Times of Brunswick, Spring 2015

ON THE BPA’S SHINING RUNWAY: HIGH STYLE BENEFITS ‘EXTRAS’

TEAMWORK TRANSFORMS ’WICK’S WINTER SPORTS SEASON

AT LOWER SCHOOL: A YEAR TO CELEBRATE BROTHERHOOD

Spring 2015

New Courses on 9/11 and Connecticut’s Whaling Industry Crafted to Engage, Inform & Inspire

the

Powerof

Perspective

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2014–2015

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

ON THE COVER Owen Gerber ’15 examines one of the 2,983 names of victims inscribed in the 9/11 Memorial in New York City, and Tommy Sandford ’20 climbs the rigging of the whaler Charles W. Morgan, moored at Mystic Seaport, in Mystic, Conn., during front-line explorations in two, new interdisciplinary courses. For a deeper discussion of the value and benefits of interdisciplinary teaching and learning at Brunswick, please turn to page 6.

Styles & Smiles for a Great Cause MOTH E R S AN D SO N S strutted the runway at the Spring Fashion Show & Luncheon on April 23, a Brunswick tradition dating back to 1943. With the help of more than 80 models and dozens of behind-the-scenes volunteers, the event raised $200,000 to establish the BPA “Extras” Fund, further endowing financial aid.

And junior boys, dressed to the nines to serve lunch, took part in the fashionable festivities by waiting on the throng of ’Wick supporters gathered for the biennial event. For much more on this great occasion, see pages 4 and 5.

MESSAGE FROM THE

HEADMASTER It Takes A Team

C

OMPETITIVENESS. It’s a characteristic

that “group level functional organization evolves

we naturally and instinctively value,

primarily by natural selection between groups.”

encourage, and cultivate in ourselves and

So, in truth, focus, discipline, and determina-

in our children. We believe competitive-

tion alone aren’t enough. The golden ingredients

ness leads to success: And, of course, we want

are care and a special kind of selflessness that

our boys to be competitive — to prevail, to win,

accounts for one’s own aspirations and actively

to stand above the rest.

supports the needs and hopes of one’s peers.

As another college-admissions season

At Brunswick, we’ve encouraged this approach

concludes, we take pride in the fact that our

since the very beginning. But, as the 21st century

seniors have once again been accepted by insti-

progresses, our efforts must redouble.

tutions of higher education widely viewed as “the

Without question, contemporary life has

most competitive.” And yet, the pursuit of excel-

become increasingly specialized and competi-

lence seems to include an inherent paradox.

tive. It also imposes far greater solitude through

Ask anyone to define the attributes of competitiveness and they’re likely to suggest words

interaction with technology. So, we created The Brunswick Trust — the School’s new and

of exclusion, separateness, and distinction. Competitive people have traditionally been described as “focused,” “disciplined,” “determined” — and maybe even “selfish,” as they establish and achieve their goals, work long and hard, and perhaps pay only expedient attention to others as they climb their own ladders to success.

comprehensive initiative to

“ SUCCESS’S MOST ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT IS TRUST. AND TRUST ALWAYS INVOLVES CARING ABOUT AND LOOKING OUT FOR OTHERS.”

In the traditional view, this

ensure continued excellence

dent altruism — that, in giving of themselves

in character and leadership

to become a seamless part of the whole, they

education — in response to an

achieve something far greater than they other-

unprecedented and challenging

wise could have on their own.

set of circumstances, which

Perhaps the long summer days are an espe-

cannot be allowed to obscure

cially opportune time to explore and ponder

the core truth.

this first assignment of The Brunswick Trust.

Success’s most essential

They allow us to take a break from the rigors

ingredient is trust.

of our competitive lives and show

And trust always

those around us just how much we

involves caring about

love, care about, and look out for

recipe for success seems to require a sad and

and looking out for others. We must

them. If we do, biology and history

substantial serving of loneliness.

emphasize that principle all the time,

both predict an enviable outcome:

year round, through everything we do.

We’ll all be more successful — and

Now, however, scientists and sociologists are questioning traditional assumptions — and

And so, as an inaugural activity

many are suggesting something that we at

of The Brunswick Trust, during the

Brunswick have known for more than a century:

summer, the entire Upper School

Individual success is far more likely to be

community of students and parents will read The

Brunswick family for a relaxing and enjoyable

achieved in groups in which people care about

Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic

summer!

and look out for each other.

Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, by

In Does Altruism Exist? Culture, Genes, and the Welfare of Others, biologist David Sloan

happier, too. Who could ask for anything more?

Best wishes to all in the

Daniel James Brown.

The story is one of nine young men who

Wilson argues that “groups that include more

discover that the pursuit of success requires not

altruists generally perform better as groups” and

only individual prowess, but also a transcen-

Thomas W. Philip

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S P R I N G times of

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

Headmaster Thomas W. Philip

2 01 5

CONTENTS 06

Executive Director of Development Thomas G. Murray Associate Director of Development Meghan McCarthy

FEATURES 06 From Many Angles: The Power of Perspective

By Mike Kennedy ’99 & Daniel J. Griffin 16 A Stage Full of Happy Faces 22 A Season for the Record Books: Proof of the Power of True Teamwork

By Mike Kennedy ’99

Director of Institutional Communications Daniel J. Griffin dgriffin@brunswickschool.org

36 It’s All About Brotherhood

By Katherine Ogden

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 Andrew Basile ’15 Daniel J. Griffin Mike Kennedy ’99 Ridgley Knapp ’16 Katherine Ogden Thomas W. Philip Contributing Photographers Dan Burns Jamie Fessenden Michael Graae Jeffry Konczal Minush Krasniqi Wayne Lin Heather Prescott Liebensohn Design Mary Lester Design marylesterdesign.com Printing Flagship Press, flagshippress.com

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CONTENTS

16

FLEX TIME 04 An Extra-Special Walk Down the Runway 15 Labor of Love Three Decades in the Making 21 “Extra” Birdies and Sunshine at Winged Foot

DEPARTMENTS

44 Olympic Icon Forged from Dad’s Tough Love

01 Message from the Headmaster

51 Curtain Set to Open on Act III

46 Beyond the Books – Superheroes, Sleigh Rides, and Spaceships: A Grand Finale Performance – Watching Horizons Expand – Simple Beat Transformed My Dreams into Goals

57

Icon indicates more content can be viewed by visiting bwick.org/tob_spring2015

– He’d Die To Do It Again – ‘Grass-Roots’ Science Projects Earn Statewide Recognition 52 Class Notes 54 In Memoriam 57 Alumni Events 60 Last Look

22

46

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FLEX TIME S P R I N G FA S H I O N S H O W & LU N C H E O N

LEFT TO RIGHT Music Teacher Shane Kirsch and his sons Dylan ’23 and Gavin ’28; BPA President Joan Beth Brown P ’11, ’13, ’15 and co-chairs Alice Ruf P ’15, ’18 and Sarah Meindl P ’20; Anne DeNaut P ’14, ’16; Luisa Cobb P ’12, ’15, ’18; and Joan Beth Brown P ’11, ’13, ’15; Tyler ’17, Thomas ’26, and Tad Carney ’22 with their mom, Elizabeth; Austin Meacham ’15 and his mom, Mia BELOW Odetta Rogers-Clarke P ’20

An Extra-Special Walk Down the Runway

W

EARING THEIR Sunday best — decked-out and dolled-up — more than 400 people convened at Burke Field House for the biennial Spring Fashion Show & Luncheon, a mother-son Brunswick tradition dating back to 1943.

The show — sponsored by the Brunswick Parents’ Association, along with

Lord & Taylor — centered on a Seasons theme, symbolizing the growth and change in a Brunswick boy as he transforms into a young man.

Sixty models from the School community graced the runways for the time-honored event, which will ultimately support the newly established BPA Endowment Fund for the provision of “Extras”: Those additional costs incurred by financial-aid families that don’t necessarily fall under tuition.

Special thanks are in order for co-chairs Alice Ruf P ’15, ’18 and Sarah Meindl P ’20, who orchestrated countless details and months of planning to ensure the show went off without a hitch.

“It was wonderful to see the smiles on the moms and dads as they walked down the runway with their sons,” Meindl said.

“That was a great reward!”

04 | TIMES

OF BRUNSWICK • SPRING 2015

Flex TIME

TOP TO BOTTOM, LEFT TO RIGHT Charlie Burnett ’20 and his mom, Eunice; Connor Belcastro ’19 and his mom, Juliana; Stephanie Hoover and her sons, Harrison ’24 and Hayden ’18; Clayton Adams ’15 and his mom, Hattie; Jake Block ’21 and his mom, Maritza; Christian ’18 and David Ruf ’15 with their dad, David, Sr.; Marshall Dickson ’15 and his mom, Meline; Jack ’26 and Luke Nardis ’28 with their mom, Lauren; The Tangs: Eileen and Michael ’17; T.J. Lewis ’20 and his mom, Amy

For more photos, visit bwick.org/tob_spring2015

WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

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During a visit to the 9/11 Memorial in March, Owen Gerber ’15 ponders the names of victims, each inscribed in bronze around twin memorial pools.

FACING PAGE At Mystic Seaport, in Mystic, Conn., Tommy Sandford ’20 climbs the rigging of the whaler Charles W. Morgan.

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INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES ENGAGE STUDENTS & FACULTY IN TEAM LEARNING

from

Angles many

Brunswick’s increasing focus on interdisciplinary studies encourages students to view challenging topics in new ways, drawing on their own passions and strengths as they contribute to and gain perspective from team approaches to analysis, learning, and problem solving.

For more photos, visit bwick.org/tob_spring2015

BY MIKE KENNEDY ’99 & DANIEL J. GRIFFIN WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

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AT THE UPPER SCHOOL

911

Grappling with the Complexities of

Now the tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere, the new One World Trade Center towers a deliberate 1,776 feet above the ground. It opened in November 2014.

O

N THAT perfect blue Tuesday

morning, when American

experience, the team sought

Airlines Flight 11 exploded into

to encourage broad faculty

the North Tower, four-year-old Max

involvement, and also to focus

Fuld ’16 and his family lived in Manhattan.

the syllabus.

Max was a preschooler at the Benjamin

To prepare, Beattie and

Franklin School on East 79th Street, just

Booth traveled to a two-day

5.5 miles north of the attack site.

seminar produced by “Facing

“I remember going to preschool and

History and Ourselves,” an education orga-

getting let out early,” he recalled. “I had no

nization promoting curricula focused on

idea why I was getting let out early.”

global citizenship and human rights, and

Now, nearly 14 years later, Max is one of 16 Brunswick and GA Upper School

to the 9/11 Tribute Center, founded and staffed by survivors of the attack.

students who gained perspectives on the

There, the pair compared notes with

tragic and unprecedented attack and its

teachers from around the country — but

complex consequences in a new interdis-

no one they met had yet had the opportu-

ciplinary course entitled “Understanding

nity to conduct a full-semester elective.

9/11.” The second-semester initiative,

“We wanted to make sure there were

involving several faculty members and

two full-time teachers in the classroom,”

guest speakers, proceeded under the

Booth said. “And we also knew that

joint direction of Upper School Academic

someone must lead.” Booth recalled an

Dean John Booth and Assistant Head for

early interdisciplinary course he took in

Academics Richard Beattie ’80.

college. “Five faculty members shared

“About two years ago, the Upper School

responsibility,” he said. “When nobody’s

curriculum committee began to talk about

in charge, the experience lacks focus and

interdisciplinary studies,” Booth said. “The

impact.” Still, camaraderie among faculty

idea of a course on 9/11 came later.

is essential. “We’re lucky,” Booth said.

“We felt like it was time,” Booth said.

“Rick and I are such good friends — and,

“Now, especially for Upper School

in teaching an interdisciplinary course,

students, it’s history — within five years,

that’s so crucial.

we’ll be teaching kids who weren’t even born when 9/11 took place.”

08 | TIMES

In designing the students’

“We brainstormed from Day One,” Booth said. “Selecting the material is prob-

OF BRUNSWICK • SPRING 2015

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TOP Academic Dean and course co-leader John Booth (second right) joins (left to right) William Dym ’16, Alex Katchadurian ’16, and Max Fuld ’16 in viewing the wreckage of a fire engine on display at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.

ABOVE English teacher Robert Benjamin, a veteran of combat in Afghanistan, Kuwait, and Iraq, discusses his front-line experience in fighting the War on Terror.

RIGHT Covered with mementos, memorial inscriptions, and missing posters placed there by ironworkers, “The Last Column” was removed from the site during a ceremony to mark the close of recovery efforts at Ground Zero. It now stands 36 feet tall in the 9/11 Memorial Museum’s Foundation Hall.

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ably the most difficult part of the

“Obviously, there’s still oppor-

the quality and depth of their

job — as there is so much out there

tunity to include other voices, so

to choose from. We knew we were

readings may very well vary from

in a good place when we agreed on

year to year.” Both veteran faculty

grasp of the pre-9/11 world, guest

the ‘Five Unit’ structure.”

members expected incoming

faculty lecturers provided insight

students would have a lot to learn.

on a spectrum of related topics:

grief in having a family member

■■ Arabic

killed in the attack. (Her brother,

Within each unit, Booth and Beattie grouped primary-source

“When the course started, if we

responses grew tremendously.”

Students view a video at the 9/11 Tribute Center, on Liberty Street, near the memorial site. A separate organization, the Tribute Center shares the stories of 9/11 as told by those who were there.

After students established a basic

teacher Mimi Melkonian

documents and literature targeted

asked kids why terrorists attacked

discussed “The Middle Eastern

Edward “Teddy” Francis Maloney

to providing students with a foun-

the Twin Towers, the simple

Mindset”

III, an account manager at Cantor

response was, ‘Those people were

■■ English

crazy,’” Booth said. “Once students

and Iraq combat veteran Lt. Col.

Center, left a pregnant wife and

process for arts and literature. “Our

gained perspective and began

Robert Benjamin brought front-

14-month-old daughter.)

main thrust was getting at certain

to see issues from many angles,

line views of a solder’s experience

dation of understanding.

Beattie described the selection

teacher and Afghanistan

Fitzgerald in One World Trade

In addition, the class spent a full

literary subject and voice compo-

in the field of battle in

Sunday in March exploring the 9/11

nents that might be common

fighting the War on Terror

Museum, Memorial, and nearby

■■ Middle

Tribute Center, gaining on-site

to the genre ‘Post 9/11 Lit’ — if there is such a genre (and if there isn’t, there will be),” he said. “We chose readings that would reflect those commonalities. We assigned

Five Key Units in Understanding 9/11 Unit I The World Before 9/11 Unit II The Day of 9/11

School teacher

Anthony Fischetti

experience of three very different

discussed impacts on

perspectives on the tragedy.

popular culture and

Classroom study also became

consciousness

increasingly multidimensional. In

■■ Sally

addition to watching clips from

several excerpts from novels for

Unit III The U.S. Response to 9/11

expediency’s sake, and to allow

Unit IV The Soldier’s Experience

wife of Middle School

Zero Dark Thirty, the 2012 film

students exposure to a wide variety

Unit V Where Are We Today?

math teacher James

chronicling the long hunt for

Duval, shared her pain and

Osama bin Laden, under Beattie’s

of authors and literary styles.

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Maloney Duval,

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blowing to see how the terrorists actually pulled it off — one of the most surprising and devastating things I’ve ever learned.”

