Buzzer Spring/Summer 2017

Spring/Summer 2017

AD VA N CI N G E D UC AT IO N A L D E V ELOPM ENT

Athletics

through

a rt i n f o c u s

SELF-PORTRAITS Upper School Boys 2017 Clay

contents

Spring/Summer 2017 FEATURES

4 Advancing Educational Development Through Athletics

10 New 3D Printer Enhances Creations in Clay 42

Grandparents and Special Friends Day

DEPARTMENTS 3 From the Head of School 14 Fine and Performing Arts 20 From the Archives 22 The Local Buzz

44

Colleges Offering Admission to Class of 2017

60 Athletics

46

Summer Stipends

66 Alumni Events

56

Parents Association Benefit 2017

90 Class Notes

Art in Focus (facing page): The School’s new Delta 2040 WASP 3D printer and extruder offers Browning boys a unique way to create with clay. Some Upper School boys enjoyed taking an

art elective and using the printer to create porcelain busts of themselves. Art Department Chair Nik Vlahos explains more about the department’s new acquisition beginning on page 10 of this Buzzer.

1

ON THE COVER

Director of Athletics Andrew H. West ’92 returned to Browning in 1999 as a physical education teacher. Since that time, he has played a vital role in the success of the School’s athletics program. Read more beginning on page 4.

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

BUZZER STAFF

John M. Botti, Head of School Melanie S. McMahon, Director of Publications, Buzzer Editor Laura N. Lanigan, Director of Alumni Affairs SPRING/SUMMER BUZZER CONTRIBUTORS Dominique Bernard, French Teacher Lauck Blake, Physical Education Teacher Sandra Martinez, Spanish Teacher Judit Resika, Math Teacher Marcia Wallace, Math Teacher Andrew H. West ’92, Director of Athletics

a lifelong love of learning,

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.

The Browning alumnus is a good citizen, sensitive to the needs of others, and respectful of divergent yet informed opinions.

He is, in the best sense of the word, a gentleman.

Contributing Photographers: Christine Bramble, Coffee Pond Productions, Rossa Cole Photography, Enrique Figueroa, Jeremy Katz ’04, Laura Lanigan, Melanie McMahon, Sanford Pelz ’71 Design by Misty Wilt Graphic Design LLC BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2016-17

Valda M. Witt, President Stuart J. Ellman, Vice President David E. Glaymon, Vice President David J. Liptak, Vice President Alka K. Singh, Vice President Celeste A. Guth, Secretary Richard L.N. Weaver ’75, Treasurer Robert D. Ziff, Assistant Treasurer Andrew B. Sandberg ’01, President, Alumni Association Lisa O. Elson, President, Parents Association Nazmi Oztanir, Vice President, Parents Association John M. Botti, Head of School

Laura Z. Barket Michael P. Beys ’89 Wendy W. Brooks Paul A. Burke Elizabeth Granville-Smith Stephanie H. Hessler Philip A. Hofmann Federico Infantino

Ling S. Kwok Jeffrey M. Landes ’83 Raul Pineda Andrew M. Snyder Ellen Stafford-Sigg Sanjay Swani Deborah C. van Eck

James S. Chanos, Honorary Trustee Allan L. Gropper, Honorary Trustee

2

T HE

BUZZER

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 published two times a year by The Browning School. The School may be reached at 212 838 6280. Website: 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 programs, or employment practices.

from the head of school

The Benefits of Sports: Instrumental and Intrinsic Our team was losing by a point

education and team athletics provide crucial affirmation and

two seconds left to play, and I

at Browning we ask our boys to be resilient students who

when I was fouled. There were

walked to the foul line – captain of the team – confident that all

was about to be set right. With

two free throws, my high school

would advance to the semifinals of the Pennsylvania state basketball

tournament. I toed the line, grabbed the ball and shot.

I missed. Our season was over, my high school

enhancement of classroom values and skills. For example, see mistakes not as things to be feared but as experiences from which to learn. Sports remind us that errors are not

permanent, that there is always another play to come, and

that we can count on others to help us forward. To be sure, I learned as much about perseverance, friendship and the

value of practice in missing a free throw as a 17-year-old as I did in anything I encountered in the formal academic realm.

But the benefits of sports are

career had ended, and I was inconsolable throughout the

not merely instrumental; they are

Sports remind

convinced that I had failed our team and our school, and

also intrinsic. They remind us of the delight that can be found in

play – games are “not productive,”

us that errors are

as sociologist Michael Novak noted in “The Joy of Sports” but rather,

not permanent,

“expressions of liberty.” And this,

too, is consonant with Browning’s

that there is

educational aims, as our purpose is not merely to cultivate intellectual

always another

apprentices but also to help each

of our boys discover and express

play to come.

90-minute drive home. I went to bed that night teary-eyed, uncertain if I ever wanted to see a basketball again.

The next day was Saturday, and at mid-morning I

was summoned to the phone. One of my best friends and

teammates was calling to let me know that four or five guys were going to meet at an outdoor court near school. It was

cold, but they wanted a pick-up game – did I want to come?

I demurred, but my parents forced me out of the

house, so I sulked down to the court, my mood dark and

sullen. Within an hour, though, I was grinning broadly and

marauding about the court with my friends, the wound of the

night before thoroughly if temporarily balmed by the rhythms of the game. I lost myself in the company of teammates and the feel of the ball. That day, it was simply a joy to play.

It is easy to get sports wrong. We are all well-familiar

something significant about

himself. We find this significance when there is joy in our

endeavors, and this joy can live in the play of ideas just as readily as in a pickup basketball game.

Of course, sports are not the sole extracurricular

with the professional athlete who bends the rules of training

method for fulfilling Browning’s mission; indeed, boys who

attends big-time college athletics, the youth coach with the

and musical groups can just as readily realize the benefits

to get an edge, the strained definition of “amateurism” that

“win-at-all-costs” mentality, and the spectacle of the parents who regard their kids more as Roman gladiators than Little

Leaguers. When corrupted in their expression, sports rightly earn our contempt and our caricature.

When placed in careful hands, however, sports can and

do produce transformative experiences for participants.

Some contemporary imagery frames sport as antithetical to learning (e.g. the stereotype of the “dumb jock”), but

educators recognize that the lessons gained from physical

participate in dramatic casts, academic clubs, service efforts, of cooperation, the necessity of learning from mistakes, and the possibility of joyful expression as those who participate in athletics. (This year’s wildly successful mock trial team

is an excellent example!) But sports just as certainly belong to this company of important experiences – experiences from which we learn and through which we express –

and we thus celebrate them as a purposeful and essential component of the Browning educational journey.

John M. Botti

Head of School

3

f e at u r e

ADVANCING EDU CATI O N AL DEVELO PM EN T

Director of Athletics Andrew H. West ’92 returned to Browning in 1999 as a physical education teacher. Since that time, he has played a vital role in the success of the School’s athletics program, serving as both a teacher and coach. He took the time to answer a number of questions, allowing us to learn more about him personally and professionally.

Prior to becoming director of athletics at Browning, what positions did you hold elsewhere and what drew you back to Browning?

him if he knew of any openings in schools in the areas

Upon graduating from Boston University in 1996, I

on it, although I knew I was going to take the offer. That

returned to New York City and started working in sales

next morning, Coach Suds called me and asked if I had

at Bulova, the watch company. While still working there

accepted the job at St. Bernard’s yet. I told him I was

in 1998, I moved into an apartment with my best friend

on my way there to sign some papers and accept. He

at the time, Michael Anselmo ’92. Mo, as I call him, was

rerouted me back to Browning, where he had just lost one

working as a physical education (PE) teacher at Browning

of his full-time PE teachers, and the rest is history!

and loving life. Each day he woke up excited to go to work; he always talked about the teams he coached and the people he worked with. Although I was moving up the ladder at Bulova and had actually started working

4

of PE and/or athletics. He told me about a position at St. Bernard’s School; two days later I interviewed there and was offered a job that day. I asked if I could sleep

Tell us a little about your interest in athletics and how that might have been forged.

in their Sportime division, which dealt with licensed

I think my passion for sports comes from my dad, an

products for all the teams, I still felt like I was missing

avid sports fan. I remember watching sports with him

out by not working in an area that was a passion of

every night and always thinking that I wanted to be a

mine – sports. In 1999 I called Coach Suds (his proper

professional athlete when I grew up. While at Browning,

name was Mitch Sadowsky), Browning’s director of

I played on the basketball, baseball and tennis teams and

athletics and varsity baseball coach at the time. I asked

found the camaraderie to be the best part!

T HE

BUZZER

Spring/Summer 2017

5

uphold high standards for sportsmanship and winning or losing with grace, and emphasize the necessity of commitment to the team and The Browning School believes that a dynamic

to the program itself. Such efforts from coaches

program of student athletics significantly

demand reciprocal dedication, in that athletes

advances the educational development of its boys.

must recognize their responsibility to give their

The athletic offerings at Browning promote the

all to the principles, lessons and values the

principles of teamwork, fair play, perseverance and

athletic program encourages. It is in recognizing

wellness in an effort to help boys achieve greater

obligations to the game and to others that we

understanding of the qualities of good leadership

become good teammates.

and cooperation, the importance of sportsmanship, the benefits of focused practice, and the ways

While it is surely preferable to prevail in athletic

in which a healthy lifestyle can be realized. To

competitions – and our teams certainly prepare

this end, the School provides a variety of athletic

to win – our principal purpose is to play with

experiences designed to advance these favorable

excellence, that is, with appreciation of the skill,

habits and attitudes so that boys may realize

teamwork, dedication and fair play that sport

their potential as young men and pursue healthy,

requires. This same appreciation sits at the heart

productive adult lives.

of school spirit. By not focusing solely on victory, our athletic program advances a holistic attitude,

6

T HE

Browning coaches use athletics as a means

instilling a strong sense of community among

through which these principles, lessons and

spectators and participants alike and ultimately

values are developed. Indeed, just as our

informing our boys’ attempts to lead full, healthy

classroom teachers use engaging subject matter

and productive adult lives. Whether achieved

to enhance academic skills and dispositions, our

through interscholastic sports competitions,

coaches view sports as a vehicle for cultivating

structured physical education classes, or

principles and understandings that transcend

extracurricular/intramural programming,

a particular athletic competition or pursuit. It

The Browning School hopes that each boy may

is with these aims in mind that coaches design

find a home and succeed at his own level of

comprehensive training and practice plans,

skill and aspiration.

BUZZER

“ Being part of something that is bigger

than you and representing your school proudly and with honor are really what matter most.”

As a Browning boy and member of the Class of 1992, you have seen many changes here at the School through the years as both a student and faculty member . Which stand out in particular?

par doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things.

I think one of the biggest changes I have seen, and the one

than you and representing your school proudly and with

I am proudest of Browning for achieving, is that the boys

honor are really what matter most.

these days are not labeled and “put in boxes.” When I was here, you were either an athlete or a non-athlete. Only a small percentage of the boys played on sports teams. If you were on a team, there was no way you were also in a

Rather, what counts are the friendships you form, the bonds you build, your ability to win and lose like a gentleman, and all those other things you gain from playing on a team. Being part of something that is bigger

How has youth athletics, in general, changed over the course of the years you ’ve been here?

play or involved in Mock Trial, Model UN or Chorus, etc.

I think the biggest change I’ve noticed is the emergence

Now Browning boys are able – and actually counted on –

of travel teams coupled with sports specialization. There

to be involved in everything. We are a small school with

are many studies that show how sports specialization can

big school opportunities!

lead to an increased chance of injury. I also feel that sports specialization, especially when it occurs at a young age,

You and Head of School John Botti recently collaborated on a formal statement detailing

School’s athletics philosophy. (See facing page .) You mention that you and your coaches view sports as “a vehicle for cultivating principles

often leads to a player experiencing “burnout.” Finding ways to allow boys to participate on travel teams, while

the

they simultaneously play on school teams, has been quite

and understandings that transcend a particular

Browning boys are introduced to sports at a

athletic competition or pursuit.”

Can you explain that statement in more detail and tell us, in general , why athletics is such an important part of the curriculum here at Browning?

Although teaching boys how to play sports at Browning

challenging but is something all schools face these days.

young age through physical education classes and later have opportunities to participate in interscholastic sports competitions and

extracurricular /intramural programming.

What motivates them to go beyond PE class?

– and perhaps beyond – is one of the goals we have as

I think the most important thing we can do as PE teachers

coaches, I think it’s more important to teach them life

is to motivate the boys by instilling a love of the game

lessons. At the end of the day, whether you can throw a

(whatever they may choose to play) at an early age. Once

ball 90 mph, knock down three-pointers, or shoot below

they enjoy it, the rest is easy!

Spring/Summer 2017

7

In the spring and fall, many of our boys

“ It ’ s not the banners,

it’s not the championships, it’s that 82 percent of the

boys in Forms I through VI participate in athletics.”

participate in optional preseason training camps.

Explain the importance of these camps.

The camps provide two things that are vital to success.

One is obvious – the training and conditioning – but the second is more intangible – the bonds that are formed there. Both camps are so important, but I believe the Florida trip in March provides the largest return. Being outside in the warm weather and getting a head start on some of the other New York school teams is crucial.

You are also the School’s varsity baseball coach.

What do you enjoy most about this specific sport, and did you play as a student at Browning?

I played baseball from Form I through Form III at Browning. As a junior I decided to play tennis in the spring, but I returned to baseball in my senior year. I think what I enjoy most about baseball are the strategic

8

element and, more recently, the commitment the players

T HE

BUZZER

Did you know?

Browning boys play competitively and for fun during field days on Randall’s Island, the same place where, on July 11, 1936, Jesse Owens triumphed in the 200-yard dash in the finals of the Olympic Trials for track and field.

That same day, the Triborough Bridge and Triborough Stadium had opened with both President Roosevelt and U.S. Olympic Committee President Brundage in attendance. Mr. Owens would continue on to an historic win at the 1936 Berlin Olympics where he garnered four Olympic gold medals. – M.M.

have shown. The way they handle themselves on the field

achieve the goals I know we are capable of! Our winter

makes me proud each time we are out there. I also love

sports teams would benefit the most.

the staff I have out there with me: Coaches Cohn, Brown and Blake all provide different key elements. We work very well together.

Despite the space restrictions of the School’s facilities, we seem to still achieve so much in terms of interscholastic sports. What are your hopes for the future in this regard?

The majority of New York City schools face the same

challenges that we do in the fall and spring. Being

founding members of the Randall’s Island Park Alliance, by the way, has been a huge benefit to Browning. [For

more information on RIPA, log on to randallsisland.org.]

As Browning’s director of athletics, what are you most proud of?

Obviously I have been longing for more athletic space.

As the School’s director of athletics, this is an easy one.

Despite our successes, I can only imagine how much

It’s not the banners, it’s not the championships, it’s that

more we could do if we had even better facilities.

82 percent of the boys in Forms I through VI participate

Nothing pains me more than to work with a young boy

in athletics. Although 82 percent is amazing, I strive for

from the time he is five years old and then find that

100 percent so that all our boys might know what it feels

somewhere along the line, he decides to leave Browning

like to be a Browning Panther. As Andrew West ’92, it’s

for a school with larger athletic facilities. I have never

also an easy one. It’s being able to provide everything

been more confident than I am right now, however, that

Browning offers to my son Evan, who started his career

our Browning leadership will find additional space and

here this year in Pre-primary!

Spring/Summer 2017

9

f e at u r e

n e w 3d p r i n t e r e n h a nc e s

Creations in Clay

A

rt Department Chair Nik Vlahos traveled to Massa Lombarda near Ravenna, Italy, this past summer to learn the intricacies of the School’s new Delta 2040 WASP 3D printer and extruder, which

offers Browning boys a unique way to create with clay. This state-of-the art equipment, manufactured in Ravenna by WASP (World’s Advanced Saving Project) was purchased with funds raised by the Parents Association’s 2016 Benefit, which partially covered the expense of Mr. Vlahos’ trip as well.

Curious about this exciting acquisition, we asked him to explain how the printer works and how it has enhanced the art curriculum to date.

First of all, porcelain is combined in a mixer

with five percent rubbing alcohol, turning it into a paste which is then put into a canister. Next,

air pressure is applied, and the clay is literally

pushed though an extruder. By reading a digital file, the printer essentially lays down layers of

porcelain to create or “print” the desired object.

Mr. Vlahos noted that this particular printer

is appealing for classroom use because of its

smaller size. In fact, “2040”denotes that it can

print an object 20 centimeters in diameter with a height of 40 centimeters.

WASP CEO Massimo Moretti has said, “The

arrival of the pottery wheel was a significant

moment in the history of ceramics and opened up new possibilities of expressiveness and

performance.” The digital approach of this

printer “can help designers to more precisely control the geometry of their creation.”

