FCDS 2015 Summer Magazine

In the Loop Summer 2015

2970 Bronson Road Fairfield, CT 06824 P: 203.259.2723 F: 203.259.3249 www.fairfieldcountryday.org

Headmaster

John R. Munro, Jr. Development Office

Alison Harle Cathy Bergstrom Lauren Mulcahy J. J. Van Ess

Contributing Photographers

Cathy Bergstrom Robert A. Lisak Lauren Mulcahy Robert Norman Barbara Viner

Contributing Writers

James Balmer John Cullinan Andrea Millard Lauren Mulcahy Design

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Graphic Management Partners

This magazine is printed on paper made with 30% post consumer waste fiber processed with environmental chlorine-free sources and certified by Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) to the Chain of Custody standard.

Mission Statement Fairfield Country Day School provides an educational community dedicated to the personal growth and intellectual development of boys. Our balanced and challenging program is designed to help each student expand his desire and ability to acquire knowledge, stimulate his curiosity and creativity, and enhance his self-esteem and respect for others. Each boy’s individual development is encouraged in an environment that anticipates the future while appreciating the past.

contents

In the Loop Summer 2015

2 A Letter from the Headmaster 4 Rick Runkel Named Head of Upper School 5 A Lifetime of Giving 6 FCDS Parents’ Association Celebrates Cliff Paige ’62 with a Miami Themed Party 8 Commencement and Student Awards 11 School News 22 Alumni News 26 Class Notes

Cover

28 In Memoriam

The Touring Chamber Choir on a gondola ride in Venice, Italy.

board of trustees 2014-2015

President

Mark A. Beaudoin Vice President

Patrick J. Shaw Treasurer

Alan B. Offenberg Secretary

Robert Norman

Sheila Clancy Thomas Bachner Cheryl L. Bundy Virginia K. Cargill Cindy Citrone Terilyn Esse Simon Fenner Lawrence G. Foley Kathleen L. Garvey James D. Haas Brandon P. Hall Kevin L. Harmon Brian Lawlor Gerald G. Pearce, Jr. ’84 Taylor B. Purdy Elizabeth Solazzo James B. Vose ’67 Daniel Zelson

Commencement page 8

a letter from the headmaster J O H N R . M U N R O, J R .

Robert Norman

Faculty and Boys Take the Lead in Promoting Diversity THE FOUR overarching priorities of our recent Fairfield

Country Day School Strategic Plan 2014-2019 include: academic excellence, character development, marketing and outreach, and long term sustainability. Each priority contains a series of specific goals and a plan of action to obtain them. A critical goal in our ongoing efforts to develop young men of high character is to advance the FCDS diversity initiatives. Though the themes of diversity, inclusion, and multiculturalism are weaved into all facets of our Pre-K through ninth grade curriculum, the conversations we had with all FCDS constituents during the strategic planning process indicated that we needed to do more in this area.

Prior to these conversations, the FCDS community of faculty, staff, and students, participated in the Assessment of Inclusivity and Multiculturalism (AIM), a program promoted by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), to better identify our strengths and our shortcomings. Under the leadership of a dedicated faculty Diversity Committee, the AIM results were evaluated and translated into objectives and action steps. Our short-term objectives include:

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Create a separate diversity and inclusion mission statement that is promoted internally and externally ■■ Build the role of FCDS administrative leadership in promoting diversity and inclusion initiatives ■■ Add more all school assemblies devoted to topics of diversity ■■ Increase efforts to create a more diverse and inclusive faculty, staff, board of trustees, and student body ■■ Provide ongoing, formal diversity training for the FCDS community ■■ Engage the parent community in meaningful conversations about diversity and inclusion at FCDS ■■

In less than a year many of these initiatives have either been accomplished or are in progress. The opening faculty meetings last August included a powerful full-day session with Derrick Gay, a nationally recognized diversity practitioner. Together, the faculty and staff deconstructed multiple perspectives on diversity and identity to form a group-generated understanding of diversity at FCDS. This collective understanding has aligned our beliefs in fostering a more inclusive community. We also explored topics such as the difference

FCDS SCENE

The commitment to advancing our diversity initiatives is stronger than ever at FCDS. between empathy and sympathy, the power of language and recognizing that words and education are not neutral, and the theory of microaggressions in efforts to reduce stereotyping. The takeaways from this opening session have facilitated ongoing discussions about diversity between the faculty and the boys.

The students are actively participating in our new diversity initiatives in a multitude of ways. This past fall, students started a diversity club called DIVE (Diversity Includes the Values of Everyone). They meet monthly to discuss inclusivity on campus. In addition, this spring, twelve Upper School students joined Upper School English teacher, Jesse Crouch, Kindergarten teacher, Molly Hemenway, Librarian, Maggie Burchill, and Learning Commons Coordinator, Marie Mitchell, for the 13th annual Connecticut Association of Independent School’s (CAIS) Student Diversity Leadership Conference held at Kingswood Oxford School. The goal of the event is to bring students from grades 7-12 and adults from independent schools across the state together for a day of networking, dialogue, facilitating cross-cultural understanding, and a call to action to improve our school communities and our world. All attendees were inspired by the words of leading

global diversity practitioner Omekongo Dibinga and his messages on issues such as bullying, diversity, and social justice. During a morning assembly the students spoke about their experience at the conference.

One student said “meeting other students and learning about their views was my favorite part of the trip.” Eight Middle School boys recently accompanied Head of Middle School, Margot Pearce, and Molly Hemenway for a Fairchester Middle School Student Diversity Conference at Greenwich Country Day School. The day featured keynote speakers and breakout sessions on topics including race, gender, role of media in stereotyping, and understanding privilege.

The commitment to advancing our diversity initiatives is stronger than ever at FCDS and we want to continue to build on the momentum our boys and faculty have created. A dedicated faculty diversity committee, coupled with a growing number of motivated students, is affecting positive change in our school culture as we strive to celebrate diversity and promote inclusivity. I welcome your thoughts on this vital topic and look forward to updating all of you on our continued progress.

– John R. Munro, Jr.

Left: The DIVE club. Middle: Members of DIVE presenting about the conference they attended during assembly.

Right: Students in DIVE worked together to create a poster advertising FCDS. Students were divided into teams and were given one poster board and a bag of supplies. Some students had lots of items in their bag to help decorate, while others only had a pencil. They presented their posters to the group and then discussed how it made them feel that some groups had more supplies than others and how that relates to real life.

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Robert Norman

FCDS SCENE

Rick Runkel Named

appointed the Director of Admissions. It was a natural fit because Rick knew the school as well as anyone. He was involved in many different aspects of the school, and his passion for FCDS was unwavering. Rick was successful at recruiting strong students. He said, “I was able to speak from the heart when I talked about our mission and what we value as a school.” He would highlight his favorite traditions, especially family style lunches. “It separates us from our peers. It is the most important part of our day — it keeps us connected.” He could speak from experience as a teacher, coach, administrator, and parent. Rick would share the power of seeing the Lower School students recite poems, as well as how memorable it is to see the ninth grade recite their Kindergarten poem. Rick has many special memories from his time at Country Day. One of his favorite memories is from his son’s graduation. “Mr. Vitalo (former Head of School) gave the commencement address. He spoke about stepping out of your comfort zone and then he surprised the boys and their parents by singing with the Pinstripes. Unbeknownst to him, alumni returned to join the Pinstripes as well, and it was a special memory I will never forget.”

When Rick learned that his long-time friend and colleague, Cliff Paige ’62, was stepping down as the Head of Upper School, he thought about how well his skill set would fit the position. He

Head of Upper School TWENTY-TWO YEARS AGO, a passionate young scientist

stepped onto the FCDS campus to teach sixth through eighth grade science. Rick Runkel quickly took on much more than a traditional teaching role. He coached soccer, hockey, and baseball, ran the school store, and helped pick up items for the consignment sale. He removed snow from the school driveway and roof, turned off lights and locked doors at night, and also worked FCDS Summer Fun. His responsibilities quickly increased and he created a new curriculum for eighth grade science that centered on a hands-on approach that involved a considerable amount of experimentation and writing. Rick quickly established himself as an outstanding teacher and important member of the FCDS community.

In 1999, Rick became Dean of Students and Director of Summer Fun, while continuing to coach and teach. Rick learned “that fostering close ties with faculty members and parents was integral to being a successful student advocate.” He was not only successful building and strengthening relationships at school, but under his leadership, Summer Fun netted over two million dollars for the school.

Never one to settle into a position and become complacent, Rick continued to strive to make FCDS a better school. His hard work was recognized in 2009 when he was

Left: Rick Runkel's first advisee group in 1993.

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became excited about the opportunity for new responsibilities, professional growth, and the positive impact he could make at the school. “I owe it to those who have come before me to uphold our boy’s school traditions. I aim to do whatever is needed to continue their good work in providing an environment that is built around developing young men of strong character. I owe the community for helping my sons graduate from FCDS and for helping turn them into the fine young men they are today.” While Rick knows there will be challenges, such as learning the intricacies of a very complicated schedule, figuring a way to maintain the e-blotter, and learning about secondary school placements, he also understands that his knowledge and ability to connect with students and parents will help him succeed in this new role. Above all else, Rick is excited to remain at FCDS, a place he calls home.

Giving

By Alison Harle, Director of Development

BARBARA AND BOB ’70 Moriarty have been part of the

Fairfield Country Day family for more than forty-five years. They have spanned five decades at FCDS through their connections as a student, alum, parents, volunteers, and Trustee, and they continue to support the school today. Throughout the years, they have forged many great friendships with fellow parents, faculty, and their children’s (Michael ’00 and Robert, Jr. ’03) friends. Bob feels fortunate to have made lifelong friends at FCDS. Those friends went on to be his college and law school roommates, and two were groomsmen in their wedding.

