Colorado Academy Journal - Fall 2018

Colorado Academy

Mission Statement

A dynamic liberal arts and sciences program that challenges students ethically, academically, artistically, and athletically creates the foundation of Colorado Academy. Teachers, students, parents, and staff foster trusting and respectful relationships, enhancing our thriving school family. Students pursue excellence and seek to become lifelong learners and contributors in our local and international communities.

About the Cover

At Colorado Academy, we are focused on teaching 21st century skills in a developmentally appropriate way for children of all ages. We believe those skills are best learned when they are project-based, and we are committed to encouraging students to use design thinking, engineering, and computer science in their work.

CA’s commitment to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art/Design, and Math) is interdisciplinary by nature. At CA, we recognize these fields overlap. In this edition of the CA Journal, see how forwardthinking faculty use multiple makerspaces, including the Anderson Innovation Lab, to help students think expansively, face the challenges of the future—and solve them.

Colorado Academy

3800 South Pierce Street

Denver, CO 80235

urnal

Fall 2018 n Volume 46 n Issue No. 1

The 2018 Journal is published by the Colorado Academy Office of Advancement. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information included in this report is accurate and complete. If you note any errors or omissions, please accept our apologies and notify the Office of Advancement at chris.barnard@ coloradoacademy.org, or 303-914-2510.

PARENTS OF ALUMNI:

If this publication is addressed to a son or daughter who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please send an updated mailing address to our Alumni Office at sue.burleigh@coloradoacademy.org

CORRESPONDENCE:

Colorado Academy, 3800 S. Pierce Street, Denver, CO 80235, 303-986-1501

EDITORS & WRITERS:

Jan Beattie

Sue Burleigh

Vicki Hildner

Debra Melani

Natalie Newcom Ralston ‘99

Renee Rockford Amy Ventura Gravely Wilson

DESIGN: Cindi Sherman Publication Design, Inc.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Trevor Brown

Marisa Chafetz

Jay Dickman Cyrus McCrimmon Marc Piscotty

Kathryn Scott

HEAD OF SCHOOL: Mike Davis, PhD

Colorado Academy 3800 S. Pierce Street Denver, CO 80235

Contents

To Our CA Community........................................................................................................................................... 2

CA Record-Breakers, Firsts, and Milestones 4

See it Through: Capital Projects 8

Moving into the Future with Computer Science, Engineering & Design 12

Celebrating Homecoming 2018 .....................................................................................................................16

Cindy Jordan Retires: ‘Everything We Do Will be the Last Time’ 18

Eli Saslow: A Brain, a Heart, and a Pulitzer 22

Devon Wills: Latest Achievement for CA Lacrosse Star 24

Jeremy Shamos: What’s on his Mind............................................................................................................26

Alexandra Horowitz: One Burning Question 28

The Journey from Horizons to College 30

Remembering (and Toasting) Richard Kelly ...........................................................................................32

Alumni Association Highlights 34

Alumni Reunions 36

Class Notes ......................................................................................................................................................................39

In Memoriam 49 Alumni Calendar of Events Inside Back Cover

To Our CA Community:

Each year, a respected online source about words and their meanings releases its findings about the “Word of the Year.” Merriam-Webster’s accolade is based on the number of times a word has been looked up online disproportionately more than in previous years. The awardwinning word in 2014 was “culture,” and it is no surprise.

In the last five years, it’s not just the word that has received increasing regard. The online dictionary says talking about culture “conveys a kind of academic attention to systematic behavior…and that using the word culture to define ideas in this way has moved from the classroom syllabus to the conversation at large, appearing in headlines and analyses across a wide swath of topics.”

At schools, we talk about culture to define everything from the pace of our school year to our expectations about treating one another with respect.

Harvard Ed School researcher Ebony Bridwell-Mitchell, an expert in education leadership and management, says researchers can track “a strong and significant correlation between organizational culture and an organization’s performance. *“

Here at Colorado Academy, we know that great culture and high achievement do not happen by accident. It takes ongoing and intentional efforts by committed leaders, parents, teachers, staff, trustees, alumni, and students to make CA a special place.

Whether it is someone emailing me about how well our students represent CA out in the community, to our tradition of starting our school year with an allschool assembly, to the way we welcome new families to our community, our positive school culture is always on display.

In this issue of the CA Journal, you’ll find more of that–from alumni and faculty profiles to how our teaching of computer science, engineering, and design has grown over time to provide the most relevant and transformational educational experience. We are a school that has always been progressive in its focus and has always put students first.

Each and every day, I feel lucky to be here. I am proud that our school culture creates a mindset to support our diverse body of students with a shared set of attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterize who we are as a community and who we want our children to become.

Sincerely,

Mike Davis, PhD Head of School Colorado Academy

*Harvard Graduate School of Education, “Useable Knowledge Research Stories: What Makes a Good School Culture,” by Leah Shafer, July 2018. https://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/uk/18/07/what-makes-good-school-culture

Letter from the Head of School

CA Record-Breakers, Firsts, and Milestones

very year at Colorado Academy, the school and its students cover new territory, reach new milestones, break previously held records, and even though the school is more than 110 years old, it continues to rack up historic “firsts.” Here are just a few of the highlights from the 2017-2018 school year: n AUGUST 2017

ESEPTEMBER 2017 2017-2018 Timeline Colorado Academy

Aerial drone photography captures the site of the future Field House as construction gets underway.

Welcome unplugged Campus

Thank you for

Welcome to our unplugged Campus Center.

Welcome to our unplugged Campus Center.

Thank you for putting away your mobile device.

Thank you for putting away your mobile device. Head of School Dr. Mike Davis enters his 10th year at Colorado Academy.

CA announces that the Campus Center is a cell phone-free zone. The message: “Disconnect and Unplug!”

The CA Parent Association hosts its Parent Volunteer Fair called Get INvolved on the first day of school.

CA’s annual Alchemist Dinner event honors former faculty member and principal Tom Fitzgerald who taught at CA for nearly 40 years.

3D-Day takes hold in the Lower School as students in Grades 1-5 learn to invent with a 3D printer.

NOVEMBER 2017

In Boys Soccer, the Colorado Academy Mustangs beat the Kent Denver Sun Devils after double overtime. The Mustangs win 5-4 in penalty kicks to earn a berth in the State Championship game.

DECEMBER 2017

On a foggy October day, the annual tradition continues for Fourth Grade students as they climb Mt. Falcon.

Middle

competes

competition and wins the second place Teamwork Award, an honor given to a team that is able to accomplish more together than they could as individuals through shared goals, strong communication, effective problem solving, and excellent time management.

drawing to Upper School students as an art elective.

Slater Turf Field opens after being resurfaced, a dozen years after it was built.

CA’s

School FIRST LEGOTM League team

at a state

The Colorado Academy Ultimate Frisbee team takes sixth place at State, the highest finish ever for a CA Co-Ed Ultimate team.

Lower School students celebrate International Day with a Parade of Nations and an informational scavenger hunt for “country facts.”

The first parent flash mob erupted at the Parent Association’s annual Taste of CA, an event celebrating multiculturalism, diversity, and inclusion.

CA holds its second 24-hour play project in which students take 24 hours to cast a play, design a set and props, memorize lines, and perform as part of this pop-up theater company.

The Girls Varsity Swim Team shatters seven team and individual school swim records at the 3A State Championships. The team, the largest in school history, tallies its highest score ever at state with 145 team points. They also set a new school record, finishing in sixth place. Having also surpassed every goal their coaching staff set for them, the girls’ payoff is shaving their coaches’ heads.

Colorado Academy receives a gift of 15 artworks from art collector and current parent Craig Ponzio. The gift comes less than a year after the opening of the new Ponzio Arts Center.

CA’s new Field House opens, just nine months after breaking ground. The opening signals the end of Phase I of the project, as workers break ground on Phase II less than a week later.

Bringing the world to the classroom, Google demonstrates its Augmented Reality (AR) app to Colorado Academy’s Lower School. Students are able to see things in augmented reality like dinosaurs, the Solar System, even Leonardo DaVinci’s inventions.

CA Freshmen take part in a new academic intensive program focused on the topic of immigration. Several students travel to El Paso, Texas, to interview border agents and immigrants.

Two of CA’s three Mock Trial Teams place at the State Tournament, with the A and C Teams taking third and fifth place.

In spring sports, two CA teams take consecutive State titles: the Girls Varsity Lacrosse Team defeats Cherry Creek 13-7 to win the 5A State Championship for the fourth consecutive year, and the Girls Varsity Golf Team takes the 3A State Championship for the second year in a row.

CA hosts Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band in a New Orleans-style “Fiyo on the Bayou” celebration in the new Field House, with everything from a crawfish boil to beignets. Proceeds benefit student financial aid.

A record number of Colorado Academy Seniors, 22 of them, commit to playing college sports.

The 61st running of the Giant Relay takes place at Colorado Academy with the Seniors—the Class of 2018—taking first place.

Top Upper School computer science students travel to Providence, R.I., to compete in the American Computer Science League National All-Star Competition. They come in fifth out of 20 teams, the highest that CA has ever placed in the tournament.

The Class of 2018 graduates on a beautiful June day with 100 Seniors receiving their diplomas. Over the last decade, Dr. Mike Davis has handed out diplomas to more than 1,000 students, and this year, two of the diplomas go to his twin daughters.

Commencement dinner the night before graduation is cut short by a sudden thunderstorm that forces evacuation of the tent.

The Upper School Conservatory of Theater stages the musical, Lucky Stiff. Productions earlier in the year include American Buffalo and Girls Like That

See it Through: Capital Projects Soon to be Narrowed to One

And then there was one.

Over the past 20 years, Colorado Academy has worked to rebuild or upgrade every educational building on the school’s campus, and now the school and Board leadership report that the final projects are in sight.

The current See it Through campaign was designed to fund the renovation of some of the most frequently-used structures on campus. Already completed are the new Ponzio Arts Center, the renovated Welborn House, and Phase I of the Athletic Center. Phase II of the Athletic Center, including new climbing, fitness, and training centers, a new practice gym, and a refurbished and expanded competition gym, will open in early 2019, with fundraising for the project nearing its final stages. The last project remaining as part of the campaign is CA’s Performing Arts Center.

The time is now

The current Froelicher Theatre, the tall brick back side of which overlooks CA’s

Firman Field, was built in 1977. For a frame of reference, that was the same year that the first Star Wars opened in cinemas, the year that Elvis Presley died of a heart attack, and the year that the first Apple II computers went on sale.

More than four decades later, theater and music programming, technology, and the size of the student body have all rendered the current structure obsolete. Head of School Dr. Mike Davis says, “Like the other buildings that have been part of this campaign, the theater is one of the most public spaces on our campus, where students, parents, and alumni gather, where kids learn to be both audience members and performers, and where we often join to learn together as a community. People will often say to me, ‘I can’t believe CA hasn’t built a new theater yet.’”

Inspire creativity

The school’s signature and outstanding arts education program has, in recent years, been transformed by the addition and expansion of a dance program, a theater conservatory, and courses such as “Performance Innovations,”“Acting and Scene Study,”

Colorado Academy Capital Improvements

Over the last 20+ years, almost every building on Colorado Academy’s campus has been updated, remodeled, or rebuilt, thanks to the generosity of the CA community.

2019 Phase II of Athletic Center to open

2018 Phase I of Athletic Center opened

2017 Welborn House remodeled

2017 Ponzio Arts Center opened

2013 Upper School Building opened

2005 Schotters Music Building opened

2005 Campus Center & Dining Hall opened

2003 Chowdry Middle School opened

2000 Smith Center Administrative Building opened

1997 Lower School wing added/remodeled

1997 Raether Library opened

Capital Campaign

Athletic Center Phase II, October 2018— on schedule to open in early 2019

“Children’s Theater Production and Outreach,” “Theater Practicum,” and “Directing.” The school needs a new structure to provide an appropriate and inspiring venue for classes, theatrical productions, concerts, and recitals that showcase the school’s highly successful performing arts and music programs and for an improved setting for CA gatherings.

A new home

As with the other three structures that were part of the See it Through campaign, Shears Adkins Rockmore Architects has designed the Performing Arts Center—a new 18,000 square-foot structure with adequate performance and seating space, improved accessibility, effective heating and cooling, upgraded digital sound, lighting, and video equipment, and additional teaching and performance space. Whether it is a musical or a play, a chamber or jazz concert or an instrumental recital, a dance performance or choir concert, a student-run town hall meeting or a presentation by a guest speaker, the new building will accommodate all varieties of productions.

The finale

CA is calling the final stage of the campaign the “Finale for the Performing Arts Center.” As with previous capital projects, the school is asking for the support of CA’s extended community to make the new home for performing arts a reality. Funding and naming opportunities are available, and the project is contingent upon financial backing for construction and associated endowment costs.