In September, having devoted much of his final semester at Brunswick to studying 9/11, Senen Ubina ’15 will be a plebe at the United States Naval Academy, in Annapolis, Md. “I really liked the sections on how we’re managing the war — the weapons, technology, and reasons for deploying troops in one area as opposed to another,” he said. “Hearing first-hand accounts from Lt. Col. William Dym ’16 stands before a commemorative wall of “Missing” posters in the 9/11 Tribute Center. Hundreds of such posters were created by victims’ families in the hours immediately after the tragic attack, as they still held hope of finding loved ones alive.

ABOVE

LEFT As students searched for victims’ names, a rainbow emerged from the spray water constantly falling in two memorial pools.

Benjamin was a high point.”

For Senen, however, the greatest overall takeaway was “understanding the cultural clashes that led to 9/11” and learning about similarities and differences between ISIS, the Taliban, and Al-Qaeda.

album “The Rising,”

event, I was pleased with how the

And for all students, the topic

composed to honor

course coverage firmly established

and approach continue to resonate.

firefighters who

the long-term ramifications that

perished during

have dominated the global and

you’re happy to get eight to 10

rescue efforts.

domestic agenda for the past

kids,” Booth said. “Right out of the

decade.” Students concur.

gate, we had 16 — and we already

As the course evolved, discussion

Today, 18-year-old Max Fuld

“When you roll out a new class,

have sign ups of about 18 for the

direction, students read and

became much more nuanced. “We

has a far greater understanding of

dissected the screenplay.

had some really good debate about

the terrorists’ views of the United

surveillance — kids pulling and

States, as well as tremendous

that works in an interdisciplinary

movie would have been a passive

tugging at civil liberties issues — as

appreciation for the entire war

manner,” Booth said. “You solve

experience,” Booth explained. “But,

we’re in the middle of America’s

effort. “I had no idea that it all

problems not just by thinking like a

in this case, history and creativity

longest war,” Booth said. “That’s the

wound down to the terrorists’ reli-

historian or a scientist. Here, we’ve

converged as they also learned

beauty of what can happen in an

gious beliefs,” he said. “I also had

gotten students to think analyti-

about the art of writing a screen-

interdisciplinary course.”

no idea how much time it took for

cally and collaboratively — helping

the U.S. not only to identify where

them to be great problem solvers

Osama bin Laden was staying, but

and also good citizens.

“For students, simply seeing the

play.” At every juncture, studies were geared to be contemporary, diverse, challenging, and globally based.

Beattie offered his own view on the value of that progression.

“We started the course with

also to kill him.”

Readings included excerpts from a

a discussion of ‘world-changing

graphic novel based on the Patriot

events’ with an eye to placing

Classmate William Dym ’16

Act, “The 9/11 Commission Report,”

9/11 within that context,” he said.

Ian McEwan’s novel Saturday, and

“Though I think everyone in the

the events and specifics of it, you

Dom DeLillo’s Falling Man — and

room that day could understand

truly realize how diabolical the

even Bruce Springsteen’s 2002

9/11 as an important historical

plan was,” he said. “It’s mind-

echoes Fuld’s observations.

“When you actually break down

second year. It could be even more.

“We’re preparing kids for a world

“It has been a tremendous honor to teach this course,” Booth said.

“I really feel we’re serving our students’ best interests with this kind of approach.

“I’m tremendously proud of all the work we’ve done together.”

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7 AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL

Views on a

Whale of a

I

Topic

MAGINE THE difficulty in

the best of the best in the world of

their efforts. Class Dean Jimmy

constantly engaging the mind of

pedagogy. So, why not — every so

Manyuru and his fellow teachers

a 12- or 13-year-old boy.

often — go all-hands-on-deck and

decided on whaling because of the

team teach? Why not attack a given

industry’s ties to Connecticut.

He thrives on action and excite-

ment. He yearns to experience new

subject from an interdisciplinary

“I wanted us to do an inter-

and different adventures. He often

level? Why not allow students to

disciplinary project that had a

feels trapped by the monotony of

hear different voices and to learn in

connection to Connecticut, as it’s

routine. Middle School boys need

different ways?

easy to overlook things right in our

their attention captured, their

In March, as part of Middle

own backyard,” he said. “Having a

curiosity satisfied — or they’ll soon

School Mini Term, the 7th grade

sense of place, of where you’re from,

become lost in the clouds.

did just that — spending the entire

isn’t always apparent among Middle

week immersed in studying the

School-aged boys — but is vital to

fulfill (or prevent) all of the above

whaling industry and then visiting

their educational awareness.”

— all day, every day. It just doesn’t

the Charles W. Morgan Exhibit

seem possible, or even realistic, for

at Mystic Seaport to culminate

And it’s the job of the teacher to

The teaching team also considered projects focused on the

helicopter (Sikorsky, in Stratford, Conn.), submarines (Groton/ New London, Conn.), and the Merritt Parkway, named in 2010 by the National Trust for Historic Places as one of the nation’s most

Throughout the field trip, groups of boys learned about sailmaking, a crucial element in the preparation for a whaling voyage. Tools on display include an antique sailor's serving mallet, used in smoothing the seam of a sail.

endangered historic sites. “We wanted this study to be relevant for everyone,” Manyuru explained.

“New London isn’t called the Whaling City for just any reason.

The Whalers of the NHL weren’t named accidentally. There’s Connecticut history to be learned.”

In addition, Sasha Bulazel ’83, longtime woodshop teacher and board member of Mystic Seaport, knew the ship firsthand and had a hand in its restoration.

The Morgan, built and launched

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in 1841, is the last of an American whaling fleet that once numbered more than 2,700 vessels. In July 2013, after a five-year restoration process, the whaler was launched for the first time in 70 years, and

Alex Morgan ’20 climbs up the rigging of the Morgan and experiences the real-life perspective of a 19th-century Connecticut whaler.

Jack Griffin ’20 puts his new sailmaking knowledge to use as part of a workshop at the Charles Mallory Sail Loft at Mystic Seaport.

left Mystic Seaport in May 2014 to embark on her 38th voyage to historic ports of New England. The

history of whaling, the develop-

ship returned in August 2014 and

ment of Nantucket as a whaling

now remains an exhibit and flag-

community, and the whaling ship

ship of the Museum at the Seaport.

Essex — the inspiration for the

Throughout the weeklong, interdisciplinary study, boys rotated

literary classic Moby-Dick.

Science teacher Matt DuCharme

in groups through the classrooms

gave lessons in buoyancy and

of seven different teachers, each

its various principles. Boys then

of whom focused on one specific

created boats using tinfoil, Popsicle

aspect of whaling. Jay Crosby, a

sticks, and hot glue — applying

history teacher by trade, provided

what they had learned and

students with an overview on the

competing to see which boat could

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Chantey Songs A Balm to Pain, Gateway to Greater Curiosity

Seventh graders (left to right) Pierce Henderson, Kyle Raker, Ben Carpenter, Thomas Fouts, and Alex Burdick take an up-close look at a boat used for the whale hunt.

Joseph Henry ’20 takes his best shot with a harpoon, launching it into the waters surrounding Mystic Seaport.

hold the most weight. Top prize held 1,200 grams on deck.

Boys also learned about environmental issues, common diseases among sailors, the whale hunt itself, and folk songs sung aboard ships. “There was huge value in this type of approach. The boys moved from class to class and experienced

literature, disease and medicine, or

a subject in a truly interdisciplinary

woodworking — he could dive right

explore the Morgan firsthand much

way,” Crosby said.

in and follow his passion as far as

more meaningful for the entire

he wanted to go.

group. It wasn’t just a field trip for a

“They saw how each teacher’s subject plays out in the real world

Ryan Heinzerling ’20 has always

All told, it made the visit to

field trip’s sake — it had real value,

during real-life situations,” he

loved to work with his hands. “I

real significance, real purpose. And

continued. “They learned about a

really enjoy building, so to build a

the boys had a vested interest.

specific ship in one class, what made

model of the Morgan with Mr. Falco

it float in another, the techniques

and Mrs. LaRiviere was probably

lived in on the ship and to experi-

used in a third, how the boats were

the most fun for me,” he said.

ence something I had heard about

built, and what it took to survive.”

Math teacher James Duval

Fellow classmate Logan Darrin

“To see the conditions the men

in Mini Term so many times was

’20 found it worthwhile to hear

the most rewarding part of the

added, “Each teacher became the

from a variety of teachers as he

week,” Heinzerling said.

quasi-expert in his or her facet

soaked up as much information

of whaling. We were all able to

as he could. “With all sorts of

up the webbed net of the whaling

explore single concepts at a deeper

different perspectives, we were able

ship, 35 feet off the ground, then

level.” And so, too, were the boys.

to gather a lot of knowledge about

picturing myself in the middle of

whaling in a short time period.

the ocean, on the hunt for whales.”

Whatever a particular boy’s natural interest — history, science

It was fun to mix up the learning

and problem solving, music and

process,” Darrin said.

14 | TIMES

Darrin added, “I loved climbing

How’s that for a look into a

ENGLISH TEACHER Taryn Petrelli gained her own sense of perspective throughout the Mini Term experience.

She focused her lessons on sea chanteys — working songs sung aboard ships from the 15th century through the days of steamships in the early 20th century. Work was tiresome, often exhausting, and the rhythm of sea chanteys helped crews synchronize their movements and mask the pains of hard labor.

Petrelli’s classes learned the lyrics of two chanteys and then individual groups wrote lyrics to their own songs — a great exercise in writing and creativity.

But after seeing a replica of the Amistad at Mystic Seaport, Petrelli thinks her time — and that of the boys — may be better spent next year by discussing the story of the famous slave ship.

“Just as the boys had a solid understanding of whaling before visiting the museum, it would be beneficial for them to know more about this piece of history — which has its own ties to Connecticut,” Petrelli said.

With the 7th-grade team already planning an encore study and trip to Mystic, it appears she’ll have that opportunity next March.

different life — in a different time?

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FLEX TIME HIS CAMPUS NOW POLISHED TO PERFECTION

Labor of Love Three Decades in the Making

By Mike Kennedy ’99

I

N 1985, when Head of Maintenance Jimmy Shrive took the job, Brunswick owned one tractor and a few lawnmowers.

Seven men worked the facilities and

grounds.

Shrive remembers the Middle School field, now the Upper School parking lot, rising into a cloud of dust each time he attempted to cut the grass. Teachers were forced to shut the windows to protect their eyes — and those of their students.

It was far more brown than green on Maher Avenue.

But how times have changed.

From that day forward, for three decades, Shrive has made it his personal mission to transform the physical landscape of Brunswick — to improve his product, as he likes to say.

“I wanted the School to be on top,” he said.

“I wanted it to be cared for — and to look good.

“I wanted the School to be on top.

I wanted it to be cared for — and to look good. And it sure needed a lot of attention.”

And it sure needed a lot of attention.”

Shrive, clearly, is a man of his word — his campus now colorful, clean, polished, and even

In his life after ’Wick, Shrive plans to split time in Stamford and Florida.

picturesque.

He’s worked tirelessly to realize his career-long

It’s a tag no doubt born out of the man’s hard-

commitment, setting the example for the men

wired nature to tackle problems — no matter

under his watch and never asking them to do a

how big or small, urgent or routine — on the

job he wouldn’t do himself.

spot. In Shrive’s mind, everything’s a top priority.

Jimmy Romanello has been on Shrive’s crew since 1998.

“Jimmy’s been my boss for a long time,” Romanello said. “But he’s become much more than that. He’s a father figure for me. I know I can count on him for anything.”

Romanello also alluded to Shrive’s nickname — “Emergency Jimmy” — when reflecting on his good friend.

Faculty, in both their classrooms and their campus homes, will tell you all about how

heard from his mouth are ‘We’ll take care of you.’”

In his own words, Shrive calls himself tough on the outside and soft underneath, mellowing just a touch over the years.

And through it all — construction, renovation,

quickly their caretaker gets things done — the

acquisition — Shrive has fallen in love with the

Brunswick way.

Brunswick community. He didn’t stop to blink

“Jimmy runs everywhere. He drives faster in reverse than I do in forward,” Stephen Duennebier said.

“There’s such an urgency about him — an urgency to please. The words I’ve most often

when asked why.

“The people make Brunswick what it is,” he said, a tinge of emotion in his voice as he reflected on his imminent retirement.

“It’s a special place.”

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A colorful cast of Brunswick and GA students staged this winter’s musical Bye Bye Birdie.

Alex Montinaro ’15 played teen idol Conrad Birdie.

ABOVE Faculty members Kathleen Myer and John Booth join in on the fun.

16 | TIMES

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Happy A STAGE FULL OF

For more photos, visit bwick.org/tob_ spring2015

‘Retro’ Spectacle Charms Baker Theater Audiences

Faces

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Charlotte Stone (GA ’15) dazzled on stage as Rosie.

A cast and crew of nearly 90 students, plus special guests with familiar faces, teamed up to stage Bye Bye Birdie, the iconic Broadway musical of the early 1960s.

It’s 1958. American life is simple,

deserted icehouses as abandoned

sweet, homogenous, and near free

and enticing destinations for teen-

of technology.

aged couples wanting to be alone.

Long-distance telephone calls

On Sunday evening, millions

are rare and unexpected. Air travel

upon millions of American families

is for the very privileged few. In

gather around their only TV for

most households, electric refriger-

the near-religious experience of

ators have finally taken the place of

watching “The Ed Sullivan Show”

ice block-cooled iceboxes, leaving

— a weekly, mass-audience Super spoofs Elvis Presley’s real-life Bowl for the age’s most talented

induction into the Army in 1957

actors, comedians, and musicians.

— transforming the event into a

And males over the age of 18

public-relations stunt to promote

wonder if they might be randomly

the virtue and patriotism of teen

selected in “the draft” — not

idol “Conrad Birdie,” an Elvis

abolished until 1973 — for the

lookalike. It all plays out in Sweet

life-changing and mandatory expe-

Apple, Ohio, a fictional town in

rience of military service.

America’s heartland.

Today, for Brunswick students

But the real story centers on

and even most of their parents, it’s

the travails and triumphs of the

akin to ancient history — a time far

relationship between Albert,

beyond memory.

Birdie’s anxious and fretful

In March, however, this

manager, played by Keith Radler

prosaic past took new life on

’15, and his assistant/girlfriend,

Baker Theater’s stage in the Tony

Rosie, played by Charlotte Stone

Award-winning Bye Bye Birdie,

(GA ’15).

the school’s winter musical extravaganza.

The show was a Broadway smash of the 1960–61 season,

Winning the Tony for Best

becoming a movie in 1963

Musical in 1961, with music by

starring blond bombshell

the composer who later penned

Ann-Margaret — an extended

the blockbuster Annie, the show

clip of which was woven into an

Sarah Gold ’16, Ridgley Knapp ’16, Jack Kulesh ’17, and Lucy Burke ’17 hit the high notes.

18 | TIMES

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30 Seconds of Fame

Andrew Israel ’16 may have stolen the show with his portrayal of Mae Peterson.

I

T WASN’T until 1968 that

artist Andy Warhol coined

the phrase “15 minutes of fame.” But, in planning for Brunswick’s Bye Bye Birdie,

in the high-school

Theater Teacher Seth

musical repertoire.

Potter offered the fleeting

A dedicated

of the School’s faculty

88 Brunswick and

and staff.

Greenwich Academy

episode of today’s TV smash hit “Mad Men” in its 2009 season.

