KO Magazine Fall 2025

KO M AG A Z I N E | FA L L 2 0 2 5

Our Mission: Kingswood Oxford inspires students to excel and to lead lives of integrity and involvement by nourishing their talents in a community of teachers, friends, and family.

Editor: Jackie Pisani, Director of Marketing & Communications Contributors: Elizabeth Fahy Bellingrath ’78, Meghan Kurtich, Rob Kyff, Jackie Pisani, Frances van Huystee Morris ’90 Graphic Designer: Anne Allen, Allen Design Associates Photo Credits: Highpoint Pictures, Iris Photography, Jackie Pisani, Dave Quick ’92, Greg Scranton ’94, Rhino Photos, Tony Spinelli, Kristen Weldon, Kris Wolff P’20, ’23 Please direct inquiries or general comments to Jackie Pisani at pisani.j@kingswoodoxford.org Class notes or obituary information to Megan Kurtich, Director of Annual Giving at kurtich.m@kingswoodoxford.org Address changes to Melissa Vega, Manager of Advancement Services at vega.m@kingswoodoxford.org Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy as to Students Kingswood Oxford admits students of any race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic predisposition, or national or ethnic origin or other categories protected

by Connecticut or federal law to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. The School does not discriminate on the basis of these characteristics in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, financial aid programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

KO Magazine is published by Kingswood Oxford School. © Kingswood Oxford School. All rights reserved.

In This Issue: From the Head of School 4 Around the Green 6 Athletics 46 Commencement 60 Raising Livestock and Students: How One Teacher Merges Two Passions 66 From Standing Ovations to Standing for Change 72

KO’s IMPACT Program The Operational Engine Behind Biotech’s Promising Startups Publisher, Lawyer, Teacher, Tour Guide The Warm Defender The Long Goodbye of a History Teacher Who Never Just Taught History

76 80 84 88 92

Reunion Class Notes In Memoriam Board of Trustees Trustee Emeriti Alumni Council

98 102 112 114 115 115

LETTER FROM HEAD OF SCHOOL

Dear Wyvern Families,

Each year when I sit down to write this letter, I remind myself that it’s not just about reflecting on what we’ve built or achieved— it’s about celebrating who we are. And at our very best, we are a community fueled by connection, care, and growth.

This year, connection has a brand-new home on campus: the Community Commons. Our newly renovated library and dining center have been reimagined into a state-ofthe-art community hub, and it has already become the most popular spot on campus. The Commons is a place for spirited discussion, quiet conversations, small group study sessions, and sharing a great meal in our brand-new dining hall (you’ll be relieved to know the cookies remain excellent.

I checked). In a world where division and disconnection increasingly take center stage, our Commons ensures we have a place to connect in a spirit of friendship and communion at Kingswood Oxford.

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We are deeply grateful to the many donors, behind-

Additionally, the students learned about food

the-scenes staff, and our Board of Trustees, whose

insecurity through a partnership with a food pantry

generosity and commitment moved the Community

and then retrofitted a van donated by Hoffman Auto

Commons from a dream to reality. Envisioned back

Group into a mobile food bank. After the upgrades,

in 2019 as part of our strategic plan, the Commons

the class gave the van to the organization to use for

has steadily come to life—and watching students

their pickups and deliveries. (Read more on page

now claim their favorite spots around the fireplace

76). These learning experiences and electives build

(the fire is pretend, but the smiles are real) is a true

upon the strong foundation of core classes at KO.

joy. One Form 4 student put it perfectly: “I never

Students continue to learn essential content, how to

imagined I could love KO more than I already did, but

think critically, and how to write and speak fluently,

this makes it even more special.” (Check out photos

and then apply these skills to complex, real-world

of the Community Commons beginning on pg 6)

questions across disciplines.

Witnessing the transformative impact that campus

Even as we celebrate these new beginnings, our

improvements have on our school, we recently

foundation remains unchanged. We continue to be

began a new project to renovate the old squash

guided by our core value of care beyond self. This

facility at the Highland Street gym. With more than

is embodied in our service initiatives, including our

50 Middle and Upper School students participating

annual Upper School Leadership Service Day, which

in our squash program each year, Wyverns excelling

connects us to more than a dozen local organizations

at the collegiate level, and our teams earning recent

serving vulnerable communities, the elderly, and

NEPSAC championships, we wanted to create

others, and provides ongoing opportunities for

a facility that met the needs of this flourishing

students to give their time and energy where it is

program. Through the addition of four new glass

needed most.

courts, we are expanding our ability to nurture student talent, support the program’s growth, and host major squash tournaments.

These facility and program enhancements at KO are critical to the success of our school and our future Wyverns. We enter this school year with great

While these campus enhancements are exciting,

enthusiasm for what is still to come, and with deep

we’re equally energized by the innovation and

gratitude to all of our KO friends and family for your

growth happening in our academic programs.

support along the way.

We now offer nine new Impact Program electives in our Upper School, where students engage in interdisciplinary learning experiences. Each class

Go Wyverns!

partners with a local organization so students can apply what they learn in the classroom to address a real-world issue. Last spring’s Eco Design and Construction class, for example, learned design principles from experts, like Dr. Saty Sharma, professor at Savannah College of Art & Design, and Todd Andrews ’91, a principal at Centerbrook

TOM DILLOW

Architects and designer of the Commons project.

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AROUND THE GREEN

Community Commons

You’ve seen the renderings and the plans,

classes to the egg drop challenge in his

now see the actual Community Commons!

physics class. So, we could say that the

It’s even better than we could have imagined.

foundation of the new Commons was actually

The space opened at the start of the school

laid in the 1990s.

year, on time and under budget, we might add, and our Wyverns have already made it their home. It’s bustling with activity - both social and academic.

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We’re thrilled with the new space, envisioned in our 2019 strategic plan, and are grateful for the largesse of many donors to the ongoing Seize the Day campaign, the oversight of the

At our opening Convocation, the lead

board members Mary Martin ’77, P’17, ’20 and

architect and principal from Centerbrook,

Megan Ouellette P’18, ’20, and volunteers

Todd Andrews ’91, shared his thoughts on

who carted and shelved boxes of books. Like

the space and how his KO education helped

all things KO, this was a community effort,

him set his career path - from drafting

which is why we love the place so much!

LIBRARY HEARTHSIDE Step inside the library and feel right at home at our hearthside nook.

Gather by the safe, innovative fireplace (the fire is colored water vapor!)—surrounded by shelves of treasured books and campus history—for warmth, comfort, and inspiration.

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AROUND THE GREEN

PALEY FAMILY AND CIPRIANO FAMILY PATIOS Soak up sunshine or settle in with a good book—our new patios are the perfect spot to relax with friends or watch the action on the turf, all surrounded by beautiful landscaping.

MARTIN/AMELL FAMILY ATRIUM Step into the bright and airy atrium with soaring ceilings—where natural light pours in and students gather to connect, collaborate, or simply recharge. This welcoming space marks the entrance to the Commons and sets the tone for the community.

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DIAZ MEAIKE FAMILY STUDENT LOUNGE Just past the atrium, this vibrant circular lounge invites conversation and creativity. Sink into cozy seating under the bold Wyvern ceiling, grab a snack at high-tops or booths, and easily access both the library and dining hall from here.

DINING HALL Enjoy meals in style as sunlight streams into our modern dining hall. With seating for small groups or lively gatherings, it’s the go-to place for great food and laughter. And, the contemporary lighting fixtures are the chef’s kiss!

NANCY C. SOLOMON LIBRARY OFFICE Our beloved librarian, Nancy Solomon, has dedicated 30 years to KO and has been an intrinsic element in designing the new library. Her insights were critical in reimaging the space designed for current learning styles. And, she can reclaim a beautiful office space where she consults with students and helps them write their Senior Thesis.

PRESENTATION SPACE Host, present, or participate—this spacious, high-tech room seats 100+ for form assemblies, guest speakers, or club meetings, all with exceptional projection and flexibility.

COLLABORATIVE & STUDY ROOMS Whether you seek a peaceful corner or a lively project hub, our library offers rooms tailored to every style of study or collaboration. Find your ideal space and make it your own.

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AROUND THE GREEN

A Spirited and Spectacular

Hello, Dolly!

The Roberts Theater was abuzz with anticipation in late February as KO’s production of Hello, Dolly!, directed by Kyle Reynolds, chair of the performing arts department, took the stage. From the moment the overture began, it was clear that this was a show with a difference. Unlike in past years, when the band played behind the actors, former Musical Director Steve Mitchell placed the orchestra in the pit before the stage. The result was a heightened sense of energy and an immersive aural experience, particularly during the show-stopping number, “When the Parade Passes By.”

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As the curtain rose, the audience

person she speaks to needs. With a

comedy and slapstick brilliance. The

was transported to 1890s 14th

perfect balance of charm, wit, and

duo of Riley Mapp ’26 (Barnaby)

Street in Manhattan, a striking

cunning, she ensured the success

and Leo Kollen ’26 (Cornelius) stood

tableau of denizens posed like

of her character’s scheme to marry

out with their expressive faces and

mannequins, reading newspapers

the self-described “rich, friendless,

expertly timed hijinks, whether

against a backdrop of fire escapes

and mean” half-a-millionaire Horace

hiding in closets or ducking under

and billboards. The set design was

Vandergelder played by Brayden Bak

tables. Teague Shamleffer ’26, the

evocative, immediately drawing

’26, with delightful precision. Her

maitre d’ of the Harmonia Gardens

viewers into the world of the play.

performance was both compelling,

restaurant, manically blew a whistle

Molly Palmer ’27’s commanding

triumphant, and joyous, making

like a drill sergeant to conduct his

portrayal of Dolly Levi was at the

Dolly’s journey all the more engaging.

frantic wait staff and bark orders

heart of the production earning her

KO’s student performers demonstrated

in an exaggerated German accent.

the 2025 Halo Award for a leading

impeccable comedic timing, rivaling

actress in a musical. She owned the

professional improv troupes like The

stage, a no-small feat for a young

Groundlings or the Upright Citizens

actress. Dolly makes a living through

Brigade. From Juliana Chipelo ’26’s

what she calls “arranging things”

(Ermengarde) exaggerated crying to

– matchmaking and numerous

Lily Temkin ’25’s (Minny) distinctive,

sidelines, including dance instruction,

jackhammer-like laugh, the show was

mandolin lessons, or whatever the

packed with moments of physical

Bak, as Horace, the cantankerous target of Dolly’s machinations, played the role with great likeability. With his believably stooped gait, one wondered if Bak was affected by early-onset arthritis. Betsy Slifka ’26 was particularly brash as Ernestina Money. Contrasting all the farce

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AROUND THE GREEN

“

Hello, Dolly!

was the role of milliner owner Irene, played by Danica Arwen De Dios ’27, who sang a tender “Ribbons Down My Back” and found love unexpectedly with Cornelius.

Visually, the production was a feast for the eyes. The painterly backdrops, stunning curtain work, and vibrant Belle Epoque period gowns—from bright pinks and yellows to parasol-adorned ensembles— brought a sense of exuberance to the stage. The audience audibly gasped when a near-life-size train, complete with steam piping from its engine, rolled onto the stage—a dazzling effect that underscored the production’s attention to detail.

One of the show’s most memorable moments came during “When the Parade Passes By,” as red, white, and blue confetti unexpectedly cascaded from the ceiling. The effect was met with delight, and after the show, students excitedly discussed the secret behind the spectacle: members of the stage crew positioned in the catwalks had manually released the confetti, adding a touch of behind-the-scenes magic to an already unforgettable performance.

Another brilliant number from the show was the “Gallop of the Waiters”, who, dancing with chaotic precision, carried silver trays and wine bottles at the Harmonia. Matthew Habeeb ’27’s dizzying turns

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is a story about resilience, hope, and the courage to embrace life’s second chances. Dolly reminds us that, no matter how uncertain the world may feel, we must keep moving forward— opening new doors, building connections, and finding joy wherever we can.”

-Kyle Reynolds, Director

were literally head-spinning. As the wait staff settled down, they were roused again with the news that Dolly had returned to dine at the restaurant. Dolly descended the staircase while singing the ‘big’ number, Hello Dolly!, in a spectacular red dress, waving and greeting the adoring waiters who joined her in the song.

Through the comedy, a purposeful message underscores the play. Director Kyle Reynolds wrote in the Playbill, Hello, Dolly! is a story about resilience, hope, and the courage to embrace life’s second chances. “Dolly reminds us that, no matter how uncertain the world may feel, we must keep moving forward—opening new doors, building connections, and finding joy wherever we can.”

KO’s “Hello, Dolly!” was a triumph—a masterful blend of comedy, music, and spectacle that left the audience thoroughly entertained. With its clever direction, talented cast, and stunning visual effects, this production was a true celebration of musical theater at its finest.

KO also won a Halo Award for Best Dance Ensemble. Head Dance Captain Jane Morris ’26 won the Dance Molinari Scholarship to workshop with Broadway dancers.

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AROUND THE GREEN

The Caley Faculty Grant Announced Head of School Tom Dillow announced the new “Caley Faculty Grant,” which was awarded to a full-time teacher at KO. This grant was generously made possible as part of KO’s Seize The Day campaign by members of the Caley family and other alumni in honor of legendary teachers Dick

The grant recognizes that

Caley ’62 and Carol Caley, who both taught in the

• a teacher can have a transformational

science department. These two fine educators

impact on the life of a young person;

poured their hearts and souls into teaching,

• expert and caring teachers are critical to

mentoring, coaching, and inspiring thousands of

fulfilling the mission of Kingswood Oxford

students over their 60 combined years at KO. The

School to “inspire students to excel and

grant of $2,500 will be given annually to a full-time

lead lives of integrity and involvement;”

teacher at KO (with at least three years of service

• the work throughout the school year, while

to the school) to pursue professional growth and renewal during the summer.

joyful and rewarding, can be challenging and constant; and • in order for teachers to bring their best selves to each new school year, they need opportunities to renew their practice and craft for the benefit of KO students.

The Caley Faculty Grant was established to “provide opportunities for teachers at Kingswood Oxford to rest, renew, restore, and grow during the summer months so they can continue to bring creativity, passion, and dedication to their students during the school year.” The grant will provide financial resources for teachers to pursue off-campus activities of their choosing.

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PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:

Grants for Professional Development:

The teacher can use the grant to attend workshops, pursue ways to expand the teaching craft, travel, or engage in activities that bring teachers joy and inspiration so they can return to KO with new perspectives to share with their students.

Flexible Use: The grant can be used

in a way that best supports a teacher’s professional renewal, whether it’s for a retreat, a creative project, or taking time to pursue a professional project.

Community and Support: The grant will

allow a teacher to join a network of fellow educators who are also taking time to renew, thus sharing experiences and ideas for personal and professional growth.

This year, Middle School teacher Alison O’Donnell was awarded the inaugural grant order to travel to Copenhagen this summer. This opportunity aligns perfectly with her ongoing work in Upper Prep geography. For years, her curriculum has centered around the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly exploring sustainable cities and communities. Copenhagen, one of the world’s leading models of urban sustainability, has often served as a key case study for her students.

This grant allowed her to experience firsthand the initiatives she teaches about—from biking on Copenhagen’s extensive paths and kayaking in its clean harbor to visiting CopenHill, the innovative waste-to-energy plant and recreation center.

These real-world insights will enrich her classroom teaching and provide students with a deeper, more personal understanding of sustainable living.

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AROUND THE GREEN

Students Go Old School Through the generous underwriting of the Goodman Banks Visiting Artist Series, KO welcomed artist Robert Calafiore to KO last fall. Born in New Britain, Connecticut, to Italian immigrant parents, Calafiore was deeply influenced by his upbringing in a traditional Roman Catholic home, which left a deep imprint on his artistic sensibilities.

His early experiences in a close-knit family environment, rich with religious influence and a strong work ethic, have informed both his creative practice and his philosophical outlook on art and life. These themes of tradition, family, and human connection are a consistent thread throughout his work.

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While at KO, Calafiore conducted workshops with Upper and Middle School students using retro pinhole cameras (circa 500 BCE) featuring the students as photography subjects. One of the challenges in using this photographic method is the time the subject must remain still (over three minutes!) for the camera to capture the image. That’s a tall order for some Middle Schoolers, but the classes embraced the experience. The students ran outside and assembled themselves in groups of twos and fours, splaying under trees, benches, and steps to create a tableau for the camera to capture. They particularly enjoyed seeing their images develop in the emulsifying formula in the dark room.

Calafiore spoke at an assembly and discussed his artistic practice while showing some of his artwork. His photography, particularly his work with pinhole cameras, is driven by a deep fascination with how technology has altered our physical relationship with the world and one another.

In an era dominated by digital photography and virtual communication, his use of handmade, analog processes stands as a deliberate counterpoint to the speed and convenience of modern technological tools. For Calafiore, the physical labor involved in creating his images is just as important as the final product—an approach heavily influenced by his parents’ blue-collar background, where hard work was valued and celebrated. “I tend to like things that are really hard and laborious,” he said. “The harder it is, the longer it takes, the longer and harder it is for me to figure out a solution, the more I enjoy the process.”

His pinhole camera series challenges viewers to consider the passage of time and the shift in how we perceive and engage with physical objects. These works, created with exposures lasting up to 80 minutes under intense lighting, are built layer by layer with carefully arranged stacks of glass, household objects, and family heirlooms. Each photograph is a one-of-a-kind creation, with no digital negatives or copies.

This meticulous analog process, where even the pinhole itself is handmade, results in richly colored, large-format prints that evoke both personal memory and universal experiences of family, tradition, and materiality.

While Calafiore’s art is deeply rooted in tradition—both in terms of his subject matter and his analog techniques— it is also a meditation on the future. He is particularly interested in how younger generations, growing up in a world KO MAGAZINE 2025

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AROUND THE GREEN

dominated by digital technology, have a different relationship with physical space and materials. He observes in his students a marked shift away from the tactile experiences of measuring, building, and crafting that once were essential parts of childhood. This change is reflected in the way his students struggle with tasks like cutting a straight line or handling physical tools—skills that were once commonplace but are now unfamiliar due to the rise of digital devices. “Now I need to take an entire day to show students how to hold that ruler, how to use the utility knife without cutting a finger off, how to measure what a fraction of an inch is,” he said.

For Calafiore, this shift is neither good nor bad—it is simply an observation that informs his work. In response, he has chosen to move in the opposite direction, creating art that appears digital but is entirely analog, handcrafted, and unique.

“I take a 180-degree turn away from digital technology in my work,” he said. “I make works that look contemporary, digital, and photoshopped, but it is 100 percent analog handmade work with zero technologies.” His one-of-a-kind photographs defy the replicable nature of photography, forcing viewers to engage with each piece as a singular, physical object.

Calafiore presented to the KO students some of his large-scale work, inspired by a decorative bowl displayed in his family’s

“There’s nothing better than the arts teaching about how to think outside the box and learn new solutions to old and reoccurring problems.”

-Robert Calafiore

kitchen as a child. Although a prosaic object, the piece was cherished by his hardworking parents, a representation of achieving the American dream. Calafiore began collecting colorful glassware bordering on obsession that is now featured in his work, either stacked on top of one another or in a collection. These photos of glassware “tell a really personal story,” he said, “and yet it’s universal at the same time. So many people have gone through the immigrant experience, and this was a way for me to use those objects and tell this story.” Some of his other glassware may be white in reality, but through his painstaking set-up of lights (40,000 watts of light!), the final image of the bowls and bric-a-brac are kaleidoscopic and mind-bending.

In addition to his gallery work, Calafiore advocates for arts education, emphasizing the importance of creativity in all fields. “Whether you go into the arts or not, taking courses in the arts is about creativity,” he said. “There’s nothing better than the arts teaching about how to think outside the box and learn new solutions to old and reoccurring problems,” he said.

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AROUND THE GREEN

Exploring the Uncanny with Karen Russell Baird Symposium Author As you enter the phantasmagoric world of Karen Russell, the 42nd author in the Warren Baird English Symposium series, you’ll encounter uncanny creatures—mutant scarecrows, wolf-like girls, and vampires— as well as more prosaic settings, such as a shopping mall. It’s all strangely familiar yet a bit off, like the magic realism of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, one of Rusell’s literary touchstones. Both she and Marquez create surreal landscapes where we can see ourselves and the human condition most vividly.

Russell is the author of three novels and three

her tale based on the pinhole photography inspired

short story collections. Her debut 2011 novel

by the artist Robert Calafiore, who had visited KO

Swamplandia was a finalist for the 2012 Pulitzer

earlier in the semester. Russell explained the formula

Prize for fiction. In 2009 the National Book

for a ghost story as a stable context that has been

Foundation named Russell a “Five Under 35”

disrupted by an unsettling force that lurks beneath the

honoree. She was also the recipient of a MacArthur

surface of our everyday lives.

Foundation “Genius Grant” in 2013. Russell has

“You’re working in your ordinary day,” Russell said.

taught creative writing at University of California, Irvine, Williams College, Columbia University, and Bryn Mawr and was the endowed chair of creative writing in the MFA program at Texas State University.

this urgent demand, and it won’t leave you alone.

It’s literally rattling the furniture. Even if you are not writing about a supernatural force in your story,

During her workshop with the senior symposium

something is always haunting a character in your

class, Russell explored the genre of the ghost stories

story. Being alive and conscious and having a past is a

the students were in the process of composing. She

deeply haunting experience.”

explained that ghost stories mirror real life because

Following the workshop, Russell spoke at an Upper

they show that terrible circumstances occur to good individuals arbitrarily. One student shared the story she was writing about a group of friends who were animals, and another student described

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“And then a mysterious force has shown up with

School assembly about her craft. She told the students how fortunate they are to be at an age where they are granted the freedom to be vital and awake before the banal realities of mortgages and

tax returns set in. “You are free to see and know

She described these stories as “flat cola,” lacking

and feel things that adults become insulated from,”

an “effervescent sense of creation” until her teacher

she said. She told the students that they are lucky

encouraged her to write like the authors she loved:

to have teachers who allow them to take risks and

Gabriel Garcia Marquez, George Saunders, and Italo

give them support to explore. “They’re more than

Calvino. Despite their heavyweight literary merit,

helping you identify what is best and wildest and

these authors used devices found in fables. “Here were

most idiosyncratic and most alive in you, what your

writers of serious literature drawing upon the oneric

passions are, and giving you wings to help you fly.

power of fairy tale, borrowing the technique of uncanny

It’s a gift to be at a place like this.”

estrangement from horror and science fiction, handing

Russell told the audience that as a girl, she was captivated by authors such as Ray Bradbury, Octavia Butler, Borges, Marquez, and more classic writers like Tolstoy and Fitzgerald. While at the public

monsters the mic and letting them crack jokes.” Reading these stories, she said, allowed her to open her writing and explore other worlds, which, in their strangeness, allowed her to plumb the everyday experience.

library, she questioned the ghettoization of books,

A tension exists in fantasy writing where the writer

segmenting them by type. Even a novel as traditional

must attend to realness. “Writing something out there,”

as Jane Eyre, she noted, begins with a haunting.

she said, “you have to be more strictly attentive to the

Russell encouraged the students to read like an

concrete detail than someone writing in a naturalistic

“omnivore” and not be closed off to embracing

vein because, the greater the strain on credulity, the

abstruse texts and poetry. She admitted that as a

more convincing the properties in it have to be.”

teenager she chased her GPA and consumed work

The most challenging aspect of writing fantasy is

that required less brain power. One of her favorite teachers exposed her to an elliptical poem by Wallace Stevens, “The Order of Key West,” which, she said, granted her permission to be “bewildered.”

