GSB Alumni Magazine: Summer 2017 by Gill St. Bernard's School

T H E

M AG A Z I N E

O F

G I L L

S T.

B E R N A R D ’ S

The Unit

S C H O O L

New Horizons

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S U M M E R

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The Magazine of Gill St. Bernard’s School

TABLE OF CONTENTS FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 FEATURES The Upper School Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Meridith Struhl Nasjletti. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 COMMENCEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 CAMPUS LIFE Athletics . . . . . . . . . Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . Starry, Starry Night. Student Profiles . . . Speakers . . . . . . . . Home Winds . . . . . .

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16 20 . 22 . 23 . 26 28

ALUMNI NEWS Reunions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Athletes Turn Pro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 PATRONS Retirements/Board Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 PACC Takes Shape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Why We Give . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 ALUMNI AND FACULTY NOTES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 OBITUARIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Board of Trustees BOARD OF TRUSTEES Rajiv De Silva Ann Drzik Gia Dunn John Frantz Michael Fritzlo Liz Fucci Robert Hemm SBS ’46 Rose Kirk Jeff Lager Douglas Matthews Mark Mazzatta Linda Moore Edmond Moriarty III Elizabeth Nametz Brittany Silverman Nelson

Gill St. Bernard’s alumni magazine is published three times a year by the Communications & Marketing Department and the Alumni Office. S.A. Rowell, Head of School Allyson B. Daly, Director of Communications & Marketing Jill Brown, Writer & Communications Specialist Jennifer Doherty, Director of Parent Relations & Special Events James F. Diverio, Director of Development Gwen Paxon , Director of the Annual Fund & Planned Giving Meredith Marks, Assistant Director of Development and Alumni Relations Chanelle Walker, Director of Alumni Relations/Associate Director of Development

Gill St. Bernard’s School P.O. Box 604, St. Bernard’s Road Gladstone, NJ 07934-0604 908-234-1611 gsbschool.org facebook.com/gsbschool facebook.com/gsbschoolalumni Design by Vision Creative Group

Sandi Niccolai James O’Connor Robert O’Leary Preston Pinkett III Steven Polachi John Raymonds Marianne Saladino Vlad Torgovnik Janine Udoff Sid Rowell, Ex-Officio HONORARY TRUSTEES Patti Aresty Joe Behot Miguel Brito Laurie Brueckner Brandon Clark

Bill Conger Sam Corliss Richard Emmitt Nelson Ferreira Michael Golden Judy Fulton Higby John Howard Adrienne Kirby Michael Mandelbaum Richard Markham Mary McNamara Patty Muchmore Ellen Nardoni Mark Paris Maureen Stefanick Jayne Vespa

Michael Weinstein BOARD OF VISITORS Miguel Brito Harry Chowansky III Brandon Clark Sam Corliss David Farris Donald Fuentes Michael Golden The Honorable Thomas H. Kean Blair MacInnes Edward E. Matthews Robert Sameth, Jr. ’89

MISSION STATEMENT

Gill St. Bernard’s School provides a balanced, diverse and secure community that prepares students academically, socially and ethically for college and a meaningful life.

CORE VALUES Courage • Integrity • Respect • Compassion • Excellence

FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

s the new academic year begins at Gill St. Bernard’s, thoughts of summer now seem like a distant memory. However, much has taken place since Commencement and that work is clearly evident on the campus. Most notably, the new Performing Arts and Community Center has begun to take shape. After months of site work where progress was largely invisible, the workers erected the building’s steel frame in August. Since then, every day brings greater progress. I invite you to follow along on our website and social media pages. The Performing Arts and Community Center is scheduled for completion in late May, and I hope you can make it back to campus for an event and explore this new facility for yourself. The summer also brought major design changes to the GSB website and the alumni magazine; both are more photo-rich and, we hope, visually appealing. To showcase the magazine’s new look, we have included a Unit photo-essay in this issue. Taken by students, the photographs capture the ways in which the Unit continues to impact our students. As the program nears its 50th year, the school is continuing its efforts to improve this important part of the curriculum. In particular, we need to ensure that every Unit is uniformly outstanding, affordable and provides more focused opportunities for service, cultural immersion, deep engagement, career exploration, or health/wellness. In addition to the photo-essay, the feature article on Meridith Struhl Nasjletti ’80 focuses on her inspirational work as principal of PS 91x in the Bronx. This issue also chronicles some of the other exciting things going on around the campus, including noteworthy student achievements in academics, athletics and service. Sid Rowell

Head of School

The Upper School

has long been a signature program for Gill St. Bernard’s School. In the 1970s, it began as a progressive alternative form of teaching and learning as well as an approach to the traditional school calendar. In the early ’80s, it evolved to become a unique program to complete the academic year. The Unit remains popular with students, even today. Still, in this ever-changing world, new challenges continually arise and with that, new opportunities as well. That is why the Unit remains relevant today but must continue to evolve. Dedicated faculty and administrators are reviewing the impact of cost (and accessibility), the conflict with spring sports, safety and the general purpose for each of the Unit experiences. Through the use of clearer guidelines and a more direct connection to the curriculum, the program will become even better.

Alaska

In addition to improving safety and providing more affordable options, each experience—whether locally based or involving travel—will incorporate at least one of the following educational components:

Service to the local or global community

Cultural immersion

Deeper engagement/learning subject-related opportunities

Health, fitness and wellness

Individual career/internship opportunity

The following are photos from some of the Units that ran last spring. The Unit has impacted many alumni over the last 40 plus years. In fact, a number of them have made career choices based on these experiences. We look forward to its continued success and the potential impact it can have on students in the future. 2

Photos provided by students and faculty.

Alaska

Iceland

Spain

Hawaii

Lights, Camera, Action

En Plein Air

Ice Skating Galapagos

Galapagos

Without a Voice

Nature in Motion

Sports Performance Nature in Motion

GSB FEATURES

Magic in the music Meridith Struhl Nasjletti ’80 By Jill Brown

ight years ago, when Meridith Nasjletti (Meri Struhl ’80) accepted the position of principal at Public School 91x, an elementary school in the Bronx, the first thing she noticed was the absence of music. “It was a school without children singing,” she recalls. “While there was a music teacher in the building, the instruction was limited.” Although she began the job with a long list of things she hoped to accomplish—such as improving students’ academic achievement and attendance—introducing a solid music program became a priority. Prior to becoming an educator, after graduating from Syracuse University, Nasjletti spent over a decade as a professional singer. In that role, she sang for television and radio commercials and toured the world singing back-up for her college friend Vanessa Williams. She understood the transformative power of music and saw it not simply as something she wanted to add to the curriculum, but as a starting point for greater change—the catalyst that would make PS91x the best school it could be. She remembers, “I took over a school that had no music education and was a sad and dissonant place. My students were struggling to read on grade level. Student engagement and motivation were non-existent. We had lights in our building, but there was no life in my school. Many of my students lack access to even the most basic necessities of life; 20 percent of my students live in temporary housing; 25 percent of my students have disabilities; and 40 percent are English language learners.”

Singer-songwriter Josh Groban spent a morning working with the choir at PS91x.