As their own boys approached school age, Barbara and Bob began to consider which school would provide their sons with the best opportunities. The stability and structure FCDS provided was appealing, especially at a time when the public schools were having difficulty assessing their facility needs and undertaking significant restructuring. With both sons enrolled at Country Day, their faith was quickly restored with both boys taking to the school immediately.

They were pleased to see that many of the traditions Bob remembered from his time here continued. The public speaking program, the dress code and code of conduct, and the strong athletic program all provided a solid foundation for their boys to go on and succeed at their prep schools and in college. The structure FCDS gives to young men is very important and both of their sons benefitted from it.

As long time members of the FCDS community, Barbara and Bob have strived to support Country Day in any way possible.

“Everything you see today is a result of the extraordinary efforts of those who came before you. The facilities, the resources, the traditions that make FCDS special, would not exist if it were not for the contributions of generations of parents and alumni. Barb and I are

FCDS SCENE

A Lifetime of

merely part of an endless line who shares that responsibility.” We are so grateful to have been the beneficiaries of Barbara and Bob’s support throughout the years. Their generosity has allowed us to continue to build on the foundation they speak of and grow school programs to ensure students have vital 21st century skills.

Aside from dedicating their time to the school, the Moriarty’s have also been devoted donors to the Annual Fund. They know how much the school relies exclusively on the contributions of our constituents; alumni, parents, and friends. “If you feel as we do that the school is important, that its work with young men is meaningful, then you support its mission with your gift to the Annual Fund.”

Aside from helping with the operating expenses each year, the Annual Fund also helps create a financial partnership with those families who are in need of extra support to realize their son’s dream of attending FCDS. For Bob, financial assistance is an important part of private education. “My father was a scholarship student at Holy Cross in the 30’s and I watched him devote countless hours to giving back to that school. It rubbed off on me that there is a responsibility to support private education.”

Through all of the years of attending and then watching their own sons attend FCDS, Barbara and Bob have a number of memories that stand out for them. Bob’s best memories are of a great group of friends, in a very supporting environment, led by terrific teachers and coaches: Bill Ely, Jim Currier, Mrs. Gregory, Earl Bailey, Pete Benedict, John Curtis, and Cliff Paige ’62. The Moriarty’s are grateful for the devotion that Cliff has shown over the years. “We wish [Cliff] all the best in his retirement. [We] know he won’t be far away.” They also wish the best for the future of FCDS. “FCDS is unique in this area as a Pre-K to ninth grade school for boys. The robust enrollment is testimony to the demand. The school is not immune to the challenges affecting all private education in terms of the costs to families. The Board must constantly be vigilant to ensure that the school remains affordable to those in the community. This is another reason why voluntary support is so important to ensure that there are appropriate resources for financial aid.”

We are so thankful to the Moriarty’s for their support and dedication to Fairfield Country Day. The generosity of donors like the Moriarty’s are helping to ensure FCDS will continue to succeed well into the future. We hope you will join them in supporting FCDS with your gift to the Annual Fund today.

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FCDS Parents’ Association Celebrates Cliff Paige ’62

With A Miami ON APRIL 25TH, three hundred guests gathered for a festive

beach-themed gala to honor and celebrate Cliff Paige’s twenty-eight years at FCDS. Amy Whiteley, gala chair, captured the true spirit of Cliff, with a party that included Beach Boys music, food trucks, and plenty of guests donning Hawaiian shirts.

A big thank you to Amy Whiteley and the gala committee: Shari Jones, Siri Burki, Teresa Fenner, and Chickie Fay. Thank you to our volunteers, underwriters, and attendees for making the evening a fun celebration of Cliff and Country Day! In addition to the gala, there have been many celebrations throughout the year to honor Cliff. Faculty wrote poems about him, the spring concerts were dedicated to him, and many alumni attended graduation to be part of his last commencement.

* * * During the school year we collected stories and memories of Cliff from parents, alumni, colleagues, past parents, and friends and presented them to Cliff in a special book. There is no clearer way to see the impact Cliff has made on our community than by reading some of their comments.

Mr. Paige was FCDS. Whether it was in the classroom, on the field, or just talking in his office, Mr. Paige was a joy to be around and he always put a smile on people’s faces. He truly cared about every single person at FCDS. FCDS will not be the same without him.

— Louis Colosimo ’14

Cliff is a special jewel who treasures each student and embraces a family style mentorship to develop high moral ethics, achievement, and support for each other. Thank you for your dedication and service.

–The Crowley Family Top Left: The LS spring concert was dedicated to Cliff Paige '62. Bottom Left: Cliff Paige ’62 and Alex Dragone ’06. Facing Page: Cliff Paige ’62 presented ties to long-time friend, Tim Currier ’62, and past parent, Tracey Brittis (PP '11).

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FCDS SCENE

Themed Party Without a doubt, the 9 years I spent at FCDS had its ups and downs.

But through all of it, Mr. Paige kept his eye on me, being not only a teacher, but also a mentor and friend who I could always trust. My time at FCDS was almost 10 years ago and much of it seems like a distant memory, but it’s become an important part of who I am and helped me accomplish great things in my life. And I credit much of this to Mr. Paige’s invaluable guidance over the years. Thank you and good luck!

— Ryan Eick ’ 0 6 Mr. Paige impacted my childhood and my life more than anyone else I have since encountered. For reasons that I am still trying to tease out, Mr. Paige took an interest in me, despite my propensity to cause a bit of trouble. He was a stabilizing force in my life. He provided an adult figure who

Mr. Paige is a great soccer coach, teacher, and most importantly friend.

He means a whole lot to me and every student to ever walk through the FCDS doors. He will truly be missed as a figurehead of FCDS.

- Grant Sweeny ’13

Mr. Paige pushed everyone, including myself, to go above and beyond our accepted limits, to hold our heads high as young men and enjoy ourselves. If it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be who I am today. Furthermore, the 9th grade Miami trip with Mr. Paige was an unbelievable experience that I will never forget. Mr. Paige, I wish you good luck with your retirement, the FCDS experience will certainly not be the same without you.

– Alex Dragone ’06

was accepting, kind, and encouraging. I’m not sure I would be where I am today without his guidance and persistent support for 5 years at FCDS. He is without a doubt, the greatest man I have ever met.

– Tom D’Addario ’98

In many ways, as a teacher, Cliff never forgot what it meant to be a FCDS student. He laughed with us, understood us, and genuinely cared about us. Privileged to have been his student and become his friend.

– James Crowley ’91

All of the Zelson’s lives have been touched by Cliff Paige.

He is the heart and soul of Country Day. He is a mentor, a friend, a compassionate ear, a cheerleader, a psychologist, and most of all, an inspiration.

– Lisa Zelson P ’12, ’14, ’16

It takes a very special person who can donate his life to connecting and molding young people into wonderful, caring, and respectful adults. Thank you for being this person. Justin is very lucky to have you in his life. Your legacy will live on in so many ways and you should be extremely proud of your accomplishments!

– Grateful parents, Les and Paula Kutcher P ’89, ’95

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Fairfield Country Day School

Seventy-Eighth Commencement Exercises

class of 2015

Benjamin Douglas Berggren. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Avon Old Farms School

Sean Joseph MacDonald. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Berkshire School

Arthur Christopher Bilyard, Jr. . . . . . . . . . Fairfield College Preparatory School

Charles Edward Francis Millard, II. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Berkshire School

Lazarus Rashid Brown. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Greens Farms Academy

Shaka Malik Moales. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . St. Luke's School

Robinson Martin Brown. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hopkins School

Richard Carl Offenberg. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Suffield Academy

Nicholas Joseph Buono. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kent School

Michael Forrest O’Loughlin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Berkshire School

Sawyer C. Coseglia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Avon Old Farms School

Kevin Malone Oricoli. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fairfield College Preparatory School

Cameron MacKenzie Fernandez. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fairfield Warde High School

Stephen Joseph Panico. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fairfield College Preparatory School

Joshua Jeavons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Staples High School

William Chen Paul. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lawrenceville School

Henry Nathaniel Kessler. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Berkshire School

Charles Bonner Pearce. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Groton School

Carter Robert Kral. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fairfield College Preparatory School

Brandon Robert Sires. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Taft School

Brendan Dawson MacDonald. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Berkshire School

Clarence Edward Zachery, III. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Choate Rosemary Hall

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Photos by Robert Norman

Members of the graduating class will attend the following secondary schools:

FCDS SCENE

JUNE 10, 2015 was a beautiful day for the FCDS 78th com-

mencement. It also marked Cliff Paige ‘62’s last graduation as the Head of Upper School. From the moment the twenty-two ninth graders walked from the courtyard to the tent it was a beautiful, touching celebration. Individually and collectively, the Class of 2015 is an impressive group. The graduates possess strong leadership skills. They are smart and athletic, equally comfortable on the playing field and stage. Most importantly, the boys are strong citizens who will make a positive impact at their secondary schools. They each have a bright future ahead of them.

Rob Russo ’90, a lawyer and former state senator, was the graduation speaker. He combined lessons he learned at FCDS with humor and a little advice for the graduates. “The path that these ninth graders have completed here at Country Day has prepared them well, not only to survive out in the real world, but to lead it. When we met a few weeks ago in the ninth grade room I cannot tell you how happy I was to hear that what it means to graduate from FCDS is the same as it was for my class…and those that came before me.”