Mr. Vlahos concurs: “Essentially, the new

works produced in this school year straddle the

10

T HE

BUZZER

“As we look to the future and the potential uses for this printer, we believe that the objects produced with it can be used in conjunction with hand- and wheel-thrown forms to create something unique and innovative. The goal is to use these components elsewhere; in other words, the smaller objects created with the WASP printer can be added to larger ceramic pieces.�

Spring/Summer 2017

11

While in Italy, Mr. Vlahos had the opportunity to meet one-on-one with Mr. Moretti and the entire WASP team, including their marketing and research and development personnel.

traditional and non-traditional.” Some people

innovative. The goal is to use these components

in the classroom might be a form of “cheating.”

created with the WASP printer can be added to

have questioned whether the use of this printer “Not at all,” said Mr. Vlahos, noting that the

printer is simply another way to create forms in

Already the Upper School boys have

enjoyed a turn with the printer, too; those

the first art students to explore the printer’s

busts. “Overall, the boys are amazed by what

capabilities and apply the notions of its maker,

Mr. Moretti. Mr. Vlahos explained that the printer allows small objects to be made by these younger boys who otherwise might not be able to

take on such a task. “Though their minds can conceive a particular object,” he said, “their

hands are not yet dexterous enough to execute

it in clay.” He added, “As we look to the future and the potential uses for this printer, we

believe that the objects produced with it can

be used in conjunction with hand- and wheelthrown forms to create something unique and

12

larger ceramic pieces.”

clay that cannot be made by hand.

Browning’s third grade “designers” are among

T HE

elsewhere; in other words, the smaller objects

BUZZER

taking an art elective have created porcelain

this printer can do,” said Mr. Vlahos. While the

equipment can accommodate plastic, he prefers to steer clear of that material. “When you look closely at an object created with this printer,

you will see all its many layers. These layers

can be smoothed out with water and a sponge, just as we have always done in working with clay. That’s not the case, by the way, with

plastic objects created by this printer. You will always notice their layers,” said Mr. Vlahos.

While in Italy, Mr. Vlahos had the oppor-

tunity to meet one-on-one with Mr. Moretti and

the entire WASP team, including their marketing and research and development personnel. “I visited their headquarters, which is where all facets of their operation take place, and had a personal tour of the facility,” he said. “By spending two

to three hours with each team member, I learned how everything works and now have a personal relationship with them.”

His excitement is contagious and has

rubbed off on the Browning boys in his class.

“As I introduced the printer and we explored

its capabilities, their curiosity and enthusiasm

were obvious. That’s been really gratifying. I’m

optimistic that next year we’ll be able to involve more boys in other grade levels as well.”

Mr. Vlahos also looks forward to working

with the array of additional filaments this

amazing printer can accommodate, such as bronze, rubber and wood. He notes that by varnishing the printed objects made with a particular filament – wood, for example – interesting effects are possible.

As reported by Melanie McMahon WASP, an acronym for World Advanced Saving Project, aims to help make sustainable housing a reality, essentially emulating the technique of mason wasps, which are the symbol/logo of the group. Massimo Moretti, CEO and founder of the company, has always dreamed of a 3D printer able to “print” houses made from “zero-mile” local materials found in the immediate surroundings, including soil and straw. These dwellings are meant to be eco-friendly and inexpensive to build, will not leave ruins behind if they are no longer used, and consume a small amount of energy. You may follow the progress of Mr. Moretti and his company at www.wasproject.it.

Spring/Summer 2017

13

fine and p e r f o r m i n g a rt s Music Department Chair and Lower School Music Specialist Lucy Warner has published her first book, “Zap! Boom! Pow! Superheroes of Music,” which she holds open to the section on J.S. Bach, her favorite composer.

“ZAP! BOOM! POW! SUPERHEROES OF MUSIC” IS A BROWNING BESTSELLER Music Department Chair and Lower School Music Specialist

as I was nearing completion of the text. I tried it out on Bach,

Pow! Superheroes of Music.” This colorful publication

leapt off the page! So I decided to continue the theme of a

Lucy Warner recently published her first book, “Zap! Boom! features 12 of the greatest Western Classical composers

with an innovative twist. In contemplating the appeal of its content for young boys, Ms. Warner asked herself several

questions: What if each composer were a superhero? What would his super power be?

Since its introduction, her book has proved quite a hit

with Lower School Browning boys! Ms. Warner commented, “For many years, I had been on the lookout for a book

about famous musical composers that was geared towards the grades I teach at Browning (Pre-primary through

superhero for each of the 12 composers, relating it to some fact of his life or to one of his musical works.”

Happily, the reaction to “Zap! Boom! Pow! Superheroes

of Music” has been extremely positive. A smiling Ms.

Warner said, “The book has added a creative new dimension to our discussions. The boys are eager to talk about the

composers, to participate, to discuss their music. And what’s more, they are motivated to share their knowledge with parents and friends!”

The book, which can be purchased at the Met

fourth). Ideally, the book would reflect our curriculum in

Opera Shop at Lincoln Center, Mary Arnold Toys at

much searching with no success, I finally decided to write

Amazon, is scheduled for national distribution by both

conjunction with our Composer of the Month studies. After my own. The ‘superhero’ idea came to me late in the game,

14

my favorite composer, and it felt like a new burst of energy

T HE

BUZZER

1178 Lexington Ave., Bank Street Bookstore and from J.W. Pepper & Son and West Music this fall.

LOWER SCHOOL BOYS PERFORM IN MUSIC RECITALS During the third and final Lower School informal recital, 20 boys performed on piano, guitar and violin. These

young musicians presented a wide range of repertoire,

from “Minuet in G” to “La Bamba.” Bravo to all the boys who performed in recitals throughout the school year!

A CAPPELLA SINGERS IN CONCERT The Form VI A CaPanthers, Browning’s new a cappella group, performed at the Interschool A Cappellooza concert at The Spence School in February. The group is directed by Richard Symons, Middle and Upper school music teacher.

Spring/Summer 2017

15

ANNUAL ART SHOW The Browning community admired the impressive artwork

created by Browning boys under the direction of art teachers Nik Vlahos and Zack Davis. The Annual Art Show, which

took place in the Kurani Gym and other areas of the School, was attended by proud parents and siblings, as well as the

boys, faculty and staff. With each school year, the boys outdo

themselves, as the youngest ones learn the fundamentals of art and the oldest perfect their self-portraits.

16

T HE

BUZZER

Spring/Summer 2017

17

TEN YEARS OF THE MET OPERA ORCHESTRA AT BROWNING! Once again Vincent Lionti, father

assembly this past winter.

the Metropolitan Opera Orches-

wore his tuxedo in honor of his

ensemble of fellow orchestra mem-

is always eager to tell the boys

of Nicholas ’19 and violist with

tra, presented a concert with an bers and Michael Cedric Smith,

a classical guitarist and father of

Brogan ’18, during a Lower School

18

T HE

BUZZER

Mr. Lionti, who joked that he

selves and their careers with their young audience.

The Lower School musicians

10th performance at the School,

were asked to come forward at

about the pieces being played

photo with these talented guests

and invites members of the en-

semble to share a bit about them-

the conclusion of the concert for a who no doubt provided a wealth of inspiration and motivation.

SENIOR THESPIAN TAKES FINAL BOW Form VI actor Alex Barnard (at left in yellow bowtie)

played the part of the jokester dad, Wilbur Turnblad, in

Nightingale-Bamford’s April production of “Hairspray.”

With this role, Alex culminated four years of participation in Browning’s annual joint productions with Nightingale.

FIFTH AND SIXTH GRADE BOYS LEARN ABOUT MUSIC BUSINESS Browning parent and alumnus Ali Theodore ’88

discussed his career as a music producer, songwriter,

composer, performer and business owner with boys in Richard Symons’ fifth and sixth grade music classes.

Spring/Summer 2017

19

from the archives

Academic excellence and classroom “fun” have been hallmarks of the Browning experience for many years now. Archival photos indicate that our boys have always had a keen interest in the sciences, and they know how to have a good time, too! Whether preparing for a robotics competition or autographing a birthday boy’s T-shirt, students and teachers form close connections, cultivating curiosity in the classroom and happy memories to last a lifetime.

20

T HE

BUZZER

Spring/Summer 2017

21

the local buzz

LOWER SCHOOL BOYS READ TO KNOW AND “GROW” GLOBAL LIBRARIES The Lower School boys participated

in a read-a-thon fundraiser for the first time to encourage reading and, at the same time, benefit Room to Read, an

organization that works in collaboration with local governments across Asia and

Africa to develop literacy skills and provide supplies to fill libraries in these areas.

The boys not only read to each other, they were

also treated every Friday that month to faculty guest

readers who took the time from their busy days to help

with this worthy cause. In addition to their classroom reading,

the boys read at home and kept a log to record their time. Each homeroom teacher tracked the minutes read by the class.

The boys’ reading-based activity accumulated a total of 26,755

minutes, which translated into $16,000 to support Room to Read. The boys celebrated their success with a Pajama Day!

22

T HE

BUZZER

PBS SHOW HOST CALLS FOR CIVIL DIALOGUE Alexander Heffner, host of “The Open Mind,” a

30-minute public affairs show

Harvard, Mr. Heffner is also a native New Yorker.

A November 29, 2016,

all done with an eye toward protecting free expression.”

Mr. Heffner described

on PBS, spoke to a number

column in The Washington

commercial television as

February, including parents,

“ ‘Being an outlier in

engage in the public affairs

of groups at Browning in

Middle and Upper School boys, and the student

newspaper staff. His topic,

“Civility, Truth and the Future of American Democracy,”

focused on the need to engage in face-to-face discussions

and the ability to “agree to disagree.” The importance of debating a given topic

in depth and with civility is central to democracy,

according to Mr. Heffner, who was a keynote speaker at a

recent conference held at the University of Copenhagen.

A graduate of Andover and

Post explained his approach: television right now is

to focus on intellectually

rigorous things,’ [Mr. Heffner said in an interview]. ‘It’s a steep mountain to climb to

compete with the culture of talking points.’ “ The Post

column also noted, “His latest focus is on free speech and

its role in democracy, thanks to a $100,000 grant from the

John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The idea is to explore matters from free

expression (or its lack) on college campuses to hate

speech on the internet. It’s

“struggling with how to

conversation and not to boil

everything down to the least common denominator and

degrade itself.” He told his

Browning audience that it is

important to watch nonprofit programming on PBS and

the BBC, as such outlets are not driven by money and

commercial advertising. He

believes civility and his mild approach on “The Open

Mind” are necessary in order to make a difference. “We’re hoping,” he said, “to model

the kind of discourse to which we aspire.”

Spring/Summer 2017

23

MATH-SCIENCE NIGHT: A DISPLAY OF KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING In February, boys in Grade Five through Form II utilized the School’s facilities – from science labs, to the Cafeteria, to the

art rooms and Kurani Gym – as they welcomed their parents, faculty and staff to Math-Science Night. This annual event

always proves exciting, with the boys geared up to explain the original projects they have designed and executed. Months in the making, their assignment demands they incorporate

mathematical analysis of their data as a central component in reaching a final conclusion.

Under the structure and guidance of their math and science

teachers, homeroom teachers, librarians and technology team, the boys raise questions and seek answers as they apply their knowledge and understanding of how math and science

converge. From posters to PowerPoint presentations, the

students connect the two subjects in a meaningful way.”

Chair of the Science Department Sam Keany added, “The

outcomes of the boys’ experiments are displayed.

quality of the boys’ presentations – on boards, digital posters

“The boys are extremely proud of their hard work and enjoy

work from past years and absorb suggestions from teachers

Chair of the Mathematics Department Michael Klein said,

explaining their experiments while relating their results to the

24

wonderful Browning community event, and the projects help

applied mathematics. Math-Science Night continues to be a

T HE

BUZZER

and slides – continues to grow stronger as they reflect on their and classmates. The scientific questions that the boys explore are also penetrating and age-appropriate.”

THREE CHEERS FOR CHESS CHAMPS! John Kennedy, who directs the chess program at Browning, is proud to offer the following report on the

results of the New York City K-12

Chess Championship held on two days in February:

Thirty-three Browning gentlemen

were among over 1,500 players competing in 14 grade/rating

divisions. On the first day a Form III boy, Giordan Escalona, tied with

one other player for first place in the

High School JV division; this was his

team took the fifth place award.

Speyer, Columbia Prep, Avenues,

and included a speed chess tiebreak

(consisting of five Pre-primary boys

Our Browning team held superior

title of NYC Champ. Our high school

first place with Collegiate, ahead of

first chess tournament experience

playoff for the first place trophy and

On the second day, our K-1 team

and seven first graders) tied for

Trinity and 20-plus other teams.

tiebreak points to bring home the first-place trophy!

GRYTTE GARNERS GOLD MEDALIST RATING The Grytte newspaper staff was given a Gold Medalist rating by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) for the four issues they published in 2015-16. The Medalist Critiques are the written evaluation of the publication compared against a set of printed criteria as completed by CSPA judges.

Spring/Summer 2017

25

MODEL UN DELEGATES REPRESENT REPUBLIC OF YEMEN History Department Chair Dr. Gerald Protheroe reports

on the recent Model UN experience; he has been faculty advisor for this trip for 20 consecutive years.

“Our Upper School Model UN delegates spent

four full days of spirited debate in Philadelphia at the Ivy League Model United Nations Conference (ILMUNC XXXIII). The competition was severe

with 3,000 students from all over the USA as well

as Colombia, Venezuela and China in attendance.

The boys performed strongly in an exceedingly

competitive conference. Our delegation representing the Republic of Yemen gave it their best effort. One

of our Form V boys gained a Verbal Commendation as Bai Chongsi on the Joint Crisis Committee on the Guomindang, the Chinese Nationalist party.”

Dr. Protheroe added, “It was good to see that the

Model UN experience clearly had a salutary effect on our most recent graduates.

Young alumni Awen Abattu ’16 and Aadir Khan ’15 were now to be

found on the other side of the dais

as part of the ILMUNC Secretariat, i.e., those who are judging and

conducting the various committee proceedings that the delegates

participate in. It was also good that

another alumnus at Penn, Diego Lopez-

26

T HE

BUZZER

Liranzo ’15, who was a member of our Model UN

delegation for four years, joined us for dinner at the

Imperial Inn in Philadelphia on Saturday night to share his college experiences.”

Earlier, Upper School boys attended

a presentation by members of

the Model UN delegation. The

representatives spoke about what comprises a desirable Model UN

delegate, as well as the current

political situation in the Republic of

Yemen, which they represented so well

this year.

CLASS TRIPS INFORM GRADE THREE SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM In preparation for their unit on Japan and as part of their

centuries ago. They learned how tribe members used various

visited the United Nations headquarters.

food, clothing and shelter.

social studies curriculum on world culture, third grade boys As a complement to their social studies curriculum on the

plants, animal parts and water to meet their basic needs of

The boys also viewed maps depicting Manhattan in 1609,

origins of Manhattan and the study of its woodland natives,

allowing them to explore where these natives may have

about the Lenape tribe, the island’s original inhabitants who

This exercise reinforced the importance of the relationship

they visited the Museum of the City of New York to learn lived there 400 years ago.

The boys participated in a hands-on workshop,

settled based on the location of water, forests and fertile land. between the Lenape and their habitat.

The knowledge gained during this museum visit was

investigating how the woodland natives used natural

brought back to the classroom, where the boys later wrote

behind, the boys studied replicas of artifacts, as well as

“How did the Woodland Natives use the natural resources

resources to survive. Because no written history was left pictures of resources the Lenape may have used many

a five-paragraph essay based upon the essential question, around them to survive?”

NYSAIS ACCREDITATION REVIEW PROVIDES POSITIVE FEEDBACK As reported in the Fall-Winter Buzzer, over the course of a 15-month period, Browning

conducted an in-depth self-study as part of its 10-year accreditation review by the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS). NYSAIS is a voluntary organization whose members agree to adhere to a set of best practices and principles for schools.

Head of School John Botti notes that the self-study, together with a

visit from a NYSAIS accreditation group comprised of peer educators from member schools, “provided important introspection and was

a conduit for shared community conversation.” He said that faculty members have begun a preliminary exploration of how they might

best use the Visiting Committee’s recommendations to advance the School’s mission and their work with the boys.

Spring/Summer 2017

27

CELEBRATING AND EXPLORING THE IDEALS OF DR. KING Topics covered during January

week is meant to challenge bullying as

(SDLC) in Atlanta. The PoCC strives

to the observance of Dr. Martin Luther

into action and extending acceptance

leadership and professional journeys of

assemblies at all grade levels were tied King, Jr. Day. Led by Glenn Walker,

advisor to the Multicultural Club, the

program for Lower School boys delved

into the first-hand experiences of Upper School boys regarding inequality and

to LGBTQ students – particularly

transgender and gender nonconforming (GNC) students – along with LGBTQ students of color.

