37 minute read
Chapter One: Freshmen Writing Their First Chapters
A special art day is part of Chapter One’s curriculum designed to orient freshmen to Fountain Valley School and unite them as a class.
CHAPTER ONE:
Freshmen Writing Their First Chapters
While founding headmaster Francis Froelicher told all incoming students that they were in a position to write their own histories, English faculty Jen Buckley has developed a semester-long program—Chapter One—to orient and transition freshmen to Fountain Valley School.
The class is built around the School’s core values, giving freshmen a solid base for high school success while familiarizing them with Fountain Valley’s culture and the principles upon which the School was founded.
Chapter One builds upon Transitions, the previous freshman orientation program. Working with School Counselor Katherine Keen, Dean of Students John Kelley and former Assistant Dean of Students Josh Doyon, Buckley envisioned a redesigned, semester-intensive program. The goals are for students to identify and discuss their personal strengths, challenges and concerns as they see themselves working and living in Fountain Valley’s unique learning community. “In the framework of our core values of self-reliance, curiosity and courage, they first work to figure out who they are, what about themselves they want to improve upon, how they fit in and what they have to offer,” Buckley says. “They take the Keirsey personality test, discover their learning styles, and learn study strategies and systems of organization. We strive to instill the idea of a growth mindset.”
After this self-assessment, students are then directed to look outward toward developing empathy for others based on FVS’s core values of open-mindedness and compassion. Areas covered are listening with empathy, trying new things, moving from selfreflection to thinking of others, and community service.
A particular point of pride for Buckley is a system she developed based on the video game model of achievement points. She gives freshmen a wide range and long list of activities with which to earn points, including: »Stop into Mr. Webb’s office and ask him a personal question about life, books, etc. »Day students, invite a boarder home for a weekend; boarders, go to a day student’s home for a weekend. »Turn your cellphone/tablet off for 48 hours and avoid all social media on your computer. »Spend some free time tutoring another student in a class in which your are strong. »Stop in the Admission Office and ask Mr . Turner to teach you how to tie a bowtie. »Have a conversation with one of our alumni faculty about their FVS experience as students. »Help with bar n work during a free period. Buckley went so far as to create reward stickers for students to place in their Chapter One journals. Outcomes Buckley finds that with the help of Chapter One, the freshmen grew quickly into a close-knit class. “Everyone knows each other. We put them in small groups a lot to work together. It’s nice to watch American students explain things to our ESL students, and gain empathy and compassion for the difficulties of being an international student.” She notices a difference in her freshman English classes. “I don’t have to spend time on skills and organizational management because they’ve had Chapter One,” she says. “The kids are more polite and work better together. They’re thinking as a class, looking out for each other.” Kathleen Czop, international student adviser, has found that Chapter One is helpful in “getting ESL students to know American students and vice versa,” she says. “I like that the point system encourages students to host international students in their homes over breaks.” Another outcome played out in the dining room at one of the School’s formal dinners. Freshmen had recently received etiquette training as part of Chapter One, which they were applying at the dinner. They couldn’t help but notice that many members of the community would also benefit from an etiquette refresher, which Buckley found both funny and affirming. Buckley has been invited to present the Chapter One program at The Association of Boarding Schools conference this December in Washington, D.C. “We’re ahead of the curve,” Buckley says. “This has a lot of potential to be a premier program. We will all see distinct benefits to having a program like Chapter One. Freshmen are taking something away to help them succeed at Fountain Valley. I’m interested to see the impact Chapter One has on the School as a whole, three years from now.” “I think that the simple, yet fun exercises that we did as a class were very helpful in bringing our class closer and stronger by making each individual more aware of things such as empathy , compassion, stress and even manners. By learning about ourselves and each other and how we could improve, I believe our class community grew more united and overall, happy.” Adeline Thames ’19 “Chapter One was a class that really urged me to step beyond my placid sea of safety and venture into new waters. It was the current that swept me gently into the open ocean of the high school social realm… I managed to forge new bonds and create new friends. The most valuable message of Chapter One was that of ‘yet.’ After watching a TED Talk about learning and growth capabilities, the class discussed the power of ‘yet’ and how by continuously believing that you can improve, you will improve. The message that you can improve your learning ability by saying, ‘I don’t understand this yet,’ and by believing that you can change, truly affected the manner in which I viewed some of my more challenging classes.” Ashby Baker ’19
Class Notes
60s
WILLIAM NORMAN ’61 sends news: “I attended the 55th Reunion, staying in Penrose and touring my old rooms with former roomie CALE CROWLEY. What fun to share more than five decades of stories with him and the likes of TOM PRICE, MARSHALL BELL, TOM POOR and BILL GRIFFITHS, among the many others who attended. I returned to NorCal where I still practice law full time. The variety and personalities I meet trying civil jury cases never ceases to amaze me, e.g., I just finished one where all of the parties were Iranians and the judge was a former Israeli. You tell me who wins that one! Still running three miles every morning, though I confess my knees are not what they used to be. I’m into mindful meditation, making fruit pies from backyard trees and marveling at the impact, good and bad, that Silicon Valley has wrought—the economic electricity is exciting, but nobody here can afford to buy their own house anymore. I hope to return for the 60th.”
