Kent Quarterly - Fall 2025/Winter 2026

Kent

Memory Lane: Kent and the German Student Exchanges 1936-1938 by Larry Gile ’73

by Megan Tady

A New Heart for Campus Life Kent Launches Renovation of Dining Hall and Student Center by Megan Tady

KENT QUARTERLY FALL 2025/WINTER 2026

VOL. 42 NO. 1

The Kent Quarterly is written, edited, and designed by the Kent School Marketing & Communications Office and is produced for alumni, parents, and friends of Kent School.

Editorial Manager

Marisa Scarnati P'29

Director of Marketing & Communications

Kirsten Cheney

Digital & Social Media Specialist

Mackenzie Collyer

Communications Manager

David Head ’10

Creative & Print Services Specialist

Chelsea Hunter

Photography & Videography Specialist

Jimmy Ji

Contributors

Katy Armstrong (Hon) ’70, P'27 '29

Larry Gile ’73

Michael G. Hirschfeld (Hon) ’94

Marya Neary P’25 ’28

Robert F. Ober Jr. ’54

Megan Tady

Kent School Mission

We are guided by our motto—Simplicity of Life, Directness of Purpose, Self-Reliance—to educate our students intellectually, socially, ethically, and spiritually so that they will be prepared to contribute to the common good in the world beyond Kent School.

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Kent School adheres to a long-standing policy of admitting students without regard to their race, color, ancestry, national origin, religious creed, sex, disability, genetic background, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected under federal law or Connecticut state law. Kent School also does not discriminate on the basis of any such protected characteristics in administration of its educational policies, financial aid decisions, employment practices, and other School-administered programs.

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From the Head of School

I have long believed that one of the impulses that motivated the founding of American boarding schools in the mid-nineteenth and early twentieth centuries was Transcendentalism. No doubt, Kent School’s Founder Reverend Frederick H. Sill was familiar with Ralph Waldo Emerson’s notion of “self-reliance." There is also a natural resonance with Henry David Thoreau’s wellknown declaration, “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately,” and the other two elements of our motto, “simplicity of life” and “directness of purpose.”

There is one small problem: Transcendentalism as a loose philosophic constellation eschewed organized religion, so I cannot push Fr. Sill’s connection to it too vigorously! I have more confidence, though, in the claim that the founders of boarding schools, distinct from academies, viewed nature as a refuge from the ills of American cities. The rural boarding school offered a retreat from the world and all that was wrong with it. Fr. Sill founded our School in Kent, after all, not in the suburbs of New York, Boston, Philadelphia, or Chicago.

Our geographic isolation offered temporary refuge, if any at all, from the real world. In the first 50 years of the School, both the telephone, and the broadcasting power of radio and television threatened the School’s intended isolation. There are many living alumni who possessed “contraband” radios and later television sets during their time at Kent. In so many ways our current challenge of managing cell phone use and educating our students about the very real perils of social media is not entirely new. The difference is that we have abandoned isolation as a foundational premise of a Kent School education. Indeed, one could convincingly argue that engagement with the world is now a foundational premise of a Kent education.

I have no doubt that a central aim of Fr. Sill and of the Headmasters who followed him was not only to prepare Kent students for life in an imperfect world, but also to educate them to be change agents in that world. Compelling evidence abounds from our history that indicates the School’s success in doing this.

In the following pages, I hope you will see the dynamic and symbiotic relationship between Kent and the world beyond our campus. The School has been shaped by the world, and the world has been shaped by Kent.

Michael G. Hirschfeld Head of School

Between the Hills and River Shore

Model UN Competes at Brown and Columbia Conferences

Kent School’s Model United Nations team had a strong winter, competing at the 29th Brown University Simulation of the United Nations Conference and the 25th Columbia Model United Nations Conference and Exposition.

In November, 10 Kent delegates traveled to Brown University, joining nearly 1,000 students for a weekend of debate and diplomacy. Representing countries, historical figures, and organizations, they negotiated and drafted resolutions on complex global issues. Jaime Avanceña ’26 earned Best Delegate—the top award within a committee—for his representation of Abdolhossein Teymourtash.

In January, the team traveled to Columbia University, where delegates participated in committees focused on topics ranging from the Venezuelan crisis and Wall Street to creative simulations inspired by Harry Potter and a modern-day adaptation of Fahrenheit 451. Avanceña also earned Outstanding Delegate in the Great Game: Afghanistan crisis committee.

Advised by History & Social Sciences faculty members Sierra Thomsen and Madeline Schade, the team continued Kent’s tradition of Model UN excellence while engaging with students from schools nationwide.

Building Community Through Service and Leadership

Third Form students spent a day giving back to the local community through a variety of service projects. Groups organized clothing donations, painted athletic fields, cleared bike paths, and took part in several other initiatives aimed at supporting the town of Kent.

In all, students participated in 17 different activities, each designed to strengthen community connections and promote the School’s core competency of servant leadership. The Day of Service continues to serve as a meaningful opportunity for students to engage in hands-on work that benefits others while learning the value of contributing to the common good.

Beyond dedicated service days such as Third Form Day of Service and Day of OutREACH, Community Service Director Megan Sokolnicki helps lead ongoing service efforts across campus. Through clubs such as REACH (Remember, Every Action Can Help), students participate in weekly volunteer opportunities and connect with partners in the local community. Many athletic teams and afternoon activities also take part in community service each term, reinforcing that leadership extends beyond the field, stage, or classroom.

A Global Commitment to Care

Members of +&– in Love, a student club dedicated to supporting young mothers in Kenya, have partnered with a local nonprofit organization in Nairobi—an independent, community-based group that works to address social needs and support the public good—to serve under-resourced communities. Together, they have helped provide prenatal care and essential support to more than 3,800 individuals in the past year alone.

Founded and led by Jeremy Peng ’27, the club reflects a commitment to compassion, initiative, and global connection.

“I founded +&– in Love because love should never have borders,” Peng says. “It’s about connection, dignity, and hope. When young people lead with love and take action, we can make the world a little brighter.”

HIGHLIGHTS

Celebrating First-Generation Trailblazers

Each year on November 8, National First-Generation College Celebration Day honors the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965—landmark legislation that expanded access to higher education and opened doors for generations of first-generation college students. We are proud to recognize the members of our faculty and staff who were the first in their families to earn a four-year college or university degree. The dedication and perseverance that carried them through higher education now serve as an example for our entire community.

First photo (left to right): Nancy Lennon (University of Virginia), Victoria Callahan (University of New England), Mari Summers (American University), Kate Main (Western Connecticut State University), and Christine Bouldin (Auburn University).

Second picture (left to right): Mike Tobin (Montana State University), Kevin MacNeil (Bard College), Shaquille Brown-Butler (University of Pennsylvania), Amy Shotton (Middlebury College), David Greene (Syracuse University), Toni Presti (New York University), and Michael Siepmann (Florida Institute of Technology).

CAMPUS

Family Weekend 2025

Families returned to campus October 10–11 for a lively and meaningful Family Weekend, spending time alongside their students and experiencing daily life at Kent. Parents attended classes, connected with advisors, and gathered with fellow families at a reception and community dinner, while athletic events brought energy and school spirit to the weekend.

CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS

WELLNESS

Mustaches for a Mission

The Kent community took part in Movember, the global campaign dedicated to raising awareness and funds for men’s health. More than 100 students and employees participated, many proudly sporting mustaches throughout the month. Together, they helped Kent exceed its participation goal and make a donation to the Movember Foundation.

From Ancient Artifacts to Modern Masterpieces

In October, Kent students from visual arts, history, and psychology took a trip to The Met in New York City. From ancient artifacts to modern masterpieces, they explored the museum’s incredible exhibits while completing class assignments and bringing their studies to life.

IN THE WORLD

Supplies, Service, and Support: Kent Helps Hurricane Recovery

The Kent School community came together this winter to support hurricane relief efforts in Jamaica, led by Director of Equity & Inclusion and International Student Coordinator Shaquille Brown-Butler. With more than 20 Jamaican alumni in the community, Brown-Butler spearheaded initiatives to raise funds and collect supplies for families affected by Hurricane Melissa, a devastating Category 5 hurricane that made landfall in Jamaica in late October 2025.

The effort included a supplies drive and a hot cider and cider donut sale at the Kent-Loomis football game, generating about $800 in donations. In addition, members of the Kent community contributed health and household supplies, which were gathered and prepared for shipment.

In December, Brown-Butler traveled with her husband and Mathematics faculty member Max Butler to Jamaica, where they volunteered at the Good Samaritan Inn, spending time parceling and packing nonperishable food and health items for delivery to western Jamaica. Supplies donated to the Good Samaritan Inn were included in care packages for families in need.

Brown-Butler will continue her volunteer work during spring break, demonstrating how Kent’s outreach extends beyond the School and into the broader community.

Kent in Asia: Alumni and Parent Gatherings

Kent School was proudly represented in Asia this fall, with Director of Admissions Amy Ober P’24 ’27 and Director of Advancement Greg Carter ’95 P’28 ’28 attending an alumni and parent dinner in Seoul and an alumni and parent reception in Hong Kong. Thank you to all who hosted and attended these events for making them so special.

WELLNESS

Kaleb Joseph Leads Conversation on Emotional Strength

Kaleb Joseph, a mental performance coach, returned to Kent School as part of his Self Help Tour, leading thoughtful conversations with students about redefining emotional strength. Invited by the Senior Council as part of its wellness and community engagement efforts, his visit encouraged honest dialogue and reflection across campus.

“Kaleb’s message was incredibly well received by our students,” says Director of Residential Life Cara Clarke. “His ability to captivate any audience is remarkable—you can hear a pin drop when he speaks. He is real and honest in sharing his own story, showing students how to navigate their emotions with care and confidence.”

Hong Kong

Seoul

Rev. Fr. Brian Cheney Ordained at Kent

Rev. Fr. Brian Cheney, Kent School’s Associate Chaplain and a member of the History & Social Sciences, was ordained to the priesthood on September 17 in St. Joseph’s Chapel.

The service was led by The Rt. Rev. Matthew F. Heyd, bishop of New York, and attended by Rev. Allison Read, clergy classmates, mentors, and friends and family who have supported Fr. Cheney throughout his journey.