Members of the Multicultural

the universally uncomfortable feeling

Club attended the People of Color

showed a film produced by Tower

Diversity Leadership Conference

of being “left out.” Mr. Walker first

Hill School, an independent school in

Wilmington, Del., depicting instances where students were interrupted

when trying to contribute to a group

discussion, ignored at the lunch table, and otherwise made to feel as though they did not count or belong. The

boys left with much to ponder and

consider in terms of being sensitive to

the feelings of others, regardless of their appearance or beliefs.

Faculty member Anderson Harp

asked the boys to participate in GLSEN’s

No Name-Calling Week, which began on MLK Day and ended on Inauguration

Day. According to GLSEN’s website, this

28

well as celebrate kindness by putting it

T HE

BUZZER

Conference (PoCC) and Student

to develop, nurture and sustain the

people of color in independent schools.

Club members joined more than 1,600

students across the country in exploring the theme of Advancing Human and Civil Rights: Fulfilling the Dream

Together during general sessions,

affinity groups and workshops led by independent school peers.

THIRD ANNUAL COMMUNITY DAY EXTENDS BROWNING’S REACH The most recent Community

Day offered boys at all levels the opportunity for celebration and

camaraderie, as well as the chance to serve the greater community

beyond Browning. When asked by

a teacher whether or not he enjoyed a “good” Community Day, a Pre-

primary boy was quick to reply, “Of course I did! It’s community. How could it be anything but good?”

Perhaps that says, in a nutshell,

what this event has come to mean to all those at Browning.

Activities involved a scavenger

hunt and intraschool games for the younger boys, and a community

lunch served in fine fashion by the

dining services team. Additionally, for the first time this year, Com-

munity Day saw the entire Upper

School body sent off-site to various

organizations to participate in com-

munity service. These organizations included Habitat for Humanity,

Food Bank for New York City, LSA

Food Pantry, St. Luke’s in the Field,

Masbia Soup Kitchen, Holy Apostle Soup Kitchen, Reach Out and Read, The Wild Bird Fund and the New York Common Pantry.

Science teacher Dr. Betty Noel, who was appointed

Mr. Botti, who experienced Browning’s Community

Director of Diversity by Head of School John Botti,

Day as the new Head of School for the first time and

her colleagues. She noted, “This was another amazing

thanked all the School’s teachers and staff members for

once again led plans for the day in collaboration with

Community Day! How wonderful to see students of all ages, as well as adults, learning about each other and

interacting so well together. It was wonderful to have the Upper School boys leave the building to serve the greater community, as well as have the Middle and

Lower School boys dive into the vital issue of access to water, which ties together all life around the world.”

Dr. Noel thanked all those involved for their help with

the organization and execution of the day, and for their overall patience and good cheer.

ably assisted with the Habitat for Humanity project,

their participation. He said, “I want to thank especially Dr. Noel for her coordination of today’s events, but I

also know that she was not alone... I know that the boys with whom I was painting and working were grateful to be part of a community that wants to use its time

for matters of fun, yes, but also those of significance.

Browning is a special place, and more than anything

else, it’s made so by our faculty and staff, who animate it with expertise, hope and good cheer.”

Spring/Summer 2017

29

FAMILIES AND FRIENDS ATTEND FIRST-EVER FAMILY HOUR OF CODE In the Kurani Gym on a January evening, over 100 parents,

lives. Parents ask, ‘What is this programming that my son

first “Family Hour of Code.” Attendees enjoyed this special

that than their sons, who explain, ‘Coding is when you

special friends and students participated in Browning’s opportunity to practice computer programming (also

referred to as computing or coding) together, joining what

has become a national and international movement to teach

create a list of instructions to tell a computer what to do.’

It’s that simple!”

Mr. Harp added, “We played games and solved puzzles

all kids to code.

together and started to learn about coding in this family-

event is important because computing will continue to be a

rather, it was the people who made this moment something

Technology Integrator Anderson Harp explained, “This

big part of how most kids work and play throughout their

30

is talking about all the time?’ And who to better answer

T HE

BUZZER

style gathering. The focus wasn’t necessarily on screens;

special for all.” A second coding event was held in April.

FIFTH AND SIXTH GRADERS LEARN MORE ABOUT SUDAN’S CIVIL WAR The boys in Grades Five and Six

Mr. Deng spoke to the boys about

welcomed a special visitor this past

many other things, including how

talked with the students about his

African and member of the Dinka tribe

winter. Keer Deng, who is from Sudan, experience during the civil war in

that country. Prior to his appearance, history teacher Mary Bosworth

provided the boys with background

materials. They had read a book on the topic, “A Long Walk to Water,” and

watched the 2014 movie, “The Good

Lie.” Hearing about Mr. Deng’s firsthand experience of escaping the war

and coming to America certainly made the story all the more real. Despite his

fortunate he is, as a former slave, Black (one of 64 tribes) to have been aided

by so many people and organizations.

rubbed in his eyes by a brutal captor), he has learned Braille, can now speak

English (also Arabic!) and continues to take lessons to learn how to play both the piano and drums.

help him enjoy such activities.

Mr. Deng often noted that his own

that he hopes the Browning boys will

and bureau chief for Talk Media News,

who works with Goats for the Old Goats.

This organization aids former slaves and people in South Sudan who have been affected by the civil conflict there.

The boys were riveted by the

marry, a Sudanese man must be able to

eyesight after having chili pepper

relies on his smartphone and Siri to

Chicken”), a White House correspondent

filled with hope for his future here in School for the blind (he lost his

and skiing, and that he sometimes

education is so important to him (he

affectionately calls her “Mamma

material Mr. Deng presented,

America. A student at the Lighthouse

sports, particularly soccer, basketball

He spoke highly of Ellen Ratner (he

suffering, however, Mr. Deng somehow found the strength to persevere and is

know that Mr. Deng loves running and

particularly the fact that before he can provide his future bride’s family with 100 cows! These animals are vital to

the people as a source of sustenance.

He also spoke of his many corneal

transplant surgeries and the fact that,

despite their subsequent failure, he will never give up hope of regaining his

eyesight. The boys were fascinated to

is working on earning a G.E.D.), and use their education to help those in

need – not only here in America but around the world. He also advised

them to become more independent and not rely on their parents too much, to travel, to keep learning (“you can be

the next Einstein”) and to “just keep on going” when challenged by adversity.

Amazingly, while he has suffered the

loss of his parents and sister, Mr. Deng’s warmth, optimism and sense of humor remain intact. “I did not want to be

alone, so I just kept going,” he said.

“Never give up too soon on life. One

day you may be feeling sad, but after

you sleep, the next day you realize the sadness is not permanent.”

Spring/Summer 2017

31

THIRD ANNUAL BIODIVERSITY DAY RAISES AWARENESS AND FUNDS The third annual Biodiversity Day sponsored by Browning’s Green Team was another huge success! Boys, teachers, staff

members and guest naturalists broke into groups and headed

to Central Park, where they dodged the raindrops to complete a Bioblitz/Biodiversity survey. Approximately 100 species were identified!

In another point of pride, dollars raised during the event’s

“Dress Down” amounted to $1,500 and were donated to the Wild Bird Fund and the Central Park Conservancy.

The Green Team members in each group posted their

respective Central Park observations on iNaturalist, the

citizen science platform. Back at Browning, group members watched “The Man Who Planted Trees” and noted the

changes that took place in the community shown in the video as their environment evolved. The boys then made “seed

bombs” to take home or plant around the School. The boys

such as a tiny armadillo, enormous owl, albino kangaroo and a very vocal kookaburra, to name just a few!

Science teacher-organizer Emilie Wolf and Green Team

later participated in workshops of their choice, including

members – channeling Dr. Seuss’ tree-hugging Lorax in a

“Sculpture Jam,” among many others. Lower School boys

– wrote, “What a success! We pulled it off! The Lorax says

“Design Your Own Animal,” “City Soundscapes” and

were treated to a program by zoologist “Nature Nick” Jacinto who introduced them to a fascinating collection of animals

whimsical email of gratitude to the Browning community it best: ‘Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.’ ”

FRENCH STUDENTS DEMONSTRATE TALENT AND CREATIVITY Browning’s Form II French students

Their assignment was to present a

Coup de Coeur (difficult to translate

School theater festival at Lycée

minutes based on this year’s theme

something impulsively”) for Humor.

participated in the annual Middle Français de New York. (We thank the school for the accompanying

photo!) French teacher Dominique Bernard reports: “The imposing amphitheater was packed, the

tension was palpable and the boys

a little nervous but very motivated.

32

T HE

BUZZER

short performance of five to seven of Disgust and Desire. The quality

of all the plays was remarkable and

perhaps even better than in the past.

Well-assisted by his talented peers, a Form II Browning boy was awarded the ‘best non-French speaking male actor trophy.’ Browning also won a

into English, but it means “loving This was a superb achievement indeed! The festival was, as it

is every year, an enjoyable and

engaging activity. The numerous

Browning parents who attended the event had every reason to be proud of their children!”

RECURRENT DIALOGUE ON EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION As part of the annual Interschool 10th

grade trip, Browning sophomores spent three rewarding

days at Frost Valley YMCA Camp in

the Catskills, where they engaged

in workshops concerning

gender, equity and inclusivity with

members of five other single-sex

schools (Brearley,

Chapin, Collegiate,

Nightingale and Spence).

Members of the Gender Studies & Feminism

Club, led by Alex Lopez-Velasco ’17, president, participated in a GirlUp meeting at Dominican Academy, where they engaged in an open

discussion about issues of equity with respect to

different diversity months on the calendar. I

thank you all for introducing many initiatives

like No Name-Calling Week and Random Acts of Kindness that serve our mission so well.”

Dr. Noel added, “We sent faculty members

the rights of women and the LGBT community.

to the Sex, Gender and Sexuality: Educating

schools; participants from both have found great

School Communities Conference, as well as the

This was the second joint meeting of the two

value in their new connection and look forward to future opportunities to work together. The club, comprised of students, faculty and staff, meets every Wednesday morning.

Director of Diversity Dr. Betty Noel applauded

Students, Supporting Families and Creating Safer Developing a Holistic Approach to Gender and

Sexuality workshop for K-8. We also are regularly

represented at WARE (white anti-racist educators) meetings, which is exciting.”

For the second year, Browning sent

such efforts to further the School’s work in regard

representatives to two important conferences this

student clubs, such as the Feminism Club, Gay-

the Dalton Diversity to Community Conference.

to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). “Our

Straight Alliance, Multicultural Club and Think Tank, continue to engage our older students

and to broaden the conversation through the GirlUp meeting mentioned above, as well as

other initiatives,” she said. “To acknowledge

Black History Month, the fifth graders went to see ‘Hidden Figures,’ and the technology department produced a revolving display to honor the

spring, the NYSAIS Diversity Conference and Dr. Noel said, “Professional development is

key to ensuring that we are part of the larger conversation and are developing the skill set to move this work along internally. Creating a successful EDI program takes an entire

community, so I thank all of our members for their effort and engagement.”

Spring/Summer 2017

33

FIRST TIME EVER: MOCK TRIAL TEAM REACHES FINAL FOUR! In the history of Browning, the mock

They have generously offered

and Katherine Weinhoff, a Fordham

their time and expertise by attending

teacher and faculty sponsor Marcia

The coaches are deeply appreciative of

for scrimmages against other schools

of success that it did this year. Math

Wallace explains that the tournament

begins each year with over 100 schools

from all five boroughs of New York City participating. In past years, Browning twice reached the Round of 16 but

advanced no further. Making it to the Final Four this year was an amazing

accomplishment and a proud moment for all of the Browning community.

34

The team is coached by Ms. Wallace

trial team has never achieved the level

T HE

BUZZER

law professor and mother of James ’10. the support shown for the team by the

entire school community throughout the season, both at Browning and through

attendance at the various trials. They are pleased to note that the last few years

have seen an upsurge in the success of

the mock trial program, which is directly attributable to the involvement of

several Browning alumni and parents.

practices, as well as by serving as judges and for the annual mock trial Upper School assembly. Their perspectives and advice have proven invaluable,

according to the team’s coaches, who are pleased to offer this prediction:

“There will be a wonderful core group of returning team members next year; these boys have amazing talent and

commitment, so the future is bright!”

NATION'S CAPITAL AN ANNUAL DELIGHT Each year in the spring, Form II

Browning boys head to Washington, D.C., to take in the sights, absorb

the history and enjoy one another's

company. Some of the class members are pictured here at the World War II Memorial on the National Mall. A

standard stop on this annual trip, it was part of an itinerary that also included a number of museums administered by the Smithsonian Institution.

BEST-EVER SHOWING IN REGIONAL SCIENCE BOWL The Browning Middle School Science Bowl team excelled in the Regional Science Bowl Competition at

Hunter College High School in January. The School was represented by two teams, with Team One making it all the way to the finals and finishing second overall against schools three to four times its size. Advisor

and science teacher Melodie Ting declared, “This was the best showing Browning has ever had in a regional competition against large public schools in New York City!�

Spring/Summer 2017

35

NEARLY 100 GUESTS ATTEND SECOND TEDxYOUTH @BROWNING SCHOOL EVENT Browning’s second TEDxYouth

@BrowningSchool event was a great

success, attended by nearly 100 guests, including U. S. Merchant Marine

Academy midshipmen, and open to

anyone in the greater New York City community, free of charge. Faculty

members Melodie Ting and Anderson Harp, along with 25 Middle and

Upper School students, comprised

the executive team and supporting

volunteers who organized this event.

The program featured a student

speaker series and student-led

workshops. Keynote speakers included Zsuzsa Marka, experimental physicist at Columbia University; Gregory Bill,

36

Through his Twitter feed, Head

co-founder of Thread Learning and

of School John Botti praised all those

former Browning student who shared

student-run presentations. I’m really

young entrepreneur.

and Mr. Harp for all their great work in

edtech pioneer; and David Eisman ’18,

involved: “Such great student-authored,

his story of successes and failures as a

proud of our boys! Thanks to Ms. Ting

T HE

BUZZER

organizing. Kudos to our Browning boys for this tour de force! I am proud to be in a community that sees joy in ideas.”

Please note that you may follow

Mr. Botti (@jmbotti) on Twitter throughout the school year.

DISTINGUISHED DOCTORS SPEAK AT BROWNING The series, Great Minds in Science, was established in memory of

John W. Hadden, M.D., P ’87, ’93, GP ’24, ’26. The second in this

series was presented in February with distinguished guests

Jedd Wolchok, M.D., Ph.D., and David Levine, M.D.

Dr. Wolchok, who spoke about

using the immune system to treat cancer, is chief of the Melanoma

and Immunotherapeutics Service

and director of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy

at Memorial Sloan Kettering

Cancer Center. He received his undergraduate degree from

connections to Browning, is an

degree from Dartmouth College

his M.D. and Ph.D. from New

Orthopaedic Surgery at Weill

Medical University. Dr. Levine

Princeton University and both York University.

Dr. Levine, who spoke

about careers in medicine and

emeritus professor of Clinical

Cornell Medical College, as well as an author, historian and lecturer.

He received his undergraduate

and his M.D. from SUNY Upstate spent nearly 30 years at the

Hospital for Special Surgery as a surgeon and administrator.

Spring/Summer 2017

37

BROWNING PARENT DISCUSSES PAST POSITION WITH SEC Norm Champ P ’18, a partner in the Investment Funds

the Parents Association speaker series. Mr. Champ

teaches investment management law at Harvard Law

“Going Public: My Adventures Inside the SEC and How

Group of law firm Kirkland & Ellis LLP, who also

School, spoke at Browning this past spring as part of

geared his presentation to the subject matter in his book, to Prevent the Next Devastating Crisis.”

SIXTH GRADE BOYS EXPLORE ART WORLD OF GREEK EMOTIONS Middle School history and philosophy

seemed unrelatable. Ms. Bosworth

and then made a sketch interpreting

for sixth grade students to visit a

and Ajax playing a board game during

strong emotions that the Athenians felt

teacher Mary Bosworth arranged

special exhibit, A World of Emotions: Ancient Greece, 700 BC-200 AD, at

the Onassis Cultural Center on Fifth

Avenue. The excursion enhanced the

boys’ study of the ancient Athenians,

the Trojan War brought home the point that the same pleasures and pains

have been moving people throughout human history.”

During the course of their visit, the

as they viewed paintings, sculpture

boys absorbed a multitude of informa-

destruction, betrayal and a gamut of

works portraying both Greek and

and other art that portrayed death,

events and emotions. Accompanying Ms. Bosworth were English teacher

Zach Williams and Greek and Latin teacher Brett Wisniewski.

More than 130 masterpieces from

many of the world’s finest museums illustrated the thoughts of people in classical antiquity regarding their

tion as they viewed the wonderful

Roman gods. The sculpted heads of

Achilles and Penthesilea told the tragic tale of their thwarted love, conjuring concurrent feelings of loss, love and

pure “adrenalin rush.” Emotions were

also evident in two other statues on display, “Love” and “Desire.”

