Buzzer Fall/ Winter 2013

Fall/Winter 2013

Fall/Winter 2013

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HAPPY 125TH BIRTHDAY, BROWNING! Lower School Art Class Cray-Pas and Watercolor

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contents

Fall/Winter 2013

FEATURES

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Some Enchanted Evening: Browning Celebrates 125 Years!

DEPARTMENTS

3 From the Headmaster

10

A Time to Remember

20 Browning in the News

22

125th Party Guests Admire Latest Renovations

35 From the Archives

26

Touting Browning’s Tour Gudes

32

Browning Boys Give Back

44

2013 Book Fair and Common Book

54

Summer Stipends

76

Strong & True: The Campaign for Browning Is Launched!

Art in Focus (facing page): Art Department Chair Nik Vlahos explains that the Lower School boys celebrated the 125th anniversary of The Browning School by creating these artworks. He notes, “We talked about lettering and numbers in terms of

36 The Local Buzz 52 Fine and Performing Arts 58 Athletics 62 Alumni Events 68 Class Notes

presenting them creatively. We also discussed the difference between handwriting and creative lettering. Students used cray-pas to draw the words and the number 125, followed by watercolor for the background.”

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ON THE COVER Actor Roy Mazzacane, who charmed guests at the School’s 125th Birthday Celebration in October, admires his “reflection” in the portrait of founder John A. Browning. The oil painting by Arthur Trevethin Nowell hangs in the Lobby at Browning.

MISSION STATEMENT Founded in 1888 as a college preparatory school for boys, The Browning School continues its commitment to the goals of John A. Browning: the pursuit of academic excellence and a lifelong love of learning,

BUZZER STAFF

Stephen M. Clement, III, Headmaster Martin T. Haase, Director of Institutional Advancement Melanie S. McMahon, Director of Publications, Buzzer Editor Laura N. Lanigan, Director of Alumni Affairs

the belief in the dignity of the individual, and the development of personal integrity and responsibility to the broader community.

The Browning boy develops amid these values.

FALL/WINTER BUZZER CONTRIBUTORS

The Browning alumnus is a good citizen,

Steven Jasikoff, History Teacher Gerald J. Protheroe, History Department Chair Andrew H. West ’92, Athletic Director

and respectful of divergent yet informed opinions.

sensitive to the needs of others, He is, in the best sense of the word, a gentleman.

Contributing photographers: Christine Bramble, Rossa Cole Photography, Marty Hyman Photography, Jeremy Katz ’04, Melanie McMahon, Laura Lanigan and Sandy Pelz ’71.

Design by Misty Wilt Graphic Design LLC BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2013–14 James S. Chanos, President William L. Jacob, III, Vice President William S. Kingson PP’98, Vice President Thomas S. Hexner, Treasurer Richard L.N. Weaver ’75, Assistant Treasurer R. Thomas Herman ’64, Secretary Celeste A. Guth, Assistant Secretary Stephen M. Clement, III, Headmaster Michael P. Beys ’89, President, Alumni Association Alka K. Singh, President, Parents Association H. Kenneth Metz, First Vice President, Parents Association Mildred J. Berendsen, Honorary Trustee Allan L. Gropper PP’93, PP’06, Honorary Trustee Laura Z. Barket Paul A. Burke Stuart J. Ellman Elizabeth Granville-Smith Philip A. Hofmann Ling S. Kwok P’21 Jeffrey M. Landes ‘83 David J. Liptak P’20, P’21 Jeffrey S. Olson P’17, P’19

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Raul Pineda P’24 Ellen Stafford-Sigg P’21 David N. Steck P’21, P’24 Sanjay Swani P’21 Lou Switzer P’19 Deborah C. van Eck P’25 Valda M. Witt P’20, P’22 Robert Ziff P’20

DIVERSITY STATEMENT The Browning School strives to create a diverse community in which all members are safe, respected and valued.

We believe that in actively promoting a diverse learning environment, we are fostering intellectual, social and emotional growth for all.

Recognizing and pursuing diversity, however, are not enough; we seek to transcend mere tolerance of differences and aspire to a celebration of the varied appearances, abilities, perspectives and values that characterize our community.

The Buzzer is printed on paper containing 10% total recycled fiber.

The Buzzer is published three times a year

by The Browning School Office of Institutional Advancement. The School may be reached at 212 838 6280. The website is www.browning.edu.

The Browning School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, religion, or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic and other school directed program, or employment practices.

from the headmaster

Final Festivities Celebrate Browning’s 125th Anniversary This issue of the Buzzer is full of news about the celebrating

an anonymous gift of $3 million to support diversity in the

at this academically rigorous school that life is one big party!

Chair (see page 77).

we have been doing at Browning recently. It sometimes seems We began with the boys at the opening assembly on

Lower School, and a $2 million gift to establish the STEM

At Browning we are blessed with dedicated volunteers.

September 9 singing “Happy Birthday” and honoring faculty

President of the Parents Association Alka Singh P’18, P’20 and

including Michael Ingrisani (44), Sanford Pelz (39), David

were behind every celebration of our 125th anniversary.

and staff who have been at the School for over 25 years,

Watson (33), Kevin Gihon (29), Dominique Bernard (25)

and yours truly (26). The School is wrapped in a big red

bow and “children of all ages” enjoyed birthday cupcakes for many days in a row. The highlight for adults in the

Browning community was our 125th Birthday Celebration

on October 5. Masterminded by Ken Metz P’23, P’24, current vice president of the Parents Association, the party included

President of the Alumni Association Michael Beys ’89, P’25 In addition, staff members including PA Liaison and

Director of Special Events Christine Bramble, Director of Institutional Advancement Marty Haase and Director of Alumni Affairs Laura Lanigan put their shoulder to the

wheel as members of the planning committee for the 125th anniversary event in October.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge

street tenting, red carpet, step and repeat photo-ops and

Marty Haase’s countless contributions to the School for the

We used our new cafeteria and unveiled the new library and

in California and lend his talents to an independent school

strobe lights. Three recent renovations wowed the guests.

reading deck, as well as our new technology lab. In addition,

Board Chair James Chanos PP’07, PP’09, PP’11 announced the public phase of Browning’s $30 million STRONG & TRUE:

The Campaign for Browning. He noted two highlights to date:

past nine years as he leaves on December 31 to join his family there. Browning has benefited tremendously from Marty’s leadership, and he will be missed by so many.

Thank you all… and no more cake, for a while anyway.

Stephen M. Clement, III Headmaster

The photographer caught Mr. Browning hard at work, sticking with a task he loved, tending his garden.

President of the Board of Trustees James S. Chanos, John A. Browning (actor Roy Mazzacane) and Headmaster Stephen M. Clement III celebrated the School’s 125th anniversary in October. The sterling silver cup bears this engraving: “To John A. Browning. A token of esteem from his pupils, Xmas 1898.”

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f e at u r e

Some Enchanted Evening:

Browning Celebrates 125 Years!

T

he Browning School’s 125th Birthday

back at Browning’s storied history while enjoying a tour of the

for the School community and close 62nd Street

years. The new lobby, expanded gym, cafeteria and technology

Celebration was reason to roll out the red carpet for the evening on Saturday, October 5. Guests,

more than 600 in number, could barely believe their eyes when they saw the School building festooned in a red

ribbon and bow. With white tents in front of the red doors, Browning’s Key Society boys dressed in vintage clothing, and an appearance by John A. Browning himself (played by actor Roy Mazzacane), it was a party to remember!

Balloons bearing the 125th anniversary logo and interior-

exterior video screens beckoned guests to share in a look

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wonderful renovations that have taken place in the past few and media center, as well as the outdoor reading terrace,

provided venues for conversation, cocktails and camaraderie as alumni, parents, grandparents and faculty shared in the excitement of Browning’s past, present and future.

Rounding out the evening were remarks by Headmaster

Stephen M. Clement, III and Board of Trustees President

James Chanos who announced STRONG AND TRUE: The

Campaign for Browning. (Please turn to page 77 of this issue for more information on the campaign.)

Browning’s Key Society boys dressed in vintage clothing as part of the School’s 125th Birthday Celebration.

Headmaster Clement, John A. Browning (actor Roy Mazzacane) and the descendants of John A. Browning at the School’s 125th birthday celebration, including (L to R): Richard T. Browning and his wife Kamal, with son Curtis and his guest Catherine Cagley.

The 125th anniversary celebration was a huge success, thanks to the planning committee comprised of (L to R): Marty Haase, Elizabeth Granville-Smith, Christine Bramble, Lisa Elson, Laura Lanigan and Ken Metz.

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Director of Institutional Advancement Marty Haase grins broadly from beneath an umbrella bearing the School’s 125th Anniversary logo. He had much to smile about at that moment, as he was enjoying the October 5 Birthday Celebration at Browning. As one of the

members of the planning committee for this event, Marty was instrumental in ensuring every guest that evening reveled in the excitement of the recent renovations and storied history of the School since its founding in 1888.

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A Time to

R emember As The Browning School concluded the celebration of its 125th anniversary, a number of alumni shared their Browning memories, recalling a teacher or another “memorable moment” during their time at the School. Responses to my request for stories and anecdotes were quite detailed in some cases, from the serious to the not so, from the humorous to the poignant. We begin with a retrospective by Dr. Michael Mittelmann ’49 that sets the global scene 125 years ago, followed by excerpts of reminisces from alumni of all ages. A warm thank-you to all who participated! –Melanie McMahon

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1888 IN RETROSPECT Excerpted from “What Happened 125 Years Ago?” July, 2013

A

few years ago, because of the Class of 1949’s

anniversary, I was able

to discuss personal and

New York City subway system.”

Having had a tour of active duty in Vietnam, I once

historical events for that year in the

again reviewed its past history. France (during The Third

endeavor but an enlightening one. To

Cochinchina, Annam, Tonkin and

Buzzer. Now it becomes a pure research

Michael Mittelmann ’49

taxation.” Furthermore, some call Hewitt, who was a vig-

orous proponent of the subway system, the “Father of the

consider what was occurring in New

York City and around the world when John A. Browning

founded our school, one should read selected parts of the

publication, “CENTENNIAL, The Browning School, 1888-

1988.” The author, Tom Herman ’64, pointed out a few great

details beginning in section I. 1988. Here are a few additional or expanded ones that might be of interest:

David Dows, whose name was mentioned in “CEN-

TENNIAL,” let his home be used for the first classes. His son, Tracy Dows (1871-1937), Class of 1889, was in Mr.

Browning’s initial class. Later, after graduating Harvard,

he had a distinguished career in banking. Fox Hollow, his residence in Rhinebeck, N.Y., proved to be a well-known

architectural landmark. Classmates included Albert Herter and V. Everit Macy, both members of the Class of 1889.

States like New York and New Jersey were hit with

Republic) created the Indochinese Union composed of Cambodia. China had agreed to recognize France’s protectorate

over Vietnam in 1887. The writings of the late Stanley Karnow, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and historian, give a deeper insight

into our involvement. I could not find a specific major war men-

tioned in 1888, although certainly

there must have been considerable unrest in Vietnam. The British were involved with an upris-

ing in Zululand, now known as

KwaZulu-Natal within the Union of South Africa.

Nine years after Browning opened, the first Boston

major weather conditions. The Great Blizzard of 1888

Marathon winner, John J. McDermott, a New York lithog-

sources, for example, www.wunderground.com and Wiki-

record despite blisters and cramps. Recognizing the limi-

devastated New York, and many lives were lost. Internet pedia, provide important meteorological references and classic vintage photographs. Victims of last year’s Hur-

ricane Sandy are still trying to recover from lost property

and other personal losses. Just imagine the distress and adverse rebuilding situation 125 years ago. During the Summer of 2013 a heat wave may have set records in Central

Park, just as it did during The Browning School’s first year.

rapher, crossed the finish line in 2:55:10 with a new world tations in communication (no TV, no Internet, no social

media), I doubt that students ever heard of the Norwegian explorer, Fridjof Nansen. Talk about extreme skiing! He

and five others were the first to cross Greenland’s island

(much of the cross-country trek on skis) during the winter of 1888. In 1922, Nansen received the Nobel Peace Prize.

Across the Atlantic, the City of London (Whitechapel

Classroom life without air conditioning?

area) witnessed reports of brutal murders of women by

only two years. It reopened on July 4, 2013, after extensive

Tribune dated October 1, 2 & 5, 1888, brought attention to

The Statue of Liberty would have been in existence for

damage to surrounding land and dock facilities post-Hur-

ricane Sandy. If students had an interest in music, they may have heard of the 19th century composers Grieg, Mahler

and R. Strauss. The American Art Association was becom-

ing identified with the management of important auctions.

the individual called Jack the Ripper. Issues of The Herald the horrors that took place. In addition, Patricia Cornwell’s book, “Portrait of a Killer,” contains excellent photographs

(several are quite graphic), mitochondrial DNA test results, and well over 200 primary and secondary sources.

In conclusion, the history of our current generation is

Elected as New York City’s Mayor in 1886, Abram Stevens

being documented in varied formats. With good fortune

famously quoted as saying, “unnecessary taxation is unjust

of this year, just as we have looked at 1888 in retrospect.

Hewitt (a Democrat), according to one source had been

(and a bit of luck), future writers will reflect on the events –Dr. Michael Mittelmann ’49

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Arthur Jones

I

Lyman B. Tobin

attended Browning from 1947-1953 for grades three

Charles W. Cook ’38

One memorable moment that I recall was the farewell

through nine, then went to boarding school (Taft).

speech to Congress of Gen. Douglas MacArthur. His son,

my teachers and coaches, including Claire Smith

ahead of me, so we all gathered in the gym to listen to the

I can remember the names and faces of many of

(history), W.E. Smith (math), Dr. Eckles (Latin), Margaret

McMillan (music), Bill Root (soccer and baseball), Charles Steinbeck (gym/phys ed), and Dr. Roberts (French). I can remember them all as being dedicated to the School and

trying their best to educate the minds and harness the en-

Arthur MacArthur, was a student at Browning several years speech on the radio! It was quite moving, even for a young lad of 10. The real irony is that a very distant relative of

mine, John Bulkley, was the PT boat commander who rescued the general and his family from Corregidor Island.

Another episode that remains rather vivid in my mem-

ergy of young boys.

ory is this: If there was inclement weather, and we could not

boys in our class the year I left. We had to take buses to

the gym to watch a movie. A classmate, Carlos Galvan ’58,

The School was quite small at the time, about 12-14

Randall’s Island for outdoor sports, so we spent more time going back and forth than on the playing field. Kickball

on the roof was our other outlet for letting off steam. The

gym had no showers and minimal locker room, so we wore our class clothes for all activities at the School and often

changed on the bus on the way to a sporting event. We had to wear jacket and tie at all times. An exception was made for those in Knickerbocker Greys, as we wore a KG uniform on Tuesdays and Fridays.

I had the distinction of attending Browning for three of

go to Randall’s Island, there would often be a gathering in and I decided that it was not an interesting movie, so we

decided to check out, which was easy to do in those days.

We stopped at Hamburger Heaven, and then we went to

our respective homes. I was surprised to find my mother at

home, and she was equally surprised to find me. She immediately called the School to inquire as to where I was. She

was told I was in the gym watching a movie. I don’t know

at whom she was madder, the Browning administration or me. I do recall getting the worst of the deal, however.

Without girls we had to play their parts in plays. I had

five Headmasters: Messrs. Jones, Tobin and Cooke. I spent

the dubious distinction of playing Josephine in “H.M.S.

early retirement.

mate, Leon Dalva ’58, played Buttercup!! If I am mistaken,

enough time in Mr. Tobin’s office that I think I forced an

Pinafore.” The only consolation was that I think a class-

Leon, I apologize. Chalk it up to fading memory, but I do remember you in the play.

Lastly, I recall my years at Browning to be great fun and

I had the distinction of attending Browning for three of five Headmasters: Messrs. Jones, Tobin and Cooke.

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challenging, and wish the School, the students, the alumni

and all associated with the School in the past and currently a memorable 125th anniversary. I regret that I was unable to attend due to back surgery. I’ll catch the 150th!