You are invited to be a part of the Finale and help see it through! For more information or to make a gift to the campaign, contact Colorado Academy’s Advancement Office. n

Capital Campaign Committee 2017-2018

Guy Arnold

John Burstein ‘89

John Ege

Dickson Griswold

Leslie Howard

David Jones ‘95

Tom Jorden

Bryan Leach

Brooke Maloy ‘90

Tate McCoy

Paul McPheeters

Craig Ponzio Min Sohn

Mariner Kemper

Preliminary renderings by Shears Adkins Rockmore Architects, October 2018

Finale for the Per forming Ar ts Center

Moving into the Future with Computer Science, Engineering, and Design

When Hidai Olivas-Holguin ’17 arrived as a Freshman at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), she was pleasantly surprised. “Even at MIT where everyone is so accom plished, I had received more of a Computer Science education at CA than many of the other students had received at their schools,” she says. “Kids were shocked to find out that I had been able to take three computer science courses in high school— including AP Computer Science and Ad vanced Algorithms and Data Structures.”

Olivas-Holguin also credits the course she took in CA’s Anderson Innovation Lab for preparing her for the work at MIT. “Programming is an amazing skill, but you need to have the hands-on experience,” she says. “You have to think about the whole process of making a product, instead of just thinking about a program that works.”

During the summer after she graduated from CA, Olivas-Holguin interned at Ibotta, the mobile technology company founded by CA parent Bryan Leach. Last summer, Olivas-Holguin interned in the New York office of Google, where she built an android app that used a machine learning model. Her goal continues to be to have her own company—a goal that started with her education in Computer Science, Engineering, and Design at CA.

“The beauty of teaching STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art/Design, and Math) is that these courses are interdisciplinary by nature—they overlap and

don’t fit neatly into silos, and we recognized that,” says Jon Vogels, PhD, Upper School Principal. “This is an area where we have to be adaptable, nimble, and open to change, and luckily we have a faculty who appreciate that and are willing to develop courses that help students think expansively and learn in a developmentally appropriate way—starting in Pre-Kindergarten!”

Lower School: The building blocks

What does Lower School Technology Coordinator Bill Witt hear most often in the iLab when very young students begin to discover coding?

“Something happened!” which usually means, “Something went wrong.”

Witt’s response sets the stage for learning in all future grades at CA. “I say to them, ‘Tell me what’s wrong, and tell me how you are trying to fix it,’” he says. “This is the foundation for problem solving.”

Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students start their engineering experience at CA with Legos®. They quickly move on to solving coding challenges moving BeeBots®, programmable robots, around Lego® obstacles they build. “We are introducing beginning coding, sequencing, and problem solving and collaboration, because they have to work in pairs,” Witt says.

The work in the iLab is reinforced in the Pre-K classroom, where Director Mary Karst conducts a “Mini Innovation Lab,” allowing

Hidai Olivas-Holguin ‘17

students to create from their imagination. “With their inquisitive minds, Pre-K students are at the perfect age to explore and find new ways to create and build,” says Karst. “During lab time, we spend time thinking and planning, because we believe the process is just as important as the product.”

By Grades 3-5, Lower School students graduate to Ozobots which can be programmed using a combination of color paths. Grades 4-5 also use Dash and Dot to accomplish a series of programming challenges. Volunteers participate in the international Wonder League Robotics Competition, giving up lunch recess to tackle coding challenges. “It involves your imagination,” says Kyle Manzo, as he launches Dash on another venture. “You have to be creative with the code.”

In Stashia Taylor’s Grade 4 and 5 art classes, students engage in learning experiences that dovetail with their iLab work. They use circuits, small motors, and other basic tech components in art pieces that ultimately are placed in a larger interactive art installation. The iLab work is also reinforced in Lower School science classes with the use of Lego® WeDo robots.

Some students add to their coding skills by enrolling in an after-school program offered by MindDance. They use Scratch, an MIT-developed computer programming language for children to create video games, animated stories, and interactive art. Students also have the opportunity to work with Makey Makeys®, an invention kit that turns everyday objects into touchpads that activate circuits. All students have

experience with 3D printing by the time they leave Lower School. The 1:1 program—one iPad per student—begins in the Fifth Grade and continues through Upper School.

“By the time they are in Grade 5, they have confidence in their ability to choose the right approach to a programming, engineering, or design challenge,” Witt says. “It’s thrilling for them, and they don’t want to stop.”

Middle School: A time for risks and rewards

Jennie Kies, Technology Integration and Innovation Specialist, believes Middle School students are the perfect age for further exploration with engineering and design. “They are open and excited,” she says. “They are willing to take risks, try new things, and learn from their missteps.”

In Grades 6 and 7, Kies teaches the steps of the design process, with an emphasis on the iterative nature of any design. “It’s not like tying your shoes where if you do the steps your shoes will be tied,” she says. “Here you might have to go back to redesign or skip ahead to test a prototype. It’s a nonlinear process.”

Students in Grade 6 focus on a fundamental understanding of circuits, building a toy with lights. Building on that experience, students in Grade 7 use light and sound sensors to design a robot pet for their clients—Kindergarten students—and Kindergartners then test and critique the finished product.

“If you paid me money, I couldn’t predict what my students are going to come up with for the Robot Petting Zoo!” says Middle School Tech Coordinator Allie Bronston. “Who could have predicted a koala unicorn?”

Bronston points out that Middle School reviews and builds on what students have already learned in Lower School— computational thinking, which emphasizes step-by- step logical planning to reach a successful end result. “Much of education is about right and wrong answers, but our course is about infinite possibilities and the 21st century skills that will serve students in Upper School and their future education,” Bronston says.

Middle School Design and Innovation Studio

The Middle School Design and Innovation Studio includes 3D printers, a laser cutter, a Computer Numeric Control (CNC) tool for cutting, carving, machining and milling, hand tools, glue guns, littleBits, and recycled materials for students to use in any project. At first, students just used the tools to build class projects. Now, Kies is tracking a new trend—a dramatic increase in students coming in to use the tools to create personal projects they have designed.

For inspiration, students need look no further than Kies, who proudly displays the six prototypes she designed and built before creating her final product—a glue gun station safely storing multiple hot glue guns. Kies, who has a degree in manufacturing and a background in engineering, shares

Fifth Grade students program robotics for competitive challenges.

Lower School Students use computer-aided design for 3D printing.

Eighth Grade STEAM students learn screen printing.

her passion with her students. “I’m a giant nerd and proud of it,” she says. “I think it’s especially important that Middle School girls can see how much fun design and building is, because that will increase their participation in these fields later in life.”

By Grade 8, students in Middle School have the opportunity to explore the physical world in a course that blends traditional physics and chemistry with technology and robotics. Students review basic programming and use Sphero (made famous by “Star Wars”) to practice their skills. They design and launch bottle rockets to study aerodynamics and rocketry.

In their interdisciplinary elective STEAM, students collaborate as artists and engineers using spatial visualization to design solutions to basic and complex problems. “We use origami, which many people think of as art,” says MS Science teacher Thanh Luong, “but we take it a step further to see how it’s the same fundamental skill used to efficiently design bridges and buildings.”

Students in the Middle School also can participate in multiple Robotics Teams using Lego® Mindstorms EV3 robots. CA’s strong emphasis on “design thinking” at the Middle School level means that every student in every class will do one project that involves design thinking—identifying problems, gathering and analyzing information and evidence, getting feedback, making revisions, and making decisions.

“I love teaching students at this level,” Luong says. “It’s learning through experimenting,

and instead of just accepting technology, students learn how technology and society are progressing together.”

Upper School: Making people’s lives better

By the time CA students reach Upper School, they no longer say “Something happened!”

Dr. Jon Vogels points out that, “More likely, you will hear this: ‘I’m going to make something happen that’s never happened before!’”

CA requires that all Upper School students take two trimesters of Computer Science/ Engineering & Design offerings to graduate. “I needed to fulfill the requirement,” says Senior Alena Holbert, “and I accidentally found out I was really interested in computer science.” After Holbert took Introduction to Programming with Python her Freshman year—she never looked back. Four years later, she has flown through CA’s Computer Science curriculum. She is now doing an Independent Study “From Nand to Tetris: Building a Modern Computer” with Kimberly Jans, Upper School Computer Science and Technology Coordinator.

After 18 years teaching at CA, Jans can remember the early, lean years when she might only have one student in AP Computer Science. This year, her AP class is at maximum enrollment. “They work hard, and often they fail—and then boom, it works and their faces just glow,” Jans says. “They are learning computational thinking and those skills are easily applied

to other courses and their future careers— whether they become scientists, doctors, teachers, lawyers, or CEOs. You never quite understand our world if you don’t have basic coding and computer science.”

CA students had to look twice on a recent morning when they noticed a robotic boat sailing across the CA pool. “They just took their ideas and ran with it,” laughs Sean Gallop, Upper School Robotics and Computer Science teacher. Students who have a passion for robotics find plenty of opportunities at CA to design, build, test, and refine robotic systems with an emphasis on working on teams to address a community need. Gallop has written an electronic textbook for robotics and Python, and now he has flipped his classroom, offering lecture material in the interactive book, freeing up his time to work individually with students to help develop their skills.

Teachers in the Upper School Visual Art Department put the “A” in STEAM with courses in Architectural Drawing where students learn basic drafting and drawing skills on paper before transitioning to the 3D modeling software SketchUp. In Digital Fabrication Art, students use the software CorelDRAW® to create 2D and 3D art on a laser cutter. “Artists have a tenacious approach to problem solving,” says Katy Hills, who teaches Visual Art. “They make many ‘mistakes’ that evolve into solutions. They learn to use tools by making something completely unique, and their motivation to learn technology is powered by their passion to make something personal.”

Students build a robotic car with microchips operating the motors. The car senses distance and turns before hitting an obstacle.

Middle School students write code to create and test games.

Upper School Students write code which simulates the movement of the planets around the sun using Newton’s Laws of gravitational force.

Upper School: Anderson Innovation Lab

The single place where much of Upper School computer science, engineering, and design converge is the Anderson Innovation Lab. “We can teach topics in a classroom,” says Chris Roads, who teaches Engineering and Design. “But in the Innovation Lab, we make connections and a level of understanding is added when you have to apply the knowledge. We are making makers.”

Perhaps the most well-known project to come out of the Innovation Lab is the “Tiny House,” a retired CA school bus that students transformed into a tiny house, with plumbing, solar power, heat, electricity, carpentry, and interior decorating. Roads knows that some students walk into the Innovation Lab, look at the equipment, and think, “This is not for

me.” He also has seen the same students transformed “with enthusiasm and energy as they take their ideas and turn them into something tangible.”

Ari Fierer Class of 2018 took his interest in woodworking and spent his REDI Lab time using the tools in the Anderson Innovation Lab to build a line of furniture. He started his own business, Fierer Designs, and now has several commissions for additional pieces. “I liked this project because I was able to say, ‘I made this.’” Fierer says. “I created something that other people can experience. As you’re working, you have to deal with unexpected curves and twists, but at the end, you have a product that you are proud of.”

In the Innovation Lab, Upper School students have the opportunity to try Digital Design and Fabrication as well as 3D Digital Design and Fabrication. The course in Flight has students building quadcopter drones. “Technology is the now the water in which

we all swim, more so than ever before,” Roads says. “Without it you are limited and it’s well understood at CA that some of the deepest learning comes through doing and creating.” Although students are only required to take two courses in Computer Science/Engineering & Design to graduate, many students take additional courses.

From day one, in Pre-Kindergarten, CA’s commitment to computer science, engineering, and design does not exist in isolation. It is always developmentally appropriate for students and kept in the context of a bigger picture. “Approaching life as a maker instead of just a consumer encourages engagement in the community, connections with others, and empathy,” Roads says. “We are learning to identify the needs of others, communicate and collaborate with them, en route to designing and building creative solutions to making people’s lives better.” n

Celebrating Homecoming 2018

Even record-breaking heat did not reduce the enthusiasm at CA’s 2018 Homecoming. Athletic Direc tor Bill Hall and CA’s mascot Gus launched the weekend of fun and competition at a Friday all-school spirit rally, with cheers, candy, and mock battles. On Saturday, Lower School students gathered for their annual bike ride around campus, led by Head of School Dr. Mike Davis.

Younger students sampled cotton candy, got their faces painted, and played games of skill and chance at the Carnival. Parents shopped for treats at the Harvest Festival

Farmer’s Market. Car aficionados could imagine themselves driving the vintage autos on display.

CA Homecoming is rich in tradition, but around lunch time, all heads turned upward for a first! An airplane flew over the campus towing a banner: “Colorado Homecoming 2018—Go Mustangs!” The Mustangs must have taken this aerial inspiration to heart.

CA teams competed at home in Tennis, Field Hockey, Volleyball, and Soccer, and the day culminated with wins for the Varsity Field Hockey Team and the Varsity Boys Soccer Team. n

‘Everything We Do Will be the Last Time’

One life decision can some times change the trajectory of an entire career. And in the case of some exceptional individuals, that single life decision has a ripple effect—changing the lives of thousands of individuals.

When Cindy Jordan—then known as Cyn thia Sheppard—graduated from Hastings College in 1976, she had two offers. She could accept a position performing in Kan sas City or one with the Central City Opera Company. She went to Central City—and that choice led her to Colorado Academy where, in June 2019, Cindy Jordan will retire as Vocal Music Director after 43 years. She is the longest-tenured faculty member in the history of the school.

“Not to be here on the first day of school next year—that is going to be really hard,” Jordan says. “There has never been a time when I missed the first day of school since I was five years old! The third trimester this year is going to be hard too, because every thing we do will be the ‘last time.’ Even this Senior class is special to me because they are my last Seniors.”

