The Bulletin: Summer 2025

tradition meets

INNOVATION

Editor, Writer, and Designer

Lauren Rauseo Associate Director of Communications

Assistant Editor

Stacy Hedeman Director of Marketing and Communications

Contributors

Heather Harlan Warnack Assistant Head of School for Advancement

Nathaniel Badder ’94 Director of Advancement Operations

Jeanne Green Director of Advancement Communications and Outreach

Andrew Robinson Director of Alumni Relations

Photo Contributors

Luis Ruuska Website and Digital Marketing Manager

Steve Ruark ’96 Ruark Photography

Printing Mt. Royal Printing

Find Gilman on social media at linktr.ee/gilmanschool

Gilman Bulletin is published by Gilman School, Baltimore, Maryland 21210. Gilman School welcomes students of any race, color, religion, sexual orientation, and national or ethnic origin.

The

Take

Tradition Meets Innovation

Jeff

Gilman alumni

Teachers

From Congressional Challenge winners to a producer of a genetically engineered chocolate alternative, these Gilman students are just beginning their journeys.

A fond farewell to Ray Mills, Dallas Jacobs, Tammy Temple, Chris Downs, Sean Furlong, Isabelle Giorgis, Mary Ellen Porter, Steve Krulevitz, and Kim Radle

Furlong Baldwin ’50, Eddie Brown, Jr. ’57, Earl Galleher, Jr. ’44, John Gettier ’52, Bob Swindell, Jr. ’ 51, George Thomsen ’48

Dear Gilman Family,

An AI-generated definition of “innovate” suggests that to innovate means to change something by introducing new ideas, methods, practices, and products to an existing way of thinking and doing. By its very nature, innovation is a process that demands both an understanding of the present and an eagerness and ability to look beyond the moment. Innovators unlock solutions to problems and develop paths through challenges.

In this regard, Gilman has always been a place of innovation. In fact, the very founding of Gilman was an innovative move. As the story goes, Anne Galbraith Carey and the other women and men who collaborated with her took a boarding school model of education that was both effective and appealing and adapted it to a different environment. Acting on those new ideas, they created Gilman (originally the Country School for Boys) as the first country day school in the nation. (See page 4 for other innovative moments in Gilman history.)

Even our time-tested mission speaks to innovation. Throughout its history, the School has lived up to its mission to equip boys with the character and skills needed to make positive contributions to the communities in which they live and work. Making such contributions requires looking at our communities’ challenges and opportunities in fresh ways. To help our boys do just that, we strive to help them develop what we call Gilman Skills: thinking critically and expansively about our complex world; communicating effectively with diverse audiences; collaborating to solve problems and affect positive community impact; and creating works of self-expression that serve and inspire others.

Furthermore, times change, and the School itself has adopted new ways of thinking about and delivering a Gilman experience that prepares boys to be men of character in an ever-evolving world. While our values and goals have remained very much the same, teaching and learning have evolved, as have the program offerings, spaces, and tools that help bring the experience to life.

The pages of The Bulletin that follow highlight many forms and fields of innovation being championed by Gilman alumni. They also shed light on some of the exciting ways in which the Gilman of today continues to encourage new ways of thinking and doing. As always, you will also be able to catch up on campus life and the comings and goings of classmates and schoolmates. I hope that you enjoy this issue, and I wish everyone opportunities to seek fresh ways to make positive contributions to the communities in which you live and work.

Best,

Henry P. A. Smyth Head of School

Tradition Meets Innovation

Since its founding in 1897, Gilman has proudly upheld a tradition of academic excellence, character development, and service to the community. These values have guided generations of promising boys who grow into men of character, providing a strong foundation that continues to shape the identity of our beloved school. But tradition at Gilman is not about standing still — it’s about evolving with purpose. In this issue of The Bulletin, we explore how our deep-rooted values are intersecting with bold new ideas, creating a dynamic environment where innovation thrives alongside legacy.

Inside this issue, you’ll meet alumni and students pushing boundaries in a range of fields. You’ll get a glimpse into classrooms where learning looks different than it did even a decade ago, thanks to forward-thinking educators and new approaches to teaching. And the timeline highlights the many ways innovation has been woven into the School’s story from the very beginning. As you turn the pages, we hope you’ll see what we believe deeply: that honoring the past and embracing the future is not only possible — it’s essential.*

*The above two paragraphs were 95% generated by AI. Faculty and staff at Gilman are increasingly utilizing this new and exciting technology in bold but ethical ways to augment their work. Other than the above introduction, The Bulletin was thoughtfully created by humans with a deep appreciation for the spirit and story of our school.

GILMAN ESTABLISHES BOARD-LEVEL COMMITTEE TO SHAPE FUTURE OF TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION

The Gilman Board of Trustees encompasses 15 committees to provide strategic guidance on specific business units of the School’s operations. New in the 2024–2025 school year: the Technology Committee, chaired by Jeff Seibert ’04, Co-founder & CEO at Digits (read more about him on page 8). The group’s mission is to examine current technology trends, forecast their potential impact, and make recommendations to Gilman on how best to embrace and/or prepare itself for them. Committee members are shown below.

During the course of the school year, the Committee met five times on wide-ranging topics. October’s meeting focused on smartphone usage with a particular eye on the School’s recently implemented cell phone policy, which restricts phone use during school hours. November focused on artificial intelligence, its threats and promises, as well as its applications and implications within an educational setting. March, April, and May centered around computer science and how best Gilman could enhance its offerings to further cement its status as the top school for boys’ education in the area without compromising its commitment to a liberal arts foundation. In several cases, the group invited individuals — alumni and current students — with particular subject-matter expertise to share their perspectives.

COMMITTEE CHAIR

Jeff Seibert ’04 Co-founder & CEO at Digits

Haftan Eckholdt ’83 Chief Technology Officer at Flagship

David Fitzpatrick ’07 Manager, Cybersecurity at Ernst & Young

Arthur Gleckler ’84 Software Engineer, formerly at Google

Joseph Keller ’03 Visiting Fellow for Global Tech & AI Policy at The Brookings Institution

Marcus Singleton ’05 Strategy & Operations Lead, Chrome Browser Enterprise at Google

Collin Wallace ’02 General Partner at Lobby Capital (READ MORE ABOUT HIM ON PAGE 6)

FROM THE GILMAN ARCHIVES: The Evolution of Innovation at Gilman

by Archivist Johanna Schein and Senior Encounter Students Ethan Reames ’25 and Ben Schatz ’25

From leading the country day school movement to pioneering tri-school coordination and embracing technology in the classroom, Gilman has balanced tradition and innovation throughout its history. Featured here are just some of the notable innovations that have transformed the School over the years. 1897

1901

Students publish the first student paper at Gilman, The Blue and The Gray. The publication is a combination of a school newspaper and a literary magazine. In 1914, The Gilman News takes over the reporting, and in 1918, students publish the first issue of the Cynosure yearbook.

Under Headmaster Henry Callard, Gilman pushes a decade-long effort to expand music, arts, drama, and community service programs. The Alumni Auditorium is completed in 1955

Gilman opens the Science Building, a new facility with classrooms and laboratories dedicated solely to the teaching of science.

Anne Galbraith Carey decides that Baltimore needs a school where the whole boy would be educated in mind, body, and spirit, preparing him for college as well as a life of honor and service. The Country School for Boys opens its doors on September 30, 1897, in the Homewood House (now the Homewood Museum) on the Johns Hopkins University campus. Mrs. Carey’s forward-thinking vision begins the country day school movement, a formula imitated by countless schools across America.

Gilman’s innovative spirit strikes again with the Open Air School (OAS), building open pavilion classrooms as its Lower School. The fresh air of Gilman’s OAS is not only supposed to help ward off the spread of contagious diseases but also it is supposed to stimulate the Lower School students’ minds. During the winter, OAS students keep warm by wrapping in blankets and nestling their feet in boxes filled with hot stones.

With support from Headmaster Ludlow Baldwin, faculty members William B. Campbell ’52 and Redmond C. S. Finney ’47 establish Operation Challenge, later known as Upward Bound, a program that works to mentor and prepare bright students from underrepresented neighborhoods for college. Gilman obtains a federal grant from the Office of Economic Opportunity to support Upward Bound, becoming one of only two high schools in the country to have such a program at the time. 1911

The Bruce Language Center opens, housing a 24-station laboratory with soundproof barriers to facilitate the learning of modern languages. 1967

Mathematics teacher Ned Thompson ’ 45 introduces Gilman's first computer, a closet-sized machine on the second floor of Carey Hall.

Gilman and The Bryn Mawr School (BMS) pioneer an alternative learning model for coeducation, one that combines the advantages of single-sex education with coeducation. While there were a handful of coeducational classes with both BMS and Roland Park Country School (RPCS) students as early as the 1960s, formal coordination with Bryn Mawr begins in the spring of 1974. The tri-school community blossoms in 1987 when RPCS joins the coordination effort. In 2001, the schools construct bridges to facilitate ease of movement among the three campuses.

Gilman enters the World Wide Web, obtaining the rights to gilman.edu.

Beginning in the 1990s, the Gilman Radio Club gives students the opportunity to get firsthand experience working at a real radio station. In 2001, Gilman’s G94.3 begins broadcasting sporting events, with Brett Hollander ’ 03 providing play-by-play coverage, and Jason Grant ’02 offering color commentary. In spring 2002, Gilman Sports Radio broadcasts lacrosse over the internet, averaging 500 listeners per game. In 2012, building on Gilman Sports Radio, students launch Greyhound TV (GTV) to livestream Gilman athletic games.

Led by the Office of Strategic Information & Innovation, Gilman creates an AI policy to encourage student use of AI as a tool to support learning and understanding. 1974

Gilman opens its Athletic Training Room, becoming the first independent school in Maryland to have a fulltime certified athletic trainer, Lori Bristow. Gilman continues to lead the way by adding a second trainer to the staff in 1998

Under the leadership of Head Librarian JoAnn Davison, Gilman installs an all-fiber-optic local area network (LAN) with an automated catalog and circulation system, numerous databases, and access to the internet in all three division libraries.

Gilman joins a consortium of leading independent schools from around the world in the Global Online Academy (GOA), a nonprofit organization that provides online courses to diversify and deepen the student learning experience. Gilman is the first Maryland school to participate in this program.

The Geodome, a soilless greenhouse, is constructed by the Gilman Hydroponics Initiative, a student-led club dedicated to maintaining the facility. The project was picked back up in 2021 by Environmental Sustainability students and is now used for both hydroponics and aquaculture, yielding tomatoes, broccoli, and lettuce as well as housing six fish.

The Innovation Lab in the Middle School opens. It is a technological hub of creativity and imagination that boasts six 3D printing machines, a lasercutting machine, drone technology, Arduinos (an open-source electronics platform), “plug and play” circuitry and electronics components, LEGO Mindstorms EV3 robotics, and a 23-foot, green-painted wall and softbox lighting for filmmaking.

“You Gotta Go!”

AND OTHER INSIGHTS FROM SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR COLLIN WALLACE ’02

Collin Wallace ’02 entered Gilman at a non-traditional entry point — as a sophomore. Prior to that, he had been cruising through public school at the top of his class, excelling but not being challenged academically. “Gilman was a massive inflection point for me,” he says. “It really expanded my horizons on the world and my expectations of myself.” He remembers mentors like math teacher Dallas Jacobs (who retired after the 2024–2025 school year; see article on page 68), history teacher Jerry Thornbery, and others who pushed him to reach his potential.

In his previous school, math was a subject where Wallace would often grasp concepts

Wallace’s Journey

1999

Wallace enters Gilman in the fall as a sophomore. He finds success both in the classroom and on the lacrosse field as a Greyhound.

2002 He graduates from Gilman and matriculates to Georgia Tech, where he studies engineering and plays lacrosse.

quickly and then become bored with the classwork. Jacobs helped him “break through that next tier of knowledge. I would credit him with realizing that I was a lot smarter than I thought I was.” Thornbery, who coached Wallace on the cross country team, would ride his bike alongside the runners during practice, encouraging them through a megaphone, “You gotta go, you gotta go now!”

Wallace is aware that his teenage self did not fully appreciate his teachers’ influence at the time. But years of reflection provide perspective: “When I look back at my life’s journey, I hear those voices in my head. I hear Dallas Jacobs pushing me. I hear Jerry Thornbery telling me, ‘You gotta go, you gotta go now!’”

These days, through his position as general partner at Lobby Capital, where he supports, inspires, and invests in new companies — as well as at Stanford University where he is a lecturer of a business course called Startup Garage — Wallace spends a lot of time mentoring young entrepreneurs. He explains that he is grateful for the guidance he received from his Gilman teachers and coaches, and now it’s his turn to pay it forward. “You have the privilege of being mentored, and then you have the responsibility to do the same for others.”

As Wallace built his career in the entrepreneurial space, he realized that “there are a lot of ways you can win and still lose in the process because of how you got there.” He was taught the idea of honor — of there being a right way and a wrong way — in the hallways, classrooms, and athletic fields at Gilman, and he still carries that precept with him today. “When I look back, the proudest moments I have are those times where I said, ‘No, I don’t

2007

2006

Due to a dinner dilemma during senior year where he doesn’t have enough time to eat between class and lacrosse practice, Wallace creates Text Order Go, a rudimentary app for the BlackBerry phone, which allows a GT student to place an order to the Firehouse Subs on campus that will be delivered to the user’s location.

Wallace joins Lexmark in Lexington, Kentucky. Massive layoffs and restructuring at the company mean that he has a lot of downtime at work, which he uses to pick up where he left off with Text Order Go, adding user-interface design. He renames the app FanGo and markets the idea to Rupp Arena at the University of Kentucky. Fans in the student section use the app to order food from arena vendors and have it delivered to them. Three games into basketball season, it expands to serve seats in the whole stadium — 26,000 of them.

2010

Wallace takes FanGo to Techstars in Chicago, a group that offers guidance and capital to a select number of entrepreneurs. Techstars helps him scale the app to include restaurants, hotels, airlines, and casinos. Eventually, the business focuses strictly on the restaurant sector.

Collin Wallace ’02

want to win that way.’ And I think that voice comes from the Gilman culture of integrity.”

Aside from motivation and character building, Wallace also gained practical communication skills as a Gilman student. The question posed by English teacher Ed Spragins for all writing assignments, “What are you trying to say here?” really stuck with Wallace. “It turns out that if you’re not very clear about what you’re trying to accomplish as an entrepreneur or founder or as someone running an organization,” he says, “then the folks below you are not going to be clear, and the folks below them are not going to be clear, to the point where the whole organization is off track.”

Sharpening his ability to clearly express ideas is something from Roland Avenue Wallace has taken with him into his many ventures post-Gilman. For students with similar entrepreneurial aspirations, Wallace offers the following advice: “Learn to be learners. The world is changing so fast. You have to be in this constant process of getting smarter, ideally, faster than folks around you.” He goes on to specify the different types of knowledge one could learn: Static knowledge is basically anything that can be found by looking it up on Google or typing a question into ChatGPT. Conversely, perishable knowledge — where people should focus their energy — is “created in the Common Room when you’re debating ideas or when you’re walking from Carey Hall to the [Redmond C. S. Finney] Athletic Center and you notice something unobvious,” for example. “Those are the moments that AI doesn’t pick up on.”

He encourages anyone looking to innovate to put themselves in positions to create this type of knowledge, reiterating how it was a random observation, during his college course on pulp and papermaking, that led him to build an application to order food to his classroom that ultimately created a multi-billion-dollar business. “No one saw that; it wasn’t like we reverse-engineered it. It was just the curiosity to find the next small but significant insight and then compound on it over and over again.” This could involve taking time for long periods of deep thought, going for a walk, observing something in nature, or simply having a conversation. “It may seem like playtime but you’re actually hitting thoughts back and forth over the net, and each time the form factor is changing until it becomes something really innovative.”

2018

2012

2011

GrubHub, originally a service that simply provided menus online, acquires FanGo. At 24 years old, Wallace is now Head of Innovation at GrubHub.

Wallace enrolls at Stanford Graduate School of Business to earn his MBA.

2014 GrubHub goes public.

SOME LESSONS ARE LEARNED ON THE JOB.

Remembering a younger Wallace just starting out in the workforce voicing his opinion, perhaps a little too soon, he realizes, “People don’t want your input until they’ve seen your output. When you create a lot of value, then you earn the right to have a seat at the table.”

Thinking back to his time as a budding entrepreneur, he recalls the challenge of focus. “Creative and innovative people want to do everything, but in order to be effective, you have to be focused,” he says. “In the early days, the thing you have to focus on is what to focus on. In the short term, you’re reducing the number of things you can do but, ironically, in the long term, it expands the opportunities for you.”

PART OF DEFINING A COMPANY’S FOCUS INVOLVES EVALUATING RISK.

“Risk comes in three flavors: desirability, feasibility, and viability,” Wallace explains. Desirability simply asks the questions: Does anyone want this? Feasibility refers to whether or not the idea can be built. He says a lot of new companies make the mistake of spending too much time here; more often than not, feasibility isn’t the issue. Whether customers are willing to pay enough to justify the opportunity cost — that’s viability. According to Wallace, when evaluating risk, 80% of time should be spent determining desirability and the remaining 20% on viability.

ANOTHER POINT OF EVALUATION CENTERS ON THE POTENTIAL RISK OF FAILURE.

Once a startup resolves to move forward with an idea, the next question to ask is how success will be measured. “If you define success very narrowly, then failure is the entire set of possible outcomes” outside of that one definition, Wallace warns. Instead, he advises widening the scope of success from aspects like return on investment to include other metrics like new skills, relationships, and even fun.

Wallace is co-founder of ZeroStorefront, a growth marketing platform for restaurants. In 2019, the startup participates in the YCombinator three-month program to help expand the company. In 2022, it is acquired by Thanx. Wallace serves there as Vice President of Products and Partnerships.

2021

Wallace begins lecturing at Stanford in its Startup Garage program, a course in which students design and test new business concepts. He also becomes a seed investor for several startups.

2022

Wallace launches Techstars — the company that helped him grow FanGo — in Silicon Valley, California.

2023 Wallace joins Lobby Capital as a general partner.

“Why Can’t This Be Better?”

JEFF SEIBERT ’04 IS STEADFAST IN HIS PURSUIT TO SOLVE PROBLEMS

Jeff Seibert ’04 discovered his “passion/obsession” for coding in sixth grade. His homeroom in Gilman’s Middle School had an Apple IIe computer, on which he coded away any chance he got. He spent evenings and weekends programming at home, as well. An early innovator, frustrated with a world that wasn’t catching on to new technology as quickly as he’d like, he wrote a strongly worded letter to the editor of The Gilman News his senior year, objecting to the School’s network restrictions, lack of graphic applications in the computer labs, and limiting student email interface. (Perhaps not in time for Seibert to take advantage, but it should be noted that his raised concerns have since been addressed.)

Seibert says he “fell into entrepreneurship” by way of a lecture series that fate would have him hear about during his first week at Stanford University. It was called Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders, and he attended it weekly for four years, acquainting him with the personal stories of successful startup founders and investors. “It was a fascinating introduction to the concept of creating a company whose intention was to grow and be massive, versus what I had been doing, which was basically a software company, with no expectation of scale,” he says. At Stanford, he learned that he could design and build code to reach a broad audience. “You can write it once and that program can run a billion times. Your effort invested is non-linear to the output achieved, which was mind-blowing to me.”

This concept was in the forefront of his mind when he and a college classmate developed Increo, his first company, whose name is a mash-up of “innovation” and “creativity.” He got the idea while doing group work in college. “I was fed up with emailing PowerPoints back and forth,” he says; the document collaboration

Seibert’s Journey

2004

Seibert graduates from Gilman and heads west to Stanford University. While there, he works as a campus representative for Apple.

software he created addressed that issue. “Every company I’ve started has been in response to my own problem.”

Needless to say, starting a company brings its own set of problems. When reflecting on challenges he has faced on his entrepreneurial path, Seibert mentions how early on, he was focused solely on coding. “I did not have any knowledge or appreciation for any other parts of the business.” To that end, Increo’s founding team was made up of all computer science majors. “Lesson learned,” he laughs. His advice: “Consciously go find a co-founder who complements your gaps rather than reinforces your strengths” — which is what he did when finding partners for Crashlytics, his second business, which Twitter later acquired for more than $100 million.

Crashlytics solved another problem Seibert discovered as he encountered glitches and bugs while working on a project. “My stuff was crashing,” he says matter-of-factly, as if building software to analyze crash logs that would eventually run on two billion smartphones is the next logical step that anyone would have taken.

But for Seibert, it’s just how his mind works. His approach is to constantly push bounds and relentlessly ask the question: “Why can’t this be better?” He wants to know how something can save time, money, or whatever optimization metric is at hand. He believes that innovation is “critical — the single most important factor” in determining a company’s success. “Even the massive companies — once they stop innovating, they cease to be relevant.” It’s easy to get stuck in old ways, he says, but “you have to jolt the company and pull the future forward in order to stay ahead of everyone else.”

The secret to Seibert’s startup successes can be attributed to many factors: his brilliance and hard work, fortuitous timing, personal and

2011

2008

Seibert graduates from Stanford with a degree in computer science. Instead of applying for jobs, he and a friend develop Increo, a document collaboration software that allows users to display hundreds of types of documents in a web browser. It is one of the first in the world to utilize such technology.

2009

Increo is acquired by Box, an early filesharing company, for a modest price. (Box would later go public, in 2015.) Seibert stays on to launch the East Coast office in Boston. While working on file sync technology, he discovers that complexities cause it to crash often. He begins a side project on nights and weekends, debugging crash logs, eventually building a tool to automate the process of analyzing crash reports.

Seibert consults with his friend from Stanford, Mike Krieger, cofounder of Instagram, who agrees that Seibert’s new software would be useful for applications like his growing social media platform. With that validation, Seibert leaves Box to start a new company, Crashlytics. Twelve months in, it has scaled from zero to running in the background on 300 million phones.

professional connections, and also his 13 years on Roland Avenue. For starters, “Gilman’s writing program is exceptional. It has allowed me to present my ideas more effectively,” he says, explaining how strong writing skills have benefited him when raising venture capital, working with business partners, and communicating with just about anyone. He goes on to cite other aspects of his Gilman experience, like “an exposure to a wide array of topics, being surrounded by high-performing peers, and a bar set with high expectations.” He also mentions the character values instilled in him at School, specifically honor.

After working on “The Social Dilemma” documentary, which sparked debate over the negative impacts of social media, Seibert knew that for his next venture, he wanted to stay far away from

2013

Twitter acquires Crashlytics for more than $100 million, and Seibert moves back to Silicon Valley to run the developer platform there. In 2015, he is named Head of Product at Twitter.

2016

Seibert’s fellow Apple campus reps from Stanford, Tristan Harris and Jeff Orlowski, approach him about an idea for a documentary on the harms of social media. In 2020, “The Social Dilemma” is released on Netflix; Orlowski is credited as writer and director, and Seibert and Harris appear in the film, offering expert insight on how algorithms prioritize polarizing content, driving users to spend more time in the app in order to show an increasing number of ads.

“anything that touches user-generated content and advertising.” With the experience of starting two companies, he had felt the pains of managing his business finances using clunky accounting products and realized that there was an opportunity there. “Why can’t I have a real-time finance dashboard?” he wondered, and then — once again — solved his problem. His latest company, Digits, which fully launched in March of this year, offers small businesses an affordable solution for automated bookkeeping and accounting services. It secured $100 million in pre-revenue funding.

“The common belief is that startups are extremely risky,” says Seibert. And while it’s true that up to 90% of them will ultimately fail, he is of the mindset that “If it fails, who cares? You fail by not trying. Either it’s massively successful or you learn a lot along the way.” Seibert would know — he has had the unmistakable experience of both starting high-growth ventures and also absorbing lessons, adapting processes, and evolving ideas — putting innovation first through it all.

2018

2017

Seibert resigns from Twitter, citing, among various reasons, not wanting to contribute to the mental health detriments caused by social media.

Seibert founds his latest company, Digits, an automated accounting software platform for small businesses. It soft launches in 2024 with a full opening in 2025

Jeff Seibert ’04

Gilman alumni are innovating in many industries all over the world.

WE ASKED A FEW OF THEM: How do you approach innovation, both with technology and in other aspects of your business? How did Gilman help prepare you for the work you do today — and the work you may be doing tomorrow?

TRONSTER HARTLEY ’94 TEAM LEAD AT FIRAXIS GAMES

“We make video games for all types of computers, handheld devices, and game consoles. Most of our games are ‘strategy based,’ meaning players have time to think through moves across ‘turns’ (like a modernday game of chess). Technology is always evolving, and it is my job to ensure we’re using the best solution for the challenge at hand. I’m constantly learning, and I hire people who share my curiosity.

There are two aspects in particular of my Gilman education that set me up for success in my current work: the organizational skills I learned in Middle and Upper School (including taking notes efficiently, leading meetings, and giving presentations), and the concept that learning doesn’t have a finish line.”

COLE FRANK ’21 FOUNDER AT UFLEX

“Uflex is an online software designed to help businesses discover and validate student talent through part-time remote work. We facilitate the entire process so companies can focus on growth, and students can gain valuable experience. There is a constant need for innovation at all times, especially in the technology sector. Our goal is to consistently take company and student feedback in order to make the platform better and better, tailoring to the needs of our customers. By the time we can collect enough data on the students and companies, we will be able to implement AI and proprietary algorithms to create good matches based on hundreds of data points. AI and the new machine-learning innovations will help us scale growth rapidly.

I was at Gilman for 13 years, and I attribute all my creativity and curiosity to the lessons learned in classes such as Entrepreneurship. Gilman has helped me with everything, and it would be impossible to replicate anywhere else.”

JAMES CLELAND ’00

CO-FOUNDER AND CEO AT CLOUDBREAK ENERGY

“Cloudbreak Energy develops, constructs, and operates solar projects around the United States. When my partners and I used to finance these projects, we began seeing the proliferation of them in pockets across the United States but thought that there was a lack of professionalism in how most developers ran their businesses. We believed we could utilize our financial background to increase the probability of success in these solar projects getting permitted, constructed, and put into operation. AI plays a critical role in helping us identify new opportunities for renewable energy in the United States. Policy is a huge driver of renewable energy, and understanding where various pieces of legislation, both federal and state level, are in terms of opening up new pockets of development opportunities for us is critical. AI helps my analysts summarize legislation and other key pieces of market research.

The quality of Gilman’s teachers, who always pushed us to think outside the box, turn a problem over to see all angles, and forced us to think about the second and third order, knock-on effects of things, was transformative.”

JOHN ROSENBERG ’94 FOUNDER AND PARTNER AT FARVIEW EQUITY PARTNERS

“Farview Equity Partners, a venture capital and growth equity firm based in London that invests in emerging enterprise technology companies across Europe, attempts to identify the market themes that will drive outsized growth over the next 10 years. We then leverage our deep expertise and extended network to build relationships with the companies that are best positioned to benefit from those trends. Much like the advancement of the PC in the 1980s, the internet in the 2000s, and cloud computing in the 2010s, we believe generative and agentic artificial intelligence are creating a tectonic shift in the way businesses and consumers will engage with technology to drive exponential gains in productivity, problem-solving, and knowledge creation. It is our job to find the companies that can be the technical enablers to capitalise on this incredibly disruptive potential.

My passion for technology (and later technology investing) was born during my Gilman years when I was first exposed to computers (thank you, ‘Oregon Trail’ on the Apple IIe) and taught to develop pattern recognition by making sense of disparate and nebulous information where there was no correct answer.”

ZACH RANEN ’14 PRESIDENT AND CO-FOUNDER AT DAVID

“David designs tools to increase muscle and decrease fat. Our first product is a protein bar with the most protein per calorie of any bar on the market — 28g protein, 150 calories, and 0g sugar. At David, we work to stay at the forefront of how food chemistry can be applied to create healthier and tastier options. Development and application of novel food ingredients and production methods are at the core of what we do — combined with a chefdriven approach to create a delicious product.

I often think back to the rigor of my Gilman experience and how it laid the foundation for the critical thinking I try to bring to my work every day.”

EVAN REDWOOD ’09

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT CONTENT PARTNERSHIPS AT GOOGLE

“At Google, we are in the information business. Our mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. My team is responsible for Google’s streaming products (like Google TV streaming devices and TVs) and our strategic partnerships with media and entertainment companies (like Netflix, Disney, and NBCUniversal). We are constantly trying to identify innovative product and business decisions that will make content easier to find and watch. We have the opportunity to leverage AI as a powerful tool to help us make sense of this pileup of shows and movies that reside on different streaming services. AI is already providing synopsis of series and telling you what is trending on Google TV. What if your TV could accept voice commands to start your Android-powered car, and turn on the heat to warm it up before you finish your episode? This is the tip of the iceberg.

A big part of the work that I do at Google depends on listening and working in a team environment. Both technical and business outcomes at Google ultimately depend on people. Gilman taught me the value of cultivating relationships across different groups.“

IAN CHALK ’18 CO-FOUNDER AND GENERAL PARTNER AT R2C CAPITAL AND CO-FOUNDER AT MINUS FILTRATION

“At R2C Capital, the venture studio I co-founded, we partner with world-class scientists — from MIT to Berkeley — to turn breakthrough research into companies with real-world urgency. From advanced nanofiltration to low-carbon cement and CO₂ conversion, we focus on physical technologies that solve problems too important to ignore. Our mission is simple: Help groundbreaking academic research reach its full potential by turning it into companies that move the needle in the real world.

At Gilman, I came across an Aristotle quote that has stuck with me: ‘The purpose of knowledge is action, not knowledge.’ It has shaped how I think about work, impact, and what’s worth building.”

Alumni in Biomedical Innovation

ANUJ KHANDELWAL ’13 CEO AT EMPO HEALTH

“Half of diabetic patients lose feeling in their feet, leading to diabetic foot ulcers that cause more than 150,000 amputations each year in the U.S. alone, costing the healthcare system $40 billion. At Empo Health, we developed a novel in-home imaging scale (the Empo Footprint) and remote patient-monitoring service (the Empo Remote Health Link) to help patients and providers monitor for early signs of ulcers, reducing the rate of amputations. After developing our concept and product for five years, we are now launching commercially to market. Our overall goal is to bring remote patient monitoring to the patients who need it most — those who are otherwise the least likely to have access to it.”

RISHI BEDI ’13 CEO AT Y-TRAP

“Y-Trap is developing novel therapeutics to treat cancer. I’m a protein engineer and computer scientist by training and joined forces with my father, an oncologist. A new medicine requires a novel insight into the biology of disease, and the ability to engineer a therapeutic that addresses that

insight. AI is proving increasingly pivotal on both axes: deriving insights from the wealth of our collective biomedical knowledge, and in creating better molecules. This, coupled with increasingly powerful technologies for bioengineering, will rapidly increase our capacity to prevent, diagnose, and treat disease.“

SEBASTIAN SEIGEUR ’90 CEO AT SCENE HEALTH

“Scene Health helps people take their medications correctly and consistently using video technology and a remote care team. Our solution is for people with chronic or infectious conditions where medications are important and potentially life-saving. Our customers are health plans, public health departments, and clinical researchers. New ideas are hard to get to market, and pressure to innovate is the one constant dynamic. Especially with AI tools now available to engineering teams, you have to be thoughtful, methodical, and fast to adapt. Healthcare may be different from other fields in that a ‘human in the loop’ approach to AI is often needed to make sure solutions are actually helpful to patients.

Gilman taught me intellectual discipline that I apply every day to problem-solving. Having a startup is a roller coaster; during hard times, the ‘never give up’ Gilman mentality helps me turn all challenges into opportunity.”

DR. MANAN SHAH ’03 CO-FOUNDER AT WYNDLY

“My own frustrating experience with allergy treatment inspired me to create the practice I wish I had. As a physician, I strive to leverage technology to strengthen the patient-doctor relationship, making healthcare more accessible. At Wyndly, our telehealth platform enables patients to receive high-quality allergy care from their homes. This approach addresses the challenge of traditional weekly allergy shot regimens for individuals with busy schedules. Our doctors consult with patients online and create customized at-home therapies that desensitize them to their allergy triggers. While technology enhances convenience, our focus remains on ensuring that it complements, not replaces, the essential role of the doctor. Innovation, to us, is about improving access to care.

Gilman instilled in me the confidence to pursue new and unconventional paths. The School emphasized examples of individuals who dared to innovate, which gave me the courage to start Wyndly despite the perceived risks of leaving a traditional career in healthcare.”

Gilman teachers are using hands-on, student-centered, innovative approaches to foster creativity and problem-solving skills.

NAILED IT: WOODSHOP CLASS HONORS TRADITION WHILE EMBRACING INNOVATION

Design & Woodworking (D&W) has been a staple course in Gilman’s Lower School for many, many years. A few items have stood the test of time and can likely be found in the homes of generations of alumni as well as current Gilman students. These beloved creations, as well as the others traditionally completed in D&W, are largely independent of the academic curriculum. But beginning in the 2023–2024 school year, with changes developed by the work of the Lower School Curriculum Committee, many D&W projects are now tied into the boys’ classroom studies.

“My overarching goal in shaping the Lower School D&W program is to preserve legacy projects — such as the lamp, flip car, and pencil holder — that many former students remember creating,” says Lower School D&W teacher Mitch Cyman. “At the same time, I’ve tried to incorporate new opportunities for students to design and build projects that complement and connect with other areas of the Lower School curriculum and programming.” For example:

a backdrop for their presentations about their beloved city.

Third grade students, while working on their National Parks cross-curricular projects, created a wooden platform that would serve as a base for an imaginary “animal” of their own clay creation. Cyman says this woodworking endeavor lays the foundation for a similar one the boys will complete in seventh grade — a stool.

Boys in fourth grade created tītī — wooden sticks — to use in their spring concert for their performance of the song “E Papa Waiari,” where some students sang while others played a traditional Māori (New Zealand indigenous culture) game that involved throwing the sticks back and forth with a partner.

As fifth graders prepared for their Historical Perspectives capstone project, they researched the types of games that children would have played in colonial times — like knoughts and crosses (a.k.a. tic-tac-toe) — and then, in D&W, built

Model rowhomes created by students in Design & Woodworking to complement their study of Baltimore

PLAYING THEIR WAY THROUGH FINAL EXAMS

In Middle School, science teacher Mike Wallace uses a board game in lieu of a final exam — an innovation developed as a way to blend fun and assessment, creating a more engaging examination experience. “Many students shared that they became fully immersed in their creations and genuinely enjoyed the process,” Wallace says.

As part of the culminating assignment, boys are required to incorporate classroom content as the key to winning. “As a result, each student crafted a unique board game, either from scratch or inspired by existing ones, turning our lessons into an interactive and enjoyable challenge.” To assess the quality of their content, Wallace reviews the instructions for how to play the games, along with a list of questions and answers. Students also complete an online self-assessment and choose how to showcase their game (photo with written description or a short video). “The students seemed to truly enjoy playing the board games they created while engaging in friendly competition with their peers. After an hour of exploring a variety of games, they each left with a strong understanding of the material.”

SHEDDING LIGHT ON PLANT HEALTH

Middle and Upper School students enjoyed a visit with NASA staff members Elana Resnick (who taught science and robotics at Gilman from 2020–2022) and Mike Taylor. The pair presented on Science and Technology Education for Land/Life Assessment — or STELLA — handheld spectrometer tools that mimic the features of the Landsat Satellites. Among other uses, Landsat monitors and predicts crop health using near-infrared wavelengths before there is a visible change in the plants. PK–12 Instructional Technology Coach Lynn Nichols’ Robotics II class assessed vegetation health around campus using the NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) values to predict plant health and compared findings from a variety of plants and surfaces, such as concrete, as part of its participation in the NASA TechRise Challenge.

Under the leadership of Katie Schmidt, Director of the Middle School Innovation Lab, Gilman’s sixth grade FIRST LEGO League team proposed using STELLAs to monitor harmful algae blooms in order to safely monitor oceanic habitats and wildlife and won the Innovative Project Award at their competition in December 2024

GLASS ACTS: STUDENTS REFLECT ON GEOMETRY

When thinking about geometry, stained glass isn’t usually what comes to mind but that’s exactly the project that 10th grade math students explored when they studied famous geometric Islamic architecture in classes taught by Will Marbury ’93 and Donell Thompson ’91. After students recreated the patterns demonstrated in the architecture in Adobe Illustrator, PK–12 Instructional Technology Coach Lynn Nichols guided them in using the School’s new WAZER Pro, a powerful waterjet, to cut pieces of stained glass, which they then wrapped in copper tape and soldered together to produce geometryinspired suncatchers.

Win-Waste Energy: Baltimore’s trash incinerator, which is in opertation 24/7, has been burning garbage for energy since 1985 Several years ago, when the Baltimore City Council voted on whether or not to extend the lease on the incinerator, many environmental advocates fought for the plant’s closure due to its adverse effect on the environment and its negative impact on underrepresented neighborhoods. “The boys were blown away at the amount of trash collected at the incinerator,” Lauer says. The students used what they learned, along with research done in class, to hold their own debate.

Ashburton Filtration Plant: After the class learned about the Flint water crisis, they visited the Ashburton Filtration Plant near Druid Hill Park to better understand how Baltimore City treats its water. Students learned about the time, energy, and people power required to provide safe drinking water. “Their eyes were wide open when learning how much detail goes into it,” says Lauer. “We can talk about these things in class but to see them imprints a more relevant learning experience for them.”

SUSTAINABILITY STUDENTS DIG INTO INNOVATIVE, EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

In Tim Lauer’s Upper School Environmental Sustainability elective, “The idea is both to inform students about relevant environmental issues as well as provide immersive opportunities,” he says. Upon reflection, many students spoke about how valuable these experiences were in better understanding the topics discussed and in helping them determine how they can play an active role in the environment. Below, some of their experiences are highlighted.

Rockrose Urban Garden: The farm supplies more than 100 pounds of fresh produce each week to local soup kitchens and food banks in order to reduce food insecurity and to help promote healthy eating. “The boys saw the value in providing fresh, free food for those who need it, and they took pride in helping in the garden,” says Lauer.

In an earlier version of the Environmental Sustainability class, the year ended with a capstone project in which students identified and worked on solving environmental issues on campus. One of those projects led to the idea of tackling invasive vines and ivy on campus, especially along Stony Run. Teo Garza ’26 has continued the project through his leadership in the Greenhounds Club. He and John Cameron ’26 led a group of seventh graders in service learning work to clean up the stream in late May. Garza persists in this work as he makes connections with others in the Friends of Stony Run community organization, which is also engaged in invasive plant removal work along the stream.

Read about another student’s environmental service learning effort on page 66

(CONGRESSIONAL APP) CHALLENGE ACCEPTED

Peter Yang ’26 and Vivek Raghavan ’26 joined forces to start a new Upper School club at Gilman focused on the environment and community service during the summer of 2024. As they collaborated on ideas and planning, they found themselves lost in a disorganized sea of Google documents, text messages, and emails.

This experience led them to spend dozens of hours over the course of a month developing a productivity app they named EcoGoal. Yang worked on the front end, learning to code in JavaScript in a framework called React, while Raghavan focused on the back end, working with Python and building his skills in a Google service called Firebase.

“We figured it would be super cool to have an app that lets you communicate with club members and keep track of goals,” Raghavan said. “It was a solution to a problem we faced.” They submitted the project to the Congressional App Challenge, a nationwide collection of district competitions for high school students, in October 2024

A few weeks later, in mid-December, the students were on the phone with U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume, in wide-eyed disbelief as he congratulated them on winning the challenge for District 7

The boys prepared for the phone call by doing a little research about the U.S. representative. “It was hard to not be overwhelmed talking to Congressman Mfume,” Yang said. “He’s so accomplished. It was quite an honor.”

Ned Emala ’13, Raghavan’s advisor, joined them on the call. “The boys did a wonderful job. It was a thrill to hear how impactful their application will be,” he said. “The congressman was extremely complimentary, saying that he hopes to see this as the beginning of a long career and a list of accomplishments for them.”

GILMAN

STUDENT POWERS

Yang’s advisor, Ariel Dechosa, added, “It’s exciting to see their hard work being recognized.”

Winning teams visited the Capitol in April of 2025 to meet their respective House representatives, and winning submissions were put on display for one year in the Congressional Gallery. “I’m most excited to meet the congressman,” said Yang before the visit. Both students looked forward to connecting with winners from other districts and hoped to pick up some inspiration from their submissions. “I love to see what other people are building,” added Raghavan.

They both plan to incorporate some aspect of computer science into their future studies.

CHANGE WITH SOLAR TRICYCLE, WINNING GLOBAL COMPETITION

Ronik Sharma ’26 was awarded first place in the 2025 University of Evansville Global Changemaker Challenge for his innovative idea, SolarGlide, a solarpowered electric tricycle that empowers farmers and micro-entrepreneurs with affordable, sustainable mobility-boosting incomes, reducing costs, and accelerating climate action. “My winning idea focused on developing a solar-powered tricycle — a clean and affordable transportation alternative for farmers and micro-entrepreneurs in developing countries. In many of these economies, transportation costs consume up to 30% of a worker’s income, limiting economic

growth,” explained Sharma. “The SolarGlide is a self-charging, solarpowered electric vehicle that eliminates fuel expenses, increases savings, and provides a sustainable mobility solution.”

Sharma worked with a mentor in Nepal to research, refine, and develop this concept. His self-charging, solar-powered vehicle can carry 500 pounds over 15 miles on a single charge, eliminating fuel costs and maximizing savings. Designed for affordability through microfinance, the SolarGlide provides a sustainable and costeffective mobility solution, with funding sources including angel investors, green mobility incentives, climate grants, and institutional partnerships, with organizations like VISA currently evaluating his funding proposal. “I focused not only on the technology but also on ensuring affordability and accessibility through innovative microfinance solutions. My goal is to bring this product to market within the next two years, helping transform the lives of those who need it most.”

Peter Yang ’26 and Vivek Raghavan ’26 meet with U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume in Washington, D.C., in April. PHOTO BY RYAN LAWRENCE

KEEPING IT COOL: STUDENT PRESENTS INNOVATION AT CONFERENCE

Tyler Olson ’25 has been working in the Johns Hopkins BioBank for about a year. There, he catalogs hundreds of thousands of biospecimen samples for different fields of research. During the summer of 2024, he developed a device — an indicator vial — that uses a diluted ethanol solution with a filter to visibly display when a sample reaches a certain temperature, acting as a safeguard when it is out of the freezer for extended periods of time. “At the BioBank, ensuring that the samples stored with us remain at the correct temperature at all times is vital to our mission,” he said.

A rising senior at the time, Olson got the idea when he was drinking a cup of coffee and thinking about filters. He shared the concept with the team and immediately got to work. A few months later in November 2024, he presented at the regional conference for the International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories in St. Petersburg, Florida. The poster abstract was titled: Cryogenic Indicator Tubes: A Novel Solution for Detecting Temperature Excursions in Biological Storage.

“I feel very grateful that I had an opportunity to use my creative abilities and run with this project. I had the chance to create a completely new product that could significantly help how people store biological samples,” he said. During the process, Olson said

he would find himself constantly coming up with new ideas to test in his spare time. Science teachers Frank Fitzgibbon and Cody Miles were very supportive as he worked on the project.

Olson will head to Syracuse University this fall where he plans to study aerospace engineering. Although his intended major does not necessarily correlate with his project at Hopkins, he said that his “knowledge of material science and applications of creative thinking” can be applied to any STEM-related field. Another lesson Olson said he took from the experience is to be open to new ideas and criticism. “Even if it’s not what you want to hear at the moment, it’s extremely important to the development of a product.”

CHOC IT UP TO SCIENCE: STUDENT CREATES ETHICAL COCOA ALTERNATIVE

Sometimes, you just need a piece of chocolate.

But when Jerry Huang ’25 learned that the chocolate industry is built on unethical, unsustainable practices that force nearly 1.6 million children into child labor and that have caused up to 70% of the Côte d’Ivoire’s deforestation, he knew a solution was needed.

As part of the Baltimore BioCrew iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine) team, which is stationed in a community lab called BUGSS (Baltimore Underground Science Space), Huang helped produce a sustainable chocolate alternative using genetically engineered bacteria. “We turned to synthetic biology in

order to produce many of chocolate’s flavor compounds inside of Lactococcus lactis (a strain of bacteria) by overexpressing certain enzymes,” he said.

In October of 2024, Huang and his team participated in the iGEM Grand Jamboree, an expo on synthetic biology held in Paris where students showcase their work, and took home the bronze medal. “This was a really eye-opening experience,” said Huang. “Not only did it expose me to the field of bioengineering — the field that I intend on pursuing in the near future — but also it gave me an idea of what it was like to be a research scientist. I had worked in labs in the past, but never with the independence to essentially lead the project from the start to finish.”

Despite spending long nights in the lab, Huang appreciated the experience working on a project about which he was “truly passionate.” He said he could not have done it without the support of his teammates, his mentors, his parents, and the science teachers at Gilman “who piqued my curiosity.”

Huang is headed to the California Institute of Technology in the fall where he will study bioengineering, a field that he notes is “extremely relevant to this iGEM project!”

Alumni Weekend

Thunderstorms could not deter the Gilman faithful from gathering across campus for another thrilling Alumni Weekend! More than 600 alumni, guests, and current and former faculty and staff members attended 27 events that took place Friday through Sunday, May 2–4. Mother Nature made her presence felt on Friday afternoon and Saturday night. Otherwise, a sun-splashed and temperate backdrop set the stage for a fun-filled weekend of reconnection, reminiscing, and revelry.

Friday night’s return of the Alumni Crab Feast was a highlight of the weekend. On Saturday morning, the 50th reunion crew gathered in the Fenimore Library to engage in a heartfelt and moving memorial service to honor deceased classmates led by Chaplain Selwyn Ray ’75

Alumni Weekend

Gilman’s alumni drove the celebration from start to finish, beginning with the Eighth Annual Gilman Forever Luncheon. Alumni from 1950 through 1974 met in Centennial Hall — formerly known as A Study Hall — for this ever-popular program, which culminated in the presentation of the Richard E. Evans ’60 Memorial Alumni Spirit Award to George B. Hess, Jr. ’55. A Lifetime Trustee and former Board President, Hess gave thanks to Gilman, recognizing the School’s transformative impact in nurturing lifelong friendships, building character, and instilling skills and habits for a successful personal and professional life.

Meanwhile, across campus in Callard Hall, 21 members of the Class of 1975 were busy swapping stories with their third grade pen pals in the Class of 2034. The young Hounds shared insights into the Gilman of today, while the alumni told them stories of the Gilman of yore.

A massive crowd formed around Chandlee Field later Friday afternoon to witness a clash between the Greyhounds and the visiting Lakers of Boys’ Latin. At halftime, three championship teams from reunion years — 1970, 1995, and 2000 — were honored in a ceremony.

Finally, it was time for the weekend’s marquee events — the beloved combination of the All-Reunion Reception in the Lumen Center Dining Hall for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and the class-specific reunion dinners across campus.

Favorite teachers from yesteryear, including Mr. Kumar, Mr. Siwinski, Mr. Foreman, and others, held court at the cocktail reception, and the cherished memories quickly resurfaced with clarity. The laughter persisted for hours, until the night’s longestrunning celebrants — hearty folk from the classes of 2015 and 2020 — headed for the front doors of Carey Hall.

The closing act of the weekend was a farewell brunch for the Class of ’75. They met in the Stevens Room of Callard Hall to visit with beloved former teachers Bill Greene, Jack Thompson, and Cary Woodward ’53, recall the weekend’s highlights, and make plans for future adventures, soaking up the nostalgia and cracking jokes before parting ways. Gerry Brewster ’75 was grateful in reflecting on his Alumni Weekend experience, saying, “I attended all of the events, from the tour on Friday to the farewell brunch on Sunday, and everything was truly wonderful, extremely meaningful, and much appreciated by us all.”

Alumni Out and About

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Forty alumni gathered for Gilman’s annual Washington, D.C. regional reception at the Cosmos Club in Dupont Circle in September 2024. Founded in 1878, the Cosmos Club is a private social club for men and women “distinguished in science, literature, the arts, learned professions, or public service.”