—F. Jack Bulkley, III ’58

FRANK QUIGLEY ’38 REMEMBERS BROWNING LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER HIS 96TH BIRTHDAY (October 9, 2013), I enjoyed a wonderful phone interview with Frank Quigley ’38, one of Browning’s oldest known alumni. Born in Columbus, Ohio, Mr. Quigley moved to New York City when his father, an executive with AT&T, was transferred to the East Coast. (A lobbyist in Washington, D.C., his father split his time between New York and the nation’s capital.) –M.M.

HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN YOU CAME TO BROWNING, AND HOW MANY YEARS DID YOU SPEND AT THE SCHOOL?

writing and arithmetic. Our

lived in New York City. We also

who really tried to help us.

Beach where I still live today.

I was 15 when we moved

WHAT SPORTS DID YOU PLAY WHILE YOU WERE HERE?

CAN YOU RECALL SOME OF YOUR CLASSMATES?

Columbus, Ohio, and spent

I played football and baseball.

Yes, I was at Browning along

there, I scored five touchdowns,

George Boomer ’38, Freddy

to New York City from

three years at Browning.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE SUBJECT?

I really liked geography. And

that came in handy when I was

in the Army-Air Force, as it was called back then. Combined

with the fact that my mother

took me to Europe almost every year, I was able to help the

navigators recognize various

mountain ranges when we flew over the Alps at 20,000 feet.

Even though I studied French and Spanish at Browning,

it was later that I listened to

records and learned to speak these languages, as well as

Italian, much better. I recall

studying the basics: reading,

teachers were all very nice guys

During the three years I was

a number of which were against Collegiate. In fact, I scored all

the touchdowns ever made by the team!

spent much of our time in Palm

with Grover Whalen ’38,

Brooks ’36, John McGee ’39,

Austin Montgomery ’39 and Charlie Cook ’38 [former

Headmaster]. Charlie was the

As for baseball, I was the

brightest boy at Browning and

runs against Collegiate!

and French with us, and later,

pitcher. I also hit three home

WHAT DID YOU DO ONCE YOU LEFT BROWNING?

I went to the University of

Virginia and UCLA but also

so modest. He studied Spanish while in the Army, he became fluent in Chinese.

Once we left Browning, we went far and wide.

served in the Army-Air Force.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN BACK TO THE SCHOOL?

missions. I also worked at 20th

I came back a couple of times

in the research department.

the teachers but haven’t been

I was a ball gunner and flew 15 Century Fox Studios for a while Eventually I married, and we

after the war to visit some of back since.

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I still have fond memories walking to Browning from my family’s apartment at 68th St. and Fifth Avenue.

C

ongratulations to Browning on its 125th

anniversary and to Stephen Clement on his

25th; he was a classmate of my brother-in-law, Ron Romaine, at Yale. It’s been too long since

I’ve visited the School, although I keep somewhat updated

Headmaster Stephen M. Clement, III

through a trustee, Allan Gropper, who’s married to one of

my wife’s best friends, Dr. Caroline Warner. Another of my wife’s good friends, Mary Daniel, is mother of Kenneth Daniel in the sixth grade.

I still have fond memories walking to Browning from

my family’s apartment at 68th St. and Fifth Avenue. Mrs. Daram’s dancing school at the Colony Club was conveniently located across the street.While I hadn’t seen my

“celebrity” classmates Howard Dean ’66 and Winnie Rockefeller ’66 [now deceased] since my Browning days, I do

exchange Christmas cards with my best friend at Browning, George Caesar ’65, who was then my roommate for

our last three years at Choate. Maybe, I can persuade him to come up from Charlotte, N.C. for our 50th reunion in three years.

–Dee McAllister ’66

I

Mr. Lisandrello’s shop and draftng class, circa 1950s.

recall the teacher’s quotes from my first grade

yearbook, 1957-1958, from memory: Tony [Tom] Cabot is a good rester. (At nap time when cots

were set up, I fell promptly asleep.) I still have the

battleship I made in shop class.

–Tom Cabot ’69

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I

have many memories of

Monsieur Kayoun seeing two brothers (both of whom were

the most vivid involve

ers had not sensed the impending death that arrived so

Browning, but perhaps

Monsieur Alex Kayoun,

who led the French department from the mid-1960s until his

quickly and had smiles frozen on their faces, as if the fatal bullets arrived in the midst of a shared joke.

Another story involved Monsieur Kayoun’s personal

retirement in 1989, and

acquaintance with Fernand Bonnier de la Chapelle, who

introduction. Both Monsieur

puppet in charge of North Africa, in Algiers on December

Mr. Ingrisani, who needs no Monsieur Alex Kayoun

soldiers in his unit) felled by automatic gunfire. The broth-

Kayoun and Mr. Ingrisani,

though very different people

and possessed of very distinct character, had an uncanny ability to make narrative come alive.

Monsieur Kayoun had fought with the Free French

under British command during World War II and became

so animated when describing some of his battlefield expe-

riences that it seemed as if he was reliving the emotions felt

assassinated Admiral Jean Darlan, the Vichy government

24, 1942. Though Darlan had already surrendered Algiers

to Allied forces, Eisenhower had allowed him to continue governing in an attempt to avoid reprisal attacks from

Vichy sympathizers. According to Monsieur Kayoun, de

la Chappelle, who was a member of the French Resistance and a pure patriot, was executed the following day on the order of President Roosevelt.

Mr. Ingrisani taught me English for three straight years,

at the time. Monsieur Kayoun’s listeners could sense the

from Form IV through Form VI. His knowledge of and

had lived. Some of the stories were outrageously funny, in-

dable. Nevertheless, one of the signature memories I have

tension and imagine themselves sharing the moment he

volving such matters as jokes soldiers had played on each other to relieve stress. Others were undeniably tragic yet

somehow poignant. One story I will never forget involved

insight into all manner of literary works was indeed formiof this great teacher involves his description of how he felt as a high school student during the Cuban Missile Crisis

of 1962. Though as a teenager during the 1980s when the fear of nuclear confrontation with Russia was ever pres-

ent, I hadn’t realized that a little more than 20 years earlier

In his recollection, Mr. Ingrisani vividly described saying goodbye one October afternoon to his high school friends and teachers.

a time had come when it seemed as if a world-destroying nuclear battle was likely to begin at any moment. In his

recollection, Mr. Ingrisani vividly described saying goodbye one October afternoon to his high school friends and teachers, confronting the likelihood that he would never

see them again. My normally boisterous 10th grade classmates were left completely speechless.

–William Reed ’85

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M

r. Ingrisani taught me how to write.

When I took his 11th grade English class,

I got B+s on writing assignments for the first time in my life. I was

annoyed at first, but I soon realized that he had higher expectations for

Michael Ingrisani

writing quality, and I was forced to

“step up my game.”When I got to

college, I never had difficulty writing

papers and always got favorable comments on my writing

quality, while I saw many of my friends struggling to bring their writing up to a college level. Now I teach and mentor college, master’s and doctoral students and see how many of them struggle with writing, and I have come to believe

that learning how to write well is the most important skill that one can learn. Many students are terrified of writing, which is one of the reasons we have so many problems

with plagiarism and a “copy and paste from the Internet” mentality in college. Thank you, Mr. Ingrisani!

–Philip Yanos ’86

I

Browning boys who were members of the Knickerbocker Greys sometimes dressed in their cadet uniforms during the school day.

remember feeling really welcomed and supported by every teacher and administrator at the School, and when lost frequently in the beginning of my year

there, being guided by friendly school staff back to

my homeroom.

I remember a mysterious dignity of my schoolmates

I have come to believe that learning

showing up from time to time in their Knickerbocker Greys uniforms.

I remember Russel Rosenblum’s (Class of ’88)

how to write well is the most important

unhinged enthusiasm for games and pop culture, Marcus

skill that one can learn.

friends with Gerald Lee ’88.

Cederquist’s (Class of ’88) cool disposition, and being

I remember Ali Theodore ’88 proudly speaking of his

father who was a pioneer and innovator in detective gear.

–Ian McGrady ’88

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It

was, I believe, the fall of my senior year there

I always thought that was a shining

with Mr. Ingrisani, and Head of Upper School

example of what a Browning “gentleman”

at Browning. It was time for English class

Yolanda Smith was waiting for us in class.

Before Mr. Ingrisani entered class, she informed us that

as he was getting off the train on his way home the night

should be.

before, he had been mugged and assaulted. The muggers had taken his wallet and his wedding ring.

There was still a fair amount of crime in the city back

then. Most of us could sadly relate to the awful experience of being mugged. When Mr. Ingrisani entered class, he

had a big black eye and a severely swollen and split lip.

We were heartbroken to know a teacher that we had such

respect and affection for had to endure something like this.

We always looked forward to his class and would actually call him “God” behind his back, as he seemed to know something about everything. Mr. Ingrisani also always

found a way to be funny when he caught us doing something we weren’t supposed to.

A few minutes into class, Mr. Ingrisani looked at his

signed expressing our

sympathy and wishing him a speedy recovery.

We found him in be-

tween classes and gave him the card and the

watch. He was very, very touched by the gesture and said, “Thank you,

boys. This one I’m going to fight for!”

At the Thanksgiving

watch and, at that moment, realized it had been stolen as

assembly a few weeks

and I looked at each other and simultaneously said, “Let’s

tioned what we had done

well. My classmate, Andrew West ’92 (now Coach West), get him a watch.” When class ended, he put it to the rest of the boys, and we unanimously agreed. We all pooled

whatever money we had at lunch and went to Lexington

Avenue to find a watch store. Oddly we remembered what

the one Mr. Ingrisani had looked like. The sales lady behind the counter was touched by what we were doing and gave

us a discount on the one that looked the most like the watch that had been stolen. We got Mr. Ingrisani a card that we all

later, Yolanda Smith men-

Yolanda Smith

to the entire school community. We were all a little embarrassed by the attention but proud nonetheless. We did it

not for praise but out of sympathy and admiration for one of our professors. I think we all felt proud going home to our parents and telling them what we did. I always

thought that was a shining example of what a Browning

“gentleman” should be and that Browning takes care of its own. It is a family, after all!

–Pierce Forsythe ’92

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T

he year was 1988, and I was in Mr. Clair

these two chess instructors opened a

still president, and The Browning School was

existed. They made chess fun, and I

Smith’s fifth grade class. Ronald Reagan was

in its centennial year. I remember Mr. Clement

took over the reins of Headmaster, as the student body

world to me that I had never known love the game to this day.

Together as a team, the Brown-

bid farewell to Mr. Cook, Browning’s fourth Headmaster.

ing boys traveled to national chess

seemed to have sparked a certain electricity in New York

representing the School. The excite-

During the ’80s, chess was quite popular, as Bobby Fischer City, so that even young people such as me were eager to learn and play [the game]. I joined the Browning Chess

Club in 1986. A small group of us boys would meet a few times per week after school in a small room located on

the lower level of the cafeteria. The class was taught by a

brilliant Indian woman by the name of Shernez Kennedy, and the legendary Bruce Pandolfini, who Ben Kingsley

plays in the movie, “Searching for Bobby Fischer.” Together,

championships across the country

ment we felt as young kids boarding

a plane to some exotic land outside of

Clair Smith

our usual city habitat was something I’ll never forget. The first tournament I went to was in Charlotte, N.C. Being at the hotel with my teammates was such a blast! We’d

go swimming and play arcade games in between chess matches and played Wiffle Ball in the halls. That year I

won four games and drew two out of seven. It was my

best nationals ever, and walking away with that trophy

made me feel not only proud for myself but also proud for Browning, which at the time was basically in its chess club

The excitement we felt as young kids boarding a plane to some exotic land outside of our usual city habitat was something I’ll never forget.

Facing page (bottom photo): Tom Herman ’64 submitted this photo with the following note: I spotted this photo from the early 1960s on the Facebook page of another Browning alumnus, Bob Federico ’63. It probably comes from a yearbook for the Class of 1963. I thought you might

infancy. My chess skills have since dwindled from the likes of becoming the next Bobby Fischer to a mere amateur

who can barely keep up with intermediate level chess on

the Internet; but my legacy remains in the shadows of the Browning trophy room where my name is etched forever on a plaque as being the “Elementary Centennial Chess Champion of the World.”

–Ethan Sumner ’96

like to have the names of most people in the photo. Front row, (L-R): Peter Schoeffer ’66, Winthrop Rockefeller ’66, Tuco Romero ’66, Timothy Crouse ’64, Wooster Welton ’65, Bill Selden ’65, Bob Federico ’63, Rick Lazar ’66 (I don’t know who is on Ricky’s right), John Coleman ’65 (I don’t know who

is on John’s right). Back row, (L-R): Kenton Morris ’65 (I don’t know who the second and third boys are to Kenton’s right), Woody Adams ’65, Joe Pennock ’65, Ed Wells ’63, Robert Werblin ’66, Claire Smith (son of Browning’s long-time teacher), and Bob Gearhart ’66 on the far right.

Fall/Winter 2013

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browning in the news

A SCHOOL PUBLICATION arrived recently that provoked

My favorite part of the collector

of not a single peer. I even read it cover to cover, or just

edition Buzzer may have been the

more than average curiosity, even though it included news about. It sent me traveling back in time, past the late 1950s – when I succeeded in

gaining admission to

The Browning School, the institution in

graduate, to start one for his son and a few other boys. One

to 1920.

The School was set up in a West 55th Street brownstone

question – all the way That was the year

of them was Percy Rockefeller, his brother William’s son. owned by the family. In 1922, it moved to 52 E. 62nd St.,

the Browning Buzzer,

where it resides today.

zine, first appeared.

at the Dakota with his two sisters and enjoyed vegetable gar-

tion in my hand was a

those days), is one from John D. Rockefeller Jr. He’d gone on

the School’s maga-

Indeed, the publica-

replica of the inaugu-

ral issue, produced in honor of Browning’s Margaret and David Mahoney, maternal grandparents of Aidan ’21 and Colin Minnick ’25, arranged for the framing of a copy of Ralph Gardner’s Wall Street Journal column; their grandsons proudly presented this gift to Headmaster Clement.

underwriters’ ads...

125th anniversary.

The milestone is

being celebrated at the School this weekend.

School publications

tend to be big on dedi-

cations, and this one was no exception. It was dedicated to

John A. Browning, the School’s founder, on the occasion of his retirement. He started Browning in 1888 at the behest

of John D. Rockefeller, who was looking for a school for his son, John D. Rockefeller, Jr.

(I have no doubt that one day in the not too distant fu-

ture, when my memory has whittled down to almost noth-

ing, I’ll still remember the year of the school’s founding, 13 years at Browning (K-12) having permanently etched the information on my consciousness.)

Apparently, unable to find a school up to his standards,

Mr. Rockefeller recruited Mr. Browning, a recent Columbia

Among the Buzzer tributes to Mr. Browning, who lived

dening (there was a lot more space on the Upper West Side in to Brown, Standard Oil and the development of a complex of Midtown office buildings known as Rockefeller Center…

More recent illustrious alumni include Arthur Ochs

Sulzberger, Jr. ’70, the current publisher of the New York

Times; Jamie Dimon ’74, who was in my younger brother Johnny’s class; and actor Paul Dano ’02. Howard Dean,

the former Vermont governor and Democratic presidential candidate, attended but didn’t graduate from the School.

My parents sent all four sons to Browning – and at full

tuition, as Charles Cook, the Headmaster in my era, once noted to my parents with appreciation...

My favorite part of the collector edition Buzzer may

have been the underwriters’ ads...I even experienced a

shudder of vestigial dread when I spotted an ad for De

Pinna, a long-gone boys’ clothing store at Fifth Avenue and 50th Street. It supplied Browning its beanies, which every

kindergartner was expected to wear. If you think it’s hard for a 5-year-old to keep track of mittens, that’s nothing

compared to beanies. I lost them regularly, the cost of re-

placing them coming from my meager savings, essentially placing me in permanent debt to my parents over a hat I

The October 3 edition of The Wall Street Journal included the regular column, Urban Gardner, by Ralph Gardner, Jr. ’71. Prompted by the summer mailing of Browning’s first Buzzer, the headline and subhead read, “Still Buzzing About New York’s Browning: Replica of 1920 Alumni Magazine Reminds, Resonates.” Above is an excerpt.

