Times of Brunswick, Winter 2015

HOMECOMING 2014: HUGS & CHEERS FOR ALL GENERATIONS

THE BRUNSWICK TRUST: CAPSTONE ON CHARACTER & LEADERSHIP

FALL SPORTS: THREE CROWNED CHAMPIONS

Winter 2014

Findingthe

Sweet

Spot where TALENT, PASSION, DRIVE

+converge

YOUNG ALUMNI PROVE THAT SUCCESS GROWS FROM ‘KNOWING THYSELF’

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2014–2015

BEHIND THE SCENES at Baker Theater

Sanjeev K. Mehra, P ’10, ’12, ’13, ’20 Chairman Richard Axilrod, P ’14, ’18 James F. Bell, P ’14, ’16, ’17, ’21 W. Robert Berkley Jr. ’91, P ’21, ’23 Nancy M. Better, P ’11, ’13 Michael J. Bingle, P ’20, ’25 Todd L. Boehly, P ’20, ’22, ’24 Mark H. Camel, P ’12, ’18, ’18 Robert F. Carangelo, P ’17, ’21 Frank Carroll, P ’22 B. Cort Delany ’73 Mark F. Dzialga, P ’19 Gregory B. Hartch ’88, P ’19 John R. Harvey ’84 Carlos M. Hernandez, P ’18 Christina C. Kazazes, P ’13, ’19, ’23 David B. MacFarlane, P ’11, ’12, ’16 Anthony E. Mann, P ’17 D. Ian McKinnon, P ’18 Thomas D. O’Malley Jr. ’85, P ’12, ’15, ’21 Suzanne P. Peisch, P ’12, ’14, ’16, ’18 Philip F. P. Pierce, P ’10, ’13, ’18 Stephen R. Pierce, P ’15, ’19 Jean W. Rose, P ’16 David R. Salomon, P ’16 William A. Schneider ’72, P ’12, ’16 Scott M. Stuart, P ’12, ’16 Michael A. Troy, P ’12, ’14 Kerry Tyler, P ’15, ’18 Tyler J. Wolfram, P ’18, ’22

Ex Officio Thomas W. Philip, P ’08, ’10 Headmaster Kathleen Harrington CFO / Business Manager Thomas G. Murray, P ’25, ’27 Executive Director of Development Daniel J. Griffin Director of Institutional Communications Joan Beth Brown, P ’11, ’13, ’15 President, BPA

It isn’t easy — but it’s fun!

In the fall, Middle School students staging the musical Shrek Jr. and Upper Schoolers working on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream learned that countless hours of rehearsal and work behind the scenes are essential ingredients for every great production. For more, turn to page 46.

MESSAGE FROM THE

HEADMASTER Our Greatest Challenge: To Be a Force for Good

A

T OPENING Day Assembly a few years ago, I conveyed a few disjointed but

It’s simple, short, and to-the-point, easy to tape above your mirror for a little inspiration:

heartfelt thoughts, three of which I’d like

“Be a Force for Good.”

to share again now.

Think about it. One really can’t do better.

First, even more than I want our boys to

Be a force for good: Help others before you

succeed, I want each and every one of us —

help yourself. Think of others before you think of

students and faculty alike — to appreciate that

yourself. Leave a place better than you found it.

we’re part of something bigger.

Enjoy things in a group, not on your own. Raise,

Brunswick is only as good as any one of us on our worst day. We’re all in this together. We all

don’t lower, the level of discourse. Win as a team, not as an individual. Never compromise your

benefit from the reputation of those who came before us. We owe it to those who will follow to honor what’s special about this place.

Brunswick boys stand out.

People judge them and, by extension, all of us by how we conduct ourselves. If we’re rude, selfish, entitled, or spoiled, people will assume everyone

honor or encourage others to

“ WE ACTUALLY TEND TO LEARN MORE FROM MISTAKES THAN FROM SUCCESSES. SO, AS IN LIFE, WE WON’T SHIELD OUR BOYS FROM EITHER.”

here is that way. If we’re polite,

compromise theirs.

Expect less and thank more.

To that end, I concluded by reminding the boys why

In the whole endeavor, we’ll accept many of a

Brunswick School is here:

boy’s mistakes, if we see that he’s willing and able

For well over 100 years, our mission has been to “prepare

tend to learn more from mistakes than from

young men for life.”

successes. So, as in life, we won’t shield our boys

Our boys’ mission is not to

from either.

get the best grades, not to win

As we “prepare young men for life,” our motto

the most games, not to gather

remains Courage, Honor and Truth. So, I’ll close

respectful, and resourceful, they’ll believe those

the most friends or to get into the best college. It

are the standards of the Brunswick community.

is “to prepare for life.”

Second, I urged our boys to look out for each

to learn from them. In all honesty, we actually

Life has ups and downs, good days and

with this hope: May we have the Courage to face all we do with determination, the Honor to respond to

other. We all have our failings and lapses. I asked

bad, advancements and setbacks. If we at

setbacks with persistence and, above all, may we

each boy to help the “other guy” to be the best he

Brunswick are true to our mission, then, just

always be Truthful to ourselves, so that we may

can, knowing, in turn, others will do the same

as in life, our boys’ time here must also have

grow better from the lessons offered by our worst

for him. Together, we can help each other tap, as

ups and downs, good days and bad, advance-

days as well the successes achieved on our best.

Lincoln said, the “better angels of our nature.”

ments and setbacks.

Third, I offered something for our boys to

Our faculty works to support our boys through

think about each morning: I have a saying taped

the entire experience. Guiding our boys to

above my mirror that I read as I get dressed. It

achieve all they can achieve is why we wake up in

offers a good perspective to start each day, not

the morning. It’s why we’re teachers. We love the

just on schoolwork, but on all things.

job and we love these boys.

Thomas W. Philip

WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

Headmaster 022015.indd 1

| 01

2/20/15 1:48 PM

W I N T E R times of

Brunswick School 100 Maher Avenue Greenwich, CT 06830 Tel: 203.625.5800 BrunswickSchool.org

2 01 5

CONTENTS

Headmaster Thomas W. Philip Executive Director of Development Thomas G. Murray

06

Associate Director of Development Meghan McCarthy Director of Institutional Communications Daniel J. Griffin dgriffin@brunswickschool.org Associate Directors of Communications Mike Kennedy ’99 mkennedy@brunswickschool.org Wayne Lin wlin@brunswickschool.org Class Notes Editor Libby Edwards ledwards@brunswickschool.org Contributing Writers Yousef Hindy ’15 Mike Kennedy ’99 Katherine Ogden Thomas W. Philip Contributing Photographers CoffeePond Photography Dan Burns Jamie Fessenden Michael Graae Preston Han ‘09 Jeffry Konczal Minush Krasniqi Wayne Lin Joan Marcus Mel Morales Ted Stolar ChiChi Ubiña Design Mary Lester Design marylesterdesign.com Printing Flagship Press, flagshippress.com

02 | TIMES

FEATURES 06 A Spirited Sea of Brown & Gold

By Katherine Ogden and Mike Kennedy ’ 99 28 Finding the Sweet Spot

By Katherine Ogden 40 A Proud Athletic Tradition.

United on One Campus

By Mike Kennedy ’99

28

OF BRUNSWICK • FALL 2014

TOB Winter TOC 022015.indd 2

2/20/15 2:16 PM

CONTENTS

48

FLEX TIME 04 ‘Make Sure That It Mattered’ 27 A Prolific Reader: Not a Lady Who Lunched 39 A Matter of Trust 46 ’Wick Students on Stage 53 Counter-Terror Expert: ‘Think About a Career in Public Service’

DEPARTMENTS 01 Message from the Headmaster 48 Beyond the Books – From Zaragoza to Maher Avenue: ’Wick Welcomes Exchange Student – A Visitor from Across the Pond – One Man’s Clutter, Another’s Hidden Treasure – Lower Schoolers Compete for National Checkmate Honors – In Middle School, Mathletes Abound

40

– Strictly by the Numbers – ’Wick’s Horizons Continue to Expand – The Merits of Ayn Rand, Game of Thrones: Just Another Day in Advisory

59

54 Class Notes 57 In Memoriam 59 Alumni Events

Icon indicates more content can be viewed by visiting bwick.org/tob_winter2015

64 Last Look

WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

TOB Winter TOC 022015.indd 3

| 03

2/20/15 2:16 PM

FLEX TIME THE OTHER WES MOORE

‘Make Sure That It Mattered’

By Mike Kennedy ’99

D

YING OF cancer, Colonel Billy G. Murphy stepped forward to give what would be his farewell address to

the student body at Valley Forge Military College in 1996.

To this day, then cadet Wes Moore hasn’t forgotten Murphy’s words. “He explained that when it’s time for you to leave here, whether it’s time to leave this school, this job, this neighborhood — or when it’s time to leave this planet — make sure that it mattered that you were ever even here,” Moore recalled.

“The point is not simply a diploma.

The point is having a greater and lasting understanding of who it is you’re supposed to fight for — who this degree is going to matter to.”

– WES MOORE

In a September visit to the Upper School, Moore — Rhodes Scholar, paratrooper and captain in the U.S. Army, White House Fellow to then Secretary of State Condeleeza Rice, and author of New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller The Other Wes Moore — asked all in his audience to do the same.

04 | TIMES

OF BRUNSWICK • WINTER 2015

TOB Winter Flex Time 022015.indd 4

2/20/15 2:40 PM

Flex TIME

letters I’ve ever received in my life,” he said. “That turned into dozens of letters and visits. I’ve now known Wes for more than 10 years.”

The Other Wes Moore was born out of that relationship, and this Wes Moore — veteran, social activist, writer, and entrepreneur — visited Maher Avenue on Sept.

29 to discuss the story all ’Wick 8th–12th graders read last summer.

Moore explained that his book might have been the easiest-ever open-book test: Two guys with the same name. One guy goes one way and the other goes another.

According to the author, it’s not that simple.

“We wanted the reader to understand that it shouldn’t be that easy to decipher and determine which kid is which. At many junctions and at many points in the story, the Throughout the day, Moore urged all to pay attention, to avoid apathy, and to become involved in a process that’s largely about others.

For more photos, visit bwick.org/tob_winter2015

“So much of the focus about your

beginning in December 2000, for

chilling truth is that his story could

level of success is determined by a

Moore to understand fully what

have been mine, and the tragedy is

transcript or a GPA,” Moore said.

is now a focal point of his life’s

that my story could have been his,”

“The argument I hope to make is

philosophy. As Moore prepared to

Moore said.

that, while all that is important,

head off to Oxford for his Rhodes

never forget the real point of why

scholarship, another young

of our schools and communities

you’re here.

man of the same name — also

— people literally one decision

from the same neighborhood in

away from going one direction

diploma,” he said. “The point

Baltimore — was being sought for

or another, people who every day

is having a greater and lasting

the murder of an off-duty police

straddle this line of greatness,” he

understanding of who it is you’re

officer. He was eventually caught,

observed. “The problem is they

supposed to fight for — who this

tried, and convicted.

don’t even know it.”

“The point is not simply a

degree is going to matter to.”

It took a decade-long process,

Moore couldn’t stop thinking

“Wes Moores exist in every one

Moore urged all to pay attention,

about this strange coincidence, and

to avoid apathy, and, to a greater

decided to write his jailed name-

extent, to become involved in a

sake a letter.

process that’s largely about others.

A month later, he got a response.

“How you take this education

“It’d be one thing if it was written

and compound on it matters,” he

in crayon or magic marker,” Moore

said. “The beautiful thing about

said. “I guess I would have said ‘I

this school is that these are not just

get it’ and that probably would’ve

academic exercises.

been it. The problem is I never received that kind of letter.

“Instead, I received one of the most interesting and articulate

“You’re here because they know what you’ll continue to do — not just while you’re here, but long after you’re gone.”

WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

TOB Winter Flex Time 022015.indd 5

| 05

2/20/15 2:40 PM

01

02

A SPIRITED SEA OF

BROWN

06 | TIMES

OF BRUNSWICK • WINTER 2015

04

Brunswick transformed into a spirited sea of Brown and Gold throughout Homecoming 2014, as the largest-ever gathering of alumni, parents, and friends in the School’s history turned 05 out for a tradition-filled weekend. Warm and clear September skies provided the perfect canopy for games, good cheer, and the reunion of Bruins from all generations.

CAPTIONS ON FOLLOWING PAGE 03

GOLD

06

07

PREVIOUS SPREAD Jack Wendell ’27 and his father, Jon, represent the best of Homecoming 2014.

01 Fireworks capped off Friday nightʼs festivities.

02 Matt Marvin ’15

07

03 Jeff Marvin P ’15, ’17, ’19, and Chris Day ’81 04 Jack Knight ’15 05 Jay Helmer ’84 and his son, Henry 06 Demetri Day ’78, Michael Gorman ’82, Chris Day ’81, and Peter Gorman ’82 gear up for the day on the links.

THIS PAGE

07 O.K., we’re officially stumped!

If you can identify this boy, please email Libby Edwards (ledwards@ brunswickschool.org).

08 Jon Harty ’15, Jamie Pollak ’15, and Alex Montinaro ’15 lead their team onto the field.

Soccer beat The Gunnery, 2–1, while football outdid rival The Taft School on Cosby Field, 53–14.

08

Brunswick spirit has never been so high! Record crowds flocked to Brunswick for a weekend of Homecoming celebrations that ventured into every corner of the ’Wick community.

O

and the “9s,” after Saturday’s games, alumni fanned out to gatherings across Greenwich to reminisce and reconnect.

Overall, Homecoming 2014 drew the largest gathering of alumni, ever, in the history of the School. But the weekend provided fun for ’Wick community members from every quarter and of every age.

A pep rally complete with a roaring bonfire and soaring fireworks set the stage for a Middle School dance on

N THE heels of trium-

who appeared stunned as Headmaster

Friday evening, while on Saturday the

phant festivities in 2013,

Thomas W. Philip awarded him the 2014

annual Bear Fair at Burke Field House

Homecoming 2014

Distinguished Alumni Award for his tire-

drew hundreds of young Bruins for fun

featured a record-breaking

less work on behalf of his alma mater.

and games.

turnout under the brightest sunshine, as

Ryckman was one of the founding

For those who missed all the merri-

’Wick Bruins again swept the weekend

directors of the Brunswick Alumni

ment at Homecoming 2014, please know

with decisive victories.

Association in 2010.

that we missed you.

Alumni kicked off the festivities on

In sports, Bruins dominated play,

We take this early opportunity to

Friday with the annual golf outing at the

winning in football, water polo, and

extend a heartfelt invitation to next

Griffith E. Harris Golf Course.

soccer.

year’s events.

By evening, almost a hundred guests

Playing their first Homecoming games

packed the Upper School Atrium for the

ever in their new natatorium, water polo

5th Annual Alumni Association Party.

swam past Loomis Chaffee, 17-3, and

Among them was Jon Ryckman ’88,

08 | TIMES

In a reunion year for both the “4s”

Suffield Academy, 17–8.

Please join us!

For more photos, visit bwick.org/ tob_winter2015

OF BRUNSWICK • WINTER 2015

TOB Winter Homecoming 022015.indd 8

2/20/15 4:41 PM

01

ALUM NI GO LF O UT I NG

A Day of Friendly, Competitive Banter R

AIN HAS long been synonymous with the Alumni Golf Outing at the Griffith E. Harris Golf Course — even despite a dry, blustery fall day in 2013.

This year, with their logic unabashedly clear, event orga-

nizers handed out a Brunswick-logoed umbrella to all participants upon their arrival to the course.

02

And, much to their delight, the strategic ploy worked to a tee, as summer-like conditions prevailed and golfers enjoyed an ideal September stroll on the links.

Bermuda shorts, polo shirts, and sunglasses were the uniform of choice.

Seventy-three players, including alumni spanning six decades of ’Wick Bruins, took part in the annual kickoff to Homecoming

03

01 Joe Tranfro ’81, P ’14; Phil McDonough ’81, P ’14; Bill Aron ’81, P ’28; and Steve Dym P ’16 enjoy themselves on the green.

02 Tony Calabrese ’97 and Grant Gyesky ’98 celebrate a long drive — quietly and raucously.

03 Academic Dean John Booth and Michael Lindsay ’00 head onto the course.

Weekend. A handful of faculty and staff members rounded out

For more photos, visit bwick.org/ tob_winter2015

WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

TOB Winter Homecoming 022015.indd 9

09

2/20/15 4:41 PM

01

02 05

01 A true Bruin dons his Brown & Gold knickers.

02 Glenn Oztemel ’76, Eric Christiansen ’77, Patrick Durkin ’75, and Gary Oztemel ’75

03

03 Will McGirr ’01 and Rana Kashyap ’01 04 Jed Becker ’78 and Chris Pavelic ’78 05 Winston Bragg ’92 and Michael Clear ’94 06 Carl Walker ’78 and Jed Becker ʼ78 celebrate a birdie.