Co-hosts John Morris ’96 and Darius Jennings ’11 welcomed their fellow Greyhounds with a few warm reflections on Gilman. Morris commented on lessons learned from legendary Head of School Redmond C. S. Finney ’47, particularly Mr. Finney’s emphasis on first-class citizenship and following the “Golden Rule.” He humbly voiced his contentment to find in Gilman alumni from every generation the same transcendent values, including respect for everyone regardless of background or circumstances. Jennings thanked Gilman for changing his life’s trajectory. He spoke of the privilege of attending Gilman and enjoying the strength and loyalty of the community. He encouraged attendees to give back to their alma mater as to ensure the next generation of deserving students also have access to more life-changing opportunities.

Head of School Henry Smyth then provided an update on school life, highlighting the energy and enthusiasm on campus in an exciting start to the school year, after which he welcomed questions. Guests took turns inquiring about a wide range of topics tied to culture and curriculum, from proper utilization of AI and management of cell phones, to understanding and celebrating a range of backgrounds and perspectives in texts chosen in the humanities classrooms.

After the Q&A session, it was time to reconnect with old friends and mentors. Longtime faculty members and special guests Tim Holley ’77 and Brooks Matthews ’87 captivated the attention of former students and players, reminiscing about favorite events from the good ol’ days.

SEE MORE OUT-AND-ABOUT PHOTOS AT GILMAN.EDU/ALUMNI UNDER EVENT RECAPS

CALIFORNIA

Fleeing single-digit temperatures and lingering snow and ice, a small group of Gilman staff and administrators headed to California in late January to meet with alumni in the Bay Area.

The first night featured a reception at One Market in San Francisco’s Financial District hosted by Jim Scriba ’77 and Debbie Ford-Scriba. The alum shared several reflections of his time at Gilman and the School’s impact on him, most notably the insistence of Redmond C. S. Finney ’47 on striving to be a first-class citizen, an impulse that he still carries on to this day. Head of School Henry Smyth shared an update from Roland Avenue. Referencing positive college outcomes, an exciting admissions season, and banner fundraising totals, it was clear to all that the School is operating from a position of strength. Over snacks and Gilman-branded fortune cookies, alumni could be heard discussing their work, which included cancer research, social entrepreneurship, mind-bending park construction projects, and even robotic dishwashers.

The next day featured a luncheon at Tamarine in Palo Alto hosted by Collin Wallace ’02. Smyth shared a similar update on the school year, and not surprisingly, many of the questions had a distinctly techy slant. This time, the chatter centered around the history of Sun Microsystems, DeepSeek, and the future of AI, community service, and travels to far-off places.

NEW YORK CITY

Sixty-five alumni united in Manhattan’s bustling Midtown East neighborhood to raise a toast to Gilman in mid-October. The East Lounge of the Racquet and Tennis Club offered an inviting space for reminiscence and reconnection.

In welcoming the group, classmates and friends Ben Wilson ’95 and Corey Popham ’95, the event co-hosts, expressed their gratitude for mentors and bonds forged on the Gilman fields and courts of competition. Popham recalled his commute to and from Annapolis, noting that although it was difficult at the time, it proved to be a life-altering sacrifice for his family and him. Wilson mentioned his trip back to campus in 2024 for the 1994 championship lacrosse team reunion. The experience stirred up memories and breathed fresh life into his engagement with the School.

Head of School Henry Smyth shared about recent upgrades to the Lower and Middle School buildings, using the projects as a springboard to discuss the upcoming shift of the fifth grade to the middle division. He thanked alumni for their philanthropic support, citing the record year for the gilman fund in 2023–2024 (more than $3 million raised!) and highlighting increased giving rates across the three primary constituent groups: alumni, parents, and faculty/staff.

Smyth, staff members, and administrators made the trek north with longtime Upper School teacher Matt Baum ’93 and the recently retired former Head of Upper School Rob Heubeck. The two special guests brought extra joy and nostalgia to the evening. Alumni from the 2000s, 2010s, and recent grads flocked to their beloved mentors, and they generously gave their time and energy, sharing updates on colleagues, clubs, and teams and reliving favorite memories of yesteryear.

Alumni Mentoring

JD NELSON ’01 SHARES CAREER, LIFE ADVICE WITH UPPER SCHOOL BUSINESS CLUB

By Oliver Sung ’25, President, Gilman Business Club

The Gilman Business Club was honored to welcome JD Nelson ’01 as its first guest speaker for the school year. He discussed his role as a Managing Director at Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. and his specialization in investment banking.

Nelson provided transparent insights into the day-to-day responsibilities of an investment banker and explained the progression from an analyst role to his current position. He also spoke about the impact that playing sports — like lacrosse at Gilman and Cornell — had on his ability to work in a team setting. Overall, the Business Club gained valuable knowledge from the guest speaker, especially our young finance Hounds!

RICHARD GAMPER ’06 TALKS BRAND, STRATEGY, AND CHATGPT WITH UPPER SCHOOL BUSINESS CLUB

By Oliver Sung ’25, President, Gilman Business Club

The Business Club welcomed Richard Gamper ’06, Head of Messaging at Brown Advisory, as their second guest speaker of the year. Gamper discussed his role in managing Brown Advisory’s brand and their unique strategy of limiting advertising spend to prioritize service quality. He also shared insights into what makes Brown Advisory a trusted place for families seeking meaningful investment returns.

Beyond business, Gamper addressed the impact of ChatGPT and emphasized the importance of writing as a tool for clearly expressing ideas. The Business Club Hounds were thrilled to engage in a meaningful discussion with him.

BEAU SMITH ’99 TALKS FINANCE, ECONOMY WITH UPPER SCHOOL BUSINESS CLUB

By Henry Fulchino ’25, Vice President, Gilman Business Club

In a meeting in early winter, the Business Club was fortunate to have Beau Smith ’99 visit and talk about finance. Smith is a senior risk manager at the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System. He earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Franklin & Marshall College and continued his educational journey at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School.

Smith started his presentation by detailing the different types of companies that make up the financial sector of the S&P 500 and explaining which companies fall into the different categories. Then, he recommended a few of his favorite books about finance and offered a few key takeaways from each. He concluded his presentation by emphasizing the importance of taking note of macroeconomic factors when making investment decisions. For example, he showed how the likelihood of United States presidential candidates directly affected the trajectory of money invested in the markets. This point created a room full of curiosity, and students began to flood him with questions.

Club members left the meeting inspired to step back and analyze the broader economic environment when investing.

THESE STUDENTS MEAN BUSINESS

Twenty-five students participated in a hands-on entrepreneurial training program in December 2024. Henrik Scheel of the Startup Experience led the eight small groups of Upper School boys over two days teaching them about all aspects of starting a business, beginning with problem identification and solution development, and moving on to market potential, competitor analysis, value proposition, and other concepts. The experience concluded with a “Shark Tank”-style competition where each group pitched its idea to a panel of judges — or sharks — which included Head of Upper School Brian Ledyard, Founder of Four21 Advisory Kelvin Liu P’27, and CEO of Blackbird Laboratories Matt Tremblay P’34, ’ 39

In addition to the eight group presentations, a bonus pitch was made by Matthew Feola ’25 about a concept he developed outside of this program. His company, SleepBox LLC, offers custom sleep-aid solutions via a box delivered to the user each month.

The sharks selected PyroPack as the winner. Using specialized materials like Aerogel, which has been used by astronauts facing extreme temperatures in space, this new PPE would better protect firefighters as they face wildfires that have become more common with global warming, preventing injuries and saving lives. “We all really liked that this is an important problem. You identified that there is a market opportunity there,” said one judge. “People are out there risking their lives with technology that is 50 years old.” The sharks were impressed by the team’s scientific and cost models, also pointing out the camaraderie they noticed among team members.

Congratulations to the winners and all of the teams on a job well done! And thank you to Scheel, the judges, the mentors listed below who offered suggestions and support along the way, as well as Nathaniel Badder ’94, who organized the program.

Mentors

• Ryan Kamauff ’03, Cloud Architect at VMware

• Zach Lander-Portnoy ’06, Chief Revenue Officer at Tricerat

• Robb Lawrence P’28, Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Maryland, Baltimore

• Kevin Robbins ’94, General Partner at Blue Delta Capital Partners

• Sebastian Seiguer ’90, P’35, CEO at Scene Health

• Christy Wyskiel PP, Senior Advisor to the President for Innovation & Entrepreneurship; Executive Director at Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures

• Will Zerhouni ’94, P’25, ’29, Managing Director at TRGP Investment Partners, LP

’18 DISCUSSES IMPACT OF AI WITH BUSINESS CLUB

By Oliver Sung ’25, President, Gilman Business Club

In early April, the Business Club had the privilege of hosting Alex Pickett ’18, co-founder of both Cobbery, a startup that uses AI agents to scale outbound phone operations, and Tangia, a platform that allows streamers to enhance chat engagement on their livestreams by giving viewers access to a range of interactive features.

Rather than giving a formal presentation, Pickett led an open discussion on his companies and the transformational impact of artificial intelligence. He spoke about how AI is changing the way schools teach, how companies are built, and how we interact with technology day-to-day. He also shared his personal journey with Y Combinator, detailing how the leading technology startup accelerator’s guidance led to a significant pivot in his company’s direction. Further, he stressed the importance of actively seeking out honest feedback from customers and the potential value of pursuing business-to-business opportunities over business-to-consumer ones.

Pickett’s visit offered valuable perspectives on the evolving role of technology and its implications for future business leaders. We are grateful for his time via Zoom and the knowledge he shared with our members.

“Innovation generally just comes from being hands-on, working with technologies, talking to people and learning about their problems. In the next few years we are going to see a shift in how we interact with technology, from typing to primarily voice. Soon every piece of tech will be able to ‘talk’. one of the top things i took away from Gilman was a sense of agency, that we have the ability to just take action and do things and that those things will have a real impact.”

–Alex Pickett ’18

ALEX PICKETT

STUDENTS GET IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES WITH EXPERT ALUMNI

Upper School Math Department Chair Jeff Gouline ’00 helps to direct the immersives program, which was introduced in the 2024–2025 school year. The program emphasizes active, hands-on learning during the Upper School’s community time immediately following lunch. “Some students are learning something entirely new and others are pursuing a passion,” notes Gouline. “It’s also been a great way to connect students to faculty and staff they might not know otherwise.”

Students chose from about 40 offerings that faculty and staff sponsored. Several exciting options were led by alumni teachers:

• Money in Sports with Will Bartz ’99

• Sports Nutrition with Jack Bowmaster ’18

• ctrl+alt+spreadsheet with Alex DeWeese ’11

• Do It Yourself: Home Repair and Life Skills with Ned Emala ’13 (Avid Bulletin readers may remember a story about Emala bringing similar lessons to his advisory last school year; see page 32 of the 2024 Bulletin.)

• The Art of Storytelling with Jeff Gouline ’00

• Gilman Lore with Tim Holley ’77

• Careers in Sports with Brooks Matthews ’87

• Lower School Visits with John Schmick ’97

• Campaigns and Elections with Aaron Slutkin ’17

• 3x3 Basketball with Matt Baum ’93

• Learning to DJ with Donell Thompson ’91

• A Gastronomical Tour of North Baltimore with Russell Wrenn ’96

Phil Han ’04 hosted one immersive group of 12 Upper School student epicures and future restauranteurs in the fall for lunch and discussion at Dooby’s, his restaurant in Baltimore’s Mt. Vernon neighborhood. Han provided the boys with lessons learned from his career in the restaurant industry, with particular emphasis on entrepreneurship and building a successful business. The boys gave their host five-star reviews on their delicious lunches from Dooby’s Korean-inspired menu options. The freshly baked chocolate chip cookies were a big hit, too!

Brett Hollander ’03 of the Baltimore Orioles broadcast team visited with 12 students in the Careers in Sports immersive, organized by teachers

Colin Regan and Brooks Matthews ’87, in December 2024. Now in his dream job, Hollander did not find his way into the Orioles broadcast booth by way of journalism school or a singular focus on sports broadcasting. Rather, as he shared with the students, his experiences in a small liberal arts college, piecing together jobs like delivering beach traffic and mid-day sports updates led to broader opportunities on radio. Serving as host on WBAL in the evenings and then in the afternoon drive time allowed Hollander to improve his craft while deepening his knowledge base. His relentless work ethic, honed at Gilman, prepared him to effectively deliver content that attracted local audiences. Hollander emphasized to the students that he’d faced numerous “decision points” along the way that facilitated his growth until the O’s came calling six years ago, and his dream became a reality.

Greg Bader ’93 then met with the same class in January. After a long career in the Baltimore Orioles organization, culminating

in his role as Chief Operating Officer (COO), Bader was chosen to serve as the Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN). Bader’s path through the Orioles organization helped the students see certain values for success, including being open-minded, as well as a lifelong listener and learner. In addition, Bader emphasized the importance of humility in navigating different personalities so that you can work effectively with all kinds of people. In outlining the competition that regional sports cable networks like MASN face from streaming services, Bader highlighted the importance of recognizing the variables, clearly identifying objectives, and being adaptable.

ALUMNI HOST STUDENTS FOR WALL STREET 101

A February snowstorm in New York forced the reimagining of this year’s Wall Street 101 experience, an annual daylong immersion into careers in finance for Gilman’s Upper School students. So on a lovely spring day in April, 17 students descended on Baltimore’s Harbor Point for a look inside Constellation Energy and then headed over to Fells Point for a visit at Brown Advisory.

At Constellation Energy, David Dardis P’27, Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and Policy Officer, and his colleague Adam Boyd, Vice President, Portfolio Management, gave the students a history of commodities trading and futures market, a high-level view into energy generation and delivery, and a laundry list of variables that can affect the price of electricity. Then the professionals walked the students through the trading floor, where all of the company’s subject-matter experts — including a team of in-house meteorologists — share and react to the most recent market news.

At Brown Advisory, Garrett Paglia ’11, an associate at the firm, had organized a panel discussion with a number of Gilman alumni. Joining Paglia were Geoff Carey ’80, partner and senior portfolio strategist; Mike Poggi ’99, partner and portfolio manager; and

Christian Hall ’09, RFP team lead - U.S. Institutional. After describing, at a high level, what the firm does, their individual journeys until working at Brown, and the types of personal and professional skills it takes to thrive there, the group answered questions from the students. The conversation covered topics such as the importance of developing people skills to succeed in finance careers; the need to be able to think critically even as technologies like AI continue to grow in prominence; the valuable role that internships can play for college juniors and seniors in job searches; the thought process behind some of Brown’s most successful investment strategies; the essential role that a long-term focus can play in investing; and how reading books — actual books — can benefit a person’s mental health and well-being.

The bus ride home was buzzing with great questions and debates about tariffs, market fluctuations, and job/internship opportunities. It was a day that will resonate with these students for quite some time.

That evening one parent commented, “[My son] really enjoyed that trip. He came home with a spark in his eye asking his dad all kinds of questions. Thank you for hosting this field trip. It was a big success.”

Innovative

Senior Encounters

CHRISTOPHER CHOO ’25 BALS ELEKTROTECHNIK

MENTOR: SER YEN CHIA, GENERAL MANAGER, BALS ELEKTROTECHNIK

(IN SHANGHAI!)

FUTURE PLANS: TUFTS UNIVERSITY

TO STUDY COMPUTER SCIENCE

“I have a background in CGI, and wanted to try out the industrial/ design side of 3D modeling. I enjoyed getting shown around the factory and getting to see all of the different processes that go into making the products. From the injection molds to the machines that put components on circuit boards, there were lots of little interesting surprises.

The differences between polygon (the kind I have experience in) and parametric modeling proved most challenging. Despite both being called 3D modeling, they are very different in their core approach to the field. Polygon modeling focuses on directly modifying the computer mesh of the model. Thus, the modeling process requires you to directly interact with the vertices of your mesh in combination with other procedural tools to make what you want. On the other hand, parametric focuses on making precise designs with accurate dimensions, which means that you specify the dimensions and relationships between different parts of the model mathematically, whilst telling the computer where and how to create faces between them.”

BENNETT SCHMIDT ’25 MARYLAND SCIENCE CENTER

MENTOR: PETE YANCONE, SENIOR DIRECTOR, MARYLAND SCIENCE CENTER

Senior Encounter, the capstone experience of the senior year, enables each senior to explore a field of interest with an adult who works in that area. as seniors prepare to head to college, this experience aims to provide them with a broader perspective on a career field of interest while connecting with a mentor in that field.

JONATHAN LI ’25 JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

MENTORS: DR. JOEL BADER AND YUXIANG LI, JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

WHITING SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

FUTURE PLANS: COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

TO STUDY BIOPHYSICS AND PUBLIC HEALTH

“I was always interested in biology and medicine, and after completing an internship at Georgetown last summer involving radiation oncology, I wanted to expand my horizons and explore medicine's computation/computer science side. I enjoyed learning Python and some foundational skills of data science, which can be applied to a broad spectrum of career paths. I also liked applying the object-oriented programming skills I learned in the classroom at Gilman!

I had to innovate ways to run the program on my personal device and use my knowledge of biology to draw conclusions from our genomic data produced by our machine learning program. Computer science has so many applications; no matter what job I choose, I will try to keep those skills in my inventory.”

FUTURE PLANS: ELON UNIVERSITY TO STUDY ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TEACHING

“I chose my Encounter because of my desires to educate others about the sciences, particularly about fossils and minerals. Working at the Maryland Science Center, I enjoyed the Dinosaur Mysteries section the most. I brought in a personal collection of fossils I own and gave brief info sessions about some of them. I also wandered the exhibit, answering questions about the exhibit and its history.

To create the presentation I gave on my Green River Formation fossils, I had to visualize how I would present the story of what the fossils were, where they were found, how we found them, their age, how they formed, etc. Because the exhibit was out in the open, groups of people would come and go as they pleased. I had to adapt the presentation based on how long people stayed and at what point in the presentation new people came to observe. This way, I ensured almost every single version of the same presentation was different in some way, keeping it fresh for both me and the visitors.

From this experience, I learned the value of improvisation and conciseness. Keeping the attention of people, especially children, for a presentation is reliant on how good your hook is for that first one to two minutes. If you manage to keep them interested, it unlocks the rest of your presentation to feed their engagement. If it doesn’t, then at least they can walk away with a tiny bit of concrete information.”

Hounds Helping Hounds

Recently graduated from Georgetown University with a degree in business administration, management, and marketing from the McDonough School of Business, Wallace Halpert ’20 found himself looking for a job in August 2024. He was eager to launch a career in commercial real estate and had done some networking and applied to a few jobs, but was not getting any traction. It was then that he reached out to the Gilman Advancement Office for help.

In addition to raising millions of dollars for the School annually, the Advancement Office also manages parent and alumni relations. And it was through this latter arm that staffers were able to help.

As it turns out, a senior member of Northmarq’s mid-Atlantic leadership team had contacted the Advancement Office just the month before. Though not a Gilman alumnus, Ari Azarbarzin had gotten to know many through his work leading investment sales with the national commercial real estate company. In every Greyhound he met, he noticed an intellectual curiosity, a dependable work ethic, and the ability to learn quickly — all traits he knew contributed to success in his industry. He wanted more Hounds on his team!

The timing was just right, and Gilman Director of Advancement Programs & Operations Nathaniel Badder ’94 introduced the pair over email. Not even two months later, Badder received an email from Halpert thanking him for the connection and telling him that he had accepted a position within Northmarq’s Investment Sales team for its Baltimore and Washington, D.C. offices.

alumni network, while teaching the students how to request an informational interview. They work with seniors on creating a LinkedIn profile and show them how to connect with Gilman alumni through the platform and their office.

The number of follow-up questions and increased interest in forging alumni connections have prompted Warnack, Robinson, and Badder to set office hours each week. “Connecting Gilman students with alumni who are always willing to talk with those following in their footsteps is not only a joyful part of our job, but also it underscores the importance of the School’s mission to produce men of character and integrity who have the skills and ability to make a positive contribution to the communities in which they live and work,” says Warnack.

While students are more likely to seek job or internship opportunities, many alumni are focused on career connections and mentorship. Not altogether surprisingly, the biggest sector of interest is finance, followed by tech, commercial real estate, and sports and entertainment. More niche industries — including government, marketing, and environmental studies — have also been explored.

The alumni outreach has not been limited to college graduates. Nico Shelby ’22, a rising senior at the University of Richmond, recently parlayed an introduction from the Advancement Office into a summer internship with Black Diamond Financial, a firm started by Gilman alumni Dyson Dryden ’94 and David Zinreich ’94.

It’s not every day that the stars align so perfectly, but Halpert is one of many Gilman alumni who have called on the Advancement team for career assistance. Since spring 2024, the office has fielded calls from roughly 100 alumni and helped to connect them with nearly 200 fellow Greyhounds who work in areas of interest. Dozens of additional inquiries have come from students.

The uptick in student outreach has followed recently added weeklong programs in junior and senior seminars that Assistant Head of School for Advancement Heather Harlan Warnack, Director of Alumni Relations Andrew Robinson, and Badder conduct. They educate 11th and 12th graders about the workings of the Advancement Office and the power of the Gilman

“Obviously, we are thrilled to see successes like these,” says Badder. “But, we can only make the introductions. It’s up to the alumni to take it from there. And, it is so cool to see them really run with the opportunities presented to them. Even cooler is this culture of Hounds helping Hounds.”

Robinson says the culture of paying it forward is exceptionally strong at Gilman. “It’s inspiring to see alumni express their gratitude — and their care for one another — so frequently and with such enthusiasm.”

Wallace Halpert ’20 and Ari Azarbarzin at Northmarq.

Alumni On Campus

MAJOR ALEX WRIGHT ’91 SPEAKS AT VETERANS DAY ASSEMBLY

“I have long said that I received three great foundational educations in my life. The first was forged right here at Gilman,” shared United States Marine Corps Major Alex Wright ’91 when he spoke at the Upper School’s Veterans Day assembly in November of 2024. “That is the education of critical thinking, research and writing, logic and intellectual curiosity, public speaking, and debating ideas.”

PANELS OF YOUNG ALUMNI ADDRESS CURRENT FACULTY AND SENIORS

At the first faculty and senior form meetings of 2025, a cadre of young alumni returned to their alma mater to share their experiences as college freshmen.

With the faculty, a group of seven young men reflected on how well Gilman had prepared them for college — particularly with regard to writing assignments — their comfort with self-advocacy and taking advantage of opportunities to seek help and build relationships with professors, and feeling confident in navigating a busy schedule. Faculty asked questions about the culture of honor at their colleges, the political and social climate, especially in a presidential election year, and the degree of challenge in navigating the transition to higher education. When asked what they missed most about Gilman, the panel highlighted the relationships they had with teachers and classmates and the sense of brotherhood they felt on campus.

He continued to say that the other foundational educations he received were in college and during the 10 years he spent in the Marines. Major Wright concluded his Upper School talk by imploring the audience to “build a bridge through your lives” with veterans, especially those with backgrounds different from one’s own, and to place curiosity at the heart of those interactions.

“If you get to know them personally — if you are curious — veterans are often happy to share when you’re willing to take the time and listen,” he said. “When you meet a veteran, especially the ones who come from places beyond our daily lives, I think you’ll be amazed both at what you can continue to learn from them and just how human they are. They will be your friends, your neighbors, and your colleagues. If you pay close enough attention, I think you’ll learn something about the pride each of them humbly takes in [his or her] service to our nation and to its ideals. You’ll learn what it means for a veteran to be a veteran.”

A second panel of young alumni, many of whom were repeats from the faculty meeting, met with the seniors. The recent grads reflected on their transition to college and, again, praised Gilman for the way it had prepared them, especially for the academic workload at the next level. The groups stressed the need to figure out a work-life balance and to make use of the ample free time that college presents. The current seniors asked about roommates and housing, the food, and how to keep the college experience affordable. The panel concluded by offering advice they wished they had heard when they were sitting where the seniors sat; the graduates included ideas like being open to new opportunities, not being intimidated by the unknown, and treating college like a job — so that downtime can be enjoyed, too!

LEFT TO RIGHT: Zach Minkin ’24, Brooks Kitchel ’24, Nedum Ebo ’24, Nick Cruz ’24, Jeevan Khanuja ’24, Michel Morfaw ’23, Jameson Maumenee ’24

LEFT TO RIGHT: Ryan Patel ’24, Nedum Ebo ’24, Nick Cruz ’24, Brooks Kitchel ’24, Zach Minkin ’24, Jameson Maumenee ’24

THE JABBERWOCKS

HIT ALL THE RIGHT NOTES DURING THEIR VISIT TO GILMAN

As part of its winter break tour, the Jabberwocks, the oldest a cappella group at Brown University, made a special visit to Roland Avenue in January. Fifteen men and women, including four-year Traveling Men alumnus Anay Agarwal ’23, performed five songs for a captive audience of Lower School boys.

“It’s a little weird being back,” Agarwal said as he introduced the group. He reflected with a smile that “everything seems smaller … even though I didn’t get much bigger.”

Their repertoire featured a variety of songs, from the unfamiliar like “Me and the ’Wocks” (a Jabberwocks original) to the more wellknown like Coldplay’s “Viva la Vida.” The singers incorporated simple but fun choreography. A highlight from their rendition of “Pure Imagination” (Willy Wonka) was one member’s beatbox work.

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. CONVOCATION

Instead of a keynote speaker at Gilman’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation on January 16, Head of School Henry Smyth introduced a panel of two special guests — Bill Greene and Stuart Sims ’68 — who answered questions from Associate Director of CIE Joe Valentine-White ’07 and Black Student Union Co-President Bryce Wilson ’25. Smyth referred to Greene, the first Black teacher at Gilman who later served as Assistant Headmaster from 1987 to 2001, as having “transformed Gilman’s culture.” He called Sims, who was one of four Black students — the first — to graduate from the School in 1968, “a pioneering figure in Gilman’s history.”

After the concert, the Jabberwocks moved on to music teacher Amy Cyman’s classroom where they were joined by the Treble T’s, an audition ensemble that comprises 34 Gilman students in grades 3–5. After the vocal groups shared warm-up practices with each other, the boys had a chance to ask questions of their more experienced peers. Topics included the group’s collective range (five octaves), what instruments they played (a variety), and the number of “grades” represented in the group (five, since there are five-year programs at Brown). Cyman asked the Jabberwocks to share with the boys about their experiences when their voices changed since that is a challenge the Treble T’s will face in the coming years. One piece of advice: Work with the change; don’t fight it. Another: Simply “Keep singing!”

“It was a pleasure to have Anay back in the Lower School to inspire other young singers who might, one day, bring their own a cappella groups to Gilman,” said Cyman. “The Jabberwocks’ visit was a fullcircle moment and brought joy to many of Anay’s former teachers who are so proud of the new adventure that is unfolding for him.”

The Jabberwocks are a completely student-led organization with members holding roles such as music director, business manager, tour manager, and social media manager, which was Agarwal’s job at the time of his visit. He said that his time in the Traveling Men at Gilman prepared him for his Jabberwocks experience “in every possible way,” specifically pointing to the way Vocal Groups Director Robby Ford led rehearsals and got students involved. Agarwal also mentioned the close relationships among the Traveling Men as similar to what he has now with the Jabberwocks. “You can only sound as good as you are friends.”

During the discussion, Sims spoke about coming to Gilman in 1965 as “one of the best decisions he ever made” that “prepared me for life.” Greene recounted the story of when Redmond C. S. Finney ’47 recruited him from his teaching job at a public school and offered him an opportunity to come to Gilman. At the end, the audience of students, faculty, and staff in the arena applauded the guests for their time given that afternoon, and more importantly, for their contributions to Gilman over the years.

Bill Greene (left) and Stuart Sims ʼ68 at the MLK Convocation in January 2025.

WRESTLING ALUMNI RECEPTION

Sixty-eight years may have separated the graduation year of the youngest and oldest alumni who got together on Saturday, January 18, yet they all shared a lifelong love for Gilman wrestling. So it was that more than three dozen former Gilman wrestlers, coaches, and friends gathered together in the C. Markland Kelly, Jr. Fitness Center for a wrestling alumni reception in conjunction with 41st Annual Haswell M. Franklin ’ 50 Gilman Duals. Sandwiches were savored and stories swapped as past teammates and friends rekindled old relationships and forged new ones. Head Varsity Wrestling Coach Bryn Holmes took a break from the on-mat action to offer an update on the tournament — and the season’s — progress. Afterward, more laughs were exchanged, and plans to reconnect made before the group migrated back to the Finney Athletic Center to catch the rest of the dual meets.

Said Teddy Brown ’84, “I always liked to go to the Duals with my dad [former Gilman teacher and coach Eddie Brown, Jr. ’57, who passed away this past November; see page 82]. He loved to see what the Gilman grapplers had to give, and it was sort of an annual ritual for us. We always loved seeing past wrestlers and coaches there. The coaches like Howdy Knipp, Jeff Duke, David Hooper, Mark Harbold, and Chris Legg ’67 (and many more) were so instrumental in teaching us and shaping us as young people — using the sport to ingrain in us discipline, tenacity, trust, determination, humility, respect, and more. The decades of wrestling alumni that show up for events like this is a powerful testament to just how impactful the sport and our experience with it at Gilman and beyond has been on us.”

In the Duals, Gilman had a strong showing, winning its first four matches before coming up a few points short against Greens Farms Academy in the finals. Several individual wrestlers even went undefeated in their weight classes on the day.

FOOTBALL ALUMNI BBQ

This year’s Football Alumni BBQ, an annual event that joins former football players and coaches with the current year’s program members, took place in September 2024, the day before the varsity team’s MIAA home opener. On the menu: a delicious barbecue buffet served with abundant camaraderie and joyful celebration!

Alumni gathered in the bleachers at Sotir Stadium to watch the Greyhounds in their final preparations for Friday’s matchup against the Gaels of Mount Saint Joseph. Several alumni who were, at one time, teammates sat down to reminisce with beloved former head coach Alex Sotir, including Mike Sotir ’78, Tom Booker ’79, and Steve Plunkert ’80. Soon the crowd swelled to 20 alumni and friends; all were happy to socialize on Harris Terrace and enjoy the evening’s perfect weather.

The current coaches and players emerged from the locker room after practice to join their predecessors in the Lumen Center Dining Hall for the evening’s program. Head Coach Scott Van Zile set the stage with an opening speech celebrating the bonds that unite Gilman football players across the program’s rich 124-year history. David deMuth ’80 shared remarks emphasizing the privilege of playing football for Gilman’s longest-tenured program. Anthony Ferguson ’10 followed with an equally passionate set of reflections highlighting the School’s core values, the strength of Gilman’s football brotherhood, and the one-of-a-kind friendships forged by teammates on the gridiron.

The setting provided the opportunity for alumni to reconnect with one another and also to find common ground with the Greyhounds of today. Past achievements were honored, memorable clashes were relived in vivid detail, and attention was turned to the upcoming season and the goals of the ascendent program with shared enthusiasm and optimism. The dinner fostered a strong sense of community and pride and reminded all attendees of the enduring legacy of Gilman football. Go Greyhounds!

ERAS OF GILMAN

Just ahead of Alumni Weekend, Gilman welcomed four alumni back to Roland Avenue — and to the auditorium stage — for the second annual Eras of Gilman assembly, moderated by Director of Alumni Relations Andrew Robinson. David Rody ’85, Dr. Arman Taghizadeh ’95, Dr. Anthony Ferguson, Jr. ’10, and Wallace Halpert ’20 — each who attended the School in a different decade — spoke about their experiences as students and as alumni.

Rody pointed out the ways in which Gilman has stayed the same since he attended and about how he learned life lessons of dedication, perseverance, and grit through his participation in athletics. He shared a poignant story of the time when former teachercoach Nick Schloeder illustrated all of these lessons — and more — with a simple, off-hand comment on the sidelines of a football game.

Taghizadeh, also known as Dr. T., remembers being introduced to the Gilman Raiders as a Middle School student and getting to be a part of it in Upper School. He appreciated the sense of pride, community, and celebration that the tradition brings to the School. Dr. T. also talked about his time wrestling at Gilman, specifically at the Haswell M. Franklin ’50 Gilman Duals, where he remembers seeing wrestling alumni in the stands. As an alum, he always makes it a point to attend so that “the younger guys see me there.”

Ferguson recalled his experience as an athlete going out for the spring musical, wanting to take full advantage of all the opportunities available to him. As a student who enrolled in ninth grade, the first in his family to attend Gilman, he said with genuine emotion, “Gilman changed my life.” He remains involved as an alum because it brings him joy to support the current generation of students, and he hopes to inspire them to come back as alumni as well.

Halpert reminisced about Head Varsity Volleyball Coach Diego Matorras, who took a group of volleyball newbies and improved their skills to the point where they were competitive. He said Matorras’ mantra, to get 1% better every day, has stuck with him.

JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

Dylan Buchalter ’25, who has played baseball at Gilman all four years of Upper School, facilitated an unforgettable Lower School assembly in honor of Jewish American Heritage Month featuring a panel of distinguished guests: Brett Hollander ’03 (Baltimore Orioles broadcaster), Brian Kowitz (former Atlanta Braves outfielder), and Adam Gladstone (COO of Israel Baseball America). These remarkable men shared powerful stories of perseverance, identity, and resilience as Jewish Americans, inspiring all who attended. The cherry on top for the boys was learning how to take a solid swing at a baseball — straight from the pros!

ALUMNI LACROSSE GAME

This year’s nail-biter of an alumni lacrosse game offered no shortage of excitement. Despite Coach Matthews’ superb coaching of the Blue team, Gray came out on top 9-7. Both keepers stood on their heads with more than 10 saves, namely Kyle Morris ’22 (UVA) and Zach Parks ’25 (Colby). Jake Brummet ’17 dominated at the X for Gray. Highlights included an outside goal by defenseman Jackson Barnhill ’23 and a smooth combo by the Class of 2013 attack with Zeke Morrill and Chris Walsch John Simms also represented the Class of 2013, contributing from midfield.

What’s the Buzz?

EAGLES — AND BOOKER ’18 — WIN THE SUPER BOWL

Thomas Booker IV ’18 played in the most-watched program in U.S. television history: Super Bowl LIX! Congratulations to Booker and the Philadelphia Eagles for their 40-22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in New Orleans on February 9! Booker was a defensive tackle on a dominant defense that ranked at or near the top of the NFL in several regular-season categories. In the big game, a suffocating Philly defense sacked the Chiefs’ star quarterback Patrick Mahomes a whopping six times — the most in his career spanning 132 games. The victory caps a whirlwind third season for Booker in the NFL. He signed a “reserve/futures” contract with the Eagles in January 2024 He then earned a coveted spot on the 53-man roster in September 2024 after a standout training camp and preseason performance. Thomas played in all 17 regular-season games, recording 18 tackles and one sack. Thomas is believed to be the second former Greyhound to play in — and win! — a Super Bowl. (Micah Kiser ’13 suited up for the Rams when they topped the Bengals in Super Bowl LVI in 2022.)

RUCKER ’19 AND LANE ’21: SERVICE ACADEMY SENIORS AND SPORTS STARS

Jalen Rucker ’19, a guard for the Army West Point Black Knights men’s basketball team, and Rayuan Lane III ’21, a safety on the Naval Academy Midshipmen football team, completed stellar careers in their respective sports. Moreover, both graduated and were commissioned as officers in May — Rucker in the Army and Lane in the Marine Corps.

Rucker led the Black Knights in scoring with 18.3 points per game in the 2024–2025 campaign, an average that placed him second overall for the entire Patriot League. A four-year starter, Rucker scored more than 1,000 points in his career. His performance earned him a spot on several all-league teams: 2020–2021 Patriot League All-Rookie Team, 2021–2022 All-Patriot League Second Team, 2022–2023 All-Patriot League First Team, and 2024–2025 All-Patriot League First Team.

He was instrumental in leading the Black Knights to victory over Elon in this spring’s College Basketball Invitational (CBI) tournament, Army’s first postseason win since 1970. Rucker registered a game-high 27 points and six assists alongside two rebounds and two steals.

Lane, also a four-year starter, had a standout 2024 season on the gridiron for the Midshipmen. He was named FirstTeam All-American Athletic Conference after racking up 70 total tackles,

five pass breakups, and three forced fumbles. His success earned him a spot in February’s Senior Bowl; he became only the fifth Midshipman to make the premier college football all-star game. Lane later participated in the NFL Combine, an invite-only, weeklong skills showcase for the top NFL draft-eligible players in college football. In April, Lane was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars No. 200 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft — the 24th selection of Round 6 He became the first player from Navy selected by the Jaguars in the NFL Draft.

GORMAN ’81 BRINGS OLD BAY BAGEL CHIPS TO GIANT FOOD STORES

Phil Gorman ’81 and his company, CaliBagels, are introducing Old Bayflavored bagel chips to hundreds of Giant Food stores.

CaliBagels, a San Diego-based bagel company, partnered with McCormick & Co. — the parent company for the Old Bay brand — to launch the new product. As Gorman noted in a CaliBagels press release, “Offering consumers our unique bagel chip seasoned with Old Bay made perfect sense. Bringing the fanaticism around the iconic seafood seasoning brand to snackers around the country is incredibly exciting for our team.”

The agreement with Giant allows Gorman and CaliBagels to sell 130,000 bags of the Old Bay bagel chips in more than 350 of the chain’s grocery stores.

BADER ’93 NAMED GM OF MID-ATLANTIC SPORTS NETWORK

The Baltimore Orioles named Greg Bader ’93 the Executive Vice President and General Manager of the MidAtlantic Sports Network (MASN), beginning January 1, 2025

Bader comes to MASN from the Orioles’ front office, where he was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since September of 2023. He first joined the Orioles as a public relations intern in 1994 and has served in numerous roles over his tenure, including Director of Communications, Vice President of Marketing & Communications, and Senior Vice President, Administration & Experience.

MCLEAN ’13 DELIVERS GRADUATION SPEECH FOR JHU SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

Jibri McLean ’13 delivered the student speech at the 2024 graduation ceremony for the School of Education (SOE) of Johns Hopkins University (JHU).

Each year, SOE leaders select one student from a pool of candidates to deliver an address at graduation. According to remarks from Vice Dean of Academic Affairs Jamie Lister, the 2024 candidate pool was “particularly competitive.”

McLean earned a Master of Science in Counseling at JHU with a concentration

in mental health counseling while working as a history teacher at a Baltimore independent school. He now serves as Upper School counselor at Germantown Academy in suburban Philadelphia. He began his career in education as a Foreman Fellow at Gilman in the 2017–2018 school year.

CAHN ’88 RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS RUZICKA LEADERSHIP AWARD

Suffield Academy’s Head of School since 2004 Charlie Cahn ’88 received the Ruzicka Leadership Award at the 2024 TABS (The Association of Boarding Schools) Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., on November 1, 2024 The Ruzicka is the most prestigious award presented by TABS. According to the organization’s website, the award “celebrates extraordinary individuals who have dedicated two decades or more as a boarding school head of school.” It further highlights “the honorees’ dedication to the mission of boarding schools, fostering professional connections, and enriching the boarding school experience for faculty, staff, students, and families.”

JANET ’04 NAMED A 2024 INFLUENTIAL MARYLANDER

Andrew Janet ’04, a partner at Janet, Janet, & Suggs, LLC, was selected for the 2024 Influential Marylanders Award by the Daily Record. Each year, the Daily Record honors influential leaders

in Maryland who make significant contributions to their chosen field. Janet was selected as an honoree in the law category.

Janet is co-chair of the Sexual Abuse Division at Janet, Janet, & Suggs. He and his team specialize in representing victims of negligence and other wrongful conduct in sexual abuse cases, high-stakes medical malpractice suits, environmental litigation, and other professional negligence cases. A respected and accomplished professional, Janet’s résumé includes several high-profile awards and acknowledgments.

ALUMNI PROPOSE COMMUNICATIONS TOOLKIT AT NASA INTERNSHIP

In August 2024, three new alumni interning with NASA presented their proposal for a new mission visualization toolkit to agency staff and administrators. Aman Garg ’24, Arya Kazemnia ’24, and Leo Wang ’24 completed their proposal with two other teammates as part of NASA’s highly competitive SCaN Internship Project (SIP). For all of the alumni, this was their second summer as SIP interns. One of the team’s two project mentors was Elana Resnick, a former Upper School science teacher and certified NASA Educator Ambassador.

As described in the team’s presentation, their low-cost mission visualization toolkit is designed to “simulate Earth, the moon, and generative communications scenarios related to Earth or lunar ground stations and surrounding satellites ... [it] will provide a cheaper, more efficient solution to simulating what-if communications scenarios and trade studies for future Artemis missions.”

Turning Pages Together

The tri-schools have been in coordination with one another for several decades, allowing juniors and seniors to choose from a wide array of classes unmatched by any single high school. Now, the libraries across the three schools are collaborating as well, fostering a sense of community and allowing students to connect with peers and explore new interests beyond their individual campuses.

Upper School Librarian Sherry Schmidt and Middle School Librarian Mark Welch teamed up with librarians from The Bryn Mawr School and Roland Park Country School to form a tri-school library committee. Together, they planned the first Tri-School Poetry Night, held in April.

Third grade teacher Jen Reiter, with support from the girls’ schools, coordinated a book club for third grade students to gather in small groups with faculty members to guide them in discussions about their selections.

PHOTO BY HANNAH KLARNER, THE BRYN MAWR SCHOOL

WOMEN’S

In addition to collaboration among the tri-schools, the libraries across Gilman’s divisions have worked together on a range of activities and initiatives from book lists for associated affinity/ heritage months to schoolwide games of bingo and Connect Four.

Throughout the year, boys at Gilman enjoy many author visits where they are exposed to diverse perspectives, learn about the writing and publishing process, and become inspired in their own exploration of reading and writing (see next page). This year, through Lower School Librarian Melissa Da’s partnership with her counterpart at Bryn Mawr, Gilman boys in third and fourth grade also had the opportunity to meet author Megan Wagner Lloyd when she came to Bryn Mawr, and students in grades 3–5 from all three tri-schools were invited to twotime Newbery Award winner Erin Entrada Kelly’s visit there.

PHOTO BY HANNAH KLARNER, THE BRYN MAWR SCHOOL

Girls in Bryn Mawr’s prekindergarten went on a field trip across the bridge to Gilman’s Lower School library where they listened to Lower School Assistant Librarian Blair Exter read a story. Each student got to borrow a book from the library before returning to Bryn Mawr.

BELOW THE SURFACE: AUTHOR BRINGS DEEPER MEANING TO ELEMENTS OF A STORY

Award-winning author Randy Ribay visited with Upper and Middle School students in March. During a session in the Reading Room of the Upper School Library with the Creative Writing class, Ribay described the process he moves through as he writes his stories and books. First, he spoke about the element of tension. “When we feel tension, we feel it in our body,” he said. The goal is to make the reader wonder, “How is this going to work out?” The writer needs to create worry, anxiety, stress, or fear. He depicted different types of tension, such as the good-versus-evil dynamic and the more dramatic option of emotional tension that can be developed among characters’ relationships. Next, he moved on to the elements of text (what is being said), subtext (what is not being said), and context (the situation surrounding what is and is not being said). Regarding subtext, the writer should “drop hints like bread crumbs,” Ribay instructed, “subtly at first and then more obviously. You want the reader to understand before the characters do.” He went on to explain that when the subtext emerges like a shark that rises above the water’s surface, the climax of the story reveals itself. What comes next is the fallout, followed by the new normal in which the characters find themselves.

“BEING DIFFERENT IS YOUR SUPERPOWER”

CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE, LIKE WRITING A BOOK

Laurel Snyder said she has been “working on a book every day for the last 42 years.” The author, who attended school in Roland Park where her book-writing journey began at the age of 8, visited Lower School students over four presentations in November 2024. During meetings with boys in pre-k through second grade, Snyder used her gift of storytelling to narrate her author journey. She delighted the audience with imaginary dragons, flying fairies, and cackling witches. For the older boys, Snyder spoke about her process for writing choose-your-own-adventure books, which involves a system of organizing ideas on little pieces of paper sprawled out on the floor of her room. “Adults attach the idea of work with a computer,” she said, citing tasks like taxes, bills, and assignments. Since she doesn’t want to bring her “grown-up work brain” to her writing process, she starts with crayons and markers instead. Oftentimes, she goes for walks without her phone and collects objects she finds to begin developing a character. Fifth graders had been working on their own choose-your-own adventure books during their time in the library, so these tips were helpful. To close out her fifth grade visit, Snyder read from her upcoming choose-your-own-adventure book, which is written in poetry form. Students enthusiastically voted on the twists and turns the book should take, and Snyder enjoyed their feedback. “These kinds of conversations are really good for me,” she said. “You can’t write in a language you don’t speak, and since I’m not a kid, I have to hang out with kids so I can speak the language.”

In honor of Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month, acclaimed actor, author, and activist Maulik Pancholy spoke at Middle School assembly in May. Pancholy is best known — by middle school-age students, at least — for his roles on “Phineas and Ferb” and “Sanjay and Craig.” (Older viewers might remember him from “30 Rock” and other titles.) His first middle-grade novel, “The Best At It” is a 2020 Stonewall Honor winner, and his second one, “Nikhil Out Loud,” is a 2023 Lambda Literary Award winner and a Kirkus Best Book of 2022. “But before I wrote books, before I started voicing cartoon characters,” he said to the audience of sixth through eighth graders, “I was a middle schooler like you.”

His lively presentation included his background as an Indian American student attending a prep school in Tampa, Florida, not unlike Gilman. At that time, he felt “pretty uncomfortable in my own skin” as a minority student with braces and glasses. He also didn’t have the language to come out to his family, not knowing a single person who was openly gay. But he “loved stories” and realized that movies and TV shows were a way that he could escape into other characters. However, “whenever I opened a book or watched a TV show, I rarely saw a lead character who looked like me or who was going through the things I was going through,” he said. Pancholy set out to change that.

“The Best At It” is about a 12-year-old Indian American who is beginning to realize he might be gay and goes on a mission to prove he’s the best at something as he figures himself out. In an explanation of how he decided to write his next book, “Nikhil Out Loud,” a comingof-age tale with themes of family, community, joy, grief, and standing up for what’s right, Pancholy told students, “Being different is your superpower. I’m living proof of that. Once you know who you are, you should feel free to live out loud.”

Students Sink Their Teeth into Fun Nutrition Lessons with Book Bites Program

As part of a new program called Book Bites, FLIK, Gilman’s dining service provider, has teamed up with the School’s faculty and staff to bring resources to students about healthy eating. “This signature program combines the joy of reading with the importance of understanding and appreciating nutritious choices,” FLIK’s website reads.

In the fall of 2024, Chef Michael Kaguyutan invited prep-one boys to the Lumen Center Dining Hall for a special reading of “I Can Eat the Rainbow” by Olena Rose, followed by a tour of Gilman’s kitchen. Students took their new knowledge about colorful eating back to their classroom, where they worked in small groups to make posters that displayed different fruits and vegetables in each color category.

In May of 2025, the second installment of Book Bites was held in the form of an assembly for pre-k through prep-one students. Guest speaker Rebecca Herrmann, RDN, CDN, who works as a dietitian for FLIK, read aloud “I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato” by Lauren Child, a picture book about a girl named Lola who is a fussy eater. The boys learned that Lola doesn’t like peas, carrots, potatoes, mushrooms, spaghetti, cheese, or fish sticks, among other foods. But when her older brother, Charlie, tells her that those aren’t carrots — they’re “orange twiglets from Jupiter” — she gives them a try. One food with a silly name after another, Lola realizes that she isn’t so fussy after all, and she even loves tomatoes — when she calls them “moon squirters.”

Using the story as inspiration, Herrmann encouraged the boys to try new foods, even if they think they might not like them.

“I loved the encouraging message about trying new things,” said Erica Hudson, who teaches kindergarten. “When we returned to our class, many students who aren’t usually open to new foods tried the dragon fruit and loved it! This led to a deeper conversation about how much

we can learn when we are more adventurous.”

After the read-aloud, the prep-one class presented the posters they had created to the group. “These are foods that can fuel your body,” the boys said as they identified each item, like apples, oranges, bananas, broccoli, and eggplant. Their teacher, Sarah Heegan, explained that “It’s important that we eat a colorful meal.”

Herrmann answered questions from the audience, leading to discussions about how food fuels your body, what makes fruits and vegetables healthy, how seeds work, where to get fresh produce, what foods have protein, and how everything in moderation is okay.