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didn’t want in the first place.

Since 1888,

Browning has had only five

Headmasters.

Its current

head, Stephen M. Clement,

III, took over

from Mr. Cook

in 1988. Michael Ingrisani, the ever-youthful dean of faculty, may be the only teacher left from my time. Sanford Pelz, a classmate of

mine, ably serves as Browning’s director of college guidance.

But more important than any single faculty

member or head is the School itself, which con-

tinues to flourish. It also serves as a symbolic and

actual anchor in an ever-changing city. Whenever I

walk by, I glance at its façade, the bricks and mortar bursting with memories...

Fall/Winter 2013

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f e at u r e

125th Party Guests Admire Latest Renovations:

Library & Technology Center

and Reading Terrace

22

G

uests at the October 5 celebration of The

The location of the library and technology center on the

advantage of their opportunity to tour and

The Browning School’s commitment to academics and

Browning School’s 125th anniversary took

admire the latest renovations at the School.

Over the course of the summer, an amazing amount of

ground floor, directly accessible from the lobby, reinforces technology, and the integration of the two.

In addition to these areas, which also allow for after-

work was accomplished.

school events, the Browning community now enjoys a

and technology center, including a new digital media and

ria from the upper floors. Additionally, the nurse’s office

The former cafeteria is now a state-of-the-art library

robotics fabrication center fitted with the most current technologies. Adjacent to all is a new 1,000-square-foot reading terrace constructed above the newly expanded cafeteria.

THE

BUZZER

brightly-lit staircase leading downstairs to the new cafetehas been moved adjacent to the lobby to simplify retrieval of students or the reception of emergency responders.

Guests at Browning’s 125th birthday party admired the latest renovations, including a new reading terrace. Browning boys have been utilizing the new library and technology center, as well as the new, brightly lit staircase that leads to the cafeteria.

Fall/Winter 2013

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24

of Time T U R N I N G T H E PAG E S

In

celebration of Browning’s founding in 1888, a book entitled, “The Browning School: Celebrating 125 Years,” has

been published to chronicle the School’s

journey through time. Organized by photographs and

images collected under five Headmasters, the publication includes an introduction by current Headmaster Stephen M. Clement, III. We thank the 2013 Form VI parents for

THE

BUZZER

establishing a fund to maintain and perpetuate the Browning archives from which so much of this book is drawn.

“The Browning School: Celebrating 125 Years,” will be

available in late December and may be purchased for $60

by contacting Christine Bramble at (212) 838-6280, ext. 101, or by picking up an order form at the School’s front desk.

We are pleased to present a sampling of what you will find within this 150-page book.

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f e at u r e

Touting Browning’s Tour Guides:

As

the new school

year began this

Director of Lower School Admission Kelly West and Di-

many members

both of whom guide these “hosts” in introducing Brown-

past September,

of the Browning community, particularly new teachers, may have felt a bit “lost,”

Melanie S. McMahon

“Browning tour guides are our best ambassadors,” said

especially in light of all the wonderful building renovations that transpired

over the summer. Soon, though, they all found their way.

Imagine, though, how a prospective family might feel when they enter the red doors for the first time, hoping to learn

rector of Middle and Upper School Admission Janet Lien, ing to prospective families. Janet explained, “I think it’s important that our prospective families hear from the people served by the School. Plus, practically speaking, with our schedules, Kelly and I could not conduct both interviews and tours. So we are most grateful to our tour guides for their help.”

Kelly adamantly agreed and said, “Having a Browning

all they can about The Browning School. That’s when the

parent’s perspective is unparalleled, as parents are so expe-

into play.

this School. Prospective parents also ask different questions

warmth and knowledge of the School’s tour guides come Tour guides for the Lower School are comprised of par-

ent volunteers who, as ambassadors of the School, offer

their time and expertise to Browning. Several, in fact, have volunteered their time for many years. Middle and Upper School tours are led by Browning boys who are members of the Key Society, a group of students selected by the

rienced and can best describe what it’s like to have a boy in of their tour guides than they do of Janet and me. In fact,

for us as admission directors, the process is a triangle: fam-

ilies hear about the School from parents, and they also hear about Browning from us as former teachers, since we both

administration to represent Browning to admission visi-

“I think it’s important that our prospective

well. Membership in the Key Society recognizes punctual-

families hear from the people served by

tors and to act as hosts for other events at the School as

ity, neatness, cooperation and integrity. Each applicant is

endorsed by a faculty member, his advisor and a Form V member of the Key Society.

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the School.”

–Janet Lien, Director of Middle and Upper School Admission

Director of Lower School Admission Kelly West (left) and Director of Middle and Upper School Admission Janet Lien conduct formal training sessions in September for all Browning tour guides.

Fall/Winter 2013

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28

As parents of Browning boys, the Lower School tour guides are able to anticipate many of the questions and concerns prospective families may have.

taught here. Finally, they hear directly from our faculty at the information sessions we offer.”

Janet noted that once the families return to her office

after their tour, they are much more relaxed and ready to ask and answer questions than when they first arrived.

“Prospective parents and especially their sons are so excited and have so much to say about what they saw on their tour with the boys.”

Kelly added, “Our prospective families are blown away

by the depth of their tour and the level of knowledge our Browning guides possess.”

In September, all tour guides formally meet with Kelly

and Janet for a training session that allows everyone

involved the opportunity to exchange knowledge, ask

questions and become acquainted or reacquainted. There

is a genuine give-and-take between those who have volun-

teered in previous years and the new guides. The exchange

that occurs during the training session is invaluable to both

to give back: it helps build the School, the community and,

in its own small way, shines a tiny light to help guide those parents having to navigate this process. I am so proud to

be an ambassador of Browning, one of the finest schools in the world!

Wendy Brooks P’16, ’18 concurred, “When we toured

at Browning, we all felt the tour gave us such wonderful insight into the School. The whole application process is so daunting, but the tour was the fun part. At the same

time, it was a critical part of our decision-making about

the School. I volunteered to do the Browning tours in the

hope that I could give applicant families the same type of positive experience we had and to convey why we are so

pleased to be a part of the Browning community. It is truly a pleasure to do the tours, meet the prospective parents and help them understand and appreciate all that is so wonderful about the School.”

Parent tour guides especially enjoy sharing stories and

veterans and novices, as these volunteers discuss topics

anecdotes to help personalize the school search, giving

interest to prospective families.

’24 bases her tours on her own past experience: “When I

such as Browning’s curriculum and offerings of particular As parents of Browning boys, the Lower School tour

guides are able to anticipate many of the questions and concerns prospective families may have. As Browning

boys, Key Society members are ideal representatives of the Middle and Upper Schools and a positive reflection of the student body as a whole.

Parent volunteers well recall how overwhelming it was

to once be “in the same shoes” of those they walk beside during their tours. As Victoria Spellman P’17 said when

asked why she chose to be a guide, “It’s a wonderful way

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prospective parents much to relate to. Marisa Brown P’22, toured many schools only six years ago, I remember loving the personal stories of my tour guides. So I always

try to share as many personal experiences and anecdotes

as possible; that can make all the difference. I love taking

parents on tours of Browning for many reasons, but mainly because I love sharing the magic that is Browning! What

goes on ‘inside the red doors’ is so special, and I love giving prospective parents a chance to see that.”

Other parent tour guides agree with this assessment, in-

cluding Gayle Flynn P’12, ’20 who said, “I have been a tour

guide for the past six years. I volunteered for the position

tive families. I love the chance to share Browning with

I have gone on many tours, and I know they can create a

rooms where my son has spent the past nine years, I am re-

because as a parent with three children in private schools, very positive or very negative impression. I hope my tours leave parents with not only a positive impression but a sense of the warmth and friendliness of Browning.”

She has also had some help in introducing Browning

to her visitors, namely, in the form of her sons. “I want to do all I can to impress upon them the best aspects of our special community,” she said. “I’m always proud when parents comment on how focused the boys seem in the

classroom, and I try to emphasize the unique opportunities they have to explore their interests and engage in handson learning. I must admit that I especially enjoy running

into my own sons and getting a sneak peek into their days.

I often stopped my older son, who is now a Browning

graduate, to ask him to speak with touring parents. Parents are always impressed when our Browning gentlemen take the time to answer questions or offer insights into their

school experiences. I enjoy being a tour guide and have

been honored to have this opportunity to serve the Browning community.”

Tour guide Gabi Richter P’18 also feels privileged to be

a volunteer for the School. “It’s an honor to tour prospec-

these parents. Every week, as I walk in and out of the

minded of the incredible relationships and experiences he has had, and I look forward to the years to come.”

Susan Grella P’13, ’19 shares the enthusiasm (often con-

tagious!) of her fellow tour guides, as well as an apprecia-

tion of what her sons have been given. “A friend asked me

to be a tour guide with her, and I just jumped at the chance.

I love Browning’s small, close-knit community and feel

Browning gives our boys the right environment to thrive.

My older son, who graduated this year, is “a lifer” [student

for all 13 years] and a testament to Browning’s ability to instill a lifelong love of learning, part of the School’s mission statement. Through his progression, I have seen firsthand

the wonderful new ideas that are implemented each year to keep Browning moving forward, all of which give our boys

the necessary tools to compete competitively in the ‘outside world.’ I enjoy sharing all my wonderful experiences and enthusiasm for the School with prospective parents.”

Ken Metz P’23, ’24 was perhaps most succinct in explain-

ing his rationale for volunteering: “Because I trust in the

process, believe in the philosophy and admire the faculty!”

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L ow e r S c ho ol Tou r Gu i de s Dianne Batista P’18

May Kang Ho P’25

Wendy Brooks P’16, ’18

Ken Metz P’23, ’24

Celeste Boele P’14

Marisa Brown P’22, ’24

Chanda Chapin P’17, ’20 Gayle Flynn P’12, ’20

Maria Gottdiener P’15 Susan Grella P’13, ’19

Julie Kerwin P’16, ’24 Chrisline Nsouli P’18, P’20, ’22 Kim Oliva P’23, ’25

Gabrielle Richter P’18 Alka Singh P’18, ’20

Victoria Spellman P’17

M i ddl e a n d Up p e r S c ho ol Tou r Gu i de s Form VI, Class of 2014

Form V, Class of 2015

Rafe Harvard

Basil Chalabi

Kevin Barbosa Jacob King

Juan Pablo Llamas-Perochena Peter Maguire

Tom McCormack Spencer Reuben

Christopher Stephens Philip van Scheltinga Alexander Wisowaty Ty York

THE

BUZZER

William Abelt

Peter Florescu

Christopher Keyko

Diego Lopez-Liranzo Alex Makkos

Christopher Russo David Valentin

Brendan Walsh

Jacob King ’14

Diego Lopez-Liranzo ’15

Thomas McCormack ’14

David Valentin ’15

Philip van Scheltinga ’14

Alexander Wisowaty ’14

Ty York ’14

U PPER S CHO OL TOU R GU I DE S SPEA K F ROM EX PER I ENCE Middle and Upper School tours are conducted by Key Society members three times daily. In addition to informing prospective families about the School, the boys also tell

about themselves, including how long they have attended

Browning, the classes they’ve taken, and the sports and/or clubs they participate in. Director of Admission for Middle and Upper School Janet Lien noted that the Form VI boys, in particular, have such busy schedules during their se-

nior year as they apply to college and keep up with their class work, yet they choose to volunteer as guides. “The

time they devote to conducting tours could be spent doing about the School to visitors, the more they fall in love with

Admission Associate Christine Mayr schedules many of the tours taken by prospective families throughout the school year; she is pictured here with Christopher Stephens ’14, a tour guide for Middle and Upper School Admission.

a tour guide is not a chore for them; instead, it’s their way

Dav i d Va l e n t i n ’15

homework, for instance. It seems the more the boys talk

it. In working with them, I have come to realize that being of giving back.”

A number of the tour guides in Forms V and VI shared

their thoughts on what they are most keen to tell prospective parents, as follows:

Jac ob K i ng ’14 I look forward to showing all the steps Browning has been

taking to make advancements in our commitment to STEM; as someone who wants to be an engineer, I feel as though

Browning is making really exciting moves to get students involved in math, technology, engineering and science in creative and fun ways.

D i e g o L op e z -L i r a n z o ’15 I love showing visitors the new cafeteria and explaining what all the new space has allowed us to do there.

I want to show the relationships at Browning and how

each grade is fairly small, allowing for students to develop

strong friendships. I also explain that the relationships built between students and faculty are very personal. I think this really allows for a greater understanding of each other and a closer community as a whole.

P h i l i p va n S c h e lt i ng a ’14 I am most keen to show our visitors the strong sense of

community and tight bonds that exist in the School, as well as the positive direction Browning is moving in.

A l e x a n de r Wi s owat y ’14 One of the things I always try to get across on my tour is

that Browning is a small school with a tight-knit commu-

nity, and that a close student body increases opportunities

Thom a s Mc Cor m ac k ’14

rather than limits them.

I love the tech department and make sure to spend time

Ty Yor k ’14

focusing on STEM and its elements.

I enjoy telling visitors about the benefits of our small community.

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f e at u r e

SE N IOR PROJ EC T S SE RV E GR E AT E R G O OD

Browning Boys

Give Back The month of May marks the coming of summer for many students

at Browning, as well as the beginning of summer reading. It also marks a

somewhat hectic time for Form VI boys, as they tackle their AP examinations and handle any last assignments before the big leap to college. As the

countdown begins for summer and greater things, one important task is still ahead from May 13 to May 30: senior projects. These projects allow students David Valentin ’15

Michael Gabrellian ’13

IN BOTH THE JUNE 2013 AND June 2012 issues of the Grytte, Browning’s student newspaper, articles were written about the senior projects undertaken by Form VI boys in May. Excerpts from each describe this program and its origins.

the opportunity to pursue their passions at a non-profit organization, give

them the chance to take charge of projects, and involve civic engagement with the larger community. Faculty members Elizabeth Cooper-Mullin and Mary

Bosworth suggested non-profit organizations and coordinated the program this past year. Ms. Cooper-Mullin explained that the idea behind the projects is to

give seniors a chance to gain real life experience instead of ending the year with typical schoolwork. “Coming from Browning, students are privileged to receive the education that they do, and these senior projects allow them to give back to organizations that may not necessarily pay volunteers,” she said.

The Form VI boys worked at organizations such as the Susan G. Komen for

the Cure, Habitat for Humanity, Town School, SNACK (Special Needs Activity

Center for Kids) and even the New York Public Library. [See sidebar on page 34

for a list of boys and their respective projects in 2013.] Ms. Cooper-Mullin noted that this year was particularly special as seniors found their own organizations outside of the large contact list provided to them. “I think there is that sense of giving back here at Browning. It is the culmination of all seniors’ efforts,” said Ms. Cooper-Mullin.

–David Valentin ’15

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The seemingly endless list of opportunities allows each student to select an organization that is both appealing and unique.

The idea for the senior projects was created by Mr. Salomon, Browning’s

former chair of the math department, now retired. He had been asked by a

student at one point late in May why the Form VI students were still attending classes. While all Browning boys are encouraged to make the most of every

minute during their lives as students, they had all been accepted to college by late spring and had little motivation to work hard. In response, Mr. Salomon thought of a more productive way the students could spend their final few

weeks in the Upper School. He determined that the purpose of the senior project is for Form VI students to perform community service for the last three weeks of the year for about 30 to 35 hours a week.

There are many various options presented to each class. Some students who

transferred to Browning go back to volunteer at their old schools to work in

classrooms, offices or the physical education departments. Other students may work with a non-profit organization affiliated with the arts, hunger services, animal rights, museums or environmental issues. Popular organizations are

those that the Browning community is familiar with, such as the ones the School worked with during the annual community service day with the Nightingale-

Bamford School. The seemingly endless list of opportunities allows each student to select an organization that is both appealing and unique. The process of

finding a specific volunteer project for each senior is rather rigorous. It needs to be an organization with workers willing to accommodate new volunteers for a

relatively short period of time. For pragmatic reasons, it is also important to find something in the New York region.

Shortly after completing three weeks of community service, each Form VI

boy gives a presentation to the entire Browning faculty and administration, as well as the Form V class, outlining what his senior project was and what he learned from it.