12 students in it. “I was only 22 years old,” Jordan says. “So I was only four years older than some of my Senior students!”

In those early years, long before the gig economy was commonplace, Jordan worked multiple jobs to make ends meet. In addition to teaching at CA, she directed an adult choir at a church, taught private lessons, served as Assistant Director for the Colorado Children’s Chorale (founded by Wolfe on CA’s campus), and she waitressed.

Her early choirs met in the old Jane Hamil ton Music Center in the heart of the campus where Schotters Music Center now stands. In 1985, when her daughter Zoe was born, Upper School Principal Terry Macaluso sug gested that Cindy bring her baby to school, so she put a crib in her office, and students would help babysit. Two years later, the crib was filled with her second child, her son Ryan. “Talk about on-campus day care!” Cindy laughs.

She “loved to open the windows” for fresh air—but the music rooms would fill with bees and moths from all the vegetation outside. Faculty walking across campus would hear choirs singing through those open windows—and over time, the sounds of Jordan’s music program grew as she launched a choir for Grades 4-5 and more Upper School students signed up to sing.

At Central City Opera, Cindy met legend ary choral director Duain Wolfe, who had just been hired at CA to build a fine arts program. When the summer opera season ended, Wolfe (who is now the Conductor of the Chicago Symphony Chorus and the Colorado Symphony Chorus) offered her a part-time job conducting one Middle School choir and one Upper School choir. Her first Upper School choir had a meager

“One year I had 92 students in Concert Choir!” Jordan remembers. “They were literally sitting on top of the piano while I was conducting. I told [then Head of School] Chris Babbs about it, and he said, ‘Good! Get more!’”

By the early aughts, it was obvious that CA’s music program had outgrown its home. “I was here the day they knocked down that old building,” Jordan says. “I absolutely cried

The early years: ‘Good! Get More!’

Cindy Jordan Retires

because of the memories of students who had come through there—but I am thrilled to have Schotters!”

Growing the program

Under Jordan’s direction, the growth of the choral music program at CA has been in tentional, with a focus on meeting students’ developing needs. When the Concert Choir became so large that she didn’t feel she could best help students develop skills, she redesigned the structure of vocal offerings. Students can now enroll in Mens and Wom ens Choruses for Freshmen (and upperclass men who sign up), as well as the Chamber Choir for upperclassmen who audition. She also offers three groups that meet outside school hours: Sorella (for women), Fratelli (for men), and Chanteurs (mixed).

Jordan also stayed involved with the Colo rado Children’s Chorale and Opera Colorado for many years, and she has served as the Metro Governor for the All-State choir, su pervising auditions on CA’s campus for more than 2,000 Colorado students every year.

Outgrowing Froelicher Theatre

In much the same way that razing the old music building brought her to tears in 2005,

mention of the Froelicher Theatre makes her cry today. She remembers when the theater was built. For years, her choirs performed every concert there. It’s the place where she directed musicals for decades with Angel Vigil, former Chairman of the Fine and Performing Arts Department, and now with Steve Scherer, starting with a long-ago Mid dle School production of The Wizard of Oz

“I remember many late-night rehearsals when I was still raising my own two little children,” Jordan says. “It was wonderful, because CA students would go to school, head to after-school sports, and then we would just enjoy the camaraderie of work ing on a musical. Serious athletes would come and sing with me at night!”

About 10 years ago, CA started to move choir concerts off campus, because both the choirs and the audiences had outgrown Froelicher Theatre. But during Jordan’s final year, the Fall Concert moved back to the Froelicher Theatre, and the Spring Concert will be an outdoor event on the steps of Schotters. “I started on campus, and I want to end there, even if we are jam-packed,” Jordan says. “It’s home, and CA students should perform at home.”

During the second trimester of her final year, Jordan will devote her energies to rais

ing money for building the new Performing Arts Center, which is the final phase of the See it Through campaign. “Many students come to CA because they are interested in performing arts—they dance, they sing, they act, they play instruments,” she says. “They deserve a first-class venue to learn, rehearse, and perform. We are long overdue for a new facility.”

Why didn’t she ever leave?

It will come as no surprise that Jordan had offers to leave CA through the years—but she always declined. She says she listened to her colleagues at other schools and compared their stories to her experiences at CA under the three Heads of School she worked for in 43 years. “No matter who was leading the school, if I said ‘I want to do try this, I want to do more,’ the answer always was ‘Yes, great, let’s do it,’” she says. “The administrative and parent support I have had is beyond my dreams. It’s the perfect school.”

But the number one reason she has stayed at CA is “the kids.” Of the thousands of stu dents she has taught, many have been nat urally talented singers, but many walked through the door of her classroom with no interest in singing. She talks about one boy who came in as a Fifth Grade student and

swore he would never sing. By the time he had graduated, he had taken choir his en tire Middle School career, throughout Up per School, and he had sung in Fratelli and Chanteurs. She also remembers a young woman who was so passionate about mu sic that she auditioned for everything with not much luck—until Senior year, when she sang in CA’s specialty groups, made AllState Choir, and got the lead in the musical.

“I tell students you will not be graded on your talent,” Jordan says. “Instead, I say ‘It will come, you will get it.’ Those students who have the drive, put in the effort, and never give up have kept me here so long.”

Jordan has a plan to get through the first day of school next fall. She’s going to leave the mainland—and take her first trip to Hawaii, where she plans to spend time with her family. And on that day,

back at CA, singers will again gather in the Choir Room at Schotters Music Center and warm up their voices, many still singing because Cindy Jordan never gave up on them. n

In response to many inquiries, the CA community and alumni will have the opportunity to pay tribute to Cindy’s long service at CA. Watch for details in upcoming communications!

Cindy Jordan, surrounded by students, soon after she started teaching at CA 43 years ago

A Brain, a Heart, and a Pulitzer

When Eli Saslow (CA 19871996) talks to you, he tries to make you feel comfort able—even when he’s the one being interviewed. This alumnus’s empathy and ability to con nect with people has fueled his career as a writer and helped him win a Pulitzer Prize. And he says the roots of his empathy are at Colorado Academy.

“CA instilled in me a love for writing and a lot of educational benefits,” he says, “but also it was a place where they valued empathy and thinking beyond yourself, all of which are things I employ in my work as a journalist.”

A reporter for The Washington Post, Saslow writes immersive narrative stories, often on difficult topics—poverty, addiction, death. He won his Pulitzer in 2014 for a yearlong series about food stamps in the United States. He appeared on The Daily Show in September to discuss his latest book—which chronicles the life of a white nationalist turned anti-racist activist—and will speak about it on January 22, 2019, at a CA SPEAK lecture.

An important place for family

Saslow remembers the morning drives to school with his dad and two younger brothers—all heading to the same place.

His brothers were CA students, too, and his father, Warren Saslow, taught English at CA Middle School from 1983 to 2003. During summers Eli Saslow taught tennis lessons at CA and logged hours at the pool with the rest of his family.

“Our family spent a ton of time at CA and made a lot of memories there,” he says. “It’s a super important place to me.”

He credits the CA English curriculum— including his father’s class—with laying the foundation for his path as a writer. To this day, the elder Saslow copy edits his Pulitzer Prizewinning son’s writing, and still makes it better.

Saslow started at The Post in 2004 shortly after completing his bachelor’s degree in journalism at Syracuse University. He’s written on politics, sports, and food and now focuses on in-depth, long-form journalism.

Living in Portland, Ore., with his wife and three children, Saslow splits his time among writing at home, working in D.C., and gathering stories throughout the country. His favorite days are when he’s out in the field, learning about people’s lives.

A recent piece of his examined the immigration crisis through stories of family separations, not at our country’s border, but within our country, as a result of crackdowns on illegal immigration. Saslow deems it a privilege to tell the story of marginalized people, whose lives

are often not given much attention.

With a focus on dialogue and scene, Saslow works to create a direct interaction between the reader and the story. His ultimate goal: remove himself from the story as completely as possible.

“My hope is for you, the reader, to feel like you have witnessed something for yourself and, because of that, to draw stronger conclusions about how it affects you,” he

‘One of the greatest young journalists in America’

Eli Saslow speaks in the Washington Post newsroom after winning the Pulitzer Prize.

says. “I want to help people think differently about the experiences of others.”

According to Harvard University’s Nieman Foundation for Journalism, Saslow “writes in a way that makes a reader feel they are witnessing everyday life in the context of something greater happening in our society.”

David Maraniss, author of Barack Obama: The Story, called Saslow “one of the great young journalists in America.”

CA’s service to society

Saslow believes CA played a big role in developing his ability to connect with his story subjects.

“CA values interpersonal connection and closeness in really remarkable ways,” he says.

“It’s such a loving, close-knit community that has had a really big impact on my career.”

In his work, he says, it often seems as

though empathy, morality, and critical thinking are in decline in the U.S.

“In the age we’re in in this country, where misinformation and polarization seem to reign, building critical thinking, empathy, and openness to new ideas has never been more important,” he says. “CA has built a legacy of fortifying those things in students, and that’s an incredible service to society.” n

Harvard Head Coach Position

Latest Achievement for CA Lacrosse Star Devon Wills

It’s been a year of major life transfor mations for Devon Wills ‘02. In the course of 12 months, the CA alumna has gotten married, had a baby, moved from the West Coast to the East Coast, and taken over as Women’s Lacrosse Head Coach at Harvard University, one of the premier programs in the country.

After graduating from Colorado Academy, Wills, a star goalkeeper, played lacrosse for Dartmouth, where she was named Ivy League Rookie of the Year as a Freshman and led the team to the National Championship game as a Senior. Post college, she continued her pursuit of lacrosse, making it her career, and racking up a remarkable list of achievements as both a player and a coach. These include capturing gold as Captain of the 2017 U.S. National Team and serving as Associate Head Coach for the University of Southern California Trojans.

This past June, while in a California hospital and still groggy from the birth of her daughter Decker, Wills got the email that upended her life—in a good way. An alumna from Harvard pinged her to see if she might be interested in the Head Coach position for its Women’s Lacrosse Team.

Focusing on her newborn, she put the email aside, but she couldn’t ignore this potential dream-job opportunity. A few days later, she followed up with an application, which led to interviews, and, within weeks, she had relocated to Cambridge to take over the program.

“The second I got on campus, the Harvard

community was so welcoming,” she says. “It felt great to be back in the Ivy League.”

But the timing was tricky.

“The job was the perfect fit, but it was not the perfect timing. It was a logistical nightmare to move across the country with an infant,” she says. But a few months in and feeling more settled, she raves that Boston is an incredible place to raise a family.

Wills takes over the position from longtime Harvard coach Lisa Miller, who led the Crimson team since 2007. She says she is extremely humbled and honored to be the program’s successor, which has a long, accomplished history.

Now, Wills—together with the administration and athletes—is eager to build on that success while beginning a new chapter focused on team culture.

“We are figuring out what we want to be known for when people talk about Harvard Lacrosse,” she says.

‘A lofty goal’

Not surprisingly, Will’s goals for the team are ambitious.

“The Ivy League is a strong conference, and if you’re a top team in the Ivies, you’re a top team in the country, and you’ll be in the discussion for a national championship. Obviously, that’s a lofty goal, but right now we’re working on getting better every day and competing for an Ivy championship. We’ll see how it ends up from there.”

Moving into the Head Coach position—

after serving as Associate Head Coach at USC—brings a different set of responsibilities, mainly around direct accountability to the administration and athletic recruiting. At a school like Harvard, there are even greater expectations around finding student athletes that excel in academics as well as on the field. For Wills, that mix means being intentional about the young women she is recruiting, getting to know them, and focusing on building team chemistry.

“We want to win, but we want to win the right way with the right people. I want to reinforce that it’s a privilege to be part of this team, and we want to make sure we have players that are embracing that role and challenge,” she says. “Winning is great, but at the end of the year, there is only one National Champion, and you’ll remember the relationship with your teammates more than any win or loss.”

This philosophy was one of Wills’s legacies at USC as well, according to Head Coach Lindsey Munday. “Devon’s impact on USC Lacrosse will be everlasting. Not only did she have a tremendous impact on the field, but the relationships she had with our players and alumni will be lifelong. She is an incredible lacrosse coach, but an even better person, that I am fortunate to know. I am so grateful for all of her time at USC, and Harvard is very lucky to have her.”

The qualities that make Wills an incredible coach and player were evident back when she was in Upper School at Colorado Academy. CA classmate and teammate

Molly Miner Nakazono ‘02 regularly witnessed Wills’s leadership on Slater Field. “Being part of a team sport, Devon demands a lot from those around her,” Nakazono says. “What I came to discover is that she never asks something that she hasn’t done herself, and she pushes others to do what they otherwise deemed impossible. While she holds herself to the highest standard, she makes everyone around her better.”

CA influences

“When I graduated from CA, I wasn’t really ready to leave because I love CA,” Wills says. “It’s a great place with great people and a really awesome community.”

And it’s a place Wills believes prepared her well for her academic challenges at Dartmouth, as well as setting the path for her athletic pursuits.

“CA was a great balance of athletics and academics,” she says. “The lacrosse was some of the best in the state at that time, and the coaching was amazing.”