This sacred rite—the laying on of hands by a bishop—marks a lifelong call to serve God and God’s people. After nearly six years of dedicated preparation, including advanced academic study, theological reflection and writing, and pastoral training, Fr. Cheney extends his heartfelt gratitude to family, friends, and the Kent community who have supported him with patience and encouragement throughout this journey.

Turning Professional Learning Into National Impact

At Kent School, professional growth is more than a career milestone; it’s a way to bring the best ideas and strategies back to students. Associate Director of College Counseling Robert Harry recently turned a yearlong faculty development project into a national presentation focused on supporting students with diagnosed learning differences throughout the college application process. His session at the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) National Conference in Columbus, Ohio, later became the basis for an article on the NACAC website, “Tips to Create a Strong Education Session Proposal for the NACAC Conference.”

The project began through Kent’s Professional Learning Program, a yearlong initiative for all second-year faculty. Within that framework, Harry set a professional development goal to explore an area of college counseling he was less familiar with and present his work at a regional Association for College Admission Counseling conference. “That goal quickly gained momentum,” he says.

The work was first accepted for presentation at the New England Association for College Admission Counseling conference last June, where Harry presented as part of a panel with three colleagues. From there, the project advanced to the national level, earning acceptance at NACAC’s national conference last September, where the team shared its research and strategies with a broader audience of college counselors and admissions professionals.

Harry built a collaborative team that included both Kent colleagues and external partners. At Kent, he worked closely with Associate Director of Learning Access April Pendergast, and received guidance from Director of College Counseling Shawn Rousseau, and Dean of Faculty Cate O’Dwyer, ensuring the work directly informed Kent’s College Counseling office. He also drew on his professional network, bringing in a college counseling colleague from St. Andrew’s School in Rhode Island and senior-level admission leaders from Union College and Vanderbilt University. Over several months, the team met regularly to refine ideas, share research, and develop strategies designed to support both students and counselors. “One of my first lessons in this journey was that experts are all around us,” Harry says. “We were mutually supportive and consistently curious about how we were shaping our topic while remaining true to our original mission.”

Harry’s article will also be featured in The Bulletin, NACAC’s national newsletter, and in The Journal of College Admissions, extending Kent’s voice in the national college counseling conversation.

FACULTY & STAFF

Multicultural Week Celebrates Reflection, Learning, and Community

Kent School marked Multicultural Week with a series of events that invited reflection, dialogue, and celebration across campus.

The week opened on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and a shared reading of Dr. King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” In Chapel, Zizi Nwotite ’26 and Agar Malek ’26 reflected on the letter’s enduring message. Malek spoke about her parents’ resilience and pursuit of education, while Nwotite reflected on the strength found in community and the importance of uplifting one another. Throughout the day, students examined the letter in classes across disciplines, engaging in guided discussions about its continued relevance to justice, equity, and shared responsibility.

As the week continued, students took the lead. More than 30 studentled workshops offered opportunities to explore cultures, traditions, and lived experiences from around the world, creating space for learning and connection. Multicultural Day featured the annual flag parade, a vibrant display of the many nations represented within the Kent community.

The week concluded with a food fair, where students prepared and shared dishes from around the world that reflected their cultural backgrounds. Together, the events of Multicultural Week highlighted both the diversity of the Kent community and the shared commitment to understanding, respect, and belonging.

ATHLETICS

Kent Sports Medicine Sets the Standard

Congratulations to Head Athletic Trainer Kayla Hayes and Assistant Athletic Trainer Kaylynn Ebertowski on earning the First Team Safe Sports School Award from the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA).

“We are very proud that Kent Sports Medicine continues to be recognized as a First Team Safe Sports School," says Hayes. "The award reflects the work we put in to keep our athletes performing at the highest level while staying safe, educated, and prepared for all that life throws their way, both on and off the field. We will continue to uphold this standard in the years to come, going above and beyond for our Kent community.”

To qualify for this commendation, a school’s sports medicine program must meet a wide range of the most up-to-date professional standards. Kent has proudly earned the Safe Sports School First Team Award since 2016—nine consecutive years of excellence.

CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS

Lessons and Carols

On the final day before winter break, the Kent community gathered for its annual Lessons and Carols service, a longstanding tradition marking the close of the term. Through scripture readings and music, students and faculty reflected on the themes of hope and light that define the Christmas season, as well as the shared traditions that shape life at Kent.

As the community departed for the holiday break, the service offered a moment to pause, reflect, and look ahead to the new year.

Artist: Grace Chen '26

A Vibrant Season for the Arts

Kent’s performing and visual arts programs were on full display throughout the fall and winter, with a dynamic lineup of work that brought creativity and collaboration to life. The fall play The Inseparables filled the stage with energy, humor, and heart, while the Dance Ensemble’s Requiem for a Renaissance offered a striking and expressive production. Acts in Motion seamlessly blended dance and drama, showcasing

the range and versatility of student performers, and the Band Showcase highlighted the talent of both the Rock Band and Jazz Band in an engaging evening of live music.

In the visual arts, the Walkway Gallery was transformed into A Magical Garden, an immersive exhibit that awakened the senses, surrounding visitors with the scents of blooming flowers and the gentle sounds of birdsong as they explored

paintings, drawings, photographs, and digital art created by 30 student artists. Kent artists also earned strong representation in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, with many students receiving state and national recognition in this prestigious program celebrating creativity in visual art and design. Together, these accomplishments reflect the vibrancy and depth of the arts at Kent.

Between the Hills and River Shore

Artist: Emma Sun '27

Fall & Winter Season Sports Highlights

BOYS SOCCER

Boys Varsity Soccer closed out a competitive season with nine wins, led by a senior class of nine. Three players earned postseason honors for their performance: Marcus Neil ’26 was named to the 2025 Connecticut All-State Team, Eli Booth ’26 received All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention, and Charles Paquin ’26 earned both All-NEPSAC and All-State recognition. Paquin was also named to the SI Prep School All-American Boys Soccer Team Honorable Mention list. Boys JV Soccer, led by five seniors, secured key wins over Hopkins and Canterbury, while Boys Thirds Soccer finished the season 6-5-1.

GIRLS SOCCER

Girls Varsity Soccer concluded the season with strong leadership from six seniors who set the tone both on and off the field. The team competed hard throughout the fall, earning key wins over Millbrook, Canterbury, and Frederick Gunn. Girls JV Soccer also delivered a competitive season, securing

several victories while celebrating seven graduating seniors.

FOOTBALL

Led by 17 seniors, Varsity Football closed its season with a hard-fought victory over Hotchkiss. Five players earned Class A Group 1 postseason honors. Will McNamara ’26 received First Team recognition, while Noah Alexander ’26, Logan Lejour ’26, Crew Monaco ’26, and Josh Tate ’26 were named to the Second Team. The JV squad also posted a strong season, earning wins over Salisbury and Trinity-Pawling.

GIRLS FIELD HOCKEY

Girls Varsity Field Hockey finished 8-6-1 under the leadership of nine seniors. Aspen Devlin ’28 and Kate McKiernan ’26 earned All-NEPSAC honors for their standout performances. The JV team, led by senior Jacqueline Heslee ’26, capped its season with a win over Frederick Gunn.

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY

Boys Cross Country posted a competitive

season, finishing 2-1 in dual meets behind strong senior leadership. The team’s momentum built midseason with a second-place finish at the Richard Miller Invitational. They capped the fall with an eighth-place finish among 19 teams at the New England Championships.

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY

Girls Cross Country finished 2-3 in dual meets and demonstrated steady determination throughout the season’s invitationals and championship races. Led by four seniors, the team’s highlights included a third-place finish at the Richard Miller Invitational and an 11thplace showing at the New England Championship.

MOUNTAIN BIKING

Varsity Mountain Biking was led by co-captain Jimmy Clark ’27, who finished fifth in the league standings. Co-captain Warren Volles ’26, Pearse Kintzel ’26, and Josh Chan ’27 competed in Category 1 throughout the season, providing key contributions with their endurance and

The Kent School Boat Club, led by Head Coach Eric Houston and Assistant Coaches Hunter Southworth ’98, Matt Close, Andy Provost ’15, and David McMillan, delivered a historic performance at the 2025 Head of the Charles Regatta, earning gold medals, setting a course record, and securing multiple top finishes against one of the nation’s strongest youth rowing fields. From the first race of the fall through championship competition in Cambridge, KSBC demonstrated a season defined by preparation, depth, and competitive excellence.

At the Head of the Charles, Kent’s Men’s Youth Four delivered a landmark victory, capturing first place in a course-record time of 15:58.50. The crew shattered the previous record by seven seconds and finished first out of 86 boats. Stroked by Joseph Bendik ’26 and coxed by Leopold Daub ’28, alongside Vukasin Radovic ’26, Xavier Sanchez ’26, and Calvin Gustafson ’26, the boat executed a composed and technically precise race, navigating the Charles River’s challenging turns with confidence and control.

Kent also impressed in the Men’s Youth Coxed Quad, charging from a deep starting position to finish 21st overall and secure an automatic qualifying entry for the 2026 Head of the Charles. The result underscored the crew’s race awareness and ability to perform under pressure on one of rowing’s most demanding stages.

The success in Cambridge capped an already outstanding fall campaign. At the New England Fall Championship Regatta, held in Worcester, Massachusetts, Kent earned gold in the varsity coxed four (A boat), silver in the JV coxed four (A boat), and both gold and silver in the varsity boys’ double. The season concluded on a high note in Saratoga Springs, New York at the Head of the Fish Regatta, one of the largest regattas in the country, where Kent claimed gold in the boys’ varsity eight, JV eight, and varsity coxed four.

Together, these performances highlight a season marked by speed, depth, and consistency as the KSBC turns its focus to winter training and preparation for the spring racing season.

KSBC Caps Dominant Season at Head of the Charles

Milestones and Momentum for Kent Volleyball

Kent Girls Varsity Volleyball enjoyed a standout fall season, finishing with an 11-7 record and surpassing its goal of 10 wins for the first time in program history. The achievement reflected steady progress, driven by the leadership of five seniors who helped set expectations and establish a culture rooted in teamwork, competitiveness, and growth.