In her initial stabs at storytelling, she said she attempted to write about what she perceived to be the adult world, with adultery, even though she was 18. “I was trying to wear sensible pumps and write serious things,” she said. “I tried to portray the real world to whip married adults into plausible dramas, to describe the makes and models of their cars.”

convincing the reader to care about the characters, even if they might be she-wolves. “No matter how

whacked out your story turns out to be, no reader can live in that world for long unless it also feels solid enough to support a genuine emotional connection.”

And there’s nothing more real than that.

The symposium is supported by The Dobkin/Sonntag Family in memory of Isabel Dobkin and the Tabell Family Foundation.

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Theater Department Spells it Out

F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C Tensions are high. Nerves are fraught. And William Barfee (pronounced “bar-fay,” he insists), the mucus-membrane impaired participant in the local spelling bee just might have an allergy attack onstage.

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and the one-liners, some written

ardently awaits her father’s arrival

by Teague Shamleffler ’26, who

at the bee and saves him a seat

also played Principal Panch, one

because her mother is enlightening

of the bee’s moderators, were on

herself in an ashram in India. The

point. When the bee contestants

allergy-afflicted Barfee dazzles the

asked for their word in a sentence,

competition by spelling his words

Panch delivered irreverent and often

out with his magic foot. Logainne

thoroughly unhelpful guidance. To

Schwartz-and-Grubenierre is saddled

wit: when asking a contestant to spell

with a speech impediment and two

“phylactery” (a small box containing

overbearing dads. Chip is eliminated

a Hebrew text when praying), Panch

from the competition due to an

offered this example sentence: “Billy,

unfortunate and ill-timed distracting

put down the phylactery. We’re

physical urge.

Episcopalian.” To the audience’s

Because the Black Box Theater,

delight, Upper School Science

which is often used for smaller plays, was being used as a lunch Welcome to KO’s fall production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, a musical that features a lovable menagerie of adolescent oddballs competing for the title of top speller.

KO’s Theater Department turned out a raucous and professional-grade crowd-pleaser directed by Kyle Reynolds, chair of the performing

room during construction of the new Community Commons this

AROUND THE GREEN

the family. And poor, neglected Olive

Department Chair Graham Hegeman, Middle School math teacher Stacey Tomkiel, and seniors Stella Zimmer and Olivia Gallup made cameo

year, the performances were moved

appearances as bee contestants.

to the Roberts Theater, where the

Through the hilarity, one feeling

audience sat on the stage, adding to

emerged: the soft spot the audience

the experience of being part of the

developed for the underdog, the

show. In fact, Rona Parreetti, one of

vulnerable. The audience rooted for

the show’s announcers, interacted

each of these kooky characters as

with the audience before the show

they had their moment in the sun

started. The dialogue was snappy,

and came into their own.

arts department. Part spelling bee and part therapy session, the musical tells the backstories of six quirky spellers who each bring their emotional package to the competition. There’s Marcy Park, a polyglot (count six languages) who lives in a pressure cooker of excellence and receives a visitation from Jesus Christ in the midst of the competition. Leaf Coneybear has questionable sartorial style, including a bike helmet, cape and a dinosaur finger puppet, and his kin continually remind him that he’s the dumb one in

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AROUND THE GREEN

Lingashi Opens Squash Academy in Zambia Boys’ varsity squash coach Robby Lingashi,

Lingashi, who grew up in Kalulushi, a town in

originally from Zambia, brought his passion for

the province of Copperbelt, known for its, you

the sport and education back to his hometown with the launch of the Lingashi Squash Academy this June. This initiative, set to function as an after-school program, provides local children with athletic training while fostering academic growth.

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guessed it, copper mining industry, recalls an era in the ’70s when companies heavily invested in community sports facilities. “When I was growing up, there were opportunities for kids to engage in sports after school — soccer fields, tennis courts, squash clubs, basketball courts,” he said.

The academy also provides food to the students,

“But now, those companies are no longer there,

many of whom only have one meal in three days.

and the facilities have become dormant.”

Lingashi benefited from the corporations’ communityfunded programs by playing squash in his hometown.

“I had a fantastic childhood because of these opportunities,” he said. “I want to bring that back and help the kids in my hometown.”

Over time, he excelled in the sport, and by the time he was 14, he started representing Zambia internationally in the juniors and seniors program.

Lingashi said when he was a child, his role model was Simon Gondwe, one of the first successful African

“

For many, a program like this means more than just playing squash — it’s about getting a meal, gaining an education, and finding hope for a better future.”

squash players. From that inspiration, Lingashi went on to become the 60th-ranked squash player in the world, and he hopes that the students in his academy

His brother, a fellow squash enthusiast, serves as the

will view him similarly, as a current-day Gondwe.

academy’s director, overseeing daily operations in Zambia

“I want them to have hopes and dreams,” he said.

“I want them to know that they dont have to end up in a small town. There is more of the world, and everything is connected. It’s to give them a path. And who knows what this experience can tap into and develop? They can go into any trade they want to do.

You never know what can happen.”

The Lingashi Squash Academy selected 10 students from each of six middle schools and three high schools, totaling 60 children in its first cohort.

The program is not solely focused on squash — it

while Lingashi continues his coaching career abroad. He also hired local coaches and established a committee to maintain and grow the program. The Squash Association of Zambia and the National Sport of Zambia, which is run by the government, have also contacted Lingashi about this venture to ensure it performs well.

Lingashi’s return to Zambia coincides with a historic moment for the sport — squash will be included in the Olympics for the first time in 2028. The country’s squash associations have approached him to help train and prepare potential Olympic athletes.

integrates education, ensuring that children receive

“Kids in Zambia don’t always have the privileges that kids

assistance with homework, reading, and other

in wealthier countries do,” he noted. “For many, a program

academic activities.

like this means more than just playing squash — it’s about

“We want to detect at an early age what the kids are good at — whether it’s sports, art, or science —

getting a meal, gaining an education, and finding hope for a better future.”

so they can develop their talents,” Lingashi stated.

Although the academy started small, Lingashi is optimistic

“Not everyone will be great at math or squash, but

about its future growth. He hopes that donors and sponsors

every child deserves an opportunity to pursue what

will step in to provide additional support once the program

excites them.”

gains traction. In the meantime, he is in the process of

Lingashi has personally funded the project, investing

establishing a non-profit organization to facilitate funding.

in 150 squash rackets, 40 desks and chairs, and

“There’s a lot of potential in Zambia, but you have to tap

various school supplies. Over the past five years, he

into that,” he said. “If you put up the right channels, it’s

has worked diligently to gather resources, using his

amazing what kids can do. It’s my belief that you can be

own earnings to build a foundation for the academy.

anything. It’s just that you need a little bit of push.”

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AROUND THE GREEN

KO Middle Schoolers Make a Splash in

The Little Mermaid Whimsical costumes, unforgettable songs, and a sea of talent brought the story to life.

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AROUND THE GREEN

The Kingswood Oxford Middle School transported audiences under the sea with a magical and exuberant performance of The Little Mermaid, directed by Middle School teacher Matthew Wiggin. Bursting with energy, the cast of young performers lit up the stage with their enthusiasm, talent, and infectious joy.

At the heart of the production was Camila Conti ’29 as Ariel, whose stunning rendition of “Part of Your World” showcased not only her vocal power but her ability to tap into the emotional core of the song—a feat even seasoned singers find challenging. Her performance left no doubt: this mermaid could truly carry a tune.

The show featured standout moments across the board.

Sebastian the crab, played with comic timing and charm

by Gabe Chapman ’29 stole scenes with a pitch-perfect Caribbean patois that delighted the audience and anchored musical numbers like “Under the Sea” and “Kiss the Girl.”

Ursula, the sea witch, was brought to life by a Coraline Picard ’29 who relished every sinister note and sly glare, delivering a deliciously devious performance that struck just the right balance of menace and fun as her evil eels slithered around her.

Adding to the delight was a surprise casting twist—Middle School English teacher Kyle Chapman stepped into the role of King Triton. His presence on stage, complete with his natural gray beard worthy of a sea god, his signature Vans sneakers, and tall stature, was a crowd favorite. Students beamed at seeing a familiar face in such an unfamiliar—and majestic—role, a reminder that teachers, too, can break out of their shells and shine.

Some other memorable numbers include the chorus of mermaids who sang the catchy and poppy “She’s in Love,”

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reminiscent of the ’60s girl groups, and “Les Poissons,” sung by chefs who are preparing a delicious dish of crabs as Sebastian cowers in the corner.

From the costumes, including an ingenious use of umbrellas strung with streamers to mimic jellyfish and a violent storm enhanced by strobe lights, to the heartfelt performances, the entire production was a testament to the creativity and camaraderie of the KO Middle School community. It wasn’t just a show—it was a celebration of student spirit, hard work, and a shared love for storytelling.

Bravo

to the entire cast and crew for diving deep and surfacing with a hit!

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AROUND THE GREEN

Kyff Pens Book on The Great Gatsby

Upper School history teacher Rob Kyff spoke at the West Hartford Public Library in April about everyone’s favorite literary gadabout, Jay Gatsby, to mark the 100th anniversary of the publication of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece, The Great Gatsby. Kyff also penned a book on the subject, Gatsby’s Secrets: The Hidden Motifs, Moments and Metaphors That Shape Fitzgerald’s Masterpiece. In the book, Kyff discusses the often-overlooked memes, motifs, and metaphors that enrich and shape the novel’s meaning.

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Kyff describes how Fitzgerald weaves thematic

as the basis for other projects. The novel wasn’t

elements as disparate as water, vision, ghosts,

always held in the highest esteem when it was

numbers, and stars into the fabric of the

first published in 1925, and sold less than 20,000

novel’s meaning; how secondary characters

copies. Fitzgerald’s earlier titles, This Side of

such as Jordan Baker, Myrtle Wilson and

Paradise and The Beautiful and Damned, garnered

Blocks Biloxi parallel the main characters,

more acclaim. During World War II, the US military

contributing essential perspectives and comic

distributed the novel to the servicemen, which

relief; and how Fitzgerald chooses words

elevated its stature and revived its reputation.

precisely to craft the exquisite, rhapsodic

That, and the literary critics who recognized its

passages that have been called “touchstones

merit as a critique of the illusory nature of the

of American prose.”

American Dream.

Although Kyff has worked at KO since 1977, he

This book is available for purchase on Amazon.

never taught The Great Gatsby class, which is primarily taught in sophomore English, despite being an aficionado of the book. However, every summer since the late 1980s, Kyff cracks open the tome and immerses himself in the life on the shores of West Egg. Upon each re-reading, Kyff notices elements and patterns within the text he hadn’t observed before, revealing more of its complexity and nuance.

During the pandemic and through 2021, he finally had some time to index themes, characters, objects, colors, and literary analysis and criticism, which he organized to determine motifs and patterns. In 2023, he began writing his book in earnest, even enlisting a dozen KO students who all read the novel to serve as copyeditors of his manuscript, ensuring quality control.

The copyright protection of the novel expired in 2021, meaning it has entered the public domain, allowing anyone to publish or use it

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AROUND THE GREEN

KO

CUM LAUDE SOCIETY

On April 22, 17 students from the Class of 2025 were inducted into the Cum Laude Society in front of their families and advisors.

The following students were inducted: Stephen Bailey, Ella Chen, Pindar Chen, Sophie Chen, Sasha Dausey, Curran Dee, William Duvall, Christian Gingeleskie, Jenna Kanaan, Jack Krieble, Margaret Miller, Claire Palmer, Abigail Schiff, Julia Sohn, Daniela Tippner, Raine Wang, Ziwen Yin, and Zhengyan Zhang.

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who welcomed her before her

And now, working at the Harvard

first day, or planting a community

Varsity Club, an organization

garden in rural Virginia, each

within Harvard Athletics, Braz

story pointed to one simple truth:

is involved in helping student-

community is everything.

athletes both while in school

Braz shared her journey post-

and beyond. It’s yet another

KO. While at Boston College, she reconnected with activities she loved, such as writing for the school newspaper, working out in the fitness center, and being Taryn Braz from the Class of 2014 was the keynote speaker and offered a message that was both warm and wise. With KO stories of bread bowl lunches, softball championships, and even a few secret detours hiding in the bathroom during field hockey practice when her team should have been running, she reminded students that the best parts of KO aren’t just the traditions — they’re the people.

“I don’t remember the tests I failed or the wrong answers I gave in class,” she said, “but I do remember how it felt to show up to a place where I was surrounded by support and kindness and to be welcomed into an established community.”

She urged the students to cherish the friendships they had made here and stay open to new communities wherever life led. Whether it was a lastminute prom dash after a big win, the kindness of a senior

involved with the school’s athletic department. She said that one of

opportunity to build connections, create inclusive spaces, and show up for others. She said that KO was where she discovered what it meant to be part of a community, and she has sought spaces and a career path that upholds that

her most meaningful experiences

core value.

at BC was volunteering in

In her parting words to

Appalachia and bonding with

the students, she said,

her host family and the people

“If you don’t see a space that represents you, create one.

in the town, emphasizing that communities can be built everywhere. “The experience reinforced for me that community isn’t always something you are born into — it’s something you choose to create,” she said.

Following graduation, she worked for the Boston Red Sox in the

Get involved, start something. You’d be amazed at what can grow from that.”

fan and youth engagement department, where she expanded access to ensure that people who didn’t grow up attending games every summer still felt a sense of belonging. The organization’s partnership with the Miracle Network, a non-profit for people with mental or physical disabilities, was significant. “We focused not just on bringing fans into Fenway,” she said, “but on bringing Fenway out into the community.”

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AROUND THE GREEN

DR. OKEY NDIBE

and the Complex Tapestry of Nigeria’s Struggles with Corruption and Resilience Dr. Okey Ndibe, the celebrated Nigerian author, delivered a compelling presentation in Upper School History Chair David Baker’s global history class. He delved deeply into the intertwined complexities of Nigeria’s oil sector, corruption, and its broader societal impacts. These issues, he argued, form the backbone of Nigeria’s ongoing national narrative. Ndibe’s critique spanned decades of corruption and human rights violations, laying bare the challenges faced by Africa’s most populous nation.

Before Ndibe’s address, two students had described several current events in Nigeria, including the corruption in the nation’s oil and the goverment’s crackdown on pirating oil, an anti-graft case regarding the seizure of property, and a boating accident in which many Nigerians perished.

Ndibe segued into an exploration of the Nigerian legal profession’s struggles with systemic corruption, particularly highlighting the plight of Dele Farotimi, a fearless Nigerian attorney whose activism has recently captured the attention of social media. Farotimi has made waves by publishing a book exposing corruption within Nigeria’s judiciary—a move that led to significant backlash. Ndibe revealed how Farotimi’s exposé pitted him against Babatunde Babala, one of the wealthiest and most influential lawyers in Nigeria, known for his alleged use of wealth and influence to secure judicial outcomes through bribery.

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“Unlike America, where a sizeable number of lawyers want to stay in private practice because that’s where the money is,” Ndibe said, “in Nigeria, people lobby to be made judges because that’s where the money is.” Ndibe recounted personal anecdotes, including his youngest brother’s experiences as a Nigerian lawyer, highlighting how the pressure to bribe judges undermines the legal profession’s integrity.

“I want Nigerians to begin to look at issues and say, ‘This is bad, and my judgment on this is not affected by the ethnicity or religious affiliation or the state or the tribe of the person who has committed the act. It’s either good, honorable, or dishonorable.”

Ndibe then shifted his focus to the current president of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Tinubu’s rise to power, he argued, epitomizes the entrenched cycle of political corruption in Nigeria. As a former governor of Lagos state, Tinubu built an empire of influence, installing loyalists in positions of power and extracting significant revenues from the state through mechanisms like private toll companies and revenuecollection schemes. Ndibe described how Tinubu wielded this wealth and power to become Nigeria’s kingmaker, ultimately securing his presidency in a controversial election.

Tinubu’s infamous declaration during his campaign—“Emilokan” (Yoruba for “It’s my turn”)—was a stark display of arrogance, according to Ndibe.

He noted that Tinubu’s presidency represents a grim continuity of Nigeria’s political status quo, where corruption and impunity from prosecution reign supreme.

Despite the pervasive corruption in governance, Ndibe celebrated Nigeria’s cultural contributions to

Ndibe opened up the class to questions. One student asked whether he felt his journalistic articles or his books were more impactful. Without hesitation, Ndibe said his articles are more influential because of their immediacy. “In a sense, you can help shape public response to an issue,” he said. “It was my day-to-day articles that riled the government, so I was put on a list of enemies of the state.”

One student asked how Ndibe

the world. From literature to music and film, Nigerians have made a significant global impact. He recounted personal anecdotes of encountering Nigeria’s cultural power abroad, from the music of Fela Kuti to the international acclaim of “Nollywood” films. These moments, he said, underline the paradox of Nigeria—a country that excels in cultural and intellectual production while grappling with

maintains his courage to keep speaking the truth. “Fear is a choice, and I’ve chosen not to live in fear.”

He said he took inspiration from Nobel Prize-winning Nigerian writer, Wole Soyinka, who wrote The Man Died. “When there are moral issues, we ought to speak; we ought to take a stand. Sometimes, out of moral cowardice or comfort, many retreat into silence. I find that I suffer profoundly when I see injustice and I

disastrous political leadership.

can’t speak. It’s one way of dying.”

Ndibe himself has suffered at the

One of the last questions a student

hands of the government every time he enters Nigeria due to his criticism of the regime. After years of writing a weekly column and hosting a podcast that critiqued the Nigerian government, he found himself at a crossroads. “I no longer either properly understand Nigeria or have anything new to say,” he confessed. This sentiment resonates with many Nigerians in the diaspora, who witness the country’s potential squandered by cyclical tragedies and entrenched corruption.

asked concerned the ethnic division within the country. Due to its number of factions, she asked if Nigeria would be better off balkanizing itself along ethnic or religious lines. Ndibe took a principled stance. “I wish for Nigeria an ethnicity of values,” he said. “I want Nigerians to begin to look at issues and say, ‘This is bad, and my judgment on this is not affected by the ethnicity or religious affiliation or the state or the tribe of the person who has committed the act. It’s either good, honorable, or dishonorable.’”

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AROUND THE GREEN

A Candid Look at the Challenges Facing Modern Journalism In a thought-provoking keynote at the annual Baird Journalism Dinner, acclaimed journalist Eric Levitz ’06, a senior correspondent for Vox, where he covers politics and policy, delivered a sobering yet passionate reflection on the state of journalism in the United States today, but not without a sense of humor. Addressing students, faculty, and guests, Levitz painted a detailed picture of an industry under siege from economic pressures, political attacks, technological disruption, and shifting audience habits.

“I’m not sure what brought you all here tonight,” Levitz joked. “Just because someone joins their high school newspaper doesn’t mean that they suffer from the debilitating psychopathology known as wanting to be a journalist.” He told the students that they might want to find a more practical occupation, such as professional gambling.

“Journalism today is having an increasingly difficult time fulfilling its traditional economic and civic functions.”

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“Today, newspapers and magazines can’t harvest or analyze data at the same scale, and it’s left journalism with a shrinking share of advertising dollars,” Levitz said. He also warned that advances in artificial intelligence, while offering some useful tools, are further undercutting journalism by making it easier and cheaper to provide basic information—once a key way outlets attracted readers—without human reporters.

The implications go beyond economics. Levitz stressed that journalism’s civic mission— keeping the public informed and governments accountable—is under threat. Fewer people are consuming traditional news, and many turn instead to influencers, streamers, and podcasters who are not bound by professional ethics or standards of accuracy. “Democratic elections Tracing the origins of journalism’s economic challenges, he pointed to historical changes in media consumption. In the 1920s, Americans bought newspapers not necessarily for hard news, but for cartoons, fashion photos, and classified ads. Bundling serious journalism with entertainment helped news outlets thrive. But technological shifts, starting with television and accelerating with the internet, steadily eroded that model.

Levitz explained that classified ads, once a financial backbone for newspapers, generated nearly 40% of their revenue in 2000—over $19 billion. However, digital platforms like Craigslist and Indeed decimated this crucial income stream by offering more efficient ways to connect buyers and sellers. Meanwhile, giants like Google and Instagram now dominate the corporate advertising market by harnessing massive amounts of user data, leaving traditional news outlets struggling to compete.

cannot compel public officials to serve their constituents’ interests if those constituents have inaccurate information about what their government has been doing,” he cautioned.

“If news outlets cannot command the public’s attention, they cannot effectively convey such information.”

Levitz also discussed political pressures, particularly under the current administration. He described how efforts to intimidate journalists, from lawsuits to regulatory threats against major outlets like CBS, represent a real danger to press freedom.

Despite this grim outlook, Levitz’s message wasn’t entirely pessimistic. He encouraged young people considering a career in journalism to embrace the challenge. “It’s still a great job if you can get it,” he said, “It’s an immense privilege to get to learn about the world and tell people what you’ve learned for a living.” He pointed out that major

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AROUND THE GREEN 38

ERIC LEVITZ ’06 WITH STAFF OF THE KO NEWS

institutions like The New York Times and The

Levitz wrote a column for New York Magazine’s

Atlantic have found sustainable models, and that

Intelligencer. His work has also appeared in

there is still a strong demand for high-quality

the New York Times and Salon as well as on

business and economic reporting.

MSNBC’s homepage. Before entering journalism,

In a lively Q&A session after his talk, Levitz shared

he earned a Masters of Fine Arts in Fiction

practical advice with students. When asked how to find trustworthy news sources, he recommended

Writing at Johns Hopkins University and authored several plays that received productions

relying on well-resourced outlets like The New

in Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

York Times, The Financial Times, and The Wall

Since the election, Levitz has been producing

Street Journal, while also supplementing with the

a weekly newsletter for Vox called “The

work of thoughtful independent writers. On the

Rebuild,” in which he explores the future of the

role of AI, he acknowledged both the dangers and

Democratic Party, focusing on what liberals and

the promise: tools like OpenAI’s research assistant

progressives can learn from Harris’ loss.

could help journalists work more efficiently, even as they disrupt traditional business models.

