Choate Rosemary Hall Bulletin | Fall '23

THE MAGAZINE OF CHOATE ROSEMARY HALL

FALL ’23 FALL

CHOATE’S TEACHING EXCELLENCE

In this issue:

CHOATE IN WALLINGFORD A Shared Past, Present, and Future

TEACHING AT CHOATE Alumni in the Classroom

INSPIRE THE NEXT …

The Choate Rosemary Hall Teaching Excellence Initiative

Students capture the magic of spring 2023 production of Mamma Mia.

CONTENTS | FALL 2023 DEPARTMENTS

3 4 6 26 30

Remarks from the Head of School Letter from Alex D. Curtis

48 52 56

In Memoriam Remembering Those We Have Lost

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End Note Choate Installs Witness Stone on Campus

On Christian & Elm News About the School Grandparents Day Celebrating Family Ties Alumni Association News Reunion ’23 Recap, Awards, and Updates Classnotes Profiles of MJ Penn RH ’74, Choate Society Planned Gift Donor; and Adam King ’04, Founder and Director of Arcadia Restorations

Scoreboard Recap of Spring ’23 Sports Bookshelf Reviews of works by Kate Manning RH ’75, Katie Davis ’96, and Shana GoldinPerschbacher ’97

FEATURES

8 10 16

Q & A with Jenny Karlen Elliott Interview with Head of Student & Academic Life

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Choate in Wallingford Neighbors Since 1890

Connecting Alumni in the Classroom Hedrick Smith ’51 Teaching Excellence Initiative Makes a Difference Choate’s Teaching Initiative

FALL ’23

Choate Rosemary Hall Bulletin is published fall, winter, and spring for alumni, students and their parents, and friends of the School. Please send change of address to Alumni Records and all other correspondence to the Communications Office, 333 Christian Street, Wallingford, CT 06492-3800.

Choate Rosemary Hall does not discriminate in the administration of its educational policies, athletics, other school-administered programs, or in the administration of its hiring and employment practices on the basis of age, gender, race, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, genetic predisposition, ancestry, or other categories protected by Connecticut and federal law. Printed in U.S.A. CRH201201/17.75M

Editorial Offices T: (203) 697-2475 Email: sdavis@choate.edu Chief Communications Officer Alison J. Cady P ’23, ’26 Editor Susanne Davis Lead Design and Production Beth Ann Strong Designers Todd Meagher Ann Marie Nolan Classnotes Editor Henry McNulty ’65 Contributors Christine Bennett D. Gam Bepko Alison Cady P ’23, ’26 Don Firke P ’08, ’10 Kim Hastings Nolan Silbernagel Nicole Thomas KeriAnne Tisdale Leslie Virostek Bekah Wright

Photography Joey Avena John Giammatteo Tom Kates Foster Wiley Susan Zox Choate Rosemary Hall Board of Trustees 2023-2024 Danya Alsaady P ’17, ’19, ’23 Kenneth G. Bartels ’69, P ’04 Caroline T. Brown ’86, P ’19 Marc E. Brown ’82 Seth J. Brufsky ’84 Yahonnes S. Cleary ’96 George F. Colony ’72 Alex D. Curtis P ’17, ’20 Elizabeth M. Ferreira ’92 Katherine B. Forrest ’82 David A. Fraze ’84 Kristen M. Garlinghouse ’85 Gunther S. Hamm ’98 Elizabeth A. Hogan ’82 Jungwook ”Ryan” Hong ’89, P ’19, ’22 ’25 Kelly Green Kahn ’86 Daniel G. Kelly Jr. ’69, P ’03 Christian B. McGrath ’84, P ’18, ’21 Takashi Murata ’93, P ’25 George F. Pyne, IV ’84 M. Anne Sa’adah Life Trustees Bruce S. Gelb ’45, P ’72, ’74, ’76, ’78 Edwin A. Goodman ’58 Cary L. Neiman ’64 Stephen J. Schulte ’56, P ’86 William G. Spears ’56, P ’81, ’90

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Corrections: The Spring 2023 Bulletin In Memoriam piece for the late Stanley Davis Phillips ’61 incorrectly spelled the last name of his daughter Kate Phillips Clegg ’94.

Ryan Froeb ’23, on the cover of the Spring 2023 Bulletin, was incorrectly identified.

THE MAGAZINE OF CHOATE ROSEMARY HALL

FALL’23 ’21 SPRING

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In this issue:

INSPIRE THE NEXT …

A Public Kickoff to Choate‘s Capital Campaign

RESTORING THROUGH SPORTS Professional Soccer Revitalizes Pawtucket, Rhode Island

HONORING HERB KOHLER ’57 Celebrating His Legacy of Leadership

The Spring ’23 Bulletin incorrectly stated Daniel “Ham” Magill III ’63 won the Seal Prize in 1962. He won the prize in 1963. John Woodbridge P. Cartwright Jr. won it in 1962.

BULLETIN | FALL 2023 3

Remarks from the Head of School

Dear Alumni and Friends of Choate Rosemary Hall, I find immense joy in the celebrations that mark the beginning of a new school year — witnessing our student leaders show the way for their peers, watching new students sign the Matriculation books, and officially opening the academic year during Convocation.

As we embark on our 134th year, my thoughts have turned to the concept of sustainability. Not just in the narrow sense that pertains solely to our environmental efforts, but also in a broader context that encompasses the long-term viability of our institution. The public phase of our campaign, Inspire the Next, provides us with a tangible opportunity to chart a course for securing our future. Our goal is not merely to maintain what we have painstakingly built here but to ensure that our School continues to evolve and thrive. We must constantly ask ourselves, “What comes next?”

Countless members of our dedicated community have been diligently working towards this vision. In this issue of the Bulletin, we delve into one of the campaign’s core initiatives: teaching. How can we foster not only growth and continuity but also lasting strength for the future? It all begins with the people within our walls — the heart and soul of our institution.

Each year, we endeavor to enroll students who will seize every opportunity before them. We encourage them to be inquisitive, to unearth new passions, and to sharpen skills that will serve them throughout their lives. And at the heart of the student experience, of course, are our teachers; they are the unwavering support system for our students, both inside and outside the classroom. And so, as you’ll read, we must enhance their compensation and invest more in their professional development. In the following stories, “Teaching Excellence Initiative Makes a Difference” and “Connecting Alumni in the Classroom,” we explore these efforts in more detail.

I invite you to take a moment to immerse yourself in the stories of our campus, our engagement with the Wallingford community, and the remarkable journeys of our alumni. I hope you find inspiration in these narratives.

As we strive to secure the future of our beloved School, I extend an invitation to you. Consider joining us on this journey, and together, we can ensure that our institution continues to thrive and inspire generations to come.

With all best wishes from campus,

Alex D. Curtis Head of School

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ON CHRISTIAN & ELM | NEWSWORTHY

Class of 2023 Commencement Exercises

Will Gilyard ’98 Newly Appointed Dean of Students On July 1, 2023, William Gilyard ’98 began serving as Dean of Students. Gilyard graduated from Williams College with a psychology degree and then earned a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of St. Joseph. As a math teacher, he worked with students in the classrooms of the Cathedral School of St. John the Divine and the Kingswood Oxford School. Gilyard served as Dean of Students and Head of the Upper School at the Cathedral School, as Form Dean and Dean of Students at Kingswood Oxford, and as Form Dean and member of the Alumni Engagement team at Choate Rosemary Hall.

Of his new role, Gilyard offered, “I am honored, humbled, and ecstatic to serve as the next Dean of Students. The students, families, faculty, and staff

The School held its 133rd Commencement Exercises on Sunday, May 28 on the Great Lawn with a Commencement address delivered by legendary tennis star Billie Jean King. Head of School Alex D. Curtis and the Board of Trustees of Choate Rosemary Hall bestowed diplomas and certificates to a graduating class of 254 students.

King was named one of the “100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century” by Life magazine and the first female athlete to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She is the founder of the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative, the Women’s Tennis Association, and the Women’s Sports Foundation, and part of the ownership groups of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Angel City FC, and the Los Angeles Sparks.

King’s tennis journey was part of her lifelong quest for equality, King explained as she urged the graduates to “know what makes you great, know your strengths.

Champions practice their strengths every day.” She gave three characteristics of people with inner and outer success: valuing the relationships in one’s life, an openness to learning and learning how to learn, and being a problem solver and an innovator. “Dream it. Build it. Be undefinable,” said King.

Sixth Form President Brooks K. Roach spoke of the bridge that the Class of 2023 made to pre- and post-pandemic life at Choate, and to the resiliency and solidarity the Class had built.

Dr. Curtis and Head of Student and Academic Life Jenny Karlen Elliott celebrated the Class of 2023 with comments, as well. In his valedictory remarks, Dr. Curtis said, “In each of you we see hope. Referring to the world’s problems, he said, “Standing here looking out at you fills me with great hope for the changes you will bring.”

Friends and family from across the globe joined the celebration in person and via livestream.

all value the academic excellence and standards of Choate. And this is not possible without the authentic relationships that are built, the joy of the folks who work here, and the culture of belonging that the students help create. That is what makes the Choate experience second to none and I am eager to contribute to this magical place.”

Beyond his significant administrative posts, Gilyard has coached basketball, baseball, football, and track and field and served as Head of House. Within his first year of returning to the Choate community in 2020, he joined the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force and was elected by his colleagues to serve on the Faculty Committee. He is a Core Faculty Member at the Interschool Leadership Institute and a Founding (and Current) Faculty Member at the Institute for the New Teachers of Color in Independent Schools.

At the Cathedral School, Gilyard received the Stephen B. Zaslofsky Award for excellence in leadership.

At Kingswood Oxford, he earned a Head of School Citation for Impact on the Community. And at Choate he received the Michael J. Carr Faculty Award for dedication to teaching and impact in the community.

BULLETIN | FALL 2023 5

SPECTRUM Hosts Interschool Gender and Sexuality Alliance Conference Choate’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance (SPECTRUM) welcomed to campus over 100 students from fifteen schools to the 14th Annual Interschool Gender & Sexuality Conference on April 16. The theme, From Non-Western Perspectives, selected by the club’s students, featured keynote speakers Jess X. Snow and Albert McLeod.

Snow spoke with students about their experience as a queer, migrant Asian Canadian artist and filmmaker. During the afternoon, four student-led workshops convened, including a showing of Snow’s film, Little Sky, with a debrief discussion led by fifth-former, and rising SPECTRUM president Tristin Hurst ’24.

Joining the group virtually from Canada, McLeod, a human rights activist, shed light on his ongoing efforts within the Two-Spirit (2LGBTQ+) community and his HIV-101 workshops to educate Indigenous people. McLeod is one of the directors of the Two-Spirited People of Manitoba.

Summer Programs Welcomes Record Numbers This year Choate Summer Programs celebrated 108 years with a record number of 743 students.

Students from 31 countries and 30 U.S. states and territories participated in an array of program offerings. Students ranged from five years to 20 years old, and 90 participants returned for their second, third, or fourth summer experience with Choate.

Director of Summer Programs Susan Peel Farrell P ’12, ’14, ’15, ’20 said, “Supporting our summer community in and out of the classroom were more than 150 exceptionally talented and dedicated faculty, staff, and interns, including numerous academic year Choate colleagues, college professors, experienced visiting faculty, and professional artists and musicians.”

Michael J. Carr ’76 Honored with Tree Dedication Former Board Chair Michael J. Carr ’76 was honored for his service with the dedication of a beech tree on the Great Lawn at the April Board of Trustees meeting. Mr. Carr was appointed to the Board in 2005 and he served as Chair of the Board from 2012 to 2019. Of this special event, Alex D. Curtis says, “It was such a joy to have Michael return to campus, to reflect on the extraordinary achievements of the School under his leadership, and to honor his commitment and service.” Current Board Chair George F. Colony ’72, adds, “Michael remains an important figure in Choate Rosemary Hall’s history. Throughout his tenure as Chair, his leadership guided Choate to tremendous success. All of us on the Board were proud to serve with him, and we were very happy to honor Michael with the dedication of this tree, placing him in the pantheon of former Chairs of the Board.”

Choate Students Earn National Physics Medals Several Choate physics students were honored with medals in spring 2023 while competing to represent the U.S. in the 2023 International Physics Olympiad. They were among 20 Choate students who elected to take the first-round test; of that group five advanced to be among the 250 nationwide given the opportunity to take the next exam. The second-level test yielded medals for the following three Choate students: Henry Ding ’24, Gold Medal; David Wang ’24, Silver Medal; and Ryan Yang ’23, Bronze Medal.

The International Physics Olympiad is the world championship physics competition for high school students and was held in Tokyo over the summer. It was held for the first time in 1967 in Poland and has expanded to over 80 countries from five continents.

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GRANDPARENTS DAY AT CHOATE

On Friday, May 12, Choate welcomed over 200 grandparents to campus to continue a warm tradition that coincides with Reunion Weekend. Choate students took their grandparents to classes, lunch in Hill House Dining Hall, and athletic practices in the afternoon.

Grandparents were treated to breakfast at the Sally Hart Lodge & Alumni Center, campus tours, and in the afternoon — coffee, cookies, and conversation with Head of School Alex D. Curtis, and Head of Student and Academic Life Jenny Karlen Elliott.

BULLETIN | FALL 2023 7

Roz and Ted Guteris, grandparents of Choate postgrad Sam Wheeler ’23, accompanied Sam to Piano, Machine Learning, and Modern Drama — all before lunch — with an equally packed schedule planned for the afternoon.

Kyle Hata ’25 shepherded his grandparents Dr. Kimihiko Hata and Mrs. Keiko Hata, who traveled from Japan to join the event, to English, Math, lunch, and on a campus tour.

Later in the afternoon, while waiting for Dr. Curtis to speak in the Seymour St. John Chapel, Mrs. Hata declared it “the best day ever!”

Many grandparents spoke of Choate’s beautiful grounds, with comments such as “Oh my, Choate’s gorgeous!” and remarked how impressed they were with Choate’s innovative and engaging teaching. Joanne Kinney, the grandmother of Virginia Nelson ’25, summed up what may have been the most common sentiment grandparents expressed that day — about connecting with Choate and a grandchild. “The best thing about this day is seeing Virginia and meeting her friends, getting a sense of where she is when she’s not home.”

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Q&A

with

Jenny Karlen Elliott

Head of Student and Academic Life discusses how important shifts and changes will help students balance expectations on campus.

BULLETIN: You’ve just wrapped up your first full year at Choate.

What has surprised you about this place? What has inspired you?

JENNY ELLIOTT: I had a hunch that has been confirmed in my first year: at Choate, we work hard, we care deeply about each other, and we have fun! I am delighted by the balancing act of taking ourselves seriously to meet high expectations with taking ourselves not so seriously to prioritize play and joy.

Living and learning on this vibrant campus, I feel inspired every day–typically multiple times a day! Watching our students stretch and take risks–sharing an idea in the classroom from

a place of uncertainty, performing on stage for the first time, and competing with total grit and tenacity–reminds me about being brave. When our Choate students extend themselves to each other in unexpected and generous ways, lingering after class to check on a peer, sticking with a teammate through a challenging drill at practice, looking out for a younger peer who is navigating Choate for the first time, I feel hopeful and optimistic. When colleagues share their wisdom, experience, and exuberance with the community, I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to learn every single day.

BULLETIN | FALL 2023 9

BULLETIN: The advising system has undergone some significant changes for this

BULLETIN: In addition to serving as Head of Student and Academic Life, you

year. Tell us about why those shifts are important and how they make sense for today’s students and the adults looking after them.

also coach and teach. How do those responsibilities balance and inform your administrative and leadership duties?

JENNY ELLIOTT: The extraordinary opportunity that we have at Choate is to learn, live, and play in community. Being in community means building and nurturing strong relationships; these relationships become the foundation upon which we can learn, grow, make mistakes, and thrive. The shifts in advising that we will implement next year will help us strengthen those relationships, by allowing us to have time together every week in our advising cohorts (time allotted in our weekly schedule), smaller and more inclusive advising groups (average cohort will be 5-6 students and will include students of all genders, multiple grades, and day/boarding combinations), and sustained and consistent pairings (students will stay with their advisers through their Choate career).

JENNY ELLIOTT: Being with students in the classroom and at the courts energizes and grounds me. I love being part of their learning and athletic journey! I also delight in spending time with my colleagues in spaces. These roles give me front row seats to all that our students and colleagues are juggling. I also get to experience the bustle of passing time in the hallways and stairwells of the Humanities Building and the afternoon surge of energy in the WJAC. Whenever I get to engage with students and colleagues in the classroom and at the courts, I get to grow and learn with them; this shared adventure is what makes school so fun.

BULLETIN: What do you see as the greatest challenges before our students today?

What do you think is the greatest opportunity for us?

BULLETIN: Tell us a bit about how the academic schedule is now structured to

support student wellness, advising, and community time while maintaining the needs of the academic program.

JENNY ELLIOTT: This fall we have adopted a revised schedule that maintains the strengths of our previous schedule (cascading blocks, seven potential carriers that do not all meet on the same day, conference periods, protected community time, and Thursday sleep-in) with a few modifications and tweaks to allow for weekly advising, a bit later start (8:15 a.m. instead of 8:00 a.m.) in the morning, protected time for student programming (college counseling, wellness, and form gatherings) and faculty collaboration, longer lunch periods, and 65-minute class periods. Without making radical shifts, we believe we have found ways to protect time for learning, balance, and connection.

JENNY ELLIOTT: While adolescence is always a time of exploration and clarification of identity and values, our students are navigating this life chapter during an era of constant chatter, noise, and distraction. They are managing far more inputs, much more content, and more addictive pulls on their attention; per our U.S. Surgeon General, our students are growing up during a national youth mental health crisis. At Choate, we strive to equip our students with the skills, mindsets, and habits they will need to live healthily, independently and joyfully, to work towards lofty goals with purpose, curiosity, and meaning, to be part of and responsible to a deliberate and inclusive community, and to build healthy relationships with peers, trusted adult mentors, and oneself. The Choate experience is about giving students the opportunity to practice and determine what kind of humans they want to be while building lifelong friendships and relationships.

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Connecting Alumni in the Classroom by susanne Davis

Photo credit: Foster Wiley

BULLETIN | FALL 2023 11

The soul-shifting experience of inspiration often precedes human advancements and drives us forward to new levels of achievement.

At Choate, teachers engage students in the deep inquiry associated with inspiration to create this kind of transformational learning. Choate’s academic environment provides dynamic engagement with texts, collaborative learning, and individual inquiry. But, on occasion, the School goes one step further to add to the alchemy — connecting alumni to students’ learning.

This academic year, the Bulletin offers a series to look at how teaching happens here, peering through the lens and stories of three inspiring alumni to see past, present, and future.

Featured in this issue, two-time Pulitzer Prize winning former New York Times reporter and Emmy award-winning producer and correspondent Hedrick Smith ’51; in winter, cybersecurity expert and technology visionary, Window Snyder ’93; in spring 2024, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion expert Natalie Egan ’96. Through their stories and experiences back on campus, they contribute to and help highlight the extraordinary teaching at Choate.