The importance of being a gentleman, doing the right thing when nobody’s watching, and being a leader are core characteristics of a FCDS graduate. “Maybe at its core, to be a Country Day boy is to be a gentleman your mother can be proud of. A gentleman, who understands that success at any cost, isn’t success. Wealth is as much defined by friendships as it is by dollars and cents.”

The skills you learned at FCDS will take you far. “You have so much to learn, but as long as you keep the values you learned here, no matter what happens, you’ll be okay. And I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised to learn just how well this place has given you the fundamental skills you may need to be successful.” Rob recalled the impact the poetry recitation had on his ability to be a successful public speaker and how writing in history class in eighth and ninth grade prepared him for papers at Choate, Georgetown, and Fordham Law. Rob shared some of the lessons he learned on the athletic fields, despite his lack of athletic ability (his words not ours). “Starting with Blue/White sports, we learn about team work. And in some of our cases overcoming, or just bearing with, the impossible.” There was one skill that Rob joked he didn’t master at FCDS and couldn’t provide much advice on: “For many of you, there will be young women

Rob Russo ’90

in your class for the first time, good luck with that. I myself was shellshocked for pretty much the entire first year.”

Rob encouraged students to take risks. He spoke about President Theodore Roosevelt who was born small and sick, but didn’t let that be an excuse. Instead, he quickly learned he had to work harder. Rob mentioned how Roosevelt once insisted on finishing a speech after being shot saying, “Let us therefore boldly face the life of strife, resolute to do our duty well and manfully; resolute to uphold righteousness by deed and by word; resolute to be both honest and brave, to serve high ideals, yet to use practical methods.” Rob encouraged students to make “life an adventure and to be ready for whatever may come your way. Be open to all life has in store for you and don’t let anyone define success for you. Go out and choose your own adventure.”

Rob’s final advice to students was to not shy away from failure.

“Failure will make you a better person, learn to handle it graciously.

You’re not robots and there’s no such thing as the perfect life. If you’re not at least flirting with failure from time to time, taking calculated risks, then how can you be sure you’re really living life to your fullest? You are only going to get to do this once gentlemen, and it’s better to have failed than to have regrets.”

In closing, Rob reflected on the impact Cliff Paige ’62 has had as an educator. “He was one of the first teachers to really encourage our intellectual curiosity. To encourage us to look at problems and their solutions differently. To not be afraid to challenge norms and the mentality of the herd. Though we say goodbye to him as well today, I am confident his legacy will stick around like the other greats (Ely, Stearns, Curtis, Vitalo) who came before him. This isn’t a great school because of its buildings or because it has its own hockey rink, but because of its teachers. Teachers like Mr. Paige who have dedicated their lives to teaching all of us what it means to be a Country Day boy.”

“The graduates have all the skills and capabilities for the next chapter of their educational journey. While it is hard to say goodbye, you are now alumni, and welcome back any time.” Rob encouraged students to return to campus. “Ninth graders, you know what you call a place like FCDS that means so much to you? You call it home.

You’ll always be welcome, and you’ll always feel at home. The teachers here have put a lot of hard work and love into making you the men you are today, and I hope you will remain in contact with them and share your adventures with them. Congratulations to the graduates and best of luck on your new adventures.”

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COMMENCEMENT 2015

NORMAN SCHAFF ’62 AWARD

Charles Millard, Grade 9

Michael Lau, Grade 7

Ashton Ballou, Grade 8

for achievement in technology

Charles Pearce, Grade 9

Jack Alecia, Grade 6

Connor Boyle, Grade 8

Henry Kessler, Grade 9

William Bundy, Grade 8

Brendan Dunleavy, Grade 6

Zachary Pearce, Grade 7

Samuel Klyver, Grade 8

Cameron Maquat, Grade 8

Finn Hublitz, Grade 6

Michael Thompson, Grade 7

Timothy Oravec, Grade 8

James Whiteley, Grade 8

Joseph McCormick, Grade 6

Andrew Wymbs, Grade 7

JOHN FIELD AWARD

H. THOMAS CAVANAUGH PRIZE

ARCHIBALD R.

Anders Ernberg, Grade 6

for research in history/English

for public speaking

HOXTON, JR. AWARD

Jackson LaBonte, Grade 6

Charles Pearce, Grade 9

Christopher Bilyard, Grade 9

for excellence and

Thomas Powell, Grade 5

Malcolm Shaw, Grade 8

Connor Boyle, Grade 8

leadership in athletics

Alexander Staikos, Grade 5

James Whiteley, Grade 8

Tyrick Cedon, Grade 8

Sawyer Coseglia, Grade 9

Christian Wood, Grade 5

Carrigan Cullinan, Grade 6

Shaka Moales, Grade 9 F. GEORGE DUPONT AWARD

RIHMAN BUSCH AWARD

Kevin Oricoli, Grade 9

2015 YEARBOOK DEDICATION

for excellence in debate

for excellence in English

Clarence Zachery, Grade 9

Mandy McCubbin and Cliff Paige '62

Blake Burchill, Grade 6

Charles Pearce, Grade 9

Benjamin Gault, Grade 6

Ashton Ballou, Grade 8

Cole Mascolo, Grade 6

JOHN CURTIS AWARD

RANKING SCHOLARS

for a member of the ninth grade

Cameron Maquat, Grade 8

JAMES S. CURRIER AWARD

who best typifies enthusiasm,

Gavin Guterl, Grade 7

JAMES STEARNS AWARD

for achievement in mathematics

character, and winning spirit

Connor Rosow, Grade 7

for achievement in the

Charles Millard, Grade 9

Robinson Brown, Grade 9

performing arts

Shaka Moales, Grade 9

Carter Kral, Grade 9

SAMUEL FOSS HOLMES AWARD

William Paul, Grade 9

William Paul, Grade 9

Brendan MacDonald, Grade 9

for ranking scholar in the ninth grade

Cameron Maquat, Grade 8

Sean MacDonald, Grade 9

William Paul, Grade 9

Charles Pearce, Grade 9

Charles Millard, Grade 9

EBEN GRAVES AWARD for excellence in science

LAURENCE AND

Brandon Sires, Grade 9

Charles Millard, Grade 9

LUELLA GREGORY AWARD

Richard Offenberg, Grade 9

for academic improvement

PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION AWARD

Presented to a member of the ninth

Michael O’Loughlin, Grade 9

Lazarus Brown, Grade 9

for school spirit and citizenship

grade who best exhibits leadership,

Brandon Sires, Grade 9

Harry Azadian, Grade 8

Lazarus Brown, Grade 9

achievement, citizenship, and

Connor Boyle, Grade 8

Sean MacDonald, Grade 9

gentlemanly bearing

DOUGLAS REED AWARD

Kyle Meury, Grade 8

Richard Offenberg, Grade 9

Charles Pearce, Grade 9

for achievement in foreign language

Steele Citrone, Grade 7

Kevin Oricoli, Grade 9

Joshua Jeavons, Grade 9

Cooper Eckert, Grade 7

Harry Azadian, Grade 8

Henry Kessler, Grade 9

EDWIN FOSTER BLAIR AWARD

FINERTY FACULTY AWARD Awarded to a faculty member who has demonstrated a special commitment to encouraging

Left to Right: Board President Mark Beaudoin, Edwin Foster Blair Award recipient Charlie Pearce, and Headmaster John Munro

students in all areas of school life Kristina Barnaby CLIFF PAIGE '62 AWARD Awarded to a member of the Fairfield Country Day School community who embodies the spirit of FCDS through his or her compassion for others. His or her actions, in all facets of life at FCDS, demonstrate a consistent warmth and infectious optimism. The award reflects

Photos by Robert Norman

FCDS SCENE

student awards and prizes

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the enthusiasm and caring nature of its namesake, Cliff Paige ’62, life-long friend, administrator, teacher, and coach at FCDS. John Dorman

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SCHOOL NE WS

school news

I N T H E LO O P • S U M M E R 2015

FA I R F I E L D C O U N T R Y D AY S C H O O L

Spring Musical Despite many snow days, cancelled practices, and the play being moved to a new date, the students performed this year’s spring musical, Beauty and the Beast, beautifully.

Our leading men Lazarus B. as The Beast, Clarence Z. as Lumiere, Charlie P. as Gaston, Shaka M. as Cogsworth, Cameron P. as Narrator, Cole K. as Young Man, Brandon S. as Maurice, Liam F. as LeFou, Steele C. as Chip, William P. as Monsieur D’Arque and Knight, and Spencer T. as Dog, were entertaining

Web Extra Watch the spring musical at http://bit.ly/1Kknkjl

Left: Shaka M. as Cogsworth singing with Clay Z. as Lumiere and Grace M. as Belle. Above: Students performing the hit song, Be our Guest.

and executed their roles brilliantly. Grace M. did a wonderful job as Belle, along with her fellow female actresses: Clare F., Simone M., Katherine H., Ranease B., Olivia S., and Logan C. Congratulations to the entire cast and crew for their dedication and hard work. We would be remiss not to thank our parent and faculty volunteers Beth Tuohy, parent producer, John Hoover, set construc-

tion and co-producer, Pam Beaudoin, costume design and construction co-producer, Jocelyn Pearson, technical design, Cathy Bergstrom, playbill and poster design, and Elaine Klabonski, Beth Munro, and Jocelyn Pearson for the backdrop and set painting.

Under the leadership and creativity of Mary Nelson and Jim Balmer, students created another magical production.