Levitz also reflected on his own experiences overcoming interview anxiety and the importance of editorial independence.

“If you feel yourself resisting new information because it challenges your assumptions, that’s a cue to dig deeper,” he said, urging aspiring journalists to maintain intellectual humility and a commitment to truth over ideology.

Finally, when asked about formative experiences at Kingswood Oxford that influenced his career, Levitz credited the school’s vibrant English and creative writing programs for sharpening his skills.

He recalled writing his first play for the school’s spring Play Showcase and how it helped him grow as a storyteller.

Closing on a hopeful note, Eric called on the next generation to rise to the occasion. “Society needs journalism as much as it ever has,” he said. “We need independent, curious storytellers who can command the public’s attention in an increasingly distracted world.”

“Society needs journalism as much as it ever has. We need independent, curious storytellers who can command the public’s attention in an increasingly distracted world.”

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AROUND THE GREEN

Dance Showcase

One of KO’s most anticipated traditions in recent years arrives just in time—right before Thanksgiving break—when students are ready for a lift. And what better way to energize the community than with the Choreographer Showcase? Now in its sixth year, this dynamic performance lights up the Roberts Theater stage as KO’s talented dancers leap, tap, twirl, and glide their way into the spotlight.

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Throughout the fall, KO dancers collaborated with a phenomenal group of local choreographers to create pieces that span the spectrum from classical ballet to contemporary movement. The result? A dazzling display of rhythm, grace, and athleticism. A true celebration of music, movement, and the magic that happens when creative minds come together.

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AROUND THE GREEN

News Reporting in Challenging Times New York Times investigative journalist and Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Mark Mazzetti spoke at an assembly before the presidential election last fall. “Mazzetti’s perspective can deepen our understanding of the media’s role in democracy,” Head of the Upper School Lisa Loeb said, “and how journalism can hold leaders accountable.” Raine Wang ’25, editor-in-chief of the KO News, interviewed Mazzetti with very well-considered questions to gain insights into Mazzetti’s practice and career.

Without wasting any time, Wang opened with

time, they have a built-in model in their polling to

a question on everyone’s mind: the presidential

try to capture what they think is more of Trump’s

election. She asked Mazzetti how this tense

support,” he said. “The one big question will be:

election cycle was affecting newsrooms

were they right to do this?”

across the country. Mazzetti said that since

Mazzetti said that presenting information is a

2016, news organizations have grappled with covering President Donald Trump, a highly unorthodox political figure. He said one way the news approached the election this year was to adjust polling, because Trump’s support was undercounted in 2016 and 2020. “This

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tightrope because the nation is so politically divided, and people live in alternate realities of the truth. “We try to cover the story in the best way we can, which is to be objective and fair,” he said. “It does not mean treating all sides or both sides equally.” He said that it’s impossible to be

100 percent objective because, as humans, we are all

harm’s way to cover a story. “I don’t consider myself

prone to biases, but that the job of a journalist is to

one of those incredibly brave people,” he said. “But

expose injustices and bring them to light.

even they recognize that it’s one thing to take risks for

Wang asked Mazzetti if he was aware he was covering

a story, but no story is worth dying for.”

a major story as it was happening in real-time, such

Mazzetti said he relies on the expertise of local

as his coverage of alleged Russian interference in the

journalists, who have insights on the ground to cover a

2016 election and, more recently, the Israel-Hamas

story properly. He collaborates with them and travels with

war. He said that he immediately understood that

them to navigate the language, customs, and terrain.

the coverage of the Middle East was a big story. “The journalists have to cover the story under intense circumstances,” he said, “and do it under intense criticism for what they’re doing. It was very, very, very intense to discuss what do we cover? What angles do we cover? Whose perspectives do we show?”

Mazzetti also addressed the disinformation that is flooding various media platforms. He said he is frustrated by the disinformation and the difference in standards from one news outlet to another. At one time, he said he found Twitter, now X, to be a valuable source of information because it immediately delivered

Conflicts over how to cover a story arise many times

breaking news from around the world. Now, he finds

in newsrooms, Mazzetti said but explained that, as

that X is especially egregious in serving news because

professionals, journalists recognize they are not

it does so using algorithms. “I think the owners of

advocating for a position. He said the people reporters

social media platforms are doing a terrible job dealing

speak with and interview inform their perspective. “The

with the issue of disinformation,” he said.

goal is to produce as much content as possible from as many different perspectives as possible,” he said.

“There are news organizations who are trying their best and in good faith to report honestly because

Mazzetti told the audience he worked for the Los

they think it’s important for our country,” he said. “It’s

Angeles Times, U.S. News and World Report, and The

important for the health of our democracy to hold the

Economist earlier in his career. In the spring of 2001,

government accountable and to tell people what they

he moved to Washington, D.C. and, and his editor asked

may not want to hear.”

if he wanted to cover the Pentagon, even though he had little understanding of national defense or security.

At the time, the Pentagon beat was considered sleepy, but all of that changed within months. Mazzetti was in the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, and shortly thereafter he headed to Afghanistan to cover the U.S. military response to the 9/11 attacks.

He said much of his career has been shaped by serendipity, when circumstances aligned and he found himself in certain jobs and locales. He said he greatly respects war correspondents who put themselves in

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AROUND THE GREEN

Service Leadership Day Living Our Core Value

Each day at KO, we aim to live out our core value of “care beyond self.” Nowhere was that more evident last fall as sophmores and seniors engaged in several activities at various non-profits in the greater Hartford area for our Leadership Service Day. A key tenet of the KO strategic plan is student involvement with our local community. This day provided an invaluable opportunity for students to step out of the classroom and engage with organizations committed to making a positive impact.

“We are trying to get the kids to view civic responsibility as part of living in a community and thinking beyond KO when we think of community,” said Service Learning Coordinator Kathleen McLean. “We want the students to understand that civic responsibility, service, and leadership are all intertwined.”

Here are some brief summaries of the community organization’s missions and how the students helped achieve them.

1

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2

1 Traprock Ridge Land Conservancy and Nourish My Soul Farm Sophomores removed Japanese knotweed, an invasive species with fast-growing roots. They also collected and kept track of specimens in the river and examined the health of the Farmington River by taking water samples.

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4

2 Foodshare

Foodshare works to alleviate food insecurity by addressing its root causes, creating long-term solutions, and distributing food through local partner programs. Students helped organize and sorted food that Big Y had donated.

3 Community First School

CFS works with underserved children and families to break the cycle of poverty. One group worked with fourth and fifth grades on math, and the others read books and worked on sounding out letters.

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4 Habitat for Humanity

ReStore provides furniture and household goods to families moving into Habitat homes and prevents usable household items and building materials from going to area landfills. Students worked not on a building site but in Habitat’s “store,” where companies and individuals donate household items, furniture, and building materials.

5 Community Renewal Team CRT works to help the community address hunger, homelessness, unemployment, and poverty.

Students helped prepare meals in the Kitchen.

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KO ATHLETICS

KO Athletics 2024-2025

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KO ATHLETICS

Varsity Athletics 2024-25 FALL FOOTBALL Coaches: (Head) Brandon Batory ’10 (Assistants) Clay Hillyer, Matt Kocay, Dac Newton, Kevin Sullivan Record: 6-4 Captains: Stephen Bailey, Justin Morle, Nicklas Chomko, Julian Przecioska Seniors: Stephen Bailey, Aryan Dange, Christian Gingeleskie, Christian Gordon, Yue Huang, Julian Przecioska, Evan Tyler VOLLEYBALL Coaches: (Head) Cameron Biondi (Assistant) Joseph Sobowicz Record: 13-7 Captains: Francesca Lamattina, Paloma Peck, Alexandria Segal Seniors: Francesca Lamattina, Alexandria Segal M.V.P. Award: Chloe Delaire M.I.P. Award: Kathleen Reale Coaches Award: Francesca Lamattina

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FIELD HOCKEY Coaches: (Head) Chapin Yates (Assistant) Nicole Baratz Record: 7-9-1 Captain: Meredith Decker, Ella Wilson, Stella Zimmer Seniors: Meredith Decker, Jenna Kanaan, Lily Temkin, Camryn Weinstein, Ella Wilson, Alexa Wolf, Stella Zimmer M.V.P. Award: Kate Dempsey-Weiner M.I.P. Award: Camryn Weinstein Coaches Award: Stella Zimmer Four-Year Award: Meredith Decker, Jenna Kanaan, Lily Temkin, Camryn Weinstein, Ella Wilson, Stella Zimmer, GIRLS’ SOCCER Coaches: (Head) Sal Penta (Assistant) Tracey Deeter Record: 13-7 Captains: Olivia Schaller, Addisen Nicholson Seniors: Ysabel Albert, Addisen Nicholson, Olivia Schaller, Emma St. Clair, Daniela Tippner

M.V.P. Award: Olivia Schaller, Addisen Nicholson M.I.P. Award: Nadia Silmon Four-Year Award: Daniela Tippner Five-Year Award: Olivia Schaller, Addisen Nicholson BOYS’ SOCCER Coaches: (Head) Richard Shaw (Assistant) Josh Shafer ’18 Record: 6-7-5 Captains: Jack Neikrie Seniors: Prescott Cloud, William Duvall, Jack Neikrie, Kiran Sekaran, Bennet Smith, Leo Sussman M.V.P. Award: Sawyer Burtman M.I.P. Award: Alex Ndiaye Coaches Award: Pratt Blair Four-Year Award: Jack Neikrie, Kiran Sekeran GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY Coaches: (Head) Tricia Watson (Assistant) Stacey Tomkiel Record: 14-6 Captain: Sasha Dausey, Claire Palmer Seniors: Sasha Dausey, Claire Palmer

ICE HOCKEY Coaches: (Head) John Hissick (Assistants) Mike Tenney, Michael Wolf Record: 7-3-1 Captains: Ryan Munz, Dalton Smith, Alexandre Oliveira Seniors: Alexandre Oliveira, Ava Ristaino M.V.P. Award: Colton Bischoff M.I.P. Award: Quinn Heal Coaches Award: Dalton Smith M.V.P. Award: Claire Palmer M.I.R.: Emily Paseos ’28 Coaches Award: Sasha Dausey Four-Year Award: Sasha Dausey, Claire Palmer BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY Coaches: (Head) Fritz Goodman (Assistants) Stacey Tomkiel, Tricia Watson Record: 17-5 Captains: Dorian Ciscel, Alexander Gumkowski, Leonardo Ladewig Seniors: Sruthan Tokala M.V.R.: Leonardo Ladewig M.I.R. Award: Matthew Habeeb Coaches Award: Sruthan Tokala ESPORTS Coach: Graham Hegeman Captain: Drake Fernald Seniors: Rui Chen, Drake Fernald M.V.P. Award: Lia Prahl M.I.P. Award: Gianni Frank Coaches Award: Drake Fernald Four-Year Award: Rui Chen

WINTER BOYS’ BASKETBALL Coaches: (Head) Brad Seaman (Assistant) Ronald Garcia Record: 15-8 Captains: Justice Hanna, Davonne Biggins, Stryckland Whittley-Ligon Seniors: Justice Hanna, Benjamin LaFreniere, Jace Oneglia M.V.P. Award: Davonne Biggins M.I.P. Award: Stryckland WhittleyLigon Coaches Award: William Parkhouse GIRLS’ BASKETBALL Coaches: (Head) Quinn O’Brien (Assistant) Record: 12-8 Captains: Samaria Gonzalez, Olivia Pilecki, Reagan Heafey-DeAngelis Seniors: Olivia Gallup, Reagan Heafey-DeAngelis M.V.P. Award: Samaria Gonzalez M.I.P. Award: Olivia Pilecki Coaches Award: Kathleen Reale

BOYS’ SWIMMING Coaches: (Head) Alex Kraus (Assistants) Kata Baker, Megan Hilliard, Matthew Kalinowski Record: 0-1-0 Captain: Yudian Ma Seniors: Xuhui Chen, Daniel Gao, Yue Huang, Yudian Ma M.V.P. Award: Yudian Ma M.I.P. Award: Caleb Quinby Coaches Award: Yue Huang Four-Year Award: Xuhui Chen, Yudian Ma GIRLS’ SWIMMING Coaches: (Head) Kata Baker (Assistants): Alex Kraus, Megan Hilliard, Matthew Kalinowski Record: 0-1-0 Captains: Mackenzie Gallagher, Miya Scranton Seniors: Mackenzie Gallagher, Anna Ollenschleger, Miya Scranton M.V.P. Award: Mackenzie Gallagher, Miya Scranton M.I.P. Award: Ava Bonsignore Four-Year Award: Mackenzie Gallagher, Anna Ollenschleger, Miya Scranton

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BOYS’ SQUASH Coach: (Head) Robby Lingashi Record: 8-3 Captains: Jack Krieble, Ryan Sadowsky Seniors: Jacob Barash, Jack Krieble, Mohan Palanki, Owen Roy, Ryan Sadowsky M.V.P. Award: Jack Krieble M.I.P. Award: Nicolas Waldron Coaches Award: Ryan Sadowsky Five-Year Award: Jack Krieble GIRLS’ SQUASH Coach: (Head) Cameron Biondi Record: 5-10 Captain: Yale Chen Seniors: Yale Chen, Alyssa Tousignant, Leslie Yan M.V.P. Award: Alyssa Tousignant M.I.P. Award: Clara Toomey Coaches Award: Yale Chen

SPRING BASEBALL Coaches: (Head) Steve Cannata (Assistants) Peter Jones, Ryan Radmanovich

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Record: 12-5 Captains: Thomas Caporaso, Dominic Trolio, Boden Swanson, Harrison Engle Seniors: Thomas Caporaso, Dominic Trolio. Boden Swanson, Harrison Engle M.V.P. Award: Harrison Engle M.I.P. Award: Boden Swanson Coaches Award: Thomas Caporaso, Dominic Trolio Four-Year Award: Thomas Caporaso, Boden Swanson, Dominic Trolio SOFTBALL Coaches: (Head) Jason Bradley (Assistants) Rob D’Agostino, Kierstan Skinner Record: 11-3 Captains: Olivia Gallup, Alexis Nisyrios Seniors: Olivia Gallup M.V.P. Award: Alexis Nisyrios M.I.P. Award: Aleis Gonzalez Coaches Award: Olivia Gallup Four-Year Award: Olivia Gallup BOYS’ LACROSSE Coaches: (Head) Josh Shafer ’18 (Assistant) David Hild ’80, Josh Metz

Record: 0-8 Captains: Christian Gingeleskie, Jason Mathews, Dalton Smith Seniors: Stephen Bailey, Christian Gingeleskie, Julian Przecioska Most Valuable Player Award: Dalton Smith Most Improved: Landon Thomas Coaches Award: Christian Gingeleskie Four-Year Award: Christian Gingeleskie GIRLS’ LACROSSE Coaches: (Head) Judy Bailey ’82 (Assistant) Chapin Yates Record: 6-11 Captains: Camryn Weinstein, Ella Wilson Seniors: Meredith Decker, Isabella Deurloo, Emma St. Clair, Addisen Nicholson, Daniela Tippner, Eleanor Toomey, Camryn Weinstein, Ella Wilson, Stella Zimmer M.V.P. Award: Sarah Balog M.I.P. Award: Sierra Wells Coaches Award: Addisen Nicholson, Ellory Goodhue Four-Year Award: Isabella Deurloo, Addisen Nicholson, Ella Wilson

BOYS’ TRACK AND FIELD Coaches: (Head) Alexander Kraus (Assistants) Tricia Watson, Fritz Goodman, David Baker ’04, Carmen Kreager, Tracy Deeter, Steph Sperber Record: 4-2 Captains: Sanford Cloud, Christian Gordon, Justin Morle Seniors: Sanford Cloud, Santiago Croes-Ball, Drake Fernald, Christian Gordon, Cameron Hart, Jack Kanaan, Joseph Kalinowski, Justin Morle, Adnan Murphy, Nikhil JauquÍn Rollán, Sruthan Tokala Four-Year Award: Christian Gordon, Benjamin LaFreniere, Joseph Kaliniwski, Jack Kanaan, Jace Oneglia, Nikhil JauquÍn Rollán, Sruthan Tokala, Jonathan Troian GIRLS’ TRACK AND FIELD Coaches: (Head) Tricia Watson (Assistants) Alex Kraus, Fritz Goodman, David Baker ‘04, Carmen Kreager, Tracy Deeter, Steph Sperber Record: 2-3 Captains: Ella Golino, Claire Palmer Seniors: Sasha Dausey, Claire Palmer Four-Year Award: Claire Palmer BOYS’ GOLF Coaches: (Head) Michael Wolf Record: 2-6-1 Captains: Alexander Braunstein, Austin Perkins, Ryan Sadowsky Seniors: Alexander Braunstein, Prescott Cloud, Jack Neikrie, Ryan Sadowsky, Leo Sussman Mark Dixon Most Valuable Player Award: Austin Perkins M.I.P. Award: Jack Neikrie Coaches Award: Ryan Sadowsky Four-Year Award: Alexander Braunstein, Ryan Sadowsky

GIRLS’ GOLF Coaches: (Head) Michael Wolf Record: 1-13 Captains: Alexa Wolf Seniors: Alexa Wolf Mark Dixon Most Valuable Player Award: Alexa Wolf M.I.P. Award: Nzinga Thompson Coaches Award: Noa Taback BOYS’ TENNIS Coach: (Head) Andy Krugman ’86 Record: 8-7 Captains: Pratt Blair, Ciaran Concepcion, William Maclean Seniors: Jacob Barash, Pindar Chen, Aryan Dange, William Maclean, Kiran Sekaran M.V.P. Award: Pratt Blair M.I.P. Award: Noah Sadowsky, Matthew Habeeb Coaches Award: Pindar Chen GIRLS’ TENNIS Coach: (Head) Ron Garcia Record: 1-1 Captains: Ysabel Albert, Alexandra Doering Seniors: Ysabel Albert, Sophie Chen, Isabella Mendelovici, Abigail Schiff M.V.P. Award: Noor Sayej M.I.P. Award: Clara Toomey Coaches Award: Alexandra Doring Four-Year Award: Abigail Schiff Five-Year Award: Ysabe.rt

Right: Austin Perkins ’26 captured the Founders League individual title with a stellar round of 67 (-4), and followed up with a strong performance at the Kingswood Oxford Invitational, shooting a 1-under par to finish second in New England.The KO Golf team placed fourth overall in the tournament.

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KO B OYS ’ T R AC K & F I E L D W I N S NEW ENGLAND DIVISION III CHAMPIONSHIP Kingswood Oxford’s Boys’ Track & Field team delivered a dominant performance at the 2025 New England Division III Championships, bringing home the team title in a thrilling display of speed, strength, and depth across events.

Leading the charge was Tyler Brown ’26, who put together a championship meet for the ages.

Brown captured first place in the 200m, long jump, and triple jump — and anchored the first-place 4x100m relay team. His outstanding allaround performance earned him the prestigious NEPSAC MVP award.

The 4x100m relay squad — Brown, Christian Gordon ’25, Joey Kalinowski ’25, and Justin Morle ’26 — took the top spot with seamless chemistry and explosive speed. The 4x400m team of Kalinowski, Dan Petruzella ’26, Robin Benz ’27, and Gordon added critical points with a strong third-place finish.

Individually, KO had standout performances across nearly every event: • Joey Kalinowski ’25 took second in the 100m • Christian Gordon ’25 placed second in the 400m • Robin Benz ’27 earned third in the 800m • Dorian Ciscel ’26 claimed sixth in the 800m • Leo Ladewig ’26 ran fifth in the 3000m • Justin Morle ’26 dominated the throws, winning the discus and finishing second in the shot put This well-rounded group scored across sprints, distance, jumps, and throws — proving that KO’s depth and preparation were unmatched.

The championship is a testament to the team’s hard work and the rise of some of the region’s most exciting young athletes.

With a title in hand and a strong core returning, the future of KO track & field looks faster, stronger, and brighter than ever.

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KO MAGAZINE | FALL 2023

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KO S O F T B A L L R E P E AT S A S W E S T E R N NEW ENGLAND CHAMPIONS The Kingswood Oxford Varsity Softball team made history this spring, winning back-to-back Western New England Championships after a dramatic postseason run that showcased power, poise, and perseverance.

With their season on the line, KO defeated Suffield on the final day of the regular season to punch their ticket to the playoffs. From there, the Wyverns took down St. Luke’s 3–1 in the semifinals before getting revenge on Choate Rosemary Hall — who handed them a loss earlier in the season — with a commanding 9–5 win in the championship game.

The team finished with an impressive 11–3 record and brought firepower to every game, launching

22 home runs on the season from five different players. Their offense was explosive, but the defense and pitching were equally dominant.

Sophomore ace Alexis Nisyrios continued to carve her name into the record books, recording her 445th career strikeout during the playoff run. The team combined for four shutouts on the year, helping KO stay sharp in tight games and control momentum throughout the postseason.

Senior leader Olivia Gallup played a vital role in the team’s success, providing steady leadership and helping guide the team through challenging moments with confidence and composure.

From clutch wins to record-breaking performances, KO softball’s 2025 season was one defined by resilience and championship spirit. With backto-back titles now secured, the Wyverns have solidified their place as one of the region’s premier programs.

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KO B A S E B A L L C A P T U R E S F O U N D E R S L E AG U E C H A M P I O N S H I P The Kingswood Oxford Varsity Baseball team capped off a remarkable 2025 season with a Founders League Championship, defeating Choate Rosemary Hall 2–1 in a 14-inning semifinal thriller before overpowering Taft 10–6 in the title game.

The Wyverns finished the year 15–6 overall, including a 3–1 run in Florida and a 12–5 record across regular season and playoff action.

April proved pivotal, as the team put together a six-game win streak that fueled their postseason push.

Pitching was a major strength all season long. KO’s staff combined for three shutouts and held opponents

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to one run in four other contests, finishing with a stingy 2.33 team ERA. Senior standout and team MVP Harry Engle led the rotation with a dominant 1.30 ERA, striking out 69 batters over 43 innings.

At the plate, senior Boden Swanson earned Most Improved honors with a breakout season, hitting .377 with a 1.057 OPS, 3 home runs, and 16 RBIs.

Seniors Dom Trolio and Tommy Caporaso received Coaches Awards for their leadership and contributions throughout the year. All four seniors were key starters, setting the tone for a team that mixed toughness with talent.