HEDRICK SMITH: PAYING ATTENTION TO HISTORY

For 70 years, Hedrick “Rick” Smith’s formidable reporting skills have taken him all over the world. In 26 years with The New York Times, Smith covered Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights struggle, the Vietnam War in Saigon, the Middle East conflict from Cairo, the Cold War from both Moscow and Washington, and six American presidents and their administrations. In 1971, as chief diplomatic correspondent, he was a member of the Pulitzer Prize-winning team that produced the Pentagon Papers series. In 1974, he won the Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting from Russia and Eastern Europe. His 2012 book Who Stole the American Dream? was hailed by critics. He is at work on a new book about the story of our times.

As a student at Choate, Smith was Editor in Chief of The Choate News.

Of the many groups Hedrick “Rick” Smith belonged to at Choate, he served on The Choate News board from 1947-1950, and was president of the board from 1950-1951.

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He remembers the moment he felt inspired to follow his path. “It happened at Choate,” Smith says. “In a history class taught by Burge (C. Burgess) Ayres ’38. Burge knew I was running The News and he suggested I look at the muckrakers (reform-minded journalists of the Progressive Era of the U.S., 1890s–1920s).

Lincoln Steffens, Ray Baker, Ida Tarbell, and William Allen White immediately became heroes of mine. What inspired me was that they were not just out to show the criminality of political corruption, they were looking at systemic issues of labor suppression, of economic corruption, of unfair trusts.”

Smith’s curiosity about how systems work and how they fail has driven his reporting throughout his entire professional life. “What is communism like? What works? What doesn’t?

What can we learn from what works and what doesn’t?” He has applied that same kind of systemic questioning to American politics and to the economy, as well. “I’m looking for the big picture through concrete examples.”

By covering stories this way, Smith explains, his education has gone on forever. “Curiosity drives me.” There is no question in his mind that the suggestion from Ayres to read about the muckrakers was a major influence shaping him — “the idea that journalism can make our country and our politics better.”

Smith’s return to Choate last spring marked his first time back to campus since accepting the Alumni Seal Prize in 1981. “I was thrilled that the School asked me. I’d had the fun of interacting with the JFK (John F. Kennedy Program in Government and Public Service) kids in Washington. I was impressed with the caliber of questions, the curiosity, and their savvy.”

Head of Student and Academic Life Jenny Karlen Elliott saw how many students lined up to talk to Smith during that Washington trip and invited him to campus. She had to revise the itinerary — it wasn’t full enough, he said — to include three class visits, a meeting with The Choate News staff, lunch and a later afternoon drop-in for any interested students, a walking tour with Head of School Alex D. Curtis, and a dinner with the JFK Program students.

TOP Hedrick Smith’s The Brief Choate yearbook photo from 1951.

MIDDLE Yearbook photo of the Honor Committee. Front row, left

to right: Hedrick L. Smith, Herbert P. Ladds Jr., Gary E. Leinbach, and W. Roberts Wood Jr. Second row, left to right: James R. Bartsch, Joseph T. Consolino, Robert C. Leinbach, Archibald L. Gillies, William W. Pitkin, and Paul Draper.

BOTTOM/RIGHT Hedrick Smith visits classes.

BULLETIN | FALL 2023 13

STUDENTS ARGUE MOCK SUPREME COURT CASE INVOLVING SMITH AND THE NEW YORK TIMES When Smith visited Ned Gallagher’s Constitutional Law class, students were arguing two Supreme Court cases, The New York Times Co. v. United States (Pentagon Papers case) and United States v. Caldwell. Smith had been involved in the NYT v. U.S. case and knew the reporter involved with the Caldwell case.

“I couldn’t believe it was high school kids arguing those cases,” Smith says. “They gave sophisticated, college-level argumentation, and it was thrilling.”

At Choate, the upper-level history class is popular with students. The first half of the term covers an overview and the major themes of constitutional law from 1787 to 1937; the second half is designed as a mock court covering three dozen landmark Supreme Court cases. Gallagher explained that each student in the class is assigned to a case — to write briefs and summarize the case; the rest of the class reads the briefs and hears the oral argument.

Teaching reaches a “quality engagement” for Gallagher when kids talk to each other and listen to each other. “What I do is set up a situation and prepare kids, so their contributions are high level. In the second half of the Constitutional Law course the kids take over.” Gallagher says he’s

always been a political junkie. “But truly, I’m standing on the shoulders of giants. I give full credit to the colleagues who preceded me.”

“What Hedrick Smith contributed that day was incredible,” Gallagher adds. “New York Times v. U.S. was a milestone freedom of the press case, and he was part of it. He knew both cases, and the people involved.”

Julen Payne ’24, a student in the class says, “That day was special. Mr. Smith went into depth about the cases; they were pertinent to him. He gave us a firsthand view of history. You don’t really get to see the people involved in historical events, but that’s what is special about Choate.

Choate alumni are those people.”

Regarding Smith’s comments on the caliber of student presentations, Payne muses, “That’s only possible with kids who are at that level. Putting kids in the shoes of lawyers and justices allows us to get new perspectives.

We’re learning history, but we’re also pretending to be part of history.

Teachers here make the way they teach really unique.”

Payne’s focus of study is economics, not history, but he appreciates being able to “take interesting classes.” His learning extends beyond the micro and macroeconomics he says other high schools offer; this year he plans to take Developmental Economics, International Economics, and Behavioral Theories. “We’re allowed to go deeply into something. There’s always another rabbit hole to go down to pursue our passions. We never hit the floor at Choate.”

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IN ANOTHER CLASS, STUDENTS DISCUSS SMITH’S DRAFT BOOK CHAPTERS ON VIETNAM In Jenny Elliott’s The U.S. in Vietnam (1961–1995), students read in advance two draft chapters of Smith’s book-in-progress, and came to class with typed responses, prepared to talk about it with him.

“The students were honored that Hedrick wanted their opinions,” Elliott says, “The chapters he shared dealt with his coverage of the Vietnam War and reflections about its long-term implications. It was perfect for what we’d been studying.”

“What the students in Jenny Elliott’s class shared as responses to the material was more personal than in Ned Gallagher’s class, they asked smart questions, and they were at a level of civic engagement that I couldn’t believe. That’s partly a sign of the times,” Smith says, “but also a credit to Choate.”

The students’ questions to Smith included: “How did reading the Pentagon Papers change your view of government?”

It didn’t, Smith answered, because his view had already changed.

“The sergeants and majors in the field in Vietnam were already telling us reporters that the U.S. was losing the war, contrary to what the government was telling the American people.”

“What impact did the publishing of the Pentagon Papers have on American public opinion?”

Smith painted a picture for students. “By 1971, tens of thousands of guys your age had burned their draft cards. I was at Harvard in 1969 to 1970 and the campus was aflame. Nationwide, the public was fiercely divided over the war. The long-term effect was an erosion of trust that the American people felt about our government.

“The Pentagon Papers were a watershed. They had an ever-larger impact on that erosion of trust in government, than on the conduct of the Vietnam War, and sadly, the erosion of trust has continued to this day. We need to understand our history better — for example, to see the longterm consequences of our mistakes in Vietnam, because what we don’t understand, we’re likely to repeat.”

WAKING STUDENTS UP. “IT’S YOUR LIFE,” SMITH TELLS THEM Smith’s 2012 book Who Stole the American Dream? analyzed how, over four decades, our nation became two Americas with growing economic inequality, the super-rich 1 percent vs. the 99 percent, and the rise of political polarization and the political tactics of dark money, gerrymandering, and vote suppression. In Jonas Akins’ Democracy, Media, and Politics class Smith urged students to pay attention “because these issues will affect your lives.”

Hedrick Smith pauses for a photo with Alex D. Curtis and Jenny Karlen Elliott.

He provoked a conversation designed to wake them up to their own power and stressed the importance of their civic engagement to their personal futures and the country. “I’m trying to shake you up,” Smith told students. “There are all kinds of things going on in our system with people and parties trying to ensure a lock on power. To take our democracy back, we need your participation.”

Photo credit: Susan Zox

BULLETIN | FALL 2023 15

When he asked students their impressions of democracy and one answered, “Democracy can be skewed based on wealth, power, and access,” Smith shot back, “Money is how it’s played. But what kind of money?”

“Dark money,” the student replied.

“But why does dark money matter?” Smith pressed. “Because politicians don’t want the public to see whom they are getting money from. They are hiding that connection,” he said.

As the conversation progressed into the issue of political polarization, students asked, “Do you hold media responsible for any of this?”

“Absolutely,” Smith said. “I hold the media responsible for a major role in the polarization of politics which makes them unworkable. By highlighting conflict and extreme opinions, the media is making this a much less governable country.”

He pointed to the different impact of social media from traditional media and the laws governing them both. “If you say it in The New York Times, or on PBS, it has to be true, or you can be sued. There is no libel law that applies to Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, nor Instagram. Algorithms drive their sites. These entities have no legal incentive to be honest. Congress passed a law that exempts them. That law should be abolished.”

The Choate News Editor in Chief Lauren Kee ’24, who is considering whether to pursue media and journalism in the future, says “Mr. Smith was in my role as Editor-in-Chief of The News 70 years ago, and being in the same room together was so surreal. I particularly enjoyed hearing about his experience with the newspaper ... I appreciated that he took the time to hear about our personal thoughts regarding our work on The News.

His thoughtful insights on the current state of the media in the face of technological advancements and political polarization were intriguing and valuable.”

History has lessons to teach us and guide us, according to Smith. His new book looks back over six decades: “How did we get where we are? It’s an effort to get Americans to focus on history, to understand the roots of our current problems. We think what is happening right now is the most important thing, and we say, ‘How will we get through this?’ History gives you insights, it gives you a footing, it gives you values. In a lot of ways, it gives you hope. If you think about what Lincoln went through, or our nation during World War II — we have examples from history to give us hope.”

Secondly, Smith is conveying the historical lessons of culture. “The Russia I covered in the 1970s and today, if I did my job well, should mean Putin is no surprise. Same thing in the Middle East. This is not a memoir about me.

It is about what I saw. And it is important to see what went wrong, what went right. We can’t hide from history, but we can learn from it.”

On issues of economic and political reform, Smith suggests that people of retirement age can work well with young people by sharing their experiences with reform and civic engagement. “Hope requires engagement. We who are retired and the younger generation, aged 20–35 and younger — our generations are more hopeful in general, and can be more engaged in working on issues.”

Smith says learning, really learning history — the systemic issues raised by concrete events — may inform and guide us in the present moment to make our country and politics better. Choate students seemed to take the lesson, much as Smith took a lesson decades ago from his mentor, Burge Ayres.

CELEBRATING THE LEGACY OF JOHN F. KENNEDY ’35 AT CHOATE Director of the John F. Kennedy ’35 Program of Government and Public Service Ned Gallagher contributed these words about JFK’s enduring legacy at Choate, honoring the 60th anniversary of his death.

“Reflecting on the impact that his own Choate education had on him, John F. Kennedy observed in 1963, ‘It would seem to me that the task for the future ... is to make sure that our private schools prepare young men and women for service to the community and to the nation. The inheritance of wealth creates responsibilities; so does privilege in education.’

Sixty years after his death (November 22, 1963), the most popular signature program at Choate Rosemary Hall is the one that bears President Kennedy’s name: one dedicated to government and public service. Each spring 18 rising fifth formers are selected to engage in a course of study centered on the disciplines of philosophy, politics, and economics.

In addition to their classes, these students participate in a meaningful off-campus experience related to public service, and — as the culmination of their work in the program — deliver a TEDTalk-style presentation about a public policy solution to some national or global issue in need of greater attention. As part of their onboarding, the newly selected students also read a biography of JFK the summer following their fourth form year, in the hopes of connecting their own journey through the program with the life and work of the School’s most famous alumnus.”

Teaching Excellence Initiative

Makes a Difference

by Bekah Wright

When Kevin Yi ’24 was ready to enter high school, he knew exactly where he wanted to attend: Choate. “Kevin has grown more mature, open-minded, and responsible since being at Choate,” his mother Jennifer Ho P ’24, ’25 observes. Head of School Alex D. Curtis isn’t surprised.

“Teaching is at the heart of Choate. Boarding school faculty are so incredibly important,” he says. “They’re committed to the craft. For them, teaching is a calling, a way of life.”

Through Choate Rosemary Hall’s Teaching Excellence Initiative, Choate, in turn, is expressing its commitment to these dedicated individuals by increasing salaries.

Curtis says, “Teaching is transformative, and Choate is committed to maintaining the excellence that has been the School’s hallmark.”

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With instrumental support from Tony James ’69, chairman of Jefferson River Capital and former president of The Blackstone Group, the School set an initial goal of raising $10-12 million to fund the Teaching Excellence Initiative.

In 2022, James pledged $4 million via a one-to-one matching challenge grant. Of his commitment James has said, “Faculty are the school’s most important asset. They have dedicated their professional lives to challenging, encouraging, and inspiring the next generation. Through this initiative, we can ensure that Choate faculty are compensated at competitive rates, which will help attract and retain the very best teachers.”

Response to James’ challenge grant has been overwhelmingly positive. “A number of people who had already made a gift to our Inspire the Next campaign felt Tony’s gesture was so meaningful they wanted to be a part of it,” Curtis says. “We’ve had additional gifts from people who’d already done something tremendous for the broader capital campaign. The importance of teachers resonates with a lot of people.”

Among the first-round donors was Ho. When visiting on a Family Weekend, she was excited to see the School through the eyes of son Kevin and his younger brother Henry ’25. Right away, she was impressed by the teachers. “I’ve witnessed the teachers’ dedication,” she says. “They carry heavy workloads — not only teaching in the classroom, but by being in charge of the dormitories, others with sports and extracurricular activities.” She continues, “They’re responsible for students’ personal safety, studies, and mental health. You can’t replicate that kind of leadership, that kind of heart.”

Ho wasn’t the only donor eager to invest. So, too, was David Kestnbaum ’00; he is an example of how the response from donors has been passionate and replete with stories of how Choate faculty have made a lifelong impact in their lives. During his first year at Choate, Kestnbaum was a fourth former living in Edsall House, where his house advisers made a difference in his life.

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Kestnbaum, Senior Managing Director for Blackstone Private Equity, sees the Teaching Excellence Initiative as an opportunity to give back. “Choate’s terrific faculty is the linchpin of what makes the School, its community, and well-known academic rigor so excellent,” he says. “I’m proud to support the Teaching Excellence Initiative to ensure Choate faculty receive competitive salaries relative to peer schools. I’m grateful to Tony James for taking a leadership role around the program.”

Arthur B. Page ’69 also sees Choate’s Teaching Excellence Initiative as a way of making a big difference in teachers’ lives. “Investing in teachers is a key to the special sauce,” he says. “This initiative levels the playing field so Choate can attract the best faculty in the truest sense of the word.”

As a partner at Hemenway & Barnes LLP, Page represents nonprofits and serves as general counsel for colleges and foundations. Simply put, Page says, “Teachers at boarding schools work very hard and are doing it for a higher cause.”

Page considers teachers to be the ultimate role models. “As a young person going to school, having someone take an interest in you and open doors to your potential — even if you don’t recognize that potential yourself right away — makes all the difference.”

Page’s former Choate mentor, teacher, and coach to this day remains a great friend. Page hopes funding teachers’ salaries will mean students will continue to experience this kind of impact. “Without teachers providing that kind of leadership, schools don’t have any soul.”

Once fully funded, the Teaching Excellence Initiative will significantly increase the budget for faculty salaries, advancing Choate’s position among peer schools.

Salaries aren’t the only way the School is investing in its faculty. Benefits, including campus housing, insurance and retirement plans, tuition remission, and professional enrichment have been addressed, as well. “We haven’t just been treading water,” Curtis assures, “and we invite alumni, parents, and friends to join us by contributing to this initiative to increase teacher salaries and ensure the future of a high-quality Choate education.”

For more information on how you can join the effort and have your contribution matched, please contact Director of Major Gifts Amy Czaplak at (203) 697-2759.

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Partnership Through Active Engagement

by Alison J. Cady P ’23, ’26

For over 130 years, a spirit of partnership has fostered remarkable growth and prosperity for both the Town of Wallingford and Choate Rosemary Hall. Each year the School seeks opportunities to actively participate in and respond to the needs of the local community. With our Wallingford partners, we aim to continue to grow and thrive together.

COMMUNITY SERVICE Choate Rosemary Hall shares a strong history with the people of Wallingford. Our students and adults volunteer with local organizations to support their missions and our shared values.

Each year, Choate faculty, staff, and students strive to better the greater Wallingford community through volunteer work. A tradition since 1912, Choate’s annual school-wide service day brings over 1,100 faculty, staff, and students together to serve throughout Wallingford and New Haven County. The Community Service Program inspires and empowers all students to make positive impacts on local and global communities through outreach and engagement. Hundreds of students connect to local organizations and complete a minimum of 10 hours of service annually; many do much more. Choate volunteers give over 13,600 hours in service each year. This support translates to an estimated value of more than $560,000 in added income and growth for nonprofits, equivalent to supporting 12 jobs. Faculty, staff, and campus residents lead by example, volunteering and serving on outreach and leadership boards with numerous local organizations as well. This commitment contributes to the reach and success of these core community programs.

Connecticut Food Share | HUBCAP Wallingford | Masonicare and Ashlar Village | Gaylord Specialty Hospital | Regency House Convalescent Center | Master’s Manna | New Haven Reads | Rotary Club of Wallingford | Spanish Community of Wallingford (SCOW) | The YMCA Learning Community | United Way of Meriden & Wallingford | Wallingford Center Inc. | Wallingford Center YMCA | Wallingford Emergency Shelter | Wallingford Public Library | Wallingford Public Schools | Wallingford Quinnipiac River Linear Trail Association | Wallingford Senior Center | and many more

Choate takes volunteerism to the next level, and that includes staff, faculty, and students. They serve on various nonprofit boards and committees; they are advocates, mentors, and tutors. We have found them invariably receptive, courteous, and sincerely interested in helping their community in any way that they can.”

– Maria Campos-Harlow Executive Director, United Way of Meriden & Wallingford

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ECONOMIC IMPACT As a contributor to and beneficiary of a vibrant Wallingford, Choate Rosemary Hall promotes economic growth in Wallingford through its direct expenditures, and through the spending of visitors to the campus.

A recent economic impact study finds that Choate’s day-to-day operations spending added $39.8 million in income to Wallingford during the 2022 fiscal year. The $39.8 million in added income is equivalent to supporting 502 jobs in the town.

As the 5th largest employer in Wallingford, Choate Rosemary Hall is an integral part of the economic health of the town, contributing significantly to its growth and stability.

During an average year, 75% of students attending Choate are boarding students, relocating to Wallingford to attend the School. While living at school, and attending classes, boarding students spend money on food, entertainment, and other living and personal expenses at local businesses. This spending generated $1.2 million in added income for the town economy in 2022.

Tens of thousands of visitors are attracted to campus annually to attend graduation, go on admission tours, participate in reunions, and attend other events. While in Wallingford, visitors spend money on lodging, food, transportation, entertainment, and other personal expenses. The off-campus expenditures of the School’s out-of-town visitors generated an estimated net impact of $2 million, equivalent to supporting 37 jobs in Wallingford.

Choate Rosemary Hall and the Town of Wallingford share a history and values. We applaud the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion advanced by the School that reverberate beyond the campus.

Choate’s financial presence as a major business entity is certainly appreciated, but the kind, optimistic and caring manner in which our internationally known school conducts daily business is of singular distinction.”