06

the foursomes for the shotgun-start, 18-hole scramble.

tally up scorecards, cool off with

echoed across fairways in celebra-

refreshments, and connect with

tion of birdies, eagles, and near

fellow alumni and former teachers.

Competitive banter also ran high among participants — all in good fun, of course.

TOB Winter Homecoming 022015.indd 10

“It’s fun to catch up with old friends and share a few laughs,” said

“I particularly enjoy the event

Chris Pavelic ’78. “The Brunswick community goes the extra mile to

many tongue-in-cheek moments,”

make sure everyone connects and

Winston Bragg ’92 said. “You feel

has a great time.

back creating new memories with

OF BRUNSWICK • WINTER 2015

For all, this is the part they love most about the event.

for its jovial atmosphere and the

like you’re actually back in school —

10 | TIMES

gathered on the 19th-hole patio to

As is tradition, Ryder Cup roars

hole-outs throughout the day.

04

After play completed, the group

“It’s just an awesome, can’tmiss day.”

the entire Brunswick community.”

For more photos, visit bwick.org/tob_winter2015

2/20/15 4:41 PM

CO O KO UT, P E P RALLY, AND B O NFI RE

Sparkles Burst in the Evening Sky

B

01

RUNSWICK Homecoming always features something for everyone, and this

year proved no exception.

Festivities on King Street got underway on Friday evening with a cookout and pep rally designed to warm the soul and raise the spirit of Bruins of all ages.

Soon after a pair of 3rds soccer wins on the pitch, a bonfire roared to life and drew a crowd on the hillside next to Cosby Field.

A short time later, fireworks soared into an early evening sky of the palest blue, proclaiming the start of Homecoming 2014.

02

01 Julian Ronda ’15, Lucas Bell ’16, Alex Prout ’15, Branden Davis ’15, and Patrick Adamo ’16 02 Jesse Tswamuno ’16 goes up for the ball as Conner Wakeman ’16 looks on.

03 Students gather in anticipation of the bonfire.

03 For more photos, visit bwick.org/tob_season2014

TOB Winter Homecoming 022015.indd 11

WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

11 11

2/20/15 4:41 PM

5 T H A NNUAL ALUM NI ASSO CI AT I O N PART Y

Celebration of Friends, Old & New

H

OMECOMING 2014 served up an especially significant

moment for one of Brunswick’s newest traditions.

For the fifth year running, the Annual Alumni Association Party convened in the Upper School Atrium on Maher Avenue.

Headmaster Thomas W. Philip welcomed the crowd of almost 100 alumni to the Friday evening party, which has come to serve as Homecoming’s more intimate celebration of friends, old and new.

For many who hail from parts near and far, the event is also a chance to see Brunswick in its newest incarnation.

The Upper School saw a huge renovation in 2008–2009, with the addition of Baker Theater and the art wing.

Throughout the evening, guests are invited to reconnect with old classmates and teachers, as well as trickle through the building and see for themselves the amazing new facilities.

12 | TIMES

OF BRUNSWICK • WINTER 2015

TOB Winter Homecoming 022015.indd 12

For more photos, visit bwick.org/tob_season2014

2/20/15 4:41 PM

01

04

02

05

03

01 Shahryar Oveissi ’98, Paul Gojkovich ’01, former faculty member Ted Stolar, Andy Lorig ’05, Matt Gormly ’07, Clarke Rogers ’88, and Jon Ryckman ’88 02 Justin Weinstein ’99, Josyl Barchue ’00, and Andrew Ferrer ’04 03 Chris Wirth ’97, Corey Dobbs ’08, Zach Dobbs ’06, Kevin Decker ’07, and Fundraiser Jon Cormier

04 2nd-grade teacher Pat Meloni gathers with Ken Ebbitt ’94, Jarrett Shine ’92, and John Harvey ’84.

05 Michael Mazzola Keegan ’94, Jamie Muhlfeld ’94, and Caleb Weiss ’94

06

06 Nishant Gurnani ’09, Daniel O’Neill ’09, and Jamie Biondi ’08

For more photos, visit bwick.org/ tob_winter2015

WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

TOB Winter Homecoming 022015.indd 13

13 13

2/20/15 4:42 PM

2 0 1 4 DI ST I N G UI S H E D A LUM N I AWARD

A Dedicated Guy Who ‘Keeps Everyone Engaged’

A

MILESTONE IN the

a stronger alumni presence at

life of Brunswick

Homecoming and all School events.

School turned into

Last spring, the group was

a milestone in the

instrumental in launching the

life of one of its most dedicated

new Brunswick School Athletics

alumni after the School presented

Hall of Fame.

its 2014 Distinguished Alumni

Ryckman has a unique passion

Award to a very surprised Jon

for connecting alumni from

Ryckman ’88.

every era — not just to each

Homecoming 2014 was also the fifth year of Ryckman’s service to his alma mater as president of the Brunswick Alumni Association.

Just as he has each year,

other, but also to the alma mater he clearly loves.

“He’s the type of guy who keeps everyone engaged,” said Shine, noting that it was a key moment

Ryckman turned up at the

to recognize Ryckman, who

celebration prepared to honor

stepped down from his role as

a fellow alum with one of the

president in October, passing the

School’s most time-honored

reins to Paul Gojkovich ’01.

distinctions.

But this year, School leaders

Ryckman celebrated his 25th

Jon Ryckman ’88 is the proud, humble winner of the 2014 Distinguished Alumni Award.

events within weeks.

The two reconnected in 2009

“He nicknamed me ‘blur,’” Nichols recalled.

reunion at Homecoming 2013,

after losing touch for well over a

had to employ a bit of a ruse in

and the devoted alum didn’t miss

decade. Despite the long drought,

not because of my blazing speed,”

an effort to surprise the honoree

the opportunity to create some

Ryckman opened his home to his

Nichols said, calling himself

himself. To throw him off,

camaraderie among classes of

old friend when he trekked cross-

“deceptively slow.”

Director of Alumni Affairs Jarrett

different eras.

country one summer by car.

Shine ’92 told Ryckman that he

The celebration turned into a

“That’s how big of a guy he is,”

would be presenting this year’s

joint reunion of the “5s” and the

award to a fellow alum who was

“25s,” with a tailgate barbecue

celebrating his reunion.

courtesy of younger alumni Gray

he was asked — somewhat last

Huffard ’08 and Dixon Mallory ’08.

minute — if he would say a few

The ploy worked. Ryckman was plainly stunned when Geoffrey

“The fact that you get to meet

Nichols ’89 took to the piano

people from all the different

bench and named his lifelong

classes — I love doing that,”

friend the winner of the 2014

Ryckman said.

Award.

“I’m humbled,” Ryckman said later. “This wasn’t deserved.

“It means a lot to me.”

The ’Wick Alumni Association

Nichols, also, found himself

Nichols said.

Nichols didn’t hesitate when

president of sales at DeMet’s Candy Company in Stamford.

Years ago, the two played lacrosse, basketball, and football together, and Nichols said the upperclassman took him under his wing after he arrived at Brunswick as a freshman.

“He is a dear, old friend of

has thrived under Ryckman,

to Connecticut two years ago

mine,” he said. “I know what

who has worked to improve

and thanks to Ryckman was

Brunswick means to him, so it

alumni networking and to gather

attending Brunswick alumni

was easy to make those remarks.

14 | TIMES

and three children, is senior vice

a Bruin freshman.

network thanks to Ryckman. plant, Nichols moved back

Ryckman, who lives in Greenwich with his wife, Paula,

words about a man he first met as

pulled into the Brunswick A recent California trans-

“It was a term of endearment

OF BRUNSWICK • WINTER 2015

TOB Winter Homecoming 022015.indd 14

2/20/15 4:42 PM

helmet, some green Mardi Gras beads, and the eye black and Bruins jersey he had already donned in support of his favorite team.

“It’s fun,” he said.

What’s fun?

“Everything,” he said.

Coming together to make the fun possible were dozens of parents who volunteered to provide sweets for the bake sale and also to cover the Fair in shifts from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bakers turned up with some amazing confections, and then marketed it all off with just enough creativity to raise about $1,800 for the Brunswick Parents’ Association.

“It was just remarkable what they did,”

B E A R FA I R

A Pose at the Shutter Booth

W

said Bear Fair Chair Janine Braun P ’24.

HAT’S BETTER than winning at bingo?

“They put in so much time and energy!”

Parent volunteers were joined by more

Winning double

than 60 Middle School boys who signed on

bingo, of course!

for jobs big and small — some even donned

And so it was for one ’Wick 4th grader

a certain Bear costume as they cruised the

who saw a double-big win at the Bear Fair

Fair to the delight of the tiniest fairgoers.

bingo table, and then scooped up a Sizzlin’

Kudos go out to all the volunteers —

Cool Water Blaster to mark the moment.

“It’s really fun,” said Jayden Vazquez ’24.

“Everybody’s here.”

especially to Braun and her co-chair, Katie Johnson P ’22, ’25 — for all their hard work.

“It was such a fun day,” Braun said.

Vazquez was one of hundreds of ’Wick youngsters who flocked to Burke Field House for a Brunswick Homecoming mainstay, the annual Bear Fair carnival.

It’s a can’t-miss ’Wick tradition geared to the community’s youngest, including students from the Lower and Pre School

For more photos, visit bwick.org/ tob_winter2015

and the children of alumni and faculty.

Shrinky Dinks, Scrabble Jr., and glow-in-the-dark Frisbees — there were plenty of prizes to serve as incentives as throngs of youngsters set their minds to flipping chickens, tipping trolls, and whacking moles.

New to the Bear Fear this year was a Shutter Booth.

TOP

Brent Brower ’27 shows off his school spirit — and his muscles.

RIGHT

Ryder Juneja ’27 and Shepherd McGovern ’27 take part in the fun and games.

Getting ready to strike a pose was ’Wick 3rd grader George Braun.

Braun was heading in for a photo shoot, complete with a cool Viking

WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

TOB Winter Homecoming 022015.indd 15

15 15

2/20/15 4:42 PM

01

ALU MN I S O C C E R G A M E

herself on the sidelines at Edwards Campus once

Perfect 4–4 Tie

B

again cheering on her favorite Bruins.

Each Homecoming, the

RUNSWICK MOM

tions enticed Vittoria for more

alumni soccer game invites

Luciana Vittoria

reasons than one.

past players to run deep

had planned to be in Palm Beach until

“When I heard about this event, I changed my plans because I

and have some fun at Caputo Varsity Field.

a can’t-miss alumni soccer game

wanted to see all these kids,” she

at Homecoming 2014 changed

said. “I was ‘Mama V’! I fed all

tion. Dozens of alumni

her itinerary.

these kids!”

took to the field under

With son Edward ’89 back for his 25th, the weekend celebra-

And so, 25 years after her son graduated, “Mama V” found

This time was no excep-

hot September sunshine, in a game that ended in a perfect 4–4 tie.

Joining

02

Edward for some spirited play were classmates David Cannon ’89

even 25 years later, these former

and David Thomas ’89,

Bruins were minding their

as well as many others.

manners.

During a break, the men remembered growing up under the

“I’m on my best behavior,” Thomas quipped.

Even so, this time around

watchful eye of “Mama

“Mama V” could do nothing

V,” who wielded such

but cheer as she and a passel of

special authority that,

family and friends soaked in the

01 The pre-game photo — 27 strong 02 Mr. “O” hasn’t missed a game in years.

03 Alex Lopez ’04 and Andrew Ferrer ’04 battle for a loose ball. Lopez was the best man in Ferrer’s wedding last summer.

04 Geoffrey Nichols ’89 shows off his dribbling skills.

03

16 | TIMES

OF BRUNSWICK • WINTER 2015

For more photos, visit bwick.org/tob_winter2015

FO OT B ALL T E AM B RE AKFAST

Words Akin to Rockne Meissner ’21. “It’s very

C

Rockne forever memorialized the last words of an

by big-league athletes, Gregory cited that “what it

emotional for me,” she said.

equally legendary Fighting Irish player who died

means to be a football player these days has taken

“I’m glad I stayed. It gives me a

tragically.

some hits.”

sunshine along the sidelines.

She and her husband have 11 grandchildren, including new ’Wick 5th grader Max

ERTAIN SPEECHES have entered

Yet Gregory told the boys that, when it comes

the annals of sports history.

down to it, the outcome of a Homecoming foot-

One came in 1928, when legendary Notre Dame Coach Knute

Win just one for the Gipper, Rockne told his team

chance to see everyone.”

In truth, alumni from every

at halftime in a game against Army.

era turned up for the fun.

There was Eric Hopp ’94, for

Troubled by the spate of headlines generated

He underscored that at Brunswick, Durkin Dining Hall overlooks Cosby Field for good

And they did.

reason. Lower School boys look out over the

As some see it, Grant Gregory Jr. ’89 gave

gridiron just as they look up to the players who

example, celebrating his 20th

a similar kind of a speech to ’Wick Bruins just

after recently moving back to

hours before their big win over The Taft School at

Greenwich with his family.

Homecoming 2014.

Also turning up to test their

ball game matters little.

Back at Brunswick to celebrate his 25th reunion,

practice and play there.

Such respect is part of the privilege of playing football, Gregory said, and with that privilege comes great responsibility.

foot traps were Brunswick

Gregory was one of a handful of former Bruins to

faculty members.

gather at Durkin Dining Hall Saturday morning to

a privilege,” he told the boys. “And the responsi-

break their fast with current players facing one of

bility that comes with that privilege isn’t judged

the biggest games of their careers.

on a scoreboard.

Tim Ostrye, an annual participant, was joined in play by Upper School Modern

For these young Bruins, the pressure was on.

“Being at this school, being on this team — it is

“It gets judged every day in how you treat your

Language Department

teachers, your parents, your friends, and your

Chairman Jamie Gonzalez-

girlfriends,” he said. “It’s how you represent your

Ocaña and Upper School

sport, your school, your family.

visual arts teacher Brian

“I am back for my 25th and I can assure you,

Shepard ’97.

getting that right is going to matter a lot more to

It was Ostrye, assistant

you as men than the outcome from today’s game,”

director of athletics at the

he said.

Lower and Pre School, who

Football sets these Bruins apart, Gregory said.

perhaps summed it up best.

“Whether you like it or not, you are the leaders.

“It was warm, but everyone

You have got to lead.

LEFT

Jason Kennedy ’16 and Malik Wilder ’15 smile about the day’s prospects.

had fun.”

Because if the young men privileged enough to be on this team at this school

SENIOR MOMS ON HAND FOR THE BREAKFAST include Hattie Adams, Lili O’Malley, Sonia Jones, Marty Gendell, E.D. Hill, Alison Knight, Susy Rosato, Luisa Cobb, Amy Jurkowitz, Joan Beth Brown, Maryellen Basile, Alicia Johns, Shakira Walston, Mia Wright, and Lise Godvin.

04 WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

17 17

“

Being at this school, being on this team — it is a privilege. And the responsibility that comes with that privilege isn’t judged on a scoreboard.

”

can’t get it right, no one can. Football is different,” he said. “You are different.”

Gregory also underscored the importance of the day. Homecoming athletic contests will be remembered for a lifetime, he said, and for that reason, Bruins should work hard to do their best.

Indeed, memories will be made.

“In 25 years, I can promise you, you will remember what you do today, and what you accomplish this season,” he told the team.

“You are going to remember the anxiety that builds in your gut up until the first hit.

And, truth be told, you are going to miss that feeling.

“You are going to remember things that Coach said or maybe yelled, and you will never forget the feeling of someone who believed in you that much.”

Gregory pointed to his own coach, Bob Sampson, also on hand to have breakfast

01

ALUM NI T E NT PA RT Y

Toasting, Nibbling & Catching A Few Rays

with the boys. He remembered how the coach once scolded him about a clean jersey after a game his junior year.

“I can remember the exact words he used,” he said. “And I can tell you they still motivate me today — and it has been a long time since I played.”

Well known as a motivator, Gregory finally

W

E MIGHT need a bigger tent.

So many alumni turned up for the fun at the Alumni Tent Party that guests spilled out onto the lawn, filling the hillside next to

Cosby Field, from one side of the end zone to the other.

All in all, hundreds turned up to raise a toast, nibble some hors

offered some simple advice for making

d’oeuvres, and catch some rays as football held back Taft by a

memories at Homecoming 2014.

score of 53–14.

