Times of Brunswick | Summer 2008

Summer 2008

Eleanor Lindberg, Lower School Legacy, Retires Let’s go Mets!

The (New!) Jim Stephens Squash Center Trip to Israel: Glimpses of an Ancient Culture & Modern Nation

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BRUNSWICK SCHOOL 100 Maher Avenue Greenwich, CT 06830 Tel: 203.625.5800 BrunswickSchool.org

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Headmaster Thomas W. Philip Director of Advancement Terry M. Gumz Editor-in-Chief Bonni Brodnick bbrodnick@brunswickschool.org

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Class Notes Editor Catherine Scott Martin cmartin@brunswickschool.org Sports Editor Diana Samponaro dsamponaro@brunswickschool.org Contributors Mary Alice Ackley, Anne Adler, Anne Allwood, Michael Allwood, Ali Al-Maqtari, Leslie Andersen, Lori Bell, Rhonda Bonom, Shaun Bowman/Turner Construction, Tom Brayton, Diane Briggs, Krista Bruce, Jean Dobbs, Ray Duffy ’09, Martha Durkin, Libby Edwards, Joe Falco, Terry Gumz, Pat Meloni, Kevin Meacham, Tom Murray, Cat Scott Martin, Katie Signer, Mia Wright, Claire Zoungrana Contributing Writers Diane Briggs, Peter Briggs, Father Richard Cipolla, Tim Coupe, Kate Fox, B. Tucker Hastings, Gina Hurd, Gus Ruchman ’10, Azario Mastrangelo ’13, Scott Matthews ’09, Guy Cameron Pratt, Kathy Thorpe Cover Photo Diane Briggs Contributing Photographers Taryn Angelos, Diane Briggs, Dan Burns, Christopher Forester, Guy Cameron Pratt, TReC Sports PhotoGraphics, Robert Norman Photography, Kirsten Reynolds, Shaun Bowman/Turner Construction, ChiChi Ubiña, Vickers & Beechler Photography Lucien Capehart Photography Designer Good Design LLC www.gooddesignusa.com Printing Villanti & Sons, Printers, Inc. Milton, Vermont

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26 BOARD

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TRUSTEES 2007-2008

Garrett M. Moran, Chairman Richard A. Baker ’84 W. Preston Baldwin III Michael P. Castine Leslie A. Dahl B. Cort Delany ’73 Matthew S. DeSalvo William A. Durkin III ’72 Anne B. Farrell Richard M. Fuscone

Joseph D. Gatto Colvin W. Grannum Jeffrey R. Holzschuh Alain Lebec James B. Lee David B. MacFarlane Lisa G. Matthews Ian C. Murray ’93 Shepherd P. Murray ’89 Thomas D. O’Malley, Jr. ’85 Charles Paternina Peer T. Pedersen, Jr.

Clifton S. Robbins William A. Schneider ’72 Henry F. Skelsey Mark J. Vallely ’75 J. Edward Virtue Peter A. Weinberg Simon J. Williams Tracy R. Wolstencroft

Brunswick Parents’ Association

Terri DeSalvo, President

BRUNSWICK SCHOOL, founded in 1902, is an independent college-preparatory day school for 893 boys in grades Pre-K

through 12. The Upper School grades 9 through 12 have a coordinate program with Greenwich Academy, a neighboring girls’ school. In a community of challenging academics; comprehensive arts, drama and music programs; and 33 varsity and sub-varsity sports teams, time for Brunswick School students is also reserved for both reflection and service to others. We believe in the potential of boys and have successfully developed an educational experience that emphasizes rigorous traditional learning, self-discipline, and character development. The School’s motto, “Courage, Honor, Truth,” is a phrase familiar to students who have graced our halls and one that is followed in both word and deed. For more information, please contact Jeffry Harris, Admission Director, at 203.625.5800 or go to BrunswickSchool.org.

CONTENTS

FEATURES 4 Graduation 2008 Brought Fanfare and Celebration

DEPARTMENTS

By Bonni Brodnick

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Message from the Headmaster: “Faith of Our Fathers”

“Changes in Latitudes” Spring Benefit

By Bonni Brodnick

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Letters to the Editor

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’Wick Snippets

Eleanor Lindberg, Lower School Legacy Retires

42 John Wood: A Social

Compiled by Gina Hurd

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Entrepreneur & Visionary Beyond the Delivery Room B-Mop Sunday Morning Jive Time “Make a Difference” Award Mini-Term of Mexican Piñatas, Chinese Poetry, & Exotic Recipes 47 Telling the Story in Pictographs 48 Ni Hâo and Welcome to America!

49 Toy Soldier Club Gets Full Attention

20 Let’s go Mets! A Chat with Matt Silverman,

By Bonni Brodnick

24 The Blue Notes, Satchmo, Sony & Jazz

By Bonni Brodnick

Sports Round-up

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Brunswick Unveils “The Stephens Squash Center”

By Bonni Brodnick

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Beyond the Classroom

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Alumni

Names Can Really Hurt Us

By Gus Ruchman ’10

30 Environmental Science Students Get “Green”

By Diana Samponaro

66 Senior Breakfast 67 ’Wick + Nexodex:

A New Connection

68 Class Notes & In Memoriam Compiled by Cat Scott Martin

By Guy Cameron Pratt

32 A Trip to Israel: Glimpses of an Ancient Culture and a Modern Nation

By B. Tucker Hastings

36 “Odyssey of the Mind”

By Tim Coupe

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38 Senior Funds are Meaningful Gifts to Brunswick

By Diane Briggs Summer 2008

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Message from the Headmaster “Faith of Our Fathers” There

Times of BRUNSWICK

is a well-known patriotic hymn that includes the lines: “Faith of our fathers, living still… we will be true to thee…”

Although I have heard the hymn many times, it was not until I was looking through archival material of Brunswick’s former Headmaster Norman Pedersen (1969-1987) that I was able to really pause and consider the words.

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I had the good fortune to have a meaningful conversation with Norm during our Centennial weekend eight years ago, and we have exchanged a number of letters since. A truly remarkable man, as both a headmaster and a person, he demonstrates clarity of vision and an eagerness of spirit.

As Brunswick’s fifth headmaster, Norm ably guided our School through the tumultuous period of the late-1960s through the late-1980s.

Included in the material he left behind is a small blue volume, “The Chapel Hymnal”, which was published in 1953, and revised from an original text published in 1931.

The much dog-eared Hymn 49 is entitled “Faith of Our Fathers” and it made me reflect on how times have changed since the words were written. It also made me wonder if, in our current world that so clearly celebrates youth, we still, in fact, have maintained this credence.

It is my hope that most of our boys would admit that they have “faith” in their actual fathers (and mothers). Yet, my sense is that as a society we now model more upon youth than we do upon age and experience. How we act, how we dress, how we try to live often attempts to mirror the culture of the young, rather than the culture of our elders.

Historically, this emphasis on youth is unique. Usually, young people try to look and act older (rather than the reverse: older people trying to look and act younger).

Ironically, this change in emphasis occurred during the very time Norm Pedersen was headmaster. During the 1960s and 1970s, a youth culture emerged which called into question much of what had been taken for granted by the adults of the time. Those who were doing the questioning during this era are now the “adults” of the new millennium.

Occasionally, when speaking with parents about an issue concerning their son, I hear rather surprising phrases, such as “I just want my son to be happy” or even, “I don’t want to tell him ‘NO’ because I want to maintain our ’positive’ relationship.”

The grandparents of those very same boys would likely not have even considered such comments. A worthwhile guideline in any relationship with children is to remember that there is a huge difference between those adults who are friendly with the young (being so is a good thing) as compared to those who seek to be friends with the young (that approach, conversely, might be misguided).

The current generation of students does not necessarily need more friends. Rather, they need more examples of adult common sense and leadership. In most societies, the greatest source of such guidance is parents. In fact, saying “NO” at appropriate times is both a right, and an obligation, of parenthood.

More importantly, failing to clearly delineate boundaries and any associated expectations for our children might risk creating a sense of entitlement that inevitably leads to a loss of respect for themselves and for those adults (parents included) around them.

Try as we might to retain and remember the joys of youth, we must also honor and reaffirm the privileges and obligations of adulthood. Having Faith in Our Fathers is how generations before us have managed to teach their own children the essential lessons of responsibility, accountability, and respect. Understanding and embracing the fact that others have come before us—and that others will surely follow—offers an essential life-long perspective that we seek to inspire in our Brunswick boys.

Letters Letters Letters Letters Letters Letters Letters

To the editor… est with pleasure) the lat I just read (as always, th six photo on page 34 of the , Times of Brunswick. The ed tur class (some of those pic ). grade class was indeed my 63 yed on to graduate in 19 s including yours truly, sta row that the top and bottom You might like to know ly, should be reversed.

Scott Fitkin, James Caver The top row is (left to right) yserling, Hugh Caldara, her Ke Francis duPont, Christop . ley ed and Michael Fre orge to right) John Bates, Ge The middle row is (left Steinmetz, Kent Gilbert, Gould, Carl Solberg, Eric aves. nt, Stephen Saks, and Mr. Gr ft to right) William Ke (le is row The bottom d an , bert Willis, Joseph Cross John Way, Fred Zeder, Ro Jon Barrett. we once were.

It was great to see us all as Carl T. Solberg ’63

I thoroughly enjoyed readin g the last Times of Brunswick .

It is such a beautiful issue.

Chiew Mallen Past Br unswick Parent

k. of Brunswic , es im T st te 1945 ur la udent. In tions on yo Congratula ges since I was a st had been given chan as broke. I So many just about ears earlier. There w s s a w l o o h y o sport the Sc le of gy), and n ip a coup a scholarsh ience taught (no biolo basketball. There d dly very little sc otball, baseball, an school kin e fo Th n s. a rt a th l to e other ught in th om the Lower Schoo we ta g in th o all cher fr was n the study h e with a tea provided m g. In the mornings in re us...” and a few fo in learn draw f Brunswick, life’s be me of which still so o s s, y g o n B “ so sang Ivy League rd a d n a st e I had of th my head. hall. Since rs, in y d d u n st u e ro a th hou t to rattle was adjacen spent my study hall rting ry ra b li e Th .I sta to studying f the books, an aversion ntion of reading all o with “A”. Can’t te an with the in names beg retty well. se o h w rs p with autho w far I got, but I did jamin’s death. He o en h in the remember ear about Gordon B him while to h in to n y ra rr I So guy. cially nice was an espe 6.

4 Navy in 19 the good work!

So, keep up Regards, gman ’45 Phillip Youn

What a gre a winter 200 t job you did on th e Brunswic 8 magazine k !

swick Paren

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We welcome your comments and letters to the editor.

Please contact bbrodnick@brunswickschool.org.

Summer 2008

Best, Jayne Chase Current Bru n

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Times of BRUNSWICK

COM M E NCE M E NT 2008

Graduation 2008Brought

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Class of 2008

Michael Salvatore Agovino * Michael Nicholas Allwin Christopher Luke Antonacci Miles Donneghan Archer Edwin Spottswood Bailey John David Barrett Christopher Ransom Bayliss †* Robert Patrick Benjamin Gregory Elliott Berger * James August Biondi Clay Barksdale Blackiston Jonathan Aston Bubar Christopher James Chu Bryan Coleman John Clark Curry * Philip Stanton Cutler Robert Griffin Dann Charles Tucker Daugherty Alexander Greene Dickson Corey Jeffrey Dobbs Harrison Reed Dunn

Terence John Einhorn David B. Fernandez Mark Phillips Figgie, Jr. * Bryce Galvin Fitzpatrick Matthew Thomas Forester Dexter Matthews Freeburg Marcus Yves Garfinkle Philip Robert Gatto † Christopher Paul Ghaffari Peter Franklin Hadjipateras Peter Claus Augustus Hanson Karl Johan Hantho Alexander Weldon Hare Ryan David Hopkins Thomas Stuart Hotchkiss John Richmond P. Howland Tomas James Hoyos Gray Brabson Huffard Lee K. Jackson Alexandre Jamar Christopher Arthur Johnson, Jr.

Fanfare and Celebration “Thank you for the lifetime of memories and a place called Brunswick,” said Reverend Thomas Nins, Assistant Director of Diversity, who opened the 106th Brunswick School Commencement. “Our young men are standing at the threshold of a new life.

Let ’Courage, Honor, Truth’ only be overshadowed by hope, faith, and love, the greatest of which is love.”

Eighty-one Seniors were honored by more than 1,400 guests at our second graduation in Dann Gymnasium on Edwards Campus. For Headmaster Thomas W. Philip, the day was even more meaningful as he is also parent of Senior Nick Philip.

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Alexander Jason Kaskel Edward Douglas Kearney William Warner King Michael Cushing Norris Krasnow Andrew Bissell Laird David Abraham Levy Michael Philip Levy Garrett Matthew Long Ghregory R. Louis Oscar A. Loynaz Walter Adrian Luse Dixon Cropper Mallory Kyle Cameron Miller Daniel Morrisroe Kent Johnston Northrop Justin Christopher Nowell John Eric Oberbeck Nicholas Van Ness Philip Nicholas Howard Pinto II Thomas A. Piscina Brian Winthrop Platter

Adam Polak Eddy J. Agustin Polonia Ryan Michael Potocki Zachary Nicholas Prager Kevin Richard Quillinan Andrew Phillips Reed William Fields Reed Kevin Santacruz Charles Randolph Skelsey Townsend Cary Smith Robert Andrew Sorrel Bryan Andrew Tunney James Paynter Vallely Chasen Chi-Minh VanLang Alejandro Ventosa Peter Lanigan Weinberg * Christopher Russell Zimmerman † Denotes Classics diploma * Denotes student since Pre-K

“Getting here is never easy,” said Headmaster Philip.

“Graduation Day reflects hard work, support from the boys’ parents, and the dedication of their teachers. Graduation at Brunswick is truly a family event.”

Our usual tradition is for the Valedictorian to introduce the “Ivy” Speaker, a class member chosen by the Seniors to deliver the commencement speech. This year, there was a twist to the program as Jamie Biondi, the “Ivy” Speaker also turned out to be Class Valedictorian. With the highest cumulative grade point average over the past two years and with all of his successes, Jamie can be defined by his love of learning and humble nature. Named by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a 2008 Presidential Scholar, Jamie also won two of Brunswick’s highest awards of distinction: The Kulukundis Cup and the Robert L. Cosby Award.

Jamie, who has attended Brunswick since Pre-K, spoke of how much he hated change, invoking the memory of when his mother decided to change the drapes in their home.

“It unnerved me that my mom had the audacity to change the drapes,” he said as he compared that to the precipice of change he and his classmates now confront.

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COM M E NCE M E NT 2008 Times of BRUNSWICK

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“For 14 years I’ve been waking up and coming to Brunswick. We may not all be ‘Lifers,’ but we’ve all found an attachment here,” said Jamie. “And what makes Brunswick so special is that the teachers love their students and that we love everything about our School . . . And while we watch a political tough front as John McCain, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama duke it out for the presidential nomination of their parties, we’ve got a good thing going here . . . If the shoe fits, it’s worn and comfy; it’s hard to change. Our graduation today is a brief stopping point for work well done, but it’s a new starting point. We have a future rife with the unknown, but thanks to Brunswick, we are ready.”

The Senior class nominated Paul Withstandley, Grade 11 Class Dean and Upper School Spanish teacher, to be their Faculty Speaker. A distinctly popular teacher and coach, quite simply, he wowed the crowd.

“What if you knew that when you woke up tomorrow you would not remember one single thing about the time you spent in school? Would you miss the quadric equation, the time you memorized the 50 state capitals, or the magic of the subjunctive? I doubt it.

“Each of you has your own special memories from your earliest school days, and many of you have been together since those Pre-K or Kindergarten days. But whether you entered the class 14 years ago or in your junior year, you have become

part of the collective, and are now inextricably connected to each other. Your scrapbook might include Field Day, or Lower School wrestling tournaments, knee hockey, Colonial Day, trips to Greenkill or Mystic, or maybe a sweaty dance floor at the Brown and White.

“After being together, you’re preparing to go your own separate ways by leaving familiar places, faces, and the sure guidance of your parents and teachers as you head for uncharted waters.

Before any big trip, though, you need to pack. As you do, think of how to pack, and remember two things that might keep you on track: simplicity and balance.”

“We are reminded of the importance of simplicity during our highest highs and our lowest lows, and at those moments, we seem to have great clarity about what and who is most important.

“Your parents will back me up on this,” he continued. “The most important thing to them is your health and happiness.

It was the day they met you and it will always be that way.

Although time has passed and a world hell-bent on materialism has tried to have its way with us all, their first wishes for you were not to be an Olympic athlete—in their eyes, you were already a gold medalist. They were not for you to have perfect SATs—perfect SATS meant nothing compared to how perfect you were in their sight; and they were not necessarily for you to run a hedge-fund, but to have fun in the hedges. They knew it was simple.”

Other suggested items to pack for the journey ahead include: • Self-confidence – “Although some may confuse selfconfidence for arrogance, I assure you, they are fathoms apart.

Humility is the key when making this distinction, and make sure you keep it within arm’s reach.”

• Courage – “This is not some lofty ideal or filler for banners and patches: Courage is something real and, too often, in short supply in our world. In the future, you may be called upon to use your courage in unimaginable ways.”

• Honor – “Honor is one of the few things we can possess that takes a lifetime to maintain and only an instant to lose.

In your most trying hour, it may be one of the few comforts you have. Don’t trade it for anything.”

• Grit and determination – “Bring them for the long haul.

There is still no substitute for good, old-fashioned hard work.”

• Sense of humor – “For God’s sake, bring one. You will need it because if you can’t laugh, you miss out on one of life’s greatest gifts. Make sure you can laugh, and more importantly, make sure you can laugh at yourself.”

• Hope – “You are the living progression of an ancestral dream and potentially the voice for the world’s silent majority. On your journey, you might be carrying the hopes and dreams of millions.”

“Finally,” Mr. Withstandley continued, “don’t forget to bring along your memories. In fact bubble-wrap them, fellas.As you sit here for the last time as a Senior class, notice that the guy next to you, whether your best friend or not, shares connections, experiences, and memories that will become increasingly valuable over time. We share a certain bond with those who are with us in our formative years. Who else can understand the shorthand of our lives? Our memories are the fragments that make us whole. May the common bond be that you are all guided by the simple message of Courage, Honor, Truth.”

The Class of 2008 distinguished itself with nine “Lifers;” an identical set of twins (Andrew and Will Reed) and a fraternal set of twins (David and Michael Levy); Jamie Biondi, 2008 Presidential Scholar; and four second-generation Brunswick grads: John Curry (son of John T. Curry ’74); Garrett Long (son of Brett D. Long ’77); Nick Pinto (son of James J. Pinto ’69) and Bud Vallely (son of Mark J. Vallely ’75), as well as Drew Tunney, grandson of Walter F. Burke ’40. Headmaster Philip handed a diploma of graduation to his son Nick, and Bob Benjamin, Upper School English teacher, handed a diploma to this son, Bobby. It was also the first time in many years that we honored ten Seniors with Gold Three-Sport Varsity Athlete Awards.

To these facts and feats, our Brunswick School Headmaster Philip proudly proclaimed to the Class of 2008, “Thank you, gentlemen. Well done.”