William W. Dickinson Jr. Mayor, Town of Wallingford

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In addition to the workforce benefits Choate provides, Choate students, their families, faculty, and staff are critical drivers of commerce in Wallingford. They support the local businesses that are key to Wallingford’s economy and environment.”

– Gary Ciarleglio, Vice President of Sales & Relationship Management, Quinnipiac Chamber of Commerce

One out of every 56 jobs in Wallingford — beyond the Choate campus — is supported by the activities of Choate and its students.

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ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP Committed to sustainable practices and thoughtful resource management, Choate strives to lead the way in environmental stewardship, promoting a positive impact on the campus and local neighborhood.

At the Kohler Environmental Center (KEC), Choate’s net-zero environmental research and education center, students participate in the Environmental Immersion Program, a year-long residential and interdisciplinary program open to students eager to advance their passion for understanding and preserving our natural environment. The KEC boasts numerous advanced sustainability features including a 296-kilowatt photovoltaic (solar) array and 266 protected acres of campus.

Since the construction of the KEC in 2012 [1], the School has demonstrated its commitment Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) standards with each major construction project. Other LEED-certified facilities include the Cameron and Edward Lanphier Center for Mathematics and Computer Science (2015, LEED Gold) [2]; the St. John Hall student center (2017, LEED Gold) [3]; Ann and George Colony Hall (2019, LEED Gold) [4]; and the renovation of Hill House (2021, LEED Gold) [5]. The admission center, coming soon, aims to achieve LEED Platinum certification.

The School deploys energy-efficient practices, such as using efficient windows, lighting, motion sensors, low-flow bathroom units, and more. Sustainable food practices, including compostable bioplastic usage, food waste reduction, and locally sourced options, are adopted in the dining hall. Choate also analyzes the environmental impact of its grounds maintenance procedures.

Understanding how our actions have an impact on the environment, we strive to minimize our footprint through education, sustainable practices, and thoughtful 4 resource management. The School is currently developing a Climate Action Plan designed to guide our environmental stewardship plans toward Net Zero in the coming years.

1

2

3

5

LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS By working with Wallingford organizations, Choate connects with people who make our town vibrant and supports the causes they champion. Our partnerships with the community reflect our care of those around us and our commitment to the common good.

Choate Rosemary Hall maintains strong partnerships with various community-based organizations in Wallingford, Meriden, and surrounding communities. The School seeks partnership opportunities and to host and support community events to benefit these organizations and their target populations. Choate’s Community Relations Manager, Cheryl Madden, offers continuous communication and collaboration with the town, keeping a pulse on the local happenings and opportunities for engagement. By building and maintaining relationships, the School supports current demands by being nimble and responsive to the community needs.

Head of School Alex D. Curtis spoke about the School’s comprehensive relationship with the town. “In Wallingford, we find more than just a location for our school. We find a community, a vibrant destination, an invaluable partner. The thriving relationship between Choate and Wallingford reflects our mission not only to develop successful students but also responsible, civic-minded individuals. Indeed, the ongoing and important collaboration between Wallingford and Choate symbolizes our collective effort to shape a brighter future for all.”

The Wallingford Public Library’s relationship with Choate Rosemary Hall is a remarkable partnership in every sense. Whether they’re volunteering to lead Reading Buddies, Homework Help, Robotics, Coding Workshops, or Computer Tutoring, library staff and patrons love it when Choate Rosemary Hall students spend time with us. We also appreciate Choate’s willingness to collaborate with us on signature community-wide programs. Without a doubt, having Choate as a neighbor enriches the Wallingford Public Library, and by extension, the town of Wallingford.

– Jane Fisher, Library Director, Wallingford Public Library

Choate Rosemary Hall’s presence in Wallingford extends far beyond its campus boundaries.

Through active engagement, economic impact, environmental stewardship, and community partnerships, Choate plays a vital role in enriching the essence of the town. Choate strives to be a valued neighbor and responsible partner in Wallingford’s sustained growth and strong future.

Learn more at www.choateinwallingford.com

Some of Our Community Partners:

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ALUMNI ASSOCIATION The Choate Rosemary Hall Alumni Association’s mission is to create, perpetuate, and enhance relationships among Choate Rosemary Hall alumni, current and prospective students, faculty, staff, and friends in order to foster loyalty, interest, and support for the School and for one another, and to build pride, spirit, and community.

OFFICERS President Elizabeth Alford Hogan ’82 Vice Presidents Jaques Clariond ’01 Justin Graham ’98 Lena Sullesta Jessen ’92 Dewey Kang ’03 John Smyth ’83, P ’20 Additional Executive Committee Members Chief Development Officer Anne Bergen Director of Alumni Relations Andrea Solomon Alumni Association Past Presidents Susan Barclay ’85 David Hang ’94, P ’25 Chris Hodgson ’78, P ’12, ’14, ’17 Parisa Jaffer ’89 Woody Laikind ’53 Patrick McCurdy ’98 Members Sam Chao ’04 Chris Herzog ’99 Ashley Holt ’11 David Javdan ’86 David Kestnbaum ’00 Jack Kingsley ’87 Lambert Lau ’97 Bradford Mak ’96 Duby McDowell ’78 George Ramirez ’11 Will Gilyard ’98, Faculty Representative REGIONAL CLUB LEADERSHIP Boston Gabby Rundle Robinette ’06 Chicago Maria Del Favero ’83 Jacqueline Salamack Lanphier ’06

Connecticut David Aversa ’91 Katie Vitali Childs ’95, P ’24, ’26 Los Angeles Wesley Hansen ’98 Alexa Platt ’95 New York Derrick Gomez ’98 Leah Lettieri ’07 Rosemary Hall Anne Marshall Henry ’62 San Francisco Ian Chan ’10 Albert Lee ’02 Washington, DC Olivia Bee ’10 Dan Carucci ’76 Tillie Fowler ’92 Beijing Matthew Cheng ’10 Gunther Hamm ’98 Hong Kong Lambert Lau ’97 Sandy Wan ’90 Jennifer Yu Cheng ’99 London Tatiana Donaldson ’13 Elitsa Nacheva ’08 Seoul Rae-Eun Sung ’97 Shanghai Michael ’88 and Peggy Moh P ’18, ’23 Thailand Isa Chirathivat ’96 Pat Sethbhakdi ’85, P ’18, ’18, ’20 Tokyo Miki Yoshida ’07

REUNION 2023

BULLETIN | FALL 2023 27

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ALUMNI ASSOCIATION | Recognition

2023 ALUMNI AWARD

ALUMNI AWARD WINNER On Tuesday, May 9, Window Snyder ’93 received the 2023 Choate Rosemary Hall Alumni Award, which recognizes alumni whose outstanding professional achievements have brought prestige to the School. Snyder is a trailblazer in the world of cybersecurity. Head of School Alex D. Curtis introduced her to the Choate community as “an online security rockstar.”

In accepting the Alumni Award, Snyder said, “Choate is where I learned how to do hard things.” She struggled in her first year. “I learned being smart is not enough. Being smart and working hard is the killer combination.”

2023

DISTINGUISHED

SERVICE AWARD

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD WINNER On Saturday, May 13, Christopher Hodgson ’78, P ’12, ’14, ’17 received the Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes contributions alumni have made in service to their alma mater. Not only has Hodgson been a unifying force for the Class of 1978, but he left an indelible mark on the Alumni Association, serving on the Executive Committee for more than a decade and as the President from 2012 to 2014. As President of the Alumni Association, Chris also served as a member of the Board of Trustees, where he made valuable contributions as a member of the Audit Committee as well as the Development, Alumni, and Parent Relations Committee.

C H O AT E R O S E M A R Y H A L L

AT H L E T I C S H A L L FA M E OF

2023

HALL OF FAME

On Saturday, May 13, the School held its annual Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Daniel “Ham” Magill III ’63, Briana Mastel ’13, and Coach Doug James were honored for their contributions. Pictured here: Director of Athletics Roney Eford, Doug James, Briana Mastel ’13, and Head of School Alex D. Curtis. Ham Magill ’63 was not able to attend the ceremony but shared a video message.

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

ChoateNexus powered by PeopleGrove

SEPTEMBER 2023

• 12 – Bangkok – Reception with Head of School • 15 – Seoul – Reception with Head of School • 20 – NYC – 1890 Society Reception • 22 – LA – Pickleball Tournament • 24 – SF – Wine Tasting • 30 – Come Home to Choate

OCTOBER 2023 • 1 – Student/Alumni Career Fair • 18 – Virtual Networking • 19-21 – Family Weekend

NOVEMBER 2023 • 4 – Worldwide Alumni Service Day • 11 – Deerfield Day Away • 15 – Virtual Networking

DECEMBER 2023 • 2 – London – Reception with Head of School • 7 – NYC – Holiday Party

JANUARY 2024 • 29 – DC – Student/Alumni Dinner

SAVE THE DATE!

REUNION

WEEKEND 2024

MAY 10-12

Calling all alumni in classes ending in 4s and 9s! Don’t miss this opportunity to make new memories with old friends and classmates. Join us in Wallingford for a fun and exciting weekend of events. Stay tuned for details!

See you there!

ChoateNexus Pilot Mentoring Program a Resounding Success!

This spring, the Alumni Relations Office invited a group of alumni to participate in a pilot career mentoring program.

Young alumni were paired with mentors from classes of 1974 to 2009 by career interest. The program consisted of a series of online meetings over 12 weeks, and the Alumni Office suggested content outlines for each meeting.

Based on feedback from the alumni who participated, Choate plans to make this mentoring program an annual offering, launching the next mentoring session in January.

Interested in networking with fellow alumni? Join ChoateNexus powered by PeopleGrove today!

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CLASSNOTES | News From Our Alumni

1940s ’49 C Dan (Paul) Ritter writes, “I shared a good time with Lynn Parry at our 70th Princeton Reunion.

Sorry Bill Plauth couldn’t join us. Others who were 1949 Choate and 1953 Princeton classmates, but who have gone on ahead, are Johnny Baay, Fred Crispin, Pete Fairfax, Tip Larkin, Jim Metcalfe, Jay Ora, and Ernie Preston. Rick Moses ’48 spent a year in Ireland after Choate, and then joined the 1953 class at Princeton with us. Miss every one of them.”

1950s ’54 C

Bob McIntyre writes, “ When the pandemic finally got in our rear view mirror, my wife, Sook, and I were able to finally take a twice-postponed trip to France along with David Hopkins ’60 and his wife, Rosemary. Highlights were a week long barge trip in the canals around the area of Strasbourg. Following that, we rented a car and visited Monet’s home at Giverny and the beaches and museums at Normandy.

For the last eight years we’ve been spending February at our condo in Mazatlan (where we’re into pickleball, which is hot there too) and most recently did an interesting cruise: seven nights up the Mississippi River from St. Louis to Minneapolis (stopping in Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota — areas of the country not many of us get to visit). My family is now pretty spread out with twin sons’ families, each with two teenagers, living in Seattle and southern Spain, a daughter in Phoenix, one in Park City, Utah, and a married one in San Diego, whose two children live elsewhere in California. Later this year we are planning to visit the Rosemount Museum in Pueblo, Colo., where my great-grandfather Mahlon Thatcher (who donated the money to Choate for the track field that honors his son, Mahlon Thatcher III, who would have been Class of 1930 if he hadn’t unfortunately died in a horse accident on their ranch in 1929).”

Miguel Suarez ’52 and Mike Hedges ’55 celebrating Mike’s birthday in Coral Gables, Fla., on June 7, 2023.

Robert Schoenberger writes, “Celebrated our 65th anniversary on June 22 this year with my wife, Marilyn. Holy moly, that’s really a whole lifetime.

Enjoying all of our children and grandkids who visit us frequently. All five working and two marriages coming up next year. Hoping to be around to enjoy their children. I’m still active, swimming laps every day and, so far, no complaints.”

’55 C

Bill Poole writes, “Not much to report.

2 x 40+6 is mostly a time of reflection. I did give up drinking, though. I was sitting around thinking about all the crummy things that have happened in my life when it dawned on me that there were always two things present: alcohol and women. So I gave up alcohol. It was easy. Without a woman around the house who would ball my socks?”

Roger Vaughan writes, “I just published the sequel (Coming Again) to my first novel (Coming About). Both are set in The Ocean Race round the world. Still writing because I’ve never found anything more satisfying.”

’56 C Chandler Everett writes, “I finally retired about three years ago, but continue to do trustee work.

I am President of the Board of Trustees for a nursing school here in Cleveland, and am currently working on completing a merger with a well-respected social service agency with the help of one of our large local hospitals. About six years ago, I was asked to replace a deceased friend in a Yale Whiffenpoof alumni group, and have been singing with them at various times in New York, New Haven, Nantucket, and Florida ever since. I’ve also been a member of the Barbershop Harmony Society for over 40 years and have participated in international competitions. I’m proud to have helped found a successful drug treatment and prevention center here and have seen it grow into one of the best programs in the area. My wonderful wife, Marsha, and I have been married for over 30 years and having moved into senior living has not slowed us down. Plus I still have my hair.”

Bob McIntyre ’54 and wife Sook in Strasbourg, France, 2022.

Tom Perera writes, “After retiring from my neuroscience professorship, my wife, Gretchen, and I have been doing a lot of traveling, mostly on National Geographic trips, where I give talks on the history of the Enigma cipher machine. We live on an old farm in Vermont and winter in Florida.

For over 40 years I have been the only person in the world who hunts for, researches, writes about, restores, and sells original and working German WWII Enigma cipher machines, such as the one that appeared in the movie Imitation Game. My website: EnigmaMuseum.com and my books and lectures focus on this fascinating machine and my son has joined me in this work and as co-author in my books.

I have to admit that those terrifying classes with E. Stanley Pratt prepared me well for giving thousands of lectures without a worry of anxiety. It was so frightening to give a talk to Mr. Pratt in those classes that everything else has been easy.”

William Spears writes, “My wife, Maria, and I are enjoying a summer on Corfu, a beautiful Greek Island. Plan to celebrate my 85th birthday in Sicily.

We live in NY and hope to get to Choate Rosemary Hall this fall to show our grandson the campus, with hopes that he might apply.”

’58 C Wells Doty writes, “I finally retired from teaching at the university level in 2020. Now heading the Youth Program at the Greenville (S.C.) Woodworkers Guild. Still enjoying Upstate South Carolina!”

Whit Knapp writes, “I am still competing diligently to be the poster child for the adage, “You can take the boy off the farm, but you can’t take the farm off the boy.” As my recent musings show — linkedin.com/pulse/focus-basics-cryptocryptocurrency-casino-whitman-knapp — I am still involved in the world of payments, where I began my supposed adult career. It is a fascinating world; trying to keep up with it is a bit like trying to drink from a fire hose, but it is a great way to keep the mind active.”

Tom Perera ’56 with one of his German WWII Enigma cipher machines.

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Donald Yates writes, “I was pleased to attend my 65th Reunion at Choate along with eight other classmates. As part of the festivities, I gave a presentation to over 70 reunion attendees discussing my recent publication of A Journey for Peace: A Journal of Peace — Episodes of Life from an Early Peace Corps Volunteer (Austin Macauley Publishers). I believe I was the first volunteer from Choate and served in the Peace Corps from 1962 to 1964.”

’59 C

Morrie Everett writes, “I heard from Fred Garner in Fort Myers, Fla., who survived the hurricanes last year and is still actively boating.

My next Movie Memorabilia auction, #32, will be at premierauctiongalleries.com.”

Mike Harris writes, “My daughter, Ashley, married William Troop on June 10, 2023. It was Ashley’s first walk down the aisle. They both work in Washington, D.C. I published my first book, Now You Can Take My Picture, during COVID. This 175-page coffee table book is a collection of my photographs taken of people from around the world, as seen through my eyes with commentary by myself and selected professional photographers. For more information, email me at wilmotharris@me.com.”

1960s ’60 RH Stuart (Sassy) Saylor Watters writes, “My only news is I was able to buy a beautiful condo in Vero Beach, Fla. Very exciting! My daughter Leah lives in Newport, R.I., and my son Rick lives in Alexandria, Va. Other than my Florida winters I live in Connecticut.

Between them I have three grandchildren, lucky me for sure! I have been married to two wonderful men, and sadly neither one is alive. I have been blessed for sure.”

American Exchange Project among them. Would enjoy catching up with classmates when they come back to Wallingford, only 15 minutes from my home.”

Richard (Ras) A. Smith, Jr. writes, “After

retiring from the U.S. diplomatic service, Cathie and I bought a house in Charleston and lived happily there for 17 years. To be nearer to our son and his three boys, we have just moved back to Washington, D.C. and are enjoying getting reacquainted with friends and a city we know well from our State Department days.”

’61 RH Judy Banzhaf Kruse writes, “I still keep busy with music. I am a charter member of Lancaster Classical Guitar Ensemble, I sing in the choir and play handbells at church, I am a charter member of Lancaster Symphony Chorus (which gave five performances of Messiah last December), and I am a member of Allegro Orchestra and Chorus, which just presented Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. I also knit. Lots!”

’62 C

Deaver Brown writes, “AI is upon us and my company’s (simplymedia.com) $2.99 USD 918 & counting online downloadable eBooks & audiobooks is using AI to transform our eBooks into film & video.

Millennials & Zers are leading the charge, but we can all benefit from this streamlined deflationary technology. Hopefully Choate will use it too, as ChatBox does, to quickly confirm and expand facts, to name an example.”

’62 RH Gail Greenleaf Hencken writes, “Bill (C ’62)

’61 C Jonathan Fanton writes, “Now in semiretirement living back in New Haven area. On several boards: Jackson School of Global Affairs, Scholars at Risk, World Refugee and Migration Council, International Integrity Initiative, American University Afghanistan, European Humanities University,

and I recently celebrated our 55th wedding anniversary. It always makes me smile to think about the survey both Choate and Rosemary Hall sent to alums in 1969 asking what we thought of the merger of the two schools, which was then in the discussion stage (or so they had us believe). We sent a picture of the two of us sitting on the beach north of Sydney, Australia, and said the merger was working pretty well for us! Go for it. My reaction has been to question, where has the time gone?

My response is to consider our son’s family of five living next door and our daughter’s family of five

Bill Spears ’56 and wife Maria in Corfu.

Jonathan Fanton ’61

only two hours away in Tampa and know how truly blessed we are and have always been. Both Bill and I send our best to all surviving friends affiliated with Choate Rosemary Hall.”

’63 C Bob McIntosh writes, “Retired, still living in Olympia, and busy with family tree farm, reading (five hours a day), hiking (at least once a week), occasional travel, and lots of theater, opera, symphony, etc., in Seattle. My and my wife Marion’s two sons, Brian (Harvard 2011) and Colin (University of Puget Sound 2014) work remotely for tech companies in California (EdCite, Asana) and will soon both be living on Olympia.

Our first grandchild is due in September. All is good except for our country’s political polarization and our Earth’s warming. But what are grandchildren for if not to solve these problems?” ’63 RH Vicki Brooks attended a mini family reunion in June with her sister, Bobbie ’61, from Hawaii, and her brother and his wife from Denver. “As the years go by,” she writes, “I treasure my siblings more and more.”