KO’s title run was a testament to depth, resilience, and belief — a season to remember for the Wyverns.

C L A I R E PA L M E R : R E D E F I N I N G D I S TA N C E R U N N I N G IN NEW ENGLAND PREP SCHOOLS Claire Palmer ’25’s father, board member Eric, attests that when Claire was a fussy six-month-old, he would hold her up on his lap, and her legs would start running in place like a wind-up toy with nowhere to go. Perhaps this auspicious start might explain why she is arguably the fastest distance runner that the prep schools of New England have ever recorded.

By all accounts, Claire Palmer ’25 is a rare force in high school athletics — a record-breaking long-distance runner whose speed and stamina are matched only by her humility and sportsmanship.

Since her freshman year, Palmer has steadily risen through the ranks at KO, initially participating in crosscountry, track, and even swimming.

But it wasn’t long before she found her stride, quite literally, on the track. “She was a good runner in ninth grade,” said track coach David Baker. “But she became a great runner in her sophomore year.”

From there, Palmer’s trajectory has been nothing short of meteoric.

Her sophomore season marked the beginning of a string of accomplishments, but it was in her junior and senior years that she shattered expectations — and records.

In her junior year, Palmer swept the New England Division 3 Championships, winning the 800m, 1500m, and 3000m events — a triple crown feat that also earned her the meet’s MVP honor. She simultaneously reset all three school records in the process.

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Her senior season took those triumphs to an even higher level.

Palmer broke the 10-minute mark in the 3000m — first at the Founders League Championship and then again at the New England Championships, clocking an astounding 9:49. Even more impressive, she also broke 4:40 in the 1500m, running a 4:31 and setting a new meet record. Both times surpassed long-standing records held by a Marianapolis athlete previously considered unbeatable. Remarkably, Palmer achieved these feats on the same day — a demanding and nearly unheard-of accomplishment.

What motivates Palmer as she races?

“It’s mental. It’s not always easy,” she said, “but you push through it even when you feel you can’t. I love seeing progress and seeing that I’m doing my personal best.” She’s learned an important life lesson from running - you can always do more than you think you can.

“In both events, she didn’t just win — she broke meet records,” said Baker. “She now holds the fastest 3,000 time ever recorded across all three divisions of NEPSTA, and her 1500 is the second fastest by just 0.6 seconds.”

Beyond raw talent, Baker emphasizes the technical mastery and control she brings to every race. “Her form is exceptional,” he explains. “She has an incredible cadence and stride — she covers so much ground with each step and maintains a steady rhythm over long distances.”

Palmer’s ability to hold a consistent pace in both the mile and two-mile events is rare. “Her pacing is nearly identical — she knows how to manage her energy like a seasoned pro,” Baker said, “That’s an elitelevel skill.”

Despite her individual dominance, Palmer is deeply invested in team culture. “She’s super encouraging,” Baker said. “She wants everyone

to succeed. She trains hard, but she also trains with joy — and brings others along with her.”

“It’s only solitary when you’re running,” said Palmer. “My teammates and I pace together and work out together. It’s great having good friends lift you when you’re racing and let you know that you are right on pace. If you don’t have good people around you, you’re not going to run as well.”

That spirit was on full display during a rain-soaked practice ahead of the Founders meet. With puddles collecting on the gravel track, Palmer didn’t hesitate. “She said, ‘I’m running in lane one. We’re getting wet,” recalls Baker. Her attitude transformed the session into a mud-splashed, hard-working, laughter-filled memory. “She set the tone — you push yourself, but you can still have fun.”

Despite all her successes, Palmer remains remarkably grounded and genuine. “She’s not someone who flaunts her wins,” Baker said. “She shakes hands with competitors, respects their efforts, and is always the first to lift up her teammates,” Baker said. Palmer is always looking for ways to help her teammates push themselves further than they thought they could.

She even requested that teammates join her for personal New Balance Nationals training sessions with Baker in June — a testament to her desire to uplift the team, even while pursuing individual excellence. She prepared for Nationals by training rigorously, incorporating track workouts, tempo runs, recovery days, and long-distance sessions.

Baker met with her twice a week to fine-tune pacing and speed. Part

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of her training included a grueling routine that would make Usain Bolt’s knees knock. Some include 16 X 200-meter repeats, and a 200, 400, 800, 1,200, 800, 400, 200-meter session. She ran a 10:32 in the two-mile and placed 20th overall in the meet.

Perhaps most inspiring is how Palmer has learned to navigate the mental challenges of high-level competition. Early in her career, she would sometimes struggle under pressure and focused on beating her opponents. But this season, Baker has seen a shift.

“She’s learned to run her own race — not focus on who’s ahead or behind. She’s found her inner pace and her calm,” he said. “When she shared that lesson at senior night — how she learned to trust herself and not be derailed by pressure — it really hit me.”

That moment of gratitude, when Palmer publicly thanked Baker on Senior Night, was deeply emotional for Baker. “What do you say when someone gives you a huge thank you on the night before they graduate?” he said. “It’s a reciprocal relationship. Training and coaching kids teaches and impacts you in ways that you don’t necessarily know or expect.”

In her speech, she said of Baker, “Mr. Baker knows how to adjust to each runner’s needs and often runs multiple workouts at once to ensure that every runner gets a good workout… With Mr. Baker’s training, I always felt strong, fast, and ready to compete, allowing me to find success. Another one of Mr. Baker’s biggest attributes is believing in each of his athletes.”

She shared that when she was preparing for the Founders League, her goal was to run under 10 minutes in the 3,000m.

Baker believed she could and developed a plan to achieve this goal. He suggested that she focus on running her race and hold on to a time of faster than 80 seconds per lap for as long as possible. When she crossed the finish line in nine minutes and forty-eight seconds, she was literally in shock. Mr. Baker ran over to the finish, and she told him that she couldn’t believe her time, but he replied, “Well, I can.”

But Baker is not her only coach, and she said each of her track coaches contributes to her success. “They all help in different ways,” she said. “Ms. Watson is super high energy and positive, and Mr. Goodman gives really good advice.”

She said the track team calls Goodman’s pearls of wisdom “Goodmanisms.” Some notable motivators include “Believe in yourself because others believe in you” and “Don’t lose the race before you’ve begun.”

Palmer is more than a decorated athlete. She is a model of leadership, resilience, and grace.

As she heads into Nationals and to Middlebury College, her legacy at KO — and across New England — is already cemented.

But for those lucky enough to have trained with her, run beside her, or simply cheered from the sidelines, Palmer’s greatest triumph might just be the community she’s helped build, stride by stride.

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A L L T H E R I G H T M OV E S In the early fall of 2024, instead of practicing their spiral passes and run blocks, KO football players worked on high kicks and high “V” s with former Dallas Cowboy cheerleader Victoria Kalina, the breakout star on the Netflix documentary America’s Sweetheart. Following her workshop with the players, Kalina offered an intensive workshop for KO’s dance students.

For the past three years, the unlikely pair of Performing Arts Chair Kyle Reynolds and Head Football Coach Brandon Batory ’10 have collaborated to highlight interdisciplinary learning, as stated in our strategic plan. In doing so, the football players have gained a greater appreciation of dancers’ athleticism, engaged in intensive workouts with a professional dancer, and built community between the KO dancers and athletes.

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Before Kalina’s arrival, local professional dancer Nicole Henkel taught the players the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders signature number to ACDC’s “Thunderstruck,” to provide a foundational understanding of the routine. As Kalina entered the dance studio, the players wearing their practice jerseys and socks erupted into cheers loud enough to win a cheerleader’s heart. Kalina, too, was dressed for the moment, wearing a red long-sleeve Kingswood Oxford

t-shirt, sneakers, and leggings, her long blonde hair down so that the signature cheerleader hair flipping could be witnessed to full effect.

“We’re going to work on dance,” Kalina announced, “because athletes need dance to become more flexible.”

Kalina led the players in high-energy exercises to limber them up. After the players were sufficiently stretched, she organized the teams in rows,

with the senior players in the front to set the tone for the rest of the team.

Next, Kalina broke down the routine with step-by-step instructions.

There were plenty of missed cues and laughs as the players attempted the dance, which was full of power moves and hand pumps. The dancers viewed the team from the side and encouraged the players. For the final run-through, the players wore cowboy hats for full effect.

NBC News Connecticut interviewed three players, Stephen Bailey ’25, Justin Morle ’26, and Cameron Thomas ’26, to hear their take on the experience. Each player expressed his appreciation for the workout.

More important, they said they were grateful to break out of their comfort zones and try something new.

After working with the players, Kalina workshopped with the dance performers, who were ecstatic about the opportunity to learn from her.

“Victoria Kalina’s visit was a gamechanger for our department,” Reynolds said. “Not only did she boost the strength and flexibility of our football players, she leveled up our most advanced dancers in a way that we’ve never seen before.”

The morning after the class, several students ran to Reynold’s office to tell them how sore they were, but more important, that it was the most fulfilling dance experience they’ve ever had - and these young dancers have been dancing for almost their entire lives.

“KO’s guest artist visits deeply impact our community and further distinguish our signature programs,” Reynolds said. “When you dance at KO, you’ll get the opportunity to learn five dance styles every day after school, perform in top-notch productions, and meet celebrity guests from Broadway, television, and now, the NFL. This is what inspiration, education, and impact look like in 2024.”

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COMMENCEMENT

113th Commencement May 23, 2025 Wisdom, Laughter, and Legacy on a Rainy Day Despite the on-and-off rain and the deep chill in the air, Kingswood Oxford’s 113th Commencement on May 23 was a warm and unforgettable tribute to the resilience and character of the Class of 2025, consisting of 92 graduates, 14 of them heading to play college sports and 18 of them inducted into the Cum Laude Society. Sasha Dausey was named the Dux Prize winner for the highest average.

Held in the Hoffman Field House with the scoreboard glowing 2025, the ceremony featured heartfelt speeches, laughter through misty eyes, and moments of deep reflection that transcended the gloomy weather.

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Head of School Tom Dillow introduced the Invocation speaker, Upper School history teacher Ted Levine, as the “living legend,” and Levine quipped, “It’s nice to know I’m still alive,” who gave the Invocation remarks. He commented on the student performances from the previous evening’s Senior Class Night, referring to the many lessons learned about testing resilience, building confidence, and embracing change. He used former art teacher Pat Rosoff as an example of a teacher who fell back, allowing a student artist to create their own vision, not hers.

“We gave you so many brushes and palettes,” he said, “and some of you painted in broad swaths, seen

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in concepts and abstractions. Take your brushes and palettes as you leave to nurture your talents.”

Student speaker Raine Wang opened with a touching tribute to a beloved figure at KO, Peter Jones, this year’s Commencement speaker, who retired ar the end of the school year.

“What can I say about Mr. Jones that hasn’t been celebrated?” she began.

“He makes jokes in class that’ll have you straining your ears to make sure you heard it right—and then laughing that you did.”

Wang recalled the joy of having him as a history teacher and advisor: “I’m not much of a morning person, but I always looked forward to his class, even when it was the first period of the day.” Her fondest memories included quiet, early

mornings when she’d stop by his classroom. “He always left me with a smile and a witty comment,” she said. “He lights up everything and everyone around him.”

In his address, Jones brought both wit and wisdom. After joking that he was told not to talk about “COVID, politics, or myself,” he added, “But since that is one of my favorite topics [talking about himself], I don’t think I can completely agree.”

His message emphasized the importance of time and empathy.

“Time is free, but it’s priceless. You can’t own it, but you can use it. You can’t keep it, but you can spend it. Once you’ve lost it, you can never get it back,” he quoted from Harvey Mackay.

He urged graduates to live meaningfully and remain mindful of others as a fundamental quality of being both human and humane. He shared personal experiences of how the kindness of strangers, particularly during his medical challenges, made a lasting impact: “You may never know the effect you have on someone else, but that doesn’t make it any less powerful.” Even small, prosaic interactions in a grocery store carry an opportunity to make a positive difference. He engaged the students in a call-and-response to Upper School science teacher Fritz Goodman’s three rules: Be kind. Be kind. Be kind. In the end, he said, “I hope you aspire to be a reason that people who know you come to believe in the goodness of humanity.”

Head of School Tom Dillow offered an imaginative and moving speech using three animals as metaphors for life’s lessons.

First, he encouraged students to “be a goldfish,” referencing Ted Lasso: “It’s got a 10-second memory. So go be a goldfish, Sam.” He explained, “You will never get better unless you fail…

Don’t carry your mistakes like luggage.”

Next, he spoke about the wisdom of owls: “Owls can rotate their heads almost 270 degrees. That’s perspective.” He challenged

students to remain curious and thoughtful in a world filled with oversimplified answers. “Don’t settle for certainty… Test your assumptions. Look for ways that you might be wrong.”

Finally, he called on students to “be a firefly”: “You don’t have to shine like the sun. You just have to leave the light on for someone else.”

He quoted Dan Mangdon’s song “Soapbox”: “There are those who leave a light on in case another needs to see.”

Dillow’s message was clear and powerful: “Be the person who shows up, who notices, who makes space for others. In a world that feels divided, we need steady, quiet lights.”

Upper School history teacher Rob Kyff, who just published a book about The Great Gatsby, said the Farewell, fittingly closing the ceremony with a quote from F. Scott Fitzgerald. He said the quote expresses the wishes he has for each student - a sense of wonderment and open-mindedness, and a life they can be proud of. “May you go forth with compassion and kindness.”

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C L A S S O F 20 25 S T U D E N T-AT H L E T E S CO M M I T T E D TO P L AY S P O R T S AT T H E CO L L E G I AT E L E V E L STEPHEN BAILEY Grinnell College, Football THOMAS CAPORASO UMass Dartmouth, Baseball SANFORD CLOUD Brandeis University, Men’s Track and Field HARRISON ENGLE Fairfield University, Baseball OLIVIA GALLUP Trinity College, Softball JUSTICE HANNA University of New Haven, Men’s Basketball REAGAN HEAFEY-DE ANGELIS University of Saint Joseph, Women’s Basketball ADDISEN NICHOLSON University of Rhode Island, Women’s Soccer CLAIRE PALMER Middlebury College, Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field JULIAN PRZECIOSKA Franklin Pierce University, Football OLIVIA SCHALLER Palm Beach Atlantic University, Women’s Soccer BODEN SWANSON Fairfield University, Baseball DOMINIC TROLIO Seton Hall University, Baseball EVAN TYLER Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Football

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Our Class of 2025 graduates celebrate on the steps of Alumni Hall with their parents who also attended KO.

FROM L-R: Fred Krieble ’91 with Jack Krieble, Greg Scranton ’94 with Miya Scranton, Corry Gallagher ’92 with Makenzie Gallagher, Marissa Kreh Gingeleskie ’96 with Christian Gingeleskie, Benjamin Albert ’89 with Ysabel Albert, Meryl Mandell Braunstein ’87 with Alex Braunstein, Frances van Huystee Morris ’90 with Els Morris, and Jennifer Papa Kanaan ’87 with Jenna Kanaan and Jack Kanaan

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FEATURE STORY

RAISING LIVESTOCK AND STUDENTS:

How One Teacher Merges Two Passions

By Jackie Pisani

Mother’s Day is a time to show our moms how much we appreciate them with fail-safe gifts, such as flowers and chocolates. But not for Middle School art teacher Katherine Nicholson, owner of the bucolic 17-acre Sand Meadow Farm in Ellington, Conn. Her family gives her something a little different, a little more porcine.

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“Piglets are the perfect Mother’s Day gift,” she said.

Life is in full swing at the farm. As Jon Nicholson, Katherine’s

“They’re smart and personable.” Her piglets live the

husband, greets us, so too does Cleo, the Great Pyrenees

“high life,” she attests, grazing in the pasture, eating a

guard dog who lives with the sheep in the barn 24/7, her tail

high-quality full-grain diet, and being protected from

wagging as steady as a metronome. Clyde, the mischievous

the elements in a shelter. However, seasons progress,

black and white cat, loops figure-eights around pant legs, and

and by October, the pigs, now weighing 270 to 300

the ducks wobble-walk by. The lambs march in formations,

pounds each, are stronger than they realize and are

following one another in and out of the pen, acting much

ravaging the fencing. Their next stop is Plymouth Meats

like sheep. The pigs are rooting and snuffling from their

in Terryville, Conn., for processing, where the company

corrugated feeder, banging the door shut with each mouthful

produces pork chops unlike any others.

of fodder. Chickens, including the rusty-feathered ISA Browns,

It’s morning at Sand Meadow, with a light, misty rain hanging in the air and a brisk 54-degree temperature — a too-familiar and unwelcome weather pattern this

are clucking. Alice and Penelope, the cows, are lowing in their corral as Thistle, the red roan calf born over the Easter weekend, looks on cautiously at her mother’s side.

spring in New England. The air is thick with earthy

For the past 18 years, Nicholson, Jon, and their children

richness — the pungent tang of manure, the grassy

Addisen ’25 and Oliver ’30 have tended their land and

sweetness of hay bales, and the smoky aroma of

livestock (40 sheep, two cows, two steers, four pigs, 50

tobacco from the curing barn, all mingling with the

chickens, and two ducks), waking up in the morning mist.

smell of muddy soil.

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FEATURE STORY

Farming is a family affair — a full-time job — where everyone is responsible, whether it’s raining, snowing, or Christmas morning, delaying the opening of gifts.

Nicholson said the farm affords the family another dimension to family life, apart from their career jobs and schoolwork. “We have something to discuss other than school and work,” she said. “We have projects, and we have things that interest us, and we can problem solve.”

As a youngster who had a small farm with two horses and a handful of chickens, and as the wife of a husband whose family raised horses and cows, Nicholson said the responsibilities of farm life keeps her kids out of trouble, much as her horses did for her. “The kids come home

medicine to the animals when necessary and intervene in

because they enjoy it,” she said, “and they like to be out

delivering calves and lambs when required. “My husband

in the barn. And then I think it’s really important for this

and kids have gotten very good at assisting the delivery,”

generation, especially, to know how to work with their

Nicholson said, “and are very proud of the animals they

hands. My son can already drive, mend broken fences and

have helped.”

pens without help.”

The Nicholsons raise their lambs, a flock of 40 or so

Nicholson is such an advocate for the impact of farming

cotton-faced Southdowns, sooty-faced Shropshires, and

and tending to animals on young people that she

leggy Oxfords for show flocks, genetics for other farms,

introduced a Middle School Skills Incubator class, Farm

and for market as naturally as possible. After the sheep

101, this year. She and the students visited local dairy

are fully grown, they either enter the Nicholson’s flock,

farms (large-scale Oak Ridge and the family-operated

are sold to other farms to build their flocks, or are USDA

Symth’s Trinity Dairy), Dondero Orchards, hydroponic

processed at Plymouth Meats, a meticulously clean,

rooftop gardens at Hartford Hospital, and discussed

woman-run outfit that provides humane care at the end

the politics of meat consumption. She aims to deepen

of the animals’ lives. Nicholson dispels the notion that

students’ understanding of where food comes from and

farm owners are closed off from their animals, unfeeling

the challenges faced by modern agriculture.

in their attitudes. “Animals are a livelihood, and you spend

Most days, Nicholson wakes at 4:00 a.m. to tackle

time in the morning and the evening with them,” she said.

schoolwork before the family arises. While she and the kids head to KO, Jon undertakes the farm chores, including feeding all the animals and ensuring the rest of the animals are healthy and have fresh water, nearly 40 gallons a day for one cow. In the evening, the entire family performs another round of chores. All four administer 68

Middle schooler visits local farm.

“You get to know them. Animals are living things, and when they fall ill, we do everything we can for them, but sometimes that is not enough. On market day, even when you steel yourself up for the day, it’s an emotional day. It weighs heavily on your heart.”

Breeders throughout the country prize Nicholson’s

a lot of adrenaline,” Addisen said. “It’s a lot of fun, but

sheep for their genetics, and they are well-known

sometimes you get a little frustrated if you know your

on the show circuit. Jon and the children show their

sheep is great and it didn’t do as well as it should have.”

sheep nationally, from Massachusetts to Wisconsin, and the family is headed to Illinois this summer for a youth sheep show where 600 kids exhibit 3,000 head of sheep. When traveling, they use a college student studying vet tech to care for the farm.

Although Addisen and Oliver have yet to garner the top

The Nicholsons continually add or deduct from their flock to create superior offspring. “We’re trying to grow genetics, our flocks, and our national name,” she said.

“It’s what we’ve chosen to be known for as a farm. And you put as much into it as you get out of it financially and emotionally.” Currently, Addisen’s new project is

prize of “supreme,” they earned “grand champion” for their Southdowns and Shropshires. “When I show, I get

Farming is a family affair — a full-time job — where everyone is responsible, whether it’s raining, snowing, or Christmas morning, delaying the opening of gifts.

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FEATURE STORY

her Oxford breed, where she is learning a new style

their livestock a high-quality grain of corn, oats, soybeans,

of fitting and showing. Additionally, she is trying to

or barley. Although it costs more, this approach produces

improve the breed’s quality and wants to cultivate them

higher-quality meat. They market their pork, lamb, and

to be easier keepers, with more body mass, so that

beef primarily through word of mouth, but the farm also

they can be fed and kept alongside the smaller-framed

maintains a Facebook page. In the future, they plan to

sheep. With only two breeding seasons, she is already

launch a website.

seeing some success.

Although the farm is not a money maker, the family

and February, when worries abound: cold temperatures,

budgets their resources consciously, keenly aware of

a sufficient food supply, fear of pneumonia, and the

profit and margin. A neighbor rents the multipurpose

administration of proactive vaccines. Although challenging,

tobacco barn, which is used to cure tobacco from floor

the winter months bring plenty of joy. “Even with all the

to ceiling from August through October for high-end

worries and hard work, lambing season also brings the

cigar wrappers. Steam is used during the curing process

pleasure of watching newborn lambs bounce around the

to keep the tobacco supple, and Jon said that more than

pen,” said Nicholson. “There is pride, but also something

a few concerned drivers have stopped by to tell them

special about watching the animals being sheltered from the

their barn was on fire. Currently, that barn contains

cold in a warm barn with newborn lambs and their moms,

the two steers, one of which Oliver will show and sell

which grounds us as a family.”

at auction for his 4-H project at the Big E this year.

Jon estimates the cost of feeding and healthcare for a cow/steer is upwards of $4,000. The Nicholsons feed

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The farm has just weathered lambing season in January

“In the winter, you’re up every four hours to bottle feed the lambs or every hour or so to check on the ewes to make sure they are doing ok,” Nicholson said. “In the summer, it

“I hope they take away a sense of connection to the food chain, and feel empowered to make some decisions on how they eat and what they fuel themselves with.”