The boys assimilated what they

emotions. As the boys saw how these

saw through a series of activities led

ized some were familiar while others

For instance, they chose an emotion

emotions were portrayed, they real-

38

noted, “An amphora showing Achilles

T HE

BUZZER

by their knowledgeable tour guide.

it. Another exercise was related to the in their desire to preserve democracy within their society, as accomplished

through their practice of “ostraka” in

which they decided whether a person – particularly one who displayed too

much arrogance – would be exiled or “ostracized” for 10 years by taking a

poll with an ostraka, a pottery shard

used as a voting token. A final activity entailed the infamous Greek chorus, with the boys focused on the myth

of Jason and the Golden Fleece. They

learned that many of the stories told in ancient Greece were recited or sung in a particular meter called dactylic

hexameter, as the rhythm made these

oral histories much easier to memorize.

At right: While visiting the Onassis Cultural Center, sixth grade boys viewed wonderful works portraying the emotions of the inhabitants of ancient Greece.

Spring/Summer 2017

39

BROWNING BIDS FAREWELL TO HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL CHRIS DUNHAM In April, the school community learned of Head of Middle School Chris Dunham’s decision to depart

Browning. Parents were informed of the news in a letter from Head of School John Botti, which read as follows:

I write with the bittersweet news that Head

of Middle School Chris Dunham has decided

to leave after 13 years of distinguished service to the Browning community. Chris will serve

out the remainder of this school year and aid us in our transition. Dean of Students and Science

Department Chair Sam Keany will be our interim

Head of Middle School starting in July and through the coming school year.

Please join me in wishing Chris well as he

pursues new endeavors with his family on the West Coast starting this summer. Chris’s hard work and dedication to Browning have greatly contributed to the School’s successes, and we thank him for

his invaluable roles as teacher, administrator and mentor to your boys and his colleagues.

40

T HE

BUZZER

ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS JOIN FORCES The Browning Green Team

participated in the Central Park Pitch In, Pick Up program,

cleaning up a mile-and-a-half loop north of Belvedere Castle. The

boys invited students from the

environmental groups at Chapin and Hewitt to join them in their service day to exchange ideas

and promote more collaboration between the schools.

PLEASE NOTE! This Buzzer is the last edition for the school year.

We hope that in between issues, you will keep up with all our news and happenings through

SCIENCE OLYMPIANS The Middle School Science Olympiad team shined in the regional finals where Browning placed in the top 10 out of 33 teams that

competed! The boys won first place in the best new team category,

social media and by logging on to our website, where

as well as placed in several events. Science teacher Melodie Ting

you will find photos, videos

into the competition, especially when competing with big public and

seasons at Browning!

individual awards or on notable mentions.�

www.browning.edu

reported: “It is a great testament to the hard work the boys have placed private schools. Each member of the team either contributed in the

and stories covering all the

Spring/Summer 2017

41

g r a n d pa r e n t s d ay 2 0 1 7

P

GRANDPARENTS & SPECIAL FRIENDS DAY 2017 erhaps it has rained in recent years on Grandparents & Special Friends Day just to illustrate that a bit of precipitation can’t dampen the spirits of families when they are together in the classroom! More than 100

guests from near and far enjoyed time with their Browning boys – creating art,

learning about the latest advances in science and technology, appreciating music and simply reading a good book together. Take a look at the photos here to see what we mean!

42

T HE

BUZZER

Spring/Summer 2017

43

Colleges Offering Admission to the C lass of 2017 As this issue of the Buzzer headed to press, Director of College Guidance Sanford Pelz ‘71 provided the following selection of colleges offering admission to the Class of 2017. We congratulate the Form VI boys in advance, as they will receive their diplomas on June 14 during exercises at Christ Church. Please visit our website at www.browning.edu for full coverage.

Allegheny College

Marist College

American University

University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Bard College

University of Miami

Bates College

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Bennington College

Muhlenberg College

Boston College

New York University

Boston University

Northeastern University

Bowdoin College

Quinnipiac University

Brandeis University

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

University of California - Los Angeles

Rhodes College

University of California - Santa Barbara

University of Richmond

College of Charleston

University of Rochester

Colgate University

St. Lawrence University

University of Colorado - Boulder

University of San Diego

Connecticut College

Skidmore College

Cornell University

University of Southern California

Davidson College

Stanford University

Dickinson College

University of Stirling (Scotland)

Drew University

Trinity College

University of Edinburgh (Scotland)

Tufts University

Elon University

Union College

Emory University

Ursinus College

Franklin & Marshall College

Vassar College

George Washington University

University of Vermont

Georgetown University

University of Virginia

Gettysburg College

Wake Forest University

University of Glasgow (Scotland)

Washington University in St. Louis

Hamilton College

Wesleyan University

Lehigh University

University of Wisconsin - Madison

As of May 2017

44

T HE

BUZZER

ARE YOU IN? “At Browning, I learned far more than just academics. A tight-knit community like ours allows us to have meaningful relationships with faculty members and taught me to value

character and IN T EGRI T Y.” – Jake G. ’17

“I am INDEBT ED to my teachers for an outstanding education and teaching me the grit to prevail. Browning gave me a phenomenal foundation.”

– Steve Schott ’72

“We are

INSPIRED by the

opportunities the School has offered our sons. The value of a Browning education lasts a lifetime.”

– Kimberly and Pavel Oliva P ’23, ’25

Browning’s Annual Fund provides the margin of excellence that supports our outstanding faculty and exceptional programming for boys.

Join in and make your gift today! online: browning.edu/giving phone: 212.838.6280 mail:

The Browning School Office of Institutional Advancement 52 East 62nd Street New York, NY 10065

The Annual Fund closes June 30, 2017.

Spring/Summer 2017

45

summer stipends

EACH YEAR THROUGH FUNDS RAISED AT THE Spring Benefit (see page 56), the Parents Association awards stipends to faculty members who apply for specific projects, such as summer travel, research or study. Read on to learn how their experiences benefit the Browning boys they teach.

Exploring Brittany and Normandy Every year in class, Middle School

in this remote wood, full of legends, which would have

a “fact sheet” and a PowerPoint

of the Round Table and the legend of King Arthur. It is

French students are asked to create presentation about a region in France or a French-speaking country. Each boy describes his chosen region or Dominique Bernard

country to the rest of the class. I have traveled extensively in France and in

French-speaking countries, and I draw on my experiences

to guide the boys in their academic explorations. Over the course of my travels, I took pictures, filmed short videos, asked questions, and visited museums and exhibitions.

also in this forest that the legendary encounter between Merlin, King Arthur’s advisor, and Vivian, the Lady of

the Lake, took place. She would have given King Arthur his sword, Excalibur; she also raised Lancelot after the death of his father and put a spell on Merlin, who was deeply in love with her. One does not simply visit this

impenetrable and elusive forest; rather, it is better to let

oneself be captivated by its charm, so steeped in mystery.

Still delighted by my experience in Broceliande

I truly enjoy sharing my travel experience with the boys

forest, I arrived less than one hour later in the famous

point of the school year.

monastery. The simple sight of this mount is an

during the French region projects week; it’s always a high Last summer, I was granted the opportunity to

discover Brittany and a small part of Normandy. With their eventful past and exceptionally rich cultural

heritage, those two regions are truly fascinating. I was impressed with both the coastal region and the inland

area of Brittany. I was also seduced by its lakes, beautiful cities and talented and artistic people. For 12 days, I

crisscrossed this small part of France so rich in offerings and am happy to share some of what I felt, learned and saw in Brittany and Normandy.

I have always been interested in medieval legend;

therefore I will start with the forest of Broceliande, the mythical woodland that first appeared in literature in the 12th century. This site was truly a highlight of my

discovery of Brittany. It was impressive to lose myself

46

served as décor for the wonderful episodes of Knights

T HE

BUZZER

Mont Saint-Michel, a tiny island topped by a medieval enchantment: a mirage at any time of the day, the

color of the sky – not often blue in Brittany – is the

color of its mood. Mont

Saint-Michel and its bay

Still delighted by my experience in Broceliande forest, I arrived less than

are also UNESCO World

one hour later in the

the sixth grade French

Michel, a tiny island

Heritage Sites. Every year

famous Mont Saint-

students create scale

topped by a medieval

models of famous French monuments and write

monastery.

essays recounting the

history of the edifices they have chosen. Although very challenging to reproduce, Mont Saint-Michel is always

Every year the sixth grade French students create scale models of famous French monuments and write essays recounting the history of the edifices they have chosen.

a top choice, along with the Door of No Return, Eiffel

Tower, Grande Arche, Arc de Triomphe, Napoleon’s tomb and Le Louvre, to name but a few.

Next I spent two days in Pont-Aven, a small town

nestled in the verdant estuary of the Aven River. Its mild climate, exceptional brightness and the poetry of the

landscape attracted many painters, artists and poets.

From 1886 to 1896 about 20 painters, including Gauguin, worked there developing a style and discussing the

forms. Fleeing large cities, Gauguin aspired to immerse himself again in fresh sources of nature and to work in less difficult material conditions. He was breaking up

be in the target language whenever possible. To facilitate

friends, he engaged in a bubbling, passionate debate

French vocabulary, idioms and expressions related to art.

with Impressionism and sought a new path. With his

and a rich production. He would write to his relative:

the oral exchanges, students will, of course, receive new

I also visited several medieval cities, including Saint-

“I paint every day.” The Symbolist movement was born

Malo, Vannes, Concarneau and the fabulous megalithic

liquidation of everything that is not absolutely relevant

my knowledge of French history, art, culture, geography

there in this period. This new painting style represents a to the expression of the work and a synthesis of form and feelings. The artist’s inner subjectivity is also an

important characteristic of Symbolism. It is in Brittany that Gauguin found his voice.

In art but also in French classes, boys at Browning

learn about the different artistic periods and styles of

painting. Next year, inspired by my too short sojourn in Pont-Aven, I would like to propose to my students an

opportunity to explore their own ability. They could be

asked, for instance, to do their own study of a painter and

try to create a painting that interests them. Yes, they could do this in art class; the difference is that this activity will

site of Carnac. These visits have allowed me to improve and economy.

I am very grateful to the Browning Parents Association

for giving me the opportunity to discover those two

beautiful and multifaceted French regions. The endless

discussions with “les Bretons and les Normands,” along with their genuine warmth and sense of hospitality,

will remain engraved in my memory forever. Thanks to

this stipend, I have many pictures, anecdotes and warm stories about France and the French-speaking world to share with my students at Browning.

By Dominique Bernard, French Teacher

Spring/Summer 2017

47

Making Magic With Mathematics Thanks to a stipend from the Parents

made concrete sense from the onset. He used a seemingly

called “Math and Science Workshops

that brought complex ideas to life! When approaching

Association, in June I attended an event at the Fay School” in Southborough, Mass., just west of Boston. The

workshop is designed for Grades K-8 Marcia Wallace

and was highly recommended by two Browning colleagues who rated the

experience as extremely beneficial to them in previous years. I could not agree with them more.

Knowing I would be teaching a section of Form I

pre-algebra for the first time, I participated in the group for teaching seventh and eighth grade students. My

three main objectives were to increase my knowledge

of the specific curriculum strands taught at this grade level, to gather resources that reach well beyond the

each new problem, Tom asked us to forget momentarily any formal math terminology or symbols that we were accustomed to using, in the hope that we would make grassroots discoveries of

Tom’s basic approach

each concept through the

was to introduce an

the “magic” involved in

in the workshop

eyes of our students. This

abstract concept (like

process led to frequent

and amazing “light bulb

moments” for the teachers in the room.

One of my favorite

factoring trinomials) in a way that made concrete sense from the onset. He used

traditional pencil/paper approach to teaching, and to gain

activities was presented

a seemingly endless

particular age group and how I might effectively pique the

patio with a grid of square

and technology-based

understanding of the developmental characteristics of this interest of my students, day in and day out.

There were 59 attendees at the workshop, hailing

from 13 states and Canada; New York had the greatest

representation with 35 percent of the total present. I was

fascinated to hear the practices of other math departments around the country and to compare them to Browning, especially in areas such as course offerings, leveled vs. mixed learning groups, and ways to enhance learning outside the classroom.

Our leader was Tom Harding, who is chair of the math

outside on a large concrete tiles. Tom placed string to

represent the X and Y axes on the coordinate plane,

variety of hands-on tools that brought complex ideas to life!

and each teacher was

assigned a specific X value. We created human graphs for

all of the basic functions – linear, quadratic, absolute value, rational and exponential. He even showed how a graph

transforms when a negative sign or a number is introduced into the equation.

Throughout the workshop, I observed Tom with a “bag

department at Shady Hill School in Cambridge, Mass., and

of tricks” ready for participants to work on when they

particular area of interest is in helping middle school students

the form of a puzzle or activity, seemed to appear out of

author of the book, “Thinking Through Mathematics.” His make a smooth transition from arithmetic to algebra.

Tom’s basic approach in the workshop was to introduce

an abstract concept (like factoring trinomials) in a way that

48

endless variety of hands-on and technology-based tools

T HE

BUZZER

finished the task at hand. The next related challenge, in

nowhere, so there was no chance for even a moment of idle time to creep in. I realized full well that this was a group

of highly-motivated adults but felt assured that I could use

this model to keep the energy level high in my classroom and to help each student maximize his full potential. I

came back with a folder bulging with ideas and resources to carry out this plan!

The workshop schedule allowed everyone the

opportunity to see the sights in Boston, so I visited the

renowned Museum of Science on the Charles River, where I spent most of my time in the mathematics wing, fascinated by the exhibits there. In regard to my statistics class (an

elective for Form VI Browning boys), I learned more about the Fibonacci series and how it is present throughout

nature. I also saw a probability machine that dropped

hundreds of balls through an array of pegs into troughs

below, similar to the game Plinko. The balls consistently landed at a frequency that formed the bell curve.

One of my responsibilities in the Lower School at

Browning is to lead small groups of boys in math games.

Playing a math game is analogous to a dog owner who hides the medicine inside some kind of yummy treat. I have been amused for years as I witness a boy almost

frantically seeking out the next math problem needed to

complete a puzzle or to advance in a game! The Fay School workshop reminded me that this same premise is true for all learners, regardless of age.

By Marcia Wallace, Math Teacher

Spring/Summer 2017

49

Mathematics Education: How To Solve It With the financial help of the

listening to the plenary lectures, research reports or poster

the 40th Annual Conference of

famous Szeged fish soup.

Parents Association, I attended the International Group for the

gave me the opportunity to meet international groups

long meeting in August was attended

mathematics, how teachers teach mathematics, and how

by 500 participants representing 52

countries and focused on “Mathematics Education: How To Solve It. ” George Polya published his book with the same title 70 years ago, and since then, generations of mathematics teachers have used it

as their inspiring source of teaching ideas. Besides commemorating

Pólya’s oeuvre, the title evokes the everlasting debate on the role of

mathematical problem solving in

fostering children’s thinking. Polya, who came to the U.S. and joined

the Stanford faculty in 1942, died in California in 1985 at age 92.

The university in Szeged, which

traces its origin back to 1581 with the foundation of the Academia in Transylvania, relocated to

Szeged in 1921. Among its teachers was Albert Szent-Györgyi, who

received the Nobel Prize in 1937

for his discoveries in connection

with Vitamin C. When I was not

50

T HE

BUZZER

Being part of this incredibly brain-stimulating conference

Psychology of Mathematics Education in Szeged, Hungary. The five- dayJudit Resika

presentations, I was enjoying the beautiful old city and the

of educators who are interested in how students learn

mathematicians, teachers and students do mathematics.

Participating in a huge conference opens up ideas on

how theory and research can help in everyday practice.

One of the most memorable plenary lectures was by Alan

One of the most memorable plenary lectures was

by Alan Schoenfeld, a professor at UC Berkeley.

He analyzed the four steps of problem solving: understanding the problem, devising a plan, carrying out the plan and looking back.

Schoenfeld, a professor at UC Berkeley. He analyzed the

four steps of problem solving: understanding the problem, devising a plan, carrying out the plan and looking back. I

students’ problem solving is improving. I encourage them to keep those four steps in mind.

While at the conference I also met some American

relearned the importance of stimulating a group to guess

educators and learned about the North American Chapter of

that is essential to mathematical discovery. Discovery always

Education. I look forward to attending one of the group’s

intelligently and to make reasonable conjectures – a process starts with guessing! I emphasize educated, reasonable

guessing in my classes on a daily basis; a wrong guess leads to better guesses. The steps of problem solving have been

posted on the cabinet doors in Room 202 since September.

I believe that by seeing this information every day, my

the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics U.S. conferences in the near future.

As always, I really appreciate the Parents Association

financial help.