Rozzie Chubb Davis writes, “My children were with me in North Carolina for the Fourth of July, and all grandchildren, as well. Combined family numbers were 16 and we fished, golfed, and went out for tubing on Lake Glenville. We celebrated Eddie’s and my 50th wedding anniversary, even though he no longer can be physically here with us. His presence was felt at the party.”

Donna Dickenson writes, “We had a short trip in May, viewing ancient stone circles on Arran in our beloved Scotland. Even after 20 years of travel there, we always find new places to explore.”

Penny Griffith Dix writes, “Living in southern Florida in the summer is so hot that we rented a house in Burnsville, N.C., on the side of Mount Mitchell for two months. The nights were cool and the days in the 70s and 80s. We did a lot of hiking and had family and friends visiting off and on. We sat on the porch with our books and watched the deer that walk by us unafraid, and listened to the bird singing. The Smoky Mountains are beautiful.”

Curt Tobey ’64 and Jeff Gould ’64 in Punta Gorda, Fla., April 2023.

32 CLASSNOTES

Alice Chaffee Freeman writes, “I write during an alarming rainstorm after several weeks of the worst humidity we’ve ever experienced in this part of the world. The garden is teeming with slugs, my feet are expanding, ancient dog smells are arising from the floorboards, everything is damp, and the house is deteriorating all around us, but we still love it here and resist moving. We have lived in Vermont 51 years and in our present house for 48. Our RH ’63 reunion was very happy, but we missed all of you who couldn’t be there. Age 78 finds me generally optimistic about the future in spite of the world climate situation, politics, and my increasing list of infirmities. Painting, reading, socializing, and being with my family keep me entertained and enjoying life. I see and correspond with as many RH pals as possible, including my annual much-anticipated visit with Judy Hetzel Jones on Nantucket. I’ve given up long trips, as I don’t like leaving my husband, who has Parkinson’s disease, for more than a couple of days.”

Jean McBee Knox writes, “Our garden continues to expand; we added a tomato bed recently, shoveling in loam and compost — a good workout in the heat. We’re determined to grow heirloom tomatoes. I’m painting again, finding watercolors deeply satisfying. (Alice Chaffee Freeman’s watercolors inspire me!)”

Margo Melton Nutt writes, “Things are about the same with me, which is just fine. There are lots of local cultural activities to attend, from concerts to art exhibitions to garden tours. Volunteer work for the church and the library helps me justify my existence. In May, I attended our 60th RH reunion.

There were only five of us: Vicki Brooks, Alice Chaffee Freeman, Jean McBee Knox, and Chris Murray McKee. We had a wonderful time together. As Jean noted: ‘It was a perfect weekend, with enough hugs, memories, laughs, and revelations to hold the five of us together for a long time.’ Sadly, we have lost another classmate. Ellen Coolidge Burbank died on May 15.

Unfortunately, she dropped off our class radar shortly after graduation. Reading her obituary, we were in awe of her many roles and all she accomplished.”

Dinner with Rosemary Hall friends, left to right: Dick Henry, Anne Marshall Henry '62, Susie Mountrey '61, Jessica Loring '61, and Larry Rasmussen.

’64 C

Nat Benchley writes, “COVID impacted both my and my wife Kathy’s business, so we withdrew from NYC to a house we had for 14 years in Sharon, Conn. Happily semi-retired with a wonderful bunch of neighbors in a vibrant artistic community (lots of still-working actors around here). Gearing up for the onslaught of publicity in 2024 and 2025 around the 50th anniversaries of ‘the fish book’ and its blockbuster movie.” [Editor’s note: Nat refers to Jaws, which was written by his brother Peter.]

Geoffrey L. Clarkson writes, “Happily retired for the past 40 years, as has my wife. Sit around and play guitar (acoustic) but don’t sing, as my singing voice would seriously disturb any birds or animals in the vicinity.”

Dan Rugg writes, “Our daughter Frazier’s #2 daughter Campbell accepted an appointment to the Naval Academy! She arrived on 29 June for Induction Day. I-day, as it is referred to, begins a six week indoctrination program to get non-military young men and women used to marching, saying yes sir or yes ma’am prior to the academic year which began mid-August. Naturally, the entire family is extremely proud of the accomplishment and can only expect continued outstanding performance until graduation in June 2027.”

’64 RH Rebecca Cook Frontiers of Gender Equality: Transnational Legal Perspectives (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2023), edited by Rebecca, introduces new and different discourses about the wrongs of gender discrimination, especially from the perspective of the person who experiences discrimination. The conclusion suggests areas of future research, including how to translate the concept of intersectionality into normative and institutional settings, to promote gender equality in different contexts.

Jane Heroy Winn writes, “Sadly, in 2021 my sweet, strong husband, Tom, passed away from leukemia. We were married for 53 years, had such a wonderful life together, and I am missing him every day. My three children and spouses and six grandsons, ages 15 to 21, bring me so much

Jeff LaRiche ’65 with wife Sharon and niece Rose and her husband Andrew, as bookends, receiving his award at North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh, N.C.

comfort and joy. I live on Singer Island, Fla., still play league tennis with my good friends, and volunteer for Trustbridge Hospice by helping families in their home. Wishing my classmates all good things.”

’66 C Rod Walker writes, “I was honored at the Virginia Forestry Summit in Williamsburg in April as the Virginia Tree Farmer of the Year. This is in recognition of the many different forestry programs I am involved in across the state of Virginia. I am sponsoring a young Ukrainian couple who are living in my guest house until they can get themselves jobs and a secure financial future here in the U.S. Both of these endeavors keep me very busy, on top of managing my own 1,500 acre farm and caring for my wife, who has an advanced case of Alzheimer’s. Anyone who is coming by this way should let me know and come visit our beautiful setting against the Shenandoah National Park.” ’67 C

Douglas Bryant writes, “My wife, Cammie, and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary in August.

Where has all that time gone? We are in the process of selling our home in Wellesley, Mass., and have recently bought a townhouse in neighboring Wayland.

Emptying our current house after 36 years will not be fun! One of our twin daughters recently completed her medical residency at Brown’s Hasbro Children’s Hospital and has started a three-year fellowship in pediatric rheumatology at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Her sister lives in Barrington, R.I., with her husband and two daughters, and our son is living relatively close by in New Hampshire. It is wonderful having the whole family within a short driving distance.”

Tom Ficklin, owner of Ficklin Media, onetime CEO and editor of the Inner City newspaper and host of a radio show on WNHH-FM, has been sworn in as an Alderman in New Haven, Conn. “I felt the time was crystal clear in my life to make a significant contribution,” he said. “I’m intensely excited about joining of the board, given the critical nature of New Haven at the moment from a safety standpoint, economic development standpoint, and a gentrification standpoint.”

Brooks Yeager ’67 birding in the Cape Charles marshes last fall.

BULLETIN | FALL 2023 33

2

1

4

3

5

1 Donald Yates ’58 with his book A Journey for Peace: A Journal of

Peace — Episodes of Life from an Early Peace Corps Volunteer.

2 Jane Heroy Winn ’64 with husband, Tom, in 2021.

3 Rebecca Cook '64 4 Tom Ficklin ’67 takes over as Beaver Hills’ 28th Ward alder in

New Haven.

5 Doug Bryant ’67 with his family at daughter Carrie’s graduation

from her medical residency.

6 Mike Harris ’59 and wife Sally open Mike’s book Now You Can

Take My Picture.

6

34 CLASSNOTES

Selby Hinkebein writes, “Pam and I are planning a cruise starting in Athens and going up the Adriatic and ending in Venice this October. Have never been up the Adriatic Coast, so it should be fun. We have been to Venice and have three full days there. Love the art and found St. Marks to be mesmerizing! Since I was voted most likely to be a wino, I plan to set the bar very high for all you wannabes. I plan on sampling one of each of the 3 Bs — Barolo, Brunello, and Barbaresco. Should be lip smacking good!”

Mark Tuttle writes, “I am still working as a family doctor and am chairman of Middlesex Hospital Credentials committee, ProHealth credentials committee, member of Anthem regional credentials committee, and now chairman of Optum National credentials committee. I work part time and have homes in Middlefield, Conn., and Keene, N.H. I love flying radio controlled airplanes and have a giant model train layout. I have two fantastic kids and two great granddaughters.”

Brooks Yeager and his wife, Cindy Shogan, have been living on Chincoteague Island on Virginia’s Eastern Shore over the decade since their retirements. “We both spent our careers campaigning for conservation and the environment,” according to Brooks. “It was often exciting, sometimes frustrating, and now and then pretty-damned dramatic.” Brooks started as a DC campaigner for the Sierra Club, then, while working for Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt, helped formulate and pursue some of the signal conservation efforts of the Clinton Administration.

During the administration’s final two years, working under Madeline Albright, he led the negotiation of two global environmental treaties. His second novel, Jaguar’s Claw, has been listed as a finalist for the National Indie Excellence Award. His first novel, Chilly Winds, was named 2021’s best adventure novel by the American Fiction Awards. Both books are available through Brooks’s website, brooksyeager.com.

2

1

3

4

5

1 Vernon Glenn ’68 in front of Kenan Memorial Stadium, Chapel

Hill, N.C. 2 Phil Snyder ’68 receives the Creative Narrative Award at the Staten

Island Summer of Shorts Film Festival.

3 Left to right: Bill Monroe ’68, Bill Rompf ’68 and John Foster

(former Master and Head of the French Department at Choate) on May 5 at IMG Academies in Bradenton, Fla. IMG is the largest sports training facility in the world. Bill Rompf was the Executive Director of IMG from 1991 to 1995. He took Bill Monroe and John on a tour of the facility, celebrating the birthdays of Rompf (73) and Foster (90).

Foster was also the Choate tennis coach and Rompf the captain of the 1967 and 1968 teams, who were inducted into the Choate Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012.

4 Vickie Spang ’69 in Paris.

5 Carolyn (Lindy) Dewey '68 is the mastermind behind SpiritWorks

Herbal Gardens.

BULLETIN | FALL 2023 35

’67 RH Mary Lou Lange writes, “This year has been one of a combination of activities and responsibilities: dealing with my brother’s estate, enjoying being home and getting my house and property in tiptop shape, and spending two wonderful trips skiing in Vail and Breckenridge, Colo. My first flights since the pandemic!

Always reading and exercising. Am still working on trying to find a puppy dog and also looking for my next challenge — work, volunteering, adventure travel.”

Antonia (Toni) Wiseman writes, “Anne Brower and I cruised around New Zealand and Australia in February. We encountered historical rains and flooding, seas rough enough to send bottles and plates flying, and, in my case, a record-setting 16-hour flight to nowhere. Undeterred, we’re off to Scandinavia in September with a post-cruise visit to Penny Heald in London.”

’68 C

Vernon Glenn writes, “Still aggravated that I missed reunion; car rental company in NYC said I had a reservation. Just one problem-they had no cars. My third book in the Eddie Terrell trilogy will be out soon.”

Philip Snyder writes, “Puppetitis, a short film made by my brother, Rob ’69, and me, won the Creative Narrative Award at the Staten Island Summer of Shorts Film Festival on June 24, 2023.”

’68 RH Carolyn (Lindy) Dewey writes, “I have been living in northwest Montana since 2008. In 2011, I purchased land and now have a certified organic medicinal herb farm and a farm stay retreat center that sleeps 17. Retirement is not in my vocabulary as I am having way too much fun. Considering visiting Glacier National Park? Contact me for a place to stay and other fun things to do in this beautiful part of the world. Hope all my classmates are thriving and happy with the life our springboard at RH created for each of us.”

’69 RH Vickie Spang writes, “Still adjusting to retirement but having fun; recently went to Italy, Greece, Turkey and France (the first three countries via cruise). But one always has to go to Paris if anywhere close. Frequently see fab classmate Helen Halpin.”

Maggie Lewis Thomas writes, “My mother, Sally McIntyre Lewis RH ’44, passed away on March 18. We had a celebration of her in her studio in Santa Barbara. She was a painter who excelled in portraits, landscapes, and still life. I live in Ipswich, Mass. I visited often but more frequently in the last year. I kept in touch by writing to her. She wrote me every week when I was at RH, so I told her this was my answer. Her name and her mother’s name, Virginia Pomeroy, were on the ceiling of St. Bede’s chapel. It was always comforting to look up and see them. I hope I’m following in her footsteps as an independent thinker, for which I give credit to our education at Rosemary Hall.”

1970s ’71 C

Stephen Biddle writes, "After our 50th reunion felt painfully ‘zoomed’ two years ago, I was heartily welcomed on campus last year by the Class of ’72 guys & gals. The pick-up rock & roll jam led by Steve Bogardus had us all shouting and stomping! Still an inveterate political activist, I am now retired from careers in renewable-energy policy grantsmanship with philanthropist Viki List (1977–1986) and health insurance contract-reform editing at Prudential and Guardian Life (1987–2002). Since 2002, I led projects in small-community planning: e.g., land use, transit, trails and downtown revitalization in Bucks County — northern suburbs of Philadelphia. Our 1812 townhouse on Main Street, Quakertown, was built for President Nixon’s maternal Quaker ancestors! My wife, Lynn, a retired teacher and Quaker leader, tends our massive garden. Son Jon, 41, is a filmmaker and daughter Lizzy, 36, is a trainer at the national Racial Equity Institute, Greensboro, N.C.”

Ted Kelly writes, “I retired in January after 41 years at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. Esther and I drove out to Utah to visit our youngest in early May, and we visited Arches and Canyonlands while there — two national parks that are awe inspiring.

We’re looking forward to our next adventure.”

Peter Richmond writes, “When I met Melissa in 1981, she was a food columnist for the Washington Post, on the rise. I was a late-shift sports copy editor whose days at the vaunted paper were numbered.

Nonetheless, for some reason she accepted my proposal in 1982, and now 40 years later, we’ve recreated some of the vibe by partnering to pair our skills for randomroadfood.com, an irreverent review of the kinds of places no one ever writes about in food sites, like the Albanian market in Waterbury, the Italian sub shop in Atlantic City, the Vietnamese place in Dover, Del., the Indian market in Poughkeepsie, the crab-cake food truck in Jacksonville, the Burmese restaurant in Manchester, Vt., ad infinitum. We’ve been driving about 25,000 miles a year on American back roads since retirement, because it had become time to REALLY get to know this country through an untraditional lens … and doing the European touring thing doesn’t agree with the budget … so there’s no shortage of subjects. After a lifetime of writing for money, we’ve rediscovered how cool it can be to do it for fun!”

Curtis Spraitzar writes, “I recently took my Amateur Radio Extra Class License exam, not without a little trepidation after more than 50 years had passed since taking my trigonometry class at Choate.

It turned out better than expected. I not only passed the exam, but answered all questions correctly, and I did not need to calculate a cosine after all!”

1

2

3

4 1 Kathleen and Tim Alexander ’73, Swan River, Mont.

2 Dan McDonough ’73 and his family taking new grandson,

Miles, out for his first round of golf at Eastward Ho! In Chatham, Mass. Pictured left to right: daughter-in-law, Kristen, baby Miles, wife Marilyn, Dan ’73, and son, Kyle ’10. Also, Dan enjoyed a wonderful 50th reunion at Choate in May! 3 Bookcover for Jody Gelb ’74’s micro memoir about life with

her daughter, Lueza Wanda.

4 John J Geoghegan ’75

36 CLASSNOTES

’71 RH Joanne Salley Jambor writes, “We welcomed a grandson, Finn William Walsh, born June 23, 2023 to our daughter Leilani and son-in-law, Liam Walsh.

He joins twin girl cousins, who will be three years old November 2. They all reside in Bellingham, Wash.”

’73 C

1

Tim Alexander writes, “Really enjoyed seeing everyone at the 50th. Kathleen and I are happily ensconced in Northern Virginia. We are so lucky to be in close proximity to three of four kids and eight of 10 grandkids. I’m working part time and enjoy being mostly retired! Have recently returned from a trip to northwest Montana, where we visited Glacier National Park (a MUST see) and fished the Flathead River for cutthroat trout.”

Peter Parziale writes, “After retiring from 30 years as a math teacher in southern California, I have been throwing myself into a variety of volunteer opportunities that usually involve the performing arts, food insecurity, or maintaining hiking trails. For the past three years, I’ve done an annual road trip to and from Illinois, where my mom lives — it’s too amazing a country to just fly over it! My five adult children have also been busy: four grandchildren, my oldest son has started a nonprofit to house young adults who have aged out of foster care, and my oldest daughter just finished 4th in the 100-mile Western States Endurance Run. My fourth child will be married in October.”

2

3

’74 C

Russell Davis writes, “So far in great health, and working my way out of corporate law practice through sale and/or merger of most of my clients.

Kids are all launched and my wife and I have acquired a second home in Roses, Spain. We get back to Connecticut from time-to-time, and love the visits, but kind of like the Cardiff, Calif. lifestyle we’ve come to enjoy for 37 years now.”

4

’74 RH Jody Gelb writes, “My micro-memoir, She

5 1 Harry Hyman ’75 at the International Opera Awards at Teatro

Real in 2022.

2 Ted Smith ’75 3 Jim Faier ’79 and Debbie Schwartz with their kids, Aaron,

Zev, and Isaac, rafting the Kankakee River.

4 Left to right: Debbie Robertson (not an alum), Margery

Torrey ’76, Dominique Callimanopulos ’76, and Erica Disch ’76 in the Azores.

5 Paulette Bartlett ’79 and husband Phil Robinson at

Paulette’s Pepperdine University graduation in Malibu on May 20, 2023.

6 Andrew Tomat ’79 in Zurich.

6

May Be Lying Down but She May Be Very Happy, will be published this November by Kelson Books. I started writing it about 22 years ago. I stopped working on it for years at a time. It is about the life we shared with my daughter, Lueza Wanda.”

’75 C John J. Geoghegan writes, “My fourth nonfiction book was published by The History Press in the U.K. in August, and will be out in the U.S. in 2024.

White Elephant Technology: 50 Crazy Inventions That Should Never Have Been Built and What We Can Learn from Them is a fast, fun read with lots of amazing pictures and stories about unusual inventions that failed in the marketplace, despite their innovative nature, and their even more unusual inventors. Flying cars and jet packs are just the start. Am already hard at work on my fifth book, but hope to take time off to connect with some of my classmates.”

BULLETIN | FALL 2023 37

A Life of Adventure and Giving MJ Penn ’74

MJ Penn remembers a meeting that took place during the fall of 1972, when her fate was to be decided by women now considered to be Choate Rosemary Hall legends. Headmistress Elizabeth Loomis, Dean of Studies Joanne Sullivan, and MJ’s adviser, English Department Chair Fayetta McKown — along with MJ’s mother — gathered to consider whether MJ, who would have enough credits to graduate early, would be allowed to follow her heart’s desire and go to college after her junior year.

“I was just ready,” says MJ. Everyone in that room wanted what was best for her, even if that meant taking a somewhat nontraditional path. With their blessing, MJ applied to six women’s colleges and was accepted to five of them. She chose Mt. Holyoke and continued to chart her own course: as a mountaineer and rescue volunteer, sea captain, master gardener, volunteer, and conservationist. That pivotal support for her aspirations is one reason why today MJ says, “Choate Rosemary Hall was the foundation for everything I’ve gone off and done.”

To honor the School’s role in her life, MJ recently made a planned gift, in the form of a bequest, that will create a scholarship. She hopes it will help other students flourish in an educational environment that enables each individual to find their own path.