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COM M E NCE M E NT 2008

Class of 2008 Commencement Award Recipients Valedictorian James A. Biondi The following graduates received Brunswick School’s highest Awards of Distinction at the commencement ceremony for the Class of 2008:

Times of BRUNSWICK

Robert L. Cosby Award to that Senior who has attended Brunswick since Lower School and who, through his good nature, optimism, thoughtfulness and character, has done the most to uplift the spirits of those around him and has, over the course of his extended tenure at the School, come closest to the embodiment of those unique characteristics which serve to define the namesake of this award.

Kulukundis Cup for highest academic standing for the year.

Faculty Citations given to those who have brought credit to the School or the community by their efforts: Zachary N. Prager, Jonathan A. Bubar, Terence J. Einhorn, Michael N. Allwin

Brunswick Community Service Award Christopher A. Johnson, Jr.

The Headmaster’s Trophy Christopher P. Ghaffari

The Kulukundis Cup James A. Biondi

Brunswick Community Service Award for the most outstanding record of community service.

Headmaster’s Trophy to the Senior who, because of his dependability, integrity and character, has made an outstanding contribution to his class and Brunswick School.

The BPA Prize John R. P. Howland

Class of 2008 Senior Awards

BPA Prize to a graduating Senior who has attended Brunswick for at least three years and whose improvement in scholarship and development of fine character make him worthy of citation.

Everett English Award Gregory E. Berger

The Jenkins Athletic Award Tomas J. Hoyos

R. Scott Tucker Senior Essay Prize Jonathan A. Bubar

The Jenkins Athletic Award to the Senior who, true to the ideals of the School, has been judged by the coaches to have made an outstanding contribution to the School in athletics because of his ability, enthusiasm, determination and leadership.

The Thomas A. Altman Prize Lee K. Jackson

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The Robert L. Cosby Award James A. Biondi

Thomas A. Altman Prize to the Senior who, in his years at Brunswick, has maintained positive personal relationships in school, in sports and in community service.

Acting/Theater James A. Biondi Christopher P. Ghaffari Simpson Music Award (Choral) Brian W. Platter Randolph Music Award (Band) Terence J. Einhorn

Awards & Recognition

Visual Arts Award Chasen C. VanLang Greenwich Arts Council Award Ghregory R. Louis Bouffier Foreign Language Prize Robert P. Benjamin Senior Classics Award Christopher P. Ghaffari History Prize James A. Biondi Shields Math Award (12th Grade) Christopher R. Bayliss AAPT Science Award Christopher R. Bayliss Cum Laude Certificates Robert P. Benjamin Peter L. Weinberg Alexander W. Hare

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COM M E NCE M E NT 2008 Times of BRUNSWICK

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Brunswick Middle and Upper School Awards “Our School is nothing without our students,” said Headmaster Philip at the all school Closing Exercises in the Dann Gymnasium on Edwards Campus last June. “When you are at your best, we are all we hope to be.”

Brunswick School is proud to announce the following award recipients: Middle School Awards

Eighth Grade Awards

Upper School Awards

Eleanor G. Lindberg Award: Keith Radler

Kulukundis Cup: Mac Singer

Awarded annually to a fifth grader of great promise, proven character, and good nature who has demonstrated courage when tested, who has brought honor to family and school, and who has always spoken and cherished the truth.

Awarded annually to the student who has achieved the highest academic standing in the eighth grade.

Cum Laude Recipients: Nishant Gurnani Sam Haig Turner Smith

Geis Cup: Cooper Briggs

Awarded annually to a sixth grader for outstanding scholarship, citizenship, and sportsmanship.

Awarded annually to that member of the eighth grade who is judged by his coaches and teammates to have made an outstanding contribution to the School in athletics because of his ability, enthusiasm, determination, and leadership.

The Seventh Grade Prize: Sean Forester

Williamson Trophy: Patrick Figgie

Awarded annually to a seventh grader for exemplifying the highest qualities of leadership, scholarship, and service to the community.

Awarded annually to that student who comes nearest in athletics, scholarship, and character to achieving the ideals express in the Brunswick motto, “Courage, Honor, Truth”.

Virginia I. Peterson Award: Spencer Simmons

Brunswick Alumni Award: David Jaramillo To the freshman who best represents, in sportsmanship and character, the Brunswick tradition.

Princeton Alumni Award: Gus Ruchman Awarded to the sophomore of recognized character who has combined outstanding academic ability with achievement in other fields during the past year.

Columbia Book Award: David Blumenthal Awarded to an outstanding member of the sophomore class who has demonstrated excellence in the humanities.

Awards & Recognition

Oaklawn Award: Will Reeve

French Foreign Language Award: Cole Stangler

Awarded to that sophomore who, in the opinion of his teachers and classmates, has contributed significantly to the life and spirit of the School through scholarship, athletics, and service to others.

Spanish Foreign Language Award: Cole Stangler

Yale Alumni Award: Jonathan Duennebier Awarded to that junior who, in the opinion of his School, has been most aware of the rights and feelings of others, and has demonstrated his concern for those around him.

Williams Book Award: Timothy O’Leary Awarded to a junior in the top-five percent of his class who has demonstrated intellectual leadership and has made a significant contribution to the extracurricular life of the School.

Harvard Book Prize: Sam Haig Awarded to that boy in the junior class who combines excellence in scholarship with achievement in other fields.

Brown Book Award: Sam Haig Awarded to that junior who has demonstrated excellence in the study of literature and composition.

Faculty Award

Chinese Foreign Language Award: Preston Han William B. Dick Latin Prize: Preston Han Kenneth Merritt Mathematics Award (9th Grade): Andrew Grasso Rensselaer Award (11th Grade): Preston Han Fairfield County Biology Prize (11th Grade): Øivind Lorentzen

Cal Tech Science Award (11th Grade): Sam Haig

Service Awards 9th Grade: Alejandro Ceballos 10th Grade: Robin Malloch 11th Grade: Christopher Kono

John F. Otto Faculty Award:

Andrew Hall, Chairman of Brunswick Arts Department and Upper School Art Teacher Dedicated to those faculty members with the courage to pursue their individual vision with honesty and integrity so as to earn the appreciation of their critics and the loyalty of their peers.

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Story by Bonni Brodnick

Photography by Taryn Angelos

Singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett’s Caribbeansong, “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes” was the inspiration for this years spring benefit at “King Street Station.” In a transformed Sampson Field House, more than 500 parents, friends, and faculty celebrated the exploration of

Times of BRUNSWICK

different cultures by learning foreign languages.

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Stepping inside the “Ticket Depot” (the Field House lobby), guests felt like they were about to take a round-theworld trip. Still-life niches of well-worn travel trunks boasted miles logged with decals from “Bristol Hotel/Cairo, Egypt,” “Deauville—Normandy,” “Continental Palace—Saigon Cochinchine” and “Hotel Victoria—Cannes / ouverte toute l’année” (good to know!). Need a shine before traveling the world? Take a seat at the shoe shine stand in the “waiting room,” (a.k.a. the field house lobby) relax, and catch up on the latest dish from The Irish Echo, Quotidiano Italiano, Paris Match, and nowy dziennik Polish Daily News. The Benefit

Committee did an admirable job, down to the smallest details, to make guests feel like they were about to depart to foreign lands (without even experiencing jetlag or worries about the Euro.)

In the middle of Dann Gymnasium was a bar the size China. Multitudes of people milled about and the buzz of conversations felt like we were in the main room at Gare du Nord. A combination of Brunswick musicians from the Blue Notes, Improv II and Advanced Jazz—including James Baker ’09, Terence Einhorn ’08, Pat Grissler ’09, Joe Hull ’10, Peter Kyriakos ’09, Ghreg Louis ’08, Scott Matthews ’09, Nikhil Mehra ’10, Colin O’Connell ’09, Gus Ruchman ’10, and Brent

Yarnell ’09—provided syncopated tunes as guests went from booth to booth bidding on silent auction items that ranged from a safari in Africa to a night at the ballpark.

“For all of us in the Brunswick community, the theme of this year’s benefit couldn’t be more timely,” said Headmaster Thomas W. Philip. “With the proceeds of this evening targeted for our Foreign Language Endowment Fund, we are reminded that in this everchanging and diversifying world, few things are more important than the ability to reach out and understand cultures other than our own. Monies raised from ’Changes in Latitudes’ will further strengthen Brunswick’s renowned language program which includes

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Times of BRUNSWICK

Arabic, Chinese, French, Greek, Italian, Latin, and Spanish.”

“We are deeply appreciative of the parents’ efforts to support what we do,” said Fanning Hearon, Chair of Brunswick Modern Language Department, Upper School Spanish teacher, and Senior class dean. “Proceeds from this evening’s benefit will help expand our Foreign Studies Program, specifically in establishing abroad programs for each of the five languages we teach, and making improvements and renovations to our language lab.”

“Changes in Latitudes” would not have been possible without the leadership and creativity of Benefit Co-Chairs Anne Marie Reilly and Deb Rogan, and Head of the Brunswick Parents’

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Association, Terri DeSalvo, for overseeing the project. In concert with more than 100 other parents on their committee, they created the theme of world travel and the importance to connect and communicate by speaking other languages. On behalf of our boys, this talented and tireless group of volunteers tapped into the goodness of spirit that makes Brunswick School so special.

A world of thanks also goes to Neil Minsky, Middle School Academic Dean and Middle School English teacher, for another masterful movie by Minsky, “Changes in Latitudes”. The film includes language students from Pre-K to Upper School as they study a foreign language and prepare to be part of the global community.

With class trips to France, Spain, Greece, Italy, South Africa, and China, Brunswick students learn first-hand the importance of how speaking a country’s native language is a key to their culture.

“Studying a foreign language helps us to see things in a different light,” said one Middle School student. “It helps our ability to connect and to communicate with the world.”

“Whoever encourages the study of world languages encourages world peace,” said Mikel Berrier, Upper School French teacher. “That’s what inspires me as a teacher.” As Buffett wrote, “…it’s those changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes, nothing remains the same.”

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Times of BRUNSWICK

To benefit our Brunswick Parents’ Association Foreign Language Endowment Fund, two generous Brunswick families opened their homes to view their exceptional private art collections. Brunswick Art Department faculty docents shared their knowledge as they guided guests through notable works by Renaissance, Dutch Baroque,

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Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masters, along with 20th century sculpture, paintings, photography and furniture by world-renowned contemporary artists. The wonderful spring evening was a harbinger to Brunswick’s own upcoming artistic renaissance.

Eleanor Lindberg, Lower School Legacy Retires Compiled by Gina Hurd, Assistant Head of PreSchool, Lower School Admissions

Summer 2008

“Twenty-eight years ago, Eleanor Lindberg and I entered a Brunswick School that was, by sight and practice, very different from the institution that stands prominently in Greenwich today,” said Gina Hurd.

“With one campus, fewer sections per grade, and even family-style meals in the dining hall on North Maple Avenue, we have watched our School adopt to change as a function of its growth.

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“It was as an engaged observer that Eleanor saw this progress take place. She has been an integral part of this change, and a catalyst for positive movement. Beginning my career with Eleanor, I have subconsciously made a mental note of all that she has done. The many things that I have seen her accomplish on our behalf are now finally processing, and I stand in admiration. I saw her develop into the leader of the Lower School, I felt her support as my mentor, and within the past several years, I am led by her guidance as I serve as her assistant in the PreSchool.

“Eleanor represents an era of Brunswick,” continued Mrs. Hurd. “There are boys who enter our building today who are the sons of her first graders so long ago. As new construction efforts afford us a physical and symbolic marker of growth, Eleanor has seen where Brunswick has been, and has created a firm foundation for the high goals it strives for in the future. Scenery changes, positions change, and yet there is an essence of Eleanor Lindberg that is so tightly interwoven with Brunswick Lower School that it will always remain. I have been honored, as a colleague and a friend, to experience it all with her,” said Mrs. Hurd.

“In Brunswick history, Eleanor Lindberg is the sixth Lower School Head and second woman to hold this prestigious position,” said Pat Meloni, second grade teacher, “who worked with Eleanor for 28 of her 32 years at Brunswick.”

“When Eleanor came here, she inherited a faculty that was in need of direction and enthusiasm. She was able to redirect our group and form us into a dedicated coherent faculty. A strong functioning entity that remains, to this day, her legacy.”

Eleanor achieved this at a time of unprecedented growth at Brunswick that eventually mandated the move to the King Street campus. Calming the many concerns of our parents over our new and untested campus was primary on her agenda. When a challenge arose, Eleanor was there to meet it. When a child needed comforting, Eleanor was there to comfort him. When a faculty member needed help, Eleanor was there to be helpful.

“Our Brunswick community is indebted to her in so many ways,” Mrs. Meloni continued. “The Brunswick promise of excellence in education, which Eleanor held dear to her heart, remains unparalleled as the torch is passed on to Katie Signer.”

“I began at Brunswick as a second grade teacher,” said Jean Dobbs, Lower School reading and math teacher. “As I moved towards working in special needs, Eleanor encouraged me to think about math. While I am a lover of reading, she believed I had an affinity for teaching math—particularly to boys who had difficulty understanding the concepts. She has always encouraged her colleagues to challenge themselves, and has been a generous and supportive professional.”

“It has been my great pleasure to work with Eleanor for the past 18 years,” said Kindergarten teacher, Mary Alice Ackley.

She has always believed in her faculty 100% and has given us and he youngest Brunswick boys unconditional support. She will be missed by everyone.

“I feel so blessed to have learned under Eleanor’s charge, to have been part of her 28-year legacy, and to have devel-

oped not only a wonderful working relationship, but also a long lasting friendship,” said Katie Signer, who will be taking Eleanor’s place as Head of Lower School. “When it comes to leadership, I have learned from Eleanor a simple formula: if we love our boys and keep them at the center of all of our decision-making, the rest will follow.

“One of my favorite quotations is by Henry Adams,” added Leslie Andersen of Brunswick Parent and Student Services.

“He said. ‘A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.’ Even after leaving the classroom to become an administrator, Eleanor has never stopped teaching. She does it by setting an example for others by modeling the behaviors we all aspire to. Eleanor is an educator who has truly ‘affected eternity.’”

As Eleanor embarks on her retirement—an exciting and welldeserved new chapter of her life—we encourage her to come back to visit and to sit on the new bench under The Giving Tree, a tall oak tree planted in her honor at the corner of the Lower School playground. The plaque, an excerpt from Shel Silverstein’s classic, at the base of the tree reads: “Once there was a tree… and she loved a little boy.”

[On the neighboring bench, the author’s words are continued:] “ ‘Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest.’

And the boy did.

And the tree was happy.”

Eleanor Lindberg’s “Giving Tree” will grow and offer new generations of Brunswick Lower School students both, shade and a place to reflect. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to work closely with Eleanor will be reminded of her years of giving to each of us individually and to her unfailing love for our boys.

Mrs. Lindberg and “The Giving Tree” Ceremony

Summer 2008

On behalf of the Brunswick School Parents’ Association, President Terri DeSalvo dedicated a young oak tree to celebrate the retirement of Eleanor Lindberg, Head of Pre and Lower School. “The Giving Tree,” inspired by her favorite book by Shel Silverstein, stands as a reminder of Mrs. Lindberg’s 28 years of “giving” to Brunswick boys.

“Like the hundreds of young boys you have nourished and watched grow, we planted an oak tree as a symbol of your strength,” said Mrs. DeSalvo, standing before the newly planted tree in the northwest corner of the Lower School playground.

“Mrs. Lindberg is the foundation of Brunswick School,” said Thomas W. Philip before a gathering of hundreds of Lower and Middle School students and faculty. “Every part of our boys is from what she has taught them in Lower School.”

The tree, which will provide shelter from showers and shade from sunshine, was festooned with garlands of red painted apples and hearts artistically created by Pre-K and Lower School boys. Kindergarteners through 4th graders wrote adjectives on the hearts that they believed bestdescribed Mrs. Lindberg. Some of the compliments include “Happy,” “Responsible,” “Cool,” “Caring,” “Honorable,” “Jovial,” “Super Smart,” “Extraordinary,” “Faithful,” “Majestic,” “Vivacious,” and “Snazzy.”

“Thank you for all of your wonderful good wishes,” said a tearful and appreciative Mrs. Lindberg. “I have so many memories and I leave Brunswick with the joy that you’ve given me each and every day.”

“The Giving Tree” reminds us of the importance of playtime, and symbolizes growth and giving. Thank you so much, Mrs. Lindberg. You will forever be a part of Brunswick School.

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LET’S GO

!

A CHAT WITH

Times of BRUNSWICK

Matt

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Silverman is living the dream by making his passion for baseball a cottage industry.

He came to Brunswick when he was in 9th grade and headed right for the diamond. He played baseball for all four years and was on varsity the last three. Matt, a former White Plains resident, lived only 20 minutes from Shea. By the time he received his driver’s license, he had tickets to the Mets on a regular basis.

“Alec Dawson ’83 and I had an arrangement for seats,” Matt said. “In the early 1980s, it was really uncomplicated to go to a ballgame. I have a ticket stub for $5 from 1983, which included parking and entrance to the Diamond Club. A hot

dog costs almost that much now!

Alec and I sat in the mezzanine, right above the booth.”

And speaking of “booth”. . . on balmy summer nights, you can often catch Matt and John Booth, Chair of the History Department and Upper School history teacher, watching a game at the ballpark.

Other Brunswick alums from Class of 1983—including John Salerno, Brad Smith, John Goeller, and Al duPont—occasionally join them. In past years, Matt has gone to Shea with other ’Wick alums—including Parrish Arturi, Bill Baxter, Mike Bidwell, Bob Mendenhall, Stu Russell, Desmond Vickers, and Linc Wonham—all of whom saluted the home team with a mighty “huzzah!”

By Bonni B B Brodnick B d k

Matt (who can be reached through metsilverman.com) is recognized for writing books from a fan’s perspective, which is a lot different than writing them from the press box. Last year’s book Mets Essential is, well, essential. Last year he published three books; 100 Things Mets Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die, Mets by the Numbers (with Jon Springer), and Meet the Mets (with Greg Spira).

In addition, he has edited more than 40 books on sports, and contributed to such major collaborations as Total Baseball; Baseball: The Biographical Encyclopedia; Armchair Reader: Grand Slam Baseball; and the ESPN baseball and pro football encyclopedias. Matt is also collaborating on a book forthcoming next year with SNY-TV play-by-play Mets announcer Keith Hernandez.

Without grandstanding any further…. here’s Matt.

Summer 2008

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BWK: Why the Mets, and not (can I say the word?) the Yankees?

MATT: When I was playing baseball at Iona Grammar School in New Rochelle, I was asked to break a tie so our fourth-grade class could watch the 1975 Mets or Yankees season opener with the last hour of the day. I’d never paid a bit of attention to sports up until that moment and really could have gone either way. Most of my friends back then were Mets fans, while several kids I didn’t like were Yankees fans.

Anyway, I broke the tie and we watched Tom Seaver. The Mets set a record by winning every opener from that year through my Senior year at Brunswick, though they didn’t win much else.

Times of BRUNSWICK

BWK: I understand former Met George Foster coached the Brunswick baseball team when his playing days ended. Were you the beneficiary of his baseball knowledge when you were on the old school team?

MATT: George Foster was traded to the Mets and then given a big contract in 1982. He was a great player. Like a lot of hitters past and present, he came to the Mets and his career sort of took a downturn. Shea is a really hard park to hit in. He was still playing when I was in high school, so I missed the Foster coaching era at Brunswick. I did get to interview him years later and talked to him a little about Brunswick. Nice man. He built a house next to John Goeller’s back then.