Pi Day Fairfield Country Day School recognized the Pi Day of the Century (3.14.15) with activities celebrating all things circular and a March Madness-style Pi-Off. It was a great way to kick off spring break with various Link Day sessions. The boys created “pi necklaces” by using 31 beads each color-coded to a digit of pi.

They found their birthdays in pi, made paper chains and cupcakes, and discovered their own value of pi by calculating the circumference and diameter of a Hula Hoop.

The Pi Madness contest was a great success – 32 boys competed and the championship came down to fourth grader, Troy (357 digits of pi memorized), and fifth grader, Max, who won by reciting 371 digits. New York collage artist Michael Albert was on hand to present the champ with a collage depicting the first 777 digits of pi – a fitting prize for the winner!

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Awards Two students representing Fairfield Country Day School received perfect scores in this year’s WordMasters Challenge™, a national vocabulary competition involving nearly 150,000 students annually.

Competing in the difficult Blue Division, fifth grader Blake B. and fourth grader Troy A., both earned a perfect score of twenty. Nationally, only sixty fifth graders and thirty-six fourth graders received perfect scores. Other students at FCDS who achieved outstanding results in the second meet include fourth grader George F. and fifth grader Tom P., each scoring nineteen.

The students were coached in preparation

for the WordMasters Challenge™ by Mrs. Nancy Stevens and Mr. James Phillipson.

The WordMasters Challenge™ is an exercise in critical thinking that first encourages students to become familiar with a set of interesting new words (considerably harder than grade level), and then challenges them to use those words to complete analogies expressing various kinds of logical relationships. Working to solve the analogies helps students learn to think both analytically and metaphorically. Although most vocabulary enrichment and analogy-solving programs are designed for use by high school students, WordMasters Challenge™ materials have been specifically created for younger students in grades three through eight. They

Holocaust Survivor, Anita Schorr “Be an upstander, not a bystander.” This was the message of Holocaust survivor, Anita Schorr, to our seventh through ninth graders. She captivated the audience with her story of surviving four horrific years in a number of concentration camps. She was a small child when her family was sent to the first concentration camp. From there, they were moved to Auschwitz. They were stripped of their dignity. She was given a number that was tattooed on her arm and was told to forget her name. She was shaved from head to toe, starved, and beaten. “Hunger grabs

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are particularly well suited for children who are motivated by the challenge of learning new words and enjoy the logical puzzles posed by analogies.

Math It is one thing to give students the formulas for calculating scale factor or converting feet to inches; it’s another to let them discover it for themselves. Sixth grade math teacher Kristina Barnaby uses hands-on, experiential learning to teach her students. This spring, students used mirrors, measuring tape, and proportions to find the height of the Bronson Windmill, the flagpole, and the school’s new lampposts.

you, and suddenly it takes over your whole psyche,” Schorr said.

“It stays with you. You can suddenly not think about anything, just to get food.”

She was not even fourteen, when her mother pushed her into a line for forced labor and told her to lie about her age. They were taking strong women ages eighteen to fifty. Schorr was sad and confused about why her mother was pushing her into the line. What she didn’t know at the time was that her mother and brother were killed in the gas chambers shortly after.

In Hamburg, Schorr was the youngest member of a 500-member forced labor detail. She dug ditches for her captors, often helping the women in front and behind her because if they didn’t finish in time they would be punished. In 1945 she was transferred to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp and only a few weeks later the British troops liberated the camp. It is hard to imagine how Schorr survived those four years. She said, “Without hope, you cannot exist. Hope is a driving, positive force. Perseverance, you need that, too.”

After the war, Schorr immigrated to Israel where she married and had a son. She later moved to the United States and currently lives in Westport, CT. After thirty years of silence, she began to speak about her experience in the Holocaust. She encouraged the boys not to be content with just saying “never again,” but rather to take action. She stated, “Remembering is not enough. We need action. We have to start fighting for a better world.” It even starts with bullying. Don’t be a bystander and watch it. It only takes one person to stand up for what is right.

Anita Schorr speaks regularly in the tristate area. If you have the chance to hear her, you will be humbled by her story and in awe of the eighty year old’s wit, perseverance, and courage.

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Left: Students in sixth grade measuring the Bronson Windmill. Right: Teddy G. measuring his Matchbox car.

Students also dusted off their Matchbox cars for another lesson on similar figures.

They explored scale factor by taking measurements of their toy cars and researching the dimensions of the actual vehicles.

The boys were impressed when they were able to prove that most Matchbox cars are

made at a 1:64 scale, meaning that the toy’s length is 1/64 of the real car.

Math instruction at Country Day isn’t all textbook-driven. Kristina and other teachers find that hands-on activities and real-world problem solving resonates with students. Not only are they more engaged

and enthusiastic about their studies, students are able to acquire concepts quicker and apply them confidently. Kristina said, “Whether they are working individually or in small groups, one of the most important steps in math lessons is learning from their mistakes. They remember the process and not just the formulas, and that’s what makes the lessons easier to understand.”

Panama Update In the 2014 FCDS summer magazine there was an article about ten FCDS students and three faculty members who embarked on a service trip to Panama with Sustainable Harvest International. In the village of Atre, they helped plant rice, over 300 coffee trees, and planted a vegetable garden for Alejandro Rodriguez’s family and the villagers. We are happy to report that their hard work is paying off! Alejandro is thrilled that he is able to produce a healthy diet for his family and others, thanks to the help of our boys.

Rodrigo, Alejandro, and Miguel with the garden beds made by FCDS students.

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Guest Speaker Derrick Gay, an education consultant on issues surrounding diversity, inclusion, and cultural competency, led an interactive workshop for parents on May 11th. The workshop encouraged participants’ engagement in interactive activities, with the ultimate goal of deepening knowledge, increasing awareness of multiple perspectives, and fostering the development of successful and compassionate 21st century citizens. Parents learned about identity development and how we perceive others. During one activity, parents wrote down words that they did not want associated with them like: ditsy, aggressive, stingy, and slow processor. They had to talk to other parents and try to trade words that were less offensive to them. The activity reinforced the power and impact of language and stereotypes.

After the activities, Derrick provided helpful advice to parents on how to support positive identity development and foster inclusivity. Derrick’s advice included:

Intentionally cultivate an open mindset.

Openness is not as organic as we may think ■■ Acknowledge differences as a source of strength, growth, and learning ■■ Co-participate in media and encourage constant deconstruction of media with your children ■■ Diversify your acquaintances and friend groups to include individuals of different backgrounds ■■

Derrick ended his presentation the way he always does when speaking to parent groups, with a semicolon. He feels that the period marks the end of his discussion and the comma signifies the need for ongoing conversations and work around diversity and inclusion. As John Munro mentioned in his opening letter, FCDS will continue to have conversations with students, faculty, and parents surrounding diversity. Our hope is that through these discussions we will increase awareness and inspire our community to disassemble racism and prejudice. We know

Departing Faculty FCDS is sadly bidding farewell to GEORGE LEWIS who will be teaching seventh and eighth grade American history at King Low Heywood Thomas, in Stamford, CT. Mr. Lewis joined FCDS fifteen years ago and has been an integral part of the community. We will miss him and wish him the best of luck in his new endeavors.

Please join us in congratulating DAVE MENARD ’05 on his recent appointment as Director of Graduate Programming and Support at the Waterside School in Stamford, CT. Dave will begin his new position this summer and we wish him the very best.

CLIFF PAIGE ’62 is a pillar within the FCDS community who has served as the Upper School Head for the past twenty-one years. He has touched the lives of many students, parents, and colleagues. His unwavering dedication to the community is unparalleled.

While he is “passing the hat” to Rick Runkel, it is far from a declaration of retirement.

Cliff will remain connected to the school by helping with alumni engagement and secondary school placement.

Congratulations to FCDS Spanish teacher, PEN VINEYARD, on his acceptance to the Master in Educational Leadership program at the Klingenstein Center at Teachers College Columbia University. This is a full year residential program for the 2015-16 school year, but we anticipate that Pen will return to FCDS in the fall of 2016.

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Educational Consultant, Derrick Gay

that doing so will build empathy and inclusivity, ultimately strengthening our school community and preparing our students for success beyond their years at FCDS.

Public Speaking It is a longstanding tradition in the spring that students in Pre-K through seventh grade recite poems and the eighth and ninth graders give speeches. Each year, we are impressed with how confident, composed, and poised the boys are on stage. This year, a fifth grader recited Shakespeare flawlessly, eighth graders spoke about topics such as divorce and having a sibling with special needs, and the ninth grade reflected on their time at FCDS and dealing with the death of a family member. It was a tough job choosing a winner because they were all excellent.

Below is the ninth grade winner’s speech.

In addition to reading it here, we hope you watch it online at: http://bit.ly/1KknMhH.

March 7, 2015 by Chris B.

As most of you know, last month I recently lost someone very important to me. I have experienced a different pain, not a physical pain like a broken bone, but a death of someone special to me. On Saturday evening March 7, 2015, my grandfather went to heaven after suffering from an unexpected heart attack. The hardest part for me was that I talked to him the night before and he said everything was going great. My grandparents were in Florida

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out on their deck enjoying the sunset and having some wine when he called me. I didn’t know that would be the last time I would ever talk to him.

The saying “you don’t know how good something is until it’s gone” truly has an impact on me now, as this was my first time dealing with a death in my family, and since it was someone who was a huge role model for me it was hard to deal with the pain.

One of the hardest parts is that I keep thinking he is going to call me, or come watch me play hockey.

Although everyone in my family including myself is suffering from his loss, I am not going to stand here and talk about things that make me sad. I am going to talk about how he will always be a positive influence on me, and my decisions throughout my life.