MJ’s journey began in southern Connecticut. She wanted to go to boarding school, but her mother was adamant that she attend a day school for her freshman year. Rosemary Hall, in its final two semesters in Greenwich, offered her the opportunity to be a day student there and a boarder in Wallingford thereafter. MJ loved her year in Greenwich, calling it “an extraordinary experience” at a unique time in the life of the School. She says, “I’m grateful that I was there and had that piece of history go with me.”

MJ continued to flourish in Wallingford. Already a field hockey and lacrosse player, she joined the new handbell choir and performed in the chapel for Lessons and Carols. She enjoyed Latin with Chas Twichell and having tea on Friday afternoons (the day with no sports practice) in Joanne Sullivan’s office.

Afterward, Mt. Holyoke’s rural campus strengthened MJ’s connection to nature, which led her to settle in Boulder, Colorado after college. Thus began her “Mountain Phase.” She didn’t much care what job she took, as long

as it would enable her to “play in the mountains” and fulfill her passion for volunteering. A member of the Rocky Mountain Rescue Group, an all-volunteer professional rescue organization, MJ provided communication and logistics support for mission leaders. She took part in dozens of rescue efforts, and the group’s members, she says, “became my family.”

In 1978, having missed Christmas with her parents back east because she was climbing Mt. Chimborazo in Ecuador, MJ agreed to join them on a sailing trip in the Caribbean, marking the beginning of her “Sailing Phase.” Moving to Maine, she earned her Coast Guard license and spent the next several years piloting private charters and delivering vessels to new ports, making journeys from Maine to the Caribbean, from Seattle to Glacier Bay, across the Atlantic, and more. “I’ve had a lot of adventures,” says MJ. Wanting to have a dog prompted her current phase, rooted in living and working on Mt. Desert Island and becoming a master gardener. For ten years, her dogs — trained as therapy animals — participated in a children’s reading program she started at the local library, an accomplishment she calls “one of the highlights of my life.” Today her volunteer work includes helping to build and maintain trails at a local land preserve.

Three years ago, MJ’s mother passed away and MJ received a portion of a trust established by her grandparents. Reflecting on her relationship with Choate and her love of Maine — her home for the past 36 years — she decided to establish a scholarship for a student from Maine.

She urges other alumni to take the same reflective journey, saying, “See what you can find within yourself and within your means.” MJ’s mother, who played a pivotal role in her matriculation at Choate Rosemary Hall, once said to her: “The purpose of education is to make your mind a better place to live in for the rest of your life.” MJ likes the idea of bestowing that gift on future Choate Rosemary Hall students.

By Leslie Virostek P ’15, ’17, ’20 Leslie Virostek is a freelance writer and frequent contributor to the Bulletin.

Join the Choate Society today.

THE WILLIAM GARDNER & MARY ATWATER CHOATE SOCIETY Named for the founders of both Rosemary Hall and The Choate School, the Choate Society honors individuals who have remembered the School in their estate plans. With more than 500 members, the Choate Society represents a substantial investment in future generations. For more information, please contact Chris Reichart, Senior Associate Director, Planned Giving, at (203) 697-2553 or creichart@choate.edu.

38 CLASSNOTES

Harry Hyman writes, “It’s been a long time since I graduated (before the fall of Saigon in 1975).

I remember my short time at Choate as an ESU scholar with happiness. As well as business, I have passion for opera and founded the International Opera Awards in 2012. This year our awards will be in Warsaw on November 9. operaawards.org.”

Edward (Ted) Smith writes, “If anyone wants information for, or a tour of, the Canterbury School, I can help. I am starting to teach finance courses there: Economic Markets, Financial Institutions, Innovation, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, and Personal Finance. I doubt I will pass the great Mr. Yankus for number of years at a prep school. But it should be a fun, new, and busy chapter. I hope everyone comes for the 50th. Especially the poker players. I haven’t played 2x Criss Cross in 40 years. Maybe you can win some money back?”

’75 RH Cameron Fletcher writes, “I recently retired after a 37-year career at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine — for which, of course, I was expertly prepared by my degree in French literature! (This is one reason I’m always an enthusiastic proponent of the value of a liberal arts education.) No rest for the weary — I’ve had nonstop concurrent freelance editorial work on international economic policy, a university’s HR policies, and the report for a new network for critical technology assessment. Some day I hope to actually enjoy my time for myself and volunteer pursuits!” ’76 C

Tod Mott writes, “I usually don’t have much to offer about myself, and as you may remember our story (Erika, Whitney, and myself distilling/brewing) from the Bulletin a couple of years back. I wanted to take a moment to throw some accolades to one of our classmates who has made quite the reputation as an outstanding actress. You probably saw her in the Halloween movies, which were always a treat, but what I want everyone to check out is Jamie Lee Curtis’ performance in The Bear. Truly fantastic acting. One of the most intense scenes I have witnessed. Congrats JLC on both your Oscar and The Bear!”

’76 RH Dominique Callimanopulos is enjoying post-pandemic travels to Argentina, Chile, Norway, and recently traveled with classmates Erica Disch and Margery Torrey to the Azores. Dominique’s company, Elevate Destinations, specializes in philanthropic travel that is off the beaten path. She welcomed twin granddaughters recently: Ava and Theia, who threaten to keep her a little closer to home.

’79

Paulette Bartlett writes, “It’s never too late!

After 25 years in entertainment, I decided to make a career change. In May, I graduated from Pepperdine University with an M.A. in Clinical Psychology. For the past 18 months, I trained at a community counseling

center as a therapist, and in November, will begin as an AMFT/APCC with a private psychology group. Exams and papers again were a lot, but wow, was it worth it!

My husband, Phil Robinson, and I live in Los Angeles, and we are frequently on the east coast. I’m always extremely grateful for the Choate years.”

James Faier writes, “I am still living in Chicago with Debbie (23 years in the marriage and glad to be there) and we are parenting our three sons, Aaron (19), Zev (18), and Isaac (14). Aaron is at Princeton as an undergrad. This summer he worked in Jerusalem. Zev starts Purdue in computer science this year and has studied avionics with a DOD program. Isaac is in high school at Chicago’s Walter Payton College Prep. He sails a lot. I consider my days at Choate formative and miss Headmaster Packard and my housemaster William Ayres. I miss you all too.” jmfaier@faier.com.

Kimberly McColgan Stern writes, “My

husband, Peter ’78, and I live in Lyme, N.H. We just finished sending our 5th child (yikes!) through college and are really enjoying our ‘older’ kids (one married and one engaged so far). I run a downsizing/staging business, which is great fun. Always love to hear from other Choaties in the area.”

Andrew Tomat writes, “I continue to manage my Four Pillars M&A due diligence advisory firm in the U.S. and recently also joined AllBera, a strategic consulting firm in the EU as their U.S. partner. We assist European family-owned industrial technology firms (“Mittelstand”) with their growth plans. My work focuses on identifying suitable firms to acquire or invest in, ranging from EV components to AI-based machine vision startups. One upside was the ability to take a few days after client meetings to revisit scenic places in Switzerland I had not been since I was a toddler visiting my grandparents who lived near Zürich at the time. My other most rewarding ‘work’ is as the volunteer treasurer of the Episcopal Church Diocese of LA.”

1980s ’80

Cheryl Stahl Borek writes, “I walked the Camino de Santiago, Primitivo Route, finishing on July 8.”

Charlie Cole writes, “My wife, Lori, and I enjoyed touring campus in June when we dropped off our daughter, Rebecca, who attended the John F. Kennedy ’35 Institute in Government Summer Program. It was my first time back to Wallingford in over 25 years. Looking forward to our next visit!”

Leo Landers writes, “On May 1, I retired from the Lincoln Electric Co. after 38 years and 10 months.

I have moved and now reside in the Osprey Cove community in St. Marys, Ga., near Jacksonville, Fla.”

Leda Natkin Nelis writes, “Still very happily married to Harry Nelis, who is a tech VC. Still living

mostly in London, and spending summers in NYC and Westport, Conn. I am doing some fiction writing for a change, and also on the development board of a charity founding an Autism Centre of Excellence in the U.K. alongside Professor Simon Baron Cohen.

Am also an honorary Lady Margaret Beaufort Fellow at Christ’s College, Cambridge. I do a lot of advising to parents of children on the autistic spectrum. Our son, Willem, 26, is doing a Ph.D. at Oxford here in the U.K., and is a military historian specializing in British counterinsurgency. Our daughter, Marieke, 24, works in Private Wealth Management at JP Morgan in NYC.”

Jim Sherman writes, “My mom passed away earlier this year at 87. It was she who steered me to Choate in the first place, and for this, I am forever grateful. She was unique and had a huge impact on my life. On a happier note, my book, Smart Startups: What Every Entrepreneur Needs To Know; Advice From 18 Harvard Business School Founders, will be published by HarperCollins on October 10.”

Greta Uehling celebrated the publication of

her new book, Everyday War, with Choate classmate Bernadette Demisay in attendance in February. The book is about the creative ways that civilians are engaging with the war in Ukraine. Greta has been interviewed about the book on Ukrainian national television, and has been featured on podcasts with interviewers from Australia to southeastern European countries and Mozambique, in addition to speaking at colleges, universities, and bookstores in the United States. Learn more about Greta’s work on Ukraine at gretauehling.com.

’81 Jenny Coyle Moseley writes, “I was able to spend some time with Marty Winnick Blue in Southern California before we moved back East. My husband and I are living in Nantucket until we move into NYC this fall or next summer.” ’82 Lynn Pantano Dale writes, “It was a busy year, as I was honored to have been named one of Boston’s 150 Most Influential People by Boston Magazine (May issue). As a trustee of the Boston Ballet, Boston Symphony Orchestra and an adviser at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, I am privileged to contribute to the cultural life of Boston in a variety of ways. On May 20, my only daughter, Sarah Elizabeth, was married at the MFA to a wonderful guy, and we were so happy that friend Carla Fremlin could make the trip from California to join us!”

Gigi De Pourtales writes, “I am now

Communications Director for the National Alliance on Mental Health Greater Los Angeles, providing resources, support groups and education for people with mental illness and their loved ones.”

Valerie Tencza Doucette writes, “I have moved to a new school, Chatham Hall in Chatham, Va. I am teaching English (still) and coaching.”

BULLETIN | FALL 2023 39

TOP LEFT On May 10, 2023, fashion and retail

luminaries gathered for a rooftop soiree to celebrate the inaugural Fashion Forward Award winners for their demonstrated commitment to empowering Laboratory Institute of Merchandising (LIM) College students. Depicted in the photo is LIM Fashion Education Foundation (LIMFEF) Board Vice Chair Jay Angeletti ’80 presenting LIMFEF Trustee Michele Parsons ’81 with the inaugural Fashion Forward Award.

BOTTOM LEFT Charlie Cole ’80 and daughter Rebecca, enjoying lunch in the dining hall.

RIGHT Cheryl Stahl Borek ’80 in front of the iconic

Cathedral de Santiago, July 2023.

’83 Kelly Farmer Rostad writes, “After 30-plus years, I thoroughly enjoyed reconnecting with Camilla Hornsby Tarmy, Wendy Chronister, and all our fellow ’83 classmates. Thank you to John Smyth, Maria Del Favero, and anyone else I may have left out, who made it a fabulous 40th reunion!”

James Shulman writes that his latest book, The Synthetic University: How Higher Education Can Benefit from Shared Solutions and Save Itself, will be published by Princeton University Press in October.

The book is about how mission-driven and marketsupported intermediary organizations can offer a realistic means of addressing the cost problem in higher education. James mixes organizational theory with lessons drawn from his own experience; since 1994, he has worked in a variety of roles at the Mellon Foundation, created and led a Melloncreated venture (Artstor) for 15 years, and now is Vice President and COO of the American Council of Learned Societies, where he works on institutional change in higher education and the humanities. ’84 Chara Haeussler Bohan’s new book with historian H. Robert Baker and Black history education expert LaGarrett King, Teaching Enslavement in American History: Lesson Plans and Primary Sources, was published in 2022 by Peter Lang.

John Lewis writes, “Forty years after playing #3 singles and #4 singles, respectively, for the 1983 boys varsity tennis team, John McGeough ’83 and I recently found ourselves matched up as doubles partners at the Wightman Tennis Center in Weston, Mass. After the doubles match was complete, we

chatted and realized we had been teammates four decades ago. At the time, the 1983 team was considered one of the best ever, compiling a 10-1 record with wins over Lawrenceville and Trinity High School. The only blemish on that year’s record was a close 5-4 loss to the Yale J.V.”

George Stein writes, “Living in San Diego running an outdoor adventure camp for kids and working in sales as well. Keeping up with all people named Williams — Noel and Greg. Twin sons are 22 — currently finishing up at U of Colorado and U of Texas.”

’85

Kevin Conroy writes, “I had fun in Old Saybrook, Conn., seeing classmates Carey Bertini, Katie Bertini ’83, Skip Hunt, and Peter Wood, and my cousin, Marietta Lee ’87, in the summer of 2022 while presenting my short stories at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center.”

Jacqueline Norden Krueger writes, “I moved to Charleston, S.C. — love to connect with any Choaties in the area.”

Michael R. Mullin published a psychological thriller in March titled Gothic Revival. Inspired by the creation of Frankenstein, the novel has gotten great reviews. Best Thrillers calls it “a hugely entertaining journey that works as both a high-concept thriller and as a work of deeply absorbing, psychological suspense.” Literary Titan calls it: “entirely original and enthralling ... a must-read for anyone seeking a gripping and intelligently crafted tale that will keep them enthralled until the very last page.”

Jennifer Stone Randolph writes, “With my four children launched, I have been able to pivot into a new career that suits me perfectly. I have been working with the non-profit DNA Doe Project since early 2018, and was recently promoted to Senior Director of Case Management & Operations.

Our mission is to restore names to ‘Does’ — cold unidentified human remains cases. To date, we have provided leads for 100 successful identifications using investigative genetic genealogy. Anguished families are finally getting answers. The Does we identify come from many populations and all walks of life. Some are homicide victims, some have died a natural death. In addition to providing pro bono genealogy research for these cases, we work with agencies that lack the funds for the expensive lab work needed to extract and sequence DNA from highly degraded remains. We rely on crowdsourcing, grants, and gifts to help our law enforcement and medical examiner partners close these cases.” dnadoeproject.org

’86

Gardenia Cucci writes, “My son, Gavin Galiardo ’20, is a rising senior at the University of Miami. During the spring semester of his junior year, he co-curated a Netsuke exhibit at the Lowe Art Museum at U Miami. It was truly a wonderful and inspiring event which reflected a lot of thought and care by the entire art curation class, that was also fortunate to visit Kyoto, Japan in advance of the exhibit.”

40 CLASSNOTES

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5 6

1 Jim Sherman ’80 prepares for his book publication.

2 Gardenia Cucci ’86 and her son Gavin Galiardo ’20 at

the Netsuke Exhibit co-curated by Gavin at the Lowe Art Museum in April 2023 in Miami, Fla. 3 The Class of ’84 was well represented at the last three

shows of Dead & Company’s final tour at San Francisco’s Oracle Park (July 14-15-16). Back row left to right: Bob Tung ’84 (with sunglasses on head), Dave Lazerwitz ’84, Dennis Alpert ’84, Leah Keyes Levine, and Rob Levine ’84.

4 Michael Furgueson ’80 and John Baay ’80 got together at

the Baays’ home on Squam Lake, N.H., this summer. Also there was Chris Craig ’80 (not pictured).

5 Class of 1983 members at 40th Reunion at Choate, left to right: Camilla Hornsby Tarmy, Kelly Farmer Rostad, and Wendy Chronister.

6 Greta Uehling ’80 celebrated the publication of her new

book, Everyday War.

BULLETIN | FALL 2023 41

Peter Finfrock writes, “We’re on our 12th year of being premature snowbirds in a shoestring nest!

This year we’re attempting, because you never claim that you’re climbing a mountain before the deed is done, as I learned during all my years in Boulder, going to Chautauqua the Stratfest and the Shawfest.

This disabled thing isn’t all bad!”

Kern Konwiser’s new feature documentary Still A Black Star, which he wrote, produced and directed, will be released this fall by Freestyle Media.

Over four years in the making, the film follows an artist/activist who dares to shock the world about the environmental impact of its overconsumption by creating a sprawling art museum in the middle of one of the most toxic places on earth, a fiery e-waste dump in Ghana, Africa. The film’s New York City premiere was attended by classmates Aldo Pascarella and David Javan.

’87 Thanks to a push from the pandemic, Amanda Murray finally completely abandoned a 30-year career in book publishing and now works full time selling real estate in the Hamptons with the Murray Team. She kicks herself for not having made the switch sooner. She lives in Quogue with her two kids and too many pets.

Kåseholm, a historic estate in Sweden re-developed by Joakim Silvandersson and Jamie White ’87, is launching the project “Northern Southern Exposure.” The collaborative initiative aims to challenge conventional notions in conservation, food, architecture, design, and art by fostering international collaborations and embracing incidental discoveries. It opened July 13. ’88 Todd Bertsch, Chad (Caveman) Henderson, and Jack Schneider gathered to play in a memberguest tournament at the Cold Spring Harbor Beach Club July 9. They did not win the tournament, but Jack and Todd took down Caveman and his partner, Richard Spehr, which of course was more satisfying.

Left to right: Peter Wood, Carey Bertini, Kevin Conroy, and Skip Hunt. Go Class of ’85!

’86 Kern Konwiser’s new feature documentary Still a Black Star, which he wrote, produced, and directed, is about an artist/ activist who dares to shock the world about the environmental impact of its overconsumption by creating a sprawling art museum in the middle of one of the most toxic places on earth, a fiery e-waste dump in Ghana.

Pictured above is Kern on location in Accra, Ghana, Africa.

42 CLASSNOTES

Merrill Barden Collins writes, “Having just celebrated my 18th year at Connecticut College, it warms my heart every year when I see Choate gear walking around campus. If there are any fellow Wild Boars out there coming to Conn or sending their children to be camels, look me up! It was great to see the Reunion turn out and always good to see our gorgeous campus!”

Michelle Master Orr writes, “I started my travel agency, Master Travel, five years ago. I specialize in Luxury Travel and custom trips. I am proud to share I was named one of Condé Nast’s 2023 Top Travel Specialists. My youngest son, Sumner Orr, age 17, was named a member of the U.S. Snowboard Halfpipe Team. My oldest son, Liam Orr, 21, graduated from UVM and is pursuing a masters degree in biomedical engineering at Northeastern this fall. And my middle son, Caleb Orr, is a junior at UVM studying political science.”

’89 Janet Rossbach writes, “In June 2023, I started a new job as Director of Advancement for the Louis August Jonas Foundation. The foundation underwrites a 90-year-old summer camp in Rhinebeck, N.Y., called Camp Rising Sun, which teaches ethical and compassionate leadership to 15-to-17-year-olds from 30+ countries around the world. All the campers attend for free and have the opportunity to lead the camp’s activities for a day. I will be overseeing alumni engagement and fundraising for the camp, dividing my time between the Hudson Valley and NYC. Message me on LinkedIn if you’d like to learn more about the camp! I am reminded of the wonderful leadership opportunities I had at Choate as a 17-year-old, including being co-president of the Festival Chorus and founder of the Theatre Club, and the friendships I still have from those activities. Thank you, Choate!”