“Bye Bye Birdie has become really iconic,” Upper School Costume Designer Abby Redmond observed.

chance to every member

cast and crew of

The challenge and fun?

students came

A cameo song-and-dance

together to stage the

appearance in the reprise of “Kids,” a flapper pastiche in which

production — not

pompous, thoughtless adults bemoan “kids” while forgetting the foibles of

including special-

their own youth.

guest appearances by brave faculty

Faculty and staff with the courage and talent to avail Potter of his

and staff performing in the musical

offer included Libby Edwards, Megan McDermott, Stephen Duennebier,

number “Kids.”

Erin Withstandley, Jenn Spaulding, Rob Follansbee, Tim Coupe, Kathleen

“The biggest challenge of doing

Myer, John Booth, Grace Warne, Nick Salazar, Kristine Brennan, Mikel Berrier,

‘Birdie’ is also the biggest draw,”

Susan Petrelli, and Jaime Gonzalez-Ocaña. “It’s always great to have faculty

said Upper School Theater Teacher

and staff be part of the show — especially when the roles they play poke fun

“Put On a Happy Face” to the long

Seth Potter. “Folks know the show.

at adulthood,” Potter said. “It reinforces the message that, no matter what

roster of Broadway standards,

Adults have played the roles and

our age, we’re all human and all in this together.”

and has gone on to become one

sung the songs in their own high-

of the most often-staged works

school musical days. Rather than

can serve as a ‘here we are now’

challenge in thinking about how to

being just a throwback, ‘Birdie’

experience.”

frame Brunswick’s production.

The show added the hit tune

Potter responded directly to the

“The design of the show was a direct reaction to this challenge,” he said. “Rather than playing the ‘realism’ of the period” — as “Mad Men” does, for example — “we used corrugated plastic sheets to loosely define the different locations. This warped white plastic seemed just right for such a storyline.”

But Brunswick’s “Birdie” was far from all-white — even though the teen idol, played by Alex Montinaro ’15, sports a blindingly white satin jumpsuit during his on-stage appearances before a gaggle of adoring 1950s teenaged girls.

In contrast to the white

ABOVE Brave faculty and staff members who danced on stage included (top, left to right) Rob Follansbee and John Booth; (middle, left to right) Jen Spaulding, Tim Coupe, Erin Withstandley, Stephen Duennebier, and Kathleen Myer; (bottom, left to right) Libby Edwards, Susan Petrelli, Grace Warne, and Megan McDermott.

LEFT Keith Radler ’15 led the cast of 88 as Albert, Birdie’s anxious manager.

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More than 73 million Americans watched the Beatles’ debut performance on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ in 1964.

Chorus members Ellie Lobrano ’15 and Colin MacFaddin ’17 look snazzy in their costumes.

The set and lighting were deliberately designed for versatility, according to Upper School Theater Technical Director Matthew

palette of the modular backdrop,

Kirby-Smith. “We needed to make

Redmond’s costumes projected a

spaces that could be defined in

blaze of color.

many different ways,” he said. “The

“My overall vision was that

Once Show Biz King of Kings, Now Nothing Beside Remains

W

HEN Bye Bye Birdie opened on Broadway, in 1960, almost all

180 million Americans, in a split second, could name the older

man in this picture.

Now, like Ozymandias in Shelley’s timeless poem, he’s near completely forgotten.

He’s Ed Sullivan — once so famous and powerful in show business

idea for using white corrugated

that he commanded the entire nation’s attention for an hour every

the costumes should be in

plastic originated in Seth’s brain.

Sunday night, most notably to introduce the Beatles to American

Technicolor,” Redmond said —

Originally, we considered painting

audiences in 1964.

recalling many of the era’s most

it, but decided to leave it as it was.

popular and expansive films,

That created a ‘generic’ look — and

didn’t hesitate to surf the tsunami of public recognition and trumpet

including Lawrence of Arabia and

infinite possibilities to tell the story

Sullivan’s mightiness with an almost hymnlike anthem in the score —

Bridge Over The River Kwai. “The

through lighting and costumes.”

one likely to leave today’s teenagers, and even their parents, politely

Lee Adams and Charles Strouse, the lyricist and composer of Birdie,

costumes have to convey a level of

And, as white created possibil-

energy and excitement about what

ities on stage, it stymied progress

the audience is seeing onstage,”

through the wrath of nature — a

Today, a footnote at most, Sullivan lies in the antique land of

Redmond explained. “Clothing,

record number of snow days and

Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, N.Y. — just 13 miles east of Baker

against the deliberately white

delays cut into rehearsal time and

Theater’s stage.

background of the set, provided

even resulted in cancellation of the

that vibrancy and color.”

Opening Night performance.

As planning got under way,

“The snow really wrought havoc

Redmond created a “mood board”

on us,” Redmond said. “In the end,

backstage to pinpoint hairstyles and

the show came together fast. We

makeup. Costumes also provided a

had only one dress rehearsal before

gateway to students’ understanding

an audience.”

of life in a different time.

That’s what 50 years can do.

His mates in Ferncliff’s figuratively lone-and-level turf include Paul Robeson, Judy Garland, James Baldwin, Thelonius Monk, Oscar Hammerstein II, and playwright Moss Hart, prescient author of “You Can’t Take It With You.”

I make sure the actors delivering

“Idolatry is short-sighted and

the lines understand the jokes and

blinding,” he said. “I think this is

Redmond, Kirby-Smith, and

then leave it to the audience.”

one of the show’s best take-away

references they didn’t understand

Musical Director Alexander

It’s a strategy that works.

messages. When Conrad Birdie is

and appreciate at first,” Redmond

Constantine worked hard to make

Grandparents in attendance,

gone, Albert finally sees Rose in

said. “Skirts seemed too long;

sure students connected with the

eyewitnesses to the era, compli-

pants too tight, for example. But

material. “Having relevant compar-

mented Redmond on the look and

when it all came together on stage,

isons to modern times always

feel of a show full of laughs and

poke fun at teen-idol stereotypes,

they got a chance to further their

helps,” Potter said. “Every teen can

memories for once-upon-a-time

and then to let those give way to

understanding of what life was

relate to the idolatry of a music

teens. It’s a show with a light-

the rich and diverse qualities that

like when their grandparents were

icon, even though the jokes go

hearted approach to a message that

good relationships at any age are

young.”

over 95 percent of the kids’ heads.

remains timeless, Potter observed.

all about.”

“The clothing embodied cultural

20 | TIMES

Throughout rehearsals, Potter,

bored and bewildered.

front of him.

“In ‘Birdie,’ we got a chance to

OF BRUNSWICK • SPRING 2015

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FLEX TIME BRUNSWICK SCHOOL GOLF OUTING

“ Extra” Birdies and Sunshine at Winged Foot

W

INGED FOOT Golf Club — and a 75-degree, sun-filled day — played hosts to the 4th Biennial Brunswick Golf Outing on Monday, May 4.

A record 120 golfers — ’Wick parents, alumni,

01

02

faculty, and staff alike — took to the storied U.S. Open

01 Lori Bell P ’18 sinks a big putt for her team — and celebrates!

course for 18 holes of golf, friendly competition, and camaraderie. There were plenty of birdies and even a

02 Jane Sprung P ’20, Anne Farrell P ’06, Cindy Biondi P ’06, ’08, ’10, ’12; and Alison Troy P ’12, ’14 were the day’s “Low Net” champions.

few eagles to go around.

Following play, all participants gathered on the patio for cocktails, dinner, and awards, as well as the highly anticipated silent auction.

03 Emcee Mike Troy P ’12, ’14 had co-chairs Eileen Tang (left) P ’17 and E.D. Hill ’15 in hysterics.

Proceeds from the event will help support the newly established BPA Endowment Fund for the provision of “Extras”: Those additional costs incurred by financial-

03

aid families that don’t necessarily fall under tuition.

04 Richard Axilrod P ’14, ’19 found it hard not to smile on this day.

Co-chairs E.D. Hill P ’15 and Eileen Tang P ’17 deserve special recognition for devoting countless hours to planning and organization — certainly a job well

05 Eric Ferraris ’94 watches his approach shot intently.

done!

Bottom Rich Stephenson P ’16, ’18 looks to find the pace on the 9th green.

“The gorgeous weather and overwhelming support of the Brunswick community brought such a positive energy to the event,” Tang said.

“Every golfer and volunteer had a smile on their face from start to finish.”

04

05

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A SEASON FOR THE RECORD BOOKS 22 |

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Cam Kelly ’17

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WINTER SPORTS

WRAPUP

As a phenomenally bitter and challenging winter progressed, a frigid and snowy ordeal for the meteorological record books, Brunswick athletic teams came together as their own true forces of nature to deliver — through heart, chemistry, and individual sacrifice — a season of special distinction.

BY MIKE KENNEDY ’99

PROOF OF THE POWER OF TRUE TEAMWORK

E

VERYWHERE THEY

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competed — on the courts and mats, on the ice, in the pool, and on the strip

— Brunswick teams tore through the competition on their way to an astounding winter of comeback wins, All-American performances, and banner-raising championships.

But talent and star power were

Maksim Masiulis ’15

not the keys to this unimaginable string of high finishes and triumphs. Instead, across the spectrum of all six winter sports, Brunswick coaches each made special note of team dynamics at

individual students — along with a

work throughout the season.

legendary coach and loyal alumnus

Heart, chemistry, and sacrifice

— whose winter journeys prove

— not one player or individual

the rigor and long-term value, no

— combined to yield the winning

matter what the situation, of the

formula, to transform good teams

Brunswick athletic experience.

into great teams.

And, as the top-line team

In retrospect, their powerful stories, all told, convey some-

summaries somehow fall short of

thing well beyond the victory of

capturing the specialness of this

what scoreboards, statistics, and

particular season, we also offer the

summaries alone can capture.

stories and creative writing of five Grant MacFaddin ’15 FACING PAGE, TOP Jarett Odrich ’15 (left) and David Yacobucci ’16 celebrate ’Wick’s Squash National Championship.

Head Coach Tim Ostrye’s title-winning wrestling team BELOW

For more photos of Bruin Sports, visit bwick.org/ tob_spring2015

James Simone ’17

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oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

SQUASH

A National Championship Team for the Ages

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As this year’s squash team began

December showdown with Avon

another quest for an elusive

Old Farms — the 2014 national

national championship — the

champion —the 30-year veteran

Bruins having finished second

began to see his strategy taking

six times since the tournament

shape, as the Bruins knocked off

began in 2004 — Head Coach Jim

the Winged Beavers, 4–3.

Stephens freely admits there was something missing from his group.

“The first challenge matches were disappointing,” Stephens said. “They

They followed it up in January with a 6–1 shellacking of Taft in

By February, when the undefeated Bruins arrived at the

arguments, and disputes among the

national tournament, they

players. We were loaded with talent,

appeared ready to achieve their

but I had my doubts if we could

long-awaited goal.

Stephens immediately did away

As way of evidence, all spontaneously rallied to cheer and support

with future challenge matches,

senior Charlie Cassoli, a member of

fixed the ladder in place, and elimi-

the B team, spurring him to a five-

nated inner-squad rivalry.

game, come-from-behind victory

In short, he set out to build a team. Practices became competitive, spirited affairs — including

against an opponent from Avon Old Farms.

“To me, that was a magical

both the Varsity A and Varsity B

moment,” Stephens said. “I knew

— and forced players to push each

then that our team had come

other to the limit and raise the level

together and believed in each other.”

of their game. They were no longer

Senen Ubina ’15

front of a rowdy Rhino crowd.

were full of poor sportsmanship,

achieve our goals.”

David Yacobucci ’16

Yacobucci played inspired squash

New England title two weeks later,

determined to beat each other:

highly-touted, nationally-ranked

on his way to a three-game, title-

becoming the first high school team

They were, instead, determined

No.1’s from Brunswick and

clinching win.

to capture the national and regional

to make each other better. In a

Belmont Hill — junior David

24 | TIMES

In the deciding match — pitting

The Bruins, led by senior co-captains Yousef Hindy and

Yousef Hindy ’15

crowns in the same season.

“Many years from now, people

Jarett Odrich, stormed the court to

will talk about and remember

celebrate what they had worked so

the players on the 2015 team,”

hard to attain.

Stephens said. “Without embellish-

And, as for the exclamation point, they went on to win their 13th

ment or exaggeration, they are a team for the ages.”

BANNER WINNERS (left to right)

Coach Steve Polikoff, Senen Ubina ’15, Yousef Hindy ’15, Drew Monroe ’16, David Yacobucci ’16, Tyler Carney ’17, Jarett Odrich ’15, Head Coach Jim Stephens, John Fitzgerald ’15, Coach Amir, and Coach Boynton.

OF BRUNSWICK • SPRING 2015

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MENTORING AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL

Stephens Named Coach of the Year

H

EAD COACH Jim Stephens

calls squash a test of

temper, honor, and character — a duel demanding courage, skill, strategy, and self-control.

“Beyond a doubt, squash is more than a game,” Stephens said. “It reveals the good and bad in any man’s nature.”

He should know.

his best-ever season

Bruins Squash to New England

was yet to come.

and National championships

For all of his After receiving his award, Jim Stephens was surprised by his family: his son, Brett ’94; his wife, Merilyn; and his daughter, Kylie.

Stephens has seen thousands

in 2015, Klipstein made special

remarkable achieve-

note that the award was being

ments, U.S. Squash,

conferred to recognize his work

the New York

and achievement prior to this

City-based national

season.

organization overseeing the

“Coach Stephens represents

of matches, coached hundreds

sport, has recognized Stephens

leadership and mentoring at the

of players, and guided dozens of

as the 2014 U.S. Squash National

highest level,” Klipstein said.

teams in his 30 years of experi-

Coach of the Year.

“He is known throughout

ence on the court — dating back

It is the first time a high

to his first season at Brunswick

school coach has garnered its

impressing values of fairness,

in 1985–86. And his success is

most prestigious award, U.S.

teamwork, and accountability

staggering. Prior to this winter,

Squash president and CEO Kevin

on all of his players — lessons

Stephens’s teams had won 12 New

Klipstein said.

that will reverberate throughout

England Interscholastic Team

Klipstein was on hand to

the squash community for

present the honor on Thursday,

more than 350 match victories.

March 12, during Brunswick’s

fathers and sons rose to join

Fifty-four players had won indi-

85th Annual Father-Son Dinner.

Klipstein in a resounding ovation

Although Stephens coached

No. 1 David Yacobucci ’16 US Squash All-American New Englands, 4th place No. 2 Senen Ubina ’15 New Englands, 4th place No. 3 Jarett Odrich ’15 New Englands, 3rd place No. 4 Yousef Hindy ’15 New Englands, 2nd place No. 5 John Fitzgerald ’15 New England Champion No. 6 Tyler Carney ’17 New England Champion No. 7 Drew Monroe ’16 New England Champion

generations to come.”

Championships and compiled

vidual New England crowns — and

TOP OF THE HEAP

The crowd of Brunswick

to honor Stephens’s decades of

coaching excellence.

“It was very unexpected,” Stephens said. “I’m humbled.”

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Alex Russell ’16

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

including Ostrye, Bob Benjamin, John Martin, and Neil Minsky.

Jack Jones ’15

“They taught us how to

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WRESTLING New England championship.