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BWK: Any moon shots or tape-measure blasts when you played Bruins baseball?

MATT: I witnessed a couple hit by teammates and opponents, but my modest skill-set didn’t include power. I did learn about the power of the uniform numbers, though. That probably plays into why I was so hell-bent on collaborating with Jon Springer on a book on the subject. I wore number 2 at Brunswick for three years, even though the jersey was too small.

BWK: Were there any life lessons you learned at ’Wick that come into play now?

MATT: I was there for Joe Koszalka’s last couple of years as coach and he taught me, and a few other people, about patience. He picked his spots to play me and I did well. I played infield and outfield, pitched batting practice, and cracked jokes. My senior year, Power Frasier, Assistant Director of Athlectics, took over after Mr. Koszalka’s retirement from coaching. He knew the game and he knew what it was like to be 18 and ready to go off to college. Every time I see Power I have to stop myself from profusely thanking him for making me his second baseman.

Whenever I get too flip in a player evaluation in one of the books, I try to think about how hard it is to play baseball at an even competent level.

BWK: What was the best radio call of all time?

MATT: I used to have a record—I suppose I have to specify that it was an LP album—made after the 1969 season that included some old-time calls of great New York moments. They had Red Barber in the 1947 World Series: ‘Swing--and belted to deep leftcenter. Back goes Gionfriddo. Back, back, back, back, back, back.

He makes a one-handed catch against the bullpen. Oh, doctor.’

I still love hearing any long ago call with Lindsey Nelson’s distinctive voice. I’m really pleased that announcers I admire— Ralph Kiner and Howie Rose—wrote forewords for two of my books. My favorite call, though, is by Bob Murphy. ‘The dream has come true! The Mets have won the World Series, coming from behind to win the seventh ballgame!’

BWK: That was the 1986 World Series. Where were you?

MATT: I was in New York for the three playoff games against Houston and I came back up from Roanoke College for Games 1 and 2 of the World Series. My dad, who had secured the tickets, said I could pick one weekend to come up for the Series. As a brash college student, I figured the Mets had it all the way, so I chose the first two games. They lost both to the Red Sox and I was in a friend’s dorm room in Salem, Virginia, for the last two games. It was spectacular just to watch it on TV. I wasn’t the greatest student to begin with, so I always appreciated my dad getting tickets even though he knew I would have to miss classes to go to the game. He wasn’t a big fan, but he’d taken me when I was young and the team was just terrible, unwatchable to most sane people. Still, those are the only two post-season games at Shea I’ve missed in person in the 33 years I’ve followed the team.

BWK: What players are the most respected both on and off the field? Does Brunswick’s motto “Courage, Honor, Truth” play into it in any way?

MATT: That’s a tough one. Many players do a lot for charity.

The motto, though, feels more like something that speaks to players who really sacrificed: Christy Mathewson (a Giants great gassed in World War I); Cecil Travis (one of dozens of players who came back from World War II unable to play, but happy to return at all); Ted Williams (served in World War II and Korea); and many others who have done more than just play ball. I’ve always admired Cal Ripken and I’d like to think David Wright is cut from that cloth. Jackie Robinson probably came as close to living “Courage, Honor, Truth” as anybody I can think of.

BWK: This is the last year of Shea Stadium as we know it. Even though the place is falling down by the rafters, are you feeling sort of sentimental?

MATT: Much of my attachment to sports is probably based upon sentimentality. Shea isn’t better structurally than any building standing from the last 45 years, and it pales in comparison to many new ballparks. I’m judging the experience by what happened there, not just to the team, but also to me.

The house I grew up in is gone, as are a few people who’ve taken me to Shea. That stadium is a surviving link to those times. I’ve seen 300 or so games there and I still missed ‘Ya Gotta Believe’ in ’73, the shoe polish incident in ’69; or seeing Gil Hodges stride out to left field in the middle of the game to remove his best player because he dogged it after a ball in the heat of the race.

These last games are a little more special because they build on my memories of the team, the park, and my life. Dave Kingman launching a ball onto the parking lot concrete; missing school to see Tom Seaver’s return with some of the guys I mentioned before; seeing Mookie Wilson score the winning run from second on a groundout; watching Keith Hernandez charge a bunt or come through at the plate at a crucial moment; Lenny Dykstra’s home run in the ninth to win the first playoff game I’d ever seen at Shea; Mike Piazza’s first game as a Met being the day my daughter first went to Shea; Bobby Valentine’s club coming back from the brink on the last day of 1999; the way Shea literally rocks when there’s a great October moment… I can go on and on. That’s why I wrote the books.

The new Shea will have a nice new field, better food, sightlines, and maybe even a better team. That’ll be my kids’ park.

This one’s mine. It’s like New Year’s Eve and I’m hanging onto last year, but the new year’s coming anyway. I plan to be there when it arrives.

Take me out to the ball game!

At this year’s spring benefit, Changes in Latitudes, 6th and 7th grade syndicates bid against one another in the silent auction to win a day at the ball park—and a day off from school!

And the winner was…both grades! The bidding was intense (all to benefit the Brunswick Foreign Language program). After the 7th grade placed the winning bid, the Mets very generously offered the trip to the 6th grade boys if they could match the bid.

On a warm school day last May, Neil Minsky, Chris Forester, and a few other lucky members of the Middle School faculty accompanied the boys on buses to Shea Stadium. After an all-you-caneat buffet, a visit from the renowned Mr. Met, and complimentary Mets caps, the boys were seated in prime home-run territory behind third base. With baseball gloves in hand and hoping for a long ball, the boys cheered on the home team, who faced the Washington Senators. It was a game for the ages, and a day to remember forever!

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In the green room in Lincoln Center with Wynton Marsalis

S , o The B m o h n c y t a & Jazz S lue Notes,

By Bonni Brodnick “In my long Brunswick career, I have been on dozens of field trips,” wrote Jonny Duennebier ’09 for a music

Times of BRUNSWICK

class writing assignment. “I’ve been to the Bronx Zoo half a dozen times, and have climbed rock walls and done trust falls for years. But our Blue Notes trip was, hands down, the best field trip I have ever been on.”

He was talking about Upper School jazz ensemble Blue Notes trip to the Big Apple led by Paul Raaen, Upper School music director; Shane Kirsch, Upper School music teacher; with chaperones Laurissa Kirsch; Michael and Anne Allwood, Upper School math teachers; and Joey Bracchitta, Middle School music teacher. The troupe went from Queens to Manhattan to pay tribute to jazz legend Louis Armstrong, get insight into the music business at Sony, and listen to some cool jazz at Lincoln Center.

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First stop was the Louis Armstrong House Museum, an unassuming, bi-level house in the working-class neighborhood of Corona, Queens where “Satchmo” lived from 1943 until his death in 1971. What made the visit so interesting? Hearing clips of the jazz great’s own voice as he talked into a reel-toreel tape player and recorded many aspects of his life— from a simple family meal to a practice session.

“Visiting Louis Armstrong’s house spoke volumes about him,” wrote Bill Hoch ’09. “He had so much money, yet chose to live modestly, offering himself few extravagant luxuries, but very happy with the life that he lived.”

Next stop on the tour was Columbia Records for a welcome

by Brunswick parent and Chairman of Columbia Records, Steve Barnett. The boys dug that this powerful and influential music company had such prestigious names on its roster of artists—ACDC, Gene Autry, Aerosmith, Tony Bennett, Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Earth Wind and Fire, Duke Ellington, Beyoncé, John Mayer, Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd, Prince, Bruce Springsteen, and James

Taylor—but had a new revelation when they heard about the impact of iTunes on the music industry.

“I had always thought that iTunes represented a major source of revenue for recording companies,” wrote Scott Matthews ’09. “While this is partially true, I was amazed to see that along with creating revenue, it slashes profits from actual albums sold at stores. Suddenly this put a new perspective on the difficulty of the music industry. Although I listen to music all the time, I had never thought about the business side of it.”

One of the boys remarked that for him, one of the most enjoyable parts of the trip on the town was dinner at Havana Central.

“Rarely would I recognize a simple dinner with classmates as significant, but on this particular evening my eyes opened a little wider than usual and I was able to better glimpse the immense gifts I take for granted—one of them being my friends at Brunswick. I am lucky to have a close-knit group that plays its own integral role in my life.”

After dinner, the Blue Notes headed to the House of Swing at Lincoln Center to hear internationally acclaimed trumpet

virtuoso Wynton Marsalis and his jazz orchestra play well known jazz tunes, including “String of Pearls,” “Satin Doll,” “Harlem Congo,” and “Early Autumn.” “Awesome” might be the correct adjective for this part of the trip.

Marsalis and his band gave the boys a real sense for what it’s like to be master professionals of music. He explained how tough it is to be as good as he is, and how hard he has worked, even though it looks so easy during his performances, how much they practice, and how wonderful it is to play with band members that are like brothers. (That last part definitely hit a note with the Brunswick boys.)

“Wynton Marsalis is a trumpet player, just like I am, and is a huge inspirational figure. It was amazing to see such a master of the instrument I play,” wrote Øivind Lorentzen ’09.

“Their performance was unlike anything I have ever heard in terms of dynamic contrast and syncopation,” wrote Tom Cassidy ’09. “As if their concert wasn’t enough, meeting the musicians backstage after the show was an outstanding experience.”

“The most memorable part of talking with these incredible jazz musicians was hearing about their dedication to music, and the strong brotherly ties that had been formed and strengthened through their musical experiences and time spent together,” wrote Turner Smith ’09. “The sense of family that had developed between them proved to me how music is a force within itself. Transcending its harmonic basics, music has the ability to create strong bonds between human beings. Hearing the band talk about their extreme practice schedules and their concrete and unfaltering vision towards becoming professional musicians as adolescents was both inspiring and daunting, instilling in many of us a sense of motivation.”

“This class trip, is right up there with our Scandinavia trip,” wrote Michael Byrnes ’09. (see Times of Brunswick winter 2008 issue, “Brunswick Blue Notes Serve a Smörgåsbord of Swing” by Scott Matthews ’09). The Blue Notes’ upcoming road tour will include Florida in January in 2008 and Europe in June 2009.

“From a music education point of view, the New York trip contained not only the historical perspective of jazz, but a look into the music industry, and a spectacular concert by one of the best jazz performers alive today,” said Mr. Raaen. “It all came together to be almost three music field trips in one.”

“Louis Armstong was arguably one of the world’s finest instrumentalists and artists, whose craft not only revolutionalized music, but also provided an impetus for social change in Civil Rights-era America,” wrote Preston Han ’09, in an essay about the class trip.

In Steve Barnett’s Office at Sony

Summer 2008

25

Brunswick Unveils

By Bonni Brodnick (excerpted from Squash Magazine—February 2008)

The invitation read, “Shhhh . . . Mum’s the word” for a surprise dedication of the Brunswick Squash Center in honor of legendary squash coach Jim Stephens. The Development Office at Brunswick knew all was clear on the surprise front when Jim himself called to RSVP: “I’d love to attend the dedication on Saturday night; thanks for the invite.” He thought the purpose of the event was to recognize Peer and Mary Pedersen for their enormous generosity towards the construction of Brunswick’s state-of-the-art squash facility. In all of the Pedersens’ humility, it took nearly 10 years to convince them to allow Brunswick to publicly recognize their gift. Jim Stephens was on board for that! squash player at Dartmouth, and “In testament to Peer winner of countless club champiand Mary’s modesty and onships (more than 30 between generosity—although they Apawamis, NYAC, and the reluctantly allowed us to Racquet Club in NYC). It should recognize their support—they also be noted that in 2002, Peer only did so if we promised won the U.S. National Doubles to name the squash facility in the 45+, and in 2004 won the in honor of their special World Squash Doubles Open in friend,” said Headmaster the 45+ (both with friend Peter Thomas W. Philip to more Briggs as his partner). “Jim is than 130 current and past the best of the best in regard to players, parents, coaches, and leadership, and long after the friends of squash (both at boys can’t even play squash, Brunswick and elsewhere) at they’ll remember their coach, the reception.

Jim Stephens, Peer Pedersen and Tom Philip Jim Stephens.”

“To get right to the punch Another of Jim’s closest friends, Peter Briggs, Director of line: It is my greatest pleasure to dedicate this amazing facility in Racquets at Apawamis, Brunswick School parent, and another honor of Mr. James Stephens.” remarkable competitor and teacher in the game of squash, offered The crowd cheered and clapped. Jim blushed.

Monikers bestowed upon Jim include genuine, humble, a heartfelt tribute that we wanted to share in its entirety: beautiful, kind-hearted, patient, encouraging. As a mathematics teacher, advisor and coach at Brunswick since 1985, he models the virtues that define Brunswick School. And it’s no exaggeraBy Peter Briggs tion to say that Jim is at the helm of one of the strongest athletic programs in the School, and one of the strongest high school “It was a brisk fall day when my dad dropped me off before my squash programs in the entire country. Because of Jim’s effort, fi rst day of college in 1969 as an 18-year-old freshman.

Brunswick School is synonymous with the highest level of prep My father was a stoic British Naval Officer and certainly my best school squash, and at Brunswick School, squash is synonymous friend.

He lectured me sparingly and, when he did, I paid attention. with Jim Stephens.

To this day, I remember distinctly the words he parted with: Brunswick squash players have what it takes, here and You are going to meet a great many people in the next four years thereafter, thanks to Jim’s talented coaching. His players who talk constantly about themselves and their exploits—don’t pay don’t just play at Brunswick and quit. Almost every Ivy much attention to them.

Conversely, you are going to meet some League squash team in the country has a star Brunswick people who don’t talk much at all and I want you to pay very close player on the roster. In fact, 14 Brunswick grads are currently attention to them. playing Division I squash.

So it was with Jim Stephens when we first met over 40 “Jim represents what I love about Brunswick, which is the years ago. He is a man of great accomplishment and little selfpeople,” said Peer Pedersen, a Brunswick Trustee, former Varsity produced personal fanfare and politicking. The only thing he

Times of BRUNSWICK

Tribute to Jim Stephens

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Brunswick sqaush coaches Michael Burke ’96, David Bruce, Jim Stephens, Steve Polikoff, and George Boynton

Brunswick past squash stars, William Broadbent ’02, Michael Burke ’96, Winston Bragg ’92

really features himself to be is a self-taught magician and the Dali Lama of the ping-pong table. Those talents aside, I want to tell you a little about Jim, as he is one of the finest athletes I have ever known.

• A scratch golfer • Captain of the University of Virginia Soccer & Tennis teams • Voted Best Athlete at University of Virginia • ACC Tennis Champion • Voted starting center midfield All-American Soccer player • Varsity tennis, soccer, cross-country and basketball at Trinity-Pawling High School These are just a few accolades, and although he appears to have the physical fragility of Mahatma Gandhi, don’t let it fool you: he still has the competitive heart of a lion that always was his hallmark.

This resumé would be enough for most men, but Jim’s real gift is his ability to build self-esteem as a mentor and teacher. He is a purist—he has the same relish, innocence, and joy of camaraderie for sport as those that he coaches. He is a man who does what he does in life with no hidden agenda or ulterior motive—it is essentially the art for art’s sake philosophy.

To borrow part of my friend Sam Sammis’ New Year’s Eve toast when we were at his home recently, he recalled the late Charles Schultz’s (of Peanuts comic strip fame) query to one of his audiences when he asked: ‘How many of the last 10 Heisman Trophy winners can you name, or Nobel Peace Prize winners or Pulitzer Prize writers?

Who won last year’s U. S. Golf Open, or the Stanley Cup, or name any of the last 10 Secretaries of State or Defense?’

Hard to do, right? Now let me ask you another question: Can you name three teachers who have had a lasting effect on your life?

Can you remember three people who have been loyal and there for you through thick and thin—whose friendship was unconditional? Who are the mentors in your life? These are the important questions. These have the most meaning. These are the people we gravitate to and want in our children’s lives. Who here today feels their life has been impacted by Jim Stephens?

Who counts Jim Stephens as their friend? Raise your hand.

(Reporter’s note: A lot of hands flew into the air.)

Jim coached me when I was growing up and we have been playing sports together for four decades. He personifies and exemplifies the six rules of squash and tennis that my coach in college taught me is the standard we are all measured by. They transcend and are applicable to all sports and every facet of our lives:

1. Give your opponent the respect they deserve by trying as hard as you can every point.

2. Carry yourself like a champion. Have good body language. Don’t be afraid to fail. Be motivated by the thrill of winning, not the fear of losing.

3. Never take a point that your opponent doesn’t think you deserve.

4. Make believe you are having a job interview with your opponent after the match.

5. Long after the trophy tarnishes—your reputation is all that you have.

6. Play for your school, your teammates, your coach, and lastly, for yourself.

These are the credos that all great teachers and coaches, like Jim, are inspired by and want their charges to aspire to. One of the necessary traditions that make good schools great is the concept that the current class of students’ duty is to protect the legacy of the past classes of students, thereby ensuring the credibility of those classes that will follow. This succession is testament and must be defended and preserved. I can think of no better teacher, no better mentor, no better man than Jim Stephens; and no better family’s generosity than the Pedersen family who enabled and requested to have Jim’s name on these archways. In this age of runaway egos, entitlement, and exclusion, Jim strives for the opposite. He is a man of modesty, hard work, and inclusion, and I join with you in saluting him on this, his very special day.”

The Stephens Family

Summer 2008

Back at the unveiling, Jim Stephens reiterated exactly those aspects of his personality and style which endear him to so many.

“I am humbled—embarrassed actually—but so grateful, honored and proud of the students who have played here, and for those who play here every afternoon,” Jim Stevens said.

After the warm glow of everyone’s comments, the formal dedication was over, and the evening had highlighted one of Brunswick’s best. Congratulations to Jim and thanks to the Pedersen family for their generosity to Brunswick in establishing The Stephens Squash Center.

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Names Can Really Hurt Us Last

November, students from Brunswick School and

By Gus Ruchman ’10

Greenwich Academy, along with their respective faculties, gathered in the Greenwich Academy gymnasium to participate in the Anti-Defamation League’s program, “Names Can Really Hurt Us.” It had been four years since the two schools presented the program at Brunswick in 2003, and with a fresh set of students,

Times of BRUNSWICK

it was time to start the process again.

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According to a New York Times article (January 28, 2007) titled “Pushing Back at Bullying,” 65,600 Connecticut high-school students have participated in the “Names” program over the last 11 years. “Names” provides an open forum in which students can be honest with their peers about matters that concern them most. One of the critical concepts of the “Names” program is that race is not the only form of diversity in our community. Students address subjects ranging from religion, sexual orientation, and cultural heritage, to financial status, athletic ability, physical and mental handicaps, eating disorders, and more.

“The overall goals for the program are to bring about meaningful discussion among students where they can create, participate in, facilitate, and lead the activities, as well as bring light to issues that they feel are most pertinent for the communities,” said Marianne Ho Barnum, Brunswick School diversity coordinator.

The “Names” program commenced with a few short presentations and a film, and several students introduced the main ideas and guidelines for the occasion. Dena Wallerson, a representative of the Anti-Defamation League spoke about her own encounter with bigotry. As she began telling her story about the night she was shot at by the Ku Klux Klan, the day assumed a more serious tone.