Instead of completing their year with the routine exam week following

Memorial Day, the Form VI class is immersed in a different environment not directly affiliated with Browning. The change in scenery makes many of the Form VI students look back at their time at Browning in a different way. –Michael Gabrellian ’13

Fall/Winter 2013

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34

2013 SENIOR PROJECTS: A CHANGE OF SCENERY At the conclusion of the program in which the Class of

offered to Form V boys in the audience; that is, consider

commented on the pride they displayed, and rightfully so.

later, and choose to work with an organization you think you

2013 described their experiences, Headmaster Clement

Head of Upper School Mr. Reynolds reiterated the advice G. William Beasley SNACK & Friends (Special Needs Activity Center for Kids) Gregory A. Belgorod Channel 13 Alexander J. Bendo Greater N.Y.C. Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure Evan M. Blumenthal Jewish Community Center (JCC) of Mid-Westchester Colin P. Carter Town School Jeremy Chen George Jackson Academy Miles A. Collins Habitat for Humanity Jack R. Dubinsky Maria Mitchell Aquarium, Nantucket, Mass.

Frederick W. K. Edwards SNACK & Friends (Special Needs Activity Center for Kids)

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doing this project with a friend, plan for it earlier rather than will really like that is located fairly close to where you live.

Michael J. Gabrellian Armenian General Benevolent Union Benjamin D. Jacobs New York Public Library Matthew J. Lippa Lighthouse Jose L. Llamas SNACK & Friends (Special Needs Activity Center for Kids) Zachary J. Magill St. Luke’s School Morgan A. Miller Nayoricans Poetry Cafe Efrain Morales St. Luke’s School Adam B. Nebenzahl Epiphany Nursery School Farouk O. Oni Nuyorican Poetry Cafe John Adam Plenge Go Project

Paul E. Pricop Susan G. Komen for the Cure Declan M. Quillen SNACK & Friends (Special Needs Activity Center for Kids) Noah S. Regen The Brotherhood Synogogue Julian J. Rodriguez Lighthouse Lucas M. Schwartz Youth Represent Wilfred O. Wallis Town School Spencer Wolfe SNACK & Friends (Special Needs Activity Center for Kids) Kevin Wu MASBIA Soup Kitchen

from the archives

Harold Fowler McCormick

As this Buzzer headed to press in the fall, it was harvest time in many parts of the United States. From sowing to reaping, many of today’s farmers utilize the latest equipment to manage their crops and may, in fact, thank the McCormick family, founders of the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, for their innovative contributions to American agriculture. School records show that Harold Fowler McCormick, Class of 1891, enrolled at Browning in 1888, the year of its founding. –M.M.

Harold Fowler McCormick was

rival was the Deer-

ried Edith Rockefeller, the youngest

pany; in 1902 the two

born on May 2, 1872. In 1895 he mardaughter of philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, who was the father of

John D. Rockefeller, Jr., the School’s

first student and member of the Class of 1893.

Harold’s father, Cyrus, according

to Lemelson-MIT Program’s website (dedicated to honoring great inventors) “made one of the most sig-

nificant contributions to American United States prosperity with his

invention of the horse-drawn reaper in 1831.”

When Cyrus died in 1884, his

son, Cyrus Jr., Harold’s brother, became president of the McCormick

Headshot and poster photo credit (above): Wisconsin Historical Society

Harvesting Machine Company.

Throughout the 1880s and 1890s,

the company retained its position as the leading agricultural equipment

manufacturer. The company’s chief

ing Harvester Com-

competitors merged to form the Inter-

national Harvester Company. Harold

became chairman of the board of Inter-

national Harvester Company in 1935,

replacing his older brother, Cyrus Jr.,

and presiding until his death.

Harold was also

the third inaugural

trustee of the Rockefeller Foundation

and a trustee of the

Rockefeller-created

University of Chicago. Classic film

ous promotion of his second wife’s

Orson Welles credited Harold’s zeal-

feature film, “Citizen Kane.”

buffs may be interested to know that

operatic career for inspiring his first

Pre-Primary boys took a hayride and picked apples in October at Dr. Davies Farm (family-run since 1891) in Congers, N.Y. They are posed by a 60-plus-year-old tractor bearing the name and words, “McCormick/ Farmall made in USA by International Harvester Company.”

Fall/Winter 2013

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36

the local buzz

BROWNING BOYS TAKE ON WORLD MARATHON CHALLENGE As reported in the Summer issue

York Road Runners CEO Mary Wittenberg joined by

the Children spoke to Browning

country coach and eight time top-10 finisher at the U.S.

of the Buzzer, Jason Wood of Save boys in May about this organization and its efforts. Specifically,

Mr. Wood discussed Save the ChilChris Dunham, Middle School Head

dren’s World Marathon Challenge which raises awareness of World

Food Day, held every October, and the urgent need to

fight childhood hunger and malnutrition. At the time, I indicated that plans were underway for The Browning School boys to join with other New York City students in organizing an event to raise funds as part of the World Marathon Challenge.

Happily, plans came to fruition, and Browning

led the way in this initiative. At an assembly in September, Mark Shriver, senior vice president for U.S.

John Horenkamp, former St. John’s University cross

Track and Field National Championships, along with

running Master’s Hall of Famer and NYRR’s Team for Kids coach Sid Howard.

To kick off the event, the day before the race, Form I

boys were honored to conduct a Skype chat with current world record holder Wilson Kipsang of

Kenya. Wilson recently broke the record at the Berlin Marathon with a time of 2:03:23 and is the only man with three marathon performances in the all-time

top 20! He was nothing short of inspirational as he

spoke to the boys about training, focus, speed and his admiration for Browning’s participation in the World Marathon Challenge.

Mr. Shriver, who was also the guest speaker at

programs at Save the Children, accompanied by Mr.

Browning’s 2013 graduation exercises, is the son of

October 17, 126 Middle School boys participated,

ing the assembly, he spoke about his father’s influence

Wood, made this exciting announcement, and on

raising close to $9,000! The boys were able to set the North American school marathon record at 2:15:03!

The boys marked off a 200-meter race track on the west side of Central Park’s Great Lawn oval. The

Browning boys raced like true champions, thanks

to the expert coaching of Browning parent and New

Sergeant Shriver ’34, founder of the Peace Corps. Durupon him, emphasizing that we must all endeavor, every day, to engage in “small acts of hope,” as his

father called them. He implored the boys to remember

that everyone has different skills and that we are all capable of goodness. “Be nice to others, including those you might often take for granted. If you see someone

Middle School Head Chris Dunham (right) and New York Road Runner’s Team for Kids coach Sid Howard.

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on the street who is homeless, consider helping out in a food pantry.”

Browning boys listened eagerly at the September

assembly and were pleased to tell Mr. Shriver about

their own efforts to perform selfless acts on a regular basis: some work in soup kitchens, while others

donate presents to children in need or volunteer to

help children with disabilities play a sport, etc. I was also proud to tell him of the food drive the School sponsors at Thanksgiving time. Needless to say,

Mr. Shriver was thrilled to hear all this, saying each story was “a fantastic example of how we can help others all year long.”

According to the group’s website, Save the Chil-

dren is “the leading independent organization creating lasting change in the lives of children in need in the United States and around the world.”

In September, Mark Shriver, senior vice president for U.S. programs at Save the Children, spoke at Browning about the World Marathon Challenge.

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FOUR NEW TRUSTEES JOIN BROWNING’S BOARD OF TRUSTEES Paul A. Burke, headmaster of Nightingale-Bamford School, began his career in 1996 as a

college counselor at the Salisbury School in Connecticut. In 2000,

he joined the Packer Collegiate

trustees, specifically evaluating Trinity’s strategic plan and new ways to engage alumni.

Mr. Kwok and his wife, Vicki, have a son, Alexander, in

the Class of 2021 at Browning, and a 10-year-old daughter, Abigail, at Brearley.

David N. Steck is global head of foreign exchange

Institute in Brooklyn, where he

and a managing director at Nomura Securities Co., Ltd.

years before becoming a dean

Latin American Foreign Exchange coverage under his lead-

was college advisor for three

of students; he currently sits on Packer’s board of trustees.

An American history teacher for more than a decade,

Mr. Burke graduated from Williams College and later

earned a master’s degree in educational administration

from Columbia University Teachers College, where he was inducted into the Kappa Delta Pi honor society.

Mr. Burke and his wife, Christine Rowe Burke, a senior

marketing executive; have twin five-year-old sons and a three-year-old daughter.

Ling S. Kwok is a partner at KP Capital Partners, a

New York-based private equity fund that invests in small and middle-market companies. The firm makes investments in privately owned companies across a range of

Nomura, a global investment bank, recently expanded its

ership. Prior to joining Nomura, Mr. Steck spent 11 years at Deutsche Bank. He graduated from Boston College with a B.S. in marketing and earned a master’s degree in finance from Boston College’s Wallace E. Carrol Graduate School of Management.

Mr. Steck’s wife, Tonia, recently joined TD Securities as

head of foreign exchange hedge fund sales for the U.S. They have two sons at Browning, Dylan ’21 and Harrison ’24.

Deborah S. van Eck graduated from Drew University

with a B.A. in political science and was previously an in-

vestment professional at Piper Jaffray in St. Paul, Minn., for eight years. She is actively involved with the Park Avenue Armory, serving on various event committees, and is as-

industries, always seeking to partner with proven manage-

sistant treasurer of the Jericho Project’s board of trustees.

School (West Hartford, Conn.) and graduated from Trinity

copal School, where her son, Willem ’25, attended. She also

ment teams. Mr. Kwok attended The Kingswood-Oxford College with a B.A. in economics. In March of 2013, he

joined the Trinity College Board of Fellows, an advisory body that provides counsel and service to the board of

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Recently, Ms. van Eck became a board member at the Epishas a daughter, Kathryn, aged three.

Ms. van Eck’s late husband, Derek, was a principal and

chief investment officer at the mutual fund firm Van Eck Associates, founded in 1955 by John van Eck, Derek’s father.

The Browning School welcomed four new members to its Board of Trustees, including (L-R) Ling S. Kwok P’21, David N. Steck P’21, ’24, Deborah S. van Eck P’25 and Paul A. Burke, inset photo.

Past presidents of the Parents Association attended the reception, including, (L to R) in front row: Gail Vareilles, Tricia Langton, Susan Kessler, Florence Metzger-Berney, Pat Hemminger; second row: Toni Marie Fleischer, Sharon Jacob, Marita Altman, Stephanie Solar; back row: Christine Bramble, Gail Mason, Christine Stonbely.

HONORING PAST LEADERSHIP Board of Trustees President Jim Chanos hosted a reception

for past Trustees at his home in September, acknowledging their leadership and direction as Browning celebrates its 125th anniversary.

(L to R): Board of Trustees President Jim Chanos, past Parents Association President Gail Mason, Headmaster Clement, past Parents Association President Stephanie Solar.

ASSEMBLIES OFFER OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BROWNING’S HISTORY During three assemblies in the beginning of the school

politicians, journalists and those in the entertainment

presented Lower, Middle and Upper School boys an

in the movie, “The Prisoners.”

year, Director of Institutional Advancement Marty Haase informative history lesson of The Browning School as

business, including actor Paul Dano who recently starred Mr. Haase tailored each of his programs to the

it celebrates its 125th. With a narration accompanied

various grade levels; all three of his audiences seemed

the original school and some of the well-known alumni

storied past and illustrious alumni.

by archival photos, Mr. Haase described the location of who have attended Browning, including a number of

to thoroughly enjoy hearing so much about Browning’s

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Laura Alterman

Matthew Bratnick

Bradley Droke

Hallie Fischberg

Casey Harwood

Malory Hom

Leigh Hurwitz

Susan Kehoe

Janet Lien

Jeff Lisciandrello

BROWNING WELCOMES NEW FACULTY Fourth grade teacher Laura Alterman

most recently served as a second grade associate teacher at The Chapin School where she helped instruct social studies, reading, writing and word study,

facilitated student-run book clubs and

co-taught a math group of 14 students,

dents with diverse academic and social

New York University. Leigh has worked

from The George Washington Univer-

earned a B.S. from Boston University

Reanimation Library in addition to serv-

among other duties. Laura earned a B.S. sity and a M.S. in childhood education from Hunter College of The City University of New York.

needs in an integrated classroom. Hallie and an M.S. from Teachers College at Columbia University.

Casey Harwood joins Browning as

at the New York Public Library and the

ing in various positions at organizations including the Free Music Archive, The

Uni Project and Shout It Out Loud Music, among others.

Matthew Bratnick joins Brown-

an associate first grade teacher, having

teacher. Prior to coming here, he taught

School where she taught reading and

as a third grade teacher; she previously

and individuals. She also planned and

teacher in 2011 and 2012. Susan, who

ing as an Upper School mathematics math, including geometry and pre-

calculus, at The Brearley School. He

also served as a math teacher at various other schools in New York City, includ-

recently worked at Manhattan Country writing to small groups of students

taught math lessons relating to the measurement unit. Casey is currently work-

ing Convent of the Sacred Heart for 10

ing toward her M.S. in early childhood

ham University and an M.A. from New

College of Education. She earned her

years. Matthew earned a B.S. from FordYork University.

Bradley Droke, technology teacher,

and elementary education at Bank Street B.A. from Middlebury College.

Malory Hom serves Browning as

Susan Kehoe returns to Browning

worked at the School as a substitute

served as an education consultant for

many years, has taught fourth and sixth

grade students in various school systems in Connecticut, Georgia and New York.

She earned a B.A. from Boston College and an M.A. from Lesley College.

Janet Lien returns to Browning as

recently earned his master’s degree

an associate Pre-Primary teacher. She

Director of Middle and Upper School

versity, after earning his B.A. from The

teacher at Friends Seminary where she

as she served for seven years here as a sci-

from Teachers College, Columbia Uni-

University of Memphis. Bradley’s most recent work experience was gained at

Presbyterian Day School in Memphis, Tenn., where he supported classroom

teachers with the integration of technol-

was most recently a first grade assistant taught literacy, math, social studies and science and actively integrated tech-

nology, including SMART Boards and

iPads, into classroom lessons. Malory is a graduate of New Paltz, State Univer-

ogy, including Web 2.0 tools, SMART

sity of New York, where she earned a

nology and websites.

College of The City University of New

Boards and other learning-based techAn associate teacher for both sec-

tions of second grade students at

Browning, Hallie Fischberg most

B.S. She is currently studying at Hunter York, where she is a candidate for a

master’s degree in childhood literacy.

Leigh Hurwitz, assistant librarian,

recently served as an upper school

earned a master’s degree in library and

of Manhattan where she taught stu-

tute, as well as a B.F.A. in drama from

learning specialist at the IDEAL School

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information science from the Pratt Insti-

Admission. She is a familiar face to many, ence teacher for all three division levels.

Before Browning, Janet taught at St. Da-

vid’s School (Raleigh, N.C.) and worked

at Teachers College, Columbia University.

She earned a B.A. from Bowdoin College and an M.A. from Teachers College, Columbia University.

Jeff Lisciandrello, who teaches fourth

grade, most recently taught and coached at Little Red School House and The

Pingry School. Jeff earned a B.A. from

Williams College and has taught social

studies and English to middle and high school students, as well as elementary

music, throughout his teaching career.

UPPER SCHOOL BOYS INSPIRED BY WOUNDED WARRIORS In October, the Upper School boys attended one of the most inspiring assemblies ever. Head of Upper School Jim Reyn-

olds reports: “Two players on the Wounded Warriors Amputee Softball Team (WWAST), Matthew Kinsey and Zachary

Briseno, accompanied by David Van Sleet, general manager of the team, talked to the boys about their experiences as

soldiers and their triumphs over significant adversity. They

told stories of taking their tragic circumstances as amputees and building new lives that have earned them spots on the WWAST. While both wear prosthetic devices, they are mobile, agile and matter-of-fact about their injuries sustained while serving our country in the Afghanistan and Iraq

theatres. The exhibition of courage, perseverance and vigor presented by these gentlemen was nothing short of inspi-

rational.” Another WWAST player, Joshua Wege, joined his teammates after the assembly; all four guests chatted with the boys later in the cafeteria.