Joe Fervil ’16

And, led by tri-captains Jack Jones ’15, Matt Marvin ’15, and Alex

endure adversity and push ourselves to the limit, Coach Tim Ostrye secure

both mentally and physically,”

his 31st FAA title in the last

Jones said. “We were inspired

32 years.

to work our hardest and never

It was a total team effort at the 58th Annual

give up.”

Ostrye, too, saw a team

WNEISWA Championships,

committed to each other and to

as ’Wick outlasted 20

laying it all on the line. “Through

competitors to capture the

hard work, perseverance, and great

crown for the second year

sacrifice, they were able to achieve

in a row. The Bruins boasted four

their goals and spur Brunswick

individual champions.

wrestling to one of its finest

Russell ’16, the Bruins did all of the

Jones, in his third year on the

above in 2015 — leaving their mark

varsity, credited the team’s success

as one of the most accomplished

to the experienced coaching staff —

seasons,” the 35-year veteran said.

“I commend every young man for his efforts.”

teams in school history.

Regular season highlights included a second-place finish at the Loomis Chaffee Holiday Duals — a highly competitive annual dual-meet invitational. The Bruins

Total Team Effort Paves Way to Championship

fell in the finals to St. Benedict’s

As the season began, in early

Old Farms, Choate, and Trinity-

November, Brunswick wrestlers

Pawling — along with a 57–12

aspired to the highest standard of

dismantling of cross-town rival

excellence — just as they do every

Greenwich High School and four

year. They sought to build on a

more wins at the FAA Invitational

storied legacy of past success and

— paved the way to an impressive

to carry on a proud winning tradi-

21–1 team record for the Brown

tion that has spanned decades.

and Gold.

They set a goal to win their 18th

Prep (Newark, N.J.), a perennial top-10 team at Prep Nationals.

Dual-meet victories against Avon

At the FAAs, six Bruin wres-

consecutive FAA title and to back it

tlers went undefeated to earn

up with Brunswick’s 11th Western

All-League status and help Head

26 | TIMES

Matt Marvin ’15

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ONE-ON-ONE ON THE MAT

Errico ’16 Named School’s Fifth All-American

A

S HE WALKED into Pleasantville Middle School

for his first wrestling practice — along with his father, Vitto, who wrestled at Trenton State University in the 1980s — Jon Errico ’16 didn’t quite know what to expect.

He was in 4th grade and weighed in at a (whopping) 55 pounds — his nerves racing. He glanced quickly around the room and soon realized that wrestling was much harder, and yet far less violent, than he’d ever imagined.

Within two hours, he’d lost a handful of matches — gotten his butt kicked, in fact — to opponents who gave up 15 pounds to him on the mat. But that didn’t stop Errico from coming back the next day — and for hundreds of days long after that.

“I was hooked from the beginning,” he said. “It took me a couple practices to get the hang of it. But overall, I picked it up pretty fast.” Fast-forward nearly a decade and Errico, a 138-pound 11th grader from Armonk, N.Y., is now a Prep All-American after his runner-up finish at Prep Nationals in early March.

KINGS OF THE MAT FAA CHAMPIONS 138 lb. Jon Errico ’16 145 lb. Kyle Davis ’15 152 lb. Jack Jones ’15 182 lb. Alex Russell ’16 195 lb. Matt Marvin ’15 285 lb. Joe Fervil ’16 WNEISWA CHAMPIONS 106 lb. Brooks Hennessy ’17 138 lb. Jon Errico ’16 195 lb. Matt Marvin ’15 285 lb. Joe Fervil ’16 PREP ALL-AMERICAN 138 lb. Jon Errico ’16 National Prep Runner-Up

He became Brunswick’s highest-placing All-American and

Invitational, the FAAs, and the

eye. “It’s just you and your oppo-

WNEISWAs.

nent on the mat. You have to put in

“Jon is a young man of integrity,

all the work and you have nobody

self-discipline, and character who

to blame for failure but yourself.”

understands that success only comes with hard work,” Ostrye

be easy for Errico to rest on his

said. “He is a leader among his

laurels, to pat himself on the back

teammates, always exuding a posi-

as he sits atop a distinguished

tive work ethic and love for a sport

history of Brunswick wrestling.

that demands so much.”

Within moments of sitting

Head Coach Tim Ostrye,

After achieving so much, it’d

down with Errico, you know his coach has him pegged to a tee.

Instead, and most impressive, he finds extra motivation from the defeat at Nationals.

fifth all-time, joining a short list

though, praised his star wrestler,

that includes Sims Lansing ’06,

also an Honor Roll student, for

Nick Simmons ’07 (twice), and

far more than his 34–2 record and

one-on-one element of the sport,”

your mistakes. I like to think I

Chasen Van Lang ’08.

individual titles at the Canterbury

he said, an undeniable glint in his

thrive on that.”

“I’ve always loved the

“A loss is a loss,” he said. “You have to learn to get better from

27

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HOCKEY

Exeter brought the

‘A Team in Every Sense of the Word’

team back down to earth, but it

With only five seniors — and a

Tommy Dunleavy and Mike

quickly rebounded

roster chock-full of unproven youth

Faulkner — with a combined nine

— finishing the

and relative inexperience — the

varsity letters between them — and

regular season by

Brunswick hockey team stepped

fellow classmates Matteo Esposito,

winning six in a

on the ice in November with many

Maksim Masiulis, and Will Rogers,

questions surrounding how good it

Brunswick set out from the start to

could be. The Bruins, themselves,

prove the naysayers wrong.

row and capturing

Philip Kemp ’17

the Empire Cup at Millbrook School.

believed they’d be competitive and

Practices were fast-paced,

“All 21 guys bought in right from

The Bruins, all told, never lost

win their fair share of games. They

focus was undeniably clear, and

the start,” Dunleavy said. “We quickly

two consecutive games at any point

also believed they’d vie for their

pre-game preparation was at an

established a winning attitude in the

during the season.

first New England playoff berth

optimum — the Bruins would be

locker room and believed we’d get it

since 2012.

ready to face off with whoever lined

done on game day.”

But outsiders — those in and

up against them at center ice.

Tournament titles at St. George’s and Belmont Hill–Nichols in

Max Fuld ’16 and Colin Bernard ’16

“The team always learned from a loss and continued to play and win with confidence,” Dunleavy said.

Faulkner added, “We were so

Buffalo capped a 12–3 first half.

close on and off the ice that when

And if there was still any doubt,

we faced adversity, we were ready

the Bruins began the New Year by

to face it together — as a unit.”

knocking off No.1-ranked Loomis

Narrowly missing the Elite 8

and highly touted Westminster

New England Tournament, ’Wick

in front of jam-packed crowds at

earned the No.1-seed in the Large

Hartong Rink.

School Tournament — its highest

February losses on the road at Salisbury (the eventual New England champion) and

ranking since joining Division I in 2010 — and matched up against Thayer Academy in the quarterfinals.

The Bruins ultimately fell to the Tigers, 5–4, in a furiously paced contest that went to overtime

around the New England prep

Gritty victo-

and could have gone

school hockey circle — seemed

ries against

confident that the Bruins would not

Founders

be a legitimate contender, leaving

League

them unranked (and unwritten

mainstays

define this team’s lasting legacy for

about) in season previews and

Taft, Hotchkiss,

either the Bruin players or their

initial polls.

and Kent in the

head coach, Ron VanBelle.

After a 33-game season, though,

either way.

While certainly a disappointing end, the loss will not

early going instilled

“This team had something extra:

which saw Brunswick rattle off a

a confidence within

a sense of unity and selflessness

school-record 26 wins and climb as

the group that ultimately

that is rare in sports these days,”

high as sixth in the prep rankings,

carried through the lengthy

VanBelle said. “I’m proud of these

all doubt was firmly cast aside.

winter. Players were willing to

This team was more than good —

block shots, sacrifice their bodies,

boys and grateful to have been a Matt Sealy ’16

small part of their success.

it will, in fact, go down as one of the

and finish checks — and they

best in Brunswick hockey history.

reaped the rewards of that style of

team, in every sense of the word, in

hockey.

School history.”

Led by senior co-captains

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WHY THIS TEAM? WHY THIS YEAR?

A Tale of Two Captains

F

ROM THE day they were elected co-captains, in the

spring of 2014, rising seniors Tommy Dunleavy (right) and Mike Faulkner took charge of the Brunswick hockey team.

They put a plan in place — one based on their combined seven years of varsity experience — and set out to create something special for their teammates and themselves.

“We wanted this to be the best team anyone had ever played on,” Faulkner said. “But that didn’t mean it was all about winning.”

Instead, the co-captains, two of only five seniors on the

a byproduct of it all — and of the

hard-nosed, early-

team, stressed the importance

team’s commitment to the sport

season victories

of preparation, hard work, and

and to each other.

and the team

camaraderie.

And, most important, they

“If we had one goal this year, it was to eliminate any social

caught fire.

In the end,

were going to have fun — in the

divides on the team and draw it

the Bruins —

locker room, in the hotel, on the

closer together,” Dunleavy said.

comprised of

bus, and on the ice.

Winning, they knew, would be

Never, though, did they envision what was to come: The

Tommy Dunleavy ’15

Connecticut,

Bruins, after all, were

three from New

ourselves in the mirror. We

coming off two consec-

York, and one from Moscow,

didn’t blame one guy.”

utive .500 seasons and

Russia — won more games (26)

returned as a roster

than any other team in Division I

Conn., native — he may have

littered with young

prep school hockey.

walked away with the greatest

blood.

Projections called

Why this team? Why this year?

Faulkner — a City Island, N.Y.,

As for Dunleavy — a Darien,

lesson.

“I learned that a tight-knit

for a rebuilding year at

product — was quick to pinpoint

team can beat a team of talented

Hartong Rink.

the reasons.

players who lack motivation.

But the attitude —

Mike Faulkner ’15

18 players from

“If we won, it was a team win.

Players are far more willing to

the “buy-in” mentality,

We didn’t rely on one individual

sacrifice for the end result,” he

as Dunleavy coined

or one line,” he said.

said.

it — led to a handful of

“And if we lost, we all looked

“Look where it got us.”

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BASKETBALL

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A Never-Say-Die Attitude Head Coach Robert Taylor will remember the 2014–15 Brunswick basketball team for its grit, passion, and determination — and for two unforgettable performances in the final week of the season.

He’d be hard-pressed not to.

Matt Gendell ’15

In the first round of the FAA Tournament, the Bruins — playing in front of a jam-packed, raucous

School for the tournament semifi-

Nacho Nwana ’16 — for inspiring

home crowd at Dann Gymnasium

nals — and once again found itself

their teammates to work hard every

— rallied from a 16-point second-

trailing by double digits (22 points,

time they stepped onto the floor,

half deficit to defeat Greens Farms

to be exact) in the second half.

whether for a practice or a game.

Academy in overtime.

Just two days later, ’Wick loaded the bus and traveled to Masters

The Bruins stormed back and cut

Their example helped the

the Panther lead to one in the final

Brown and Gold rebound from

seconds, but ultimately fell short

a subpar campaign a year ago to

of another improbable victory and

win 13 games and finish third in

saw their season come to an end.

the highly competitive FAA —

Taylor, though, walked off the

defeating rivals RCDS, St. Luke’s,

court with an overwhelming sense

and King along the way. The team

of pride directed toward his team.

also earned impressive non-league

“I’ve never been around players

victories against Millbrook, Milton

with so much heart,” said Taylor, a three-year varsity letterman at Harvard from 1979–81.

“They always played with a

Academy, and St. Paul’s.

With a young and experienced core returning — led by Nwana, the team’s leading scorer — the Bruins

never-say-die attitude and an

will set their sights even higher in

incredible competitiveness, no

2015–16.

matter the score or the opponent.”

In addition, Taylor recognized his leaders — tri-captains Billy Sean Morris ’17

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Opong Bramble ’16

O’Malley ’15, Matt Gendell ’15, and

Billy O’Malley ’15

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SELF-MOTIVATED IN THE CLASSROOM AND ON THE COURT

Nacho Nwana ’16: The True StudentAthlete

N

ACHO NWANA ’16 doesn’t

have room in his day for

excuses. He’s up and at ’em by 5:45 a.m. — in the car with his father and younger brother, Muna, by 6:30 a.m. to make the 25-minute drive from White Plains, N.Y., to Greenwich.

He fits in a quick breakfast somewhere along the way.

Once on campus, Nwana heads to his advisory to get going on his academic work — a full slate of top-level, rigorous classes awaits him from 8:10 a.m. to 2:40 p.m.: Honors Physics, Honors

two years on the varsity.

Pre Calculus, AP Statistics, AP

other way. “I’d describe myself

Computer Science, English XI,

as intellectually curious and

articulate, and humble — does

in the Ivy League, but under-

and U.S. History.

self-motivated,” he said. “I love

more than well, in fact, regularly

stands that’s not a guarantee.

to learn and am willing to take

earning a place on the High

already, Nwana is no slouch in

the extra steps necessary to get

Honor Roll despite his formi-

define my college choice,” he

the classroom.

the most out of a class.”

dable schedule.

said. “If the situation is right —

If you haven’t guessed

He arrived at Brunswick for

In addition, Nwana is

Nwana — conscientious,

Nwana has visions of playing

“Basketball is not going to

And his day doesn’t end there.

at the right school for me — I’d relish the opportunity.”

his 8th-grade year, transfer-

supremely organized and effi-

Nwana spends the bulk of

ring from a Catholic school

cient — a master at managing

the late afternoon and early

in White Plains in search of a

his time. That’s something

evening — 3:30 to 6:15 or so — on

day — Nwana finds himself back

stronger academic and athletic

he learned from his parents,

Edwards Campus at basketball

home. He showers, grabs dinner

environment.

first-generation immigrants to

or track practice, depending on

on the run, and hits the books.

the United States from Nigeria.

the season.

And he’s found that on Maher Avenue, where he’s been

“My parents instilled a

It’s on the court where the

At 7 p.m. — on a non-game

He’s usually in bed by 10.

How does he do it all — six

challenged to think critically

discipline in me,” he said. “They

two-time All-FAA selection

subjects of homework, tests,

and independently — often

taught me that anybody can do

truly shines, as he’s relied on

and papers? You might wonder,

supplementing his studies with

well in school if you’re willing to

his toughness, athleticism, and

but Nwana doesn’t.

outside, unrequired reading and

put in the effort, make personal

ball-handling skills — along with

problem solving.

sacrifices, and eliminate

his knack to hit clutch shots late

he said, peering forward, ready

distractions.”

in games — to score 724 points in

to tackle anything in his way.

Nwana wouldn’t have it any

“There’s time for everything,”

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Nelson Vargas ’16

mission to become a New England contender — and they would not

Thomas Errichetti ’16

be denied.

Led by senior tri-captains Grant Pierce, Julian Ronda, and Conor Winston, the team raced past Chase Collegiate, Canterbury, and Iona Julian Ronda ’15

Prep to start the season undefeated, proving to all on board that they’d be more than competitive.

Young Program Rises to the Occasion

Montgomery, who swam collegiately at University of Albany and began his coaching career in 1994,

With a new home on Edwards

pointed to those wins — and the

Campus — and a new head coach

increased training regimen — as keys

in Aaron Montgomery — the

to the team’s growing confidence.

Brunswick swim team forged a new identity in 2014–15.

From the outset, in early

Markus Lake ’16

“The boys began to believe in themselves,” Montgomery said.