By Judit Resika, Math Teacher

Spring/Summer 2017

51

A Journey into a Mystical Battle I have always been impressed by

and whoever loses the Holy Spear dies. According to some

enthusiastic about the opportunity to

Lance in his quest for dominance over Europe. Conse-

Picasso’s work; as a result, I became

teach the Elementary Spanish class a

unit on Pablo Picasso based on a short

novel. “Agentes Secretos y el Mural de Sandra Martinez

Picasso” is a story that connects his-

tory, culture and art while improving

students’ proficiency in Spanish. Thanks to the Parents

Association, I was able to travel to Spain this summer and become a secret agent myself! The journey allowed me to

experience Picasso’s culture while gaining a better understanding of his masterpiece, “Guernica.” I embarked on

this journey by searching for the symbols appearing over

the magnificent masterpiece, symbols that are engraved in the history of the people.

My first stop in Spain was Barcelona. For Picasso, Bar-

celona was a special place. He had many friends there,

friends that at one point guided his steps into the maze of

French culture. My main interest was to visit the places in

the book that bear witness to the culture, thereby enabling me to teach the class from the perspectives of the author

as well as my own. I immediately went to visit Park Güell and from the top of the park was able to observe the mar-

velous city from different angles. From there it was easy to grasp the structure of the city: its monuments, cathedrals

historians, Hitler was obsessed with possession of the Holy quently, Picasso arranged a mystical battle between good

and evil after the Germans bombarded the city of Guernica on April 26, 1937.

After spending a few days in Barcelona, I traveled

to Pamplona where the bull is highly celebrated during the Running of the Bulls in July. The Spaniards are still

fascinated by bullfights. The excitement over blood spilled in the arena is still present in Spanish culture. Bulls and

Picadores entertain the multitude. The Picador holds the

lance and pierces the bull at the end to show his dominance over the beast. However, in Picasso’s mural, the bull is

left intact, while the horse was sacrificed by the Picador.

The matador lies on the floor, dismembered, holding the other half of the lance. When Picasso was asked about

the meaning of the bull and the horse in “Guernica,” he

responded that he painted the objects for what they were, instinctively and unconsciously. Therefore, in my opinion

and based on the significance of the bull in Spanish culture,

Picasso decided to save the bull in his allegory to show that the matador could not destroy the spirit of the people.

After Pamplona, I visited the Paz Museum in Gernika.

The Peace Museum still conserves fragments and debris

and buildings surrounded by the bright blue of the Mediterranean Sea. This particular view captures the customs

and traditions that influenced Picasso’s identity and subsequently his art. In Barcelona, Picasso frequented a particular restaurant to chat with his friends. This restaurant had a painting with a knight holding a lance. The lance is an

ancient symbol; the knight carries the long spear to defend himself against an opponent. In the mural “Guernica,” we see the horse stabbed by the spear. The legend holds that

whoever controls the Holy Spear has power over destiny,

52

T HE

BUZZER

When I entered the museum, I felt and witnessed the presence of the souls who succumbed to the pain and suffering during that fateful day. The peaceful atmosphere in the museum stood in juxtaposition to the images of war.

related to the bombardment. When I entered the museum, I felt and wit-

nessed the presence of the souls who succumbed to the pain and suffering during that fateful day. The peaceful atmosphere in the museum stood in juxtaposition to the images of war. I entered a dark room, and the doors

were closed behind me. I felt trapped and isolated in darkness. The room

was a simulation of what the people experienced during the time of the bombing. First I could hear the si-

rens of war, then the planes flying

overhead and lastly, the dropping of bombs over the village. The explo-

sions were deafening. Suddenly I was surrounded by an intense silence and destruction. I found myself in tears

and, like Picasso, wanted to express my emotions to the world.

I would like to end this essay with

one of Picasso’s quotes that impacted me during my journey. In his words, “You have to wake people up to

revolutionize their way of identifying things. You’ve got to create images they won’t accept. Force them to

understand that they’re living in a

pretty queer world.” “Guernica” is an obvious example of his philosophy, and I am so grateful to the Parents Association for giving me the

opportunity to enrich my soul and unit on Pablo Picasso.

By Sandra Martinez, Spanish Teacher

Spring/Summer 2017

53

Exploring America’s Healthiest City With funds received from the Parents

and town community functions for the elderly, including

Calif., this past summer. This city, lo-

within the town, Tai-Chi group classes, and bowling. Physi-

Association, I traveled to Loma Linda, cated about 75 miles east of Los Angeles, sits between the ever-busy Interstate 10 to the north and the foothills of the San Lauck Blake

Bernardino Mountains to the southeast.

Nothing about the town stands out as

being remarkable or in any way different than other Southern California suburbs. Yet, it is special.

Loma Linda has been identified as one of five “Blue

Zones” in the world, where people have a 10 times greater

likelihood to reach 100 years old than the average American.

It is not uncommon for both men and women to reach age 90 and still have a high quality of life.

The objective of my research was to establish

connections between the lifestyle choices, nutritional

habits, daily routines, exercise options and environmental factors that may positively influence longevity rates

cal activity throughout the lifetime is important, and the

social connection is vital for the maintenance and enjoyment associated with participation in physical activities.

The U.S. Census report lists 33 percent of the town’s

20,000 residents as belonging to the Seventh Day Adventist religion. One of the tenets of this particular religion is to

abstain from eating meat, which, according to a shopper I interviewed at the store, is followed by most Adventists, though some still eat meat about once a month.

Another health-enhancing aspect of this religion is that

it encourages a 24-hour Sabbath once a week, typically ob-

served on Saturdays. During this time of rest, observers give

up electronics and abstain from any vigorous work. Walking with friends and socializing with others is encouraged. This mandatory decompression time allows for stress relief.

I then met with an instructor of Allied Health Studies at

within the town.

Loma Linda University. I asked her if she felt the University

Loma Linda were eating. The answer, I determined, was to

attributed some of the reason for the increased longevity

The first question I asked was what foods the people in

be found in the largest grocery store in the city, Loma Linda Market, which happens to be located geographically in the

center of town and also in the heart of the Loma Linda University campus.

The layout of Loma Linda Market is similar to Whole

Foods in size. Surprisingly, there are no meat products in

the store, but there is a large selection of bulk grains, nuts

and other dried foods. The manager informed me that the

top store sellers are walnuts, root vegetables and dried bulk foods. The majority of the food is raw, so customers need to

prepare the food on their own. Interestingly, the bread in the store is labeled, “No Added Sugar.”

Loma Linda Market is also a hub for community events.

I noticed a large bulletin board in the store with activity lists

54

weekly walking clubs on the five miles of walking trails

T HE

BUZZER

had a role in promoting longevity in the community. She

rates to the interconnectedness between medical students

and the elderly in the community. All students are required to perform service hours in the field by spending time

with elderly and educating older populations about their

research. In turn, the elderly share with the younger generations the habits they have participated in during their lives.

This connection of younger generations educating, and most importantly, sharing time together with older generations is one overlooked attribute to the town’s increased longevity

rate. Elderly populations are looked after and, in some cases, cared for by students in the community.

I conclude from my findings that residents in the town

have built health-enhancing strategies into their daily and

weekly routines; these habits work synergistically to promote

The most surprising aspect of my experience of visiting Loma Linda was seeing and then concluding that wellness is interconnected by nutrition, stress levels, social connectedness, physical activity and the external environment.

their long-term health and enhance their longevity. They pre-

high sugar levels and foods high in sodium. We talk about

health, such as walnuts and root vegetables. They limit their

and creating positive friendships by the way we act and

scribe to a mostly plant-based diet, rich in foods that promote sugar intake and eat whole foods that they prepare to con-

trol the ingredients they consume. The younger generations care for the older populations within the community, which elevates socialization levels and happiness and limits stress

the importance of staying connected with family members treat others. We have also listed positive ways to limit stress, such as deep breathing techniques, limiting screen time, and routinely getting enough rest.

The most surprising aspect of my experience of visiting

in the elderly resulting from isolation. Residents maintain

Loma Linda was seeing and then concluding that wellness

while promoting health by walking and performing light

ness, physical activity and the external environment (access

stress levels by disconnecting from their work each Saturday, physical activity together into advanced ages. Overall, they

look at health from a variety of angles and consider the many aspects of life that go into wellness.

So far this school year, I have applied what I learned

from my experience in the classroom by educating the sixth graders in health class about thinking of health more ho-

listically. We have thus far focused on establishing positive

habits related to social, physical, mental and environmental aspects of life that impact wellness. Additionally, the sixth

grade boys are educated on what particular foods do for the

body and why it is important to avoid certain foods that contain high levels of combined saturated fats and cholesterol,

is interconnected by nutrition, stress levels, social connectedto walking trails, classes for the elderly). In no other place in America does this happen with more synergy than in

Loma Linda. Building health is like the expression, “It’s all good.” Not only do people need to do the right things and consistently treat their bodies correctly, they also need to

avoid or significantly limit their exposure to harmful risks

that influence any interconnection between the areas of wellness listed above. Loma Linda’s blueprint on how to live can be looked at and used by others interested in building their health and preserving their longevity.

By Lauck Blake, Physical Education Teacher

Spring/Summer 2017

55

parents association benefit 2017

The Browning community gathered for an

evening of fundraising and camaraderie at the

New York Public Library on May 19. The Parents Association’s Spring Benefit –“Imaginarium” –

was the first for new Head of School John Botti, who described the event as “a celebration of

creativity, originality and wonder.” Mr. Botti

extended his gratitude to Benefit Chairs Lisa

Benefit Chairs Lisa O. Elson

Elson, Nazmi Oztanir, Tracy Spitzer and Clare

Waugh-Bacchus for creating a night to remember and also thanked attendees for their enthusiastic

participation. He remarked, “This evening’s event reminds us that this community is a place for the

expression of joy and fellowship, and as our school year nears its end, we do well to gather together and take pleasure in each other’s company.”

Ms. Elson, president of the Parents

Association, noted that the monies raised from the benefit directly impact Browning boys and faculty, providing resources and opportunities for all. Speaking for many Browning parents,

she described the School as “that place of magic in our sons’ lives where they can expand their minds, learn and grow.”

56

T HE

BUZZER

Nazmi Oztanir Tracy Spitzer

Clare Waugh-Bacchus

Benefit Committee Raja Benchekroun Clark Lindsay Bennett

Agnes Kelly

Matthew Kinsey

Lisa Bloomberg

H. Kenneth Metz

Chanda Chapin

Jeffrey Schulman

Maria Dell’Oro

Stephanie A. Vallillo

Kathleen Glaymon

Reagan Wellins

Christine Callahan Kirsten Cunha Myra Ferreri

Jennifer Hagfors

Atoussa Hamzavi Haskin

Eve Schenk

Carmen Taton

Sheridan Vichie Megan Wolff

Spring/Summer 2017

57

BENEFIT 2017 TO COME

58

T HE

BUZZER

BENEFIT 2017 TO COME

Spring/Summer 2017

59

at h l e t i c s

Winter Wrap-up The winter sports season at Browning was an overall success. Although we

Andrew H. West ’92

The Forms I and II Red and Black teams consistently

did not hang any new banners, I believe

won and improved, while the fifth and sixth grade

many teams took major strides forward

teams struggled to win but showed some nice progress

as we continued to build the program

nevertheless. The varsity squash team entered its second

to achieve more consistency. The varsity

official season and continued to improve with a 6-3 overall

basketball team made the playoffs this

record and increasing numbers. The fencers also represented

year with a very young squad, while the junior varsity team

Browning well, with many victories and great leadership.

won many games and made it to the playoffs as the #2 seed

All and all, it was a great season!

VARSITY BASKETBALL Following a challenging first half of the season,

the varsity team finished the year in strong form, winning five of 10 games down the stretch and

earning a postseason bid on the final day of the

regular season. Before a vibrant crowd of Browning supporters, the Panthers climbed back from a 10point deficit late in the third quarter to notch a thrilling two-point victory.

Despite losing in the first round of the playoffs,

the team competed admirably, nearly making

another late comeback before falling by a score

of 48-61. Through their diligence, commitment to

teamwork, and continued optimism in the face of

setbacks, the Panthers finished the season playing their best basketball.

–Coaches Dan Ragsdale, Michael Cohn and Matt Formato

60

before losing to Calhoun due to some injuries.

T HE

BUZZER

JUNIOR VARSITY BASKETBALL The team took another step in the right direction this

past season by clinching its first playoff berth ever and setting a school record of 14 wins. It was a fun and competitive season!

Browning started strong, winning its first eight

league games and eventually finishing in second place overall in the NYCAL. Other high points of the season

We had a large roster that featured several talented

included a road win at Trinity from the Ivy League

freshmen who have bright futures ahead of them. The

season. Unfortunately, struggles and injuries besieged

with their discipline and commitment to the sport.

as well as sweeping Trevor Day during the regular

the team toward the end of the season. We were unable to reach our full potential, losing to Trevor Day in a tightly contested playoff game.

young men on the team made coaching extremely easy Our returning players also deserve much credit for

displaying consistent leadership and attention to detail. –Coaches James Miller and Sankara Iwelu

Spring/Summer 2017

61

FORMS I/II BASKETBALL (BLACK) Hall of Fame football coach Bill

Parcells once said, “You are what you are.” No better words to describe this year’s team. Even though this season was tough, every player showed the promise of improving from where they started.

With the understanding that

activity is not the same as effort, the boys practiced their fundamentals every day, creating a chain of

consistency and the application of basketball knowledge necessary

for them to compete when they are

keeping score. The bounce-back for

next season is simply said in a quote

by Hall of Fame basketball coach

Bobby Knight, “The will to succeed is

important, but what’s more important is the will to prepare.”

–Coach Lance Williams

FORMS I/II BASKETBALL (RED) The team had a highly successful

season, finishing the year in second

place with a 11-4-1 record. Browning was able to defeat each team in the

league, with a 17-point fourth-quarter comeback win against first-place

finisher Columbia Prep. Adding to their accomplishments, the team

narrowly defeated Calhoun School

on a last-second basket. The boys also defeated Trevor Day in overtime.

Throughout the season, the boys

were committed to getting better.

They worked together during each

practice and arrived with focus and a

known as the biggest, most physical

points in 15 games played. Standout

Browning had a strong core of players

Sotos ’21 and Dylan Steck ’21.

team in scoring with 120 points in 16

strong desire to improve their game. who played unselfish team-first

62

basketball. Defensively, Browning was T HE

BUZZER

team in the league, led by Hercules

Offensively, guard William Bousquette ’21 led the team in scoring with 126

Dylan Steck finished second on the games played.

–Coaches Lauck Blake and Gerald Colds

FENCING Participating in fencing accounts for a particularly long day, as every school fences every other school in a full

match in one day. The tournament is a

season in itself – a true and steady test of a team!

Browning fencers have shined in

the past: a team of seniors with only

three years of training came within a

touch of unseating a team of nationally ranked juniors. They knew it could be done; they lost any idea of limit and merely did their best.

VARSITY SQUASH The squash team, now in its second year, completed

another successful season with six wins and three losses.

With the exception of one decisive loss, the other two

matches might have gone our way but for a few players who were out with the flu. The boys’ enthusiasm and

practice have turned Browning into formidable opponents.

More importantly, each player continues to display

outstanding sportsmanship. Win or lose, the boys always behave as gentlemen both on and off the court. The team

This year there have been glimmers

in an up-and-down season. Raymond Diaz ’19, who only started fencing in

the middle of last year, came in third in the league individual championship.

Caleb Sussman ’18 buckled down

and made beautiful touches. Robert

Nielsen ’18, a fine epee fencer, sparkled as a saber fencer when the team needed someone to fill a gap.

There are strengths waiting to

continues to hone its skills during the off season and is

be tapped and Browning spirit in

–Coach Roland Lafontant

–Coach Joel Glucksman

looking forward to more exciting challenges next year.

abundance!

Spring/Summer 2017

63

FIFTH GRADE BASKETBALL The Panthers enjoyed a productive season! An

extension of intramural basketball, this program offers the boys the chance to put on a Browning

uniform for the first time and compete against other schools. The boys practiced hard and competed

with class. We enjoyed a couple of wins, but more importantly, we achieved the true goal of the

program: to teach the boys the fundamental skills and strategy of the game, as well as how to be a productive member of a team.

It was fun to watch the boys improve throughout

the season. Toward the end, the boys really began to gel and were playing some of their best basketball. I

am excited to see what this group of boys can do next year with Coach Watson. The future of Browning basketball looks bright!

–Coaches Matthew Brown and Lance Williams

SIXTH GRADE BASKETBALL If success is based on improvement, then this year’s sixth grade team was one of the most

successful in a long time. From the beginning, the

boys worked really hard on their individual skills while learning the various plays from their play

sheets. Unfortunately, wins were hard to come by.

The boys never gave up, though, and always put their best effort into every single game.

Although the mini Panthers lost their last two

games by three points and one point respectively, the coaches had no complaints about their total commitment and effort. We look forward to

watching this team grow and further improve next year in pursuit of glory in Form I.