Mac Buckingham ’66 visited campus with his wife, Carol. They moved back to Denver after 15 years in Las Vegas. Buckingham says that he was the impetus for the first lacrosse team. Here is the only photo taken of the team.
70s
MARK CHILDS ’77, associate dean at the University of New Mexico, sold his 12th science fiction poem, Even Horizon, to be published in Focus, the magazine of the British Science Fiction Association.
Robert A. Hefner IV ’74 is senior geophysicist with Continental Resources in Oklahoma City. He sits on numerous boards and civic committees dedicated to the health and welfare of children. He is a real estate and energy investor, political adviser, and food product developer with Galimaro LLC. Along with his wife, Carol, Hefner is the co-founder of the Aliya Hefner Visiting Fellowship at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital in memory of his late daughter. “We have five grown and accomplished children: Robert V, who was recently featured as a recipient of the Forbes ‘30 Under 30’ distinction in energy, daughter Iman who is a top-producing realtor, daughter Alexis who is an executive with Seventy-Seven LLC and daughter Gabrielle, a sophomore at the University of Oklahoma. The joy of our lives are our six active and beautiful grandchildren. My wife and I travel the globe for business and pleasure, and continue to expose our growing family to world experiences, and encourage service to the community and those in need. I am indeed blessed and graced by God to be surrounded by a large, wonderful family that is healthy and filled with love. The legacy I hope to leave is one of unity and strength through faith in Christ.”
JOHN MOORE ’76 sends news: “I have remarried and am helping to raise two girls, ages 11 and 15. I started my own research firm, Chilmark Research, focusing on the adoption of healthcare IT to improve care delivery processes. Other than that, just enjoying the outdoors and the richness of life.” WILLIAM LEE COLEMAN ’77 sends greetings to all from Charleston, S.C.: “I am so looking forward to celebrating with my classmates for our 40th next May. Last month, I retired from the Department of Defense. My last assignment was at the U.S. Army Cyberspace Center of Excellence at Fort Gordon, Ga. To ease into retirement, I took a part-time job with an airline. Can’t wait to start this next chapter. Best wishes to all.”
The Old West meets modern technology at BOBBY NORRIS ’78’s T-Cross Ranches, which have been producing quarter horses for decades. While photos and video taken from the edge of an arena are common in marketing horses, T-Cross is using drone cameras to bring the video experience closer to the saddle experience. It allows prospective buyers from around the world to see a horse’s capabilities and the way it moves.
From BARBARA BALL TRASK ’79: “We bought a house in Bend, Ore., and are moving out of our home in Carmel Valley. We hope to have a white Christmas. I look forward to teaching my daughter to ski. It is high mountain desert there and feels a lot like Colorado. We hope to be fully relocated there by the fall. Hope classmates will come visit!”
PETE BLATCHFORD ’79 appeared in the On The Spot Theatre production of Pieces of Klee this summer. Blatchford’s book, Wicked, Immoral, Utterly Bad: An Illustrated History of Chicago Theatre, is scheduled for release in the fall.
SAMUEL MARQUIS ’79 sends updates on his suspense novelist career: “My fourth thriller, Bodyguard of Deception, book one of a WWII trilogy, is an Amazon Top 25 Bestselling Historical Thriller. Thanks FVS for teaching me to write!” BRAD SCHWARTZ ’82, professor of urology and director of the Center for Laparoscopy and Endourology at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, received the Teaching Excellence Award along with the permanent title of Distinguished Teacher. Schwartz is internationally recognized as an innovator in surgical simulation and is a leader in teaching techniques with robotic surgery. Schwartz has two patents for devices and two more pending.