-Katherine Nicholson

changes to evening work where you are training the lambs

with her students in her Skills Incubator class. She noticed

and getting them ready to show in a ring, be on a farm, be

that many students have a disconnect between their

able to change from pen to pen on a halter, or stand there

everyday meals and the hard work that goes into food

and not be afraid of things.”

production. “We’re moving further and further away from

Nicholson actively pursues public and private grants from

where our food comes from,” she said, noting how easily

the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, the USDA, and the American Farmland Trust to offset capital costs, a time-consuming process that entails crafting a persuasive

people assume food will always be available at grocery stores. COVID-19 supply chain disruptions heightened her awareness of the need to educate students on the

argument, assessing risks, and obtaining letters of support.

complexities of agriculture.

She received a grant from the state of Connecticut to

“I hope they take away a sense of connection to the food

establish a farm store within the year, complete with

chain,” Nicholson said, “and feel empowered to make some

freezers and coolers to sell eggs and meat. She plans to

decisions on how they eat and what they fuel themselves

open the store by the end of the summer, and already the

with.” The class encourages students not only to observe

small red store waits in place, with window boxes blooming

and learn but also to think critically about the impact of

with pansies. She plans to sell their eggs, sausage, bacon,

agriculture on their daily lives. Already, the learning is

and other cuts of meat (labeled under the Plymouth Farm

sticking. As one student said after visiting the dairy farm, “I

name), as well as merchandise such as market bags made

can’t believe how much goes into a gallon of milk!”

from their recycled grain bags.

Through Farm 101, Nicholson hopes that the students

Nicholson said that many grants require farms to employ

come away with practical research skills and a deeper

regenerative farming practices to care for the land while

appreciation for the effort, challenges, and care that go

producing food, an aspiration that Sand Meadow also

into providing food for society. And, some of them will

embraces. Beyond their sheep pen lies 15 acres of open

be inspired to think about agriculture in new ways. As for

pastureland, featuring tall grasses. Once it’s sunnier and

the Nicholson family, life on the farm continues unabated

the land dries out, part of the meadow will be hayed, and

following the natural rhythm. Next year will bring some

when the grass is tall enough again, the land will be ready

challenges, as one of their steady farmhands, Addisen,

for grazing. The animals will be moved weekly to another

heads off to college, requiring each of them to pick up

section of pasture once their grazing is complete, allowing

the slack. Knowing the Nicholsons’ love and care for Sand

the grass to regrow and protect the soil’s health.

Meadow, they will find a way to sustain their beautiful life

Although Nicholson and her husband both grew up on

on a most picturesque farm.

farms in their youth, there is still much to master when you own your own land. Nicholson is learning side by side

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M O R F G N I D STA N N S O I T A OV TO G N I D N A T S F OR E G N CHA BY JACK IE PIS ANI

FEATURE STORY

The massive stone fireplace at The

“It’s a total cliche,” Montenieri laughs.

Campbell, a cocktail lounge nestled

“Two days after I graduated from

inside Grand Central Terminal,

Skidmore, I showed up with two

amid luxurious velvet and leather

suitcases and a couple of bucks in my

seating, deep mahogany tables, and

pocket, slept on a couch for a month

maybe if I could assist someone in the

a looming 25-foot ceiling, provides

until I could find the most disgusting

theater,” he said, “they’ll give me some

the perfect reprieve from January’s

apartment. When my parents saw

direction and an open door.” Circling

head-down, wind-off-the-river

the apartment for the first time, my

an ad for a job as an assistant to a

squall, coursing the avenues and

mother cried all

blowing up gritstorms. The space

the way home.”

feels simultaneously grand yet cozy.

Although it’s no longer a secret, The Campbell still retains that particular New York in-the-know feeling, a perfect meeting place to speak with executive producer of Lotus Productions, theater insider and civic organizer Tony Montenieri ’96, who shared the behind-the-scenes mystique and allure of the theater and the intersection of art and social activism.

Montenieri rushes in, face flushed,

Enduring his vertiginous climb to his fifth-floor apartment and a meager $300-a-week paycheck,

V AND T ON Y

playwright, activist, and performer, he recognized that the contact listed on the ad was a woman he’d attended college with. She set up the interview with V, formerly Eve Ensler, the writer of the break-through play The Vagina Monologues, which was closing its offBroadway run after

and removes his wool hat, exposing

Montenieri found a band of fellow

his smooth, clean-shaven head,

artists all seeking their shot.

which gives him more than a passing

Disregarding the hardships, he never

resemblance to Stanley Tucci. With

wavered and never considered

As an aficionado of musicals,

his wide, easy smile, he describes

moving home. To keep his skills

Montenieri viewed most theater

his early days in New York City with

fresh and his bank account full, he

as entertainment. His introduction

charm and self-effacement, radiating

sublet his apartment and toured the

to V and The Vagina Monologues

warmth and intelligence that makes

summer stock circuit, performing

completely altered his perspective on

him instantly likable. His landing

with American Family Theater and the

the transformative power of theater.

in the City reads like a script from

Gateway Playhouse, to name a few.

an endless list of plays — A Chorus Line, Sweet Charity, 42nd Street, Bullets Over Broadway, and Funny Girl, to name a few — whose dogeared subject is the small-town idealist’s desire to break into theater.

It’s the New York full of possibilities — something extraordinary could happen at any minute.

five years. Montenieri nailed the interview and got the job.

The Vagina Monologues is a collection

After a string of near-miss auditions,

of monologues based on interviews

he reached an existential crossroads

V conducted with over 200 women,

by the time he was 25 years old.

exploring their experiences with

Taking stock of his situation, he

sexuality, body image, love, rape,

realized that in the moments in his life

childbirth, sexual violence, and

when he relaxed and cared less, job

empowerment. The raw immediacy of

offers appeared. So, he took a break

its subject matter broke many taboos

from the grind of auditions. “I thought

at the time. V understood the play’s

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FEATURE STORY

impact beyond the theater, and in

as a cause celeb, he wasn’t

1998, V founded V-Day, a global

fully aware of the depth of its

activist movement aimed at ending

impact until he began to work

violence against women (cisgender,

with V. On his first day, the

transgender, and those who hold

V-Day team suggested that

fluid identities that are subject to

he watch Until the Violence

gender-based violence,) girls, and the

Stops, the first documentary

Earth. Proceeds from performances

of the V-Day movement,

of the play often go toward local

which was being edited. He

organizations that combat domestic

was moved by what he saw.

violence and sexual assault.

Alongside being executive producer of Lotus Productions, V’s commercial production company, Montenieri now serves as campaign director and event producer for V-Day, A deeply reflective person, Montenieri discusses his experience with the play and the organization as his trim frame settles further in the leather seat. His expressive eyes flash with excitement or lower in quiet contemplation. He explained that, although he was familiar with the play

“Art is so powerful,” he said.

“What I learned very early on through The Vagina Monologues is the power

T H E AT E R KEEPS OPE NING DOOR S, IN V I T ING PE OPL E IN, A ND W E NE E D T O K E E P U P.

The Bosnian woman explained how she had performed and produced the play and how the process healed her. Through this exchange, Montenieri said he started to “get it” and began to understand the profound impact of theater.

of theater to heal people who have suffered abuse and sexual violence.

“I don’t think I ever looked at theater

It was an awakening.”

that way until this point in my life,”

Montenieri said that in the lead-

he said.

up to V-Day at that time, regional

Through his senior position in the

empowerment workshops were

non-profit, Montenieri has heard his

conducted on each coast and in

share of traumatizing stories that

Europe, where activists gathered and

could readily spill over and disrupt

discussed the issues they confronted

one’s own mental health. His friends

in their communities. Early on, while

and partner ground him. “It’s about

attending one workshop, Montenieri

making sure that there’s a line where

was paired with a Bosnian woman

you know you’re doing your job and

who shared the brutality of a

you’re doing all you can do,” he said.

rape camp to which she and

“I try to understand what is mine to

her mother had been taken.

“I was thinking, while

hold, and what is not, and how to separate the two.”

she was experiencing

In 2016, Montenieri produced In the

this horror, ‘What

Body of the World at the American

was I doing in 1993

Repertory Theater at Harvard

and 1994’,” he said. “I

University and then off-Broadway at

pictured myself in a

the Manhattan Theater Club, a play

KO school assembly.

adapted from V’s best-selling memoir

That moment changed

under the same name about her

my life. It broke open my

battle with stage-4 uterine cancer.

consciousness of my privilege.”

He regards this work as the most personal to him because he was with

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V when she received her diagnosis

Kingswood Oxford’s theater

and then spent the next 10 months

department has evolved greatly

with her at the Mayo Clinic and in

since Montenieri walked the boards

New York City on her journey to

in Roberts. In 2024, he saw the KO

healing. As one of her go-to people,

production of A Chorus Line, and

can you understand the part you

Montenieri was the inspiration for one

was moved to tears by the end of the

are trying to play.”

character in the play. “That play was

show. He was overcome, he said, by

a love song to every single person in

the emotional weight of

her life who was on that journey with

his experience at KO,

her,” he said. “She has the biggest

memories of his times

heart of anyone I know.”

spent in the theater,

Montenieri is currently involved in a one-night-only musical uprising, Dear Everything, a narrated concert about climate change and collective action. What could easily become a pedantic work, Dear Everything is written instead in a manner that opens the door for people to explore very heavy topics, Montenieri said.

“It’s inspiring,” he said. “It gets you ramped up so you’re ready to jump in. That is the kind of theater that is important when discussing social justice and activism.”

Montenieri was active in the KO theater department as a student, playing Daddy Warbucks in Annie as a junior and Billy in Anything Goes in his senior year. He lists several KO teachers who cultivated his interest in music and theater, such as former orchestra conductor Rich Chiarappa, former Theater Director Lud Baldwin, and former music teacher Wayne

and the level of excellence in the performance.

During the intermission, he ran into former Tech Director Mark Kravetz and KO classmate and current Director of College Counseling Jami Silver ’96.

Theater as a platform for activism is not new, of course. Brechtian agitprop theater in the 1930s and 1940s, for instance, was intended to make audiences think and to inspire political and social action. Even Shakespeare grappled with political matters in his history plays.

Oftentimes, theater is a productive channel for helping people engage with subjects that can sometimes be uncomfortable

“I was so proud of the theater

to address. Montenieri feels theater

education and preparation Kyle

peels back layers so we understand

Reynolds, KO’s performing arts chair,

the human condition more fully.

is giving these students,” he said. “I’m proud of my education. My gratitude is just so deep, and my pride is exploding in me. While watching the audition number in A Chorus Line, I thought, ‘The level of talent — it’s incredible.’”

Montenieri was so moved that he made a generous matching gift.

“Here’s what you need to know about changing the world,” Montenieri said. “It’s always going to need changing. We open these doors for people to identify how they want to identify, or we look at the history of intersectionality of race and gender. Theater keeps

Pierce and his wife, Barbara, his

Montenieri advises theater students

opening doors, inviting people in,

voice teacher at the time. His former

to broaden their horizons and not be

and we need to keep up.”

French teacher, Joan Edwards, also

confined only to just the theater.

saw his interest in activism bubbling

“You have to be students of the

up within him and encouraged

world,” he said, “because only then

this pursuit.

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FEATURE STORY

By Jackie Pisani

Our Eco-Design and Construction IMPACT Lab class in the Upper School goes way beyond theory, weaving green construction methodologies, learning insights from industry leaders, and retrofitting a van for a local food bank. Led by former Technical Director Michael Bane and Head of the Upper School Lisa Loeb, the class consisted of 14 students, small enough so everyone had a hand in the project.

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Since the school was currently undergoing construction on the Community Commons, the campus operated as a lab where students can see firsthand the steps involved in building construction. First, the students met with Todd Andrews ’91, principal of Centerbrook Architects in Centerbrook, Conn., who designed the Community Commons. They visited the firm, located in a 19th-century compound of factory buildings, learned about the trajectory of Andrews’ career and Centerbrook’s project management approach to design architecture, assimilating the program’s needs, site, fundraising, budgets, and

“The Impact Lab courses are designed around a framework so that students have the space to direct some of their learning, rather than just consume knowledge, students are experimenting and creating it.”

-Lisa Loeb, Head of the Upper School

implementation.

Andrews continued to share his expertise throughout the course. In February, the students toured the Commons as Andrews pointed out design aspects and addressed specific problemsolving issues, such as proper venting to prevent mold and to ensure adequate airflow. To test their learning, in April, the students, in groups of four, presented to Andrews their concepts for renovating areas on campus that they deemed needed improvement. By employing biophilic design, incorporating nature into structures to enhance human well-being, the students created spaces that stimulate the senses and foster a sense of place. The students drew inspiration from nature’s patterns, using warm woods, plants, and green tones in Tomasso Hall, the Black Box Theater, and the Soby Gym.

In April, Dr. Saty Sharma, a visiting professor from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), brought not just insight and industry experience but also a fresh, passionate take on sustainability in design.

The professor shared valuable insights into how sustainability is often treated as an afterthought in the design world — and why that mindset needs to change.

His lecture focused on eco-design strategies — a set of design approaches aimed at reducing environmental impact across the entire lifecycle of a product, from raw material extraction to end-of-life disposal or recycling. The key takeaway? The majority of a product’s environmental impact is determined during its design phase. If designers incorporate sustainable

“This class, this experience is awesome. I’m able to learn a lot more when I’m not tested traditionally with a pen and paper, and it’s a lot easier to apply my knowledge to real-life situations.” -Connor Ellsworth ’26

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FEATURE STORY

thinking early on, they can reduce the total impact by up to 80%. That’s huge.

All this theory grounded the students when Bane assigned them their first hands-on project -

The key takeaway?

constructing a toolbox. Bane recalls his experience building a toolbox as the ideal way for students

The majority of a product’s

to learn about design principles and the function

environmental impact

of various tools such as table saws, screwdrivers,

is determined during its

cordless drills, miter saws, and drill presses.

design phase. If designers incorporate sustainable thinking early on, they can reduce the total impact by up to 80%. That’s huge.

-Visiting Professor Dr. Saty Sharma, Savannah College of the Arts and Design

First, the students sketched their design, then selected their materials, and lastly assembled the toolbox. Needless to say, some students expressed frustration when their design didn’t pan out as they expected. But that’s where the real learning takes place, understanding the iterative process of refining the product until it’s done right. The adage “measure twice, cut once” still holds.

Following this fundamental understanding of design and equipment, the students applied their knowledge to renovating a van, generously donated by Hoffman Auto Design Group, for the Food4Share food pantry in Granby. These community connections are a critical part of the Impact Lab courses.

“As a day school, KO has the advantage of being embedded in the community,” said Loeb. “We see the campus as a jumping off point to make those connections with our students.”

Before any work began on the van, the students toured the facility to learn about the organization’s operations. Each week, volunteers drive across Connecticut in a van with 500,000 miles to collect food donations from stores and distribution centers, stocking their shelves for the hundreds of people who rely on the organization’s services each week.

A breakdown of the van would mean senior citizens and low-income individuals would go hungry.

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The students discussed the best way to store food in the

“Before, I didn’t enjoy working collaboratively,”

van, adding insulation for cold food storage, installing

Ellsworh said. “After this class, I appreciated that

matting to reduce wear and tear and to combat rust, and

we worked together a lot. I like hearing everybody’s

replacing headlights. The students sourced materials

perspective and getting the best view of the situation.

from a minimum of two vendors, including tires and rims,

We found the best options and combined them to see

to select the best product at a reasonable price.

how everybody would be happy with the outcome.”

After the class concluded, the students reflected on their

“In the Eco-Design class, I learned to think outside the

experience and how it had changed them as students

box, to challenge myself, and never be satisfied with

and as individuals.

my work,” fellow student Jason Mathews ’26 concurs.

“This class, this experience is awesome,” Connor

“I also learned to work better in a group, to be a

Ellsworth ’26. “I’m able to learn a lot more when I’m not tested traditionally with a pen and paper, and it’s a lot easier to apply my knowledge to real-life situations.”

leader, and to include others. What I took away most was the ability to step back and reflect on what I was doing and its impact, always returning to that guiding

While working on the enhancements for spaces on

question.”

campus, Ellsworth said that visiting the site, analyzing

Ellsworth’s and Mathews’ experiences are exactly what

the issues, and problem-solving bolstered his learning

the IMPACT program was intended to do: develop real-

experience, as well as his appreciation for working in a

world skills and a deeper understanding of who you

collaborative group structure.

are and how you work best.

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FEATURE STORY

The Operational Engine Behind Biotech’s Promising Startups A nurse by training, with a degree from Georgetown University, Diane Tager ’03 has encountered her share of emergencies that require quick thinking and steely resolve. This background now serves Tager well in her role as chief operating officer at Penquin, a stealth biotech therapeutic startup, a position that tests her mettle daily.

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For the past 18 months, Tager has helped launch, fund, manage, and expand a business in a market that has not been the kindest to burgeoning biotechs. Her dayto-day management of the start-up takes her from troubleshooting with the IT department, to interfacing with key investors, to purchasing IT systems, to developing benefits packages, to onboarding new staff.

Just before the interview for this story, she spent two hours poring over an analyst’s report to track market trends and conditions.

Fortunately for Tager, she thrives on the unpredictability of a schedule where no two days are the same. “There are a lot of different functional areas that roll up to me,” she said. “No one notices if it’s functioning well, but everyone notices when it’s not.”

Tager’s career path has been unconventional. Where she saw opportunities, she took them, and believes that a good network is critical to advancing your career.

After working as a nurse for several years, Tager realized she didn’t want to continue bedside care and switched to public health for three years, working with impoverished communities and at-risk teens in a lowincome neighborhood. She planned to return to school to earn her master’s in public health, but a family friend persuaded her to pursue an MBA, offering a broader skill set and more opportunities.

While obtaining her MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, Tager applied for an internship at Celgene Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company specializing in cancer therapies. At the time, the company offered a portfolio of eight products. She was exposed to various departments within the organization, from working in the three-person channel marketing group to sales, to project leadership —the unit that manages their clinical trials. This allowed her a good vantage point from

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FEATURE STORY

which to learn all phases of the business. While she worked in project leadership, she was exposed to many other areas of the company that she hadn’t known existed.

By 2019, Tager was working in Celgene’s business development group, managing their equities portfolio, when Bristol-Myers Squibb acquired it. When the acquisition was announced, Tager connected with a venture capital fund that was about to fund a small startup, Volastra Therapeutics, a New York City-based oncology company with a product that targets various solid tumor cancers.

The venture capital (VC) group needed someone to start Volastra Therapeutics and tapped Tager for the job of

“Part of being in a start-up is knowing that you are not going to succeed all the time.

You are going to hit roadblocks. You need to move on effectively and pivot quickly.”

building the company from the ground up. Tager said the groups scour academic labs to find opportunities to invest; they then license the technology and build the founding team to operate the business. Tager noted that

Due to the team’s small size, the company plans to

often, such VC groups invest between $5 million and $10

utilize external consultants to help develop its programs.

million of seed money, designed to get the company off

So far, Tager has not seen any delays in submissions

the ground within the first six to 12 months. Once the

and approvals with the FDA, even though the current

company is more established, it raises its Series A. In

administration has downsized the department. However,

the current market, anything in the double-digit millions

she admitted that the environment is still unclear and is

is a win for a small biotech. After the company reaches

keeping an eye on any changes.

certain milestones, the VC group can exit in two ways: with an initial public offering (IPO) or an acquisition, Tager explained.

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“It’s a good time to be privately funded,” she said.

“You need to provide a lot of data showing that your drug works and is safe. It sounds like a simple task,

“That start-up was at ground zero, and I was the first

but it requires a lot of man-hours, and you have to

employee at Volastra,” she said. “Building from zero to

submit numerous written reports to the FDA. Any

a 40-person team was definitely a learning experience.

health authority takes putting new drugs in people

You just don’t know what you don’t know.”

very seriously.”

Because of Tager’s positive track record at her first two

Tager believes in building a strong culture with a

companies and her growing network in the biotech

foundation of values at Penguin. And those values start

space, she was given the opportunity to start Penguin.

at the top and set the tone for the organization. Tager

The team has grown from 10, mostly researchers,

said her faith as a Christian sets her moral compass

interrogating early scientific discoveries in the lab.

and wouldn’t permit her to be deceptive, like Elizabeth

Holmes, the founder of Theranos, who manipulated data

you need people around you who are either doing the

and exaggerated claims about the accuracy of her blood-

same thing as you’re doing or have done it before you.”

testing technology. “You can’t bring a drug forward and lie and deceive the people involved,” she said. “It’s very short-sighted if you’re doing that. In the long term, nobody is going to succeed or benefit.”

Part of those phone calls also involved trading war stories, because failure is an inherent aspect of starting a business. Tager said that, in her first start-up, she faced multiple setbacks, so a deep reserve of resilience

Since start-ups often have to function with few

is crucial. “Part of being in a start-up is knowing that you

employees, Tager sets a high bar for the people she hires

are not going to succeed all the time,” she said. “You are

and is careful to bring in individuals committed to the

going to hit roadblocks. You need to move on effectively

company and its culture. She said building a cohesive

and pivot quickly.”

team of highly flexible individuals is imperative as, ultimately, the team drives success. ”If you want a job with a narrow scope of work and your expectations lie only within that scope of work, that’s not going to work,” she said. “People like that usually don’t thrive or enjoy start-ups because you’re called on to do many different things, wear lots of different hats daily.”

Tager works in a heavily male-dominated industry with men who have significant experience in the field.

“Typically, it’s me in a room with seven men who have over 40 years in the business,” she said, “so it took some time for them to trust me. Although she now has a strong relationship with these colleagues, Tager had to earn her stripes over time. She says you need the humility and

Tager also seeks highly collaborative individuals with

self-awareness to know you don’t have all the answers.

a strong degree of integrity who can creatively think

And if she doesn’t know the answer, she said she makes

through solutions. Everyone needs to be in sync with

sure to get one within 24 hours.

their coworkers, she said, prioritizing support for one another throughout the process. “When you hire somebody who’s not collaborative or does not have the integrity or humility we are looking for,” she said, “it can spoil the whole team.

Managing a successful start-up might feel like a lonely journey, but it’s safe to say that no one goes it alone.

Tager said she has been fortunate to have several trusted ride-or-dies by her side — individuals who left Celgene and joined startups in the biotech industry — who have helped lighten her load. Once a quarter, these former colleagues would call and email one another to share insights, discuss payroll, benefits, IT, finance, and any unforeseen challenges.