Her lacrosse coach, Cheryl Plummer, was intense, but was gifted at breaking down the game and talking through the finer

points, Wills says. Coach Emily Leary’s passion about the sport was contagious. The care and inspiration from her CA coaches fired up Wills to play at the college level.

Nakazono knew early on that Wills would make an impact on the sport.

“I don’t think anyone ever had a doubt that Devon was going to be a huge success in the lacrosse world,” she says. “Not only is she one of the most athletic people I will ever know, but her dedication and heart make her a really unique individual. Devon was a huge inspiration to me as a teammate and continues to be as we develop in our careers.“

While her bonds through athletics are some of her strongest CA memories, Wills also fondly recalls camping the night before Senior year with friends and then enjoying their last first day together.

Her favorite CA traditions include Giant Relay Day and Interim. “I got to try doing something I had never tried before. Two years in a row, I went mountain biking in Moab. That experience made Moab one of my favorite places ever.”

Women’s lacrosse today

Wills says that in her CA days, Colorado was a developing area for the sport, but it wasn’t the stronghold it is today. She credits collegiate programs in the state, University of Colorado, University of Denver, and Colorado College in particular, for accelerating the sport.

Despite her long list of accolades, Wills is humble about her contribution to women’s lacrosse. She believes she was in the right place at the right time to participate in the rise of the game. “My teammates during my grad year at CA were some of the early ones to leave and play Division I and be on the U.S. Team.”

The growth of women’s lacrosse has been amazing to watch, Wills says. “The game is changing, and it’s been fun to see how players have adapted to the rules changes. So many players are picking up sticks and doing incredible things.”

“Athletes are so much better—bigger, stronger, and faster. The stickwork and creativity the players show is phenomenal to watch. It’s a really an exciting time for women’s lacrosse.” n

What’s on the Mind of Jeremy Shamos

The seeds for a lifetime are sown early in children. All four children of Susan and Jeremy Shamos, (the younger Jeremy ‘88, Sara ‘00, Suki ‘86, and Geoff ’98), attended Col orado Academy from Kindergarten through high school. Jeremy and Susan each served as a Colorado Academy trustee, and they continue to support the school long after their children are gone. Taught by the likes of CA legends, former Fine and Performing Arts Chair Angel Vigil and the retiring Choral Director Cindy Jordan, the younger Jeremy is now a successful film and stage actor. On stage, Shamos has appeared in nine Broad way productions, most recently Steve Mar tin’s new four-character play Meteor Show er with Amy Schumer. He received a Tony nomination for his performance in Clybourne Park, other Broadway plays include Glengar ry Glen Ross with Al Pacino, Noises Off, The Assembled Parties, among others. His more than 20 Off-Broadway performances have garnered him an Obie Award, a Drama Desk award and two Lortel Awards. On TV, he played Craig Kettleman on “Better Call Saul,” Johannes Karlsen in “Nurse Jackie” and more than 30 guest appearances. In film, he was smashed on the head as Ralph in the Oscar-winning film Birdman, and played George in Magic in the Moonlight with Colin Firth among other films.

In a conversation with CA, he recently shared his thoughts on art, education, and the importance of comedy in today’s world.

Colorado Academy: You and your family have an impressive legacy at Colorado Academy. Between you and your siblings, there were 24 continuous years of Shamos children attending CA.

Jeremy Shamos: I think the fact that all

four of us went to CA, and all loved our time there, and yet we left and pursued four different paths, each of us passionate and curious about our professions, points to what I think is one of the core values of CA. That is to explore everything, take advantage of all the school has to offer, approach everything with an open mind, and follow your passion. I also loved the fact that arts were such a part of the curriculum and everyone found a place where they could explore and excel.

CA: What do you think about when you hear that CA traditions like the SeniorKindergarten Buddy Program, Giant Relay Day, and other favorites are alive and well at CA?

Jeremy Shamos: I have fond memories of the Senior-Kindergarten Buddies, because when my sister was a Senior, her buddy was my little brother who was in Kindergarten, and when I was a Senior, my little sister was my Kindergarten buddy. It all seemed like destiny. I loved carrying her on my shoulders to assembly, and I loved the feeling that the school was a big family.

CA: Many of the roles you have played have been in comedies. The late Robin Williams is quoted as having said, “Comedy is acting out optimism.” Is that part of the motivation behind your life as an actor?

Jeremy Shamos: I think there is something to be said about the idea that the purest form of hope is art….Often, art is the most direct way for the next generation to reflect new views on reality. Young artists can infuse the world with new perspectives. At its best, art can rearrange perspectives, and with mass media, the possibility to change viewpoints is there.

CA: And what about the role of comedy in this current time in our country?

Jeremy Shamos: If people stop laughing, we are doomed.

CA: When children experience the arts from a young age, whether as an audience member, a patron, or an artist themselves, what are the skills that they develop and carry for a lifetime?

Jeremy Shamos: I can speak for myself that my experience at CA was a perfect balance of two seeming opposites— respectfully nurturing my individuality and teaching me that you must work with others to accomplish great things. That was taught in many ways. We had shared projects in all subjects: partner and group experiments in science classes; English classes held at tables where everyone’s opinions were bandied about and heard; and the usual papers and individual projects that one would expect from a great school. The great sports teams that we had, and the fact that sports were required, was a huge part of learning to work together. I work with so many artists who were forced to choose between their art and sports at an early age; their schools

Jeremy Shamos ’88 delivering a speech at his graduation from CA

were big enough that if you wanted to be in the play there was no way you could also play soccer. I got to be in the plays and musicals and at the same time play Varsity Soccer and Lacrosse. The school worked to make this possible, and when I left school, I realized how rare my experience was. At many schools there are “jocks” and “theater people,” etc…. I got to do everything and am a more rounded person as a result.

CA: The school is working to generate the funding to build a new theater on campus. Thoughts?

Jeremy Shamos: I can think of few things more important to give to kids who are already privileged enough to go to CA than a place for them to work together to create art and be in touch with the creative parts of themselves.

For me, I found out early that I loved the theater, and I feel so lucky that I got to do Middle and Upper School plays and musicals. I think people who aren’t in the theater underestimate what it means to have a “space” where you know you can be creative. When I was at school there was a choir room, an art room, a

photo lab, a dance room in the gym, and of course Froelicher Theatre. The arts were supported, and a big part of that support came not only in the courses and programs that were offered and the incredible faculty who nurtured our budding artistic abilities and interests, but it was particularly reflected in the infrastructure. We had this big campus, and the arts buildings were just as prominent as the gym and the fields. This sets a tone and shows a prioritization that served me so well as I left CA. There was no doubt in my mind that the arts are not only respectable professions, but they are important professions.

CA: With the availability of technology these days, what do we stand to lose if we don’t keep live theater alive?

Jeremy Shamos: There is something tribal and deeply human about telling stories by acting them out live. There is no doubt that no film or television show or even hologram can replace breathing the same air with performers. The more technology helps us, it also has the ability to isolate and dehumanize us.

CA: How have you shared the world of art with your own children?

Jeremy Shamos: I feel lucky to live in New York, because my children are exposed to visual art and music and theater a lot. They also go to a school where art is valued and is a big part of the curriculum, which was important for my wife and me when selecting a school for them. I used CA as a model for what I wanted for my kids—a place where they can follow their interests and be supported in that, but also a place that encouraged and required them to go outside of their comfort zones.

CA: What are you working on right now?

Jeremy Shamos: I am working on a new film with Hugh Jackman and Allison Janney, two of my favorite actors, and a really interesting film. It shoots here in New York, so I get to spend my days off with my wife and two kids in Brooklyn. I’m looking at various plays in the spring. I feel really lucky to be in the place I am in my career where I can work on projects that I care about and have lots of time to be the dad and husband that I want to be at the same time. n

Keegan-Michael Key, Jeremy Shamos, Amy Schumer, and Laura Benanti in Steve Martin’s play Meteor Shower on Broadway

One burning question: what

dog?

Alexandra Horowitz ’87 studies dogs for a living. Sound fun?

While the Colorado Academy alumna’s career is one that a lot of people might enjoy, it is also one that didn’t exist 20 years ago. When she established the Horowitz Dog Cognition Lab at Barnard College in 2008, it was the first of its kind in the United States. Now, dog cognition is a vibrant research field.

“I was equipped by my parents and by Colorado Academy with the sense that if you pursue the thing you love, then it can become your career,” Horowitz says. “It was as simple as that.”

A Barnard College faculty member, Horowitz does research and teaches courses in canine cognition and creative nonfiction. She has written four books in the last 10 years, including the #1 New York Times best-seller Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know.

Through the eyes (and nose) of a dog

Like many people, Horowitz loves dogs— but she wants to do more than love them. She wants to know them, to understand them, to answer the question: what it is like to be a dog?

She spends hours watching canine pets interact with one another and with different environments. She examines how dogs see and make sense of the world, whether they have a sense of fairness, and what it really means when they give the “guilty look” many dog owners know.

She’s learned much about the importance of dogs’ sense of smell, and what it means

to be a primarily olfactory creature. Dogs navigate by smell, recognize people and other dogs by smell, and tell time by smell. She delves into this topic in Being A Dog: Following the Dog into a World of Smell

“I had an ordinary, uncomplicated understanding of dogs—that they’re friendly, loyal, responsive animals,” she says. “But as soon as you look deeper, you see both the depths and the limitations of their abilities.”

Horowitz believes there is value in increasing our knowledge of dogs and other domesticated animals.

“With this knowledge, we can figure out how to better treat and live with them,” she says. “We owe a lot to dogs, as a species, because we’ve domesticated them and changed them to be dependent on us. There are a lot of ways we can enrich their lives.”

A career made from scratch

Born in Philadelphia, Horowitz moved with her family to Golden, Colo., as a child. She attended CA from Second Grade through graduation from the Upper School. She always remembers loving dogs, but veterinary work—the common option— didn’t interest her, so she never envisioned herself working with dogs.

Even as a graduate student, it didn’t occur to her that she would run a dog cognition lab—because there were no such labs. And when she finally started studying dogs, she encountered some resistance in academia.

“I had to convince people that it was an interesting and terrific subject,” she says. “And I convinced them.”

She achieved that through the power of her own conviction and confidence—which

she says came from her upbringing and her CA education.

“I was very influenced by the idea that there’s not just one way or one right answer and that it’s worth engaging as fully as you can in your own interests,” she says. “At CA, if you could find an interesting way to accomplish something, teachers were willing to accept that.”

Helping students feel like rock stars

Horowitz now lives far from the Rocky Mountains of her childhood, in New York City with her husband, son, two “highly sniffy” dogs, and one cat. She enjoys not only her research, but her teaching, which has also been impacted by her experiences at CA.

She remembers the respect that CA teachers had for students, and she strives to pay it forward to her own students.

“What I most appreciate is having had teachers who took you seriously at CA, even as a young student with sometimes immature thinking,” she says. “It’s a great credit to teachers who can do it, because it’s empowering to students. It just made you feel like a rock star.”

Horowitz tries to empower her own students in a similar way, encouraging them to follow the path that’s right for them, even if it’s not linear.

“I’m a professor, a researcher, and a writer, and I’ll probably be something else in 10 years,” she says. “I didn’t have a grand career plan. Many things just unfolded as I went, and that’s perfectly okay. Look for the thing you love to do or feel skilled at, and pursue it as much as you can, and a career will unfold. That’s the fun of it.” n

is it like to be a

The Journey from Horizons to College

If you think of Horizons as mainly a summer program for young children, you may not realize how much Hori zons does to ensure students pursue their educational goals in high school and college and develop a lifelong love of learning. Meet two students who attended Horizons at CA—and found their future.

Andrea Hernandez-Perez

The only regret Andrea Hernandez-Perez has about her time with Horizons at Colorado Academy is that it wasn’t long enough. But even though she wasn’t accepted into Horizons (which starts in Pre-Kindergarten) until Middle School, the program focused on low-income students changed her life, she says—starting with the application process.

Comparing it to college admission standards, Hernandez-Perez says that prospective students are first tasked with writing an essay about a real-world issue. They then undergo an interview process before acceptance into the nonprofit program that includes six intensive weeks during the summer and six “Super Saturdays” during the school year.

“I wrote about global warming’s effect on our ecosystem,” Hernandez-Perez said. “Imagine a 10-year-old writing that.”

But as all Horizons students are taught, she knows she can do anything she puts her mind to, and Hernandez-Perez went on to graduate from the Denver Center for International Studies and now attends the University of Denver on a nearly full-ride scholarship. She’s poised to reach her long-set goal.

Finding her passion

“My family emigrated here from Mexico to give us a better life, so I always thought that going to college would be the way to repay

them. And I want to have a better life,” says Hernandez-Perez, who learned English at school and inadvertently found her passion. Majoring in Spanish and double minoring

Andrea Hernandez-Perez at her graduation from high school

in Leadership Studies and Chinese at DU, Hernandez-Perez hopes to be a translator, something she fell in love with in the Horizons program. “The Horizons program showed me that I really like to help people,” says Hernandez-Perez, who was an intern with the Horizons Pre-K students last summer, mostly translating for parents and students.

“Seeing how much of a difference the program made and that I made in helping the parents understand it really opened my eyes to what I want to do.”