Trustee Link Nicoll ’79 had the chance to catch up with Tony Goldwyn ’78 at a Washington, D.C., fundraiser for presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Goldwyn, who plays the president in the popular television show Scandal, was in D.C. with his fellow cast members for the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner. “It was great to see Tony in his element,” Nicoll says. “He was the featured speaker of the event, and he spoke substantively and eloquently about the national and international issues facing our country. Afterward, we shared some laughs about our time at FVS. He was funny and kind. He is still the same Tony we knew at school.” 80s
BRIAN EHRMANTRAUT ’81 sends an update: “I totally switched careers since I ‘retired’ in 1999, and now in addition to some public service work and elected positions, I mostly devote myself to structural firefighting, medical first response, wilderness/urban search and rescue, marine search and rescue, technical rescue operations, fireground rapid intervention team, and infectious disease control (Ebola: I’m the guy with the clipboard...).
Stephanie Carter ’85, P ’13, ’16, ’19 sent this picture from the Headwear Association dinner in New York City in April. She is on the board of this organization, and they have an annual dinner at the Boat House in Central Park every year. Joey Parr ’84, right, was also in attendance along with Carter’s husband, Michael.
MERCER BORDEN ’87 took a new job on the Foundation and Endowment Specialty Practice at Suntrust and will be moving with his family to Nashville from Connecticut in late summer.
Sarah Fricke-Crossman ’87 is living in Marshfield, Mass., and working as a school social worker for kindergarten through second-grade children. “My son, Jake, just graduated from Marshfield High School and is heading to Bowdoin College. My daughter, Lindsey, will be a senior at Marshfield High School and we are deep in the college tour process. Bobby and I celebrated our 23rd wedding anniversary this summer. Enjoying beach days and friends all summer long...come visit, FVS’ers!”
Steve Lemme ’87 has much news: “I’m married now with two boys, 4 and 2. The 2-year-old vomited on me at 4:30 a.m. today! Ah...parenthood. Living in Los Angeles. Cameras roll on Super Troopers 2 in September, just outside of Boston. We’ve already shot a couple of weeks, and we have five more to go. We’re closing deals on a couple of big actors who I’m dying to tell you about but can’t as of today! I’ve also been touring around the country with another one of my Broken Lizard friends, Kevin Heffernan (Farva from Super Troopers), doing live comedy shows. Thanks to Burt McLucas ’87, who put together a fun event for the Denver shows in May. It was great to see Amy Marasco ’88 and her 50-year-old son Jeff Burton, Pete Mariner ’88, Arnaud Dumont ’87 and family, Chad Harrison ’86, Kathy Sugden ’87, Steve Mason ’87, Danny
Patten ’87 and Caroline Haines ’87. I really hope I didn’t forget anyone. We have shows in Boston, Connecticut, Madison, Phoenix, Calgary, Philly and Portland, Ore., to close out the year. I’d love to see people! Also, I’m putting together an unscripted TV show, and we had a meeting with the president of Matador Content, the company that produces Lip Sync Battle, to pitch him the idea. About two minutes in, we somehow got on the subject of Colorado Springs, and the president said he’d grown up there. I asked where he went to school, and he said, ‘It was called Fountain Valley School.’ I said, ‘That’s where I went!’ Turns out it was Jay Peterson ’91, and we’re now working together! Small world.”
“I caught up with fellow classmate [and husband] Dan Patten ’87 at the Patten family ranch over the July 4th weekend,” Caroline Haines writes. “We hiked through fields of wildflowers and basked in the unspoiled beauty of high mountaintops. We look forward to seeing everyone at Alumni Weekend in 2017! Haines and Patten with their sons Topher and Parker
LAURA PRUDEN ’87’s story, NEST, about her adventures apartment hunting in Harlem, was picked up by the Brick Underground podcast. Episode 4 is available for streaming on their website, http://www.brickunderground.com/ podcast/episode4-nest-laura-pruden, or for download on iTunes and Stitcher.
Trustee Ben Howe ’89 spent July 4th weekend with classmates Trevor Somers, Chuck Ridgway, Blake Harrison and Chris Sanchez ’88 at FVS’s Mountain Campus. It was the first visit there since graduation for Harrison, a Denver prosecutor, and Somers, a software engineer. According to Howe, “The weekend’s activities included strenuous thermal lounging at the Mt. Princeton Hot Springs and rafting on the Arkansas River.” Left to right, Harrison, Howe, Sanchez, Ridgway and Somers 90s
Amelia Norfleet Dorn ’93 sends news: “Miranda Terry and I met up for a little reunion at the Penny Arcade in Manitou Springs. She has two beautiful kiddos and a wonderful husband, all of whom I really enjoyed meeting. She says she is very happy in North Carolina. We both happily reminisced about our times at FVS, especially in the theater. I have spent the past six years building up my nonprofit, IMPACT Personal Safety of Colorado (a self defense organization committed to educating, equipping and empowering Colorado), and I am finally able to hand off most of my administrative duties to my amazing staff and get back to my real love, teaching. My favorite programs are our EMPOWERED Family, which brings children and their caregivers together to create powerful and unified conversations about safety, and equips them with the verbal and physical skills to work as an effective team in a crisis. I also enjoy our programs for incarcerated men and juvenile offenders that give students skills to manage their adrenaline, make more value-driven choices and set healthier and more relationshipbuilding boundaries. I love the work I do! I also love my two girls and husband (who survived prostate cancer this year). I am incredibly blessed! FVS deserves a whole lot of thanks for setting me up with a deep belief in myself and drive to go where my heart sends me.”