“Do something worth remembering.”

And they did.

18 | TIMES

They gathered in groups big and small, relaxing on the lawn as they reminisced about old times, shared hopes for the future, and

OF BRUNSWICK • WINTER 2015

TOB Winter Homecoming 022015.indd 18

2/20/15 4:42 PM

02

01 Vinton Vickers ’84 and Drew Turnbull ’85 02 The Class of ’84 was out in full force for the Alumni Tent Party.

03 David Cannon ’89, former faculty member Ted Stolar, and Michael Krasnow ’08 04 David Neff ’94, Laura Hill (GA ’95), Adam Johnson ’84 05 John Flack ’94 and Reed Carroll ’94

03

04

caught up on the latest news from

former Brunswick graphic design

classmates and their families.

teacher Ted Stolar.

Turnout was especially huge for the Class of 1984.

For this large group, the hillside

Stolar, retired after 38 years of teaching at Brunswick, was happy to provide the memento as he recon-

proved a perfect place to pose for

nected with former students he had

a picture as dozens of classmates

not seen in years.

crammed in close to be photographed by another special guest,

05

Joe Elverdin ’84 organized the reunion for his classmates, flying in

WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

TOB Winter Homecoming 022015.indd 19

19 19

2/20/15 4:42 PM

01

02

04

“

03

01 Michael Kenny P ’09, ’11, ’18 and Kevin Royal ’09 02 Tim Riemer ’99 and Tom Toepke ’99 03 FRONT Dave Cannon ’89 and Michael Butler ’89.

BACK Geoffrey Nichols ’89, Duncan Boothby ’89, Joey Donahue ’89, Dave Thomas ’89, Jimmy Young ’89, and Grant Gregory ’89 04 Jamie Muhlfeld ’94 and Ty Bailey ’94

from his home in Buenos Aires to

exception, these alums were quick

join in the merriment.

to note the prank did no damage to

For classmate Tim Mitchell ’84, it was the first time he had

In fact, class members took

returned to campus since his 5th

turns gushing about the chance to

reunion in 1989.

return to their alma mater and to

Thirty years out of Brunswick, many alums chuckled as they relived

reconnect at Homecoming 2014.

“We don’t see each other all the

a midnight prank that saw them

time. But when we do, it’s like

dismantle an old Volkswagen Bug

no time has passed,” said Nick

and then weld it back together

Kiratsous ’84.

inside a classroom at Maher Avenue.

It was a moment that was discovered by a sleepy headmaster,

20 | TIMES

their beloved school.

We don’t see each other all the time.

But when we do, it’s like no time has passed.

”

“We act like this stuff happened yesterday,” added Vinton Vickers ’84.

“It’s always great,” said Scott

and later had steep consequences

Sneath ’84. “Nobody else listens to

for the young Bruins. Without

our boring stories!”

OF BRUNSWICK • WINTER 2015

TOB Winter Homecoming 022015.indd 20

2/20/15 4:42 PM

05 06

08

07

“We were the greatest class

His wife, Judy, echoed the good

ever to come through the school!”

cheer. “They certainly are shining

gushed Ed Silvi ’84, who served as

bright today,” she exclaimed.

co-captain of the wrestling team along with Adam Johnson ’84.

Also in the mix was a handful

It was a sentiment repeated by ’Wick parents John and Cecilia Farrell. The two also found them-

of past Brunswick parents who

selves back at Brunswick, in this

turned up to touch base, not just

case to help son James ’89 celebrate

with their own children, but also

his 25th.

with the friends who once traipsed

All around, it was a happy

through their homes on the way to

reunion — one that mom Cecilia

adulthood.

said has rarely been duplicated.

Among them were Judy and Dan

09

“James doesn’t have friends

Donahue, whose sons, Joe ’89 and

from college the way he does from

Dan ’84, were both celebrating

Brunswick.”

milestone reunions of 25 and 30 years, respectively.

The family was thrilled to cheer on all of the athletes testing their

10

mettle on Robert L. Cosby Field.

05 Tommy Hoyos ’08

“We have friends on both teams,

06 Michael Clear ’94 and Daniel Lush ’94

but are cheering for Brunswick,”

07 Derek Van Vliet ’87, James Bragg ’87, and Jim Lewis ’87

said the elder Donahue, who, sadly,

08 Vinton Vickers ’84 and Joe Donahue ’89

passed away only a few weeks later.

“We knew them all as young boys, and now they are fine young men.”

For more photos, visit bwick.org/ tob_winter2015

09 Margot and Jim Butler P ’87, ’89 10 Chuck Mosher ’78 and Chris Mulshine P ’21

WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

TOB Winter Homecoming 022015.indd 21

21 21

2/20/15 4:42 PM

G A M E DAY W R A P - UP

Bruins Pull Off Three-Peat

I

T WAS a Homecoming threepeat for varsity Bruins.

For the third consecutive year, Brunswick teams

swept the weekend’s slate of athletic contests — much to the delight of the record crowd of alumni, parents, students, and friends on hand for the sun-filled festivities.

The ’Wick soccer team began the day’s action by squaring off against The Gunnery on Caputo Field.

The Highlanders got on the board first in the game’s opening minutes,

ABOVE Jaydin Knight ’17 looks for a hole in the Taft defense.

22 | TIMES

OF BRUNSWICK • WINTER 2015

but Brunswick responded and carried the play from that point forward, notching two goals on the way to a 2–1 victory.

Jack Stephenson ’16 and Matt Wysocki ’15 scored for the Bruins, while Head Coach Power Fraser ’74 credited the strong performances of seniors Marshall Dickson and Anders Ashforth as keys to the “W.” Fans could then move indoors — for the first time in Homecoming history — to watch the ’Wick water polo team compete in the School’s new natatorium.

Head Coach Eric Tillman’s squad put on a show for all in attendance,

01

defeating Loomis, 17–3, and Suffield,

01 Jared McCloskey ’16, Anders Ashforth ’15, and Jack Stephenson ’16 celebrate a Bruins’ goal.

17–8, to remain unbeaten in New England league play. Pat Stefanou ’16 had the red-hot hand with 13 goals

02 Senior co-captain Marshall Dickson

on the afternoon.

By the time the football team took

03 Pat Stefanou ’16 tallied 13 (yes, 13) goals on the day.

to Robert L. Cosby Field, Edwards Campus was a sea of Brown & Gold,

For more photos, visit bwick. org/tob_winter2015

as supporters of all ages packed the bleachers, the sidelines, and the Alumni Tent in anticipation of

02

03

’Wick’s gridiron clash against Taft.

The Bruins played inspired football on both sides of the line of scrimmage, using an explosive second-half offensive surge to secure the league win — and the Homecoming three-peat.

Senior co-captain Malik Wilder led the way with two receiving touchdowns, one rushing touchdown, two passes defended, and a boatload of tackles.

Fellow seniors Austin Meacham and Andrew Basile supplied the pressure on Taft’s QB throughout the afternoon, as did senior co-captain Matt Gendell, who found his way into the Rhinos’ backfield on a number of occasions.

Final score: ’Wick 53, Taft 14.

WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

23 23

CLASS OF ’84, LEFT TO RIGHT

Andrew Balson, Nick Kiratsous, David Ball, Hoyt Ludington, Mike McCarthy, Joe Elverdin, Brad Browne, John Harvey, Ed Silvi, Dan Donahue, Paul Steed, Jay Helmer, Steve Cook, Tim Mitchell, Vinton Vickers, Steve Wolanske, and Richard Baker

CL ASS OF 1984 30 t h RE UNION

CL ASS O F 1959 55 t h RE UNION

CL ASS O F 1954 6 0 t h RE UNION

C L ASS OF 19 9 4 20 t h R EUNION

RE UNI O N WRAP -UP

Alums Fan Out Across Town

CL ASS OF 1964 50 t h RE UNION

T

RIUMPHANT FESTIVITIES at King Street were just the beginning for classes celebrating reunions.

CLASS OF ’94, FRONT Reed Carroll, Ken Ebbitt, and Mike Clear MIDDLE Scott McDonald, Eric Hopp, John Flack, Stephen Ball, Ray Burke, and Dan Lush BACK Eric Unis, Brendan Cooper, Rory Callagy, Brian Vaughan, Eric Ferraris, Ty Bailey, David Neff, Peter Kavounas, Brett Stephens, and Mike Mahoney

Revelries on Cosby Field were followed by

joyful reunions that lasted well into the evening, as alumni

CLASS OF ’59­ Gale Hartch, Dimitri Bulazel, Tom Hartch, Vicky Bulazel, and Jim Benerofe CLASS OF ’54­ Jerry Stewart, Tom Lovejoy, Dick Jenner, and Bart Bolton CLASS OF ’64­FRONT Corinne Babson, John Babson, and Dona Garnett; BACK Rafe Pomerance and Alex Garnett

fanned out to watering holes across Greenwich to cement new friendships and renew old ones.

The Class of 1984 held court for quite some time at MacDuffs, while 1989 gathered in droves at the J House.

The Class of 1999 met up at the Sundown Saloon while 2004 and 2009 held a joint reunion at McShane’s in Port Chester, N.Y.

24 | TIMES

OF BRUNSWICK • WINTER 2015

TOB Winter Homecoming 022015.indd 24

2/20/15 4:42 PM

CL ASS O F 1 9 89 25 t h R E U NI O N

‘ Brunswick is a way of life’ P

ERHAPS THE greatest

when all of Brunswick basically

testament to the

occupied a single building on

strength of the Class

Maher Avenue.

of 1989 was the

Today, the Brunswick Middle

number of faculty who — 25 years

School, Lower School, and a near-

after these boys left Brunswick —

full complement of athletic facilities

turned up to visit with their former

occupy 104 acres at Edwards

students at Reunion.

Campus on King Street.

A few hours after football’s big win on Cosby Field, classmates from ’89 gathered for some extra fun at the J House.

They were joined by spouses, loved ones, and an impressive array of faculty who hark back to a time

TOP ’89 classmates Grant Gregory, David Cannon, Shep Murray, and James Farrell INSET Jim and Merilyn Stephens

Only the Upper School remains on Maher Avenue.

Like many alumni, Pete Kashatus ’89 toured the bucolic campus with his kids — Ainsley, 7, and Ellis, 5 — earlier in the day.

That evening, he and his class-

For more photos, visit bwick.org/ tob_winter2015

WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

TOB Winter Homecoming 022015.indd 25

25 25

2/20/15 4:42 PM

02

01

01 Grant Gregory and faculty member John Pendergast chat about the old days.

02 Every corner of the J House was packed with ’Wick alumni.

03 Eric Lee and ​Chris Lynch

“

Graduating from Brunswick is just the beginning. mates had the chance to visit with faculty and digest how things have changed.

Huddled in one enclave in a very crowded room, for example, was Pat Meloni, in her 39th year as a 2nd-grade teacher.

Squeezed in next to the bar was Jim

”

“I know every one of these guys,” Stolar said. “Being here is like being with my extended family. It’s too much fun!

Everyone has a story.”

History teacher John Pendergast and his wife also enjoyed the night.

“I was touched to be invited,” he said.

fall in Bethany, Conn., to be at Reunion.

“It’s great to see everyone again,” he said.

Neal Kavanagh admitted to being a little sentimental about the evening.

“We were so fortunate to grow up in Greenwich,” he said. “To come back, 25 years later — a lot of these guys I haven’t seen since high school.

“I often think about the faculty,” he said. “Solid-to-the-core people.”

Shep Murray, father to Tucker ’21 and Cooper ’19, welcomed his classmates back to Brunswick and remarked on what

Stephens, a Brunswick math teacher

“There’s something very memorable

Homecoming 2014 and a crowded 25th

for 30 years, who was catching up with

about this class.”

Reunion clearly show.

colleague Bruce Kimball, music teacher from 1985 to 2005.

“These were some wonderful, wonderful kids,” Stephens said.

In another corner was Ted Stolar, now retired after 38 years of teaching.

26 | TIMES

03

Alumni came from near and far for the chance to reconnect and renew.

“We have a great network in this class,”

“Graduating from Brunswick is just the beginning,” Murray said. “Brunswick is a way of life.”

noted James Farrell.

Travis Branch took time out from a new advertising studio he launched in the

OF BRUNSWICK • WINTER 2015

TOB Winter Homecoming 022015.indd 26

2/20/15 4:42 PM

FLEX TIME BESS’S BOOK CLUB

A Prolific Reader: Not a Lady Who Lunched

By Mike Kennedy ’99

B

ESS HUBBARD, a

“Bess wasn’t a lady who

Brunswick parent and long-

lunched,” Rees said. “She was a

time assistant to Headmaster

person of books and would have so

Thomas W. Philip, shared

enjoyed a day exactly like this one.”

her love of reading with all who knew her.

She was always in the middle of

Two of Bess’s children, Libby Hubbard Stegger and George Hubbard Jr. ’99, and her husband,

a new book, always in discussion

George Hubbard Sr., also spoke —

with friends about an engaging

as did Tom Philip.

storyline or a compelling character.

It was a fitting tribute, then, to honor Bess — who died after a

“The room was filled with so many people who loved Bess,” said Connie DeVico, who spent 14

courageous battle with cancer in June 2013 — in the spirit of her lifelong passion.

More than 100 people, including Bess’s family and closest friends,

01

gathered in September for “Bess’s Book Club,” a luncheon held at Manursing Island Club in Rye, N.Y., to benefit the Bess Hubbard Memorial Scholarship Fund.

The program featured a

02

presentation by John Thompson, author of the Junior Library

years and countless hours working

Guild Selection Disappearance at

alongside her dear friend at

Hangman’s Bluff.

Brunswick.

Nancy Rees P ’02, a close friend

“Everyone present meant

of Bess’s, said it was the natural

something different to Bess, as she

thing to have the event coalesce

meant so much to all of us. She was

around Bess’s affection for reading.

truly an inspirational woman.”

03

“An Inspirational Woman” The Bess Hubbard Memorial Scholarship Fund, established in 2013 in memory of Bess Hubbard, honors a woman of integrity, purpose, and determination.

Income from the Fund provides tuition assistance to deserving sons of Brunswick faculty and staff.

01 Bess lit up every room with her vibrant smile.

02 Libby Hubbard Stegger, George Hubbard Sr. and George Hubbard Jr. ’99 all spoke at the luncheon.

03 Author John Thompson used Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove, one of Bess’s favorite books, as a launching pad to talk about Bess and reading and a love of words.

For more photos, visit bwick.org/tob_winter2015

WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

TOB Winter Flex Time 022015.indd 27

| 27

2/20/15 2:40 PM

Three young alumni have found that it pays to pursue their passions, that loving their work is an absolutely essential ingredient in both their professional success and personal satisfaction.

finding For some, the professional path forward is clear from the get-go.

Take Chris Ghaffari ’08.

Barely out of toddlerhood, Ghaffari made a circus out of his family living room in Riverside, Conn. Mom made a tent striped in red and white; young Ghaffari cast himself as the ringmaster, with his brother as the strongman.

By 5th grade, Ghaffari was wrestling with Shakespeare in a G-rated Much Ado About Nothing. High school brought him to Brunswick, where he warmed his pipes in Pippin under the direction of Brunswick’s new theater teacher, Seth Potter.

It’s a path that has led this onetime Bruin directly to “Go,” as it were. With Princeton behind him, he’s now in his second year at Yale School of Drama, honing the craft he loves in the shadow of some of the greats. Paul Newman, Henry Winkler, Stacy Keach, Meryl Streep, and Chris Noth are among the many who have passed through the school — all on their way to prolific careers in theater, film, television, and beyond.

28 | TIMES

OF BRUNSWICK • WINTER 2015

TOB Winter Sweet 022015.indd 28

2/20/15 6:10 PM

FAR LEFT Chris Ghaffari ’08 (top), Nick Simmons ’07 (middle), and Phil Piro ’07 (bottom) — each pictured here as a Brunswick senior — are making their alma mater proud in the professional world.

the

Sweet

Spot

Where Talent, Passion, + Drive Converge

BY K AT H E R I N E O G D E N

WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

TOB Winter Sweet 022015.indd 29

| 29

2/20/15 6:24 PM

Call it “the sweet spot,” the place where talent and a special kind of “try” unite and intertwine to make for a satisfying and purpose-driven life.

It’s in this “sweet spot” that we find the greatest oppor-

Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior Amy

tunity for success and personal satisfaction during the

Wrzesniewski and Barry Schwartz, Dorwin Cartwright

course of our careers.

