving being close to family. Son Trey attended Brewster as a Post Grad for the 2021-22 school year and my wife and I enjoyed visiting him a couple of times. Our daughter Olivia is 15 and looking forward to her sophomore year at East Grand Rapids High School.”

/ Joel Coffman writes “Our granddaughter Scarlet (see photo) turned 1 year old. Her birthday party was in July, and our daughter Chelsey is amazed at how fast the year went by raising a baby. Our daughter Kayla got married to her high school sweetheart on Memorial Day weekend on Cape Cod. Our son Tyler is moving to Denver this year. My wife and I will be celebrating our 34th anniversary in February of 2023. Life is good.” / Loriel Cook writes “I live in Oregon with my husband and three children who are now in colleges in Oregon and Montana. My favorite memories while attending Brewster are the beautiful winters, the snow, and playing on the frozen lake. Walking into town with friends is also a favorite memory!” / Hank Nusloch is the Lead Teacher of the English Department of De La Salle High School in New Orleans, and says “Teaching has been a real challenge in recent years, especially when so many students were learning from home. On a positive note, one of my daughters runs in the college NCAA championship and my other daughter is preparing to attend Furman University.”

1986

Bjorn Otterness was in an auto accident in 2002 that left him in a wheelchair. He has learned to travel by car and plane, and tells us, “Life has been good, with a few ups and downs over the past few years. In 2014 I bought a tax business that keeps me busy. Had surgery in 2019 due to an infection, but thankfully I am still here!” He’s looking to travel again and enjoys taking cruises, his most recent being a cruise to Norway.

Tara Hines shared the changes that happened in her life in recent years: “I sold my house after 15 years in July 2020 and moved to New Mexico in March 2021 to be closer to my sister. My father passed away in November 2020 due to complications with open heart surgery.” / Jon Konheim can’t believe that 34 years have passed since his Brewster days. He now has one daughter entering her senior year at Chapman University majoring in Graphic Design, his middle daughter entering her freshman year at Tulane University majoring in neuroscience, and his youngest going into her second year of high school. He is currently starting up a new dental implant company with his father-in-law while remaining involved in an airplane parts business. He likes to see everyone is doing well through their posts on social media and hopes to get back to Brewster to visit.

1989

Matt Woodward wrote in mid-2020 he was laid off and took the chance to drive from Denver to California with his 6-year-old son. “It was a multiweek road trip with stops at several National Parks. We took our time and camped when we were not seeing family. It was a rare opportunity to just spend time with my son and explore. Seeing how different states were reacting to COVID was interesting, but we stayed outside and kept our distance.” Matt is now employed by the Gates Corporation in downtown Denver, a short bike ride from his house.

1990

Jonathan DeWoskin writes “My big news is that I’m a father! My wife Bonni and I had been working with a law firm that specializes in adoption laws and connecting parents with some seeking adoption for their child. We got the call Valentine’s Day in 2018. Michael was born 12 days later, giving us less than two weeks to get ready. Michael is now an adorable, brilliant, and very kind toddler.” / Toby Georgi spent a year recently remodeling his house. The project turned out to be bigger than he expected, and he had to move his family to a nearby apartment. “Looking back at my days at Brewster, I’m always amazed at how much the faculty cared for us,” he shared along with his house news. / Robert Gorden

writes “Hi everyone! After 15 years in NYC as an actor, writer, and comedian, my family and I moved to Orlando where I was a performer at Hollywood Studios at Disney. The show I was in ended, and through a variety of crazy events I unexpectedly ended up at The United States Tennis Association. I now work at the USTA National Campus in Orlando. I am the Coordinator for Adult Tournaments. During my tenure with the USTA I’ve discovered a passion for Wheelchair Tennis—especially Elite Wheelchair Tennis. I have been a staff member for the Wheelchair Tennis portion at the US Open and currently I am in charge of the Junior Wheelchair Tennis Series. I’m also a tennis official. The acting bug has not left me, though. I will be playing Mark Rothko in a production of ‘Red’ by John Logan sometime during the summer in 2023. If you find yourself in Orlando and want a tour of the campus, please reach out!”