Chris Peknik ’90 is shown here with Emma Reynolds ’13 (daughter of English Department Chair Dave Reynolds P ’13, ’18). They are both camp counselors this summer at Cottonwood Gulch in Thoreau, N.M. Peknik is a science teacher in Albuquerque.
News from ALEX MARSH ’98: “On Dec. 30, 2015, my wife, Jennifer Abbott, and I welcomed into the world our first child, William Abbott Marsh. He was the last baby born in Summit County, Colo., in 2015. I work as an associate attorney and the trials specialist at the law offices of David. A. Helmer in Frisco, and my wife is the director of the advocates of Lake County in Leadville, where we reside. Also, during Leadville’s skijoring competition this
March, I bumped into my old FVS adviser, LACHLAN CLARKE. He did not recognize me at first, but was polite enough not to say it was because I am fat. He reports that he is doing well and is working as the riding program director for a camp in the Buena Vista area.”
Joe Sedlak
Chance Carraway Will Phelps
Robert Ferguson
Alison Christofferson ’99 has news: “Fellow alumna Emma Whitehead ’12 and I started working on the same day at the Center for Creative Leadership in Colorado Springs. She is working as a faculty resource associate. I am a project assistant for the custom project management team. We had lunch together and talked about all the alumni and faculty we both know. Turns out that I did dorm duty in her sister Mara’s dorm. 00s
Sadie Schurwing ’00 has news: “I am currently living in Chico, Calif., with my 12-year-old son, Asher, after closing my vintage clothing shop, Sadiedeluxe, (pictured) last year in Paradise, Calif. I’m working as the creative project manager at Annapurna Living, a website for women founded by actress Carrie-Anne Moss. I’m also always working on my own creative projects; I have my own blog and I also run an advice column called The Cabin Diaries, which is hosted at the Bohemian Collective, a site that I’ve blogged at over the past few years. I love living in Northern California, and I am still great friends with Leah Barlow.” Joseph Sedlak IV ’03, William Phelps ’04, Chance Carraway ’04 and Robert Ferguson ’02 got together in June for a river journey in Montana. Sedlak says, “The Smith River is a 60-mile float with no services and no other boat ramps. We spent five days on the river between Great Falls and White Sulphur Springs in Montana. Go Danes!”
LEANNE LILLY ’02, who has been a behavior specialty intern at the University of Pennsylvania, is spending the next three years at Ohio State University in a veterinary behavior medicine residency.
SUZY BARR ’03 sold her house in San Jose and moved to Denver. “I’m starting over but excited for a new chapter in my life! Looking forward to celebrating the weddings of my sister, STEPHANIE BARR, and MOLLY CREEDEN in August.
On their European trip, the Duff family connected with two ASSIST students whom they hosted while at Fountain Valley. They met Bori Pataky ’06 in Budapest where she is an emergency medical resident and Nikola Denisova ’07 from Prague, Czech Republic, who is now a geologist at a gold mine in northern Sweden. Left to right: Erin Duff ’08, Nikola Denisova ’07, Hannah Duff ’06 and Clara Duff, former director of annual giving and alumni relations. Katherine Rowe ’07 spent five months studying at Fort Gordon, Ga., to become a signal captain, and she was promoted to captain in February. “I was able to spend time with Annie Goodwin ’08 and Wrendy Rayhill ’09 when I was in Augusta. I am now stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, as an armored reconnaissance squadron signal officer in the 1st Cavalry Division.” Shown here with her father, Richard Rowe, Major General U.S. Army (Retired)
IONA MUSGNUNG ’08 was accepted into Lewis and Clark College’s Student Affairs Administration program for grad school. She says, “I’m really excited to be back in Portland after working at Annie Wright School’s boarding program for a few years in Tacoma, Wash.”
DEREK ZUCHOWSKI ’08’s news: “I joined the Army after going back to school for my MBA, finished the Infantry Basic Officer Leaders Course, completed Airborne school, married Emily and had a baby boy.”