Professor of Social Theory and Social Action at

At Brunswick, that kind of “try” is obvious every-

Swarthmore College and famous veteran of TED talks.

where. Beyond campus, it also manifests itself clearly in

Together with colleagues, the two social scientists

a trio of certain young graduates who are embarking on

recently published a paper in the Proceedings of the

careers beyond the beaten path to Wall Street.

National Academy of Sciences detailing their analysis

These men are uniquely motivated to do difficult work — driven to do work others might eschew, inspired to tackle challenges with no guarantee of success.

For Ghaffari, the way forward has been pretty clear

of cadets’ motivation for entering the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Their work compared and contrasted the value of both “internal” and “instrumental” factors as motivators

from the beginning: He’s loved the theater since he was

for success. For example: A research scientist’s desire

a small child.

to use his knowledge and skills to cure cancer demon-

For others, like ’07 classmates Phil Piro and Nick

strates strong internal motivation to achieve a result

Simmons, the journey has been a bit more circuitous.

directly related to his work. Conversely, his pursuit of

In June 2012, Simmons left his job on the biggest

the same goal with an eye toward fame, wealth, and a

trading floor in the world. Interested in education

Nobel Prize is evidence of “instrumental” motivation,

reform, ten days later he walked into a classroom of 20

because the rewards are really “byproducts,” not directly

3rd graders in a Harlem summer school.

related to the work or goal.

And then there’s Piro, whose departure from

Through their study of more than 11,300 cadets, the

Deutsche Bank last summer was chronicled in a Wall

scientists found that military students with internal

Street Journal article detailing the flight of young talent

motives alone consistently outperformed their peers over

from Wall Street banks.

the long haul, not only in achieving “internal” goals, but

Piro left banking to launch Captains Neck & Co., a boutique beverage company in Southampton, N.Y.

also in reaping “instrumental” rewards. “Remarkably, cadets with strong internal and strong instrumental

A caveat.

motives for attending West Point performed worse

This isn’t a story that pits the joys of “alternative”

on every measure than did those with strong internal

careers over the “tried and true.” Nor is it one about

motives but weak instrumental ones. “Instrumental

splitting off from the herd. And it’s certainly not along

motives are not always an asset and can actually be

the lines of the whimsical You Can’t Take It With You.

counterproductive to success,” the scientists wrote.

Characters in that play may indeed “try” new pursuits,

The research seems to point to a paradox for

but do so in the absence of the talent, determination,

Brunswick in its pursuit of the best practices in

and focus to excel.

education, especially as the School focuses intently on

Instead, this is a story about three young men motivated to pursue work they love and driven to dig

developing character and leadership skills.

The paradox: We hope to have a hand in shaping

into the gritty details of their passion, whether it be

successful men of strong character, but we must do

business, education, or art.

so in ways that respect instrumental motivators as we

Different though their career paths may be, the men share a distinct and definitive “internal” motivation — one described in a recent op-ed column in The New York Times entitled “The Secret of Effective Motivation.” The

work for essential development of core, internal drive.

The scientists made some observations relevant to those interested in education.

“Our study suggests that efforts should be made to

piece details two kinds of motivations that people use

structure activities so that instrumental consequences

to move through life. Ironically, in this case, the authors

do not become motives,” they wrote. “Helping people

argue, two motives are not necessarily better than one.

focus on the meaning and impact of their work, rather

The authors include Yale School of Management

than on, say, the financial returns it will bring, may be

30 | TIMES

OF BRUNSWICK • WINTER 2015

Nick Simmons ’07 7th-grade Math Teacher Success Academy Harlem West

the best way to improve not only the quality of their work but also — counterintuitive though it may seem — their financial success.”

One doesn’t have to look far to find this kind of motivation among our three Brunswick alums.

T

Take Nick Simmons, the teacher.

For the young Simmons, a

summer internship at UBS led to a permanent job on the company’s world-famous trading floor in Stamford, and he was on his way.

Or so he thought.

“Parts of it were interesting, and I worked with some really smart people,” he said. “(But) as a fulltime job, it wasn’t what I wanted to do.

“I have a long career ahead; I want to spend my time on something I’m passionate about.”

Simmons said the seeds for his big move were planted at Brunswick long ago, in a government class taught by John Booth, in a U.S. History class taught by John VanAtta, and even on the wrestling mat with Tim Ostrye.

A movie, Waiting for Superman, nudged him further. With his own experience at Brunswick as a backdrop, it became clear to Simmons that failures in public education are among the most dangerous threats to the nation.

“I think of it as a civil rights issue,” he said.

Yet it was not to Washington, D.C., and long policy debates where

WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

| 31

Simmons was headed. Instead,

a 7th-grade math teacher who had

be compared to regular city schools

it was straight into a classroom.

departed suddenly.

in part because they don’t fully

Simmons wanted to come to terms

He got the call on a Sunday,

with the education that’s taking

and walked into his classroom the

place now, in real classrooms. He

following morning.

wanted personally to offer help, to

Simmons credits Brunswick for

include the same range of learners.

Simmons believes having children’s futures in his own hands is one of his greatest challenges.

In the article, Simmons refuted naysayers by noting that, last year,

Academy, we believe internal

13 percent of Success Academy

assessments and the results from

have immediate impact. He has, as

preparing him for such an intense,

students were special-needs,

state exams are essential feedback

the scientists would characterize,

high-stakes moment — and the

and 56 percent of those students

for how well we do our job in the

strong internal motivation.

many that would follow.

passed the New York State

classroom.

And so it was that ten days after

“Brunswick does a good job

Mathematics Test. By comparison,

“Students and teachers embrace

leaving UBS, Simmons entered

preparing kids for moments like

he wrote, an average of 7 percent

academic rigor and take pride

a classroom of 20 3rd graders in

that,” Simmons said. “The resil-

of the district’s special-needs

in having some of the top math

summer school at Success Academy

ience comes into play.”

students passed the test.

scores in the city, in many cases

Harlem West, a public charter

Learning to teach, he said,

Success Academy fared well

school. He chose a New York City

requires a steep learning curve, and

overall on that test. Last year, 89

charter school because there would

“a short memory.”

percent of Simmons’ 7th graders

be no delay in entering the class-

Here’s what he has learned so

outperforming the city’s giftedand-talented program.”

Simmons attributes student

passed, with more than half scoring

success to a special kind of confi-

room; state certification wasn’t

far: “Leave the failures of yesterday

at the highest level. In 6th grade,

dence and optimism, generously

required. The transition was quick,

behind,” he said. “You put your

83 percent passed, Simmons wrote,

sprinkled with intrinsic motivation.

but he freely admits it did nothing

head down and do whatever it

compared to only 29 percent

for his nerves.

takes to get the job done.”

citywide.

“It was terrifying,” he recalled.

Simmons recently wrote an

“Many teachers and parents — as

“There’s an excellent reason why Success Academy scholars do extraordinarily well on state exams:

By fall, Simmons was hired as

opinion piece for The Wall Street

well as New York City’s chancellor

We believe they can,” Simmons

an assistant teacher in the Middle

Journal, defending the success of

and mayor — have said there is

wrote. “We believe all children

School. A month later, he was

his students against critics who

too much emphasis on testing,”

can succeed, no matter what their

claim public charter schools can’t

Simmons wrote. “But at Success

socioeconomic circumstances.”

called into service to take over for

32 | TIMES

OF BRUNSWICK • WINTER 2015

P

Phil Piro ’07 Co-owner Captains Neck & Co.

Phil Piro ’07 has a similar story.

And, like Simmons’, it offers some insight into what it means to search for “the sweet spot.”

The two grew up together,

attending Greenwich Country Day School and then Brunswick before heading off to Yale.

Both landed in banking after their undergraduate work; Piro worked as an analyst at Deutsche Bank for two years before realizing his heart simply lay elsewhere.

Last June, Piro made a big decision, just as his childhood friend had done months before.

He left the bank and jumped into the start-up world, launching an artisanal beverage company out of his family summer home in Southampton, N.Y. A Middle East Studies major at Yale, Piro admits he entered a world he knows little about.

But that’s the point, he says. He wants to learn.

Like his classmate, he is internally motivated.

“I didn’t know a single thing about business,” he said. “If it ends up failing, I’ll have good real-world experience.

“I wanted to learn about business

website details how the name serves as a constant reminder of

on the ground,” he said. “To teach

the friends and memories of child-

myself some marketing, teach

hood summers at the beach.

myself some sales.”

A Twitter profile reflects the

The company offers soda in two flavors, both as whimsical as a

spirit and motivation behind the

light breeze on a beach in August:

brand:

Grape & ginger, citrus mint. So

“A brother, sister, and college

far, response has been great — the

roommate making it fun and easy

company is in 45 stores all across

to be healthy. We make deli-

Long Island.

cious, low-cal, all-natural craft beverages.”

The new endeavor, Captains

Piro has demonstrated he isn’t afraid of hard work. He came

Now, he calls his work trying to

great way to test himself, to learn

get Captains Neck & Co. off the

how to think through businesses

ground “stressful,” even “brutal.”

using numbers.

through Brunswick, made his way

It’s worth it, he says.

Neck & Co., was named after the

to Yale, and moved right into a

In his heart of hearts, Piro has

street on which Piro and his sister

field famous for its long hours and

always been interested in business,

grew up in Southampton; their

stressful days.

and he sees his new company as a

“A lot of it comes from people wanting more responsibility,” he said.

“I like building things.”

WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

| 33

Such a big shift in focus begs a question: What have these young men discovered since shifting gears, as it were?

A

And now comes Chris Ghaffari ’08, the actor and director honing his craft at Yale.

Though the details of these mens’ lives are

clearly different, all three share an undercurrent that has helped direct their careers: A

It’s a plain fact: Big career changes aren’t without risk.

special, internal motivation to pursue work

Simmons, in particular, noted his former comfortable

they love, to spend their lives doing what they,

lifestyle among friends from Brunswick and from college,

themselves, find meaningful.

most of them in finance.

“It was obviously a big risk,” Simmons said. “I secondguessed myself.”

Remarkably, however, both Simmons and Piro point to a new sense of “ownership” of their lives and careers that now motivates their work.

In particular, they point to a new set of skills that only results from a person taking responsibility for his own time. The real emphasis of the day, said Piro, becomes learning.

“Even though you may have anxiety stepping off the trajectory,” Piro said, “there’s a huge premium on education.

“When I set out to do this, I knew I would make all the mistakes,” he said. “I’ve made a lot of them.

“I learn something new every day.”

All three knew each other at Brunswick.

Ghaffari was a year behind Simmons and Piro; he played football with Simmons, and served on student government for a year with Piro.

Unlike his schoolmates, however, Ghaffari has seen his own way forward since about the time he could walk.

The circus first stirred his imagination.

Days playing pretend under a homemade tent count as his earliest performances.

From there, family nurtured early notions.

The Ghaffaris grew to five when baby sister Lisa was born, and together they made regular trips into the city to take in some of the finest theater in the world.

Both men cite the hard work inherent in their new

Shakespeare came in 5th grade, with a

endeavors. Simmons says he works “15 times harder” in

performance of Much Ado About Nothing at

the classroom, but he notes that he does so only because

Greenwich Country Day School.

he wants to.

“Once you find the thing you’re passionate about,

Ghaffari was cast as Benedict, an obstinate bachelor who blusters about all the reasons

when you ‘own’ the task rather than getting it delegated,”

why he won’t fall in love — but gets tricked

Simmons said, “only then do you have ‘ownership’ of

into it, anyway.

your day.

“Looking back, it was a no-brainer.”

New skills Simmons has sharpened in the classroom include creativity, time management, how to delegate, how to be a leader, and how to speak publicly.

“No one is giving you set tasks,” he said. “You have to make all the decisions on how to get there. It’s really

Delivering the monologue, Ghaffari made his first connection with an audience.

It hooked him.

“To share something beautiful with an audience — it’s a feeling you can’t really put into words,” he said.

High school at Brunswick brought the

challenging, particularly with children’s futures in your

tutelage of Seth Potter. Plays included The

hands.”

Sound of Music, Kiss Me Kate, and Pippin,

Simmons considers himself a higher-quality employee, now and in the future, because he has passion for his work and because of the skills he has acquired as he forced himself to “figure it out.”

where he took the stage alongside a bevy of classmates.

Early passion aside, the decision to pursue a career in the theater did not come until

“That’s what surprised me,” he said, adding: “You are

later. He was a junior at Princeton before he

only going to be at your best when you are working your

finally set naysayers aside and committed to

hardest. You are only going to be thinking your best when

a life in the arts — a decision that came after

you feel like you belong.

his first taste of directing. The play was This

“I wasn’t getting the best out of myself,” he said.

34 | TIMES

OF BRUNSWICK • WINTER 2015

Is Our Youth, written by Kenneth Lonergan

Chris Ghaffari ’08 Student, Actor, Director Yale School of Drama

and recently staged on Broadway. Ghaffari first came across the piece as a sophomore in Potter’s acting class. He revisited it in 2010, when he directed a small cast of 20-somethings in the play about 20-somethings in the early 1980s making their way into adulthood on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

The production had a five-night run at Princeton’s student-run Theatre Intime.

“It was manageable,” he said. “It was a great first experience with directing. I really fell in love with directing,” he said. “I found something in me that needed to give it the best shot I could.”

“ To share something beautiful with an audience — it’s a feeling you can’t really put into words.”

C H R I S G H A F FA R I ’ 0 8

There were plenty of doubters. “People tried to talk me out of it,” he said. “They harped on how hard the profession is. They warned: ‘Get out while you can.’”

WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

| 35

From Baker Theater to Shakespeare in the Park

Ghaffari had a reply to the naysayers, many of them already in

the piece focuses on the aftermath

the business.

of a school shooting. Ghaffari played

“You do this with your life. You love

a working-class father on the night

it.” And so it was that he signed on to

before he tries to send his Middle

what could be considered a kind of

School daughter back to school.

boot camp for actors.

At Yale, he is in class every day from

In December, he tested his chops in the comedic sphere when he had the

9 a.m. to 2 p.m., training his body

chance to play Bottom, the quintes-

and mind to be the tools he needs

sential Shakespearean clown from A

them to be to present the range of

Midsummer Night’s Dream.

human experience to an audience.

The solo performance served as

Classes include speech, voice, move-

a culmination of sorts in his second

ment, singing, stage combat, clown,

year of study at Yale, and it went well.

Shakespeare, dance, text analysis, and

It was a moment that, for Ghaffari,

set design.

has become part of continuum of

Afternoons are for rehearsals,

work that began on the stage in 5th

which often start at 3 p.m. and extend

grade — he continues to be capti-

far into the night.

vated by work that seeks to get to the

“It’s a new show almost every week,”

roots of the comedic world.

he said. “Between The Cabaret, the

It’s something Ghaffari deliciously

School of Drama, Yale Rep, there is

describes as the “the delightful hilarity

something new all the time.”

of the clown, which is bound up in

It’s a schedule and a discipline that requires the body of an athlete, and

failure.”

“That’s when we love him most,” he

Ghaffari finds that his Brunswick

said. “It’s fascinating. ‘Clown’ work

athletic career is paying unexpected

is so tied to the relationship with

dividends.

the audience, which is always in the

“I am incredibly grateful for my athletic background at Brunswick,” he said. “A sense of space and coordination — these are needed to learn dance and movement techniques. It’s all sort of a compound value.

“The actor is the athlete of the

moment and something you can’t plan for.”

Opportunities have extended beyond New Haven.

Last summer, Ghaffari had the chance to spar with John Lithgow in a Public Theater production of

imagination,” Ghaffari said. “The

King Lear at the Delacorte Theater

more you can do with your body, the

in Central Park. “He’s such a class

more compelling the story is, the

act,” Ghaffari said of the famous lead.

In 2008, Ghaffari played the lead in the Seth Potter-directed Kiss Me Kate.

more compelling the spectacle is.”

“He came at the role with no ego. He

Ghaffari starred in Baker Theater as Orpheus from Metamorphosis — also in 2008.

fascinating opportunities.

Last summer, Ghaffari landed a role in the ensemble for the New York Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park staging of King Lear.

Yale, Ghaffari has already been cast

along with two of his classmates from

in four shows, including a notable

Yale. He credits famous Yale stage

production of a new play called This

combat teacher Rick Sordelet for

Flat Earth.

helping get him the audition.

TOP TO BOTTOM

Hard work has already led to some Midway through his second year at

A studio project written by award-winning, second-year play-

36 | TIMES

writing student Lindsey Ferrentino,

knew every actor in the company by name the first day.”