Even the small things, like watching him always hold the door for women behind him, will stay with me forever. Out of all of the people in the world, I respected him the most. In my entire life I have not seen him get angry at anyone or anything; he always handled any situation maturely and from both perspectives. I will always remember spending summer nights at his house and eating dinner with them on their deck, looking at the sky and talking about life in general. If I ever was falling behind in school or struggling with a subject he would always be there to help me get through it. He would say “Now come on Chris, I know you can do it if you give it 110%, that’s what makes you different.” To this day I still keep his voicemails and texts, and play them back every night before I go to bed. Even with that I do not know how I would be without my mom and grandma’s strength, resiliency, and hope.

You both have taught me so many important life lessons this past month, like keeping a smile on your face even though you’re suffering inside, and that it is okay to grieve even when people are watching.

I would also like to take the time to thank a few people in the crowd; Mrs. McCubbin, Mrs. Barnaby, Mr. Paige, and Mr. Bavedas, as well as my closest friends for being right there with me when my life permanently changed; Josh, Sawyer, Robinson, Brendan, Sean, and Carter. On that Saturday night, my phone blew up with texts, phone calls, and a bunch of social media notifications, but the ones that really mattered were from you guys, so I’d like to thank you all. Growing up is tough and loss is a part of life, if I have learned one lesson from my past experience it is choose family over friends, because real friends are family.

Top: Fifth grade trout paintings Left: Students trying the fifth grade board game Operation.

Right: LS students clapping for a successful Rube Goldberg machine.

Science Fair and Art Show The school was bustling with families and students on May 20 for the Science Fair and Art Show. The dining hall and the hallway by the Learning Commons were converted into an art gallery. Pictures hung on windows and sculptures graced tables in the hall. Each boy from Pre-K through ninth grade had work on display. They were two and three dimensional pieces including trout and landscape paintings, pottery bowls, and clay suns and fishes.

Every other year the Art Show is combined with the Science and Technology Fair. The seventh grade Goldberg Machines were impressive. Their task was to create a machine that poured a drink, popped a balloon, turned on a light, or erased a chalkboard. One of the projects called “Double Trouble” completed two of the necessary tasks — it popped a balloon and poured a drink. Students had to use multiple steps to obtain their desired results.

The younger students enjoyed watching the older boys conduct their experiments.

The fifth grade tackled a new interdisciplinary project by designing a version of the traditional Operation board game. Students designed the cover of their board in art class and used a program called Cubify to produce game pieces using 3-D printers. Next, the boys wrote individual Scratch programs in technology class specific to their game and used a device called a MakeyMakey that allows the board and their Scratch programs to “talk” to one another. Finally, students wired their boards after learning about electricity in science class. The boys thoroughly enjoyed the assignment as well as the other students and parents who tested out the games during the fair.

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Scenes from FCDS

3). Make a Wish Foundation

5). Star Athlete Visits Campus

1). Wiffle Ball

Fifth grade students presented the Make a Wish

Retired NFL star, Troy Polamalu, visited with

Foundation with a check for $13,851 that they

second graders.

Congratulations to Mr. Vineyard’s advisee group for winning the Wiffle Ball Championship!

2). Field Day Ninth graders cheering on first graders during the tug-of-war.

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raised during their skate-a-thon and hoop-a-thon.

4). Ninth Grade Miami Trip Mr. Paige’s 17th Miami trip with the class of 2015.

6). Eighth Grade to Boston Eighth graders posing as part of their Amazing Race competition during their trip to Boston.

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7). Spring Concert

9). Building in 3-D

11). Geography Bee

The choir sang beautifully during their

Spencer T. painting the 3-D house he created in

The final four contestants battled it out for the

spring concert.

technology class.

championship. Charlie M. in ninth grade clinched

8). Sixth Grade Big Brothers

10). Stuff-a-Truck

Sixth graders playing tag with their “buddies”

On June 6, FCDS families and the greater com-

12). Roman Feast

from the Adam J. Lewis Preschool.

munity donated food as part of the Stuff-a-Truck

Fifth graders donned creative costumes and

food drive for the Bridgeport Rescue Mission’s

props for the annual Roman Feast.

the victory for the second year.

food pantry.

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The Touring Chamber Choir Visits Italy A mere thirty-six hours after commencement, forty-one students, six chaperones, and a dozen parents departed the loop for an eight day adventure in Italy. By all accounts it was an extraordinary week filled with breathtaking vistas, delicious food, incredible art, beautiful singing, and memories that will last a lifetime.

After flying through the night, the Touring Chamber Choir landed in Rome and were shuttled to the Vatican Museum for a tour that included the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. After a much needed good night sleep, the students woke on Sunday ready for a full day in Rome. History teacher and chaperone, John Cullinan, said, “I woke up at 6 a.m. not remembering where I was and then it hit me. Oh my, I am in Rome, Italy and today the boys are going to sing at St. Peter’s Basilica.” After a ninety minute wait in the cue line, the tour guide was able to get the group in through a side entrance to rehearse. On the way in, the group passed the car that would transport Pope Francis moments later to his weekly blessing of the crowd. Mr. Cullinan recalled the performance as “absolutely beautiful. Their voices filled the entire Basilica. The tour guide said the boys could even be heard from the steps outside.” From St. Peter’s, the group headed downtown to the Pantheon where the boys were given permission to sing a song to a full crowd who chanted for more songs! The last stop of the day was visiting the Colosseum.

From Rome, the group traveled to Assisi with a stop in Orvieto for lunch and a tour of the Basilica. That evening the students performed at mass at the Basilica of St. Francis. Mr. Balmer commented, “this particular Chapel has some of the best acoustics in the world and the boys quickly learned how special a place it was, both in spirit and singing.” The moving performance brought tears to the eyes of many in the audience.

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The next stop on the journey was Florence, which included a tour of the Uffizi Gallery, the Galleria dell’Accademia to see Michelangelo’s David, shopping, and a tour and performance at the Santa Maria de’Ricci Church. From the accolades at the church, to the praise from the hotel guests, the boys were complimented on their gentlemanly behavior and their beautiful singing voices.

The last city on the tour was Venice with a quick stop in Bologna. The entire group loved their stay in Venice. The boat ride to the Island of Murano was spectacular

where they passed many beautiful sites.

Students visited St. Mark’s Square for lunch and then everyone took a gondola ride through the canals. Their final performance of the trip was at the Basilica of San Marco. The commotion outside the Basilica was intense as the group discovered that Michelle Obama was in town. During the rehearsal, two secret service men approached the group for information and to gather the bags, which were searched.

The excitement built at the possibility of Mrs. Obama hearing the boys sing, however, they finished their performance with

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Web Extra Watch a performance from Italy at http://bit.ly/1Kknkjl

Top Left: Students at the Colosseum.

Top Middle: Mary Nelson and Jim Balmer in Florence. Top Right: The choir at the Basilica San Marco after their performance for Michelle Obama.

Bottom Left: The group in Florence.

Bottom Middle: The choir singing at St. Peter's in Florence. Bottom Right: The First Lady greeting the choir. Below: Chris B., John Cullinan, and Sawyer C. holding the flat crusader before departing to Italy.

her not there. Right as the group was leaving, the secret service gathered them and asked them to sing one more song. As they sang Little Innocent Lamb, the First Lady and her two daughters (along with a large entourage) walked through the Basilica.

Following the singing, the First Lady and family greeted the choir, thanked the boys for their singing, and said that the singing made her trip even more special. She asked that the boys sing one more song as they

finished their tour. What an honor to sing for the First Lady and her family and a memory the boys will cherish forever.

Ms. Nelson and Mr. Balmer reflected on the trip in a note sent home to the parents and students. It thanked the boys for their outstanding behavior, their hard work, and for helping to make the trip a tremendous success. Mr. Balmer finished by saying, “This experience will remain with you all your lives.”

Not one detail was missed in planning this trip. The tour guide, the meals, the hotels and transportation, and the schedule were executed flawlessly. Thank you to Mary Nelson, Jim Balmer, and Maureen Bartolomeo for their organization and dedication to making the trip a huge success. Thank you to the faculty chaperones, the parents who provided the photos, and the boys for singing beautifully and representing Fairfield Country Day School in the best possible way. Bravo boys!

FCDS Launches the Flat Crusader Project Similar to the Flat Stanley Project, where students send out their “flat” visitor through the mail and then track, talk, and write about where it has been, we want to see where your FCDS crusader goes. Whether you are traveling abroad, doing a service project, or a fun adventure close to Fairfield, take the flat crusader with you. Take a picture of it and send it to lauren.mulcahy@fairfieldcountryday.org with details on where you were in the photo or post on social media and tag Fairfield Country Day School.

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Scoreboard

By Brad Fallon, Athletic Director

Fall/Winter Update Varsity Hockey The varsity hockey team went undefeated for the second year in a row under new coaches, Rick Harrington and Harry Geary. The season was highlighted by three victories over our rivals, Brunswick, Avon Old Farms, and Choate. At FCDS we emphasize camaraderie, perseverance, and teamwork, and everybody gets a chance to play. When a team goes undefeated for the season, we celebrate with a framed picture of the squad on the wall leading to the gym. These pictures are a source of great pride for the boys. They have also set a solid foundation for our seventh and eighth graders to continue our winning traditions for years to come! Sawyer C., Nick B., Cam M., Carter K., Brendan M., Sean M., Charlie M., Kevin O., Steve P., Billy P., and Charlie P. are the incredible ninth grade skaters who were the backbone of the team.