Mr. Reynolds added, “Browning is most grateful to

Karen and Rob Reuben (P’14) and their son Spencer ’14 (pictured here with the WWAST players) for their

generosity and assistance in making this incredible

assembly possible. There is not a person in attendance

who will not remember this assembly for a long time and continue to be inspired by the example set by these fine young men.”

UNIQUELY BROWNING: 20TH ANNUAL COLLEGE TRIP In September, Forms V and VI boys

University, Hobart and William Smith

20th annual college trip. Organized and

The final day included visits to Ithaca Col-

boarded a bus to embark on Browning’s

Mr. Pelz and former Head of

Colleges and the University of Rochester.

Upper School Keith Frome conceived

led by Director of College Guidance

lege and Cornell University.

Mr. Pelz orchestrating ever since.

leges or universities in central New York

the trip created a wonderful opportunity

along on the trip were Upper School

variety of colleges, ranging from a small

Sanford Pelz, the boys visited seven colstate over the course of three days. Also Head James Reynolds, English Depart-

ment Chair Michael Ingrisani and classics teacher Brett Wisniewski. On the first day of the trip, students toured and dined at

Hamilton College and Colgate University.

The next day the students visited Syracuse

Mr. Reynolds noted, “As designed,

for the Form V and VI boys to explore a

private institution (Hamilton with 1,800 undergrads) to mid-size schools (Col-

gate with 3,000 and Ithaca with 6,000)

to a large city university (Syracuse with 13,000 and Cornell with 14,000) and to

of the college trip 20 years ago, with Mr. Pelz is pleased to acknowledge

the support he received in the ensuing years from subsequent Heads of

Upper School Kolia O’Connor and

Matt Horvat. Today, of course, he and Mr. Reynolds work together to see

that the Form V and VI boys make

the best of this unique opportunity.

see schools in different settings.”

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FIFTH GRADE BOYS ENJOY ANNUAL TRIP TO MYSTIC SEAPORT The fifth grade boys enjoyed a terrific trip to Mystic Seaport, Mystic, Conn., in September,

according to Head of Middle

School Chris Dunham. He and the boys, accompanied by teachers

Jeff Lisciandrello and Dan Ragsdale, explored the historical seaport,

preserved as it was when a whaling community. They also visited

the Mystic Aquarium and the

Mashantucket Pequot Museum.

Mr. Dunham summed it all up by

saying, “The group had a blast and the weather was just perfect!”

BROWNING BOYS AND TEACHERS HELP PLANT 20,000 TREES In October, a group of 57 Browning students, parents and faculty took part in a large tree-planting event organized by the Million Trees NYC organization.

Dean of Students and Science Department Chair

Sam Keany provides this report: “Browning joined

13 other Green Schools Alliance members and other community groups to plant 20,000 small trees and shrubs over the course of two hours in Rockaway

Community Park on the shores of Jamaica Bay. The

trees will help this region resist erosion and mitigate the effects of climate change weather extremes. The Browning group consisted of boys from each divi-

sion of the School. The event was blessed with great

weather, concluding with a fun family barbecue and football toss.”

Editor’s Note: Please visit the Browning website to view additional photos of many items in The Local Buzz.

www.browning.edu THE

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CORRECTION

Akshay Swani ’21 was inadvertently omitted from the Summer Buzzer’s Lower School Citizenship fourth grade award winners.

FORMER LIFE MAGAZINE BUREAU CHIEF DISCUSSES ACQUISITION OF ZAPRUDER FILM OF JFK’S ASSASSINATION WITH UPPER SCHOOL BOYS Richard B. “Dick” Stolley, Los Angeles bureau chief for LIFE

magazine when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated 50 years ago on November 22, 1963, was a special guest speaker at Browning’s Upper School assembly on

Jim Reynolds and Browning parent Duncan Edwards,

Richard B. “Dick” Stolley (center) spoke at Browning about his 1963 purchase on behalf of LIFE magazine of Abraham Zapruder’s film of JFK’s assassination. He is pictured with Browning parent Duncan Edwards (left) and Head of Upper School Jim Reynolds.

International. Mr. Stolley, author of “The Day Kennedy

come to his office the next morning. Because he arrived an

of Abraham Zapruder’s film of JFK’s assassination. Time

time Mr. Zapruder screened it for two Secret Service agents.

November 20, thanks to the efforts of Head of Upper School father of Findlay ’14 and the chief executive for Hearst

Died,” spoke about his purchase on behalf of LIFE magazine describes this 26-second film, five decades later, as “one of the 20th century’s indispensable historical records.”

Mr. Reynolds explained, “I worked with Mr. Stolley

hour early, Mr. Stolley was able to view the film at the same

“I decided instantly: there is no way I am going to leave this office without that film.”

Mr. Stolley described how he left the room while

at Time years ago, and a conversation with Mr. Edwards

Mr. Zapruder showed other reporters the film. While he

coming to New York for the 50th anniversary and agreed

assistant, about high school basketball; both were from

prompted me to pursue him. Fortunately, Mr. Stolley was to come to Browning as well. We’re very lucky. It was as if ‘history’ had walked through the front doors of Browning

waited, he chatted with Lillian Rogers, Mr. Zapruder’s Illinois and fans of the game.

After promising him that LIFE would not exploit the

that day; indeed, a special moment for the School.”

film, Mr. Stolley offered Mr. Zapruder $50,000 for the print

events from November 22, 1963, forward. After viewing

other reporters banging on the door, Mr. Zapruder quietly

Mr. Stolley screened a documentary that explains the

the video (essentially an interview he gave during a summer session for journalists at Yale University),

Mr. Stolley entertained questions from the boys and their

teachers, all of whom, as Mr. Reynolds noted, were visibly moved by the tragic nature of the footage.

The documentary begins with the fact that Mr. Stolley

flew to Dallas immediately after the president was shot. As he was preparing to cover the assassination, he received a phone call from Patsy Swank, a Dallas-based LIFE

freelancer. “The news she had was absolutely electrifying.

She said that a businessman had taken an 8-mm camera out to Dealey Plaza and photographed the assassination. I said,

‘What’s his name?’ She said, ‘[The reporter who told her the

news] didn’t spell it out, but I’ll tell you how he pronounced it. It was Zapruder.’ I picked up the Dallas phone book and

literally ran my finger down the Zs, and it jumped out at me — the name spelled exactly the way Patsy had pronounced

rights, the highest amount he was authorized to. With the

told him, “Let’s do it.” After typing a brief contract then and there, Mr. Stolley took the film and left through the factory’s

back door. Days later, LIFE purchased the film and TV rights from Mr. Zapruder for another $100,000.

Many years after Mr. Zapruder’s death in 1970,

Mr. Stolley spoke with his business partner, Erwin Schwartz, who asked him if he knew why he, rather than anyone else, was successful in obtaining the film all those years ago. The two discussed the fact that while other reporters badgered

Ms. Rogers, he had not, plus he promised that LIFE would not exploit the film. Then Mr. Schwartz asked the same

question a second time, answering aloud without waiting for a reply: “Because you were a gentleman.” Mr. Stolley

told the Browning boys that he always dressed well, too, in suit and tie, just as they do. “I was in the right place at the right time, but I also did the right thing.”

LIFE sold the film back to Mr. Zapruder’s family for

it. Zapruder, comma, Abraham.”

$1 in 1975; the federal government bought the film from

garment factory and 8-mm film buff, who invited him to

camera that captured it belong to the National Archives.

Mr. Stolley contacted Mr. Zapruder, co-owner of a

the family for $16 million in 1999. Today this film and the

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f e at u r e

2013 Book Fair

Great Books and Great Company!

A

s is tradition, the annual Book Fair in October

Environment”). The next day, families and a number of

featured a panel of authors, including two

also offered food, face painting and a bake sale.

began with an evening cocktail party and alumni, who have written on a variety of

Browning faculty and their children visited the fair which In addition to organizing this event each year with the

topics. Moderated by Head Librarian Sarah Murphy,

help of the librarians, Parents Association and mainte-

(“Stallside: My Life with Horses and Other Characters”),

Arnold, Artie Bennett, Brianne Farley, Lenore Look and

the panelists (see photo) included Matthew Eliott ’73

Victoria Loustalot (“This Is How You Say Goodbye”),

Rebecca Ffrench (“Sweet Home”) and Luis Fernando Llosa ’86 (“Beyond Winning: Smart Parenting in a Toxic Sports

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nance staff, Sarah arranged for visits from authors Andrew Jeffrey Salane. On the following Monday, families were

invited back to accompany their sons during the fair’s class visiting day.

Above: Book Fair panelists included (L to R): Matthew Eliott ’73, Victoria Loustalot, Rebecca Ffrench and Luis Fernando Llosa ’86.

Head Librarian Sarah Murphy served as the moderator.

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2013 Faculty Share Thoughts on the

Common Book

S

ummer reading of the

Common Book unites The

Browning School constituents in a common cause. Faculty,

to be young? And in love?’ After

individuals.”

It is. ‘Eleanor & Park’ reminded

as a community of curious

The 2013 Common Book

staff, Trustees and boys entering

Committee of nine chose

experience of reading the same

Park,” a young adult novel, as

Forms II to VI participate in this book. As Head Librarian Sarah Murphy notes, “The shared

enterprise of the Common Book

is intended to spark conversation and discourse across disciplines and divisions. The endeavor

is meant to provide collective

knowledge and understanding,

and most importantly, it is simply

THE

a way for us to join together

BUZZER

Rainbow Rowell’s “Eleanor &

this year’s selection. Author John

Green, in reviewing Ms. Rowell’s work for The New York Times,

wrote: “Early in the novel, Park’s

a moment, he adds, ‘Is that right?’ me not just what it’s like to be

young and in love with a girl, but

also what it’s like to be young and in love with a book.” Many of

Browning’s faculty would agree, remarking that the book was

“riveting” and a “page-turner.”

Ms. Murphy, along with fifth

English teacher asks him why

grade teacher Dan Ragsdale

400 years. With Eleanor looking

Reynolds, led a discussion of the

‘Romeo and Juliet’ has survived on, Park says: ‘Because people

want to remember what it’s like

and Upper School Head Jim

Common Book as part of a full faculty meeting in September.

Common Book Committee members (L to R): Elizabeth Cooper-Mullin, Dan Ragsdale, Susan Levine, Elizabeth Suárez, Sarah Murphy, Jim Reynolds, Patricia Flynn, Mike Ingrisani and Stephanie Seto.

Ms. Murphy hopes this particular

students to compare “Eleanor and

Headmaster Steve Clement

faculty and boys to discuss the

summer book, “Old School.”

(seven pages’ worth) during

book will prompt Browning’s

importance of communicating

Park” with their other assigned

Mr. Ragsdale commented on

with others and sharing common

his plan to incorporate the themes

of literature will help our boys

classroom, noting that “the social,

life experiences. ”I hope this work speak to someone who might be

different than they are,” she said.

Mr. Reynolds appreciated

the fact that Ms. Rowell tapped

of the Common Book in his own family and coming of age issues

in the book are all relevant to fifth grade boys.”

Remarking on Browning’s

into the big issues that teens deal

Diversity Statement which notes

moments and complex “pieces”

celebrate the varied appearances,

with by writing about those small of our teenage years we can all

relate to. In fact, he may ask his

that the School seeks to aspire “to

compared his copious note-taking the course of the Common Book discussion to that of art teacher

Zack Davis, who chose to draw and sketch his notes as he

listened in. Mr. Clement thanked the Common Book Committee members and Ms. Murphy for their thoroughness and hard work.

abilities, perspectives and values

that characterize our community,”

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fine and p e r f o r m i n g a rt s

FORM IV BOYS ATTEND METROPOLITAN OPERA October 8 proved a gorgeous fall day for trekking through Central Park to the Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center. Music Director David

Prestigiacomo, accompanied by English teacher Kevin Dearinger, led

his Form IV class to the final dress rehearsal of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” as part of their study of opera this past fall.

The boys were required to write a five-paragraph review of the

three-act production, which was sung in English. Prior to entering

the theatre, Mr. Prestigiacomo spoke to the boys about this produc-

tion, preparing them as an audience for this particular opera. (In fact,

one on-looker was so impressed with his briefing that he asked which school he and the boys hailed from!) Mr. Dearinger also addressed

the class, offering his assistance should they have questions about the opera in contrast to the original play.

This adaptation of Shakespeare’s romance returned to the Met for

the first time in 10 years, in celebration of the composer Benjamin Britten’s centennial. Soprano Kathleen Kim sang the role of Tytania, with countertenor Lestyn Davies as Oberon, the fairies’ Queen and King.

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MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS PRESENT FALL SHAKESPEAREAN PRODUCTION On the heels of the Form IV

trip to the Met for the operatic production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Browning’s Middle School boys chose

LATIN STUDENTS EXPLORE GALLERIES AT MET

this same play for their fall

Classics Department Chair John Young and his Form I Latin

Shakespearean production.

Metropolitan Museum of Art in October. The boys viewed

laughter as they took in one of the bard’s best-

particular interest.

an illustration by Akshay Singh ’20.

students explored the Greek and Roman galleries of the

The School community enjoyed two evenings of

the many artifacts in these galleries and sketched pieces of

loved works. This year’s publicity poster featured

LOWER SCHOOL BOYS ARE FEATURED COMPOSERS Lower School music teacher Lucy Warner was pleased to announce that two Lower

School boys, Jason DaSilva in grade three

and Connor McCarthy in grade four, were

featured composers at a Composer’s Voice

concert at Jan Hus Church in Manhattan in late September.

Ms. Warner notes that each boy’s origi-

nal musical selection was performed by a

professional musician as part of a one-hour concert of new works. Jason’s “The AT-26 Xavante” (a Brazilian military plane) for

solo clarinet was performed by his father, Doug DaSilva, a professional guitarist,

clarinetist and music educator. Connor’s

piece, “Summer Melody,” was performed by cellist Suzanne Mueller.

Composer’s Voice concerts are produced

by Mr. DaSilva twice a month, highlighting new composers while using proceeds and donations of goods to help the homeless.

FOURTH GRADE BOYS VISIT EGYPTIAN WING OF THE MET The fourth grade boys recently spent the morning at the Metropolitan

Museum of Art in conjunction with their study of Ancient Egypt. As they

explored the Egyptian wing of the museum with fourth grade teacher Bill Cantwell, they were able to point out many gods, pharaohs and artifacts they recognized from their readings. Art Department Chair Nik Vlahos spoke to the students about drawing the sarcophagi from observation,

advising them to focus on the major parts first and the details later. He

asked them to pay special attention to the overall shape, face and placement of the hands when making their clay sarcophagus. The boys completed pencil sketches that will be used back in the art classroom.

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summer stipends

EACH YEAR, THE PARENTS ASSOCIATION AWARDS stipends to faculty members who apply for specific projects, such as summer travel, research or study. Each recipient writes an article for the Buzzer about his or her project; two history teachers describe their experiences in this issue.

The Romans and Churchill Two images were particularly stark: the

sought-after cultural events of the year in London, and it

side; the family frozen in time: father,

were offered into the day-to-day existence of Romans in the

soldier on the beach, his weapons by his mother, young child with arms raised in abject terror. No, this wasn’t a 21st

century scene from Syria or Iraq, it was Gerald J. Protheroe

Pompeii and Herculaneum, two cities

in southern Italy in 79 A.D. Late in that

year Mount Vesuvius had erupted, sending a mushroom

cloud of superheated rock and gas miles into the air. Over a 24-hour period, pyroclastic surges extinguished human life

as we know it in the area surrounding it. These startling im-

certainly lived up to its reputation. Remarkable insights

golden age of empire: their religious practice, the function of women in society, the role of entertainment and food

and drink. There were remarkable frescoes and mosaics

and portraits such as the fresco depicting the baker Terentius Neo and his wife, which provided the frontispiece to the exhibition. The exhibition also displayed disturbing

erotica such as the marble statue of Pan and the goat found at Herculaneum!