Ghaffari was cast in the ensemble

Many Yale drama teachers are also professionals in the business, and

OF BRUNSWICK • WINTER 2015

TOB Winter Sweet 022515.indd 36

2/25/15 2:09 PM

Sordelet is no exception. He helped create the swordfights for King Lear, and his work was featured in a Wall Street Journal article by

At Brunswick, on the frontlines of elementary and secondary education, the faculty’s challenge of encouraging every student to find his passion and appealing to his sense of internal motivation informs every activity — in the classroom and on the playing field as well.

Amy Gamerman last summer.

“Death is easy,” she wrote, “but for a good eye-gouge, Broadway

That challenge is especially rele-

stimulating environment that

directors call Rick Sordelet.”

vant today, according to Brunswick

fosters critical thinking, that helps

ment has always been key to

Faculty Institute Co-Director

kids to develop important, neces-

Brunswick’s approach — even,

Brendan Gilsenan.

sary life skills, and that facilitates

and perhaps especially, in the

a consciousness for what it takes

earliest grades.

In all, there were 24 performances in the four-week run of King Lear; Ghaffari would ride in

“Kids in this day and age are

That kind of encourage-

on his bike each day to warm up

beginning to ask, ‘Why? — Why am

to be a good person in this world

for the show along with his Yale

I reading this? Why am I learning

— a person of character, as we like

School 2nd-grade teacher Pat

classmates.

this information? What’s the

to say.

Meloni has viewed it as the core of

It was an experience of community, a sweet spot in the life of a

point?’” he said.

As students demand greater

“As far as helping to unlock an

“There’s something absolutely special in each boy,” she said. “My

relevancy and engagement, faculty

follow their passions, that comes

field he loves.

must respond with strategies of

with putting kids in a position to

foresight, blending tradition and

experiment with different areas

innovation.

of interest and to take intellec-

“We got to experience it of performing in the park every night.”

“We have a responsibility to create a healthy, intellectually

her work.

‘internal motivation’ to find and

man just beginning a career in a

together,” he said. “The ritual

For nearly 40 years, Lower

tual risks with those areas of interest.”

As co-director of The Brunswick Faculty Institute, Brendan Gilsenan is charged with helping kids find their true passion for learning.

WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

TOB Winter Sweet 022015.indd 37

| 37

2/20/15 6:10 PM

Around 2nd-grade teacher Pat Meloni’s classroom table, every boy is encouraged to develop self-confidence and a love of learning.

of what Gilsenan calls “the confi-

Without question, that impact can be seen in alumni who strive

Read All About It!

“We, as parents, teachers, advi-

to find and cultivate their own

“The Secret of Effective

sors, and coaches, must put them

professional “sweet spots,” who

Motivation,” published July 6 in

in a position to feel comfortable

demonstrate courage as they seek

the Sunday Review section of

job is to find that and to encourage

and confident about themselves,

to nail down careers that connect

The New York Times, argues that

him to make it shine.”

their abilities, and the importance

to their own passions.

internal motives — focusing on

Since 1976, she has dedi-

dence factor” is essential.

of following an area of interest

Simmons, the banker-turned-

the meaning and impact of one’s

cated herself to observing and

that excites them.” For Meloni, the

teacher, may have summed it up

work, for example — are most

responding to the special qual-

charge is simple and direct.

best. Attending Brunswick, he said,

conducive to lifelong success.

was an “unbelievable opportunity,”

http://nyti.ms/1qG0jiO

ities that distinguish 2nd-grade

“From the start, every one of

boys from all others. The count

my boys must know he is loved

and one that continues to influence

of students she has taught now

and cared about,” she says. “That’s

his life every day.

numbers just shy of 600.

essential. I tell them, ‘Every day,

“And they’re all different,” she insists. “Every boy is different and special in some way. Every day,

“I honestly can still hear the

you have to be as special as you

voices of (wrestling coach) Tim

can be.’”

Ostrye or my advisor, Tom Philip,”

Brunswick’s encouragement of

he said.

“They inspire me to give that

I have a chance to discover what

and concentration on character

that is.”

has an unquestionable impact on

back, to offer some of that amazing

students’ performance not only

education to others,” he said.

Not surprisingly, what’s “absolutely special” about every boy is

in School, but also in college and

rooted in his character; cultivation

beyond.

38 | TIMES

OF BRUNSWICK • WINTER 2015

TOB Winter Sweet 022015.indd 38

2/20/15 6:10 PM

FLEX TIME FOCUS ON CHARACTER & LEADERSHIP

A Matter of Trust

By Mike Kennedy ’99

B

RUNSWICK HAS long

Signer, Middle School Head Sarah

committees in each school division.

committed to character-

Burdett, Assistant Headmaster

A handful will attend the Gardner

based education through

Rick Beattie, and Director of

Carney Leadership Institute

the tenets of Courage,

Counseling Leslie Anderson,

in Fountain Valley, Colo., this

Headmaster Tom Philip announced

summer. All will take Coursera’s

that Brunswick is ready to imple-

online class, “Teaching Character

embracing the moral, physical,

ment a new whole-school initiative.

and Creating Positive Classrooms,”

and intellectual growth of each

“As I look at what this all prom-

before school opens in September.

Honor, Truth.

Its focus on “the whole boy” and

and every student has come to

ises for our future, I can’t tell you

define a Brunswick education,

how excited I am about it,” Philip

really good about it,” the head-

leaving an indelible mark on

told faculty and staff in January.

master concluded, “because it

generations of graduates. And yet,

“For so long, Courage, Honor,

“As a school, we should all feel

shows how much character and

Truth has been the focus of

leadership mean to us. It will have

Brunswick. These programs will

a significant impact on each one

cement the School’s mission in

of our boys.”

place — now and long after all of us are gone.” Philip expressly stated that Brunswick is not changing direction in any way.

“Brunswick is known now as a school celebrated for character,” he said. “We are going to continue on this same course.

“There are things we’ve always Kate Duennebier Brunswick Trust Coordinator

been doing that we’ll keep doing.

There are things we’re adding that are in line with that, and there will

as life and work in the 21st century

be a larger structure around it all

bring complex and unprecedented

that will support us and our boys as

challenges, Brunswick has always

we focus on character and leader-

been dedicated to ensuring its

ship education.”

program remains fresh and relevant in every area.

As a result, in 2010, the School’s

Middle School English teacher Kate Duennebier will spearhead leadership of the hallmark program

five-year strategic plan mandated

— aptly named The Brunswick

an examination and subsequent

Trust: Enduring Excellence

strengthening of Brunswick’s

in Character and Leadership

multitude of character and leader-

Education.

ship initiatives, large and small.

Planning for and work on that

It will center on eight areas of involvement, including role

project have been underway

modeling, curricular initiatives,

for some time. And now, after

personal experiences, diversity, and

extensive research and preparation

student and faculty assessments.

alongside Pre School Head Gina Hurd, Lower School Head Katie

As detailed plans are rolled out, faculty will be solicited to form

WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

TOB Winter Flex Time 022015.indd 39

| 39

2/20/15 2:40 PM

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

AATHLETICPROUD TRADITION.

UNITED

CAMPUS.

ON ONE

ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo oooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo oooooooooo oooooooooo oooooooooo oooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo oooooooooo oooooooooo oooooooooo oooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooooooooooo

40 | TIMES

Last fall, for the first time, Brunswick sports enthusiasts could cheer for all four Bruin teams while taking a walking tour of the Edwards Campus.

BY MIKE KENNEDY ’99

T

HEY COULD gather in the bleachers of Robert L. Cosby Field to watch the football team’s highflying offense blow by opponents on the way to a New England Bowl Championship.

They could then amble uphill to the sidelines of

Caputo Varsity Field to see the resilient soccer team go toe-to-toe with the stiffest of competition — and end its season in style.

From there, it would be on to the outskirts of campus to support ’Wick cross country runners, who raced by all 21 teams on their schedule to finish the year undefeated.

For more photos of Bruin Sports, visit bwick.org/ tob_winter2015

OF BRUNSWICK • WINTER 2015

TOB Winter Sports 022015.indd 40

2/20/15 6:37 PM

FALL SPORTS

WRAPUP

FAR LEFT The football team poses for the traditional championship photo.

LEFT Chris Keller ʼ15 leads the pack of New England competitors.

MIDDLE Aidan Schubert ’16 anchored the ’Wick defense from the goalkeeper position.

BOTTOM Senior captains Julian Ronda, Alex Prout, and Matt Marvin show off the hardware.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxx

And finally, although it was

treated to many highlight-reel goals,

a beautiful fall, they could

game-winning touchdowns, and

step indoors and check out the

triumphant victories.

new natatorium — and the

But, most important, they saw

even-more-impressive, Liquid Four

teams united in the spirit of Brown

title-winning water polo squad.

& Gold, all playing for each other

Even if they passed up the walking tour, Bruin fans — students, faculty,

xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx

and their School’s proud athletic tradition.

alumni, and parents alike — were

WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

TOB Winter Sports 022015.indd 41

| 41

2/20/15 6:37 PM

WATER POLO

LEFT Players and coaches celebrate the Liquid Four win.

MIDDLE Pat Stefanou ʼ16 was the team’s dominant offensive force all season long.

BOTTOM Charlie Pang ʼ17 made a number of clutch saves on the way to the title.

Banner Raised to the Rafters: Liquid Four Champs As the Brunswick water polo team reconvened for its fifth season in August — with all the hype

And ready, indeed, they were —

surrounding the new natatorium on

sweeping through league competition

the Edwards Campus — Head Coach

and finishing the regular season

Eric Tillman saw a look of determina-

unbeaten in NEPSAC play.

tion in his players’ eyes.

Highlights included a double-header

from parents, faculty, and students, ’Wick dispatched Suffield, 17–6, in the

triumph against Andover and Exeter,

semi-final round to set up a decisive

collective game up to a new level

and wins over perennial water polo foes

game against Deerfield for the tourna-

— and to erase the stinging disappoint-

Choate, Lawrenceville, and Deerfield.

ment title.

They were motivated to take their

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

“When the boys showed up for the first practice, I knew they were ready.”

ment of losing in the New England Liquid Four semi-final match in 2013.

In addition, they were motivated to make sure the buzz on campus focused on them — even more than on their beautiful, state-of-the-art facility.

“Last year, we found ourselves

At Homecoming 2014, the Bruins

In a back-and-forth contest —

gave a packed home crowd reason to

during which neither team could

cheer — cruising to victories versus

establish control — Brunswick rode

Loomis and Suffield.

a sensational six-goal effort from Pat

Tillman, though, pointed to a pair of

goaltending of Charlie Pang ’17 to a 7–6

ally recognized Greenwich High School

Brunswick history-making win.

looking down at our feet, wondering

as keys to his team’s readiness for the

what had happened to our season,”

Liquid Four.

Tillman said. “But that sour taste stuck

Stefanou ’16 and the outstanding

losses to cross-town rival and nation-

Seniors Alex Prout and Matt Marvin joined Stefanou and Pang on the

“We had to take our game up a notch

All-Tournament team.

with us and inspired us to work even

to stay in the water with the High

harder in preparation for 2014.

School,” Tillman said. “We scrapped

ends of the pool, the first-place trophy

and fought, but most

was headed north,” Tillman said. “The

important, we learned

boys played a complete game and

how to become a better

deserve to feel a definite sense of pride

team in those defeats.”

and accomplishment.”

And the Bruins, in

“Without a full team effort at both

Now, with their goal of raising a

fact, would have to be

banner to the rafters fulfilled, the

at their best when their

Bruins will seek a repeat performance

opponents — with every

in 2015.

intention of knocking

Stefanou, a three-time All-New

off the host school and

England selection — along with Jack

number one seed —

Muccia ’16 and Lucas Bell ’16 — will

arrived at King Street

lead the way as the team captains.

for the Liquid Four.

Spurred on by loud and energetic support

42 | TIMES

OF BRUNSWICK • WINTER 2015

TOB Winter Sports 022015.indd 42

2/20/15 6:37 PM

FALL SPORTS

WRAPUP

Billy O’Malley ’15

FOOTBALL Matt Gendell ’15

Family Atmosphere Leads to Bowl Win

or lose out on a shot at redemption.

“We didn’t waver from our goal,” Shine said. “But we knew that to achieve it, we had to see it and then believe it would happen.”

The Bruins bounced back with a statement victory against Taft at Homecoming and followed it

A season ago — with a 28–6 lead

they needed. “The boys came

up with convincing “W’s” over

against Andover in the Jack Etter

through the doors on Day 1 eager

Hotchkiss and Trinity-Pawling in

Bowl — the Brunswick football

to make up for what happened last

weeks three and four, respectively.

team seemed primed to win

year,” Head Coach Jarrett Shine ’92

But the real momentum-swinger

the School’s first New England

said. “They were determined to get

came against Salisbury — in the

Championship since 2005.

back to that same spot — and, this

form of a trick play appropriately

time, walk off as champions.”

dubbed “cuckoo.” Standing on

But it was not to be.

Andover scored 29 unanswered

It wouldn’t be an easy task for

their own 48-yard line and trailing

points and left the Bruins stunned

the Bruins, though, as they began

21–20 in the game’s final minute,

after a 35–28 defeat. It was an

the season with a gridiron clash on

the Bruins needed a miracle.

experience all returning players

the road against league-rival and

in 2014 — including 20 seniors —

traditional power Avon Old Farms.

remembered as they stepped onto

’Wick fell to the Winged Beavers,

And, after a reverse flea-flicker throwback screen (“cuckoo” is the right word, after all) to WR

the field for the first team practice

49–34, leaving the team staring an

Malik Walker, they got one — as

in August.

almost insurmountable task in the

the senior co-captain took it to the

face: Win all its remaining games

house behind a sea of Brown &

And it was all the motivation

PRO BOWLERS The Erickson League — comprised of Avon Old Farms, Brunswick, Hotchkiss, Kent, Salisbury, Taft, and Trinity-Pawling — honored the following Bruins with post-season accolades.

D EFEN S IV E P L AYER O F THE YEA R:

Austin Meacham ’15 A L L-CO N FEREN CE:

Matt Gendell ’15 Defensive Lineman Alex Katchadurian ’16 Offensive Lineman Austin Meacham ’15 Linebacker Billy O’Malley ’15 Quarterback Malik Wilder ’15 Wide Receiver

Gold blockers for the game-winning Austin Meacham ’15

touchdown. Fans at Robert L. Cosby

atmosphere on and off the field,

Field erupted in celebration.

which distinguished us from our

From then on, Brunswick rolled on its quest to secure a New

built something special within this

England bowl bid, routing both

program, quieted the naysayers,

Kent and Deerfield to finish the

and made those who believed in

regular season with a record of 6–1.

them very proud.

Fittingly, in the Wayne Sanborn NEPSAC Bowl Championship

“They deserve to go out on top.”

Newly elected captains John Fox

game, it was the senior class

’17, Alex Katchadurian ’16, Alex

leading the way to the 46–20

Russell ’16, and Pat Adamo ’16 will

title-winning victory against

have a fine example to follow in

Governor’s Academy (Byfield,

2015 as they look to achieve similar

Mass.). “This class created a family

success.

ooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooo TOB Winter Sports 022015.indd 43

competition,” Shine said. “They

WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

| 43

2/20/15 6:37 PM

SOCCER

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Some had to adjust to the rigors

post-season. Co-captain Sal Lopez

built over the course of nearly three

of playing key minutes for the first

’16 scored on a shot from midfield

months of hard work, desire, and

time, while others were thrust into

only four seconds into the game,

persistence,” Kaptcianos said. “It

new positions and game-action,

and fellow co-captain Marshall

was such a satisfying way to end

also for the first time. A few were

Dickson ’15 netted the first goal of

the season.”

new to soccer altogether.

his three-year varsity career to lead

“It was a unique challenge for

the Bruins to a 3–2 win.

Captains Aidan Schubert ’16 and Lopez, a two-time WNESPSA

players and coaches to start with

“That win under the lights,

the basics while competing in a

in front of a lively crowd, was a

all-star, will lead a “more-veteran” squad — including 13 seniors —

Losing Season Ends on a High

league with established soccer

reflection of the team that was

onto the field in 2015.

After 10 games, it would have been

especially the seniors, worked hard

easy — almost expected, really —

and maintained a positive attitude

for the Brunswick soccer team to

throughout the process.”

traditions,” Kaptcianos said.

“But each member of the team,

give up on its season. The Bruins

The highlight of that process,

sat with a record of 1–9 and had

indeed, came on a very cold Senior

been eliminated from WNESPSA

Night against Westminster, a team

playoff contention.

needing a victory to qualify for the

Pack it in and get ready for next season, many young athletes might have said.