Following the assembly, boys enjoyed a colorful snack prepared by Chef Xavier Coleman. Copies of both books, as well as other titles from the Book Bites program, are available for students to check out in the Lower School Library, courtesy of FLIK.

Thank you to Lower School Librarian Melissa Da, Lower School Assistant Librarian Blair Exter, Director of Wellness and Support Jean Perez, Health Educator Bessie Oster, Prep-One Teachers Sarah Heegan and Essie Smith, and everyone at FLIK who launched this new program at Gilman!

Rebecca Herrmann, RDN, CDN, from FLIK reads a book to the early childhood grades in the Lower School, alongside Director of Wellness and Support Jean Perez.

ROBBIE WRIGHT ’06 IS NEW DIRECTOR OF SECURITY

Robbie Wright ’06 joined Gilman in early 2025 as Director of Security. With 12 years of law enforcement service with the Baltimore County Police Department, Wright brings a plethora of significant experience to the role.

Wright joined the BCPD in 2011 as an officer in the Pikesville Precinct, where he conducted investigations, maintained public safety, and trained new officers. He moved up the ranks to corporal in 2020, in the Dundalk Precinct, where he supervised a team of officers and trained in crisis intervention and emergency response. His latest assignment was in the Employment Section, recruiting for various positions, developing procedures, and strengthening community relations.

Wright received numerous awards during his time with the BCPD, including the Critical Incident Award in 2020 and 2018, the Baltimore County Police Foundation Valor Award in 2017, the Pikesville Precinct Commander’s Award in 2015, and Officer of the Month three times over the years. He became certified as an ABLE (Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement) Instructor though Georgetown University in 2021

After graduating from Gilman in 2006, Wright earned a Bachelor of Arts in history from Hofstra University. He has maintained a relationship with Gilman over the years, coaching track and field from 2013 through 2022. He has served on the Alumni Association Board of Governors since 2022

MICKEY WATSON APPOINTED NEW HEAD VARSITY SOCCER COACH

Gilman is pleased to announce the appointment of Abel “Mickey” Watson to the position of Head Varsity Soccer Coach in the Upper School beginning in the fall of 2025, where he will also provide academic support and fitness and weightlifting instruction. Watson brings a wealth of knowledge with more than eight years of coaching and leadership experience in independent schools and youth leagues.

His coaching résumé includes time at The Phelps School and Episcopal Academy in Pennsylvania, as well as nearby Friends School of Baltimore and the NCAA D1 Patriot League’s management committee. Drawing on his experience as a successful D1 studentathlete at Loyola University Maryland and Syracuse University, Coach Watson has excelled at working with students and families during the student-athlete recruitment stage, domestically and internationally, as well as advising them during the college recruitment process.

Coach Watson has spent the past five years as the head boys’ soccer coach of Radnor Soccer Club in Pennsylvania, where he has become a beloved mentor for U18, U14, and U13 players and their families. He also began his own coaching business, Ambitious Motivated Winners (AMW), in 2021, designing innovative speed, strength, and agility programs for All-Americans and collegiate-level soccer, lacrosse, and football athletes.

“My top priority for our student-athletes is ensuring that the Gilman Five — Honor, Integrity, Respect, Humility, and Excellence — are consistently demonstrated in all aspects of their lives, and to assist with their development as a whole person: mind, body, and spirit,” shared Coach Watson in a letter to the Gilman community. “Ultimately, my goal is twofold: to help our student-athletes reach the collegiate level and to win the MIAA Championship. For those aspiring to play at the next level, I am committed to doing everything I can to assist in that process — from working closely with our college counselors to personally reaching out to college coaches on their behalf. As for the MIAA, I firmly believe that if we take care of the little things, excellence will follow naturally.”

Like Father, Like (Ander)son

When Zack Anderson ’20 realized his calling was to be a teacher, he instantly thought of Gilman. “It seemed like a no-brainer. Where could be a better place to work?” he said. “The opportunity to give back to a community that has been so formative to me has been a fantastic experience.”

After studying English and psychology in college, Zack joined Gilman’s faculty in the fall of 2024 as the Middle School Library Assistant. He wasn’t only acquainted with the hallways and classrooms in John M. T. Finney Hall from his days as a middle school student. He was also quite familiar with many of the teachers who had taught him there — including his own father, Middle School Art Teacher David Anderson.

Zack’s trajectory on Roland Avenue began in 2006 when he was in pre-first (now called prep-one), just a couple years after his dad started working there. David recalls his first back-to-school night as a parent in Dia Matthews’ classroom. She showed photos of the boys doing activities and engaging in lessons so parents could see how their sons spent the school day. It was such an impactful way to demonstrate their learning that David began doing the same for his students’ parents on back-to-school night.

Both Messrs. Anderson seemed delighted in their new relationship as colleagues. Zack describes the experience as both familiar and

Sharing the Gift of Gratitude

The last time Upper School student Hugh Ward ’26 sat in the classroom that is now 3A in the Lower School, he was a first grader. In November of 2024, a decade later, Ward returned to 3A to share an important and timely lesson with the Class of 2034 on the benefits of intentionally incorporating gratitude into oneʼs life.

“What does the word gratitude mean to you? What does it mean to be grateful?” Ward asked the class. “To be grateful for what you have,” replied one student. “To be kind,” said another.

unfamiliar at the same time. “It’s nice to interact with someone you know so well in a new way,” he said.

David remembers Zack’s years as a Gilman student — not all that long ago — when he had to consciously choose to not have “parental moments” each time he ran into Zack at school. “I learned my boundaries,” he said. And now he’s applying them to their current situation, though he sometimes still asks his son if he wants to carpool in the morning.

“Gratitude, to me, is appreciating and acknowledging the good or positive things that happen to you. It’s not only things that happen to you, but it’s the things that other people do for you as well,” said Ward. “There’s a whole range of what you can do to show gratitude. Just saying ‘thank you’ is a form of showing your gratitude. Or, writing a note saying ‘I was really appreciative of what you did for me.’”

“So, why am I giving this lesson? Well, I actually keep what’s called a gratitude journal. Before I go to bed, I write down three things that I’m grateful for, and I do it every single night. As of today, I have over 970 entries,” he shared with the class. “My sister was keeping a journal before me and said that science shows that writing down and acknowledging the things you are grateful for will increase your happiness and energy levels. I didn’t believe it at first. But then, when I started doing it, I actually felt elevated and way better and happier.”

The students received their own gratitude worksheets to begin practicing, and Ward challenged them to fill out at least three sections over the next week. He returned the following week to hear about the third graders’ experience with the exercise and what they had journaled. Several students enjoyed it so much that they asked for full journals to keep growing their new habits of documenting gratitude.

Zack’s first day of pre-first in 2006. Zack’s first week as Middle School Library Assistant in 2024.

ANTARCTICA EXPEDITION IS

The Tip of the Iceberg for Third Grade Teacher Jen Reiter

Third grade teacher Jen Reiter works hard to embrace innovation in the classroom. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, though, in the fall of 2023, that allowed her to introduce her third graders to a new perspective of exploration.

She traveled more than 9,000 miles over 24 days on an expedition to Antarctica and the Falkland and Georgia Islands. Reiter, who has taught at Gilman since 2000, was awarded the experience of this expedition after being one of 50 highly respected educators selected for the 15th cohort of Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic Society Grosvenor Teacher Fellows. She was eligible for the fellowship after becoming a National Geographic Certified Educator in 2019

“The Certified Educator program was put together by National Geographic to introduce teachers to the Explorer Mindset Learning Framework so that they can introduce that to their classrooms and students,” explains Reiter. “Through the Explorer Mindset, we talk to the kids about how everybody is an explorer and how explorers are curious, responsible, and empowered to make a difference in the world.”

During a weekend of training in D.C., Reiter did a deep dive into the Explorer Mindset herself. “We learned about photography, we learned about biomimicry, we learned about all of these things that might come into play on our expedition,” she says. “The idea is that the first year when you go on your expedition, it’s as a student and a learner. Then, in the second year, we figure out how we’re going to bring that experience back to our students, community, and school and really have an impact on all aspects of your teaching with that experience in mind.”

Before the school year began, Reiter tested the idea of a hiking trail around campus where her students chose 12 stops and wrote haikus about each. “Antarctica is an amazing place, but there are amazing places everywhere. How often do we overlook the amazing place that’s right around us? Since returning, I’ve been thinking about how I can make third graders feel like explorers on Gilman’s campus and have a magical experience here and do all the things [writing, sketching, photographing] that I did to document my experience,” she explains.

“How often do we overlook the amazing place that’s right around us? Since returning, I’ve been thinking about how I can make third graders feel like explorers on Gilman’s campus and have a magical experience here…” –Jen Reiter, third grade teacher

In spring of 2024, Reiter reflected on the experience, noting some of the amazing geological and oceanic formations the group came across and, of course, all manner of penguins, seabirds, and marine mammals like orca and humpback whales.

In the second year of the fellowship, Reiter integrated experiences and knowledge acquired from her time on the continent into her curriculum, as well as increased opportunities for her students and others to engage in tangible ways with the Explorer Mindset.

Ultimately, Reiter says that the Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship experience has been “rejuvenating” for her and shows just how impactful Gilman’s strong and longtime commitment to professional development can be.

“Things people always ask me about Gilman are: What’s your favorite thing about Gilman? Why do you love to teach there? Why have you been there so long? Part of my answer always is Gilman’s dedication to professional development. There are opportunities for teachers to do anything that will have an impact in their classroom. I’m very grateful to Gilman, especially Henry [Smyth, Head of School] and Linda [Fussell, Head of Lower School], for their support, for believing in me, and allowing me to have this kind of time off to have this expedition and this experience. Of course, I’m also grateful to National Geographic for the experience, resources, and education and to Lindblad Expeditions for all of their amazing ships, staff, and hospitality. This experience will live with me forever and, I hope, with my students as well.”

Revving Up Community A MORNING OF CARS,

TRUCKS, AND FUN AT GILMAN

When Mary Furrer, Director of Lower School Enrollment, joined the Admissions team at Gilman in 2016, she knew they needed a creative way to gather current and interested families onto campus for community-building. “And what better way to do that than on a beautiful fall day with arts and crafts, bubbles, cars, trucks, fire engines, and basically all things that GO!?” she remembers asking herself.

The first year the Cars, Trucks, and Things That Go! event took place, 300 parents and children gathered around Gilman’s Lower School circle to explore a handful of interesting vehicles. Eight years later, in 2024, the same event attracted 800 people around Baltimore, with all manner of transport taking up space along the whole campus driveway. “It has turned into a gigantic community event,” says Furrer.

The event has taken twists and turns over time. The pandemic led to a drive-through edition. That was the year circus acts were added to the lineup to provide more things to see through a car window. They have stuck around ever since.

Eben Finney ’76, a classic car owner and enthusiast, brought Furrer the idea of adding classic cars to the mix as soon as he heard about the event, a year or two after it began. “The kids really get a kick out of looking at them. Some have never seen vintage cars before,” he says. “I like the interaction with the kids … I just like being back on campus.” Finney’s sons, Eben ’07 and Will ’08, have inherited their dad’s interest in classic cars. Will, who keeps up the Bentley for the family, has returned to his alma mater for Cars and Trucks on occasion.

Not only does Finney bring his own classic car — a 1959 Bentley S1 — but he also encourages other alumni and parents in the classic car community to do the same. He figures it’s an easy sell since “a lot

of classic car people want to make sure that they educate the next generation, and then some, about these vehicles.” At the most recent event in October, about a dozen alumni and/or parents exhibited their vintage vehicles.

Gilman parent Andrew P. Reymer P’29 learned about Cars and Trucks in 2020. “This event has become a highlight for our family,” he says. “The excitement is palpable when the students get their first up-close look at the Ford Model A cars.” Reymer shares the thrill and wonder that he witnesses in the children who stop to visit his car during the event. He always invites them to sit inside, noting that they “bounce in their seats and grip the big steering wheel” as they ask questions about the car’s age and speed capabilities. He says his son, Anders, who just completed eighth grade at Gilman, delights in providing the less-than-impressive answer that the car “can go from 0 to 60 in roughly three days” but “for me, it’s sparking their curiosity and bringing history to life right before the children’s eyes.”

Josh Schapiro P’36, ’38 became involved a couple of years ago. “It is great how interested the younger generation is in the older cars,” he says.

The expansion of the event did not end with the addition of classic cars: In recent years, Poe from the Baltimore Ravens, along with the Oriole Bird have made appearances. Balloon sculptures of things that go have included a rocket ship, a monster truck, and a hot air balloon. And while Furrer used to have to solicit construction companies to invite them to Cars and Trucks, now she is answering calls from them asking to be a part of it.

Gilman is grateful for the outpouring of support from so many participants since the event’s inception. While much of the hoopla surrounds the showcasing of the vehicles, the heart of the morning is, undoubtedly, the wide-eyed children who come to check them out.

A group of happy participants poses in front of a monster truck at Gilman’s Cars, Trucks, and Things That Go! event in October 2024.

Fellowship Flows Freely AT STUTTER SUPPORT GROUP

Charlie Dieveney ’28 has been seeing a speech language pathologist for as long as he can remember. He wasn’t teased by his peers about his stutter as he came up through his younger years but “I never knew anyone else who stuttered like me,” said the freshman, who has attended Gilman since kindergarten. He always wished he’d had somebody like him to talk to at school. Last spring, he decided he could do something about that for boys who faced similar challenges.

Stuttering is a speech disorder characterized by involuntary disruptions in the flow of speech. Dieveney talked with John Sloan, his fluency specialist at The Center for Fluency Enhancement at Gateway Maryland (formerly The Hearing and Speech Agency) about the need for peer support. Then he brought his proposal to Kate Schmick, Director of Middle School Academic Support and Speech Language Pathologist, who “loved the idea.” She consulted with Chrissy Payne, Lower School Reading Specialist, who was on board immediately as well. Payne was especially excited about the prospect of an older student supporting his younger Gilman counterparts. Without hesitation, they got to work forming the Stutter Support Group at Gilman.

Schmick and Payne identified Lower School students who they thought would benefit from the new group and reached out to their families to gauge interest. In January 2025, a handful of boys ranging from pre-kindergarten to fifth grade, along with ninth grader Dieveney, gathered in a Lower School resource room for their first meeting. Dieveney led the informal discussion, and in the intimate setting, “It was a wonderful surprise to see, even in the first few minutes, how quickly the boys opened up to Charlie,” said Schmick.

“We are so impressed by his confidence and leadership in his efforts to support the younger boys,” said Schmick. “He has really taken this on independently and thoughtfully and has goals and ideas for the group.”

Payne expressed that the parent response has been very positive. One mom sent an appreciative email to Dieveney after the first meeting. Her son “came home SO enthusiastic and happy about the Stutter Support Group — thank you! I can tell that he already looks up to you, and he felt really special and had a sense of belonging in the group … he’s been talking about it all evening!”

“I just want to create a group where everyone feels comfortable and can make good friends who are there for each other.” –Charlie Dieveney ’28

One student expressed how he doesn’t always want to raise his hand to talk in class. Another shared about an experience where a private athletic coach teased him for the way he talked. Dieveney offered insights about handling these types of situations. “When an adult comments on your stutter, you have to tell a parent or another adult,” he said. His advice for addressing the same scenario but where a child says something is different: “Try not to get mad or upset.” Instead, because their comments are likely due to unfamiliarity rather than malice, he suggests gently educating them about the speech disorder.

At the second meeting, in February, the casual conversation veered off in many directions: Lower School traditions like the read-a-thon and fourth grade play, spring break plans, and birthday parties. They played a couple rounds of Two Truths and a Lie and Would You Rather before Dieveney shared a list of famous people who also have a stutter. The boys were surprised to recognize names like Samuel L. Jackson (who they know as Nick Fury from “The Avengers”), James Earl Jones (who they know as the voice of Darth Vadar from “Star Wars” and Mufasa from “The Lion King”), Kendrick Lamar, former President Joseph Biden, and others.

The meetings, Dieveney said, are purely supportive in nature; no time is spent on improving fluency. “I just want to create a group where everyone feels comfortable and can make good friends who are there for each other.” The goal “is just to get the boys talking.”

Charlie Dieveney ’28 (center) with Director of Middle School Academic Support Kate Schmick (left) and Lower School Reading Specialist Chrissy Payne (right).

FRANCIS J. CAREY, JR. LECTURE: Jeremiah Quinlan

Jeremiah Quinlan, Yale University’s Dean of Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Aid, delivered the fifth annual Francis J. Carey Lecture on October 8, 2024, offering tips to Upper School students about the college application process. His lecture, titled “Trusting the Process,” covered all aspects of the experience, including what to keep in mind when building a list of schools as well as which part of essay writing is best to focus on (Spoiler: It’s not the grammar; it’s the content.)

Quinlan emphasized the importance of protecting relationships with parents throughout the process, as well as being mindful of peer experiences while talking about schools or sharing personal news. Above all, he underscored that students should be in the driver’s seat throughout the journey. “You should own the different steps of this process,” he said. He also shared the questions he asks himself when reviewing applications:

• How prepared is this applicant to do the work at Yale?

• Do we have a good understanding of who this student is?

• How will they make the most of Yale’s resources?

• How will they contribute to Yale’s community?

Quinlan’s talk concluded with encouragement to students: “You are a smart and talented young person. Do not let this process tell you anything different.”

WRITERS AT WORK

Blas Falconer read from his latest book of poetry, “Rara Avis,” in November of 2024, touching on themes of fatherhood, both from the perspective as a father and a son. Falconer also writes about art and told the boys that the secret of identifying subject matter for writing is to “find anything that will engage your attention long enough for the subconscious mind to reveal itself.”

In March, Nate Brown, educator, editor, writer of long-form prose, and senior lecturer in the University Writing Program at Johns Hopkins University, visited Gilman. His essays, reviews, and short stories have been published in many journals. He read from a recently published piece called “The Sea of Cortés,” a speculative, dystopian fiction story that touches on themes of climate change, relationships, and expectations.

As Tickner Writing Fellow Arnisha Royston took to the podium in April, she began, “In my very first assembly two years ago, I told you I write because it’s the one place I feel heard, and while that is still true, after two years I’ve had the much needed time to reconnect to myself as a writer.” She continued, “Choosing to be a poet was never the easy choice, but trusting my passion was. It is unbelievable to think of the places poetry has taken me.”

PICTURED LEFT TO RIGHT: Head of School Henry Smyth, Executive Director of the W. P. Carey Foundation Juliana K. Harris, Chairman and President of the W. P. Carey Foundation and Gilman Trustee William Carey II, Yale University Dean of Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Aid Jeremiah Quinlan, Director of College Counseling Sarah Ross, Board of Trustees President Andrew M. Brooks ʼ74, and Board of Trustees Vice President Karlo Young ’97.

The A. J. Downs Writers at Work series brings professional writers to Gilman for a day to read from their work in an Upper School assembly, to visit and work with classes, and to meet with faculty members.

Blas Falconer

Arnisha Royston

Nate Brown

H. K. DOUGLAS COTTON MEMORIAL LECTURE:

John Avirett and Rushika Fernandopulle

John Avirett ’01 is a partner and member of the private equity team at StepStone, focusing on venture capital and growth equity investments. He also serves on the Board of Trustees at Gilman, among other organizations. His previous company, Greenspring Associates, was purchased by StepStone in 2021. He has helped lead investments for companies like SpaceX, Roblox, and Chewy.

As Avirett shared his professional journey, the audience learned that his entrepreneurial spirit began during his time at Gilman, when he and his classmate started a summer business, J&J Light Hauling. Through guerrilla marketing — putting up signs at Eddie’s and other local shops — they earned enough money taking other people’s junk to the dump in their pickup truck to fund their summer surf trips.

“We didn’t think that this was actually a real business,” he said. Their perceived expectation at the time was that they should go to good colleges and get serious jobs in finance or engineering. So the pair took “boring internships” at established companies.

In college, Avirett shared the hauling-junk-as-a-business idea with a friend while studying abroad; this friend would go on to found Junk Luggers, which now has 150 franchises and was acquired by a private equity firm in 2022

Avirett emphasized four reflections from his career:

• If you have a great idea, go build a company.

• “Utilize the Gilman network; it’s incredibly powerful.” (Avirett mentioned how he did this several times over the course of his career.)

• “Venture capital is one of the keys to fueling the innovation economy.”

• Venture capitalists take major risks and often suffer losses. On the flip side, they get to change the world.

“It’s been an incredibly rewarding career for me,” he said.

Dr. Rushika Fernandopulle ’85 was the recipient of the William A. Fisher Medallion when he graduated from Gilman. He was also voted by his peers as “most likely to succeed” in the 1985 yearbook.

During his talk, he spoke highly of his Gilman education, noting that he appreciates it more and more as time goes by. “I learned how to write … and learned how to think … I got a taste of starting things … I warmed the bench in varsity soccer where I learned how to win and how to lose,” he said. “Most importantly, I learned how I can help change the world.”

As a third-year medical student, Fernandopulle realized that despite good intentions, the system of healthcare we had “was really awful” related to outcomes, patient experience, physician experience, and costs. “What we simply needed to do is start over,” he said.

In 2011, he co-founded Iora Health, a primary care company that did not follow the typical fee-for-service model but instead relied on a flat patient fee of $40 per month. Fernandopulle stayed on as Chief Innovation Officer when Iora Health was acquired by One Medical for $2.1 billion in 2021. When the company was sold to Amazon in 2023 for $3.9 billion, he decided it was time to move on.

His parting advice for the Upper School students at the assembly:

• “Don’t let other people put you in a box.” Someone else won’t create a job that’s perfect for you, so create it yourself.

• Borrowing from advice from his own Gilman advisor Edward Thompson from 40 years ago, “Don’t let people tell you what you can’t do.” That is only about what they can’t do.

• Talking about the rise of AI, he said, “Focus on the human aspect. … In the past, jobs were about muscle. Today, they are about brains. In the future, they will be about heart.”

He concluded his talk with, “Enjoy the rest of your time at Gilman. I can’t wait to see how you all are going to change the world.”

Rushika Fernandopulle ’85

John Avirett ’01

The annual H. K. Douglas Cotton Memorial Lecture was established by Baltimore businessman Henry Kyd Douglas Cotton to create a stimulating program to acquaint Gilman students with the various careers that are available to them. This year’s lecture took place on Wednesday, March 12.

THE INAUGURAL FRANCIS “BOO” SMITH ’70 MEMORIAL LECTURE FOR THE ARTS: Gary Vikan

We thank the generous donors of the Francis “Boo” Smith ’70 Memorial Lecture for the Arts.

Gilman debuted the Francis “Boo” Smith ’70 Lecture for the Arts on April 2, with heartfelt and inspiring remarks from the Head of School, a classmate who hatched the idea, and the inaugural speaker, Gary Vikan.

Head of School Henry Smyth opened the assembly with words about the beloved dean of students and art history teacher who passed away in October 2023. “One of the things we loved about Mr. Smith is that he embodied such a neat array of interests and talents, exactly the kind of way we hope you grow up,” said Smyth to the audience of Upper School students. “He was a tremendous athlete, a firm disciplinarian — and fair — and a lover of the arts.”

The named endowed fund that created the annual lecture was launched by Smith’s classmates, friends, and family members who wished to honor his memory by bringing prominent practitioners of the arts to share their experiences with Gilman students.

One of those classmates, Dr. Thayer Simmons ’70, spoke on behalf of those who supported the fund. “Francis Whitaker Smith, better known as Boo, is one of [the Class of 1970 classmates] we’ve lost. … He left a lasting impact at [The] John Carroll [School] and at Gilman. He positioned himself to be present during those tumultuous years when boys become men,” he said.

He went on to talk about Smith’s qualities as a classmate, coach, teacher, and dean, saying he could be gruff and stern, that he administered tough love, and that he was notorious for his bonecrushing handshakes. He highlighted how Smith saw beauty in things like a “well-executed takedown on the wrestling mat” or a

“clean check on the lacrosse field.” Smith also appreciated “the perfect pitch of the Traveling Men, a dynamic performance on the stage, or simply the kindness of one student towards another,” Simmons said. He found beauty in the outdoors, like in the home garden he tended, where he knew the names of all the trees and shrubs, as well as in extraordinary pieces of masterful art.

“We hope this annual lecture might inspire one or several of the students here today to pursue a career in the arts,” said Simmons to a packed auditorium that included Smith’s wife, Susan Smith, his daughter, Maggie, and son-in-law Joseph Brazauskas, Jr. “If not, look around and appreciate the beauty of the Baltimore spring. … Appreciate a perfect wave as it crashes on the shore. Visit a museum or attend a concert.”

Smyth introduced the esteemed guest speaker, former Director of The Walters Art Museum Gary Vikan, who spoke about his journey from a small town in Northern Minnesota — where the closest art museum was hundreds of miles away — to his role at The Walters. He said he got “a fever for art” growing up when he read his parents’ monthly subscription of National Geographic. He went on to get his Ph.D. in art history at Princeton. Art history “became my life,” he said. “It made me feel good to look at great art.”

After presenting a bit of history about the museum — which he said has one of the finest collections of medieval art in the world — he focused his talk on mistakes that have been made in the domain of art collection, including at The Walters, where he said that 13 of the 15 paintings that hang in a space on the second floor are fake. “Everybody makes mistakes. … Everybody loses sometimes.”

He told a story of an art buyer who thought he was acquiring an authentic 17th-century Johannes Vermeer painting but was really getting a forged piece — one that had been deliberately created for the purpose of being falsely attributed to a famous artist and sold at a high price.

He shared a photo of what appears to be “The Mona Lisa” that hangs at The Walters, followed by an explanation of how to tell that it’s a fake (it’s painted on canvas instead of a wooden panel, for example). To end the assembly, Vikan presented a quiz to the audience to test their ability to spot fake art. When half the audience got it wrong, he gave them one more question so they could try again. “Hard lessons, second chances,” he said. “That’s Boo.”

GILMAN MOVES TO #1 SPOT FOR ALL-BOYS HIGH SCHOOLS IN MARYLAND FOR 2025

Gilman was regionally and nationally recognized as one of the best all-boys schools in America by Niche, the country’s leading college and school search platform, moving to the top all-boys high school ranking for the state of Maryland for 2025

• #1 for the Best All-Boys High Schools in Maryland

• #1 for the Best All-Boys High Schools in the Baltimore Area

• #3 for the Best Private High Schools in Maryland

• #3 for the Best Private K-12 Schools in Maryland

• #6 for the Best All-Boys High Schools in America

“It is affirming to see Niche recognize the well-rounded and intentional approach that Gilman has to teaching and learning in an all-boys environment,” said Owen Daly, Director of Middle and

Upper School Enrollment. “We’ve long held the view that our excellent faculty and leadership understand boys, and this metric confirms that the student experience here is powerful and transformative.”

Director of Lower School Enrollment Mary Furrer agrees that faculty is one aspect, along with character development, academics, and community, that differentiates Gilman from other schools. “Gilman boys enter into a lifelong brotherhood that you can see forming from the moment they walk into our Lower School; those bonds continue through their time at Gilman and the rest of their lives as distinguished alumni.”

GILMAN LEADERS WIN ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

Head of Middle School Armond Lawson received the Diamond Award for Lifetime Achievement in Educational Leadership, Philanthropy, Humanitarianism, Civic & Community Engagement at the 9th Academy of the Diamond Awards Gala on April 12 in Atlanta.

Director of Strategic Information and Innovation Tye Campbell was named one of three Pillar Award recipients by the Association of Technology Leaders in Independent Schools in late April, at an awards ceremony in Atlanta. This prestigious award recognizes individuals who have made a significant impact on the independent school tech industry through their work. (Editor’s note: At the end of the 2024–2025 school year, Campbell left his full-time role at Gilman; as the founder of EdTechFlow LLC, he looks forward to serving Gilman and the broader independent school community as a consultant.)

GILMAN RECEIVES TWO INTERNATIONAL MARKETING AWARDS

Gilman’s Office of Marketing and Communications received two 2024 InspirED School Marketers Brilliance Awards — an international competition that honors excellence in marketing and communications for private and independent schools.

In the “Website Homepage (Enrollment 351 or More)” category, the office received a Gold award. “The Gilman School homepage captivates with its sleek, visually balanced layout that showcases high-quality imagery of students in action, effectively communicating the school’s offerings, environments, and culture,” read one judge’s comment.

In the “Fun Video” category, the office received a Bronze award for “A New Era for the Gilman Greyhound,” completed in partnership with Isacson Studios and as part of a larger mascot overhaul and rebranding process. Of special note, two young alumni, Logan Haerian ’24 and Jamie Howard ’24, share in the win, having written the script for the video as part of their Senior Encounter experience.

“Gilman took something as simple as a mascot costume change and turned it into an engaging story. It was wellthought-out and humorous, keeping you engaged to the end,” read one judge’s comment.

“The video recognition is a testament to the team’s creativity and hard work,” said Stacy Hedeman, Director of Marketing and Communications.

“It’s inspiring to see such talent come together to reflect Gilman’s values and history in such a compelling way.”

WATCH

AWARD-WINNING VIDEO

Armond Lawson

Tye Campbell (left)

What’s the Buzz?

FENG ’26 SCALES NEW HEIGHTS AT JUILLIARD’S PRE-COLLEGE PROGRAM

Since being accepted to the extremely selective Juilliard Pre-College program in the fall of 2024, Gilman’s Ben Feng ’26 and Bryn Mawr’s Maggie Schneider ’27 have spent each Saturday traveling to New York City to play alongside some of the most talented young musicians in the country and work with and learn from world-class faculty. Read about their journeys at gilman.edu/scalenewheights

DU ’28 PERFORMS AT CARNEGIE HALL

Classical violinist Lawrence Du ’28 was offered the honor to perform at Carnegie Hall on July 27, 2025, as a member of the National Youth Orchestra, the nation’s premier youth orchestra. A European tour will follow. As a freshman, Du is one of the principal violinists in the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestra and has been part of the AllState Junior Orchestra since the seventh grade.

“Lawrence brings a real focus to his music,” said Director of Music Ariel Dechosa. “He’s quick to laugh, but just as determined when it’s time to push. He’s definitely disciplined, but it’s his energy, humor, and love for learning that make him such a standout, both on and off stage.”

CATCH MORE STUDENT BUZZ AT GILMAN.EDU/STUDENTBUZZ

TURNER ’26 PLACES FIRST IN TWO ART CONTESTS

Congratulations to Joshua Turner ’26 whose paintings have come in first place in two competitions. “Persecuted” (shown above, left) was awarded as a first-place finalist in Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott’s Black History Month Art Contest. Another of Turner’s oil paintings, “Cecily’s Story,” was awarded third place. Both pieces were completed through his AP Studio Art course, where his concentration “mines into my personal Bajan and Jamaican heritage,” said Turner. “Joshua came to the Upper School as a dedicated and capable young artist in ninth grade,” said Art Department Head Karl Connolly. “As a junior working toward the Studio AP, Joshua has done a wonderful job forging his personal path forward in art. His artwork addresses ideas of identity and personal history through finely rendered oil paintings of various sizes.” Finalists were invited to a reception at City Hall and winning pieces were displayed at City Hall in February.

In May, U.S. Congressman Johnny Olszewski announced Turner as the winner of the 2025 Congressional Art Contest for Maryland’s Second District for his oil painting titled “Velma” (shown above, right) depicting his grandmother, a Jamaican immigrant, as she listens to music from a record player through wired headphones. The piece will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol complex for one year and will be viewed by more than 12,000 Capitol visitors and members of Congress as they make their way to the House floor. “Each submission my office received captured the passion of our students, and I was struck by the artistic talent across the board,” Congressman Olszewski said in a press release. “Joshua’s piece, and its detail, particularly stood out to me for both its technical skill and emotive qualities.”

Mayor Brandon Scott (left) with Joshua Turner ’26 at a reception at City Hall. PHOTO BY J.J. MCQUEEN, CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER, BALTIMORE CITY MAYOR’S OFFICE.

CHRISTO ’26 DIVES INTO MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR KIDS IN BALTIMORE

When Ashton Christo ’26 trained to become a lifeguard in 2023, he was surprised to learn about the startling statistics related to drowning deaths in the United States. As he worked that summer lifeguarding and teaching swim lessons to children at a neighborhood pool, he decided he wanted to do something about it. Read the full story on how Christo helped to bring swim instruction to the summer Bridges program in 2024 at gilman.edu/swimbridges

REAMES ’25 SCORES A TAI-WIN IN LINGUISTICS

Ethan Reames ’25 earned the sixth highest score in the North American Computational Linguistics Open Competition, which secured him one of eight spots at the 22nd International Linguistics Olympiad in Taipei, Taiwan, in July of 2025. Linguistics is the scientific study of language. The competition gives high school students the opportunity to solve linguistic problems through which they learn about the diversity and consistency of language while exercising logical reasoning. Reames was co-leader of the Upper School Linguistics Club at Gilman, which was formed last year. Each week, they worked on puzzles or other related activities. At one meeting, a student in the club taught the others the Korean alphabet. “The goal of the club is to get better at understanding language,” he said. “In practice, we are just having fun.”

Reames’ interest in the subject began one summer in a course he took through Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth program held at Dublin City University in Ireland. “I just like picking things apart,” he said. “I’m a big history person. Tracing how language has changed over time is very natural to me.” In the fall, Reames will matriculate at Tufts University, where he will study history.

FIVE GILMAN STUDENTS SELECTED FOR HOPKINS FUTURE SCHOLARS PROGRAM

Each year, Johns Hopkins University’s Future Scholars Program allows 10 seniors from area high schools to take math courses at Hopkins for college credit. As part of the selection process, juniors who show an exceptional mathematical ability, nominated by their math teachers, sit for an exam. Based on those test scores, 10 students are selected by Hopkins to take college courses, tuition-free during their senior year. Gilman students have participated each year beginning in 2019, which is notable considering the program has drawn from 18 different schools since it began. In the 2025–2026 school year, a record five Gilman seniors will enroll in college math courses: Eric Cao ’26, Matthew Chi ’26, Ben Feng ’26, Jonathan Yu ’26, and Kevin Zheng ’26.

RISING RESEARCHER: PARIKH ’25 PUBLISHES STUDY AND PRESENTS FINDINGS AT CONFERENCE

Pranav Parikh ’25 presented at the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney Week Conference in San Diego, California in October 2024. Parikh had been a research intern in a Johns Hopkins kidney disease lab from December 2023 to August 2024, working directly in the lab for a couple weeks to conduct a urine analysis research project using samples from five ICU patients at multiple time intervals to observe changes in the cellular components. He utilized the lab’s state-of-the-art IDEXX SediVue Dx Urine Sediment Analyzer, which was being used “for a lot of novel experiments and applications,” Parikh said. His work continued remotely for a year as he prepared his poster for the conference and wrote a full paper that was published in BMC Nephrology, a peerreviewed journal. His name is listed as the first author. “The presentation went really well. It was such a cool experience to explain my research and discuss my findings with experts and professionals in the field. I got to connect with many doctors from around the world,” Parikh said. “Although it was initially intimidating, I quickly grew more confident sharing and defending my work. I learned how to present complex data to an audience with varying levels of familiarity, which greatly improved my communication skills.” Parikh is headed to Georgetown University in the fall where he will study healthcare management and policy (pre-med track) in the School of Health.

20 YEARS OF CELEBRATING CULTURES AT GILMAN

Gilman’s 20th anniversary Cultural Arts Festival, held March 8, was bigger than ever and a fun and well-attended celebration of the rich diversity of the Gilman community, featuring art, music, history, food, and customs of cultures from around the world!

“With so much in the world pulling people apart, Gilman’s Cultural Arts Festival brought people together for family, food, fun, and finding common ground. At Gilman, we are so blessed to be a part of a diverse mosaic of cultures. For 20 years, Gilman has shown what it looks like when many come together as one.” –Mike Molina, Assistant Head of School for Community, Inclusion, and Equity

“The 20th Anniversary of the Cultural Arts Festival, was a vibrant celebration of the strength, unity, and dedication of the Gilman community. It was an honor and privilege to co-chair this event.” –Chinonso Ebo PP, P’26, ’30, Co-Chair of the Cultural Arts Festival

“The CAF is not just an event — it has become a cherished tradition that celebrates the incredible diversity of our community and showcases the talent of everyone involved, from students to parents and staff. As a longtime attendee and volunteer, and now in my second year as cochair, my heart was overflowing with joy as I watched the weekend’s festival come to life. It was a true culmination of months of hard work and dedication from all the exhibitors, performers, and the CIE Office. The music, the dance performances, the meaningful and stunning displays, and, of course, the amazing food — everything brought so much happiness and pride to my heart. I can’t wait for next year and for many more years of this wonderful celebration!” –Bansari Gujar P’28, Co-Chair of the Cultural Arts Festival

AN EVENING WITH “THE ANTI-ABLEST MANIFEST” AUTHOR TIFFANY YU

More than 60 parents, faculty, and staff members had the pleasure of hearing from vibrant speaker and author Tiffany Yu in the fall of 2024. Yu spoke about her new book, “The Anti-Ablest Manifesto,” and her personal journey that led her to become a content creator and an advocate for the disability community. She shared a wealth of information with the group, including three of the lenses through which society views people with different abilities: The medical model treats disability as something that can be or needs to be fixed; the tragedy model sees people with disabilities as victims in need of help or pity; and, conversely, the social model focuses on societal changes in attitudes and environments rather than putting the onus on the individual with the disability.

Yu explained the difference between making accommodations, which are band-aid type fixes made after the fact, and true accessibility, which occurs when people with different abilities — and what they need to participate fully — are taken into consideration from the start. She advised that small changes in language can make all the difference. For example, rather than asking someone about the specific and personal details of their disability, a better question is: Do you have what you need to fully participate? Yu also shared about her work in the employment sector, fighting for the rights of people with disabilities to be treated fairly in the workplace, starting with the way job descriptions are written.

Cultural Happenings on Campus

LEFT TO RIGHT: Lunar New Year Tea Party Hosted by the Parents of Asian American Boys at Gilman Affinity Group, Irish Music and Culture Assembly, Student Diwali Presentation at Upper School Assembly, Middle School Assembly Guest Speaker for Arab American Heritage Month, Lower School Assembly for Black History Month, Tri-School Holi Celebration, Rosh Hashanah Apple and Honey Treat Hosted by Parents from the Gilman Jewish Affinity Group, Middle School Guest Speaker for Native American Heritage Month, Upper School Assembly Guest Speaker for Ramadan, Upper School Assembly Guest Speaker for Easter

FOOTBALL

4-6

The varsity football team continued to build on the solid foundation established by third-year Head Coach Scott Van Zile. The squad narrowly missed finishing .500 and securing a playoff berth. The highlight of the gridiron year was a convincing victory over Mount Saint Joseph. This was the first time in eight years that Gilman had bested their conference adversary.

Going into the last game of the season, the Hounds were squarely in the playoff picture. A win over rival McDonogh would secure a fourth-place seeding in the MIAA playoffs. The Greyhounds fought valiantly and took a one-point lead into halftime on a 54-yard field goal by All-Conference kicker Connor Souryal ’26. In the second half, McDonogh scored a quick touchdown with the balance of the half being a stalemate. The Hounds battled the whole way but a late touchdown by McDonogh sealed Gilman’s fate.

A number of seniors will continue their football careers on the collegiate level. All-Conference receiver Cam Brown ’25 will attend Howard University and offensive lineman Derick Su ’25 will play for Case Western Reserve University. Two Greyhound athletes will play in the Ivy Conference next year: punter Brian Checkley ’25 at Harvard and All-Conference receiver Jackson Cheatham ’25 at Dartmouth. All-Conference selection and team captain Bryce Wilson ’25 committed to Merrimack College. Team captains Amir Arnold ’25 and Nadir Samuel ’25 will be taking their skills to Johns Hopkins and Wagner College, respectively.

The Greyhounds will return with a strong core of players who are familiar with the program and expectations. This group will look to advance and elevate the momentum already established with Gilman football.

SOCCER 5-8-5

The varsity soccer team achieved something that the eight prior teams were unable to: secure a playoff berth in the conference tournament. This milestone was realized on the last day of the regular season when the Greyhounds went on the road and defeated Archbishop Spalding. This season-ending victory secured Gilman its first playoff spot in the MIAA Conference in eight years.

The Hounds faced McDonogh in the first round of the conference tournament. The contest was a back-and-forth affair with Gilman pulling up short at the end of regulation play. The Greyhounds finished the year ranked sixth in the conference and 12th in the greater Baltimore region.

The team was led by All-Conference selections Grayson Capodanno ’25 (team captain) and Kristerson Mitchell ’25. Other major contributors through the playoff run were team captains Bashir Abou ’26 and Marko Mihajlovic ’25. Colin Broadbent ’ 25 (team captain) along with Greyson Greenlee ’26 offered inspiration and encouragement with their “do whatever it takes” attitude, which was infectious during the drive to the playoffs.

The Hounds graduate a strong senior class of 13 players. Next year’s squad will return 18 underclassmen who will strive to maintain the momentum established during the 2024 campaign.

CROSS COUNTRY 6-1 IN CONFERENCE

The cross country team enjoyed one of its strongest seasons in recent memory. The running Hounds finished with a 6-1 record, sharing a three-way tie for the league title. Gilman also placed three runners in the top 10 at the conference championship: Jemmel Green ’25 won the conference race with Ben Schatz ’25 finishing ninth, and Cian Connolly ’ 27 securing a 10th-place finish.

Gilman began the year by participating in the invitational circuit. The team developed a close bond while competing in five non-conference meets. The highlight of the tour was the Greenspring Invitational held at St. Paul’s School for Boys, where both the varsity and JV teams emerged victorious. Another highlight was the Bulldog Invitational in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where Green finished first with the sixth-fastest time ever recorded in the 40-plus-year history of the race.

As the Greyhounds progressed to conference action, the strong leadership of the senior class surfaced in both chemistry and performance. Captains Timmy Edwards ’25 and Green, along with Schatz, provided sturdy examples of how to prepare and compete. Green was rewarded for his efforts by finishing first in the MIAA, breaking the School record and being named Athlete of the Year in the conference.

Next year’s cross country team can look forward to a deep and talented roster. This group will be ready to pick up the mantle and fulfill the responsibilities and expectations left behind by the graduating class.

WATER POLO 21-6

Going into the 2024 water polo season there was uncertainty regarding how to replace last year’s strong graduating class. The final roster reflected a squad evenly distributed across all grade levels, and a deep and capable bench. Perhaps the biggest question was who would man the goal for the Greyhounds. Baxter Bertozzi ’26, who answered the call, thrived as goalkeeper and was selected to the All-Conference team.

This year’s water polo squad utilized a team approach with all swimmers making a contribution. As the season progressed, team leaders emerged producing a 21-6 record. The Hounds were led by Treve Darby ’27 who was selected to the All-MIAA team. Darby dominated on both ends of the pool, defending the opponents best player and emerging as Gilman’s leading scorer. Other major contributors were All-Conference selection Grant Wright ’27 and Hayden Dodge ’26

The highlight of the year was the last match of the season when Gilman knocked off undefeated Calvert Hall during Senior Night. This win earned the Greyhounds a second-seed placement in the conference tournament. Unfortunately, Gilman was eliminated in a semifinal contest. With solid team chemistry and a strong nucleus of returning players, the Greyhounds will be a force in the pool next year.

VOLLEYBALL

12-6 / MIAA CHAMPION

The story of this year’s varsity volleyball team could have served as a Hollywood script. The dramatic season was achieved by the entire program, focusing on a team-first mentality. The commitment to supporting the group over the individual fueled steady growth and improvement for the squad. This unity and group dynamic produced dividends in postseason play.

Early on, the volleyballers struggled to find their rhythm. At one point in the season, a berth in the conference tournament seemed to be in jeopardy. Gilman’s final regular-season record was 12-6, which earned the team a fifth-place seeding in the six-team conference tournament. In the first round of the tournament, the Blue and Gray knocked off the #4 seed. In the semifinals, the Greyhounds upset the #1 seed, putting the squad into the MIAA Championship match. In the title match, the Hounds faced Mount Saint Joseph, which had shut out Gilman twice during the regular season. The team swept Mount Saint Joseph 3-0 in the championship match to capture the MIAA volleyball crown.

Several Gilman players were recognized for their efforts during the championship run. Jackson Heether ’25 and Gabe Alexander ’ 25 were named to the All-Conference team along with Alex Triplett ’26. Nicky Lawson ’25 was named Player of the Year in the conference, and Head Coach Diego Matorras as Coach of the Year. With 12 out of 17 varsity players returning next year, the Greyhounds will be looking to defend their title in the fall.

WINTER

SQUASH 15-1 OVERALL / 9-0 IN CONFERENCE / MIAA CHAMPION

The varsity squash team achieved an overall record of 15-1 while going undefeated in conference action with a 9-0 record. Along the way, the Greyhounds secured their fourth consecutive MIAA Conference Championship. At the conclusion of the season, the team traveled to Philadelphia to compete in the U.S. High School Team Championships squash tournament. Against the most elite squash programs in the country, Gilman captured the Division ll National Championship crown, which was a highlight of a very successful campaign and accentuated the squad’s determination and team unity.

The Hounds were led by a strong senior class composed of Parker Davis ’25, Jacob Li ’25, Jonny Li ’25, Drew Fones ’25, and Brennan DiGiovanni ’25. This senior class represents a collective 15 seasons of varsity squash and four Gilman MIAA Championships. Three of these seniors — Davis, Jacob Li, and Jonny Li — were recognized for their efforts as members of the All-MIAA Conference team.

As the squash program says farewell to a superior senior class, they will look to retool in their pursuit of a fifth conference title in as many years. Leading next year’s team will be Rohan Jari ’27 and All-MIAA Conference performers Matthew Chi ’26 and Jack Paternotte ’27

WRESTLING 15-1 OVERALL / 9-0 IN CONFERENCE / MIAA CHAMPION / 1ST PLACE AT MARYLAND INDEPENDENT STATES

The wrestling team had another outstanding season, led by an exceptional senior class. For the second consecutive year, the Hounds dominated the MIAA dual-meet season with an undefeated 9-0 record, securing the league title. While finishing third in the MIAA Individual Tournament, the team rebounded impressively, tying for first place at the Maryland Independent Schools State Championship alongside Archbishop Spalding.

Several wrestlers delivered remarkable performances down the stretch. The team boasted four MIAA champions: Liam McGettigan ’ 27 (his second title), Arthur Konschak ’27, John Jurkovic ’25, and Emmitt Sherlock ’25 (his third). McGettigan, Konschak, and Sherlock continued their success by also winning titles at the Independent State Tournament.

The season culminated at the National Prep Wrestling Championships at Lehigh University, where the team finished 10th out of more than 130 of the nation’s top programs. McGettigan placed fourth, while University of Virginia commit Sherlock capped off his high school career with an impressive second-place finish.

The Greyhound wrestling team will lose a strong senior class, but return more than 70% of its roster next season. The Gilman grapplers will attempt to capture the School’s fourth consecutive MIAA dual-meet championship next year.

photo by Ronan Wrenn ’28

INDOOR TRACK

3RD PLACE AT MIAA CHAMPIONSHIP

The team persevered in its training through harsh weather conditions and disruptions, captained by Jemmel Green ’25, Derick Su ’25, and Cam Brown ’25.

The Hounds finished in third place at the MIAA Championships. The squad was led by Green, who earned second-place medals in the 1600 meters and the 800 meters while establishing two new Gilman indoor track records. Green’s efforts garnered him All-Conference recognition from the league. Also medaling in the conference was the 4x200 relay team, comprised of Caleb Lawson ’25, Marshall Smith ’ 25, Warren Hernandez ’26, and Connor Ward ’26. This 4x200 relay team achieved a third-place finish and clocked the secondfastest time in School history.

The Greyhounds also excelled outside of conference competition. Throughout the season, the indoor track team traveled to several out-of-state meets. Green ran a 4:18 mile in a New York competition, which was the fourth-fastest mile by a Maryland athlete. Green followed this performance by recording the state’s 14th-fastest 800 meter time in a second event held in New York. At a meet in Virginia Beach, Green, Ben Schatz ’25, Jonathan Yin ’26, and Jack Mashaw ’26 recorded the state’s eighth-fastest 4x800 meter relay time.

With a strong JV roster, which also finished third in the conference meet, the track program will continue to be a strong contender in the highly competitive MIAA Conference.