1990s ’90

Meredith Savage writes, “Jillian Backus Sullivan and I are over the moon that our boys will be classmates! Her youngest son, Tristan, and my son, Reid, are both incoming third formers. We’re meeting up in NYC before school starts so the boys will each have a familiar face on campus. It’s wonderful going through this Choate parent journey with Jillian!”

’91

Brad Robie writes, “Our daughter Maya just graduated from Choate this past year, and will be attending Northeastern University in the fall.”

’92

Hee-Jin Yim writes, “After being in the field of education for more than 22 years, and 15 of those years in college admissions, I decided to go to school for my EdM. This summer, I joined the Klingenstein Institute’s Two-Summer Leadership Academy at

Teacher College as a part of their 2023-2025 cohort.

It’s been amazing to return to Columbia and be a student again. By the way, Brian Yeh ’91 and I also moved to Bloomfield Hills, Mich., two years ago. Our daughter, Hannah, is a rising junior at Cornell, and our son, Lukas, will be a new upper school 9th grader at Cranbrook School. We still feel pretty new to the state, so if there are any Choaties in the area, please give us a shout!”

’93

Jill Santopietro Panall had an excellent time at the 30th reunion this spring and enjoyed seeing all of her classmates. Jill just celebrated her 25th year in the HR field and her eighth year of owning 21Oak HR Consulting, a consultancy that focuses on helping small businesses, nonprofits, and startups without a full-time, credentialed HR professional on staff. She lives with her husband, Simon, young son Henry and very fat coonhound Buster (plus assorted fish tank creatures) beside the sea in beautiful Newburyport, Mass.

Hannah Sears writes, “Happy to see Class of 1993 in person at Alumni Weekend. Utilizing Point of Sale systems, Washington, D.C.”

’94

John Lawlor writes, “My wife, Patricia, and I caught up with Chris Dell Isola and his wife, Denise, in Chicago. We still live in Lehigh Acres, Fla., and I’m still practicing podiatry. Looking forward to next spring’s class reunion already.”

’96

Emily Falcigno writes, “My latest Red Bull cliff diver painting diptych, Breathe. And leap. was accepted into a juried show for Emerging Artists at Cambridge Art Association! Breathe. And leap. is what I imagined Xantheia Pennisi (the hero of the paintings) whispering to herself to manage her fear before diving from a platform 63 feet above sea level with 25,000 cheering spectators. Xantheia reached out to confirm it. Exciting!”

Trillium Sellers Rose writes, “I have been the Director of Instruction at Woodmont Country Club outside of Washington, D.C. for the past 10 years and dividing my professional time between teaching individuals, teaching teachers, and reaching a larger audience online. My Instagram has been a fun endeavor and if anyone has any golf tip requests, DM me! I’ve been collaborating with my sponsors, Titleist, J. Lindeberg, and Arccos Golf on a spate of longer form digital instruction as well as print with Golf.com. I had the great fortune of running into 1996 classmates Ari Fishman and Ali Jeromimo with their families in my hometown of Warren, Vt. over the Fourth of July. We all have daughters the same age and it was remarkable to see how quickly they got along and bonded. More lifelong friendships in the making.”

TOP The Robie Brothers celebrating Brad’s daughter, Maya, at her

Choate graduation. From Left to Right: Jay Robie, Chip Robie ’78, Maya Robie ’23, Brad Robie ’91, and Doug Robie ’82.

MIDDLE Brad Mak ’96 and Brigitta Herzfeld ’96 caught up with two

other Class of ’96 classmates in London for Charlie’s birthday. Left to right: Charlie Trisiripisal, Bruno Chou, Brigitta, and Brad.

BOTTOM Sarah Handyside Daily ’98 as a contestant on Jeopardy!

Pictured with host Ken Jennings.

BULLETIN | FALL 2023 43

’98 Sarah Handyside Daily fulfilled a lifelong dream when she appeared as a contestant on Jeopardy! in July. She says of the experience, “I’m not quitting my day job any time soon, but it was an absolute honor to play on the Alex Trebek stage with an amazing group of competitors.”

William Gilyard writes, “Hey good people, as of July 1, 2023, I am the new Dean of Students at Choate. I am excited to support these kiddos the ways that the adults supported us when we were here. If you come to campus to visit, send me a shout.”

Mae Thornton Mehra and her husband, Atin Mehra, will screen the New York premiere of their first completed documentary film, Being Michelle, at ReelAbilities International Film Festival in NYC.

Michelle Judd Rittler writes, “After five years in the Advancement Office at Rumsey Hall School, most recently as the Associate Director of Advancement, I have joined the Development team at Choate. I started my new role as the Senior Associate Director, Parent Giving in July!” ’99 Alison Schroth Hayward writes, “The nonprofit organization Uganda Village Project, co-founded by me, is celebrating 20 years of public health work. The organization’s mission is to promote public health and sustainable development in rural communities in southeastern Uganda, through programs focused on addressing reproductive health, obstetric fistula, and safe water, sanitation, and hygiene. Currently, I am working on safe water and sanitation research projects through a faculty development award from Brown Emergency Medicine.”

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2000s 3

’00

Emily Knight Jacobs writes, “I graduated in May 2023 with a Master’s of Science in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics from the University of Maryland Baltimore. We were just the third cohort to go through this program at one of the oldest Schools of Pharmacy in the country. I’m currently the Director of Content for CannabizMD, a cannabis science, policy, and education startup looking to fill the void created by federal prohibition.”

Ben McGuire was recently appointed chair of the public finance and infrastructure practice in Greenberg Traurig’s Boston office, where he has practiced since graduating from law school over 15 years ago. Ben leads a team of finance, securities, and tax and real estate professionals in connection with tax-exempt bond financing for infrastructure projects throughout the United States.

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4 1 Tonya Chen Mezrich ’91 celebrated her birthday in Paris on Bastille

Day, and friends from all over the world flew in, including a few Choaties: Tonya (4th from left), Brad Mak ’96, Brigitta Herzfeld ’96 (back left), and Vicki Owens ’91 (back right).

2 Left to right: Classmates Andrea Harner ’94, Celeste Peterson ’94,

Ami Burnham (friend), and Katy Oliver ’94 reunited at Oracle Park in San Francisco for the last Dead & Company show.

3 Alison Schroth Hayward ’99 and Uganda Village Project staff and

volunteers celebrate achievements in public health.

4 Mae Thornton Mehra ’98 and her husband, Atin Mehra, will screen

the New York Premiere of their first completed documentary film, Being Michelle.

5 Cliff diver painting diptych Breathe. And leap. by Emily Falcigno ’96.

6 Left to right: Trillium Sellers Rose ’96, Ari Fishman ’96, and Ali Jeronimo ’96 in Vermont over Fourth of July.

44 CLASSNOTES

’03

Trystan Bennett graduated with an MBA from the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at the College of William & Mary and was inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma in May, 2023. He currently lives outside Fredericksburg, Va., with his wife, Caitlin, and is both a Senior Solutions Architect for FSi Strategies and Organist/Director of Music for Aquia Episcopal Church.

’06 Miriam Bischoff Brisbin and her husband, Ted, welcomed Theodore (Theo) Callan Brisbin into their family on December 24, 2022, just in time for Christmas. Miriam, Ted and Theo currently live in Arlington, Va., with their French bulldog, Pepper.

’11

Jarry Lee appeared on the April 2023 cover of Glamour Magazine in Bulgaria.

’15 Sonja Eliason married Max Adam Friedman at the Ocean House in Watch Hill, R.I., on June 10, 2023. Classmates Sofia Hernandez, Megan Currie, and Julia Cochran were among her bridesmaids; brother Nathaniel Eliason ’11 was a groomsman; and Dora Jarkowski ’15 performed the song for the couple’s first dance.

Vanessa Goldstein Khachane and Avi Khachane welcomed their third child (second son), North Khachane, to the family in July 2022. River (5) and Hawkins (3) are thrilled to be big sister and brother, and the family is looking forward to visiting the campus together for Avi and Vanessa’s 20th reunion next spring.

’07 Kelsey Craig Birney married Daniel Birney on September 17, 2022 at City Winery in the Hudson Valley. They celebrated with Taylor Craig ’12, Todd Keats ’07, Anthony DePietto ’07, Sam Sabky ’07, and Katie MacKinnon Santarelli ’07.

Marisa Hunter Mingrino traveled from her new home in Naples, Fla., to be a bridesmaid in Blair Barberino’s wedding in Brooklyn, N.Y. The pair have been friends since the moment they met at Choate.

’05

’08

’20 Nicholas Mangino writes, “I just started my first company, Parties Greek, an entertainment company that specializes in Greek life on college campuses.”

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’04

Betsy Lippitt and her husband, Raul Julia, welcomed their baby boy, Laszlo Raul Julia, on January 27, 2023. After many years as an actress, Betsy transitioned to being behind the camera as Vice President of U.S. TV Distribution for Sony Pictures Entertainment, selling Sony’s movies and TV shows to streaming and cable. She was recently named to the top 40 executives under 40 for LA TV Week.

1

Emily MacLeod writes, “I graduated with a Ph.D. in English from George Washington University in the summer of 2022 and immediately started as an assistant teaching professor of English and theatre at Penn State Harrisburg. Central Pennsylvania has been a beautiful place to land and I love getting to teach across disciplines in the humanities.”

1 Ben McGuire ’00 and Maude.

2 Emily Knight Jacobs ’00 joined by husband, Cliff, and her daughters Maya, Eva, and Akira

at graduation from University of Maryland Baltimore on May 17, 2023.

3 Trystan Bennett ’03 with wife Caitlin.

4 Emily MacLeod ’08 at her doctoral hooding ceremony with parents Norman MacLeod

and Elizabeth Stevens RH ’64.

5 Nick Mangino ’20

4

’19

In October, Charles Yockey will matriculate at Peterhouse, University of Cambridge, to read for an MPhil in Political Thought and Intellectual History.

5

BULLETIN | FALL 2023 45

CLASSNOTES | Profile

’04

Adam King

Balancing Adaptation With Preservation

A craftsperson skilled in traditional methods and materials, Adam King is a restoration expert. Over the last decade he’s had a hand in securing a future for a number of landmark historical structures, including a nineteenth century mining camp perched atop a remote mountain in Joshua Tree National Park; the 1793 meeting house in Strafford, Vt.; and a 1715 Dutch grist mill on Long Island, considered to be the oldest extant industrial building in North America.

Based in Northfield, Vt., Adam is the founder and director of Arcadia Restorations. Much of his work helps to preserve the old New England character of the Green Mountain State. In one multi-year project, he worked with a small team of craftsmen to repair a unique 44,000-square-foot structure at Shelburne Farms, the nineteenth century agricultural estate that is today both a working farm and education nonprofit. In this and other projects, Adam notes that his work often involves “balancing the desire to preserve with the need to adapt.”

Other examples include a 100-year-old barn in Warren that he converted into a guest house and an early timber frame building in Lincoln that will live on as a wooden boat restoration shop.

In addition to restoration, Adam uses the centuries-old art and science of timber framing to make durable, beautiful new buildings — including homes — that feature hewn timber beams and traditional joinery. “Timber framing is an ancient and extraordinary way of constructing buildings,” he says. “You’re showing off the structure rather than hiding it.”

Adam is a historian and scholar, in addition to being a craftsman. A member of the Traditional Timber Research Advisory Group — a council of the Timber Framers Guild — he is dedicated to collecting and sharing knowledge about old construction methods and architectural features once at risk of being lost to history. His research, writing, and consulting work enables municipalities and entities such as the National Forest Service and the Preservation Trust of Vermont to undertake restoration projects with both historical integrity and practical know-how.

Adam says that one of the things he loves most is “finding something untouched: a time capsule of a building.” But he notes, “Once you restore it, it’s not original anymore. You have to intervene in a building’s originality to save it, which is a bittersweet element of the job.” Grappling with that conundrum requires a careful, thoughtful, informed approach. Says Adam, “If you do it right, restored elements should comprise part of a harmonious whole.”

Adam credits Choate with spurring his lifelong dedication to the study of art and architecture. Inspired by a sixth form interdisciplinary course in Romanticism, Modernism, and Postmodernism, Adam went on to earn a master’s degree in art history, with a specialty in architectural history, at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.

Afterward, when the Great Recession quashed his original intention to forge a career in the art world, he worked in New York City “in a hollow corporate job,” spending his free time experimenting with more fulfilling work. He also built furniture and dabbled in sailing and classic cars. Ultimately, time spent alongside an objects conservator in the basement of the Metropolitan Museum of Art helped him realize he could ply those types of specialized skills on a larger scale to preserve buildings, combining scholarship, science, history, and craft. He set out to learn from the few highly skilled individuals doing the kind of work he hoped to do and eventually joined their ranks.

Ever curious and continually learning, Adam says he still draws inspiration from his Choate experience. He remembers it as a time when he was fully absorbed in taking classes he loved, rowing, and making the best friends of his life. His career, he notes, engages and stimulates him in the same way: “I’m learning every day, and each project presents unique challenges which are immensely rewarding to resolve.”

Adam believes that his work is a way to take the “singular gift” of a Choate education and “do work which is worthy of that gift.” Restoring, preserving, and giving new life to historic buildings not only provides him with that opportunity but also confers its own sense of responsibility. He says, “You’re entrusted with the care of something precious, and you have the great privilege of doing it justice.”

By Leslie Virostek P ’15, ’17, ’20 Leslie Virostek is a freelance writer and frequent contributor to the Bulletin.

46 CLASSNOTES

CLASSNOTES | New Beginnings

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1 Betsy Lippitt ’05 and her husband, Raul Julia, welcomed a baby boy, Laszlo Raul Julia, on January 27, 2023.

2 Maggie Carter Cantwell ’06 and her husband, Tom, welcomed Carter Winslow Cantwell, aka Cece, on August 19, 2022 in Sheffield, England.

3 On September 2, 2022, Jessica Gunderson ’07 and her partner, Josh Mann, welcomed a girl, Astrid Mann. Pictured is Astrid at 10 months old on the 4th of July.

4 Frank Hamilton ’06 and his wife, Diana, welcomed their first daughter, Edith “Edie” Willkie Hamilton, on February 23, 2023 in New York. Edie was born 7 lbs. 12 oz. and is named after her great grandmother.

5 Vanessa Goldstein Khachane ’04 and Avi Khachane ’04 welcomed their third child, North (pictured at 3 months) in July 2022. Big sister, River (5), on the left, and big brother Hawkins (3), on the right, are thrilled.

8

6 Erin (Grajewski) Williams ’08 and Gareth Williams, along with big brother Rhys, joyfully introduce their second son, Cooper Robert Williams, to the Choate family. Cooper was born on April 18, 2023.

7 Vanessa Kitchen ’02 and her husband, Aaron Sagin, welcomed their second child, Henry Andrew Sagin, on March 21, 2023. Everyone is healthy and happy (except maybe his older brother, who was not as thrilled).

8 Miriam Bischoff Brisbin ’06 and her husband, Ted, welcomed Theodore (Theo) Callan Brisbin into their family on December 24, 2022. Pictured is Theo at 5 months old.

BULLETIN | FALL 2023 47

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1 Chijioge “Chi” Nwogu ’06 married Dr. Charity Lackey in Durham, N.C., on July 7, 2023. Chi

7

and Charity met through a mutual mentor and are excited to start their life together!

2 Kelsey Craig Birney ’07 married Daniel Birney on September 17, 2022 at City Winery in

the Hudson Valley.

3 Sonja Eliason ’15 and Max Adam Friedman with their bridal party.

4 Choaties in attendance at Gib Chapman ’79’s wedding to Kate Chapman on May 19 in Manhattan — left to right: Bill Mitchell ’79, Alan Breed ’79, Gib, Eliza O’Neil ’27, Harold Malkin ’79, and Jay Remsen ’75.

5 Blair Barberino ’07 and Marisa Hunter Mingrino ’07 at Blair’s wedding.

6 Craig Kramer ’79 married Debra Lappin in Denver in July 2022 — left to right: Craig, his roommate Steve Packs ’79, house counselors David and Barbara Webb, friend Tom Conroy ’80, and brother David Kramer ’83. Also attending but not shown were classmates John Graham ’79 and faculty Tom Martin. Craig and Debra welcome outreach from any alumni who are visiting the Denver area.

8

7 Choaties at the wedding of Jason Plush ’12 — left to right: James Line ’12, Sarah Smith ’12,

Kai Takahashi ’12, Andrew Speyer, Andrew Kwon ’12, Russell Bogue ’12, Austin Wruble ’12, Toby Mirman ’12, Matt Bee ’13, Keenan Roche ’12, Max Bluestone ’12, Edward Speyer ’12, and Jason.

8 On November 5, 2022, Miranda Martini ’13 married William Tenney ’10 at Castle Hill Inn in Newport, R.I. They were joined by several Choate alumni: Jack Tenney ’16, Cecilia Katzenstein ’16, Adilla Jamaludin ’13, Maddie Beecher ’13, Sally Lindsay ’13, Hannah Danziger ’13, Uracha Chaiyapinunt ’13, Katherine Speltz ’12, Alex Tenney ’11, Max Katzenstein ’11, Andrew Manning ’13, Jack Katzenstein ’13, David Calello ’11, Nicole Adler Mas ’11, Danielle Adler ’11, Christina Montesi Pusar ’11, Katie Sundberg ’10, and Jim Baker ’77. Miranda and Will were introduced by Cecilia Katzenstein in 2018.

48

IN MEMORIAM | Remembering Those We Have Lost Alumni and Alumnae

’39 RH Barbara Mallory “Bunny” Hathaway, 101, a philanthropist, died May 12, 2023 in Owings Mills, Md. Born in New York City, Bunny came to Rosemary Hall in 1935. During World War II, she worked as a decoder in the Office of Strategic Services (today the CIA). She then married and moved to the Baltimore area, where her gardens were well-known and were featured in several magazines.

A lifelong philanthropist, Bunny supported the Open Gates Health Center, the Joseph Richey Hospice House, the Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Planned Parenthood, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Mystic Seaport (of which her father was a founder), and many others. She leaves four children, five grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Her sister, the late Margaret Mallory 1931, attended Rosemary Hall; Bunny’s late husband, E. Phillips Hathaway ’38, attended Choate.

’45 RH Alice Taylor Beringer, 95, an artist, died June 5, 2023. Born in Adams, Mich., Alice came to Rosemary Hall in 1943; she played First Team hockey and was Business Manager of the Answer Book. After graduating from Smith, she studied the art of decorative painted finishes at the Isabel O’Neil Studio in New York, then co-founded Creative Painted Finishes. Her work was featured several times at the Tiffany store in Manhattan. She and her husband, Stuart, also had a home in the Bahamas, where they entertained friends and family for decades. Alice was a member of the Rye Garden Club for more than 50 years. She leaves a son, four grandchildren, and two-great-grandchildren.