But the Bruins didn’t quit: They were determined to keep playing. And, in the final third of the season, they played their best soccer of the year.

“Everything started to click after a strong week of practice in mid-October,” Assistant Coach Jon Kaptcianos said. “Strikers were making the right runs and cuts, midfielders were connecting passes, and our defenders and goalkeeper were working as a single unit.

“To close out the season 2–2–1, with wins against Hopkins and Westminster, is indicative of the

ABOVE Marshall Dickson ’15 goes up for a header while Anders Ashforth ’15 and Grant Quackenbush ’16 look on.

LEFT Sal Lopez ’16 puts a strike on the ball.

success we had this year — with multi-sport athletes developing into talented and intelligent soccer players.”

In fact, when practice began in August, the Bruins were forced to build from the ground up, with a roster full of inexperience on many different levels.

44 | TIMES

OF BRUNSWICK • WINTER 2015

TOB Winter Sports 022015.indd 44

2/20/15 6:37 PM

CROSS COUNTRY

FALL SPORTS

WRAPUP

Andrew Israel ’16

Parker Stitzer ’15

oooooooooooo oooooooooooo oooooooooooo oooooooooooo oooooooooooo oooooooooooo oooooooooooo oooooooooooo oooooooooooo oooooooooooo oooooooooooo oooooooooooo

Chris Peisch ’16

Will Berczuk ’15

Quiet Determination and an FAA Double The Brunswick cross country team

ably the most decorated season in

broke with tradition in 2014.

the history of the program.

Rather than concluding pre-race

In addition to the FAA double

team huddles with a loud cheer in

— the first since 2009 — the team

the school’s name, the group simply

captured the Wilton Invitational

whispered the words in unison:

and placed third at the Canterbury

“1–2–3, ’Wick.”

And, after compiling a 21–0 dual

Invitational. season race. According to Polikoff,

a talented Hopkins team looming

meet record — along with FAA

lined the success by dominating

however, depth and experience —

on next year’s schedule, the

regular and post-season champion-

FAA competition on his way to

not one Bruin runner himself

challenges will prove large for the

ships — it looks like the new team

winning the league title. The Wake

— were most critical to the team’s

Bruins in 2015.

ritual may last well into the future.

Forest-bound senior also placed

memorable year.

“In a sense, it was a reflection of

Individually, Berczuk head-

14th at the New England’s, leading

“We had a lineup of veterans who

Newly-elected captains Chris Peisch ’16 and Andrew Israel ’16,

the group’s quiet determination,”

his team to a 9th-place finish and

all knew what it took to overcome

an All-FAA selection, will be tasked

Head Coach Steve Polikoff said.

earning All-New England honors

the challenges that come with the

with getting their team ready.

“It became our signature.” Led by

in the process.

wear and tear of a cross country

varsity mainstays and captains Will

Stitzer, too, was honored with

season,” he said. “All 22 teammates

Berczuk ’15, Cooper Robinson ’15,

All-FAA recognition — for the

contributed to each one of our

and Parker Stitzer ’15, the Bruin

fourth consecutive year, no less

accomplishments.”

runners put together what is argu-

— by taking third in the post-

oooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooo TOB Winter Sports 022015.indd 45

With few runners returning and

WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

| 45

2/20/15 6:37 PM

FLEX TIME ’ W I C K S T U D E N T S O N S TAG E

UP P E R SCHO O L T HE AT E R The Glorious Complications of Love

A

T BAKER Theater in

plot, focusing on the trials and

November, Upper

experiences of two sets of lovers

School students took

in a magical forest; the jealous

on the universal theme

world of the Fairy King and

of love and all of its glorious

Queen; and a group of itinerant

complications — lust, confusion,

amateurs attempting to stage

disappointment, and marriage —

a production of “Pyramus and

in their staging of Shakespeare’s

Thisbe” for the wedding of the

A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Duke of Athens.

The spirited cast of 22 actors

46 | TIMES

By the end, sold-out crowds

and actresses carried the audi-

rose to their feet to applaud the

ence through a multilayered

fine dramatic efforts of all.

OF BRUNSWICK • WINTER 2015

TOB Winter Flex Time 022015.indd 46

2/20/15 2:40 PM

Flex TIME

MID D L E S CH O O L T H E AT E R A Journey to a Faraway Kingdom, Full of Twists and Turns

M

IDDLE SCHOOL boys took the audience on a journey to a faraway kingdom in their presentation of

DreamWorks’ Shrek Jr. — a show full of twists and turns, witty dialogue, and engaging musical numbers.

Along the way, all were introduced to a green ogre, a wisecracking donkey, a short terror who is dying to be crowned king, a feisty princess, and, of course, a fearless dragon that guards the tower of the princess.

A gang of displaced fairytale misfits rounded out the cast of this entertaining, laughter-inducing show — with a happy ending to boot.

For more photos, visit bwick.org/tob_winter2015

WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

TOB Winter Flex Time 022015.indd 47

| 47

2/20/15 2:40 PM

BEYOND THE BOOKS

NEWS AND NOTEWORTHY EVENTS

From Zaragoza to Maher Avenue: ’Wick Welcomes Exchange Student

J

ORGE TERREU ’16 could have

him for speaking only Spanish,

landed at any one of the 85

English, and French, as well as “a

independent ASSIST member

little” Chinese, before he got here).

schools in the United States.

He has also impressed in graphic

The nonprofit, international

design.

educational and cultural exchange

Before sitting down with him

organization identifies, places, and

in January, we eavesdropped as

supports outstanding international

he toasted a bagel and engaged in

students on one-year scholarships

three to four conversations with

at leading American independent

students in passing

secondary schools.

— one about an

The Blake School in

imminent lab report,

Minneapolis, Minn.; St. Mark’s

another about the

School of Texas in Dallas; Nichols

upcoming hockey

School in Buffalo, N.Y.; as far west

game.

as New Mexico at Albuquerque

Terreu credits the

Academy — the distinguished list

Jaiswals (his host-

goes on and includes schools all

family), as well as

across the country.

’Wick students and

But the Zaragoza, Spain, native found his way to Connecticut — to

teachers, for welcoming him and making his transition an easy one.

Greenwich to be exact — after

“I was a little nervous coming

emerging from a pool of 1,650

here — to a completely different

applicants as one of 161 ASSIST

culture and environment,”

Scholars. “My older sister had a

he said. “But I feel very

friend who was accepted into the

lucky that everyone,

program a few years ago, and she

especially the Jaiswals, has

encouraged me to apply,” Terreu

been so good to me.”

said. “I am now very happy I did.”

Brunswick, admittedly, feels the same way.

As for reminders of home?

Terreu keeps a soccer

From the moment Terreu

ball in his bedroom and

arrived, the 16-year-old has

dribbles carefully while

immersed himself in campus life —

snow falls outside his

taking a full slate of classes, playing

window — keen to retain

on the varsity soccer team, and

his skills before returning

joining the German Club (forgive

to Spain in June.

48 | TIMES

Jorge Terreu ’16 wears many hats at ’Wick: Student, athlete, linguist, graphic designer, and friend.

A Visitor from Across the Pond Liam Payne, a student from Oakham School in the United Kingdom, spent three weeks among ’Wick students last fall — hosted by Alex Tucker ’17. By all accounts, Liam enjoyed his experience — especially on the American football field.

OF BRUNSWICK • WINTER 2015

Beyond the Books 022015.indd 48

2/21/15 12:07 AM

BEYOND the BOOKS

One Man’s Clutter, Another’s Hidden Treasure AS HE LOOKED FOR SOMETHING around the house, Jamie MacFarlane ’16 kept coming across old electronic devices: A rarely used iPod Classic here, a cracked iPhone 4 there, and a handful of seemingly archaic Blackberrys.

Once the newest gadgets — all indispensable around the clock — they were now collecting dust in tucked-away drawers, out of sight and out of mind. MacFarlane, though, didn’t simply leave them for someone else to find (brothers Will ’12 or Sammy ’11, for instance) as most in his shoes would have done.

He had a better idea.

“There’s no reason for these devices to become obsolete clutter,” he said. “I knew there had to be value.”

MacFarlane, a student in the Upper School’s newly established Science Research Seminar, theorized that the precious metals inside the devices could be reused in another product down the line. And, he thought, some could even have functional value to a potential next owner.

“If only one person could be connected to the next or even to a recycling plant,” MacFarlane said, “the positive environmental impact through reuse could be huge.

“I set out to develop that connection.”

Third graders Thomas Ewald, Luke Homan, and Robert Ulmer play the game for the strategy — and the fun.

After months of planning and creating a website, MacFarlane launched SellPhoneHut.com, to buy used and retired cell phones, iPods, and tablets. The website makes selling electronics quick and easy. After just a small series of clicks to describe the device’s specifications, with guidance all along the way, SellPhoneHut.com offers a quote on the spot.

Today, an iPhone 4s with 16 GB of storage on the AT&T network and normal wear and tear is worth $64 at SellPhoneHut.com. An iPhone 5 of the same specifications is worth $189.

Even if the devices are too old to have market value, and as a result MacFarlane can’t pay for them, he’ll gladly accept them and make sure they’re recycled responsibly.

“This endeavor unites my passions for business and the environment and pays consumers to be environmentally conscious without even having to leave their homes.

“That’s a win-win for all of us.”

Lower Schoolers Compete for National Checkmate Honors

S

OON AFTER his mom

members played seven games

taught him how to play

of chess during an intense

chess, 3rd grader Luke

three-day period — and they

Homan realized it was like a

earned incredible success.

big battle between two king-

The 1st-grade team —

doms — “May the best man

composed of Neel Behringer,

win,” if you will.

Henry Graham, Carl Homan,

“I love figuring out the strategy to win and learning

and Mark Homan — finished in 8th place.

new openings in the course

Third graders Thomas

of a game,” the ’Wick Lower

Ewald, Luke Homan, and

School student said.

Robert Ulmer teamed up to

“Playing with a team is also a lot of fun,” Homan added.

He and eight other Bruins did so in December, taking

secure a 6th-place finish for Brunswick, the School’s bestever result in the competition.

Fourth grader William Ewald

their chess games on the road

also participated and took

to compete in the U.S. Chess

home an individual trophy for

Federation National Scholastic

his 14th-place standing.

Chess Championships in Orlando, Fla. At the event, attended by

Lucas Korn, a 5th grader, became ill during the weekend and had to withdraw.

more than 1,200 children from across the country, ’Wick team

WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

Beyond the Books 022015.indd 49

| 49

2/21/15 12:07 AM

BEYOND the BOOKS

Middle Schoolers Kevin Tu ’20 and Christian Hartch ’19 scored highest among their classmates on the American Math Competitions 8 Test.

In Middle School, Mathletes Abound

T

EN MIDDLE School students participated in the MATHCOUNTS Competition Series at Fairfield University in February ( just after this issue went to press).

MATHCOUNTS, a coaching and competition program, brings to

math achievement the same enthusiasm and prestige now enjoyed by athletics.

Representing Brunswick were 8th graders William Frauen, Christian Hartch, and Alex Trauber; 7th graders Logan Darrin, Harry Kilberg, Jamie Meindl, Kevin Tu, and Nick Wolanske; and 6th graders Cameron Evans and Ryan Winston.

Strictly by the Numbers

Middle School Math Coordinator Kevin Landesman thinks

At the third match of the six-match Fairfield County season,

the group has the potential to be Brunswick’s strongest team in

the Upper School math team placed second among 23 public

recent memory.

and private schools, with a score of 81 points. Jack Turchetta

“We are excited to be sending 10 boys to competition this year

’15 was the only student in the county with a perfect score.

for the first time, especially having the opportunity to send younger boys,” Landesman said.

“This enables 6th and 7th graders to gain valuable experience that should make them stronger 8th graders down the road.”

50 | TIMES

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT Keshav Raghavan ʼ17, Emmet Coyle ʼ15, Jack Turchetta ʼ15, Peter Ciporin ʼ15, Taylor Huffman ʼ17, Andrew Rogozinski ʼ17, and Mathematics Chair Michael Allwood

OF BRUNSWICK • WINTER 2015

Beyond the Books 022015.indd 50

2/21/15 12:07 AM

BEYOND the BOOKS

For more photos, visit bwick.org/tob_winter2015

’Wick’s Horizons Continue to Expand

A

FTER A successful

programs included for parents are

tionship with Horizons students

inaugural summer of

CPR training, a nutrition workshop,

and parents between September

Horizons at Brunswick,

and a skills session conducted by

and June,” Barnum said. “We hope

the program has built on its positive

child and adolescent family thera-

they’ll want to come back each

momentum by hosting six Saturday

pist Darby Fox P ’16.

summer — all the way through

sessions, open to all students who

“The goal is to maintain a rela-

Upper Schoolers Nicky Henkel ’18 (top) and Clayton Adams ’15 volunteered their reading and technological skills to the Saturday program.

their 8th-grade years.”

attended in 2014.

Each Saturday session has an academic component for students, a workshop geared toward parental education, and a family-education segment bringing students and parents together.

“The Saturday program has worked quite well,” said Marianne Ho Barnum, Executive Director of Horizons at Brunswick. “Parents and students are continuing their education and connecting with each other in the school setting.”

Many Brunswick 9th and 10th graders have also participated, serving as mentors and volunteering to read to the Horizons students as part of the “Real Men Read” component of the program.

“It is a great feeling to help the kids and to know that I’m having a small impact on their lives,” Ned Camel ’18 said. “They are all intent on learning.”

Among the many valuable

WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

Beyond the Books 022015.indd 51

| 51

2/21/15 12:07 AM

BEYOND the BOOKS

The Merits of Ayn Rand, Game of Thrones: Just Another Day in Advisory

By Yousef Hindy ’15

A

FTER I grab a quick breakfast from

my fellow advisees once said, so

the dining hall, I begin the short

anyone is welcome to pop in and join

walk to Mr. Beattie’s office and

a conversation. Several “unofficial

contemplate what the topic of conversation

members,” in fact, make frequent

will be in advisory that day.

stops when they have a minute — or

While it can often be difficult for teenagers

an entire block — to spare.

to be motivated for anything — let alone

Passing through the cafeteria each

school — early in the morning, I can tell you

morning, though, I realize that the

that my fellow advisees and I genuinely look

Beattie advisory experience is not

forward to homeroom.

an anomaly at ’Wick. I catch sight of

As I take my seat, I am surrounded by

Hindy ’15 will attend Stanford University this fall.

some of the most distinguished members of my class: Varsity captains and athletes, the school president, exceptional actors, peer

spirited conversations, all populated with diversely passionate and talented students who love to share their enthu-

leaders, and an EMT, to name a few.

There exists such a mutual respect among

other advisories, all in the midst of

siasm for their interests. drop by on my way to class — just to take a

If you ask any boy in the senior class

the eight of us — and Mr. Beattie himself

break from the day or chat with whoever is

which advisory is the best, he will surely say

— that we become engaged in all sorts of

lounging around.

that it’s his own.

discussions. For example, on one occasion

“All roads lead to Beattie,” as one of

He’s probably right.

we debated the merits of Ayn Rand and Immanuel Kant; and on another day, we ogled over the previous night’s Game of Thrones episode.

In a sense, advisory is akin to a breakfast table at which I can learn something new and interesting every single day. The conversations are not always intellectual — to the delight of all — yet they are unfailingly engaging.

Sometimes, I will even find myself rushing to first period because I’m so caught up in the discourse that I almost forget to go to class.

Not only do I take advantage of my advisory in the structured homeroom and “flex” times, but I also

52 | TIMES

Assistant Headmaster for Academics Rick Beattie ’80 is surrounded by his vaunted senior advisory group (left to right): Yousef Hindy, Tucker Brown, Alex Prout, James Granruth, Grant Pierce, Matt Marvin, Clay Berger, and Grant MacFaddin.

OF BRUNSWICK • WINTER 2015

Beyond the Books 022015.indd 52

2/21/15 12:07 AM

FLEX TIME CLASS OF 2005 SPEAKER SERIES

of ISIS,” Benjamin added. “So far, the threat is nothing like 9/11. But

months before the 9/11 attacks,

because of the public debate and

Benjamin co-authored an op-ed

all kinds of crazy suggestions, we

column in The New York Times,

have a very worked-up populace in

entitled “The New Face of

the U.S.

Terrorism.”

“I fear we’re creating a sense

Laden do not want a place at the

ground,” he said. “But we should

table; they want to shatter the

remember what happened the last

table,” he wrote. “They are not

time we invaded Iraq and the ulti-

constrained by secular political

mate cost — in American casualties

concerns. Their objective is not to

and dollars — of that war.”

influence, but to kill, and in large

Instead, Benjamin underscored

By Mike Kennedy ’99

T

“Terrorists allied with Mr. bin

that we have to put troops on the

the billion-dollar investments the

Counterterror Expert: ‘Think About a Career in Public Service’

In January 2000, more than 18

numbers.”