To bring about the change she envisioned, Nasjletti partnered with Education Through Music (ETM), a non-profit organization that partners with inner-city schools to provide music as a core subject for all children and utilizes music education as a catalyst to improve academic achievement, motivation for school and self-confidence. According to Nasjletti, “The ETM music program has resuscitated PS91x. After three years, every student in my school experiences the beauty of music. Through weekly music classes, a 70-student orchestra and a 90-student choir, my students are finding their individuality, achieving goals and cherishing their education.” Nasjletti also emphasizes that music education has benefits that reach into 8

every aspect of children’s lives—benefits she has seen firsthand. Research shows that childhood music education has been linked to better reading, writing and mathematical skills. This past year was particularly memorable, with visits from Tony- and Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Josh Groban, who spent a morning working with the school’s choir, and internationally renowned, Grammy-winning violinist and conductor Joshua Bell, who worked with the orchestra. “After these workshops, both artists were flooded with hugs from children,” Nasjletti said. “You could hear students saying, ‘This was the best day of my life!’” In addition to Bell and Groban gracing the stage at PS91x, Nasjletti herself frequently performs a song at graduation or other events. Her own love of music and musical theater is something she says began at Gill St. Bernard’s. “I always loved theater and music and after a stint in a community theater production of Bye Bye Birdie, I was bitten. That experience gave me the confidence to try out for the GSB productions of Little Mary Sunshine, Once Upon a Mattress and even a drama, The

Prisoner of Second Avenue.” Those incredible high school experiences led her to an early graduation (three years) from Gill St. Bernard’s and secured a spot as a freshman in Syracuse University’s musical theater department. Her experience at Syracuse led to a 15-year career in the music business, after which she transitioned to teaching for the NYC Department of Education. Shortly after, she earned two master’s degrees from Bank Street College, one in Teaching and Certification and the other in Supervision and Administration. The next few years brought marriage, two sons, a job as principal of the Bronx Dance Academy and ultimately a job as principal of PS91x. For Nasjletti, seeing how the school has changed after the addition of an effective music program makes it one of the most rewarding jobs she could imagine. She offers, “My students, especially those who are learning an instrument, cannot wait to come to school every day. I can’t wait to come to school every day either!”

“GSB helped me find my true passion for music.” – Meridith Nasjletti

COMMENCEMENT

Class of 2017

At Commencement on June 4, Gill St. Bernardâ€™s awarded high school diplomas to the 85 members of the Class of 2017. Several students were recognized for their achievements in academics, arts and athletics, as well as for contributions to community service and the life of the school. This yearâ€™s Julian T. Brown Cup was awarded to Jack RiccardoWood; the Elizabeth Gill Girl Award was presented to Kaitlyn Sleyster. The recipients exemplify the characteristics of respect, honor and consideration.

Max Aunger & Steven Bednarsky.

The choir performs.

2016 Gill Girl recipient Kennedy Whitehead with this yearâ€™s winner, Kaitlyn Sleyster, & Sid Rowell.

Allison Coffey & Kathryn Cramer.

THE GERRY

CIRILLO PRIZE

Gerry Cirillo, Cindy He and Fine Arts Department Chair Sarah Isusi.

At this year’s Commencement ceremony, the school introduced the Gerry Cirillo Prize in the Fine Arts. The prize will be given annually to the most outstanding senior fine arts student, as chosen by the fine arts faculty. Students may work in ceramics, drawing, photography, painting or woodworking. Recipients will be chosen on the basis of participation in the fine arts program throughout Upper School as well as the quality of their work and their commitment to continuing to pursue the fine arts in college, either through a degree program or informally. Initiated by alumni from the late ’70s, this prize was

One of He’s works from the senior art show.

established to honor and recognize Gerry Cirillo, who spent nearly 40 years at Gill St. Bernard’s—many of those as chair of the fine arts department. Cirillo is best known as an outstanding woodworker and woodworking instructor. He influenced generations of students, teaching them that creating something special with their own hands was within their means. The prize will be structured as an endowment to honor Cirillo and support students in perpetuity. Cirillo, who retired last spring, returned to Gill to congratulate Cindy He ’17, the first-ever recipient of the Cirillo Prize.

SBS CHAIR Math Department Chair Ed Brown was the recipient of this year’s Saint Bernard’s Chair of Excellence in Teaching. Brown has been at GSB for 20 years. He teaches AP calculus and honors pre-calculus and directs the Unit program.

The award was established in 1991 by a group of Saint Bernard’s School alumni to honor outstanding teachers at Gill St. Bernard’s.

SENIOR SPOTLIGHTS A talented group of 85 seniors graduated this May. All of them have and will tell great stories; here are just a few from among them. ReLax Founder Never Rests John “Will” Dadouris is passionate about the sport of lacrosse and is looking forward to playing for the Moravian Greyhounds next spring. For the 18-year-old goalie, however, lacrosse is more than a sport; it is also the inspiration behind ReLax Collections, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that he launched in 2014. Through ReLax, Dadouris collects new and used lacrosse equipment— to date nearly $200,000 worth— which he then distributes to underserved lacrosse programs throughout the world. On any given day, he can be found driving an SUV full of sticks and helmets to a school in Newark, boxing up a shipment for a youth group in Texas or spearheading a collection for a club in Costa Rica or Uganda. On the weekends, he often helps out by assisting youth clinics in the tristate area. Through Facebook, Instagram and events such as LaxCon, Dadouris is continually in touch with

members of the lacrosse world. He connects with professional athletes and high-end equipment manufacturers who can help him promote the work of ReLax and with fledgling youth groups that can use the equipment. “Lacrosse is definitely a community,” he says. “Whether you make wood sticks or the highest-end products, you want to help out the starting programs and everyone in between.” Speaking of community, Dadouris is quick to note that he has lots of help from GSB classmates Emma Cullen, Kaitlyn Sleyster and Jack Wetzel, who assist with the social media piece as well as with marketing and the website. Dadouris is a New Governor’s STEM Scholar, a Brine National Lacrosse All-American and a recipient of a Prudential Community Service Award, four Presidential Volunteer Service Awards and the Duke of Edinburgh International Youth Award. More information about ReLax Collections can be found on the organization’s website and Facebook page.

13 Helping out Soft Lacrosse, a non-profit that introduces children to the fundamentals of the game.

EMERGING AUTHORS In February, Nichole Morley (left) won three Scholastic Writing and Arts Awards: two silver keys and one honorable mention. Morley sent eight works for consideration (poems and short stories), which numbered among more than 330,000 submissions in 29 categories of art and writing. In the past century, the awards have recognized several students who have gone on to become major literary talents, including Joyce Carol Oates, Steven King and Truman Capote. In her senior year, Morely was one of five students in Advanced Creative Writing Seminar, a course offered each year by English Department Chair Andy Lutz. Charlotte Walsh, another senior from the elite group, shared this year’s Patricia Lee Gauch Award for Creative Writing with Morley. “Two amazing writers—It’s a great problem to have,” offered Lutz. Morley is attending Lafayette College this fall and Walsh, Northwestern University. The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are presented by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. The Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to identify students with exceptional artistic and literary talent and present their remarkable work to the world through the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Through the Awards, students receive opportunities for recognition, exhibition, publication and scholarships.

CREATING COMPETITION Throughout his Upper School career, the winter season represented something of a balancing act for Luke Solondz. He was a four-year member of two winter teams: varsity fencing and robotics (aka Team Chaos). After a few seasons of navigating schedule clashes, Solondz might have been tempted to choose one interest over the other, but in his senior year, he found a way to bring them together. In early November of 2016, Solondz came up with the idea of designing and building a robot that fences. Ideally, it would be ready by month’s end, in time for the first fencing practice of the season. “I got started right away,” he says. “I made a couple of quick drawings of the mechanism that might be used to get the fencing motion from a robot.” That fencing motion—the explosive and supple movement of the wrist—is one of the most realistic and impressive features in Solondz’ robot. He explains, “Using a pneumatic piston, I came up with an assembly that could replicate the quick pushing out of the wrist. The concept is fairly simple, but I spent a lot of time testing little things, fine-tuning the movements.” Once the mechanism was complete, Solondz built the housing for the robot, wanting it to resemble, as closely as possible, an actual fencer. For now, the robot is controlled by a joystick, but Solondz has started working on a program that will allow it to run automatically, picking positions and attacking its opponent. Solondz starts Washington University in St. Louis this fall, where he plans to study mechanical engineering. As for his robot, it will remain at Gill, awaiting future programming improvements and a new group of fencers.