Taylor Guzy ’12 graduated from the University of Alabama and is currently working an internship at Disney Resorts. He met with English faculty Jen Buckley during spring break.
Ashley Ban ’09 met English faculty Jen Buckley and math faculty Scott Lebo at a track meet in Elbert, Colo. She is living in Denver, working at Buckley Air Force Base and coaching her little brother in long jump.
10s
Max Burch ’11 graduated from Emory University. He worked for the Vail race department last winter while between projects for the environmental consulting firm he works for in Atlanta. Science faculty Brett Rubenstein met up with Burch on the mountain. Trace Tomme ’11 visited Alexa Junker ’12 and Kim Donaldson ’12, front, at Colby College over spring break. Tomme is finishing a five-year combined bachelor’s and master’s program in engineering physics at Colorado School of Mines.
Central Wyoming College rodeo contestant Piper Naylon ’12 brought home a buckle from the Colorado State University rodeo in April. Naylon won the goat tying event with a time of 7.4 seconds in the long go-round and 7.6 seconds in the short go-round, placing her in 12th for the Central Rocky Mountain Region standings.
Brandon Barker ’12 hiked two 14’ers—Gray’s and Torrey’s Peaks—sporting an FVS alum t-shirt. He sends these updates: “I just graduated University of Denver with my bachelor’s in business administration with a degree in marketing and statistics. I do graphic design on the side, but I am currently looking for an entry-level job in advertising and/or paid search. While at DU, I worked for the Kempe Foundation, which is a nonprofit that raises money to fight and treat child abuse and neglect. I also worked with a Denver start-up and a local architecture firm. And, having met so many great international students at FVS, I was an active member in AIESEC at DU, which is a local chapter of the largest student-run organization in the world, where I helped send students abroad and brought students from around the world to Denver for work and internship opportunities.”
EMMA WHITEHEAD ’12 graduated from Colorado College cum laude with a degree in political science. Her senior thesis on language identity and political outcomes gave her the opportunity to conduct research in Switzerland and Belgium, for which she received departmental honors. She is now a faculty resource associate at the Center for Creative Leadership in Colorado Springs.
EMMA REYNOLDS ’13 planned Hamilton College’s first on-campus Mindfulness Retreat that was a full day of activities including yoga, meditation, discussion and zen doodling. The idea for the retreat was developed by both Chaplain Jeff McArn and Reynolds, who is the chaplaincy meditation intern.
JEFF BRABEC ’14 is one of four students at Juniata College named to the new position of senior residential assistant. The SRAs have greater voice in the school’s Residential Life Office and serve as liaisons between the students and the administration. her senior year, where she was introduced to and fell in love with marine biology.”
Mara Whitehead ’13 writes in: “Every day, I am reminded of how much Fountain Valley gave me and how thankful I am for the experiences and life skills I gained during my time there. I moved from Denver to Los Angeles to pursue my goals to work in the film industry. Since moving, I have worked on some really amazing and high profile projects, and am now production coordinator/ creative assistant for two partnered music video/commercial production companies, The Sword Fight and Ramble West Productions. Some of the recent clients I’ve worked with include Kanye West, The Weeknd, NBA, Nike, Apple Music and Beats by Dre. In addition, I’m beginning to direct more video projects, and you can see my creative works here: www. marawhitehead.com
Left to right, English Department Chair Dave Reynolds P ’13, ’18, Katie Medved ’08, Jeannie Folan ’08 and Chance Carraway ’04 who together hiked the Seven Bridges loop trail in Cheyenne Canon, Colorado Springs. Medved works at the Denver Museum of Science and Nature flying drones for excitable 6-year-olds. She also acts in an experimental theater troupe. Folan is in med school in at Georgetown University. Carraway also lives in Denver and commutes to Boulder to work at OptTek Systems, Inc., a simulation optimization company.
PAIGE JESCHKE ’14 volunteers with the National Ability Center in Park City, Utah, to teach children and wounded warriors how to ski.
Former Associate Director of College Counseling Avery McGlenn visited Washington University-St. Louis during a college tour over spring break. She met up with Casey Lane ’14.