Next on the agenda were speeches by student panelists. Six students— Louisa Holten, Justin Nowell ’08, Kevin Quillinan ’08 (Brunswick president of “Diversity in Action”), Monica Rodriguez (Greenwich Academy president of “Diversity Task Force”), Alexa Salamé, and myself—recounted our confrontations with various forms of intolerance, ignorance, or uncomfortable situations. The panelists had been coached for their presentations by teachers Dr. Brian Freeman, Brunswick Upper School English and Greek teacher, and Kristin McIlhenney, Greenwich Academy history teacher.

The most important part of the “Names” program followed as microphones were opened to all students who shared their experiences and

One of the critical concepts of the “Names” program is that race is not the only form of diversity in our community.

Summer 2008

personal anecdotes. At first, the teens (being teens), were shy.

Within a few minutes, the lines at the mics grew, and when time ran out, there were still long queues. Students spoke of wanting to “try to stop something before it goes too far” or “create an environment where individuality is encouraged.”

They made powerful statements on many types of diversity that were not soon forgotten.

Students later split into smaller groups guided by student and faculty facilitators where they discussed among other topics, being an ally vs. a perpetrator (or bystander). The afternoon gatherings allowed students to talk more intimately about transformations they would like to see in their school setting. Meanwhile, the panelists and a few alumni spoke with some of the faculty who were not facilitating. In this attempt to bridge the student-teacher gap, both teens and adults were able to explore issues of diversity candidly and ponder what role teachers may play in making students feel more comfortable.

As the day drew to a close, all the participants reconvened in the gym for a final meeting. Each small group sent one representative to the microphone to summarize their discussion and offer one idea for positive change. “’Names’ was a great success,” said Ms. Edwards, the Greenwich Academy director of student diversity. “I expected respectful dialogue, safe sharing from everyone, and an opportunity for the ’Wick and GA communities to authentically learn more about the multiplicity of personal stories that make up the diversity of both schools. My expectations were met!”

While the “Names” day itself had ended, the work of enhancing awareness of diversity never does.

Brunswick and Greenwich Academy plan to host the event every four years. In the meantime, Ms. Barnum is coordinating a Middle School program, “A Passion for Justice: The Prudence Crandall Story,” with the Connecticut Young Audiences and the Anti-Defamation League using “Names” volunteers. At Brunswick Upper School, students presented an assembly for the Lower and Middle Schools as a follow-up to show what they had learned.

“Names is not just a one day event,” said Ms. Edwards. “It is a goal for all of us at GA and ’Wick to build upon as we work towards being respectful of each other and more inclusive of differences among us. Our goal is not to have everyone agree, but to foster honest and respectful dialogue where we really listen to the voices in the discussion. This open-mindedness will help us not to be bystanders, and empower us to speak up and take action for justice for all.”

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Environmental Science Story and Photography by Guy Cameron Pratt, Upper School Science Teacher

Oil. Food. Water. Only a few of the things we build our lives around without really thinking. The days of living without consequences are coming to an end, as recent events involving world food shortages and ever-increasing oil prices can attest. Although our climate is changing and the news seems always dire in regards to our environment and our way of life, we are not without hope. Environmental Science, as a semester elective, allows Brunswick boys to delve into the issues facing us, but also to learn about the solutions. Most of these solutions come not from the federal government, but from groups and individuals who decide to make a change and, more importantly, to make a difference. Some solutions

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are small and go unnoticed, others reach for the sky and are

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seen by millions of people every day.

Last April, 14 students from the Environmental Science class traveled two hours to East Canaan, Connecticut.

Although Freund’s Dairy Farm has been featured on programs such as the Discovery Channel’s “Dirty Jobs,” most people have not heard of this second generation dairy farm. At first glance the farm looks like any other, but as the

students learned, appearances can be deceiving.

It’s not the fact that Freund’s Farm produces milk, or that they have a small herd of cows numbering 250 head, but what the Freunds do with the manure that drew the class here. Throughout the afternoon, the Environmental Science students learned how the Freunds use some manure to make organic compost, and use the rest to generate methane and their trademark “Cowpots.”

The manure is broken down in a “digester” where bacteria work on the organic material. The fluid portion is used to fertilize the Freund’s feed crops while the methane is used in a boiler to produce all of the farm’s hot water. What is left after the digester-stage is combined with old newspapers and phonebooks, pulped and pressed into different sized planting pots. The pots decompose once placed in the ground and help feed the young plants planted in them. The class learned first-hand how much work goes into running a farm, where their milk comes from and, most important of all, how one person with an idea can design and build his own solution to growing environmental problems.

The Environmental Science class then traveled to New York City to visit the Hearst Tower, the first LEED Certified Gold building erected in the city. From the sidewalk on West 57th Street, diagonal steel beams intersected at 45-degree angles

Students Get “Green”

steadfastness and courage found throughout New York City, but also proved it was possible to build a skyscraper with the environment in mind.

Back at Maher Avenue, the Environmental Science students began work on their Green Engineering projects, to make a model of their own conception of a green building, and incorporate the strategies and technologies they learned both in class, from the Freunds, and from the Hearst Corporation. With the generosity of Theresa Freund and Richard Malloch, a group of young people will leave the halls of Brunswick not only knowing what challenges await in the world, but also some of the solutions that will sustain our environment for future generations.

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and reached upwards toward the sky from a base of stucco and concrete adorned with statues in the modernist style.

Once through the rotating glass door, students were met by Ice Fall, the Hearst Corporation’s environmentally sustainable cooling system that uses captured rainwater to control the temperature in the Hearst Tower’s five-story tall lounge and cafeteria area. We were met by Louis Nowikas, Director of Operations at the Hearst Corporation, who explained how the Smart Elevators work: by entering the number of the floor you wanted on a control panel, elevators are then grouped so that fewer trips are made to get people where they want to go, using less energy to run them as compared to more conventional elevator systems.

The elevator rose so fast that our ears popped from the pressure. Mr. Nowikas escorted us to a conference room where the Hearst dining staff had set a wonderful lunch. We met Richard Malloch, President of Hearst Business Media, and father of Robin ’10, and the one responsible for our ability to visit the Hearst Tower, and learned more about the history of the Hearst Corporation.

After lunch, Louis led the class on a tour of the Hearst Tower, discussed the rainwater-capturing system on the roof, the radiant floor heating and cooling system used in the cafeteria and lounge area, the use of Forest Stewardship Council certified wood products, and other high-tech options builders incorporated into the tower to make it more “green.”

After the attacks on 9/11, many corporations wanted to leave New York and even more thought no one would ever work in a high-rise again. The Hearst Corporation decided to stay in the city that was their home. They not only showed the

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A Trip to Israel: Glimpses of an Ancient Culture and a Modern Nation

Times of BRUNSWICK

Story and Photography by B. Tucker Hastings, Upper School French Teacher

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A midwinter e-mail from my wife, Kate, prompted what would become an invaluable experience. While March vacation has always been an opportunity for us to head south to escape the final dredges of winter, this year we headed east, to the Middle East. Invited by some of her friends at Columbia Business School, my wife asked if I had any interest in going to Israel.

To her surprise I was quick to respond, “Yes!” When else would we get the chance?

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As someone who is relatively current on world events, I was embarrassed to say that, beyond name recognition, I knew little about the West Bank or Gaza, and nothing beyond a superficial understanding of the contentiousness that is so prevalent there. I had heard, of course, of the Wailing Wall and Temple Mount, but was incapable of explaining their historical significance. Kate and I were most excited to visit a place whose cultural and religious history have shaped our modern world so significantly.

Though by no means did I return from the trip an expert on Middle Eastern strife, Israel’s tenuous history, or the United State’s role in Israeli-Palestinian conflict (and although I have many more questions than answers), I felt fortunate to further my understanding of just how big our world really is. I returned home eager to read more about Biblical references and the places that we visited, and in some ways too, felt fortunate to have come home safely. Our trip to Israel (hopefully like all trips abroad) proved unequivocally to be a transformative experience.

It is not exaggerating to say that our trip was jeopardized only 24 hours before our flight. There was an international news-breaking story about a Palestinian gunman’s attack on a Jerusalem yeshiva that resulted in the death of eight citizens.

This certainly gave us pause and resulted in more than one

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Times of BRUNSWICK

A Trip to Israel: Glimpses of an Ancient Culture and a Modern Nation

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family member’s concerned phone call. Fortunately there were no travel alerts and it did not seem imprudent to go.

Upon arrival in Israel, we were immediately conscious of heightened security. A tour of Jerusalem’s Muslim Quarter guided by Israeli guards with their fingers on the triggers of their pistols was unsettling.

We spent our first two days in Jerusalem exploring the Temple Mount and learning of the religious claims to this holy ground.

While I can still barely differentiate the various historical eras that were discussed and what-was-built-when was a blur, what was clear was the deep respect that everyone—tourists and residents alike—exemplified. It was a profound experience to visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum, a building whose architecture is consistent with the fall and the rebirth of the Jewish people’s hope pre- and post-World War II. Having personal interests in Christian history, we walked the old city of Jerusalem from Jaffa Gate to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (the site of Jesus’ crucifixion and burial according to the New Testament), which was particularly pertinent as Easter was only two weeks away. Kate’s uncle, who had spent time in Jerusalem, told us that Easter would seem forever different to us after coming to Israel, and his words would prove true shortly after our return.

We visited Masada, a popular tourist destination on the top of cliffs overlooking the Dead Sea. Masada is known for the mass suicide in 73 A.D. of Jewish soldiers who took their own lives in order to avoid impending defeat at the hand of 15,000 Roman soldiers.

Visiting the environs of the Dead Sea would not be complete without a float! The high saline content allows

Summer 2008

for inordinate buoyancy and bizarre fun. A night in a Bedouin camp also made this trip like no other. A camel ride, open fire cooking, and the famous “Bedouin hospitality” gave us insight to the nomadic people who have either struggled to maintain their way of life or assimilated to modern Israeli culture.

Our trip culminated with a visit to Jaffa, the ancient port city that connected Jordan and Jerusalem with Rome; followed by three days in Tel Aviv, a city that seemed more secular than Jerusalem. In many ways, the Tel Aviv Promenade reminded us of Nice or Barcelona. Facing Greece and Turkey to the northwest, it is a coastal city with a vibrant nightlife, wonderful restaurants, and burgeoning young designers and artists.

I returned to Brunswick School eager to share new facts and ideas with my students, (could they imagine me carrying a rifle on a field trip as did many Israeli teachers that I saw?). The boys’ inquisitiveness and willingness to engage serious and relevant issues has always been a highlight for me. Numerous were the thoughtful conversations that I have had, each reflecting genuine curiosity. Finally, as a language teacher at a school with a renowned language program that includes Arabic, Chinese, French, Greek, Italian, Latin, and Spanish, to hear and read Hebrew and Arabic was fascinating.

I don’t know that we will ever return to Israel but, in the same way that I encourage students to spend time in francophone countries, I know, too, that I will encourage them to visit all sorts of places that remind us of all that is happening well beyond what we call home.

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Times of BRUNSWICK

“Odyssey of the

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Mind”

By Tim Coupe, Lower School Technology Teacher and “OM” Club Coordinator

Brunswick has a challenging after-school opportunity for our students called “Odyssey of the Mind,” an international educational program that encourages students of all ages to creatively solve problems, from building mechanical devices to presenting their own interpretation of literary classics. Students bring their solutions to competitions on the local, state, and world level. Thousands of teams from throughout the U.S. and 25 other countries participate. Over 40 Brunswick boys (3rd through 6th grade) have competed in “OM” for the past two years, with a group of 4th graders even traveling in 2007 to represent Connecticut at the “World Finals” at Michigan State University. The unique aspect of “OM” is that the entire solution must come from the team members. No outside assistance from parents, friends, or teachers is permitted.

This year, a team of 3rd and 4th graders—including Conrad Graf, Colin MacFaddin, Ridgely Knapp, Keshav Raghavan, Vikram Sud, Jack Kulesh, and Chris Peisch—took on an enormous challenge. With the help of assistant teachers Meghan Slattery and Kate Metevia and myself, the boys created and shared a theory demonstrating how dinosaurs became extinct, including the construction of a set 8-feet high! The team was assured of ceilings at least 9-feet high at the competition site. With eight minutes to assemble their set and perform their skit, the boys knew they had to be at their best in order to score well. Unfortunately, a key component of their structure had been assembled upside down, and the team didn’t recog-

(left to right): Conrad Graf, Colin MacFaddin, Ridgely Knapp, Keshav Raghavan, Vikram Sud, Jack Kulesh, and Chris Peisch.

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nize the error until they had almost completely put the pieces together during the performance.

Correcting the mistake was no easy task considering the height of their structure, the height of the ceiling, and the lack of height of the team members!

The seven boys showed amazing composure, incredible patience, and supreme teamwork as they flipped it over, put it all together again, and didn’t miss a beat. This “re-do” process took six minutes and left only two minutes to present their skit.

As the last nerve-wracking seconds ticked away, the head judge announced “Time!” to a disappointed team and audience. The boys knew there was no way they would be able to move on to the World Finals since they hadn’t finished presenting their solution.

What the team didn’t know, though, was that the judges agreed unanimously that we had showed incredible courage and teamwork in the face of an overwhelming obstacle.

When the closing ceremony was almost finished, a judge announced, “We have one more award to give, ’The Omer Award.’ It’s a unanimous decision by all of the judges to recognize the Brunswick School team for demonstrating outstanding sportsmanship, exemplary behavior, and exceptional talent.”

I couldn’t have been more proud if our team had won the World Series or the Superbowl. It’s easy to show class and character when you’re on top, but this group demonstrated incredible perseverance, teamwork, and grace under pressure. They exemplified the character of true Brunswick boys.

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Senior Funds are Meaningful Gifts to Brunswick

By Diane Briggs

Brunswick has many traditions that encourage parents from entire grades to unify for common purposes. The Senior Fund, one such endeavor, is a way for parents of soon-to-be graduates to commemorate their sons’ time at Brunswick.

Senior Funds typically provide the financial resources for a significant project or educational program that will serve an important need at the School and/or benefit future generations of students. We are indebted to the countless families who have been part of building what have become, over time, meaningful aspects of life at Brunswick.

The following is a look back at recent Senior Funds and their important legacies:

“Class of 2002 Auditorium”

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Parents of the members of the Class of 2002 had the vision to plan for the School’s future. Keenly aware that Durkin Auditorium could, during the 2001-2002 school year, no longer adequately meet the Upper School’s need to congregate students for special assemblies and weekly meetings, parents of Seniors accepted the challenge of providing seed money for a new auditorium.

With construction waaaayyyy underway this summer, the dream of our very own Performing Arts Center is nearly a reality. Our illustrious arts faculty—Andrew Hall (Chair of Brunswick School arts department); Paul Raaen, Shane Kirsch, Alexander Constantine, Seth Potter, and Brian Shepherd ’97—together with very talented student musicians and artists, have been exploring “The History of Rock and Roll” in anticipation of a spectacular Performing Arts Center opening dedication scheduled for the weekend of October 17, 2008. Save the date! for this momentous occasion that marks the beginning of a true artistic renaissance at Brunswick.

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“Class of 2003 Faculty House” In 2002, Brunswick was well into Phase II of the Edwards Campus expansion on King Street. Plans included the construction of 10 new faculty houses. Accommodations suitable to our tenured members of the faculty and their families were desperately needed, given the exorbitant cost of housing in Greenwich.

Until this June, The “Class of 2003 House” at the Edwards Campus has been home to Eleanor Lindberg, former Lower School Head, and her husband Parker (and parents of alumnus John Doyle ’87 founder of John&Kira’s Chocolates). With Mrs. Lindberg’s retirement, David Bruce, who wears many hats at Brunswick—including Middle School Admissions Director, Middle School math teacher, and Varsity lacrosse coach—his wife, Krista Bruce, Brunswick Annual Fund Director, and their new baby boy reside in this beautiful home.

“Class of 2004 Faculty House” Affordable housing is crucial to attracting and retaining the finest faculty, and the quality of our faculty determines first and foremost the quality of a Brunswick education.

Among Edwards Campus faculty housing, the “Class of 2004 House” continues to accommodate a busy family of seven—longtime Brunswick teacher John Pendergast, former Brunswick teacher Judene Pendergast (who is beginning a new teaching post at Sacred Heart this fall), and their five children.

“The Class of 2005 Lecture Series”

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In an effort to have world-class speakers visit Brunswick to address the Upper School students, the Class of 2005 parents endowed the cost of an annual speaker, or a series of speakers.

Esteemed past guests have included football coaches Herman Boone and Bill Yoast, who were portrayed in the movie, Remember the Titans; Paul Rusesabagina, the real-life hero of the movie Hotel Rwanda; Lech Walesa, former president of Poland from 1990-1995; and this past year, Carl Bernstein, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of All the President’s Men, among other notable books.

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Senior Funds are Meaningful Gifts to Brunswick

“The Class of 2006 Award for Program Excellence” This program encourages healthy competition among Brunswick’s academic departments and furthers efforts to strive for excellence. Upper, Middle, or Lower School departments are eligible to compete for an annual monetary award that may be used for new courses, training, new equipment, or other innovative ideas for their curriculum.

In May 2006, the first “Program for Excellence” recipient was the Foreign Language Department, who instituted an Arabic language program that has grown to include four sections of Brunswick and GA students.

During the 2008-2009 academic year, we will entertain new proposals and the winning academic department will be able to implement its plan beginning in the 2009-2010 school year.

“The Class of 2007 Faculty House on Maher Avenue” After completion of the Upper School renovation, the Class of 2007 Senior Fund will supplement the construction and maintenance costs of a faculty house to be built on the Maher Avenue campus in the same Deerfield architecture as the King Street homes.

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“The Class of 2008 Atrium”

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Brunswick’s Phase III Campaign, “Foundation for the Future: The Campaign for Brunswick,” includes a major renovation of the Upper School on the Maher Avenue campus. Funds raised from the families of this final class of boys to be educated in the “old Upper School” will provide a striking new atrium and main entryway of glass and stone. Along with bringing the Upper School into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), this gift from the Class of 2008 parents will indeed leave an impressive and lasting legacy to Brunswick.

‘Wick Snippets The following news briefs are from Bruins past and present who are sharing what they’re doing, where they’ve been, how they’ve done it.

What’s your story?

We’d love to hear!

Contact: Bonni Brodnick, Brunswick News Room bbrodnick@brunswickschool.org Tel: 203.625.5864

Summer 2008

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(left to right) Ian Johnson ’09; Will Seaton ’09, founder and head of “Room to Read” club at ’Wick, John Wood, founder of “Room to Read,” and club members Clay Blackiston ’08, Chris Bayliss ’08, Chris Ghaffari ’08, and Coulter Bailey ’09.

John Wood: A Social Entrepreneur & Visionary, Shares His Odyssey

By Bonni Brodnick

Guest speaker John Wood, a former senior executive

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at Microsoft, told an audience of Brunswick Upper School students that the idea to become a social entrepreneur was inspired by 28,000-foot peaks and an 18-day trek through the Himalayas. He had thought the vacation would be an escape from the 24/7 stresses as a top exec at Microsoft. While in Nepal, though, he visited a small school—with mud walls and dirt floor—and asked the principal if he could see their library. It was an empty room with no chairs, no shelves, and . . . no books! The 20-30 books they did own were under lock because they were so precious. They had been left behind by trekkers and were far from age-appropriate for first through eighth graders.