1991

John Burfeind shares “My wife Cristine, son Evan (16), son Ryan (13), and I have been living in Raleigh, N.C. since 2016. Cristine is currently Associate Director Clinical Supply with United Therapeutics. After 24 years in law enforcement I retired in the fall. I’ve enjoyed serving, but time to move on. I plan on expanding my lawn care business. Hope all is well with the Class of 1991!” / Beth Dales writes that she is working for the YMCA of Greater Boston Overnight Camps as the Director for Pleasant Valley Camp in Tuftonboro, N.H. “I serve as the year-round director and manage both the girls’ camp and the boys’ camp. My son Jack is 20! He’s the best part of my life. A sophomore at UNH, he is majoring in Studio Art and Graphic Design. I love having him so close.” / Cristina Hamel writes “I have so many wonderful memories during my time at Brewster—I loved it! I am doing well and moved to Riverside, Conn. so that Caroline can go to their high school. My son is finishing his time at Greenwich Catholic and we are surviving COVID.”

1992

Chris Crowley has worked at Outside TV as an Executive Producer for the past nine years, and has traveled the world producing meaningful stories with exciting people. “The family is great!” he adds. “Sara, my better half, and I have raised two incredible children, Michaela (16) is in her junior year at Westminster and Caden (11) attends The Windward School and is in the 5th grade.” / Tim Keating accomplished a feat that (probably) no other Brewster alum has achieved: “I have now stepped foot on all seven continents! Do check out my Facebook page for photos,” he says.

Joel Coffman’s grandaughter, Scarlet

1993

Suzy Kaufman writes that she graduated from ASU in 2021 with a BS in Information Technology and a minor in Anthropology. “I have been working for a company called Trimble, located in Westminster, Colo.,” she shares. “I am a Helpdesk Technician where I set up, fix, and assist users with computers. I love my job and my coworkers very much.” / Mat Roberson and Alexis Gallagher Roberson ’95 have an update. Alexis shares “We are busy parenting a 16-year-old and a 7-year-old while trying to keep our sanity building another business. Roberson Counseling now has a sibling: Roberson Coaching! This will allow me to have a greater impact in supporting families across the globe. Moving to the West Coast has been a wonderful homecoming for Mat and me, as we recall such great memories from our college experiences in Durango. We are loving the vibe in Olympia, Wash. and enjoying having my mom, sister, niece, and nephew right around the corner from our house.” / Elizabeth Traverso reports “My blog, Healdsburg Table, has been live for about a year and it is gaining lots of notoriety. My wine club has been very popular and we celebrate one year in October. We offer four wines (two local wines and two European wines from small wineries) four times a year. I’m also in the process of writing a cookbook. Life is busy, but good. I have been traveling and seeing the world, and it feels great. If you find yourself in Healdsburg, California or in Moose, Wyoming, stop by for great food and worldly wines. I am excited about our 30th Reunion next year and looking forward to attending. Hope to see all of you on campus next year.”

1994

Steve Weigers is in the Recycling Business in Glen Ellyn, Ill. and writes that his wife Stacy enjoys teaching preschool and that their daughters, 14 and 15, enjoy soccer and volleyball.

1995

Alexis Gallagher Roberson shares the following update about her life with Mat Roberson ’93, “We are busy parenting a 16-year-old and a 7-year-old while trying to keep our sanity building another business. Roberson Counseling now has a sibling: Roberson Coaching! This will allow me to have a greater impact in supporting families across the globe. Moving to the West Coast has been a wonderful homecoming for Mat and me, as we recall such great memories from our college experiences

in Durango. We are loving the vibe in Olympia, Wash. and enjoying having my mom, sister, niece, and nephew right around the corner from our house.”

1996

Will Turner shares “Getting ready to send my daughter Sydney off to College of Charleston, and the Turner Motorsport race team has been keeping me busier than ever—catch us at Daytona in 2023 for the 24-hour race.” / Lindsey Whisenhunt shares that her favorite memory of Brewster was singing Christmas carols in the snow in front of Estabrook, a tradition that lives on to this day! She also let us know that she is a Pilates Coordinator and Instructor at Life Time Fitness in Plano, Texas. “I teach all of the apparatuses (Reformer, etc.) and truly love it. It has been difficult rebuilding the Pilates Program after the pandemic (the gym was closed), although slowly but surely more and more people are coming in and the program is growing.”