Solondz dueling with his fencing robot.

BUILDING COMMUNITY Jack Riccardo-Wood, the recipient of this year’s Julian T. Brown Cup, was busy breaking new ground at Gill St. Bernard’s. Though active in many pursuits, Riccardo-Wood is especially proud of his work to help found a GayStraight Alliance (GSA) on campus. When he was an underclassman in the Give Something Back Club (GSB), Riccardo-Wood and some of the other club members started talking causally about forming a GSA. In his junior year, Riccardo-Wood and his classmate Nichole Morley set up a meeting to talk with the school’s Director of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, Tracey Goodson Barrett. “The GSA became official in September of my senior year,” says Riccardo-Wood. “Having a GSA on campus was something that represented a big change in the school community.” Riccardo-Wood notes that everyone has been extremely supportive of the club, with faculty, staff and students taking part in club-sponsored events, attending student forums and letting him know that GSA has benefitted the campus. “I thought it was something that Gill needed,” Riccardo-Wood notes. “We are such a welcoming community, but a lot of LGBT topics were brushed under the rug. There was a kind of uncomfortableness about the topic, and there didn’t need to be.” Riccardo-Wood starts Brown University this fall and plans to stay involved with GSB through the alumni community.

CAMPUS LIFE MADDY BEDROCK

RYAN MORASH

SETTING THE PACE THE 100 CLUB

Baseball standout Ryan Morash ’18 logged his 100th career hit in May. An impressive milestone for any high school player, the achievement is particularly noteworthy for a junior. Morash has helped lead the Knights to two consecutive Mountain Division championships and was a key member of the 2016 squad, which reached the NJSIAA sectional finals for the first time in school history. In 2017, he led the Knights in hitting (.451), ending the season with 37 hits. After the season, Morash was selected for the Garden State Underclassman All-Star Game and the “Selectfest” college showcase tournament. Ace softball pitcher Maddy Bedrock ’17 started every game last spring, helping the team to a Skyland Conference title. In addition, she notched her 100th hit. She was designated 1st team, allconference in post-season honors. 16

On the turf field, lacrosse stars fared equally well. In the opening game of the 2017 season, offensive powerhouse Nick Cooper ’17 reached the 100-goal milestone—an especially notable accomplishment considering the varsity boys’ lacrosse program is only in its second year. In fact, the attackman notched 94 of those goals during the team’s inaugural 2016 season. That same year, he was the number-one goal scorer in New Jersey and ranked second in assists. He also achieved the highest point total (166) in New Jersey and the third highest in the nation, according to LaxRecords.com. In Cooper’s senior season, the team ended competition early due to a number of player injuries, making it difficult to gauge how much Cooper could have added to his resume if there had been a full complement of games.

NICK COOPER

In four of the six games he played, however, he garnered eight or more goals, and he ended the season leading the team by a wide margin in goals (45) and assists (19). Best of luck to Cooper, who will continue his lacrosse career at Gettysburg. In April, junior Amelia “Mia” Kirby reached the 100-goal milestone in varsity girls’ lacrosse. Kirby has led the team in goals and points over the past two seasons, ending 2017 with 53 goals and 64 points and finishing out her sophomore year (2016) with 62 goals and 64 points. Her post-season honors included 1st team all-conference and all-Prep-B.

AMELIA KIRBY

LICATA SHINES After a phenomenal winter season in which he took first place in the shotput event at six tournaments, including the Somerset County Championships, the Skyland Conference Championships and the Non-Public B Group Championships, in the spring, junior CJ Licata cemented his reputation as one of the best high school throwers in the state. In April, he took first place in both shotput and discus at the Somerset County Relay Championship, and in May he won both events at the Skyland Conference Championships. He followed that up with a first-place discus throw at the Prep B tournament and a secondplace shotput throw. He closed out May with a shotput win at the NJSIAA Non-Public B Sectionals, setting a personal record of 61-8.5. He took second in the discus with 165-8. In June, Licata qualified for the Meet of Champions with a dual win at the NJSIAA Non-Public B Championships (shotput 61-3.5) and discus (164-1). He also garnered second place in the shotput at the highly-competitive Meet of Champions. Later in June, Licata competed at the New Balance Nationals in North Carolina, where he finished third in his flight and seventh overall. Post-season honors for Licata included 1st team all-conference, all-state (non-public), all-area and all-prep.

CJ LICATA

COACH SINA HIGHLIGHTED by STAR LEDGER With the closing of St. Anthony Prep, a school that maintained one of the best high school basketball programs in the nation, sports enthusiasts are wondering which teams—and coaches—will take the lead in the seasons ahead. Among the coaches highlighted by the Star Ledger was Gill’s own Mergin Sina, who serves as director of basketball operations and head coach for the boys’ varsity squad. 18

Throughout the spring season, Licata and other members of the track and field team had the chance to work with renowned throwing coach Mark Mirabelli on discus, javelin and shotput one day each week. Over Mirabelli’s four-decade career, he has coached six All-America and three national champion throwers and led New Jersey high school powerhouses to championship seasons. His addition to the track and field program allowed for more individualized instruction and helped the squad build on its successful record. Sina has built Gill St. Bernard’s into the unquestioned top program in Somerset County, and he’s as good a game-day coach as you will find in New Jersey. His teams buy into his system, play excellent fundamental basketball and face one of the toughest schedules in the state. After playing college ball at Seton Hall and Rhode Island and then professionally in Europe for 12 years, he’s become a staple of the AAU circuit to go along with years of coaching at Gill St. Bernard’s — giving him versatility and a unique perspective as a coach. Originally posted on NJ.com, April 6, 2017

Gill St. Bernardâ€™s School

Re-Establishing the Athletic Hall of Fame The Athletic Hall of Fame honors those who elevate the athletics program at Gill St. Bernardâ€™s. Inclusion can be conferred on outstanding student-athletes, coaches, teams, members of the athletic staff and others who have demonstrated significant athletic success or otherwise brought credit to the schoolâ€™s athletics program through sportsmanship, support, school spirit and/or consistently setting a positive example.

Eligibility

A student who has graduated from or otherwise left the school in good standing at least ten years prior to being nominated is eligible. A coach, assistant coach or member of the athletics staff who has retired or otherwise left the school in good standing at least three years prior to being nominated is eligible. Special contributors to the athletics program (parents, friends, student-athletes who did not earn varsity letters, etc.) may be considered three years after their direct involvement with the athletics program ends and/or no longer represents a conflict of interest. Posthumous candidates are eligible for nomination.

Nominations

Individuals or teams can be nominated by anyone. If you are interested in nominating a candidate for the Athletic Hall of Fame, please complete the online form www.gsbschool.org/ahof or download the form and mail it to the school address with attention made to Alumni Office/Athletic Hall of Fame. Minimum requested fields, as indicated on nomination forms, will be required to activate a nominee. Nominees without the minimum fields completed will not be considered. All nominees should be positive examples of character and integrity in addition to having a sustained interest in the school. Nominees will remain active for five years after submission, at which point they will be removed from consideration. Individuals may be nominated more than once. If you have any questions, please contact Chanelle Walker at cwalker@gsbschool.org or 908-234-1611, ext. 292.

DRESSING THE PART

ince 2007, Performing Arts Chair Paul Canada has been nominated for a Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award in costuming achievement every spring, winning eight times. What, exactly, makes a Canada costume so special? First, Canadaâ€™s costumes are historically accurate. For Cinderella, students in his costume class helped research fashion from 1830-1836. Everything in the production was consistent with that time periodâ€”fabrics, patterns and even accessories. In fact, corsets were worn under the dresses because that is what women in the 1830s would have done! Canada creates a separate dress pattern for each actress. Once the pattern is fitted, it becomes the basis for all of the dresses she will wear in the production. By changing fabrics, skirt length, embellishments and other details, Canada can create a range of looks for each actress from a single pattern designed especially for her. Every performer in Cinderella had at least two costumes, and more than 60 costumes were created for the show.