“Everyone would respond and weigh in, and they were so supportive,” Tager said. “If you’re doing your first start-up,

“When one of the senior staffers gives advice,” she said, “I have to pause and be like, ‘They’ve done this five times. There’s probably a good amount of merit in what they are saying.’”

Tager reiterated this advice to those students assembled at a spring 2025 Power of Women event at KO. She explained there is a distinct difference between cockiness and confidence. She knew she could build the company because she had done it once before. “Don’t discount your skills and experience,” she said, “because they probably match many other men in your industry.”

The fight to create effective drugs and bring them to market is a formidable challenge, and with her fortitude, expertise, and savvy, Diane Tager is determined to take it on and achieve success.

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IN RETIREMENT

PUBLISHER LAWYER TEACHER TOUR GUIDE Upper School History Teacher Stacey Savin Has Led a Multi-Faceted Life Behind Stacey Savin’s endearingly

1988. In 1988, her first son, Pete,

White House Portrait on the other.

spirited persona lies a first-class

was born, and seven years later,

Thus, her company, Flash Pack

intellect that, in the words of

John, KO Class of 2014, came along.

Cards, was born in 1989. Presidents

T.S. Eliot, “never ceases from exploration.” A graduate of Cornell with a double major in history and Middle Eastern studies, Savin is fascinated with the richness of history and culture. History is far more than dates and facts, Savin says. It explains how we ended up here. “It’s everything,” she said.

“Civilizations, art, geography, medicine, and technology. You have to know the history to understand the progress or the horrors. Why did this happen? Who are these people?

I don’t see why that isn’t a curiosity for everyone.”

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At that time, while visiting Canada, she saw cards with nursery rhymes and beautiful drawings made in England. She contacted the publishing house and asked if they would like to partner with her in selling them in the U.S. She learned

was a hit right off the bat; the only cards approved by the White House Historical Association for sale at the White House Visitor Center and were sold in U.S. historical sites around the country. A title on First Ladies followed.

the British company also published

An autodidact, Savin traveled to

cards with the kings and queens of

Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, and

England that were sold at various

California to research her third

heritage sites. Based on that concept,

title, The American West. She hired

Savin suggested an American version

professors and art historians and

of the U.S. presidents, with text on

traveled to museums that house

one side and the president’s official

the best collections of Western art, with paintings by Remington, Russell, Bierstadt, and Moran. Savin

While an undergraduate at Cornell,

collaborated with the then-President

she contemplated becoming a

of Yale University, Western historian

lawyer and asked the administration

Howard Lamar, to create a pack

if she could take a torts class; they

of 40 cards telling the story of

agreed to her request. Relishing

America’s westward expansion from

her experience in that class, Savin

1800 to 1900. The collection was

headed straight to Georgetown

sold in libraries, historic sites, gift

Law and practiced law from 1979 to

shops, and Borders Books.

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IN RETIREMENT

“This experience got me back in love

to make KO a new CTY site. Johns

with history,” she said. “I thought, ‘I

Hopkins declined, replying that the

would really love to teach history in

Hartford area was not a large enough

high school. My sister had switched

demographic. Undeterred, she talked

a journalism career to teaching at

with then KO Head of School Dennis

Andover, and my interest in kids had

Bisgaard, who suggested Savin establish

blossomed once I had two of my

a similar program at KO. For the past

own.” However, job offers at local prep

13 years, KOMUN has welcomed

schools, including KO, were scarce

hundreds of middle school students

without a teaching degree. Having

across Connecticut for one day of

graduated from Chaffee in 1972 and

critical thinking and negotiating world

having three siblings who attended KO,

affairs. Her syllabus comprises college-

she thought those connections would

level material. This year, the students

help open the door, that, plus her law

tackled the topical subject, “Halting

degree. She laughs, retelling the story,

the Spread of Online Hate and Lies.”

believing that her status as a lawyer

Savin thoroughly researched the issue

would be an advantage. Not at all. In

and provided the students with an 18-

fact, it was the cards the interviewers liked, including then-KO history chair Doc Serow, but still, there were no openings.

In August of 2002, Savin received a call from Serow, who asked her if she could gear up to teach ancient history in a week for the start of school as the current teacher had left abruptly. “KO lucked out that day,” said Director of Academic Planning Carolyn McKee. “We got a passionate teacher, a devoted Model UN advisor, and a beloved colleague.”

censorship, how freedom of expression is essential to good government, and how

for her to teach. “In law,” she said,

various countries control the Internet.

“you really don’t have to memorize things. The principles are very basic.

You go with your gut reaction, and the facts flesh out the case. Those you have to learn.” She created this course based on the first-year law curriculum at Harvard, Columbia, Stanford, Georgetown, and Berkeley.

Savin feels the appeal of the class is

researched the materials, and began

when the students realize her elective

teaching the ancient civilization class

is no gut course.

her lessons. Later, Savin went fulltime, adding more courses to her stable, initiating the Yale Model U.N. trip, planning June term trips, and establishing the KO Model U.N for

the world’s response, government

American Law is the easiest class

its practicality, but reality does set in

Hammurabi and Gilgamesh through

page packet on the issue’s background,

Unsurprisingly, her course on

Savin jumped at the opportunity,

part-time, knitting the exploits of

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Middle School (KOMUN).

Another additional responsibility for Savin has been the Yale Model U.N., which she feels is a fantastic event because of its content and in-person nature. She said that no cell phones are permitted at the conference, requiring the students to discuss issues face to face, a novel concept nowadays.

The students grapple with real-world issues and complex problems requiring collaboration and compromise. Like a proud parent, Savin boasts that two

The impetus for her starting

of her KO Yale Model U.N. students,

KOMUN was her three-week stint

Natalie Kotkin ’07 and Ben Waldman ’16,

one summer in Pasadena, teaching

became the heads of the Yale Model

middle schoolers Model UN and

U.N. while they were students at Yale.

advanced geography as part of the

Since its inception at KO, Savin has

Johns Hopkins Center for Talented

traveled to international conferences

Youth (CTY). Inspired, Savin sought

with the Model U.N. students in Prague,

Budapest, Vienna, Spain, Portugal, St.

in the Tuscan town of Cortona, where

historical crossroads. Her intrepid

Petersburg, and London.

her guests luxuriated in a hotel that

traveling sidekick, Carolyn McKee,

was formerly a monastery, and then

who has accompanied Savin on

a final leg in Florence. Knowing that

several June term trips, said that

Savin would operate as the travel

traveling with Savin is always an

guide, historian, and epicure, the tour

adventure, where the learning never

quickly sold out. The group included

stops, and there is always fun and

several former KO parents who knew

laughter.

Savin also has organized June term trips to Italy for students who experienced the infiorate, literally ‘carpets of blooms’ in Umbria, where the streets are lined with flower petals to celebrate a saint’s feast day, picnicking in the Borghese Gardens, and viewing the sublime at the Sistine

the trip would be top-notch with Savin at the helm.

Even beyond Savin’s smarts, a knack for organizing fabulous trips, and a

Chapel and at Giotto’s Scrovegni

Her swansong trip with the students

finesse for stylishly accessorizing with

Chapel in Padua. She traveled with

this past June included a walk

scarves, she is a world-class human

Upper School History Department

through history, from ancient Rome

being. Many at the school count her

Chair David Baker and the students to

to Christian Rome, and then a jaunt

as their “favorite person.”

Sicily on one trip. She says that one

to the heel of Italy in Puglia, where

evening, when the hotel was empty,

the students visited Alberobello,

Baker began singing with some of

the town famous worldwide for its

the students in Crimson 7, KO’s all-

conical-shaped trulli architecture.

male acappella group. A diner at a

They also swam in the warm, clear

table heard the singing and invited

Mediterranean and absorbed the

the group to his house on the beach

varied influences of the Greek,

the following day. “David took kids

Roman, Byzantine, Norman, Spanish,

running up Mount Etna,” she said.

French, and Italian inhabitants of this

“I will say that Stacey is not only a gift to her students but also a gift to her colleagues,” said Upper School teacher Tracy Deeter. “She helps you see things from multiple perspectives and is someone you can always trust.

Stacey tells it as it is and is as loyal as they come.”

“You can be sure I wasn’t on that one.” That same diner also owned a gelateria in the town and supplied the students with an abundance of the frozen desserts.

Although Savin is retiring from KO, that hardly means she will be sitting still. An insatiable curiosity is her life’s defining feature. Already, she organized and led her first “grownup” 10-day tour to Italy in the fall of 2024 with her eponymous company, Stacey Savin Tours. Her meticulously designed itinerary included an exhaustive tour of Rome’s Capitoline Hill, the Vatican, Pantheon, Villa Borghese, and Campo de Fiori, a stay

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THE warm DEMANDER

HOUSE ONE is a site of decades of civil rights, war, politics, policy, and intrigue. It’s the hotbed of dissent, victory, and defeat. It’s where history unfolds at a passionate educator’s hands, and it’s where Peter Jones has taught history for the last 38 years and served as history chair for four.

As early as his high school years, Jones, the son of an assistant principal, had a budding interest in the teaching profession. After

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IN RETIREMENT

Another class that Jones created and enjoys teaching is a course about the 1960s. “My parents were politically motivated and involved,” he said. “I remember JFK’s funeral and all of the turmoil in 1968. In his ‘60s class, Jones introduces protest music, adding a further dimension to the times. In his lesson on World War I, he breaks out his guitar and plays a song about the Battle of Gallipoli.

“The reaction of the crowd?” Jones said. “Stunned silence.”

Jones remains mostly politically neutral in his classes; however, he does weave the politics of earlier

attending Middlebury College, he, his

A lifelong learner, Jones continually

brother, and his father typed 27 cover

expanded his knowledge. In the

letters for Jones, applying to teach

early 1990s, he took a course called

at boarding schools in New England.

“Facing History in Ourselves,” which

His first job was teaching English

was predominantly about teaching

and history at Berkshire School.

history through the lens of the

Jones feels fortunate to have

Then, while working on his master’s

Holocaust. That fall, then Head of

cultivated a rapport with the

degree, he taught at Northfield Mount

School Lee Levison recommended

students, a combination of serious

Hermon School. In 1987, he learned

that Jones create his learning into

academics with a friendly nature, a

of a history opening at KO, was

an elective, which became the

“warm demander,” and he has taken

interviewed on a Wednesday, and

“History of Religions” course he

a page from the style of former KO

was offered the job on Friday.

taught for 30 years.

teachers who impacted him.

eras to inform and ground current events, such as the tariff issue in the 1890s, the Smoot Hawley Act, and Andrew Jackson’s presidency.

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IN RETIREMENT

I’VE ALWAYS BEEN drawn to moments “I remember early on seeing teacher Dick Caley ’62 who was significantly younger than I am now. But he was a veteran teacher, and I’m thinking,

WHEN KIDS get involved with THE MATERIAL

“Charles Dickinson” and thinking that Dickens wrote Moby-Dick. He explained that it’s not necessarily that

“I wonder if I’m going to be able to

the students know less; they just know

have that connection with kids when

different things.

I’m older.” Jones already had a deep

Jones is passionate about coaching,

connection and familiarity with two

serving as the assistant boys’ varsity

of his students, son Eryk ’19 and

soccer coach for four years and

daughter Molly ’20. Some students

head coach for 25. This spring Jones

would feel awkward about having

was awarded the Alissi Award for

their dad as a teacher, but Jones and

Coaching. The Western New England

his children had fun in class together,

Prep School Soccer Association

and Molly and Eryk would rib their

(WNEPSSA) inducted him into their

dad for the lame jokes he tried out.

Coaching Hall of Fame for outstanding

Although “student-centered learning”

service in 2016, and he was also

is current parlance in the world of

president for 16 years with the

education, Jones feels he has always

organization. His time as president is

focused on the students without the

the longest presidential tenure in the

nomenclature.

nation’s oldest prep school soccer league, which oversees as many as

“I’ve always been drawn to moments

60 schools. In addition to his soccer

when kids get involved with the

He’s ambivalent about technology

material,” he said, “whether it’s from

in the classroom, remembering

reading something that excites them,

teaching in the 1980s and having

getting into a discussion, or even

to schedule a video or film rental

“As a head coach, I’ve gotten more

hearing a lecture where they’re going

and planning when those would be

out of teams than individual players,”

to be able to give and take.”

available for the entire U.S. history

he said. “I think, more often than not,

department. Now that technology is

my teams have overachieved. I’m not

omnipresent, showing a film in class

saying they were mediocre players,

is no longer a novelty. “In the past,

but they were greater than the sum of

showing a film was different in that

the parts, a real cohesive unit.”

Jones’ class is not a one-sided class experience where he imparts all the knowledge. “I believe that I learn more from the kids than they learn from me,” he said. “I think keeping fresh is continuing to appreciate and not take my privileges as an upper-middle-class white male for granted. I know I have limitations.

Understanding that has helped me have a pretty good perspective.”

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Moby-Dick, calling Charles Dickens

kids paid attention,” he said. “I don’t think anyone has the attention span to sit and watch a movie.” Other changes he’s observed in students over the years is their lack of familiarity with cultural touchstones that older individuals recognize, such as Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens, or

coaching experience, Jones has also coached hockey and baseball.

He challenged the students in practice and leveled up their level of fitness.

“If practices were hard, the games were enjoyable,” he said. “Working hard wasn’t a punishment. I firmly believe that when teams didn’t play well, I would more likely give them the

day off than really run them hard.

Most important to Jones’s tenure

hard. Both assumptions proved true.

When you’ve lost the privilege of

at KO are his special friends among

Modern World with Mr. Jones remains

competing, go hang out at the mall,”

his colleagues. One, in particular,

one of my favorite classes at KO. His

he said. “When you win a game

was life-changing because former

passion for teaching and history had a

and overachieve, we’ll work harder

teacher Randy Hobbs introduced him

contagious effect on the whole class

because we’ve earned it.”

to his future wife, Kerry.

and personally inspired me to work

Jones can also add the role of

Upper School science teacher Fritz

thespian while at KO, another

Goodman is a long-time colleague

highlight in his KO career. He played

of Jones. He said, “You mean I have

smaller, eclectic roles in student

to find something nice to say about

productions: a singing chef in Hello,

Peter Jones?” he teased. “Beneath

Dolly!, one of a group of Shriners in

that sometimes gruff demeanor.

Even in retirement, Jones hopes to

Bye Bye Birdie, and the admissions

Peter is one of the warmest and

pinch-hit some history classes at KO

director at Harvard in Legally Blonde.

kindest people I know. His care for

and volunteer at local organizations,

He laughingly recalls a scene in Bye

the students is unparalleled, and he

both close to his heart. As a teenager,

Bye Birdie where former English

truly wants only the best for them.”

Jones suffered from scoliosis and

teacher Ron Monroe was carrying the female lead across the stage and accidentally dropped her. He also played a conspirator in KO music teacher Richard Chiarappa’s musical Lincoln and Booth.

Needless to say, Jones has made an impression on the legions of students he has taught and advised. He even displays all his former advisee group photos on his classroom bulletin board. One of his advisees, Margaret

You would think the roles of teacher,

Miller ’25 said of Jones, “My first

coach, and part-time actor would

impression of Mr. Jones early in my

keep Jones busy enough, but he

sophomore year Modern World class

always added more to his plate,

was that he knew everything about

showing his all-in attitude to the

history and that his class would be

KO community. Over the years, he has been involved in numerous admissions committees, athletic committees, and one committee to evaluate the disciplinary regulations

harder as a student. As an advisor, Mr. Jones always has something funny to say that makes each day better. Mr. Jones is thoughtful, knowledgeable, and passionate in everything he does.”

wore a steel brace up to his neck for two years, 23 hours a day. From that traumatic experience, Jones feels he can offer support to patients at Hartford’s Children’s Hospital who are coping with challenging health conditions. Jones also underwent a serious health issue several years ago and had his bladder removed, which jarred his mental health.

He feels he could be an advocate or spokesperson for therapy, especially for men who have difficulty opening up about their struggles. “As a man, it may not be a question of how powerful you think you are,” he said, “but as powerful as society wants you to be.”

of the school. He was the lone

Jones’s revelation in high school

faculty advisor to the school’s

regarding his future profession proved

yearbook for several years in the late

accurate. “It’s more than a job,” he said.

1990s and early 2000s and headed

“I literally can’t imagine doing much else.

faculty groups during different

I can’t imagine doing it elsewhere. It’s

accreditations.

my 45th year teaching, so I guess I knew what I wanted to do.”

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The Long Goodbye of a History Teacher Who Never Just Taught History There are retirements, and then there is this retirement — the winding down of a 47-year tenure from a teacher whose classroom was never just about history, but about life, perspective, and discovery. After nearly five decades at KO, Ted Levine is preparing to hand over the keys with humility, wit, and, if you ask him, a quiet preference for no fanfare. You’ll hear him shrug off the idea of celebration, eschewing the spotlight. But make no mistake:

H I S D E PA R T U R E M A R K S T H E E N D O F A N E R A .

This is a man who has lived and

“I just want them to think and

comfortable with the ambiguity

taught with enormous curiosity

write and spark,” he said. “I throw

and less concerned about placing

and intellectual generosity. His

out ideas and let the students

a comma in the right place

classroom wasn’t a place to

run with them. Students may see

because, in his mind, it kills the

memorize dates and treaties. It

something in math where they get

spirit. But for all his forgiveness in

was a space to explore why people

the right answer and feel good. In

matters of grammatical precision,

make decisions, how civilizations

history, there are no right answers,

he’s not above writing a two-

evolve, and why the past offers

so there’s no feel-good.” He’s

page response — an intellectual

our only chance at meaningful

tête-à-tête—to a student’s two-

perspective.

page essay because the student

“I tell the kids, you’ve got the past

inspired him to think. He’s that

and the present. The future? It’s

invested.

unknowable. The past is what gives

His career at KO began almost

you perspective.”

accidentally in 1978. A last-minute

That’s the essence of his teaching:

phone call, a camp connection,

big-picture, macro-level thinking, the kind that teaches students to see history as a living, breathing discipline, not a series of facts to be regurgitated.

a borrowed tie, and a vacancy created by someone who took a different job just days before the school year started. That series of improbable events led to a lifetime

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IN RETIREMENT 94

at a school that he initially knew

director of the Middle School.

grades, you’re liberated,” he said,

little about — except that a camper

Even his now-retired wife, Lynne,

“especially if it hits at the right time

once told him the KO students wore

worked at KO for 31 years,

in your life.”

knickers. “I thought, what kind of

teaching English, the Symposium

place is this?” But he felt right at

class on authors Tim O’Brien and

home once he met former Middle

Gish Jen, and still to this day,

School math teacher and soccer

coaching the mock trial team,

coach George Dixon ’66.

which won the state championship

What he found was a vibrant place

in 2020 and 2022.

full of potential, and he stayed,

If you want to find the heartbeat

people relate to one another and

remarking that the school today is

of Levine’s work, look East,

define life,” he said. “The way the

the finest he has ever experienced.

specifically to China. What began

forces of empire stay together and

Through recessions, curriculum

as a random seminar pick at the

fall apart. Such continuity allows for

changes, leadership transitions,

University of Virginia became a

a fascinating study.”

and cultural shifts, he remained

lifelong passion. He explained

a constant and wise presence in

how he was bitten by the bug.

the history department and as the

“Once you don’t think about

As a man who thinks big picture, he believes China offers a wide expanse of time to consider large historical and political movements. “Nowhere else can one observe the influence of so many years of history on how

Following UVA, he headed to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor (“the best place in the world to

“The travel becomes like looking at a reverse mirror of your own culture,” he said. “I don’t think you really understand your evolution and pathway until you look at something quite different.”

be,” he says) to pursue a Ph.D. in

evolution and pathway until you

Estonian father expressed a desire

East Asian history. He found the

look at something quite different.”

to eat at the Hard Rock Cafe in New

intensity of one given study area

Levine doesn’t see in absolutes. As a

York City, and the Levines delivered

was unsuited to his personality, so

cultural relativist, he interrogates both

on the request, even snagging a

he exited the Ph.D. track, and after

Eastern and Western societies and

private room. One of those Estonian

four years, he headed to China in

finds merits and drawbacks in each.

students returned to visit decades

He and Lynne led seven KO

later, reuniting with her host family

the summer of 1982 to continue his studies and bike ride around Beijing.

student trips to the Soviet Union,

and the Levines.

“It was China in transition, and

experiencing a nerve-racking

Back home, Levine brought that

there were some signs of coming

three-hour stop at the border of

global sensibility into every class.

change,” he said. “Beijing was still a

Finland and Russia as a Soviet

Whether lecturing on the evolution of

world of bicycles, bookstores selling

soldier rummaged through their

contemporary China or the nuances

Mao’s Little Red Book, propaganda

luggage. On one occasion, he and

of Confucian thought, he treated

banners on the streets, and the

a KO student visited a “refusenik”

every topic as an opportunity to

trains with revolutionary songs.”

family in Leningrad, despite concern

ignite curiosity. He gave students

His passion for travel and culture led

about KGB surveillance. Levine,

room to explore, to argue, to reflect.

the student, and the family broke

All policy ideas were welcome in his

bread together as the grandfather

class — conservative, libertarian,

showed them his war medals. Years

progressive. What mattered was the

later that student wrote to Levine

evidence and the argument. But he

from his job at the U.S. Commerce

reserved the right to speak candidly.

Department to tell him that moment

His classes weren’t lectures so much

symposia on education and

changed his life.

as performances. He used drama,

visited scores of Chinese schools,

In addition to traveling with

humor (even when it drew winces

deepening his understanding of

students to Russia, Levine and

their culture.

Lynne oversaw an ambitious

Levine’s foreign adventures didn’t

Estonian exchange program that

to several trips to China with KO’s Upper School students, 12 trips in total. Some were sponsored by the Chinese Education Ministry, which treated him like an honored guest.

He served as a panelist at university

stop there. “The travel becomes like looking at a reverse mirror of your own culture,” he said. “I don’t think you really understand your

brought 40 students to the KO Middle School campus; they organized raffles to raise funds for the endeavor and arranged

from the students), and narrative to make history feel urgent and alive.

“If I didn’t think this was important, I wouldn’t waste your time,” he’d tell his students. And they believed him. Because his passion was unmistakable.

homestays with KO families. One

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IN RETIREMENT

And he always looked out for his students, especially the international ones. He knew the challenges they faced — culturally, socially, and academically. Many of them were thousands of miles from home, and he served as a cultural bridge and

“Mr. Levine is always there when you need him, he willingly takes time out of his day to talk to you about what is going on. He has countless experiences and stories he is willing to dispense to anybody. His knowledge and passion for current events and the well-being of his students are unparalleled.”

-Sruthan Tokala ’25

a support system. He often invited them to share their perspectives, encouraging them to act as envoys of their own histories and traditions.