–Coaches David Watson and Lance Williams

64

T HE

BUZZER

HOCKEY TEAMS EXCEL ON ICE! Browning's young hockey players enjoyed an

Buckley, St. Bernard's and Saint David's, while

team took first place in the Lasker Cup, defeating

second in their respective tournaments.

exciting and successful season. Our Squirt Select

our Mini Mite and Mite teams came in third and

PANTHERS END SENSATIONAL SPRING SEASON! As this issue of the Buzzer went to press, our spring sports teams had much to celebrate! Highlights appear below; for a full report on each team, please log on to our website at www.browning.edu.

Varsity Baseball:

2017 NYCAL Postseason Champions for second consecutive year

2017 NYCAL Team Sportsmanship Award (as voted on by opposing coaches) Varsity Tennis:

2017 NYCAL Regular Season Champions

2017 NYCAL Postseason Tournament Champions Varsity Track:

First Place Overall for Boys at the NYCAL Track Championship Meet

Spring/Summer 2017

65

alumni events

L to R: Anthony Carrasco ’16, Harris Russell ’16, Brandon Keno ’16, Mr. Botti, Tom McCormack ’14, Mr. Pelz ’71, Evan Blumenthal ’13, Del Schunk ’16, Michael Florentino ’14 and Mr. Reynolds.

YOUNG ALUMNI REUNION The annual Young Alumni Reunion was held on Tuesday, November 22, and it was great to welcome back so many of our college-age alumni!

Alumni from the Classes of 2013-2016 returned to attend the 29th Annual Thanksgiving Assembly at Christ Church, followed by a reception with

faculty and Form VI in the Kurani Gym. During the assembly, each alum introduced himself and told the audience how many years he attended Browning, and where he is currently in school. Back at Browning, the

young alumni, faculty and Form VI students spent time catching up over sandwiches and cookies before Thanksgiving break began. The Alumni

Ryan Olson ’17 (left) and Conor Harkins ’17.

Association is grateful to all who made this event possible!

Young alumni joined the Panther onstage at Christ Church during the annual Thanksgiving Assembly.

66

T HE

BUZZER

Alumni, faculty and Form VI gathered in the Kurani Gym for the annual Young Alumni Reunion.

L to R: Erik Bronfman ’17, Hunter Stern ’17, Patrick Lopez ’17, Logan Stark ’17, Declan Casey ’17, Anthony Carrasco ’16, Terrell Edwards ’17, Jamil Guzman ’17 and Alex Lopez-Velasco ’17.

L to R: Ryan Olson ’17, Felix Castillo ’17, Conor Harkins ’17, Alexander Young ’17, Jake Germano ’17, Patrick Lopez ’17, Declan Casey ’17, Josh Jordan ’17 and Micah Bowey ’17.

L to R: Mr. Vlahos, Michael Florentino ’14, Mr. Dearinger and Ms. Suarez.

Ms. Warner and Harry Calianese ’16.

Brandon Keno ’16 and Ms. Ryan.

L to R: Christopher Haack ’14, Tom McCormack ’14 and Evan Blumenthal ’13.

L to R: Harris Russell ’16, George Allen ’17 and Luke Spellman ’17.

L to R: Gianni Chiovetta ’17, Luke Barba ’17 and Anthony Carrasco ’16.

L to R: Aadir Khan ’15, Ms. Resika, Alex Kattan ’17 and Dr. Wisniewski.

L to R: Harris Russell ’16, Del Schunk ’16 and Coach Brown.

Spring/Summer 2017

67

HOLIDAY PARTY On Friday, December 9, the Parents Association hosted

on prehistoric art. Cave paintings and petroglyphs by

Hundreds of alumni, parents, trustees, faculty and friends

Alumni Association thanks the Parents Association for a

Browning’s annual Holiday Party at the School.

attended. This year’s theme, “Art Before Time,” focused

students in all three divisions adorned the walls. The great evening.

L to R: Kieran Pickering ’02, Taylor Watson ’02, Jay Fidlow ’02 and Martin Murphy ’02.

68

L to R: Joe Metzger ’02, Jennifer Mestayer, Andy Sandberg ’01 and Laura Lanigan.

The Kurani Gym and cafeteria (pictured above) were the two main event spaces.

Eric Ordway ’67 (left) and Sandy Pelz ’71.

L to R: Matt Marani ’12, Teddy Planitzer ’12 and Harrison Messer ’12.

T HE

BUZZER

Prehistoric art was the focus of this year’s theme, “Art Before Time.”

Form VI boys sold custom Browning ties by Vineyard Vines to benefit their Form VI Class Gift. L to R: Alexander Young ’17, Conor Harkins ’17 and Patrick Lopez ’17.

Daniel Rencricca ’83 (left) and Michael Hutzler ’83.

L to R: John Dearie ’99, Kevin Dearinger, Sasha Forostenko ’98, Graham Bahler ’98 and Cristopher Cravetz ’98.

Spring/Summer 2017

69

Yougins

Points Rebounds Assists

Evan Blumenthal ’13 Gregory Davis ’10 Harrison Fields ’11 Adrian Muoio ’10 Christopher Stephens ’14 Rohan Wijegoonaratna ’10 Veterans

Top row (L to R): Head of School John Botti, Director of Institutional Advancement Jim Simon, Steven Johnson ’96, Victor Catano ’94, Phil Blake ’95, Andrew West ’92, Nader Mobargha ’91 and Nate Garcia ’06. Front row (L to R): Chris Stephens ’14, Evan Blumenthal ’13, Rohan Wijegoonaratna ’10, Harrison Fields ’11, Greg Davis ’10 and Adrian Muoio ’10.

21 5 28 6 7 15

4 8 15 6 2 6

5 2 4 2 16 4

Points Rebounds Assists

Philip Blake ’95 Victor Catano ’94 Nathaniel Garcia ’06 Steven Johnson ’96 Nader Mobargha ’91 Andrew West ’92

27 6 10 14 12 6

6 2 4 12 5 10

0 3 2 2 5 12

ALUMNI BASKETBALL GAME The annual Alumni Basketball Game was held in Browning’s Upper

Gym on Thursday, December 15.

Alumni from the Classes of 1991-2014 attended for a fun night of friendly

rivalry and lively competition. Teams were split up based on age, and the

younger alums won by a score of 82-

Preparing for the tipoff.

Phil Blake ’95 (left) and Nader Mobargha ’91.

dinner and drinks in the cafeteria.

the younger squad was victorious.

• H. Fields ’11 was able to secure his

the Athletic Department for its role in

skill, good looks and experience

75. After the game, the group enjoyed The Alumni Association is grateful to

Teamwork, sportsmanship, patience,

co-hosting this event!

were not enough for the older guys.

West ’92 reports:

the younger alums winning by a

out with 12 players. The game

about the stats:

Director of Athletics Andrew

It was a close game throughout with

“This year we had a solid turn-

final score of 82-75. A few key notes

format followed the recent tradition of pitting the older alums against the younger alums. Once again,

• Adrian Muoio ’10 scored a career high this game on the first

shot he made from the floor.

second consecutive scoring title

with the assist from Terrel Phelps ’11 again for not showing up.

• Phil Blake ’95 set the record for

forced shots and number of fans

(three) brought to an alumni game.

• Greg Davis ’10 hit his first-ever three-pointer.

• Special thanks to Mike Beys ’89

for letting his law partner Nader

Mobargha ’91 come out to play.”

From the Archives: We recently found this group shot from the 1993 Alumni Basketball Game. Can you help us identify everyone?

70

T HE

BUZZER

The first Alumni Council meeting of 2017 was held on January 9 in the Kurani Gym.

Head of School John Botti was the special guest at the January Alumni Council meeting.

L to R: Head of School John Botti, Director of Alumni Affairs Laura Lanigan and President of the Alumni Association Andy Sandberg ’01.

JANUARY ALUMNI COUNCIL MEETING The Alumni Council reconvened after the winter

participation in the Annual Fund. Accomplishing

of the New Year. Head of School John Botti attended

an exciting milestone for this group; typically 100

vacation on Monday, January 9, for its first meeting for the first time, serving as the meeting’s special

guest. He expressed his enthusiasm and excitement

in joining the Browning community and shared some of his favorite highlights from the past few months,

as well as his goals for the year. Alumni Association President Andy Sandberg ’01 announced that the Alumni Council has already reached 100 percent

this in January, well before the June 30 deadline, is percent participation is not reached until the end of the fiscal year in June. The Form VI class also joins

the Alumni Council with 100 percent participation

in their class gift, an important senior class tradition.

Also during this meeting, committee chairs gave

reports on their committee’s progress. Thank you to all who attended!

Spring/Summer 2017

71

Concepcion Alvar, Marymount’s head of school, and John Botti.

Browning Key Society students and Marymount student tour guides gathered for a group photo prior to the start of the event.

One tour stopped to examine Manet’s “Boating” before entering the Valentin de Boulogne exhibit.

Guests on the “Masterworks: Unpacking Fashion” tour also visited the Astor Chinese Garden Court.

BROWNING AND MARYMOUNT CO-HOST FIFTH ANNUAL ALUMNI EVENT Browning and Marymount co-hosted an alumni

Beyond Caravaggio” and “Masterworks: Unpacking

January 20. The evening began at The Metropolitan

walked across the street to Marymount where a wine

function for the fifth consecutive year on Friday,

Museum of Art, where guests had the opportunity to enjoy Marymount student-guided tours of

two different exhibitions: “Valentin de Boulogne:

L to R: Eliza Botti, John Botti and Andy Sandberg ’01.

72

BUZZER

and cheese reception was held. Browning’s Alumni

Association is grateful for Marymount’s partnership and looks forward to collaborating again!

L to R: Kieran Pickering ’02, Christopher Brandt ’09, Caroline Palmour and Charles Davi ’00.

A taxidermied deer covered in artificial crystal glass was one of the tour highlights.

T HE

Fashion.” Following the tours, the nearly 100 guests

Guests enjoyed a reception at Marymount following the guided tours at The Met.

L to R: Andy Sandberg ’01, Sam Hightower and Christopher Jordan ’09.

For the fifth year in a row, Browning and Marymount worked together to offer private tours of The Met for their alumni, followed by a reception at Marymount.

L to R: Laura Lanigan, David Callaway ’82 and Andy Sandberg ’01.

Andy Madden ’96 (left) and John Hutzler ’86.

John Hadden ’87 (left) and Steve Schott ’72.

Anthony Builder ’12 and Stevie Rachmuth ’10 (right).

NINTH ANNUAL NOTE-A-THON Browning’s Alumni Council hosted the

in signing and personalizing nearly

as participation in the Annual Fund. An

Kurani Gym on Monday, February 13.

of the Note-a-thon is to encourage

Thank you to our dedicated volunteers

ninth annual Alumni Note-a-thon in the A total of 38 volunteers participated

850 letters to fellow alumni. The goal attendance at Alumni Reunion as well

Alumni Council meeting was also held. who made this event possible!

Spring/Summer 2017

73

2017 ALUMNI REUNION HONORS FACULTY MEMBERS The annual Alumni Reunion saw a record turnout of

Mr. Pelz and Mr. Ordway were honored during the

from the Classes of 1950 to 2014 returned to Browning

John Botti and Alumni Association President Andy

192 guests this year! On Friday, April 7, alumni ranging for the Upper School assembly, True Grytte Society and Consecutive-Year Donor Luncheon, and the

reception with an award ceremony led by Head of School Sandberg ’01. [Read more on pages 82-87.]

Earlier in the day, an Alumni Career Panel presented

Reunion reception.

at the Upper School assembly and featured three alumni

the Charles W. Cook ‘38 Alumnus Achievement Award

surgery at Bellevue Hospital), Peter Gordon ’84 (head of

For the first time since its establishment in 1991,

was presented to two alumni faculty members: current Director of College Guidance Sanford M. Pelz ’71 and former teacher and administrator Eric Ordway ’67.

employed in varied fields: Spiros Frangos ’87 (chief of

Hilltop Country Day School) and Patrick Murtaugh ’97 (co-founder and brewmaster of Hardywood Park Craft Brewery). At noon, the annual True Grytte Society and

Guests mingling prior to the annual True Grytte Society & Consecutive-Year Donor Luncheon.

74

T HE

BUZZER

L to R: Sandy Pelz ’71, George Grimbilas ’80, Jeffrey Landes ’83, Dee McAllister ’66, Michael Cook ’67, Despina Gimbel, Andy Sandberg ’01, Robert Gimbel ’57, Tom Hughes ’78, Jim Simon, Ann Rudick, Richard Rudick ’57, Leon Dalva ’58, Kathy Linburn, Michael Linburn ’50, Soo Mi Thompson, Marge Bloch, Richard Helgason ’82, Bill Reed ’85, Peter Stavropoulos ’82, Cally Stavropoulos, Allanby Singleton-Green ’83, Peter Thomatos ’92, Stuart Orenstein ’00, John Botti, John Hadden ’87, Sharif Tanamli ’87, Godfrey Bloch ’63, Juan Reyes ’86 and Laura Lanigan.

Consecutive-Year Donor Luncheon was held for the 11th year at a nearby private club where guests were treated

to a special musical performance by Browning’s newlyformed a cappella group, the A CaPanthers.

Nearly 200 guests gathered in the Kurani Gym for the

evening reception. In addition to the Charles W. Cook ’38 Alumnus Achievement Award presentation, the Stephen

S. Perry ’76 Memorial Class Representative Awards were

• Most Outstanding Overall: Steven G. Schott ’72

• Most Outstanding Correspondent: Charles B. Davis ’07 • Most Outstanding Fundraisers: Ahmed El-Razi ’08,

Philip Devereux-Demetriad ’08 and Nicholas P. Rango ’08

The Alumni Association is grateful to all who helped make

this event possible!

presented to the following class representatives:

L to R: Leon Dalva ’58, Richard Rudick ’57 and Robert Gimbel ’57.

A CaPanthers performing at the luncheon (L to R): Music Teacher Richard Symons, George Allen ’17, Josh Jordan ’17, Conor Harkins ’17 and Ryan Olson ’17.

Spring/Summer 2017

75

Close to 200 alumni and guests attended the evening reception in the Kurani Gym.

The 30th Reunion Class (L to R): Spiros Frangos ’87, Stephan Rothe ’87, Sandeep Rawat ’87, Matthew Grieco ’87, Patrick Egan ’87, Michael Chaplin ’87, Sharif Tanamli ’87, Gregory Aston ’87, John Hadden ’87 and Ralph McElvenny ’87.

76

Sandy Pelz ’71 and his wife Adele.

T HE

BUZZER

The 5th Reunion Class (L to R): Clovis Ogilvie-Laing ’12, Ryan Flynn ’12, James Adeleye ’12, John Scowcroft ’12, Nicholas Hexner ’12, Andrew Amarosa ’12, Remy Fortin ’12, Anthony Builder ’12, Harrison Messer ’12, Teddy Planitzer ’12 and JR Chansakul ’12.

L to R: George Judd ’72, Charles Vanamee ’72, Dennis Coleman ’72, Tricia Fisher, Richard Fisher ’72, Lucia Carey and Jaime Carey ’72.

L to R: Andy Sandberg ’01, Nicholas Versandi ’01, John Chiaraviglio ’01 and Colin McGurk ’01.

L to R: Lilly Mara, Andrew Fanelli ’05, Peter Crisp ’10, Harrison Asen ’10 and Joshua Burgess ’10.

David Watson with three of his former varsity soccer players (L to R): Peter Gordon ’84, Spiros Frangos ’87 and Michael Beys ’89.

L to R: Sam Keany, JR Chansakul ’12, Anik Akhund ’10 and Peter Crisp ’10.

L to R: John Botti, Marc Cali ’89, Jonathan Mason ’89 and Paige Cali.

L to R: Michael Chaplin ’87, Roger Schmitt ’70 and Ralph Gardner ’71.

L to R: Charles Davis ’07, Alexander Evins ’07 and Tehmur Jabbar ’07.

John Scowcroft ’12, Clovis Ogilvie-Laing ’12, Antony Builder ’12 and Harrison Messer ’12.

The 25th Reunion Class (L to R): Ryan Bloom ’92, Jason Miller ’92, Pierre Bonan ’92, Brian Gillard ’92, Sperry Younger ’92, Pierce Forsythe ’92, David Kim ’92, Eric Grant ’92, Andrew West ’92 and Peter Thomatos ’92.

Spring/Summer 2017

77

The 20th Reunion Class (L to R): Wesley Kaplan ’97, Paul Boisi ’97, Grant Palmer ’97, John Moran ’97 and Patrick Murtaugh ’97.

L to R: Tom Werblin ’72, Lucia Carey and Jaime Carey ’72.

L to R: John Ordway, Demian Ordway ’95, Kate Ordway, Eric Ordway ’67 and Nicholas Ordway ’98.

L to R: Tony Caputo ’03, Kieran Pickering ’02 and Brooke Tortorella.

The 45th Reunion Class (L to R): Tom Werblin ’72, Jaime Carey ’72, Howard Rasmussen ’72, George Judd ’72, Michael Ingrisani, Jeremy Galton ’72, Dennis Coleman ’72, William Cobert ’72, Charles Vanamee ’72, Richard Fisher ’72, Steve Schott ’72 and Peter Miller ’72.