Canada sewing for the production.

Volunteer parents, past parents and friends are essential to the process. Many dedicated sewers do an incredible amount in a very short time.

Cast of Cinderella.

STARRY, STARRY NIGHT This spring, the Community Art Club worked with Fine Arts Chair Sarah Isusi to give the horse sculpture a new look, inspired by Van Gogh’s Starry Night. Time and weather took their toll, and a makeover was essential. The horse was temporarily moved from the sculpture garden to the area outside the art studio, so that student painters could access it more easily. Isusi said that she and the students opted for Starry Knight because the colors would complement the landscape and be easily recognizable from afar. The sculpture originally came to Gill in the early 2000s, as a gift from the Parents’ Association. At that time, the students painted it with sun, moon and ocean waves to reflect the school motto, “the world is our classroom.”

Edith Brazil ’19.

RE-ARRANGEMENTS Two new arrangements debuted at the Upper School choir concert in May: “Jackrabbit” and “Drops of Jupiter.” “Jackrabbit,” the title track of an album released in 2015 by San Fermin, was arranged by the four students in music theory elective: juniors Lynnsey Kwaak and Brooke Stephenson and sophomores Sarah Crystal and Miles Griffin. The course is taught by Upper School music director David Southerland. The original song incorporates more than a dozen instruments (including two glockenspiels) with lead and backup vocals. To arrange the piece for the choral concert, the students had to rework it for vocals and drums. As Crystal explained, “Our challenge was to keep the complexity of the song, even though we were vastly reducing the number contributing to that complexity.” Prior to reworking “Jackrabbit,” Griffin had arranged a choral version of Train’s “Drops of Jupiter” over the summer. For both pieces, Southerland had students contact the bands to ask permission to perform the songs. “People are often surprised that musicians—especially famous ones— are willing to give schools the rights to perform a song. Honestly, I have never come across a band that was anything other than encouraging,” Southerland said. A case in point, Griffin recently got permission from Coldplay to arrange “Viva La Vida” for an upcoming concert. Olivia Escousse ’19.

MORE THAN MATH Want to ride a square-wheeled tricycle or paint with light? Dan Wang ’18 can show you how. For the past two years, the senior has been an intern with the National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath) in New York City. During the school year, he spends Sundays at MoMath, guiding visitors through more than 30 interactive exhibits. “Whether it is the properties of a geometric shape or an algebraic equation,” he says, “I help the visitors discover what each exhibit demonstrates or reveals.” This fall, Wang is taking BC Calculus at Gill, which he predicts will be his favorite math course to date. “The best math course is always the one I am working on now,” he says. “The further you go, the more you can see all the things you can do with math.”

“When you tell people that you work in a math museum, they imagine that you write equations on the board all day long. But it isn’t like that at all.”

Museum photos provided by MoMath.

- Dan Wang ’18

FL!P, L!NES AND SW!FT Jack Ensley ’18, in collaboration with his dad, Scott, has launched three games on the app store in recent months: FL!P, L!NES and SW!FT. Jack is the technical whiz behind the apps, but says his dad is much better at coming up with the concepts for the games. “I always want to make the most over-ambitious and impossible-tomake games,” says Jack. “My dad is great at giving me concepts that are simple and that I can start on right away.” The first of the three games the young programmer created, FL!P— a new twist on the board game Othello—came at the suggestion of his dad. At first, Jack thought it would be a short exercise using only the most basic of his C Sharp programming skills. It took nearly six months, however, for him to have the game in final form. “After about two months of toying

around with it, I realized it was actually more than an exercise—it was something that could make a pretty cool game,” Jack offers. “At that point, I put in a lot of extra effort and made it into a full-scale app.” The subsequent two games are similar—simple concepts, but strangely addictive. SW!FT has several circles on a grid, and every time the player clicks a circle, a new one appears and a point is awarded. The player has 17 seconds to click as many circles as possible before time runs out. Jack spent a few weeks fine-tuning SW!FT, so that users can unlock new designs, including basketballs and eight balls. L!NES, the most recent offering, has the player quickly draw angled lines that push a hockey puck back up the screen. Jack notes that with L!NES, he was able to complete the app in a single week, working eight-hour days for six days straight. Jack has taken a host of advanced computer courses at GSB. As a senior this fall, he plans to design a full-scale video game as part of an independent study.

THE GREAT AMERICAN ECLIPSE Many faculty, staff, students, Hi Hills campers, families and friends gathered in the campus garden to watch the Great American Eclipse on August 21. The school provided complimentary eclipse-viewing glasses for those in attendance, as well as healthy snacks from the garden! Where were you during the 2017 solar eclipse? Please contact Chanelle Walker at cwalker@gsbschool.org with your eclipse stories.

SPEAKERS ON CAMPUS Throughout the academic year, Gill welcomes visiting artists, authors, performers and guest speakers to campus. Whether here for an afternoon or a weeklong workshop intensive, these visitors always leave Gill a richer place.

Christine Hemp

An award-winning author, poet and writing coach, Christine Hemp spent four days on campus, working with students and faculty. Her visit was generously funded by the Gill St. Bernard’s Parents’ Association.

Neal Shusterman At the request of the seventh grade, award-winning author Neal Shusterman paid a visit to GSB. He talked with students in the Upper and Middle Schools, encouraging them to ask questions and lead the discussion. He also held workshops for grades five through eight. Shusterman says that every story he writes has a personal hold on him. Among the nearly 50 titles he has published, the author has a special connection to his 2015 book Challenger Deep, which received the National Book Award. The title and the story were inspired by his son’s teenage struggle with schizophrenia. 26

Among her many classes, Hemp held workshops for creative writing students at Home Winds each day. Students and faculty alike were struck by her approachability, enthusiasm and ability to bring out the best writing in others. Sammy Bittman ’17 reflected, “Christine shook up our way of thinking and put it down in a new place. I’m really grateful for the time we got to spend with her.”

Margit Buchalter Feldman On Holocaust Remembrance Day, GSB welcomed Auschwitz survivor Margit Buchhalter Feldman. The 87-year-old talked to the students about her life during and after the war, the loss of her parents to the Nazi death camps, and the sense of purpose she found when she began sharing her story. Many years after the war, an eighth-grade boy from her neighborhood in Bound Brook, New Jersey, asked her if she would speak to his class at school. She declined, but allowed the young man to tape-record an interview with her. When she learned of the impression her words and voice had made on his classmates, Feldman began to understand that she could be a voice for all of those who had been silenced by Hitler’s regime. Today, hundreds of thousands have heard Feldman speak in person, and many more have been introduced to her through the 2016 documentary Not A23029 (the title a reference to the number tattooed on her arm at Auschwitz) and through the 2003 book Margit: A Teenager’s Journey through the Holocaust and Beyond.

Kevin Reilly A former special teams captain for the Philadelphia Eagles and a player for the New England Patriots, Reilly’s NFL career lasted less than four years. In 1976, a rare scar-tissue tumor sidelined him and eventually claimed his left arm, left shoulder and five ribs. After surgery, experts told Reilly he would never again be able to tie his own shoes, let alone swing a golf club. Fortunately, Reilly decided to determine for himself those things that would, and would not, be possible. Today, he is a radio announcer for the Eagles and a highly sought-after motivational speaker who golfs, runs marathons, knots his own neckties and, yes, he ties his own shoes. He also spends a lot of time volunteering, counseling and working with other amputees. His advice to the students: Do not wait for a crisis to bring out your best, and find a way to help others, no matter how bad things seem.