The students Levine advised hold him in high esteem and readily shared their thoughts about him. “Mr. Levine’s optimism is infectious,” said Andy Chen ’25. “He always encourages us to think about the bright side when we are stressed out.”

“Mr. Levine is always someone I count on being there for me,” advisee Pindar Chen ’25 said. “He’s always checking in on us throughout the day and taking time out of his day to talk with us about almost everything. I’d say my favorite memories with Mr. Levine are the random conversations we would have during advisory group and oneon-ones. He has so many things to say, and it’s a wonderful experience to hear him go on long talks about China, AI, politics, college, and music.

“Mr. Levine is always there when you need him,” Sruthan Tokala ’25 said.

“He willingly takes time out of his day to talk to you about what is going on.

He has countless experiences and stories he is willing to dispense to anybody. His knowledge and passion for current events and the well-being of his students are unparalleled.”

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When asked what has kept him

awed to be around students with

Now, as he prepares to leave his

going all these years, Levine

so much talent. “I can’t believe it

full-time role at KO, his legacy is

pointed not to accolades, awards,

sometimes,” he said. “Some of them

etched in the stories of students

or titles but to the classroom itself,

are adept at so many things.”

who think more critically, live

even though he won the Lazear Chair Award and was the director of the Middle School for 15 years.

“The last 10 years have been the most fun,” he said. “Just the opportunity to learn. You learn how to do this job. You learn how kids think. You learn how to get them to care.” He said he was genuinely

In his next steps, Levine has far more to explore, perhaps dusting off the

more curiously, and understand the world more deeply because

drums in his basement or writing

of him. He didn’t just teach

amusing stories. But old habits die

history. He lived it. He questioned it. He shared it. And in doing so, he changed it, one student at a time.

hard, and he’ll return to KO next spring to teach AP® US Government during the second semester. “When you’re a teacher, you’re a teacher,” he said, “That’s it.”

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REUNION

Alumni representing classes ending in 4 and 9 made their way back to campus on September 27-28, 2024.

Although continuing construction on campus made some traditional events impossible, the cheerful flexibility of everyone involved helped to create new

reunion ’24 opportunities for everyone to gather.

Friday started bright and early with

campus tours and the chance to attend classes with students and some of the most loved and respected faculty on campus. Alumni were invited to join current student leaders for lunch as they compared notes on their KO experiences.

Above: Nidhi Bhat ’25, Lissie Grace Waugh ’99, Brooks Loomis ’99, Els Morris ’25, Raine Wang ’25

Left: Teague Shamleffer ’26, Hope Jackson ’99, Riley Mapp ’26, Leo Kollen ’26, Lily Temkin ’25, Zaire Ramiz ’25

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On Friday evening, all classes came together to enjoy a cocktail party at the elegant Delamar Hotel overlooking campus.

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REUNION

Saturday’s activities opened with a memorial service to remember and celebrate all those who have been lost in each of the reunion classes, followed by a family barbecue luncheon on the Senior Green. Many alums chose to spend the afternoon watching fall sports teams play across campus before making their way to the evening events.

Those celebrating 50 or more years as alumni gathered in Alumni Hall for a joyful dinner full of speeches and remembrance, while those in the younger classes descended on West Hartford Center for the first-ever Reunion Pub Tour. Each class was invited to a different bar in town, where they spent the evening talking and reminiscing about time spent at KO. It was organized as a solution to construction issues on campus, but was so popular that it is now becoming a feature of future reunion weekends!

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All in all, the hundreds of alumni who came back for Reunion24 enjoyed a weekend full of memories, friendship, and all things KO!

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CLASS NOTES

Kingswood 1944 Leverett Hubbard turned 99 on April 2, 2025. He is now living in assisted living in Omak, Wash., at Welcome Home Lodge, a lovely home-type setting with only six patients but soon to max out with eight.

While physically challenged, he has maintained most of his mental abilities.

Class Notes 2024-2025

Class Notes are submitted June 2024 through May 2025.

From Kingswood he attended St. Paul’s School in New Hampshire and was then drafted into the army for the end of WW II. On leaving the army, he attended Yale and then the University of Virginia Law School. After a couple of years doing adjustments work at an insurance company in Hartford, he moved into teaching, first at Lenox School, Mass., then St. Paul’s, then Hotchkiss in Connecticut, where he met his wife, Catee. They then moved to St. Louis Country Day School in St. Louis. They have two children: Sarah and Leverett IV. Upon retirement they divided their time between Scottsdale, Ariz., and New London, N.H. In 2019 a broken elbow kept them in N.H. until Sept., 2024, when Lev moved into his assisted living home in Omak, and Catee into a house in Twisp, Wash., so they could be near their son.

Oxford 1951 Class Correspondent: Sallie Barr Palmer Sad to report that we have lost several more class members. Phyllis French and Susan Huber Gross died last year, Pat Mooney Sutton in March, and Ellie Coburn Smith in April.

The good news is that our remaining members all seem to be thriving.

Vivian Hathaway Crouse reports she is in good health (“for 91!!”). She is on the council of her retirement community, leads a writing group and is involved with monthly play reading. She stays in regular touch with Frannie, Beth and Carter. Her E-mail: vivianhcrouse@ gmail.com.

On May 1 Frannie Steane Baldwin moved into a residential community near her daughter. Her new address is: Stone Ridge, 186 Jerry Browne Road, Apt. 3407, Mystic, CT 06355. E-mail: francesbaldwin1@gmail.com.

Pam Kingan Lillquist and I phone each other regularly. She wishes she had some exciting travel news but the farthest she gets these days is Trader Joe’s, plus an occasional trip to Richmond. Her best friend from college lives in the same residential community.

“We have fun and try not to get into too much trouble,” says Pam. Last time I called, I reached an old number. The right one is: 709-975-4434 (cell phone).

E-mail: pam.lillquist@gmail.com.

Anne Carter Peck Mahaffey continues to host the breakfast table for newcomers seven days a week at her retirement community, St. Paul’s in Oakland, Calif. She enjoys living near her eldest daughter, Lucy. Says she can’t figure out any way to get across the country to her Smith College reunion this year. “Isn’t is astounding how long ago we graduated!!”

E-mail: acmahaffey55@gmail.com.

Didn’t hear from Beth Cook Gabel, but Vivian stays in touch with her.

E-mail: virgilgabel@gmail.com.

I’ve lost touch with Cookie Stout Johnson. Has anyone heard from her?

Peter and I have our house to ourselves again after a spate of visitors between the end of February and the end of April.

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Among them was son Mark from the UK who took care of so many tasks that we can no longer manage ourselves that I threatened to keep him from going home.

No luck — his wife wanted him back. So did the dogs.

Peter has recovered at last from a year of severe pain in his knee and hip. Medical science couldn’t figure out the cause or why it has cleared up. Just glad it did.

We keep busy. Out with friends twice a week. Trivia night on Fridays. Weekly Zoom session with my writers’ club and once-a-month meetings with Peter’s Korean Veterans chapter. Planning to attend my Mt. Holyoke reunion in May and fly from there to Vancouver for the memorial service for a long-time friend.

I was in the hospital for a very boring week in August — had cellulitis in my leg.

Finally cleared up. At least the Olympics were on during the day, so I was not reduced to soap operas and weird quiz shows. And the food wasn’t bad.

E-mail: sandppalmer@verizon.net.

Kingswood 1953 Dick McLane writes, “I was born in Hartford in 1935 and grew up in nearby Bloomfield. I graduated from Kingswood in 1953 — long before there was a KO! I graduated from Union College in 1958.

After several assignments in the northwest and southeast parts of the U.S., I was assigned to the Springfield, Ill., division office of the Federal Highway Administration and have lived in Springfield ever since. At the time of my retirement in November 2000, I was the planning and programs manager of that office.

I enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1960, and received basic training and advanced infantry training at Fort Ord, Calif., after which I became part of the U.S. Army Reserves. I received an honorable discharge in 1967.

1953 Dick McLane I volunteered in several capacities in Springfield, particularly within the Illinois State Museum, Lincoln Public Library, and the Episcopal Feeding Ministries. I was a member of Christ Episcopal Church in Springfield, where I frequently served as an usher.

I enjoyed playing tennis and bicycle riding. I enjoyed both these activities until balance issues forced me to quit at around age 85. I also enjoyed photography, particularly taking photos of the varied landscapes of Illinois, and of many parts of the U.S. and foreign countries during my travels there. Over the years, I had many letters to the editor printed in the Springfield State Journal Register.

I was married twice and have three children and one grandchild.

Currently, I am in reasonably good health, outside of deteriorating hearing, eyesight, memory, etc. — all related to my living longer than, likely, half of my fellow classmates! I now live in an assisted living facility here in Springfield.”

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CLASS NOTES

Reflections on John Conklin ’55

by David Trainor ’65

I dropped out of college to become a stagehand, a playwright, and eventually a director, John Conklin was my beacon.

It turned out that in 1985, we lived near each other on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. I went to his apartment, and I’m sure I told him how much he meant tome throughout school. He was a relaxed, friendly man with a

In July 1985, I got a call from the

beard and an easy, unforced sense of

Williamstown Theatre Festival asking if I’d

accomplishment. The very best thing

like to direct La Ronde, by Arthur Schnitzler.

you can ever do is work with people

The original director had fallen out, the

better and more talented than you are.

play was already cast with gifted actors,

That’s certainly how I felt with John. His

rehearsals were set to begin in a week

apartment had an entire wall of tightly

or ten days but there was no production

packed jewel box CDs, and other walls

plan. I knew the play in a vague way as

equally packed with books. We had a

a daisy chain of social, romantic, and

great deal to talk about in general, but

erotic liaisons, set in fin-de-siècle Vienna,

specifically, how to render La Ronde in

written to be read rather than performed,

a very short time. For background, John

composed of vivid two-person scenes ripe

pointed me to the massive, brilliant novel

with decadence. Formally, it wasn’t easy.

The Man Without Qualities by Robert

Ordinarily, I would stop and read the play

Musil. We talked about images. We

and decide if I could do it. And oh, they

discussed ways to make this episodic

told me, the production designer is John

play cohere as a unified piece. Here’s

Conklin. I said ‘yes’ immediately.

where my lack of preparation has always

John died on June 24 this year. He was a

haunted me. If I’d had more time to read

brilliant, inventive, free-thinking designer

Artwork by John Conklin ’55

of plays and most especially operas, at

more to contribute. John had a head

Williamstown, NY City Opera, the Met,

start, and he led us in inspired directions.

San Francisco Opera, and Glimmerglass in

Thinking about John, I found several

upstate New York. He was born in Hartford

images of the Williamstown production

and graduated from Kingswood in 1955.

on the internet. I thought, oh, so that’s

He was 10 years older than me, and when

what we did! It looked romantic and

I entered Kingswood in 1959, John had

decadent, with lush swoops and swags

just graduated from Yale with a degree in

of colorful fabric, fast and inexpensive.

theatre. He was a legendary figure— at

I can’t really remember a thing about

least to my mind. I was obsessed with

it, except that I don’t think it was very

theatre from the age of five, but had no

good. Over the years, I’ve created an

idea what I wanted to do, or how to do it.

entirely different production in my

Kingswood in those days was not exactly a

imagination, one that makes sense of

pathway to the arts. John Conklin was the

the play in an entirely different way. I’ve

rare figure who was already a practicing

often thought, I wish I could walk up to

professional, working on the highest level.

John’s apartment and discuss it.

I didn’t know him; I never met him. But as

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and think, and plan, I would have had

to my kids. It’s been a good decision, even as I adjust to community living... in the freedom of my own home. I’m in an independent apartment on the ground floor, where currently I’m sitting on my patio feeding the baby ducks who’ve recently hatched in the duck pond right next to my “home”! I’m still painting every day (with limited eyesight now)...both in watercolor and collage. Life is good!

God is Great!!”

1959 Intrepid Adventurer Deborah Mahoney Swenson and life partner Larry Capodilupo suited and wired up to cross a 100-yard suspended bridge in the cloud forest in Costa Rica.

Oxford 1957 Class Correspondent: Phyllis Chapman Fenander Thanks to the prompts from Kingswood Oxford, I heard from a couple of classmates but sadly, some emails bounced back. I’m sad to report that we’ve lost both Martha Keirstead DuBois last September and Martha Yost Newcomer this past May. A phone call from Manchester-by-the Sea, Mass., was a surprise from Hilda Brown Daley! We hope to chat soon again on the phone.

And Nancy Middlebrook Baay wrote: “Greetings from Edgemere in Dallas, TX, where I moved a year ago to be closer

Elliot and I (Phyllis Chapman Fenander) continue to live at Kendal in Hanover, N.H.; my older daughter, Sara-Mai Conway, continues to write on health issues, teach yoga and meditation, and she’s writing a book about death in Mexico and what that means for ex-pats (like herself and her husband).

My younger daughter, Hilary Conway, continues as an ob/gyn in Yakima, Wash., watching Thor make a homer and Verna become a stellar Girl Scout. We’re all facing the same issues in the country, state, world, our own communities, with good memories sustaining our own efforts for sanity. phyllisfenander@aol.com

Oxford 1959 Class Correspondent: Zélie Calvocoressi Tourais Deborah Mahoney Swenson reports “living in Chatham, Mass., and Vero Beach, Fla., and spending time on travels, biking, golf, and gentle hikes. We are trustees of our church. Our grandchildren range from about to be married to elementary school. Grateful for our full life, good health and many friendships.”

At the moment, Susan Cohen Casden is “grateful and happy to have my health and be able to continue my work, as a psychologist mostly working remotely, although not so much. I volunteer at the New York Philharmonic, which I love, and of course get together with my two sons, three grandsons, and daughters-in-law.

Lucky for me, they are nearby. Living in New York, I get to hear music all the time, go to the theater, and spend a lot of time (I need some trees!) in Central Park. On another note, it is really hard to believe our age. I look forward to reading the news and hope that everyone is doing well.”

From Susan McClure Harris: “Not the real positive news of yesteryear. Tony, progressive Alzheimer’s, and moi, fractured hip. Just started driving last week, what a blessing. Always a silver lining, driving that is! Hope that all of you are doing well in your 80s. Whoever thought, our 80s!”

Judith Weinstein Wheeler says that she was “recently elected to the board of directors of my condo association. I had major surgery on my cervical spine in January and am recovering well. I hope to be able to play golf in July.”

Oxford 1960 Class Correspondent: Jane Anderson Innerd During my recovery from hip replacement surgery, my daughter Charlotte was with me for a week. Jennifer Ripple Akridge told me that she knows how lovely it is when our daughters can visit and help out.

Jenny had the pleasure of her daughter Anne’s company for a week this spring.

They planted Jenny’s annual flowers and did spring cleaning together among other activities. Jenny looks forward to Anne’s return in the autumn when she will help with the fall cleanup.

Scotty Dwyer Benson is delighted to report that her son Jim proposed to his partner Kelli Fairchild after five years of being together. He proposed at the top of a ferris wheel when it stopped for a few minutes. Scotty adores Kelli and is very happy for Jim. Scotty is still working part time but is thinking about dropping down to two days a week after the summer.

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CLASS NOTES

I had a long report from Prilla Smith Brackett. During the past year she has been to Europe four times. She spent two weeks in London with her sister, Leigh, a week in Bologna, Italy, visiting a dear friend who returned to Italy after 30 years in America, then a week with a friend at a charming, eco-oriented resort in Costa Rica and finally two weeks in Norway with her sister on a Road Scholar tour. They traveled on one of the Hurtigruten mail boats between Bergen and the Russian border. They saw amazing Northern Lights. Each trip was thrilling, and now, Prilla says, she is done! During summer 2024 Prilla also had a great theater week in Stratford, Ontario, with me — two widows sharing an apartment and a theatre adventure.

At home, her family and amazing grandchildren are key in her life, her anchor. Prilla has been back working in her studio. Her energy is certainly more limited now, she says, slowed by physical issues, but otherwise she is quite healthy and hopes that we all are also. And finally, Prilla says how distressed she is with the government which seems bent on the destruction of institutions, lives, and so much more.

1960 Sue Lowe Redfield and Elizabeth Redfield Friedman ’84

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For the last 48 years Barbara Ruud Chatfield has been living on Cone Street in Hartford’s West End. Her oldest granddaughter and significant other live there as well and are good company.

Barbara passes through the old Oxford campus every day when she walks her dog, Jazz, to and from Elizabeth Park.

Barbara saw Jane Keller Herzig last May at their 60th Smith reunion and she looks forward to seeing others from Oxford when we next get together.

Just back from a month in Indonesia, Carolyn Goodrich reports that she spent most of the time in Bali staying in three lovely villas. She also flew to Flores Island for a boat trip to Komoda Island to see the dragons and to do some snorkeling.

She saw lots of turtles and a manta ray.

She also visited Gili Air, a small island that has only bikes, electric scooters and horse-and-buggies. She saw beautiful sunsets reflected in the water when the tide went out. But the best part of the trip was a visit from her grandson and his girlfriend who live in Australia and spent a week with her. Carolyn reports that she is in fairly good shape and is active with tennis, paddle tennis and skiing. She still works and also helps run a weaving center. She plans to attend our reunion with Tina Wilcox McIntyre in October.

Jane Keller Herzig says that she and Ed truly enjoy the easy living in their continuing care retirement community in Stone Mountain, Ga., a suburb of Atlanta. It is located conveniently near their daughter, Carolyn, who lives in Atlanta and works at the CDC. Their community offers many activities and one new for her, Boot Camp, a heavy-duty workout. Jane is continuing to present her course, Art HERstory with Jane Keller Herzig, in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute program at Emory. It is a Hyflex presentation, delivered simultaneously in person and via Zoom. I was delighted to enjoy a visit from Jane and Ed here in Windsor in May while they were visiting

Jane’s brother, Jim Keller, in Ann Arbor, Mich., which is only a 45 minute drive from Windsor.

Emmy Lew Sterns Kelly provided a report on the activities of the children of her daughter, Bridget. The oldest is graduating from Penn State and Marine OCS and will be commissioned at Quantico, Va. A granddaughter graduated from Trinity and Galway in Ireland and is returning home to go to med school.

The next younger one is at Trinity as a sophomore and loves her life in Ireland.

The next granddaughter will be entering the University of Toronto in September.

The youngest is entering eighth grade and is a graduate of the Space Camp program and is a member of the Civil Air Patrol. Emmy says that she has no idea how Bridget and her husband manage this wide-ranging family and also care for two dogs and three cats. As for herself, Emmy has been diagnosed with senior osteoporosis, thus her physical activity is limited, and she can walk her dog Kai only occasionally.

Keeping a close connection to KO, Sue Matorin recently had lunch with KO Head of School, Tom Dillow and Director of Institutional Advancement Dina Plapler, who always makes an effort to connect with Sue when she comes to New York City. Sue has great regard for Mr. Dillow who, she says, is a skilled, humanistic director who is navigating the school during a challenging time for educators and students. Sue shared with them her great experiences at Oxford, and also some of her concerns at the time, now so ameliorated. Sue hopes that each of us will contribute to KO in honor of our education. Sue treasures her family in Los Angeles, her son, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren, and her friends in New York. She continues to love her clinical work at Weill Cornell Medicine but says that the healthcare field is at terrible risk in the current political climate and the staff and patients she works with are very stressed.

yet Ann believes that our days at Oxford did prepare us for the many changes we have experienced since then. Ann has generously offered to host our dinner gathering on Saturday, Oct. 4 in her home in Farmington. She hopes many will be able to attend.

1960 Sue Lowe Redfield grandson and great-grandson Tina Wilcox McIntyre says that she has not had an adventurous year. Since Tina and Jerry acquired the Wilcox family house in Mt. Holly, Vt., they have spent a lot of time there. It is in a beautiful location overlooking Lake Ninevah, with bald eagles, loons, and other wildlife.

They kayak and hike and enjoy having few commitments. It is very relaxing and away from a crazy world. Her children love it, too, and so do her grandchildren. Tina’s oldest granddaughter is now engaged and making plans to be married next July. Her daughter Sam was amicably divorced last year. Other than that, Tina has had a few minor health issues, but nothing major. She plays tennis with Carolyn. They have been playing together on and off since good old Oxford days. Tina and Carolyn are making plans to attend our 65th reunion in October, and she hopes to see many of us there.

As registrar of voters for Farmington, Conn., Ann Faude Newbury is busy learning because regulations and rules set by the secretary of state seem to change frequently. Ann enjoys the work and all that is entailed as registrar, keeping the voter rolls accurate, getting poll workers and then running elections. Ann says that it will be so nice to see all our classmates who are able to attend our reunion. In many ways 1960 seems so long ago, and

“So far, 2025 has been full of wonderful events for me and my family,” writes Sue Lowe Redfield. On Jan. 14 her daughter Beth Redfield Friedman ’84 and son-inlaw Todd became grandparents, and Sue therefore became a great grandmother to Levi Parker Friedman. Levi and his parents, Zach and Val Friedman, live in Granville, Ohio. Beth and Todd recently moved to nearby Pickerington, Ohio to enjoy all the fun. Levi is the sunniest, happiest little baby. Zach and Val both work from home so extra hugs and cuddles are always available. On May 17 granddaughter Megan Friedman married Aussie Tim Colclough in Australia. They met through their mutual careers of providing care and housing for autistic young adults. They live in Sydney. The bonus is that Tim has a red-headed, curly topped, five-year-old daughter, Ayla. Now Sue also has a step-great grand! Danny ’86 continues to enjoy his retirement job with Special Operations at Camp LeJeune, N.C. The beach is steps away from his home. Maggie, a newly minted army captain, is stationed at Ft. Know, Ky. She is loving Louisville. Trey has just completed his first two years as a TV sports anchor in Kearney, Neb. Sue has just learned that he has a new dream job in Des Moines, Iowa, starting in July. Sue continues to miss her volunteer past but knows soup kitchens and food pantries are not for 82-year-olds. In addition, she finds the daily maintenance on “this old body” to be a full time job. Recently, Sue had a great time looking through her Oxfordian. It brought back so many fond memories. Remember when Miss Graf had to approve our graduation dresses?!

Quite a change from today’s attire. Sue is looking forward to our 65th reunion.

Roger and Gay Willcox Squire had a wonderful trip to Italy in April. Gay’s sister and her husband joined them for an eight-day Road Scholar walking tour of ancient Rome. Afterward the four of them rented a car and drove to Caserta, then to Pompeii for two days where they had a six-hour private tour. Their guide was an archeologist who works at the site and gives tours as a side gig. Gay says that she is glad they had watched the PBS documentary, “The New Dig” before going. After Pompeii, they drove to the very rural and sparsely inhabited area of Cilento National Park. They stayed at an agriturismo B&B in a hill town of Valle Dell’Angelo which, although very picturesque, is one of the “dying towns” in southern Italy. You can actually buy a house there for 1 USD! Given the current state of the U.S., Gay and Roger are thinking about it!