English faculty JEN BUCKLEY had breakfast with LIDIA CHALOVA ’15 and KAT DAMES ’15. She shares their news: “Lidia and Kat took a road trip together to attend FVS graduation and to catch up with members of their class. Chalova is majoring in psychology/pre-med at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where she is loving the campus, but not loving being back under the gray skies of the Midwest for the winters. Dames just returned to the states after a year of studying in Paris. While she had some scary moments during the fall terrorist bombings, overall she loved her year overseas. She will attend the University of Southern California in the fall. She told me that she was all set to declare English/prelaw for her college and life plan until she went on the Bahamas Interim the spring of
Lily Harris ’15 began her bachelor’s degree program in mathematics at the University of Adelaide (South Australia) in February, immersing herself in a variety of volunteer and extracurricular activities. She was “drafted” to be the freshman class representative for the Adelaide University Mathematics Society, and she enjoys volunteering at outreach events like pancake breakfasts, “barbies” and quiz nights. She joined the University of Adelaide chapter of Engineers Without Borders, an organization focused on developing skills, knowledge and engineering solutions to solve problems faced by communities in the developing world. Harris was invited to join a team that traveled to Alice Springs in the heart of the Outback for a week-long outreach event.
Shale Hunter ’15 spent an interesting gap year before heading to Tufts University this fall. He worked first at Lafferty Group, a financial services consulting firm in Westport, Ireland, and then taught English at a school in Chengdu, China. Here, he is finishing an English translation using a big brush with a sponge as the tip to write in water.
For his excellent play this season, Paiute Morrison ’15 received the Rookie of the Year Award from John Hanson, owner of Southern Oregon Spartans Hockey of the Western States Hockey League.
Former Faculty
Former faculty Christopher Lowell gave his three-hour continuous legal education seminar, Ben Franklin on Ethics ® , twice for the Pennsylvania Bar and twice for the New Jersey Bar this past June. This nationally accredited CLE is one that Lowell has given to various legal groups around the country, and is always popular with attorneys eager to get their hours of ethical or professional credits in an interesting and unique format.
Former Associate Dean of Students Paula Walter sent in news and this photo of her family who now work, live and reside at Portsmouth Abbey School: “Thought you would appreciate this recent family pic from Thomas’ 8th grade graduation. John Patrick found out that he is a new member of the 10-person a capella student group here at the school! The boy has never had a voice lesson in his life. He is so excited.”
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In Memoriam
JOHN C. COBB III ’37 died June 20, 2016, at the age of 96.
He attended Fountain Valley School for just his senior year and made his mark. The 1937 FVS yearbook states: “His New England zeal… got him into many activities, among which are singing in the Glee Club, cello playing in “Patience,” skiing, mountain climbing, gliding, photography, football, soccer, hurdling for the track team and assistant editorship for the yearbook.” The yearbook went on to describe his interests in writing, speaking, music and photography.
Cobb went on to Harvard, where he was the photography editor of the Harvard Crimson. Following college, he served in World War II, despite the fact he conscientiously objected to fighting in the war. Instead of fighting, he spent time in Syria, North Africa and Italy as a volunteer ambulance driver for the American Field Service. He took many photos with his 35mm camera and developed them in the back of his ambulance.
The photos eventually comprised a 2011 book titled “Fragments of Peace in a World at War,” featuring Cobb’s poetry, imagery and perspective.
Cobb earned his medical degree from Harvard in 1948 and trained in pediatrics and public health at Johns Hopkins in 1954. His career included work with the Indian Health Service in New Mexico, the Population Council in Pakistan and the World Health Organization in Tunisia, Indonesia and Fiji. From 1965-85, he was founding chairman and professor of preventive medicine at the University of Colorado Medical School in Denver. One of his greatest endeavors was his work on the health effects of low-level radiation contamination from Rocky Flats (a former nuclear weapon productions facility near Denver), which closed in 1992. He demonstrated that both workers and people living in the vicinity were being exposed to plutonium. In addition to his association with golf, he was a successful businessman and banker, and he supported the Denver Boys and Girls Club for more than 50 years.
He is survived by his wife, two children, eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Cobb is survived by his four children, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
2016 Fountain Valley School Distinguished Alumni Award winner WILLIAM F. NICHOLSON ’44 died May 28, 2016, at the age of 87.
Nicholson was one of the strongest and most influential figures in golf in Colorado and the United States. He served as president of the United States Golf Association in 1980 and 1981 after 11 years on the USGA Executive Committee. He also played a key role in the Master’s Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. He was responsible for setting up the course for the Master’s, and was chairman of the Master’s rules committee for 17 years starting in 1989. Nicholson was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.
A native of Colorado, Nicholson arrived at FVS as a fourth former in 1943. He was active in all aspects of school life, playing football, basketball, baseball and ice hockey, and participating in both skiing and track. As a member of the 1945 undefeated football team, he is part of the FVS Athletic Hall of Fame. He was also involved in school publications and helped organize school dances; as a senior he was on the Student Council. The 1946 yearbook also called him one of the “brains” of the class. PETER WYETH HURD ’48 died Jan. 3, 2016, at the age of 85.