2005

Steven Hopengarten writes “I married Rachel Carter in February 2021 and we welcomed our son Jacob into the world in August 2021. I have been working at National Grid since 2018 in an energy services procurement role. I spend my time supporting integration of renewable and sustainable energy sources in New York and Massachusetts— and assisting our UK business by helping the energy system operator (ESO) prepare for the growth of renewable energy on the British power network.”

2009

Hanna “Pattie” Hugel says “I graduated with a Master of Global Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in May 2021. Following several years at Reebok, I’ve accepted a position at Crocs’ newly acquired brand, HEYDUDE, managing Global Energy, Collaborations, and Licensing.”

2017

Zack Corr graduated from Bentley University, Waltham, Mass. with a BS in Finance (he also made the Deans List!). The May 2021 ceremony was extra special, as it was the first time Bentley held its commencement at Fenway Park in Boston.

CORRECTION

2007

Kate Buesser writes “I am currently living in St. Louis, Mo. where I am in my fifth and last year of orthopaedic surgical residency. In addition to my clinical training, I will also be serving as the Administrative Chief for our team of 40 residents. I apparently can’t get enough of the Missouri heat and humidity, as I am planning to stay in St. Louis for a year after my residency to complete my Orthopaedic Traumatology Fellowship.” / Dr. Karin Clement married Dr. Eric Parent on May 28, 2022. Pictured with Karin and Eric are brothers Mikael Clement ’12 (far left) and Kris Clement ’06 (far right), along with their parents, Nora and Peter.

In our last issue, we misidentified the alumna on the right in this photo on page 64. She is Abby Allen ’14, not Lydia Allen ’15. We apologize for the error, and used our faux pas as a chance to catch up with Abby. She graduated with a degree in business and corporate communications from Bryant University, and has built a career in technology. Now working with Docker, a platform for developers to build apps, she lives in Miami with her fiance and rescue dog, Olive. (Emily Connors ’14, on the left in this photo, is one of Abby’s Brewster best friends, and will be a bridesmaid at the wedding next year!)

“Brewster played a major role in shaping who I am today, and I am forever grateful for the teachers, coaches, and lifelong friends who made this experience so special,” Abby told us. “Brewster allowed me to reach new heights in my academic and athletic goals, but most importantly engrained diversity, equity, and inclusion into my core values. My advice to any current BA students is to leverage the amazing mentors and classmates around you, always do the Polar Plunge, and get whatever your heart desires at Three Sisters!”

Dr. Karin Clement married Dr. Eric Parent

Zack Corr graduated from Bentley University

The Hoopes Factor In Memoriam

INSPIRED BY MATT HOOPES’ POSTCARDS, ELIZABETH MALCOLMSON ’85 SENT IN THIS LIFE UPDATE!

Here I am in Rockport, Mass., battening down the hatches as the wind blows like mad. I’m writing after 25 postcards from Brewster’s Bahamian correspondent because I can’t believe he kept track! Hoopes did an amazing job reaching out to past students, personally and by hand. He makes it seem like he actually remembers me. I guess I felt like I wasn’t REALLY part of the family since I left Brewster after my freshman year: My parents could afford to pay for high school or college but not both. But through all these years, I have remembered my year at Brewster as pretty incredible. The academics were amazing...and two class trips up Mt. Chocorua were great experiences. Being forced out of my comfort zone to play sports (soccer, basketball, and tennis) was good for me. The hardest part was being a teenager and all the emotions that go along with that. Maintaining academics while surfing the highs and lows of hormones—how does any kid do it?

So then what happened? I graduated from Alton Central School and went to Gordon College in Wenham, Mass., where I graduated with a BA in English, grateful my parents could support me through that. I got married three weeks later—John and I have been married 33 years and have two sons (see photo), Gillis (19, enthusiastic mechanical engineer in development) and Duncan (18, freshly graduated from high school and mapping out his future). Over the years we’ve also enjoyed a series of ten Bernese Mountain Dogs, all named after astronomers, one way or another.