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Knowing that world change starts with educated children, John Wood was going to make it happen, literally one book at a time. He sent an email to Microsoft and on the subject line wrote, “I quit!” John left to become Founder and CEO of “Room to Read” and, to date, has helped more than 1.3

million children break the cycle of poverty through education. Since nce the organization started eight ht years ago, He has reached more re than 4.7 million people and d raised more than $42 million.

Will Seaton, a junior att Brunswick School, was inspired d over the summer by reading John Wood’s book, Leaving Microsoft to Change the World: An Entrepreneur’s Odyssey to Educate the World’s Children and decided to launch the club “Room to Read ’Wick”.

Founding members include Coulter Bailey, Brian DeAngelo, Andrew Grasso. Bill Hoch, Adam H Holzschuh, Arthur l h h A h Huber, Ian Johnson, Øivind Lorentzen, Kyle Radler, and Charlie Southwick. By the end of John Wood’s recent appearance at Brunswick, “Room to Read ’Wick” inspired 29 new members to join the club.

“Our hope is to raise $4,000 to establish a reading room for children in a developing country,” said Will Seaton.

“Mr. Wood’s visit was our motivation to come up with new fundraising activities for ’Room to Read ’Wick’. We’re excited to be part of an effort to break the chain of illiteracy by helping children learn to read.”

Dr. Meachum holding Lazare with proud parents Jean-Paul and Claire Zoungrana

(back; left to right) Dr. Meachum, Claire Zoungrana, Dr. Wright and Austin Meachum (front; left to right) Lazare and his brother Bernard

Beyond the Delivery Room

By Bonni Brodnick

all in the delivery, right? Mia Wright and Kevin Meacham are both obstetricians/gynecologists in Greenwich, White Plains, and New Rochelle. In 2005, their son Austin (Class of 2015) started his first year at Brunswick as a third grade student. This past year, when he moved into Middle School as a fifth grader, Mia and Kevin volunteered to be a host family to help another fifth grader transition from public school to Brunswick Middle School.

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“We were excited about being a host family because we had had such a great experience with our own host family,” said Dr. Wright. The Wright-Meachams invited their assigned family to a graduation party for Austin in hopes of getting to know them and to give them an opportunity to meet other Brunswick families.

“To our surprise, when we met Claire and Jean-Paul Zoungrana, my husband suddenly realized that he had delivered both of their boys, Lazare (age 11) and Bernard (age 5)! It was just such an uncanny coincidence and we were all so touched by the connection,” Dr. Wright continued. “It really has given us a very special bond to the Zoungrana family. Who would have thought that my husband, who had supervised both Bernard’s and Lazare’s pre-natal development and birth, would be blessed with a second opportunity to guide them into the Brunswick community?”

“The transition from public school to Brunswick is in many ways analogous to birth,” Dr. Meachum added. “Birth is the transition from a world where you have met your developmental potential to one where you can be challenged to grow to your fullest potential. Our renewed connection with Lazare, Bernard, and the Zoungrana family is a touching story about birth and growth, and the remarkable coincidences that life can bring.”

’WICK SNIPPETS

It’s

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B-MOP Sunday Morning Jive Time

By Bonni Brodnick

Every

Times of BRUNSWICK

Sunday morning—winter, spring, summer and fall—B-MOP (Brunswick Music Outreach Program) goes to Smith House, a municipal nursing home in Stamford, to bring cheer to the elderly residents. The boys—2008 grads Chris Johnson, Andrew Laird, and Townsend Smith; and rising Seniors James Baker, Robbie Cortes, Nishant Gurnani and Cole Stangler—sing 1920s jazz and Tin Pan Alley songs, such as “Yes Sir, That’s my Baby,” “My Blue Heaven,” and “The Sunny Side of the Street,” and help the residents participate in any way they can: some are able to join in the singing, some will dance, and some will tap their fingers on their wheelchairs.

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Michael Allwood, Chairman of Brunswick mathematics department and Upper School math teacher and his wife Anne, Upper School math teacher organized this out-ofSchool project based on the work of Dr. John Diamond who, as a practicing psychiatrist, recognized the crucial role that the creative arts, especially music, play in the healing process. His life’s work has been to research, among other things, the precise ways in which the therapeutic potential of music can best be realized.

The group from Brunswick has been visiting the nursing home for nearly four years, and the students show genuine commitment to the residents whom they have gotten to know through the years. Question: (How many teenagers do you know who would go to a nursing home every Sunday to cheer the residents?)

“The students go up to individual residents, take their hands, look in their eyes, and sing with them. It’s great to see them communicating through the music, and not being afraid of close interaction with the residents,” said Anne

Allwood of the B-MOP-ers. “We work with a group of anywhere from 15 to 20 residents on the first floor, and then go upstairs for another half-hour session with residents in the dementia unit.”

“The boys are fabulous!” said Jean Gleeson, Smith House director of therapeutic recreation. “You can just see the residents’ faces light up when they’re here. The boys really bring joy by making genuine connections.

We’re very appreciative of Anne and Michael Allwood, and the boys, for taking time out of their busy lives to visit us every Sunday.”

“I always feel better leaving Smith House than when I went in,” Mr. Allwood said. “Communications with the residents have to be very real – superficial greetings mean nothing to them. And technical expertise is of no relevance. What we give them through the music is friendship and caring.”

“The residents at Smith House get an hour out of their day to forget about their age and where they are,” said Chris Johnson ’08, who has participated in the program since 10th grade. “We all get a lot out of it. I feel that I can give them care that they need, and make them feel good, if only for an hour. I don’t always see my grandparents, so it’s nice to interact with older people.”

“I love going to Smith House because it’s like being with friends,” said Nishant Gurnani, a Brunswick rising Senior.

“The residents are happy to see us and it makes me feel good to know that we’re having that effect on them. We talk about how their week was, how my week was, and I always get a couple of jokes. Some of the residents don’t have families visiting, so they really look forward to seeing us weekly. It’s nice that we can cheer them. It’s also important to remember that they were once our ages, too.”

“Its inspiring to watch our students interact with the residents,” Mr. Allwood said. “The boys have learned how to communicate in a way that really matters.”

“I think it’s incredible that teenage boys do this,” Mrs. Allwood concluded. “It makes us so proud. They are exceptional young men and their participation in B-MOP speaks to their extraordinary character.”

Brunswick Lower School Receives “Make a Difference” Award From Heifer International “This group of Brunswick Lower Schoolers has no idea how far-reaching their generosity has helped other people all over the world,” said Kathy Owens, a volunteer from Heifer International as she handed the “Make a Difference” Award to Eleanor Lindberg, Head of Brunswick Lower School. “We are delighted to recognize the boys for their outstanding efforts to help change the world by fighting hunger and poverty.

With their generous contribution, 95 animals will help children and families become self-reliant as they obtain sustainable sources of food and income.”

“Thanks to the generosity and good will of our boys and their families, Brunswick Lower School was successful in raising $7,050 for Heifer International,” said Mrs. Lindberg.

“This service project, spearheaded by Upper School student Connor Fitzpatrick, provided our boys with an opportunity to feel empowered by knowing that their actions resulted in changing the lives of others in positive and meaningful ways. We are honored to be the recipients of the ‘Make A Difference’ Award.”

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Featured (left to right) are Eleanor Lindberg, former Head of Brunswick Lower School; Kathy Owens, a volunteer from Heifer International; and Connor Fitzpatrick, a rising Senior.

’WICK SNIPPETS

Heifer International initiatives are based in Africa, AsiaSouth Pacific, Central and Eastern Europe, and North America. Brunswick Lower School’s generous gift will provide 53 flocks of chicks, 16 trees, 13 goats, 2 sheep, 4 llamas, and 6 heifers to families in such countries as Mozambique, India, Rwanda, and Cameroon. Those who for generations knew only poverty will be building new homes and starting businesses. Children who once headed out to the fields to do backbreaking work will be heading into schoolrooms to learn to read. And people who never thought they’d be in a position to help someone else will be experiencing the joy of charitable giving by sharing food and offspring animals with others in their community.

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Mini-Term of Mexican Piñatas, Chinese Poetry, & Exotic Recipes It happens once every four years. Mini-term in the Lower School is strategically charted so that every boy has a chance to participate once during his Lower School tenure. First through fourth graders select Mini-Term workshops—designed, coordinated and implemented by our terrific teachers—all with a multicultural theme.

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The boys were introduced to the Mini-Term concept at an assembly and then chose amongst the offerings. The first afternoon, Señor Marban helped 1st and 2nd graders make piñatas. They started with a balloon, upon which they glued layers and layers of newspaper. Filling the piñata is a next step, but first it is important to get it so strong that it is nearly impossible to break.

While learning how to make piñatas, the boys also heard about its history and tradition in Mexico.

Down the hall other 1st and 2nd graders were cooked their way around the world.

They measured, chopped, and mixed, and

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while eating the tasty treats they created (like gnocchi with pesto sauce… mmmmm), they learned about the recipes’ derivations. The end product for this class was a cookbook to bring home.

Other amazing mini-term options for 1st and 2nd were “Good Luck Always”, exploring unique good luck objects in other cultures; “Flags Around the World” in which each boy was given a passport to travel to the countries whose flags they studied; and “African Safari,” which gave the boys an opportunity to draw African animals on the board, make African musical instruments, then dance and sing to them.

Third and fourth graders were offered mini-classes in “Chinese Art and Poetry,” “Fractured Tales,” “Ancient Greek Art,” and “Multicultural Inventions and Inventors.”

The latter was led by 2nd grade teacher Mrs. Meloni and her husband, who has an impressive collection of early versions of telegraphic equipment, phonographs, cameras, and medical stethoscopes.

Mr. Meloni told the boys about Thomas Edison. Did you know that he was deaf and therefore had to be home schooled? Or that when he died in 1931, all lights were switched off for one full minute out of respect for Edison’s lifetime achievements, and in particular, the miraculous invention of the light bulb.

“Mini-term benefits both students and teachers,” said Suzanne Plunkett, 4th grade teacher. “Our focus is to tie it into our diverse and multicultural studies. In addition, teachers can bring one of their outside interests into the classroom. It’s a terrific way for them to work in depth with different grade levels, collaborate with a colleague they might not usually have an opportunity to work with, and for the students to study with different teachers.”

Telling the Story in Pictographs

By Kate Fox, Lower School Assistant Teacher

What do you do when you want to share a story

’WICK SNIPPETS

or message with someone but you don’t speak the same language? During their study of the Cheyenne as part of a unit about Native Americans, third graders discovered that pictographs were once a solution to this problem on the Great Plains.

After all, at one point the different people of the Plains spoke more than 30 Algonquian dialects!

Some Native American tribes in this area used visual symbols representing words and expressions to communicate important information. Just a few pictographs could explain where a herd of bison had moved or even retell the story of an important battle. The great deeds accomplished by an individual might have been recorded with pictographs on an animal hide. Such hides became treasured historical documents.

Though these symbols could be easily drawn, they were not simple, a fact that became clear to the third grade when they experimented with the communicative power of pictographs.

Each student was given the chance to tell a story or express ideas by drawing on a strip of soft, brown vinyl, or “hide”) pictographs that may have actually been used on the Plains or of their own making. These belts, like the hides or tipis of the past, shared meaningful details about each boy and the world around him.

The idea of using pictographs to tell of great deeds made the students in 3 T/F (Mrs. Thorpe’s and Ms. Fox’s class) dig even deeper. With Mrs. Lindberg retiring at the end of the school year and Mrs. Signer taking on the role of Head of the Lower School, the boys recognized an important moment in the Lower School history that needed to be documented. Why not make pictograph belts for Mrs. Lindberg and Mrs. Signer to honor all of the work they have done for Brunswick and its students? Each boy chose or created two pictographs—one for Mrs. Lindberg and one for Mrs. Signer—that he felt explained something important about each of them. For example, Mrs. Lindberg’s belt featured the pictographs for “bear” and “rest.” A woman holding a heart was the symbol on Mrs. Signer’s belt. After transferring the images to the belts, a class representative invited the “special guests” to the classroom for a formal presentation. Each boy stood up and explained the meaning of his pictograph, building a story of appreciation and respect for two incredible educators.

Summer 2008

47

Ni Hâo and Welcome to America!

By Azario Mastrangelo ’13

On

Times of BRUNSWICK

January 26, the Middle School Diversity Club went into Manhattan for a day trip. We walked and drove around the city, and of course, made the occasional pit stop to eat or buy souvenirs.

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Our first stop was the Lower East Side Tenement answered questions. Each presentation showed hardships that Museum. Inside, we were treated as if we were a family went on in China or problems immigrants confronted when coming to America from another country. The docent trying to leave their country, along with hardships once they greeting us was assigned to find us housing. However, there arrived in America. were complications. The house was not big and our family After an exciting day, it was time to make our way back consisted of 10 people. For new immigrants arriving in home with our new appreciation for all that we have.

New York, this was not an unusual situation. The house Everyone had a great time and we hope to see you at Middle we were eventually given had one small living room, a School Diversity Club events next fall! little kitchen, and a bedroom that fit two. Housing was only one of the hardships that we learned people had to overcome when arriving in this country.

After our experience testing out the real estate market, it was time for lunch.

As we ventured through Chinatown we came upon a Dim-Sum restaurant. It was a huge room filled with lots of people and the smell of wonderful, soon-to-be eaten, Chinese food. We sat down and the parade of food carts began wheeling out. We simply pointed to what we wanted and it was all ours. After the beef satays and green gooey jelly balls, we went to the Museum of Chinese in America.

We split up into two teams, each getting a red folder of information that described a family’s immigration story.

We shared what we learned Outside of the Lower East Side Tenement Museum with the other students and

Toy Soldier Club Gets Full Attention The Toy Soldier Club, which meets twice monthly, came to order with Joe Falco, Middle School athletics teacher, presenting French and British soldiers from his World War I collection. More specifically, they were miniature tin soldiers of the 54th Foot Regiment who fought the Battle of Waterloo.

’WICK SNIPPETS

“I loved history as a kid,” said Mr. Falco, who started buying toy soldiers at Kresge, with particular interest in the Napoleonic Wars. His collection grew to what is now about 675 soldiers from the Sudan War, Napoleonic, Zulu, Crimean, Confederate, Civil Wars, and World War I, as well as from the Arab and French foreign legions.

“The club creates a nice bond between the boys, just like a real artillery,” said Tom Brayton, club co-coordinator, and Middle School Latin and history teacher, who monitors the boys as they paint authentic uniforms on their newly minted tin soldiers.

“There’s also no age group. You can collect from 2-80 years old,” added Mr. Falco, a woodworker, who in his “spare” time

(when he’s not teaching or coaching crew) builds cherry and glass cabinets to display his collection.

The boys learned how to melt ingots, mold tin soldiers, and paint them. Once the men-at-arms are finished, the boys create small battle scenes in dioramas made from shoeboxes.

“The thing about toy soldiers is that it’s a good way to indirectly learn about history,” said 7th grader Alex Coopersmith. “I collect Zulu soldiers and have about 30. They’re unique and more rare than Napoleonic and Crimean soldiers.”

“It’s pretty cool to cast your own tin soldiers and paint them,” added classmate Michael Maas-Hull. “Sometimes a deformity in the casting can create a whole different soldier, too. What was a World War II soldier can become a modern day paratrooper.”

“I like creating scenes where you can change the battle scenario,” said another 7th grader Harris Markby. “I make up how soldiers come into the story, build a whole empire, and can then make it fall.

I like to change the scenario every time.”

It’s a great way to learn about history, is a relatively inexpensive hobby, and you can build on it through the years,” said Mr. Brayton. “Once the boys are launched, they often have an interest in toy soldiers for a lifetime.”

Summer 2008

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PHOTO CREDIT: DAN BURNS

Photo Credit: Dan Burns

BRUINS

Times of BRUNSWICK

BRUNSWICK

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By Diana Samponaro

Hockey One cannot help but wonder where the season went! Even considering that the winter sports season is the longest season—and we logged well over 100-hours of ice time—there is still the sense that the hockey season went by too quickly and definitely ended a couple of games too soon. Captains Bryce Fitzpatrick and John Eric Oberbeck, together with fellow Seniors Tucker Daugherty and Drew Tunney, led the team admirably in a 14–10–1 season and a 6th place standing in New England Prep School Division II hockey.

Once again, the high points are many, but a couple that stand out are the OT win versus Kent’s Hill in a packed Hartong Rink; finally beating Vermont Academy in their rink; and the awesome sweep of the Maine Weekend when our playoff lives were on the line. This was a team that had the potential to bring home our first New England D-2 Championship, but a couple of bad bounces in the quarterfinals against the eventual champ, Kent’s Hill, saw us prematurely ousted from the post-season.

So while the wins were there, and we had some success, one of the best aspects of this year’s team was the actual team itself. They understood and executed a strong sense of what it means to work together toward a common goal, with everyone contributing and supporting one another. “ We won more than we lost and improved as players and as a team,” said Coach Ron VanBelle as he summarized the 2007–2008 season. “We even managed to have some fun along the way.”

Most of us already miss hockey and cannot wait until next year when the Bruins take the ice under the leadership of Captains Phil Silberiesen, Nick Trepp, and Ben Weisburger.

Varsity Squash won the Brandes Cup for the 8th consecutive year by not losing a single team match in New England competition. The team’s 17–2 record, with both losses to Penn Charter, was remarkable. The National tournament held at Yale saw Brunswick finish 2nd after their loss to Penn Charter. The team also finished 2nd in the New England Tournament with a one-point loss to St. Paul’s. Parker Hurst won the New England title at the #6 position and Matt Mackin won the New England title at the #7 position. Clay Blackiston finished 3rd at #1, and Jamie Davies and Spencer Hurst finished 2nd at positions 4 and 5 respectively. Captains Clay Blackiston and Leighton Van Ness worked hard to create a unified team this season. Coaches Jim Stephens, David Bruce, Michael Bourke, and George Boynton were also key players in the success of both Varsity Photo Credit: TReC Sports PhotoGraphics teams this year.

One of the highlights for all squash fans at Brunswick was the unveiling of our courts as the new “James Stephens Squash Center” (see complete story on page 26 of this issue). Many former players returned to congratulate their outstanding mentor, Coach Jim Stephens. All present agreed that it was a fitting tribute to a man who has meant so much to the sport of squash here at Brunswick, in Greenwich, and in all of New England. Next year’s Captains Sam Haig and Leighton Van Ness will undoubtedly lead the team to another great season.

Summer 2008

Photo Credit: TReC Sports PhotoGraphics

Squash

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Photo Credit: Chi VanLang

Photo Credit: ©domenica comfort

Photo Credit: ©domenica comfort

BRUINS Photo Credit: ©domenica comfort

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The Varsity basketball team won its 5th consecutive Fairchester Athletic Association championship by combining a blend of youth, experience, and overall commitment to collective team goals at the expense of individual glory. Coaches Greg Dobbs and Anthony Fischetti remained calm even though the team started the season by losing 5 of its first 6 games. The Bruins adjusted to a new complement of core players, but remained confident and patient that hard work and perseverance would eventually overcome early growing pains. This faith and belief in itself began to reap dividends with an impressive championship game appearance following wins against traditional boarding school powers Peddie School (New Jersey) in overtime, and Notre Dame Prep (Massachusetts) by a total of five points in the prestigious Boys Club of New York Holiday Classic at Fordham University in late-December. This marked the season’s turning point. Captain Tom Piscina and leading scorer Justin Nowell, combined with fellow Seniors Jack Barrett, Will Reed, and Andrew Reed to help the team rip off 11 consecutive wins over the final month of the season. Included in that streak was a memorable Friday night “Dann Gym Whiteout” 3-point win over league rival St. Luke’s, as well as a 24-point FAA Tournament semifinal victory over Hopkins, and a thrilling 6-point championship game triumph over St. Luke’s in the Dann Gym. Thanks to the efforts of top rebounder Kevin Royal, and newcomers Max Barrett, Phil Pierce, Joe Scalzo, and Jon Drosos, the team closed its season by earning an invitation to play in the New England Prep School Athletic Council’s Class C tournament, where it lost to eventual champion St. Mark’s in the quarterfinal game. They finished with a tremendous record of 19–9 (13–1, FAA). The Bruins look forward to playing under the leadership of Captain Kevin Royal next year and, of once again, aiming for a FAA Championship season.