“We emphasized integrity, sportsmanship, and mutual respect for one another and our opponents—core values that guided our success and were embraced by every player,” says Head Coach Kendra Galusha.

That emphasis on team values extended beyond match play and into daily practices and school life, shaping how the group worked together and supported one another.

“We also wanted the team to have fun and truly enjoy the game," Galusha continues. "Team chemistry was a big focus, and it grew through shared experiences, from time together off the court to long matches and road trips. Those connections made this season especially meaningful.”

The season included several milestone victories,

highlighted by a program-first win over Founders League rival Hotchkiss and a memorable Pink Out Night victory against Cheshire Academy. Throughout the fall, Kent demonstrated strength at the net, averaging more blocks per game and showcasing disciplined, cohesive defensive play.

Individual accomplishments further reflected the team’s success. Captains Mackenzie Clifford ’26 and Agar Malek ’26 earned All-Founders League honors, while Elizabeth Ensign ’28 was named All-NEPSAC, and Olivia Ensign ’28 received All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention recognition.

Success extended across the program as well. JV Volleyball finished the fall with five wins under the leadership of three seniors, reinforcing the program’s depth and long-term development.

With a talented young core returning at the varsity level and continued growth from the JV squad, Kent Volleyball is well positioned to build on the momentum of this historic season.

speed. Kent finished third overall among eight teams and closed the season strongly, edging Trinity-Pawling for second place in the final race.

GIRLS ROWING

The Girls Rowing team competed in four regattas during the fall, delivering several standout performances. At the Head of the Charles, Mariia Prodan ’27 won the U17 Single, earning a guaranteed entry for the 2026 regatta. Sophie Kroger ’26 and Emily Yu ’26 placed 28th out of 57 boats in the Youth Double, also securing a guaranteed 2026 entry. The Youth Coxed Quad of coxswain Talia Mitchell ’27, Logan McInnis ’27, Tegan Hunter ’29, Kate McDonnell ’26, and captain Lila Bruun ’26 finished 17th in a field of 51, earning another guaranteed entry. At the Head of the Fish, Kent continued its success, winning the Coxed Quad for the third consecutive year and capturing another Fish Head trophy. The winning lineup featured Talia Mitchell ’27 (cox), Logan McInnis ’27 (bow), Mariia Prodan ’27 (two), Kate McDonnell ’26 (three) and Lila Bruun ’26 (stroke, captain).

Winter

BOYS SWIMMING

The Boys Swimming team, led by four seniors, finished the regular season with a 3–3 record, earning wins over Avon Old Farms, Canterbury, and Kingswood Oxford on Senior Day. The team competed well throughout the season, with strong performances at both the Founders League and New England Championships. At the Founders League Championships, Rylan Smerklo ’27 finished in the top 10 in the 500-yard freestyle, while Ben Baird ’28 placed fourth in the 100-yard backstroke. Baird went on to place second in the 100-yard backstroke at New Englands and set a Kent School record in the 200 IM, breaking Hiro Kamei ’15’s record.

GIRLS SWIMMING

The Girls Swimming team, led by four seniors, finished the regular season with a 3-3 record, highlighted by their Senior Day victory over Kingswood Oxford. The team had a strong season overall, competing well at both the Founder’s League Championships and the New England Championships. At the Founder’s League Championships, Emma Liu ’26 finished tenth in the 500yard freestyle. The 200-yard freestyle relay team, made up of Liu, Phoebe

Kinsella ’27, Lauren Bearz ’27, and Alina Chen ’26, placed sixth. Chen finished seventh in the 100-yard backstroke, while Kinsella finished eighth in the same event.

DIVING

Dylan Sorokin ’27 placed fifth out of nine divers at the Founder’s League Championship with a score of 275.50. The Boys Diving team finished the season with a 3–3 record, while the Girls Diving team also finished the season with a 3–3 record.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Girls Varsity Basketball finished the regular season with a 14–7 record, earning a share of the Founders League Championship for the first time in 15 years. They secured the No. 4 seed in the New England tournament and hosted Taft in the quarterfinals, coming up just short in the final minutes. The JV team finished 5–5 and was led by four seniors who provided strong leadership throughout the season.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Boys Varsity Basketball, led by nine seniors, put together a steady and competitive season, earning seven wins, including two victories over Kingswood Oxford. The team also came together to honor the legacy of Michael Wright ’81 by hosting a meaningful memorial game that celebrated his lasting impact on the program and school community. The JV squad, anchored by two seniors, secured five wins on the season,

highlighted by strong performances against Westminster and Hotchkiss. The thirds team enjoyed a stellar year as well, finishing with an impressive 7–3 record and building momentum for the future of the program.

BOYS HOCKEY

Boys Varsity Hockey picked up 10 wins this season, highlighted by victories over Avon Old Farms School, Westminster School, and Dexter Southfield. The team was led by 13 seniors and finished the winter with a strong overall season. Jack Broderick ’26 earned First Team All-League and Lucas Husted-Edwards ’26 along with Cal Gustafon ’26 earned Second Team recognition from the Founders League. The JV team earned seven wins, including a home victory over Choate Rosemary Hall to close out the year, and celebrated four seniors for their contributions to the program.

GIRLS HOCKEY

The Girls Varsity Hockey team had a stellar season, earning a spot in the NEPSAC Tournament and finishing with eight wins. They advanced to the quarterfinals, where they faced Choate Rosemary Hall in an overtime thriller

but came up short. The team was led by six seniors. The JV team, which included three seniors, finished the season with a 5–6 record.

GIRLS SQUASH

The Girls Varsity Squash team wrapped up the regular season with a 6–4 record, highlighted by a key win over Loomis Chaffee. Led by five seniors, the varsity squad demonstrated strong leadership throughout the winter and competed impressively at the U.S. High School Team Squash Championships and New Englands. The JV team, guided by six seniors, secured wins over Kingswood Oxford and Canterbury, with steady leadership contributing to a successful season.

BOYS SQUASH

The Boys Varsity Squash team finished the regular season with a 9–3 record, highlighted by home wins over Choate Rosemary Hall and Deerfield. Led by three seniors, the squad demonstrated steady leadership all season. The team finished 13th in Division I at the U.S. High School Team Squash Championships and reached the semifinals of the New England

Championships and finished fourth overall. The JV team, guided by two seniors, posted a 9–2 record, while the thirds team remained undefeated at 6–0.

EQUESTRIAN

The Kent School Equestrian Team made the most of the season, taking full advantage of the indoor arena to continue developing both flatwork and jumping skills. Riders remained focused on building strong fundamentals, refining position, and improving consistency both on the flat and over fences. The team had a successful outing at the Crosswinds Holiday Classic Horse Show, highlighted by José Tavares Espaillat ’26 earning top placings in the 1.10m jumper division. In addition, the team benefited from the opportunity to learn from clinician Jamie Stryker, gaining valuable insight and feedback to further support their progress.

Kent Names Kadeem Rodgers Head Football Coach

“As the head coach, my job is to care deeply about the players and to hold them to a high standard."

KADEEM RODGERS

Head

of School Michael Hirschfeld and Director of Athletics Jason Coulombe are pleased to announce the appointment of Kadeem Rodgers as Kent School’s next Head Football Coach. Rodgers will also serve as an Associate Director of Admissions and contribute to campus life as an advisor and dorm parent. Rodgers brings more than a decade of experience in independent school athletics and seven years of head coaching experience. A graduate of The Gilman School in Baltimore, he completed a postgraduate year at The Hotchkiss School before earning his B.A. in Sociology at

Union College, where he was a three-year member of the football program.

“I am eager to build a program that aligns with the School’s Mission and contribute meaningfully to the Kent community,” Rodgers says. “When we focus on developing young men of character—teaching accountability, effort, empathy, and service—the wins will follow.”

Rodgers most recently served as Head Football Coach at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia. After beginning his coaching career there in a variety of coordinator roles from 2015 to 2018, he returned in 2021 to lead the program. Under his direction, Episcopal won back-to-back Interstate Athletic Conference Championships in 2022 and 2023. His teams earned 50 All-Conference, 30 All-State, and 7 All-Met selections, and he helped guide numerous student-athletes to compete at the collegiate level. He also served as Assistant Athletic Director, Assistant to the Office of Community and Equity, and a dorm parent.

Prior to his return to Episcopal, Rodgers led a fledgling 8-man football program at Millbrook School to a 6–1 record in just its second season. While at Millbrook, he also served as an Admission Officer, Co-Director of the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and a dorm parent.

Rodgers’ coaching philosophy centers on relationships, accountability, and service, with an emphasis on developing young men whose impact extends beyond the field. “As the Head Coach, my job is to care deeply about the players and to hold them to a high standard,” he says. “When we build strong relationships and accountability within the team, success follows.”

Coulombe noted that this balance stood out throughout the search process. “Our priority was to identify a leader who builds competitive programs while fully engaging in school life,” he says. “Coach Rodgers has demonstrated that ability at every stop in his career.”

Rodgers’ background also includes a season as a volunteer strength and conditioning coach at Gallaudet University, where he studied American Sign Language, and six years as a master personal trainer.

Rodgers and his family look forward to joining the Kent community. He will be joined on campus by his wife, Rachel, and their five-year-old daughter, Amelia.

The World as a Classroom

At Kent, professional learning is not confined to campus or curriculum guides. For many faculty members, growth happens through engagement with the wider world—experiences that deepen perspective and ultimately shape how students learn. This past year, three teachers ventured abroad for very different reasons and returned with something in common: a renewed sense of what education can look like when the world itself becomes the classroom.

For CORTNEY DUNCAN, that growth began with a question: how can place deepen understanding? As a science and psychology teacher and recipient of the Wagenknecht-Buttitta Memorial Faculty Travel Scholarship, Duncan set out to explore how history, culture, and environment shape the way people learn and connect. The scholarship supports faculty exploration that strengthens teaching through firsthand experience, and for Duncan, it offered both professional focus and personal reflection.

During her time abroad, Duncan engaged directly with places tied to the origins of ideas central to her discipline. In Vienna, a visit to Sigmund Freud’s former apartment and practice at Berggasse 19— where he saw patients, wrote more than 25 books, and produced nearly 20,000 letters—offered a rare opportunity to encounter the physical context in which some of psychology’s most influential theories were developed. "Standing in that space, where Freud developed ideas that still shape modern psychology, was a powerful connection between history, science, and the human experience," she says.