“Once they became cognizant of

last a year ago among their fellow

November, the Bruins committed

their own effort and speed, they

Western New England counter-

to longer, more intense practices

made adjustments to their training

parts. And, at the New England

and challenged themselves to swim

and raised their own bar.

Championships, ’Wick capped

faster, more competitive times.

They hit the water every day for two hours and swam between

“They did all that they could to

its season with a nearly flawless

get faster.”

Will Powers ’17

And get faster, they did — as

performance.

The team had six finalists,

25,000 and 50,000 yards per

every Bruin swimmer improved his

rebounding to close the dual-meet

highlighted by junior Will Powers’

week, a far cry from the 45-minute

times as the season progressed.

schedule with three victories.

third-place finish in the 500

shared sessions at Greenwich YMCA in years past.

In only their third year of

While the team dropped three

The Bruins rode that momentum

freestyle, and broke into the Top

midseason decisions to Kent,

to an unexpected third-place finish

7 in the field of long-established

Hackley, and Hopkins, respec-

at the Bud Erich Invitational,

programs — ahead of Hotchkiss,

tively, it proved its resilience by

where they had finished dead

Northfield-Mount Hermon, and

SWIMMING competition, the Bruins were on a

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“The boys swam their hearts out and would not be intimidated by the perennial powerhouses of the league,” Montgomery said.

“As they did all year, they rose to the occasion.” The Bruins — and captain-elects Jack Muccia ’16 and Pat Stefanou ’16 — will look to do so again next winter.

5/30/15 9:58 PM

Simon Derby ’18

RELAY FOR LIFE

in the sport I was good

The Lost Swim Team of 1975

at — as a Bruin.”

F

The Greenwich native, who arrived at ’Wick as a 2nd grader, finally got his wish — granted entry

O R T Y Y E A R S ago, in the

in the 200 Individual

winter of 1975, Gary Oztemel

Medley and the 100

’75 and four fellow Bruins — Bert Fisher ’75, Peter Carlson ’76, and

Breaststroke.

Oztemel then

Peter Carlson ’76 and Gary Oztemel ’75

the Durkin twins, Patrick ’75 and

learned that Brunswick

Tim ’75 — packed his mother’s

could also race a team

Mercedes and headed south on

in the 200 Medley

the windy roads of the Merritt

Relay Finals — so he

tribute to Oztemel’s efforts,

to Brunswick and swam,” he said.

Parkway.

immediately went in search of

the 3rd-year program named its

“But it’s a pretty cool distinc-

teammates throughout the halls

award, given for dedication and

tion. It’ll keep me engaged and

the Westchester Public and

They were on their way to

of Maher Avenue. He found

leadership in and out of the pool,

involved with a school that still

Parochial League Swimming

fellow seniors Fisher and Patrick

in his honor.

means a lot to me.”

Championships — where exactly,

Durkin, along with junior Carlson,

they don’t all agree — to compete

to join him on the starting block

Harrison ’10, was the sole senior

in the annual, season-ending

that Saturday. Tim Durkin came

on ’Wick’s first water polo team in

meet. For one day — one event,

on board as the coach — highly

2009 — didn’t want to take all of

in fact — the young men would be

esteemed, no doubt. “They

the credit, however.

the first ever to swim as a team

were all close friends of mine

for Brunswick School.

and remain so to this day,”

Oztemel, a lifelong, competi-

of that, they were somewhat

Club and St. Mary’s, set every-

experienced country club

thing in motion a few weeks

swimmers. It didn’t take much

earlier with the help of ’Wick’s

convincing.”

Ultimately, the Bruins

who presented his application

finished in the middle of

to swim two individual races at a

the pack and had a healthy

meeting of the league’s coaches.

measure of fun in the process,

He simply wanted to represent Brunswick in the pool.

making the trek back to Greenwich proud of what they

“I loved Brunswick and was

had accomplished. Not until

a perennial cheerleader for our

2012 would anyone else swim

sports teams,” Oztemel recalled.

for the Brown and Gold.

“But I was never able to compete —

“I’m not the only guy who went

Gary Oztemel ’75 and Head Coach Aaron Montgomery join the inaugural winners of the Gary Oztemel ’75 “Above All Else” Award: Conor Winston ’15, Julian Ronda ’15, and Grant Pierce ’15.

Oztemel said. “And, on top

tive swimmer at both Millbrook

basketball coach, Dave Murray,

Oztemel — whose son,

And this year, as a fitting

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FENCING

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Ben Pasteelnick ’18

A GUIDE’S GUIDE

Joey Jimenez ’16

Beat: an attempt to knock the opponent’s blade aside or out of line by using one’s foible or middle against the opponent’s foible En Garde: the fencing position; the stance that fencers assume when preparing to fence Épée: a fencing weapon with triangular cross-section blade and a large bell guard

Jared Wolfson ‘18 (left) and Thomas Burke ’17

weapon squads — and the coaching of José Samora, a member of the Dominican Republic National Foil Team — as vital to the team’s more distinct sense of purpose.

All of these factors added up to the most successful season — from a win-loss perspective — in more than a decade, as the team defeated Greenwich High School, Greens Farms Academy, and RCDS on its

Driven to Succeed on the Strip

way to a 6–4 record.

Senior captain Grant MacFaddin

Championships, Bruin fencers

detected a clear difference in the

had strong showings in each of the

attitude of the Brunswick fencing

three weapon categories.

team when it returned to the strip this winter.

“This year’s team was as focused as I’ve ever seen it,” the fouryear varsity mainstay said. “We

In addition, at the Connecticut State Individual Fencing

MacFaddin placed third in sabre, Austin Sammons ’18 finished fifth in foil, and Joey Jimenez ’16 took

Fleche: an attack in which the aggressor leaps off his leading foot, attempts to make the hit, and then passes the opponent at a run Foible: the upper, weak part of the blade Foil: a fencing weapon with rectangular cross-section blade and a small bell guard Parry: a block of the attack, made with the forte of one’s own blade Sabre: a fencing weapon with a flat blade and knuckle guard, used with cutting or thrusting actions Counter-Six: blade up and to the outside, wrist supinated Strip (Piste): The fencing area, roughly 14 meters by two meters.

17th in épée.

The season highlight, though,

honors. “All of our hard work

were determined to improve and

came at the Connecticut State

was validated with that win,”

passionate about becoming the best

Team Fencing Championships,

MacFaddin said. “It gives me confi-

fencers we could be.”

where the men’s sabre team of

dence in what the team can achieve

MacFaddin, Thomas Burke ’17,

as it develops and strengthens in

and Paul Grasso ’17 won top-prize

the years to come.”

MacFaddin also noted the strong leadership on each of the three

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THREE MINUTES TO GLORY

‘ Ready?

Fence.’

By Ridgley Knapp ’16

A

FTER HOOKING the wire onto the back of my jacket,

I advance to the en garde line.

Mask off. Salute opponent.

Salute referee. Mask on.

“Ready? Fence.”

My opponent executes an advance-lunge before I can move, hitting my exposed stomach as I try to counter with a sloppy beat.

Single light, his touch. 1–0.

As a match begins — with three minutes on the clock — fencers size each other up, keying in on strengths and weaknesses.

Strategizing. The first point is least important in the race to five.

“Ready? Fence.”

My opponent repeats his initial attack, but this time I expect it. I leap back, keeping my arm

Two lights, double touch. 2–2.

If both fencers hit at the same

extended. He attempts to turn

time in epée fencing, they each

his failed lunge into a charging

receive a point — unlike the other

fleche attack, but he runs into my

two styles of fencing, foil and

blade before he can execute the

sabre, where a fencer must initiate

maneuver.

an attack to receive a point.

Single light, my touch. 1–1.

“Ready? Fence.”

Four points to victory or to

We both lunge off the line.

defeat. Only 10 seconds have

Two lights, double touch. 3–3.

elapsed.

“Ready? Fence.”

“Ready? Fence.”

Both of us are hesitant now.

He jumps forward; I parry as I retreat. He fleches, sprinting

No attacks off the line. I retreat

down the strip. I parry again; it’s

slowly; he advances slowly. I

close quarters fighting now. He

retreat faster; he follows more

parries my blade away from his

quickly. I stomp my back foot as I

leg; I beat his sword away with

retreat, tricking him into a lunge.

my arm. I hit him in the foot at

“Ready? Fence.”

I attempt to take advantage, but

the instant he hits my stomach.

He lunges; I parry. He goes

I am too slow.

Two lights, double touch. 4–4.

Next point wins.

for another attack; I perform a

counter-six around his blade and hit him directly in the chest.

Single touch, my light. 5–4.

Victory.

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It’s All About

Brotherhood AND

How Much We Really Need Each Other

Brotherhood permeates most every lesson at Brunswick’s Lower School, as faculty encourage students to strengthen connections and teach skills focused on the fine art of negotiating, thriving, and striving to develop one of life’s most definitive and informative relationships.

BY KATHERINE OGDEN

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Junior Will Bass spends a spring afternoon with 2nd graders Theron Case and Ryan Ahn.

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BROTHERHOOD

IT’S A SPECIAL KIND OF SANCTUARY.

O

NE MIGHT say brotherhood makes its home in the Lower

view, it is the beginning of a conversation around big questions of life.

School library. Shoulder to shoulder, thousands of books,

“What happens when you have culture clash in the world, when two

each quietly preserving a story or truth of human experience,

cultures look at life from two different angles? How do you do this

take their brotherly places in a room so infused with light and space it dazzles the imagination.

brotherhood thing when you have real conflict?

“It’s the world (these boys) are going to live in,” Michie said. “We

There are picture books and series books, classics from the ages and classics from today — everything from Pinocchio and The Call of the Wild to the contemporary odyssey of a selfish little china rabbit

have to hear everybody’s story. That’s the beginning of conversation.”

In Michie’s view, “brotherhood” shines particularly bright — and takes on sundry perspectives — in nonfiction works.

who becomes lost at sea,

She explains it this way.

The Miraculous Journey of

In books about math,

Edward Tulane. All in all,

two units might act on one

the library features roughly

other and make a third.

9,000 books for students

That’s basic addition or

to choose from, with a full

subtraction — a brotherhood

two-thirds of the collection

of numbers. In biology, all

being a special favorite

parts must work together

among boy learners —

for an entity to work well

nonfiction. Watching over

— a brotherhood of science.

them all is Lower School

And so on with technology.

Storyteller and Librarian

Computers and cars are

Joan Michie.

made up of myriad parts that

Ask Michie if the idea of

must work together.

brotherhood comes up in

Brotherhood, as Michie

any of those thousands of

sees it, is omnipresent.

books or in any of the work she does with students, and her response is razor-sharp.

“Whatever I’m sharing Lower School Librarian Joan Michie shares her love of reading with Zane Saad ’24.

Brotherhood isn’t the theme of one book or even a category of books at the library. It’s in every book.

“Brotherhood is a constant theme in almost every book or story I tell from 1st grade on up,” Michie said. “The human story is the story of brotherhood or the lack of it. This is a theme that runs through almost

with them, inevitably it comes up,” she said. “The universe is teaching we

really can’t function alone successfully. That’s the thing that’s so wonderful about working in a library, where all of these things are there all of the time.”

The Lower School library also provides for some of the more classic

every story that has been told through the ages. It is important to our

teaching moments of any childhood. Take, for instance, an ordinary

Lower School boys that brotherhood’s meaning be understood as inclu-

disagreement — basically, two boys fighting over who gets to take out a

sive — it includes all of humanity, male and female.”

particular book.

By way of example, Michie notes the study of Colonial America the boys complete in 4th grade. She notes the book A Boy Called Slow, which tells the story of Sitting Bull and illustrates the terrible impact

In such circumstances, Michie requires the boys to sit down and to find a way to solve their own problems. More often than not, they do.

Praise and celebration ensue. “You just acted out brotherhood,”

of westward expansion on Native Americans. It’s a book that raises big

Michie tells them. “You figured out a way to share something without

questions for all of us, but especially for young learners. In Michie’s

beating each other over the head. That’s kind of a happy place to be.”

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BROTHERHOOD

PERSPECTIVES ON BROTHERHOOD

I

T CERTAINLY is. In fact, brothers

don’t always get along. Great literature has immortalized the

theme: From Genesis to Shakespeare to Steinbeck, we’re reminded again and again that this special human connection can be rife with conflict and difficulty.

The trick is to get along despite all those differences. The art is to do more than just “get along,” but to thrive — and not simply as individuals. Life is indeed a team effort. To survive and flourish, we need and must rely on one another. We belong to each other — a fact human beings often forget.

At Brunswick, and especially at the Lower School, brotherhood is a part of the lesson plan not just on certain days, but on every day. The Lower School

“ Why is brotherhood difficult to define?

Because done right, it is extraordinary. There is a reason so many brothers stand up at each others’ weddings. And eventually eulogize each other. Those moments are reserved for family, or those who might as well be.”

JOHN SHERTZER, an Indiana nonprofit executive who blogs about fraternities and sororities.

cultivates brotherhood by weaving it into the curriculum of day-to-day learning, into every interaction about science or art, math or social studies.

The hope is that by the time Brunswick boys leave elementary school,

Fourth Graders Ben Yorke, Johnny Riehl, and William Walker study the world’s countries.

toolkit might be an extra-special set of “tools,” such as listening, speaking, problem-solving, perseverance, compassion, empathy, and respect. Of course, these are in addition to the reading and writing and math and music and science and art that Lower School boys also learn, pursuits that likewise bring humanity together and move it forward.

Brunswick has many partners as it works to teach brotherhood to its youngest students.

The reason is simple: The first lessons of brotherhood come much earlier than in elementary school. In fact, learning the art and craft of brotherhood almost always begins at home, in our earliest days, often with arrival of a baby brother or sister. We start teaching each family member to care more about each other than just the individual.

These are special moments in the life of

any family, for if bringing the first baby home is a sea change in life of new parents, bringing the second one home is a tremendous transfor-

they will take with them a working “toolbox” rigged with all the basic

mation in the life of the firstborn. Brunswick mom Darby Fox P ’17,

skills needed to lay the foundation for a life of brotherhood. Inside that

a child and adolescent family therapist, said the arrival of a sibling is

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BROTHERHOOD

PERSPECTIVES ON BROTHERHOOD

often the first time small children realize there are people other than their parents in the world, and those people have feelings

“ We must live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

and lives of their owns.

“Siblings are the first ones to show us

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE LEFT Mr. Cosby knew and loved Brunswick boys of all ages. Here he is with Luis Cobb ’12 in 2001.

Junior Wills Danielson is the first to greet Luke Nardis ’28 for his day ahead at the Pre School.

Senior Charlie Cobb fulfills a pre-game football and lacrosse tradition aside Cosby Field.

ourselves in others’ shoes.” Fox said she’s often asked about how to

A

acclimate a new baby into the life a young family. Her advice is partly

acknowledging and connecting with others into the day-to-day lives of

semantic — include the new baby in the “we” of the existing family, she

Brunswick students:

that it’s not all about us,” Fox said. “They give us practice interacting, negotiating, delaying our satisfaction a little. It gives us great hands-on practice. Brotherhood is our best way of teaching empathy and putting

says, while also offering a clear role to the elder sibling.

“There can be huge excitement if you use the word ‘we,’” she said.

Beyond that, Fox said, siblings offer an abundance of opportunities

T THE Lower School, brotherhood begins on the very first

moment of the very first day of every school year.

It’s a tradition that harks back to a Brunswick great,

a teacher and coach who long ago introduced a simple notion of

Say hello.