ICE

HOCKEY 1-8-1

A young hockey team fought hard all season to overcome inexperience, illness, and injuries. The skating Hounds persevered through these challenges with a dogged work ethic, determination, and focus.

The Greyhounds’ grit yielded dividends mid-season when the team secured a tie against Saints Peter & Paul. Leading the efforts on the ice were Andrew Krasulski ’26, who had 44 saves in the cage, and Walton Staley ’26, who drained the tying goal with 90 seconds left in the contest. The highlight of the season was the team’s sole victory, which occurred in the last game of the season against Archbishop Curley. The Hounds bested their conference rival 4-3, with the difference being Peter Yang ’26 scoring his first-ever hockey goal. This win, on the last day of the regular season, served as a testimony to the squad’s perseverance.

Key performers for the hockey team were Staley who achieved All-MIAA honors, and Warren Hernandez ’26, who anchored the defense and recorded more minutes than any other player. Hayden Bouyea ’27 also came up big, tying Staley as the team’s leading scorer. This year’s challenges and the resilience shown by the boys will serve as a building block for next year with the entire roster returning to the ice.

BASKETBALL

8-17

The Gilman hoops team finished the year with an 8-17 record in the very challenging MIAA A Conference. The scrappy Greyhounds were in contention throughout the season in a conference with three nationally ranked teams. Twice during the season, the Hounds held fourth-quarter leads against nationally ranked teams, and lost seven conference games by a cumulative score of 17 points.

While the Greyhounds did not qualify for a conference playoff berth, there were a number of exciting and memorable moments during the season. The first milestone took place at home against the Loyola Dons. Gilman was trailing with seconds left when Jute Taylor ’26 stole the ball, sending the game into overtime. Gilman outscored Loyola 15-9 in overtime to pick up the win. The highlight of the season occurred during the annual Silent Night game in front of a packed Gilman arena. The Greyhounds squared off against rival McDonogh in a back-and-forth contest. The Hounds drained a three-pointer on their final possession to seal the deal with a two-point victory.

Captains Tyler Marshall ’25, Dylan Buchalter ’25, and Amir Arnold ’25 set the tone for the team’s gritty identity. On the floor, Evan Quintero ’ 25 led the squad, averaging 18 points and nine rebounds per game. Jackson Brooks ’25 joined Quintero in double figures for the season with an 11-point-per-game average. The basketball program is excited about next year’s prospects, with seven players returning, all of whom saw significant playing time this year.

SWIMMING 5-1 / 2ND PLACE AT MIAA CHAMPIONSHIP

The swim team enjoyed its best season in over a decade. Out of 11 possible swimming events, there were eight new School records established in the 2024–2025 campaign. The swimming Hounds finished the year with a 5-1 record and a second-place finish at the MIAA Championship meet. The highlight of the season was defeating rival McDonogh in a dual competition. This was the first time in more than 20 years that Gilman bested McDonogh in a dual meet.

The team was led by captains Jackson Heether ’25 (Washington University in St. Louis commit) and Max Kunisaki ’25 (Villanova University commit), both of whom finished their high school careers on a high note. Heether was selected as the MIAA Conference Swimmer of the Year and Kunisaki landed on the All-Conference team. Heether captured four golds at the MIAA Championship meet while Kunisaki earned three golds and a silver. Myles Koff ’26 also contributed during the championship meet by netting two golds and a silver. Koff received All-Conference recognition and was named to the All-American team for his performance in the 200-meter individual medley. Gilman secured six first-place finishes at the MIAA Championship meet across four individual events and two relays. This was the first time in more than 25 years that the Greyhounds won an individual event at the conference finals.

While the loss of senior captains Heether and Kunisaki is significant, excitement and optimism are building about the future of the swimming program. A strong group of underclassmen who continue to work hard and improve will strive to perpetuate the momentum established by the 2024–2025 team.

LACROSSE 4-13

The lacrosse season began over spring break in Deerfield Beach, Florida, where the Hounds faced the strongest teams in the state. The trip allowed them to settle into a lineup and find their rhythm. The Greyhounds were looking to establish an identity with only two returning offensive players from the 2024 conference semifinalist team.

The Hounds fought all year and kept virtually every contest tight, but had difficulty closing out games. The team showed promise and potential but continued to pull up short in close conference matches. Resilience and perseverance were on display in the game against MIAA rival Severn. The Hounds found themselves down by six goals deep in the fourth quarter but refused to quit. They ended up tying the game with seconds remaining and went on to win the contest with a goal in double overtime.

Captains Jay Rodgers ’25 (Johns Hopkins University commit) and Griffin Graham ’ 25 (Bucknell University commit) led the way on offense with Rodgers capturing All-Conference recognition. Nathan Cootauco ’25 (Amherst College commit) also provided a spark to the offense by opening up opportunities for teammates. Face-off man Joe Kim ’26 (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill commit) was able to assist the offensive efforts by winning 65% of the draws at the dot. On defense, the Hounds were led by their two returning seniors: Zach Parks ’25 in the cage (Colby College commit) and team captain Harrison Schline ’25 at close defense (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill commit). Matthew Feola ’25 stepped up as the primary defensive midfielder with long stick Cabot White ’26 flipping the field for the Blue and Gray.

The Greyhounds are looking to continue the resolve shown this year and be a factor in the fiercely competitive MIAA Conference in 2026

SPRING

Joe Lizana.

photo by Mike Spotte P’26, ’28

TENNIS 7-4 OVERALL / 7-3 IN CONFERENCE

The tennis season began by traveling to Redondo Beach, California, to compete in the exclusive All-American Invitational. This invitation-only tournament features the top tennis programs in the country. The Hounds rose to the challenge and placed 12th, their highest finish ever at this prestigious event.

Led by captains Alex Nabit ’25, George Khairallah ’25, Peter Eiswert ’25, and Pranav Parikh ’25, the team commenced league play. The Greyhounds were looking to defend their 2024 conference title in the very competitive MIAA Conference. The season began strong with a 4-1 record, which featured comefrom-behind victories against Calvert Hall and St. Paul’s. Gilman entered the postseason as the #3 seed traveling to Calvert Hall for the semifinals. It was a hard-fought match with split sets on multiple courts. Unfortunately, the Cardinals outlasted the Hounds to secure the spot in the finals.

The Greyhounds return a strong group next year that includes Jack Jaffee ’26, Daniel Shou ’27, Kiran Milak ’28, and brothers Jason Gong ’28 and Nathaniel Gong ’28. This group of returning players, coupled with a JV team that swept the conference, should put the Greyhounds in contention next spring. Gilman tennis will look to recapture the MIAA crown, which it has held nine out of the last 11 years.

GOLF 4-11

The varsity golf team showed grit and determination throughout a season filled with strong individual performances and memorable team moments. These efforts yielded wins over MIAA contenders Loyola, Archbishop Spalding, and McDonogh. Another season highlight was the first win of the season over St. Albans of D.C. The Greyhounds remained in the hunt for a playoff slot until the final two matches.

Several players made significant strides over the course of the season. Gavin Root ’25 emerged as one of the team’s most improved players, stepping up into the #3 spot. Captain Lucas Carrión-Mong ’25 worked tirelessly to earn and maintain the #2. Jackson Brooks ’25 and Sawyer Enright ’25 showed passionate performances in the #5 and #6 positions, respectively. All of these seniors’ efforts and attitudes served as examples to the underclassmen.

Sophomores Drew Klein (team captain) and Will Ketterer, held down the #1 and #4 spots, respectively, while showing composure and toughness that will continue to evolve. Klein earned his first A Conference All-Conference honors for his performance this season.

Next year, in addition to Klein and Ketterer, Gilman golf will return with key contributors juniors James Hobelmann, Dylan Sopher, and Barret Emerson, along with promising players currently at the JV level, who will have an immediate impact on the varsity team.

SPRING

BASEBALL

7-23 OVERALL / 4-14 IN CONFERENCE

The varsity baseball season commenced in North Carolina with an under-the-lights win followed by a double-header at the Wake Forest University baseball stadium. Returning home, the young lineup showed talent and potential but struggled with consistency. In several games, the Hounds held late-inning leads but were unable to finish. Despite the challenges, the team was able to overcome adversity and achieve several quality wins. The Greyhounds defeated John Carroll, the top-ranked team in Maryland, and Mount Saint Joseph, which spent the season as a top-10 ranked team in the state. The Hounds also knocked off McDonogh with a convincing 9-4 score. At the plate, the Greyhounds were led by Krish Rangarajan ’25 (team captain), Caleb Lawson ’25, and Jackson Cheatham ’25, with teammates Jake Mohler ’25 and Dylan Buchalter ’25 contributing both on the mound and with their bats. Returning next year are four-year varsity members and team captains Toby Rosenband ’26 and Jute Taylor ’26, who was the team’s top hitter, as well as Zane Krikstan ’27, who will return to lock down third base, and Henry Warnack ’27, who anchored the bullpen. The freshman class also boasts a talented group of athletes that included Jack O’Sullivan ’28, Ronan Wrenn ’28, and Carson Dodge ’28, all of whom made significant contributions as members of the varsity squad.

The Gilman baseball program is excited about the future and is targeting a playoff berth for next year’s campaign.

TRACK AND FIELD 3-1 / 3RD PLACE AT MIAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

The spring track and field team built a solid foundation during the winter indoor track season. Led by captains Jemmel Green ’ 25, Derick Su ’25, Tyler Marshall ’25, Ben Schatz ’25, and Cam Brown ’25, the running Hounds embarked on a promising and ambitious spring schedule. Coming out strong, the team won all three MIAA quad meets by large margins showing dominance in the conference. The track team completed the year with a close loss in the MIAA regular-season championship dual meet, and a third-place finish at the conference championship meet.

All-Conference performer Green was the team’s catalyst during the season. Green became the first Gilman athlete to complete the distance sweep by winning the 3200 meters, 1600 meters, and 800 meters while setting a new School record in the 3200 meters. His times in all three races placed him in the top 10 in the state of Maryland. He qualified for the New Balance Nationals in Philadelphia, becoming one of the few athletes to accomplish this feat all four years of his high school career.

The Hounds look to be in the thick of conference competition next year with a strong core of returning athletes. Marcus Turpin ’27 and Desmond Barkus ’27 finished second and third, respectively, in the triple jump with teammate Derrick Alexander ’ 27 capturing a third-place finish in the high jump.

The strong group of underclassmen coupled with a JV squad that finished third in its conference meet bodes well for the future of the Gilman track and field program.

NEXT-LEVEL ATHLETES

GILMAN GRADS TAKING THEIR GAME TO COLLEGE

Gilman families and coaches are proud of our seniors who are committed to college athletics for fall 2025

BASKETBALL

Evan Quintero

St. Mary’s College of Maryland

SQUASH

Parker Davis

Bates College

Drew Fones

Fordham University

Jacob Li

Hamilton College

SWIMMING

Max Kunisaki

Villanova University

Jackson Heether

Washington University in St. Louis

FOOTBALL

Amir Arnold Johns Hopkins University

Cam Brown Howard University

Jackson Cheatham

Dartmouth College

Brian Checkley

Harvard University

Derick Su Case Western Reserve University

Bryce Wilson Merrimack College

LACROSSE

Adam Benoit Haverford College

Nathan Cootauco Amherst College

Will Cranston Gettysburg College

Griffin Graham

Bucknell University

P.J. Hoag

Franklin & Marshall College

Zach Parks Colby College

Dixon Pollard Middlebury College

Jay Rodgers

Johns Hopkins University

Harrison Schline University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

TRACK

Jemmel Green Norfolk State University

WATER POLO

Hudson Seavers-Reale Austin College

WRESTLING

John Jurkovic

United States Air Force Academy

Emmitt Sherlock University of Virginia

24

LEFT TO RIGHT Jackson Cheatham, Amir Arnold, Parker Davis, Jay Rodgers, Will Cranston, Dixon Pollard, Adam Benoit, Jacob Li, Drew Fones, Nathan Cootauco, Griffin Graham, John Jurkovic, Emmitt Sherlock, Brian Checkley, Max Kunisaki, Evan Quintero, Derick Su, Harrison Schline, Zach Parks, P.J. Hoag, Bryce Wilson, Cam Brown.

Not pictured: Jackson Heether, Jemmel Green, Hudson Seavers-Reale. PHOTO BY STEVE RUARK ’96.

Athletic Buzz

SQUASH HOUNDS END THEIR TREMENDOUS SEASON WITH A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

At the U.S. High School Team Squash Championships in Philadelphia in February, the Hounds won four matches in three days, finishing with a decisive 5-2 victory over McCallie School (TN) to win the Boys’ Division II National Championship. Coming off a fifth consecutive MIAA title just a few weeks earlier, Gilman entered the weekend seeded second with a season record of 10-1, having lost only seven individual matches all year.

STRONG SHOWINGS FOR SHERLOCK AND

MCGETTIGAN

AT NATIONAL PREPS

Six Gilman wrestlers made their way to Lehigh University to compete in the National Prep Wrestling Championships (National Preps) in February. The contingent finished as the top team from Maryland in 10th place out of 120+ competing schools and left with two individual placements. In addition, Head Varsity Wrestling Coach Bryn Holmes was named the 2025 National Preps Head Coach of the Year.

The six Greyhound wrestlers

— Emmitt Sherlock ’25, John Jurkovic ’25, Zach Glory ’25, Liam McGettigan ’27, JD Vassar ’27, and Christian Wirts ’28 — fought hard for two days of intense competition and finished with a team score of 87.5 points. Each wrestler won at least one match, with Sherlock and McGettigan winding up on the podium in their respective weight classes.

VARSITY SWIMMING MAKES WAVES, ENDING 2024–2025 SEASON WITH MORE NEW SCHOOL RECORDS

A record-breaking season for Gilman’s varsity swimming team ended on February 1, with an outstanding performance at the MIAA A Championship. The Hounds finished second overall, the highest in program history and left the meet with several new School records for the books. The Hounds won six out of 11 events at the championship meet, finishing with 11 medalists on the podium.

Individual First-Place Medals

• Max Kunisaki ’25: 200-yard freestyle with a personal best time of 1:40.40 (breaking his own previous School record time of 1:40.96). Read more about Kunisaki’s achievements at gilman.edu/kunisaki25

• Jackson Heether ’25: 50-yard freestyle with a personal best time of 20.64 (All-American consideration time) and the 100yard freestyle with a personal best time of 46.26

• Myles Koff ’26: 200-yard individual medley with a personal best time of 1:49.05 (All-American time and new Gilman record).

Relay Team First-Place Medals

The Hounds’ performances in both relays earned All-American consideration time.

• 200-yard freestyle (1:24.30, new Gilman record): Heether, Kunisaki, Bogdan Mytsak ’26, and Cooper Walters ’26. New Gilman record with a time of 1:24.30

• 400-yard freestyle (3:07.21): Heether, Koff, Kunisaki, and Kyan Siri ’28

Additional New Gilman Records

• 100-yard freestyle: Heether with a time of 46.16 in the preliminaries before breaking it again during his leg of the 400yard freestyle relay with a time of 46.01 in the lead-off.

• 100-yard breaststroke: Kunisaki with a time of 57.25 (breaking his own previous School record time of 57.29).

• 50-yard freestyle: Broken twice in the span of about one hour, with Heether breaking it in the 50-yard freestyle finals with a time of 20.64, only for Kunisaki to later top him swimming the lead-off leg of the 200-yard relay with a time of 20.61

At the 31st annual Armory Hispanic Games, held in January at the Nike Track and Field Center in New York City, Jemmel Green ’25 ran the invitational mile, winning his

heat and finishing seventh place overall, setting a new School indoor track and field record of 4:18.48. The Armory is recognized internationally as one of the world’s fastest indoor tracks and regularly brings thousands of top high school athletes together at events like the Hispanic Games.

At the MIAA Track and Field Championships in May, Green had another historic performance as he accomplished a rare feat, winning all three individual distance events: the 3200 with a new School record of 9:22.28; the 1600, with a time of 4:17.90; and the 800, with a time of 1:55.95. Green is the first Gilman athlete to accomplish this triple-event achievement. Overall, the team finished in third place with 103 points.

ONE STUDENT’S JOURNEY TO ODP NATIONAL WATER POLO

Treve Darby ’27 competed in USA Water Polo’s (USAWP) 2025 Olympic Development Program (ODP) Boys National Championship Tournament held in northern California in March. The ODP is a training program for aspiring water polo athletes, bringing together top youth talent with the goal of building competitive rosters for USAWP’s various national teams, which then compete internationally in Central and South America and Europe. Read Darby’s full story at gilman.edu/playing-up

GREEN SETS SCHOOL TRACK RECORDS

photo by Mike Spotte P’26, ’28

photo by Mike Spotte P’26, ’28

Making the Whole Picture Come Together

When Steve Ruark ’96 was a student at Gilman, he signed up for a photography course “on an uninformed whim,” he says. He didn’t know at the time that he would make it his life’s work — or that he would one day find himself teaching the class to the next generation of Greyhounds.

The first photo Ruark ever had published was in The Baltimore Sun — one that he captured of Brady Anderson being hit by a pitch at an Orioles game during Ruark’s Senior Encounter with Sun photographer Lloyd Fox. With that early win behind his lens, Ruark graduated from Gilman and went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from Syracuse University, where he worked as a photographer and photo editor at a student-run newspaper called The Daily Orange. From there, he moved on to internships at The Syracuse Newspapers and The Baltimore Sun, and then as a staff photographer at The Jackson Sun, in Jackson, Tennessee.

He brought his talents back to Baltimore in 2002 as he launched his full-time freelance business, including taking pictures for The Associated Press and The New York Times. Later, his clientele began to include nonprofits and educational institutions. His beloved alma mater on Roland Avenue started to employ him to cover special events in 2011. In spring of 2021, he filled in for a semester while the photography teacher was on maternity leave; the following fall, he became the permanent instructor for the class.

His art elective, taught exclusively to freshmen, is called Pinhole to Digital and covers the gamut of photography innovation from, well, pinhole to digital. (He jokes that what he took in the mid ’90s should have been called Pinhole to Pinhole.)

He begins teaching the class with the most basic of camera obscura activities, first in a classroom with the windows that face Harris

Ruark stops to chat with a student while shooting Triple the Spirit at Gilman in the fall of 2024.

Terrace blacked out. Then, a tiny hole is created to let light in, and the scene from the terrace is projected as an inverted image on the opposite wall of the classroom. When he repeats the exercise with the class using a shoebox with the corners taped up to block light, the image is captured on photo paper that the students then develop in the darkroom. “When they see the image appear on the photo paper from nowhere, it is a pretty magical moment for most photography students,” Ruark says.

The size of the tiny hole — which the students later learn is called aperture — and the length of exposure time — also known as shutter speed — are the main variables that photographers can adjust to control the sharpness and brightness of a picture. “It really is all the same premise,” Ruark says. “Despite all this technology and new and easier ways of doing things, we are still trying to achieve the same goal.”

Back in the ’90s when Ruark decided to pursue a career in photography, he thought his life would be “going out to make pictures and coming back to the darkroom.” As technology in his field advanced, he realized that was no longer the case. “Instead, I go out and make pictures and then sit on my laptop just like everyone else’s job,” he says with a laugh.

By the second quarter of the school year, students are given digital cameras to use for their assignments along with access to Adobe Lightroom software for editing. Ruark intentionally stays away from introducing the boys to heavy photo manipulation in Photoshop. “I really want them to learn to do it right with the camera,” he says. His background in journalism dictates “a tradition and an approach that you can trust what came out of the camera.”

In the second semester, Ruark has the ninth graders continue to build their artistic skills as they learn more about the mechanics of the camera. “I really like photography because it’s a technical art — it’s a little bit of science and art,” he says. But one of his favorite assignments doesn’t involve taking photographs at all: The research project includes a presentation showcasing a famous photographer’s

early life, professional influences, special equipment, and lasting impact. At the end, the students have not only practiced public speaking skills during their own presentations but also they have learned from their peers about a dozen other professionals in various fields of photography like sports, underwater, visual storytelling, and photojournalism.

That project is a natural segue to the final part of the year, which is spent studying genres of photography. Ruark’s favorite, of course, is photojournalism. “It’s what I know about and it’s my passion, so I like to share that with students.” Part of the curriculum has them exploring photos that have been doctored for propaganda purposes as early as during World War I — long before artificial intelligence and Photoshop made that easy to do. Whether his students become professional or hobby photographers or not, Ruark says, “Everyone is going to be a consumer of imagery and information,” and he wants them to learn to be educated about it.

Another takeaway he hopes the students grasp is the “ability to think outside the box, a universal skill that everyone can benefit from.” He is already beginning to see this in his classes as students figure out innovative ways to use the technology available to them.

Ruark says that his dual career — doing different types of photography and teaching about it to high schoolers — is a nice blend for him. Some of his freelance gigs — like shooting professional and college sports — are more dynamic and challenging, while others — like taking office headshots — are more simplistic and routine. But both offer him experiences that he can share with his students, showing them the real-life relevance of the topics covered in class. “You do what you love because you love it, and then you figure out a way to make the whole picture come together.”

Ruark’s first published photo appears in The Baltimore Sun, taken during his Senior Encounter with Sun photographer Lloyd Fox. PHOTO BY STEVE RUARK ’96.

Ruark teaches freshmen in his Pinhole to Digital photography elective.

The Importance of Being Earnest

Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest” is that rare thing in theatrical literature: a stand-alone play, a play that is universally regarded as occupying a class all by itself. Even among Wilde’s other much-praised and generally peerless comedies, “Earnest” prevails as the undeniable champ, the “masterpiece.” Perhaps the play’s uniqueness can be explained by its inability to be satisfactorily wedged into a pure classification; it is a comedy of manners, of course, with Wilde owing a debt to forebears like Sheridan and Wycherley, but it also crosses into farce and satire — extreme and improbable situations sharing the stage with a wicked and incisive takedown of British Victorian-era behavior and mores. –Director John Rowell

The Winter Reading Series was born out of the pandemic as a way to stage a play that limited the usual close proximity of actors and their interactions onstage in performance. It has since evolved into a fully designed and costumed presentation that now honors and revels in the time-honored tradition of staged readings, which give young performers a chance to fully explore a great play in a shorter, more concentrated rehearsal period.

Merrily We Roll Along

“How did you get to be here?” This question reverberates through Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s 1981 musical “Merrily We Roll Along.” The singers, who form a collective conscience, seem to be posing their query to the lead character, Franklin Shepard, whose story this is: How did Frank get to be here — or there, or anywhere? The show, working backwards into Frank’s life, attempts to find an answer, or answers, to that question by the final curtain. But in showing us the clues and evidence about Frank Shepard’s path through life, Sondheim and Furth slyly turn that musical question on to everyone sitting in the audience as well. How did we get to be here? How do any of us get to be here? We must sift through the highlight reels of our own lives to remember, and thus uncover, the answers — and the truth.

What a privilege it has been to direct these whip-smart, gifted young performers from the tri-schools in this show. Over many rehearsal weeks, I have marveled at their capacity to understand characters outside of their age and experience, and at their capability of depicting the worst excesses of the adult characters’ behavior without demonstrating any need to emulate it in their own lives. They have proven their maturity time and again with this complex and challenging material, and their sophistication, theatrical and otherwise, is remarkable. “Merrily” is, in part, a show about lessons that can be learned from one’s own past, and, as such, may be considered a cautionary tale. Yet, for these outstanding young people, I have nothing but hope and great confidence for their futures. –Director John Rowell

The Key to Music Innovation:

CREATING SPACE FOR STUDENTS TO DEVELOP A LOVE FOR THEIR CRAFT

By Ariel Dechosa, Director of Music

It’s been amazing to see how the music culture at Gilman has grown in recent years. One of the most exciting shifts has been in how we define ensemble. Innovation here doesn’t mean flashy technology; it means rethinking how music lives and breathes in a school community. We’ve opened up more ways for the boys to collaborate — whether in chamber groups, tri-school orchestras, vocal performances, or even pep bands. These opportunities push them beyond their comfort zones and show how music connects to something bigger. They’re not just playing with their friends. They’re stepping into All-State, All-County, festivals, and competitions, and discovering their place in the broader musical world.

This evolution in structure has shaped how we rehearse and what we strive for. The boys know we’re tackling high-level repertoire, music that requires real commitment and artistry. We’re not just preparing them for the next concert but for the next chapter in their musical

lives. That, too, is a form of innovation: choosing works that are challenging, relevant, and reflective of the standard across serious youth ensembles nationwide. Raising our expectations has redefined how they think about their own potential.

Just as striking is the way they now show up for each other. When one of them earns a spot in All-State or wins a competition, it’s not just a personal win. It’s a collective one. That sense of mutual pride and recognition has transformed our community into something more substantial, connected, and supportive than ever before.

The best part of all this is seeing students realize that music isn’t just something they do. It’s something they keep. A way of thinking, listening, and connecting that stays with them well beyond Gilman. None of it would be possible without our dedicated faculty, supportive parents, and a community that values the arts. In the end, the most meaningful innovation isn’t about changing the music; it’s about creating the kind of space where their love for it can last.

Ariel Dechosa conducts the Middle School String Ensemble at the winter concert in December 2024.

While teaching grades 5–8 woodwind sectionals, the number of students who continue with their instruments, as well as the quality and level of their performance, have grown exponentially. In each grade, the woodwinds combine with brass and percussion to create a full band and perform at instrumental concerts. I am a bassoonist, and the first Gilman-owned bassoons were purchased in 2006 and 2007. During each of the last 19 years, Gilman has had two or more boys playing bassoon, and, with our great oboes, has earned Gilman the distinction of having a strong double-reed program.

When I arrived at Gilman in 2006, there was a small Jazz Combo. Two students, Jack Mitchell ’08 and Dan Kim ’09, approached me during the first week of school to find out if it would continue. I responded with an enthusiastic “Absolutely!” and subsequently expanded the group to a full Jazz Big Band. Over the years, we have participated in the Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington program and won top recognition at music festivals.

Cheryl Nkeba, Upper School Music Teacher, Director of Upper School Jazz Band, and Director of Bell Choirs, reflects on the evolution of Gilman’s music program over the last two decades.

In the fall of 2006, to inspire the boys, I invited the handbell choir from Landon School in Bethesda to perform during an Upper School assembly. Once the Gilman students saw another all-boys great academic, sports, and arts school group playing bells, they accepted the challenge to begin a handbell choir here. The Upper School Bell Choir program began in spring 2007; in the fall of that year, a Middle School handbell choir was added. Over the last 19 years, 40 Upper and Middle School students annually have enjoyed the spirit of creative collaboration while playing handbells.

above all else, Gilman seeks to help boys grow into men of character. We believe that the qualities of honor, leadership, dedication, and service to others must be emphasized and reinforced through all aspects of the school community. Below, one student’s service learning experience is highlighted.

Scout’s Honor, Gilman Values: ONE STUDENT’S COMMITMENT TO SERVICE LEARNING

Timmy Edwards ’25 started his scouting journey at age 7 in his local Cub Scout pack. After earning his Arrow of Light distinction, he moved on to Scouts BSA, the sect of Boy Scouts of America (now known as Scouting America) for boys ages 11-17. In this part of the organization — specifically in Maryland Troop #35 — Edwards would advance through the ranks, making friends, learning skills, and participating in and leading community service efforts all along the way. He enjoyed good company there with a strong presence of fellow Greyhounds, including his older brother, Charlie ’20, and his cousin, Michael ’25. The troop’s roster has included numerous other Gilman students from the Class of 2025 as well, like Neel Behari, William Beauchamp, Jacob Li, Jonny Li, Will Manthy, and Bennett Schmidt, along with boys from the Middle and Lower School divisions as well.

Many of the values emphasized in BSA, like honor, leadership, dedication, and service to others, are shared by and reinforced at Gilman. “One connection I’ve really felt is between the Scout Law and the Gilman Five,” says Edwards. “The values I’ve learned through Scouts line up really well with the kind of character Gilman encourages us to build in ourselves.”

As a freshman, Edwards executed his Eagle Scout project, a community service undertaking that earned him the highest rank of BSA: Eagle Scout. Over two days, he and dozens of students and adults met at his family’s church in Baltimore County. It had recently undergone major interior renovations but the woods on the property were unusable. Edwards’ plan: Clear away overgrown thorn and brush, tree-killing vines, and trash to create a walking path where parishioners could exercise, reflect, socialize, and pray. The second part of the project included an outdoor classroom/prayer garden at the end of the new trail, complete with seating made from natural materials around a fire pit. Since his efforts, a few others in Troop #35 have centered their service projects on expanding and improving upon the trail that he started.

It wasn’t difficult for Edwards to complete his Gilman service hours required for graduation; over many Saturdays throughout Middle and Upper School, he participated in projects led by other scouts. “It creates a cycle of community,” he explains, when scouts build trust and camaraderie by helping each other with their projects. He says that engaging in so many service activities resulted in him coming to appreciate all that he has.

Edwards’ time with the group had a “huge impact,” teaching him how to organize, plan, delegate, interact with adults, and be a leader. At 18 now, he has aged out of BSA but Edwards remains involved in Troop #35 in whatever ways he can, serving as a role model and mentoring younger boys. The importance of volunteer leadership was instilled in Edwards at a young age. His father, Dr. Charles C. Edwards ’88, remains engaged in a variety of community volunteer roles, including as an officer for Gilman’s Board of Trustees. Now, as the younger Edwards looks toward his future in college and beyond, he plans to continue to give back with “the same energy and spirit” to all the communities of which he is a part.

Scouts volunteer to clear a path for the Eagle Scout project led by Timmy Edwards ’25.

The photo on the left shows a section of the woods before Edwards and team began working. The photo on the right shows the same area after the trail was complete.

Ray Mills

ATHLETICS EQUIPMENT MANAGER

44 YEARS AT GILMAN

By Russell Wrenn ’96, Director of Athletics

For most of us, it’s difficult to fathom just how long 44 years really are. But for Athletics Equipment Manager Ray Mills and generations of Gilman boys and men, that is how long this special relationship has lasted, and the Cage remains one of the first stops for alums coming back to campus.

For this Gilman alum, my relationship with Mr. Ray began before I ever donned a Gilman uniform. As a new-to-Gilman sixth grader growing like a weed, the ill-fitting, sometimes decades-old, handme-down dress pants I wore to Middle School each day could pass muster in the classroom, but stood no chance of surviving the morning recess games of “touch” football on the blacktop. Inevitably, my third-period teacher would send me over to the Cage to exchange my torn pants for a pair of athletic shorts to get through the day. What could have been a source of considerable embarrassment (certainly by the fourth or fifth time) instead served as a marvelous introduction to the Gilman institution of Mr. Ray. His calm demeanor settled that rattled sixth grader the same way he has calmed down and pumped up generations of Gilman athletes coming off of tough losses, bad practices, or difficult cuts.

His ability to both dispense advice while listening, smiling, and finding ways to boost your confidence, serve as a confidant, and share in your excitement, disappointment, hopes, and fears, has been a boon to boys and an important part of the transformation from boy to man that Gilman helps foster. Back to that rattled sixth grader — those third-period meetings with Mr. Ray not only resulted in a sewn-up pair of pants good to wear the next day,

but led to a much more confident Gilman boy, assured that he did, in fact, belong here, ready to embrace the next challenge.

In addition to serving as a mentor to Gilman students for 44 years, Ray has been a model of work ethic for his colleagues. From managing the afternoon frenzy of dispensing pins, handing out uniforms, and setting up courts and fields, to collecting equipment and uniforms after games and beginning the wash after the rest of the community has headed home, there was no unimportant job or detail left for another day with Ray. And Ray did all of this with a smile on his face, words of praise for players and coaches, and an infectious enthusiasm for all things Gilman Athletics. The only time that smile turned serious was for coaches who didn’t do their job collecting uniforms at the end of the season, or boys who chose to wash their own uniforms at home, risking fading or altering the Blue and Gray. Without fail or exception, Ray held all of us to a high standard befitting the Gilman name, while making each of us feel like we belonged and were capable of much more than maybe we, ourselves, believed. This quality, what modern generations label emotional intelligence, is what we will miss most as we wish Ray enjoyment in retirement. It is why Gilman alums in their 50s and 60s still return to the Cage, year after year, and light up — like sixth graders asking for gym shorts — when Ray offers them a smile, a handshake, and words of encouragement.

Dallas Jacobs

UPPER SCHOOL MATH TEACHER

28 YEARS AT GILMAN

By Jeff Gouline ’00, Upper School Math Department Chair

My path first crossed with Dallas Jacobs in the fall of 1997. I was a sophomore at Gilman, working to adapt to a course load significantly more difficult than freshman year, and Dallas was in his first year teaching math at Gilman and a newcomer to Baltimore. From the start, I enjoyed his class — he showed an obvious passion and knowledge for the subject matter, and his emphasis on rigorous mathematical proof was unlike anything I had experienced previously. More than any other, this course fed my passion for the subject. Four years later, when I decided to major in mathematics, Dallas’ lessons made me unusually prepared to succeed in my college classes. Now, nearly three decades later, I write this article with very mixed emotions. On one hand, I will miss the way Dallas sees beauty in a cleverly and subtly constructed proof, through mathematical patterns turned into visible art, and by using our subject to explain the way the world works. I will miss the way Dallas mixes high standards with obvious care for his students. And I will miss the way he makes constructing a challenging and engaging lesson seem easy. On the other, my heart is filled with joy for the opportunities that lie ahead of him: a life filled with leisurely mornings, long runs, and hours with his guitar resting comfortably on his knee. I know Dallas looks forward to spending more time with his two children who have relocated to the Midwest and his young grandson. And I know he looks forward to a life lived on his own schedule without the stress of bells, grading, and commentwriting deadlines.

Henry Smyth often talks about blending timelessness and modernity, and Dallas embodies that duality. His geometry class in particular is traditional, and Dallas has maintained our vision of a rigorous, proof-based course in an era when many schools have made different choices. At the same time, Dallas’ classes are anything but static. Less than two years ago, Dallas took a course on straightedge and compass constructions. Dallas used this knowledge to refresh a unit connecting geometric construction with the beautiful tilework in mosques. The students’ assessments — their own renditions of the Alhambra patterns — adorn our hallways for much of the winter. During the pandemic, we all struggled with the question of how to adapt our pedagogy to an audience split between our classrooms and their homes. Dallas addressed this challenge by combining two of his passions. He propped his computer on a perfectly adjusted music stand to give the students at home a clear picture of the board without obstructing the view of those physically in the room. I found beauty in the simplicity of his solution and the constant reminder that Dallas is a teacher and a musician and so many other things.

Last winter, it felt wrong to build the department schedule without including the initials ‘DJ’ in the Honors Geometry boxes. And his office will feel somehow empty without the posters celebrating the Miracle Mets and Bruce Springsteen. And the third-floor hallways will feel something missing without Dallas striding to and from his classroom. Yet his influence remains in our curriculum and the impact he has had on his many colleagues in and out of the department. I owe Dallas a special debt of gratitude for helping the 16-year-old version of myself grow to love a world I never even knew existed. Thanks for everything, and enjoy your very well-earned retirement.

Tammy Temple LOWER SCHOOL

ADMINISTRATIVE

ASSISTANT

25 YEARS AT GILMAN

By Linda Fussell, Head of Lower School

Every school has a backbone — someone who keeps the chaos of daily life running smoothly, who knows the ins and outs of every tradition, event, and unexpected surprise. At Gilman’s Lower School, that person is, without a doubt, our incredible administrative assistant, Tammy Temple.

Tammy is a force. She’s savvy, intuitive, and deeply knowledgeable. When I first met her and casually mentioned my love of crabs — that sitting around a table with loved ones cracking shells was one of my most treasured childhood memories — she booked our first working dinner at Conrad’s Crabs and Seafood Market. That gesture floored me. It was one of the most thoughtful things anyone has ever done. That’s Tammy: attuned to the smallest details, listening with intention, and always acting with purpose. She sees what others miss and anticipates what we need before we know we need it. She is, simply, everything.

For 25 years, Tammy has been the steady hand and sharp mind behind the scenes — the person who keeps things moving when it feels like everything might fall apart. From weekly events to lastminute field trips, auditorium bookings to special lunch requests, Tammy handles it all — often with a phone in one hand, a calendar in the other, and a sixth sense for what’s about to go sideways. Nothing is too complicated, too messy, or too odd. If it needs doing, Tammy does it — with grace, grit, and a signature spark.

Tammy is the master of logistics, the queen of multitasking, and the keeper of our School’s traditions. She once mentioned that she gets interrupted every few minutes, yet she’s developed a system — her own finely tuned orchestration of priorities — that allows her to keep everything on track. Over the years, Tammy has kept students, faculty, staff, and the occasional frazzled parent moving forward with confidence. If you need an answer, she has it. If there’s a

problem, she’s already working on three solutions before you’ve finished your sentence.

Tammy started in Gilman’s technology department, and we count ourselves lucky that, after two years, she moved into the Lower School office. She’s been there ever since — the calm center of our sometimes chaotic universe.

Outside of work, Tammy brings just as much passion and creativity to her hobbies. She’s a talented singer, seamstress, and crafter — gifts many of us have had the joy of experiencing. Whether she’s performing at Toys for Tots or belting out karaoke with colleagues, Tammy’s voice is a gift to anyone lucky enough to hear it. She’s made custom sink skirts when cupboards were missing and handcrafts stunning beaded lanyards that have become the latest staff craze. What can’t she do?

And yes — I’ll be honest — Tammy’s tough. She’s funny, fiery, and famously direct (okay, very direct). But behind that strength is a heart of gold. She is fiercely loyal, deeply invested, and unwavering in her commitment to this community. Her standards are high because she cares. And we are all better for it — more organized, more prepared, and more grounded, all while being thoroughly entertained.

We love Tammy for exactly who she is: someone who doesn’t accept “good enough,” who challenges us to be better, and who brings her absolute best — every single day. After 25 years, her fingerprints are on every success story, every celebration, every cherished memory in Callard Hall.

So today, we say thank you. For the sharp wit. The boundless patience. The relentless hustle. And the thousand invisible things Tammy does that most will never know. Tammy Temple is one of Gilman’s great treasures, and we are endlessly grateful for her.

Here’s to you, Tammy — with all our love and admiration. Wishing you the best in your next chapter; enjoy the sunshine in Florida!

Chris Downs MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER

24 YEARS AT GILMAN

By Eileen Kim, Middle School Social Studies Teacher

In one sense, you could not miss Mr. Downs. Standing at 6'4" and with a voice to match, he had no trouble standing out from the crowd. On most mornings, you could hear Mr. Downs singing his way down the hallway as he arrived, stopping mid-breath to share a joke with a student after reminding him to tuck his shirt in. In the afternoons, students rushing past the Social Studies office knew to expect a friendly but firm “Don’t forget homeroom cleanup!” reminder bellowed in their direction. And during finals, you may have been encouraged to believe that those exams were “a celebration of knowledge.”

One thing everyone knew was that as big as Mr. Downs’ presence was, his heart was even bigger. “Once a Downs advisee, always a Downs advisee” was one of his most common sayings, and it was clear that he meant it. One of those advisees reconnected with him in 12th grade on Senior Retreat. In a tribute message to Mr. Downs, Ben Gilner ’25 wrote: “I never realized how much I try to emulate you in my life and strive to bring as much happiness and energy as you do to others. Thank you for everything you have done for me in the past seven years. I will never forget the lasting memories we have shared together.”

Mr. Downs never forgot those under his care, often following up to inquire about their welfare and whereabouts even years after their time at Gilman. On one occasion, he was found at his desk in the History Department office, ordering and paying for college books on behalf of a former advisee (unbeknownst to that individual). He demonstrated his love and

dedication to the Gilman community, students, faculty, and staff alike, in ways both big and small, whether by covering the cost of a mixer ticket so that it would not be a barrier to some fun and good memories or making time for a difficult but important heartto-heart with a student to encourage him. Mr. Downs was equally ready to share belly laughs with anyone, showing us how to not take ourselves too seriously and practice grace for all, including oneself.

Mr. Downs has embodied the Gilman teacher-coach-mentor model to the fullest. He wore many hats throughout the years, including eighth grade Ancient History teacher, Middle School Social Studies Department Chair, and also coach for the Middle School basketball, baseball, and water polo teams. In this way, Mr. Downs mentored generations of Gilman students from the classroom to the court and the athletic fields. His dedication stretched even beyond Roland Avenue. In addition to his Gilman activities, he coached in the Roland Park Baseball League for many years, serving as the league’s commissioner and eventually earning induction into the RPBL’s Hall of Fame. He also served on the coaching staff of Towson University’s softball team for the past 20 years.

In so many ways, his presence and legacy have shaped Gilman profoundly. Mr. Downs, thank you for all that you have done for us, all the ways you have pushed us to be our best selves, and all the love you have poured into our community. You will, indeed and after all, be greatly missed, a (6'4") giant in our midst.

Sean Furlong DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

22 YEARS AT GILMAN

By Henry P. A. Smyth, Head of School

Having come to Gilman after an earlier career in corporate finance, Sean has served as our Director of Finance and Administration since May 2003. (While this has been Sean’s title, he has more commonly been referred to as Chief Financial Officer, or “CFO,” for short.) During that time, he has brought to his work a combination of financial acumen and generosity of spirit that has made Gilman a better place. Simply put, I have never worked with a CFO who was as deeply invested in the overall life of the school as Sean has been. In addition to overseeing our business operations and working closely with the Board on the longer-term financial health of the School, Sean found time to get involved in school life; he was an

By Becky Levy, Controller

I have had the privilege to work with Sean ever since he arrived at Gilman. Sean has been deeply committed to Gilman and its entire community. He was a mentor to me and taught me many things about the “finance side” of Gilman. During Sean’s tenure here, we had many major capital projects and campaigns. He not only has a strong work ethic but also a great sense of humor. He has always been approachable, asking people how they were doing and how their families were. It did not matter what position you had at Gilman; when he asked how you were doing, he truly wanted to know. He cared.

By Wes Hummer, Chief Operating Officer

Our hearts are full of gratitude and a touch of sadness as the Gilman community wishes farewell to a dear friend and mentor, Sean, who is embarking on a new journey.

For more than two decades, Sean has been an open book of kindness and wisdom, fostering a true sense of extended family within our community. His impact went far beyond financial oversight; he was deeply invested in school life, advising students, teaching classes, being involved with the Business Club, and even guiding boys on sustainability projects, helping them bring ideas to life and learn valuable lessons. His financial acumen, paired with his generous spirit, has left an indelible mark on our school and campus.

advisor, he taught a class, he helped students start the Business Club, and he even chaperoned more than one prom.

Of course, Gilman’s financial health is strong, and faculty and staff enjoy the generous benefits we have, in no small part because of Sean’s excellent work. I know that I will forever remain grateful for his service to the School and my close work with him.

Sean worked with Henry to create and fund the faculty/staff appreciation program and annual bonuses for our dedicated FLIK (dining services) and CBS (contractual housekeeping) staff. It was important to him to make sure everyone felt valued for all their hard work.

Sean worked tirelessly to keep Gilman in a strong financial position; he truly wanted to give Gilman’s faculty and staff the moon while remaining focused on the financial sustainability of the School.

For the past 10 years, I’ve had the privilege of working closely with Sean daily, planning our business operations and shaping the future of our school, from our 10-year master plan to significant capital projects. His dedicated presence with the Board ensured our continued financial strength.

We’ll truly miss his infectious smile and his genuine appreciation for everyone’s efforts in creating such a wonderful place to be and work. Please join us in thanking Sean for his immense contributions and wishing his family and him all the very best.

Isabelle Giorgis LOWER SCHOOL FRENCH TEACHER

18 YEARS AT GILMAN

By Cecilia Eppler, Lower School Spanish Teacher

Known for a personality and an intensity that will not be easily forgotten, Madame Giorgis brought a dynamic presence to the Gilman community. Madame Giorgis was never afraid to give her opinion and to stand for justice when needed, earning respect for both her courage and her authenticity. An admirer of good teaching, she enjoyed observing teachers at work and was always supportive and complimentary of others. Her creativity was equally remarkable.

A wonderful artist, her drawings — truly beautiful and expressive — captured the essence of her subjects in extraordinary ways. Her stories, carefully crafted as part of her teaching, were engaging and imaginative, covering a wide range of topics that captivated students and inspired a genuine desire to use French and explore its cultures. Even more impressively, she illustrated these stories herself, creating materials that both drew students in and enhanced their learning experience while at the same time making her class fun. The thoughtfulness and effort behind writing and illustrating her own teaching materials — carefully selecting vocabulary to match the curriculum — reflected a deep commitment to the growth of her students and is a contribution that has been deeply appreciated throughout many generations. She often wondered if people truly understood the effort that was required to create and illustrate her own stories, selecting specific vocabulary and grammar to match the content she taught.

One of Madame Giorgis’ most lasting contributions to Gilman was her transformation of students’ understanding of Francophone cultures. She expanded the lens far beyond France, introducing

students to the rich diversity of French-speaking countries and communities around the world. Many students — particularly those from backgrounds often overlooked — saw themselves reflected and respected in her classroom. Through her vision, the French program in the Lower School not only evolved but also found renewed relevance, growing stronger and expanding in Middle School. This lasting impact on the school community remains a powerful part of Madame Giorgis’ legacy. Her passion and commitment to teaching students — not just about another language but also about the world — will surely be missed.

Mary Ellen Porter ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT

17 YEARS AT GILMAN

By Alice Dearing, Director of Stewardship

A sporty blue Audi TT pulled into the reserved parking spot in front of Carey Hall. I remember it like it was yesterday. It was 2009, and we were interviewing candidates for a newly created position — Director of Major Gifts — a role designed to elevate Gilman’s advancement work and lay the foundation for the next major campaign.

Mary Ellen Porter exited the sporty vehicle, donned in a smart gray suit with her signature blue shirt, straight from JHU’s campus, where she had worked for 30 years. She seemed delighted to be at Gilman — as a Bryn Mawr School graduate who honed her thespian skills in Gilman’s Alumni Auditorium, she looked completely at home and at ease. You couldn’t help but to be drawn in by her warm smile and charming demeanor.

Not long after that initial meeting, Mary Ellen was hired and was quickly given her first assignment: to lead the Class of 1959’s 50th Reunion Gift Effort. She took to the work effortlessly. Her ability to build relationships and craft thoughtful strategies played a central role in the class’ success — skills she would continue to refine over the next 16 years as she guided every 50th Reunion class. Under her leadership, meaningful gifts fueled the gilman fund, which remains essential to the School’s operating budget.

As AC George, Co-Chair of the Class of 1974 Reunion, recalled, “I had the great benefit of getting to work with Mary Ellen. She was ‘spot on’ with all our efforts, with amazing personal attributes that led to our success: She was experienced, patient, a listener, goal-oriented, flexible, divergent, steady, sharp, and focused. I will always be most thankful for her leadership.”

Over the years, Mary Ellen’s title may have changed, but her mission never wavered. She was a go-to for important funding. When Gilman sought to grow its endowment, Mary Ellen embraced the challenge to establish new named funds, each requiring a minimum investment of $100,000. As the primary point of contact for planned giving, she became a trusted resource for donors making legacy gifts — resulting in a remarkable range of bequests and commitments.

Beyond fundraising, Mary Ellen’s insistence on proper grammar was well-known. Referred to affectionately in the office as “Eagle Eyes,” she served as a key publications proofreader. No misspelled words, errant punctuation marks, or misused Oxford commas escaped her red pen.

It’s hard to imagine the office without Mary Ellen — her steady presence, her sharp insight, her tireless commitment, and above all, her enduring friendship.

And yes — we’ll miss that red pen, too.

Steve Krulevitz HEAD VARSITY TENNIS COACH

15 YEARS AT GILMAN

By Kenan Ulku-Steiner, 2023–2025 Penn Fellow and Assistant Tennis Coach

There is no one quite like Steve “Lightning” Krulevitz. He is, in every sense, a character — eccentric, unpredictable, endlessly quotable, and utterly beloved. He is also synonymous with the unrivaled success of Gilman tennis. Teachers, students, and tennis players alike light up when asked about him, and working alongside him as assistant coach for two years has clarified the reasons for their delight.