IMPORTANCE of EMPATHY A faculty-staff professional development day in February focused on the importance of empathy in teaching. The keynote speaker for the event was Olen Kalkus, headmaster at the Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart and founding head of Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart. OLEN KALKUS Drawing on research and on his personal experience as a teacher/administrator in both coed and single-sex schools, Kalkus discussed ways in which gender, as well as assumptions about gender, can impact learning. GSB trustee Rose Stuckey Kirk P ’18, spoke to the group about her own teachers, noting that the most effective of them gave students a forum in which to discuss, not simply academics, but events happening in the world as well. Kirk valued the chance to form opinions of her own, ROSE STUCKEY KIRK to hear the perspectives of others and to be part of the conversation. Productive discussion, she argued, should be a natural part of the classroom that complements academic skills. In addition to the guest speakers, Gill’s Director of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, Tracey Goodson Barrett, presented “Cultivating Empathy.” She stressed that collaboration, communication and engaged listening— especially with individuals who hold different points of view—are the essential foundations of a community.

HOME WINDS COMPOSTER ROCKET As part of its commitment to sustainability, Gill St. Bernard’s installed a Rocket Composter in one of the outbuildings at Home Winds. The Rocket at GSB is currently one of only 12 in the state of New Jersey. While the science of composting is nothing new, the Rocket is specifically for larger-scale composting associated with cafeterias and restaurants. At GSB, organic waste from the dining hall—everything from egg shells to food waste—is carried directly to the composter, thereby significantly reducing the amount of waste that needs to be disposed of. The composter slowly turns and heats the waste, producing quality compost, which is then used in the campus garden. The tiny amount of electricity used by the composter is more than offset by the reduction in transport.

SOLAR PUMPS Upper School students in the Animal Science elective helped to construct a solar-powered pump system at Home Winds. The system pumps water from the stream into a trough for the cattle. Because the pumps are portable, they can be moved along the stream to provide water for the adjacent paddocks. In addition to providing fresh water for the cattle, the stream represents an off-grid, free water supply, enabling the farm to be more self-sustaining.

28 20

SEEDS & STREAMS In July, Gill St. Bernard’s welcomed 47 students in the New Jersey SEEDS Young Scholars program (fifth, sixth and seventh grades) to campus for the day. The Young Scholars spent the day previewing the school’s STREAMS initiative, which launches in the Middle School this fall. STREAMS will bring together work in sustainability, technology, research, engineering, agriculture, math and service. In addition, the program will utilize the natural resources of GSB’s 208-acre rural campus, complementing classroom work with place-based and experiential learning. Now in its 25th year, SEEDS (Scholars, Educators, Excellence, Dedication, Success) offers educational opportunities for highly-motivated students from low-income families, preparing them for entrance into independent middle schools, high schools and selective colleges. GSB has a longstanding relationship with SEEDS and is proud of the contributions that SEEDS scholars bring to the school community each year. The school has a number of SEEDS students enrolled in grades 7-12, and among the Class of 2017’s 85 graduates, three were SEEDS scholars: Carolyn Brand (Drew University), Ashley Maldonado (Boston College) and Sabrina Marques (Princeton University).

NEW BRIDGE In April, installation was completed on a 45-foot-long footbridge that will make it safer and more convenient for students to walk to Home Winds. The steel truss bridge is decked with Ipe wood, noted for its density and durability. It extends over the campus stream and ends at the crosswalk on St. Bernard’s Road, which has been outfitted with a signal for pedestrian crossing. The cost of the bridge was paid for in part by donations made at the 2017 GSB Gala. Special thanks to parents Harry and Lisa Chowansky P’13, ’15, ’22 (HC Construction) and Brett and Alison Skapinetz P ’21 (Dynamic Engineering) for their expertise and support.

THE TREES OF HOME WINDS INSPIRE ART EXHIBIT IN NYC Recently, Planthouse Gallery in New York City featured the exhibition Home Winds, which combined photographs by Benjamin Swett of the trees at the Home Winds property with songs by Heather Woods Broderick. Co-founder of Plant House Gallery is Katie Michel, daughter of longtime owners of Home Winds, Betsy and the late Mickey Michele. The exhibit coincided with the release of the book Home Winds. Katie Michel first conceived of the idea for the book when she learned that her mother would be leaving Home Winds. She enlisted the help of Swett, who took photographs of the trees at the property over the course of a year. To learn more about the exhibit, visit www.planthouse.net. The Home Winds book and music are available through Planthouse and the book is also available through Amazon.

ALUMNI NEWS

4 5

1 Class of 2007. Front row: Erica Bluestone, Erica Conte, Dina Manfredi,

Karen Cassetta, Nina Siman, Amanda Bisson, Gina Spilatro, Chris Pellegrinelli, Luz Maria Dominguez, John Carter, Olivia Kupfer Back row: Mason Carter, Rajesh Kumar, Tom Cosentino, James Dadouris.

2 Irv Taylor, Jesse Ehnert ’91, Pearl Albino ’93, Jesse Fuchs ’90. 3 Todd Ross ’94 and Shannon Ludlum ’03. 4 Alexa and Andrew ’97 Hammer with their daughters. 5 Karen and Mike ’82 McCloskey. 6 6 Brooke Donaldson ’08.

7 Larry Bostian, Richard Conklin Jr., Danielle Conklin ’00, Richard Conklin III.

REUNIONS The Gill St. Bernard’s Reunion took place May 5-6, 2017. The reunion had a change of venue, taking place at Home Winds, which allowed alumni to visit with the animals and see the school’s farm. This year, alumni were also invited to take part in a celebration to honor the retirement of Gerry Cirillo, Irv Taylor and Larry Bostian. A few weeks after the GSB reunion, alumni from our predecessor schools—The Gill School and St. Bernard’s School— came together for tours, cocktails and dinner on June 3, 2017. 8

8 Lois and Junie Hockenbury, Celeste and Eric ’60 Fossel, Elliott Case ’53,

Ruth Post ’48, Herbert Gaiss ’54, George Coulthard ’67, Marcia and Douglas ’66 Zeek.

9 Brown cup winners Herbert Gaiss ’54, Eric Fossel ’60 and Douglas Zeek ’66.

FOR THE LOVE OF

THE GAME Daisha Simmons ’10 Earlier this year, Daisha Simmons ’10 joined PeliKarhut (PeKa), a Finnish professional basketball team in the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). Last season, she played pro-ball in Portugal. When she is not playing overseas, she is working toward her MBA at Seton Hall. In fact, the guard rounded out her student career in 2015 as a first-year graduate student at Seton Hall. During her year with the Division I Pirates, Simmons earned the designation of 1st team All-Big-East and was the first player in the program to be named Big East Defensive Player of the Year. She averaged 16.7 points per game (sixth in the Big East) and tallied 81 steals (second in the Big East).

This summer, Zach Racusin ’11 signed a contract with the Somerset Patriots, a professional baseball team that competes in the Atlantic League. Racusin was meeting with teams in Chicago when the Patriots invited him to work out with their squad. The Mendham native loved the idea of playing for a team he had grown up rooting for, and he took the next flight home. On July 8, the outfielder worked out with the Patriots and was offered a contract that same day. The following afternoon, Racusin clocked an RBI double in his first-ever professional at bat, helping the Patriots to a 2-1 win over the Sugar Land Skeeters. The 24-year-old got off to a great start. At press time, he was starting in roughly two thirds of the games and averaging a hit per game. “I am really enjoying the experience,” he said. “I worked hard for a really long time, and getting into the Atlantic League is a great feeling. If you can make it here, it means something.” Last spring, Racusin finished up his student career as a graduate student at Georgetown University. He led the team in batting with a .342 average, fifth highest in the Big East. Prior to that, he played for the Division I Hoyas from Marist College, during his junior and senior seasons, starting all 51 games his senior year.