One of the most important features of the Browning’s

ages can be seen at the remarkable “Life and Death in Pom-

Form III history curriculum is its focus on the expansion

London. Tickets to the exhibition were at a premium, and I

urban phenomenon. What struck me most forcibly at the

peii and Herculaneum” exhibition at the British Museum in reserved mine two months before traveling to London this summer. I could see the exhibition on July 31, and I had to be there at 2:50 p.m. sharp!

The expansion of empire in the ancient world is a major

theme of the Form III history curriculum at The Brown-

ing School. Central to the expansion of the Roman Empire

of Christianity in the ancient world. Christianity was an exhibition was the complete absence of any evidence of

Christian symbols in two major Roman cities five decades after Christ’s death. Clearly the evolution of Christianity

was a painstaking affair, and it was evidently embryonic in 79 A.D. especially in the western empire.

In London I also had the opportunity to see a very dif-

was the Roman City, and this summer, with the help of the

ferent exhibition, this time at the Cabinet War Rooms near

able features of the Roman world in Great Britain: the ex-

the war rooms, fragments of British history, which dot the

Browning Parents Association, I set off to visit two remarkhibition at the British museum in London and Chedworth Roman Villa in Gloucestershire.

The Pompeii and Herculaneum exhibition, which

ran from March 28 to September 29, was one of the most

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Downing Street. As I walked down Whitehall towards

World History curriculum in Form IV and the Advanced European History curriculum in Form VI, came to mind.

As I passed the banqueting house built by Inigo Jones

with its paean to absolute monarchy painted by Peter Paul

Ch edworth Roma n v illa, built in a beau tifu l Cotswold combe, was a glor ious ex ample of th e golden age of Roma n Br itain.

Rubens on its ceiling, I thought of Charles I as he exited its

Roman villa. The expansion of Rome was, of course, built

ter’s day in 1649.

civilization, especially the growth of Roman cities and

windows onto the scaffold to be executed on that cold winThe Cabinet War Rooms in Whitehall are associated

indelibly with Winston Churchill and the Second World

War, and they remain exactly as they were when the war ended in 1945. This was a veritable immersion course

in Churchilliana! The Cabinet War Rooms served as the

command center from which Churchill directed the war,

complete with its transatlantic telephone room and prime minister’s toilet lock on the door to disguise its function.

The exhibition was in some ways quite overwhelming focusing on every aspect as it did of Churchill’s career. The most impressive feature for me were the oral interviews

recorded after the war by secretaries, shorthand typists and ancillary staff who worked in the rooms with the prime

minister. Churchill was not an easy man to live with. The

testimonies provided a fascinating insight into his leader-

ship. As I left the Churchill bunker, I thought of Syria and Churchill’s words: “Those who can win a war well can

rarely make a good peace, and those who could make a good peace would never have won the war.”

Escaping London, I headed back into the country, into

bucolic Gloucestershire to see the remarkable Chedworth

on brutal conquest but was also accompanied by Roman the extension of Roman citizenship. Chedworth Roman

villa, built in a beautiful Cotswold combe, was a glorious

example of the golden age of Roman Britain. The villa had

been built in the fourth century and abandoned in the fifth

presumably after the legions left Roman Britain in 410 A.D. The villa was discovered in 1864. The “excavation” which

followed was a mixed blessing as the site was “cleared” to

build a Victorian shooting lodge. Nevertheless, Chedworth is a real gem with its mosaics and baths beautifully

preserved around the lodge. In the on-site museum was an octagonal basin which had decorated the ancient

spring and which fed the villa. Inscribed on it were the

Greek letters of Christ’s name. Here in a microcosm was

the evidence, absent at Pompeii and Herculaneum, of the recurring conflict over belief which dominated the later Roman Empire.

I am most grateful to the Parents Association for their

support of this project which helps so much to illuminate the richer facets of the history curriculum.

—By Gerald J. Protheroe Ph.D., Chair, Department of History

Fall/Winter Summer 2013

55

56

Exploring Alaska: “An Epic Adventure” Alaska typically gets short shrift in U.S.

Dalton Highway. Known to Alaskans as the “haul road”

different name, as the way Asians mi-

road featured in “Ice Road Truckers,” it begins about 85

history textbooks. It’s mentioned, by a

grated here to become Native Americans, and then again in referring to Seward’s

Folly, oil and Sarah Palin, but that’s often Stephen Jasikoff

about it for this largest of states that

boasts, among other things, a coastline

longer than that of all of the other states combined. This past summer, I took a flight to Fairbanks, where I rented a very

large truck and drove all around the 49th state for two weeks.

During those weeks, I moved about 3,000 miles, saw the ma-

jority of what one can see of the state by driving the so called “highways” and had the experience of a lifetime.

For years Alaska has been called the last frontier. For

those who haven’t been there or who have found their Alaskan odyssey solely by

way of cruise ship, please be advised that

and to viewers of the History Channel as the American miles north of Fairbanks and continues due north for

more than 400 miles after that to the oil fields at Prudhoe Bay on the Arctic Ocean. It is narrow, winding, steep in many places, and rough gravel for all but a few paved

stretches. It was built in the mid-1970s as a supply route

for the trucks headed to the oil fields, parallels the famous

Trans-Alaska Pipeline and is bordered by some of the most remote land in the country, including the Arctic National

Wildlife Refuge and the Gates of the Arctic National Park.

The terrain ranges from gorgeous vistas of the relatively

short Brooks Range, to bare Arctic tundra with fingers of

frost-heaved rock spires jutting out of the ground, fields of

muskeg, and mosquito-ridden expanses of

I lea r ned th at

Alaska is still very much a frontier – far

th e oil slick back

my plane touched down in Fairbanks at

rough ly 100 -mile

more so than I thought it would be. When about 9:00 p.m., I was struck by the bright, almost Martian-like orange sky and the

visible smoke in the air from a nearby for-

est fire. The smoke was thick enough to see and pungent enough to make my clothing

in 1989 cov er ed a w ide ba nd abou t as long as th e dista nce from Pittsbu rgh to Portla nd, Maine.

smell like a campfire the next day. The sun

didn’t set that night, and I didn’t see the dark of night the entire trip.

Fairbanks, the second largest “city” in Alaska, is a com-

munity of about 30,000 people with an old downtown that can best be described as one part Midwestern railroad

town, one part Old West frontier town and one part Sibe-

rian, with a few Soviet bloc-looking buildings interspersed

– plain, institutional and made to keep out the cold. Native

Arctic spruce, a sickly looking conifer that grows to about 20 feet tall and generally

looks like something from the imagination of Dr. Seuss.

Though the Dalton was built with

public funding, it exists primarily to supply oil fields managed by Alyeska, the

company that owns the pipeline that, in

turn, is owned by several of the biggest oil companies, most notably BP and ExxonMobil. The debate regarding whether to

drill for oil not just offshore but also in places like ANWR is well known. My trip up the Dalton took one very long

day, and I ultimately decided only to go as far as the Arctic Circle, which is less than halfway to the ocean – about 200

miles north of Fairbanks. When I got there, the air was just

shy of 70 degrees and swarming with mosquitoes, of which there are 20 rather monstrous species in Alaska.

Upon leaving the Yukon River-North Slope region,

Alaskans, some of whom I learned during my visit to the

I drove south down the entire length of the Richardson

nese Americans during WWII, comprise what appears to

and a relatively civilized town named after the Spaniard

Museum of the North in Fairbanks were interned like Japabe a large minority of the Fairbanks population.

The reason I flew into Fairbanks and not Anchorage

was because I have always wanted to drive the only road

in the United States that can take you into the Arctic – the

THE

BUZZER

Highway to Valdez, the southern terminus of the pipeline who originally explored the area but that is still known

for the infamous Exxon ship by the same name. During

my visit to the Pratt Museum in Homer several days later, I learned that the oil slick back in 1989 covered a roughly

100-mile wide band about as long as

the distance from Pittsburgh to Port-

land, Maine. Tens of thousands of gallons of oil still remain.

For four days after driving to Val-

dez, I stayed in a cabin on the outskirts of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

while exploring the Park, the salmon

fishing along the Native-owned banks of the Copper River, and the remote

drive to the old copper mining town of McCarthy, one of the only settlements in the Park. By the end of week one, I headed west on the Glenn Highway

past countless glaciers to meet my dad

at the airport in Anchorage. From there

we explored the entire Kenai Peninsula, an area known

less possessed as much as a basic park brochure, he would

bald eagles as numerous as seagulls at the beach, as well

Teklanika, south about 10 miles to a large RV campground

for salmon rivers, offshore halibut the size of picnic tables, as a Russian influence that goes back to the 1700s; on the

west coast of the Kenai there are onion-domed churches in

have known he also could have followed that river, the in the park.

When I first got to Alaska, I really wasn’t sure what

almost every town. Across the water to the west lies Kat-

to think. I immediately admired it as a place where inde-

Three active smoke-spewing volcanoes jut out of the water

of security seems to exist in direct relation to their level

mai National Park, the “Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes.” in front of the other mountains of the volcanically active Aleutian Range behind them.

After four days in the Kenai, we drove north to Denali

National Park. In obvious ways majestic and in many ways a very touristy part of the state, Denali is a gem but sec-

ond to Wrangell for those seeking solitude. The highlight was the wildlife. We saw seven grizzly bears and numerous reindeer, but it was the only part of the trip in which I saw either of those animals, while moose, for example, are as numerous throughout all of Alaska as deer along

the Taconic Parkway. We also saw Denali itself – all of it,

completely visible, on a crystal clear morning, which ap-

parently only happens about once a month. It was also in-

teresting to take note of the local lore associated with Chris McCandless, the subject of the book and movie, “Into the

Wild.” The river that prevented him from making his way back to civilization, at most a mere 15 to 20 miles away

from where he was, flows through the park. Had McCand-

pendence seems to be taken seriously and people’s sense of self-reliance. But Alaska isn’t a land of gift shops and

flower-picking John Denvers. Almost every road sign in

Alaska is riddled with bullet holes, and most of the place was far more remote and rugged than I had imagined. A few interactions during my visit could have been scenes

from “Back to the Future III.” The people, while friendly in many cases just like people anywhere, sometimes seemed like the type who might be suspicious of any guy who looks like he doesn’t know how to hunt, drive a four-

wheeler, build a cabin or effectively use a pool cue in self

defense. I actually do know how to do these things, but by the middle of July I was covered in mosquito bites. I had

also experienced a pretty unique part of America while getting to spend some quality time with my dad. I’m not sure when I’ll go back, but it was an epic adventure, thanks to the generosity of the Parents Association.

—By Stephen Jasikoff, Middle and Upper School History Teacher

Fall/Winter Summer 2013

57

58

at h l e t i c s

Fall Wrap-up It all started in

late August when

Browning held its

annual pre-season soccer training at Camp Mah-KeeAndrew H. West ’92

Nac in Lenox,

Mass. The boys

set a new record for numbers with a

whopping 36 boys in attendance, rang-

ing from Form I through Form VI. After graduating so many seniors from the

year before, the boys knew it was going to take some hard work to get back to the place they wanted to be. The var-

sity team had a few returning seniors

who were able to keep the team deter-

mined and focused from the start. The major question mark for the team was who was going to be the goalkeeper,

but that was quickly answered at camp when Jonathan Flinchum ’14 stepped

up and showed Coach Watson that he was ready to be the man.

The Middle School Panthers relied

heavily on their defense this year to

help the team hold opponents at bay and opened up the season with two

very impressive 1-1 ties against power-

On the varsity front, Coaches

proud of. They showed some

house LFNY and Trevor Day. Despite

Watson and Zeuner were very proud

proved throughout the year and I know

team. Despite being injured through-

proud of its efforts is the varsity cross

it their best shot. The highlight for

Coach Bernard; they had a very suc-

some trouble scoring, the team im-

Coaches Brown and Protheroe are al-

ready eager to give it another go in 2014.

The junior varsity team, under the

leadership of our new coach, Jeff Lisciandrello, really established themselves as a legitimate threat in the NYCAL. The new, serious attitude and focus they established after a few disap-

pointing games in the start of the sea-

son is sure to carry on and provide the JV team with some real hope for 2014.

THE

BUZZER

of the efforts put forth by the whole out the season, the Panthers gave

the boys was the amazing 1-0 win

they had against league champion

LFNY. That was LFNY’s only loss of the year. After losing to LFNY 1-10

earlier, the boys decided they were ready to do what was necessary to

become a real contender. Browning

real “grytte!”

Another team that should be very

country team under the guidance of

cessful season. And even more good news for the Panthers is that the

newly formed Middle School cross

country team also did very well, providing Coach Bernard with some talent down the road.

As Director of Athletics, I applaud

finished in third place, and despite

all our athletes and am pleased to

semifinals, the boys had a lot to be

individual coaches:

falling to Columbia Prep 1-2 in the

offer the following reports from our

VARSITY CROSS COUNTRY It took until the last event of the

season to discover the true face of Browning’s varsity cross country team, version 2013. Honored

and galvanized by the presence of Headmaster Steve Clement,

Athletic Director West, Director of

Physical Education Patricia Zeuner,

Dr. Miguel Gama-Sosa and his son, Michele Gama-Sosa ’11

(currently running cross country at Yale), our Harriers took an unexpected third place at the NYCAL Cross Country

Championships at Van Cortland Park. Christopher Keyko ’15, the team’s best runner this season, was at his finest, finishing fourth in a competitive field. His comrades finished further

back in the race, but all embodied the best of what Browning brings to our athletic contests: sportsmanship, engagement and, as always, “grytte.”

These past two years we had excellent individual

results but not really a team. This season, thanks to the

Philippe Laffont ’16, Julian Orillac ’16, Andrew Bendo ‘16,

Michael O’Connor ’16, Brandon Keno ’16, Diego Lopez-

team has been born.

hard work and dedication of Christopher Keyko ’15,

Liranzo ‘15, Yvan Maslennikov ‘16, Peter Florescu ’15,

Terrell Edwards’17 and Alex Lopez-Velasco ‘17, a cohesive —Coach Dominique Bernard

MIDDLE SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY This fall, for the first time in its long history, The Browning School fielded a Middle School cross country team. The students themselves had

pressed for its creation and responded in strong numbers when the call for runners went out.

Calling themselves the Panther Prowlers, nearly a dozen boys from both Forms I and II met

twice a week for endurance and strength-building runs in Central Park. Each Thursday of the six-week season, they traveled to Van Cort-

landt Park to compete not only against other

independent middle schools, but also against

themselves and their own individual times in a 1.5 mile race. Those new to the

discipline were surprised how noticeably their efforts improved with practice and applied focus. The more experienced runners also improved and gained a better

understanding of the demands of the sport. All our sports teams will be much the stronger for the early start these young men have made with cross country.

—Coach John Young

Fall/Winter 2013

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60

VARSITY SOCCER The fall ’13 soccer season has come and gone, and what

a season it turned out to be! It all started with our annual

trip to Camp Mah-Kee-Nac in the Berkshires in late August for our pre-season training. It was a very successful camp with no serious injuries, and I hoped for the same in the

upcoming season. Unfortunately it was not to be; within days of the start of term, we lost our senior co-captain,

Rafe Harvard ’14, with a broken toe, and two other seniors were unavailable for the first three games. With the early

results not as good as they could have been, the boys pulled

together and showed a commitment and focus that I haven’t seen in a while in a varsity team.

After losing to Columbia Prep, the Panthers went on

an undefeated run of three wins and two ties, including a glorious victory against the League and eventual Playoff

had come a long way since the beginning of the season

the playoffs against, yes, you guessed it, Columbia Prep.

game. With a core of young players returning, the future

Champions Lycée Français 3-2, thus securing a #3 seed in The semi-final match was a hard-fought, well-played

affair, with our opponents taking a 2-0 lead deep into the

and showed their true colors in a gallant effort in the final certainly looks bright for soccer at Browning.

As a footnote, the Panthers were awarded The Sports-

second half. With the “never say die” attitude that they

manship Team Award from the other League member

two minutes to go and were putting Columbia under pres-

“Play hard but fair.”

have shown all season long, the boys pulled one back with sure when, unfortunately, the final whistle blew. The team

THE

BUZZER

schools, which could have been their motto this year: —Coaches David Watson and Patricia Zeuner

JUNIOR VARSITY SOCCER While not represented on the scoreboard,

JV soccer had a successful rebuilding season characterized by significant improve-

ments by individual players and the team

as a whole. The boys played our first three games without a single goal or a single

player on the bench. After recruiting some extra boys, several of whom were new to soccer, we gradually jelled into a legitimate team. The boys managed to book

a win and a tie while tightening the gap

between them and each of the teams they re-matched over the course of the season.