In 2010, Steve joined the varsity tennis staff as an assistant coach to then-head coach Jim Busick. Jim and Steve helped Gilman reclaim the MIAA title after a three-year drought, and in 2012, when Jim retired, Steve took over the varsity program. In his 14 seasons as head coach, Steve led Gilman to nine MIAA Championships, winning eight consecutive titles between 2014–2022, with Gilman’s latest MIAA victory coming in 2024

This unparalleled success is no surprise, as his qualifications to be a high school tennis coach are wildly impressive. A Baltimore native, Steve was raised in Park Heights and attended The Park School of Baltimore, where he quietly dominated in three interscholastic sports, becoming tennis singles champion for four consecutive years, leading the basketball team to an undefeated 1969 season, all while reaching all-state accolades in soccer and lacrosse.

He went on to play tennis at UCLA, where he became a PAC 8 champion in 1972, an All-American in 1973, and reached the NCAA National Championship quarterfinals. His 10-year professional career saw him play multiple times in all four majors, rank amongst the top 100 in the world, and compete at No. 1 singles for Israel’s Davis Cup team.

Despite these accomplishments, Steve has chosen to dedicate his life’s work to the next generation of tennis players in Baltimore. As founder and director of the Krulevitz Tennis Program for the last 41 years, Steve has run summer camps and weekend clinics for youth and adults. It is in these environments where Steve shines most. He is playful, competitive, and connective with all of his students, perhaps most notably through his nicknames, a unique expression of connection Steve forges with each of his players.

Despite his own professional success and the winning culture Steve has brought to Gilman, he is most proud of the type of players he has coached throughout his years leading the program: gritty, positive, hard-working, and willing to see beyond themselves in an often solitary sport. Just like the handwritten inspirational quotes that live inside the tennis shed, Steve finds a way to reach his players, bolster them in challenging moments of matches, and celebrate their successes.

I will miss seeing Steve sitting outside the tennis shed, classic rock blaring over the speakers, in a cutoff tee and a backwards hat. The boys will miss his fiery pre-match speeches, his UCLA workouts, and his many stories from the tour. His presence is unlike any other but it is sure to live on through stories and the many championship banners hung proudly on the Gilman courts.

Lightning, thank you for all that you have done. You will be missed.

A Note from Joe Lizana, Athletics Administrative Assistant

While Steve enjoyed a tremendous professional career, he is also an incredible teacher and communicator. Lightning has the ability to enable players to realize their full potential while keeping the work fun and fresh. Steve maintained a fun and lively atmosphere — like with his use of nicknames. Each player and coach who has gone through the program received a nickname (mine was Smokin’ Joe). The players fully embraced this tradition, using the nicknames in practice and in pre-match introductions. Steve also gives nicknames to each camper who enrolls in his summer camp. I am often amazed at Lightning’s ability to recall each player, camper, and coach by his or her individual moniker regardless of the timeline.

Kim Radle

FOURTH GRADE TEACHER

14 YEARS AT GILMAN

By Michelle Turner, Fourth Grade Teacher

It all began in March of 2020. Just a week before the world as we knew it shut down, Kim made a brave and beautiful decision — to return to teaching full time. While so much was uncertain in those early days of the pandemic, one thing became crystal clear: Our school, our students, and our team were about to (re)gain something truly special.

That summer, with masks on the horizon and resilience in our hearts, we set to work. We gathered our laptops, our books, our ideas, and our hopes, and we began building something — not just lessons, not just curriculum — but a bridge back to connection for our boys, who had spent months away from the community that helped shape them. Amid Google Docs, essential questions, and far too much coffee, something even more lasting was born: a friendship.

Little did we know how much we would need each other — not just that year, but in the many that followed. Kim became more than a colleague; she became a cornerstone.

Kim teaches with a fire that comes from deep conviction. Her passion is rooted in a love for learning, a belief in her students, and a deep understanding of what it means to be part of the Gilman community. Over the years, she has consistently put the boys first — focusing not only on what they learn but also who they become.

As one of her former fourth grade students, Dodge R. ’32, put it so perfectly: “She’s immersive. She loves her students and it shows.”

We’ve spent countless hours together developing a curriculum that has both heart and heft — a curriculum that invites students to think deeply, feel fully, and grow meaningfully. Kim has always approached this work with thoughtfulness, creativity, and a neverending pursuit of excellence. Her guiding question has never changed: What is best for the boys?

Kim’s journey at Gilman is one filled with purpose and impact. From her early days as a Gilman parent to her son Teddy ’15, to her legendary status as the most requested substitute, to her time teaching second grade, and, finally, to her role as a fourth grade teacher — she has worn many hats, and worn them all with grace.

But Kim’s magic isn’t just in her teaching — it’s in the way she shows up. For everyone. Whether she’s cheering at a basketball game, attending a Senior Retreat, or having one of those heart-to-hearts that students remember long after they leave our halls, Kim is there. Present. Listening. Caring.

Kim’s former second grade student Tyler Marshall ’25, with whom she recently led a Senior Retreat, shared: “You have taught me so many lessons ever since my time in the Lower School, and I am so grateful to have led my small group at Senior Retreat with you. Your kindness and contagious energy made it so easy for me to have vulnerable conversations with my classmates, and I can’t thank you enough for that.”

As she steps into retirement, Kim leaves behind a legacy of dedication, heart, and love. She leaves behind stronger students, grateful colleagues, and a school that is better because she was part of it.

Kim, thank you — for your wisdom, your warmth, and your friendship. You’ve taught so much more than language arts and social studies. You’ve taught us all what it means to lead with heart.

I will miss you deeply — but I will carry your spirit forward in everything I do.

Founders Day 2025

“An hour and 15 minutes later and a new venue,” began Head of School Henry Smyth on Saturday, June 7, “welcome to the 128th Founders Day at Gilman School.”

What began as a clear day outside the Old Gym — where the event was set to take place — soon took a turn as the skies opened up for the torrential downpour that ensued. The stage was soaked and the programs were drenched but the soon-to-be graduates were inside and dry, and their supportive families — albeit a little wet — were hopeful and up for a challenge. As it always does, the Gilman community came together, cascading inside the Arena, carrying chairs, and readying the new space.

Smyth’s remarks included expressions of pride, excitement, and nostalgia: “You’re an impressive collection of young men,” he said, listing a selection of the class’s many accomplishments. He also focused on wisdom he garnered from a conference he recently attended about educating boys. A panel of several heads of boys’ schools discussed characteristics associated with “a thriving boy.” Smyth honed in on just a few: knowing yourself, staying regulated, showing empathy, reading, living a life of purpose, and above all else, being connected to others.

Class of 2025 valedictorian Jonathan Li took to the podium next, sharing memories made with his classmates on Roland Avenue, reflections of his 13-year journey at Gilman, and insight from Robert Frost’s poem, “The Road Not Taken.” He spoke about his road to becoming the valedictorian, namely being very successful at following a rubric when completing assignments — a task that taught him discipline and structure, he said. The creative writing class he enrolled in senior year offered him a new experience.

“Without any boxes for me to check, I found myself stuck amidst all the uncertainty.”

But bit by bit, he got the hang of the alternative requirements, even finding joy in reading poetry outside of class, which is where he stumbled upon Frost’s work. He reminisced about forks in the road that presented themselves along his educational path and the “razor-thin margins” by which he made some decisions. “Unlike a history paper, life doesn’t have a rubric; there is no getting all the points.” The choices aren’t always clear, and some decisions are made without complete information. However, “that uncertainty isn’t something to fear but something to embrace,” Li said, “because it’s on those unpredictable terms that we find the stories worth telling.” He concluded his speech by reminding his classmates as they go forth in their lives beyond Gilman, “It’s not the path you choose but how you travel that makes all the difference.”

Smyth presented faculty and student awards, followed by a Traveling Men performance of “The Parting Song,” featuring nine seniors. Diplomas were presented by Smyth along with Head of Upper School Brian Ledyard and Board of Trustees

President Andrew M. Brooks ’74, PP. Assistant Head of School for Community, Inclusion, and Equity Michael Molina delivered words of wisdom followed by the benediction.

And then, as has become custom in recent years, the new graduates, with creative and coordinated expressions of celebration — including a leapfrog, a piggyback, and a backflip — made their walk down the aisle and exited the Arena.

Congratulations to the Class of 2025!

The Ties That Bind Us

Fifty-five Gilman alumni representing multiple decades hand-delivered graduation ties to the homes of 120 members of the Class of 2025 on June 4. These face-to-face, surprise visits — a result of the pandemic — have become some of the most widely enjoyed alumni traditions.

Perhaps most special about this year’s deliveries were the thoughtful pairings of alumni with their senior recipients. Whether the match was based on a connection by blood (fathers, sons, brothers, uncles, nephews, and cousins) or by college choice, most of the day’s presentations involved a knock on the door from a familiar face. The fun began early for many volunteers, but none as early as James Edwards ’91, who, after picking up a tie on campus at 7 a.m. sharp, made a special breakfast presentation to his son, Michael. Shortly thereafter, Brian Cootauco ’92 surprised his son, Nate, while Alex Lawson ’19 presented his brother, Nicky, with the ceremonial neckwear. And Charlie Edwards ’20 followed suit with a morning delivery to his little brother Timmy — also Michael’s cousin!

After a daybreak swim (he is preparing for an upcoming triathlon), Dr. Jeremy Pollock ’03 presented a tie to Julian Jennings — also an avid swimmer. Julian was a standout of the Greyhound swim team.

Dr. Ben DuBois ’71, like Jeremy, a cardiologist, had a busy schedule that day, calling for extra coordination so that he could surprise Peter Eiswert at dinner time. Ben showed up proudly sporting a Washington University (in St. Louis) T-shirt, the school to which Peter is heading this fall.

College choice was a common denominator for delivery-recipient pairings, yielding a wealth of idea-sharing and guidance. Alumni in this category included Thomas Lee ’24, Justin Bonner ’23, Kaikai Du ’23, Ben Weinfeld ’23, and Adam Smith ’20. Brandon Croxton ’96, now president of the Alumni Association Board of Governors (AABOG), was thrilled to deliver a tie to Cam Brown, who, like Brandon once did, will play football at Howard University. Brandon shared, “I was over there for 30 minutes talking about his journey and my experiences. It was really special for both of us.”

Several Class of 2025 alumni fathers made deliveries to their sons and their friends. Will Zerhouni ’94, immediate past AABOG president, delivered a tie to his son, Gabe, and to Brian Checkley, whom he hosted for Senior Encounter (and whom he’ll watch follow in his footsteps to Harvard). Don Schline ’91 got to present his son, Harrison, with a tie, then proceeded to do likewise with Harrison’s future University of North Carolina classmate, Matt Feola (Don is a Tarheel, too!). Don’s classmate, Donell Thompson ’91, sought out

three of his son Ellis’ classmates. And Doug Schmidt ’85 did the same for his son, Bennett. Cheo Hurley ’92 surprised his son, Chase, and four of Chase’s buddies.

Other special deliveries were kept “all in the family,” including father-to-son presentations by Alan Cranston ’92 to his boy, Will, and by Packer Rodgers ’96 to his Greyhound, Jay. And in the role of uncle, Curtis Campbell ’89 proudly and dutifully surprise-visited his nephew, Brennan DiGiovanni.

Two Greyhounds presented ties to next-door neighbors: Dr. Jordan Angell ’97 to Connor Frank, and Michael Brennan ’92 to Ben Schatz. Jordan and Michael had the shortest commute. What was the longest? That’s a tie between several dedicated and determined alums.

• Nathaniel Badder ’94 to Bel Air for two deliveries and to Westminster for two more!

• Matt Tucker ’93, a past AABOG president, to Dayton in Howard County — 40 miles from Gilman!

• LJ Shapiro ’16, to the sum of 86 miles for five deliveries across the metro area!

Other noteworthy shoutouts:

• Most Senior Volunteer: Tom Beck ’64

• Youngest Volunteer: Bobby DeWeese, 11 months old, who joined dad Alex DeWeese ’11 for a delivery to advisee, Mason Van Dyke

• Most Alumni Involved in a Delivery: Three! Clinton Daly ’74 and Doug Nelson ’74, fathers-in-law by marriage, joined friend Andy Brooks ’74, for the presentation to Andy’s son, Bohlen.

• Most Ties Presented by a Volunteer: Six, by Jeff Gouline ’00

• Most Well-Represented Class: The Class of 2023, with six drivers

• Gilman Faculty and Staff Volunteers: 17

• Alumni Relative Volunteers: 18

When all was said and done, Gilman alumni visited six Maryland counties and entered 43 ZIP codes. Thanks to everyone who helped carry on this beloved tradition; the Class of 2025 was well-equipped for Baccalaureate and Founders Day while receiving a warm welcome to the alumni brotherhood.

Congratulations!

H. FURLONG BALDWIN ’50 1932–2024

H. Furlong Baldwin ’ 50 passed away on December 7, 2024.

He is survived by his companion of 37 years, Louise Hayman; his son, Severn Eyre Baldwin; his daughter, Mary “Molly” Baldwin; and his granddaughter.

Mr. Baldwin, known as “Baldy,” graduated from Princeton University, where he was an All-American lacrosse player. He also competed on the Mount Washington Lacrosse Club’s team. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, he took a job counting checks in the proof and collections department at Mercantile-Safe Deposit and Trust Co. in July 1956. Of this first banking job, Mr. Baldwin shared with The Baltimore Sun, “I really didn’t have a clue what a bank did. I didn’t know what a debit and credit meant. I knew I had to get a job.”

Mr. Baldwin became a director of Mercantile-Safe just 12 years later in 1968 and, at age 38, was named president of the bank. He was later president and chief executive of the parent company, Mercantile Bankshares Corp. He was also chairman and chief executive officer of the lead bank. Mr. Baldwin immediately put his stamp on the bank, expanding its considerable trust department into commercial lending. His disciplined and cautious management of the bank over the years kept it steady and independent. “He was a business icon, a superlative leader, and a civic treasure,” said Robert R. Neall, former Anne Arundel County Executive.

On weekends, Mr. Baldwin often traveled to his family’s estate, Eyre Hall, in Cheriton, Virginia, where he hunted geese and sailed. He was a past chair of Johns Hopkins Medicine’s Board of Trustees and sat on the boards of the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, George Washington’s Mount Vernon, and Stratford Hall.

Mr. Baldwin supported many Baltimore institutions, including Gilman, during his lifetime. His daughter Molly said, “My father was a generous man. He believed that to whom much is given, much is expected.”

EDWARD W. “EDDIE” BROWN, JR. ’57 1939–2024

Edward W. “Eddie” Brown, Jr. ’57, proud Gilman son, father, and grandfather; beloved, longtime Upper School mathematics teacher; memorable football and wrestling coach; dedicated Gilman volunteer and Trustee; and treasured classmate, mentor, and friend, passed away on November 13, 2024

Mr. Brown’s family ties to Gilman began with his father, Edward W. Brown, Sr., for whom today’s turf football field in Sotir Stadium is named. Following in his father’s footsteps, Mr. Brown began his own Gilman journey in First Form (now seventh grade) in 1951, quickly becoming the epitome of a “Gilman man.” At one time or another, he was vice president of the Christian Association, co-managing editor of Cynosure, a member of the Dance Committee and Student Council, and a noteworthy contributor on the varsity football, wrestling, and lacrosse teams.

After graduating from Princeton University, Mr. Brown returned to his alma mater to teach briefly from 1961–1962 before taking on a more permanent position among his fellow Greyhounds in 1964. He remained an admired — by both his colleagues and his students (many of whom shared quotes about memorable moments

in his classroom or on the wrestling mat) — member of the Math Department faculty until his retirement from teaching in 1980

Mr. Brown elegantly split his time among the classroom, the football field, the wrestling room, and, eventually, the boardroom. (He was a member of the Gilman Board of Trustees from 1983–1987.) He was influential as a football coach for JV (1964–1969) and as an assistant varsity coach to head coaches Nick Schloeder and Alex Sotir in the 1970s, but his greatest Gilman legacy is perhaps among the wrestling Hounds.

In his tenure as coach — one that began in 1965 as an assistant and carried on nearly a decade in the head spot — Mr. Brown led a team of incredible athletes who won the MSA Tournament five years in a row and two, back-to-back Dual-Meet Championships.

Mr. Brown’s family ties to Gilman deepened when his sister, Jean, married the revered Redmond C. S. Finney ’47. His own marriage to Joyce S. Brown brought forth two additional generations of Greyhounds. His son, Edward W. “Teddy” Brown III graduated from Gilman in 1984, and his grandson, Cole S. Brown, graduated in 2018 Like Mr. Brown, Teddy and Cole spent many winters on the mat as Greyhound grapplers.

In addition to his wife and his Gilman son and grandson, Mr. Brown is survived by his daughter, Wendy Brooks, and three granddaughters, as well as by many beloved family members, former students and colleagues, and friends. He will be remembered for his incalculable contributions to the School and for enriching the lives of all who knew him.

DR. EARL P. GALLEHER, JR. ’44 1936–2024

Dr. Earl P. Galleher, Jr. ’44, father of Watson W. “Watty” Galleher ’75, Earl P. “Ace” Galleher, III ’78, and the late Henry C. Galleher ’81, passed away on December 7, 2024

In addition to Watty and Ace, he is survived by a daughter, Marion Gaither “Gai” Galleher Kyhos; his brother-in-law, Henry Wheelwright ’60; eight grandchildren; and five greatgrandchildren. In addition to his son, Henry, and a sister, Virginia G. Herrmann — whose sons R. Leith Herrmann ’64 and D. Wesley Herrmann ’69 are also Gilman alumni — Dr. Galleher was recently predeceased by his wife of 70 years, Martha “Birdie” Galleher, the two passing away just days apart.

Dr. Galleher graduated from Princeton University. In 1944, he temporarily left Princeton to join the U.S. Navy as a medical corpsman. After the war, he graduated from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Dr. Galleher and Mrs. Galleher began dating

after he asked her to dance at the Alcazar Ballroom on Cathedral Street. They were married in the Church of the Redeemer in 1954 before relocating to Durham, North Carolina, while Dr. Galleher was in residency at Duke University Hospital. He later served as a urologist at the University of Maryland Medical Center, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Union Memorial Hospital, St. Joseph Medical Center, and Mercy Medical Center. Mr. Galleher participated in the first kidney transplant at the University of Maryland, where he also taught and mentored students, interns, and residents.

Dr. Galleher was a former Gilman Trustee and served on the board at Mercy Medical Center. He was also involved in committees and alumni activities at Johns Hopkins University and Duke University. Dr. Galleher was the president of the Maryland Club from 2004 to 2008. He and Mrs. Galleher were longtime members of the Elkridge Club and avid tennis players. According to their son Watty, the two also “shared a love of travel and spent years at a retreat house they designed and built in Henlopen Acres at Rehoboth Beach.”

Fellow Gilman alumnus and longtime friend Truman T. Semans ’ 45 remembered the Gallehers as “one of Baltimore’s most lovable couples, devoted to each other, loved by their friends, dedicated to charitable causes, and always the life of every party.”

JOHN A. GETTIER ’52 1934–2025

Alumnus and former Gilman faculty member Dr. John A. Gettier ’52 passed away on February 26, 2025

Mr. Gettier, affectionately referred to as “Johnny” by his peers, entered Gilman in 1947. He was Student Council President in 1951–1952, as well as Sixth Form President. Mr. Gettier was artistically involved in the School as a member of Glee Club, Octet, and the Dramatic Association. He was also a three-sport varsity athlete, competing as a member of the wrestling (1949–1952), football (1951), and baseball (1950) teams. He was president of the Areopagus Debating Club in his senior year. Mr. Gettier was the Fisher Medallion recipient in 1952.

Mr. Gettier earned a B.A. from Wesleyan University in 1956 and a B.D. from Yale University in 1961. Though he was without any teaching experience upon graduation, Henry Callard, Gilman’s eighth headmaster, hired Mr. Gettier to join the Lower School faculty. After spending a few years at Gilman, Mr. Gettier started studying at Union Theological Seminary (UTS).

He then began a 35-year career at Trinity College. He was first an instructor in religion, a position he held until 1971 when he finished a Th.D. from UTS and was soon after named assistant professor of religion with tenure. He was promoted to associate professor

in 1973. Upon his retirement in 2001, he was named professor of religion, emeritus. He returned at least twice after retiring to teach in place of faculty members on leave. While at Trinity, Mr. Gettier taught courses on biblical literature, specializing in apocalypticism, ancient Near Eastern mythology, Hebrew narrative, and Hebrew language. He also taught in the Guided Studies Program (now the Humanities Gateway Program). Beyond the classroom, Mr. Gettier served as department chair, coordinator of the mythology interdisciplinary minor, and member of the Individualized Degree Program coordinating committee. He was also a faculty secretary for two academic years in the late 1980s.

Trinity College’s John Andrew Gettier Prize in Hebrew Bible, established in 2001, is awarded each year to an undergraduate who demonstrates significant academic and personal growth as a student of the Hebrew Bible. Leslie Desmangles, professor of religious studies and international studies, emeritus at Trinity shared, “We remember him as one of the very best teachers at Trinity and one who sent the most number of students to graduate schools in his field.”

Mr. Gettier was a loyal Gilman donor. He and other members of his class established the Class of 1952 Drama Prize. A book award, the prize has been awarded to a student who has shown exceptional interest and aptitude in dramatics during his school career since 1953

More recently, Mr. Gettier’s wife, Dorothy Gettier — a former Gilman Lower School teacher — established the John A. Gettier Scholarship Fund with a trust out of appreciation for the rich education experience her husband was provided at Gilman and the values the School upholds. The fund will provide scholarships to students who demonstrate financial need, academic achievement, and intellectual promise.

ROBERT H. “BOB” SWINDELL, JR. ’51 1933–2024

Mr. Robert H. “Bob” Swindell, Jr. ’51, passed away on August 4, 2024. Mr. Swindell was father to four Gilman graduates, Robert H. “Bobby” Swindell III ’78, Charles T. “Terry” Swindell ’81, D. Cotton Swindell ’81, and James P. “Jim” Swindell ’84, and grandfather to three, Theodore Evan Swindell ’ 14, Mason W. Swindell ’18, and James D. “Jimmy” Swindell ’18.

In addition to his Gilman sons and grandsons, he is survived by 12 other grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife of 64 years, Nancy Cotton Swindell, and by his brother Thomas P. Swindell ’55 and sister Sally Swindell Rinehart.

Mr. Swindell graduated in 1955 from the University of Virginia, where he played on the lacrosse team and was a member of St. Elmo’s fraternity. After graduating, Bob joined the U.S. Navy and

attended Officers school in Newport, Rhode Island. He spent three years aboard the USS Wren and was discharged in 1958 with the rank of lieutenant. Bob then joined Barton Cotton, where he was a sales executive until his retirement.

Mr. Swindell loved sports and followed all of his children’s and grandchildren’s athletic events, even being able to quote their statistics and offer advice on how to improve their game. He was a longtime supporter of the Virginia Athletic Foundation and a fan of all UVA sports.

Mr. Swindell played golf his entire life at Elkridge Club and Wawenock Country Club in Walpole, Maine, and traveled the world to play with Nancy, friends, and the Niblicks Group. He served as president of the Maryland State Golf Association in 1974 and the Middle Atlantic Golf Association in 1992, where he continued as secretary and treasurer until 2003. Bob was also the founder and commissioner of the Cottesbrook Cup for almost 50 years.

Mr. Swindell was an active bridge and gin player and enjoyed his tri-weekly games for the last 10 years with his friends at Elkridge and Blakehurst. He was an expert in trivia and never missed the daily crossword puzzle published in The Baltimore Sun. His loyalty to friends and family will always be remembered.

GEORGE THOMSEN ’48 1930–2024

George E. Thomsen ’48, a six-year Gilman man, former Board of Trustees president and Lifetime Trustee, and prominent Baltimore-based attorney, passed away on August 26, 2024, at the age of 93. He and his wife, Mary Ellen Thomsen, were proud parents to Roszel C. “Roz” Thomsen II ’76, Stewart G. Thomsen ’ 79, and Laurence W. “Lee” Thomsen ’85, and grandparents to Philip G. Thomsen ’ 15

Mr. Thomsen enrolled in Gilman’s Upper School in 1942 for First Form (now seventh grade). He immediately became involved in school life, playing that first year on the School’s little league football team. By Third Form, Mr. Thomsen became a member of the football big leagues, serving as the blue team’s captain in Fourth Form. He was also a three-time member of the varsity tennis team. As creative as he was athletic, Mr. Thomsen was a member of the Glee Club, participating in the annual Christmas carols and in the spring concert in collaboration with Bryn Mawr and Roland Park Country School, and the Literary Club, an organization whose purpose was to develop writing ability and to stimulate interest in literature. He also worked on The Gilman News and Cynosure, serving as editor-in-chief of the former and managing editor of the latter during his senior year.

Described in his formal obituary as being “measured in speech and a keen listener,” Mr. Thomsen may have initially acquired these skills as a member of one of Gilman’s Upper School debate clubs, the PNYX. He was the group’s president in 1947–1948 and was awarded the John M. T. Finney Debating Prize and the Debating Cup in 1947.

Mr. Thomsen graduated in 1952 from Harvard College, where he sang in the Harvard Glee Club and was an Air Force ROTC cadet. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force and assigned to Kunsan Air Base in South Korea during the Korean War. He then received his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1957 He met the love of his life, Mary Ellen Reinhart, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1955. They married in 1957, settling in Baltimore. Mr. Thomsen was a trusts and estates attorney with Thomsen and Burke and served on several boards.

Mr. Thomsen joined the Gilman Board of Trustees in July 1970, beginning a nearly 55-year membership that involved service on the Executive Committee as treasurer and Board president (1985–1990). He graciously accepted the appointment of Lifetime Trustee in July 1990. His tenure as a Lifetime Trustee included roles on several campaign committees, as well as membership on the Board-level Audit and Human Resources Committees.

Mr. Thomsen’s contributions to Gilman are immeasurable, and his legacy is everlasting. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him. In addition to his sons and Gilman grandson, Mr. Thomsen is survived by six other grandchildren: Meghan Thomsen, Caroline Thomsen, Sarah Thomsen, John Thomsen, Abigail Thomsen, and Stevie Thomsen. He was predeceased by his wife and his sisters, Grace Thomsen Babcock and Margaret Thomsen Moler.

In Memoriam

We remember those who have died recently. May they rest in peace.

Mr. Morton Y. Bullock III

Mr. Robert H. Swindell, Jr.

Dr. Earl P. Galleher, Jr.

1947

Mr. Richard B. C. Tucker, Sr.

Mr. H. S. Taylor White III

1948

Mr. Thomas T. Fenton

Mr. George E. Thomsen

Mr. Gough W. Thompson, Jr.

1949

Mr. Perry J. Bolton

1950

Mr. David H. Griswold

Mr. Frederick W. Whitridge

Mr. H. Furlong Baldwin

Mr. Nicholas D. D. Pryor

Dr. John A. Gettier

Mr. Pierre Bouscaren

Mr. Anthony M. Carey III 1954

Mr. Janon Fisher III

1955

Mr. Michael L. Girard

Mr. James S. Kennan

Mr. Charles W. Cole, Jr.

1957

Dr. Bruce A. Brian

Mr. Edward W. Brown, Jr.

Mr. John H. Lewin

Mr. C. Patrick Mundy, Jr.

Deaths reported to Gilman between June 1, 2024, and May 31, 2025

Mr. M. Elliott Randolph, Jr.

Mr. W. Taylor Brown

Dr. Scott L. Faulkner

Mr. J. Ritchie Solter

Mr. Alexander G. Yearley

1966

Mr. Robert H. Johnson

Mr. Joseph M. Millstone

Mr. David P. Harriman

1968

Mr. David H. Schweizer

1970

Mr. Daniel G. Finney

1971

Dr. J. Crossan O’Donovan 1960

Dr. Michael P. Koger

1972

Mr. W. Wickes Brewster, Jr.

1973

Mr. Stephen M. Green

1977

Dr. Francis T. Daly, Jr.

1995

Mr. Cooper G. Savage 2010

Mr. Mason Louis Perler 2012

Mr. Kenneth Jerome Goins, Jr.

2030

Mr. Amir Abou

FACULTY/STAFF

Mr. Robert D. Bulkeley

Class Notes

Notes on the following pages were submitted by Gilman alumni, mostly in the spring of 2025. Some have been edited for space. Please read the most up-to-date notes and submit yours at gilman.edu/classnotes.

The classes listed below are looking for volunteers to serve as class secretaries. If you are interested, please contact Director of Alumni Relations Andrew Robinson at arobinson@gilman.edu. 1980 | 1984 | 1986 | 1995 | 1996 | 2009 | 2015 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024

The classes listed below did not submit notes this year. If you would like to submit a note for inclusion in next year’s Bulletin, please complete the form at gilman.edu/classnotes at your convenience or respond to your class secretary’s call for notes in the spring. The names and email addresses for these secretaries are listed below.

1950: Haswell Franklin | haswell@franklin-group.com

1951: Bob Swindell | bbncc444@gmail.com

1952: Bruce Follmer | bf0629@gmail.com

1953: Pierre Bouscaren | pierreb225@gmail.com

1967: Key Kidder | keykidder@gmail.com

1973: Steve Parker | stevenhparker@msn.com

1977: Hap Cooper | hap@prospectsc.com

1978: Charlie Herndon | caherndon3@gmail.com

1989: Winston Rigsby | winstonrigsby@yahoo.com

1992: Marc Lewis-DeGrace | marc.lewisdegrace@gmail.com

1993: Matt Tucker | matthewallentucker@gmail.com

1997: Will Lanahan | wlanahan@gmail.com

1999: Bill Miller IV | bmilleriv@gmail.com

2000: Charlie Ring | charlie.ring@gmail.com

2001: Kharod France | kharod.france@gmail.com

1954

David Woods dfwoods@comcast.net

The Gilman Class of 1954 had so many graduates who accomplished truly significant and meaningful things in their lives, it is risky and unfair to many to single out five of particular interest. They are, in alphabetical order: Our secretary from June 1954 until he passed away in April 2018: Ralph DeGroff. After Princeton and the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, “Tiggie” had a highly successful career on Wall Street first as a partner in the investment banking firm of Dillon Read and then as managing director of

2002: Chris Atkins | catkins135@yahoo.com

2004: Alex Cole | alexander.w.cole@gmail.com

2005: Tyler Hoffberger | wthoffberger@gmail.com

2007: Whit Johnson | wwj6s@virginia.edu

2009: Eli Kahn | ebkahn25@gmail.com

2011: Austin Dase | ahdase@gmail.com

2012: Evan King | eking110@vt.edu

2013: Quinn Flaks | quflaks@gmail.com

2016: Peter Kohler | pkohler10@gmail.com

2017: Lucas Randrianarivelo | lucasrandrianarivelo@gmail.com

2018: Piper Bond | piperbond007@gmail.com

2019: Ben Levinson | ben@charmcityrun.com

-or- Noah Seth | noah.m.seth@gmail.com

2021: Arvin Elangovan | arfthegreat21@gmail.com

Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette. Proud of his Dutch heritage, he was very active in the Holland Society of New York, which dedicated a volume in its series on Dutch history in America to him. Maintaining two homes, one in New York and the other in Baltimore, he was very generous to many causes in both places, including major gifts to Gilman over the decades.

Bob Greenhill: Yale and Harvard Business School graduate who started his career at Morgan Stanley where he developed and greatly expanded the first of its kind merger and acquisitions department on Wall Street. After a number of years as Chairman and CEO of Smith Barney he left to found his own investment banking firm, Greenhill and Company,

now a worldwide enterprise owned by a Japanese company. Very philanthropic, among their many gifts to different organizations, Bob and his now deceased wife, Gail, made a $2 million gift to Gilman in honor and memory of Ruth Williams, a longtime and beloved math teacher and friend of many of us since our Gilman days.

Roger Howell: My friend from the seventh age (first grade) at Calvert School was a graduate of Bowdoin College and a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford’s prestigious St. John’s College with a Ph.D. in English history. He returned to Bowdoin as an assistant professor, eventually becoming president, a position he held for 21 years until his untimely death in 1989 at age

53. He greatly expanded the course offerings at Bowdoin and authored four widely acclaimed books on Elizabethan England.

Remak Ramsay entered Princeton intending, according to his friend Gary Carr, to be an architect, but after graduation headed for the footlights instead where, according to Wikipedia, he had a multi-faceted career in 29 plays on and around Broadway including “On the Town,” “All’s Well That Ends Well,” “The Devil’s Disciple,” and “The Heiress” among some of the titles I recognize. But not satisfied with live theater, he added several movies and TV shows. And who can forget his Noxzema shaving cream commercial? Along the way he amassed a large art collection, including many Maine seacoast artists like Andrew and Jamie Wyeth.

John Sawhill had a multi-faceted career. Following Gilman, Princeton, and Harvard Business School, he earned a Ph.D. in economics at New York University where he became a professor of economics. Following a stint as a partner at McKenzie and Company he served as Federal Energy Administrator in the Ford administration along with a number of other government jobs. He went back to academia as a lecturer at Harvard, a post he long retained as an adjunct in the Business School. He served as president of NYU for several years before leaving to become CEO of the Nature Conservancy. This latter job, he confessed to me once, was the best job he ever had. He said, “I get to go to beautiful places, help save them, and get paid to do it.” One day my wife and I came across a big sign on the top of Adam’s Peak outside of Palm Springs, California. It said, “A society is defined not only by what it creates, but by what it preserves.” It was signed, “John C. Sawhill, President, The Nature Conservancy.” A diabetic, John, too, died too young at 63

In the current events category, I caught Gary Carr just as he was returning from Home Depot with a car trunk full of 4x8 pavers that were such a bargain he “couldn’t resist.” Imagine a man his age carrying four at a time! His major project, at his kids’ behest, is to get rid of “stuff” that he may treasure, but

they would only throw away. A request I’m sure many of us have faced. Gary’s many years of experience at the Rouse Company continue to benefit the city of Lewes, Delaware, where he continues to serve on boards that guide the city.

I spoke with Larry Wagner who lives in a very nice assisted living condo in Homestead, Florida, with DeeDee, his wife of more than 65 years. I speak with him three or four times a year and have marveled at his good cheer and determination as he continues to do more and more. He reports that he and DeeDee miss their many years on Marathon Key and his boat and fishing, but are very happy in their current place. Their three children, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren keep them busy and interested.

I connected with Dave Andrew at what sounded in the background like a wonderful lunch with children and grandchildren on a lovely Hawaiian day. Dave described to me their recent flight to Tahiti with son and daughter where they boarded a ship bound for the South Seas and specifically Fiji, a “beautiful place.” For Dave and Bonnie it is all about family.

Carlton Seitz still lives in the house in Towson that has been in his family since the mid-1940s. It is a “big house” surrounded by the largest lawn in the area and Carlton’s gardens, which he tends with love and satisfaction. He told me, “No one in this family, including me, ever threw anything away.” Like Gary, he too spoke of the push from the next couple of generations to “Get rid of this stuff!” My nephew by marriage, Ned Gans, an antique dealer, reported that the house is three floors of real “treasures.”

David Woods: As for me, I still live in what Evie, my late wife of 62 years, called our one-story “wheelchair house.” Fortunately I don’t yet need such locomotion. Our son and three daughters dote on me — and I happily let them. With a lineup of pill bottles, no more golf, a daily walk, a fairly wide group of friends, weekly Zoom calls and discussion groups, along with a number of volunteer activities and a little of my insurance business thrown

in, I look forward to and say a prayer of thanks for each new day.

1955

Theodore McKeldin trmjr@mckeldin.com

At our annual Gilman Forever luncheon, George Hess received the Evans Memorial Alumni Spirit Award, which was well deserved. Unrelated, he told me he and his two sons took a great cruise to Antarctica, which they really enjoyed. Dennis Rawlins is working on a new book about surprises and limericks. He has also made some new discoveries about a pre-Columbus attempt to cross the Atlantic. Wickie and Mac Plant are very happy at Blakehurst, and both make literary contributions to the Blakehurst Banner. Otts Grotz and Sue are in Howard County and enjoy sailing out of Gibson Island. Both were at the reunion dinner along with the Plants, Hope and Bill Carroll, George Hess and Betsy, Otts and Sue, and Courtney and me. Sue and Pete Powell were in Massachusetts attending their son’s receipt of his Ph.D. Frank Bonsal and Bev Compton also attended the Forever Luncheon and are well. Courtney and I are also well. Our grandson graduates from the Smith School of Business at Maryland this spring and fortunately has a job. I wish you all good health!

1956

Mert Fowlkes fmfowlkes@aol.com

Greetings, once again! I am pleased to report that all of the respondents this year are doing well, and, as we get closer to age 90, that is more and more a cause for celebration!

Sadly, we lost Graham Slaughter in May 2024 after an extended illness. He was a noted neurosurgeon living in Woolford, Maryland, on the Eastern Shore, where he had really enjoyed a rural lifestyle in retirement. His photography hobby served him well for many years.

Once again, Bentley Offutt and Dave Sowell hosted a very enjoyable luncheon

at the Elkridge Club in November, and nine of us were their guests: Phil Briscoe, Guy Dove, Dave Eaton, Mert Fowlkes, Fred Neesemann, Gordon Rupp, Howard Stick, St. Clair Sullivan, and Pete Thomas

Fritz Baukhages continues to split his time between his home in Luray, Virginia, and Southern Pines, North Carolina. He has recently been blessed with a fourth great-grandchild in his family.

Dick Biggs says, “still functioning at slightly reduced levels of speed and power…” His granddaughter is getting married in January 2026 at age 30, and he reflected on the fact that all of his children had been born when his wife, Anne, was 27. He said, “Different world, I guess!”

Guy Dove stays active splitting his time between his home in Middleburg, Virginia, and Vero Beach, Florida. He continues to have an interest in a few steeplechase horses, and looks forward to the racing season each year.

George Dowell continues working three days a week as a psychiatrist in St. Louis, and proudly has 16 grandchildren scattered from Los Angeles to Glasgow, Scotland. He recently welcomed his eighth great-grandchild. He adds, “Jacki and I are still alive and enjoying living in our home, enjoying feeding birds, time at our cabin in the country, eating good food…”

Sandy Dugan reports from Wrenshall, Minnesota, where he claims “Northland Citizenship,” after living in the state for more than 13 years. He is fortunate to have two daughters nearby, one of whom lives on a farm and has two sons, so Sandy volunteers on the farm occasionally. He has experienced many weather extremes recently, ranging from a record snowfall to no snow one year, and then a lot of rain followed by a drought, and a low temperature of -31°F once, and -20°F several times. He says, “Best wishes to classmates.”

Cooper Graham has resumed his piano playing (“semi-seriously again”), and has also resumed his French studies, which he thinks would make Mr. O’Brien roll over in his grave! His two children are doing well in Asheville, North Carolina, and Warwickshire, U.K., while he and

wife Pat continue in Baltimore. She is his piano teacher.

Leland James reports that he has no milestone news, but is happy to be one year older, in spite of “a few more aches, pains, and mobility problems.”

Julian Jones stays active in Baltimore, and continues to travel, most recently to Vienna, Austria, where he had lived more than 60 years earlier as a Fulbright Scholar. He added, “As a one-time faculty member in University of Maryland’s overseas programs on military bases, I’m helping a group of retired Marylanders put together a history of these programs in Europe and Asia.” He marveled that it has been almost 70 years since our Gilman graduation!

Ralph (Merrill) Lincoln has slowed down in New Castle, New Hampshire, and has stopped driving, although he still enjoys power boating on the Bear River. After 36 years of sailing on Nantucket Sound, he sold his Wianno Senior sloop in December 2023

Fred Neesemann reports that he is living in a retirement community in Jacksonville, Florida, trying to stay active. He is flipping houses to keep occupied. He travels frequently to keep up with children and grandchildren, including a son in Baltimore.

Ron Nelson says it’s great to have both of his children nearby in Fort Myers, Florida, and that Florida weather “is great for the soul!” He’s dealing with some health issues, but is “still kicking!”

Nick Penniman and his wife, Linda, have recently moved into a continuing care community in Naples, Florida, and he extends “warm wishes to all ’56ers who are still vertical.” He stays active as board chair of the Florida Center for Government Accountability, and he is also lead director of a New York-based company called NewsGuard Technologies, that identifies disinformation and false postings by Russia, China, and Iran. “All is good,” he says.

Sam Smith reports from his condominium in Lutherville-Timonium that he enjoys socializing in a men’s group wherein there is a lot of reminiscing

and discussing of current events, but “never political exchanges.” He had a hip replacement recently, and is considering a geriatric sports endeavor beyond PT.

Lamont (Pete) Thomas writes from Milford, Connecticut, that he has enjoyed teaching Qigong for many years, and he also taught history at the University of Bridgeport for 15 years. He is currently working on a book that is a biography of Paul Cuffe, an African American merchant, entrepreneur, and abolitionist, who died in 1817. Pete says, “I am doing so to keep my brain partially functional.”

Charlie Webb and his wife experienced an unforgettable round-the-world cruise lasting five months, from January to June. They were even exposed to international terrorism as their originally planned passage through the Red Sea was disrupted by Houthi rockets, so they missed traveling through the Mediterranean Sea. New Zealand was the favorite country that he visited. He is happily settled in Charleston, South Carolina.

And rounding out the Class Notes alphabetically, Bill Zeeveld reports from Hendersonville, North Carolina, that he is doing well, and “even though my area suffered the full devastating effects of Hurricane Helene, I survived unscathed. My generator, powered by underground natural gas, ran 24/7 for 15 days. I was able to furnish power to two neighbors and continue my little business.”

Dick Biggs, Dave Eaton, Howard Stick, and I enjoyed a Calvert School reunion in April — 75 years after our graduation! It was a great time for reminiscing.

Many thanks to all of the respondents this year! I hope to hear from all of you again next year, plus a few others perhaps. We celebrate our 70th reunion next year.

1957

Frank Gluck gluck.frank@gmail.com

I’m sad to report that our class lost three prominent members over the past year, Eddie Brown, Bruce Brian, and Crossan O’Donovan.

Eddie’s contributions to the School as a student, faculty member, and coach are legendary and speak for themselves. He personified the Gilman spirit. He certainly should be proud of Gilman’s wrestling accomplishments over the past few years. I had always considered him a great friend.

Bruce was one of few people to letter in four sports at Gilman: football, basketball, lacrosse, and tennis. We also became classmates at Williams and did part of our residency training in internal medicine at Vanderbilt. This led to an accomplished career in pulmonary medicine in Colorado. In our conversations about the schools we attended, Bruce always maintained that his time at Gilman was the most memorable and most influential in his development.

Crossan and I were friends since our days at Calvert. We shared an apartment our last two years as medical students at Hopkins, and he was a groomsman in my wedding. We had continued to correspond through the years and experience the hits and lows of the Orioles long distance. The service that the pediatric clinic he started in Dundalk and the honors he received speak for themselves. Not bad for one of the most laid back individuals I ever knew.

I’m also sad to report that Pat Mundy passed away on December 24 in Spruce Head, Maine. He and his wife had lived there for the past several years. He received special recognition for his efforts in teaching American history to inmates of the Maine State Prison. Pat was always a class favorite, both at Gilman and Calvert, where he became our first “ladies man.” I suspect that there will be a lot of black armbands worn by the ladies who knew him back then.

I’m sad to report the loss of another class favorite, John (aka John Henry) Lewin John passed away at his home in Bethany Beach in mid-June after a lengthy illness. He should be remembered as our class comedian, and thespian with an incredible flair for the dramatic. No wonder that he’d become an accomplished trial lawyer in Baltimore. John was one of our class’s most energetic and effective alumnus. He was instrumental in

organizing alumni reunions, and he and Tolly would often host events at their home. Most important, his enthusiasm for his alma mater was infectious and likely stimulated all of us to participate in reunions. On a personal level, John provided invaluable support to me when I assumed the role of class secretary, and our already warm friendship continued to grow as we shared stories about families, dogs,travel, and cherished memories. Take a bow, John! A life well lived!

Millard Firebaugh, our class valedictorian and retired Rear Admiral, continues to thrive, spending winters in Naples, Florida, with wife Barbara and savoring the accomplishments of children “as they carry on positively in our complex world. Couldn’t ask for more.”

Sam Hopkins continues to thrive, enjoying good health and celebrating his and Genya’s 60th wedding anniversary this past June. They still play tennis! He remains active in events at the 14 West Hamilton Street Club, which is now 100 years old. He would love to have any present or past Gilmanite join him as his guest at one of the club’s events.

I recently had a nice conversation with John (Luke) Breckenridge. Luke was our classmate at Gilman for only two years, but many of us knew him at Calvert, and we got to become good friends while we were medical students at Hopkins and internal medicine trainees at Vanderbilt. He subsequently became a cardiologist in the Denver, Colorado, area, where he still lives. Although we had not communicated for over 50 years, it felt that it was just like yesterday. I think that’s a sign of a good friendship. Another classmate, Tommy Garrett, hopes to see Luke when he visits the Denver area in the near future.

Gus Lewis and spouse continue to enjoy good health. They are living at Roland Park Place and feel very grateful that they can still enjoy all the amenities and camaraderie that the facility provides.

Frank Gluck: The most prominent event in my life the past year occurred in the early fall, when I had a combined aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass. The valve replacement was done

via a vascular catheter, and the bypass was done robotically. Neither procedure was available when I retired from practice in 2010. I was able to leave the hospital in a week, and these new techniques avoided a painful sternotomy and having cardiopulmonary bypass. It really enabled me to appreciate firsthand how the technological advances in medicine can prolong useful life. The only downside in recovery was having to watch the Orioles drop two in a row to Kansas City while I was in the intensive care unit. Otherwise, I’m doing better and am very grateful.

1958

George Michaels georgemichaels611@gmail.com

Randy Barker: Marie Claire and I live in Baltimore, where we hoof it around the lakes in Homeland most days, meeting strangers who become friends, mostly because of their dogs. We have gotten “home” to France most years. Three grandchildren live nearby. We love their sports and performances at Friends School. I write a memoir poem every day... a couple thousand by now. Everything seems worthy of a photo and some musing in verse. Have self-published over 20 collections. Above all, I miss my identical twin, Billy ’58, gone in 2022 Occasionally, I see Jerry Downs, soon 101, his booming voice still booming.

1959

Chip Markell c.b.markell@comcast.net

Our class continues to schedule semi-annual social events, one in the spring and one in the fall. Most recently we enjoyed a cocktail party on May 21, 2025, at Brightwood in Lutherville attended by 13 classmates and their wives/partners: Dick Emory, Hobie Fowlkes, Ted Gans, Tom Haines, George Hardy, Clark MacKenzie (our host), Chip Markell, Charlie Offutt, Frank Pine, John Ramsey, Bill Schmick, Larry Stifler, and Rick Uhlig. It was a very special evening with everybody sharing recent experiences and news.

Tom Ahern could not attend for health reasons that preclude flying but reported from Palm Harbor, Florida, that he will be going on a cruise from Tampa soon to include Belize and Honduras among other ports of call.

Dick Emory talked about his legal career at the Environmental Protection Agency and his book “Fighting Pollution and Climate Change.” Dick encouraged classmates to order and read it and handed out bookmarks with all the details. Visit: richardwemoryjr.wordpress.com.

Bob Wood will be selling his fabulous home in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, sometime soon and will then reluctantly move to New Windsor, Maryland, to be near his son David. He and David have already picked out a nice ground-floor 3BR villa where healthcare assistance is available.

Rick Uhlig attended the annual Gilman Forever Luncheon on Friday, May 2 during Alumni Weekend. This event is for alumni past their 50th reunion. It was fabulous and included entertainment by the Traveling Men. I will be encouraging classmates to attend next year.

1960

Ted Knowles knowlesf240@gmail.com

Stan Heuisler is wheelchair-bound but otherwise healthy and active, writing and building ship models and leading book club and expressing himself politically at congenial Roland Park Place.

Tim Baker shares a daily prayer. Son Alec is lead brewer at Peabody Heights here, daughter Kate after 23 years and 17 countries of overseas development work comes home this summer. Four grands. We forage family history from the following: “Tell us where our people came from and when and the reasons why they left.”

Ted Knowles: Gilman has a special place in my heart. All our teachers were superb. Many had their own unique sayings. Mr. Russell: standing on his chair, swinging his Roman short sword, recounting the Battle of the Nervii. Mr. Finney: “Play with reckless abandon.”