Feeling at home

A self-proclaimed introvert, HernandezPerez said being in the Horizons program, interacting with varied grade levels, helped her learn how to communicate well with all different ages and backgrounds. Even though she was nervous coming in at an older age, she was taken aback by the warmness of the Horizons community. “I felt welcome from the second I stepped on the CA campus.”

Hernandez-Perez spends her free time listening to foreign music to help learn multiple languages, from Korean to Italian. A first-generation college student, she sees herself with a really good job, traveling internationally one day, and helping take care of her family. She says she doesn’t know what life would have been like without Horizons. “I think I’d be lost. I will always be grateful for the opportunity that I was given.”

Omar Romero-Preciado

They taught him English and how to swim. They instilled a love of math and showed him that learning was fun. They gave him opportunities that changed his life. But the most important thing Omar Romero-Preciado learned from Horizons at Colorado Academy was the value of human connections.

Now a Freshman in accounting at Regis University, a dream come true for the son of Mexican immigrants, Romero-Preciado took a break between classes, reflecting on his “unforgettable” summers with the Horizons program. The nonprofit program serves about 150 low-income students from PreKindergarten through high school.

A second home

“Horizons was not just a program that I went to every summer; it was a second home,” says Romero-Preciado, who learned about true caring from his Horizons “family,” especially when he lost his father in high school. “When I was going through that hard time, it wasn’t even during summer, but they all came out to my house. That really shows what kind of program it is.”

Although he had many mentors, including teachers and volunteers, he had one teacher who stood out. “I liked that ever since I was in elementary school, he was someone I could always talk to and confide in. He never gave up on me and always told me that I was going to do big things. I actually had brunch with him not that long ago,” Romero-Preciado says, adding, “Horizons friends are friends for life.”

A college boost

While his mom provided his main inspiration, encouraging him to make a better life for himself, Horizons kept his dream of college alive, Romero-Preciado says. “I felt like the teachers really played a big part in my pursuing a college education. Even the volunteers were college graduates,

so getting a one-on-one perspective from them really helped me.”

From a Spanish-speaking home and in Spanish-only classes in elementary school, Horizons propelled Romero-Preciado’s education by helping him become proficient in English years before his nonHorizons peers. He graduated from the Denver Center for International Studies, becoming the second person in his family (behind his Horizons-schooled sister) to graduate from high school.

While the Horizons enrichment program, which includes everything from music and art to science and math, was rigorous, Romero-Preciado says teachers make the academics fun. “And I like the way they focus on the whole student.” Romero-Preciado bolstered his resume with his volunteering time at Horizons, helping in the younger classes when he was in high school.

“Horizons gave me a new window on life. They taught me that life’s about connections, that connecting with different people really opens doors for you,” says Romero-Preciado, who has become the first person in his family to attend college. “Honestly, I don’t know where I’d be without Horizons.” n

Omar Romero-Preciado at his graduation from high school

Remembering (and Toasting) Richard Kelly

At a memorial service just one day shy of his 73rd birthday, family members, friends, colleagues, and former students offered a birthday toast to Richard A. Kelly, who died on August 10 at home in Littleton, Colo. Kelly taught at Colorado Academy for more than 30 years. More than 200 people gathered at CA’s Campus Center on Saturday, August 25, to celebrate Richard’s eclectic interests and full life.

With music that reflected his wide-ranging taste—Bach, Carmina Burana, Native American flutes—and remembrances that brought laughter and tears, many speakers— including former students—shared stories about a unique man who made an indelible impression on everyone who was fortunate enough to have known him.

Richard’s daughter Meg spoke to the many people who had come to honor her father. She reflected on growing up with him— and holding on to his memory. “When I was little and we would swim in the ocean, he would take me out to where I couldn’t stand. It was an adventure! I’d ride on his back, my chubby arms clinging to his neck, usually very tightly. He grumbled, ‘You’re choking me.’ ‘I’m holding on,’ I would say. I couldn’t seem to loosen my grip.

“If I could talk to my dad today, I would say, ‘Not cool. Leaving me, leaving us, like that wasn’t cool.’ A younger version of me would say, ‘But Dad, I’m still holding on, just like in the ocean.’

“Then I would say, ‘Thank you. Thank you for the lessons, thank you for the generosity, thank you for the adventure and for the fearlessness you taught me. I can only hope to have as much light as you did.’”

‘A calm and logical brain’

Already as a young man, Richard Kelly was an explorer—of ideas, of possibilities, of experiences. In high school, he traveled to Harlem to tutor young people, and a few years later he traveled to the southern part of the United States to register voters. With a BA from Amherst College, he explored mathematical logic and the history of science as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow at Harvard. He earned his master’s degree in Leeds, England, and also pursued his doctorate of philosophy in logic.

Richard’s sense of exploration—that willingness to go into the deep water— brought him west to teach at Colorado Academy in 1981, and he remained at the school until his retirement in 2013. Through those years, he taught thousands of students various subjects—mathematics, economics, English, and logic. A master teacher, he led CA’s Math Department for many years. “Richard saw math as an adventure and process of discovery, and that’s the way he taught the subject,” Head of School Mike Davis, PhD, remembered about CA’s long-tenured teacher. “He instructed his students to ‘Sniff around a problem and be calm. Look at your tool kit.’”

Students flourished in his classroom. When he retired, Caitlin Gile Morris ‘96 remembered, “From his teaching, I learned you have to approach math with a calm and logical brain. That turned the light on for me, and I went on to get a degree in finance.” Countless students’ lives were altered by Kelly urging them to study math, economics, philosophy, and to follow their passions.

Kelly’s pursuit of adventure often meant he was ahead of this time. He developed

a popular and highly regarded Advanced Placement Economics course to elevate the personal financial literacy of his students. Under his tutelage, his students won numerous essay awards in the field of economics. One colleague remembers his discussing the coming role of technology and computers at least a decade before everyone else.

Students looked forward to Kelly’s annual appearance as Scrooge in the Faculty Follies. But he was playing against type—he had no Scrooge in him. He loved his students, and as his brother Robert said at his memorial service, “he loved Colorado Academy.”

“In class, he was serious, but also full of joy and humor,” Dr. Davis said. “He had fun with his students and understood the need to inject humor in ways to help them have comfort with challenging ideas and concepts.”

‘Who is this Richard Kelly?!’

At the memorial service, Dr. Davis spoke about how he felt lucky to have known

and worked with Kelly. He remembered Richard’s late-night emails sent to the CA faculty on a variety of topics, providing frequent material for coffee break conversations the next morning. “Richard’s teaching will reverberate through the generations, because he impacted thousands of students, and I consider myself one of them, because he shared his philosophies and discoveries about life,” Dr. Davis said to those gathered at the memorial service.

“Far beyond the walls of CA, Richard had developed a reputation among readers of college applications around the country for the recommendations that he would write for CA students. Cathy Nabbefeld from our college office shared, ‘I still remember the day one of the senior admissions deans from Stanford called me and asked, “Who is this Richard Kelly?!”

“And for his part, Richard relished writing recommendations. What Richard knew in his heart was that every student was

worth writing about. He said, ‘There was always a story to tell, and I never turned a kid down, even after hundreds and hundreds of recs written.’

“As he prepared to say farewell to students in his last year of teaching, he predicted what he would miss the most. ‘Oh, my students! The kids keep your mind alive. They keep my brain working. They keep me on my toes. I will miss them in spades!’”

‘Jumping the waves’

Kelly served as Board Chair on The Colorado Endowment for the Humanities and The Denver Free University, and on the Board of the Latin American Research and Service Agency (LARASA), creating an Hispanic Agenda for Colorado. He recently joined the Economic Education Advisory Council at Denver’s Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank.

After retiring in 2013, Kelly traveled the world, covering six continents and too many countries to count. But, as Meg wrote

in his obituary, “Ocean Grove, N.J., remained his favorite beach where, every year during the last week of July and the first week of August, he could be found finishing the New York Times crossword, playing Scrabble, and jumping the waves.” n

Donations in memory of Richard Kelly can be made to the A.J. Musil Scholarship Fund at Colorado Academy. For more information, please contact Sue Burleigh (sue.burleigh@coloradoacademy.org). Condolence notes can be sent to Meg Kelly at 5750 S. Bemis St., Littleton, CO 80120-2009.

Richard’s longtime close friend Isabel Lopez and his daughter Meg Kelly smile as Dr. Mike Davis recalled Richard’s sense of humor at the memorial service.

Alumni Association Highlights

1997 Field Hockey Team Honored by CHSAA

On October 25, 2018, the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) honored the very first sanctioned Colorado Champion ship Field Hockey Team, the 1997 Colorado Academy Varsity Team. Members of the team were introduced prior to the championship game and presented the winning trophy. CA was a pioneer for this sport in Colorado, starting a team in the fall of 1971 when girls were first admitted to the Upper School.

Archival records show that CA’s team won

the State Championship Game (not yet sanctioned by CHSAA) in 1977.

In 1981, five members of CA’s Field Hockey Team competed on a Colorado All-Star Team at a national tournament in Florida.

In 1992, CA’s team won its second State Championship in an exciting overtime game against Kent Denver School.

More recently CA’s Field Hockey Team has won championships in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015. n

Homecoming Spirit Day

The aroma of 30 dozen donuts and 15 dozen bagels filled the Upper School lobby on Friday, Septem ber 14. It was Spirit Day at Colorado Academy, and the Alumni Association treated Upper School students and faculty to a Spirit Breakfast.

Alumni and their children greeted students with embroidered CA stickers and cheers of “Go Mustangs!” Of course everyone was dressed in red and black for the pep rally later in the day. Saturday featured Varsity games, a BBQ lunch, and a children’s carnival. n

1971 Field Hockey practice

1997 Championship Field Hockey Team 1992 Championship Field Hockey Team

Celebrate Cindy Jordan!

Cynthia Sheppard joined Colora do Academy’s music depart ment in the fall of 1976. Little did she know then, her career at CA would span more than four decades. Cindy has given her students so much. “Generations of CA alums are singers and lovers of music because of her, and everyone has been touched by the warmth of her personality and the joy in her heart.”

– Chris Babbs, former Head of School

Read more about Cindy on page 18.

Let’s show

inspired us. Mark your calendar to greet Cindy at the Alumni-Faculty Party on Giant Relay Day!

Friday, May 24, 2019

3:30-7:00 p.m. Welborn House and Lawn

Stay Connected

Colorado Academy Connect Alumni Networking Site

Quarterly Alumni Newsletter

The newsletter begins in January 2019 and will be delivered electronically.

LinkedIn

CA Connection: Colorado Academy Alumni & CA Community 750 CA Alumni

If you don’t currently receive electronic invitations from CA, please send your email address to the Alumni Director, sue.burleigh@coloradoacademy.org, to receive the newsletter.

Ice Skating, Dinner, and Spirits Skate or warm by one of the fireplaces!

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2018

Denver Country Club Skate House

5:30 p.m. Family Skate Dinner: 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Broomball: 8:00 p.m.

RSVP at: coloradoacademy.org/page/ca-alumni

her how much she has

Cindy Jordan, 1981 Telesis

Alumni Reunions

Class of 2008 – 10th Reunion

BY MAGGIE DICKMAN ‘08

The Class of 2008 had an amazing time coming together over the weekend of June 8 and 9. We were absolutely blown away by the num ber of our classmates who came together to make the weekend a huge success. Over the course of the weekend, we had anywhere from 50-60 alumni show up. It was such a

pleasure to meet so many significant others and children and a real treat to see everyone come back together and have just as much love (if not more!) for one another as we did 10 years ago!

On Friday afternoon, we gathered at the newly renovated Welborn House for appetizers and drinks with some of our favorite teachers, including Mr. Hammer,

Mr. Mills, Mr. Colodny, and Mrs. Landolfi. We were so grateful to our teachers for coming out to enjoy a drink with us, and everyone had an excellent time touring the new buildings on campus. One of the highlights of the evening was looking through the hundreds of pictures that Mara MacKillop provided, capturing our beauty from Middle School through Upper School. All we could keep saying was that

From left: Brett Eagleton, Julia Carlson, Hillary Hoffer, Shannon Troy, and Clio Castruccio From left: Steven Hammer, Lisa Birdie, Nancy Landolfi

we had graduated five years too early! What beautiful additions to our campus. I know I speak for our whole class when I say we were so grateful to Sue Burleigh for providing us food, drink, campus tours, and joy. After happy hour ended, everyone transitioned downtown to Wynkoop Brewery to continue the festivities. We enjoyed drinks together, pool, and some celebratory toasts in honor of one another and how far we have come.

Saturday started off with a weekend highlight—a throwback Color Wars competition! A small but mighty group met on Simms Field for a round of California Kickball. A pair of “adult” socks were brought in the hopes of some sock wrestling, but we quickly realized that 10 years out of high school has meant that we are not quite in the same shape that we were when we were participating in two-hour sports practices

every day after school. Nonetheless, we had an absolutely wonderful time sitting in the grass and sharing old stories, while poring over our high school yearbooks provided by Krista Potter. Luckily, Krista was also able to provide us with some of our favorite Color Wars, Freshman (Catch and Release!

Please don’t eat the Freshman!) shirts, and Senior shirts.