—Coach Jeff Lisciandrello

SEVENTH/EIGHTH GRADE SOCCER The Middle School soccer team had a successful season. Anchored by An-

drew Ceonzo ’18, Charlie Pink ’18 and

Connor Medland ’18, we had arguably the strongest defense in the league.

However, we often struggled to score on our opponents. Since soccer camp

and throughout the season the boys put forth a great effort, and we improved as a team, as well as individually. We

ended the season with two wins, five losses and four ties. Considering the

strength of our league, this was a positive outcome, and we are proud of the way the boys competed.

–Coaches Matt Brown and Gerry Protheroe Fall/Winter 2013

61

62

alumni events

Back row (L to R): William Reed ’85, Nader Mobargha ’91, Sharif Tanamli ’87, Director of Institutional Advancement Martin Haase, John Hadden ’87, Justin Kingson ’98, John Hutzler ’86, Joe Metzger ’02, T. Andrew Madden ’96, Stuart Orenstein ’00, Nicholas Versandi ’01. Front row (L to R): Allanby Singleton-Green ’83, Michael Beys ’89, Richard Helgason ’82 and Juan Reyes ’86.

ALUMNI COUNCIL MEETING The first Alumni Council meeting of 2013-14 was held in the Wilson Room on Monday, September 16, with 21 guests in attendance. The meeting kicked off with remarks

from Headmaster Clement and special guest Director of Middle and Upper School Admission Janet Lien. Mr. Clement gave an update on the state of the School and

thanked the Alumni Council for 100 percent participation in the 2012-13 Annual Fund.

Ms. Lien provided enrollment statistics and spoke about Browning’s marketing initiatives and a recent parent survey conducted over the summer. Following

Ms. Lien’s presentation, Alumni Association President Michael Beys ’89 appointed 24

members to the 2013-14 Alumni Council and Director of Alumni Affairs Laura Lanigan gave a report on the record alumni Annual Fund numbers from the most recent fiscal

year, as well as a look at the year ahead. At the end of the meeting, alumni were treated to a tour of the new facilities by Director of Institutional Advancement Marty Haase,

as well as an impromptu technology briefing in the new technology lab from Director of Academic Technology Jeremy Sambuca. All Browning alumni are invited and

encouraged to attend Alumni Council meetings, and more information can be found at www.browning.edu/alumni/alumni-council.

THE

BUZZER

2 01 4

1888

Save the Date!

AL UMNI REUNION

FRIDAY, MAY 2, 2014

Fri

d ay, M ay 2, 2014

If your class year ends in “4” or “9,” your class is celebrating a major reunion in 2014! All alumni, regardless of class year, are invited to attend the following events on Friday, May 2: • Alumni Career Panel • True Grytte Society & Consecutive-Year Donor Luncheon at the Knickerbocker Club (by invitation only) • Cocktail reception for alumni and faculty featuring the Alumnus Achievement Award presentation to Mr. Vernon, as well as the

Honoring the 2014 Recipient of the Class of 1938 Alumnus Achievement Award

announcement of the Stephen S. Perry ’76 Memorial Class Representative Awards and the Class of 2004’s 10th Reunion Gift Formal invitation to follow. For more information, please contact Director of Alumni

Weston Vernon, III ’49

Affairs Laura N. Lanigan at llanigan@browning.edu or 212-838-6280 Ext. 192.

Veteran broadcast journalist and Washington-based writer

We look forward to celebrating with you in May!

UPCOMING ALUMNI EVENTS F R I D AY, J AN UARY 2 4 Browning-Marymount Reunion (details TBA) M ONDAY, J ANUARY 2 7 Alumni Council Meeting, 6:00 pm M ONDAY, F E B R UARY 2 4 Alumni Council Note-a-thon, 6:00 pm M O N D AY, AP R I L 7 Alumni Council Meeting, 6:00 pm

WEDNESDAY, APR I L 23 Form VI Breakfast (New York Athletic Club; by invitation only), 8:00 am FR I DAY, MAY 2 Alumni Reunion, all day MONDAY, MAY 19 Annual Meeting of the Alumni Association, 6:00 pm

Fall/Winter 2013

63

64

Back row (L to R): Director of Physical Education Patricia Zeuner, Coach David Watson, Director of Athletics Andrew West ’92, Christopher Perkins ’08, Tennyson Singer ’08, fifth grade teacher Jeff Lisciandrello, Harry Tucker ’08, Nicholas Christy ’09, Nicholas Cohen ’02, Laurent Manuel ’04, Adrian Gamarello ’99, Erick Teran ’09, fifth grade teacher Daniel Ragsdale. Front row (L to R): Daniel Smith ’06, Dominik Davalos ’08, Martin Arnabal ’01, Michael Glasser ’08, Manoli Sakellarios ’92, Alex Theodorou ’93 and History Department Chair Gerry Protheroe.

ALUMNI SOCCER GAME On Tuesday, September 17, the 23rd

Annual Alumni Soccer Game was held on Randall’s Island. As is tradition, a team made up of alumni and faculty

took on the varsity team. The varsity

team emerged victorious with a final

score of 4-3. Thanks to all the parents,

faculty, students and alumni who came out to support this annual event. We

hope to see even more of you at next year’s game!

Michael Glasser ‘08 (left) and Tennyson Singer ‘08 (right) spent time catching up with Monsieur Bernard, who biked to this year’s Alumni Soccer Game on Randall’s Island.

THE

BUZZER

Laurent Manuel ’04 (center) played professional soccer for five years. He returned to Browning for this year’s Alumni Soccer Game.

History Department Chair Gerry Protheroe (left) served as the coach of this year’s Alumni/Faculty Team. He is pictured here with Martin Arnabal ’01 (center) and Jeff Lisciandrello, who joined Browning’s faculty this year.

L to R: Harry Tucker ’08, Tennyson Singer ’08 and Dominik Davalos ’08.

Fall/Winter 2013

65

66

Alumni and current parents enjoyed hearing Tom Herman ’64 speak about the future of the media at Browning in September.

CLASS OF 2000 DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER SERIES FEATURING R. THOMAS HERMAN ’64 On Tuesday, September 24, Browning’s Alumni Association hosted the Class of 2000 Distinguished Speaker Series featuring R. Thomas Herman ’64.

Mr. Herman is a former reporter and

columnist at The Wall Street Journal and

has been a member of Browning’s Board of Trustees for more than 30 years. The

evening began with a private roundtable

discussion specifically for alumni donors to spend time with Headmaster Clement and Mr. Herman in an intimate setting

in the new technology lab. Mr. Herman

shared slides highlighting “Browning at 125: Tradition and Change,” while

Headmaster Clement introduced Tom Herman ’64 to the audience in the new cafeteria.

Mr. Clement spoke similarly on the state of the School in its 125th year.

Following the roundtable, guests joined a larger group of alumni and current

Mr. Herman shared slides

Future of Media: Sunrise or Sunset?” His address was followed by a Q&A

highlighting “Browning at

Mr. Herman’s time and efforts with this special event and his continued

125: Tradition and Change,”

parents in the new cafeteria for Mr. Herman’s keynote presentation on “The session and networking reception for all guests. We are most grateful for involvement with Browning.

while Mr. Clement spoke similarly on the state of the School in its 125th year.

THE

BUZZER

The private roundtable discussion for alumni donors was held in Browning’s new technology lab.

Headmaster Clement and Tom Herman ’64 hosted a private roundtable for alumni donors prior to the start of Tom’s address to the larger group.

Fall/Winter 2013

67

68

class notes

TO SHARE NEWS WITH THE Browning community, please contact Laura N. Lanigan, director of alumni affairs, at 212-838-6280 Ext. 192 or Laura N. Lanigan Director of Alumni Affairs

llanigan@browning.edu.

’40s

there, followed by

Mr. Tobin. Mr. Cook ’38,

now our late Headmaster, was the shop teacher, and

Colonel Chester F. Cotter ’47

Josephine was the cook.

and his wife, Patricia, trav-

Campus Coach was the

eled from Beaufort, S.C., to

bus company, Travers Is-

attend Browning’s 125th

land was the annual field

Birthday Celebration on

day, Randall’s was our

October 5.

recreation, and on rainy

’50s

Phillip K. Goodwin ’52

days, movies in the gym... students arriving in their

Knickerbocker Greys uni-

forms on Tuesday and Fri-

recently submitted the fol-

Chester Cotter ’47 and his wife, Patricia, at Browning’s 125th Birthday Celebration.

people in our class, the only

this year, we drove over

beautiful nation of Malay-

George von Haunalter ’52.

in Cape Cod to the Maritime

stepbrother, Wes Vernon ’49,

quite a bit. He lives a dual

Brunswick, Nova Scotia

in Switzerland in the sum-

A lovely trip. Would love

Calif., in the winter. Not a

former classmates such as

bit of traveling, having just

Ottman ’52 (who I do talk

My wife, Dinny, and I have

and anybody else who is

lowing news: “Of all the

one I have contact with is

2,000 miles from our home

We e-mail back and forth

Provinces in Canada – New

life, spending half the year

and Prince Edward Island.

mertime, and Santa Rosa,

to hear from some of our

bad life. He does quite a

Danny Schram ’52, Mike

come back from Scotland.

to spastically on the phone)

also been traveling. Last

still with us.”

cruise down the Somme

sent in the following news

We are scheduled next April

ings from Singapore. My

fall, we took a French river River, which was terrific.

for a small ship cruise from Portugal around the Rock

of Gibraltar and ending up

in Spain. In early September

THE

BUZZER

Kenneth F. McAllister ’58

over the summer: “Greetwife and I are serving a

23-month mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of

Latter Day Saints here in the

sia. Congratulations to my

for being the 2014 Browning School Alumnus Achievement Award recipient.”

Chauncey O. (Cavanagh) Johnstone ’59 wrote to us

on the occasion of Brown-

ing’s 125th birthday: “Sorry I will miss the celebration.

My memory goes back to teachers: Kindergarten, Ms. Allen, (naps in the

afternoon); 1st Grade, Ms. Hedges; 2nd Grade, Ms. Lamont; 3rd Grade, Ms. Hedges; 4th Grade, Mr.

Root; 5th Grade, Mr. Ball;

and 6th Grade, Mr. Smith.

I believe Mr. Jones was the

Headmaster when I first got

day. Browning has been, is and always will be a great

learning institution and re-

ally does prepare a student for the road ahead. I feel

very privileged to have been a student there.”

’60s

On August 26, Godfrey C. Bloch ’63 and his wife,

Marge, celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary with

a celebration at the home of

a close friend. A great many

attended, considering it was the summer vacation for

many people. The party was a surprise given by friends.

Frederick D. Lazar ’66

recently submitted the following news: “Decided to

Barry Arnold ’67. I am sad

at Browning, I acquired

current head, Stephen M.

last summer in Marina Del

and writing developed by

from Mr. Cook ’38 in 1988.

to report that Barry died Ray, Calif.”

’70s Frederick Lazar ’66 submitted this photo of himself and his wife, taken in July 2013.

Richard E. Fisher ’72 sent in the following news

over the summer: “2013 is

keep on with the ‘some-

turning out to be an excit-

approach. After last projects

New job for me and an

I readied our house for sale

daughter, Brittany. With

ing for a two-week cross-

S.C., and Greensboro, N.C.,

Florida. Bought a converted

region!”

are about halfway through

is an equine veterinarian

company in Ft. Myers just

book titled, “Stallside: My

lived here before, so time

Characters,” a collection

Florida is all about.”

unique insights into the

thing completely different’

ing year for the Fishers.

finished in Seattle, Deb and

upcoming marriage for my

and left on the day of clos-

offices now in Charleston,

country, two-car caravan to

call me if you are in the

tug as a new home and

Matthew E. Eliott ’73

refit – should be ready for

and recently wrote his first

before Thanksgiving. Never

Life With Horses and Other

to find out what southwest

of stories that offers

a love for both reading

my English teachers, and although my profession

would eventually be that of a horse veterinarian,

the love of reading and writing would always remain. I attribute

Browning with instilling

the love of learning which in part is why 12 years of

college, veterinary school,

internships and residencies seemed to pass so quickly.

It was Browning that also

instilled early on a passion to both read and write, and although it would

be many years before a

book was forthcoming,

I reflect gratefully upon

my education there.” Dr.

Eliott has been an equine

veterinarian for more than 25 years, practicing in

both California and New York. He lives in North

Michael Cook ’67

life and times of a young

lowing news: “I am living

wrote to us: “I read in the

I work at Credit Suisse in

a program, ‘Guys Read,’

Analytics. By night, I write

the importance of reading

small publishing company,

dads and granddads read

days before Browning’s

only) book of poetry, ‘The

thought to myself that

Ralph D. Gardner ’71

is on Amazon.com, as is

institute a program titled,

night,’ a collection of songs

Henry Luce ’42, was also

produced a production of

who loved to both read

cal with book and lyrics by

Leila Hadley, was also

recently submitted the fol-

veterinarian. Recently he

in New York City. By day,

last Browning Buzzer about

the area of Human Capital

an initiative to emphasize

music and poetry and run a

by having boys and their

Cook & Taylor. My first (and

together. I smiled and

Rise and Fall of the Mind,’

Browning should also

‘The Sun Shines at Mid-

‘Guys Write.’ My stepdad,

I have written. In 2007, I co-

an alum of Browning

‘Roller Derby,’ a great musi-

and write. My mother,

fellow Browning classmate

a writer. From my years

Salem, NY, with his wife, Alexis, where they own

and operate RiverHorse

Farm. In October, Dr. Eliott

Clement, III, took over

Michael Ingrisani, the everyouthful dean of faculty, may be the only teacher

left from my time. Sanford Pelz ’71, a classmate

of mine, ably serves as Browning’s director of

college guidance. But more important than any single faculty member or head

is the school itself, which

continues to flourish. It also serves as a symbolic and

actual anchor in an ever-

changing city. Whenever I walk by, I glance at its façade, the bricks and mortar bursting with

memories.” Please visit

pages 20-21 for more of Mr. Gardner’s article.

Kenneth Offit ’73 was

honored with the ASCO-

American Cancer Society

Award for his research on

use of genetic information

as a tool for cancer prevention. ASCO (American So-

ciety of Clinical Oncology)

was a visiting author at the Browning Book Fair.

On October 2, just three

125th Birthday Celebration, featured Browning and its 125th anniversary in his

Wall Street Journal column in an article titled, “Still

Buzzing About New York’s Browning.” Mr. Gardner writes, “Since 1888,

Browning has had only five headmasters. Its

Dr. Ken Offit ’73 was honored with this year’s ASCO-American Cancer Society Award, which recognizes noteworthy contributions to the prevention and management of cancer.

Fall/Winter 2013

69

70

is the world’s leading professional organization for

cently submitted the follow-

searchers. Memorial Sloan-

moved to Newton, Mass.,

cancer physicians and re-

Kettering Cancer Center’s publication CenterNews,

featured Dr. Offit in its July 2013 issue: “Dr. Offit, who heads the Clinical Genet-

ics Service at MSKCC and holds a joint appointment in the Sloan-Kettering Institute’s Cancer Biology

and Genetics Program, was honored with this year’s

ASCO-American Cancer Society Award, which

recognizes noteworthy

contributions to the prevenRichard Weaver ’75 and his wife, Christine, attended Browning’s 125th Birthday Celebration on October 5.

tion and management of cancer. In 1996, Dr. Offit

and his colleagues discov-

ered a mutation in the gene BRCA2 that is the most

common genetic alteration associated with inherited

breast and ovarian cancer among people with Ash-

kenazi Jewish ancestry. In subsequent studies, the

team identified a number of other mutations that

increase people’s risk for developing hereditary

ovarian, colon or prostate cancer. In addition, Dr.