Sally McIntyre Lewis, 94, an artist, died March 18, 2023, in Santa Barbara, Calif. Born in Huntington, N.Y., Sally came to Rosemary Hall in 1942. She was on the Board of the Question Mark and in Philomel, and was Chore Play Mistress for two years. After graduating from Bryn Mawr, she married, reared four children, and moved to Santa

Barbara. An artist who started drawing at a young age and continued through the last weeks of her life, Sally took classes at Silvermine School in New Canaan, Conn., the Art Institute of Chicago, and later at UC Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara City College. She specialized in landscapes, abstracts, and portraits. She loved animals, taking her horse with her to Rosemary Hall, and she contributed widely to wildlife charities. She leaves four children, including Maggie Lewis Thomas ’69, 56 High St., Ipswich, MA 01938 and Sara Lewis Murre ’72; two stepdaughters; nine grandchildren; and four step-grandchildren. Her mother, the late Virginia Pomeroy McIntyre 1914, attended Rosemary Hall; two nephews, Mark McIntyre ’69 and Archie McIntyre ’73, attended Choate.

’46 RH Elizabeth Stratton Pratt, 95, a promoter of skiing, died March 17, 2023. Born in Greenwich, Conn., Betsy came to Rosemary Hall in 1941; she was Head Marshal and won a School Spanish prize. After graduating from Vassar, she was an officer of the Ford Foundation, working on finance for the TV program Omnibus. Widowed in 1975, Betsy devoted the rest of her life to encouraging skiing. As Chair of the Mad River Glen ski area, she was committed to preserving skiing without changing the character of mountainous areas. Originally a promoter of snowboards, she later banned them from Mad River because they scraped the snow from narrow trails. She was inducted into the Vermont Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame last year. She leaves four children and eight grandchildren.

’48 RH Vera Martin Crawford, 92, died March 29, 2023 in North Andover, Mass. Born in New York City, Vera came to Rosemary Hall in 1943. She was Assistant Day Head Boarder Marshal, Head Day Boarder Fire Captain, Answer Book Business Manager, and on the Kindly Club Council. Before marrying, she worked for a publishing company.

Vera was active with the church, and enjoyed gardening and volunteering in the community. She leaves two children and four grandchildren.

’48 C John O. Peterson, 93, the retired owner of greenhouses, died May 27, 2023. Born in Hartford, Conn., Jack came to Choate in 1945; he was in the History and Ski clubs. After graduating from the University of Connecticut and serving in the Army, he joined the family business, Whiting Lane Greenhouses, in West Hartford.

In retirement, Jack volunteered at Hartford Hospital and enjoyed playing tennis. He leaves two children, seven grandchildren, a great-grandson, and a sister. ’50 C John F. Erdmann II, 90, a retired stock broker, died April 28, 2023 in New Canaan, Conn. Born in New York City, John came to Choate in 1947; he was in the Camera Club and played trumpet in the Band. After graduating from Colgate, he served in the Air Force and then earned an MBA from Columbia. John worked for several financial firms before purchasing a seat on the New York Stock Exchange, where he was an independent broker.

In retirement, he was active in the community, including volunteering for 32 years at the Norwalk Maritime Aquarium. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and skiing. He leaves his wife, Tanis Erdmann, 143 Rosebrook Rd., New Canaan, CT 06840; three sons, including Robert Erdmann ’85; seven grandchildren; and two sisters. ’52 C Robert Fitz Randolph Ballard, 89, an executive of a real estate firm, died March 21, 2023. Born in New York City, Bob came to Choate in 1948; he lettered in crew and was Senior Editor of the Choate News. After graduating from Harvard, he began a long career in commercial real estate, first as a broker at Charles F. Noyes & Co., and then, for 55 years, at Cushman & Wakefield, retiring as Executive Managing Director.

He authored the Directory of Manhattan Office Buildings. Bob served on the Board of the East Side Settlement in the South Bronx for decades. For many years he was Class Agent of the Choate Class of 1952. He leaves his wife, Lucinda Ballard, 49 East 89th St., Apt. 2-B, New York, NY 10128; two children; three grandsons, and a half-sister, Wendy R. Ballard ’59.

Elizabeth “Betsy” Stratton Pratt, widowed in 1975, dedicated the remainder of her life to promoting the sport of skiing as the chair of the Mad River Glen ski area.

Her commitment was to preserve skiing while maintaining the unique character of mountainous regions.

’46

BULLETIN | FALL 2023 49

Richard R. Francis, 88, a retired teacher and coach, died July 8, 2023.

Born in Middletown, Conn., Rick came to Choate in 1949; he was in the Press Club and lettered in football and baseball. After graduating from Wesleyan University, he spent two years in the Army, then joined the faculty of Williston Academy, where he worked for 42 years. He taught math and was the head football coach, later adding basketball coach and Athletic Director to his titles. Rick was inducted into several sports halls of fame, and was President of the Western Massachusetts chapter of the National Football Foundation and the New England Prep School Athletic Council.

He was also Program Director of Camp Monomoy on Cape Cod. He leaves his wife, Marilyn Francis, 39 Breezy Meadow La., Brewster, MA 02631; two children; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. A brother, the late Paul Francis ’46, also attended Choate.

John J. Manfreda, 88, a retired property appraiser, died May 8, 2023 in Windsor, Conn. Born in Meriden, John came to Choate in 1948; he was on the Debate Council and was Manager of varsity baseball. After graduating from Boston College, he served in the Army, then worked for many years with the Connecticut Department of Transportation as a property appraiser for roadway development. John enjoyed singing and was a member of the Barbershop Harmony Society and the Silk City Chorus of Manchester, Conn. He also regularly assisted disabled colleagues with transportation to and from work. He leaves three children, four grandchildren, a great-grandson, and a brother. A cousin, Maura Ardis ’88, attended Choate Rosemary Hall.

’53 C Arthur “Tony” Cowen III, 88, a partner of a financial firm, died July 18, 2023. Born in New York City, Tony came to Choate in 1950; he lettered in football and basketball, was in the Chess Club, and was on the Board of the News. After graduating from Haverford College, he was a partner and Managing Director of Cowen & Co., a firm founded by his grandfather and two great-uncles. After the

firm was sold in 1999, Tony was a financial advisor at Lehman Brothers Oppenheimer. He was an accomplished amateur tennis player.

He leaves his wife, Edna Cowen, 330 Cocoanut Row, Apt. 2-B, Palm Beach, FL 33480; two children; two stepsons; several grandchildren; and a sister. His stepfather, Julian Bach 1932, attended Choate.

’55 C Robert B. McKinnon, 86, the owner of a car dealership, died May 1, 2023 in Elmira, N.Y. Born in Baltimore, Rob came to Choate in 1951; he lettered in football and track, and was in St. Andrew’s Cabinet and the Press Club. After graduating from Colgate, he served in the Navy and then returned to Elmira, where he worked for Elm Chevrolet, which was owned by his father. Rob worked his way up to be President, and bought the dealership from his father in 1978. Active in the community, he was on the boards of the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes, the Clemens Center, the Rotary Club, and several others. He enjoyed playing golf and bridge. He leaves three children, two stepsons, and nine grandchildren. ’59 RH Lydia Stevens Gustin, 81, a retired teacher and hospital volunteer, died January 30, 2023. Born in New Haven, Lydia came to Rosemary Hall in 1957; she was head of Red Cross, on the Answer Book Board, and in Philomel and Dramu. She then graduated from Hollins College and studied in Paris at the Sorbonne. She joined the Peace Corps, teaching in Nigeria for two years, then was a Peace Corps recruiter and a faculty assistant at Yale. For more than 30 years, Lydia was a volunteer in the Emergency Department of New York Hospital, also serving as a rape victim advocate and on the Pediatric Support Committee. She enjoyed tennis and sailing. She leaves two sons; two grandchildren, and siblings Priscilla Goldfarb ’61, 22 Butterfield Rd., Apt. 304, Cold Spring, NY 10516; Frederick Stevens ’64; Elizabeth Stevens ’64; George Stevens ’70 and Ruth Stevens ’71. She also leaves two cousins, James Stevens ’62 and

Thomas Stevens ’65. Her father, the late George Stevens 1932, attended Choate, as did two uncles, the late E. Stewart Stevens 1929 and the late Albert Stevens ’36.

’61 C Shelby McIntyre, 80, a retired professor of marketing, died May 23, 2023. Born in Chicago, Shelby came to Choate in 1957. He was on the Student Council and in the Russian Club, and lettered in track and wrestling, earning a School prize in the latter sport. He earned B.S., M.B.A., and Ph.D. degrees from Stanford, and spent 43 years on the faculty of Santa Clara University in its Leavey School of Business.

Shelby wrote widely for marketing journals and was a consultant to IBM, National Semiconductor, AT&T, Intel, Cisco Systems, and more than 20 other firms. He was a cofounder of the Smart Valley project in the Silicon Valley. He leaves two children, two sisters, and a brother, Robert McIntyre ’54, 1061 Fulton St., Palo Alto, CA 94301. A cousin, the late Mahlon Thatcher III 1930, who died when he was a student, was the one for whom the former Mahlon Thatcher track and field was named.

An uncle, the late Bob Wheeler 1933, also attended Choate, as did cousins the late Bill Waller 1933 and the late Thatcher “Tat” Waller ’38. Another cousin, Amy J. Waller ’71, attended Rosemary Hall.

Thomas T. Rogers, 79, a lawyer, died April 1, 2023 in Princeton, Wis. Born in Rockford, Ill., Tom came to Choate in 1957; he was in the Glee Club and was Vice President of the Rod and Gun Club. He then earned degrees from Lawrence University and the University of Wisconsin Law School. Besides being in private practice, Tom worked for the Environmental Protection Agency at its start and was District Attorney for Marquette County, Wis. He enjoyed writing, collecting art, bird hunting, deer hunting, and fly fishing, and was a trustee of Hillsdale College.

He leaves his wife, Nancy Rogers, W-114 County Highway J, The Farm, Princeton, WI 54968; two children; four stepchildren; five grandchildren; nine step-grandchildren; and a sister.

’63 RH Ellen Coolidge Burbank, 77, an executive with several nonprofits, died May 15, 2023 in Philadelphia.

Born in Concord, Mass., Ellen was the daughter of a CIA agent and spent her childhood in Switzerland, Tunisia, and elsewhere, coming to Rosemary Hall in 1960, where she was a Marshal and was on the Library Committee.

After graduating from Finch College in New York, Ellen had a lengthy career in communication with the Pew Charitable Trusts, the Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Council for the Arts at MIT, and elsewhere. She worked at the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance with Lisa Halaby, who was later Queen Noor of Jordan. She leaves her husband, Steve Burbank, 2031 Locust St., Apt. 901, Philadelphia, PA 19103; a son; and a sister.

’69 C Jay F. Kavanagh, 72, an aerospace executive, died July 20, 2023. Born in Marlborough, Mass., Jay came to Choate in 1967; he was President of the Geology Club and lettered in baseball and football, winning a School trophy in the latter sport. After graduating from Harvard, Jay was Vice President of Operations for Program Control Corp. for 20 years and worked for Allied Signal/Honeywell for another 20 years. A pilot, he obtained a multiengine rating and earned NAUI and PADI scuba licenses. He leaves his wife, Mary Margaret Kavanagh, 4401 Landfall Dr., Williamsburg, VA 23185; three sons; and five grandchildren. ’70 C Conrad Skinner, 71, an architect, died March 2, 2023. Born in Boston, Conrad came to Choate in 1966; he was in the Ski Club, the Sailing Club, and the Astronomy Club.

After earning degrees from Reed College and the University of New Mexico, he taught English in Tokyo for two years, then was an architect in Santa Fe for 40 years. He was a former President of the Santa Fe chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

Conrad enjoyed skiing, sailing, and camping. He leaves his wife, Ellen Berkovitch, and three brothers.

50 IN MEMORIAM

John J. Manfreda enjoyed singing and was a member of the Barbershop Harmony Society and the Silk City Chorus of Manchester, Conn. He also regularly assisted disabled colleagues with transportation to and from work.

’52 ’77 C Peter J. Goodell, 63, a math teacher, died June 26, 2023 in New Britain, Conn. Born in Kabul, Afghanistan, Peter lived abroad until 1965; he came to Choate in 1975, where he was in the Cum Laude Society and on the Chess Team. After graduating from Connecticut College, he was a computer programmer at the Hartford Insurance Co., then earned a master’s degree from Wesleyan University and taught math at Central Connecticut State University for several years. Peter enjoyed biking, sports cars, and chess. He leaves a brother, Jonathan Goodell ’73, 3 Bellevue Ave., Winchester, MA 01890; and a sister. ’79

Heidi McMullen Lowell, 62, a teacher of ballet, died March 31, 2023. Born in Hyannis, Mass., Heidi came to Choate Rosemary Hall in 1976; she was a cheerleader and in the German Club and the International Students Association.

After attending Salem College in Winston-Salem, N.C., she studied with the Albano Ballet in Hartford, Conn., and the School of the Hartford Ballet. Heidi moved to Portsmouth, N.H. in 1984, where she taught ballet and dance at the University of New Hampshire and performed widely with ballet companies. She later designed jewelry and taught creative art classes in California. She leaves her husband, Jonathan Lowell ’79, 115 Snowmass Court, Merced, CA 95348, and two daughters.

’81

Annamaria Lindley, 59, a retired physician, died November 15, 2022 in Plymouth, Mass. Born in

Rome, Italy, Anna came to Choate Rosemary Hall in 1979. She lettered in swimming, was in the Cum Laude Society, the Whimawehs and the Festival Chorus, and won a School award in engineering. After graduating from Harvard magna cum laude, she earned a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins and an M.D. from Case Western Reserve University. For many years she was the attending pediatric neurologist at a hospital in North Dakota. Anna specialized in diagnosis and treatment of ADHD. She leaves her father and an uncle.

Peter de la Vasselais, 60, an employee of a transportation company, died March 12, 2023. Born in New York City, Peter came to Choate Rosemary Hall in 1977. He lettered in cross country and track, winning a School track award. He was also President of the Astronomy Club and in the Astrophysical Society. After earning two degrees from Tulane, Peter was employed with the Crete Transportation Co. in Louisiana. He enjoyed surfing and following the Liverpool soccer team. He leaves a son, his mother, and his stepfather.

’87

Murray “Scott” Morse III, 54, an executive recruiter, died June 20, 2023 in Stratford, Conn. Born in New York City, Scott came to Choate Rosemary Hall in 1983. He was a House Counselor and was on the crew of several School plays. After graduating from the University of North Carolina, he had a career in hospitality management and human resources. He also was a financial executive recruiter for several firms, including JPMorgan Chase in New York.

Scott enjoyed sports and especially liked coaching his sons’ baseball teams. He leaves two sons, two brothers, and his father.

Patrick M. Stanton, 54, a real estate executive, died May 12, 2023 in Palo Alto, Calif., of lymphoma. Born in Lake Forest, Ill., Patrick came to Choate in 1983; he was in the Gold Key Society. He then earned degrees from the University of Colorado Boulder and Columbia. After working as a business development leader, he moved to real estate in Reno, Nev. Patrick enjoyed world travel, backpacking, and mountain biking.

He leaves three children.

’94

John Sampson Hartman, 48, died July 1, 2023 in Austin, Texas.

Born in New York City, John came to Choate Rosemary Hall in 1990. He was in the Cum Laude Society and was the co-winner of School prizes in economics, math, and physics; his extracurricular activities included running and flying. Former teacher Don Firke remembers, “He ran crosscountry and loved to bike. I think he may have taken flying lessons at the Meriden-Wallingford airport as a senior project. He was shy but popular.

A young man who gave and earned respect.” After Choate, John went to Yale, where he formed a computer club and earned a degree in electrical engineering. While at Yale, John developed a mental illness, and after moving to Austin spent the rest of his life in supportive housing. He leaves a brother, W. Wright Hartman ’91, P.O. Box 261, Middlebury, VT 05753; and his parents.

Faculty, Staff, and Trustees Sharon Oster, who was a Choate Rosemary Hall Trustee for 10 years, died of cancer June 10, 2022 in New Haven. She was 73. Born in Bethpage, N.Y., Sharon earned a degree in economics from Hofstra University and a Ph.D. in economics from Harvard. She joined Yale’s economics department in 1974 and became a professor in the School of Organization and Management in 1982 — the first woman to hold that position. As Dean from 2008 to 2011, she took a salary cut and diverted the funds to subsidize internships for students. She was the author of textbooks on business used in college courses across the United States. Sharon was a Choate Rosemary Hall Trustee from 1997 to 2007. She leaves her husband, Ray C. Fair, 233 Everit St., New Haven, CT 06511; three children, Emily Oster ’98, Stephen Fair ’00, and John Oster ’03; a brother; and eight grandchildren.

Our sympathy to the friends and families of the following, whose deaths are reported with sorrow: C. Theodore Lamb ’49 February 24, 2023 David R. Geis ’57 March 18, 2023 Diana Joan Duff Carter ’58 February 25, 2019 Ann Flower Cumings ’60 February 2021

BULLETIN | FALL 2023 51

Come spend a few days on campus and see how we live and learn together at

Family Weekend 2023

October 19-21 Family Weekend events are intended to introduce our parents and guardians to the teachers and mentors, experiences and programs, and support systems and daily routines of Choate. Save the date!

52

SCOREBOARD | Spring Sports Wrap-Up

Senior Captains Alex Hassett ’23 and Heidi Li ’23 congratulate fellow captain Jordan Wallace ’24 along with Bella Hassett ’24 and Reinah Lee ’26 on another victory on the softball field.

The Wild Boars 2023 spring season closed a successful year with numerous championships, all-team selections, and individual accomplishments. The softball team claimed its second-straight Western New England Championship with a 2-0 victory over Westminster. Boys golf won both the Suffield Invitational and the Bader Invitational. Boys lacrosse won the most games in program history while defeating Deerfield Academy and other nationally ranked programs. Baseball and girls water polo were among teams qualifying for the playoffs.

BULLETIN | FALL 2023 53

VARSITY BASEBALL Varsity Record: 12-8 Overall, 11-5 within Founders League Captains: Mac Cady ’23, Jaxon Carroll ’23, Eli Levesque ’23 Highlights: Regular season of 11 victories resulted in Founders League Runner Up finish. Wins included victories over Taft, Andover, Exeter, Loomis, and Deerfield. Qualified for the New England Playoffs as #4 Seed.

BOYS VARSITY CREW Season Competitions: Founders Day Regatta, New England Championships Captains: Michael Korvyakov ’23, Samuel Thompson ’23 Highlight: The Boys Varsity Crew team competed in numerous races and championships, with the biggest highlight coming from the Founders Day Regatta, where the Boys First Varsity Boat took 2nd place overall.

GIRLS VARSITY CREW Season Competitions: Founders Day Regatta, New England Championships Captains: Tallulah Baird ’23, Ruby Cameron ’23, Ryan Froeb ’23, Gaby Nirmal ’23 Highlight: Girls Varsity Crew finished 4th overall at NEIRA’s (New England Championships) and recorded the following regular season results for each boat: 1st boat: 19 wins, 6 losses; 2nd boat: 21 wins, 2 losses; 3rd boat: 10 wins, 6 losses; 4th boat: 8 wins, 5 losses.

BOYS VARSITY GOLF Regular Season Record: 16-4 Captains: William Harris ’23, Tucker Silva ’23 Highlights: The Boys Varsity Golf team enjoyed one of its best seasons in program history. During the regular season, Choate shot its lowest team score in program history against Pomfret. They finished 1st place at the Suffield Invitational and also took 1st place at the Bader Invitational. Choate concluded its season in 8th place at the end-of-season Kingswood Oxford Invitational.