Varsity Basketball The basketball team almost had an unblemished season too, only losing one game by one point to Brunswick in an overtime thriller. This early season loss could have dejected the boys and Coach Brown, but not this group! With many veteran players, they rallied to finish the winter on a high note with two big victories over New Canaan Country School and Greens Farms Academy.

Robinson B. led the team in scoring, and eighth grader, Noah B., was the rebounding and blocks leader. There were a few boys who had never played hoops before – Ricky O., Brandon S., and Benny B., but they all put in a great deal of effort. Coach Brown

reflected on the season: “It was awesome to see the starters cheering wildly for the bench players when they got in the game.

Let the record show that this team only lost one game all season and that one loss was in overtime. This team established FCDS as a school that has a strong basketball program.

That is a great legacy that they have created for themselves and their beloved school.

Well done boys … well done.”

Varsity Squash Under coach Barnaby’s leadership the developing squash team had many new players and finished the season with a 4-4 record. With thirteen on the roster there was

Left: Sawyer C. taking the puck to the net. Top Left: Robinson B. getting some air as he reaches for a rebound.

Top Right: Will C. warming up for his squash match. Bottom: The undefeated varsity hockey team.

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plenty of movement within the ladder and newcomer Brooks K. cracked the ranks of the top 7. Co-captains, Ben W. and Liam F., did a great job leading the crew, and ninthgrader, Henry K., also provided a strong foundation for the team. Returning players Liam B., James W., Evan A., and Sammy K. had strong seasons and contributed to the team with their wins, team play, and most importantly, their encouragement. Will C., a newcomer to the FCDS squad, but not on the court, controlled the matches with incredible playing and humility. True newcomers Everett Z., Henry B., Steele C., and Gavin G. worked hard and supported their teammates.

Spring Update The athletes playing spring sports went into the season with high hopes after such successful fall and winter seasons. The soccer, football, basketball, and hockey teams had a combined 52-2 record. Needless to say, going into the spring, they were accustomed to winning!

Varsity Lacrosse The lacrosse team’s 5-4 record doesn’t tell the entire story of how successful they were on the field. The boys started out slowly, with some disappointing losses to our rivals Greenwich Country Day School and New

Canaan Country School. Instead of giving up, they rallied behind the ninth grade leadership of Nick B., Benny B., Sawyer C., Sean M., Brendan M., Charlie M., Michael O., Charlie P., Brandon S., and Clay Z. With impressive wins over Avon Old Farms JV, Ludlowe and Barlow freshmen, and with redemption against New Canaan Country School, the taste of victory was extra sweet. Eighth grader Connor B. led in scoring and Cam P. was fantastic in the net along with Benny B. The roster isn’t bare for next year — there are a few standout eighth graders returning and a core group of seventh graders who were great offensively, despite being undersized and younger than the competition. Coaches Bavedas and Menard are proud of their players and appreciate their hard work and determination.

Varsity Baseball Coaches Dorman and Harrington were optimistic going into the baseball season as the squad looked to be the best team they have had in recent memory. Four of the players were members of the Little League World Series team that went to Williamsburg.

The boys were ready to take on their rivals, including the local public schools’ freshman teams. The team didn’t disappoint — finishing with a 9-2 record with each player contributing to their success! Brunswick,

Greenwich Country Day School, New Canaan Country School, Greens Farms Academy, King Low Heywood School, and the Staples freshmen all fell to the mighty Crusaders. The only losses came from the two freshmen teams—Fairfield Prep and Ludlowe. Our offensive stars were Harry A., Ricky O., Drew R., and Kevin O. Pitching standouts were Kyle M., Charlie R., Ricky O., and Robinson B. The boys worked tirelessly, but also had a lot of fun. Walking off the field the last game, one boy exclaimed, “I don’t want the season to end!”

Cross Country Coaches J.Fallon and Vineyard had the youngest squad in Fairfield Country Day history, but they ran as hard as any!

Comprised entirely of sixth and seventh graders, Connor R. and Will S. regularly led the team in their respective divisions, and Jaffir W. was not far behind in the sixth grade pack. They braved hot and cold days, dry weather and wet, and more than a few injuries. Connor finished the season 5th overall for seventh graders and Will S. ended the year 3rd overall for sixth graders, who were also represented by Warren J. and Noah M. Rounding out the seventh graders were Matthew B., Noah B., Finn G., Ruan O., Matthew S., and Jack S. It was a season of hard work and lots of fun!

Left: Clay Z. looking to make a shot. Middle: Drew R. fielding a ground ball. Right: William S. (right), competing in a cross country match.

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alumni news Study Abroad

by Brian Helderman ’09 Looking back on my education at Fairfield Country Day School I am incredibly fortunate to have had such an amazing experience. I became close with several teachers including Mr. Runkel, Mr. McGrath, Mr. Paige ’62, and Mr. Landesman ’96, who substantially improved my academic experience. They taught me time management, organization, and communication skills. I was prepared for high school at the Berkshire School and then college at the University of Denver, where I will soon be starting my senior year. More than the skills, was the overall experience that FCDS provided me. It is irreplaceable. The small class sizes, afternoon sports and study hall, ninth grade privileges, concert choir, winter school plays, pottery classes, and family style lunch, among many other incredible aspects, created one of the best learning environments.

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Last summer, I put the skills I learned at FCDS to the test. I worked in New York City with a private wealth management firm.

During my free time, I worked on building and launching an iOS mobile App called Giggin, a music sharing game that allows users to share and send song quizzes to friends.

While I am not a developer or web designer, I outsourced much of the work to a developing company in India, Infobeans, a mobile and web developing software. I worked with Infobeans daily via phone, video chat, and email. I also sketched multiple designs and then used a website called 99designs. com, which allows you to create a design contest open to hundreds of designers who submit their ideas and work. I am currently working on a new version of Giggin that will include new interface designs, access to a broader user base, a history of songs sent and received, and a longer version of the songs sent. Giggin currently has just under 500 downloads in 14 countries and I am hoping to expand and find new users. It has been really hard work creating an app, but also very rewarding. I have learned a lot about entrepreneurialism and how to build something from scratch through my personal struggles and the help of great mentors.

One of the things I loved most about FCDS was the opportunity to be involved

in a myriad of activities. Having exposure to sports, the arts, technology, and the greater community sparked in me a passion to learn about other cultures. My curiosity and passion lead me to embark on a yearlong study abroad adventure over the past year. I started my travels in London where I took courses applicable to my Economics and Philosophy major and had the opportunity to travel extensively in Western Europe. I made weekend trips to cities in Spain, Italy, France, Ireland, and the Netherlands. After London I set out with Semester at Sea to explore 11 countries and 14 cities on four continents, including Mexico, Japan, China, Singapore, Vietnam, Myanmar, India, Mauritius, South Africa, Namibia, and Morocco. Traveling was an experience I will take with me for the rest of my life. Much like Country Day, I made life-long friends and have some of the most incredible memories. In addition, traveling has taught me so much about myself, the world’s cultures, and some of the world’s biggest issues. As my time abroad comes to an end, I will be spending the summer working in New York City and Los Angeles before returning to Denver for my senior year. I encourage all Country Day students to travel — whether with their families, class trips, or in college. Traveling is a wonder-

Left: Brian looking at the Great Wall of China. Right: Brian (far right) with friends at the Taj Mahal in the city of Agra, India.

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ful teaching tool that expands on what you learn in the classroom.

As I look ahead to my last year at the University of Denver I am excited for the challenge of entering the working world, though I am still unsure of what my plans are after I graduate. I often reflect on my time at FCDS and how it shaped who I am today. I encourage all FCDS students to take advantage of the opportunities the school provides. Pursue your passions with the same enthusiasm demonstrated by the teachers. Get out into the world and embrace different people and cultures. My time outside of the classroom has made me a better student, but also a better person.

Best Selling Author Attributes Success to FCDS

by Noel Hynd ’62 I was a member of the Class of 1962 at FCDS, which probably doesn’t ring much of a bell to most people. In this publication, however, if I mention that I was a nineyear classmate of Cliff Paige…well, instant recognition, right?

I started off at Country Day in what seems as if it were a different century, because, well, it was. I believe it was the fall of 1952. Bill Ely was the relatively new headmaster and I was one of the few students who lived over on the far reaches of the frozen Connecticut tundra: Westport.

Sixth grade student and Frank Riccio’s ’72 nephew, Timmy (left), helped create the tile mosaic.

Tundra, indeed. On winter days it seemed like that as one of the school’s tiny fleet of VW buses would come pick me up and then return me home well after dark.

In the intervening hours, however, I first encountered the rudiments of the English language. How to read, how to spell, how to write. The foundations of the language must have been solid as I’ve managed to put them on a paying basis for the last four decades.

After Country Day I was lucky enough to get into Choate and then the University of Pennsylvania and somehow graduated from both. I say ‘lucky’ and ‘somehow’ because, frankly, I never considered myself a great student, even in English. Both of those institutions are so competitive today that I wonder if I would have made the cut if I had to do it again. Fortunately, I don’t have to.

I was always interested in writing. I used to drive Rye Busch, the noted FCDS English teacher of the era, crazy as whenever I had a free paper, I’d write a story about baseball. He finally “requested” that I change topics. I did, but only for a while: I later wrote baseball for Sports Illustrated and my 1988 book on the old New York Giants baseball club (I was one of the few FCDS students of the era who was neither a Yankees nor a Dodgers fan) The Giants of The Polo Grounds, was an Editor’s Choice of The New York Times Book Review.

But I’m jumping ahead.