78

John Botti presenting the Most Outstanding Class Correspondent Award to Charles Davis ’07.

T HE

BUZZER

The 50th Reunion Class (L to R): Michael Cook ’67, Stephen Zagor ’67 and Eric Ordway ’67.

L to R: Allanby Singleton-Green ’83, Michael Hutzler ’83, Stephen Card ’83 and Daniel Rencricca ’83.

John Botti presenting the Most Oustanding Class Representative Award to Steve Schott ’72.

L to R: Alex Mevorah, Greg Davis ’10, Charles Davis ’07, Nicole Mogollon, Rohan Wijegoonaratna ’10, Jim Reynolds, Harrison Messer ’12 and Anik Akhund ’10.

The 15th Reunion Class (clockwise, L to R): Christopher McInerney ’02, Martin Murphy ’02, Jay Fidlow ’02, Edward Kent ’02, Joe Metzger ’02, Sean Russell ’02, Louis Lenglet ’02 and Kieran Pickering ’02.

L to R: David Callaway ’82, John Hutzler ’86, Richard Helgason ’82, Lorenzo Lorenzotti ’82 and Carlos Colon ’86.

Louis Lenglet ’02 (left) and Guilford Bartlett, former Browning teacher.

The evening reception was held in the Kurani Gym.

Spring/Summer 2017

79

Spiros G. Frangos ’87

Peter G. Gordon ’84

J. Patrick Murtaugh ’97

ALUMNI CAREER PANELISTS SPEAK ABOUT MEDICINE, EDUCATION AND BREWING BEER

SPIROS G. FRANGOS ’87 Dr. Frangos is a professor of surgery at the New York University School

of Medicine and chief of surgery at Bellevue Hospital. At Bellevue, he

is responsible for the overall clinical

operations of elective and emergency general surgery, surgical critical care, trauma, peripheral vascular, surgical oncology, breast surgery and

colorectal surgery. He also serves as

Bellevue’s director of the Division of

Trauma, Emergency Surgery and Sur-

a 21st century landscape for teaching,

school at the SUNY Health Science

Mr. Gordon led efforts to secure fund-

New York University and medical

Center in Brooklyn. He completed

his general surgery residency and his trauma/surgical critical care fellow-

ship at Yale New Haven Hospital/Yale School of Medicine. He also received a

master’s degree from the Yale School of Public Health. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and two daughters.

PETER G. GORDON ’84

gical Critical Care.

Mr. Gordon is head of school at Hill-

geon, Dr. Frangos manages and oper-

educational day school in Sparta, N.J.

As a trauma and emergency sur-

ates on injured patients or those who require emergent operations, while

teaching anatomy, disease processes

and technical skills to house staff and medical students. Dr. Frangos’ major research interest is in injury prevention, especially traffic safety. He has

top Country Day School, a private co-

thinking and learning. Additionally, ing for three new design labs with

MakerBot 3D printers, Chromebooks for all teachers and students, and the

infrastructure to enable a new mobile learning environment.

Mr. Gordon currently resides in

Hamburg, N.J., with his five-year-old twins. They love traveling to NYC to

visit with friends and family, catch the occasional Broadway show, ride the horse and carriage or check out the Central Park Zoo.

Mr. Gordon attended Browning

Prior to Hilltop, Mr. Gordon worked

for six years from 1978-1984. He then

May School in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

son College and an M.Ed. from Boston

for 10 years at The Brimmer and

At Brimmer and May, he worked as

associate director of admissions and

director of financial aid, as well as the

earned a B.S. in accounting from BabUniversity with a concentration in

policy, planning and administration.

Middle School director.

J. PATRICK MURTAUGH ’97

publications, four book chapters and

Mr. Gordon has led the charge to

co-founder of Hardywood Park Craft

international meetings.

School, concentrating on heightened

completed 50 peer-reviewed journal

100 presentations at both national and Dr. Frangos attended Browning

from Grade Six through Form VI; he

celebrated his 30th Reunion this year.

80

After Browning, he graduated from

T HE

BUZZER

In his two years at Hilltop,

gain recognition as a Future Ready awareness and implementation of

knowledge, and use of best practices

and current pedagogical strategies in

Mr. Murtaugh is the brewmaster and

Brewery in Richmond, Va. Previously, he worked in sales and management

roles at craft beer wholesalers in New

York City, followed by apprenticeships

at various breweries, including Brauerei

L to R: John Botti, Spiros Frangos ’87, Peter Gordon ’84 and Patrick Murtaugh ’97.

Heller-Trum in Bamburg, Germany, and Defiant Brewing Co. in Pearl River, N.Y. In 2013, Hardywood received

the Business Expansion Award from the City of Richmond, followed by

the 2014 Business of the Year Award and the 2015 Impact Award from

the Greater Richmond Chamber of

Commerce. For the past three years,

RateBeer.com named Hardywood “Best

L to R: John Botti, Spiros Frangos ’87, Patrick Murtaugh ’97, Peter Gordon ’84 and Sandy Pelz ’71.

Brewery in Virginia.” Most recently, the brewery was recognized as the

2016 Green Brewery of the Year from Virginia Green Travel Star Awards;

Hardywood derives 100 percent of its power from renewable sources and

uses more Virginia-grown agricultural ingredients than any other brewery in the country. In February, Hardywood opened a pilot brewery and taproom in Charlottesville, and is currently in the process of constructing a larger production facility in Goochland

County, Va., slated to open in 2018.

Mr. Murtaugh attended Browning

for 10 years and received his B.S. in hospitality management from

the University of New Hampshire.

Following in the footsteps of his

great-grandfather and great-uncle, he

The Alumni Career Panel was held during an Upper School Assembly in the Kurani Gym.

studied brewing science at the Siebel

serves on the business council of

part of the World Brewing Academy’s

board of directors of the Richmond

Institute of Technology in Chicago as master brewer program, culminating in practical brewing training at the Doemens Academy in Munich. He

the James River Association and the Symphony. In his spare time, he

enjoys kayaking, tennis, skiing and other outdoor activities.

Spring/Summer 2017

81

REMARKS BY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT ANDY SANDBERG ’01 Given on April 7, 2017 during the Alumni Reunion reception

recognizing two distinguished alumni

be in one of Mrs. Ordway’s famous

the Browning faculty and parents of

three sons, Demian ’95 and Nicholas ’98,

who have also both been members of

Browning alumni. I am going to say a

few words on each of these gentlemen, and I’d ask that you hold applause until the end.

“Mr. Ordway” – that name is the

I want to join John Botti in welcoming all of you tonight. It’s great to see

such a fantastic turnout, and we hope that you’ll keep coming back to the School, because this strong alumni community is such a testament to

what Browning is about. I also want to thank all who have contributed to the Annual Fund already.

Before we go on, I want to take a

moment to acknowledge those alumni and former faculty who couldn’t be

with us tonight. They are as much a

part of this community as any of us.

We’ve lost some true greats this past

year, and they will be deeply missed.

On a less somber note, I also

want to thank John Botti for his kind

remarks. For those who haven’t had an

opportunity to meet John, I hope you’ll have the chance tonight. I’ve had the

are also Browning alumni, and we’re thrilled to have them here with us tonight, along with the Ordway’s youngest son John.

I was copied on an email from

stuff of legend around this building,

John Cook ’71 the other day, the son

Eric and his wife Kate have remained

Cook ’38, for whom the Alumnus

though not in the far-off distant way, as Andy Sandberg ’01.

theatrical productions. Two of their

fixtures at Browning over the years.

Eric Ordway ’67 is a partner at the

law firm Weil Gotshal, where he has worked for the past 35 years. Prior

to joining Weil, he was Browning’s

assistant headmaster and head of the

of the late former Headmaster Charlie Achievement Award is named.

John unfortunately couldn’t be here tonight, but to close my remarks on

Mr. Ordway, I’ll quote an excerpt of his email:

“Eric, you may well be Dad’s

Upper School, where he taught history,

favorite student in his career. You

undergraduate degree from Princeton,

ways, mostly by your selfless love

English and film. He received his

a music degree from the Conservatoire

Jean Courbin, a political science degree from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques

de Paris, a master’s in Latin American studies from NYU, and a law degree

from Brooklyn Law School. (Take that, academia!) He has had a truly unique and impressive career, which he has

and Kate inspired Dad in so many and friendship to him, to Mom,

brother Charlie, and to Browning. You join a most distinguished group of

alumni, and you are most deserving.

You inspired young men toward

adulthood and enabled them to live our school’s motto of Grytte.”

Speaking of selfless love and

shared with his wife Kate, whom many

friendship toward Browning, Mr. Pelz

taught at Browning for many years,

has been the director of college

of you know as Mrs. Ordway. She also and I’ve been told that I missed out by never having the opportunity to

has never left! Sanford Pelz ’71

guidance at Browning since 1989 –

the same year I arrived at the School.

pleasure of getting to know and work with John this past year, and it’s been such a seamless transition.

We’re honored to be recognizing two distinguished alumni

talk about the past! Actually, in the case

who have also both been members of the Browning faculty

But enough about the present, let’s

of these two men, their connection to

Browning could not be more palpable still today. We’re honored to be

82

T HE

BUZZER

and parents of Browning alumni.

tours – where he takes the entire junior and senior classes to visit eight to 12 schools each fall. Now, some things you may not know about Mr. Pelz: • He works his admission staff so hard you don’t even see them!

• He writes hundreds of

thoughtful and carefully crafted recommendation letters for each senior every year.

• The photos of each Browning junior and senior scroll across his desktop all day long.

If I had to sum up what Mr. Pelz

does in one sentence, it is this: He

helps you achieve goals if you have them, and figure them out if you

don’t. I watched him help many of

my classmates and fellow Browning students figure out their paths forward in life.

What John Cook ’71 had to say

about Sandy: “You are my classmate and friend who has guided and Twelve years later, he tricked Yale

all aspects of the college search and

kind enough to wait until after they

teaching a college prep class starting

into admitting me – and even was

admitted me to give me my only B

in physics. (But let’s be real, that was probably generous.) Mr. Pelz joined

the faculty as a math teacher in 1975

and served as a science teacher, head

of the Middle School, and chair of the science department before moving to college guidance; he also still

teaches an elective called Science,

Technology and Society. He oversees

application process for our students,

in Form III. He received a bachelor’s

in physics from Colorado College and a master’s in media studies from The

New School. He and his amazing wife Adele are also proud parents of two

Browning alumni, Christopher ’12 and Jonathan ’12, who send their love and

admiration from Scotland, where they are studying abroad. Mr. Pelz is the

mastermind behind the famous college

inspired generations of Browning

alumni to become citizen leaders in not only their next stage of life in

college, but also their full stages of

life. For Dad, who I know wisely hired the best faculty, I can merely share

that I know he would be grinning ear to ear in welcoming you to this elite and profoundly deserving group of

recipients of the Charles W. Cook ’38 Alumnus Achievement Award.”

And with that, please help me

recognize both of this year’s honorees: Eric Ordway ’67 and Sanford Pelz ’71.

Spring/Summer 2017

83

AWARD ACCEPTANCE REMARKS FROM MR. ORDWAY ’67

I am deeply honored to receive this

award from a school and a community that has meant so much to me over

the years, one in which, like the co-

would like to think that it was perhaps in part because as a

I have been fortunate enough to

teacher I might have opened a few minds and steered a few

recipient of this award, Sandy Pelz ’71, play so many parts: student, teacher, administrator, parent.

How does one assess the impact of

people down productive paths of thought.

a school on one’s life? It’s a subject to

never been to school, and Charlie

and quirky iconoclasm. And that

For some, school can be a mere blip on

was named, took a chance on me,

Holmes once said was the only way to

which I have given some thought lately. the screen, a kind of necessary stage of life, as Shakespeare said, “the whining

schoolboy with his satchel and shining morning face creeping unwillingly to” an academic workhouse. To others, it

can be a double-door opener, a horizon expander, a preview of the pageant of

human learning and feast for the mind.

As the historian Jaques Barzun said,

you really don’t know which it is until

at least 20 years later, and then it sets in.

To me, it was a true horizon expander.

But it was also much more than that.

When I first set foot in Browning,

I was a seven-year-old kid who didn’t speak English all that well and had

Eric Ordway ’67 (left) and Sandy Pelz ’71.

84

Although I do not know why I was given this award, I

T HE

BUZZER

Cook ’38, after whom this award

accepting me as a scholarship student.

Then, 15 years later, I was a green

iconoclasm – which Oliver Wendell get at truth – was key.

For although Browning may seem

and inexperienced college graduate,

to be like many other private schools

some professional piano, done some

because at Browning, not only many

whose CV consisted of having played construction work, and sold hot

dogs and hoagies, and Charlie Cook ’38 decided to take a chance on me

again, this time not as a student but

as a teacher. And, I can tell you that, in the words of Robert Frost, those two decisions “have made all the

difference.” Thanks to the first, I was able to enjoy the unique culture of

Browning, which was, and I think still is, a curious blend of traditionalism

Eric Ordway ’67.

out there, it really isn’t. And that’s

of the students, who were of different nationalities, different backgrounds

and different points of view, but also many of the teachers marched to the

beat of a different drummer, whether that meant moonlighting as actors, racing motorcycles or espousing

Marxist doctrines. And so did the School itself march to a different

drummer. Its public speaking contests, some of which I was lucky enough to

L to R: Andy Sandberg ’01, Eric Ordway ’67, Sandy Pelz ’71 and John Botti.

participate in, were, as a person who

here was even more special. Oh, I

any at the other boys’ schools with

before foreign arbitration tribunals,

recently attended one told me, unlike whom Browning competes, in so far as many of Browning’s participants

were not rigid reciters of staple prose and poetry but students who were

given free reign to express themselves in their own words and in the words of often controversial contemporary figures, often in controversial ways.

The same is true for the plays

Browning put on, many controversial

and daring for their time. Some of the students who were with me in those

days are here today, and I thank them for being here and for having made my times as a student so enriching.

But as much as I enjoyed being at

Browning as a student, being a teacher

Although I do not know why I

enjoy trying cases in U.S. courts and

was given this award, I would like

but for me there never really was

because as a teacher I might have

anything quite so exciting as seeing students aglow with interest in the exploits of imperial Rome, or the

pageant of the Renaissance and the

Enlightenment, experiencing eureka moments at learning the origin of a word or an idea. And what made it special was both the extraordinary students I was fortunate to have taught, some of whom are here

to think that it was perhaps in part opened a few minds and steered a

few people down productive paths

of thought. I know that’s at least part

of why Sandy is receiving this award.

And let me just say that if that is the case, I am particularly pleased. As

Jacques Barzun once said, “teaching is not a lost art, but regard for it is a lost tradition.”

And so, I applaud Browning

today, and the teachers who were

for reviving the regard for that lost

see here, teachers who pushed the

that under the new leadership of John

my colleagues, some of whom I also envelope and made a difference.

Thank you for making my years as a teacher here so special.

tradition. And I applaud the School, Botti, I know will blaze new trails,

for maintaining its unique culture of iconoclasm and tradition.

Spring/Summer 2017

85

AWARD ACCEPTANCE REMARKS FROM MR. PELZ ’71

including

(Unless, of course, he means that you

own students,

into college!)

many of our to afford

the dream

of a college education.

But teachers

are different.

We’re a lot

like farmers.

Every year, we till the Sandy Pelz ’71.

soil, plant the seeds and

We are all here because we know

nurture them. Perhaps, then, it was

place. In my first decade or two as a

Paul Simon was “thinking back on” in

that there is something special in this teacher, my father would routinely

comment on the fact that I received

the fertilizer, and not the content, that his song “Kodachrome.”

Teaching is not a profession

free lunch by saying: “You know,

where the rewards or the kudos come

real world!” And he was right.

offer sincere and heartfelt thanks at

Sandy, that’s not what it’s like in the (My father, who by the way, will

turn 99 seven weeks from today, is

currently the oldest living American Rhodes Scholar and, according to Mr. Simon, one of the longest

quickly. Sure, students and parents

graduation, but you don’t often have a student come up to you after a test and say, “Mr. Pelz, I can’t thank you enough. That test changed my life!”

have just ruined his chances of getting No, teaching is about delayed

gratification, because kids may not realize your impact for decades.

Last fall, my son pointed me to

a graduate school blog entry he had written on Japanese animé. It was

magnificent. I knew he was a master

of the content, but I asked, “When did you learn to write like that?” He said

that he had never considered himself a particularly good writer, and seemed

almost wistful, as if he had somehow let his teachers down.

But I could see what he has not

yet: In his mind, he may not have

written well enough for Mr. Ingrisani and Mr. Dearinger (though I suspect

they might disagree), but the lessons they taught stuck and have been

percolating down within him so that, clearly, he learned from them. It may still be a few more years before that

realization catches up with him, and that’s the way it is with teachers.

continuous donors to the Browning Annual Fund.)