I’ve been with an investment counsel firm for 25+ years as chief compliance officer and creator of all sorts of processes and systems to support the advisors. When I started, it was all index cards and hand-written records. I designed and maintain a database now and that has been the best part of the job. I also perversely enjoy writing a wiki about all our policies, processes, and procedures that no one ever reads, but if I decide to run off to Eleuthera, they have a resource to figure out how things work!

WITH HEAVY HEARTS WE SHARE THIS LIST OF THOSE IN OUR GREATER BREWSTER COMMUNITY WHO HAVE PASSED SINCE OUR LAST ISSUE. WE REMEMBER THEM WITH GRATITUDE THAT BREWSTER WAS A PART OF THEIR LIVES.

FORMER TRUSTEES

Rosalie C. Clark

November 17, 2021

New York, NY

Bradley J. Hayes

September 22, 2020 Wakefield, NH

Walter S. Marson ’50

September 1, 2021 Melbourne, FL

BREWSTER FAMILY

Maya James

April 6, 2021

Wolfeboro, NH

FORMER FACULTY

Krista Abear

December 9, 2021

Wolfeboro, NH

Travis Ball Jr.

November 20, 2020

Newport, TN

Nancy (Fairchild) Esty July 7, 2020 Amherst, MS

Grace (Fielding) Powell

August 26, 2021 Londonderry, NH

Shirley Richardson

March 18, 2023

Wolfeboro, NH

FORMER STAFF

Loretta J. McLaughlin

February 11, 2021

Wolfeboro, NH

Mark DeWolfe

November 17, 2022

Wolfeboro, NH

ALUMNI

1936

Mary (Drown) Vashey

June 11, 2021

Dover, NH

1938

J. Harvey Stephenson

July 11, 2020

Wolfeboro, NH

1945

Patricia (Kirkland)

Hodgdon

April 17, 2020

Concord, NH

1946

Evelyn (Eatock)

Wentworth

December 10, 2020

Wolfeboro, NH

Irving R. Roberts

December 14, 2020

Alton, NH

1947

June (Kenneson) Piper

December 29, 2019

Ossipee, NH

Thomas Bailey Jr.

December 9, 2019

Littleton, MA

Ellsworth W. Hooper

May 23, 2021

Wolfeboro, NH

Patricia (Varney)

Rankin

December 11, 2019

Wolfeboro, NH

Herbert C. MacMartin

December 20, 2019

Wolfeboro Falls, NH

BRADLEY

J.

HAYES

Former Brewster Trustee Bradley James Hayes passed peacefully at age 84 on September 22, 2020. While still in college, he began a career with Sylvania, as he and wife Ellen began raising their family of four. In 1972 the young family moved to East Wakefield, N.H., and established Hayes Real Estate. Mr. Hayes was Principal Broker at the firm from 1972 to 2017, during which time his love of people and his adopted hometown earned him many professional awards, local leadership roles and—more importantly to him—dear friends. Among his many community roles, Mr. Hayes served as a Brewster trustee for 15 years, from 1985-2000, and his children Curtis ’79, Beth ’81, Sarah ’85, Susie ’86, and four grandchildren Ellen Hayes ’10, Joe Scala ’16, John ’17, and Tommy Scala ’17, have graduated from Brewster Academy. In 1998, the Town of Wakefield recognized Mr. Hayes as Citizen of the Year, the same year he and Ellen established The Hayes Family Scholarship, thus fulfilling their wish to assist other local students in attending Brewster, and for other families to experience what they were so proud of as Brewster parents and grandparents. At the time of Mr. Hayes’ passing, the family graciously asked that memorial gifts may be made to this scholarship in his memory and to honor his lifetime of local service.