BRUNSWICK

Times of BRUNSWICK

Basketball

Fencing

Photo Credit: Chi VanLang

“Improvement” was the mantra of the 2007–2008 Fencing season. The team competed in more than 6 matches this winter, winning several, and gaining momentum as they practiced. While the Brunswick Fencing team has remained small for the past few years, graduates have gone on to compete on teams at Yale and Notre Dame. This year a larger group of dedicated fencers worked with Coach Stetsiv to learn the mechanics of their chosen weapon: the foil. Captain Philip Gatto and fellow Senior Reed Dunn remained serious in purpose and set a competitive tone for the season. Next year promises to be successful, as most of the returning athletes have participated in the program for three or four years. Captains Chase Carter, Peter Kyriakos, and Colin O’Connell are ready and able to lead the team to victory.

Wrestling

Summer 2008

The 2007–2008 Brunswick Wrestling team finished the year with a 16–4 record. They also won the BIT for the first time in 4 years, as well as the FAA championship under the guidance of Coach Tim Ostrye and his assistant coaches, Bob Benjamin and John Martin. The 12 Seniors—Torey Agovino, Chris Antonacci, Bobby Benjamin, Jon Bubar, Tommy Hoyos, Alex Kaskel, David Levy, Eddy Polonia, Zach Prager, and Captains Peter Hadjipateras, Walter Luse, and Chasen VanLang— deserve a lot of credit for building a cohesive team. The State Tournament is where all of their hard work really paid off. Along with becoming State Champions, 10 out of 13 wrestlers placed in the top 6 of their weight class and Walter Luse won in the 152–weight class. At Nationals, Chasen VanLang became Brunswick’s 3rd All-American in the last 3 years. Another year, another successful season! We have a very optimistic outlook for next winter when Captains Will Holmes and Christian Stanco will lead the Brunswick grapplers.

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Photo Credit: Dan Burns

Photo Credit: Dan Burns

BRUINS

Times of BRUNSWICK

BRUNSWICK

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Sailing

Photo Credit: Dan Burns

Photo Credit: Dan Burns

Five Seniors with loads of experience combined their talents with nine underclassmen to form an outstanding sailing team this spring. Coach Isabelle Kinsolving brought her skills as a 420 World Champion, and her years as a member of the Yale Varsity Sailing team, to the hours of practice and many regattas at Indian Harbor Yacht Club. Captains John Howland and Michael Levy were pleased with the team’s progress and particularly proud of their results at the Connecticut State Regatta at the Coast Guard Academy in New London. The team finished 4th in Connecticut and 5th overall. Our team’s strengths were apparent at any race where there was significant wind and challenging conditions. Spring of 2009 will be led with Captains Tommy Chronert and Ian Johnson at the helm.

Summer 2008

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BRUINS

Photo Credit: Dan Burns

Photo Credit: Dan Burns

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Captains Jack Barrett, Jamie Biondi, and Mark Figgie joined fellow Seniors Lee Jackson, Kyle Miller, Tom Piscina, Brian Platter, and Andrew Reed in the formal inauguration of the new Varsity Baseball Field on the Edwards Campus. With a successful spring-training trip behind them, the Bruins returned to New England ready to compete. Coach Pat Piro and his assistant coaches, Tim Daly and Brett Farson, felt certain that this would be a great season. The FAA baseball league was loaded with talented squads this year. Brunswick’s season included far too many close games. Who will easily forget those 1-run losses to Hamden Hall and Hopkins early in the season; the 10-inning loss to Rye, or that last inning win over Riverdale?

The one extra-inning game against GFA with Lee Jackson hitting in the winning run was a nice way to ďŹ nish the season. The 2009 Captains Dan Cassidy, Chris Kono, and Joey Scalzo are poised to move the Brunswick Baseball team to a victorious season next spring.

BRUNSWICK

Times of BRUNSWICK

Baseball

Photo Credit: Dan Burns

It was another successful season for the Brunswick Lacrosse program. The team once again traveled to Florida for our pre-season Royal Palms tournament in March. This year the tournament proved to be very important, as we gained confidence by once again topping Kent Denver, a strong team and the eventual tournament champs. In our third season since joining the Western New England Division I league, we had a hard-fought record of 8 wins and 8 losses. We had strong league wins over Avon, Taft, Kent, Northfield Mt. Hermon, and Loomis, and suffered tough 1 or 2-goal league losses to Hotchkiss, Trinity Pawling, Choate, and Westminster. It was a competitive league in a year where three teams stood alone at the top—Trinity Pawling, Deerfield, and Salisbury—while every other team fought it out for the 4th seed. At the same time, out-of-league our schedule did not let up. Overall, we faced six teams—Kent Denver (pre-season), Deerfield, Trinity Pawling, Greenwich HS, Lawrenceville, and Haverford—who at one point in their season were ranked in the top 20 nationally. To say that we had a challenging season is an understatement. However, ’Wick lacrosse rose to the challenge. We practiced as if we were making a run through playoffs to the very last day in May, and it paid off as this team was rewarded with one of the biggest wins in our program’s history.

The 2008 team saved their best game for last. Inspired by Captains Drew Tunney and Tommy Hoyos, and Seniors Michael Allwin, Phil Cutler, Tucker Daugherty, Alex Dickson, Corey Dobbs, Bryce Fitzpatrick, Chris Ghaffari, Tom Hotchkiss, Andrew Laird, Oscar Loynaz, John Eric Oberbeck, Nick Philip, Zach Prager, and Will Reed …on a rainy, cold night in May… taking the field after our alumni battled it out in their annual game… the 2008 team topped a strong, nationally recognized Haverford and made this program, our School, and our league proud. It was a tremendous way to end our season!

The outstanding play of next year’s Captains Peter Castine, Billy Chapman, and Charlie Payton should reassure all fans that the 2009 team will be exciting to watch.

Photo Credit: Dan Burns

Lacrosse

Summer 2008

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Photo Credit: Dan Burns

BRUINS Photo Credit: Dan Burns

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The 2008 Varsity Golf team completed one of the most successful seasons in Brunswick School history. Coach Anthony Fischetti and Assistant Coach Jim Stephens enjoyed every match played with the team, compiling a record of 29-1, and winning the FAA championship for the first time in three years. Led by Co-Captains Dixon Mallory and Alex Ventosa, and fellow Senior Terence Einhorn, the team defeated defending FAA champion Rye Country Day School five times, won the Brunswick Invitational Tournament by a record 26 strokes over 2nd place Fordham Prep, and left no doubt in taking home the FAA Championship Tournament trophy by a margin of 14 strokes over its nearest competitor, 2006 champion St. Luke’s. Five of ‘Wick’s six competitors in the FAA Tournament were selected to the All-League team, including Conor Kenny, Tripp Huber, and John Torell, who all shot 78 on Westchester Country Club’s South Course; and Schuyler Stitzer and Terence Einhorn, who carded 80 and 81, respectively. Other highlights included the 26-stroke victory in the B.I.T. at the Round Hill Club, where Torell and Stitzer both fired rounds of 73, and convincing triumphs over traditional New England powerhouses Taft (twice) and Choate. Brunswick golf team looks toward a promising 2009 campaign as it returns rising Seniors Captain Conor Kenny, Robbie Cortes, Tripp Huber, Taggie Martin, Ben Tabah, and Sebastian Vik; rising juniors Morgan Arturi, Chris Simonson, Schuyler Stitzer, and John Torell; and this year’s freshman standout, Wes Koorbusch.

BRUNSWICK

Times of BRUNSWICK

Golf

Photo Credit: Dan Burns

For the first time ever, Brunswick competed in the 15-team prestigious NEMA Tournament in Maryland and finished 2nd overall. This was only the beginning of a fabulous spring for the 2008 team. We won the FAA League title this season by compiling an 18-2 record and remaining undefeated in the FAA. With the team of Chris Antonacci and Matt Mackin, Brunswick also won the FAA Doubles Tournament for the 4th year in a row. Robby Sorrel finished 2nd in the FAA Singles Tournament. FAA All League awards went to Robby Sorrel, Chris Antonacci, Matt Mackin, and Sam King. Brendan Seaver received Honorable Mention in the FAA. Captains Chris Antonacci and Robby Sorrel directed their finely attuned team to the New England Championship for the second time in the past 3 years. On their way to the NE trophy, the Bruins defeated Thayer Academy 4–1, Roxbury Latin 4–3, and Belmont Hill 4–1. Coach George Boynton is looking forward to another great season when the team takes the courts under the leadership of Captain Brendan Seaver

Photo Credit: Dan Burns

Tennis

After a medal-filled fall campaign, some serious winter training, and a grueling spring training camp in Florida, Brunswick Crew team entered the spring season ready to once again take on the top crews in New England. Two new races were added: Andover and the prestigious Founder’s Cup. The team was young, but promising. Co-Captain Ryan Potocki ’08 was the only returning member of the Varsity Eight; he was joined in the boat this year by one other Senior, Nick Pinto ’08 (“Most Improved Oarsman Award” winner). The Varsity Eight ended up 7th at New Englands, representing Brunswick well in winning a very tight Petite Final. The Second Eight was led by stroke and Co-Captain Eddy Polonia ’08 and coxswain John Curry ’08 (“Coach’s Cup” winner) to a 5th place finish at New Englands. The Third Eight (with three novices this year) was led by Seniors Jon Bubar and Bryan Coleman, and finished 6th at New Englands. Overall the team was 5th at New Englands.

The small Senior class represented the BSBC nobly over the past 4 years and will be missed. The talented and deep Class of 2009, under the leadership of Captains Taylor Black and Turner Smith, plan to continue and exceed this successful record.

Summer 2008

Photo Credit: Dan Burns

Crew

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Photo Credit: Dan Burns

BRUINS

Track Club training for the New England meet.

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BRUNSWICK

Times of BRUNSWICK

Photo Credit: Cat Scott Martin

Brunswick

Alumni Lacrosse It was a wet field…a very wet field in fact, but that did not deter the alumni LAX guys from coming back to ’Wick in full force to take the field at Cosby Memorial Stadium for a white jersey vs. brown jersey epic competition. With many thanks to Jamie Coffin ’02, who spearheaded the event, there were more than two full teams ready to take the field—ranging from alumni from the Class of 1972 all the way through to the Class of 2006! The competition was fierce, egged on by faculty member Mike Harris, the game’s MC, but the white team was able to squeeze out a 5-4 win at the end. Everyone stuck around for a post-game BBQ and to watch the Varsity team beat Haverford School!

The Alumni LAX game will be an annual event, so keep your eyes open for next year’s date!

Brunswick 2008 Three Sport Varsity Athlete Awards

WINTER AND SPRING FAA ALL-LEAGUE & SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARDS

Seniors Chris Antonacci—Cross Country, Wrestling, Tennis Jack Barrett—Football, Basketball, Baseball Jon Bubar—Cross Country, Wrestling, Crew Bryce Fitzpatrick—Soccer, Hockey, Lacrosse

BASKETBALL Joe Koszalka Award.....................Tom Piscina FAA All-League ...........................Tom Piscina, Justin Nowell Honorable Mention ...................Kevin Royal

HOCKEY

John Eric Oberbeck—Soccer, Hockey, Lacrosse

Hal Rogers Award.......................Tucker Daugherty All-New England D-II................Nick Trepp (1st team), Ben Weisburger (2nd team)

Thomas Piscina—Soccer, Basketball, Baseball

SQUASH

David Levy—Cross Country, Wrestling, Sailing

Zach Prager—Soccer, Wrestling, Lacrosse Andrew Reed—Football, Basketball, Baseball

Jim Stephens Racquets Award....Clay Blackiston NE Champions...........................Parker Hurst, Matt Mackin

William Reed —Football, Basketball, Lacrosse

WRESTLING

Juniors

Peter deLisser Award ..................Chasen VanLang Connecticut State Champ Walter Luse All-American...............................Chasen VanLang FAA All-League ...........................Peter Hadjipateras, Will Holmes, Alex Kaskel, David Levy, Walter Luse, Chasen VanLang

Peter Castine—Football, Hockey, Lacrosse Billy Chapman—Football, Hockey, Lacrosse Taggie Martin—Soccer, Hockey, Golf Philip Pierce—Football, Basketball, Lacrosse Joey Scalzo—Football, Basketball, Baseball Ben Tabah—Soccer, Hockey, Golf

BASEBALL Dutch King Award .....................Mark Figgie FAA All-League ...........................Mark Figgie Honorable Mention ...................Tom Piscina

Garrett Virtue—Football, Basketball, Lacrosse

GOLF

Sophomores

Doc Bevacqua Award..................Terence Einhorn FAA All-League ...........................Terence Einhorn, Tripp Huber, Conor Kenny, Schuyler Stitzer, John Torell

Brian DeAngelo—Cross Country, Hockey, Crew

LACROSSE

(No recipient this year)

TENNIS Hartch Family Tennis Award .....Chris Antonacci, Robby Sorrel FAA All-League ...........................Chris Antonacci, Robby Sorrel, Sam King, Matt Mackin Honorable Mention ..................Brendan Seaver

Summer 2008

Freshmen

Durkin Family Award.................Drew Tunney John Altman Award ....................Corey Dobbs Jeff Harris Award ........................Charlie Payton All-American...............................Drew Tunney All-League Selections ..................Bryce Fitzpatrick, John Eric Oberbeck

Gus Ruchman—Cross Country, Fencing, Sailing

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5)&

#&:0/% $-"443 2nd graders bring home to our troops To go along with the Brunswick School motto, “Courage, Honor and Truth,” the 2nd graders decided to do a community service project called “Give to the Troops.” The charge was to send “luxury” items like socks, razors, and food to bring a little bit of home to our soldiers in Iraq.

Virginia Prial (Alex’s mom) came up with the idea. With the guidance of 2nd grade teachers, Pat Meloni, Becky Weitzman, and Amy Ostrye, class mom Lori Bell—along with the best team of other go-to moms—collaborated to bring “Give to the Troops” to another level. Alex Bergstein (Max’s mom), for example, found a website that sells phone cards at terrific prices (Baseops.net\Military Calling Card).

The 2nd grade boys decided to adopt the platoon of Marines 1st Lt. Ted Hubbard ’02 (and son of Bess Hubbard, Assistant to the Headmaster). Ted is a rifle platoon commander based in Ramadi, the capital of Al Anbar Province, Iraq.

Over the winter, the boys filled boxes with toys, games, DVD’s, and magazines, all of which were a huge hit with the Marines to distribute to children in Iraq. Along with these donations, 12 of the 2nd graders decided to celebrate an all-class birthday party. In lieu of gifts, they collected more than $800, which allowed them to purchase 30 phone cards with 550 minutes on each card.

“The teachers, boys, and moms truly took ‘Give to the Troops’ to heart,” said Lori Bell, Thacher Scannell’s mom. “Everyone wanted to do all they could for our young men and women overseas.

With the phone cards, we couldn’t think of a better gift than to give them the voices of their families.”

“Give to the Troops” box filled and ready to go to Iraq.

Times of BRUNSWICK

Boys Will Be Boys!

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In order to rebuild and re-landscape the Upper School courtyard and make way for a grand new stairway, it was necessary to excavate a 5,000-gallon fuel oil tank that was foam-injected and decommissioned in the 1980s.

Here’s Turner Construction at work (as the boys are mesmerized by the backhoe in action.)

0 .

Arabic Immersion at Brunswick “The idea of ‘Arabic Immersion Week’ is to make my students ‘live the language’ without using English,” said Ali Al-Maqtari, Upper School Arabic teacher.

Learning the lexicon of this Far East language that is over 2,000 years old is no easy task: Modern Arabic is classified as a macro-language with 27 sub-languages. (And you thought learning passé simple in French class was hard?) To get in the spirit of the week, students also wore Arabic clothing, did various class activities, and watched the film “Mahatat Masr” on video.

Upper School Arabic teacher Ali Al-Maqtari with a group of his students.

“The benefit of ‘Arabic Immersion’ is tremendous because it gives students the confidence, to learn a foreign language, without reverting to their native language,” said Mr. Al-Maqtari. “My objective is to prevent students from going through the long and tiring process of translating back and forth in their heads while trying to speak, and to try and take away the hesitation they have to rely on their foreign language skills. ‘Arabic Immersion Week’ is a way to explore not only the language, but also the culture, and the way of life of Arab people.”

What would we do without…

Front Row (left to right): Susan O’Leary, Lori Kirchen, Betty Altman (purchasing manager), Beth Long, Calvine Dunnan, Joanne Payton Back Row (left to right): Alison Ralli (assistant bookstore manager), Mary Helen Holzschuh, Darrell Lorentzen, Martha Durkin (bookstore manager), Linda Northrop, Donna Miller (business office/accounts receivables), Dorothy Bailey, Meg Moscati (Missing from photo: Pam Woodruff)

Summer 2008

the Bookstore Moms?!? The Brunswick Bookstore, which first opened in 1975 at Maher Avenue, and in 2000 at King Street, has always been staffed

by Brunswick moms who volunteer their time on a weekly basis.

Pictured here is a group photo of this year’s volunteers at the Upper School Bookstore.

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Undercover on Prom Night Even a heavy rainstorm couldn’t take the joy out of Brunswick School Senior Prom!

Left to right: Walter Luse, Erin Wilson CSH ’08, Robby Sorrel, and Sarah Gaston GA ’08.

Times of BRUNSWICK

Omnes nos Sunt Romani

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Every March, Father Richard Cipolla, Chair of the Upper School Classics Department, leads a group of Seniors from his and Dr. Tim Markey’s Latin classes to Rome. Father Cipolla calls Rome “the heart of the universe,” and it is this remarkable city that the students explore: from a detailed tour of the Forum and Palatine; to the Baroque genius of Bernini; the startling images of Caravaggio; the forbidding and monumental Last Judgment of Michelangelo; and the whole mix of Classical, Medieval, Baroque, Romantic, and modern captured so well in the many laughing fountains of Rome.

The day’s discoveries are discussed each evening over sumptuous meals in Father Cipolla’s favorite trattorie and ristoranti. As Father Cipolla often says: omnes nos sunt Romani: we are all Romans.

For the Love of his Grandfather People often do things for the love of someone, and that is why Ray Duffy ’09, is helping to raise awareness of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America’s programs, services, and events.

“My grandfather Jim Armellino passed away in June 2004 of Alzheimer’s Disease,” said Ray. “Grandpa Jim was a caring, loving, and inspirational gentleman who prided himself on tradition and family. He was my courageous role model and hero.

“As a person whose family has been directly involved with this disease, I can testify that it is an absolutely devastating experience to watch someone you love wither away. The more I involve myself in this organization, the more I realize that everyone knows someone like my grandfather.”