And, speaking of authority figures,

it is a sobering thought that I have now served on the faculty longer

than Mr. Cook, although he still has

two years on me if you count our time as students.

Eric and I have just joined an

august group of men who have had profound impacts in their

respective fields of endeavor. Their accomplishments are remarkable. I

am particularly indebted to Senator Claiborne Pell ’36, who made it

possible for millions of young people,

86

T HE

BUZZER

L to R: Andy Sandberg ’01, Eric Ordway ’67 and Sandy Pelz ’71.

Eric and I have just joined an august group of men who have had profound impacts in their respective fields of endeavor. Their accomplishments are remarkable.

My physics students may not

remember the formulas for standing

waves, but few of you are able to look

Tunnel Action Toy, and, of course, to the “sucker shelf” at Rappaport’s.

My college prep students, on the

at a corrugated plastic tube without

other hand, when faced with some

head, making the connection to sound,

a child), perhaps instinctively recite:

being tempted to whirl it around your

to Creepin’ Critter, The Amazing Trick

dilemma (possibly associated with

“Now that’s what Mr. Pelz calls ‘A

Bad Thing!’ ”

By the end of this year I will have

counseled 670 young men through the college admission process.

In my 15 years of teaching before

that, I had well over 300 boys in my math and science classes.

And so for me, it is in the lives and

experiences and contributions of those

1,000 men, roughly 10 percent of whom are apparently in this room, that my

“Lifetime Achievement” can be found.

I am humbled, and I thank you all.

2016-17 LEGACY PHOTO The annual legacy photo was taken in March in the Wilson Room. This year, there are 14 Browning boys with fathers who also attended Browning, for a total of 10 legacy families.

Back row (L to R): Adam Berman ’25, Ben Berman ’93, Nicholas Hurley ’19, Ned Hurley ’82, George Stavropoulos ’18 and John Hadden ’87.

Middle row (L to R): Andrew West ’92, Andrew Gelb ’88, George Grimbilas ’18, George Grimbilas ’80, Peter Stavropoulos ’82, Cole Hadden ’26 and Johnny Hadden ’24.

Front row (L to R): Evan West ’29, Jack Gelb ’27, Alexander Beys ’27, Peter Beys ’25, Jude Theodore ’27, Lee Theodore ’24, Ali Theodore ’88, Andrew Bates-Zoullas ’23 and Winston Bates-Zoullas ’23.

Not pictured: Michael Beys ’89 and Nicholas Zoullas ’55.

Spring/Summer 2017

87

Top row (L to R): Jamil Guzman ’17, Terrell Edwards ’17, Alex Lopez-Velasco ’17, Alex Kattan ’17, Hunter Stern ’17, Patrick Lopez ’17, Erik Bronfman ’17, Micah Bowey ’17, Gianni Chiovetta ’17, Josh Jordan ’17, Darion Harris ’17, Alexander Young ’17, Felix Castillo ’17, Alex Barnard ’17 and Declan Casey ’17.

Front row (L to R): August Chapin ’17, George Allen ’17, Luke Spellman ’17, Jake Germano ’17, Logan Stark ’17, Michael Jozoff ’17, Tucker Weiser ’17, Luke Barba ’17 and Ryan Olson ’17. Not pictured: Conor Harkins ’17.

CLASS OF 2017 WELCOMED INTO ALUMNI ASSOCIATION The annual Form VI Alumni

Association Breakfast took place on

Wednesday, April 19. Head of School John Botti and Alumni Association

President Andy Sandberg ’01 led the

festivities in recognizing each member of the Class of 2017 with a special gift from the Alumni Association

in honor of the seniors’ upcoming

The Form VI Alumni Association Breakfast is an annual tradition, held at a nearby private club.

graduation. The following officers, Trustees and alumni faculty members also spoke

to the boys about their involvement with the Alumni Association: Stuart Orenstein ’00 (vice president of the Alumni Association), John Moran ’97 (secretary of the Alumni

Association), Jeffrey Landes ’83 (Trustee), Richard Weaver ’75 (Trustee), Sandy Pelz ’71 (director of college guidance), Andrew West ’92 (director of athletics) and Jeremy Katz ’04

(director of communications design). Director of Institutional Advancement Jim Simon, Head of Upper School Jim Reynolds and Director of Alumni Affairs Laura Lanigan

were also in attendance. The Alumni Association looks forward to Graduation Day, when these 25 members of the Class of 2017 will officially join its ranks!

88

T HE

BUZZER

L to R: Richard Weaver ’75, Jeffrey Landes ’83, Andy Sandberg ’01, Andrew West ’92, John Moran ’97, Stuart Orenstein ’00 and Sandy Pelz ’71.

L to R: John Moran ’97, Stuart Orenstein ’00, Sandy Pelz ’71 and John Botti.

Boys in the buffet line (L to R): August Chapin ’17, Josh Jordan ’17, Erik Bronfman ’17 and Micah Bowey ’17.

L to R: Micah Bowey ’17, Alex Lopez-Velasco ’17, Luke Spellman ’17, Jamil Guzman ’17, Declan Casey ’17 and Darion Harris ’17.

Spring/Summer 2017

89

class notes

TO SHARE NEWS with the Browning community, please contact Laura N. Lanigan, director of alumni affairs, at llanigan@browning.edu Laura N. Lanigan

or 212-838-6280 Ext. 1920.

60s

to Tom’s class and then treated everyone to dinner at Pepe’s

Pizza. This semester, Tom and his wife Marilyn are living in

In November, Charles

southern California, and Tom

Plohn ’62 and Haughton Randolph ’62 caught up

in New York over lunch at L to R: Indre Rockefeller, John Botti and Justin Rockefeller.

1890s

Justin Rockefeller, great-

grandson of the late John D. Rockefeller, Jr. (Class of

1893), visited Browning in

grandfather, one of John A. Browning’s first students.

50s

Robert S. Sherman ’65

Randolph ’63).

is retired after working for 45

submitted the following

school system.

Clair L. Smith ’63

years in the Nashua, N.H.,

70s

news in February: “Mary and I celebrated our 50th

anniversary in December!”

R. Thomas Herman ’64,

writing for the Grytte,

Award on behalf of his great-

journalism at Browning

Andy Sandberg ’01 (left) and Tom Herman ’64 at Yale in December.

taught at Yale and Columbia

Sandberg ’01. Governor

of Journalism in the fall of

news coverage of campaign

University’s Graduate School 2016. This was his ninth

semester teaching at Yale.

Among his guest speakers were Browning alumni

Howard Dean ’66 and Andy

Dean spoke to students about finance and politics, and Mr. Sandberg spoke on

the business of theater. Jim

Chanos, Browning’s former Board President, also spoke

In November, Thomas E.

following classmates who

attended our 45th Reunion on April 7, followed by a

dinner celebration at Sidecar, and Saturday festivities in

Chinatown (hosted by Bart Wu ’72): Jaime Carey ’72, Bill Cobert ’72, Dennis

Coleman ’72, T.D. Werblin ’72,

Rasmussen ’72, Jon Starr ’72,

Charlie Vanamee ’72 and Bart

Academiques for his

Wu ’72. I thank you again for

distinguished career in

environmental science and

90

in May: “Thank you to the

Peter Miller ’72, Howard

de L’Ordre des Palmes

BUZZER

submitted the following note

Galton ’72, George Judd ’72,

insignia of Commandeur

T HE

Steven G. Schott ’72

Rich Fisher ’72, Jeremy

Lovejoy ’59 received the

global public policy.

also writes a column for The management section.

(widow of Christopher

in 2013, when he accepted Alumnus Achievement

University of San Diego. He Wall Street Journal’s wealth

wives and Patsy Randolph

who got his first taste of

the Charles W. Cook ’38

Mary and Clair Smith ’63.

Le Cirque, along with their

January with his wife, Indre.

Justin was last at Browning

is teaching a seminar at the

Tom Lovejoy ’59 in November 2016.

L to R: Charles Plohn ’62, Patsy Randolph, Dorothy Plohn, Enne Randolph and Haughton Randolph ’62.

making the effort to come

back to Browning and see

L to R: Ned Hurley ’82, Anthony Addison ’82, Lorenzo Lorenzotti ’82, Mitch Sadowsky, John Zaccaro ’82, Reja Sabet ’82 and David Callaway ’82.

In January, Ali Theodore ’88 spoke with Browning boys about his career.

90s

your classmates and friends.

Thank you to the wives for also joining us at our 45th

Geoffrey W. Feder ’92

Reunion – Pat Werblin, Sue

Galton, Tricia Fisher and Lucy Rasmussen (all looking quite

Reja Sabet ’82 and Eric Lustgarten ’81 got together in February.

beautiful!). Jamie Carey has

Knives, has been going crazy.

to Chile for a trip in the

I’m teaming up with chefs

future. Keep in touch with

Thomas M. Hughes ’78

to Browning for Alumni

Reunion was special, as it always is, the more so be-

cause the community came

together that day to recognize two alumni/teachers with

and Coach Sadowsky

Members of the Class of ’82

a world for me and others.

(former Browning athletic

Celebration this year came

tinged with sadness, though, remembering my classmate

of 12 years at Browning and

Ontario. All the teachers and alumni I saw at Alumni Re-

Andy Sandberg ’01

enjoyed catching up with his classmates, Browning

faculty and fellow alumni at Alumni Reunion on April 7.

many alumni during his first year as president of the Alumni Association.

Outside of Browning, he

continues to juggle various hats in the entertainment

career as a producer and film productions.

Global for nearly nine years.

and reconnecting with so

and sixth grade music classes

songwriter for music and

Rate Observer in February as

He is also enjoying meeting

Ali Theodore ’88 spent

in January discussing his

fire on Christmas Eve in

Wesley N. Kaplan ’97 sent in the above photo in December, along with this caption: “My kids, Mason Eli and Emma Lily, wish everyone a Happy New Year.

Looking forward to the alumni get-together [on April 7].”

in November.

with his family in a cottage

Taber ’78, who was killed

Philip J. Grant ’00 began

in sales and trading for CF

Whiskey Social in New York

time with Mr. Symons’ fifth

could not be luckier.”

new position, Phil worked

director) got together at

four more at Princeton, Geoff

and Mike Bloomberg. We

editor of Grant’s. Prior to this

did on me.”

whose talent (and patience!)

about the Mets, Browning

Jim Grant, is the founder and

left its imprint on him as it

in directing theater opened

Sandy Pelz ’71. How great

“We are already teaching him

family business; his father,

Geoff as well, and Browning

80s

School: Eric Ordway ’67 and

four ounces. Chris tells us,

an analyst. Phil has joined the

union were people known to

also to see Kate Ordway,

a big impact on me and the

Riff-Coffey, eight pounds,

working at Grant’s Interest

In March, Christopher

Lorenzo Lorenzotti ’82 and his son, Amedeo Lorenzotti ’19, in Panama on a recent fishing trip.

their family: William Moses

M. Coffey ’98 and his

limited edition chef knives.

45th Reunion photo.]

welcomed a baby boy to

It’s been very exciting.”

Bryan Voltaggio to design

[Please see page 78 for the

husband Adam Riff

00s

like Charlie Palmer and

Browning and each other!”

note in April: “Coming back

news in February: “My

custom knife business, Feder

invited his fellow classmates

submitted the following

submitted the following

William Moses Riff-Coffey.

field as a director, writer Charlie Palmer and Geoffrey Feder ’92 (right).

and producer. He has a number of writing and

Spring/Summer 2017

91

IN MEMORIAM

Bowdoin alums with a Browning connection! L to R: Director of Institutional Advancement Jim Simon (Bowdoin ’92), JR Chansakul ’12 (Bowdoin ’16), Alex Lopez-Velasco ’17 (Bowdoin ’21), Jamil Guzman ’17 (Bowdoin ’21) and Director of Middle and Upper School Admission Janet Lien (Bowdoin ’00).

directing projects in

development for the stage, as well as some early

Grateful to be alive.”

Joseph P. Vecsey ’06

television projects.

submitted the following

submitted the following news:

as a comic and comedy

and university alumni.”

no surprise to my teachers!

traveled to Philadelphia for

movie, went on comedy tour,

United Nations Conference

Owen B. Canavan ’06

“Moved back to Nashville in October 2016 after pivoting

from agent to manager and starting my own company

the year prior – Perry Street Management. I’m working

with members of The Black Crowes, a roots-rock/blues

artist from Baltimore named

news in February: “Working writer – which should be

Worked on Adam Sandler plus doing clubs in NYC.

Can be seen in Optimum TV commercial and web series, ‘The Unmovers.’ ”

Zachary M. Perskins ’09

Cris Jacobs, and a Nashville-

sent in the following news

called The Vegabonds. All is

got engaged to my college

based Southern rock band

well down here and I hope to see everyone visit in the

future, as this city has become a destination not only for its music, but also its culinary landscape. Check out the

Jonathan Waxman-helmed

restaurant Adele’s when in

in January: “In November I sweetheart, Rebecca Horton of Hamden, Conn. I am

currently studying for my

M.B.A. as a part-time student in the Langone program of Stern at NYU and am

working full-time at Havas Media here in New York.”

everyone who may have

10s

a near-death experience in

submitted the following

town, a quite popular spot I invested in several years ago. I’d also like to thank

prayed for me as I dealt with

Anthony R. Builder ’12

April – an elderly lady ran

news in February: “I recently

her car through the gym I

was exercising at and pinned me into a wall, smashing my

92

injuries to my abdomen.

Leonard Anselmo P ’92 Albert E. Berizzi GP ’04, ’06 Grant M. Dawson ’52 James Dramis, Former Faculty Christopher S. Gray ’68 Derek P. Hyde ’87 Grant Judd ’64 James O. McClellan ’49 David Rachmuth P ’10 Westell R. Rhodes ’50 John M. Richman ’45 Lewis M. Schott P ’72 Geoffrey Taber ’78 Francis B. Thorne, Jr. ’39 Helen M. Venusti P ’78

femur and causing critical T HE

BUZZER

accepted an offer at Cushman & Wakefield in Manhattan and am enjoying working

alongside both high school

In January, Browning boys

the annual Ivy League Model (ILMUNC), chaperoned by

Kevin Dearinger and Gerry

Tim Bishop and Harrison Bishop ’16 (right) at Browning in January.

Awen Abaatu ’16, Aadir

Saturday night to share his

Protheroe. Browning alums Khan ’15 and Diego LopezLiranzo ’15 were also there.

college experiences.”

Harrison T. Bishop ’16

Dr. Protheroe reports: “It was

visited Browning with his

UN experience has clearly

Harrison attended Browning in

good to see that the Model

had a salutary effect on our

most recent graduates. Both

Awen Abaatu ’16 and Aadir

father, Tim Bishop, in January.

Middle School until his family moved to Australia.

Andrew B. Medland ’16

Khan ’15 were now to be

and Karsten G. Monteverde ’16

dais as part of the ILMUNC

while on break from college.

found on the other side of the Secretariat – i.e. those who

are judging and conducting the various committee

proceedings, which the

delegates participate in. It

visited Browning in January Karsten is a freshman at Duke University and

Andrew is a freshman at Vanderbilt University.

was also good that another alumnus at Penn, Diego

Lopez-Liranzo ’15 (a member of our Model UN delegation for four years), joined us

for dinner at the Imperial Inn in Philadelphia on

L to R: Andrew Medland ’16, Ms. Ting and Karsten Monteverde ’16.

“Pencil Man” G

MAKES A GREAT POINT!

rade Five teacher Dan Ragsdale explains the concept behind

“Pencil Man,” who resides in his classroom: “The fifth grade

boys constantly lose pencils, so when I would notice a student

who had managed to hold onto a pencil until it was too small to write with, I would provide a new one and tape the tiny pencil

to the chalkboard (pre-renovation!) as an example of Grade Five

industriousness and organization. The project started out as a tiny “pencil wall of fame,” but boys kept asking what they were for.

As they accumulated I thought we might be able to do something

artistic with them. Pencil Man started with the current Form I, but last year’s class came up with the idea of making him. Art teacher Zack Davis drew and cut out the form, and both homerooms

worked on bringing Pencil Man to life throughout the winter and spring last year. Sasha Maslennikov ‘23 was especially passionate about seeing the project through. Plans call for another pencil project soon, most likely a ‘Pencil Panther!’ ”

T H E BROW N I NG SC HO OL 52 East 62nd Street New York, New York 10065

NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE

PAID AUGUSTA, ME PERMIT NO. 121

TO UPDATE YOUR ADDRESS Please call the Advancement Office at 212 838 6280 x1150.

LOWER SCHOOL BOYS MEET ANIMALS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE ON BIODIVERSITY DAY During this year’s Biodiversity Day, Lower School boys were treated to a program by zoologist

“Nature Nick” Jacinto who introduced them

to a fascinating collection of animals such as a

shy armadillo (pictured), enormous owl, albino

kangaroo and a very vocal kookaburra, to name but a few. Read more about this annual event, now in its third year, on page 32.