One whose name I can’t recall: “It behooves you to study hard for this test, boys, or you will have to stew in your own juice!” Mr. Gamper in the gym when harassed by students: “Drop dead, son.” Mr. Lorden: “You shouldn’t ought to have done that.” Gretchen and I are grateful for so many things as we age.

Walter “Bucky” Buck: We are empty nesters for the second time. The first one was when our twins left in the early nineties, and now the grandsons whom we have been raising as legal guardians for 11 years will be out of the house. The oldest will be a junior at Arizona State next year, while his younger brother will enter Colorado State as a freshman. The two boys have given us unlimited pleasure as great human beings who are fun/pleasant/enjoyable to be around. We often think of how proud their mother, who died of a brain aneurysm at age 37, would be of them. So off to the next stage of our lives. This last one has been great.

Peter Wood: I’m healthy and troubled here in Colorado. I’ve attended a Sanders rally in Greeley, and huge Hands Off gatherings. But the wrecking ball continues to swing against all we were taught to respect at Gilman. Still, I’ll be in Charleston June 12 for the Annual Meeting of the Omohundro Institute of Early American History. The opening session will concern current implications of my book on enslavement in colonial South Carolina, Black Majority. It is now in a new, expanded 50th year edition.

Ned Sullivan: I got a total knee replacement in September that kept me from returning to my winter ski restaurant job until January. That just ended, and I’m anticipating a dive trip to Maui the first week in April to see how easy it will be to climb a ladder up to the boat with weights and a tank on my back. Ski season still goes for another 10 days, but it is also bike weather in Aspen already.

Lewis (Lew) Seiler: For the first time in 22 years, I will not be working at Churchill Downs as a seasonal employee; at this age, I thought it would be wise to devote my time to other projects. With that in mind I am planning on returning to Mexico this summer to attend Spanish

classes in Guanajuato and Oaxaca, followed by a bike trip in Portugal at the end of October after my attempt for some biking last fall in Tuscany which proved far too difficult, but was a wonderful trip. If anyone gets close to Louisville for a visit, please let me know and I will be happy to accommodate you. Good health to everyone!

Kent Mullikin: Greetings from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where Miriam and I celebrated our 51st anniversary in the fall. Our daughter Anna, her husband, and their two teenage daughters also live in Chapel Hill. Our oldest granddaughter will enter Johns Hopkins in September. I’ll visit her there and swing by Gilman. Our younger daughter, Sally, her husband, and their son and daughter are nearby in Blacksburg, Virginia. We still spend summers at Coveside, our shingle-style cottage on the shore of Swan’s Island, Maine, where I sail our muchloved 24-ft. sloop, Nancy B. Best wishes to fellow members of the class of 1960!

John Rouse: My wife, Yasuko, and I have finally returned to my hometown of Annapolis, Maryland, where we plan to retire after more than 64 years of living in other places including more than 50 years outside of the U.S., mostly in Italy. It’s nice to be back! Needless to say, a lot has changed in this city, and at Gilman since I graduated, and I suspect there have been lots of changes that have happened to you all and your families as well. I still have fond memories of my Gilman days. I learned a lot during those four years not only from my classmates and professors but also from my coaches on the athletic field as well as in the gym. I did a lot of growing up during those years, which served me well in the years afterward. Although we have all gone our separate ways in life, those memories of my Gilman days, of my fellow classmates, teachers, and coaches remain and I cherish them. It’s going to take some time to reconnect with my fellow classmates and friends now that I’m back, but I’m looking forward to the challenge. Hope to see you all soon.

A group of classmates from 1960 united to celebrate the life of Karl Mech III, who passed away on December 21, 2024. Seated: Max Robinson. Standing: Don Hebb, Jim Winn, Ted Knowles, John Corckran, Karl Mech, Jr.

1961

Bill Hardy billhardy@comcast.net

This past year, Taylor Brown, Ritchie Solter, and Scott Faulkner died. Another friend of many, Spooky Hilgartner, also died. He did not graduate from Gilman, but did attend for a few years.

Pope Barrow reported off and on during the year about his travels to St Lucia, Louisiana, and other places. His sailboat is being upgraded with a slick bottom and a new mainsail, so he doesn’t want to miss any races.

Marque and Steve Cordi are enjoying Steve’s retirement. Steve has become an enthusiastic bridge player. He participates in a men’s group that plays twice a week, one day at Elkridge Club and a second day at L’Hirondelle. Rick Born is a regular at Elkridge.

Carl Cummings is keeping busy in retirement. Since my retirement as pastor of St. Jane Frances three years ago, I moved to Catonsville where I help out at St. Agnes with masses, funerals, confessions, and weddings. I’ve also done some traveling — to Norway to see where my grandmother was born and grew up, Also New Zealand, Australia, Taiwan, Manila, and Singapore. By the way, in Norway, we were above the Arctic Circle for three days during the midnight sun, and the temperature was in the 70s the entire time. Global warming seems to be a fact.

Jim Garrett has been in town long enough to attend Grumpies dinners. He is busy with various charities both public and family. He and Edie are trying to figure out how to ‘downsize.’

Lin and Bill Hardy are doing well. We are pleased with our move to Broadmead, a CCRC in Hunt Valley. I am the treasurer of the resident association and am the webmaster of the residents website. In August, we did a river cruise in France and travelled over to Barcelona for several days. We have had two grandkids in London. Our granddaughter is working and living there, and our grandson is finishing his master’s and will return stateside this spring. Our third, a granddaughter, has just started playing lacrosse at 15. We are enjoying watching her play. This spring has been tied up with planning my 60th reunion along with Ober and others.

Sewall Hoff writes, “My wife, Mimi, and I are still aging as gracefully as possible in Pompano Beach, Florida. We still derive some pleasure from opening our front door and looking out over the ocean.”

Nancy and Henry Hopkins are finishing their sixth season splitting their time among their Florida home, Gibson Island, Maryland, home, and Middlebury, Vermont. Henry, (hardly) retired, continues to serve on various boards around Baltimore, is the president of the Mount Vernon Place Conservatory board as well as the Friends of Clifton Mansion board.

Liz and Corbin Marr, living in D.C., visit Calvert (and Calvert-Woodley!) and Gilman chums in Baltimore often. Their third grandchild is expected in June 2025 to Carson and his wife in Michigan! Three under 4! Another granddaughter is a junior at GW in D.C. She and brother live in Charlottesville, so we travel a lot.

Rick Ober is busier than ever as treasurer of 60th college reunion, regional V.P. and chair of the Legislative Committee of the Organization of Residents Associations of New Jersey [ORANJ], secretary of The Old Guard of Princeton and the Princeton Area Alumni Association. Recovered from back surgery in 2023 and playing

tennis two times per week, and skiing in Vermont with grandchildren, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, with brother Doug ’64, and Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

Kate and Tom O’Neill are moving along like all of the rest of us. Each are a year older and enjoying their family and life. Tom commented that he and Jim Garrett talked recently after our January Grumpies dinner. He enjoyed it very much and invited more to give him a call to chat.

Mac Passano is still busy as the chairman of the board of the directors of the Pride of Baltimore Foundation. This winter the Pride of Baltimore II hull re-planking was completed and she will be in the Great Lakes this summer. This winter, right after Christmas, Sally and I traveled with the McDonnell (5) and Wiggs (5) families to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands for a week. We continued on to Lima, Peru, and Machu Picchu, Peru, for an additional week with my two oldest granddaughters, Emma (21) and Abby (19). We are looking forward to this Summer at GLP, Connecticut.

Tom Salisbury is succumbing to downsizing. After spending several years renovating his home in Sequim, Washington, Ramona and I have decided to move closer to Seattle as well as coming to a conclusion that maintaining our property actually is “hard work” as former President Bush would say. I’ll both miss and not miss the things I do to take care of and improve our place. But it is time for a transition to the next chapter.

My son, Christian, is enjoying the Vegas A’s temporarily playing in Sacramento, has season tickets, and is looking forward to the O’s coming to town in June. Phoebe is continuing to flourish at UC-Berkeley as a sophomore and Camden, also a sophomore, is doing well academically as well enjoying his second high school varsity baseball season, starting and relieving with consistent success. Watching him pitch has become must-see viewing for me, the games being streamed.

John Stockbridge writes this past year has been a year of working with nature sanctuaries and also of enjoying the

experiences of grandchildren (four of whom are at or very near to college). My work as town historian continues to be stimulating, and Anita’s work in the gardening and photography activities has been satisfying for her. (Editor’s note: John keeps getting the distance award for the Grumpies dinners commuting from Bedford, New York, to Baltimore to participate. It is always great to see him.)

“T” Tall with his second granddaughter, Emma “T” Tall writes about his wife, Cy, and his growing family. Instead of city councils, Vermont and most New England states hold annual town meetings in every community to approve the budgets for administration, highways, schools, fire companies etc. I’m proud to report that my wife, Cy, was elected for the 25th consecutive year as our town moderator. She got a standing ovation for her efforts.

Our second granddaughter, Emma, was born last September in Madison, Wisconsin. We are truly blessed! Our health is stable. What more can one ask?

Dave Trussell sent this update: Sally and I continue to live between Maine and South Carolina. Four great kids all doing well. Seven grands between 35 and 9 One great-grandkid. Kids living around the corner in SC, Iowa City, Houston and Honolulu. Sally’s heavily into art. Loves to do animal portraits and landscapes. I pluck along on my guitar and sing mostly country and folk. Happy and healthy so far.

Peter Wilkes says not a lot of changes here in the last year. Still doing my standardized patient encounters at the

various hospitals. (Editor’s note: He plays the role of hospital patients to help teach medical students how to handle real-life encounters with actual people.) Have been cast in another play — “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” — a zany, long-running off-Broadway hit by comedian Steve Martin that we’re doing here in Baltimore at The Vagabond Theatre.

Cooper Winston says he has nothing much new to report: He is still playing tennis weekly with a powerful group of men and women of roughly the same age.

1962

Van Wolf vvw@slwplc.com

Andy Barnes: Not a lot to report other than a move to Mill Valley and nearly five weeks of travel through Asia.

Winston Brundige: My wife and I are discussing where we will move outside the U.S. Having spent over 30 years of my life actively defending us from Russia and with a family history of military service going back to the Revolutionary War, it may be time to leave.

Bill Scott and Renny Daly

Renny Daly: I have been vowing to write up what I have been doing for the last 25 years in running Jain’s family’s summer house on Squam Lake, New Hampshire. I got a first draft finished [in late March] — 49 pages. There is much to do to polish and finish it up, but at least something now exists in black and white for the next generation to have a look at when the time comes… [April 3] I greet you from Swansboro, North Carolina. I bet you have to look that one up. We came down the Outer

Banks of NC yesterday (a first for me — much seashore and two longish ferry rides). The short-term destination is Jacksonville, Florida, from whence I will be part of a crew of three sailing a Bristol 47 up to Norfolk… From Norfolk it’s on to the Chesapeake (staying with a former maritime law partner a little south of Annapolis). And eventually on to Squam … followed by a drive back to Colorado. We have been doing this circuit (albeit usually in a little shorter version) for over 20 years, and every year now I say this may be the last time. One of these years that will prove true — maybe this year… [Early April] Jain and I had lunch with Dee and Ken Marburg in Wilmington, North Carolina…. Ken is retired, looks great, and they are getting ready to shift up to their place in the Carolina mountains (Black Mountain, North Carolina) for the summer. During a more recent stop south of Annapolis, I drove up to Baltimore for a visit with Bill Scott [see picture]…. [He] is … doing everything that interests him (about any of us can hope for). Bill has become a very accomplished woodworker in his retirement. Many of the things he made were wooden toys that demonstrated scientific principles. Very interesting. I am currently just north of Wilmington, Delaware. I had hoped we might see Wilson Braun, but it doesn’t look like that will work out. Maybe we will see Charlie Emmons while we are at Squam.

Charlie Emmons (our upper New England representative): Still rehabbing two new knees and a new shoulder; I do wish there were other replacement body parts available; probably a brain! Daughter Beth and her husband, Ben, still live down the street in Yarmouth and have been great; their oldest, Ellie (24), is gainfully employed and living happily in Boston; Annie (22) will graduate from Bates College in May and will begin working to get into a PA program next year; Sam (19) is a freshman at Colby College and loves it; he is a pitcher on the baseball team. Chip and Rachel continue to thrive in Hollis, Maine; Chip is a finishing carpenter for Woodhull; Rachel continues her PT work for Mercy Hospital in Portland; their gardens continue to provide much food and joy for them. Matthew, Heidi, Woody

(13), and Charlie (11) are busy in Holderness, New Hampshire, successfully raising four oxen (weights ranging from 600-1,600 pounds), five goats, five alpacas, and various dogs, ducks, chickens, and guinea hens; both boys and their parents spend lots of time on athletic fields around the state. Margie and I continue to operate (perhaps a bit more slowly) between Maine and New Hampshire. We are very lucky!

Gordy Hammann: Our grandchildren are all doing well. Our oldest is 28 and married, with our youngest being 13 Hope everyone is well and enjoying life.

John Hart: I attended an alumni event in April 2024. Charlie Emmons and John Nixdorf were the other classmates on hand. Entering the building was disorienting. The old classrooms along the hallway to A Study Hall are offices. Lunch was in A Study Hall. In the other direction, the dining room and hallway have become a library. Unknown faculty hang in the common room, but Mr. Russell and Mr. Callard are still there. Where are the classrooms? Nonetheless, the Gilman essence survives with energetic students everywhere. Today’s Gilman still looks good to this disoriented octogenarian graduate.

Buz Marek: I currently live on the Chesapeake Bay and on the Gulf in Ft. Myers Beach with my wife of 48 years, Nancy Ann (best wife and mother). Graduate of University of Maryland Medical School 1970; Resident and Chief Resident at Johns Hopkins Hospital to 1975. Traveled teaching for JHPIEGO in Gambia, Nigeria, Tehran, Kabul, and Bangkok. Private practice and delivered and operated at JHH, Good Sam, FSH, Union Memorial, GBMC, and Harford Memorial. Daughter Dawn Doucette, Bryn Mawr 1997; granddaughter Charlotte, class of 2028 St. Stephens and St. Agnes; grandson Owen, SSSA class of 2031; son Charles B. Marek III, Gilman 1999; grandson CBM, Gilman class of 2030; granddaughter Emmeline, Bryn Mawr class of 2032; happy happy grandfather. Philosophy: “There is nothing — absolutely nothing half so much fun as simply messing about in boats.” –Kenneth Grahame in “Wind in the Willows”

Buck McAdoo: Was happy to reconnect with old classmates at the 50th reunion even though I failed to graduate with this class. At age 81 have taken up painting ancient wrecks to combat the Trump tariffs. I may be in a show this summer in Martha’s Vineyard. Date to be determined. And you have to admit… it’s better than painting roadkill.

Bob Oster: Lori and I spend time in Vero Beach, Florida; Timonium, and my longtime summer place in Thousand Islands. We have nine grandchildren, all around Baltimore, 15 to 4. Their lacrosse, soccer, and basketball games keep us busy if we are in Baltimore. On the health front, both of my knees were replaced recently, and I have been getting better slowly. We are on a Regent cruise around the Iberian peninsula in August/September. Looking forward to our reunion.

John Peabody: Not long ago, when my birthday clock chimed 81, I realized that I have a lot in common with old cars. Shortly after one problem is fixed, another part needs repair or replacement. In addition, my wife, Carol, of 48 years, had a transcatheter aortic valve replacement. This amazing procedure is similar in complexity to changing a tire on a car while the car is still moving. Over the years, we have supported medical research and now more mindful than ever of its incredible advances to improve and to save the lives of so many, we will be increasing our support.

Ken Van Durand: Pardon my tardiness … I hope does not result in too many demerits (sidebar: At times at Gilman I thought my first name was ‘Takealap’ as I heard ‘Take a lap Van Durand’ many, many times). Otherwise, the more things change, the more they remain the same. Hurricane season spared us the worst … Helene passed by, while Milton gave us a light brush … had one laurel oak go down, missing the house by six feet … February saw many trees severely cut back or removed … correctly picked the Gators in my bracket, as did a few others who had better records in the other 62 games … finished in the upper third … the less said about my alma mater, the Miami Hurricane’s season the better … hope spring’s eternal with a new coach for next season (poached from Duke). You

don’t become cooler with age but you do care progressively less about being cool, which is the only true way to actually be cool. The geezer’s paradox.

Van Wolf: Fully retired as of May 1; my wife, Ann, retires June 30 from her work at a local boys Jesuit prep school; but not slowing down (except as age/ health compels). New Zealand in the fall? Four grandkids in Dallas (boy and girl each from two sons; ages 4, 3, 2, and 1). Daughter (a former dancer) getting her doctorate in physical therapy at Creighton campus here in Phoenix. Reflecting on 52 years as an environmental lawyer (chose the field as a result of Peace Corps in East Africa after college): When I started, environmental law was truly in its infancy; now it is an established specialty, but it has changed over time (more on climate change and emissions controls, as well as legacy cleanups) and will change more as politics and economic pressures evolve. For a number of years, I have been on the board of the regional professional ballet company, satisfying and challenging (one of my “hobbies” has been service on nonprofit boards, cancer and arts). Our 65th reunion is in two years; can someone in Baltimore help get this organized?

1963

Jake Slagle jake@jakeslagle.com

Tom Chase: The daffodils have peeked out now that the snow has melted off the septic tank. And Johanna and I are off to a performance of “Forbidden Broadway” tonight. I think fondly of you all and hope to make it down for the Old Farts Lunch in May.

Claudius KIimt: Reflecting on a full life: Childhood started in the Russian-occupied sector of Vienna, parents emigrated to the U.S. in 1958, wonderful education and career, emergency medicine, GBMC, Air National Guard, flying, beautiful wife, children, grandchildren, still healthy, very, very fortunate.

Tom Salisbury: I’m still alive and kicking, even though I have prostate cancer that hasn’t spread beyond the prostate and five arterial stents. Exte-

rior beam therapy for cancer starts in early April. No chemo, just a pill that lowers my PSA and testosterone levels. Otherwise, I’m doing well although in the present political climate in the U.S., I must report that I’m glad I live in the Netherlands with their healthcare system that costs me nothing other than a monthly premium ($200). And like some of you, I’m really enjoying my wife, children, and grandchildren.

Bill Legg: I believe that I am the oldest in the class and turned 80 last September. Life in the slow lane includes spending time in Florida with my longtime lady friend and summers in Montana. Still have a house in Baltimore and had a wonderful trip to see my grandson, who plays lacrosse for W&L, participate in a tournament at Stevenson University. Eddie will be happy to hear that they won both of their games.

Bill Paternotte: Having retired from Brown Advisory a year ago, I now wonder how I had any time to work! I’m involved with about six nonprofit organizations (including Gilman), which keep me busy, and I’m committed to spending more time with family, including our seven grandchildren (three in college and one out, and one still at Gilman). Nan and I are traveling quite a bit, including Argentina and Spain last year and New Zealand and Australia so far this year — Turkey is next. And we’re finally able to spend more time at our home in the Adirondack mountains. Life is good.

Ward Coe: Christie and I continue to travel — Rajasthan in October 2024, Rincon, Puerto Rico, in February 2025, and heading to Egypt tomorrow for a couple of weeks. Christie is busy working at the Donald Bentley (Gilman, ’88) Food Pantry on Gutman Ave. in East Baltimore, finding Broadway shows for us to see, and filling in with grandchildren. I thought I’d slow down this year but I’m busier than ever as Chairman of the Maryland Access to Justice Commission and handling pro bono asylum cases for Tahirih Justice Center, whose courageous clients are uniformly inspiring.

George Scarlett: I am still at Tufts — teaching full time and treasuring my time with students while focusing on

new projects having to do with the child-nature connection and with the arts and children. Grandson Julian was born last Thanksgiving to join granddaughters Iris and Sadie. Hip surgery and more health problems keep me moving slow, but doll play and lots of support from my wife, Shirley, keep me happy.

Lance Bendann: It’s been a challenging two years, but the support of and memories shared with family, friends, and classmates have been significant. Overall, I consider myself a lucky 80-year-old — Yikes.

Chuck Newhall: We are in Manalapan about 15 minutes south of Palm Beach enjoying sun and balmy weather.

John Claster: Life in Florida continues to be delightful. Our winter was marked by lots of sun and a bit cooler weather. I am doing lots of work with veterans groups. South Florida has the third-largest veteran population in the country. Hope you are well, my friends. Ernie Cornbrooks: I have been partially redeeming my sketchy past by honoring a New Year’s resolution I made years ago to re-read works of fiction assigned at Gilman or W&L, which I either disliked, skimmed through for the test, or did not read. Winners include “David Copperfield,” “Return of the Native,” and “Mayor of Casterbridge.” “Moby Dick” and “Crime and Punishment” are still losers. Part way through “Bleak House,” I am delighted to report that judges, lawyers, clients, and the legal system have not changed much since 1853

Bill Harrison: Still enjoying our homes in West Hartford, Connecticut, and Hobe Sound, Florida. We see our six grandchildren as often as possible, particularly when they come south to visit during the winter months. We continue to play competitive tennis in USA-sanctioned events, and I am still working on my struggling golf game.

Jimmy Rouse: I’ve had a great year. I had a one-man show at Grimaldi’s Gallery in downtown Baltimore, the oldest and most prestigious gallery in the city. He shows very few local artists, so being chosen was an honor. The nonprofit I have run for 12 years, Transit Choices,

which is dedicated to creating a first-class regional transit system in Baltimore, has become very well recognized and influential. We deal directly with the governor, MDOT, the MMMTA, and City DOT, so we are able to get our ideas heard at the highest levels of local government and have become very influential.

Jack Nesbitt: Have some aches and pains, but overall life is good. Having trouble downsizing and still have my model RR, wood shop, and am nursing along a few orchids, dahlias, and roses. Spent two weeks in Cape Coral and planning several trips to NH and Canada before fall. Took art courses with Tim Baker’s Iliad program and doing the Scarlet Letter and Moby Dick this spring through Great Books. Oldest grandson during gap year between graduating from high school and entering UVA has worked the huts on the AT in NH, spent the winter in Chile, and is now climbing mountains in Bolivia.

Ted Mudge: Joan and I are enjoying an idyllic retirement in Ligonier, Pennsylvania, where we live on her grandfather’s farm. I still have horses here, but am only racing in France, where we spend half of August every year in Deauville. Our three grandchildren, who live in Tampa, love visiting the farm in the summer, and we wisely visit them only in the winter.

David Robinson: Susan and I are well and continue to travel as much as we can. My college singing group had a reunion of our 1960s classes in Newport last fall, for which I was Music Director and which was really fun.

Ed Supplee: Still living in the same house since 1978 (with two major remodels). Slowing down with only one major trip to Greece in 2024. Trip to Japan coming up. Sal and I enjoy dining out with friends, wine, books, and I enjoy following the stock market, particularly the last two years.

Chris Scarlett: Still kicking. Beth and I will be going to the Galapagos Islands in November (we won a Calvert auction).

Robin Baker: I’m still alive, still married to Mary, still getting to enjoy being a grandfather, and still working at Meta-

Metrics as a principal psychometrician. Life is good.

I had a nice chat with Bruce Marston He reported that life was good and later sent a photo of a billboard honoring his birthday. It hung from outside the seats at T-Mobile Stadium. The occasion was when his kids recently treated him to a Seattle Mariners game. Presumably the birthday was his 80th.

Yours Truly: I too turned 80 while cruising the Caribbean with Nina on a gargantuan ship. In addition to being in my 42nd year of daily workouts that for the last 13 years have included 25 push-ups, I’m also busy cataloguing and photographing my mineral collection, ghost writing, growing vegetables in the backyard, and seeing as much as possible of my two sons and three grandchildren.

1964

John Redwood jredwood3@gmail.com

This year’s updates reveal a bit more wear and tear, not unexpectedly, as the years go by and some well-deserved winter “hibernations,” but also a lot of resilience, continuing domestic and international travel, and many adventurous, talented, and accomplished children and grandchildren!

Bob Pine reports that he and Pascale continue to enjoy traveling with a trip last summer to Tuscany with the MacLeans and then to Berlin for a business school reunion and finally ending in Paris to see family. Life is good despite turning 79 in January. Their daughter now lives in Miami, so they go down to visit her from time to time.

Bill Anderson notes, unfortunately, that “it has been a rough year!” He adds that “my wife came down with breast cancer and is just finishing up stage three of her recovery plan — operation first then chemo and now radiation. But the outlook is positive. Fingers crossed!” We wish her — and him — all the very best!

Apparently, leaving no stone unturned, Ford Weiskittel writes, “I’m afraid we will be letting down the side here. Our

pace has slowed so much that we don’t seem able to pass even one milestone in the course of a year, major or minor, though hard to imagine a minor milestone. Not even the Romans used minor milestones on their roads.”

David Abrahamson and wife Barbara sold their home and car in Chicago and moved permanently to their second home in Portugal in June 2024. They now happily reside in a village less than an hour north of Lisbon surrounded by vineyards and rolling farmland.

In sending his love to all, Gally Warfield observes that, as another year passes, he finds himself working harder than ever with directors and producers to bring an amazing inspirational true story to the big screen. Hopefully, success will come not too far down the road. In the interim, he continues a personal mentorship program teaching the mechanics of writing books and screenplays, which is very rewarding. He likewise affirms that “Judy and I still enjoy life in Southern California despite the fires, earthquakes, and floods. We find peace and happiness as we look out over palm trees and mountain ranges.”

Rick Reese indicates that he and Linda are both doing well even though “age is taking a bit of a toll, but we are survivors.” He reports that musician son Rick joined an ’80s revival band called The Plimsouls with Eddie Munoz on monthlong USA and Canada cross-country tour in June and July. Grandson Parker Carman graduated with a business degree in finance and management information systems from Oklahoma State University. And is working as a junior asset manager for Resource Housing Group in Atlanta. Granddaughter Samantha Carman is in her senior year at University of Kentucky, majoring in integrated strategic communications, with her final semester spent in Florence, Italy.

Tom Revell states that there have been no significant events in the past few years, but “just to let classmates know I am still alive, Kay, my wife of 52 years, and I live in Kuna, Idaho, with our three cats. Our younger son, his wife, and beautiful daughter live just five miles away and are the reason we moved to

Idaho. We are definitely slowing down in our golden years and seem to hibernate from November through March.”

Walter Childs is “happily ensconced” in Cape Charles, Virginia, with the Chesapeake being about one mile to the west and the Atlantic about five miles to the east. All his children and grandchildren live west of the Mississippi, and he observes that “because our son and his family (two grandsons) live near Denver, we have acquired a condo in Littleton, Colorado, where we spend the months of October through February. For adventure, we take trips on the Viking cruise line. This coming July they will take a Viking ship out of Bergen, Norway, visiting their fiords at various villages up the coast. The trip goes on to London via the Shetlands (again), the Orkneys, and Scotland.

Leith Hermann writes that “as Susie copes with memory loss, we have decided to move to Blakehurst, a retirement community in Towson that can meet our long-term needs.” Currently, they are preparing our house to go on the market, “a formidable task after 28 years of collecting more than we discarded.” Their move date is to be determined, but it’s likely to be late spring or early summer. He adds that “when I’m not painting, power washing, or clearing junk, you can find me on the golf course or pickleball courts with Susie. We plan to go to our Maine house again this summer, though the dates depend upon our move to Blakehurst.”

Fife Symington reports that there is not much news from Arizona as we head into our summer heat season. He and Rebecca traveled to Spain late last May and visited Granada, Sevilla, Barcelona, and Madrid. He notes that “our family is well and pursuing many interesting endeavors. My oldest grandson is a sophomore at Harvard, Cyrus Symington (son of Fife IV, also a Harvard grad). It’s hard to wrap my arms around the whole family…five children and 11 grandchildren…and I suspect that the great-grandchildren rollout will soon begin. We recently returned from the Frick Collection Gala reopening in NYC. The renovation took five years, and the result is truly magnificent!

Jim Campbell likewise observes that all are healthy, and that son Chris (45) and wife Emiko are living in Tsukuba outside of Tokyo. He still works for Sumitomo, but is looking for something else, hopefully in the U.S. Their daughter, Sophie, is on the edge of teenhood and son, Jamie, is a ball of energy and mischief. Our daughter, Hayley, is a remote attorney for United Health, advising state public health plans, and has bought a house in Annapolis. I am a golf “widower” as Karen has become a keen practitioner, mostly based in our house in Bethany Beach. I am still mainly in Potomac, consulting on postal-related policy issues, and still playing tennis, but we may move to Annapolis, closer to Hayley and Bethany.

Hershey Sollod joined the club of having a total knee replacement and discovered that ChatGPT was a better guide about rehab than any providers! However, his wife, Barbara, had “an unfortunate run-in with colon cancer but fortunately caught early with excellent prognosis!” Upcoming trips to Florence/Tuscany and later Japan. Movie that moved me: “I’m Still Here” and the taut TV series: “The Pitt.” He promised to “catch up about our 10 grandkids in the next update.”

With best wishes to all, Bob Locke wrote that he and Sherry have been thoroughly enjoying life at Roland Park Place for the last three and a half years where the people are well-educated and well-traveled, adding that “if you are interested in a thought-provoking conversation, all you have to do is find one of your neighbors.” Kids and grandkids are all doing well. Oldest is in Hollywood trying to break in, second has recently been hired as a pilot by American Airlines, the third is in Oklahoma training for a career in aviation (not flying), and the fourth is entering American University in the fall. He concludes that “it is the youth that give me both hope and faith in our country.”

Bill Stafford also reports that there is “not much new here in Exeter,” but he and Bonnie had the opportunity to be in NYC for a couple of nights, where they were mostly visiting their son, Ted, but also caught a cabaret show at “Don’t Tell Mama.” The show was a Carpenters

retrospective for which Ted was both the guitarist and music director. They also had the “fun visit” of their daughter, Kate, and her husband from Minneapolis during the Christmas break. Otherwise, they are “doing great and ready to be past snow and chilly weather.”

Praising the Lord for his many blessings, Bill Barton and wife, Jane, celebrated their 59th anniversary in May and were off to South Jersey to get the beach house in Sea Isle City ready for the season. His construction business is rolling along nicely, and they had recently enjoyed a great weekend with all three “kids,” ranging in age from 58 to 48, and their families, including five grandkids (from 21 years to 10 years old) with the youngest in the fourth grade at Boys’ Latin and the two oldest in college, one at Towson University.

Hamilton Easter also observes: “Nothing exciting or groundbreaking to report, which, for our age, is probably good news. Everyone is in good health, Jennifer (44) is renovating a home here in Park City, Jamie (42) is still doing laser research in New Jersey, Jeff (40) will soon be home in San Diego after backcountry helicopter ski guiding in Alaska, and Katie (37) is still working for Vail in Keystone, Colorado. My wife, Barbara, is enjoying life as a grandmother, and I’m just making the best of life as my Parkinson’s slowly progresses. It’s always good to hear what everyone is up to!”

John Redwood continues to do some part-time consulting for the World Bank and Asian Development Bank. He and Lucia will be cruising above the Arctic Circle (Norway, Iceland, and Greenland) this coming July from England, where they will also be visiting friends. Music theory professor son André (43) has sent a revised version of his book on Marin Mersenne to Indiana University Press for publication and is awaiting a decision on tenure at SUNY Albany next fall. Grandniece Victoria (20) is concluding her sophomore year as an international nursing student at George Mason University. 1965

William Baker williamrosbaker@gmail.com

Members of the class of 1965 gathered at Elkridge in December for a holiday lunch. Seated left to right: Stan Klinefelter, Alex Fisher, David Winstead, Bill Groff, Nelson Goldberg, Richard Tighlman, Jim Potter. Standing left to right: Don DeVries, Bill Baker, Steve Thomas

We had a great turnout for our 60th Reunion! Brown, Carter, Foster, Gundry, Harwood, Klinefelter, Legg, Lewis, Mitchell, McDaniel, Potter, Redd, Rumsey, Slaughter, Jud Smith, Taliaferro, Ward, Tony Whitman, Wilson, RIP Zink and Baker attended some or all of the festivities.

To begin with, let’s thank those classmates and spouses who joined us at our 60th Reunion. But I am concentrating on those classmates who were not able to join us. Rocky Ober lives near Burlington, Vermont, near one of their boys. Rock said that crabs and old faces almost got him to come down, but he and Scarlett don’t get down this way much. Rock still plays his guitar! I also heard from Tinsley Van Durand from Birmingham, Alabama. Tinsley had a hip replacement that didn’t work, and he has some trouble getting around, but in his inimitable way, No, towels, today!

I have been in touch with Billy Groff, who suffered a pretty major stroke at the end of winter. Billy undergoes therapy to get back things he lost due to the stroke, like walking with Mary. Billy’s daughter, Courtenay, helps him manage emails and texts. She has been great! I also had a mini-stroke two years ago, but have managed a normal schedule. I talked to Billy before his major stroke, as he had a mini-stroke just before his major stroke.

We saw Alex Fisher over Christmas, and he was well, but is battling a low whitecount currently.

I play golf with Stan Klinefelter; he lives in Vero Beach, Florida, during the winter, but comes back up here for six months! Part of our group who goes to Vero to play in March is Richard Tilghman, who plays in Easton, Maryland. We all struggle to keep our handicaps from going up too much. Richard and Beverly take great care of Wye House, a wonderful family home in Easton, built in the 1790s. It is quite a place!

Bill Baker’s only grandchild, Maddie, plays polo at Garrison Forest School. She is finishing her fifth grade year, and has been playing polo for three years. She absolutely loves the game! David Winstead plays a lot of golf too. His course is undergoing an extensive renovation, hopefully to be opened by July.

Several reports from our 60th Reunion. Steve Redd says that he is in the ‘nanny business’, mostly for his grandchildren. Never thought he would still be in that business! Jimmer Potter also reports that he and Ginna are set to move to Roland Park Place this summer. They have been on the harbor for many years, so this should be a change! Ben Legg is resident of three places, Baltimore, where he and Kyle bought a place in Ruxton. In the winter, they are at John’s Island in Vero, and in the summers, he’s on an island near Portland, lots of lobsters! Ben still plays golf, but his back limits him. He plays once every two or three days, and nine holes at a time, still is great to have him out there! Mac Lewis has moved from New Mexico to Maine to be near the sea and also near children. I sat next to Al Gundry for dinner. He sold his yacht business a couple of years ago, but still has his own boat in Annapolis.

One final note, the class lost Alex Yearley last fall, after a time at a retirement home.

A lot of credit for the 60th goes to George Brown, the Committee Chair, who got everyone through their calls. Thanks, George!

1966

Rick Buck rick.buck@blueridgeriskpartners.com

With sorrow, I must write that, since my last report, we have suffered the loss of three beloved classmates. In the space of three months, from the end of July to early October, Bobby Johnson, Joe Millstone, and David Harriman departed this life.

For Bobby Johnson, his passing marked the end of a lifelong love affair with nature and its creatures (read: salamander, amphibians), and a passionate devotion to the global environment and its protection through several access points, like Irvine Nature Center and Blue Water Baltimore. His post-Gilman educational journey included a mathematics degree from Harvard, post-grad studies in herpetology at Hopkins, and a brief teaching stint at Case Western Reserve University. Due to his breadth of knowledge in fields mysterious to many friends, he was basically a teacher from childhood on! His work life was predominantly in the field of commercial estate appraisals, most notably at ColliersPinkard. Bobby’s children arranged for a wonderful memorial gathering at the Cylburn Arboretum, very well attended, including at least a half dozen from our class (read Irwin, Fenwick, Legg, Rich, Jones, Robbins). Jimmy Robbins was asked by Bobby’s children to speak, as they had stayed closely in touch through all the years since Gilman and he shared many humorous anecdotes and fond memories.

Joe Millstone enjoyed a very long working career with the federal government, in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for more than 50 years, up until his death in mid-September in Austin, Texas. He was beloved and survived by his wife, Jody, children, Larry and Lee, and four grandchildren. Being known and admired for his ability to bring humor to most situations, Joe enjoyed following the Orioles and Ravens, commenting on political topics, country music, time with his grandkids, and weekly poker games, as well as extensive world travels.

David Harriman departed from us in early October following a career in the realm of publishing related to the practice of law. After graduating from the University of Virginia, he obtained his law degree at the University of Maryland Law School and then began working at The Michie Company in Charlottesville as an indexer and eventually served as its editor-in-chief, vice president of marketing, and president. He predicted that the future of law publishing would be digital, starting his own company, Brief Reporter, in the late ’90s and later served as CEO of the National Law Library and Casemaker in Charlottesville. After his retirement, he was honored by Fastcase 50 as “senior statesman of the legal publishing industry.” For recreation, David enjoyed playing left field for the team of Joe’s Bar & Grill in Charlottesville Z-league and golfing the Old Trail Course in Crozet, Virginia.

It is often said the best way to stay young is to stay busy, and Charlie Fenwick would undoubtedly be one of the chief proponents of that thought. Charlie makes multiple trips each year to visit children and grandkids in England and Charleston, South Carolina, as well as Baltimore. He writes, “My partner, Danielle Brewster, and I recently spent an extraordinary eight days in the Laikipia region of Kenya, on a horseback safari with nine other Baltimore County residents and friends. The extent and variety of wildlife was truly amazing, including a not-so-pleasant encounter with a resident lion!” The sport of squash continues to play a key role in Charlie’s life. Son Charlie and his partner reached the semifinals of the U.S. Nationals, held in Baltimore this year, and Charlie and his partner, Bobby Travers, lost in the finals of the William White 75+ tournament in Philly. On the racing front, a horse named Snap Decision, co-owned by Charlie and two friends, won an Eclipse Award as Best Steeplechase Horse of 2024

Also deeply committed to the stay-busy mode, Dave Irwin traveled far and wide throughout the year. He and Kendi touched down in destinations including Hawaii, California, Aruba, Maine, and of course, Las Vegas, to name a few. Dave

continues to maintain a busy law practice, typically dividing time between a condo near Bethany Beach and a Towson apartment.

Michael Stanton and wife Maureen continued their habit of long visits to places of special interest to Michael as an architect who continues his profession at a pace that works but allows time for the occasional longer-term stay combined with regional travel. Last year’s travels in southern Italy served that purpose perfectly. Other travel included Mexico and of course the Stantons’ annual summer stay at their cabin in Ely, Minnesota. Back home in San Francisco, Mike divides time at his Stanton Architecture office, with nearby visits to daughters Abby and Brenna and their families.

Rick Buck: Barbara and I were fortunate to take a return trip to Italy in early November, in the company of the Brown University Alumni Travelers with a group of 24. We stayed at a wonderful small hotel on the Amalfi Coast, traveling daily in the region to tour sites like the ruins at Pompeii & Herculaneum, the Isle of Capri, and the amazing temples at Paestum. We were blessed to be led by a couple of wonderful guides and a retired professor from Brown, by perfect weather and excellent food. We can scarcely believe that all of our grandchildren are in high school or beyond and grateful that we have all of them and their parents within a 40-mile radius from us! We were happy to learn that our classmate and friend Bryson Cook and Cindy welcomed their first two grandchildren in recent months! Daughter Rosie delivered a baby girl, Poppy, in October 2024, and then daughter Laura welcomed baby Emma in February.

Bruce Michelson shares: “To try to maintain credibility with Theresa and the kids, I taught a continuing-ed course on Claude Monet and Georges Clemenceau, published a morose essay on Mark Twain’s relevance amid the AI onslaught, and joined two old friends to complete the St. Cuthbert’s Way hike, along the Scottish Borders from Melrose to Lindisfarne. All definitely worth it. Also some birding in Costa Rica, and a couple of raids to Utrecht, to bother our older daughter and her family in their sabbat-

ical hideout. And because grandparents and grandkids are a Rebel Alliance, we scored our oldest a 300-watt stereo so she can blast Taylor Swift properly, instead of through the ‘hey-Google’ can down in the kitchen.”

The first weekend of May next year will mark the 60th anniversary of our graduation. I hope that many of you will consider returning to celebrate it one more time! Stay well!

1968

Bill Reilly billr52@comcast.net

David Owens dowens235@gmail.com

I recently visited Bill Reilly who has enrolled in an assisted living facility in Essex, Maryland. He is healthy and happy and enjoying his new living quarters. He reluctantly agreed to let me take over his job as class secretary until he feels ready to resume the task. He said he still walks one mile a day to stay in shape.

In early January of this year, Chris West organized a class luncheon at The Valley Inn, which was surprisingly well attended by 11 classmates. The long table reminded us of a typical Gilman lunch table in the old Dining Room. David Whitman was seated at the head trying to control some rebellious classmates with his walking cane. Chris West stated that he will retire from the Maryland State Senate at the end of the 2026 General Assembly Session next April. He said the job has been the most rewarding one of his career. Charlie Ober is living in a Baltimore waterfront condo and reported waking up last March 2024 to see the Dali cargo vessel hit and destroy the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Stewart Nathan is continuing to work at the Maryland Attorney General’s office. Mark Iwry and I crossed paths working on the Kamala Harris campaign for president last fall. Hopefully, we will have better luck in the next election. The lunch table was so big it was hard to catch up with everyone. Also in attendance were Travers Nelson, David Chapin, Stuart Simms, Jamie Snead, and Stuart Naquin. Next time we will remember to take a picture.

Pierce Dunn has organized a few catch-up Zoom calls over the past two years. He and his wife, Lee, recently moved to Montecito, California, to help his daughter raise her young family and reported that she just had a baby boy named Jackson in December. Lans Smith is still teaching mythology at the Pacifica Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara. He recently moved from the coastline up to the mountains in Ojai. Fortunately, neither one of them has been hit by any of the recent wildfires in California.

Andy Hirsch is still living near the Purdue University campus and has been busy rescuing greyhound dogs after they are retired from the racing track. He really took the Gilman mascot to heart. The only problem is the hounds wake up very early and are ready to go for a run at 5 a.m. Andy also reported continuing to take long-distance bicycle trips to various parts of the country. Jim Hundley said he has moved back into New York City after spending several years along the Connecticut shoreline.

Ned Harwood is back living in Lewiston, Maine, after a brief stint in California. Last year he took a trip down the Nile River with his wife, Joanne, even though geopolitical tensions were raging in the Gaza Strip. Jamie Snead recently moved from his longtime residence on Wickford Road in Baltimore to the Rockland area along Falls Road. He said he will never move again. He and Steve Ziger also rented a fabulous house in Paris for a month and recommended that everyone put this trip on their bucket list.

Unfortunately, we lost David Schweizer in December of 2024. His incredible career as an avant-garde theater director spanned many decades and several continents. It’s remarkable to think it all started with the Gilman Revues of ’67 and ’68. A memorial of life celebration is being planned in NYC, but no details are available yet.

David Owens: As for me, my wife, Margi, and I are still living in a big old house in Ruxton. I am helping the local community association keep the area safe and sound and then playing lots of pickleball and croquet to get some very low-key exercise.

1969

Wally Pinkard wally.pinkard@cushwake.com Bruce Rice bruce.s.rice@gmail.com

Doug Carroll: Life moves by faster and faster and narrower and narrower like circling a smaller and smaller drain. Each day is a gift, and I give thanks every day. Thanks for my gifted, loving, and always challenging wife. Thanks for my three children who are intensely immersed in hard-to-imagine jobs in San Francisco. Thanks for the sun coming up. Thanks for my life at this beautiful farm that I returned to at age 39. Thanks for my Gilman education and friends, especially Ted Rouse, whom I walk with twice a week.

I am still only minimally affected by Parkinson’s disease, an illness that will soon have a cure, but I am sorry to report that I will not be the one who discovers it. More than ever I appreciate the life I spent a lot of time barking at, like Booth’s dog in the New Yorker cartoons.

Ted Rouse: I’ve been busy with the same old thing…working in neighborhoods of substantial vacancy to fix up important old historic buildings. Come visit us at 3100 Greenmount, Waverly’s historic Town Hall building built in 1870 when Waverly was a separate town from Baltimore and Greenmount was a dirt road! Try out Jinji’s Chocolate’s version of a Brooklyn Egg Cream Soda after visiting the Waverly Farmer’s Market or join us for the opening of the old Thai restaurant that was in the 3300 block of Greenmount for 50 years. The Thai restaurant is under construction now and will open probably late July. I have five adorable grandkids! The bad news is they live in San Francisco and Albuquerque but at least they are fun places to visit. My partner, Jeannie, and I live at a Passive House in Fells Point that I renovated eight years ago. I am very proud of having a solar-powered home with an electric Hyundai that is powered with solar electricity.

Blake Goldsmith: As the years go by, I find myself more and more grateful to Gilman for the mind, body, spirit mantra that I subliminally took to heart. I do wish they would have been more flexible

on the courses they offered. To this day I hate Algebra. Love the reference to Harry and Mr. Gamper who I really liked. I enjoyed our 50th Reunion celebration and getting to know Henry Smyth and seeing old friends. I was playing tennis yesterday and someone told me I looked like Kenny Rogers with my somewhat long white hair and short beard. Enjoyed a baseball game with George Duncan last year, courtesy of the tennis great Lee Gaines and am heading to opening day on Monday although I far preferred lacrosse at Gilman to baseball. Finally, I have been writing a book called “Legends of Life” and doing a lot of research and reading on some of the main characters like Einstein and Aristotle.

Richard Hayman aka Rip, has survived more follies than he can remember. Still an active-duty merchant marine officer, he is now put to pasture as a maritime historian speaking aboard expedition ships to the ends of the seas. When ashore, he haunts his old pub Ear Inn on the beach in NYC and is always on the ready for leisure search and rescue. For more misinformation, see “Captain Hayman” channel on YouTube. “My life has been enabled by my Gilman education, which taught me how to think on my feet and talk my way in and out of many difficult situations…”

Mitch Koppelman: After landing in retirement at the height of the pandemic, I’ve been volunteering (along with my wife, Jo) for the nonprofit Student Support Network, providing food, clothing, and household items to families at Halstead Academy, one of the poorest elementary schools in Baltimore County. I’m also running a dinner speakers program at the 14 West Hamilton Street Club in downtown Baltimore, and consulting with Agencia Informativa Latinamericano, a coalition of broadcasters in South and Central America. When not sailing my own sloop on the Chesapeake Bay, I occasionally crew on boats moving to and from South Florida and the Bahamas. Heading to Tanzania and Zanzibar in August, cameras in hand.

Richard Jones: I retired in 2021, just as the management crisis over the pandemic began winding down in Maryland. Surprisingly, for a time I found isolation

to be just what I wanted after nearly 48 years that always seemed to drive a line outside my door. I was passionate for both roles over two very different career stops, where helping change people’s lives provided the greatest enthusiasm and positive energy. On the homefront, Susan and I share three adult children and eight grandchildren, all in Maryland. Isolation is no longer a thing!

Jack Machen continues to spend most of his time on his small ranch outside of Cody, Wyoming, where he plays at being a wannabe cowboy and hay farmer while still working remotely part-time as a special chief solicitor with the Baltimore City Law Department. He also serves on the board (with Wally) of the Leonard Stulman Foundation and on the board of the Boulder Outdoor Survival School in Utah, where he took a wilderness survival course 15 years ago, an experience he describes as transformative.

Tom Whedbee: A lot to catch up on — or maybe not. In 2015, I retired from 20+ years of teaching middle and high schoolers and then 15 more working as a school counselor in several Maryland Catholic high schools. My last post was in Frederick, and as much as I loved my job, I was happy to give up the grueling commute. Right after retiring, I worked as a volunteer for the Maryland Agricultural Resource Council (MARC), a nonprofit focused on promoting Maryland agriculture and educating the non-farming public about its importance. I took over as chairman in 2018 and led it through some challenging years. MARC was responsible for creating the MD Ag Center near Oregon Ridge, but from the beginning we had a difficult relationship with the Baltimore County government. I never expected to become involved with local politics, and it was an eye-opener! For multiple reasons, MARC closed its doors in 2023. I think it was important work, and I had the good fortune to work with a wonderful group of people.

Now I’m trying to take care of my own farm — made more difficult by recurring back problems. Still, I’m very fortunate. My wife, Hilles, continues to work as a certified nurse midwife. She also loves what she does, but I know she thinks retirement someday might be nice. Our

oldest daughter, Rosalie, works here in Baltimore for a very small public health company. The critical work they do overseas has been brutally disrupted by the current administration in D.C., and she says the ground rules change every day. Younger daughter, Claire, lives and works in San Francisco. We keep hoping to tempt her back to Maryland, but for now, she is happy to remain on the West Coast. I am very fortunate to have a large number of very close friends, many of whom were Gilman classmates — Reed Huppman, Patrick Smithwick, Rob Deford among them. And when all is said and done, family and good friends are what it’s all about.