He came to Brunswick in 1970 to teach history, the first African American to teach at the School. Later, he served as a math and phys-

in learning how to “do” this brotherhood thing, including many, many

ical education teacher while also finding the time to coach football,

chances to resolve the ordinary squabbles of early childhood. Figuring

track, basketball, wrestling, and baseball.

this out early can set the stage for a lifetime of camaraderie on athletic teams or in college classrooms or at work or in any enterprise one chooses. “(Early childhood) is the key time to find out about empathy — how

But Robert L. Cosby was perhaps best known for his effort to greet students each and every morning with a handshake and a smile.

Because of Cosby, ’Wick Lower School boys now start each morning with this simple greeting. They step out of cars and buses and before

do I see others and how can I help them? Do I know how they are

even entering the building, say “hello” to their older brethren who have

feeling? Can I put myself there?” Fox said. “Being sensitive to others —

trekked in from the Upper School on Maher Avenue.

that really starts in the family.”

40 | TIMES

Handshakes ensue — brief, eye-to-eye meetings that give the

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BROTHERHOOD

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE LEFT Hands of appreciation

cover the Lower School walls.

Passports in hand, LS boys take part in “Around the World in 80+ Minutes.”

Second graders Jack Sieg and Will O’Reilly learn new instruments.

Camilla Gazal P ’25, Ana Dean P ’26, and Fernanda Leao P ’27 lead a discussion about Brazil.

younger boys a role model and the older boys a role.

These are moments of

Third grader Jake Murphy experiments with a new art form.

belonging, moments that underpin every notion of brotherhood — and not just at Brunswick.

passed resolutions for

“It really starts from the

each month in support

first day of school,” said Alyssa Keleshian Bonomo, mother of Lower School brothers Henry ’23 and Thomas ’26. “This really sets the stage that we are all in this together. A community. A band of brothers.”

This year, brotherhood education at the Lower School has gotten an extra boost. Boys and their teachers kicked

of the brotherhood theme. They declared

PERSPECTIVES ON BROTHERHOOD

“ On this shrunken globe men can no longer live as strangers.”

ADLAI STEVENSON, U.S. Vice President (1893–97)

January a month for greetings, and not just at the start of the day, but throughout the whole day and by name. “A warm greeting — it really does make your day,” said Student Council President Campbell Officer ’23. “It turns an awkward moment into a great one.

off the year talking about the history of brotherhood at the School. Lower School Head Katie Signer offered an opening speech that set the tone of the

“The little things are what make a big difference.”

Another special event on the Lower School calendar reminds us

year, describing the fellowship that is Brunswick and naming brother-

that it may take only a few moments in the day to nurture the seeds

hood as a theme for 2014–15.

of brotherhood. On a cold February day, parents and faculty came

Every student wrote a few sentences about what brotherhood means to him, and the results were posted proudly on bulletin boards throughout the hallways.

together to help Brunswick boys simply get to know one another better, to build a better brotherhood.

Spearheaded by Ana Jasson P ’18, ’20, ’23, “Around the World in 80+

In January, the newly organized Student Council joined the fray.

Minutes” saw 13 parents team up with three faculty members to create

With the help of 3rd-grade teacher Brian Coughlin ’94, the Council

12 different “stations” highlighting the heritage of Brunswick families.

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BROTHERHOOD

PERSPECTIVES ON BROTHERHOOD Stations were staffed by parent volunteers, each sharing his or her heritage with student “travelers” and stamping “passports” as the boys journeyed along.

Many different countries were represented, including Germany, India, Brazil, Armenia, South Africa, China, Croatia, England, and Arab cultures such as Lebanon and Egypt.

The event was an opportunity for all Brunswick boys to really get to know each other, to explore the depth of their classmates’ familial connections around the world. It was a way to deepen the nascent brotherhood of a new generation of ’Wick students. “There is brotherhood, no matter where you’re from,” noted Brunswick Director of Multiculturalism and Inclusion Marianne Barnum, who

“ My entire life has been an attempt to get back to the kind of feelings you have on a field. The sense of brotherhood, the esprit de corps, the focus — there being no past or future, just the ball. As trite as it sounds, I was happiest playing ball.”

DAVID DUCHOVNY, actor

LEFT First graders Jack Nardis, Jack Woods, and Miles Gillott work together with 6th grader Harrison Dahl.

RIGHT Kindergartner Braxton Bruce is entranced by 3rd grader Jake Minella.

In mid-April, BPA moms hung all 800 hands around the Lower School, a resounding tribute to the teacher who many years ago brought a simple handshake to Brunswick and helped to shape an institution. “Brotherhood is one of the great traditions of Brunswick,” said Megan Officer, a BPA member who helped with the project and mom to Lower School brothers Campbell ’23 and Colin ’26.

helped organize the project.

April once again brought echoes of

With its emphasis on brotherhood, the year has been a special one for Megan and

Mr. Cosby and of brotherhood, all in appreciation of the wonderful work

her family. Brotherhood is almost always in her thoughts; she keeps a

that Lower School teachers do with ’Wick youngest students every day.

memento of it in her daily life.

In anticipation of Teacher Appreciation Day, the Brunswick Parents’

It’s a photograph that captures the moment that firstborn Campbell

Association gave Lower School boys three pieces of cardstock, each cut in

became a big brother — the moment he met his tiny baby brother

the shape of a hand. The boys were asked to think about why they appre-

for the very first time. Young Campbell was just 3 ½ years old when

ciate their teachers, including their classroom teacher, a special teacher,

brother Colin was born, and the photo shows the big brother greeting

and an assistant teacher. Then, they all wrote those notions on the hands.

the younger with a kiss on the forehead. Megan keeps the photo on her

“Ms. Spaulding gives me a hand by …”

desk. She says watching her boys learn brotherhood from that moment

“Dr. Das gives me a hand by …”

forward has been a most special privilege of her life. “The reaction ever

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BROTHERHOOD

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT

Senior Keith Radler walks hand-in-hand with 1st grader Justin Guo on Opening Day. The Bonomo brothers, Harry ’23 and Thomas ’26, share a hug.

Campbell ’23 and Colin Officer ’26 walk the same school hallways — at least for this year.

younger counterparts, creating a brotherhood of readers.

Eighth-grade boys regularly land in Lower School classrooms to tutor math, creating a brotherhood in mathematics.

Eighth graders also return to eat lunch with 2nd graders,

PERSPECTIVES ON BROTHERHOOD

since is something I don’t know if I could imagine,” she said. “Campbell put his arms around Colin and hasn’t stopped since.”

Now, Campbell is a Brunswick 4th grader and Colin is in 1st grade — the only year her boys have shared in

“ We don’t need holy wars. What we need is tolerance and brotherhood and simple humanity.”

ARLEN SPECTER, former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania

elementary school.

R

creating a brotherhood around meals.

Upper School students also have a part to play. Cast as Big Brothers, they regularly return to Lower School to work and play on Wednesday afternoons.

The overall hope is that by connecting Lower School boys to their counterparts at Middle School and Upper School, Brunswick will foster a brotherhood that extends far beyond the limits of the Maher Avenue and King Street campuses. To be clear, the intention here is not to create an

EGULAR PROGRAMS that teach brotherhood to Lower School

exclusive brotherhood of Brunswick students. Instead, it’s an effort to

boys are so numerous it’s a challenge to mention them all.

model and to teach brotherhood as a skill for life. “Our focus on broth-

Here’s our best effort.

From the moment they enter 1st grade, students know they are not

alone: An older boy is paired with a younger peer to help light the way

erhood reminds us that being a part of Brunswick is about being a part of something larger,” said Signer.

“We recognize and value each individual, but the brotherhood we

around a new building and introduce unfamiliar faces. For the younger

encourage is one that encompasses lessons of respect and responsi-

students, the pairings help to ease the transition to a new school, just

bility, service and kindness. Brotherhood has been a special theme this

as they create an early experience in a brotherhood of learners. For the

year,” she said. “Going forward, Brunswick has no intention of letting

older students, the pairings provide a clear role to step into as it draws

the subject drop. The stakes are too high. The need for brotherhood

them further into the community.

across the globe is too great.

Beyond this, programs are numerous.

Sixth-grade boys regularly return to the Lower School to read to their

“We know we have to continue to pay attention to brotherhood,” Signer said. “And we will.”

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FLEX TIME 8 5 T H A N N UA L FAT H E R – S O N D I N N E R

Olympic Icon Forged from Dad’s Tough Love

By Mike Kennedy ’99

T

WO DAYS after finishing dead last in the 1998 U.S. Olympic Trials — a year following his national cham-

pionship victory — short track speed-skating legend Apolo Anton Ohno was ready to quit.

He’d had enough and wanted nothing more than to go home to Seattle — far away from the monumental expectations that followed his every move at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

But his father, Yuki, a Japanese immigrant who came to the United States when he was 18 years old, didn’t let him off that easy.

01

He drove Ohno to the family’s secluded cabin on Moclips Beach, 140 miles southwest of Seattle, leaving his 15-year-old son there to contemplate the future.

And, Yuki said, Ohno wasn’t coming home until he had figured

03

out what he wanted to do with his 01 Apolo Ohno is not only an Olympic athlete — he completed an Ironman in 2014.

life.

“He wasn’t upset that I had lost

02 Varsity basketball player Angus Binnie ’17 is an attentive observer.

— he was most upset by the lack of effort he saw in me,” Ohno recalled.

03 Heidi Vorwerk P ’13, ’15 and Joan Beth Brown P ’11, ’13, ’15 dish out Herberth’s famous chicken parmesan.

“Whatever I was going to do going forward — whether it was

04 Austin Sammons ’18 and his father, David, gather for a photo with Jack ’18 and Michael Altman.

speed skating or not, he told me — I was going to put everything into

05 Ryan Kahn ’18 and Caleb Osemobor ’18 look on during the festivities.

it. It was now or never.”

After spending a week in isolation — immersed in self-dialogue

44 | TIMES

02

06 Jack Powers ’17, Henry Harris ’16, and Henry’s dad, Carter, enjoy the speeches.

OF BRUNSWICK • SPRING 2015

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Flex TIME

s

SPORTSMEN OF THE NIGHT BASKETBALL

s

Joe Koszalka Award Nacho Nwana ’16 Billy O’Malley ’15

FENCING

Most Outstanding Fencer Grant MacFaddin ’15

s

04

HOCKEY

s

Hal Rogers Award Michael Faulkner ’15 Tommy Dunleavy ’15 (Not Pictured)

05

06

and reflection and without TV or

Winter Olympian in American

the Internet — Ohno called his

history.

From then on — and just as his

crowd of more than 600 fathers, sons, and coaches at Brunswick’s

father advised — Ohno lived and

85th Annual Father–Son Dinner,

breathed speed skating, becoming

he owes much of that success to

so fanatical, in fact, that he slept

his father.

in his skates and trained like a madman.

He went on to compete in three

“If not for my father, I’d be a of his tough love, I dramatically changed the way I lived and began

Lake City in 2002, Turin in 2006,

to pursue my dreams.

win eight Olympic medals.

He remains the most decorated

SWIMMING

Gary Oztemel “Above All Else” Award Grant Pierce ’15 Julian Ronda ’15 Conor Winston ’15

lost statistic,” Ohno said. “Because

Winter Olympic Games — Salt and Vancouver in 2010 — and to

s

to give skating one more shot.

But fittingly, as Ohno told the

“Without his leadership and directional push, I would not be standing here today.”

s

father with a decision: He wanted

SQUASH

Jim Stephens Racquets Award David Yacobucci ’16

WRESTLING

Peter DeLisser Award Jon Errico ’16

For more photos, visit bwick.org/tob_spring2015

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BEYOND THE BOOKS

NEWS AND NOTEWORTHY EVENTS

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT Seth Potter, the real star of the show, directs Deb Schwartz’s Pre-Kindergartners.

Will Motland ’28 (left) and Gavin Kirsch ’28 put on their frozen images.

Upper Schooler Andrew Israel ’16 gives acting advice to Rafa Ocaña ’28.

Superheroes, Sleigh Rides, and Spaceships: A Grand Finale Performance

A

School boys in February for an introduction to staged drama.

S CLASS began, the teacher

out his guitar and singing voice, putting

asked the students to form a

Robert Frost’s “Stopping by Woods on a

circle and wiggle their head,

Snowy Evening” to a tune for the eager

shoulders, knees, and toes.

contingent of youngsters.

“Make yourself as tall as you can, as

46 | TIMES

School students welcomed a group of Pre

After all had warmed up, Potter broke

“Shake your hips!” he continued.

Alessandro Dolder ’28 (left) and Quinn Cunningham ’28 join together with Alexandra Elam (GA ’16).

acting class in the Black Box, where Upper

His older actors, in turn, told the story of the poem in a series of frozen images, using

small as you can!” he instructed, his voice

facial expressions and body positioning —

now reaching a shout.

not noise and movement — to bring a visual

This had to be a gym class — or perhaps a dance lesson.

But, instead, it was Seth Potter’s honors

element to the quiet, wintry scene.

Ultimately, the half-hour session became an exercise grounded in the art of story-

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BEYOND the BOOKS

Watching Horizons Expand

C

LAYTON ADAMS ’15 understands the value of Horizons at Brunswick.

He has seen it firsthand.

Last summer, working as a classroom

assistant, Adams witnessed a young boy, Jayden, jump into the pool and swim in front of his family and friends for the first time.

Just weeks earlier, Jayden had never been in the water.

“To watch how much the children progress throughout the course of the program is inspiring,” Adams said. “They grow as young human beings in so many ways.”

Adams, a graduating senior, spoke about his experiences at an April celebration to announce a $250,000 challenge TOP TO BOTTOM Senior Keith Radler gets into the action with Vincent Zhu ’28 (left) and Will Motland ’28.

Matthew Michalik ’28 (left) and Peter Salame ’28 stage their final performance.

grant, raised thanks to the generosity of six Brunswick families. The money — half

Clayton Adams ’15, also an Eagle Scout, will begin his second summer as a classroom assistant at Horizons this June.

of the ultimate goal of $500,000 — will help to fund Horizons at Brunswick through 2018.

telling. “You’re given a stage, you’re given words

That’s certainly good

on a page,” Potter explained. “Now you have to

news for the program

figure out how to tell the story creatively and

— and for Adams, the

spontaneously.” And, indeed, they did — as each

Port Chester, N.Y.,

Upper School student then teamed up with two

native bound for

Pre School boys to construct their own plotlines

George Washington

and frozen images.

University next fall.

“Throw your ideas out there, create characters

“I was so

and conflict, and show them to the audience,”

impressed by the

Potter said, as he zipped around the room giving

passion of the adult

advice. Grand finale performances included

leaders. They moti-

superheroes, explosions, sleigh rides, and

vated the students

spaceships — all sorts of ideas that forced Upper

and gave them

School boys to encourage collaboration and

their undivided

compromise among their fellow Bruins.

care and atten-

“It was challenging to control the arc of the storyline and not let it reach a level of absurdity,”

tion,” he said.

“I can’t wait

Andrew Israel ’16 said. “But that’s the fun of it,

to be a part of

too,” he said. “Working with the Pre Schoolers

Horizons at

adds a whole new dimension to the class and to

Brunswick again

my experiences as an actor.”

this summer.”