The approach of learning through place carried through the entire trip. In Iceland, the landscape offered unexpected connections to her science classroom, geothermal activity that brought chemistry off the page and into view. "Every street, every cafe, every museum visit was a lesson, not from a textbook, but from the world itself."

Duncan has since woven that perspective into her classroom. She has incorporated global references and lived examples into her teaching, helping students see how academic ideas connect to real places, people, and histories. "Since returning, I’ve been weaving these experiences into my lessons." The trip also deepened a conviction she now brings to every class: "I was reminded that learning doesn’t just happen in classrooms"—a belief that shapes how she approaches teaching and mentorship, emphasizing curiosity, awareness, and lifelong learning. "If there’s one thing this trip taught me, it’s that education is a passport that never expires."

A return to a familiar place can offer a new perspective. For Spanish teachers RACHEL ZIMMERMAN and JOHNNY TORREZ, a recent professional development experience in Salamanca, Spain, became an opportunity to revisit earlier learning while discovering new approaches to teaching, collaboration,

and global engagement. For Zimmerman, it was also something more personal—a homecoming nearly 20 years in the making.

The two-week program brought together educators from across the country for morning coursework, covering new technologies and assessment methods, alongside afternoons and evenings spent immersed in the city itself. "We had a great mix of cultural experiences, professional development, and networking opportunities with colleagues from other schools," Zimmerman reflects. The colleagues themselves turned out to be one of the richest parts of the experience. "Some of the teachers we were with are native speakers from countries such as Chile, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and Colombia. It was amazing to hear how their heritage informs their teaching and to learn from them." Those conversations prompted her to think more carefully about her own approach—how identity and lived experience shape the way language is taught and learned.

For Zimmerman, being back in Salamanca carried a weight that went beyond the professional. "I had studied abroad in Salamanca during my college years, and that was a transformational experience for me," she shares. "Having the opportunity to go back and see how much I had learned and grown in the intervening years was amazing." Founded in 1218, Salamanca is home to one of the oldest universities in Europe—a city that has welcomed students and scholars for centuries, and one that left a permanent mark on her. "Salamanca has a special place in my heart. It’s where I truly fell in love with Spanish."

The experience came home with her. New strategies and technologies from the program’s classroom sessions are being applied to her teaching at Kent. "I believe that some of the new strategies I’ve learned help me differentiate my teaching a bit more for students with different needs. What I learned also helps

me prepare my lessons in an efficient and, I hope, engaging way."

But perhaps the most meaningful outcome is still ahead. This spring, Zimmerman and Torrez brought students back to Salamanca through the same program that took them there, giving their classes the chance to experience the city firsthand. "We will be able to share with them many of the same sights and experiences that we enjoyed," Zimmerman says. The motivation runs deeper than curriculum. "Being able to share this place with students and the experiences we will have will truly be a gift."

When educators step into the world as learners, they return with something that can’t be taught from a textbook. For Duncan, Zimmerman, and Torrez, the world became both classroom and compass—and their students are the ones who benefit most.

This page, left: Rachel Zimmerman in Salamanca, Spain

This page, right: Johnny Torrez in Salamanca, Spain

Opposite page: Cortney Duncan in Vienna, Austria Between

Hills

River Shore

Kent Launches Renovation of the Dining Hall and Student Center

BY MEGAN TADY

A NEW HEART FOR CAMPUS LIFE

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS >>

• Upgraded Servery Redesign the Servery to be larger, brighter, and more efficiently organized, with new equipment to better serve students.

• Expanded Dining Area Add approximately 1,300 square feet of indoor dining space to increase capacity and comfort.

• Flexible Dining & Meeting Space Enhance Walker Hall with a retractable wall, allowing the area to function as either a meeting room or a separate dining space.

• Enhanced Student Center Create both indoor and outdoor spaces designed to support student connection, relaxation, and community life.

• Flexible Dining & Meeting Space Enhance Walker Hall with a retractable wall, allowing the area to function as either a meeting room or a separate dining space.

In March, construction began on the renovation of Kent School’s Dining Hall and Student Center—a project funded largely through the generosity of alumni, current parents, and former parents. The renovation marks the first of several major campus initiatives Kent hopes to complete, signaling a renewed commitment to investing in students’ everyday experience while positioning the School for long-term vitality.

“The renovations will modernize two major student-facing spaces that have seen limited attention since campus consolidation and will have a significant impact on how students live, interact, and find joy on campus,” says Associate Head of School, CFO, and COO Jeff Cataldo.

Architecture firm Hord Coplan Macht has been charged with designing the spaces with a student-first mindset, drawing on extensive feedback gathered from surveys distributed to the entire Kent community.

“I’m proud that we took the time to carefully consider feedback from friends,

family members, former students, alumni, and current students as we thought about how best to design the new Student Center and the Dining Hall,” Cataldo says. “This helped to determine the best way to design these spaces so that they would work for Kent for years to come.”

A MODERNIZED DINING EXPERIENCE

Built in 1924, Kent’s Dining Hall has served generations of students, but its current Servery has struggled to keep pace with the demands of a modern campus.

The renovation will reconfigure the Servery for better flow, efficiency, and student movement. For Dining Services Director Darin Hudson, the renovation will address the operational bottlenecks his team has navigated for years.

“The new design will ease the flow,” Hudson says. “The student body and the community will come in through [one entrance], so they’ll immediately find their way to the hot food, which is the most popular [offering]. There will be more space to spread out.”

Beyond circulation, Cataldo emphasized the importance of aesthetics and presentation. Modern finishes,

upgraded lighting, and better sightlines will integrate the Servery with the Dining Hall and elevate the dining experience. “Food quality is very much tied to the way it’s presented, and in the current Servery, our ability to present food in a way that is exciting and appealing to students is a challenge,” he says.

For Director of Residential Life Cara Clarke, the renovation also has a wellness component. “It gives our Dining Hall an opportunity to [implement] ideas that our students have had through our wellness program about how to positively impact their ability to eat nutritious foods and be thoughtful about what they’re eating,” she says.

Upgrades will include eight stir-fry stations instead of six, six high-speed panini grills instead of five, two hot lines instead of one, and 80 additional seats— all designed to reduce congestion and wait times. “I think the biggest gift that we can give students is the gift of time— eliminating or reducing lines so people have more time together to gather in the Dining Hall,” Hudson says.

Dean of Community Life Dale Reinhardt echoed this sentiment, predicting that the improvements in

the Dining Hall will ripple outward into student life. “Creating greater flow and visual optionality in the Dining Hall will help students have less time standing in line and more time sitting and chatting with their friends, catching up on the experiences that they’re having here at Kent,” Reinhardt says.

A RE-ENERGIZED STUDENT CENTER

As the social hub of campus, Kent’s Student Center will be “freshened and energized” as a place students actively choose to spend time. The former space— which housed the school store, snack bar, lounge, and mailroom—has felt disjointed and out of step with student needs.

Plans include relocating the mail room, upgrading the snack bar, expanding lounge areas, and creating flexible rooms for clubs, dances, studying, and informal gatherings.

“Spaces like the Student Center are critical to our ability to foster community on campus,” Reinhardt says. “One of our core competencies is effective communication. By having those informal settings for students to be able to communicate and learn more about

Renderings are for illustrative purposes and are subject to change.

Renderings are for illustrative purposes and are subject to change.

each other, their growth as individuals is amplified.”

Clarke envisions the new Student Center as a communal living room. “I see it as one big, shared common room, where students can study, get snacks, play some ping pong, and enjoy each other,” she says.

A new interior staircase will connect the Dining Hall on the upper level directly to the Student Center below, bringing these central spaces together in a more cohesive and connected way.

Director of Student Activities Meredith Shafer expects the redesigned layout to unlock new programming possibilities. “A lot has been taking place in the Dining Hall because it’s been just an easier space,” she explains. “But with the new updated space that feels more open and inviting, we’ll have opportunities to do even more,” like hosting student dances, club meetings, and seasonal opportunities to gather for socializing.

Dean of Students Harry Shafer believes students themselves will inform how the space evolves. “A lot of what we do on campus is driven by student interest

and student desire,” he says. “When they see what this looks like, I’m sure the list of activities they will want to do will be endless.”

A BREATH OF FRESH AIR

The renovation of both the Student Center and the Dining Hall will intentionally take advantage of Kent’s natural beauty, seamlessly integrating indoor and outdoor spaces. Outdoor areas will be redesigned to encourage greater student gathering and use throughout the year.

An indoor/outdoor glass pavilion will be added to the Dining Hall under existing awnings, adding 80 additional interior seats and featuring a retractable wall for seasonal flexibility. A patio with seating will extend from the Student Center, connecting both spaces.

Students who viewed renderings of the renovation plans responded enthusiastically, particularly to the introduction of new outdoor spaces. “Sometimes there are too many people and not enough chairs in the Student

“This project will have an immediate and lasting impact on the daily lives of our students and employees. It will preserve the historic character of a building that has nourished this community for 100 years, while updating the Dining Hall and Student Center spaces to meet the needs and opportunities of today’s students.”

MICHAEL G. HIRSCHFELD HEAD OF SCHOOL

Renderings are for illustrative purposes and are subject to change.

Center,“ Zoe Karafotas ’27 says, ” but this looks like a place where everyone can be included, especially now that we’ll be able to study outside.” Rowan Santos ’27 envisions sitting on the patio after class with friends. “It’s going to be great to be able to walk outside and go sit in the sun,” he says. “We’ll have more opportunities to connect.” And Mw Steinhauer ’28 is already thinking ahead to how the outdoor spaces will enhance his studying. “It’s going to make such a great study space for spring or fall exams,” he says. “And being outside will help brighten our moods.”

FUNDRAISING FOR THE FUTURE

The renovation of the Student Center and Dining Hall represents the leading edge of Kent’s broader effort to modernize campus facilities—ensuring students benefit from spaces that reflect how they live and learn today while positioning the School strongly for the future. At the same time, Kent is advancing its vision for a new Athletic & Wellness

“Kent

has a long tradition of excellence, and the current student experience is truly extraordinary. The renovation is another step toward making Kent the best possible experience for current and future students.”