Remembering Frank Riccio ’72 Frank Riccio ’72, FCDS alum and uncle to current sixth grader, Timmy, was an award-winning illustrator. He illustrated books for children and adults including Johnny Appleseed, Fables of Aesop, and Spirited Alphabet, which was included in the Society of Illustrators 40th Annual Exhibition. Frank lost a short, but courageous fight to cancer in 2014. Frank loved FCDS and his sister Gioia Riccio wanted to honor his work. Gioia and her husband David Sullivan, collaborated with art teachers Helmi Bromley and Elaine Klabonski, for students to create a piece in memory of Frank.

Students across the divisions worked together to create a tile mosaic replicating Frank’s piece, St. Mary’s by the Sea. The piece was displayed at the spring art show and will be permanently placed above the Lower School stairwell for all to enjoy.

Patricia and Noel Hyand, Nice (Provence), France In the Loop Summer 2015

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Patricia and Noel Hyand at Redondo Beach, CA and two of Hynd’s best selling books.

When I graduated from Penn, I had the desire to become a professional author. My father, Alan Hynd, was a true crime writer.

(Much of his work is still available on Amazon.) From time to time I personally met some of the people he wrote about when they visited our home in Westport. Charming people: murderers, swindlers, embezzlers, con men and gangsters. As my father got older, I started to write in the same genre. I sold stories to several magazines. So I was getting paid to write. A good start. I wanted to move along into books.

Fate created an opportunity. I wrote my first novel in 1973 and 1974. After a few initial rejections, I found myself in the plush East 55th Street office of one of the top New York literary agents of the time, the late Robert Lantz. I had a twenty minute meeting. During those twenty minutes, Leonard Bernstein phoned from London, Truman Capote phoned, Dick Cavett’s office phoned and the lawyers handling the estate of Carson McCullers phoned.

I was completely in over my head.

Nonetheless, Mr. Lantz said he would read my work. But I left his office discouraged and wondering whom I’d pester next.

Two weeks later, however, he phoned me and said he would represent the book.

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Enter Robert Ludlum and James Baldwin.

Mr. Lantz represented Mr. Baldwin at the time. Baldwin, while a brilliant writer, had some nasty dealings with the head of Dell Publishing. Dell held Baldwin’s contract, and he could not legally write for anyone else until he gave Dell a book that was under contract. He had refused and went to Paris to sit things out.The Editor-inChief of The Dial Press was a stellar editor named Richard Marek who was making a name for himself and a good bit of money for the company publishing thriller-author

Robert Ludlum. Anyway, Baldwin fled New York for Paris. His editor followed, the assignment being to get him to come happily back to Dial.

As soon as the editor arrived, Baldwin fled to Algeria. Baldwin was furious and would not write a book for Dell/Dial or Doubleday, the parent company. The editor returned to NY without his quarry. Things were at a standstill.

My proposed novel was in the same genre as Ludlum. The agent, Mr. Lantz, and the Editor-In-Chief ran into each other one afternoon. Mr. Lantz asked how things had gone in Europe. The editor told him.

The next steps would be ugly: lawyers, Baldwin dragged into US Courts, major authors boycotting the entire Doubleday/ Dell/Dial beast, and … but not so fast.

Mr. Lantz offered Dial the exclusive first look at a new adventure/espionage novelist (me). IF Dial wanted me after reading my pages, they could sign me, but only IF

Congratulations to FCDS class of 2012 who will be attending the following colleges and universities in September: Peter Doering ^ Denison University

William E. Lashar ^ Catholic University

John A. Edmonds ^ Union College

Nikolas K. Marill ^ The University of

Nathaniel R. Flicker ^ University of Washington

St Andrews in Scotland

Philip H. Grayson ^ Columbia University

Michael A. McKelvie ^ LaSalle University

Tristan R. Green ^ Manhattanville College

Michael M. Mulroy ^ Georgetown University

Robert E. Heumann ^ Skidmore College

Collin P. O’Neill ^ Oklahoma City University

Gray A. Johnson ^ Tufts University (in 2016 after a gap year)

Harrison W. Paige ^ Villanova University

Peter W. Keefe ^ Elon University John F. Kelly ^ Kansas State University

Ethan M. Reznikoff ^ New York University

Johanan T. Knight ^ Yale University

Alessandro Togni ^ Loyola University Hayden I. Zelson ^ Cornell University

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Baldwin was released from his obligations at Doubleday.

I was the literary bribe, so to speak, the hostage. It seemed like a great idea to everyone who knew about it. It would have even seemed like a good idea to me, but at the time I didn’t even know what was going on behind the scenes.

Mr. Marek took a look at my novel and liked it. Dial signed me. I was lucky beyond belief to be receiving the guidance of one of New York’s best editors. I even felt prosperous on my $7500 advance. Dell released Mr. Baldwin from his obligation, Ludlum continued to churn out Best Sellers and my manuscript was re-titled Revenge. It was published on the same 1976 Dial Press list as Ludlum’s The Gemini Contenders and, ironically, Baldwin’s last book for Dial. We were all featured together on the cover of Publisher’s Weekly. Pretty cool, huh?

I met Ludlum many times later on and Baldwin once. I told them the story about how they helped me get published. They were both amused, particularly Baldwin.

Ludlum liked my name Noel and told me he was going to use it for an upcoming character named Noel Holcroft. That amused me in return. It still does.

Subsequently, I’ve managed to stay in publishing for a lifetime. I’ve written two dozen successfully published books and three produced screenplays. If you run my name through an Amazon search, you’ll find everything, but – since I’m frequently asked – the best known titles are Flowers From Berlin and Truman’s Spy, both spy thrillers with historical roots.

Electronic publishing has changed the whole game, by the way, and has created a very friendly market atmosphere for someone like me with a commercial backlist. I was, for example, the top selling author in the United States on Kindle in December of 2009, although I’m far too modest to mention that here. These ratings shift by the hour of course, but I’m happy to say I’m still up there in a good spot near the top.

Recently, I started my own publishing imprint (RED CAT TALES LLC, PUBLISH-

Young Alumni Gathering This year’s annual spring alumni event was at Half Full Brewery in Stamford. It was great seeing many alumni, several who had not attended an alumni event in years. They tasted beer, dined on Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, and toasted Cliff Paige ’62.

It is always fun hearing alumni reminisce about their days at FCDS and reconnect with classmates. In particular, there were a few alumni from the 60’s who came to support Cliff. They shared stories and were curious if their favorite traditions like family style lunches and graduation attire remain the same today. They discussed their classes and teachers and shared how the school has changed since they were students. While many things have changed, they were glad to hear that the school is grounded in its traditions and continues to be a leader in boys education.

We hope you join us at some of our alumni events next year including: the young alumni gathering, alumni hockey game, and the spring alumni event.

We also encourage alumni to come back to campus! Take a tour and see first-hand how Country Day continues to excel in teaching boys.

Top Left: Cliff Paige ’62 and David Smith ’91 talking. Top Right: Cliff Paige ’62 and long-time friend John Sturges, Jr. ’62. Bottom Right: Andrew Pikul ’02 and Cliff Paige ’62. Bottom Right: J.J. Van Ess ’03, Ben Paige ’04, Rick Runkel, and Andrew Pikul ’02 talking with teachers Jesse Crouch and Duncan Briggs.

ING), along with my wife Patricia, whom I met in West Hollywood in 1997. (She also went to Choate Rosemary Hall, but that’s a different story.) We live in the Los Angeles area, which seems a world away from snow shovels, Fairfield County of the 1950’s, and

light blue VW buses ferrying kids through the snow to primary English classes.

But the written word, how to use the language, how to read and spell are very durable things when soundly learned. So really, it’s not as distant as it seems.

In the Loop Summer 2015

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Class of 1940

Class of 1972

Class of 1998

wrote, “Memories of FCDS will last a lifetime. At my age of 92 I can still remember those wonderful times even Popes teaching French class — not my best subject.”

has been married for thirty-two years to Cynthia and they have two daughters — Krista and Tara. He has owned the Exact Auto Warehouse in Fairfield for the past eighteen years. Todd stays in touch with Tim Stone ’72, Ted Bancroft ’72, and Mike Majowski.

LAWRENCE (LARRY) BROWN received his Juris Doctorate from The Dickinson School of Law at Pennsylvania State University. He was admitted to practice law in Connecticut and New York. He is Vice President Legal at JW Michaels & Co., a premier executive search firm specializing in recruiting for top-tier financial services, legal, technology, accounting, and business institutions. The company is headquartered in New York City. Larry heads the company’s office in Houston, Texas which opened in 2014.

DONALD MCGLOON

Class of 1962

Flowers from Berlin, a spy novel by NOEL HYND, reached #1 in Amazon Kindle Espionage fiction in early November 2013.

Class of 1965 ED PAIGE and his family, Jacqueline, Sayers, and Nolan ’09 recently received The Edwin Goodman Family of the Year Award. The award is given to the USTA New England family that, as a group, has contributed the most to tennis in New England. Ed is the Head Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach at Fairfield University.

Nolan and Sayer have both won various New England Junior Section Championships and have been ranked No.1 in New England at some point during their junior tennis careers. Nolan has also been ranked No.1 nationally in the Boys 16’s. Both Nolan and Sayer compete on their schools Varsity tennis teams. Nolan plays at Stanford University while Sayer has been captain of his high school team for both his junior and senior year.

Class of 1967 recently wrote to FCDS. “Hello to fellow members of the Class of 1967, better known as “The 19 of 67!” It’s been a very long time! Richard Bell called me out of the blue a couple of months ago and we reminisced about 6-man football and a particularly tough game we had at Cheshire Academy … which we won of course.