Offit’s lab was the first to

prospectively measure the

impact of preventive ovarian surgery and screening

in women at risk for heredi-

tary ovarian and breast cancer. The group is currently

using genomic-sequencing methods to identify new Several members of the Class of 1976 attended Browning’s 125th Birthday Celebration (L to R): David Wood ’76, Hunt Richardson ’76, Peter Provet ’76 and Marc Wallack ’76.

Jeremy R. Paul ’74 re-

risk markers for a variety of cancers.”

ing news: “Laurie and I have and I have taken on an exciting new challenge as Dean

at Northeastern University School of Law. It’s the only law school in America that requires each student to

complete four professional

experiences with employers prior to graduation. Please

come visit if you find yourself in the Boston area.”

Alexander C.

McCormick ’76

recently sent in the follow-

ing news: “I am still on the

faculty at Indiana University Bloomington, where I direct the National Survey of

Student Engagement, a

survey-based project that focuses on the quality of

undergraduate education.

I also teach in IU’s doctoral

program in higher education & student affairs.”

Clendenen Watkins ’77

recently submitted the following news: “My son,

Randy Watkins, has be-

come a published author.

His book ‘Life is a Lyric’

is available now at Barnes & Noble and has received positive reviews.”

Mr. and Mrs. Rodney

D. Soyka ’78 are proud to announce the arrival

of the next generation of

the Soyka family. Rodney

and Barbara are the proud grandparents of Wynter Sage and Evelyn Lucy.

These beautiful baby girls are a joy to their families.

THE

BUZZER

Members of the Class of 1982 at David Callaway’s recent birthday celebration in New York (L to R): Reja Sabet ’82, Ned Hurley ’82, David Callaway ’82, John Mills ’82, Lorenzo Lorenzotti ’82 and Anthony Addison ’82.

L to R: Reja Sabet ’82, John Mills ’82, Nanci Callaway and David Callaway ’82 at David’s recent birthday celebration in New York.

’80s

David A. Callaway ’82, editor-in-chief of USA Today,

recently wrote to us on the occasion of Browning’s

125th anniversary: “Regrets that I won’t be able to parDavid Mogull ’82 was married in July.

ticipate in the festivities. We are launching a weekend edition of USA Today in

several markets and I need

to be here in the newsroom.

But I wanted to write and

Classmates Peter Orphanos ’89 (left) and Nic Perkin ’89 spent time catching up on the red carpet at Browning’s 125th Birthday Celebration.

L to R: Steve Schott ’72, Juan Reyes ’86 and Andy Madden ’96 at the Mumford & Sons concert at the Forest Hills Stadium.

tell you how excited I am for

celebrate David Callaway ’82’s

much I’ve enjoyed all the

in attendance included:

the big birthday, and how

literature in the run up, in-

cluding Ralph Gardner ’71’s piece in The Wall Street

Journal. I couldn’t be more

proud to have Browning in my background and look

forward to celebrating later on this year, perhaps at the Holiday Party. Have fun and congrats again.”

Several members of the

Class of 1982 gathered in October in New York to

50th birthday. Classmates Anthony Addison ’82,

Ned Hurley ’82, Lorenzo Lorenzotti ’82, Carlos

Meletiche ’82, John Mills ’82, David Mogull ’82, and Reja Sabet ’82. David’s brother, Jack Callaway ’84, also

attended the celebration.

Reja Sabet ’82 reports

that David Mogull ’82

married Radka Jureckova in July, and the couple is expecting a boy.

Fall/Winter 2013

71

72

Andrew Gelb ’88 and George Papailias ’88 (right) were two of many alumni from the Class of 1988 who attended Browning’s 125th Birthday Celebration.

Luis Fernando Llosa ’86

Greg Hewett ’93 and his wife, Katie, visited Browning in July.

was a visiting author at this

Madden ’96 at the Forest

His book, “Beyond Win-

Queens. This marks the

year’s Browning Book Fair. ning: Smart Parenting in a

Toxic Sports Environment,” was published in August.

Mr. Llosa is an investiga-

tive reporter, writer, editor, speaker, youth sports con-

sultant and a co-founder of Whole Child Sports.

Juan D. Reyes, III ’86

reports that over the summer, he attended a Mumford & Sons concert with

Steve Schott ’72 and Andy

Alumni at Andrew Ponzo ’98’s wedding included (L to R): Christoph Teves ’98, Graham Bahler ’98, Andrew Ponzo ’98, Graig Springer ’98 and Jonathan D’Agostino ’99.

event has been held at this

’90s

the West Side Tennis Club.

sent in the following news:

Hills Tennis Stadium in

first time since 1997 that an historic venue, owned by

George C. Papailias ’88

reports that Anthony B.

Lee ’88 published his second book “There in the

Darkness,” and Craig A.

Mooney ’88 became a fa-

ther for the first time with a baby girl named Millie Saylor Mooney.

Ben A. Berman ’93 recently “I completed my first Ironman Triathlon in August

– the Ironman Lake Placid.

I proudly competed as a

member of the Athletes to End Alzheimer’s team in

memory of my father. My son, Adam, ran his first IronKids race too!”

Gregory C. Hewett ’93

and his wife, Katie, visited Browning in July. It was

his first visit back since his graduation. The two have

been teaching overseas, most recently in India, for the past six years, and they were in

New York enjoying a hiatus

before leaving for Tunisia in the fall. Mr. Hewett teaches humanities; Mrs. Hewett is

a kindergarten teacher. They have two children, Asher (age 2) and Maya (age 4).

Over the summer, Ben Berman ’93 completed his first Ironman Triathlon.

THE

BUZZER

Andrew Ponzo ’98 married Hillary Nammack in June.

This fall, Dave Eppley ’94

had an installation on

view at Memorial Sloan

Kettering’s Brooklyn Infusion Center. Recently, Mr. Eppley wrote to us: “One of my favorite blogs is

WoosterCollective.com.

As a former (and some-

times current) graffiti artist myself, I’ve been follow-

ing them for years. I was

thrilled to see my upcom-

ing project on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn right on

the home page this past Friday. This project was gener-

and students from local

Graig Springer ’98,

zheimer’s Association.

representing the rich diver-

and Paul Reyes ’98 were

vice on Browning’s faculty,

public and Hasidic schools sity of our neighborhood.

A core group of about five

to seven students will have

an active role in helping me to revamp the trees. The

work will be up for two to

funky, ’70s-era tree sculp-

ture in my neighborhood,

Lefferts Gardens, Brooklyn.

I approached my commu-

nity board with a proposal to revamp the trees and

within a year, The Depart-

ment of Transportation was also on board. The images

on Wooster show what will

be vibrant, vinyl, hexagonal pentagons made by myself

Oscar C. Norberg ’98

traveled all the way from

Sweden to attend Browning’s 125th Birthday Celebration on October 5.

’00s

Eppley’s work, please visit

recently accepted a new po-

so that other local artists

ated by my intrigue with a

all in attendance.

their own proposals.” For

three years and then retired Peter Cohen ’99 was recently married.

Jonathan D’Agostino ’99

can approach the site with more information about Mr. www.daveeppley.com.

Nicholas O’Neil ’95

is the proud parent of

his second son, Conor

Spitambelis O’Neil, who was born in September.

Nicholas S. Versandi ’01

sition to join Barclays’ Lev-

eraged Finance group as an

associate. Over the summer, he spent two weeks backpacking through Europe.

He also completed his sec-

Andrew M. Ponzo ’98

ond triathlon in Montauk,

in June at Temple Emanu-

division. In November, he

Teves ’98, Graham Bahler ’98,

again on behalf of the Al-

married Hillary Nammack

N.Y., placing sixth in his

El in New York. Christoph

ran the NYC Marathon

After four years of ser-

Alexander A. Sheridan ’04 is beginning his second

year as an associate director of admission at The Mas-

ters School, a co-ed day and boarding school in Dobbs

Ferry, N.Y. Responsible for

managing Masters’ Middle and Upper School day-

student applicant pools,

he also coaches the girls’

varsity basketball and softball teams. He is receiving his M.S. from Quinnipiac

University in the business school’s organizational leadership program.

Christopher A.

Wimpfheimer ’04 married

Carly Sharon in September on Nantucket. The bride

and groom met at George Washington University.

Members of the Class of 2008 took a photo with Headmaster Clement at Browning’s 125th Birthday Celebration (L to R): Robert Van Laer ’08, Tennyson Singer ’08, Bradley Aronson ’08, Headmaster Clement, Christopher Perkins ’08 and Ethan Schulman ’08.

Fall/Winter 2013

73

74

Mr. Ingrisani and Mr. Pelz ’71 (both pictured in the background here) spent time catching up with Wilf Wallis ’13 at the University of Rochester during the Form V/Form VI College Trip in September.

L to R: Director of Middle and Upper School Admission Janet Lien, JR Chansakul ’12 and Director of Alumni Affairs Laura Lanigan at Browning in August.

cian at Greenwich House

Pottery in the West Village

where I have a studio space

and maintain my own artistic practice. I am also working as a fabricator for Scott Daniels, a Brooklyn-based ceramic designer.”

Gabriel A. Ulla ’07 was

Haakon Lenzi ’06 submitted this photo of one of his artworks (jar, 14”x 7” porcelain, slip, underglaze and glaze; cone 6; 2012).

They currently live in New York, where she works at

UBS and he is an investment adviser at JPMorgan Chase.

In September,

Benjamin P. D’Innocenzo ’06’s

artwork was shown at The

Depot Gallery in Montauk.

He is currently serving in

the Peace Corps in Africa.

Nicholas A. Drexel ’06

recently joined a top residential real estate team at Douglas Elliman in New York.

Haakon Lenzi ’06 re-

cently submitted the following news: “I am currently a teacher and studio techni-

THE

BUZZER

published in the May 2013 issue of Bon Appetit. The

article is an interview with Mario Batali and is titled,

“Mario Batali Never Stops Traveling: Here’s How He Does It.”

Bradley M. Aronson ’08

works for Zenith Media as a junior buyer. His client is 20th Century Fox and his team handles their

national advertisement placements. He was

recently assigned to the

online video team as well.

Philip Devereux-

Demetriad ’08 moved back to New York from Wash-

ington, D.C., where he was working on Capitol Hill

for Representative Richard

Hanna. He is now a para-

and when he departed un-

fields, Bruckhaus, Deringer

from the frying pan and

legal at the law firm FreshLLP, focusing on whitecollar civil litigation.

M. Anas Uddin ’08 re-

expectedly, I was thrown

into the frying pan, taking

on the reins of responsibility of the two positions

cently sent in the following

in late August. A profes-

field organizer for the Scott

was eventually hired, but

campaign in June. It’s an

with several multifaceted

me to lead the grassroots

have remained an essential

boroughs – campaign.”

responsibilities include but

news: “I became the lead

sional registrar/art handler

Stringer for Comptroller

because of my familiarity

amazing opportunity for

functions of the gallery, I

effort of a citywide – all five

part of the gallery. My main

Connor Nolan ’09

are not limited to: inventory

recently sent us the follow-

management and use of the

Lehigh University in May

ping and protection of art

year on the Dean’s list and

curating of shows, and cli-

long independent study on

a big part of the installation

in Egypt, which used my

play, ‘After Artschwager.’”

ing news: “I graduated from

Art Base program, wrap-

2013, finishing off my senior

works, installation and part-

completing my semester-

ent relations. I recently was

the Muslim Brotherhood

of our current show on dis-

experience studying abroad

the rugby boots for running

’10s

workouts. I also started

Browning in August while

and registrar of my father’s

tion following his freshman

in Egypt and three years

of Arabic. However, since

graduating, I have hung up shoes and cross-fit type

JR Chansakul ’12 visited

shadowing the art handler

he was on summer vaca-

art gallery in early June,

year at Bowdoin College,

L to R: Jack Reiss ’14, Teddy Altman ’11 and Janek Advani ’14 are pictured here at Hamilton College, one of the schools that Browning’s Form V and Form VI visited on this year’s College Trip.

Mr. Ingrisani met up with Aleksandr Schiavetta ’12 (center) and Ibi Diallo ’12, both students at Cornell, during Browning’s Form V/Form VI College Trip.

where he is on the varsity swim team.

Class Representative

of our summer camp,

which was probably the

most stressful job we have

Christopher M. Pelz ’12

ever had, but definitely the

on his classmates: “Kyle

declared himself a triple

Newberry ’12 give warm

studies, and economics,

and George Washington

neuroscience major with an

where both of them are

a possible second major of

recently sent in some news

most rewarding. Jon has

Johnson ’12 and Henry

major in Japanese, Asian

hellos from Johns Hopkins

and I am thus far a

University, respectively,

Asian studies minor, and

doing well in all of their

environmental studies.”

still loves the Naval

sent in the following news

sophomore he can pursue

year at Wake Forest was

courses. James Brisotti ’12 Academy, where now as a the courses focused around his major, and he even has the privilege of training

his own squadron.” As for himself and twin brother

Jonathan E. Pelz ’12, Chris writes: “We are both still absolutely loving Bates

College! Over the summer,

we were programs directors

Faculty News

Adair Scott, who taught at Browning for 12 years until 2006, has three children (L to R): Schyler (four years old), Jack (17 months) and Annabelle (five years old).

Harrison U. Messer ’12

over the summer: “My first great. I made many new

friends and did pretty well in school. I also joined the

fraternity Delta Kappa Epsilon. I am now having a very

full and productive summer, interning at a commodities

IN MEMORIAM

Barry R. Arnold ’67

Richard Ballantine ‘58 Peter V. Darrow P ’05 John B. Hall ‘43

firm and working at my tennis place in Westhampton for the second year.”

Fall/Winter 2013

75

STRONG & TRUE: THE CAMPAIGN FOR BROWNING IS LAUNCHED! The October 5 celebration of Browning’s 125th anniversary, enjoyed by more than 600 guests, concluded with the exciting announcement by Board of Trustees President James Chanos of STRONG & TRUE: The Campaign for Browning. A case statement was later distributed outlining the details and priorities of this campaign as established by Browning’s Strategic Planning Committee. Four areas of focus have been identified, including

S

ince the public launch of STRONG & TRUE: The Campaign for Browning, we have received campaign gifts of all sizes and are most grateful for the generosity of our donors. We are pleased to share the following highlights of our progress: • T H E S C H O O L H A S R E C E I V E D A $3 M I L L I O N G I F T F RO M A N A N O N Y M OU S D O N O R T O BE U S E D F O R F I N A NC I A L

program and technology, financial

A S S I S T A NC E I N T H E L OW E R S C H O O L

assistance, faculty compensation,

• T H A N K S T O A $ 2 M I L L I O N G I F T F RO M A N A N O N Y M OU S D O N O R , W E H AV E

and professional development and

E S T A BL I S H E D A S T E M C H A I R ( S C I E NC E ,

endowment.

T H E S E C O N D E N D OW E D T E AC H I NG

Today, Browning holds the unique status among New York City independent schools as the only small, all-boys, K-12 school. With

T E C H N O L O G Y, E NG I N E E R I NG , M AT H ), C H A I R E S T A BL I S H E D S I NC E T H E S T A R T O F T H E C A M PA IG N

STRONG & TRUE: The Campaign for Browning, is nearing its goal of $30 million. We will continue to celebrate the generosity of our campaign donors at all levels as we move toward the conclusion of this exciting initiative.

a goal of $30 million, STRONG & TRUE: The Campaign for Browning is a true testament of the Board’s foresight, leadership and commitment to the present and future generations of Browning boys.

T H E BROW N I NG SC HO OL 52 East 62nd Street New York, New York 10065 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

TO PARENTS OF ALUMNI If this magazine is addressed to your son who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify the Alumni Office at 212 838 6280 x192 with the correct mailing address. Thank you.

M I DDLE SC HOOL BOYS

Lead the Way in Fighting World Hunger!

On October 17, 126 Middle

marathon record at 2:15:03! This

pictured here as they crossed the

the Children’s World Marathon

Food Day, held every October, and

Middle School Head Chris Dunham

School boys participated in Save Challenge, raising close to $9,000 and setting the North American school

challenge raises awareness of World the urgent need to fight childhood

hunger and malnutrition. They are

finish line. Read the full report by beginning on page 36.