MIKE

SMERKLO P'27 '27

TRUSTEE

Center—an inspiring, 100,000-square-foot hub that features state-of-the-art strength training and cardio and conditioning areas, a versatile field house and event space, a stunning Hall of Fame, and upgraded athletic training, pool, wellness, and dance studio spaces. Together, these enhancements will elevate the School’s athletic and wellness programs while bringing the campus community together in new and meaningful ways.

Kent’s broader vision also includes

St. Joseph’s Chapel, where a planned restoration and expansion will enable the full community to gather, deepening the shared sense of community, belonging, and spiritual life that defines Kent. Looking ahead, Kent also plans to relocate its engineering program from its current off-campus location to the heart of the academic campus. As the program has grown, a more central location will better integrate classroom learning, hands-on activities, and capstone projects—creating

Renderings are for illustrative purposes and are subject to change.

a cohesive, challenge-based environment and making engineering more visible as a core part of the Kent experience.

Advancing these projects will depend on the collective support of the Kent community, with philanthropic partnerships playing a central role in bringing these initiatives to fruition. “By investing in projects like this, we are making Kent an even better version of itself,” says Director of Advancement Greg Carter ’95 P’28 ’28. “These improvements enrich the day-to-day Kent community experience while setting the stage for a more vibrant campus and laying the groundwork for future improvements that strengthen the overall experience on campus.”

Renovating the Student Center and Dining Hall also signals Kent’s commitment to creating spaces that best reflect the standards of leading independent schools. “This project will benefit every community member,” says

Chief Advancement Officer Bill Kissick. “Giving our students a better dining experience and a more thoughtfully designed Student Center will make these spaces more meaningful to them.”

A MEANINGFUL INVESTMENT

Completion of the Student Center and Dining Hall renovation is targeted for November 2026. While the Student Center, snack bar, and Servery are offline, Kent is operating a temporary Servery to ensure continuity of student life throughout the renovation.

Additionally, a current parent has generously covered the expenses of a food truck, which is now serving as a temporary outdoor snack bar during the renovation.

“This project is a meaningful investment in our students and in the Mission that guides our work every day,” Hirschfeld says. “I’m deeply thankful to everyone who helped make it possible.”

Board of Trustees member Mike

BEFORE RENOVATIONS BEGAN, THE CLASS OF 2026 GATHERED IN THE STUDENT CENTER ONE FINAL TIME TO LEAVE THEIR MARK. AS WORK OFFICIALLY GETS UNDERWAY ON THE DINING HALL AND STUDENT CENTER, MEMBERS OF THE SIXTH FORM SIGNED BOTH A WALL—SOON TO BECOME A CLASS KEEPSAKE—AND A STRUCTURAL BEAM THAT WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO THE NEW SPACE. WHILE THE BUILDING ITSELF WILL BE TRANSFORMED, A LASTING PIECE OF THE CLASS OF 2026 WILL REMAIN EMBEDDED WITHIN IT FOR YEARS TO COME.

Smerklo P’27 ’27 expresses his excitement about the renovation, saying he is proud to support it. “Kent has a long tradition of excellence, and the current student experience is truly extraordinary,” he says. “The renovation is another step toward making Kent the best possible experience for current and future students. Once completed, the new physical footprint will be a valuable resource for all members of the Kent community.”

At its heart, the renovation reflects Kent’s values. “The best part of Kent is definitely the people who are here and the community that we build together,” Harry Shafer says. “A change like this shows our School’s commitment to making spaces that match the amazing people that we have.”

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT OR EXPLORE WAYS TO SUPPORT IT, SCAN THE QR CODE OR VISIT KENT-SCHOOL.EDU/ABOUT

Ringing On Kent’s Enduring Bell Tradition

BY MEGAN TADY

Last winter, William Manatt ’26 took a chance on bell ringing for his afternoon activity. He’d heard the bells ringing— they’re unmissable at Kent, rolling across campus in waves before weekday chapel service and during practice sessions.

Still, he arrived at the bell tower not knowing what to expect, intimidated by the sheer size of the bells, which range from 613 to 2,764 pounds. “I was out of my league,” Manatt admits. And yet, “I fell in love with it instantly. It’s simplistic and methodic, but it also takes a lot of skill to do right.”

Bell ringing is ancient, with roots in English churches dating back 400 years. Kent mathematics faculty member Matt Austin, who serves as the program’s Ringing Master, describes bell ringing— also known as “change” ringing—as a “musical performance on instruments that are designed to be heard for miles. It’s like a river of notes pouring out of the tower.”

It’s also astonishingly rare. There are only 5,000 bell towers in the world and about 45–50 in all of North America. Kent School is the only boarding school in North America with an active ringing program and one of only two schools with a bell tower.

That tradition took root at Kent in 1931, during construction of the chapel and bell tower. The bells were a gift from Kent parent Frank J. Humphrey.

He commissioned the bells to be cast in London and installed in the tower as a symbol of gratitude after his son, Robert Humphrey ’35, recovered from a grave illness. Since then, they have rung continuously—through decades of change and even through the COVID-19 pandemic—earning Kent a singular distinction as having the “longest running band in North America.”

“When alumni hear the bells, they always say it immediately transports them back,” Austin says. “It’s almost like time travel.”

Alexander Taft III ’99, son of change ringer Alexander “Sandy” Taft II ’62, joined bell ringing “by happenstance,” but quickly came to appreciate the art itself, as well as the camaraderie and connection to tradition.

“Ringing is a rare blend of precise physical skill, mental focus, and teamwork. That trifecta was immensely appealing, especially early on,” Taft says. “Preserving ringing feels especially fitting for an Episcopal boarding school to carry on this still mostly Anglican tradition.”

Mind-Bendingly Complex

Austin describes bell ringing as mindbendingly complex, jokingly calling it “the video gaming of the 17th century.” Each ringer controls a single bell using a rope that governs timing and tone. Bell ringers

don’t exactly play recognizable songs, but rather what’s called “methods” based on memorized patterns that look almost like DNA sequences on paper.

“There’s obviously a pattern of notes coming out, but it’s not a tune and you’re not going to hum along,” Austin says. “It’s not ‘Joy to the World.’ It’s just this sensation of notes coming and coming and coming, one after another.”

Austin, who learned from Kent’s then-ringing master Tom Holcombe, says there’s a physicality and primalness to the sound that’s unlike any other type of music. “A ton-and-a-half piece of metal getting struck and ringing out for five or six seconds, reverberating and bouncing off buildings, seems to hook right into your spinal cord,” he says.

A method might last one to five minutes, but performances often stretch to 45 minutes or longer by stringing multiple methods together or making real-time adjustments. One ringer acts as a conductor, calling brief verbal cues—“Bob” or “Single”—that subtly alter the pattern. These methods can be extended and combined into hours-long performances, called “peals.”

For Taft, this complexity is intellectually fulfilling. “There’s something deeply satisfying about moving from chaotic jangling to intentional order, and then learning to precisely manipulate that

order using patterns and standards that have existed for centuries,” he says.

The Rest is History

Manatt and Taft’s experience—hearing the bells at Kent, being drawn to them, and ultimately becoming enamored with the artform—has been universal for generations of students who have joined the School’s guild as change ringers.

Elsa Batalden ’22 intended to ride horses at Kent, but soon discovered she had a debilitating allergy to horses and hay. “I was now desperately casting about for a winter activity when one of the deans mentioned that bell ringing had an open spot,” she recalls. “I was intrigued—bell ringing?” I’d never heard of such a thing. I signed up, went up to the tower on a frosty January afternoon for my first practice, and the rest is history.”

Batalden says bell ringing taught her to push herself. “It forced me, at age 14, to try a completely new activity that challenged me physically (the bells are

This page, top: Ropes descend from the belfry into the ringing chamber below, where the bells of St. Joseph’s Chapel are set in motion.

This page, bottom: Will Saxton '26 shows younger ringers how to stow ropes after practice.

Opposite page: Willy Brown '29 rings bell #10, weighing 2,764 lbs., under the watchful eye of Ringing Master Matthew Austin.

massive) and mentally (the methods are complicated),” she says. “I had to work with other students to coordinate the bells in our methods and hone my technique so the team could try more complicated patterns.”

Andy de Ganahl ’69 reports being a miserably homesick second former walking down the boardwalk to the library when he heard the bells for the first time. “I followed the sound through the chapel and up the spiral stairs to the tower and watched the ringers practice,” he says. “I was mesmerized. I joined the bell ringers guild that day. I never made it to the library.”

For students like de Ganahl, bell ringing can be a welcome alternative to athletics during winter term.

“I was hopeless in athletics, so being able to be a valuable part of a real team was inspirational,” de Ganahl says. “The combination of the physical control of the bell and the mental understanding of the ringing patterns cultivated a discipline that has served me my entire life.”

Achieving a Flow State

Despite the size and weight of the bells, ringing isn’t about brute force. “It doesn’t take a lot of strength—five to 10 pounds of exertion at any given time,” Austin explains. “The more experienced and smoother you are, the less effort it takes.”

In fact, the goal is to achieve a flow state—so much so that once, Austin’s fitness tracker mistakenly recorded a nap. “My heart rate dropped into the 50s,” he recalls. “The ringing was so smooth I thought I’d been sitting still for half an hour.”

Being completely present and free of distractions—especially in this digital age—is one of the gifts of bell ringing.

“Your mind doesn’t get to wander to, ‘I’ve got a physics test tomorrow’ or ‘I got in an argument with my roommate last night,’” Austin says. “You’ve got to stay focused, so it turns off the mental chatter.”

De Ganahl agrees. “In a world

dominated by computers, smartphones and tech, I think it is essential to offer an alternative pursuit that requires none of them,” he says. “The young, the old, the strong, the weak, the big, the small—there are no barriers.”

At the same time, bell ringing has taught Manatt that he’s physically stronger than he thought. “When I saw the largest bell, I thought, ‘There’s not a chance I can ring that; I can’t lift my backpack sometimes, but there’s a trick to it, and you learn that pretty quickly.”