“In his memory, or in memory of someone you know and love, I am asking for your help for research and care. It is my sincere mission to honor my grandfather in this way.”

If you would like more information, please go to Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (www. alzfdn.org) or contact Ray at rduffy@brunswickschool.org.

One for the Troops A HERE! T T And they’re… OU Caleb being promoted to Captain in Afghanistan.

“One for the Troops” helmet bag

Summer 2008

The 8th grade boys had a great baseball experience during their trip to Washington, D.C. Here are Jake Matthews (right) with Harrison Croll (squeezed in the middle) of the Washington Nationals’ mascot at a ball game vs. the Mets.

Big night at the ballpark as the Bruins’ presence was even noted by Howie Rose in the WFAN Sports Radio 66 broadcast booth. The Mets play-by-play announcer joked that the Brunswick boys are such big Mets fans that they followed the team to DC! The kids were also picked up twice on TV!

Brunswick alumnus Caleb Weiss ’94, a captain in the United States Marine Corps who is currently serving his third combat tour in support of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom, has helped inspire his sisters Gavin Weiss GA ’97, Megan Weiss GA ’92, and Jocelyn Weiss; friend Rebecca Babcock GA '97; and his mom, Tyler Tinsworth, to launch an organization called “One for the Troops.”

Ever since Caleb’s first deployment, there has been a tremendous outpouring of support among family, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances for both Caleb and his fellow marines. Before deploying last spring 2008, his mother and sisters asked how they could help. Beyond sending care packages, Caleb recommended they focus their energy towards supporting veterans and their families.

The clear choice for a charity partner was Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the first and largest nonprofit, non-partisan organization dedicated to improving the lives of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families.

To raise funds, Caleb’s family thought the militaryissue "helmet bag" that he had given them over the holidays was equal parts practical and cool. It’s loaded with pockets for gym stuff, beach reads, and client presentations, while also earning the envious "Where did you get that?" inquiry.

The custom-made “One for the Troops” helmet bag is one way to support our heroic servicemen and women.

For more information, please go to oneforthetroops.org. 65

BRUNSWICK Senior Breakfast 2008 The Alumni Office welcomed Class of 2008 into the Brunswick School Alumni Association last May at the Senior Breakfast. On the other side of the dining hall windows, construction vehicles continued the Upper School renovation and tried to over-clatter the boys’ banter. No chance! Our boisterous new grads enjoyed breakfast while hearing from fellow alumni Charlie Tusa ’62, Jon Ryckman ’88, Ian Murray ’93, and Nick Federici ’96, who spoke of fond ’Wick memories and the joy in staying in contact with their School.

The morning wrapped up with a slideshow of photos, which was met with laughter, and quite a few exclamations of “ooOOOOooo000oo!!” (especially in response to the shots with girls!). As a remembrance of the gathering, each of the Seniors received a copy of the slideshow (lovingly produced by Cat Scott Martin, Director of Alumni Relations), and a handsome tie from vineyard vines®. (Thank you, Shep and Ian!)

Alumni

New Class Agents for the Class of 2008: Jonathan Bubar, Nick Pinto, Lee Jackson, Tommy Hoyos, Chris Ghaffari, and Jamie Biondi— with Cat Scott Martin, Director of Alumni Relations.

captivating and entertaining alumni speakers, Jon Ryckman ’88, Ian Murray ’93, Charlie Tusa ’62, and Nick Federici ’96

Times of BRUNSWICK

Our

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Terence Einhorn, Jack Barrett, Peter Hanson, Andrew Reed, Clay Blackiston, Lee Jackson, Peter Weinberg, and Russell Zimmerman, happily receive their gift from vineyard vines®.

Watching

the slideshow…must have been something funny! (Guess you had to be there.)

om, a company founded in 2006 by Jory Caulkins ’02, to facilitate communications with alumni. Nexodex.com is an online contact book that allows users to collect contact fa information from their professional and social networks. The company also has its own social network that allows in organizations (like Brunswick) to connect with and provide services for constituents.

As a member of the Brunswick community, this will: Greatly facilitate our communications by providing up-to-date contact information access.

Save time and money by foregoing our “update-your-info” letters/e-mails once you have joined the platform.

Enable you to become part of the global Brunswick social network by making it easier for you to stay in touch with fellow alumni or reestablish contact with long-lost friends.

Two of the newest and most exciting features are the Bulletin Boards and Discussion Forums.

P ivate Alumni Job Boards & Discussion Forums Pr Post jobs, find jobs, and participate in and create discussion forums, such as: Bulletin Boards (BBs) Forums ’ ick Jobs—Finance ’W ’Wick Jobs—Internships ’W ’Wick News—Sports ’W ’ ick News—Alumni Development ’W

Lacrosse Alumni Forum Soccer Alumni Forum Class of ’98 Reunion Class of ’03 Reunion

Access these bulletin boards and forums by clicking the “Brunswick School” link iin n the BBs/Forums box on your home screen once you complete the 2 steps below.

To take advantage g of this free service offered in p partnership with ’Wick, please: 1. Go to Nexodex.com and create an account and profile 2. Add Brunswick School (email ID: cmartin@brunswickschool.org) as a contact

Still have questions? Please contact Jory Caulkins at jcaulkins@nexodex.com.

Summer Sum Su m 2008

67

Compiled by Cat Scott Martin terrific jazz festival that takes place there every June. Other classmates interested to attend next year should contact Don at dmccorma@skidmore.edu.

Did any class in our time at ’Wick have the talent in a jazz band that we had . . . in the foursome of Benjamin-CobbMcCormack-Snyder?”

1957 Huson Gregory retired from Portledge School in June of 2006.

1962 •Note from the Editor: Best wedding wishes to Cat Scott, Director of Alumni Relations! Cat and Mike Martin were married in Bedford, New York on June 14, 2008. Her new contact information is Cat Scott Martin at cmartin@ brunswickschool.org.

Times of BRUNSWICK

1956

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Peter Ness wrote in to say, “During Christmas 2007, I had a 50 year reunion with two classmates, Don McCormack and Ralph Cobb, who live in Saratoga Springs, New York.

They also met my youngest son, James Ness ’88 and his wife. Cricket, my wife, and I had an enjoyable evening at the McCormack’s (with Don, his lovely wife Judy and their interesting young adult offspring), and Ralph and June Cobb.

Don, a longtime professor at Skidmore, has created a

On January 13, 2008, Bill Wearin, one of the legendary members of our class, died from cancer at Greenwich Hospital. Bill and Diane had celebrated the 45th class reunion in October, and fortunately, Bill’s last illness was brief. Rick Lee, Austin Cragg, Ross Ogden, and Angela Hyland attended the memorial service, and Charlie Tusa gave a poignant eulogy. He recalled Bill’s contributions to many memorable Brunswick moments— including our undefeated eighth grade football team, our valiant varsity football and hockey teams, and Bill’s “special relationship” with Alfred Everett. We will all miss Bill.

Last fall’s threat to make up stories about what each classmate has been doing since Brunswick has brought out a few responses in self-defense. Alan “Lanny” Bolté provided this: “There is nothing like a good threatening letter, to get me to respond to my old buddies at Brunswick. Make something up, you say? Ha! I’m not so sure I trust that process. My brother-

CLASS NOTES

1975 Classmates Terry Markey, Jim Donovan, Mark Vallely, Patrick Durkin, Mike Bacon and Tim Durkin strike a pose on the Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland.

ished in the high rollers skybox suites. Great fun...really charismatic, energetic classmate, that Chester! So cheers and grins to everyone.”

Rick

David Haythe also emerged from years in the shadows with a brief announcement that after retirement from 30+ years with Morgan Stanley (25 of them in England), he hopes to spend more time “back home.” David reports three grown children: the oldest a forensic psychiatrist in the Massachusetts prison system; the second, Justin, is a film scriptwriter (The Clearing, starring Robert Redford and Robert Defoe) and author (recently published novel, The Honeymoon,

by Atlantic Monthly Press); and, the third is a pre-med student in Boston.

lymphoma. Andy was in college and preparing for a career in the Air Force when he experienced severe difficulty breathing and was admitted to the University of Colorado Hospital.

Fortunately, Pete now reports Andy is home and progressing well while undergoing a course of chemo. The outlook is very good. Pete asks us for our prayers and refers us to Andy’s journal at caringbridge.org/visit/andrewdunn.

Roy Bruninghaus, currently living in Plymouth, Massachusetts, also responded with an update: “In December, I retired early from IBM. Working for any large corporation these days is very demanding, and I wanted to spend whatever productive time I have left helping my son build his businesses. One of his companies provides managed network services to niche hotels and resorts—primarily on the west coast, where he lives. The other is his consulting firm.

He hired me to provide a business continuity and resiliency focus to both companies, and the charge to develop business on the east coast.

The pace will be much slower, I can assure you.

Will give me more time to travel, to write, and to enjoy New England’s many interesting places.

Maybe I can make the next reunion; I will look for the announcements.”

Finally, on a sober note, Peter Dunn wrote to report that his 20-year-old son Andy was diagnosed with anaplastic diffuse large B cell

Ford ’75 as “Poirot” in Agatha Christie’s Hot Coffee last February, 2008.

Keep those cards and letters coming! Write to Ross Ogden at OgdenR@optonline.net. Many thanks to those of you who chose to support the Alumni Fund this year, and we hope you can use the class list that went out in March. Keep in touch!

1972 “We really did have a fun time at our 35th reunion! Golfing with Pete Simpson ’72, Peter Carlson ’76, and especially football coach Sean Brennan was terrific,” wrote in Ted Walworth.

1975 Rick Ford graduated from The Professional Theater Training Program, University of Delaware, in May of 2007 with a Master of Fine Arts.

Rick has just completed an engagement at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina in Hilton Head, South Carolina. He was “Inspector Poirot” in Agatha Christie’s mystery play Black

REUNION 2008 ALERT! Celebrate the years since graduation at Homecoming Weekend on September 26–27! Reunion year for classes ending in 3 and 8. Please send your news to Cat Scott Martin Martin (cmartin@brunswickschool.org/800.546.9425) to keep us all informed!

Summer 2008

in-law, Dick Anderson ’54, married to sister, Bonnie) and I both went to Brunswick and have many memories of school and life in Greenwich, some quite fond, others funny. My mother’s dance studio gave me the opportunity to dance with every Greenwich girl in the entire grammar school system, which included Glenville, North Mianus, Riverside, Old Greenwich, North Street, Julian Curtis, Cos Cob, and Eastern Jr. High. I have been tracked down by three of the little darlings in the last few years. Very flattering. I guess they wanted to dance!

“As to an update after Brunswick, I graduated from Admiral Farragut Academy, and then earned baccalaureate and advanced degrees from the University of Pittsburgh and Oxford. How’s that for tone? For current activities, check out my web site...alanbolte. com. I am currently setting up a location shoot in Panama…a TV production (my 94th so far.) The Bolté Group will shoot in Central America for a whole month. Pretty good boondoggle, huh? Currently running on Speed TV is a series called Legends and Passions.

I did all the Ferrari segments.

“Speaking of Ferrari, last July, Luigi Chinetti ’60 and I shared two days and nights of revelry at the William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. Concours d’Elegance in Newport, Rhode Island. Coco was there for his achievement in Motor Sports, and I was an honored guest on the judges’ platform. I gave a compelling rationale for Malcolm Pray, Jr. ’46 winning “Best of Show,” which he won for his 1934 Bugatti Type 57C. “Last January, Hawley Chester and I had the time of our adult lives at The Phoenician Hotel ($800.00 a night) in Scottsdale, Arizona, during the Auto Auctions. Since he works for, and I produce for, the Speed Channel, we lav-

Current parent Michael Castine wrote in and said, “Shown here are Knights of Malta Michael Castine, Alain Lebec, and Luis Parajon ’74, a member of the Order of Malta from Cuba, tending to a sick person in Lourdes, France as part of the Order of Malta’s annual Pilgrimage to Lourdes. We met Luis when he was assigned to the American Association.”

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CLASS NOTES 1982 Bill Morin is working with Global Hope International and organizing teams to bring supplies to the economically disadvantaged in third world countries. He has traveled to such faraway places as Afghanistan, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Jordan, the Sudan, Iraq, and Ethiopia.

Bill and a team also traveled to Turkey where they delivered 1,900 pairs of shoes to children who had never before owned any. Bill’s mom Betty credits her sons’ non-profit work, and their selfless care for others, to the influence that Brunswick School had upon them both.

(See update from his brother Geoff Morin ’83.)

Bill, his wife Virginia and their three children reside in Geneva, Switzerland.

1983 Eleanor Olivia Hume in April at five months “old”. She was born November 24, 2007 and weighed in at 6lbs. 15oz. Firsttime dad, John Hume ’78 says, “She is great and growing at a fine clip.”

Coffee. Both Rick and the show received rave reviews, which added on five extra performances due to sell-out audiences.

He and his wife, Page, will spend the summer at the Utah Shakespearean Festival where they will be returning for the second time and have roles in Shakespeare and Molière productions.

A few members from the Class of 1975 celebrated their 50th birthdays in style and together at The Bridge, Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland in early October 2007. Terry Markey, Jim Donovan, Mark Vallely, Patrick Durkin, Mike Bacon, and Tim Durkin went head-tohead for “The Claret Mug Tournament” title!

Bill

A note from Karl Coryat, “I’ve had a pretty interesting year. The second edition of my musicians’ book, Guerrilla Home Recording, is coming out this summer. I also launched a new part-time career as a motion-graphics designer for Verizon Wireless, making internal-PR videos, as well as marketing reels that play on monitors at Verizon-sponsored rock concerts. Finally, I’ve found some popularity as a YouTube comedian making subversive satire videos under my super-secret pseudonym.

I recently passed the 1 million mark on total views, and I have over 5,500 subscribers. So even though I haven’t had a “real job” in four years (and am not eager for one), I seem to be surviving the down economy.”

Geoff Morin, his wife Rachel, and daughter Bailey…with another one on the way, live outside of Philly. Geoff is working with the American Bible Society specializing in creative communication in third world countries.

Morin, with his wife Virginia, and their three children.

Geoffrey

Morin with his wife Rachel and daughter Bailey.

Desmond Vickers writes, “I live in Waxhaw, North Carolina with my wife, Linda, and four children. I am one of the directors of coaching for a soccer organization in the Charlotte area, and look forward to seeing many alumni at our 25th reunion this fall. I get together with fellow classmate Gary Gallo and his family on occasion, or we see each other on the soccer fields coaching. That’s scary!!!!!!”

1984 After graduating from Lehigh University in 1988, Peter Flanagan started working for Fuller Company, which was acquired by FLSmidth (a company that specializes in equipment, systems and services in the cement and mineral industries). He later moved on to Eimco Company, only to be acquired by FLSmidth again. Now, thanks to Peter’s previous experience with both companies, he is keeping busy with the important project of integrating Dorr Oliver Eimco with FLSmidth Minerals in America. Home base is Salt Lake City, but Peter travels frequently from Argentina, to Canada, and everywhere in between!

Ed Mastoloni married Andrea Laudano in 1999 and they’ve settled in Madison, Connecticut.

Odelfelt ’88 and his wife, Raha, welcomed their second child, Hayden Andreas Odelfelt, into the world on April 18, 2008 at 1:31 p.m. He weighed in at 7lbs 15 oz.

Times of BRUNSWICK

Tom

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CLASS NOTES

The

Ryan

and Cooper Ebbitt, twin sons of Ken Ebbit ’94 and hsi wife, Jennie.

They have three children—Edward Joseph “EJ” (5), twins Paige and Matthew (3 ½). Ed is part of a third generation family business that is over 60 years old.

1988 Randy Street has co-authored Who, which will be published this fall by Random House as its lead business book. The purpose is to help solve

every manager’s #1 problem: making hiring mistakes. It offers a simple solution and the advice from the largest pool of billionaires, CEO’s, and investors ever interviewed for a book. Who is expected to become a bestseller!

1992 Winston Bragg shared this letter from classmate Richard Choularton, Director of the

Erika, Eloise and Jamie Muhlfeld ’94

Ferraris Wedding! Father of the groom, Peter Ferraris, Max Wasilko ’91, Brett Stephens ’94, Eric Ferraris ’94, Cliff Benham, Jimmy Ritman ’94, Jeff Andrea ’94 and Chris Gugelmann ’94. Oh yeah, and that’s the bride, Demi Wasilko, they are holding!

Office of Humanitarian Assistance at CHF International, an international non-profit organization that focuses on humanitarian assistance and economic development.

REUNION 2008 ALERT! Celebrate the years since graduation at Homecoming Weekend on September 26–27! Reunion year for classes ending in 3 and 8. Please send your news to Cat Scott Martin Martin (cmartin@brunswickschool.org/800.546.9425) to keep us all informed!

Summer 2008

“Dear Friends, Many of you have asked how you can help respond to the disaster in Myanmar, which is emerging as one of the worst disasters I’ve ever seen—potentially as bad as the Tsunami. There are estimates of more than 100,000 deaths, and more expected as water-borne diseases and malaria set in.

At least one million people are homeless. Food and water have run out in many areas. People are living in the open, exposed to the elements. Roads and bridges have been destroyed. Many areas are accessible by water only, so getting emergency supplies to them and helping to rebuild homes and livelihoods are going to be enormous challenges.

Once we get into countries, we work with the United Nations, the Red Cross, and other aid organizations to get emergency supplies to the people who need them.

If you would like to help with the Myanmar relief effort, the best way (at this moment) is to give a financial donation to organizations like CHF. Cash lets us buy locally whatever is needed, and goes a lot farther than other types of donations, which need to be transported around the world. I urge everyone to donate as much as they can, and encourage others to donate at chfinternational.org.

I’ll try to keep everyone up-to-date as things develop.”

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CLASS NOTES

The Ritman Wedding…Bride Abby Ritman, with Class of 1994 alumni TR Shepard, Ty Bailey, Brett Stephens, Alfie Smith, Rory Callagy, Jeff Andrea, Jamie Muhlfeld, Jamie Quinn, Frankie Peluso, Eric Ferraris, Luis Gonzalez-Bunster and her husband Jimmy Ritman.

Photo credit: Lucien Capehart Photography.

Billy Hartong and his band. Breaking Laces, beat out 4,000 bands to take First Prize in 2007’s Starbucks Music Competition. The win gives them a spot to play at the Kauai Music Festival this summer, plus two days of recording in a Boston studio.

Breaking Laces has lots of shows coming up, so check out their schedule at breakinglaces.com Luke Henry is running for New York State Assembly against Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

Luke needs the support of the Brunswick community. Please check out his website lukehenry.org.

1993 Aimee and Steve Tusa had their second daughter on March 29, 2008. They are enjoying little Morgan Lynch Tusa!

On May 10, 2008, James Ritman married Abby Golden in Palm Beach, Florida. Best wishes to the new Mr. and Mrs. Ritman!

1995 Richard Parent graduated from medical school at the University of Vermont in 2005 and moved to California to complete his general surgery residency at Stanford University Hospital.

1996 Michael Basham was married to Aubree Pappas in Santa Barbara, California. The couple resides in Santa Monica.

1999 Matt Lorig happily reported that he became engaged to Julie Lenehan in April 2008. Best wishes to the soon-to-be Mr. and Mrs. Lorig!

Robert Rafter is engaged to his future bride, Kathryn Rogers. They are planning a wedding for January 24, 2009.