Everyone went home for a much-needed nap and then convened that night at Peter Wall’s BEAUTIFUL house for a good old-fashioned house party. We are tremendously grateful to Peter for opening his house to our rambunctious crew, and an absolute blast was had by all. We enjoyed playing games, chatting, and most importantly, partaking in a throwback “Kassler” Dance in Peter’s living room. Unfortunately, his living room didn’t provide the same level of sauna experience

as did Kassler, but I am confident that there were some sore alumni the day after from all of the dancing that happened.

All in all, we had an absolutely amazing 10-year Reunion and so want to thank everyone who made their way back home to our beautiful state to attend. I personally want to give a massive thank you to Charlie Gallagher and Dori Shockley Wey, two of our three fearless alumni representatives who put together an absolutely perfect weekend, even if they live in California and Texas! Thank you so much to Sue Burleigh for providing us so much support in getting this event off the ground and for being such an amazing force at getting us all back together. We are all so grateful for all that CA has meant for us, and we feel tremendously lucky to maintain such a tight bond with our classmates. n

Jake Winkler catches up with David Colodny.

Stuart Mills and Charlie Gallagher

Lorenzo Pardo and Alex Black-Davis

Davis Reiter and Christina Bradley

Class of 1978 – 40th Reunion

The 40th Reunion of the Class of 1978 was held on Saturday, September 15, 2018. Classmates gathered at Bar Louie in Centennial for cocktails, dinner, and conversation. We had a lot to catch up on! It was great to see friends fly in from out of state, including Eric Brown from Arizona, Lisa Plummer and Sarah Anderson Sprague from Oregon, and Jaye Morton Mercer from Washington. Joining us from the Class of 1977 were Rich ard Shannon and Bob Smukler. It was also great to see a few spouses, Kaye Rehburg, Shelley Urwiller, and Kayleigh Smukler.

A few ’78 alumni took a tour of campus before coming to our Reunion Dinner. All were amazed at the many campus improvements.

To all who couldn’t make the reunion, we truly missed you! n

1978 alumni in the newly remodeled Welborn (Headmaster’s) House, from left: Sarah Sprague, Rick Urwiller, Eric Brown, and Lisa Davis.

First Row (L to R): Sarah Anderson Sprague, Mariah Seckler Stubbs, Michael Ihlenburg, Bob Stubbs, Richard Shannon ’77, Lisa Plummer Davis, and Cathy Markle.

Second Row: Jaye Morton Mercer, Kass Hansen Patterson, Gery English, Rick Urwiller, Greg Rosenblum, Eric Brown, Bob Smukler ’77, Carl Rehburg, and Jeff Gustafson.

Class Notes

1960

Brooks Ellwood, formerly Brooks Oswald, writes to say he often thinks of CA, his classmates, and the faculty. “It was a great educational experience. When I attended CA, my family lived on a ranch near Cripple Creek, and wearing a military uniform was a big change for me! While at CA, I played soccer, football, baseball, and basketball. Playing football when it hails was a special experience. Imagine a thousand little hammers pounding on your helmet!

Some of you may remember that in the Ninth Grade, Mr. Froelicher, the Headmaster then, taught physics. He would walk into the classroom at the beginning of class and throw a tennis ball against the blackboard and then catch it and start his lecture. Finally one day, one of our class asked him why he did that every day. He explained that, given the fact that matter is made up of particles separated in space from each other, he expects one day for all the air spaces to match each other and the tennis ball will sink into the blackboard! Does anyone know if it ever happened? Maybe Dale Aagesen knows?

I am currently a geology professor at LSU in Baton Rouge, La., but previously taught at the University of Texas at Arlington and the University of Georgia. CA looks really great these days! My best to all.”

1961

Rory Donaldson turned 77 and is happy to be alive and well, living in Denver with his wife Louisa. Their three sons are all healthy and safe, which Rory reports is the totality of what he’s asking for these days. He continues to tinker with his teaching website, Brainsarefun.

Rory writes, “Hot news, if you’re not familiar with a singer/songwriter, Bobby Sahlen, whose new release is Hop on Pop. Take a listen to his new collection on Apple Music. Bobby’s quite a talent, most of it acquired on the CA gridiron under Coach Bob Simms.”

1962

David Dodge and his wife Madeleine celebrated the installation of two icons made for the Church of the Good Shepherd in Denver. One of their three sons, John, is an artist and an accomplished

iconographer, and he donated them to the Dodge’s church in their honor.

1965

Bob Fox sends greeting to his classmates. He’s now retired after many long and eventful years as a broadcast cameraman. “CA taught me the love of learning and learning to love others more fully. My year at CA was the best ever! Great fellow students and fine teachers all. Colorado deserves a loud shout out for being so welcoming and so full of nature that everyone lucky enough to experience the state is changed forever.”

1966

After 10 years of service as a Second Lieutenant with The Colorado Rangers, Bruce Conklin retired at the beginning of September. He continues as a Parker Police record tech/front desk officer and will soon be assisting with emergency management coordination for the Lone Tree and Parker Police Departments. Bruce is well into his junior year at Denver Metro University, seeking his degree in criminal justice. He

From Left: Annie and David ’64 Irving, David ’62 and Madeleine Dodge

Brooks Ellwood (R) at the LSU field camp, a 1,500-acre tract of land located just south of Colorado Springs, with a PhD US Forest Service scientist (kneeling), and LSU students. In the center is the large sauropod footprint that they had just cleaned out. The dinosaur track is part of the spectacular trackways located along the Purgatoire River in the Comanche National Grasslands, south of La Junta, Colo.

recently celebrated 35 years of happy marriage with his wife Mallary, having met in a bar in Aspen in 1980. Bruce wonders, “Where did the time go?”

1967

Keith Robinson writes to say, “I am sorry to have missed the 50th reunion but plan to be there for the 75th. I am still dancing Drosselmeyer in the Robinson Ballet’s production of the Nutcracker!”

1968

Steve Gordon reports, “If all works right, I’ll be working in Canada in October, November, and December. I’ve firmly expressed my wish to be on call for Christmas Eve and Christmas. I’d still like to try Nunavut: way, way in northern Canada. Who knows what adventures will follow? Bethany and I are still having a wonderful time, where we hold hands and talk about where we shall go next. We were fortunate to see our physician daughter, her physician husband, and their two children who visited from Texas for the High Holidays.”

Thom Mansur and his wife Kathy spent the summer in northern Wisconsin, enjoying some down time with cool temperatures and lake life. They purchased a cabin/home on Wildcat Lake, Wis. in 2016. They feel that each time they go there, it’s like stepping back in time, and they both love it. Thom completed renovations on the couple’s new ranch home located in Tucson. Thom reports, “The new home has concrete floors, new appliances, adequate lighting, and a walk-in shower. WOW! Even a cute guest house if anyone wants to come out for a visit.”

Thom and Kathy are still involved with the Honor Flight Program. They have been with

the Tucson hub since its inception in 2011. Thom says, “I cannot tell you how much those veterans mean to us, meeting and shaking their hands, thanking them, and hearing their incredible stories of heroism and humility. Dick Jacobs and I used to spend hours playing ‘Strategy and Tactics,’ WWII battle scenarios set in North Africa and Europe. Now I have met soldiers who fought those battles, survivors of the Rapido River Crossing, Stalag 17, the USS Indianapolis, and the USS Spence. I have met Marines who were on Tarawa and at the Chosin Reservoir. It is such a privilege to be a part of this organization and to be able to thank these men and women in some small way. The Honor Flight trip to Washington, D.C. gives each of them the opportunity to feel the impact of their service, as well as witness our nation’s gratitude for our war veterans. Kathy and I came up to Colorado to attend my 50th Reunion in May. What a great time it was good to see all my classmates. We’ve all done pretty well.”

Read about John Bass on page 87.

1969

50th Class Reunion May 24-26, 2019

Don Dodge and Mark Reed donated a special-edition Kansas City Royals baseball bat commemorating classmate David Price who died unexpectedly in May 2018. The class is collecting donations in memory of David to be used by CA Athletics. At the 50th Reunion, CA’s Athletic Director will speak about how the contributions have been used.

This year Mark Reed retired from Homer Reed, Ltd. and moved to Florida. He’s turned in his tie and Southwick jacket and is easing into his new lifestyle.

Read about Rob Bosworth on page 87.

1971

Chris Daniels has been named the new Executive Director of the Colorado Music Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013 and is currently an Assistant Professor at CU Denver.

Leland “Andy” Holly and Liz Buckingham Oertel ’93, vacation each summer at the White Lake Yacht Club in Whitehall, Mich.

Don ’69 and Jana Dodge on an April 2018 Danube River Cruise with side trip to Prague

Thom ’68 and Kathy Mansur with a WWII veteran

Keith Robinson ’67 as Drosselmeyer in the Nutcracker

Mark Reed riding a birthday present from his wife Kim

1977

In May Ted Billings completed his psychoanalytic training at the Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis in Washington, D.C., where he is in private practice (www.tedbillings.com) working mostly with LBGTQ, people affected by cancer, other major medical illnesses, and trauma. Ted lives in Arlington, Va. Devatara Jeanine Holman and her husband Evan Shepherd Reiff received their doctorates in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. They are primary care physicians in their private clinic in Sausalito, Calif. They have both been long-time Buddhists and are certified teachers in the Dzogchen Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. Devatara lived in China and Tibet for almost ten years and is fully utilizing the aspects of those cultures to benefit others here in the U.S.

1978

40th Reunion Story on page 76.

1979

40th Class Reunion May 24-26, 2019

1980

After 20 years as a CFO in software companies, Jennifer Paul Pearce joined AVL Growth Partners, a full stack financial services in-sourcing firm. In other words, she gets to be a fractional CFO in a variety companies mostly in the tech space, which in Denver is booming. The variety of working with a dozen different growing companies is fun, and the flexibility allows Jennifer to work from home in Lakewood and be there for family. She and her husband have three kids, Alex (14), Faith (12), and Stephanie, their angel firstborn who is forever five. To manage stress and keep up with the kids, Jennifer started doing Triathlons and running races. She has completed 19 triathlons in five years and a dozen or so half-marathons.

1983

Alan Smiley has been named the new Executive Director of the Association of Colorado Independent Schools, ACIS. Currently he is the Head of School at St. Anne’s Episcopal School in Denver. Alan will leave that position in June 2019.

1984

Former CA math teacher Milly Nadler was pleasantly surprised to attend a lecture where one of her former students was a presenter, Dr. Lisa Piscopo Murphy. Milly writes, “I wasn’t positive it was the same Lisa I taught at CA. It has been a long time. So I went up after the speech and she said, “Do I know you? You look familiar.’ She realized who I was and we hugged. Lisa was such a great speaker and so excited about her material. Clearly she loves her job and she even said so. Lisa is the Deputy Director of Policy and Analysis for the Office of Children’s Affairs, City and County of Denver, and she spoke about data collection for her office.

Cynthia Sharon recently downsized her company, Dancing Dog Design Build, so that she can have more time for living and a lot less stress. She’s very happy with the result—more time for adventures, for time with family, and for relaxing.

1987

Carolyn Cunningham Ash has taken a position at Aspen Academy in Greenwood

English teacher Dr. Eleanor Goetze McNees with her former students

Andy Holly ’71 with Liz Buckingham Oertel ’93 and her sons Buzz (Eighth Grade) and Ollie (Sixth Grade)

Jennifer Paul Pearce ’80

Lisa Piscopo Murphy ‘84

Village, Colo. as the Director of Enrollment and Global Citizenship.

Read about Alexandra Horowitz on page 28.

Che Prasad turns 50 this December. His sea shanty band the Shark Alley Hobos will be among the performers at his birthday bash on December 16, 2018 at the Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley, Calif. Che invites classmates to join the festivities if they are in the area.

1988

Read about Jeremy Shamos on page 26.

Aaron Thieme was traveling for work during the 1988 reunion, so he unfortunately missed the gathering. He’s currently at the Submarine Learning Center in Connecticut, having moved from Naval Submarine School. The Center is responsible for all non-propulsion-related training facilities, curriculum, and funding for submarine training.

1989

30th Class Reunion May 24-26, 2019

1993

On October 11, the International Day of the Girl, Dani Weily Coplen launched her first children’s book, Pretty, in partnership with Girls Inc. of Metro Denver. The book is about empowering girls to be “Pretty Smart,” “Pretty Creative,” “Pretty Powerful,” and more. A portion of the book’s profits goes to Girls Inc. of Metro Denver.

1994

25th Class Reunion May 24-26, 2019

1997

Lori Gray married John Thurston in September 2018. The couple lives in Boise,

Idaho with their three children. Lori teaches Music Education at Boise State, and John teaches chemistry at the College of Idaho. Lori reports, “We are a goofy, loving, and outdoorsy family!”

Lauren Richman and her husband Patrick Smallwood are excited to announce the birth of their first child, Otto James Richwood. They combined their last names. Otto was born on July 17, 2018, weighed 6 lb. 6 oz., and was 20” long. Lauren writes that he’s “sooo adorable!”