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BEYOND the BOOKS

Simple Beat Transformed My Dreams into Goals

By Andrew Basile ’15

Andrew Basile ’15 has a true mentor for life in his recording studio teacher, Shane Kirsch.

M

R. KIRSCH started simple,

which began in the fall of 2011. After the

with a four-bar piano loop

typical introductions and syllabus overview,

and a boom-bap drum

Mr. Kirsch began making a beat and teaching

pattern layered on top.

us the basics of production on Garageband.

But soon the beat started to take off.

For me, this moment marked the begin-

He began adding a multitude of other

ning. It marked the beginning of a mentorship

instruments, each one contributing its own

I will value for the rest of my life. It showed

musical aspirations at Brunswick. There’s a lot

individual, yet cohesive flare to the song.

me that my goals of making music were not

to be learned — a lot of fun to be had.

Before 15 minutes had passed, he had all the parts he needed to create and sculpt the best beat I’d ever heard.

just a dream.

During the past four years, music produc-

Nowadays, Recording Studio has become less of an instructional class and more of a

tion has begun to define who I am. At home,

forum for collaborative discussion between

my parents have grown accustomed to the

Mr. Kirsch and me. I’m growing every day as a

of my classmates, I couldn’t help but let out a

muted bump that constantly drifts from my

musician.

giddy laugh with a grin covering the entirety

room. And at school, I’m known as the kid

of my face. I was utterly astounded. It was

who raps and produces.

As much as I wanted to play it cool in front

the first day of Recording Studio class — the

I’m happy with that — in fact, I’m hopeful

first day of my Brunswick School experience,

that more and more students will follow their

48 | TIMES

And so, as my time at ’Wick draws to close, I’m confident Graduation Day won’t mark the end for me in music.

It will mark the start of a new beginning.

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BEYOND the BOOKS

He’d Die To Do It Again Eisenhower Park, and Bethpage State Park last summer.

National Golf Club — patrons

filling the surrounding grandstands, cameras documenting his every move — he felt like he was playing in the Masters.

And now he has memories that will last forever.

“Hearing my name announced

And how can you blame him, really?

to the galleries

Earlier that day — a Sunday in April

gathered outside

— he made the drive up famed Magnolia

the ropes, then

Lane to reach the clubhouse. He warmed

seeing my face

up on the practice range in between

on the scoreboard

Masters-winner Fred Couples and cigar-

adjacent to the 18th

smoking Miguel Angel Jimenez.

green, I couldn’t help but think I

He shook hands with last year’s U.S.

was living every kid’s dream,” said

Open champion, Martin Kaymer. And

Camel, a freshman on the varsity

he chatted briefly with Golf Channel-

golf team.

personality Charlie Rymer.

It wasn’t the Masters, in actuality —

“I competed on golf ’s biggest stage — putted from the very spot

but it may have been the next best thing:

where Adam Scott and so many

The 2nd annual Drive, Chip & Putt

others secured their places in Masters

Championship, held on the eve of golf ’s first

history.”

major on the storied grounds of Augusta National Golf Club, in Augusta, Ga. Camel was one of 10 boys to qualify

Ultimately, Camel finished fifth in his division. But he didn’t come back to Brunswick empty-handed, winning the

for the national finals of the 14–15 age

driving portion of the competition with a

bracket, maneuvering through local and

281-yard, dead-center blast.

regional qualifiers at The Apawamis Club,

S COT T K . B R O W N/AU G US TA N AT I O N A L

A

S MATT Camel ’18 lined up his

putt on the 18th green at Augusta

He hopes to return to Augusta next April — in his final year of eligibility — for the Drive, Chip & Putt.

“I’m going to work as hard as I can to get back there,” Camel said. “It’s a once-ina-lifetime experience. But I’d die to do it again.”

’WICK SNAPSH

OT

Ride To Victory

e I drove up “ From the first tim age 19, I had a at Magnolia Lane t Augusta. ou ab g lin fee ial spec driving up ills ch t ge Even today, I .” ne La a oli Magn rs Winner — Six-time Maste k Jac Nicklaus

ABOVE Matt Camel ’18 accepts his long drive trophy from (left to right) Billy Payne, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club; USGA President Thomas O’Toole; and Derek Sprague, President of the PGA of America.

TOB Spring BTB 052815_2.indd 49

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BEYOND the BOOKS

‘Grass-Roots’ Science Projects Earn Statewide Recognition

B

RUNSWICK UPPER School

students returned to Greenwich as award winners after the

Connecticut Science & Engineering Fair, held Saturday, March 14, at Quinnipiac University in Hamden.

“I’m so proud of these students,” Science Department Chair Dana Montanez said. “They came up with the concepts and then did their own grassroots project work in our school science labs — and the results of their hard work really showed today.”

Here’s the rundown of ’Wick students selected for honors, along with the title of their projects:

50 | TIMES

Angus Fraser ’16 Revolutionizing a 16th-Century Product for the Modern World: A Thermoelectric Chair That Creates Energy from the Human Touch Jamie MacFarlane ’16, Nick VanBelle ’16, Eric Ganshaw ’16 Target Identification: Frequency of the PV92 Alu Insertion within a Given Population Andreas Kern ’16 An Investigation of Drone Downdraft as a Viable Alternative for Insect Pollination of Essential Crops Ryan Callaghan ’16 and Sandro Mariani ’16 A Feasibility Study of Portable, Ground-Based Ice-Penetrating Radar to Resolve Cartography Deficiencies Kinneo Gorman ’17 A Comparative Analysis of Rotating Solar Cubes vs.

Horizontal Solar Arrays

SCIENCE RESEARCH STUDENTS INCLUDE (front, from left to right) Alexander Wada ’17, Nick VanBelle ’17, Sandro Mariani ’16, Thomas Kern ’16, Lachlan Rosato ’17, David Ruf ’15; and (top, left to right) instructor Dana Montanez, Colin MacFaddin ’17, Ryan Callaghan ’16, Andreas Kern ’16, Angus Fraser ’16, Chris Peisch ’16, Jack Stefanou ’16, Eric Ganshaw ’16, Siyan Shaikh ’17, Kinneo Gorman ’17, Jamie MacFarlane ’16, and Andrew Mellert ’17. Missing: Tucker Calcano ’17

Andrew Mellert ’17 An Investigation of Superparamagnetic Iron Nanoparticle Hyperthermia to Inhibit Growth of Agrobacterium Tumefaciens Lachlan Rosato ’17 Drone-based, Tropospheric Gas Collection for Use in Air-Quality Monitoring David Ruf ’15 A Water-Resistant, Piezoelectric Precipitation Generator: A Comparative Analysis of Mobile v.

Stationary Systems Tucker Calcano ’17 Efficient Soundproofing: Design of a System Using Multiple Technologies Jack Stefanou ’17 Creation of a Fresnel Lens Array for Use in Water Purification

Chris Peisch ’16 and Thomas Kern ’16 Desalination by Portulaca oleracea: Maintaining and Stabilizing Overall Growth and Production of Omega-3 Fatty Acids Siyan Shaikh ’17 Converting Ambient Water Vapor to Potable Drinking Water, Inspired by the Shorebird Beak Colin MacFaddin ’17 Accumulation and Biomagnification of Microplastics in Marine Bivalves and Gastropods Alexander Wada ’17 Isolation and Use of Antimicrobial Polypeptides found in Grains to Inhibit the Growth of GramPositive and Gram-Negative Bacteria For more photos, visit bwick.org/tob_spring2015

OF BRUNSWICK • SPRING 2015

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FLEX TIME

Flex TIME

C A N N I N G TA K E S F I NA L B O W AT ’ W I C K

Curtain Set to Open on Act III

By Mike Kennedy ’99

A

FTER 14 years at Brunswick, Middle School Teacher Jim Canning is taking his final bow in June — retiring after more than two decades in the field of education.

Canning spent 10 years at Rippowam Cisqua School

before arriving on King Street in 2001 to head-up the Middle School Latin program, later adding English and drama to his packed slate of responsibilities.

Before that, in his 20s and 30s, the Chicago native made his living as an actor, landing a role as Doody in the original company of “Grease” — which opened at the Kingston Mines Theater on Lincoln Avenue in Chicago in 1971 and moved to Broadway the following year.

Canning, who began acting on a whim while substitute teaching in Chicago, stayed with the show for three years before moving to Los Angeles to work in film and television.

Casting credits in L.A. included “Boys in Company C,” “The Fog,” and “Elvis,” as well as TV’s “M*A*S*H,” “Dallas,” “Law & Order,” and “ChiPs.” Canning calls that era of his life his first act — the next 24 years as a teacher his second.

“If I’m going to have a third act, I felt I better get going. I may not have all that much time left,” he kidded — his persistent, charismatic smile on full display.

Canning has plans to continue his pursuit of the creative arts and is considering writing a book about teaching, stemming from his experiences in the REACH program and at Brunswick.

“I may also return to the world of acting,” he said, “so you may not have seen the last of me.”

He and his wife, Laura, Senior Dean at Greenwich Academy, will remain in Black Rock, where they’ll be close to their three sons — all of whom live in Boston.

Canning leaves Brunswick a proud man — considering his greatest triumph to be the now ever-popular Middle School drama program, which he spearheaded six years ago.

He’ll leave with many fond memories, too.

Jim Canning with the original cast of “Grease” in February 1971.

“I really enjoyed being around Middle School boys,” he said. “I’ll miss their energy and sense of humor the most.”

WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

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

Fond Farewell to Steve Weber

W

ITH THIS photo from our archives, we

I had him as a science teacher and as a baseball

honor Steve Weber, a longtime faculty

coach. He’s a caring, honest, and generous

member who retired at the end of this school year.

“Web” began his 32-year career on Maher Avenue in September 1983. And so, in the words of friends, colleagues, and former students, we

teacher and coach, who always gave his students extra time in the classroom and the baseball field.

What a great person!”

Doug Burdett: “He used to make an all-night

salute his dedication and service to Brunswick. If

trip to Rhode Island to get wholesale lobsters on

you’d like to share your own memories, please call

the dock and sell them to Westchester restau-

or email Libby Edwards (ledwards@brunswick-

rants before coming to work — until the boys told

school.org: 203-625-5864).

him to cease. Capisce?”

BIG BROTHER BONDING What would we do without longtime 2nd-grade teacher Pat Meloni! Just days after publication of the Winter 2015 issue, Pat identified the older boy in this archival photo as Billy Hartong, Class of 1992. Other ’Wick veterans Power Fraser ’74, Mike Harris, and Jarrett Shine ’92 confirmed Pat’s spot-on instincts. As for the younger Bruin, that’s still to be determined (our best guess is Josh Urban, Class of 1999) — but one for two isn’t bad!

Stephen Duennebier: “Whenever I think of

Bob Benjamin: “Some classic Steve Weber

the baseball diamond. A quiet and unassuming

him, I’m struck by the image of him always being

images: Grilling hot dogs on Fridays at Baseball

example of discipline, humor, and respect who

surrounded by kids, in various settings — not

Camp on Maher Ave; Webbie the weather man

brought out the best in all of us.”

only the obvious ones, like science labs, 7:00 a.m.

— the go-to guy for info on pending snow days;

extra-help classrooms, and baseball diamonds;

Web at Woodstock — both the 1969 and 1999

the teacher I am today. His shoes cannot be filled.

but also at ski lodges and tidal estuaries. He gave

incarnations. He’ll be missed!”

His contributions cannot be forgotten. His friend-

a lot of his time and energy to a lot of kids.”

John Bausman ’89: “I’m a big Steve Weber fan.

52 | TIMES

James Farrell ’89: “He’s a terrific guy who was both a mentor to me in the classroom and on

Derek Hruska: “Steve Weber is the reason I am

ship will reach from beyond these halls as he fishes the warmer waters off the Florida coast.”

OF BRUNSWICK • SPRING 2015

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CLASSNOTES

1975 Brian McKenna and his wife, Shannon, are the

03

new parents of a baby boy, Lachlan Thomas, born December 27. See photo 01.

04

01

02

05

06

07

08

09

10

1993 Chris Carty and his wife, Megan, welcomed a baby boy, Liam Philip, on January 11, weighing 8 lbs. 14 oz.

See photo 02.

Doug Herman is the new father of twin boys, Magnus Russell and Duncan Francis, born February 18, each weighing 5 lbs. 14 oz. See photos 03 and 04.

1994 Jeff Andrea and his wife, Michelle, are excited to announce the birth of their daughter, Marin Conway, on November 3, weighing 7 lbs. 10 oz. See photo 05.

Holt Condon and his wife, Winnie, welcomed twin girls, Blair and August, on January 30. See photo 06.

1995 their first son, Baker William, on February 26,

2000

weighing 8 lbs. 15 oz.

David Darst and his wife happily announce the

Todd McClutchy and his wife, Kristin, welcomed

birth of their daughter, Harrison Elizabeth,

1998 Will Mundy and his wife, Missy, had their second daughter, Molly, last July. The family resides in Wayne, Penn., where Will is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley. See photo 07.

born February 27 and weighing 6 lbs. 12 oz.

See photo 09.

2001 Matt Bloom and his wife, Katie, proudly announce the birth of their daughter, Adina Virginia, born January 21.

1999 Peter Brush and his wife, Jacqui, are the proud

2004

parents of Peter W. Brush III, born March 11 and

Chris Ward and his wife, Chrissy, welcomed Lila Mara

weighing 8 lbs. 3 oz. See photo 08.

on April 14, weighing 8 lbs. 7 oz. See photo 10.

01 Brian McKenna ’75 and his wife, Shannon, proudly introduce their son, Lachlan Thomas.

02 Chris Carty ’93 and his wife, Megan, welcomed Liam Philip on January 11. He joins his sister, Paige (6), and brother, Noah (3).

03 / 04 Doug Herman ’93 is now the father of twin boys, Magnus Russell and Duncan Francis.

05 Jeff Andrea ’94 and his wife, Michelle, added to the girl power in their young family. New baby Marin joins her big sisters, Ella (4) and Teagan (2).

06 Holt Condon ’94 and his wife, Winnie, are the new parents of twin girls, Blair and August.

07 Will Mundy ’98 and his wife, Missy, welcomed Molly last July. She joins her older sister, Madeleine (3).

08 Peter W. Brush III has joined the Brush family. Peter ’99 and his wife, Jacqui, are the proud parents of a baby boy.

09 David Darst ’00 is the new father of a baby girl, Harrison Elizabeth.

10 Chris Ward ’04 and his wife, Chrissy, announced the arrival of Lila Mara on April 14 — one more fan of ’Wick hockey!

WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

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CLASSNOTES

2007 Lt. Colin Raymond was selected by his division for the Best Ranger competition at Fort Benning, Ga., held in April. Best Ranger is the Army’s premier competition for endurance and technical skills.

Only 50 two-man teams are chosen to compete from across the entire United States Army. See photo 11.

12

FACULTY NOTES David Aylward and his wife, Larissa, introduce their first child, Addison Grace, born on April 11 and weighing 7 lbs. 11 oz. See photo 13.

Tucker Hastings and his wife, Kate, welcomed their second daughter, Sallie Jane, on February 13.

11

She joins her sister, Burke, and brother, Sam. See

11 Lt. Colin Raymond ’07 participated in Best Ranger at Fort Benning, Ga., in April. Check out his T-shirt.

photo 12.