Manatt says this lesson applies to other parts of his life. “In the end, pretty much everything has a trick to it, but you have to be willing to look deeper and figure out what that is,” he says. “There’s a certain flow state that you reach in bell ringing, and that’s very accessible in other fields. It’s just about how willing you are to get there.”

Safety Meets Skill

This winter, nine student ringers took up the change ringing helm at Kent, including Manatt, three other veterans of the program, and four newcomers. When Austin onboards new ringers, he prioritizes safety, integrating beginners with experienced ringers gradually

and overlapping practices so novices can visualize what’s in store. “There’s a curated progression through increasingly challenging skills,” he says. “New ringers come in with absolutely no idea what’s going on—a complete blank slate—and they learn to do something challenging, physical, and complex. They learn how capable they are.”

By mid-January, Willy Brown ’29, younger brother of change ringer Atticus Brown ’27, was just a few weeks into learning the process. “It’s a lot more complex than it seems,” he says. “I’m trying to focus on staying consistent with my strokes.”

New ringer Alex Sada ’29 was also still getting his bearings. His biggest challenge: learning to slow down his bell. To do that, he explains, he has to pull harder on his rope. “You have to think of the bell as a wheel, so the harder you pull, the higher it goes, and the further it has to travel, which makes it slow down.”

Unlike bringing an instrument home to practice—like a clarinet, for example— student ringers aren’t able to practice outside of school. “You can’t just have a bell tower outside of your house,” Manatt says. “There’s nothing that emulates the motion of it. So you show up at the bell

tower and you ring, and you might screw up a bit, but that’s part of the practice.”

A Tradition That Travels

Though rooted in centuries-old English practice, Kent’s bell ringing program is deeply connected to the present—and to the world beyond campus. Each month, student ringers travel to other towers across the Northeast, including Boston, New York City, and Smith College, where they gather to ring with fellow ringers. Kent also hosts visiting bands at its tower.

“Bell ringing at Kent introduced me to a global network of ringers,” Batalden says. “Mr. Austin took our guild around the country to ring at different towers and learn from other experts.”

Ringing also marks life’s most significant moments. Students ring for weddings, memorials, and funerals, joining a lineage recorded on plaques inside the tower walls. “When I see the pictures of past ringers on the tower walls, I know I’m part of something bigger,” Brown says.

Taft, who rang under faculty member Tom Holcombe, appreciated how much Holcombe grew the program and connected it to other ringing centers. Holcombe, in turn, learned bell ringing under Kent’s previous ringing master

David Bailey. “That opened the door to learning faster, ringing better at Kent, and making friends in a community that notably values enthusiasm, discipline, and effort over the usual high-school status markers,” Taft says. “That experience was deeply formative and helped build an openness to people and new experiences that I still value today.”

While still at Kent, Taft joined two summer tours ringing in more than 200 British towers, and after graduating he was elected as a member of the London-based Ancient Society of College Youths. Based in Washington, D.C., he rings at both the Washington National Cathedral and the Old Post Office towers, and he serves as ringing master with the Washington Ringing Society while assisting National Cathedral School’s ringing program. “I see ringing as a lifelong craft, and I fully plan to continue ringing and teaching others

well into old age,” Taft says.

Of Taft’s prowess, Austin describes him as “one of the best ringers in North America,” saying, “The Ancient Society of College Youths is the premier ringing organization in the world. It’s like if a Kent alum soccer player offhandedly mentioned ‘yeah, when I’m in England, I just stop in and practice with Liverpool—I have a standing invite.’”

For Batalden, ringing was a key component of her college application when she applied to the University of Chicago, which has a change ringing tower. “I made my supplemental application video in Kent’s bell tower to show that I would bring my unique ringing knowledge to the college,” she says. “It worked—I was admitted under early decision in my Sixth Form year.”

After she graduates from UChicago in the spring, she’s set to attend Harvard Law

School, where she hopes to join the guild of ringers at Boston’s Old North Church— “where Mr. Austin took me and my friends many moons ago,” she says. “It certainly feels like a full-circle moment.”

Of the continuity of ringing, Austin says, “It’s one of the unexpected joys of my teaching career: bringing my ringers to a tower and seeing an alumnus or an alumna from way back still ringing and meeting the current students. There’s a shared appreciation for the opportunities Kent has given them, the memories they’ve made and are still making, and the honor of being part of it.”

Possibly the most impactful element of bell ringing is the camaraderie among the ringers. “You’re all holding colossal pounds of metal, so you have to trust each other a lot, and with that trust you become really well acquainted with each other,” Manatt says. “It’s an unbreakable bond.”

TO LISTEN TO ADDITIONAL INTERVIEWS WITH KENT RINGERS SPANNING SEVEN DECADES, SCAN THE QR CODE.

Opposite page, left: Bells in the "up" position, ready to swing full-circle at the lightest touch.

Opposite page, right: Michelle Lu '26

This page:

John Russell '26, Will Saxton '26, and Will Manatt '26, poised to ring bells 1 through 3.

Kent and the German Student Exchanges 1936-1938

Memory Lane

Inspired to learn about Kent’s traditions, practices, and customs—some long lost, some still beloved—Larry Gile ’73 mined the School’s archives and interviewed dozens of alumni to unearth a treasure trove of history and memories.

This article examines a brief period in the School’s history when good intentions collided with harsh, geopolitical realities. Between 1937-1938, three Kent students from the Class of 1937 participated as exchange students at German state schools. Between 1936-1938, a total of three German students attended Kent, generally for a term. While no records survive documenting the impact of the time abroad on either set of students, Kent’s efforts to promote peace and understanding are worthy of remembrance.

The core values of Kent School are Simplicity of Life, Directness of Purpose, and Self-Reliance. There is also, I believe, a closely related guiding principle, not as explicitly stated, embodied in the School’s colors. In the book, Kent: One Hundred Years, published in 2006 to mark the School’s Centennial, an account of the colors’ origin is offered by Frere Hobbie, a charter master: “Mr. Holspapple, the school’s first headmaster, arrived October 1, 1906. That evening we had our first school meeting. Fr. Sill suggested that as some of the boys came from the North and some from the South, the school flag

should be blue and gray with white letters denoting peace and cooperation.”

Fr. Sill believed in the power and value of contact between schoolboys from different walks of life. He was an anglophile, with several likely influences. First, his monastic order, the Order of the Holy Cross, was founded in the UK in 1884 and shortly after relocated to its current location in West Park, New York. Also, Fr. Sill had a deep love for the sport of crew, an activity with origins in the UK. Finally, he was a long-time supporter of the English-Speaking Union (ESU). The ESU, which has long supported student exchanges, was founded in the UK in 1918 and “arose from the conviction of its founder, Sir Evelyn Wrench and a group of like-minded Americans and British friends, that the maintenance of close and personal ties forged during World War I was necessary for the preservation of peace.” The American branch of the ESU was founded in 1920.

Fr. Sill played a more direct role in the

formation of the International Schoolboy Fellowship (ISF), an offshoot of the ESU which promoted international student exchanges. A history of the ISF explains: “The Fellowship owes its origins to several, distinct earlier undertakings. Several headmasters had for some time been experimenting simultaneously with foreign travel and contacts for their students ... In 1927 Kent sent a crew to the Henley Regatta in England and invited a group of English public school boys to Kent for a winter visit.” (1)

The New York Times of May 15, 1927 described other benefits Fr. Sill anticipated from the 1927 Henley trip, the first by an American preparatory school crew, namely, “for the profit to be derived from association with English rowing men and later on from association with boys of universities and schools. I believe there are some features of English sportsmanship it would be well for us in the United States to assimilate.”

On October 17, 1927, representatives of 12 prep schools met at International House in New York City to discuss how the ISF might carry out its work going forward. As a result of the meeting, an executive committee of three headmasters was appointed: Fr. Sill of Kent, Nathaniel H. Batchelder of Loomis Chaffee School, and Walter H. Lillard of Tabor Academy, to put plans into effect. Among the actions

taken was the first major ISF exchange of 24 students and three teachers to France. The exchange expanded to include German schools in 1935, with 15 German boys arriving in the U.S. in July 1935.

Why German Exchanges At That Time?

The three headmasters had experienced the horrors of World War I through the loss and injury of former students and faculty. They were eager to do what they could to prevent a repetition. The ISF’s founding document speaks to this point: “Believing that misunderstandings between nations often arise through longdistance misjudgments, the headmasters of several American schools are now exploring the various possibilities of developing contacts that will tend to promote cordial relations and lasting friendships.

There is seldom a meeting of minds or participation in the essential life of another country. Impressionable youths are likely to take their prejudices abroad with them and bring them back intensified. Yet youth is a time of generous impulses when lasting friendships are readily formed. Brief experiences of international schoolboy exchanges convince us that familiarity breeds esteem and not contempt ... One English, German or French boy in an American

school makes an impression on several hundred, who perhaps take through life, and to some extent transmit to others a different feeling towards those of other nations. One American boy in a foreign community brings home a new understanding of its traditions and ideals, which he communicates to his school fellows. Friendship and tolerance are bred by intimacy, and we cannot begin too young.” (2)

German Exchange Students and Their Home Schools

The first group of ISF students arrived in the U.S. from Germany in July 1935; however, none came to Kent. Kent’s first German exchange student, Jurgen Herr, arrived in September 1936. Before the fall term began, he spent several weeks on campus getting used to the new surroundings. He then toured Niagara Falls, the White Mountains, and Washington, D.C. with the other German students.

The schools in Germany from which Kent students would be sent in 1937 were state schools established by the Nazi government in 1933, known in German as Nationalpolitische Erziehungsanstalten, commonly abbreviated as “Napolas.”

The German term roughly translates as “schools where boys are educated in a national political manner.”

An extensive description of the Napolas can be found in an address published in the UK journal International Affairs (March 1938) by Major G.A. RowanRobinson at Chatham House, a wellregarded UK foreign policy think tank. Among traits of the Napolas: “That bodily strength and skill” will be the vehicles to rebuild a sense of confidence, strength, and purpose among the young virtually destroyed by Germany’s defeat in WWI and “the shackles of Versailles.”

“The family as an instrument of education has been relegated into the background. Instead, the state has undertaken to provide the political, physical, moral, and religious instruction of the youth of both sexes."