And, in a September 2002 article

U.S. has made in its intelligence

entitled “Saddam Hussein and Al

and counterterrorism capabilities,

Qaeda Are Not Allies,” Benjamin

and asserted his confidence in

wrote, “The last war against

those advancements.

Iraq was a catalytic event for the

“This is a threat we can manage

Islamists who formed Al Qaeda.

without getting back on the ground

We should not be complacent

HE WORLD is full of truly

National Security Council from

in Iraq and Syria,” he said. “We’re a

and believe that the next one will

scary things.

1994 to 1999, as a member of

really powerful country, and we can

be different, or that the jihadist

President Clinton’s staff.

deal with a lot of the problems.”

violence cannot grow worse.”

At a fall Upper School assembly, Senior Dean

The Harvard graduate and

He should know.

Decades of willfully facing down

Paul Withstandley reminded

Marshall Scholar at Oxford visited

the terrorist maelstrom have

listeners of just a few: Data

with the Upper School commu-

toughened Benjamin to an endless

breaches, infectious-disease

nity as part of the Class of 2005

outbreaks, natural disasters,

Speaker Series — an endowed gift

biological weapons, terrorist plots,

from parents of the Class of 2005

and acts of terror. Most of us prefer

to bring renowned and informative

not to think about them — not

speakers to the Brunswick campus.

to imagine them, not to plan for

“I heartily endorse your school

them, not to confront the natural

saying — ‘With All Thy Getting,

fear of them, he said.

Get Understanding’ — and hope

But someone needs to man the

that after today, you’ll be interested

watchtower, to prompt top-level

in following up on some of these

discussions about terror threats, to

international issues and doing

develop strategies to defeat terror-

something about them,” Benjamin

ists abroad, and to help ensure the

said. He spotlighted the three main

United States’ national security.

drivers for foreign-policy makers

During the last two decades, a

in Washington today: The rise of

prominent figure in this charge has

China, the crisis in the Ukraine,

been Daniel Benjamin, Ambassador-

and the ascent of the non-state

at-Large and Coordinator for

actor ISIS.

Counterterrorism at the U.S. State Department from 2009 to 2012.

Benjamin also served on the

“The fourth real challenge is here at home, because of the way we have talked about the problem

“... we should remember what happened the last time we invaded Iraq and the ultimate cost — in American casualties and dollars — of that war.”

– Daniel Benjamin, Ambassador-at-Large

challenge.

“When you deal with it every day,” he said, matter-of-factly, “you deal with it every day. I confess it just becomes the field you play on.

“I’m kept awake by the dumb mistakes we make more than I am by the bad things that can happen.”

Benjamin is currently the Norman E. McCulloch Jr. Director of the John Sloan Dickey Center for International Understanding at Dartmouth College.

“To help the American people maintain their security and to improve how we do in the world is incredibly rewarding,” Benjamin told Upper School students.

“I hope you’ll think about a career in public service.”

WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

TOB Winter Flex Time 022015.indd 53

| 53

2/20/15 2:40 PM

CLASSNOTES C O M P I L E D B Y L I B B Y E D WA R D S

1969 Robert Selkowitz is the proud grandfather of Avery Elizabeth Waskiewicz, born October 16 to Robert’s daughter Bhakta and Matthew Waskiewicz. See photo 01.

Robert also reports that he received phone calls wishing him a happy 63rd birthday from classmates Jim Pinto, Bill Coleman, and Tim Johnson. He is also in touch with Marty Green.

1975 Rick Ford is currently writing a book about his experiences as the forgotten mascot for the New York Yankees. He was encouraged to take on the story after the overwhelming response from a Wall Street Journal article, “Yankees’ Long Forgotten Mascot,” which provided information about this unwritten piece of Yankee history.

1977 Dave Jenkins reports that he and his brother Bob have started a new business in Arizona. VETSBuilt Contracting LLC is a Service-Disabled VeteranOwned Small Business, whose mission is to put veterans with various skills (painting, plumbing,

A PHOTOGR APHIC MEMORY

FROM THE ARCHIVES In this archival photo, two generations of Brunswick boys walk the path between the Maple and Maher Avenue campuses as part of the Big Brother Program, a storied school tradition dating back to 1984. We’d appreciate your help in identifying these finely dressed young men. But more than that, we’d love to hear a story or two about your experiences in the program.

Any fond memories or lifelong friendships formed? Please call or email Libby Edwards (ledwards@ brunswickschool.org: 203-625-5864) to share.

54 | TIMES

HOMECOMING SOIREE: 1990S STYLE We received a number of replies to our inquiry about the archival photo published on page 66 of the Fall 2014 issue. The photo, taken at Everett Field in the early ’90s, reminds us of many pictured in the Homecoming feature of this issue — with the sweaters, fall foliage, nametags, and plastic cups (of course!). Bill Ryckman ’87, Nat Barnum ’82, Peter Corroon ’82, Bob Rice ’82, and 2nd-grade teacher Pat Meloni were espe-

STANDING Michael Fiore ’85, David Holmgren ’82, Chris Corroon ’82, Mark Perdoncin ’82, Nat Barnum ’82, Bob Rice ’82, Michael Sullivan ’82, and David Bailey ’82 KNEELING Peter Corroon ’82, Bill Morin ’82, Rich Edmunds ’82, and David Frankel ’82

cially helpful in identifying those pictured — all but one from the Class of 1982.

OF BRUNSWICK • WINTER 2015

TOB Winter Class Notes 022015.indd 54

2/21/15 12:41 AM

CLASSNOTES

plastering, carpentry, etc.) to work on residential and commercial projects.

Adam Manacher and his son, Daniel, rode 145 miles together from their home in Cambridge to their house in Sandisfield in the Berkshire Hills.

The ride took more than a day and a half and raised money for facioscapulohumeral dystrophy, the most common form of muscular dystrophy. Adam’s

01

02

03

wife, Carol, has a 50 percent chance of inheriting FSHD. Adam and his son have already planned an encore ride in 2015. See photo 02.

Michael McNabb, living in Taipei, welcomed home his eldest daughter, Morgan, at Christmas from her freshman year at Penn. Her sister, Lauren, is a junior. Michael is involved in four to five start-ups, mostly based in Shanghai, where he commutes four days a week from Taipei.

04

05

1993 Peter Rand and his wife, Rachel, welcomed a baby girl, Delaney Matil, on October 11, weighing 6 lbs. 15 oz.

She joins her older brother, Patrick. See photo 03.

1997 Steve Clark married Lindsay Brower on Saturday,

06

07

December 13, at Raphael Vineyards in Peconic, 01 Robert Selkowitz ’69 is the proud grandfather of Avery Elizabeth Waskiewicz, born October 16.

N.Y. Fellow classmates Jason Ienner and Iain Sievwright, along with Bob Nielson ’98, were in attendance. See photo 04.

02 Adam Manacher ’77 and his son, Daniel, rode 145 miles across Massachusetts last July.

1998

03 Peter Rand ’93 and his wife, Rachel, welcomed Delaney Matil on October 11.

Win Smith married Nina-Michelle “Shell” Roberts at his family’s farm in Litchfield Hills, Conn., on

08

September 27. Win’s brother, Cameron ’03, and Glenn DeSimone ’98 were co-best men; and Bandar Shawwaf ’98 and Grant DeSimone ’01 were groomsmen. See photo 05.

Berkeley, and now administers the teaching program at Slide Ranch. Robbie is president of Faraday, a start-up identifying customer-acquisition prospects

1999

See photo 07.

Steve Vasaka married Silvana Perelli (GA ’98)

Matt Heineman’s documentary film, Cartel Land,

in front of a big crowd of ’Wick and GA friends

premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. The

on June 14 in Tarrytown, N.Y. Jamie Kearns ’98

film is a classic western set in the 21st century,

was a co-best man and Tommy Egan ’98 was a

pitting vigilantes on both sides of the border

groomsman. See photo 06.

against the vicious Mexican drug cartels.

2001

J. J. Oshins and his wife, Kate, welcomed their

Robbie Adler wed Emily Ruth Cohen at Slide Ranch

in environmental and home-improvement areas.

second son, Parker Jay, on August 15. He joins his brother, Harrison. See photo 08.

in Muir Beach, Calif., on September 6. Ruthie grew

Elliot Rauh married Britt Olsen-Ecker in Baltimore,

up in Palos Verdes Estates, Calif., attended UC

Md., on September 27.

04 Newly married Steve Clark ’97 is surrounded

by Bob Nielsen ’98, Iain Sievwright ’97, and Jason Ienner ’97.

05 Win Smith ’98 married Nina-Michelle “Shell” Roberts at his family’s farm in Litchfield Hills, Conn., on September 27.

06 Many ’Wick and GA alumni/ae celebrated the wedding of Silvana Perelli (GA ’98) and Steve Vasaka ’99 on June 14 (from left): Nicole Zannino Iraci, Joseph Iraci ’99, Dave Maloney ’01, Liz Pizzuti, Elysia Bevan Pearce, Janet Carter Benedetti, Amanda Bates, Nina Kahm, Jamie Kearns ’98, Grant Gyseky ’98, the newlyweds, Kristin Santora Lamendola, Tommy Egan ’98, Lee Oxman ’99, Jarrett McGovern ’99, Graham Gyesky ’00, Scott Neff ’99, Josyl Barchue ’00, Jenifer Parker, Andrew Rosato ’97, Jerry Carnegie ’99, Mandela Jones ’00, John Egan ’95, Matt Nielsen ’00. Not pictured: Scott Sill ’00.

07 Robbie Adler ’01 wed Emily Ruth Cohen in Muir Beach, Calif., on September 6.

08 J. J. Oshins ’01 and his wife, Kate, welcomed Parker Jay on August 15. He joins his brother, Harrison.

WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

TOB Winter Class Notes 022015.indd 55

| 55

2/21/15 12:41 AM

CLASSNOTES

2002 Sam Epstein married Liz Manley in Montana at the Ranch at Rock Creek on August 30. Alumni in attendance included classmates Jamie Coffin, David Gerkin, Hugh Jessiman, and Matt MacDonald, as well as Eric Epstein ’06, Andrew Jessiman ’04, and Charlie Wiggins ’04. Liz’s sister, Margaret, is a senior at GA. See photo 09.

09

10

11

Pat Spellane and his wife, Katherine, welcomed a baby girl, Druscilla “Dru” Hatfield, on December 6, weighing 8 lbs. 4 oz. See photo 10.

Riley Stuebe and his wife, Sarah, welcomed a baby boy, Sean Kilroy, on August 30, weighing 8 lbs. 14 oz.

See photo 11.

2003

12

13

Chris Allwin and Carolyn Bella Kim were married at St. Bartholomew’s Church in New York City on December 6.

On September 27, Gregg Bell married Kate Dunlop at The Sankaty Head Golf Club on Nantucket. Many Brunswick and GA alums were in attendance. See photo 12.

Andries de Villiers and his wife, Juliana, welcomed a baby boy, Andries Petrus, on June 5, weighing 6 lbs.

11 oz. See photo 13.

2004 Rob Dudley and his fiancée, Tricia Starr, will be married this June in Aspen, Colo. Sam Kies will be Rob’s best man.

Geordie Kaytes married Janna Koretz at the Robert Treat Paine Estate in Waltham, Mass., on September 27. See photo 14.

2007

14

09 Sam Epstein ’02 married Liz Manley in Montana at the Ranch at Rock Creek on August 30.

10 Pat Spellane ’02 and his wife, Katherine, welcomed Druscilla “Dru” Hatfield on December 6.

11 Riley Stuebe ’02 and his wife,

Sarah, welcomed Sean Kilroy on August 30.

12 Many ’Wick alumni were on

Nantucket to celebrate the wedding of Gregg Bell ’03 and Kate Dunlop (from left): Deakin Bell ’99, Calvin

16

15

Morphy ’03, Jack McFarlane ’03, Steve Perlis ’03, J.P. Shand ’03, the newlyweds, Cameron Bell ’06, Greg Marx ’03, Andy Herb ’00, Rhys Williams ’03, Brett Bonnist ’03, and Kyle Moran ’03.

13 Andries de Villiers ’03 and his wife, Juliana, welcomed Andries Petrus on June 5.

14 Geordie Kaytes ’04 married Janna Koretz at the Robert Treat Paine Estate in Waltham, Mass., on September 27.

15 Varsity soccer alumni reunited as the “Kingfishers” soccer team at Chelsea Piers, N.Y.: Erik Spangenberg ’07, Andrew Laird ’08, Ron Ongaro ’07, Karl Hantho ’08, Eric Clauson ’07, and John Eric Oberbeck ’08. Not pictured: Dan Morrisroe ’08 and Zach Prager ’08.

16 Brian Shepard ’97 and his wife, Denise, welcomed Lucia Cowles on December 11.

Joining John Eric are Andrew Laird, Karl Hantho,

FACULTY NOTES

Dan Morrisroe, and Zach Prager from ’08, along

Brian Shepard ’97 and his wife, Denise, welcomed

with Eric Clauson and Ron Ongaro from ’07. See

their second daughter, Lucia Cowles, on December

photo 15.

11, weighing 9 lbs. 7 oz. She joins her sister, Isla, who

goalkeeper in an outdoor league in Nashville.

2011

is 2. See photo 16.

2008

Mac Morse has joined together with friends at

John Eric Oberbeck rallied several of his former

music-sharing website featuring their own musical

’Wick Varsity Soccer teammates to join both an

tastes, promoting lesser-known artists, and serving

indoor league at Chelsea Piers and an outdoor

as a platform for the latest cultural news.

Eric Clauson and Ron Ongaro continue their ’Wick varsity soccer tradition by playing in two leagues in New York City. Erik Spangenberg, home for a visit from Nashville, served as guest goalie for a playoff game in late August. Erik continues on the pitch as

56 | TIMES

league called “Urban Soccer” in New York City.

Trinity College to start Mugatunes.com, an online

Nick Salazar and his wife, Susie, welcomed a baby boy on September 22.

OF BRUNSWICK • WINTER 2015

TOB Winter Class Notes 022015.indd 56

2/21/15 12:41 AM

CLASSNOTES

IN MEMORIAM J. Vincent Camuto P ’07, ’12, ’22, 78, died Wednesday, January 21, at his home in Greenwich, surrounded by his family.

Member of Brunswick’s Board of Trustees (1996–99), parent, and benefactor, the designer is best known for co-founding Nine West Group in 1978. He served as its creative director for two decades and was named CEO in 1993.

Nine West was sold in 1999 to Jones Apparel Group. Vince founded the Camuto Group, which owns his namesake footwear line, in 2001. The company also licensed products for Tory Burch, BCBG, and others.

Born and raised in New York City, Vince lost his father when he was two. He enjoyed spending time in the Hamptons and collecting French Impressionist art. He and his wife rebuilt Villa Maria, a 20,000-square-foot former convent in Water Mill, N.Y., over a five-year period. The home was featured in Architectural Digest in 2013.

He was also an avid supporter of charities, including St. Jude’s Hospital, the Leukemia Society

all-boys camp on the shores of Moose Pond, in Bridgton, Maine, to which Peter had returned every year since he was 7.

At Camp Winona, Peter spent eight summers as a camper and then the following four summers as a counselor. He became a member of the Winona family, finding a knack for leading younger boys through many of the same traditions and adventures he had enjoyed there growing up.

An athlete as well, he was a varsity oarsman on the highly competitive St. Andrew’s School rowing team, having learned to row at Brunswick, where he attended 2nd through 9th grade.

More recently, Peter had coached younger rowers in town. While at UVa, he pursued an American Studies major, had been writing fiction, and was also a member of The Whethermen, an Improv group. The third-youngest in a family of four, Peter was born in Manhattan. His family moved to Connecticut when he was 7. He leaves his parents, Mary Beth and Walter D’Agostino, and

• If photos have been taken by a professional photographer, submit hi-resolution files obtained from the photographer. Low-res files from photographers’ websites don’t reproduce well.

He is also survived by his grandparents, aunts,

• Save files as JPG.

uncles, cousins, extended family, and friends.

Christopher W. Hunter ’01 died suddenly in San

Andrea, John ’07, Christopher ’12, and Philip ’22.

Diego, Calif., on November 5, at the age of 31. A resident of Scarsdale for the first 15 years of his life,

Peter Cuskley D’Agostino ’13, 20, died suddenly

he was born to Roberto J. “Bert” Hunter and Donna

on Thursday, November 20, in Charlottesville, Va.