Prior to Seton Hall, Simmons played for Alabama, leading the team in points, assists and steals during her first season of play. She played two seasons with the Crimson Tide, having transferred after her freshman year at Rutgers, and sat out one season with Alabama due to NCAA regulations. At Gill St. Bernard’s, she was a four-year varsity starter and still holds the Somerset County record for points, with 2,488. She was a three-time Courier News Player of The Year and a Newark Star Ledger Player of the Year in her senior season. 32

Zach Racusin ’11

DAISHA SIMMONS

During his three years in the Upper School at GSB, Racusin was a varsity baseball starter. He captained the team his senior season, recording an impressive .509 batting average. He was also the team’s starting pitcher, posting a 7-2 record on the mound.

declined, wanting to honor his commitment to the Scranton Royals. While in college, the midfielder also played for the Electric City Shock, a semi-professional team in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), where he was nominated for the NPSL combine in Los Angeles. At Gill, DiBisceglie was a four-year starter on Tony Bednarsky’s varsity soccer squad. The midfielder helped the team to its first-ever NJSIAA state championship in 2009.

Jaren Sina ’13

ZACH RACUSIN

Tim DiBisceglie ’13 In March, Tim DiBisceglie ’13 signed a contract with the Philadelphia Atoms, a professional soccer team in the American Soccer League. The league plays a split spring/fall season and DiBisceglie played every minute of the spring season for Philadelphia. He returned to training with the club in July for the fall season, which the Atoms will begin in fourth place. DiBisceglie was awarded Man of the Match vs Maryland on June 11. DiBisceglie played four seasons with the University of Scranton. During his last two seasons with the team, the Royals garnered the Landmark Conference Championship to advance to the NCAA Division III Tournament, and DiBisceglie was named AllConference. In his senior season, he was offered a professional contract with MFK Vitkovice in the Czech Republic, but

This summer, Jaren Sina ’13 played basketball with the Kosovo national team, marking the guard’s second season with the squad. The team is a member of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), an official league that comprises more than 200 teams. Sina plans to continue playing in Europe after the Kosovo season ends. European basketball programs are nothing new for Sina, whose father Mergin played in top professional leagues in Belgium, Spain, Italy, Argentina and Portugal. Earlier in the summer, Sina was called up by the Denver Nuggets for a pre-draft workout. The NBA team flew the 23-year-old to Colorado, where he had a chance to showcase his skills in front of coaches and NBA scouts. Sina, who had just finished out a successful senior season with the George Washington Colonials (starting in all 34 games and ranking third in scoring and first in assists), called the workout “an unbelievable opportunity.” At Gill St. Bernard’s, Sina was a four-year starter for varsity basketball and designated one of the top 100 high school players in the nation. He still holds the high school points (2146) and assists record for Somerset County boys’ basketball.

TIM DIBISCEGLIE

RETIRING FACULTY

Larry Bostian

Teri Cosentino

Claudia Hesler

A popular teacher in math and science for 23 years, Larry Bostian first came to GSB as a substitute teacher in 1994. Soon after, he became a full-time faculty member. As the school grew and math and science established themselves as separate departments, Bostian’s teaching shifted primarily to science. At the time of his retirement, he taught AP Physics and Honors Freshman Physics, as well as semester electives in astronomy and oceanography. Bostian kept his connection to math, however, taking on a course or two, as needed. A testament to his influence in the classroom, several of his former students have gone on to study astronomy, oceanography or engineering in college and pursue related careers. In addition to teaching, Bostian ran the Upper School newspaper, The Fourth Estate, for more than a decade. He also served as a faculty adviser for unit trips each spring. In terms of what is next for Bostian, he is in the process of moving to Pennsylvania and he looks forward to getting a dog. Bostian was awarded the Saint Bernard’s School Chair of Excellence in Teaching in 2007.

During her nine years at Gill St. Bernard’s, Middle School science teacher Teri Cosentino found the school’s 208-acre campus the perfect venue for teaching science. She taught in the gardens, ponds and streams and considered Home Winds to be an inexhaustible classroom. Cosentino introduced a hydroponic growing system in the campus greenhouse, which still provides lettuce in the fall and basil in the spring. Her indoor classroom was home to tomato plants, baby chicks and quail, an aquarium, wooden pinball machines, and a bicycle that generated electric power when pedaled. Cosentino loved the energy and enthusiasm of Middle School students and mirrored it in her own life, advising several clubs and hosting astronomy nights and evenings with the watershed. She also took several courses at the NJSTA (New Jersey Science Teachers Association) Maitland P. Simmons Summer Institute, attended NASA space camp, took part in STARS (science teachers as researchers) and in Honeywell Green Boot Camp. Cosentino and her husband, Tom, are looking forward to life in New Hampshire, but she says she will miss GSB. In 2013, Cosentino received the St. Bernard’s School Chair of Excellence in Teaching and she was a New Jersey finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math & Science. She was also a 2014 recipient of the Garden State Green Educator Award, K-8.

Claudia Hesler, Upper School assistant librarian, officially joined GSB in 2000, although she was already familiar with the school community through her husband, Mike Chimes, who came to GSB in the ’70s. Over the course of 17 years at GSB, Hesler assisted with the ninth-grade seminar research course, created the LibGuides and led the charge to digitize the card catalogue and create the online catalogue of the school’s collection. Sitting at the circulation desk, she was literally in the center of it all and got to know many of the students, an aspect of the job she says she will miss in retirement. In the coming months, Hesler looks forward to tackling “those things that you don’t normally have time to address,” including cleaning out the garage, barn and basement. In addition, she and Chimes are both avid gardeners and she will be glad to have more time to spend in the garden.

“There is an unspoken code at Gill: be thankful, work hard and help other people. It is one of the happiest places I have ever been.” – Teri Cosentino

RETIRING TRUSTEES Harry Chowansky III Harry Chowansky III P ’09, ’13, ’15, ’22 joined the board in 2011. He is the vice-president of HC Constructors, Inc., a civil construction contracting company based in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey. He is a former president and a current board member of the Utility and Transportation Contractors Association of New Jersey. He is also a sitting board member of the New Jersey Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Foundation. Chowansky, his wife, Lisa, and four children, Blair ’09, Margot ’13, Corinne ’15 and Anna ’22, reside in Califon, New Jersey.

Donald Fuentes Donald Fuentes P ’14, ’16, ’24 joined the board in 2011. He served as chair of the Building and Grounds Committee for several years and was instrumental in the success of numerous capital projects while in the leadership role. After retiring as a police officer, Fuentes joined Aspen Landscaping Contracting, a public heavy highway landscape construction company, located in Union, New Jersey. Residents of Basking Ridge, New Jersey, Fuentes and his wife, Maria, have three children: Stephanie ’14, Jacqueline ’16 and Isabella.

Robert Sameth Jr. Robert Sameth. Jr. ’89 P ’25, ’25, ’27 joined the board 2008. He is a sales associate with Turpin Real Estate in Mendham, New Jersey. Sameth, who has a BA from Salve Regina University in Rhode Island, has served on the board of directors of the Financial Communications Society and remains an active volunteer through many area charities. He, his wife, Tanya, and daughters Teagan ’25, Nevan ’25 and Noelle ’27 live in Bedminster, New Jersey.

NEW BOARD MEMBERS Gill welcomes two new members to the board of trustees: Rajiv De Silva P ’21, ’25 and Britany Silverman Nelson ’97.