Tom Duquette: After eight years at St. Anne’s-Belfield and 41 at Norfolk Academy, I finally hung ’em up in June of 2022. Retirement is a good gig, especially when three grandsons live less than a quarter mile away in one direction, and the Atlantic Ocean is less than a quarter mile away in the other. I guest lecture on occasion at Norfolk Academy, I call NA lacrosse games for NATV, I coach my grandson’s youth lacrosse teams, and I shop and cook for the extended family. Susan and I have three sons and five grandsons. Oldest Bryan, presently living in London with his wife and two sons, is in the music business. Middle son Chris is in Big Data in the Bay Area, and youngest son Michael lives right around the corner and does what I did for almost 50 years — teach and coach, though his sport is tennis. Given my life in lacrosse, that my three sons were all collegiate tennis players (Bryan and Chris at Hampden Sydney and Michael at UVA) is more than a bit incongruous.

Patrick Smithwick reports that he and wife Ansley both have one more year at Oldfields. The board shut Oldfields down two and a half years ago. Alumnae got rid of that board, raised a couple of million, and hired Ansley to start the school back up. She’s working day and night. Last year we had a dozen students. This year we have 22. I teach them all, eighth through 12th. Next year we hope to have 40 to 50, and then at the end of that school year, we plan to be having a good dance celebrating our retirement from Oldfields, and education.

Then, I look forward to being able to write — for once in my life — without having another job. We are excited to have become grandparents, and have been flying out to Denver to visit our daughter Eliza, son-in-law Jeremy, granddaughter Ella, and son Paddy, a pediatric dentist, when we can.

Patrick has authored several books about his and his family’s racing days, and his most recent book, a memoir, ”War’s Over, Come Home, A Father’s Search for His Son, Two-Tour Marine Veteran of the Iraq War,” received both national and local acclaim when it was published in 2023.

Others seen or heard from: Woody Bennett and wife Cathy renovated their house on Piccadilly Road, spend a lot of time with nine grandchildren, and travel the world (a safari, Normandy, Scotland, India, Hong Kong, Paris).

Dick Gamper also has been traveling extensively with new honey Connie.

Lee Gaines has eight grandkids. He spends most of the winter in Sailfish Point, Florida, and is gradually removing himself from day-to-day operations at Gaines and Company.

Brooks Bradley turned over the reins of Bradley Company to son, John. Brooks has five grandchildren.

Lee McCardell, who ended up graduating from St. Paul’s, reports he’s trying to arrange a multi-school, our-era party this September, possibly at Redeemer. We’ll try to send out a notice if so.

As for Bruce Rice and Wally Pinkard: Bruce (retired from Wawa) finally has grandkids. Son Evan has two girls, daughter Molly has two boys and lives with Bruce and wife Susan. A lot of work, but great joy and keeps them young. Son Colin spent five years in South Africa working for a micro financing nonprofit, and is now married and working in D.C. for a similar entity. Too cold for old bones here so a lot of the winter is spent in Venice, Florida.

Wally was at the Elkridge-Harford Pointto-Point Races in early April and ran into Patrick Smithwick and Reed Huppman. Patrick had just awarded Late Night Larry, trained and ridden by Wally’s

daughter Casey Pinkard, as the winner of The Alfred J. Smithwick open flat race.

1970

The first annual Boo Smith Lecture was held in the auditorium in early April (see page 44 for details). The speaker was the former director of the Walters Art Gallery, and he was excellent. Our 55th reunion was over the weekend of 5/3. The photo above is from that Friday night. A great conversation was held with each classmate discussing a topic that was important to him. We have had our ups and downs, but everyone’s glass was at least half full. Saturday night, 16 of us met at Elkridge Club, with the highlights including the presence of Derrick Matthews, Frank Sanger, Wim Fitzpatrick, and Ed Sutton, all of whom missed the 50th. Even though the class clown, Duane Chase, was absent, a good time was had by all. We did miss those of you on the West Coast.

1971

Nigel Ogilvie nigel_ogilvie@yahoo.com

[Secretary’s note: Mary Ellen Porter retired at the end of June (see page 73). Some of us have been able to break bread with her in celebration and thanks for her remarkable service to Gilman and to our class in particular — as you remember Mary Ellen is “family” being Bryn Mawr Class of ’71 and working with us for the past 20 years to reinforce our own natural cohesion.]

Charlie Duff: A busy year. I’m as happy as I can be given the national and world

Thayer Simmons sim1214@aol.com

situation. I retired in September, doing my best to keep up with Lydia, who had retired a year earlier. A good local foundation has given me an office and absolute freedom. I go in most days and try to rouse some rabble about a couple of Baltimore issues. Health and family are good, Bolton Hill is a great place to live, and the piano generally stays in tune while I assault the Goldberg Variations, part of my bucket list. Much travel, some of the best of it in Germany last year with Messrs. Blum, Rich, Scherlis and Ted Randall ’72. Wandering around London a couple of weeks ago, I asked myself which of our classmates would have been knighted if we were British. I have my own choices; which are yours?

Mark Wilson: Since the reunion, my new bride (of 16 years as of this month) and I remain happily retired, with many fulfilling activities. We’ve continued traveling, with one trip to Canada, one to France with my wife’s son, and once to New Orleans, along with several golfrelated trips. In these current crazy times, we have no foreign travel scheduled, but you never know! We both continue to enjoy ballroom dancing, with me striving mightily to catch up to her greater experience and skill, and sort of enjoy golf. In our remaining free time, we volunteer for several organizations, and I’m still writing my novels despite the thundering silence when they appear!

P.S.: Charlie wanted to know our suggestions for classmates-to-be-knighted-ifonly-we-were-British... Ironically, my choice is Charlie himself, for his long and selfless contributions to the public good. Take a bow, Mr. Duff.

[Secretary’s note: Subsequent exchanges showed friendly appreciation that several others of the Class of 1971 were worthy of a knighthood, or an OBE (Order of the British Empire), were we English subjects. As the only actual Englishman in our class, your secretary doffs his bowler hat to the worthy aspirations of each of you. Perhaps in the next life?]

Dr. Benjamin Dubois: I am still working four days a week and an occasional weekend. Have three wonderful grandchildren. Have totally embraced the pickleball craze and play three to four days a

week. A younger passerby to one game I played asked if Social Security covers all expenses. My wife and I are planning a trip to Rwanda in June to see the gorillas, chimps, and safari to see the “big five.” Hey, we aren’t getting any younger. Travel while you still can. Before that, getting ready to go to my 50th college reunion at Washington U (St. Louis). I presume a lot of us have gotten a similar invite.

Bill Rich: Having failed retirement twice since our 50th Reunion — first, serving as Interim Rector of St. Mary of the Harbor, Provincetown, Massachusetts, and second, serving as interim Executive Director of Bethany House of Prayer, Arlington, Massachusetts — I am now succeeding at retirement, and enjoying the freedom to travel. This past fall, along with Charlie Duff, Michael Blum, and Bill Scherlis, I had the joy of an opera tour in Germany. This winter I have been snowbirding in Fort Lauderdale. This coming fall I will walk the Camino San Jacopo in Italy with friends from Trinity Church, Copley Square, Boston.

Mike Blum: Annette and I passed with honors our 47th anniversary this past December, and without her help, I’d be lost tending to my aged parents, who are now in their mid-90s and no longer able to live at home (alas!). Anyone want to buy a Bauhaus residence? No retirement in sight, either. So, whenever I wonder where the time goes, I know the answer: “It’s the house in Owings Mills; or it’s the farmette in Bel Air; or the farm in PA; or, it’s my business in Harford County; or, it’s our far-flung children (from California to New England); or, it’s our wonderful grandchildren (both in California!); or, it’s the plays I direct downtown at Spotlighters Theatre (2024: “The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-inthe-Moon Marigolds”; 2025: “Baby with the Bathwater”; 2026: “You Can’t Take It With You”; or it’s the parades I run in Bel Air (any volunteers for December 7?). Or it’s the cats, or the groundhogs, or the plumbing! Gilman fun fact: Charlie Duff, Bill Scherlis, Bill Rich, and I spent a week in Saxony last October with Ted Randall, seeing two concerts and five operas in Dresden, Leipzig and Chemnitz! (See photo.) A great time was had by all!

October 2024

Tom Casey: I am still working, though only four days a week. To while away the rest of my time I am singing in the choir at Memorial Episcopal where I was recruited by John Merrill in 1978, time flies. I also am playing violin with the Greenspring Valley Orchestra, and Beth and I are singing with Choral Arts on a summer tour in Europe. We just welcomed our second grandchild and are lucky to have all three of our children in town.

Chip Manekin: I spend my retirement in front of the computer, writing articles and books for the few people who will read them (most retired academics don’t stop working; they just stop getting paid). I am blessed to be within walking distance of my four children and 12 grandchildren, whom I see frequently, and four of whom Rachel and I took to Paris Disney last summer. And after a lifetime in community theatre, and eight sold-out performances playing Fagin in “Oliver!”, I hung up my acting spurs and kicked myself upstairs to management. God bless you all from Jerusalem. I couldn’t make the 50th reunion, but I will try to make the 55th.

Kirk Levedahl: After a 50-year career in science and national security, starting as a fast attack submarine officer in the cold war, Kirk retired from the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), the agency within the Department of Energy responsible for nuclear weapons and nonproliferation. Kirk spent the last eight years founding and managing a Congressional program directed to bring disruptive innovation

Bill Rich, Bill Scherlis, Charlie Duff, Mike Blum, and Ted Randall in front of the Dresden Opera House,

to the design, development, production and certification of responsive nuclear stockpile systems. Previously Kirk spent much of his career at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and at the NNSA conducting fusion research and later managing the effort that ultimately resulted in the achievement of ignition on the National Ignition Facility on December 5, 2022.

Marvin Miller: Still working full time, lots of travel, lots of hours. Still riding each June for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Illinois ride, The Tour de Farms. With the help of many folks, including some fellow Gilman classmates, I was the #1 fundraiser in Illinois last year. Also still quite active with another nonprofit, America in Bloom, helping cities across the country learn about the benefits of flowers, trees, and other plants to help create vitality in their communities.

Mid Walsh: My wife and I live south of Boston. She’s an avid equestrian; I do carpentry and various sports, my favorite of which is sculling on a calm corner of the Boston Harbor down the road from here. My two sons are both mental health workers living not too far away. Two delightful grandkids. I sing in a couple of music groups and am quite involved in the Boston poetry community. I often think of our years together, of the spectacular good fortune we had to grow up in the presence of Messrs. Finney, Downs, Porter, Bartkowski, Daniels, Andrews, and all the others.

Frank Fiske: I feel blessed by the fact that all three of my children are still local, prospering, and happy. Brienne and I are both retired and spending our time bouncing to and fro from Towson to Cape May. We are close with our four granddaughters — Elena, Emily, Daphne, and Maddie — and see them often. I am busy with my vintage duck decoy business/hobby, and I attend four to five shows annually to hawk them, mostly on the East Coast. Brienne retired after 47 years teaching young ladies how to gracefully perform axels, toe loops, etc. Unfortunately, the sport changed and not for the better. She keeps gorgeous gardens at both houses in between babysitting. My daughter, Kelly, stays at home with

her two and lives in Street, Maryland with her husband, Ed. My youngest son, Patrick ’08, is an educational services manager at Amergis in Timonium. He lives in Glen Arm with his wife, Noemie, and daughters. My son, Tommy ’ 05, is a manager at PSI Exams, lives in Canton and recently got engaged to his girlfriend, Shannon. My mother, Ellie, is 94 and active at many bridge tables each week.

Bert Berney: After 40 years, I have hung up my stethoscope in primary care, but continue to be active internationally in global occupational/environmental public health. I work with a group called Workplace Health Without Borders, the occupational medicine equivalent to Doctors Without Borders. I am freer to travel. In May, Buck Baker, Bill Scherlis, and our wives will be doing a Civil Rights tour through Mississippi to augment our trip through Alabama two years ago.

Scherlis and Bert

Baker. Close inspection reveals Bert wearing *color-coordinated* Mardi Gras beads. Bert, congrats on the perfect fashion accessory even without Liz present!

next day and the

Further afield, after completing visits to all the national parks in Croatia, I will start on those in Montenegro in September. Liz and I will also be doing a bike tour through Slovenia. Since my mom passed away, we don’t get back to Baltimore as often as we used to, but I look forward to letting Tom Lynn know when I am headed that way. Dinner with Tom, Charlie Duff, and Randy Beehler before the Thursday night Ravens game last year was a bonus.

Closer to our Portland, Oregon, home, our granddaughter turned 9 in April and our 15-month-old grandson in California is a joy. We also have a house at the Oregon Coast, which is a relaxing respite. Look forward to our 55th!

Mike Hilliard: My beloved wife, Georgia, passed away in June of 2023 I still live in Towson, Maryland. I am consulting with cities that choose to implement the Community Responder Model in which trained unarmed civilians respond to appropriate 911 calls for service instead of the police. This work is accomplished through the Law Enforcement Action Partnership. I am active in my Episcopal church, and I chair two Diocesan groups that help churches improve their vitality and grant funding to those that are in acute financial need. I just completed a Diocesan Civil Rights pilgrimage to Alabama visiting sites in Birmingham, Montgomery, and Selma. I also travel often to spend time with family and friends. My daughter lives nearby in Cockeysville, and I have three wonderful stepchildren and three preteen and teenage grandchildren.

Fred Nelson: Debbie and I are enjoying retirement. We sold our house in Greenville, South Carolina, and moved full time to Charleston, actually Sullivan’s Island, a barrier island at the mouth of the Charleston harbor. Our sons, Chris and Turner, are doing well. Chris lives in Brooklyn with his longtime girlfriend and works for a nonprofit that represents lower Manhattan. Turner works remotely at a tech startup and lives in Houston with his wife, Caroline. They just had our first grandchild, a cute little girl named Lottie! Debbie and I fill our time with travel and volunteering. My favorite volunteer job is working at the

Bill

Berney in Jackson, Mississippi, May 2025, awaiting arrival of Buck

Buck Baker arrives the

three commemorate the Greyhound Bus Station in Jackson, Mississippi, that played a vital role in assembling civil rights movement volunteers.

medical clinic for the Center for Birds of Prey. Not sure how much my human medical knowledge helps. We take care of sick and injured raptors and shore birds. Quite fun to hold a red-tailed hawk or a pelican.

Harry Turner: I’m off to Philadelphia for my 50th at Penn with my wife, Martha Nesbitt Turner, on May 11, and thereafter to her 50th at St. Lawrence in upstate New York.

My daughter, Dani, who was an undergraduate at Skidmore and received her MFA in theater from Columbia, lives in Manhattan and works in theater reviewing new scripts, peddling the ones she likes to small theaters.

Son Jeremy received his master’s in aerospace engineering at Cornell and has been working at Sci Tech, a defense and aerospace contractor, first in Princeton and now in Boulder. This summer he is quitting and moving to Vancouver to pursue a Ph.D. in geophysics at the University of British Columbia.

After 30 years as a legal professor at Stevenson, I retired in December. At the moment I’m drafting a talk about Walter Lord for the Hambleton Street Club in June. I’m also developing a paper on the 1931 and 1932 winter seasons when the University Players, a repertory summer theater on Cape Cod, came to Baltimore. Its members included Henry Fonda, Josh Logan, Barbara O’Neil, Jimmy Stewart, Margaret Sullavan, and Vagabond actress Mildred Natwick.

I stay in touch with Blum, Casey, Duff, Lynn, Manekin, and will hopefully catch up with Arch Montgomery at the Penn Reunion.

Edwin Merryman: Secretary’s note: I did not receive notes from Edwin but I can vouch he is hale and hearty, managing his legendary horse farm near Port Deposit, Maryland. Travelling from Philly, I passed by Port Deposit, and Edwin kindly joined me for lunch on short notice. We had a terrific time catching up, and Edwin recounted a few tales about growing up with Gilman Lower Schoolers Stephen Small and Jack Voss. Edwin also provided valuable psychological and philosophical counsel in the

aftermath of our losing Louisa’s mare, Empress. I may even have convinced Edwin to attend our 55th!

Nigel Ogilvie: I have volunteered to chair our 55th Reunion Committee. Mercifully Tom Lynn and Mike Hilliard have stepped forward to help me. While this will not be nearly as grand an undertaking as our 50th, Tom, Mike, and I will be grateful to receive additional volunteers to form a Steering Committee. “Many hands make light work” as the saying goes, and I think a group of five would be nice.

Louisa Woodville (Foxcroft ’71) and I continue to live happily in The Plains, Virginia, about 45 miles west of D.C. She lost her Arabian mare this year at the age of 20 (Edwin will confirm that 20 is not old for a healthy horse) due to laminitis, which makes it very painful for the horse to stand and thus the only solution is euthanasia. I was present for this sad transition and can report I would be pleased to depart in the same peaceful, loving way.

On more positive news, this gives Louisa more time to play tennis, lead the Cosmos Club Medieval Interests Section, and travel. We took five trips to Europe last year (Puglia, Burgundy, Bordeaux, and the Dordogne, Sicily, and a Viking cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest), and are taking at least four this year. I will color outside my normal lines in the fall with a trip to Georgia/Azerbaijan/ Armenia and Istanbul via Overseas Adventure Travel, my first experience with this company but it comes well recommended.

I volunteer for a couple of small environmental groups and for my local Episcopalian church, plus serve as a precinct captain for the Fauquier County Democrats.

1972

Richard Thomas rthomas@csfllp.com

Fifty-three years out, what is the big deal? Well, it is a big deal! New grandchildren, recent retirements (now

referred to as rewiring), travel, and just plain old having a good time.

Our class continues to work diligently to stay together. Examples are ski trips to Utah, attending Cactus League baseball games in Arizona in honor of our beloved Alan Kauffman, our monthly lunches at Earth, Wood and Fire, etc.

Messrs. George and Fetting have developed a new form of competition to see who can identify the most former Gilman students in photographs from years past. Currently Pete George is the resounding winner and he insisted that I include this fact in the Class Notes.

Reporting in, see the following:

Gordy Allen: Maryann and I largely divide our time between Capitol Hill in Seattle in the summer and Phoenix in the winter after moving west from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, in 2022. So far, so good, and here, we are closer to our kids and grandkids (two grandkids in San Diego and one in Seattle). Maryann has joined the faculty at ASU. Me, I am still trying to catch one of the big carp that inhabit the canal near our house in Phoenix. In June, as Arizona warms, we will migrate back to our home in Seattle. I have reconnected with Geoff Menzies there and look forward to sharing plates of oysters with him this summer and maybe catching some trout.

Philip Kass: I really can’t recall the last time I sent in one of these letters, but I

Alums from the Class of 1972 gathered in Alta, Utah, for a ski trip in February 2025

Left to right: Tony Talalay, Dennis Foster, Mark Fetting, Peter George, Scott Supplee.

actually have been rather busy these past few years. As you know, I went to work for a major violin shop in Philadelphia, and when I left I began offering appraisal and consultation services to both dealers and musicians. I don’t really seek out work, but enough finds me that there’s always something in my inbox. However, it’s not my preferred work these days. Many years ago, I realized that the violin world knew less about the old violin makers than in any other artistic endeavor. Art historians knew when the great Renaissance artists lived and worked and died, whereas we couldn’t even say when someone died even if it was as recently as during the 1960s. I set about trying to remedy that, the result being that I have written essays for most of the major violin magazines and music encyclopedias as well as a slew of books on such things as English bows, Cremonese violins, and American violins. My most recent project, a study of the violin makers of Mantua, is in process: vol. 1 was published last year, vol. 2 is in the works, and the final edits are proceeding in vol. 3 I’m now trying to complete my research concerning the violin makers of Turin, for which there’s a bit of a time pressure: I’m a key speaker on the subject at the upcoming conference of the Entente Internationale des Luthiers et Archetiers, held in Turin at the end of May.

In fact, I am fairly much in demand in the violin world as a speaker on any of my myriad topics of study. Last November, I spoke about the Amati family of Cremona to the Violin Society of America, a group with whom I’ve been closely connected since 1975, and earlier in the year spoke about style and ideas in French bow-making to the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers in Denver. And it’s been quite some years since I was able to attend any of their conferences without being called upon as a speaker.

Needless to say, this requires a lot of travel, for which I am grateful, as it gets me out of the house on a predictable schedule. My journeys are primarily to London, Turin, Milan, Mantua, Parma, and Venice, which is to say I’m having a great deal of fun in my work, because wherever you are, on whatever day, the

archives close at 5:30, and from that point on, you’re on holiday.

Besides this work, I retain my great pleasure in playing chamber music. When I arrived in Baltimore, I was introduced to a Hopkins professor who invited me to be his regular quartet violist, something that became a weekly treat. Fifty years on, I still play as often as possible, mostly with retired professionals and extremely skilled amateurs, in challenging but rewarding repertoire by all the great composers. It was one of these friends who assembled our pandemic quartet, which I named the Covidian Quartet, allowing us to play our way through COVID-19 in relative isolation and security.

And, if all goes well, the letter I write to you in five years will read virtually the same, task by task and adventure by adventure.

David Cross: I have wrapped up my legal career and moved to Ashland, Oregon. This place is like Disneyland for retired people! I am singing with two choirs, volunteering at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and taking classes at the local university. We will be traveling to Virginia Beach, Virginia, soon to visit our first grandchild.

Chris Taylor: As the famous philosopher Aesop once said, “There is no party without a Greek.” The deep truth of this statement was borne out this past March 4–6 when 17 of us — classmates, other friends, family, and alums, and spouses — parachuted into Phoenix, Arizona, for three days of Cactus League MLB in celebration of our beloved classmate, Alan Miller Kaufmann, Jr. Of course, the famous quote from Aesop refers to Mike Karas, bon vivant, raconteur, and transcontinental participant in this year’s extravaganza.

This was the second iteration of the baseball trip. Ted Trimble came up with the idea in celebration of Alan’s (and our) love of baseball. Sitting next to Alan at a baseball game entitled the lucky friend to an “It’s Academic” style, fact-filled running commentary on the Orioles, the American League, Bill James, more Orioles, and a thousand other baseball (and politics) related topics. All of this

discussion while keeping score of the game. For a sports fan, talking with Alan was one of the great joys in life.

In the first iteration of our Cactus League trip last year, we had eight attendees. This year we were 17 strong, led by Ted and joined by Ted’s brother Ridge ’65 (and wife Diana) and his sister Liz (Bryn Mawr ’66). Also joining were Steuart Thomsen and his wife, Linda, James Brundige and his wife, Sandy, Gordy Allen and his wife, Maryann, Tuck Washburne and his wife Jenny, Beau Wright, Jack Orrick, Karas, and me.

In addition to watching the Dodgers vs. Texas, SanFran vs D’Backs , and Padres vs Cubs, we also had three dinners together as a group. The first night we ate at GLAI BAAN, one of the Top 5 Thai restaurants in Phoenix, discovered by Ted. The second night, at Gordy’s recommendation, we ate at Chris Bianco’s nationally acclaimed Pizzeria Bianco.

Dinner on the third night was a repeat of our closing meal from last year, a dinner hosted by Gordy and his wife, Maryann, which featured Gordy’s world-class green chile pork butt stew. The ease with which Gordy and Maryann hosted 15 guests was so enjoyable, and we are so grateful for their generosity.

Each night after our dinners, a group of us would repair to the hotel bar and finish up with an IPA or two. When Karas says “One more beer?” it’s not really a question. I got to catch up with Mike and Beau, who, between them, know pretty much everybody in the class and what they are up to. As I mentioned to the group at Gordy and Maryann’s dinner, Alan was a friend who connected us all and kept us connected via letters with news clippings, meals at diners and coffee shops, and lunch at Mt. Washington Tavern or in Catonsville. It was a wonderful gift that he gave us and we got to pay that forward thanks to the organizational efforts of Ted and Steuart.

One last note, if you ever want to advance plan another D-Day, Ted and Steuart are just the men to help. The logistics of getting tickets in advance, finding rooms for late additions, and wrangling all these friends and class-

mates to dinner in three different destinations was no small achievement. As far as I know, no one got lost or left behind. We had 17 friends in AZ this year, and we are hoping even more of AMK’s friends will come out west in 2026 to watch some baseball, have a few meals together and enjoy some IPAs.

Peter George, Maryann, and Gordy Allen at Peter’s daughter Elizabeth’s wedding in September 2024

Three generations of former Gilman football quarterbacks — Lee Gaines ’69, Richard Thomas ’72, and Dennis Malone ’68 — caught up and compared notes at the Elkridge Club in July 2024.

1974

David Seiler dseiler4@yahoo.com

In the year after our 50th Reunion, classmates have traveled, won sports tournaments, and continue working — paid or volunteering. The next weekend after our fun-filled weekend at Gilman, I watched the Maryland Hunt Cup Steeplechase race with Ben Ballard, both of us sheltering from the rain wearing our new 5407 caps!

Ben and David Hunt Cup after reunion

Mike Cromwell writes that “in the past 12 months, my wife and I have been fortunate to visit the Galapagos Islands off Ecuador, the Lofoten Islands in Northern Norway, and several islands in Indonesia including Bali, Java, Borneo, and Komodo Island. The biggest family news is our son got engaged. I am enjoying semi-retirement.” Mike is kind to send us links to the many amazing photographs he takes on these trips.

At the time of writing his note, Jock Whittlesey and wife, Monique Wong, were on a cruise ship in Manila, 103 days into a 180-day, round-the-world cruise on Oceania’s Insignia. Insignia has about 600 passengers and 400 crew. Jock is having a great time making lots of short port calls in some out-of-the-way places. Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand are coming up. He is assembling a large collection of refrigerator magnets.

Brad Mudge writes that he is still happily teaching at the University of Colorado and has no plans to retire. It will be 40 years next September but 50 now seems like a reasonable goal. He also will soon celebrate the milestone of his 15th year playing in the World Series of Poker. “That’s long enough for me to recognize my own mediocre talents, but I’m having fun and occasionally causing difficulty for those 20-somethings.” Best luck to Brad!

Skip Porter writes that he and wife Peg are celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary on the 250th anniversary of “The Shot Heard Around the World,” which, for those who attended a civics

class know, was the day of the battle of Lexington and Concord. Also they will be going to Wrexhan in Wales in June to stay with their daughter and son-in-law in the house that they bought last year. Who knows, maybe they will see Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds while they are there.

Steve Richards lets us know that he will be retiring at the end of June from Harford County Public Schools after 36 years of service as a psychologist and supervisor. That also gives him plenty of time to celebrate his 33rd wedding anniversary with his beautiful wife, Lyndi.

Jack Gray described a busy month in which he and good friend Nancy spent time in Italy with a group of people, and then returned to a frenzy of packing and purging items in his New York City apartment. They made space for her to move in amongst Jack’s collections of rare books and art. He has begun to officially transition away from day-to-day work responsibilities.

AC George shares that “he and his wife, Kathryn, continue to stay on the move with their children Ellett, Pell, and Taz in D.C., Charlotte, and Chicago. It’s great fun visiting all, including spouses Kevin, Katherine, and Michael and our five grandchildren, Cole, Reid, Eliza, Ellyn, and Mackie, the latter two, twins. Moving around also includes much time in South Carolina and other travel. Best to all and stay well guys!”

Henry Blue won the 2024 Super Senior MSGA golf tournament shooting an impressive five strokes under second place. He continues an amazing multi-generational history of strong play and commitment to the game of golf.

Bennett Sweren M.D. has kept his strong Gilman varsity tennis game in force by playing in the USTA National 65 and over 9.0 tournament in 2024, and continues interclub league play in Baltimore.

I’m sad to share the news of the death of Dave Bock last May, just a few weeks after the 50th. We send our condolences to Kathy, his wife of many years.

Dave was one of the seven Davids in our class: Albright, Bock, Clarke, Emala, Liu, Rich, and Seiler. Fun fact: The Daves made up 9% of our Class of ’74! Three of those Daves (Liu, Rich, and Seiler) continue a 25-year tradition of tailgating at the Maryland Hunt Cup, missing the pandemic years, but back in full force now.

Dave Liu, Dave Rich, Dave Seiler at Hunt Cup 2025

David Seiler continues part-time work as the Senior Director of Alpha Biosciences, a specialty manufacturing company increasing its footprint and presence in Baltimore City. Dave Rich continues as a senior recruiter also in Baltimore City. And who would have thought that varsity track and soccer athlete Dave Liu, while a professor of sociology in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, would become an improving equestrian competing in local dressage events in Pennsylvania.

The Board of Trustees voted in May to extend Andy Brooks’ term as president for an extra year through June 30, 2027 He could be retired after a career at T. Rowe Price, but instead devotes quite some time to Gilman and other volunteer activities. Many of us are thankful for his continuing efforts. Also remaining on the Gilman Board of Trustees is Peter Bowe, who continues his work as founder of the Bowe Stewart Foundation and as publisher of the industry newsletter Dredgewire.

Where in the world is Jock Whittlesey? As above, he is somewhere in the Pacific enjoying a wonderful cruise! I’d make a joke that he originally thought it was to be “a three-hour tour,” but I fear I’ll receive a box of refrigerator magnets…

Kevin Matthews: After 18 years as Episcopal Campus and Young Adult Missioner in Greensboro at St. Mary’s House, I retired in August, having completed 40 years of ordained ministry. After replacing the back deck on my house and fencing in the yard so my 75-pound golden doodle Merlin can run around unleashed, I am planning for some travel. First come the nine states I have not visited, and then the rest of the world! Also looking for a DnD group (the last thing my students got me hooked into before I retired; we were not your typical campus ministry!).

1975

Joe Hooper hoopdedo2@earthlink.net

“It’s taken me 50 years to show up and I wish I’d done it earlier but I’m so glad I came back today.”

That was Lecky Haller, making an impromptu declaration at the end of our reunion memorial service for our seven classmates who have passed away. I’m sure many of us figured the service would be kind of sad, maybe something to get through on the way to more festive events. If so, we were wrong. It was a glorious service, made more so by Selwyn Ray, our in-house chaplain (day job: director of community relations at Johns Hopkins Hospital) who presided.

A handful of classmates volunteered to speak: John Tompkins on Hank Young’s gusto and compassion; Joe Wingard on Jon Pine’s good, sweet nature; Ian MacFarlane on Kevin Kamenetz’s passion for life and politics; Tom Miller on our valedictorian Giovanni Prezioso’s humility (not the way you might expect a world-beater like Gio to be characterized); Carl Offit on Mike Phipps’ adventurous life (basketball star, police officer, soldier, Civil War historian); Gerry Brewster on Jimmy Stump’s champion horsemanship; Mike McCarthy on the eccentric charm of our world-class skeet shooter, Jamey Bealmear

As Sel said: “It’s mystical to speak about these guys in the present tense.”

Just as remarkable, in a different way, were the in-the-flesh returnees, classmates who, post-graduation, had rarely caught up with old Baltimore friends or gone to a school reunion or, like, Lecky, had never come back at all. Over the course of a packed weekend of activities, there they were: Lucien Brush, Pip Smith, Hugh Simmons, Greg DeFrancesco, Bob Ehrlich, Pat O’Shea, to name a handful. But Lecky couldn’t help but stand out, in a good way: the two-time Olympian in doubles canoeing (who regularly teamed up in competitions with brother Fritz ’77) with the ripped, undetectable body-fat physique — basically, the redefinition of what a guy in his late sixties might aspire to look like. And, with his great shock of shoulder-length, silver-gray locks and moustache, Leck was a worthy match for Mark Foster, who must have figured he’d retired the Best Hair trophy decades ago. If the Eagles or Creedence Clearwater needed to fill out their legacy band line-ups, they could do worse. (Lecky, by the way, is married, lives in the hills outside of Asheville, North Carolina, and has coached any number of sports at Asheville School, currently working in its mountaineering department.)

“At Gilman, I didn’t have any enemies but I liked some more than others,” Selwyn said in his opening remarks. “Today, I love you all.” He’d said much the same thing a day earlier, answering a question put to him by a Lower School student at the close of a morning program that brought together third graders and their Class of ’75 pen pals they’d picked out from our yearbook. “Who was your best friend?” the student asked. Sel looked at the 28 of us spread out around the tables and replied: “All of you are my best friends.” Corby Pine, Jon Pine’s widow, put it this way at the memorial service. “I could tell you something Jonathan said about everyone here.”

Any high school reunion that gracefully leaps from engaging with 10-year-olds to conjuring with the memories of the departed in the space of 24 hours is doing more than a few things right.

After the pen pal program and the memorial service, the pace accelerated

and my impressions become subjective and scattershot. But here are a few:

I’m sitting at a lunch table on the patio of the home of Head of School Henry Smyth. After the meal, Henry gives a talk and fields questions, with a gracefulness and sense of commitment that was deeply reassuring: right man, right job, right time. But before all that, I’m swapping war stories with Bill Miller, John Tompkins, and Pip Smith. It was a table conversation that Hemingway might have enjoyed — the Hemingway of “The Old Man and the Sea,” which I believe we read in ninth grade English. So, Bill is there even though he badly broke his leg some months back — a potentially devastating injury for a guy who makes his living cutting huge lawns. But he’s up and walking now, gingerly, without assistance. It was Tompkins, the Reunion Whisperer, who had helped persuade him to make the trip in the first place.

Pip, who flew in from his home in Folsom, in Northern California, is similarly unbowed. His body has taken a beating from years of running marathons and ultra-marathons but he’s not about to give up. Not even eight years ago, after his prostate cancer surgery and the radiation treatment that followed. He said he’s the only distance runner he knows who raced wearing a pair of Depends under his running shorts. (Yes, urinary incontinence is a common side effect of treatment.) “It was during a 50-mile race and I had spares stuffed in my vest pockets,” he explained. “This was in the middle of radiation treatment so I basically never had to stop running, just change the plan a bit.” Pip is planning on running marathons in Chicago, Boston, and New York next year. He signs off his emails: “Amped.”

I was impressed. John’s feelings ran deeper. He’d won his own battle with prostate cancer a couple of years after Pip. This was, after all, a 50th reunion — you can’t expect a perfect health report card. But you hope, like Pip and John and Bill, to rebound strongly. (I may get the next installment of the Tales of Pip back in New York when he visits his daughter, who lives about a five-minute walk from my wife, Kate, and me in Washington Heights.)

Our class party, Saturday night, at John Colston’s house, a few blocks from the School, was a pleasurable blur — deep thanks to John for his hosting generosity. Let me call up a few moments from that evening.

Lucien Brush! I’m not sure I would have recognized him without his lanyard ID. The Lucien that I, and I’m sure many of us, remember had a kind of a punk-ish affect. He cut a striking figure on a skateboard, a rebel with or without a cause. The Lucien I enjoyed talking with at Colston’s was an earnest and very accomplished engineer, a professor of Materials Engineering at the University of Washington, and an all-around good guy. For the record, he’s not nostalgic about Gilman, Lucien. He characterized his high school years as being somewhat aimless. OK, it’s his life; he can judge himself however he wants. But being cool in high school, to those of us not as cool as we perceived Lucien to be, that’s not nothing either.

For me, Gordon Schweizer sits at the other end of the recognizability spectrum — looks the same, seems the same (pretty good!), still running, with a partner, his Towson-based company that repairs steam heating systems. (“Gordon does my steam work,” offered up Joe Wingard, who runs his family’s manufacturing business.) Check out the Yelp reviews for All Steamed Up and you’ll recognize the Gilman Gordon, meticulously approaching each steam job like a heating tech Sherlock Holmes.

I caught up with Harrison Smith

The Frank Zappa hair is gone but the essence of Harrison doesn’t change: open, engaged, curious. He and his wife, Michele, live in Freeland, Maryland, just below the Pennsylvania border. The career is still going strong — he’s currently an “IT Risk Consultant” at Highmark Health — and the tech genes have been passed down to his three adult sons, all working in STEM fields. The part I didn’t necessarily expect, Harrison filled in later via email: “I am involved in my church, enjoy Bible study, and serving those God leads me to with the many blessings and abundance provided to me.”

But I had an inkling. When Harrison and I were talking at the reunion, somehow the subject of Bob Hoderny came up. And I realized Bob should have a place in these Notes. Bob, in case anyone needs reminding, was the St. Mary’s seminarian who taught a religion class at Gilman for a good chunk of our time at the School. He was an enormous influence — I remember he led a small group of us to New Haven to interview Yale’s anti-war chaplain William Sloane Coffin and shepherded most of the class to a performance of “Godspell” in D.C. And more. In the case of Harrison, much more. He showed up serendipitously (providentially?) one evening to rescue Harrison from a teenage wasteland catastrophe in the making, quite possibly, he thinks, saving the life of his friend who was in dire medical straits.

Bob was an unusual cat: handsome, charismatic, a Vietnam vet, a social justice warrior, and someone who just seemed to effortlessly become a central figure in the lives of the teenagers he encountered. And, after he left Gilman, he continued to do just that, very successfully, for some two decades at Archbishop Carroll High School in D.C. Then in 1997, he and his 7-year-old foster son were fatally struck by a car while crossing the street on a rainy day. If you go on the Archbishop Carroll page on Facebook, you can listen to Bob.

That’s tough to pivot from. But I’ll leave Colston’s party with two general impressions. The first concerns the wives, very much in evidence. I remember Tompkins sharing a thought with me at our 40th that made its way into the Notes. He said that as a younger man he’d been too selfish, too caught up with himself and his career to pay his wife (the lovely Sara, also at Colston’s) the attention she deserved. I suspect he wasn’t the only classmate who felt that way. But looking around the party, I had an intimation that, in the full bloom of our maturity, we had developed a deeper gratitude for the women we had shared our lives with.

Walt Cromwell, our retired GM engineer, had given every indication of becoming a lifelong bachelor. But with him at the party was Jereen, his significant other. Back home in Michigan, they

spend about half the week babysitting two, sometimes three, of her grandchildren. It’s a good life, he says. Of course, grandchildren aren’t so rare anymore. Vanna and Sandy McDonald, a strong presence at the party, have quite a few. He can give you the stat line. Pat O’Shea, semi-retired from the finance world, lives in Rehoboth and admits that, after having launched three adult kids into the world, he and his wife Maria are … waiting.

The second impression was that there was a lot of hugging, right out of the gate at the first weekend event and reaching a crescendo in the later hours of the Colston party. I don’t know how we said goodbye when we graduated in ’75: a wave, a manly handshake? (I savor the line delivered by H.W. Tilman after he and Eric Shipton reached the summit of Nanda Devi, the first Himalayan giant to fall: “I believe we so far forgot ourselves as to shake hands on it.”) Now, it’s hugs at the drop of a hat. I think the wives were amused.

The reunion ended with a Sunday brunch at the Lower School. There had been some discussion amongst the reunion planning committee that brunch might be a bridge too far. Wouldn’t we all be sick of each other by then? The answer, for the smaller group of classmates who weren’t ready to call it quits, was no.

Gerry Brewster and I had a chance to compare notes, after we’d talked about our respective books at the Alumni Authors program the day before. Gerry’s was a well-honed brief on the extraordinary life of his father, the subject of John Frece’s biography, “Self-Destruction: The rise, fall, and redemption of U.S. Senator Daniel B. Brewster,” for which Gerry had been a primary source. Unfortunately, he had to deliver it at double-speed since I rambled over my allotted time, describing a book I co-authored, about an unarmed, young Black man “disappeared” by the New Orleans police — “Fire on the Levee: The Murder of Henry Glover and the Search for Justice after Hurricane Katrina.” (Even the title takes a long time to say.)

Over bagels, Bruce Matthai, now retired from commercial real estate and settling into life as a Valley country squire, laid out the case for our 50th: “The warmth and comradery and the great feeling of love I got from everybody that I saw — I always thought we were a great class, now I’m sure of it.” Colston and I chewed over the same sentiment at breakfast, and Reiley McDonald and I have done the same when we overlap in Connecticut or Baltimore. (Reiley, still in the thoroughbred horse game, was a weekend reunionist if not a member of the Breakfast Club.)

When I first contemplated a 50th reunion, I figured this would be our last before we became old. As in, old old, officially old. Now I’m not so sure. At breakfast with us were three of our former teachers and coaches: Cary Woodward, Jack Thompson, and Bill Greene, all in fine form. Maybe the reunion road is longer than I gave it credit for. Over more bagels, Wingard and Tompkins filled me in on Hugh Simmons’ career. After retiring from a high-stress job as a hospital administrator at the University of Maryland, he’s led wildlife photography tours for Naturalist Journeys, all over the world. Check out his Facebook page: a video of a wolf pack feeding in Yellowstone or photos of the otherworldly peaks in Chile’s Torres de Paine. Note to self: Next time, talk to Hugh and to DeFran who, by the sounds of it, carries the righteous Nick Schloeder torch, teaching government and, until recently, coaching football, at James River High School in the Greater Richmond area. This year, Bill Harwood, our good friend and class president, couldn’t make the reunion. Maybe next time he will. Maybe Lecky will come back.

Steinberg and his family celebrate the holidays.

The sudden loss of a classmate’s sibling tempered our perspectives, including that it’s “awkward to speak about oneself when we are all reminded of the fragility of life,” as we shared the most recent chapters of our life experiences approaching the 50th anniversary of our graduation.

John Wharton jw213@yahoo.com

Bob Thomas, left, joins in for the family photo at the wedding of his daughter, Emma.

Ted Sotir and Ken Volk enjoy a sunny day in Puerto Rico.

Charlie

Many of us have retired from our careers and have relocated to warmer habitats, leaving more time for enjoying travel and grandchildren. Others are drawing parallels of their Gilman years and current pursuits, including John Purnell, who asked, “I wonder how many of you remember the art show at Gilman in 1975 or 1976 when I put lights in the stairwell and played rock-and-roll music. Well, that nascent passion has flowered into a lot of theatrical lighting designs, many of them for rock-and-roll musicals such as ‘Rock of Ages,’ ‘Margaritaville,’ ‘Mamma Mia!,’ and currently ‘Disaster’!”

“Last month,” John wrote in April, “I won the Outstanding Lighting Design in a Play award from the Washington Area Theater Community Honors (WATCH) for “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime,” one of 11 2024 WATCH awards garnered by my home theater Colonial Players of Annapolis.”

John added, “This ‘second career’ is going quite well as I am also getting acting and singing roles. No longer am I an option for the crooning tenor that gets the girl. No sir, now I play the morally twisted senior power figure that sings a song and then screws up everyone else’s rose garden.”

John turned to family life. “Claire’s book design work is on an upswing as she gained another notable national publishing house as a customer this past year. Our oldest daughter, Mary, is loving her life in rural Colorado. She and husband Paul have no kids but parent an active German Shepherd and an aloof feline. They continue running Karma Tutors and doing mission work in Guatemala. Our youngest, Lizzie, is in the world of high finance at Houlihan-Lokey in Manhattan. She and her beau live in Bedford Stuyvesant (a place my parents told me never to venture into in the 1970s). She also teaches yoga.”

Look for Keith Christian out and about on the scenic routes, as “after 35 years in policing, I’m happily retired. Hopefully, I’ll be riding up and down the east coast on my Harley. In August, Chris Lambert and his wife are coming to Philly for an O’s versus Phillies game.”

Bob Thomas is staying busy, writing, “I have stepped back from my law practice, but I can’t say that I’ve fully retired. It’s more that I have embraced a blend of passion projects that keep me fully engaged. They are: heading up the Board of the ACLU of Massachusetts at a particularly intense period, teaching two courses at Boston University School of Law, managing a couple of fun real estate projects, and dipping my toes into the senior tennis circuit at the national level. I’m having fun being an old dog trying to learn some new tricks.”

On the home front, Bob added, “Polly and I have downsized from our family home in Jamaica Plain to a condo nearby. Daughter Emma and son-in-law Aram Mitchell occupy our old digs, where they expect to welcome our first grandchild in May. Many of you have lapped us several times on the grandparent front and have shared the joys that we are really looking forward to.”

And during a vacation earlier this year, Bob wrote, “We had a very special visit with Dixon Harvey just a few weeks ago in St. John, USVI. It was a sweet visit, and it reminded me again how much friends mean, particularly this little Gilman band of brothers.”

Jim Burgunder wrote that he and Anna continue to live in Switzerland, where “I look forward to a brief visit from one of our classmates next month. My door remains open for the rest of you as well.”

“Anna and I are both officially retired,” Jim added, “but our work in the nonprofit sector, and Anna’s continued involvement in the for-profit sector, are claiming our time and energy. Our three sons are constructively making their way in the world, but no daughters-in-law are on the near-term horizon. If this does not change, I might start posting them on eBay — shipping included.”

Nick Richardson and Anita are doing well, as he pursues new interests, post career. “I’ve been retired for two years, although it seems more like two months,” Nick wrote. “So far, I feel I’ve achieved balance. I’m on a few not-forprofit organization boards, generating a sufficient number of outside appoint-

ments to the point that I need to know the day and date and to keep a calendar. I fill the rest of my time with various hobbies, including playing music and woodwork. I just upped my 30+ years of club social membership to a full golf membership to encourage me to play more golf. Next year, I will let you know if it was a worthwhile investment!”

Nick added, “Anita is still in the workforce, underwriting my golf, and our two sons — Matthew ’10 and Will ’14 — are well and, thus far, live locally. Matthew married Madison two years ago, and Will is engaged to marry Lauren this September in Charlottesville. It is fitting they tie the knot there. Will and Lauren met when paired as lab partners in their second year at UVA and have been together ever since. Anita and I could not be more thrilled with our sons’ choices.”

Henry Thomas and Tina are “really enjoying being grandparents,” he wrote. “Sadly, we only get a chance twice a year to spend some quality time with them, as our children are scattered across the country.” Henry added. “I am still enjoying the insurance and executive benefit business, with no plans to stop.”

Suber Huang was in Baltimore in early April for a 55th reunion of his sixth grade class, where it was “wonderful to catch up with Dixon and later to speak fluent sangria with Ken Volk and Margot and Scott Graham and Beth at Tio Pepe’s. We had such a good time. I am looking forward to our 50th year reunion.” Suber wrote that his father passed away three years ago, but his mother continues to work at Johns Hopkins, in her 60th year.

“Cindy still enjoys her dermatology practice,” Suber added, “but is eyeing retirement with envy. Our eldest, David, is completing his hematology/oncology fellowship and will be an attending physician at Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City, in July. He has been married for three years to Cynthia, who has recently been promoted to director at McKinsey. They live in Chelsea, NYC, with our grand-dog, Luna. Jennifer is completing her ophthalmology residency at UC Irvine and has matched to a vitreoretinal surgery fellowship at UC Davis. She will be married in May

to Stephan, the lead interior systems engineer for Waymo/Google/Alphabet, making autonomous cars. Our youngest, Daniel, is an SVP in commercial finance at EastDil Secured ... livin’ the life in SF, Napa, and at weddings around the world!”

In closing, Suber wrote, “I have a busy academic practice as a retina surgeon with my retirement target now under 15 years. This year, I was invited to become a director and vice-chair for science at the Foundation Fighting Blindness, the world’s largest private funder of eye research for inherited eye disease. The Future Vision Foundation is now six years old, and it’s been gratifying to be CEO and Executive Producer of inspiring films showcasing breakthrough vision research. As a photographer, I am six months into a portrait project entitled “Inspiration — the intersection of creativity, innovation and art.” Lastly, it was such a thrill to be part of a 55+ USTA 7.0 Men’s tennis team that was just two match tie-break points from the national championship out of 1,823 teams in 2024!”

After 38 years at the helm of Hilgartner Natural Stone Co., Tom Doyle wrote, “I was able to sell the firm last year and complete my long-awaited relocation along with Pam down to Florida. While Maryland is a great place to live, and I will always be the Baltimoron from Maryland, I find the climate not so great for a retirement as I have pictured mine.”

Tom added, “My son continues on as a well-respected and awarded craftsman at the company, but no grandchildren are on the horizon as he has not yet decided on a lifetime partner. So while I do not yet have the pleasure of a daughter-in-law or imminent grandkids, I do get to see a somewhat constant flow of ‘applicants’ for the job!”