A key goal of the Napolas was to instill a “soldierly attitude” in students. To achieve this attribute, there was a heavy emphasis on physical fitness, especially in activities requiring teamwork rather than individual skills and performance. Uniforms were worn, exacting schedules and inspections were a daily feature, along with riding, training in gliders, motorcycles, and light weaponry. War games were held, similar to old-school camp games in this country, in which opposing teams tried to remove a colored ribbon from the arm of “the enemy.”

Another area where Napolas must have been a jarring contrast for the

Opposite page: Kent School pennant

This page:

The Radley and Kent rowing crews, 1927

Kent students was in religion, given Kent’s strong Christian identity. RowanRobinson noted that “the boys are taught to take every opportunity they can to ridicule the Church. They are taught not so much to renounce Christianity as to interpret it in a new fashion. The Reich’s minister for Church Affairs, Hanns Kerrl, put it this way: ‘Christ must be taught according to the laws of our time and circumstances. The content of Christ’s teaching must be altered. There has now arisen a new authority as to who Christ and Christianity really are. This new authority is Adolf Hitler.’” (3)

Kent Students and Life at the Napolas

The Kent News of November 10, 1937, November 24, 1937, and December 15, 1937, reprinted letters sent to Fr. Sill from Kent students in Germany, providing the only accounts of these schools through their eyes. None of the letters delve into politics, perhaps out of a desire to be a good guest or, perhaps, not wanting to run afoul of the schools’ norms and guidelines.

One student attended a Napola in Stuhm, East Prussia, now in present-day Poland. He matter-of-factly describes an air raid drill while visiting Berlin and “being awakened one morning by the sound of anti-aircraft guns and the drone of airplanes over the roof.” He described accompanying students on maneuvers shortly after arrival at the School: “For one week we marched and played war all over East Prussia, sleeping in hay barns.”

The second student’s letter to Fr. Sill also mentioned the air raid, describing it as “very interesting.” As for the school and students: “The German boys are all very nice and I like them a lot. They have five meals a day over here, so if you fix things right, you can be in the dining hall all day.”

The final letter is from a Kent student attending the Napola in Spandau, located near Berlin. He reported a heavy courseload—“Solid and trig, physics and chemistry, German and English”— supplemented by five weeks of private

German lessons. He planned to learn to ride, drive a motorcycle, glide, play the piano, and possibly fence. He added that, time permitting, he would also like to play tennis, row, and learn handball.

What German Students at U.S. Schools Said

Accounts of German students’ comments convey much clearer political messages.

The Kent News of December 16, 1936, quotes Jurgen Herr: “He believes the present administration ideal, and thinks that Hitler is performing an invaluable task in his country. Definitely denying all reports of preparedness for war being made by Der Fuhrer, Jurgen showed how Germany could not possibly start a new war. He showed that all preparations were for defense alone, and military exercises were for the sole purpose of strengthening Germany physically, and making the country strong in case of outside attack.”

At almost the same time, a German exchange student was quoted in the December 5, 1936, Loomis Chaffee School student paper, The Loomis Log, offering a more pointed political commentary: “Everywhere the second question people ask me over here after ‘How do you like it over here?’ is ‘How do you like Hitler?’ and most are then astonished to hear me say, ‘I like him very much.’ They think I am afraid of German spies and only say so for that reason. But why shouldn’t we like him? He has done nothing but good for Germany. He has reduced the unemployment from seven to one million, our factories are going again, the class hatred has disappeared, and we are again a big, free country . . . It is not true what you read and hear about persecutions. Not a single person in Germany has been shot in the street because he has said something against Hitler . . . You think that we want war. That is never true. Neither Hitler nor anyone else in Germany wants war. We know what war is like, better than any other country . . . we don’t want to conquer other countries. We have learned from history that if we have other

nationalities within our boundaries, these people are never happy, intend always to go to their own state, and are a perpetual cause of trouble.” (4)

The German students made statements about their country, which we now know were clearly wrong. We cannot say with full certainty if they knew this was the case at the time, or were merely delivering a message scripted for them in Berlin, whose content they either did not agree with or could not disagree with.

Bonds Were Formed

Politics apart, bonds were formed by students, fulfilling some of the hopes for exchanges envisioned by the ISF’s founders.

The Kent News of January 27, 1937, published a letter from Jurgen Herr to Fr. Sill, written after the former’s return to Germany: “If somebody asks, ’What is Kent?’ I will answer, ‘Kent is my second home, my home in America’ . . . I can tell you Pater, it was awfully hard to say goodbye and my only hope is that I have a chance to see you and Kent School again . . . None of the 300 boys ever did hurt me. They were all awfully nice and I felt always as a Kent boy . . . The boys (at Kent) are now at home. I hope you had a nice Christmas time . . . A very Happy New Year to you and Kent School. How is the building coming along?”

The case of Waldemar Seebode, the second German exchange student at Kent, is even more complex. He addressed the entire school at his farewell dinner in January 1938: “Well, it is time to say goodbye. It is entirely superfluous for me to praise your wonderful school, and to tell you how much I liked and enjoyed it here. For I am sure that everyone who leaves this place after a while and knows this school, must love it . . . I shall remember the hills and woods, your chapel services, the football games, and Father Sill, the noblest of them all . . . I want to thank those masters and boys who aided me in any way, who made my stay richer with experiences and who gave me so many

good opinions about your country and its people.”(Kent News, January 26, 1938)

After Kent, Seebode returned to Germany, fought for Germany from 1941 to 1945, was wounded, and held as an American prisoner of war until 1947. The Kent News class notes of October 9, 1946, reported that he was a prisoner of war and provided his mailing address. The class notes of December 3, 1953, reported that he was working in Hamburg for the Bank of British West Africa, Ltd. Either he, or possibly a classmate, was keeping the Kent community aware of his whereabouts. I accessed declassified CIA documents showing that Seebode worked as a CIA informant from the 1950’s to the early 1970’s. In one document, he asked his handler for a visa for one of his sons so that his son could spend a year at Kent. This plan did not come to fruition.

Wind Down

Even as the German exchanges were starting, the Kent community was

Notes

hearing occasional messages touching on Germany’s militarization and increasingly hostile designs. The Kent News of May 27, 1936, reported that Dr. Alfred Salter, a British MP, addressed the School. Key points of his talk were at variance with strong isolationist sentiments prevalent in the U.S.: “In regard to the peace movement, Americans have no conception as to the condition of the world”—“We are very near to a world war”—“ . . . a great deal of injustice was going on right now … recently war had just been missed by a hair’s breadth . . . referring to Hitler’s remilitarizing the Rhineland.” Correspondence between the three headmasters shed light on their growing misgivings about the German exchanges.

The Kent News of September 21, 1938, lists prep school students exchanging to Germany for the 1938–1939 school year; none are from Kent. No German exchanges came to Kent after the last student, Karl Koch, who departed Kent in June 1938. No Kent students exchanged

1. The International Schoolboy Fellowship, 1928–1938, published by The International Schoolboy Fellowship, pp. 4–5.

2. The International Schoolboy Fellowship, 1928–1938, p. 3.

3. Rowan-Robinson, “The Training of the Nazi Leaders of the Future.”

4. “German Student Tells of Country’s Purpose,” The Loomis Log, December 5, 1936. Reprinted with permission from The Loomis School.

5. Letter from Batchelder to Sill, December 9, 1938. Kent School Archives. Used with permission from Kent School.

to Germany after 1938. Batchelder wrote Fr. Sill on December 9, 1938: “I would be delighted to have more of them (German students) if I thought we materially influenced German popular opinion . . . I think a lot of people feel that if we take German boys at all, we should take those who are picked on by Hitler, rather than those who are almost his emissaries.” (5)

Fr. Sill replied the following day to say he agreed with his take on the “German situation” and that “it did no good to have the Germans here from their point of view.” (6)

Lillard wrote Fr. Sill on March 29, 1939, making what must have been a difficult decision: “In spite of my desire to persist in carrying on a peace program with the most aggressive and threatening countries, I have been forced to admit that the present situation is too great a handicap and that it is necessary to postpone further friendly attempts until the German government gets back to a near normal relationship with our government.” (7)

6. Letter from Sill to Batchelder, December 10, 1938. Kent School Archives. Used with permission from Kent School.

7. Letter from Lillard to Sill, March 29, 1939. Kent School Archives. Used with permission from Kent School.

Further Reading Regarding the Napolas The Third Reich’s Elite Schools: A History of the Napolas by Helen Roche. Oxford University Press, 2021.

Kent’s Moscow Connections

BY ROBERT F. OBER JR. ’54

Reflecting on U.S.-Russian affairs over the past 100 years, one finds that Kent School alumni have had a surprisingly disproportionate presence. When my family and I first arrived in Moscow in July 1972, we were greeted by Ambassador Jacob Beam, Kent Class of 1924, at his residence, Spaso House, for the traditional Independence Day celebration. Secretary of State Cyrus Vance, Kent Class of 1935, subsequently held meetings in Moscow with Soviet leaders Brezhnev and Gromyko in March 1977, and again in April and October 1978.

Marie (Masha) Yovanovitch, Kent Class of 1976, is among the School’s most notable graduates. Her best-selling book, Lessons From the Edge, describes her “adventures” in Moscow, Kiev, and the other capitals of the former Soviet regime that emerged after its dissolution in 1991. Other Kent personalities made more unobtrusive contributions in Moscow.

I don’t believe the School formally taught Russian to interested students until recently, offering it in alternating years with Italian. However, Masha Yovanovitch’s father, Michel, a Kent faculty member for 30 years and himself born in Russia, offered lessons to interested students. My two daughters, then students at Kent, Elise Lafosse, née Ober ’79, and Abigail Ober ’80, took advantage of these lessons before my second tour at the embassy. Abby later joined my son, Rob III, now a retired history teacher, in taking a group of Kent students to Russia in 1994.

In her book, Masha Yovanovitch refers to “two friends who told me about their father, a U.S. diplomat in Moscow” while at Kent. An earlier graduate, Paul Squire ’71, also studied Russian with Michel Yovanovitch and later served in the Russian capital. His Kent yearbook entry alludes to the word “Ruskie,” suggesting he

may have developed an interest in Russia, as I had, through the School’s history offerings.