Hurd attended FVS for four years, arriving in the fall of 1942 as a first former. Born to the famed Wyeth family of painters, Hurd found his calling in music, and his talents were obvious early at FVS. The 1948 yearbook reminisces about Hurd “biding his time at the piano” as a first former, then returning as a second former with “more boogiewoogie numbers to delight the lovers of that particular brand of music.” Longtime music faculty Ernest Kitson also spoke of his musical talents.
After FVS, he received a bachelor’s degree in music composition from Syracuse University and a master’s degree in music theory from the Manhattan School of Music. He embarked on a long and distinguished career as a music instructor and composer. He was an instructor of music at universities in Texas and New Mexico before moving to similar positions in Northern California at Stanford University, Notre Dame de Namur and Holy Names. In his professional life, he concentrated mainly on piano and harpsichord, and worked with many singers. He also had a special love for chamber music. He composed works for orchestra and cello suite, and one of his most noted works is “Song Cycle of Six Poems of Robert Frost,” which he wrote at the age of 19.
Hurd is survived by his wife.
RICHARD C. WYDICK ’55 died May 11, 2016, at the age of 78. more than 10 years, he served on a Scribes committee to select the best book in the country published the previous year on a legal subject. DAVID C. VIETOR ’64 , died Nov. 26, 2012, at the age of 66.
A Colorado native, Wydick entered Fountain Valley School as a fifth former. Despite only spending two years at FVS, he made his mark as president of the Student Council and captain of the gymkhana team. He also lettered in football, played squash, and worked on the yearbook and the Dane. The 1955 yearbook states that as student body president, he helped “start the ball rolling on actual chapel construction,” referring to the current Lewis Perry Jr. Chapel. Wydick, Sam Silverstein ’54 and headmaster Henry Poor presided over the groundbreaking ceremony on June 6, 1954.
Wydick and his family took sabbatical years in New Zealand and London, and while in London, he became a gourmet cook, continuing the hobby for many years.
He retired in 2003. He was a longtime member of the American Law Institute, and his honors included the Golden Pen Award from the Legal Writing Institute and a Lifetime Achievement Award from Scribes, the American Society of Legal Writers, in recognition of his contributions to legal writing. He was emeritus professor of law at UC Davis.
He is survived by his wife of nearly 55 years, two sons and three grandchildren.
Wydick graduated from Williams College, where he also headed the Student Council, and then attended Stanford Law School. After receiving his LLB, he joined the Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps and taught law at the JAG school on the University of Virginia campus.
He and his family then moved to California where he practiced antitrust law for five years before returning to teaching. In 1971, he began teaching at the UC Davis School of Law and for the next 35 years, he taught evidence law, antitrust, legal ethics, intellectual property and legal writing. He was associate dean for two years and acting dean for another two. In 1983, he received the School of Law’s Distinguished Teaching Award.
He co-authored many editions of three books on legal ethics. His best-known work, first published in 1979, is “Plain English for Lawyers,” which has sold more than 1 million copies.
For many years, he also taught evidence and ethics for BarBri, a review course preparing law students to pass the state bar exam. For ALBERT C. DUELL ’56 died Jan. 3, 2016. He was at Fountain Valley for his third former year in 1952-53.
DAVID F. CURRIER ’61 died Oct. 1, 2014.
“Spike,” as he was known most of his life, entered FVS as a fifth former from Connecticut. He was the editor-in-chief of the yearbook and also worked on the Dane and the Literary Review. Other activities included Glee Club, Trap Club, tennis, squash and gymkhana.
After FVS, he graduated from Yale in 1967 and later earned an MBA from Pace University. He spent the majority of his career working in Connecticut and New York.
He is survived by his wife, five children and three grandchildren. Born in Missoula, Mont., Vietor was a third generation Montana rancher. He entered FVS as a third former and participated in pup football, the ski club, ski team and gymkhana all four years. He was a member of the Varsity Club and was a Sage proctor as a senior.
He graduated from Montana State University and then returned to Philipsburg, Mont., to join his parents in running the family-owned Rocking Chair Ranch. Vietor and his brother grew the ranch over several years into the successful operation it is today. The ranch is currently run by his children.
Vietor was a superb horseman and became a professional trainer/instructor and an accomplished National Reined Cow Horse Association judge, judging many of the top NRCHA shows. He won many NRCHA events including Reserve Open Bridle Champion at the 2010 World Show in San Angelo, Texas.
He is survived by his wife, two children and two grandchildren.
WILLIAM G. PORTE ’68 , died March 8, 2016, at the age of 65.