Always the outdoorsman, Bill Spragins wrote, “I made it up to Lake Tahoe to ski Palisades, formerly Squaw Valley, after a huge dump of snow in February. After not skiing for two years, the legs managed to hold for a couple days but were challenged on the steeps, but we made it down safe and sound. As is true in many places, April/May is the most beautiful time of the year in the

Bay Area. The hills in the surrounding valleys are green from the winter rains, the reservoirs are full both here and in Southern California, in case you heard something different a few months ago, and everything is blooming in our backyard that we have transformed over the last five years. One advantage in CA is you can garden year-round. Our winter veggies have been consumed (lettuce, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, and peas along the way), new summer veggies planted, and our olallieberries (a cross between a blackberry and raspberry) apple, peach, cherry, lemon, and blood orange trees are all in full blossom. These activities somehow keep me connected with my parents who had a small garden and orchard at our home in Lutherville.”

Bill added, “Barbara has survived the great federal purge, so far. Spencer appears set to go back to his internship with a federal agency in Washington, D.C., this summer, we think. And I am managing a portfolio of work coast to coast and occasionally abroad that keeps trying to get larger when I want it to get smaller.”

Ken Volk and Margot experienced a transition year in 2024, as he wrote, “We graduated veterinary school in 1984, and since 1986 have been working at Lutherville Animal Hospital, the practice we started in 1986. As of April we are mainly retired. We were able to work at our dream job and to do it together all those years, which was the whip cream on top of the sundae. We miss seeing the people we worked with long-term, both staff and clients, but all in all, we miss it less than we thought we would. To celebrate, we flew to Miami where we had dinner with Pam and Frank Vecella and meandered down to Key West. On the way back we stopped at their home in the Keys, which his grandfather purchased in the late ’50s. Their place is spectacular with amazing views of the turquoise water. We had a lot of fun reconnecting. In the fall I had crab cakes with Bill Spragins when he was back here for work. In January, Ted Sotir and Thea came to visit us in our place in Puerto Rico. I think Ted and I look a smidgeon different than we did back in the day when we were college roommates. Also, a great dinner with Scott, Suber, and our

wives last weekend. Many stories and immaturity stole the day. I’m sure our wives were reconsidering their decision to say ‘I do.’”

Besides retirement, Ken added, “our big change is playing the role of grandparents. Both sons are in the Philadelphia area. Our oldest, Ken III, has a 2-year-old and a 1-month-old, both boys. Our younger son, Jack, has an 18-month-old boy, and continuing the theme, he and his wife are expecting another boy at the end of July. I guess we won’t be going to any ballet recitals or jazzercise, but these days, who knows? Anyway, we are enjoying our new roles and are driving up to Philadelphia a lot.”

Charlie Steinberg wrote that time with his wife, Kara Lynch, “and my three stepchildren and two dogs has been phenomenal. I think that waiting 64 years to take the plunge has made it that much sweeter.”

Charlie added that Jack, 20, is studying communication disorders at nearby Assumption University, where its theater also keeps him happy and stimulated. Joe, 18, is a varsity hockey and baseball player who is an absolute baseball nut about the Orioles. “All of those mementos I saved all these years now have a delighted recipient,” Charlie wrote. “Will he choose Stonehill College, Providence College, or Baltimore’s own Loyola? We shall soon see.”

And the youngest, Juliette, 11, “is a budding attorney who has never lost a case,” Charlie wrote. “She’s amazing. She’s decided on Stanford Law, but hasn’t yet decided on Harvard or Yale for undergraduate. Wait ‘til they find out.”

Rounding out the lineup, “shaggy rescue dog Gilda has embraced the big sister role to puppy Doolin, a Cavalier King Charles,” Charlie wrote, reminding us that he’s experiencing “all this, while continuing my Encounter, as President of the Worcester Red Sox. All amazing, all thanks to Gilman — and each of you.”

Andy deMuth wrote that he continues to enjoy working at Morgan Stanley as a financial advisor. “It has been a good career choice as something new happens every day,” Andy wrote, also detailing his

love of recreational sports, particularly with a worthy opponent. “I continue playing racket sports on a regular basis, body willing, as minor overuse injuries set me back upon occasion. Ken and I were able to renew our singles rivalry last summer. We split sets several times, and we both called it a win as we walked off the court and were able to come back and play again. If we played a third set, Ken would have won them all.”

Andy’s daughter, Katie, lives in San Diego and is getting married in June to an officer with the California Highway Patrol. “I spend just about every weekend on the Eastern Shore, splitting time between Easton and Bethany,” Andy wrote. “I am going to W&L for my 45th reunion in May. I look forward to seeing everyone at our 50th.”

John Wharton: Your Southern Maryland correspondent now has a new source of a real-time reflection of my spiritual condition. Gracie, a miniature spaniel, belonged to Linda’s middle sister, who we lost last autumn after her years of treatment for cancer. Tina was in the hospital when another family member asked if we’d take care of Gracie, and although a unilateral consent was offered without my input, this canine companion has been a true blessing as we hang out on the pier at Kingston Creek, walk along King Street in Old Town Alexandria, or travel top-down in the ’06 Solara.

1979

Has Franklin has@franklin-group.com

Jim Wilkerson spent much of his spring traveling to Providence to watch his son, Jay, play lacrosse for Providence College. The team improved through the season, and they hope to compete for the Big East Championship next season. Marc Dubick’s son, Elliott, played on the extra man offense for the Terps this past season where they finished runner-up for the National Championship to Cornell.

Sean Darby is close to relocating to Charlottesville for his retirement years. He met Patty there when they both were getting master’s degrees. Carter Buxbaum’s second child should graduate

next spring from UVA following in his father’s and older siblings’ footsteps. Guy Davis is relocating to a new home in the Richmond area. I believe the new property might be on the water (James River).

Carville Collins has changed law firms for the first time in his career in his 60s. He now is a partner with Saul Ewing. Ted Millspaugh heads the real estate division for Venable. Biff Poggi is now the Associate Head Coach for the University of Michigan football team. His middle son, Jim, was married this year. Tom Booker’s son, Thomas, was a member and played defensive line for the Super Bowl Champion, Philadelphia Eagles. He also became a grandfather this past year as his daughter, Sydney, had her first child. Joe Carroll recently became a grandfather to a granddaughter that lives in Richmond, Virginia. Hopefully, he can catch up with some of our classmates in the area when he visits his granddaughter as we have several living there.

George Kelly is working in another start-up situation based most of the time in Denver, Colorado. His whole immediate family has basically relocated to the area. I know Rick Watts is enjoying retirement, and he just celebrated his daughter’s wedding. All his social media postings show him traveling everywhere. Alex Montague’s middle daughter was also married over Memorial Day Weekend. I spoke with Kevin Saunders briefly. He told me that he was attending Bruce Russell’s father’s funeral.

Michael Cobb is expecting his second grandchild later this year. He played with me in the US Open Pickleball Championships in Naples, Florida. We had a heartbreaking loss to prevent us from medaling. David Portnoy is active on social media to try and keep connections going for our class. Sam Hiller’s youngest son just earned his undergraduate degree.

I am still working hard in the financial services and employee benefits business with my brothers for Hub International. Ellen and I are starting to travel more. We plan to visit Brazil later this year to meet our son’s girlfriend’s family. Three of my children work for colleges in either fundraising or coaching. My

youngest is now a pickleball director for a club.

We are heading towards our 50th reunion. It would be nice to give updated information to everyone to create some excitement for this major milestone in our lives. I still do not know what is going on in Ned Finney’s life. If someone bumps into him, please send information in on his whereabouts.

1980

Class secretary wanted

Paul Danko: Elizabeth and I are expecting our first grandchild in July 2025

1981

Willy Moore wmoore@southwaybuilders.com

Well hello ’81ers! Hard to imagine that next year will be our 45th reunion. After all these years the inclination to look for new and clever ways to get in trouble has presumably waned a bit — meaning we no longer need to look over our shoulders to see if Mr. Gamper has us signed up for Saturday demerit duty. Instead, we hope our children and grandkids do not engage in 1/10 of the shenanigans that we did.

In the last year, Alex White reported that he has retired from Perdue after 12 years driving big rigs for them. He hopes to find some fun part-time gigs to occupy his newfound abundance of free time.

Damian Lynch reported that his daughter, Juliette, was marrying one Zach Marshall in March, and Tom Fusting noted his son, Bradley, got engaged in early December. Back in January Jim Cavanaugh shared, “After 18 years in physical therapy education, I’ve decided it’s time for a change. And thus I will be stepping down from my faculty position at the University of New England at the end of May. Thereafter I will continue with my research collaboration in the Center for Neurorehabilitation at Boston University, where our work of late focuses on digital walking interventions for people with Parkinson disease. The change will mean a less

hectic schedule for me — and an opportunity to ease my way toward full retirement sometime in the not so distant future. Deb retired from physical therapy clinical practice at the end of 2024. Our son, Rob, and his wife, Amanda, bought a house nearby — and we’re enjoying their company after years of being apart. Our daughter, Katie, and her husband, Sergio, are still in Raleigh, where we hope to spend some of our time each winter.”

We all hope that serial entrepreneur Phil Gorman is making millions from his newly licensed and manufactured Old Bay bagel chips. The Baltimore Business Journal had a nice write-up about Phil’s journey in bringing the product to market… and markets!

In February, Caroline and I had a nice lunch with Peggy and Cary Woodward at their home in Roland Park. Mr. Woodward had his 90th birthday celebration in Maine last summer, and he shared that Mr. A. J. Downs had just had his 100th birthday over at Roland Park Place. Mr. Downs had continued teaching at one of the area community colleges into his 90s. Imagine all the lives he has touched in 70+ years of teaching. Wow!

Tom Hoblitzell, John Worthington, Ian Simpson, Alex Krongard, and Sandy Brown all attended their Calvert School 50th Reunion.

And in October, Tom Snider, Marcus Ranum, and I had our now annual lunch with Steve Siwinski. Tom has knocked out all the bad stuff from his diet, leading a clean lifestyle, and he looked fit as a fiddle. Marcus is still hand-making knives that are better classified as works of art, while coming to Baltimore on occasion to check in on his parents. Steve is hawk-less, but enjoying part-time work in retirement and appreciating his grandkids.

Speaking of Marcus, he contributed, “I just ordered five tons of coal and some 12" pipe. I’m going to see if I can melt some brake drums. I have a whole lot of insulating to do before that. Just, please, if y’all hear the FBI saying their usual stuff about ‘we found bomb-making materials,’ that part is all a lie, I swear.” For clarity, Marcus experiments with various themes of forges with his long-

time hobby of knife- and sword-making. The fuel sources for forges can, among other things, be electricity, gasses (think natural gas, propane, etc.), and coal. Marcus has experience in all of those arenas, and is presumably trying something on a larger than normal scale with his five tons of coal. He has had great success utilizing antique wrought iron as a material for his crafts, and I gather the brake drums are a new material source for consideration.

Sandy Brown shared, “I am launching a global five-a-side professional indoor soccer league, aptly called FIVES, with first kick in 2027, likely, in Asia. We are backed by New York-based private equity, so the lion’s share of my time is in New York or on a plane…what else is new?! :) Daughter Kendall (26) is in New York and moved over to Tower Research Group from NASDAQ last year. Son, Alex (23), graduated from W&L in May with honors, after a great lacrosse season where they made it to the D3 Final Four (sadly losing to eventual champion, Tufts, in a hard-fought game), and he set the W&L program, single season scoring record. A good way to end a career. He is now in New York working for Brookfield Asset Management. I look forward to seeing everyone at our reunion next year.”

During a recent trip to Charleston, South Carolina, Caroline and I had the pleasure of dining with Larissa and Tom McHale They live about 15 minutes outside of Charleston and have the luxury of having both of their married kids living nearby, which has been providing lots of babysitting opportunities with their four grandkids. Tom has published 10 books and is working on another while also being the editor of the American Handgunner Magazine. Larissa has been involved with an international bible study organization for many years, and now has almost 500 students whom she teaches. And for those of you who remember Mike McHale, Tom’s dad, he too lives nearby about a block off one of the beaches. As an original California beach bum, Mike returned to his youthful roots and in his retirement from business, he was working the beach patrol until only two years ago. I can see him reveling in riding his four-wheeler on the sand and

spending his days chatting with all the beachgoers.

Tom Finney contributed, “I am happy to report that the Finney household is doing well. My daughter, Georgie, graduated from University of MD School of Medicine and is now a practicing DPT or Doctor of Physical Therapy. This is great news for me as I continue to have strains and pains from my workouts trying to keep up with my son, Tommy. Tommy is working for Morgan Stanley as part of the Strosnider and Dudderar Team. He is learning the business from the ground up and is quickly becoming a very important part of that team. My wife, Virginia, and I will celebrate 34 years in October and I am trying to find out where the time went. Very blessed for my health, family, and friends. Wishing health and happiness to all.”

As for your classless secretary, I am struggling with the concept of retirement. I am no golfer, and I am still enjoying work too much. Caroline and I will celebrate our 35th anniversary this year, but that will take second fiddle to our older son Henry (32), getting married to his high school sweetheart, Bryn Mawr grad Lindsay Manzoni, in September. That will be two generations of Moore men marrying Bryn Mawrtians! Caroline is close to the grand opening of the first phase of her huge real estate project in Charlotte, and is enjoying her offices in her newly opened biotech and lab building in Baltimore. And our younger son, Ben Moore ’15 (28), just left the New York investment banking world to start work with a fellow Gilly Tech’r, Zach Ranen ’14, who is the co-founder of fastgrowing David, a high-protein, low-calorie food company (for more, see page 11). Ben came on board as their supply chain manager and is excited to be working with a team of high-performing, smart people.

Mark Neumann: I have happily joined the grandfather club, my favorite club so far. My grandson is 14 months old and lives in Silver Spring — we have been burning up the highway between there and Owings Mills.

1982

Brian Doud abcdoud@bellsouth.net

Alex Gavis: Jane and I are enjoying semi-retirement with volunteering, consulting, and teaching. Also, traveling — visiting 10 countries in two years.

1983

Andy Buerger abuerger@mac.com

Now that everyone is turning 60 this year except Derek Reid, I want to start with updates from my healthcare providers.

First, Willie DeVeas, DDS: “Diana and I went to Hawaii to celebrate my 60th — trying to figure out how I can do dentistry and hang out there frequently. My daughter, Michelina, is teaching acting for children and auditioning for different roles in London. She will be singing the national anthem at the Black Eyed Susan the day before the 150th Preakness. My son, Walter, after hiking the Appalachian Trail last summer/fall post-graduation from Loyola University New Orleans, has taken on a job in software engineering in Fort Myers, Florida. Still love doing dentistry so no plans to retire anytime soon. Need to fund our empty-nest travel bucket list.”

And my doctor, Dr. Gino Freeman: “I was diagnosed with prostate cancer — caught early because of screening — chose to undergo a DaVinci robotic prostatectomy. Gerber cloth diapers rule! Other than missing some original parts, I am fully recovered and doing well.”

Appreciate the reminder and PSA for the PSA 42 years after graduation. We may be old but Alan Fleischmann and I are mastering our tech use to stay in close communication as we did this morning via WhatsApp voice text. Things are going well in the Fleischmann household — thank goodness. Alan and Dafna, along with their 18-year-old daughter, Talia, spent several days this spring visiting their older daughter, Laura Julia, who is currently studying abroad in Madrid during her junior year spring semester at Barnard College/Columbia University. Next year, Talia will head

off to Vanderbilt. As the world becomes increasingly complex and uncertain, the demand for his firm Laurel Strategies continues to rise globally — which means Alan is traveling more than ever. Still, life is good, and he always finds time for family and friends. Alan continues to host his weekly radio show, “Leadership Matters,” on SiriusXM, where he explores leadership themes and conversations with voices from around the world.

From Jay Schmidt: “All good on my end. Michelle is teaching in the Baltimore County school system. Henry works downtown and lives in Federal Hill. Caroline is graduating from Ole Miss in May. Georgia is wrapping up her first year at the University of South Carolina, where she is a member of the equestrian team. They won the SEC championship and made it to the NCAA semifinals, where they lost to eventual champion, SMU. Great year for Georgia! Lastly, Lily is loving her experience as a student at Calvert School.”

I managed to get a record number of words from Joel Cohn this time: “All is well. Watching market collapse. Alex got engaged and is getting married in December. Not sure this was included earlier but Hannah moved to Israel, so going there a bunch. Oh yeah, I turned 60!”

Pepe Albuquerque wrote in: “Things are going well for us in Phoenix. Our older son, Lucas, is a freshman at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami. He is studying jazz trombone. Our younger son, Oscar, is a freshman in high school and playing soccer. My big news is that I plan to retire from neurosurgery on September 1, 2025. Figured I’d get out of the game while I was still youngish! My wife, Ruth, continues her work at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. We recently built a house on a lake in New Hampshire, so we have a built-in escape plan from the impending Phoenix summer!”

Speaking of New Hampshire, loved hearing from David Cosby. As of this writing, he’s currently on day 70 of a personal 135-day challenge to learn one measure a day of Bach’s Presto from the First Solo Violin Sonata (BWV 1001).

He’s doing this not just for himself, but as a real-time example to his students of what slow, steady progress and perseverance look like. His goal is to show that great things happen when you commit to something daily — even in small doses.

If you’re on Instagram, you can support his journey by following @davecosbyjazz and liking his video series. I’m sure he’s an inspiration to his high school students at Holderness in New Hampshire.

Unlike Pepe, Mark Kaufman says: “No news is good news! Other than aches and pains, everyone is doing well. How much longer to retirement :)”

Great to hear from the other Andrew… Sinwell: “Abigail and I are at a weeklong surf camp in Costa Rica with a bunch of friends, for the second year in a row. This is part of Operation Say Yes now that we are empty nesters. Trying to hit the window hard between kids being out of the house and grandkids being in the house. No signs of the latter anytime soon, and that’s fine! Three of our girls are still in college (one graduating in a month from Wake Forest) and one is in the real world in Newport Beach working on spaceships for Virgin Galactic. LMK if you’re coming through Dallas!”

This Andrew — Andrew Buerger — is so excited that my two 15-year-olds will join me for their first fundraising climbing expedition on Mt. Adams in June. Still doing some motivational speaking, teaching entrepreneurship through UB, and assisting Taharka Brothers Ice Cream.

The last word goes to our sixth grade decathlon champ J. Joseph “Max” Curran, III, Esq: “Sorry, my life is too boring.”

1985

Ted Winstead tedwinstead@gmail.com

Rushika Fernandopulle delivered the Cotton Lecture at Gilman in March (see page 43). His latest startup aimed at transforming health care is Liza Health, which will explore “new models for longterm health equity” and harness technologies such as AI. Rushika hopes to find new ways for humans and technology to

work together, especially in primary care. He encouraged students to enjoy their time at Gilman. “I can’t wait to see how you all are going to change the world.”

Billy Logue is “ridiculously late to parenthood,” but he loves being a dad. “It’s really true that becoming a parent changes your perspective on life and the world,” Billy writes from Kraków. His baby, Sophia, was baptized in the same church in Poland where Karol Wojtyla, who became Pope John Paul II, had confirmed Sophia’s maternal grandparents.

Jose Ortiz and his wife welcomed their second child, Elaine, last December. Patrick Gorman and his wife became parents of a baby boy in January.

On February 14, Marshall Walker and his husband celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary “at a magical restaurant” near Aachen, Germany. They live in Oxford, England, and recently traveled to Istanbul. “My art history studies focused on Late Antiquity, so visiting ‘Constantinople’ was a dream fulfilled,” Marshall writes, adding that he was looking forward to our 40th reunion. “I find that time runs rapidly through my fingers these days.”

Joseph Jennings marked 30 years of government service last fall and celebrated with a trip to Hawaii. In appreciation of his work for the U.S. Postal Service, a client presented the longtime Washington football fan with an autographed Joe Theismann jersey.

Bill Stratton has retired from Snowflake, a cloud-based data warehouse company. “I’ll miss the reunion because my son’s lacrosse team is in the playoffs,” he writes from Atlanta. “No swimmers in my family!”

Robert Landon secured a behind-thescenes tour of the grand hotel featured in the second season of “The White Lotus” for an article he wrote about the hilltop town of Taormina on Sicily’s eastern coast. Not only was the hotel real (and not a Hollywood concoction), Robert wrote, but Taormina has attracted the rich and famous, including elite gay writers and artists, for centuries.

Steven Comfort helps early-stage AI companies bring their products to market. He also co-founded SpinTheAd, a company that makes wearable 3D displays called MagicPacks for conferences and events. “To get a break from tech, I advise the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco on their many lines of revenue,” he writes. “The performances bring back memories of our Gilman productions with Bryn Mawr and RPCS.”

John Wise continues to fish in Alaska and was out on the water during our reunion. “We’re fishing for delicious, nutritious, wild, sustainable sockeye salmon. Caught, processed, and frozen in Alaska,” he writes. “Ask for ‘em at your grocery store!”

Julien Meyer’s students at Severn School won the Personal Finance Challenge National Championship in 2024. Julien ‘gamifies’ his teaching in finance courses with activities that challenge students to apply what they learn in “real life,” according to a profile of Julien by the Maryland Council on Economic Education. “When it comes to finance,” Julien said, “the learning never stops.

Dave Rody reconnected with countless classmates while serving on our reunion committee with Keefe Clemons, Harry Halpert, and Tom Washburn. He also hosted the party after our class dinner at Gilman. “Despite the work involved in being on the committee (and getting my house presentable enough to host people again, two weeks after Passover), it was great to hear from so many of our classmates,” he writes.

1986

Class secretary wanted

David Cahn: After 13.5 years at Whiteford in downtown Baltimore, I am now providing my legal services as a principal at Offit Kurman, P.A., working from Timonium. Still focused on representing franchisors and franchisees, but also doing more transactional and regulatory counseling for other types of businesses. Miss being next-door neighbor to and partner of Trent Zivkovich ’91. On a personal side, I enjoyed a gathering with

lifetime classmate friends before O’s playoff game in October 2023

1987

Matt Wyskiel mwyskiel@gmail.com

As many members of our Gilman Class of ’87 have become or are becoming “empty nesters,” we continue leading productive lives. Clark Wight is now several years into being Head of The St. Paul’s Schools, so we will forgive him (somewhat) for rooting for St. Paul’s when their sports teams are competing against Gilman. Sticking in the area of sports, during the past wrestling season, all local wrestling teams fell to Gilman’s varsity team, which ended the season ranked #1 in the Baltimore Sun thanks in part to Henry Franklin being one of the team’s coaches. Hugh Marbury came up from the Annapolis area to catch some of the annual Haswell M. Franklin Gilman Duals wrestling action. Classmates Billy Barroll and Ti House also live in the Annapolis area, while Stocky Williams and Josh Freeman live in the D.C. area. Closer to campus, Doug Godine, Jack Cavanaugh, and Timmy Hathaway ’88 continue to have leadership positions at Brown Advisory. And speaking of campus, classmates Peter Kwiterovich and Brooks Matthews continue their impressive work at Gilman. David Clapp, in particular, appreciates their work because his son is a student at Gilman while his daughter is at Roland Park Country School. David is leading the search for the new Head of RPCS while also being heavily involved with some family businesses and being the new Chairman of the Board of the Baltimore Community Foundation. During this

Cahn, Cavenaugh, Greene, and Pletcher before O’s 2023 playoff game

past paddle/platform tennis season, David and I once again played on the same Elkridge Club team and we fell just short of our team’s third interclub title in a row; the sting of our loss in the finals was eased by seeing classmates Jonny Guth and Kenzie Marty that evening. Jonny’s son is graduating from Gilman this June. Up in New England, Brent Powell and his wife are moving from Hopkinton, New Hampshire, to Rye, New Hampshire, in order to be close to the ocean. Other classmates in New England are Sandy Colhoun, who is the President of the National Outdoor Leadership School. Sandy enjoys seeing Brent and classmates DB Hebb, who is practicing medicine in Rhode Island, and Joby Gardner, who is a tenured faculty member at DePaul University. Weber Hoen and Andy Fine met up with Brent and DB for a Red Sox baseball game; Sandy wishes he hadn’t been traveling at that time.

Moving south a bit, Sackett Cook and his wife are living in Connecticut, while Liam Culman lives in New York City. Traveling further south, Brian Voelker and his wife continue to live in the Philadelphia area and their two boys are working there too. After a long and successful run as Head Coach of Drexel University’s men’s lacrosse team, Brian retired prior to the recent season. With more free time, he and his wife enjoyed some time in Miami where he met up with Louie Angelos. Louie and I also enjoyed spending some time together during Art Basel: Miami in early December. Not quite as far south, Mark Cooper and his wife are rehabbing an old farm house for their future home in Scottsboro, Alabama. Back in town, Todd Crandell continues to serve his constituents well as a Baltimore County Councilman, while Andy Cameron continues to do amazing things as a surgeon at Johns Hopkins. I’m not doing anything as impressive as that, but I do enjoy seeing Eric Harlan, Ricky Roebuck, and Andrew Meredith in town as well as Scott Kurlander, who is putting his legal and medical knowledge to good use as a mediator, and Kevin “Bubba” Buerger who continues to work in the tech and internet search arenas while he and his wife enjoy watching the Syracuse

lacrosse team that their son is on. That’s all for now; if you have any info that you’d like me to include in our next Class Notes, let me know. Wishing all of our classmates all the best!

1988

David Carroll dcarroll@capitol-strategies.com

Marc Aquino continues to lead the sales team at Alliance Games Distributor as VP of Sales. He will be marrying his longtime cosplay and karaoke partner, Margaret, later this year.

Charlie Cahn recently announced that he will step aside as Suffield’s Head of School in June 2027 after 23 years in the role. He is on the trustee search committee to identify the next Head. He and Hillary are unsure of what they will do next, but they will be ready for a new chapter together after 34 years at Suffield. Their daughter, Peyton, is in a doctoral program in clinical psychology and their son, Harrison, is a junior at University of Michigan. Charlie hopes all our Gilman classmates are doing well!

David Carroll marvels at how crazy time flies! “Hudson is finishing up first year of law school, Hannah is a junior at Elon and Sumter is either going to Wake Forest or UVA next year, as she’s finishing her senior year at St. Paul’s.”

Greg Carter’s second book, “I’d Just as Soon Kiss a Wookiee: Uncovering Racialized Desire in the Star Wars Galaxy,” is coming out soon. (His first, “The United States of the United Races: A Utopian History of Racial Mixing,” was published in 2013.) He expects to be promoted to full professor of history at UW-Milwaukee. Natasha and I marvel that our kids (Nina and Anton) are 13 and 7

Daniel Casasanto moved to the Roland Park area, where he, Laura, and their four kids (ages 14, 11, 9, and 6) run nonstop between three schools. He also sees Jamie Griffith often.

Andy Gross has been dealing with some health issues the past year, but he’s had some great support from Gilman folks, especially Jamie Hamilton,

Justin Brown, Kirby von Kessler, and Matt Gordon. To paraphrase Norm McDonald, “No one ever loses a fight to cancer. At worst, you both wind up dead, and I’d call that a draw.”

George Liebmann moved to Amelia Island, Florida, in 2021 after selling his ranch in Vermont. He loves the weather, airport access, and beaches, but he is missing the culture of big cities. He would love to see any of you, if in North Florida. He is trying to pull back from institutional real estate M&A consulting and return to product development work or managing a new business line for new or established companies. Though he hated fundraising for Permafresh, he really enjoyed everything, from managing the innovation to writing the business plans for the Series A and B Rounds. If any classmates would like to work together on a new project with their companies or could use some consulting expertise, please let him know!

Stephen Ramos became a full professor at the College of Environment and Design at the University of Georgia this past year, and his book, “Folk Engineering: Planning Southern Regionalism,” will be out on University of North Carolina Press in the fall. His wife, Nuria, and kids, GJ (15) and Enzo (12), are well.

Lawrence Park has been very blessed with a young son who is now 3. “Seriously, life in NYC is fun. I would be very happy to take anyone out to a nice dinner and catch up.”

Steve Kang is still doing cardiology, now with Sutter Health. His three kids (Amanda, Ryan, and Brendan) are 22, 20, and 18. Steve happened to catch a Gilman San Francisco alumni get-together recently. (Steve is sorry he hasn’t had a chance to meet up with Andy Fenselau.)

Three years ago, when Ukraine asked for international help, Geoff Kinsey decided to go. For two years he was a volunteer instructor in tactical casualty care in Kharkiv. I joined the DIU International Legion last November; currently serving in a staff role (“S6”) for a light infantry unit. On the side, he has also

been helping nonprofits install solar PV systems at schools and clinics near the frontline areas.

Sue-Joe Shin is still living in the LA area. His kids are now 14 and 12 and are growing up fast. He hasn’t seen too many classmates recently and he was really bummed to have missed the last reunion. But he did bump into a bunch of alums when there was a gathering in Santa Monica not too long ago. It turns out that Ted Evans ’90 lives in the same neighborhood. He took his son to Gilman last year as they were passing through Baltimore: “The fields sure looked different (and nicer) than when we were there.” If anyone happens to be in Los Angeles, please look up Sue-Joe!

Jeff Tannebaum is living in the Owings Mills area. His son recently graduated from Syracuse and is starting a job at Whiting Turner; his daughter is a rising junior at Syracuse studying sports analytics; and his other daughter will be entering 10th grade at Roland Park Country School.

1990

Jun Song junhsong@gmail.com

Ryan Jordan: Writing to share a few upcoming life changes. My daughter Finley is a sophomore at Haverford College and loving all aspects of her experience. My son Liam will graduate from Berkeley Prep here in Tampa this June and will be a freshman at Penn this coming fall. With my mom still in the Baltimore area, I decided to move back up to the mid-Atlantic area where I will be serving as the Upper School Head at The Potomac School in McLean, Virginia. I am excited for this next chapter and being so close to my mom and kids. I also hope to reconnect to other alums in the D.C./Baltimore area.

1991

Jared Spahn jspahn@5304dorsey.com

As I write this update I am currently on what may be my last spring break trip for quite some time. My oldest, Carter, will be graduating from college in just a few short weeks and my youngest, Mason, will be completing his freshman year of college. How quickly the time passes. It passed so fast that I didn’t get a chance to write an update last year. I was fortunate to meet up with Fred Lohr in London on Christmas day 2023. Fred rode his bicycle, in the rain, to central London so we could catch up. I wish I had remembered to bring him Berger cookies. Fred is Corporate Council for PGIM and has two children. He planned on meeting up with Mike Weinfeld over the summer of 2024 while Mike’s youngest, Ben, was studying at the London School of Economics for the summer and was also expecting a visit from James Sharkey And more about Mike: This winter was very exciting for him as he invested heavily in snow removal equipment a few years ago to only have minimal snow fall the past few years. However, this winter lived up to the hype, and Mike was up early each morning clearing snow off of his commercial properties and waving to the other landlords doing the same.

I received a recent update from Don Schline whose son Harrison is a senior at Gilman and a lacrosse commit to Don’s alma mater, North Carolina. His daughter, Hannah, is a junior at Auburn majoring in psychology.

Charlie Neer wrote to me that he still attends Orioles games a few times per year. He is currently a principal at WRT in Philadelphia, an interdisciplinary planning and design firm focused on issues related to climate change and addressing social equity through architecture, landscape architecture and planning/urban design. Charlie also serves on the board of the McHarg Center at the University of Pennsylvania.

Greg Levin wrote to me from Charlotte, North Carolina, which he has called home since 1995. After 23 years and five Olympic games he has left NBC News

and has taken a position with Wells Fargo public affairs team as a media production consultant, producing, shooting, and editing video for internal and external platforms, including various social media channels. He continues to get out and run and logged just over 1,300 miles in 2024

My predecessor as class secretary, Andrew Stanley, is in his third year as Athletic Director at Collegiate School in Richmond, Virginia. He and his wife, Meaghan, have three children. Ty is a ninth grader at Collegiate, Fitz is a freshman at Randolph Macon, and Drew is a sophomore at Christopher Newport University.

Tito Williams provided an incredible update from Phoenix, Arizona. Tito has recently been named SVP and Senior Director of Business Controls for Santander banks’ U.S. operations. Tito and his wife, Barbara, enjoy spending time with their 7- and 6-year-old grandchildren, Mikey and Maliyah. Barbara, who retired from a 23-year-long career from the Air Force, takes Tito on frequent trips to Vegas and the Caribbean.

1994

Boyne Kim boyne.kim@gmail.com

Avniel Ghuman: I was at a high school water polo tournament outside of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, for my daughter (she’s a freshman on the North Allegheny team, north of Pittsburgh), and it turns out Gilman was playing. So I was there cheering on the Greyhounds!

Jason Finkelstein (left) and Jamie Riepe

Jason Finkelstein: I wanted to share a recent serendipitous Gilman collision! I was in Santa Barbara for my seventh grade daughter’s lax tourney, and we grabbed breakfast before the games at a random, local place in Carpinteria … where I ran into Jamie Riepe — almost literally! — who was there visiting his daughter who is at school in the same town! I loved seeing this guy! We were bummed to miss Mike Allan, who was out on the field coaching the UCSB Gauchos lacrosse team that day — it could have been a real central coast reunion!

Tom Coleman reports that he is healthy, wealthy, and wise.

1996

Lee Kowarski kowarski@gmail.com

Akram Annous is back in Dubai and continuing to do complex financial work — he has a long/short consulting practice with a focus on public technology. Based on his Instagram, he seems to be making the most of his time in the UAE.

Brett Brandau and his family remain down in Orlando, waterskiing all of the time. Professionally, Brett is an executive director at Jenius Bank, part of SMBC, where he heads up lending.

David Boyd is a veterinarian at Cardinal Animal Hospital near Richmond, Virginia. I haven’t seen Dave in way too many years, but am looking forward to having him, Jason Haas, John Boyle, and Kevin Frank visit NYC this summer so that we can all see “Weird Al” Yankovic

at Madison Square Garden…it may have been ~35 years since we all met, but our tastes haven’t changed.

Evan Kreitzer, his wife, Keren, and two sons remain in Pikesville. Evan is in the process of changing careers, having recently left his role as a mortgage banker. He enjoyed having the spring available to spend watching his boys play various sports for McDonogh or their club teams, and we were able to get to the Orioles’ Opening Day together, which was lots of fun. Evan mentioned that he gets together regularly with both Brandon Croxton and Chris Tully.

John Boyle now works as a clinical mental health counselor with Restorative Counseling and Wellness Center. He can’t treat classmates, but if you ever need a therapist referral for yourself or a family member, shoot him a line. John continues to live in Columbia with his wife, Tara, and son, Johnny (who goes to McDonogh). John and I kept our streak going and caught an O’s game at Camden Yards earlier this season.

Boyle and Lee Kowarski

Kevin Frank is Director, Regulatory Affairs for NRG Energy in Dallas and continues to teach at the business school at the University of Texas - Dallas. He

and his wife (Rebecca) recently had a second child.

Noah Gallico continues to serve as a VP/ Creative Director for NBC Universal, running the NBC Entertainment Promo team. His wife, Sarah, is gearing up for season 3 (the final season) of “The Summer I Turned Pretty” and deciding on her next project at Amazon Studios. Their boys are finishing freshman year and sixth grade at Larchmont Charter in Los Angeles. The family recently finished building a guest house and putting in a pool and hot tub in their backyard, so I look forward to visiting them soon! Noah still plays soccer a few days a week and sees as much live music as he can.

Noah Gallico and family at the Ravens game last fall.

Packer Rodgers and his wife, Brooke, are still living in Baltimore with their four children. The oldest is a sophomore at Washington College and their second oldest is graduating from Gilman this spring (and will attend Johns Hopkins in the fall). Their oldest daughter is a sophomore at Garrison Forest and their youngest is in eighth grade at Calvert (and will attend RPCS in the fall).

Sean Kiernan is still out on the West Coast working at Athletes First/A1 Coaches, representing both players and coaches. His family is about six months away from moving back into their home. They had been living in a house that they bought in 2009 and decided to tear it down and completely rebuild it — nearly a two-year project. One unique feature is a basement, which is extremely rare in California but was inspired by all of the homes in Baltimore with them. Sean gives a big shoutout to Evan Kreitzer for helping him refinance the house a couple of years ago so that they could pay for the remodel.

Evan Kreitzer and Lee Kowarski

John

Tommy Knowles loves his life in Monterey, California, with his wife (Meghan) and their daughter (Maisie). Last year, I was able to visit Tommy at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, where he has worked for over 20 years and is a senior biologist studying jellies and deep-sea animals. It was incredible to see the impactful work that he does (and clearly loves). He still plays music whenever possible!

Jason Mersey continues to head U.S. Wealth Partnerships for Davidson Kempner, based in Austin, Texas. His wife, Rachel, was recently named EVP and Provost at Southern Methodist University.

Jason Yang is now a professional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor in New York, living in Brooklyn.

Scott Bartlett continues to play rock and roll professionally, as well as having a clothing brand.

Two of our classmates continue to work at Gilman: Russell Wrenn (Director of Athletics) and Steve Ruark (Upper School photography teacher).

As for me, I continue to live in New York City with my wife (Melinda) and work for SS&C Technologies, where my team provides data and analytics to asset management firms. Melinda and I will be celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary this year. We make the most of living in Manhattan, regularly enjoying restaurants, concerts, plays, art, sports, and more. I hope to get to see many of you as I travel around or if you come to visit New York. If we aren’t already connected, you can find me on Instagram or X at @kowarski, as well as on Facebook. I welcome your updates!

Jay Menton: In early September, a group of Gilman guys and some friends did an epic Rim to Rim to Rim hike in the Grand Canyon. It was a BEAR, but an amazing accomplishment! We started at 5 a.m. on Thursday and hiked down the South Rim across the Canyon and up the North Rim in 11 hours. We slept on the North Rim on Thursday night and turned around and did the reverse on Friday in 12:45 hours. Over the two days, we covered 48 miles and climbed 11,500 ft. of elevation. As if that wasn’t enough,

I think the temps clocked 118 degrees on day 2 in the canyon! The trip was organized by my brother-in-law, Charlie Fenwick ’93, who had done it three years ago with a different crew.

Classmates Charlie Fenwick, Jason Griswold, and Alex Slagle, all ’93, enjoy the view during their epic Rim-to-Rim hike of the Grand Canyon in September 2024

Left to right: Dillon Bryan, Tim O’Brien, Alex Slagle ’93, Jon Carpenter PP, P’26, Charlie Fenwick ’93, Ned Johnson, Lee Fentress, Jason Griswold ’93, and Jay Menton ’96 (missing from photo: Dylan Sage)

1998

Chad Prather prather.chad@gmail.com

Sandy London published his 32nd children’s book this past fall, a picture book called “Still Life.” Sandy appeared with it on NPR’s Weekend Edition! He is currently working on a young adult, graphic-format memoir about skeet shooting, masculinity, and mental health. It is due out next year… AND... is partly set at Gilman! (“Gird your loins,” so says the author!) On the personal front, Sandy’s husband is about to run his fifth marathon, and their daughter is finishing first grade.

Chad Prather and family continue living Nashville life. Faith-wise, Chad was recently ordained a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church of America. Workwise, his focus in the school system centers on leadership development and performance management. Glory-wise, Chad joined a rabble of East Nashville dads in a wood-bat baseball league in 2024. The team’s primary catcher and second-most-venerable, “Papaw” hit .345 over seven months, displaying all the majesty of a most sickly, rabid quail. He enjoyed bicep tendonitis, an unsightly wrist jam, and a hamstring pull that may have involved a microtear of the buttocks. Season 2 is underway.

2003

John Mooney jhmooney@gmail.com

Brett Hollander was in LA to cover the Orioles’ series against the Dodgers. He caught up with Noah Gallico ’96 at NBC Universal in Hollywood, where he works as VP/Creative Director for Marketing & Digital at NBC Entertainment.

2006

Adam Kovars askovars@gmail.com

The Class of ’06 continues to do big things while keeping life full of fun and family. Anton Lande and his wife, Meg, (Margaret Inomata) welcomed daughter

Noah and Brett at NBC Universal

Elise (turning 2 this June) and recently bought a new home in Rockville.

Robbie Wright took on a new role this January as Director of Safety and Security at Gilman after 13 years with the Baltimore County Police Department (see page 37).

Zahir Rahman was recently named to Las Vegas’s 40 Under 40 list for his work as Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for the Las Vegas Raiders.

Alex Kelly is living in Towson with his wife, Meagan, and their son, Fitz (almost 2), while stepping into a new role as General Counsel at Kiddie Academy, the franchisor of 350+ early childhood education centers across the U.S.

Also in Towson, Adam Kovars works within product operations at a virtual healthcare company and is busy raising his 4-year-old daughter, Harper, with wife Alicia.

Lucas Myerson is heading to Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City this fall as a shoulder and elbow surgeon. He and his wife, Cara, are expecting their first child — a baby girl.

Griff Shay is coming up on 10 years in Charleston, South Carolina, where he oversees growth for the global nonprofit Open Supply Hub (focused on supply chain sustainability and transparency), coaches lacrosse, and hangs out with his Great Pyrenees, Hutch.

Luke Redmond lives in Baltimore with his wife, Whitney, and their two sons (ages 4 and almost 6), and often runs into fellow alums around town.

Will Keigler, who moved back to Baltimore from NYC in 2021, is raising three young kids (Tommy, 5; Tilly, 3; and Penny, 1) with his wife, Lauren, while working at the private equity firm Flexis Capital.

Khalil Uqdah and his wife are excited to be expecting their second child, while their daughter, Mikayla, thrives in sixth grade with a busy schedule that includes tennis, book club, theatre, and business development. His development firm, Charm City Buyers, continues to make a positive impact across Baltimore.

Sam Novey lives in Charles Village with his wife, Becky, and their two kids, Gary (3) and Frances (7 months). He’s working as Chief Strategist at the University of Maryland’s Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement and serves as Secretary of the Baltimore City Board of Elections — where he’s proud to work alongside Gilman students who helped launch a new student poll worker program.

Danny Strauss lives in New York City with his wife, Jessie, their children Henry (4) and Charlotte (2), and their dog Lenny (35 in dog years). They love NYC life — especially the culture and food — but Baltimore’s charm still calls, especially when the Orioles are playing (even though Jessie is a Yankees fan).

Kevin Carroll and his wife, Annie, are living the beach life in Monmouth Beach, New Jersey, after moving there from NYC a few years ago. Kevin recently wrapped up five years in investment industry business development and is taking some well-deserved time off before starting a new role in 2026. He’s excited to travel, visit friends, and see many of you at the 20-year reunion!

Matt Malinow and his wife, Colleen (an oncology nurse practitioner at UCLA), are raising two young kids — Leila (5) and Leo (1) — along with their “first child,” Penny, the 8-year-old Australian Shepherd, in Redondo Beach, California. Matt works as a manager at Northrop Grumman, and they’re keeping a strong Baltimore connection on the West Coast, often meeting up with “Uncle Nick” (’08) for Ravens, Orioles, and Capitals games in SoCal. If you’re ever traveling through LA, Matt says to reach out!

Mike Eisenstein recently moved from NYC to Westchester with his wife, Clarke, and their son Beau, who just turned 3. He’s celebrating 15 years at NBC this year, where after a decade working on primetime football between Sunday Night Football and Thursday Night Football, he’s now shifting fulltime to Olympics coverage following a recent promotion — already planning ahead for Milan 2026 and LA 2028. Gabe Shaya married his wife, Megan, last December, and they are living in

Baltimore City. Gabe is a clinical cardiologist at WellSpan York Hospital in York, Pennsylvania, and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at Drexel University College of Medicine.

Mak Mendelson and his wife, Stephanie, bought a home in Natick, Massachusetts, after living together in Cambridge, where they cohabitated through the ultimate stress test: COVID-19. They now share their home with two cats and — most importantly — a baby boy who took his first steps just a few weeks ago. They were married in the fall of 2022 and are loving family life.

Chris Rockwell married his wife, Christina, in 2018, and they now have two sons (ages 3 and 1). After a decade in D.C. post-college, they moved to the Nashville, Tennessee, area in 2021, where Chris works in private wealth management.

Ned Worthington married Katlyn Scarlett (SPSG ’08) in November 2023 and welcomed their first child, a daughter, Ellett Andrews Worthington, in September 2024. Ned lives in Baltimore and works in private wealth management at Harbor Investment Advisory. Outside of work, Ned co-chairs the Grand National Steeplechase and participates in a variety of equine and land preservation causes, including the Legacy Chase at Shawan Downs, Maryland Million, and Valleys Planning Council.

Will Finney wrfinney@gmail.com Evan Redwood evanredwood7@gmail.com

Two members of the Class of 2008 have growing families and happen to have daughters born in the same week at the same hospital. Will Finney and Galen Carroll were roommates about six years ago in New York, but have found themselves in lock step, both having daughters, and had an unplanned rendezvous outside their pediatrician’s office in Brooklyn, New York. Harriet Dewey Carroll was born on May 2 and Louisa Mintz Finney was born on May 7. Both girls are healthy and doing well. (Photo on next page.)

Will Finney and Galen Carroll in Brooklyn with their newborn daughters, Louisa and Harriet, born five days apart.

2010

Moscardi moscardi79@gmail.com

Jay Brooks married Molly McGown on November 1, 2024. Classmates John Russell and Evan Warnock were the officiants! Jay just graduated from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and learned that his residency in general surgery will be at NYU Langone.

In December, Mr. Brooks met up with a few students from the Perspectives in Modern War class he taught at Gilman in the 2020–2021 school year. It’s the fourth

year in a row that he’s reconnected with his former pupils. Pictured in this year’s reunion: Heath Otenasek ’ 21, Tucker Hebert ’21, Taylor West ’ 21, and Cole Emry ’21

2014

Greg Alspaugh gralspaugh@davidson.edu

Christopher Kohler kohler.christopher95@gmail.com Kyle Tarantino katarantino@gmail.com

Mac Franklin and Coleman Tirone caught up with White Sox first baseman Gavin Sheets when the Sox were playing the O’s in September 2024

2020

Nick Boucher nickboucher2024@u.northwestern.edu Connor Vogel connorvogelmd@gmail.com

Stephen Ha and the Gilman Pep Band

On Friday, August 30, 2024, Bryan Dong, Stephen Ha, Hank Lin, and Shobhit Prasad returned to campus to visit and catch up with old teachers. We walked

around Carey Hall and the Science Building and showed off the new common room and library. We caught up with Messrs. Holley, Brooks, Baum, Fitzgibbons, Schmick, Heubeck, Smyth, and Lander. Stephen even sat in with the pep band for a few numbers before the football game. Bryan graduated from Johns Hopkins last spring and is in his first year of medical school at Hopkins. Stephen also graduated from Hopkins and is applying to medical schools. Hank graduated from Princeton and is applying to law schools. Shobhit graduated from Penn and is moving to Wisconsin to work with a firm on medical records while applying to medical schools.

Will Rice, Grand Tetons National Park, September 2024

William Rice: After graduating from Hamilton College and before beginning my career at PwC, my roommate and I have been living out of a van, visiting over 40 U.S. National Parks. Along the way, I have been able to connect with classmates Fen Colston, Nick Boucher, Tripp Myers, and Jacob Korczakowski all across the country.

Tom Cottle: Graduated from college last May, and now I’m working as a teaching fellow at Choate Rosemary Hall in Connecticut. I’m teaching U.S. History and Contemporary Issues and helping to coach the varsity lacrosse team!

Charlie Klein: I am now working in Richmond on a wealth management team. It’s been fun meeting friends in a new city, and getting the chance to help a lot of people with their finances.

Christian

Bryan Dong, Shobhit Prasad, Mr. Lander, Stephen Ha, Hank Lin

Are you harnessing the power of your Gilman network? Just as important as the lessons you learned while at Gilman were the people you met along the way! Tap into professional connections you may not even realize you have with the Gilman Network Groups on LinkedIn. Get started at gilman.edu/networking.

Have you moved recently? (Physically or electronically?) Be sure we have your upto-date info so you never miss a reunion, alumni event, networking opportunity, or chance to get involved at Gilman. Email alumni@gilman.edu.

Have you kept in touch with your classmates? Submit your class note online, and keep up with the latest in (practically) real time! Online notes are searchable, so you can find your class year or a specific name or even a particular interest. Submitting your news and photos is easy. Give it a try at gilman.edu/classnotes.

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Friday–Sunday, April 17–19, 2026

BLUE GRAY WEEKEND