I also look forward to our 65th reunion and plan to attend, although crossing the border is now something that all Canadians consider before planning an excursion into the States. I hear from my daughter in St. Louis that Americans are just not interested in Canada, in our economy, and in any difficulties with what used to be the easiest border crossing in the world.

I look forward to the week Prilla and I will spend in Stratford seeing plays, enjoying lectures and the beautiful setting. I will also have my annual rustic week in a resort on the Bruce Peninsula, that is way north of Toronto for those of you who never studied geography. I went to England with my daughter Charlotte and spent a special day in Durham where I visited the 17thcentury library where I sat for four years working on my Ph.D. The Bishop Cosin’s Library is now a museum. I also went on an Alaskan cruise with my other daughter, Jane Eleanor, and her two teen aged boys who are a delight. We enjoyed a helicopter ride to the top of a glacier. Thanks to all who sent kind wishes after my surgery and for all the responses to my emails asking for news. See you in October.

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CLASS NOTES

Last year Helen and I were at a wedding in Newport, R.I. and afterwards went over to Martha’s Vineyard to see Linda and Peter Prestley’s new home in the woods. Both 90 percent retired from the business of law, they are loving the quiet pace of that island.

On a sad note, we lost Bob Gruber last year.

He and Joan lived in Seattle for decades and they had two children. Bob was my doubles partner on Chick’s tennis team and he always had a grin no matter what happened in our matches.

1963 Ted Butler and Brewster Boyd made an impromptu visit to Kingswood Oxford’s campus in March 2025.

Kingswood 1963 Class Correspondent: Brewster Boyd I have not written since our 60th reunion when we had eight attendees (Barlow, Bitter, Boyd, Butler, Janus, Mason, Moses and Randall) who traveled from six states to attend this milestone.

I have been in touch with Skip Schoolnik.

He has owned a home in Pacific Palisades, Calif., for 50 years, and, when he and Mindy can move back after toxic remediation, they will continue to live there. They were one of the lucky ones whose block did not burn down; however they have lost their community.

Nick Mason and Karen continue to take at least one annual cruise in the summer when not on the Cape. They got together when they each lost their spouses and lived in the same neighborhood in Simsbury.

Recently I had a good talk with Jim Sacco. He and Jeannine have been living in Florida for some years after founding a Baha’i faith school in Brazil. After that, they helped found a similar school in Maine before moving to Florida. I remember at our 50th reunion Jim and Jeannine educating us on the tenets of the Baha’i faith which was founded in Persia in 1867.

Tom Bitter still lives in his 1861 farmhouse outside of Burlington, Vt., along with his restored 1950 Dodge truck and 1949 Willy’s jeep. His daughter lives nearby and his son is in Albany, with each of them having two daughters.

Ted Butler and Vicki split their time between West Hartford and Lake Memphremagog, Quebec.

We reminisced about what a great time we had at our 55th reunion when some of us went up to their lake home after the festivities on campus.

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1963 Bonnie Bush Hickok

Oxford 1963 Bonnie Bush Hickok celebrated her daughter’s wedding outside Seattle, on Aug. 3, 2024. She writes, “Wendy and Nick have been together for a long time. They decided to get married at Nick’s mom’s beautiful home overlooking the Sound. A wonderful family gathering.”

Oxford 1965 Lynne Lumsden writes, “Looking forward to our Oxford 60th reunion on Oct. 3 and 4. I have heard from many of our Oxford ladies who are planning to come to our special class of ‘65 Friday night dinner party at my house and some to the campus on Saturday.

It will be a really fun weekend. Hope to hear from the rest of you this summer.”

Kingswood 1968 David Watters was reelected for a seventh term to the New Hampshire State Senate.

Kingswood 1971

1965 Dick Pace

Kingswood 1965 Dick Pace and his wife Barbara are loving the lifestyle in The Villages, Fla.

Oxford 1967 Terry Cavalier Trapani, Lyn Patton Simmer, Anne Holcombe and Lory Hervey Pearson spent a wonderful week in Italy’s Cinque Terre region in October, 2024, to celebrate a milestone birthday.

Michael Kaprove writes, “The dream of a good life continues to evolve as I step into my 70s. Retired now six years and focused, as always, on family, fitness, travel, and fun. Our children and grandchildren are thriving and racking up their own successes. I have sold most of my properties but am still maintaining two residences and multiple vehicles which takes up a fair amount of my time (total enjoyment). Shout out to all my classmates and wishing them well.”

Kingswood 1973 John Pulito writes, “I’m currently working for a courier company in West Hartford. Doing a lot of lab specimens deliveries. Lawyers offices to courthouses. Mail pick up to offices.

Slides to hospitals. The company I’m with is the highest payer in the state.

1967 Terry Cavalier Trapani, Lyn Patton Simmer, Anne Holcombe and Lory Hervey Pearson

I’m not married, and I own a house in West Hartford. My dad passed away at 91 and my mother followed 10 years later at 101 years. My brother Bob lives about two miles from me and we dine at restaurants every once in a while. I also belong to Anytime Fitness at Bishops Corner in West Hartford.” John is also an independent contractor and owns his own courier business and can drive for anybody.

KO 1978 In May, Kathy and Brad Hoffman hosted a dinner near their home in Palm Beach, Fla. with the guest list including three KO board chairs and several alumni and parents of alumni.

KO 1979 David Ridlon writes, “After 42-years of service - 25 in the U.S. Army and 17 as a senior executive in the Directorate of Operations at the Defense Intelligence Agency — I retired in mid-May. I am looking forward to spending more time with family and pursuing interests between our home in Maryland, the Delaware shore, and regular trips to Maine.”

1978 Alumni, Board & Past Parent Dinner hosted by Brad ’78 and Kathy Hoffman KO MAGAZINE 2025

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CLASS NOTES

KO 1980

KO 1993

Hiram Maxim just finished his 18th year on the faculty at Emory University where he teaches German and linguistics. He was up in Connecticut for his daughter’s college graduation and met up with classmates Buck Norcross and Val Romasanta for lunch.

Lance Lee has been promoted to professor in the department of pediatrics at the University of South Dakota School of Medicine. He and his wife, psychology professor Dr. Julia Price-Lee, live in Sioux Falls, S.D.

KO 1985

KO 1998

In November 2024, Dan Goldberg was inducted into the University of Michigan Hall of Honor for his illustrious career on the university’s men’s tennis team from 1986-1989. Dan remains the winningest singles player in the team’s history, winning 127 matches over his four seasons.

Jim Rowan, U.S. head of AI at Deloitte, and his classmate, Dan Rosenthal, head of go-to-market partnerships at Anthropic were in the news last summer about their firms’ strategicalliance relationship and how they are connecting their companies on the hot topic of AI.

On Nov. 16, 2024, the Tampa Bay Lightning honored Amy Kraczkowsky Hull as the Lightning Community Hero during the first period of the game against the New Jersey Devils. Amy, who received a $50,000 donation from the Lightning Foundation and the Lightning Community Hero program, will donate the money to The Lamplighters and Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA).

As the president of The Lamplighters, Amy has been instrumental in helping provide over $2 million to support homeless and at-risk children. The Lamplighters support children at both Metropolitan Ministries and Joshua House; both nonprofits that serve families and children dealing with housing insecurity.

KO 2000 Sara Chase was starring as Myrtle in The Great Gatsby on Broadway through the end of March 2025, but took a few weeks of leave to star as Melissa Gimble in the world premiere of the musical Schmiggadoon at the Kennedy Center in DC. Mariah Klaneski Reisner and her husband Sam went down to see the show with Susan Keppelman Harcourt and her husband Geoff and ran into another classmate Angela Georgeopolous in the theater lobby.

Mariah writes, “It is so exciting to see a friend shine in such a big way. Such a superstar.”

KO 2004

2000 Susan Keppleman Harcourt, Angela

Georgeopolous, Mariah Klaneski Reisner, and Sara Chase

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Marsha Mather writes, “I moved from Canton, Ohio after completing my internal medicine residency at Cleveland Clinic and Aultman Hospital last summer to take a hospitalist and PCP job at Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis, Mass. More than six months into my new job and loving it! Hoping now that I am closer to Connecticut to be able to connect with more of my fellow Wyverns.”

2008 Kacie Gent

KO 2006 In August, 2024, Eliza Cassella was named the assistant principal at Collins Middle School in Salem, Mass., after serving as the director of social and emotional learning, culture and climate. Among other duties, Eliza oversees grade seven and helps support the implementation of the new Student Success Advisor model, the integration of restorative practices across the school, and CREW 2.0, a space for connection, reflection, excellence, and making real-world connections.

KO 2008 Kacie Gent and Patrick Meggers welcomed daughter, Madeline Elinor Meggers, on July 4, 2024. Maddie joins 2.5-year-old brother, James Joseph “JJ” Meggers.

James Dowling-Healey interviewed physician, dual-designated naval aviator and flight surgeon (and former U.S. Navy SEAL), and NASA astronaut Jonny Kim on March 19, 2025, prior to Kim’s first trip to space as a part of Expedition 73.

James, who teaches science courses at The University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, Conn., and Western New England University in Springfield, Mass., asked Lieutenant Commander Kim questions about his upcoming mission, NASA spinoffs (technologies developed by NASA, often in space, that benefit life on Earth), physical fitness, and his best study tips for students.

KO 2013 On June 1, 2025, the annual 18 Hole Stroll for Pancreatic Cancer Research took place at The First Tee in Cromwell, Conn., with Brittany Vose as the event chair. Brittany, who tragically lost her father, John, to pancreatic cancer when she was five, is on a mission to raise $1 million for pancreatic cancer research by the age of 30 in 2026. Through her efforts with the 18-Hole Stroll, she has already raised over $852,000.

2013 Brittany Vose

2008 James Dowling-Healey

KO 2016

KO 2019

Professional snowboarder Dylan Udolf qualified to represent the United States at the 2025 International Ski Federation Snowboard World Championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland, which took place from March 17-30, 2025. He competed in the parallel giant slalom and parallel slalom events.

Avery Sutton has been named the equestrian coach at the University of Connecticut. Avery graduated from the University of Vermont with a degree in Animal Science and has developed her own company, Grey Jumper Enterprise, which allows students (of all ages and skill levels) and horses a safe place to learn and grow.

Competing professionally for 12 years, Dylan is a four-time U.S. national champion, a two-time world championship qualifier, and the holder of 13 national titles. He has been competing on the World Cup circuit since 2018.

2016 Dylan Udolf

KO 2020 Joey Aiello, a New Britain police officer, gave back to the community this spring by visiting a local elementary school and reading to the students.

2020 Joey Aiello KO MAGAZINE 2025

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IN MEMORIAM

KO expresses condolences to the families of those who passed away between June 21, 2024 and July 25, 2025 or whose deaths we learned of during that time.

Alumni 1940s Mary Hooker Crary ’45 June 6, 2025 Spouse of J. Noyes Crary ’27 H. Bacon Collamore Jr. ’46 February 13, 2025 Spouse of Elizabeth Jones Collamore ’49; and parent of Harry B. Collamore ’71, Bruce A. Collamore ’73 and Thomas J. Collamore ’77 Marion Stedman Palm ’46 July 24, 2024 Sister of Elizabeth Stedman Russell ’50 Jean Hanna Holden ’48 October 18, 2024 Virginia Woods Kuhl ’48 August 21, 2024 Linda Gray Burdet Fischer ’49 July 19, 2023 Sister of Vernon C. Gray ’52

1950s Walter W. Lowell ’50 September 16, 2024 Brother of James B. Lowell ’47 James D. Marinan ’50 March 22, 2025 Brother of John V. Marinan ’55; and grandparent of Calvin A. Hills IV ’09 and Nicholas E. Hills ’13

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Elenor Coburn Smith ’51 April 9, 2025 Spouse of Laurence Smith Jr. ’45; and grandparent of John M. Washburn IV ’08, Samuel C. Washburn ’10, Benjamin G. Washburn ’12, Nathan B. Washburn ’15 and Luka N. Mrvic ’18 John M. Barton Jr. ’52 May 26, 2024 Gail Myers Rider ’54 April 15, 2025 Parent of James S. Rider ’80; and sister of Linda Myers Boucher ’57 and Susan Myers Howard ’63 John M. Conklin ’55 June 24, 2025 Brother of Edward K. Conklin ’59 and Anne Conklin Gatling ’64; and son of William P. Conklin ’22 Donald M. Pearsall ’55 November 5, 2024 Brother of David E. Pearsall II ’48, Martha Pearsall ’50 and Mary Pearsall Stone ’53 Donald E. Burgess ’56 February 2025 Wiliam W.R. Hughes Jr. ’56 June 30, 2025 John A.T. Wilson ’56 Trustee Emeritus July 25, 2025 Parent of Tierney E. Wilson ’84 and Thomas S. Wilson ’86

Martha Keirstead DuBois ’57 September 29, 2024 Parent of Franklin S. DuBois III ’83, William G. DuBois ’87 and Scott W. DuBois ’90; and sister of Linda Keirstead Marth ’59 Martha Yost Newcomer ’57 May 7, 2025 Sister of Andrew H. Yost ’58 Charles A. Bakewell ’58 November 15, 2024 Brother of Henry P. Bakewell Jr. ’54 and Hester L. Bakewell ’62 Paul M. Dolce ’58 January 6, 2025 Brother of Richard V. Dolce ’60 Daniel H. Murphy ’58 July 13, 2025 Brother of Robert H. Murphy Jr. ’62, William C. Murphy ’65, and John C. Murphy ’70; son of Robert H. Murphy ’32; and uncle of Kelly Murphy Mulderry ’89 and Maureen J. Murphy ’89 Lynn Wilkie Murray ’59 July 16, 2025 Sister of John W. Wilkie ’68

1960s Robert D. Bulkeley ’60 May 11, 2025 John A. Cope Jr. February 18, 2025

Hamersley Wright ’62 August 8, 2024 Brother of Jane Wright ’58, Douglass B. Wright ’59, Elizabeth Wright Temple ’64 and Arthur W. Wright ’67; and son of Jane Hamersley Wright ’34 Robert M. Gruber ’63 2024

1970s Thomas O. Talbot ’71 November 30, 2024 Brother of Jane Talbot Marshall ’62, Robert B. Talbot Jr. ’66, and Bruce W. Talbot ’70; son of Caroline Allen Talbot ’37; and brother-in-law of Robert W. Marshall ’60 J. Richard Lenehan ’72 December 9, 2024 Brother of former KO staff member Mary King Ross C. Little ’75 December 4, 2024

1980s Donald K. Huber Jr. ’85 November 1, 2024 Brother of Gretchen Huber Warren ’81 Todd G. Morgan ’85 October 19, 2024

J. Matthew Collins ’89 May 7, 2025 Spouse of Christine Randall Collins ’89; brother of Timothy Collins ’88 and Melinda Collins Eberle ’91; uncle of Abigail S. Eberle ’18, Magdalen R. Eberle ’20 and Charlotte Eberle ’23; and brother-in-law of W. Stephen Randall ’74 Suzanne C. Tanner ’89 April 3, 2025 Sister of John B. Tanner ’92

1990s Timothy Zielenbach ’90 August 28, 2024 Son of Susan Gross Zielenbach ’61; and brother of John W. Zielenbach Jr. ’86

KO Families Craig E. Andrews August 20, 2024 Parent of Todd Andrews ’91 Joan L. Bortman September 11, 2024 Parent of Scott M. Bortman ’83 and Charna Bortman Kaufman ’85; grandparent of Caroline R. Kaufman ’14, Isabel G. Kaufman ’17 and Sophia J. Kaufman ’20; and mother-in-law of John M. Kaufman ’85 Jane Brady February 7, 2025 Spouse of Gerald W. Brady ’46; parent of Gerald W. Brady Jr. ’79 and Stephen J. Brady ’80; and grandparent of Taylor J. Brady ’13 and Clare Brady ’18

Roy H. Bubbs March 3, 2025 Parent of Rachael H. Bubbs ’01 Howard W. Chapman June 30, 2024 Grandparent of Tess Chapman ’23, Ida Chapman ’27 and Gabriel Chapman ’29; and parent of KO teacher Kyle Chapman Greg E. Chomko Jr. October 8, 2024 Parent of Nicklas J. Chomko ’26 Aline M. Cronin March 11, 2025 Parent of Ryan T. Cronin ’98, Casey M. Cronin ’02 and Patrick J. Cronin ’06 Rose Mary Delldonna January 7, 2025 Parent of Russell A. Delldonna ’88; and grandparent of Marcella J. Delldonna ’20 Robert T. Gerrett Jr. May 3, 2025 Spouse of Sarah Clark Gerrett ’68; and brother-in-law of Douglas W. Clark ’70 Leonard Hojnicki July 7, 2025 Parent of KO teacher Heidi Hojnicki; and grandparent of Chetan Shah ’28 Virginia L. Hollis July 4, 2025 Daughter of Larins R.J. Hollis ’04; and niece of Elin B. Hollis ’03 Fred Kaprove March 10, 2025 Parent of Michael S. Kaprove ’71

Bruce R. Marshall March 17, 2025 Parent of Bruce R. Marshall Jr. ’79, June Marshall Smith ’82 and Elsbeth Marshall ’83

Danton Tuve November 17, 2024 Grandparent of Braden C. Flowers ’21 and Francesca G. Galante ’30

Uma Rani Mathur February 2025 Grandparent of Aarav Mathur ’26 and Aashir ’29

Peter P. Tycienski Jr. January 7, 2025 Grandparent of Ty Russo ’24

Joanne D. McGoldrick October 9, 2024 Parent of Christopher M. McGoldrick ’90

Eleanor Udolf October 23, 2024 Parent of Robert D. Udolf ’79; and grandparent of Samantha E. Udolf ’12, Claudia E. Udolf ’14 and Dylan R. Udolf ’16

Alfredo F. Nino February 2, 2025 Parent of Alfredo S. Nino ’86 and Deanna H. Nino ’87 James H. Nowak June 29, 2025 Son of Margaret O’Rourke Nowak ’81; and nephew of James O’Rourke ’74, Carol O’Rourke Troiani ’75 and Elizabeth O’Rourke Doyle ’77 Alvaro Oviedo January 23, 2025 Parent of M. Astrid Oviedo Clark ’86 and Marella Oviedo ’92 Andrew J. Packer December 22, 2024 Parent of Jonathan D. Packer ’00 and Jared Packer ’02 David S. Papermaster October 12, 2024 Grandchildparent of Molly R. Papermaster ’14

Philip S. Walker November 26, 2024 Parent of Philip S. Walker Jr. ’80; and spouse of Helen Dillon Walker ’52

Faculty/Staff Josette Berard July 20, 2024 Faculty emeritus; and spouse of faculty emeritus Claude Berard Eunice Paul January 1, 2025 Former Oxford teacher; and parent of Lydia Paul Tapley ’68 Lawrence H. Roberts April 21, 2025

Jaxon J. Podbielski October 30, 2024 Son of Xochil A. Rivera ’12 Richard J. Shima July 26, 2024 Parent of Patrick J. Shima ’89 and Mary Shima McDonnell ’00

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Board of Trustees July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025

Josh Benet ’95 Andrew Bethke ’99, P’31 Amanda Buckingham, P’24 Mark D. Conrad ’96, Treasurer Jerry DeBerry ’82 Karen Diaz-Meaike P’19, ’22 Thomas Dillow P’21, ’22, ’26, Head of School Bonnie L. Dobkin P’19 Joseph Gianni ’79 P’14, ’14 Jeffrey S. Gitlin ’85, P’11, ’13, ’17, Chair Lee Gold ’90, P’23, ’26 J. Douglas Harris ’77 Raymond Johnson ’81 Gilbert E. Keegan III ’88, P’22, ’25, ’27 Fred Krieble ’91 P’21, ’25 Elaine Leshem P’14, ’16, ’24 E. Brooks Loomis ’06, Ex-Officio, Co-Chair Alumni Council Merrill Mandell P’21, ’22, 26 Mary S. Martin ’77, P’17, ’20, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives Kelley Nicholson-Flynn Megan Ouellette P’18, ’20 Eric Palmer P’25, ’27, ’31 David R. Quick ’92 Bruce S. Simons, P’12’, 12, ’15, ’24, ’24 Gayle Temkin, P’23, ’25 John Y. Wang ’88 Lori Wetsman ’85, P’12, ’15

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Trustee Emeriti

Alumni Council

Sherry Banks-Cohn ’54, P’78, ’82

John Alissi ’89

Thomas J. Collamore ’77

Richard Bartlett ’68

George L. Estes III ’67, P’98

Karl Baumert ’97

Laura R. Estes P’98

Taryn Braz ’14

Frederick S. Farquhar ’59, P’83, ’86

Emily Lips Brenner ’93

Karen Koury Gifford ’62

Bomani Brown ’06

William H. Goldfarb ’64

Michael Coscarelli ’11

Derek P. Green ’81

Maya Frazier ’09

Cheryl W. Grise P’99, ’02

Alex Gitlin ’11

Stephen B. Hazard P’89, ’92

John Godbout ’91

Alyce F. Hild P’80, ’82, ’91, GP’07, ’11, ’14, ’19

Max Hoberman ’10

I. Bradley Hoffman ’78

Owen Jarmoc ’14

Timothy Holt P’99, ’02, ’07

Gilbert Keegan ’88

Lance L. Knox ’62

Brooks Loomis ’99, Co-President

Jean C. LaTorre P’12, ’14, ’19

Marsha Mather ’04

Paul Lewis P’05

Brooke Breckenridge Morton ’70

Thomas D. Lips P’93

Meredith Maffett Musumeci ’06, Co-President

Baxter H. Maffett ’68 P’02, ’06

Tyler Polk ’99

Bruce A. Mandell ’82

Afsah Quadri ’99

Kimberly Collins Parizeau ’75

Matt Ritter ’00

Ann Coolidge Randall ’73, ’13

Glenn Shafer ’85

Michael J. Reilly P’04 ’08 Avery Rockefeller III P’00, ’02 G. William Seawright ’59 Marc T. Shafer ’75, P’08, ’15, ’17 Karin Stahl P’95 Les R. Tager P’00, ’03 Alden Warner ’76 John A.T. Wilson ’56, P’84, ’86 Lewis K. Wise ’65 Keith Wolff ’91, P’20, ’23 Mark Wolman P’14, ’16, ’19 Martin Wolman P’80, ’82, ’84, ’88 Joan Safford Wright ’53

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