1948

Stephen B. Hatch

October 16, 2020

Center Conway, NH

Roger L. Williams

March 20, 2021

Center Tuftonboro, NH

1949

Dorothy (Drew)

Woodroof

November 19, 2020

Griffin, GA

1950

Walter S. Marson

September 1, 2021

Melbourne, FL

ROSALIE C. CLARK

In November 2021, former Brewster Trustee Rosalie Case Clark died peacefully at age 78. “Rosie,” as she was called by friends and family, relished spending nearly every summer of her life in Melvin Village, N.H., where she met her husband Bob. Together, they raised their three children (including Hadley ’91) in Greenwich, Conn., and later relocated to Naples, Fla. She served for 12 years on Brewster’s Board of Trustees, from 1988 to 2000. “Rosie was a wonderful woman, mother, wife, and friend,” said Lynne Palmer, current James C. Curvey Endowed Program Director, who worked with Mrs. Clark through the years. “She was one of the kindest and most giving people I had the good fortune of working with.” Mrs. Clark co-founded Brewster’s popular family auction in 1989, and she and her husband graciously hosted admission gatherings in Greenwich. “She also led multiple fundraising events,” Palmer said, “including our campaign kickoff in New York with actor and Brewster parent Dudley Moore. The Clarks also hosted pre-prom gatherings at Summer Haze, their home in Melvin Village. The world has definitely lost a special person.”

1951

Ann (Baxter) Hutchins

September 1, 2021

Meredith, NH

Theodore C. Bense

April 6, 2020

Mirror Lake, NH

Mary C. Smith

July 13, 2020

Center Harbor, NH

1952

John Kostandin

December 11, 2021

Hampton, NH

1953

Thurley M. Litwhiler

October 23, 2020

Vestal, NY

Russell E. Jones

November 4, 2020

Alton, NH

Suzanne (Langlois)

Smith

November 9, 2021

Bremerton, WA

1954

Doris A. Clough

October 9, 2020

Wolfeboro Falls, NH

Thelma (Reed) Diltz

December 25, 2021

Center Harbor, NH

TERRENCE CLARKE ’20

In April 2021, news outlets across the country reported on the death of Terrence Clarke ’20, who died at age 19 after a car accident in Los Angeles. The stories of his immense talent on the basketball court and his almost assured path to NBA stardom dominated those reports. But here at Brewster, the campus he had so recently called home, we remembered the friend and student who arrived as a sophomore and shared his open, positive nature and infectious smile. Jason Smith, Terrence’s Prep Basketball Head Coach, said, “Terrence had a magnetic personality and charisma that would command any room he entered. He had a profound impact on our community and program in the two years he was at Brewster. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, teammates, and all the lives this tragedy has impacted.” History teacher T.J. Palmer recalled, “His enthusiasm and energy really did match his stature. He loved a good debate in history and made each class richer just by being in it.” Many tributes have been made to Terrence since his passing, including the dedication of the Terrence Clarke Memorial Gym at the Boston Centers for Youth & Families’ Vine Street Community Center in Roxbury, Mass.

1955

Ralph P. Stevens

February 1, 2020

Polson, MT

Elfreda (Pettengill)

Garland

January 1, 2020

Bridgton, ME

1956

James W. Rogers

April 3, 2020

Mirror Lake, NH

Kenneth H. Gould

November 23, 2019

Exeter, NH

1958

Carole (Wagenfeld)

Baker

June 6, 2021

Wolfeboro, NH

William H. Peat Jr.

July 14, 2021

Bennington, VT

Richard B. Mezquita

September 19, 2021

East Hampstead, NH

Benjamin P. Ladd

June 17, 2020

Wolfeboro, NH

1959

Gary C. White

November 18, 2019

Montrose, NY

1960

Gail (Cunningham)

Walker

February 6, 2021

Wallingford, CT

1961

Susan (Hill) Shannon

June 6, 2021

Orlando, FL

Roland Rodrigues

August 22, 2020

Naples, FL

Martha (Letteney)

Wlajnitz

July 23, 2021

Manchester, NH

Donna (Templeton)