Rajiv De Silva P ’21, ’25

A current GSB parent, De Silva is a managing partner for Asiri Advisors, an advisory firm focused on private equity financial investments in the biopharmaceutical sectors. Prior to that, he served as president, CEO and a director of Endo International, Plc, a publicly traded multinational pharmaceutical company. He is also a former president of Valeant Pharmaceuticals International and has held various leadership positions with Novartis, including president of Novartis Vaccines, USA and president of Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Canada. De Silva lives in Chatham, New Jersey, with his wife, Anne, daughter Marisa and his two sons, Sohan ’21 and Sanjay ’25. He is a graduate, with honors, from Princeton University and holds an MS from Stanford and an MBA with distinction from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Britany Silverman Nelson ’97

After graduating from Gill St. Bernard’s, Nelson earned a BS from Syracuse University and then a JD from New York University. Upon completing her law degree, she began working as associate counsel for her family’s business, Silver Line Building Products Corporation. There, she assisted the corporate counsel on litigation matters and took part in the legal review during the acquisition of Silver Line by The Anderson Corporation. Later, she assumed the role of executive director for her family’s foundation, The Kenneth and Claudia Silverman Family Foundation, which has grown measurably under her leadership. Nelson lives in Bernardsville, New Jersey, with her husband, Toby, and her three daughters. 35

PACC TAKING SHAPE

DEVELOPMENT INTERN

Construction on the Performing Arts and Community Center (PACC) began in March with the razing of the “old gym.” Site work was nonstop over the summer months, with workers setting the foundation and, most recently, erecting the steel framework. The walls and the roof will be completed shortly, allowing work to move indoors during the winter months. The PACC is the final capital project of the Delivering the Future Campaign. To date, more than $5 million have been raised, with an additional $3.2 million still needed to fully fund the project. In addition to being the home of the award-winning GSB Players, the PACC will benefit every student on campus, as concerts, lectures and assemblies in each division take advantage of the amenities it will provide. Construction is scheduled to be complete by the end of the current school year, May 2018. Fundraising continues for this signature building. Contact Jim Diverio at jdiverio@gsbschool.org or call 908-234-1611 ext. 210 to find out more. To learn more go to www.gsbfuture.org 36

This past summer, the Development Office welcomed GSB alumnus Jordan Taylor ’14 as its first development intern. Building upon his interest in philanthropy and recent student fundraising experience as a caller at James Madison University, Jordan spent the summer honing solicitation skills and researching the newest fundraising techniques, including social media and mobile outreach campaigns. He also spent time at Student Leadership conferences and attended on-campus classes to enhance his PowerPoint and HTML skills, as well as participating in Raiser’s Edge webinars to learn more about database management. Taylor shared his findings on his research with the GSB staff prior to beginning his senior year at JMU.

WHY WE GIVE The Drzik family joined the Gill St. Bernard’s community in 2009 when daughter Lara ’17 entered the fifth grade. From the outset, Ann and John were impressed with the personal attention their daughter received from all of her teachers and the exciting extracurricular opportunities that were available to her. The family also loved the beautiful campus and the warm school community. “The administration reached out to parents on a regular basis, encouraging everyone to be involved,” Ann says. “Our family really enjoyed being a part of this close-knit group, and we believe this partnership among parents, teachers and the administration allowed Lara to enjoy a very positive start in life.” As Lara progressed through the Middle School, Ann and John grew to appreciate the school’s emphasis on development of the whole person through academics, extra-curricular activities and social and emotional learning. “It was clear the school had built a community where our children could flourish,” John offers. “We saw firsthand the great work that Gill was doing. When we were asked to consider a significant gift for the Performing Arts Center, we were happy to help.” Ann and John understood that the school would benefit from a comfortable and flexible indoor space

that could accommodate audiences for plays, concerts, guest speakers, class meetings and other school events. In addition, supporting the arts had long been a philanthropic priority for the family, so the chance to contribute to a building that would benefit the performing arts and the entire school community resonated deeply with them. In addition to seeing their gift enhance the academic and extracurricular opportunities that Gill can offer future students, particularly in the performing arts, the Drziks were also confident that their gift would be well used. They reflect, “In our experience, Gill administrators are exceptionally good long-range planners, with a proven track record of stewarding projects to completion and maintaining the properties well once they are up and running. We feel comfortable entrusting financial resources to this smart, experienced, dedicated team, and it is always reassuring to donate to organizations that are on the rise.” The Drziks also note that the school has been very appreciative of their donation. As the building nears completion, they feel very proud to have contributed to its success and are looking forward to returning to campus for the formal dedication of the building in the spring of 2018.

TAKE A TURN IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION Begin Your Philanthropic Journey Would you like to get involved and support GSB in exciting ways? You may be surprised to discover there are many options available with gift planning. Let us help you make a turn in the right direction with a plan customized for you and your goals, so that giving to GSB becomes possible today. Visit www.gsbschool.org/plannedgiving to begin learning about the many different ways you can create a custom gift plan. Ready to talk now? Contact Us. Gwen Paxon, Director of Annual Fund & Planned Giving 908-234-1611, x205 or gpaxon@gsbschool.org

ALUMNI & FACULTY NOTES the FORTIES CLASS OF 1947 David Oakley, who spearheaded the school’s triptych restoration, is currently in conversation with Emily Chenette, learning more about triptych artist Stanislav Rembski and the connection to St. Bernard’s school. Emily Chenette, the great niece of Walter P. Henshaw, visited campus with her family in June. Emily inherited several pieces through the Henshaw estate, including a painting by Rembski. During her visit she shared memories of her childhood visits to campus and the Henshaw building, which now houses the Business office.

Chenette family photo of Henshaw in the early 1930s.

Emily, Louis and Holly Chenette.

Chenette family photo of Henshaw in the early 1930s.

CLASS OF 1948 Hale Bradt visited campus in June on his way to his 65th reunion at Princeton. Hale is an author and professor of physics, emeritus at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. While touring campus he stopped by the cooking unit and shared some of his memories.

Sabrina Marques ’17, Hale Bradt ’48, Carolyn Brand ’17, Ashley Maldonado ’17.

the EIGHTIES CLASS OF 1982 Erik D’Amato, Thatcher Keats, and Richard Eigen came together in the spring to catch up on life and reflect on 40 years of friendship. Here, they have their first meal together as three since Erik’s return from living in Central Europe for 16 years. Celeste Como ’82 hosted a dinner for her class to celebrate their 35th reunion during alumni weekend. She shared a photograph of the group including members of the surrounding classes. Glenn Ollendorf ’81, Chris Burt ’81, Phil O’Cone ’81, Celeste Como ’82, Eric Kauz ’82 (back row) Dan Albosta ’82, Rich Eigen ’82, Gloria Maynard, Paige Jenkins, Sherri Gabaeff ’82, Erik Bergman ’82, Scott King ’82, Mike McCloskey ’82, and Greg Jones ’81. Not pictured Tom Panzer ’82.

CLASS OF 1986

Kenneth Scott Eggert recently graduated with a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Music Composition from The University of Georgia.

CLASS OF 1988

Cynthia Peckman Roessler returned to campus in June. Cindi shared, “After finishing grad school in psychology in 1997, I moved to Munich, Germany, where my husband and I are raising our two sons. Professionally, I work in the field of talent development and specialize in Intercultural Effectiveness. This past June, after not having been on campus for more than 20 years, I had the opportunity to visit with my boys. It was amazing to see how much the school has grown and changed – and yet, it has retained its absolute uniqueness. It was a wonderful day.”

the NINETIES CLASS OF 1996 Sean Ross hosted GSB faculty and staff during a visit to Boston in July for a Blackbaud conference.

CLASS OF 1997 The Mendham Township Police Department announced Lt. Ross Johnson was promoted to the position of chief of police. He was officially sworn in on Monday, March 13 at Town Hall. Sean Ross ’96 and Eileen Procaccino.

GSB group attend Kyle O’Neill’s wedding in November.