L. Webster.

After attending the Greenacres Elementary and

Virginia, Peter graduated in 2013 from St. Andrew’s

Scarsdale Middle schools, Christopher attended

School in Middletown, Del., where he was

Brunswick before graduating from the Hotchkiss

student body president. Upon graduation from

School. During his years at Amherst College,

St. Andrew’s, he earned the William H. Cameron

from which he graduated with a double major

Award for outstanding service to the school — the

in psychology and sociology, he was a National

highest honor conferred by St. Andrew’s.

Science Foundation Fellow (Duke University Medical Center). Upon graduation from Amherst,

ourselves accountable to the people around us,”

Christopher earned a two-year fellowship in

he said, addressing the gathering for St. Andrew’s

psychology at San Diego State University.

2013 Commencement. “Our end of the bargain

• Set the photo size to 4x6 inches or larger, in 300 dpi.

• Set your digital camera to the best photo setting.

leaves his wife, Louise, and five children, Robert,

“At St. Andrew’s, we work hard and we hold

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

Here are tips for providing digital photos that will look fantastic in print:

sisters Alexandra, Jane, and Polly, all of Greenwich.

of America, and Ronald McDonald House. Vince

A second-year student at the University of

DIGITAL PHOTOS

During the last several years, Christopher

• Identify everyone, left to right, and provide a caption.

• Email photos as attachments to Libby Edwards at ledwards@brunswickschool. org.

If you’d rather send a traditional print (made from a negative), we love that, too. But please send them on glossy paper. Matte prints and prints from digital photos do not scan well. We can’t reproduce photos from photocopies, magazines or newsprint.

Mail prints to: Libby Edwards Brunswick School Development/Alumni Office 100 Maher Avenue Greenwich, CT 06830

in these relationships means working beyond

became a California Basic Educational Skills

exhaustion and creating the types of intangible

Test-certified substitute teacher for the San Diego

achievements that will ultimately reflect lives well

Unified School District and was an assistant

is survived by his brother, Alexander; his sister,

lived.” Peter was a serious and highly talented

teacher in various San Diego schools.

Dana; his grandmothers, Christine Webster and

scholar in several disciplines, including English

Combining his passion for fitness with his love of

Francesca Ferguson; his great-aunts, Judith Hunter,

education, Christopher designed several phys-

Vera Waddell, Valentina and Dina Castelli; his

Friends recalled Peter for his “immediately

ical activity routines including a “Morning Run”

great-uncle, Lawrence Waddell; his aunts, Joyce

impressive intelligence,” his “spot-on imperson-

program for elementary school children. Known

Woodford, Maria Northington and Gretel Webster;

ations,” and particularly for his “ever-present

for his kindness and compassion for his students,

his uncles, Harry Webster, M.D., Dennis Webster,

ability to appreciate life in the face of adversity.”

Chris focused his work on disadvantaged children

William Woodford; and many cousins and friends.

literature, the classics, and creative writing.

Known especially for his humor and wit, he was a loyal and caring friend and mentor to so many. They included those at Camp Winona, an

and those at risk as a result of abuse, neglect, or behavioral issues.

In addition to his mother and father, Christopher

James Baker Stuart ’03, 29, died Saturday, December 13, in Phoenix, Ariz.

WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

TOB Winter Class Notes 022015.indd 57

| 57

2/21/15 12:41 AM

CLASSNOTES

ALUMNI SNAPSHOT

Tiny Focus, Global Impact

Luke Lorentzen’s ’11 work has taken him on fishing trips with the natives of Santa Cruz del Islote and to film festivals throughout the U.S.

By Mike Kennedy ’99

L

UKE LORENTZEN ’11 began

making short films — many docu-

“This region’s lucrative fishing, which encouraged such overde-

menting his skateboarding exploits

velopment, has dwindled in recent

— when he was a Brunswick Middle

years, and the island’s subsistence

School student.

has become increasingly uncertain,”

As an 8th grader, in fact, his film Can’t Stop won the Jury Prize

Lorentzen writes on his website.

“The peaceful way of life can no

at ’Wick’s 3rd Annual Fundance

longer continue with ease, due to

Foreign Film Festival. In the Upper

environmental changes, resource

School, he teamed up with class-

management, and the increasing

mate Michael Marx to spearhead

demands of globalization.”

Brunswick TV. Fast forward to 2015:

Lorentzen’s inspiration to visit

The Stanford University senior is

the island came after meeting a

still making films, and now garnering

Colombian graduate student at

national recognition for his work.

Stanford in the winter of 2012.

Lorentzen’s short documentary

“ I hope my films encourage a sense of empathy and understanding between communities that might not otherwise interact or communicate.”

“My friend Santiago had been

he said. “I hope it causes viewers to think about even just a tiny part of their life in a different and more all-embracing way.”

Lorentzen, who is majoring in Film Studies and minoring in American Studies and Art History, admits that Santa Cruz del Islote has reached a bigger audience than he ever expected.

The film has earned its fair share of awards as well: Special Jury Mention at the Camden

Santa Cruz del Islote follows the

to Santa Cruz del Islote to paint

experiences of a fisherman and a

houses as part of a service project,”

nine-year-old boy on the three-

Lorentzen said. “He showed me

to travel there and document his

Gate Award at the San Francisco

acre island of Santa Cruz del Islote,

a photograph of the island and

findings.

International Film Festival, and the

located 50 miles off the coast of

encouraged me to go there.”

Cartagena, Colombia. With approx-

With funds raised through

International Film Festival, Cinema Eye Honors Shorts List, the Golden

During the summer of 2013, he lived on the island for two months,

President’s Award at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival.

imately 600 inhabitants, the island

Kickstarter, Lorentzen set out on a

immersing himself in the day-to-day

is one of the world’s most densely

mission to learn as much as he could

life of the tight-knit community

feature-length documentary about

populated.

about the island — and ultimately

— spending time on the water along-

the variety of barbershops and hair

side fishermen and with children in

salons throughout New York City.

the town’s schoolhouse.

Of course, he always kept his

Up next for Lorentzen is a

“The barbershop is often at the center of the neighborhood,” he

video equipment in tow. The result

said. “You can argue that the haircut

is a documentary that captures a

is the ultimate unifier. Everyone on

different way of life — and one from

earth has to get one.”

which much can be learned.

“I hope my films encourage a sense of empathy and under-

Lorentzen plans to complete work on the film this May. To view a trailer of Santa Cruz

standing between communities

del Islote or to read more about

that might not otherwise interact or

Lorentzen’s work, visit his website:

communicate,” Lorentzen said.

www.lukelorentzen.com

“This project attempts to shape a relationship between the audience and the Colombian protagonists,”

58 | TIMES

OF BRUNSWICK • WINTER 2015

TOB Winter Class Notes 022015.indd 58

2/21/15 12:41 AM

ALUMNI EVENTS WINTER 2014-2015

SEPTEMBER 11TH MEMORIAL BENEFIT CONCERT

Special Evening for a Great Cause P

ETE HEIMBOLD ’94 and his band, Dispatch, the Ian

Murray ’93 Band, and Caroline Jones — whose brother, Jack, is a ’Wick senior this year — headlined a concert on December 7 at Garcia’s Bar at the Capitol Theater in Port Chester, N.Y., to benefit the September 11th Memorial in Greenwich.

In total, the event raised $75,000.

Jimmy Ritman ’94 — along with Chris Gugelmann ’94 and Demi Wasilko Ferraris, wife of Eric Ferraris ’94 — have worked tirelessly on the front lines in an effort to raise money and awareness toward completion of the memorial, which will honor the memory of the 32 people with ties to Greenwich who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.

Thanks to the many Brunswick folk for supporting such a meaningful cause.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP Dispatch bandmate Pete Heimbold ’94; Greenwich Academy ’09 graduate Caroline Jones; Ian Murray ’93; Jimmy Ritman ’94 and United States Senator Richard Blumenthal auction off a guitar signed by all of the performers.

For more photos, visit bwick.org/tob_winter2015

WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

TOB Winter Class Notes 022015.indd 59

| 59

2/21/15 12:45 AM

CLASSNOTES

Alumni Events

Alumni Events

CLASSNOTES

FRONT ROW Lou Aronne ’06, Dan Hubbard ’05, Connor Fitzpatrick ’09, Zach Zannino ’05, Chris Day ’81, Darren Do, Demetri Day ’78, and Drew Tunney ’08 BACK ROW John Kunschner, Dave Maloney ’01, T.J. Opladen ’01, Alex Glazer ’05, Christian Oberbeck ’07, John Eric Oberbeck ’08, John Harvey ’06, Danny Maloney ’04, Mark Engebretson ’76, Tucker Daugherty ’08, Nick Trepp ’10, and Steve Tusa ’93

ALUMNI SKATE AND SQUASH

Laced-Up Skates & Premium Points

A

S IS Brunswick tradition, Sampson

Points were at a premium for current

Athletic Center was jam-packed with

Bruins, as alumni in attendance represented

alumni athletes the Saturday following

the collegiate uniforms of Penn, Stanford,

Thanksgiving — all geared up to take the ice

Williams, Middlebury, and Wesleyan.

or the court for some spirited competition.

At Hartong Rink, more than 20 pucksters

After play concluded in each venue, squash and hockey players came together

laced up their skates for the up and back,

to enjoy a few cold beverages and relive old

down-to-the-wire tilt — featuring fine offen-

Brunswick memories.

sive play and minimal back checking. Rather than date some of the participants, let’s just say there were a handful of wooden sticks — and even a KOHO — wielded by the alumni.

And, at Stephens Squash Center, nine alumni returned to the courts for some high-quality matches with current ’Wick varsity team members.

60 | TIMES

OF BRUNSWICK • WINTER 2015

BELOW Alex Baldock ’13 and Harrison Croll ’12 were among nine alumni to return for a fun day of squash.

For more photos, visit bwick.org/tob_winter2015

Alumni Events

CLASSNOTES

ALUMNI CAREER NETWORKING

‘Sharing Experiences and Advice’ T

HE BRUNSWICK Alumni Association, together with Greenwich

Academy, sponsored the 3rd Annual Alumni Career Networking

Forum in New York City on October 16.

More than 50 ’Wick alumni, spanning the class years of 1972 to 2013, gathered for the event — held at Simpson, Thacher, and Bartlett LLP. Ben Carpenter — author of The Bigs and former Co-CEO of Greenwich Capital — gave the keynote address, offering advice to

01

young professionals on how to find success in the business world. Attendees then broke into small groups to discuss specific professional industries and career paths.

“It was really nice to have both Brunswick and GA alums from different decades around the table sharing their experiences and advice,” said Eric Hopp ’94, who led a financial discussion.

Nick Trepp ’10, new to the ranks of employ02

ment this year, added, “I enjoyed meeting and listening to older alumni who are expe-

04

rienced professionals in all sorts of industries. I learned something from every comment, question, and response.”

01 Author Ben Carpenter was the event’s keynote speaker.

02 The event united alumni/ae from Brunswick and Greenwich Academy.

03 David Darst ’00, Jarrett Shine ’92, and Michael Gorman ’82 enjoy the camaraderie of the event.

03

04 Eric Hopp ’94 led a breakout discussion in finance.

For more photos, visit bwick.org/tob_winter2015

WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

| 61

CLASSNOTES

Alumni Events

01

06

ALUMNI HOLIDAY GATHERING

Three Cheers for a Growing Tradition!

A

02

LUMNI, FACULTY, and staff alike — more

than 160 people with ties to

03

Brunswick — convened for the 5th Annual Alumni Holiday Gathering at the University Club in New York City on December 9.

The event, sponsored jointly with Greenwich Academy, grows in popularity each year, bringing alumni of many generations together for an evening of good cheer and festive celebration.

05

Here’s to an encore performance next December!

04

62 | TIMES

01 Andrew Ferrer ʼ04, Alex Lopez ʼ04, and Colin Kelly ʼ04

04 Brett Loscalzo ʼ04, Alexandra Erdman (GA ʼ04), and Will Reeve ʼ10

02 Bill Morin ’82 and Matt Fahey ʼ81

05 Rana Kashyap ʼ01, Clare Whipple (GA ʼ01), and John Duffy ʼ01

03 Ron Ongaro ʼ07, Billy Chapman ʼ09, Nick Philip ʼ08, Zach Dobbs ʼ06, and MacKenzie Judson ʼ07

06 More than 160 alumni attended this year’s party.

OF BRUNSWICK • WINTER 2015

TOB Winter Class Notes 022515.indd 62

2/25/15 2:16 PM

Alumni Events

CLASSNOTES

11

10

12

13

07

07 Joe Bruno ʼ87, Jen Wintrich (GA ʼ87), and Bill Ryckman ʼ87

14

08 George Hopley ʼ81, Matt Fahey ʼ81, Bill Aron ʼ81, P ʼ28, and Chris Day ʼ81 09 Will Browne ʼ07, Gray Huffard ʼ08, Catherine Lowden (GA ʼ07), and Phil Piro ʼ07 10 Dixon Mallory ʼ05 and Sam Stein ʼ05 11 Academic Dean John Booth, Ben Ross ʼ99, and Scott Neff ʼ99 08

09

12 Michael Bacon ʼ75 and Brian McKenna ʼ75

15

13 Sam Philip ʼ10, James Sinclair ʼ10, Will Lowden ʼ10, Chris Simonson ʼ10, and Mike DeSalvo ʼ10 14 Peter Finan ʼ05, Jarrett Shine ʼ92, Gray Huffard ʼ08, and Harry Mallory ʼ05 15 Nishant Gurnani ʼ09, Tim OʼLeary ʼ09, and Ian Johnson ʼ09

For more photos, visit bwick.org/tob_winter2015

WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

TOB Winter Class Notes 022015.indd 63

| 63

2/21/15 12:42 AM

LAST LOOK

BY MIKE KENNEDY ’99

A Story Beyond the Visual Photo by Jeffrey Konczal

O

NCE CLASSMATES at Greenwich Country Day School, Matt Gendell ’15 and Hunter Frantz played on the same

football teams throughout their days as Tigers. The two lifelong friends even shared a weekend venture to the University of Florida to watch Tim Tebow in action.

But for the last four years, they’ve pretended they don’t know each other when stepping onto the gridiron — Gendell now a Bruin, Frantz a Rhino.

“On the field, it’s all business,” Gendell, a senior lineman and co-captain said.

“We both want to win so badly and get those all-important bragging rights for the following summer.”

And, fittingly, after ’Wick’s victory against Taft at Homecoming 2014, Gendell and Frantz stood on the sidelines of Cosby Field as equals — their four-year rivalry coming to an end with two wins and a New England Championship apiece.

As they renewed their friendship following the game, photographer Jeffrey Konczal was drawn to the identical posture of the supposed opponents, seeing it as sportsmanship at its best.

“I can only hope to capture the visual and emotional elements of a situation to tell a story,” Konczal said. “Sometimes I don’t really know what I have until after the fact.” Clearly, in this case, Konczal had something special — a moment two great friends will now be able to look back on with a smile.

“This photograph could have been lost in outtakes,” Konczal said. “But to hear the story of Matt and Hunter gives it a new life — a real story beyond the visual.”

64 | TIMES

OF BRUNSWICK • WINTER 2015

TOB Winter Flex Time 022015.indd 64

2/20/15 2:40 PM

T O G E T H E R, W E M A K E T H E

BRUNSWICK DIFFERENCE Your Gift Makes A Big Difference!

Please make your gift to the 2014-2015 ’Wick Annual Fund today. The sooner you do, the more direct impact you’ll have on enhancing our School’s programs this year and in years to come.

Support the 2014-2015 ’Wick Annual Fund.

Online: Make your gift online at BrunswickSchool.org/give Mail: Return the enclosed Annual Fund giving envelope Parents: Contact Krista Bruce, Annual Fund Director, at 203.625.5864 or email her at kbruce@brunswickschool.org Alumni: Contact Jarrett Shine ’92, Director of Alumni Relations, at 800.546.9425, or email him at jshine@brunswickschool.org

In advance, thank you! We’re always grateful for your support.

100 Maher Avenue Greenwich, CT 06830 Address Change Requested

MARK YOUR CALENDARS Spring Fashion Show.. .............. Thursday, April 23 Winged Foot Golf Outing................ Monday, May 4 For more events and updates, please visit BrunswickSchool.org.

ATTENTION ALUMNI PARENTS Please notify us of your son’s current address at 800.546.9425 or Alumni@BrunswickSchool.org.

NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 3931 Stamford, CT