Merrow

September 14, 2021

Center Ossipee, NH

Marion (Barrow) Rines

June 1, 2021

Center Ossipee, NH

Mary-Ann “Posey” (Leavitt) Funkhouser

March 14, 2020

Tiffin, OH

1962

Gerald “Gary” F. Lambert

January 20, 2021

Shawnee on Delaware, PA

Dana P. Bagnell

February 11, 2021

Wenham, MA

1963

Fred H. Antonucci

January 29, 2021

Wolfeboro, NH

David A. Downes

October 4, 2020

Palm Coast, FL

TYLER BALINT ’21

In September 2021, our community was stunned by another loss of a recent graduate. Class of 2021 graduate Tyler Balint passed away suddenly on September 18, 2021. A resident of nearby Alton, Tyler was attending the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York. At Brewster, Tyler made close friends in his Advisory Group, the Robotics Team, and theater. The campus community gathered to share reflections of the kind, intelligent, funny, low-key, and skilled young man everyone remembered. The speakers reminded us to be present and grateful for the friendships we have, and for the precious privilege of being alive. A few days later, the Balint family held a memorial in Anderson Hall, attended by many Brewster friends. Students were encouraged to wear shorts and flannel shirts in homage to Tyler’s signature look—a look he sported even in the depths of winter and to Prom. In a gesture of kindness in their time of extraordinary grief, Tyler’s parents asked those who wished to honor their son to consider donating to causes that Tyler was passionate about: Brewster’s robotics program or a humane society.

MAYA J. JAMES

In April 2021, our campus community suffered the searing loss of dear Maya James, daughter of longtime faculty member Emily James and her husband Martin; and sister to Marvell ’24 and Mary ’20. Maya was only 15 years old at the time of her passing. She is remembered for her spunk and perseverance as she experienced the challenges of Down syndrome and autism. A favorite friend to many Brewster students who came to know Maya (and her strong hugs) on campus, she was an avid dog fan, music lover, and bike rider who enjoyed a good splash in the lake. The James Family started Maya’s Spark Fund in her memory, with a mission to provide scholarships to programs that support developmentally disabled people and their families to live their best quality life in New Hampshire. It is a cause for which Emily James has worked tirelessly and fiercely—helping other families find resources and understand the joys to be had after an unexpected disability diagnosis. On the Fund’s page, app.bcharitable.org/campaigns/32, Maya’s family shared, “Maya was not self-conscious—she never questioned her right to be in the world. Maya faced many challenges; however, she didn’t let that define her.”

Barbara (Baker)

Nerney

April 19, 2020

Hampton, NH

1964

Constance (Corson)

Fuller

May 5, 2020

Wolfeboro, NH

1965

Kristopher D. Erickson

January 2, 2021

Whiteville, NC

Kathleen (Spence)

McGuire

May 11, 2021

Farmington, NH

Wayne R. Piper

May 8, 2021

Saint Johnsbury, VT

1969

Eric J. Swan

January 30, 2021

Marstons Mills, MA

1970

Elliot A. Snell

December 28, 2021

Sugar Hill, GA

Paul R. Bickford Jr.

October 14, 2021

Hampton, VA

1978

Christopher P. Grimes

May 6, 2020

Gloucester, MA

1980

William R. Wadleigh

July 2, 2020

Henderson, NV

1982

Sandra (Smith)

Naugler

August 18, 2021

Newburyport, MA

1990

Matthew J. Mullenaux

January 16, 2020

Santa Monica, CA

1995

Christopher M. Lockwood

July 1, 2020

Concord, NH

2020

Terrence A. Clarke

April 22, 2021

Roslindale, MA

2021

Tyler Balint

September 18, 2021

Alton, NH

WALTER S. MARSON ’50

Walter Marson died peacefully at home in Melbourne, Fla., at age 89. Mr. Marson served with the United States Army in the Korean War and built a career as a Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controller and instructor. During the 1970s he served as Brewster’s Alumni Association president and in an ad hoc role with the Board of Trustees. Mr. Marson’s many friends and family members would attest that his great passion was his Irish heritage. A descendant of the Calnan Irish family who immigrated into Canada and then into New England, he was lucky enough to visit Ireland three times, and was known as a wonderful storyteller.

MARK D. DEWOLF

Brewster’s community was deeply saddened to learn of the November 17, 2022 death of former Facilities Team member Mark DeWolf at age 63, after a fouryear battle with cancer. As his family reported in his obituary, Mr. DeWolf was “a true native,” graduating from Wolfeboro’s Kingswood High School in 1977 followed by some study at the New Hampshire Technical Institute and later completing courses at the Thompson School at the University of New Hampshire.