The 21ST CENTURY CLASS OF 2008 Kyle O’ Neill had a remarkable season coaching the Whippany Park Wildcats baseball team. The Wildcats won the Sportmanship Award from the Officiating and Umpire Association, Independence Conference Championship, the Group 2 Section 2 Championship and the North 2 Group 2 Championship. Kyle was selected by Mugs Media as Morris County Coach of the Year. Kyle married Amandalynn Glucksman on November 20, 2016. Kyle shared, “I had such a great time with this group of my dearest friends all from GSB!” (Left to Right) Tyler Payne ’08, Jesse Alexander ’11, Billy Raska ’08 (groomsman), Adam Blitz ’08, Peter Grabowski ’08 (best man), Sean Johnson ’08, Tyler Rowell ’08, Eric Kohler ’10, Kyle Grare ’08 (groomsman), Kyle O’Neill ’08, his wife, Amandalynn O’Neill, Kelsey Feldman ’08, Kaitie Dicks ’08, Brooke Donaldson ’08, Mike Christie ’08, Jon Ramsay ’09, Pat Hill ’08.

CLASS OF 2009 Katherine Murphy shared an update, “My incredible experience at Gill St. Bernard’s has inspired me to assist other young women in accessing the kind of education I was fortunate enough to have. I am now working as the campaign coordinator at Foxcroft School for girls in Middleburg, VA. The eloquent and over-achieving students here remind me greatly of my time at GSB. Go Knights!”

CLASS OF 2010 Kristen Bailey has been accepted to Columbia University’s Earth Institute where she will be pursuing her Master of Science in Sustainability Management degree beginning in the fall 2017 semester. Daisha Simmons continues her professional basketball career in Finland this year. See story on page 32.

CLASS OF 2011 40 Nick Blackman ’13 and Maddie Connell ’13.

Zach Racusin signed a professional baseball contract with the Somerset Patriots. See story page 32.

CLASS OF 2013 During July, Jana Bernard performed in the Monumental Theater Company production of Bonnie & Clyde: The Muscial in Washington DC. Jana portrayed the character Blanche Barrow. Nick Blackman and Maddie Connell graduated from High Point University in the spring. They have been attending school together since kindergarten. Tim DiBisceglie signed a professional soccer contract with the Philadelphia Atoms. See story page 33. Margaret LaPré was awarded a Fullbright grant to act as an English teaching assistant in Germany for the 2017-2018 school year. Jaren Sina is playing basketball for the Kosovo national team. See story on page 33.

CLASS OF 2014 & 2015 Dana Klein ’14, captain of the Yale University women’s track & field team for 2018, returned to Gill St. Bernard’s in August to share advice, inspiration and a few training tips with this year’s group of cross-country runners. Klein discovered her passion for running at GSB, where she competed in cross-country during the fall and track during winter and spring seasons. She is looking forward to her senior season with Yale.

Nita Diverio ’15, David Lee and James Reiner ’14.

Nita Diverio ’15 and James Reiner ’14 participated in the Rutgers Unite Half Marathon, which raises money for local charities. The event took place on April 9 at 8:00 a.m. covering 13.1 miles. The course went around the Busch, Livingston, and College Ave campuses at Rutgers (New Brunswick). There were thousands of runners that participated in the marathon including David Lee from the GSB college guidance office.

The GSB Community would like to hear from you. Share your news by contacting the alumni office.

GSB Alumni Office (908)234-1611, ext. 292 or cwalker@gsbschool.org. Dana Klein ’14 (center) returns to Gill to offer training tips to this year’s cross country runners.

FACULTY NOTES

Joan Mruk

Noreen Syed

Cindy Orr

Over the summer, Upper School computer science teacher Joan Mruk was appointed as the school’s new director of academic technology. She has more than two decades of experience in working with computers and technology at independent schools. In April, Mruk was the New Jersey Honorable Mention recipient in the 2017 National Center for Women and Information and Technology (NCWIT) Aspirations in Computing Educator Award.

In June, Middle School science teacher Noreen Syed ’10 was recognized by the New Jersey State Department of Education for her excellence in the classroom. Syed was one of 15 to receive a Distinguished Clinical Intern Award, which is conferred annually on the top students in graduate educator preparation programs in New Jersey’s colleges and universities. She earned an MA in Teaching at Drew University, establishing herself as a top student.

Retired faculty member Cindy Orr released a chapbook of poetry, from inside Schrödinger’s box.

Join us for our largest and best attended fundraising event of the year!

SAVE THE DATE Casual Attire VEGAS BRIGHTS WELCOME!

OBITUARIES Pauline Lurie Retired faculty member Pauline Lurie died on April 28, 2017, at the age of 87. Originally from Boston, MA, Lurie was a faculty member from 1968-2009, first at the Gill School and subsequently at Gill St. Bernard’s. She is best remembered as librarian for the Middle and Lower School, a position she held from 1979 until her retirement. That role allowed her to share her love of reading and appreciation of children’s literature. Over the course of three decades, Lurie sponsored dozens of book fairs, collected countless birthday books and helped to inspire generations of readers. In 1982, in collaboration with Lower School teacher Jan Hays, she founded Stone Soup—arguably the most beloved tradition in the Lower School. Prior to her work as a librarian, Lurie taught history in the Upper School and later chaired the department. She was also instrumental in developing the school’s Unit program, now in its 46th year, and taught ceramics, drama and filmmaking at different times during her career. She was a lifelong activist for world peace and social justice who believed that everyone had an obligation to make the world a better place. Lurie is survived by sons, Michael and Kenneth, and grandchildren, Kathryn, Dylan and Mitchell. On June 24, Gill St. Bernard’s held a memorial for Lurie in the Lower School library.

Meredith Rucker ’62 Meredith Rucker of Dublin, OH, passed away on April 4, 2017. She is survived by her husband, John, and children, John (Cindy) Rucker, Kathryn (Chris) Rich, Meredith (Ed) Spitzmiller; as well as ten grandchildren.

Verdenal Hoag Johnson ’42 Verdenal Hoag Johnson of Dover, NH, passed away on August 9, 2017. She is survived by her children, Candida Johnson, David Johnson (Linda), Frances Meffen (Jack); four grandchildren, Allastair Meffen (Meg), Margaret Howard (Kris), Elizabeth Meffen (Adotey Plange), Madeline Johnson; and five great grandchildren.

Rodney “Whitey” Wagner ’47 Rodney “Whitey” Wagner of Jacksonville, FL, passed away on January 17, 2017. He is survived by his daughter Carolyn Wagner and granddaughter Whitney Wagner. As a student, Whitey was involved in four different sports teams and later inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. After graduation, Whitey Wagner remained involved in the school as a coach and adjunct faculty member. As an alumnus, he diligently worked to find lost SBS alumni and support fundraising projects such as the triptych restoration and alumni walkway. He also worked with other alumni to raise the necessary funds to underwrite the St. Bernard’s School Chair of Excellence in Teaching. Whitey’s prized SBS football and helmet can be found in the school’s archives.

NEW WEBSITE LAUNCHED Gill St. Bernard’s launched a redesigned website in August. The visually stunning site features a 360-degree campus tour, a new MY GSB community landing page and lots more.

Check it out at www.gsbschool.org

MYTH Tuition covers the cost of a GSB education.

vs.

FACT

Tuition only covers 90% of a GSB education leaving 10% of every GSB student’s education to be covered through private contributons

Support the GSB students with your annual fund gift this year! Go online today at www.gsbschool.org/page/Annual-Fund or send your check to the Development Office in Conger Alumni House: Gill St. Bernard's School, Attn: Gwen Paxon, P.O. Box 604, St. Bernard's Road, Gladstone, NJ 07934 Call Gwen at 908-234-1611, ext. 205, or email gpaxon@gsbschool.org with questions.

REGIONAL ALUMNI EVENTS

Stay connected and get involved. Learn how you can support a regional event in your area by contacting Chanelle Walker at cwalker@gsbschool.org or 908-234-1611 ext. 292.

Gill St. Bernard’s School P.O. Box 604 St. Bernard’s Road Gladstone, NJ 07934-0604 908-234-1611 gsbschool.org facebook.com/gsbschool facebook.com/gsbschoolalumni

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