13

14

12 Tucker Hastings, Upper School Dean of Admission, is the proud father of his third child, Sallie Jane.

Kevin Landesman and his wife, Dana, announce the birth of their third child, Charlotte Sophia, born

13 David Aylward, one of ’Wick’s athletic trainers and coaches, is now the father of Addison Grace.

14 Kevin Landesman, Middle School Math Coordinator, became the father of his third child, Charlotte Sophia, on March 12.

on March 12 and weighing 7 lbs. 3 oz. She joins her sister, Caroline, and brother, Cole. See photo 14.

man with a great spirit for life that touched many people of all generations.

IN MEMORIAM Harold G. Rogers, 93, died peacefully at Stamford

At Princeton, he earned the nickname of

at Nightingale-Bamford in New York City.

In 1962, she married her late husband, John H. T. Wilson, and moved to Greenwich in 1964. She

“Happy Hal,” which fittingly stuck with him for the

served as president of the North Street School

remainder of his life.

PTA and as a leader of the Boy Scout troop, while

Hal was outgoing, with a great sense of humor

managing and raising four young children, a series

Hospital on March 26. Hal and his wife, Lois, cele-

and a larger-than-life personality that was infec-

of dogs, chickens, rabbits, cats, kittens, and a dear

brated their 58th anniversary last fall.

tious to all who met him. He greeted everyone

friend’s horse.

He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather,

with a big smile and was a man who was universally

Every neighborhood event — Halloween,

coach, and mentor to all who knew him. Hal and

admired and respected for his integrity, patriotism,

birthday parties, flashlight tag, baseball, football,

Lois moved to Riverside in 1962, where they

eloquence, and his ability to make everyone feel

street hockey, basketball, and sledding in the

became an integral part of the Greenwich commu-

like they were the most important person in the

woods — ended at her house, and she was the

nity and where he coached hockey and baseball

conversation.

champion of calm in all situations.

for many years. He served on Brunswick’s Board

Hal is survived by his wife, Lois; son Gary and

From 1982–2000­, Sandy returned to teaching

of Trustees from 1981 to 1984. The hockey team

his wife, Linda, of Madison, Conn., and Linda’s

as a Brunswick Middle School history and English

named its award for commitment and dedication

daughter, Nicole Smith; son Bruce and his wife,

teacher.

in his honor.

Mary, of Darien, Conn., and their two children,

Hal served in the Navy Air Corps in the South

Sandy was a devoted friend, mother, grand-

Evan and Celia; and three sons of eldest son, David,

mother and teacher who enjoyed gardening,

Pacific for the U.S. Navy during World War II. He

who died in 2003, Arron Marlowe-Rogers, Jared

tennis, biking, hiking, skiing, and summer vaca-

played varsity football and baseball at Princeton

Rogers, and Damion Marlowe-Rogers and their

tions. Above all else, she cherished gatherings of

University as part of the Class of 1948.

families, of Winston Salem, N.C.

family and friends.

for the Boston Red Sox until a shoulder injury

Sandra W. Wilson, 76, died peacefully in her

grandchildren: Tucker Wilson ’82, of New Canaan,

prematurely ended his dream, at which time he

Greenwich home on February 10.

Conn; Will Wilson ’84 and his wife, Laura, and

After college, he played professional baseball

She is survived by her four children and ten

went on to pursue a long and successful career as

Sandy was born in Rye, N.Y., in 1938, the only

their children Whitney, Lila, Janey, Ellie, and Luke

an advertising executive in Los Angeles, Chicago,

child of Walter W. and Helen S. Wilson. She grad-

of Wellesley, Mass.; Emily Wilson Burns and her

and New York.

uated from Rye Country Day School in 1956 and

husband, Chris, and their children Ben, Catherine,

Hal was an outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting,

Smith College in 1960. Her teaching career began

and Nick of New Canaan, Conn; and David Wilson

shooting, golf, and tennis. He was an extraordinary

at Springside School in Philadelphia and continued

’88 and his children, Jake and Dylan of Boulder, Colo.

54 | TIMES

OF BRUNSWICK • SPRING 2015

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CLASSNOTES

ALUMNI SNAPSHOT

Every ‘ESPN’ Moment Counts

By Mike Kennedy ’99

S

ELF-DESCRIBED YANKEES

die-hard, Rangers fanatic, Giants

“Brunswick cultivated my love

supporter (after a few years of going

for writing,” Reeve said. “I had

rogue and rooting for the Jets, that

always been a reader, and enjoyed

is), and Knicks sympathizer, Will

English classes. But my experiences

Reeve ’10 bleeds Big Apple blood

learning how to write well (and

when it comes to professional

often — to my frequent chagrin at

sports.

the time) brought me to an entirely

“I grew up in a sports-obsessed family,” Reeve said, “and learned

new place.

“Writing is the most valuable and

from an early age that I was to

essential skill in the broadcast world,

support the New York teams. My

and I have Brunswick to thank for

dad made sure of it.

showing me the way.”

“My mom was also a massive

To write the story, though,

sports fan, so I had the great fortune

Reeve must find it first — and

of attending games of all kinds with

it has to be compelling and

both of my parents.”

worth sharing.

These experiences further deep-

“Brunswick forced me to

ened the ever-strong bonds between

become more passionate

Reeve and his late mom and dad,

about learning and more

each of whom died before his 14th

curious about life in general,”

birthday, and infused him with a love

he told us. “That’s really

of sports that has never wavered.

helping me now.”

Now 22 years old — and a 2014

As for other fond memo-

“ Brunswick forced me to become more passionate about learning and more curious about life in general.”

graduate of Middlebury College

ries of his time as a Bruin:

— Reeve has followed his lifelong

Winning the IMBL champion-

passion into the professional world,

ship as a senior with his best friend

joining ESPN’s Sportscenter as a

Jimmy Craft ’10, of course — in what

correspondent last summer.

Reeve describes as a historic victory.

He’ll be heading up a new feature

Still, it’s not what he remembers,

— called Why We Love Sports Today

he says, that has had the greatest

— for the show he grew up watching

long-term impact.

every morning, highlighting stories

“In high school, you’re never

not so much about sports but about

thinking that what’s happening in

the people who play them.

class on some random Tuesday will

“It’s not only a dream job, it’s my

have any bearing on your future,” he

dream job,” said Reeve, who has also

said. “But, in hindsight, it’s clear to

written a piece for ESPN.com in his

me that every moment counts.

short time at the network.

J O E FA R AO N I/E SPN I M AGE S

arrived as a 9th grader in 2006.

And, as Reeve says, it’s a job that

“I’m glad I didn’t fall asleep in class (too often)!”

requires both a knack for the written word and a curious mind, two things he picked up while at Brunswick — where the Bedford, N.Y., native

Will Reeve ’10 has followed his lifelong dream into the professional world, joining ESPN as a correspondent last summer.

WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

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CLASSNOTES

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Todd Hartch ’85 Authors His Second Book, ‘The Rebirth of Latin American Christianity’

By Dr. John Van Atta

I

FIRST KNEW Todd Hartch as a member of my

brother-in-law’s senior class at Brunswick back in

1985. That was my initial year at the school, and as I got to know Bill Ashton (and his eldest sister, now my

The book features a five-pronged argument focused on how Christianity in Latin America has undergone such a rebirth over the past half-century.

Exquisitely written pairs of chapters discuss each

wife, Lucy Ashton), I also became acquainted with Todd and others in their close circle of remarkably able young men.

That particular class, because of my obvious “family connection” to it, will always remain the closest to my heart.

Todd went on to become one of the very few graduates in the history of Brunswick to embark on a career of university teaching and scholarship. Soon after

of the following topics: The

In “The Rebirth of Latin American Christianity,” Todd focuses on the dramatic post-Second World War shift in Christianity’s center of gravity from the Northern to the Southern Hemisphere.

completing his extensive formal education at Yale, where he received his Ph.D. in history in 2000, Todd joined the faculty at Eastern Kentucky University, in Richmond, Ky. There, he now teaches a range of courses and specializes in the history of Latin America, Mexico,

movement of witnesses and evangelists; the prophetic movement, committed to elevating the poor and the oppressed; the rapid growth of the Pentecostal movement, oriented toward spiritual and emotional styles of religious experience, which in turn has

DIGITAL PHOTOS We love pictures, and we like you to look good. Here are tips for providing digital photos that will look fantastic in print: • Set the photo size to 4x6 inches or larger, in 300 dpi.

• 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.

adopt a more active, dynamic

• Set your digital camera to the best photo setting.

approach of their own; the lay

• Save files as JPG.

movement; and the universal

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

forced traditional Catholics to

impact on Christian religious belief and practice In all, “The Rebirth of Latin American Christianity” stands as a laudable scholarly achievement; it has already received well-deserved kudos from Todd’s

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

academic peers.

and religion in Latin America.

In “The Rebirth of Latin American Christianity” (Oxford University Press), a complex, erudite, and far-reaching story that defies easy summary in these few paragraphs, Todd focuses on the dramatic post-Second World War shift in Christianity’s center of gravity from the Northern to the Southern Hemisphere.

Whereas in 1950, some 80 percent of the world’s Christians lived in Europe or North America, by 2005 the vast majority inhabits Asia, Africa, and Latin America. In other words, the future of the religion is now being shaped in the minds and by the hands of its non-Western adherents.

This ongoing process constitutes one of the major

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

shifts in the entire history of world cultures.

56 | TIMES

OF BRUNSWICK • SPRING 2015

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ALUMNI EVENTS

CLASSNOTES

WINTER 2015

ALUMNI PADDLE PARTY

Aces All Around T

WENTY-THREE PADDLE players braved the cold at Stanwich Club

on February 28 for a night of friendly competition on the court and light-

hearted reunion in the hut.

The event, sponsored by Grant Gyesky ’98 and the Brunswick Alumni Association, united Bruin alumni from the Classes of 1993 to 2010 and featured plenty of laughter, food, and drink.

No champions were crowned — although the Class of 2007 deserves special recognition for winning the hotly contested attendance battle.

ABOVE Alumni joining in the fun included (front row, left to right) Lee Oxman ’99, Justin Weinstein ’99, Jarrett McGovern ’99, Scott Caffrey ’98, Graham Gyesky ’00, Jarrett Shine ’92, Greg Wyman ’07, Chris Harris ’07, and Mark Moran ’06; (back row, left to right) Kevin Decker ’07, Andrew Zarilli ’07, Christopher Constantine ’07, Matt Gormly ’07, Jamie Fowler ’07, Grant Gyesky ’98, Tom Toepke ’99, Zac John ’05, Zach Dobbs ’06, Tom Lewis ’93, Sam Philip ’10, Nick Philip ’08, MacKenzie Judson ’07, and Corey Dobbs ’08.

LEFT Greg Wyman ’07 shows strong paddle form.

BELOW, LEFT TO RIGHT Zac John ’05 takes a breather in between points; Scott Caffrey ’98 readies to return serve; Tom Toepke ’99 sizes up his competition; and Grant Gyesky ’98 lines up a sure ace.

For more photos, visit bwick.org/tob_spring2015 WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

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CLASSNOTES

Alumni Events

BELOW Dixon Mallory ’08, Mark Vallely ’75, Gray Huffard ’08, Tommy Barnett ’07, friend Dean Gestal, and Chris Kimball ’07 prove the generational ties of ‘Wick.

01

ALUMNI TENT PARTY

Good Company, Hearty Refreshment A

02

LUMNI, FRIENDS, and

family — more than 70 ’Wick

supporters in all — gathered under the tent on Cosby Field on May 8 to 04

watch the Bruin LAXmen knock off highly ranked Salisbury School, 9–7.

In addition, current and former members of the MEAT (Men Eating Animals Together) Club teamed up on the grill to everyone’s delight.

Ranger fans cheered their squad to victory against the Capitals on the big screen. And all in attendance enjoyed a beautiful spring evening on Edwards Campus.

As is always the case when Brunswick folk come together, it was a night of good company and hearty

03

01 Interested onlookers enjoy the game, the weather, and a beverage.

02 Chris Pollack P ’27 and Michael Grace ’93 pose for the camera.

03 Eric Hopp ’94 shows off his beautiful daughter, Bridgette (2).

refreshment — in moderation, of

04 MEAT Club founding member Dixon Mallory ’08 mans the grill.

course.

05 Alumni celebrate the Bruins’ victory.

05

For more photos, visit bwick.org/tob_spring2015

58 | TIMES

OF BRUNSWICK • SPRING 2015

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Alumni Events

CLASSNOTES

02

01

ALUMNI NETWORKING

United on the Workforce T

HE BRUNSWICK Alumni Association hosted the

3rd Annual Alumni Networking Forum at the Union

League Club in New York City on March 3.

Attended by 24 alumni spanning from the Classes of 1983 to 2010, the event gave all an opportunity to connect

01 Christian Oberbeck ’07 and Rana Kashyap ’01 engage in discussion.

with fellow Bruins from various professions — including the entertainment, investment banking, real estate, law,

02 Sam Kies ’04, Sam Epstein ’02, and Per Barre ’01 reconnect with one another.

and marketing industries.

Both newcomers and veterans of the workforce engaged in meaningful dialogue throughout the evening, helping to bring the strong ’Wick alumni community even closer together.

03

03 Brady Farrell ’06, Matt Gormly ’07, and Nick Federici ’96 span a decade of ’Wick.

Alumni on hand included Paul Gojkovich ’01, Sam Epstein ’02, Chris Constantine ’07, Per Barre ’01, Michael Boensch ’01, Brady Farrell ’06, Matt Gormly ’07, Grant Gyesky ’98, Scott McDonald ’94, Lowell Thomas ’00, Nick Federici ’96, Woody Peek ’07, Sam Kies ’04, Rana Kashyap ’01, Corey DeSalvo ’07, Michael Clear ’94, Joe Bruno ’87, Jarrett Shine ’92, Bill Ryckman ’87, Terence Einhorn ’08, Chris Cole ’83, Shahryar Oveissi ’98, Kevin Decker ’07, and Christian Oberbeck ’07

For more photos, visit bwick.org/tob_spring2015 WWW.BRUNSWICKSCHOOL .ORG

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LAST LOOK

BY MIKE KENNEDY ’99

Kids Being Kids Photo by Jeffry Konczal

A

S ROBY Sickles ’26 headed out the door —

got especially creative.” The result made for a playful

another day of 1st grade on the books — he

exchange between photographer and subject — and a

noticed photographer Jeffry Konczal peering at

“last-look,” back-page-worthy photograph.

him through the lens of a camera.

The quick-thinking Sickles manufac-

tured a pair of binoculars from a piece of paper in his hands and met the photographer’s eyes — as if to say, “I see your bet, Mr. Camera Man, and raise you five dollars.”

For Konczal, the Ohio native who’s become a familiar and friendly face in

Konczal, though, found a deeper

“It’s more about the feeling and relationship with the person being photographed than the job of being a photographer.”

Brunswick hallways and classrooms, this now is par for the course.

“Students often try and hide from me when I’m taking photos,” Konczal said. “But this particular boy

60 | TIMES

meaning — one that may explain why he does what he does for a living.

“Sometimes, when I’m taking photos, it’s more about the feeling and relationship with the person being photographed than the job of being a photographer,” he said.

“This was a fun moment, and I happened also to come away with a photo

that shows a kid being a kid and a photographer feeling like a kid.

“That’s what it’s all about.”

OF BRUNSWICK • SPRING 2015

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5/28/15 12:12 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 Annual Dinner......................... Thursday, September 17

Homecoming 2015......................................... October 16-17 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