For 29 years until his retirement in 2018, Mr. DeWolf served as Brewster Academy’s Sports Grounds Manager, even earning the nickname “Dean of Green.” The pride he took in making sure that Brewster’s fields were impeccably maintained was unparalleled. In her message to the community with the sad news, Head of School Kristy Kerin said, “Mark’s commitment to Brewster and its students was legendary…he was renowned for his remarkable kindness and enthusiastic dedication to the athletics program. In recognition of his many contributions, DeWolf Field was named in his honor upon his retirement. Brewster has lost one of its biggest fans.” Indeed, he was particularly devoted to Bobcat Basketball, often driving the players to games and forming lasting friendships. Students knew him well, even dedicating The Winnipesaukean yearbook to him in 2016.

For 32 years, Mr. DeWolf was involved with the Abenaki Chapter of Ducks Unlimited, a nonprofit organization that conserves, restores, and manages wetlands and associated habitats for North America’s waterfowl. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Sports Turf Managers Association and was once honored as their Manager of the Year.

A celebration of life was held in December in the Grayson Student Center at the Rogers Building with many of Mr. DeWolf’s former colleagues and friends alongside family as dear memories were shared. Mark kindly asked that any memorial gifts be made to Brewster Academy or to Ducks Unlimited.

SHIRLEY RICHARDSON

Legendary Brewster faculty member and administrator Shirley Richardson passed away at her Wolfeboro home on March 18, 2023 after a long battle with cancer. A cherished Brewster faculty member who was known for her dedicated advocacy for students, Mrs. Richardson served the students of Brewster faithfully for more than 25 years until her retirement in 2004. Beginning her path here as a freshman English teacher, she also pioneered the Learning Skills Department, and in 1986, she became Brewster’s first full-time Dean of College Placement. Even long after her retirement, students connected with Mrs. Richardson in her crisp and colorful suits during her frequent visits to Estabrook Dining Hall during lunchtime.

Mrs. Richardson’s impact in Wolfeboro was deep and positive: She worked to create the Wolfeboro Nursery School and then established the Ski and Skate Swap Sale to fund and sustain the school. She was a leader with the Friends of Music (she was a wonderful piano player and always held a love for music), VNA Hospice, and the Hospital Fair book tent. More recently in 2016, she was recognized as Citizen of the Year by the Wolfeboro Lions Club, an honor she held close to her heart.

At Brewster she is remembered for her ability to connect and communicate with everyone, and her personal belief that “all human beings are unique, and they learn in different ways at different rates.” She was more than a faculty member and administrator; “she was a source of inspiration, guidance, and leadership for many,” Head of School Kristy Kerin noted in her letter to the community.

Together, Shirley and her beloved husband Bob Richardson authored the definitive history of Brewster, The Brewster Story. And their legacy at the school they treasured lives on in another very meaningful way: The Robert and Shirley Richardson Scholarship Fund. The family was kind enough to ask that “In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to The Robert and Shirley Richardson Scholarship Fund at Brewster Academy. The Richardson Scholarship represents Bob and Shirley’s Brewster legacy and their decades of service to the school they loved. It enables their impact on young men and women to continue in perpetuity.”

Looking Back

This photo of Wolfeboro’s familiar downtown in the late 1930s is one of many historical images featured in The Brewster Story by Robert and Shirley Richardson. In telling the definitive history of the Academy, Mrs. Richardson ensured that the evolution of Brewster’s hometown, her beloved Wolfeboro, was also showcased. (If you’d like a copy of The Brewster Story, Brewster Magazine editor Suzanne Morrissey has extra copies to share. Please email her at smorrissey@brewsteracademy.org.)

PHASE 3

of the Reimagined Rogers project is certainly a testament to the adage “Good things come in threes.” The lake-facing addition, featured in this illustration, is taking shape. Once completed, the interior will house a brand-new ceramics studio and makerspace/robotics lab. Each space will feature state-of-the-art equipment and floor-to-ceiling windows. On the main level, an open-air terrace will give students, families, and alumni a chance to watch games on Brown Field and enjoy the sunshine and views of Wolfeboro Bay. The project is slated to wrap up in October 2023.

Check out the now-completed and fully in-use Phases 1 and 2 in our photo feature on page 40!