1999

20th Class Reunion May 24-26, 2019

Tara Bardeen helped coordinate the Colorado edition of the OMG (as in Oh Middle Grade!) BookFest, a celebration of books aimed at the early to middle grade reader (ages 7-12), that brings together commercial and award-winning authors with underserved local communities for an exciting experience of books, games, and activities. In Colorado, this meant 16 talented authors from all over the country flew to Denver to work with 1,000 kids from Castro Elementary and surrounding schools. After a fun activity, each student took home a book from one of the authors that was dedicated just to them. As Tara explains, “For communities where books in the home can be scarce, the opportunity to meet an author, experience a book signing, and have a treasured book to keep forever is something these young readers will not soon forget. I almost cried fifteen times that day as the excitement, joy, and connection happening between authors, readers, and books was simply magical.” As an acknowledgement of Colorado Academy’s contribution to the OMG BookFest as a community partner, OMG BookFest board member and New York Times bestselling author, Sarah Mlynowski visited CA’s Fourth and Fifth Grades to speak with them about the writing process and answer their questions. While the OMG BookFest moves to Missouri in 2019, Tara continues to support literacy efforts in the community as a writer for Denver’s Youth ‘One Book, One Denver’ program and

Son of Lauren Richman ’97, Otto James

Lori ’97 and John Thurston on their wedding day

From Left: Tara Bardeen ’99, Lower School Library Assis tant Mary Leyva, author Sarah Mlynowski, and Lower School Interim Principal Allison Peters Jensen

Che Prasad ‘87

as the co-founder of TeacherPalooza, an annual festival of low-cost books and free resources for Colorado teachers. Check out OMG at https://omgbookfest.org/ and Youth One ‘Book, One Denver’ at https:// www.artsandvenuesdenver.com/eventsprograms/youth-one-book-one-denver.

Jill Bible and Phil Jones recently moved from Petaluma, Calif. to Chestertown, Md. Jill is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Science at Washington College, and Phil stayed on at his architecture firm in California and is working remotely from Chestertown.

Jill reports, “Fiona (2 years) and Sebastian (4 years) have named their new home the ‘Tree House’ and their new town ‘Peaceful Town.’”

2000

Emily Dubin recently moved back to Denver after 13 years in San Francisco to take a job as the Creative Director at Artifact Uprising, a company making custom photo gifts and products. Emily is excited to be back in beautiful Colorado with her husband Chris and daughter Josie. She looks forward to reconnecting with CA friends.

Eli Saslow’s latest book, Rising Out of Hatred, The Awakening of a Former White Nationalist, is the story of Derek Black, who grew up in the center of the white nationalist movement. Eli, a Washington Post columnist, chronicles Black’s move away from his racist beliefs. Eli spoke at the Tattered Cover Colfax on Friday, October 26 at 7:00 p.m. A reception followed. He will also speak at Colorado Academy on Tuesday, January 22, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. at CA’s SPEAK out lecture.

Read more about Eli on page 22.

2001

Louise Hills married Shay Morrison on August 18, 2018 at the Highlands Ranch Mansion in Highlands Ranch, Colo. CA alumni in attendance were groomsmen Scott Hills ’99 and James Hills ’07. Louise

and Shay honeymooned in Jamaica. They met on Match.com. Louise is currently a program planner at Lockheed Martin Space.

Caroline Hollis and her husband Gernot Zacke are thrilled to announce the birth of their first baby, Anton Hollis Zacke born on June 3, 2018. Caroline writes, “He’s an incredibly smiley baby that has brought unimaginable joy to our lives.” Caroline is back at work building products at Square in San Francisco, and Gernot is running a fintech startup focusing on tax and financial advice. “Life feels very full in the best way.”

Zach Tucker and his wife, Emily, recently moved back to Denver and live in LoHi. Zach spent the last 13 years in New York as a bond trader and financial analyst. Zach joined Smith Capital Investors, a new bond mutual fund company, in June. He looks forward to spending more time on the slopes and teaching his future daughter, due in November, to ski as soon as she can walk.

2002

Iain Hyde ’02 married Katherine Lord on May 26, 2018, in Denver. Joining the celebration were alums Anders Hyde ’99, Joanna Hyde ’05, Abbi Hills ’00, Krista Eckhoff ’02, and Barron YoungSmith ’02, as well as retired Lower School Principal Dr. Tom Fitzgerald. Katherine and Iain have recently relocated from Denver to Washington, DC, where Katherine works

1999 alumni with their children, from Left: Phil Jones, Sebastian, Fiona, and Jill Bible

Anton Hollis Zacke, son of Caroline Hollis ’01

Louise Hills Morrison ’01 and Shay Morrison

for the Council on Social Work Education, and Iain, for Argonne National Laboratory.

Devon Wills welcomed home daughter Decker Scully Wills on June 18, 2018. Read more about Devon on page 24.

2003

Ben Racine and his wife Katie are thrilled to announce the birth of their first child, Brynn Katherine Racine born on June 6, 2018, weighing 8 lb., 3 oz., and 21” long.

In June 2018, Chad Thurman opened his own real estate brokerage firm, Stairway Real Estate Corporation. The name has ties to CA, as Tom Skinner ’05’s favorite song was “Stairway to Heaven.” Chad writes, “I promised to honor Tom as much as I can, so I named my brokerage in his honor. August was the biggest month of my career, and I was lucky enough to close three transactions with CA classmates.”

Alexis Ritvo ’01 and Charlotte Hoffman Mahony ’01 are willing to offer support to alumni who are struggling with mental health problems or addiction.

The two potential means of support to the CA community: If anyone you know is seeking professional mental health services for anything (depression, anxiety, alcohol use, drug use, etc.) and doesn’t know where to begin to find that help in the Denver metro area, please feel free to contact Alexis who can help make referrals. She knows the local mental health system quite well since completing both her psychiatry residency and addiction psychiatry fellowship at CU in Denver. Alexis is currently on faculty

2004

Emily Rosenwasser moved back to Denver after almost 14 years living in different cities. She’s returning home to Colorado with her new husband John Gedeon. The couple was married in July 2018 and are excited to start their married life in their favorite place. Emily and John married in Blue Mounds, Wis. near a state park where they often went camping and when they wanted to get out of Chicago. They met through his cousin— Emily was friends through their book club, and a few summers ago she introduced her to John at a barbecue.

Emily’s current role is with the Sierra Club of Colorado as the local chapter’s Conservation Program Director. Emily writes, “I’m joining the Colorado Sierra Club after working for six years on the Sierra Club’s flagship climate campaign, Beyond Coal, based out of the

with the Department of Psychiatry. Additionally, if someone is struggling with any mental health problem, including drug or alcohol use, Charlotte is available to provide the first-hand perspective and support of someone that has traveled the often rocky path of sobriety and is maintaining long-term recovery.

Alexis also works with Julia Carlson ’08 who is an LSW in the outpatient psychiatry clinic where Alexis supervises residents. Alexis writes, “She is wonderful. She is one of therapists doing our Encompass Program, an outpatient substance use treatment program for adolescents that is supervised by child and addiction psychiatrist Dr. Paula Riggs.”

Decker, daughter of Devon Wills ‘02

Ben ’03 and Katie Racine, with baby Brynn

Taylor Ross ‘03 (center) caught up with CA’s Varsity Golf Team while they were in Pueblo at the Regional tournament which the team won.

Iain ’02 and Katherine Hyde

Emily ’04 and John Gedeon

Chicago office. Most recently, I managed press staff and state media strategy for 16 states from the Great Lakes through the Gulf region. Working as an advocate for our beautiful state’s environment is basically a dream come true, right? I’ll be working on political races to elect pro-environment candidates and building relationships in the Colorado statehouse to shape policy that protects our air, land, and water.”

If any CA alums or students are interested in getting involved with the Sierra Club in Colorado as volunteers or would like to connect, they can reach her at emily. gedeon@sierraclub.org

She looks forward to reconnecting with the CA community now that she’s back in Colorado.

2005

Joanna

2018. Joining the siblings was Joanna’s husband Tadhg Ó Meacha.

Sarah Vigil married Teddy Wilkinson on July 14, 2018 at Windy Point Campground in Summit County, Colo. Her sister, Tess Vigil ’00, made her dress, and it was a perfect day! Joining the celebrations were a few CA folks, including Sarah’s parents, Angel and Sheila, as well as Caitlin Jackson ’05, Suzanne Kolsun Jackson, Julia Jackson ’00, Willy Lassalle ’05, Anne Strobridge, Hope Friedland ’05, Jordan Sedlacek ’05, Clayton Kenney ’05, Elizabeth Ruddy Brodsky ’04, Kendall Barnes Jacobs ’04, Charlotte Coombs Cowley ’06, Alex Bair ’06, Kristen Bair ’09, and Billy Bair.

2006

The month of July 2018 was a busy one for Shea Moore-Farrell. He finished his thesis to receive his MS in Cell and Molecular Biology from Colorado State University, got married, and moved.

On July 14, 2018, Shea Moore-Farrell wed Allison Crump under a centuries-old Live Oak tree at Cass Winery near Paso Robles, Calif. Brant Moore-Farrell ’11 served his brother as best man, and family dog Maya brought the rings to the couple. The personalized late afternoon ceremony that was witnessed family and friends included a Corn Hole Tournament during the cocktail hour, where Colorado beers and California wines were enjoyed. At the edge of the vineyard, a family-style dinner and dancing were enjoyed by friends, who included teammates from Shea’s hockey team, gaming friends, and neighbors Lee Burkett Weber ‘07, her husband Adam Weber, and Mary Burkett ’11.

CA alumni who also attended were David Lightstone ’06 and his wife Rachel, who met on a co-ed kickball team made up of Shea and Allison’s friends. Quinn Devereaux ’12, Taz Walker ’12, Sal Rodriquez-Lugo ’12 and girlfriend and Crystal Valadez were also present.

and Iain ’02 Hyde performed in concert at Daniels Hall, Swallow Hill in June

The CA community at the Hyde Concert

Teddy and Sarah ’05 Wilkinson

2004 alumnae at Emily Rosenwasser Gedeon’s wedding, from Left: Cali Pfaff, Shaila Sikand, Emily, Chelsea Cobb, and Sarah Olsen

July wedding of Shea Moore-Farrell, from Left: Lee Burkett Weber ’07, Allison & Shea MooreFarrell ’06, Mary Burkett ’11, and Brant Moore-Farrell ‘12. Photo by Quinn Devereaux ‘12.

Cameron Spickert married his girlfriend of 12 years, Roxanne Fequiere, on September 29, 2018, in East Village, New York City. They met in their freshman year at Harvard when Cam and Roxanne were living across the hallway from each other. The couple lives in Harlem. Cameron has been a software engineer at Google for the past three years, and Roxanne recently left her copywriting job at eBay, where she had been working since 2012, to pursue fulltime freelance writing.

Walker Shaw is now a practicing anesthesi ologist at Lutheran Medical Center in Wheat Ridge, Colo. Walker is excited to be living in Colorado after 12 years of undergraduate and medical school out of state.

2008

10th Reunion Story on page 74.

Tony Davis wed Stephanie Katsoufis on May 6, 2018 in Malibu, Calif. Groomsmen from CA included Trevor Davis and Trip Stoddard. CA guests included Sam Singer,

Peter Wall, Chris Anderson, and Charlie Gallagher. The couple met at Pepperdine, hence the Malibu wedding. Tony took Stephanie to the Philippines for the first time to share her mother’s heritage. He is a consultant for IBM. She works in marketing for WellMed, a division of United Healthcare. They currently reside in Dallas.

In addition, a wedding celebration for the couple was held in Denver on the weekend of the 2008 10-year Reunion on June 9, attended by several other classmates and their parents.

Victoria Rothberg is proud to report that the restaurant, “answer,” that she opened last year in Nashville, Tenn. made it over the first-year mark and is doing great. Check out the website: www.answerrestaurant.com

2009

10th Class Reunion May 24-26, 2019

Mary Gallagher

St. John is a Certified Physician Assistant at Desert Family Medical Center in Palm Springs and Cathedral City, Calif. Mary and husband Ford currently reside in Rancho Mirage, Calif. She went from CA to Wake Forest University, where she and earned two degrees, a BS in Chemistry with concentration in Biochemistry and an MMS in Physician Assistant Studies.

2010

Madeleine Kane started medical school in September 2018 at the Joint Medical Program, a concurrent MS/MD degree program

Katarine Niparko Harris passed the Colorado Bar Exam, and is working as an Associate at Holland & Hart in Denver.

through UC Berkeley and UCSF. She

Cameron Spickert and Roxanne Fequiere on their wedding day

2008 alumni, from Left: Genna Smith, Anna Cooley, Dori Shockley Wey, and Alex Wey

At the 2008 10-year reunion, from Left: Jackie Norgren, Krista Potter, Alex Ball, and Courtney Engle

Alumni guests at Sarah Vigil’s wedding

now lives in Oakland, Calif. and will graduate from UC Berkeley in 2020 and UCSF in 2023.

2011

Petra Jans and Thomas Pederson were married in Lyons, Colo. on July, 2, 2018. Both are currently pursing graduate degrees at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. Thomas is enjoying his fourth year of medical school and is applying to Emergency Medicine. Petra is in her fourth year of the MD/PhD program and currently working on her PhD in cancer pharmacology.