Porte came to FVS as a second former and was active in soccer, tennis and hockey. He was also part of the Glee Club.
He received his bachelor’s degree and MBA from the University of Colorado. After managing the regional offices for Ford Motor Company in New Orleans and New York City, Porte followed his passion for science and moved to Davis, Calif., to study animal medicine. In 1986, he earned his DVM degree from UC Davis. He then joined Sacramento Veterinary Surgical Services, becoming a co-owner in 1988.
In 2004, Veterinary Quarterly named him one of the top veterinarians. He was appointed to the Small Animal Clinic External Advisory Board of the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital in 2002-05. He was the technical reviewer for two books, “Dogs for Dummies” and “Cats for Dummies” (book series) by Gina Spadafori, and he was a consultant for the “Good Morning, America” TV show related to animal stories.
As an amateur astronomer, Porte was an active member of the Golden State Star Party. He was an avid traveler and loved the outdoors, including hiking, kayaking and birdwatching. A bio provided by his wife, Marsha, stated, “He was a true Renaissance man, with his eyes on the stars, his head in the sciences, and his heart well-grounded in caring for the people and animals he loved.”
Former Faculty
ANTHONY MILES LYNCH , FVS history faculty and track coach from 1968-70, died June 22, 2016.
Lynch was involved in sports his entire life, participating in football, basketball and track in high school. He was a five-time Minnesota state champion in track. His combination of track achievements and academic excellence earned him a scholarship to Harvard. He was an All-American in the 440-yard hurdles in 1964 and 1965, and first-team all-Ivy League in the 440-yard hurdles in 1964, 1965 and 1966, and in the 120-yard hurdles and the one-mile relay in 1965. He earned many other championships at Harvard and was a hurdles alternate for the 1964 Olympic Team. He is in the Harvard Varsity Hall of Fame.
After graduating, he worked in the Harvard Admission Department and coached track. He then moved to FVS before heading to Charleston, W.V., where he was employed at the state Department of Education developing an outreach program for lowincome, disadvantaged youth.
He later earned two master’s degrees at Columbia University before returning to West Virginia. Lynch worked for a time in Baltimore before returning to Minnesota to care for his aging parents. He worked for Rainy River Community College, the Falls School District, and was a volunteer coach for the high school track team.
Porte is survived by his wife, three children, three stepchildren and many grandchildren.
Why I Give
2016 Distinguished Casa Serena Society Award recipient: Anne Adams Green ’81
From the School’s very beginning, there has been a close-knit family who has cared deeply for Fountain Valley and translated their sentiment into bettering the School with their generous financial support. In 1978, that family was formally named the Casa Serena Society, and each year at Alumni Weekend, a member of the society is recognized for leadership support.
Arts faculty Addie Green ’06 offers insight as to why her mother, Anne Adams Green ’81, P’04, ’06 cares so deeply about the School: “Fountain Valley allowed her to grow up true to herself, a self-described ‘punk rocker with a hippie soul.’ She had incredible friends who were strange, smart and artistic, and they understood her. And she considered her teachers as partners in her education.”
Anne’s connection with Fountain Valley runs especially deep. Her sister, Catherine, is Class of 1979; her mother, Tucker Adams, was an FVS trustee; and both her daughters are alumnae, Emma, Class of 2004, along with Addie.
Anne is grateful for the School’s impact on her daughters, as well. Addie says, “Emma and I excelled at Fountain Valley. At a public school, I would not have been able to be an academic, an artist and an athlete. My mom was so happy that Fountain Valley could allow us to be everything. She feels she owes the School for how well it took care of her and her daughters, and how well it is taking care of me now. That’s why she gives back.”
Her French teacher, former faculty Chris Lowell, says how gratified he is when he sees Anne at reunions and how clear she Anne Adams Green ’81 accepting the Distinguished Casa Serena Society Award
makes it that Fountain Valley School was key to her development.
In accepting the 2016 Distinguished Casa Serena Society Member Award, Anne acknowledged her gratitude for the School shaping both her and her daughters’ lives.
Daughters Addie Green ’06, left, and Emma Green ’04 65
6155 Fountain Valley School Road Colorado Springs, CO 80911 fvs.edu
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Because YOU of Fountain Valley School happens!
Please join alumni, parents, grandparents, faculty, trustees and friends of the School in meeting our 2016-17 Annual Fund need.
THREE WAYS TO GIVE:
- Go to fvs.edu/annualfund
- Call Sheila Walker at (719)391-5226
- Mail to: Fountain Valley School of Colorado 6155 Fountain Valley School Rd. Colorado Springs, CO 80911