Captain Nate Raymond received a personal commendation from General David Petraeus, Commander of U.S. Forces in Iraq, for his part in planning and executing “Operation Courageous Marine,” a major air assault on Al Qaeda centers southwest of Baghdad. Captain Raymond now commands Alpha Company of the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division in Iraq.

1994

Times of BRUNSWICK

Eric Ferraris married Demi Wasilko on May 12, 2007 at Cap Juluca Resort in Anguilla.

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Ken Ebbitt and his wife, Jennie, welcomed identical twin boys on May 1st! Ryan Kai was born at 1:53 p.m., weighed in at 6 lbs 4oz and was 19 inches long. Cooper Tsai was born one minute later at 1:54 p.m., weighed in at 5 lbs exact and was 17.5 inches long. Ken writes, “Cooper is quickly closing the gap on his older brother and we’re enjoying the merry-go-round of sleeping and eating schedules that comes with newborns.”

On March 5, 2008, Eloise Audrey Muhlfeld was born at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, California. She weighed 7 lbs 2 ounces and measured 19.5 inches. Mom, baby, and dad James Mulfeld, are all doing well.

Captain

Nate Raymond receiving a personal commendation from General David Petraeus.

CLASS NOTES

Shane

of 1995 alums Jim Dasher, Carolina Beja, Antonio Beja and Ted Adler at the Beja’s wedding last May in Lisbon, Portugal, where Antonio and Carolina live.

Class

2000 Watch for Brunswick Alums at the Beijing Olympics!

The band, A Brief Smile, which includes DL Tashjian (who sings and plays guitar), Jared O’Connell (on keyboards) and Garrett Ienner (on lead guitar) beat out 10 other national finalists by judges’ score and popular vote in the Collegiate National Music Championship.

They played an all-expense paid show in San Diego and received other awards as well. The band often has gigs in NYC. Check out their schedule at abriefsmile.com

Heller ’03 with his brother Jake ’00 at Shane’s Naval Academy Commissioning in May 2007. Shane has on his officer’s hat and Ensign’s shoulder boards.

William Welles invited Michael Lindsay to fill out the Hamilton team and they won their division at the 2008 College Curling Nationals.

Michael also won silver medals with the Yale team he founded at the New England Curling Championship. William will be at Bridgewater Associates next year. Michael will be reading history at Oxford.

Lots of luck to Cameron and Tyler Winkelvoss who will be competing on the U.S. Rowing Team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics this summer. The Winklevoss brothers finished second at the U.S. Team trials in June and were named to the men’s pair squad for their first trip to the Olympic games. We look forward to cheering them on in August!

2002 Matt Dalio was honored this past June at the Metro International’s 2008 Fulbright Awards Dinner for his work as Founder and Chairman of the China Care Foundation.

2004 The Geiger Wedding! Phil Geiger married Laura Barrow on November 10, 2007. Many Brunswick classmates were in attendance including, Brian Moran, Tucker McKee, Mike Tomsky, Chase Marsh; Phil and his wife Laura Barrow (now Geiger), Steve Bursky, and Chris Smith (Best Man).

REUNION 2008 ALERT! Celebrate the years since graduation at Homecoming Weekend on September 26–27! Reunion year for classes ending in 3 and 8. Please send your news to Cat Scott Martin Martin (cmartin@brunswickschool.org/800.546.9425) to keep us all informed!

Summer 2008

Doug Burdett, Brunswick Director of College Guidance and Upper School English teacher reports of a nice mid-morning phone call he received from Joe McMenemon and Franky Hoyos.

They were in the Big Easy on a mini-Brunswick reunion and sent good wishes to all at ’Wick.

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CLASS NOTES 2007 Nick Chen was recently voted President of his class at Colgate for the 2008-2009 school year.

Congrats, Nick!

Colin Raymond, a member of the Fighting Irish Brigade of ROTC at Notre Dame, was selected to attend the Airborne Course (“Jump School”) at Fort Benning, Georgia this summer.

Faculty Notes Sighting from Jack O’Connell, former Middle School teacher and dean of Grade 6, who came to Brunswick in 2000 and retired in 2005: “…I was recently volunteering at Hotchkiss’s Tremaine Art Gallery and who should walk in with his English class but Will Benedict ’08, whom I taught English way back in his 6th grade. It is such a joy to see the ’little boys’ all grown up and happy. I know this makes me sound like a sentimental old geezer… that would be rather accurate!”

Scott Weston ’03 receiving 2nd Lt pins from his mother and father at his Commissioning at Wake Forest University, North Carolina.

2005

2006

Harry Mallory started working for Senator McCain last summer in Washington, D.C. and continues to canvass in important primary states for his candidate.

Brunswick extends its deepest sympathy to Jamie O’Brien and his brother Timmy ’09 on the death of their father, Jay, on June 9, 2008 (see In Memorium).

DIGITAL PHOTOS We love pictures, and we like you to look good.

Here are some tips for sending us digital photos that will look fantastic in print:

Times of BRUNSWICK

• • • • •

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Did you know that Alexander Constantine has two groups called “The Dad-rigals”? Fathers of seniors at GA and Sacred Heart come together to rehearse and perform songs that Alexander has written. Lyrics are pertinent to their daughters and their schools, so each song, every year, is unique. “The Dad-rigals” perform at the father-daughter annual dances.

Last fall 2007, Timothy Markey, Upper School Latin teacher, was awarded a Teacher Tribute from Stanford University. The award reads, “Stanford University wishes to recognize Timothy Markey for exceptional teaching. Your dedication to the field of education has contributed greatly to the future of your students, Stanford University, and your community.”

Set the photo size to 4 x 6 inches or larger, in 300 DPI Set your digital camera to the best photo setting Save files as TIFF or JPG Please identify everyone left to right in the photo and provide a caption Email photos as attachments to Cat Scott Martin, cmartin@brunswickschool.org

If you’d rather send a traditional print (made from a negative), we love them, too, but please send them on GLOSSY paper whenever possible. Matte prints and prints from digital photos do NOT scan well. We cannot reproduce photos from photocopies or magazines or newsprint. Mail prints to: Cat Scott Martin Brunswick School Alumni Office 100 Maher Avenue • Greenwich, CT 06830

The Bruce family just added one more little thing to their busy schedule! David Bruce (Middle School Admissions Director, Middle School math teacher, and Varsity lacrosse coach) and Krista Bruce (Brunswick Annual Fund Director) joyfully welcomed Braxton Robert Bruce to the brood on July 8, 2008.

CLASS NOTES

In Memoriam William Dean Elias ’69, a former advertising executive who became a real state developer, builder, and restorer in Palm Beach, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, March 12, 2008, in New York. He was 56.

Born in New York on August 30, 1951, Mr. Elias was educated at the American School in London and graduated from Brunswick School in 1969. He earned an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

In the early 1970s, Bill moved to Toronto, where he met his future wife, Pauline Rosenberg.

While there, he founded Elias Marketing and Communications, an advertising firm specializing in real estate marketing and research. After nearly two decades in the advertising business, Bill quit and moved his family to Palm Beach.

Mr. Elias, better known as Bill, went on to found E=mc Inc. in downtown West Palm Beach and decided to do what he loved: restore architecturally significant homes. His first project was a home on El Brillo Way, which he renovated and resold. Other projects ranged from modest — by Palm Beach standards — lakefront townhouses to sprawling oceanfront properties, such as Amado and Nuestra Paradiso.

Mr. Elias was active in civic and charitable causes, including the Palm Beach Human Rights Council, Comprehensive AIDS Program of Palm Beach County, Foundation for Comprehensive Community Care, National Association of Children of Alcoholics, Ryan Licht Sang Bipolar Foundation, and United Cerebral Palsy.

Mr. Elias is survived by his mother, Rea Elias of Jupiter Island; his daughter, Vanessa Elias Krelstein; his sons, Jonathan and Benjamin Elias; a granddaughter, Stella Rose Krelstein; his brother, Albert Elias; son-in-law Lee Krelstein; former wife Pauline Rosenberg Elias; and his partner, Dale Henderson.

Bryce L. Holland, former Brunswick trustee and father of Bryce Holland, Jr. ’70, George Holland ’72, Andrew Holland ’74, and David Holland ’81, died January 17, 2008 after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He was 80 years old and lived the last seven years of his life in Winter Park, Florida. Prior to retiring to Florida, he resided in Greenwich for more than 40 years.

Mr. Holland was born in Atlanta, Georgia and raised in Weaverville, North Carolina. He graduated in 1952 from the University of Virginia and was a veteran of the Korean War, serving his country as a 1st Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. Following military service, he joined the Dell Publishing Company in New York City.

After more than 25 years as a business executive, Mr. Holland commenced a successful second career as a residential real estate broker with Douglas Elliman Pickering Associates. Later in life, he was inducted into the Thomas Jefferson Society of Alumni for his esteemed association with the University of Virginia.

He was active in community affairs as well, contributing years of service to the Board of Directors of the Milbrook Club, and to the Board of Trustees of Brunswick School from 1965 to 1971.

His wife of 56 years, Marianne; his sons Bryce Jr. of Seattle, George of Greensboro, Andrew of Winter Park, and David of Atlanta; and 11 grandchildren survive Mr. Holland. His beloved daughter, Melissa, predeceased him.

James (Jay) H. O’Brien, Jr., a lifelong White Plains resident, passed away on June 9, 2008.

Jay was born on September 5, 1946 graduated from Baldwin-Wallace College (Ohio) and obtained his law degree from Cleveland State. He joined the Westchester District Attorney’s office in 1972. Jay retired in 1995 and went into private practice. He was predeceased by his wife, Deborah (Boldon) in 1997. Surviving are four children: Chris and his wife, Suzanne, of Rye, New York; Craig and his wife, Carrie, of Stamford, Connecticut; Jamie ’06 (currently at Georgetown University); Timmy ’09 (currently at Kent School); and a granddaughter, Caleigh.

Eugene F. O’Callaghan ’48 passed away in February 2008 at age 79 from Pulmonary Fibrosis. Gene spent his first two years of high school at Mamaroneck High School, followed by two more years at Brunswick School, plus a post-grad year, making him a part of both the Class of 1947 and 1948. After Brunswick, Gene served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict and ended up settling in Ohio with his wife of 46 years, Nanette.

He is survived by his wife; children, Michael, James, and Kathleen Huston; grandchildren, Madison, Ella and Callaghan; brother, Richard; and sister, Jane Mahncke.

Frank W. Wearin Jr. “Bill” ’62 passed away on January 13, 2008 from cancer at Greenwich Hospital. Born July 1, 1944 in Brooklyn, New York, he was the son of Edith E. Wearin and the late Frank W. Wearin Sr. A long-time Greenwich resident, Frank attended Brunswick School from the seventh grade through Senior year, and is remembered fondly by his classmates. Remembered for many things, but most especially for his prowess on the football field and hockey rink. After Brunswick, Bill attended Lycoming College and from there went on to have a career on Wall Street. In 2001, he retired from Merrill Lynch after working as a stock broker on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange for over 30 years.

Bill was a member of The Union League Club and Buttonwood Club, both of New York City; Desert Falls Country Club of Palm Desert, California; and Greenwich Country Club.

He is survived by his, mother Edith E. Wearin; wife Diane H. Wearin; sister Ann W. Finnegan; two daughters, Jennifer W. Duncan and Kimberly D. Wearin; and two grandsons, William J. Duncan and Thomas J. Duncan.

Summer 2008

REUNION 2008 ALERT! Celebrate the years since graduation at Homecoming Weekend on September 26–27! Reunion year for classes ending in 3 and 8. Please send your news to Cat Scott Martin Martin (cmartin@brunswickschool.org/800.546.9425) to keep us all informed!

75

CLASS NOTES VIEWPOINT:

Student Perspective

By Marcus Garfinkle, Class of 2008 Graduate

Eighteen years ago—on July

of BRUNSWICK Times of BRUNSWICK

22, 1989—I was born to a teenage girl in Louisville, Kentucky.

Unable to raise me, she put me up for adoption right away.

Twenty-three years ago—on July 24, 1984 and almost five years exactly before my birth—my brother was born to a different teenage girl in Kentucky. Fifty-four years ago—in 1953—my mother was born to a college girl in Manhattan and also was put up for adoption. Sixty-one years ago—in 1946—my father was born to a young woman in Brooklyn. And yep, you guessed it; he was put up for adoption, too.

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Everyone in my family is adopted. It is sometimes strange to think that not one of us is blood-related.

Personally, I feel that this connection only makes us closer. We all came from different parts of the country with different backgrounds and life paths. It could be some form of destiny, but my parents, brother, and I have certainly managed to have our life paths intersect under one roof.

Our differences are striking. My mother has long dark brown hair, brown eyes, and a small 5’3” frame.

My father has short brown hair, brown eyes, and an athletic 5’2” build. My brother stands just a hair under 6’0” tall and has short brown hair, and dark brown eyes. I’m more or less the oddball. I’m 6’2” with long blonde hair, and light blue eyes. I look completely different from the rest of my family. But that’s exactly what I love the most about it. We are all completely different, yet surprisingly similar.

A family is not simply having the same genetics or having the same last name. Instead, it is a collection of people who care for each other and share a deep love. My family has an unbelievably strong bond and I attribute it to mutual respect of all my family

members and the different paths we have taken in life.

A little over a year ago, I traveled to Southern India to study philosophy and experience the unfamiliar culture. I encountered the world we never see—an incredible place engulfed by impoverishment, yet bounded by happiness and religious faith. Southern India is a world very different from our own. Everywhere I went I was greeted with the warmest of smiles. Coming from Connecticut, I was shocked by the poverty, but even more shocked by the happiness these people exuded.

From the energetic children jumping up and down together, to the adults giving smiles and waves, one could feel the sincerity, the unaffected naturalness, and the pure happiness. There were no fancy cars or extravagant homes. There were barely even structures we would consider homes. They did not have cool iPods to listen to, or Xbox’s to play. All they had were each other, their family, their friends, and their faith. It was an amazing thing to see.

My trip to India made me think about my own happiness. Earlier in my life, I was very caught up in our society and its view of material things. I used to think if I did not get that game for Hanukkah or didn’t go on vacation for break, I would be unhappy.

I was very wrong. I now understand that happiness truly comes from cherishing the things you already have. I believe it is not worth having something unless you appreciate it. This takes me back to my original thought.

To be where I am today is virtually all by luck, you could say maybe destiny or fate. But appreciating how lucky you really are brings the most meaningful sense of happiness. If I had not have been adopted, I would certainly not have all the wonderful opportunities I have today and I would most certainly not be with the family I am with today. I could have easily been adopted by one of the thousands of other families on the list.

To be with the family I am with and to be where I am today, I consider myself to be the luckiest kid alive. For all of the opportunities and privileges that I have, I am truly grateful. We are incredibly blessed, and lucky. If life were a lottery, we all hit the jackpot.

Brunswick

“Lifers” include students who have been at ’Wick since Pre-K: (bottom row, left to right): David Levy, Michael Levy, Bobby Benjamin(middle row): Bryce Fitzpatrick, Philip Cutler, Russell Zimmerman, Dixon Mallory, Peter Hadjipateras (top row): Jamie Biondi, Michael Allwin, Nick Philip

Class of 2008 Destinations Jamar, Alexandre ......................................... Vanderbilt University Johnson, Christopher .........................................Colorado College Kaskel, Alexander .....................................University of Michigan Kearney, Edward .................................... Miami University (Ohio) King, William ........................................................... Union College Krasnow, Michael .............................................Denison University Laird, Andrew ............................................ University of Vermont Levy, David ........................................................ Colgate University Levy, Michael ............................................................Trinity College Long, Garrett ....................................................US Naval Academy Louis, Ghregory ...................................... Northeastern University Loynaz, Oscar .................................................Princeton University Luse, Walter.........................................College of William & Mary Mallory, Dixon .......................................... St. Lawrence University Miller, Kyle ...................................................... Bucknell University Morrisroe, Daniel ................................................. Williams College Northrup, Kent .................................. University of Pennsylvania Nowell, Justin....................................................... Bowdoin College Oberbeck, John ..................................................Brown University Philip, Nicholas.................................................Denison University Pinto, Nicholas ......................................... Georgetown University Piscina, Thomas .......................................................... Choate (PG) Platter, Brian ....................................................... Davidson College Polak, Adam .......................................... Johns Hopkins University Polonia, Eddy..............................Florida Institute of Technology Potocki, Ryan .......................................................Brown University Prager, Zachary...................................................... Duke University Quillinan, Kevin ....................................................... Union College Reed, Andrew ....................................................... Amherst College Reed, William ........................................................ Amherst College Santacruz, Kevin ......................................................Trinity College Skelsey, Charles ...............................................St. Michael’s College Smith, Townsend...................................... St. Lawrence University Sorrel, Robert........................................................ Amherst College Tunney, Bryan .................................................. Dartmouth College Vallely, James .............................................. University of Vermont VanLang, Chasen............................... Carnegie-Mellon University Ventosa, Alejandro .......................................... Bucknell University Weinberg, Peter................................................ Dartmouth College Zimmerman, Russell.....................University of NC, Chapel Hill

Summer 2008

Agovino, Michael ...................University of Colorado—Boulder Allwin, Michael ................................................ Bucknell University Antonacci, Christopher ........................... Georgetown University Archer, Miles ......................................... Johns Hopkins University Bailey, Edwin ..........................University of Colorado—Boulder Barrett, John ................................................... Dartmouth College Bayliss, Christopher .............................................. Duke University Benjamin, Robert ..................................................... Vassar College Berger, Gregory ............................................... Dartmouth College Biondi, James ........................................................... Yale University Blackiston, Clay ..............................................Princeton University Bubar, Jonathan ............................................. Columbia University Chu, Christopher .......................................................Bates College Coleman, Bryan ...................................................Brown University Curry, John ............................................................... Juniata College Cutler, Philip .................................................... Middlebury College Dann, Robert ..................................... University of Pennsylvania Daugherty, Charles ................................... St. Lawrence University Dickson, Alex ..................................... University of Pennsylvania Dobbs, Corey ................................................... College of Wooster Dunn, Harrison ......................University of Colorado—Boulder Einhorn, Terence .............................. Carnegie-Mellon University Fernandez, David ...................................Northwestern University Figgie, Mark ..................................................... Bucknell University Fitzpatrick, Bryce ..................................... Georgetown University Forester, Matthew ................................................. Duke University Freeburg, Dexter ................................................. Hartwick College Garfinkle, Marcus................... University of Southern California Gatto, Philip .......................................................Cornell University Ghaffari, Christopher ....................................Princeton University Hadjipateras, Peter ................................... Georgetown University Hanson, Peter ......................University of Wisconsin—Madison Hantho, Karl ....................................................... McGill University Hare, Alexander...................................................Brown University Hopkins, Ryan .................................................... Davidson College Hotchkiss, Thomas ...................................Wake Forest University Howland, John ................................................St. Michael’s College Hoyos, Tomas ........................................................Harvard College Huffard, Gray .................................................... Colgate University Jackson, Lee ..................................................... Stanford University

III

Will you be in Florida in January 2009?

The Blue Notes, Brunswick’s jazz group, will be performing at a Bruins’ Florida gathering and we hope to see you!

Please send your name and address to Cat and we’ll keep you posted.

Cat Scott Martin Brunswick School / Alumni Office 100 Maher Avenue Greenwich, CT 06830 cmartin@brunswickschool.org T: 800.546.9425

C’mon! Swing a little!

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