2012

Jack Edgar graduated in May 2016 from the University of British Columbia with a BS in Natural Resources Conservation with a Global Perspective. During that time, he participated in a forestry and conservation field school in India. After UBC Jack took part in an Americorps fellowship in Marin

County, Calif. The program, CivicSpark, is a governor’s initiative in which he was helping build capacity for various water conservation programs in local government. Following that, Jack took a “gap” year and moved to Nelson, B.C., a true adventure playground. In the winter he worked in a backcountry ski lodge and in the summer, at camps for kids. He’s continued to grow his hobby of backcountry skiing, and in the summer of 2018 he had the time to grow a prolific veggie garden. Jack reports, “Safe to say I am quite happy there. Now I plan to return to developing a career in addressing food and water sustainability in the near future. Hope all CA alums are doing great in their journeys of life.”

Alyssa Miller is in graduate school. She finished her first year of PhD work in English literature, Renaissance dramatic literature, and feminist theory at CU Boulder, focusing mainly on Shakespeare and feminist theory. Over the summer Alyssa worked at the

Colorado Shakespeare Festival, assisting with directing and as a dramaturg for Cyrano de Bergerac. Alyssa is the head of a research team for the Shakespeare CoLab funded by the Folger Shakespeare Library. It will be the first repository of fully annotated Shakespeare texts online.

2013

Ariana Savci took a position in Los Angeles as an Account Coordinator with JMPR, a leading lifestyle and transportation PR agency that has been providing awardwinning service for more than 40 years. Some of their clients include Bugatti, Infiniti, Airstream, LA Auto Show, and more. Ariana is coordinating PR for Bugatti, Airstream, and Meguiar’s.

2014

5-Year Reunion May 24-26, 2019

Petra Jans ‘11 and Thomas Pederson ‘11 on their wedding day

Tony ‘08 and Stephanie Davis and their wedding party

Dr. Jon Vogels and his family ran into two CA alumni this summer while on vacation in Minnesota. From Left: Dr. Vogels, Henry Chesley-Vogels (Grade 10), Heidi Chesley, Sara Magid ’13, and Jared Moskowitz ’13

Alumnae seen at the Homecoming Volleyball Game, from Left: Anna Schwartz ’13, Maddie Goral ’12, Coach Bob Ulrich, and Katie Magid ’13

2015

Alec Hopping was featured in the Washington Post when he ventured into Hurricane Florence. As a junior at the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology, he traveled with a friend to northern North Carolina in search of birds caught up in the “fallout” of the hurricane. Fallout occurs with hurricane conditions when birds are moved far from their normal range.

Mackenzie Timbel has been invited to the tryouts for the U24 Ultimate National Team.

Of the more than 550 athletes who applied, invites were sent to 202, 101 men and 101 women. The athletes are split over two tryouts to be held in November. The west coast tryouts are November 17-18, in Tracy, Calif. The teams will be announced in early summer.

The World Flying Disc Federation’s World Under-24 Ultimate Championships will be held July 13-20, 2019, in Heidelberg, Germany.

2016

Angelina Leonardi is currently in Takamatsu, Japan. While there she and a fellow student presented their Skidmore chemistry research project at the International Commission on Atmospheric Chemistry and Global Pollution. Over the summer she led the group of students that produced this research, and this semester she is Skidmore’s Chemistry Department Lab Assistant. Angelina is a double major in Chemistry and French due to the passion that was instilled by Suzie Jekel and Brigitte DeBord.

2017

Claire Greydanus worked as a research intern in Dr. Nicholas Foreman’s pediatric neuro-oncology lab at Children’s Hospital Colorado. As part of the Child Health Research Internship Program, she focused her scientific efforts on the preclinical

testing of retinoids as a chemotherapeutic option for children battling brain cancer. Claire also attended the International Symposium on Pediatric Neuro-Oncology in downtown Denver hosted by her lab’s principal investigator, where her research efforts were presented by her colleagues in a poster session. Claire is grateful to CA’s science faculty for their continued encouragement during high school and beyond, especially Suzie Jekel for her mentorship and support in applying to this summer internship.

2018

Cecilia Needham was appointed a new board member for The Road to Hope, a nonprofit helping children, families, and communities in Haiti. She will head to Middlebury College in February 2019. In the meantime, she is spending three months in Haiti working with The Road to Hope. Ever since her first trip to Nordette when she was 15, Cecilia has been heavily involved in The Road to Hope, helping out wherever she could, as well as spearheading the Denver Haiti Run and Haiti Club at Colorado Academy. For the past two years, Cecilia has been writing grants and working on online presence as an intern for The Road to Hope and is excited to get even more involved as a board member. Aside from working with The Road to Hope, Cecilia enjoys working at other nonprofits, such as God’s Littlest Angels, Horizons, and HOPE. She is excited to begin her days in Haiti as a board member! n

Claire Greydanus ‘17

Angelina Leonardi ’16

Cecilia Needham ’18

Alec Hopping ’15

In Memoriam

John Bass ’68

John Bass of Hailey, Idaho left this world peacefully, on his own terms, after deciding that he wouldn’t take the slow path that was offered by his pulmonary fibrosis. John’s passion for life was reflected in every thing he did, from ski racing to car racing, climbing to cutting horses, and sharing his opinion on topics from beer to politics and geopolitics, often vociferously. All of this came from a heart that was bigger than the person. He will be missed by many from around the world, and asked that everyone celebrate in their own way then let him go.

Donations in John’s memory may be made to the Alex Lowe Foundation, www.alexlowe.org.

Remembrance:

I have great memories of, football, lacrosse, and skiing with John. He always lived on the edge. He’ll be missed. – Jeff Baker

Robert Bosworth ’69

By Koren Bosworth with Adrienne Bosworth and Joey Bosworth

On June 8, 2018, Rob Bosworth passed away at home in Juneau, after a long battle with Parkinson’s and its unpredictable symptoms. It is hard to summarize such a vibrant life, and wonderful man the wordsmith of the family. He is missed very much. Whenever he walked out the door, Rob liked to say, “We’re off, on the greatest

adventure of our lives!” This set an amazing precedent for his 40+ years in Alaska. Rob’s adventures were diverse, from singing in operas and winning spelling bees, to flying planes and felling trees. He was a diligent advocate for wild spaces, subsistence life styles, and responsible resource manage ment who worked for many years for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and later started the Southeast Alaska office of The Nature Conservancy.

In his workshop, Rob created beautiful things for people to truly use: violins, tables, rowing sculls, cutting boards. He sang heartily and learned to play every instrument he met. Much of Rob’s time was spent in Gustavus, Alaska at the cabin he built in 1977. He spent long summers there raising his two children, making his sweetheart laugh, puttering with chainsaws, attending Friday cocktail hour, and walking new trails with old friends.

Rob had a sharp wit to the end, surprising everyone with one-liners and a cappella renditions of old folk melodies even after he lost the ability to converse. Although Par kinson’s took so much from him, his twinkle was persistent, and he battled all symptoms with more graciousness than seemed possi ble. In the last few years in Juneau, he joined Rock Steady boxing, which introduced him to a jovial and courageous community of locals on their own journey with Parkinson’s. His wife Koren and his two children Joey and Adrienne are still traveling, laughing, and basking in all the gifts he left them.

Justin Gaines ’05

By Whitney Gaines ’08

The way Justin Gaines saw himself is not the way the world saw him. He believed he was an outsider: someone tolerated but never accepted. Maybe he thought that because of his prosthetic leg, or his racial identity, or something else. Whatever the case, it was simply not true. The world saw Justin, rightly, as a leader, a community builder, a hero, an athlete, a friend, and someone magnani mous and endearing to a fault.

Take, for example, his smile. He was a person with a million-watt smile, whose eyes sparkled with mischief and delight, who rightly earned that cliché that so often reads as meaningless. His smile lit the world and his gregariousness and determination made him an unstoppable force. There was not a physical activity he could not master, whether that was skiing, soccer, golf, rock climbing, or even fencing. There was not a single person he could not charm with his easy laugh and catching enthusiasm, or move with his eloquence and story. He achieved perfect coordination and social grace without seemingly breaking a sweat. He was, simply, incomparable. However, the disparity between how he saw himself and how the world saw him tore him apart. On July 7, the pain of our father’s suicide the previous summer, com bined with this fractured sense of self, led him to make an irreparable mistake, and he ended his life.

John Bass, 1968 Telesis

Rob Bosworth, 1969 senior class photo from The Hill School Justin Gaines ’05

Justin Gaines will be remembered for the way he was: charming, oftentimes com bative, charitable, lost, altruistic, hurting, mischievous, and gregarious. He was a steadfast friend, a wonderful older brother, a caring son, and a man with unlimited potential. He is dearly missed.

Jean-Claude Pritchard

Former Faculty 1989-2013

By Liston Hills ’95 and Matt Olmstead ’95

If you happened to visit Colorado Academy at the tail end of the 80’s through the first 13 years of the new millennium, you would have been hard-pressed not to cross paths with Jean-Claude “J-C” Pritchard. Bouncing from Middle School math classes to the athletic fields, he often coached both Middle and Upper School seasons of soccer, conditioning, and lacrosse and taught multiple levels of Middle School math. In addition to these roles, he also planned and led mountain biking and back country skiing interims which helped rekindle the school’s focus on outdoor education.

Born October 18, 1963 in New York City, he immediately fell in love with skiing and team sports. Splitting time between New York City and Douglas Hill, Maine, J-C was

happiest when outdoors and on the move. In the summers, he attended Camp O-ATKA on Lake Sebago in Maine, a place so important to him that he later returned as an adult and headed the Senior Unit.

When J-C reached his teenage years, his love of skiing led him to Gould Academy in Bethel, Maine. There he excelled on the snow, the soccer and lacrosse fields, and on the tennis courts. Upon graduating, J-C attended Stony Brook University in New York where he played lacrosse and started down a path that would lead to teaching. J-C’s time at Colorado Academy ran from 1989 to 2013. During that time, he influenced countless students in the Middle School, in the outdoors, and on the athletic fields. When asked, his former students and players remember J-C for his ability to motivate his students and players, his passion for physical fitness and activity, and his unwillingness to settle for anything less than excellence. These traits delivered to the School three State 3A Soccer Championships in ’98, ’99, and ’12, ended a nearly 25-year championship drought, and established the CA boys soccer program as the team to beat.

J-C is also remembered for his decades-

long devotion to the Loveland Ski Patrol. Nearly every weekend of the ski season, J-C could be found on the slopes of the ski area volunteering his time and medical expertise. Jean-Claude Pritchard is survived by his wife, Debra, his children, Gage ‘09 and Eliza ‘16, and his mother, Joan Morford.

For additional information or to make a contribution to the family, please contact Liston Hills (listonhills@gmail.com) or Matt Olmstead (mattyolmstead@yahoo.com)

Condolence notes may be sent to the Pritchard Family at 4040 Swanson Way #209, Castle Rock, CO 80109

Put on your cape for an evening of EPIC proportions benefitting Financial Aid at CA.

J-C Pritchard holding the Colorado State Championship Soccer trophy in 2012.

CA Alumni Association

Upcoming Dates 2018-2019

Friday, November 23, 2018

Alumni Happy Hour

Friday, November 30, 2018 Alumni Ice Skating Party 5:30–9:00 p.m., Denver Country Club

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

College Alumni Lunch 12:30 p.m., Campus Center

Tuesday, January 22, 2019 Eli Saslow ’00, Rising Out of Hatred 5:30 p.m., Campus Center, light supper served and lecture This is CA’s annual Speak Out Event.

Thursday, February 7, 2019 Grad School Night 5:30–8:30 p.m., CA Campus

Friday, May 24, 2019

Giant Relay Day BBQ Lunch, Carnival, The Race, Alumni-Faculty Party, Alumni-Varsity-Faculty Games

Saturday & Sunday, Reunion Weekend May 25-26, 2019 1969, 1979, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2009, 2014

Check the Alumni Homepage for the latest information on new Alumni Events. All updates are sent electronically, so give your email address to the Alumni Office by contacting Sue Burleigh at sue.burleigh@coloradaoacademy.org or 303-914-2584.

Alumni Association Board 2018-2019

Taken at the Board Retreat on September 29, 2018, First Row (L to R): Lisa Harrison Ellsworth ’79, Kelly Young Campbell ’98, Elsa Woolley ’11, Ashley Peterson ’06, Georgia Grey ’08, Myles McGinnis ’08, Head of School Mike Davis. Second Row: Board Chair David Jones ’95, Eric Hopfenbeck ’10, Ryan Koch ’96, Brian Fisher ’02, Alex Barton ’97, Ben Hock ’07, Zach Tucker ’01, Katie Cordes ’03, Aimée Nieuwenhuizen ’06, Austin Carpenter ’05, Jared Harding ’97. Not Pictured: VJ Brown ’11, Courtney Engle ’08, Karl Koch ’05, Lorenzo Pardo ’08, Max Shaw ’08, Gordon Smith ’79, Nicole Sisk Wiechecki ’01, Jenn Zinn ’95.

Colorado Academy

Remember CA’s early computers?

Look closely, and you will see that this early CA computer was made by a company that’s still managed to stay in business—Apple. In the mid-1980s, CA introduced computers in all three divisions. The Lower School principal announced a new Computer Lab complete with “ten new Apple IIe computers networked by a hard disc Corvus system. The new lab will give us a rare opportunity to explore suitable computer curriculum and software for our own particular needs.” What a difference 35 years has made at CA!

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