Many years ago I used to see Sid Skinner (a year ahead of us) in New York where we were both working in advertising (at the very tail end of the “Mad Men” era). I’d love to hear from you!”

BILL STABY

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TODD LANSDALE

Class of 1981 Congratulations to FCDS alum, DOUGLAS TIROLA, for being nominated by the James Beard Foundation for his movie, Hey Bartender, in the category of Best Special/Documentary.

BLAKE KEOGH married Kennesaw Richards on September 20, 2014 in Vinalhaven, Maine. Alumni in attendance were Devin Keogh ’04, Parker Newton ’98, and Charlie Payne ’98. Headmaster, John Munro, and former FCDS Latin teacher, Steve Sullivan, also attended.

Douglas Tirola (second from left) at the premiere of Hey Bartender.

Class of 1993 JOHN D’ARCO’S high school comedy, Barely Lethal, opens in select theaters in NY and LA. It is also available on all video on demand platforms. Please go to barelylethal-movie.com for the trailer and scroll down for information on where it is playing. And, adults, you will like this too!

John “guarantee’s 96 minutes of amusing, escapist fun!”

Class of 1996 KEVIN LANDESMAN and wife Dana announce the birth of their third child, Charlotte Sophia, on March 2, 2015.

Charlotte was born 7 pounds, 3 ounces at Stamford Hospital. Kevin and Dana’s other children include Caroline (age 7) and Cole (age 3).

L to R: Headmaster John Munro, Blake Keogh ’98, Parker Newton ’98, Charlie Payne ’98, Devin Keogh ’04, and Steve Sullivan.

Class of 1999 spent 2014 and the early part of 2015 in China and India completing fieldwork for his PhD at Oxford in China-India relations. He is now back in the UK writing and finishing his studies. Jonathan spent time in international mergers and acquisitions in New York in between terms at Oxford. While in the US, he spent time with old FCDS friends — Cleve Rueckert ’99, Richard Vose ’99, and Dave Wiswell ’99. He is also in frequent touch with Charles Opalak ’99. He sends best wishes from England!

JONATHAN WARD

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Class of 2001

Class of 2006

married Megan Tracey on Saturday, June 14, 2014 at the Glen Island Harbour Club in New Rochelle, NY. The couple enjoyed a honeymoon in Turks and Caicos and then returned to Houston, Texas where they now reside. The groom works in finance for Invesco, an international financial corporation; the bride is a marketing analyst for Reynolds & Reynolds.

is currently living and working in New York City. He works at the startup BrandYourself, alongside friend and fellow FCDS classmate, Nick Ward ’06.

ANDREW BROWN

Class of 2003 won The Country Club of Fairfield Men’s Golf Championship in September on the 37th hole. It was a day he won’t forget with amazing golf and an incredible win!

OWEN FOOTE

RYAN EICK

Class of 2007 BRONSON KELLY ’07 and his brother CONNOR

KELLY ’10 faced each other in the semi-finals of the Division I NCAA Lacrosse Tournament on May 23. Bronson plays for Johns Hopkins and Connor plays for Maryland.

Maryland beat Johns Hopkins, but ended up losing to Denver in the final game.

Bronson Kelly ’07 (left) and Connor Kelly ’10

Owen Foote ’03 MORGAN KEIM lives in Santa Monica, California and is a first-year MBA candidate at UCLA Anderson School of Management. He is involved at the intersection of corporate sustainability and business development, and is currently defining goto-market strategy for a Bay Area food-tech start-up which has discovered a proprietary process to make plant-based meat.

WILL WALLACE is a manager for The Midas Exchange in New York, NY.

JACK RUNKEL joined the Georgetown University Lacrosse staff after receiving the 2014 USILA All-America honors at Loyola as a goalie. Runkel, the 2014 Patriot League Goalie of the Year, also helped the Greyhounds to a 2012 NCAA Championship.

In that season, Runkel and the Greyhounds set a record for the least goals allowed in a National Championship Game.

QUINN SMITH, who is currently a senior forward at #15-ranked Boston College, is enjoying a fantastic season as the alternate captain.

Class of 2008 JAKE DUNN graduated from Kenyon College where he played baseball. Jake finished as the Lords all-time leader in hits, runs scored, at-bats, doubles, and total bases.

JAKE FELMAN graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in economics. This summer he will begin working for the investment bank Houlihan Lokey in New York City.

MIKE PALIOTTA, a senior defenseman and captain at the University of Vermont, was nominated for the Hobey Baker award — the highest honor given to a national collegiate men’s hockey player. Mike will now be playing for the NHL Chicago Blackhawks. We were thrilled to have him back to campus for our first annual alumni hockey game and hope to see him again this winter.

Class of 2009 ALEXANDER ROSSETTI qualified and competed in the Ironman Hawaii 2014 World Championship.

BRIAN HELDERMAN is studying at the University of Denver and has spent the last year traveling around the world. He traveled and studied in London, and continued on to six other countries around Europe.

Left: Jake Dunn ’08; Right: Brian Helderman ’09 In the Loop Summer 2015

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I N T H E LO O P • S U M M E R 2015 FA I R F I E L D C O U N T R Y D AY S C H O O L

From there he traveled on a ship to visit ten countries on four continents. As well as his travels, he has recently created an iOS mobile App called Giggin. plays tennis for Stanford and played in the NCAA tournament.

DAVID WHITE was leading scorer for the Amherst hockey team. He made All-NESCAC and his team made it to the semifinals of the Division III NCAA tournament in Minnesota.

NOLAN PAIGE

Class of 2010 TIM EDMONDS, a lacrosse player at Harvard, returned to campus this spring to help lead the Blue/White lacrosse team in shooting drills.

Ryan Seymour ’11 giving his address to the class of 2015 as Head Prefect at graduation

Class of 2011 signed a national letter of intent with Boston College for football on February 4. He is slated to play outside linebacker. Sharrieff is a three-time All-New England prep selection, who initially attended Naugatuck High, transferred to Sacred Heart, and finished at Kingswood-Oxford.

Sharrieff will report to BC on June 22.

from Westminster School.

SHARRIEFF GRICE

SAM RUNKEL finished his freshman year at Gettysburg College where he played lacrosse. He returned to campus with Tim

Edmonds ’10 to help run shooting drills for the Blue/White lacrosse team.

RYAN SEYMOUR graduated from Westminster School and is looking forward to playing lacrosse at Denison University.

Class of 2012 TRISTAN GREEN will be attending Manhattanville College where he was recruited to play attack on their lacrosse team.

JOHANAN KNIGHT will be attending Yale University in the fall.

Top Left: Tim Edmonds ’10 coaching sixth grade players; Bottom Left: David White ’10 with his family; Middle: Sam Runkel ’11; Right: (l to r) Johanan Knight ’12, Tommy Babbington ’12, and Gray Johnson ’12

In Memoriam JOHN F. AKERS

Husband to Susan Akers, father to current parents, Scott Akers ’80, Pamela Sjodin, and Annie Klyver, and grandfather to Jack Akers’15, Evan Akers ’18, William Sjodin ’11, Eric Sjodin ’08, Curtis Sjodin ’07, Alec Sjodin ’14, Samuel Klyver ’16, Nicholas Klyver ’20, and Brooks Klyver ’17, passed away on August 22, 2014.

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MATTHEW D. BARRY ’69

RUTH R. HOXTON

Brother to John ’67, Christopher ’69, and Michael Barry ’73, and uncle to Stephen Barry ’02, passed away on January 7, 2015.

Mother to Arch Hoxton ’58 passed away on October 17, 2014.

CHARLES B. CURTIS

Father to John ’74, Timothy ’77, and Charles Curtis ’79, and grandfather to Jack Curtis ’15, passed away on December 21, 2014.

JOAN S. NEILEY

Mother to Richard Neiley ’87 passed away on April 16, 2015.

DAVID SULLIVAN

Grandfather to Timmy Sullivan ’18 passed away on February 7, 2015.

Get Social with Friends Like us on Facebook Gray Johnson ’12, Robbie Heumann ’12, and Alessandro Togni ’12 at graduation from Suffield Academy.

@fairfieldcountrydayschoolalumniassociation and @FairfieldCountryDaySchool

Follow us on Twitter @Fairfield_CDS and @johnmunrofcds

Class of 2013 was elected President of the Student Body at Deerfield Academy for the 2015-2016 school year.

NICKY CONZELMAN

was awarded the Semans’ Family Merit Scholarship Award at The Lawrenceville School. The scholarship fund was established in 1981 by Truman Semans to honor his father, William R. Semans.

Truman Semans hoped that the ideal recipient of this award would exhibit the same qualities as Hobart Baker, who was his father’s hero. It is said that a Semans’ Scholar should demonstrate the qualities of a model Lawrentian. Such a student is active in the School and participates in community service projects. In addition, the student must exhibit integrity and good moral values. The scholar should be a leader and someone who invests time and energy in the community. Ian was also presented the Eisenhower Leadership Award, given by the West Point Society of New Jersey. This award recognizes exceptional high school juniors in New Jersey who demonstrate outstanding performance in the areas of academics, athletics, community service, and leadership. Congratulations Ian on such honorable awards.

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IAN FROST

Class of 2014 PATRICK HARPER, a sophomore at Avon Old Farms, recently played in the Under-17 World Championship. He signed a letter of intent this fall to play for Boston University.

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save the dates!

Friday, October 23 Oktoberfest Saturday, October 24 Homecoming Monday, November 23 Young Alumni Gathering Tuesday, November 24 Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day Saturday, December 19 Alumni Hockey Game For current news and events visit www.fairfieldcountryday.org

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