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
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