GIRLS VARSITY GOLF Regular Season Record: 8-4 Captain: Cassatt Boatwright ’24 Highlight: The Girls Varsity Golf team earned numerous regular season victories to conclude with a strong 8-4 record. At the Founders League Championships, the Wild Boars placed 3rd overall.

Cassatt Boatwright ’24 medaled with a low score of 42.

BOYS VARSITY LACROSSE Regular Season Record: 14-3 Captains: Adam Carroll ’23, Harrison Keith ’23, Daniel Mahoney ’23, Jon Marvan ’23, Grant Masterton ’23, Benjamin Wable ’23 Highlights: The Boys Varsity Lacrosse team finished with the most wins in a season in program history over highly nationally ranked Deerfield and IMG Academy. The Wild Boars also earned a thrilling overtime victory over Avon Old Farms to secure a 3rd place finish in the Founders League.

GIRLS VARSITY LACROSSE Regular Season Record: 9-9 Captains: Mieke Buterbaugh ’23, Sarah Markley ’23, Cadence Secreto ’23 Highlights: The Girls Varsity Lacrosse team posted an even record of 9-9. Captain Mieke Buterbaugh ’23 tied a school record with ten goals (and added two assists for 12 total points) in Choate’s regular season win over Northfield Mt. Hermon on Senior Day. CO-ED VARSITY SAILING Season Competitions: Connecticut State Championships, New England Championships Captain: Julia Brighton ’23 Highlight: The Co-ed Varsity Sailing team competed in the region’s biggest competitions, including The Connecticut State Championships and New England’s.

VARSITY SOFTBALL Record: 16-2 Captains: Alex Hassett ’23, Heidi Li ’23, Jordan Wallace ’24 Highlights: The Varsity Softball team duplicated its tremendous 2022 season with another fantastic year. The Wild Boars finished 16-2 and claimed the Western New England Championship for the second straight season after defeating Westminster 2-0 in the championship game. Sisters Alex ’23 and Bella ’24 Hassett combined to throw a no-hitter against Miss Porter’s.

BOYS VARSITY TENNIS Record: 7-4 Captain: John Henderson ’23 Highlights: The Boys Varsity Tennis team posted a 7-2 record with big wins over Deerfield, Loomis, and Westminster. The program also qualified for the New England Singles Championships.

GIRLS VARSITY TENNIS Record: 6-6 Captain: Sophia Zhang ’23 Highlight: The Girls Varsity Tennis team finished with a .500 record of 6-6 and defeated Taft, Green Farms Academy, and Loomis during the season.

BOYS VARSITY TRACK & FIELD Season Competitions: Tri-Meets, Founders League and New England Championships Captain: Payton Garcia ’23 Highlights: The Boys Varsity Track team competed in tri-meets throughout the spring, with a culminating 5th place finish at the Founders League Championships and then the New England Championships as well.

GIRLS VARSITY TRACK & FIELD Season Competitions: Tri-Meets, Founders League and New England Championships Captain: Raye Osayimwese-Susson ’23 Highlights: Throughout the spring, the Girls Varsity Track team vied against peer schools in tri-meets and placed 5th at the Founders League Championships and then 5th at the New England Championships.

CO-ED VARSITY ULTIMATE FRISBEE Record: 7-1 Regular Season, 7-7 Overall Captains: David Garsten ’23, Brian Harder ’23, Edwin Lopez ’23, Elizabeth Zhao ’24 Highlights: The Co-ed Varsity Ultimate Frisbee team had a great regular season with a record of 7-1. The Wild Boars also competed at the Hotchkiss Invitational and NEPSUL’s, where they finished 8th overall.

VARSITY BOYS VOLLEYBALL Record: 3-5 Captains: Tenzin Bista ’23, Evan Wu ’23 Highlight: The Boys Varsity Volleyball team earned a major victory during the New England Playoffs, as the Wild Boars defeated Northfield Mt. Hermon in the consolation round.

VARSITY GIRLS WATER POLO Record: 7-3 Regular Season Captains: Grace Furtado ’23, Kathleen McClatchie ’23, Tiffany Xiao ’23 Highlights: Girls Varsity Water Polo earned a 7-3 record with marquee wins against Deerfield, Andover, and Exeter, qualified for the New England Playoffs, and advanced to the semifinals.

54

SCOREBOARD | Spring 2023 Highlights

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6 1 Sam Thompson ’23, Michael Korvyakov ’23, Austin Zhao ’23, Wesley Walker ’24, and Julian Paul ’25 celebrate their win.

2 Tristan Pearl ’23 winds up to deliver another strike.

3 Kameryn Perry ’23 clears the high jump bar with perfect technique.

4 Captain Mieke Buterbaugh ’23 zeroes in on her opponent.

5 Selam Olson ’24 admires her long shot from the tee box.

6 Johnny Guo ’26 serves an ace during a regular season match.

7 David Garsten ’23 fends off a block from his opponent.

7

BULLETIN | FALL 2023 55

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8 1 Wolfgang Louchheim ’24 and captain Julia Brighton ’23 sail through rough waters.

2 Ethan Opdenaker ’24 fights for possession of the ball.

3 Justin Edwards ’25 launches his discus at the perfect angle.

4 Kaya Weerasuriya ’26 stays focused after returning her opponent’s serve.

5 Tucker Silva ’23 (Captain) follows through his golf swing.

6 Tenzin Bista ’23 (Captain) prepares to ace a serve during a volleyball match.

7 The boat of Saylen Blake ’26, Caitlyn Ahn ’25, Brecken Cullinan ’25, Suzie Kim ’24, and

Vuyisa Kahla ’25 are all smiles after medaling in their race.

8 Kathleen McClatchie ’23 (Captain) looks to pass to a teammate after a save.

56

BOOKSHELF

In this issue, a novel drawn from true stories of Colorado history about mining, small town journalism, and the labor movement delivers a resonant tale for contemporary readers, an in-depth study of LGBTQ+ musicians offers highlights and analysis of country music culture, and an associate professor draws on her expertise in developmental science and design research to describe technology’s role in child development. We’ve bookmarked six other recent alumni books for our readers to consider.

Gilded Mountain

By Kate Manning RH ’75 | Reviewed by Nicole Thomas Gilded Mountain by Kate Manning takes you on a journey through turn of the century Colorado, where the Pelletier family, French-Canadian immigrants, seek employment and housing. The narrative unfolds through the eyes of seventeen-year-old Sylvie Pelletier, a spirited and idealistic young woman struggling with her place in the world due to her gender and station. Sylvie chafes against her mother’s chiding, “Silence is woman’s best garment.”

Ever a romantic at heart, Sylvie embarks on what she hopes will be an adventure, only to find herself in a squalid labor camp that becomes home.

Sylvie’s tenacious character shines through.

Guided by her father’s union beliefs, she fights for justice and equality by demanding fair pay for fair work. To help support her family, Sylvie takes work in the home of the quarry owner, until she is offered higher wages by K.T., the editor of the Moonstone City Record, the local “agony beat” who encourages her to learn about the privileged class.

As she becomes more enmeshed with the aristocracy, the gilded cage of the wealthy surrounds Sylvie, and she is taken in by the beauty and excess, testing her loyalty to her family and the struggling workers. Her surroundings allow her to romanticize a fairy tale life she has only read of, and the wool begins to cover her newshound eyes.

Sylvie’s resilience and sense of justice make her an admirable and unforgettable heroine.

Manning’s prose brings the characters’ hardships to life so vividly that you can’t help but be drawn in, eager to discover Sylvie’s fate. The novel’s twists and turns keep the tension high, and pages turning.

The struggles of social change are captured poignantly, portraying the challenges faced by individuals fighting for a better life. Readers are transported back to a time and place where social issues like the wealth gap, women’s rights, and the freedom of the press mirror issues in present-day America.

The historical setting is thoroughly researched, providing an authentic backdrop for the characters’ lives, depicting life in Colorado and the harsh conditions of marble mining that never bog the story down. Stories of love, hope, and perseverance amidst the backdrop of labor movements and the stark divide between prosperity and poverty are seamlessly woven throughout, and Manning’s evocative language and vivid imagery bring it all to life.

The plot keeps readers engaged with its wellpaced narrative and strong elements of big ideals, heartbreaks, and tragedies. The novel’s exploration of justice, equality, and the pursuit of a better life makes it a must-read for anyone seeking a powerful and thought-provoking story. The novel sets a high standard in historical fiction, drawing you into an epic tale that will linger in your mind long after the final page.

GILDED MOUNTAIN Author: Kate Manning RH ’75 Publisher: Simon & Schuster, Inc. About the Reviewer: Nicole Thomas is the office coordinator in the Communications department at Choate Rosemary Hall.

BULLETIN | FALL 2023 57

Technology’s Child

By Katie Davis ’96 | Reviewed by Don Firke P ’08, ’10

TECHNOLOGY’S CHILD Author: Katie Davis ’96 Publisher: The MIT Press About the Reviewer: Don Firke P ’08, ’10 is former Dean of Faculty at Choate Rosemary Hall.

Katie Davis, Ph.D. has written an important book that examines the ways that developing children (from preschoolers to emerging adults) interact with a variety of digital media. Her intended audience includes parents and caregivers, educators, technology designers, and policy makers. Relying on the work of other researchers, as well as her own studies and personal experience, Davis sheds light on many significant issues.

Despite the wide age range and broad array of digital experiences, Davis nevertheless imparts vital perspective on both the experiences of the individual child and the larger societal trends. She identifies two qualities as central to a developmentally positive technology experience: the interaction must be directed and paced by the child, and there must be community support for the child. Digital experiences that meet these requirements can lead to positive outcomes, including a sense of ownership and initiative, feelings of competence and mastery, and a sense of belonging and connection.

Davis provides guidance with a raft of questions familiar to parents and teachers: when is it appropriate for a child to have their own smartphone, what (if any) limits should be put upon smartphone usage, are games like Minecraft inherently better for children than games like Fortnite, how can caring adults understand and deal with instances of cyberbullying, what are the differences between Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok, and how can social media support marginalized adolescents? Readers will come away informed and better prepared to deal with these issues.

A couple of examples help the reader understand the questions involved when thinking about digital activities. Davis asks us to think about playgrounds; their equipment allows for activities that support the development of gross motor skills (running, jumping, and so on). Playgrounds also provide the “loose parts” of play, such as sticks and leaves, and sand and bugs, that allow for higher order imaginative play (acting out as witches and wizards or digging for dinosaur bones). The digital environment struggles to provide the flexibility of the loose parts that can be found at playgrounds, but Davis reminds us that so long as

children have access to playgrounds, both actual and virtual, they will reap the benefits of developmentally appropriate play.

Davis also gives the reader insight into the realities of digital experiences at a middle school dance. She interviewed both the attendees and some of their parents and found widely (and wildly) divergent views of what happened at the dance.

Speaking for the parents, one dad lamented that despite all the care that the chaperones had taken to create a beautiful space for the dance, the kids just took some selfies and then played on their phones all night. The students reported that they enjoyed taking photos of themselves and their friends and then experimenting with different filters. After sharing their photos with their peers at the dance and choosing which pictures to post on social media, the students visited each other’s pages to post likes and comments. They felt the dance was a great success.

Davis reminds us that it is important for adults to understand fully the platforms their children are using and their experiences on them.

Perhaps the most reassuring message that Davis delivers is based on research done decades ago.

Pediatrician Donald Winnicott argued that it was good for children to experience times when their parents are not there to fulfill their every need or desire. These moments allow the children to work through their feelings of disappointment and to build the resilience and grit that will prepare them for future challenges. Children need parents who are “good enough,” and parents must remember that no one can be a perfect parent. Davis extends this concept for the 21st century to include the “good enough” digital parent.

In our work with children and technology, Davis urges us to make sure the child is in control of the interaction, that there is a community to provide support for the child and to provide context for the experience, and that we provide variety and balance in their play and learning activities. We will not be perfect in our work as parents and teachers, but with the guidance of Katie Davis we will certainly be “good enough.”

58 BOOKSHELF

Queer Country

By Shana Goldin-Perschbacher ’97 | Reviewed by D. Gam Bepko

QUEER COUNTRY Author: Shana Goldin-Perschbacher ’97 Publisher: University of Illinois Press About the Reviewer: D. Gam Bepko works in the Financial Office at Choate Rosemary Hall.

At first glance, the term “queer country musician” seems like a juxtaposition, given that the country music genre historically has not come across as being open towards the concept of inclusivity — one look at the career paths of musicians such as k.d. lang, Chely Wright, and Ty Herndon is sobering proof that coming out and being their true authentic selves was not something the country music world seemed ready for. But Shana Goldin-Perschbacher ‘97 takes on the task of chronicling the histories of LGBTQ+ musicians in Queer Country. This book is a recent entry in the Music in American Life series published

by University of Illinois Press.

“Why queer country music? Because sometimes you love a culture that doesn’t love you back.”

The above quote from Karen Pittelman (author and singer-songwriter for Karen and the Sorrows) starts the book’s introduction off by striking a sensitive nerve that anyone who has ever been on the outside looking in has felt: the thing you want to be a part of wants nothing to do with you. A prime example is Patrick Haggerty, one of several musicians profiled in this book. Haggerty’s Lavender Country, the first openly gay country album, came about as a result of the trauma and confusion he experienced as a gay youth because of the negative information available to him about homosexuality. He made it his mission to provide honest information about what it means to be gay, using music as his medium. The thousand copies he was able to afford to print of his album sold out. He and his band eventually split up and moved on with their lives. While he still played music a little, it wasn’t until forty years later when a person uploaded one of Haggerty’s songs to YouTube that he found new levels of success and felt like he was finally being taken seriously.

In addition to profiling musicians such as Haggerty, Canadian transgender musician Rae Spoon, and Joe Stevens of the disbanded group Coyote Grace, Goldin-Perschbacher explores various themes including the troubles that come with not fitting within genre boundaries, misappropriation, and the ongoing effort by LGBTQ+ musicians to bring their message to mainstream audiences.

Another main theme occurring throughout the book is that of sincerity. In the early part of her career, Canadian musician k.d. lang had been under the microscope of journalists and insiders because of the sense of humor she used during her performances, poking gentle fun at the country music genre. Critics also felt that the cover of her 1989 album Absolute Torch and Twang, with her cowboy poses and manner of dress, were exaggerated stereotypes. Though it was an open secret that she was a lesbian, she never fully came out until she shifted away from country music.

Sincerity versus irony and the fine line that divides them comes up more than once in this book, with the mindset being that if an artist feels the need to hide themselves under the guise of a mask or full costume, how sincere are they about their message?

Canadian gay musician Orville Peck — who puts on a great live show — wears a mask as an artistic choice, rather than for anonymity. His identity is easy enough to find with the aid of Google, and his fans respect his wishes to not use his birth name. And in the case of drag queen singer Trixie Mattel aka Brian Firkus, he had this to say about the sincerity of country music performances in general: “We’re all in costumes and shit. If you think of Loretta Lynn or old videos of Dolly Parton, they’re in a corset and wigs. They’re in drag. There’s no difference other than their genitals. And if that’s what you’re thinking about when they’re playing music, then you have some other issues.”

Personally speaking, I jumped at the chance to read this book. While not a huge fan of country music — I’m more from the early 90s grunge era — my fiancé, who identifies as queer, is a fan of Orville Peck and Amythyst Kiah, both covered in this book and both of whom we’ve seen perform (and met, in the case of the latter). This book was well-researched and fascinating, and I look forward to tracking down and listening to many of these musicians.

BULLETIN | FALL 2023 59

COMING AGAIN Author: Roger Vaughan C ’55 Publisher: Choptank Word Bank

FRONTIERS OF GENDER EQUALITY: TRANSNATIONAL LEGAL PERSPECTIVES Author: Rebecca Cook RH ’64 Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press

WHITE ELEPHANT TECHNOLOGY: 50 CRAZY INVENTIONS THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN BUILT AND WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM THEM Author: John J. Geoghegan C ’75 Publisher: The History Press

SMART STARTUPS: WHAT EVERY ENTREPRENEUR NEEDS TO KNOW Author: Jim Sherman ’80 Publisher: HarperCollins

EVERYDAY WAR: THE CONFLICT OVER DONBAS, UKRAINE Author: Greta Uehling ’80 Publisher: Cornell University Press

THE SYNTHETIC UNIVERSITY: HOW HIGHER EDUCATION CAN BENEFIT FROM SHARED SOLUTIONS AND SAVE ITSELF Author: James Shulman ’83 Publisher: Princeton University Press

60

END NOTE |

Poet and educator Jumoke McDuffie-Thurmond, who is Culture and Equity Program Manager at Pace Gallery in Brooklyn, N.Y., delivered closing remarks, urging those gathered to remember the lives of those enslaved as bigger than their enslavement. He encouraged the use of imagination to do so and praised the students’ creative efforts. He said, “Our communities will be measured by how those lives (of those enslaved) are cared for after death.”

The following poem by John Reach ’24 was one of the student reflections McDuffie-Thurmond praised: Manufactured Fog Knowledge beckons: A shadow within the trees.

Awaits the morning blue birds.

Choate Installs Witness Stone on Campus On May 31, the Choate community conducted a Witness Stones Project installation ceremony on campus, commemorating the life of an enslaved girl named Lettice (c. 1775–1781).

Enslaved by Captain Caleb and Ruth Atwater, who lived in Homestead — built as the Atwater family home in 1774 and sold to the School in 1933 — Lettice had been unknown to the School until Choate students, in collaboration with members of the Witness Stones Project, pursued research of records uncovered and presented by the Wallingford Historic Preservation & Trust in 2021.

Head of School Alex D. Curtis welcomed those gathered for the installation, calling the event part of the commitment Choate made three years ago after the death of George Floyd, “to increase the School’s actions to become a more just and equitable institution.” Choate archivist Stephanie Gold led students through

the year-long community service project, along with other faculty and staff, including Dean of Equity and Inclusion Rachel L. Myers, who offered a libation, she said, “to give honor, reverence, and respect to the elders whose shoulders we stand on.”

Choate alumna Liz Lightfoot ’81, who works with the Witness Stones Project, explained that it is the emotional engagement with history that distinguishes the Witness Stones Project, and that it is very gratifying “to see Choate students do this very difficult work of exploring historical documents and then sharing their findings in ways that honor the humanity of the individual they are researching.”

Several students participated in research during the year, and three of those involved offered reflection and creative work as part of the installation: John Reach III ’24, Evelyn Reach ’26, and Wolfy Louchheim ’26.

The aged willow hangs above an eddy, Watches as leaves spin over currents.

Remembers what we cannot.

How can we recall what was never written?

Small footprints shook the ground, Gave resonance to bark.

In the hollow of the tree The child sat, Gazed at the silver moon, Marveled at the cosmos.

As the clocks spun themselves beyond, Metallic gears shifted, uneven.

Fog coiled between the branches Of the willow tree.

The leaves shivered, as the cold Settled over the ground.

Days passed as hours — Years as seconds.

The tree is now alone.

It pushes its heavy branches at the clouds.

Maybe it can escape this limited world, And rise as the sun and moon to a place Where it may be understood.

What could have been?

A little girl played beside it, Until she stopped coming — Until she was lost in time.

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Together we will Inspire the Next.

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