During my years at Kent, I became friends with Alexis Sergeevich Troubetzkoy ’53, whose father and mother (she an Obolenski) had deep roots in Russia and the Orthodox Church. Troubetzkoy himself wrote eight books on Russian history and, traveling to the USSR years later, secured the release of two Orthodox churchmen held captive in Chechnya. In the late 1960s, Troubetzkoy served as Fr. Patterson’s assistant headmaster in Rome.

Two Pulitzer Prize–winning correspondents in Moscow also had Kent connections: Serge Schmemann ’63, who reported from Moscow in 1980–86 and 1991–94; and Edmund Stevens, who was accepted into South Kent’s first class of thirty students in 1923, the very school which Kent’s founder, Fr. Sill, established.

In his second year, after winning a literary prize in his first, Stevens was suspended, as he describes in his autobiography, for writing “a scurrilous poem” in a newspaper he had started. At that point, he decided to withdraw from the School altogether. After other adventures, Stevens settled into a 40-year career as a journalist, predominantly in Moscow. He and his Russian wife, Nina, while residing in a home in downtown Moscow once occupied by the American communist and author John Reed (Ten Days That Shook the World), would host literary and artistic Russians, prominent visiting Americans, and a few of us from the embassy. Stevens died at 81, and he and his wife are buried in the Peredelkino Cemetery outside Moscow.

Horace Gray Lunt, Kent Class of 1937 and later professor emeritus of Slavic history at Harvard, wrote a textbook for learning Russian (Fundamentals of

Russian, 1958) that was used at Princeton during my time there. Lunt taught Old Church Slavonic at Harvard for four decades and is credited with rediscovering the Macedonian language, though not without controversy. Interestingly, he achieved the highest cumulative grade (93.5) ever recorded at Kent, surpassing the previous record set by John Gray Park ’28, who was later honored by having his name bestowed on the School’s library. Did Lunt spend time in Moscow? I am not certain, but it seems likely for such a renowned scholar.

In 1990, Tori Ryder, a science faculty member and coach of Kent’s winning girls’ soccer team (now at St. Paul’s School), approached me with the idea of traveling to Russia with the team to compete against Russian teams. After our flight, we had a practice workout with a Russian boys’ team in Moscow, then played women’s club teams in Minsk,

Belarus, and in Georgia, with the Georgian team traveling from the capital, Tbilisi, to a nearby town. While the girls lost in Minsk, they won against the Georgians before a crowd of about 15,000 in a large stadium outside the capital. Among the Kent girls were the 1998 captains, Debbie Camuso and Eliza Stevenson, and the 1999 captains, Sherry Fairweather and Benagh Richardson.

Mark Twain once wrote that travel opens minds. Privacy rules, however, preclude asking any of the Kent players about the impact their two-week adventure in the former USSR might have had on their later choices. Yet it is hard to believe the experience has been forgotten.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Director of Admissions Amy Ober, Archivist Katy Armstrong, and Larry Gile ’73 for assisting me at various points.

Alumni News

EVENTS & GATHERINGS

New York Holiday Reception

On December 8, Kent hosted its annual Holiday Reception at the New York Yacht Club. Whether you donned red or silver, a holiday tie, or a sequin dress, the Kent smile is always our favorite accessory. Thanks for coming out to join in the festivities!

Alumni and Parents in Philadelphia

Chief Advancement Officer

Bill Kissick and Alumni & Development team members

Candie Fredritz and Millie North welcomed Kent alumni and parents in Philadelphia at the Merion Cricket Club.

Austin Holiday Gathering

A special thank you to Board of Trustees member Chris Loughlin ’92 P’28 and Kathleen Loughlin P’28 for hosting Kent alumni and parents at their home for the School's Austin Holiday Gathering on December 9. Associate Head of School, CFO, and COO Jeff Cataldo and Chief Advancement Officer Bill Kissick joined the celebration.

Texas Holiday Reception

On December 10, Associate Head of School, CFO, and COO Jeff Cataldo and Chief Advancement Officer Bill Kissick joined alumni and parents at Kent School’s annual Holiday Reception at the Park House in Dallas, Texas.

Denver Gathering

The Alumni & Development Office hosted a holiday gathering at The Corner Office Restaurant in Denver, Colorado on December 4.

Dick Sanford '55 Memorial Alumni Hockey Game

While alumni hockey games have long been a Kent tradition, the game itself has come and gone over the years—disappearing for nearly two decades, returning in 1991, and fading again until Dick Sanford ’55 brought it back in 2000-2001.

Held on February 21, this year’s game brought alumni back to campus to lace up and take the ice. It was wonderful to see alumni, friends, and family celebrating a tradition that Sanford helped revive—skating well into his 80s.

John Rooney ’73 addressed the alumni teams, saying, “Our legacy now is that we all have to own this, get more people to come out, and get it going year after year.”

Coach Dale Reinhardt with Brian Crowley '77 wearing his "Kent 75-76 Hockey Champs" jacket.

Kent alumnae in full force

Memorial jerseys

Kent-USNA Brunch

Kent hosted its 20th annual Kent-USNA Brunch at the Naval Academy Club in Annapolis, Maryland. Thank you to Kent's Alumni Council host Ben Wright ’80 P’24 for spending the afternoon with six midshipmen.

Join Kent School’s LinkedIn Alumni Association Group

Loflin ’79 CEO Ready: What You Need to Know to Earn the Job and Keep the Job HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW PRESS

Morgan Brookfield ’6o The Water, The Wind, and The Lee Shore

PUBLISHED (2025)

Bryon

(2025)

Michael Hoberman ’82 Imagining Early American Jews

David Marulli ’93

Left to right: Benjamin Wright '80 P'24, Aila Toivonen ‘25, USNA 29; Addison Neise ‘22, USNA 26 Submarine Warfare; Paddy McNamara ‘22, USNA ‘26 Naval Special Warfare; Wyatt Campagna ‘24, USNA ‘28; Samantha Maynard ‘24, USNA ‘28; Brooke Cesarski ‘25, USNA '29.

Beyond Kent: Stories of Community and Purpose

Beyond Kent is a new alumni spotlight series featuring Kent School graduates who carry the School’s Mission into the wider world, contributing to the common good. Each story celebrates engaged citizens living with purpose, strengthening the communities they serve, and making an impact locally and beyond.

Kevin Chu ’10 has built his career around a central idea: expanding opportunity. As Executive Director of the Vermont Futures Project, he works at the intersection of research, policy, and community engagement to help shape a thriving future for the state.

A graduate of Middlebury College, where he was a record-setting track athlete, Kevin has also remained deeply involved in athletics as a coach and mentor.

His journey to Kent began with a leap into the unknown—one that would set the tone for much of what followed.

"I didn't even know that a PG year was an option until one of my assistant coaches mentioned the idea. The more I learned about it, the more it felt like the right step for me."

That decision—to take a chance— continues to inform both his mindset and the advice he offers others.

"One of the things I want to communicate to Kent students is not being afraid of things they don't know and being willing to learn … Take a little bit of risk— and there can be amazing rewards that come from it."

Throughout his career—from launching a community-based track club, Sprinticity, to working across multiple roles at the University of Vermont—Kevin has consistently focused on helping people

and communities succeed.

"I created Sprinticity with the idea that sprinting can be a lifelong endeavor . . . It comes back to this idea of opportunity — you just have to give people a chance. That same philosophy drives his work today with the Vermont Futures Project. "The way I like to describe it is that we get to ask, ‘What does Vermont want to be when it grows up?’' . . . What are the challenges that people are facing? What are the barriers, but more importantly, what are their hopes, dreams, and ambitions for the future? …And if the data show that we're trending away from that aspirational vision, then that's where we can create the recommendations for how to get back on track."

For Kevin, the work is deeply personal— shaped by his family’s story of his parents immigrating to Vermont in the 1980s and realizing their American dream. “I feel so strongly that what they were able to accomplish is just beyond amazing, and it may not be as probable now as it was 30 years ago. So my work is really focused on how we make sure that opportunity continues to be part of Vermont's story…

"The motto I live by is ‘Move forward. Give back.’ I'm the beneficiary of a lot of generosity and opportunities that were made available to me and my family, and I am trying to pay that forward.”

Kevin Chu ’10 Vermont

A third-generation rancher in Emigrant, Montana, Malou Anderson '00 grew up with a deep connection to land, family, and stewardship. After earning a degree in psychology from Montana State University and working in social services in urban settings, she returned home in 2012 to help manage her family’s ranch and the neighboring Grizzly Creek Ranch and Retreat. Today, her work spans regenerative agriculture, conservation, and equine-assisted therapy, all rooted in a philosophy of coexistence—with the land, wildlife, and community.

Her path reflects both a return home and an expansion outward—something she traces back, in part, to her time at Kent.

"My grandparents always told us to find something more. [At Kent] I really enjoyed things that I didn’t have opportunities to do here. I was deep into sports — rowing and lacrosse. My friends and the community of Kent were so important."

That willingness to step into something unfamiliar—and to grow through it—continues to shape how she approaches her work and her role on the land.

"We were always told this ranch was our spiritual

asset . . . A lot of the work I do around coexistence and conflict reduction has to do with the notion that we're not imposing, dominating, or taking over. We're really just respecting what feels like a sacred space."

Malou returned to Montana at a pivotal time at the ranch. "It was around this time that we really started to embrace regenerative agriculture and started educating ourselves as a family about how to shift from conventional systems of agriculture to a more progressive, regenerative system…Not only are you building soils instead of overgrazing and degrading soils, but you have a healthy animal on top of it because they're grazing, moving, and eating in a natural way.”

Now, whether working with cattle, collaborating with neighboring ranchers, serving on the Board of American Farmland Trust, or leading equine therapy sessions, her focus remains on connection—between people, place, and purpose.

"I think the basis of my work is helping connect people to place and place to people, and in that, hopefully, being better and knowing more… I’m really fortunate to be doing something that folds into my value system and my ethics."

Myles Smith ’15 New York City

Growing up in New York City, Myles Smith '15 arrived at Kent eager to expand his world—and left with a strong sense of community that continues to shape both his personal and professional life. Now a project manager with the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, he works to address one of the city’s most urgent challenges: access to safe, affordable housing.

His experience at Kent marked a turning point, broadening his perspective and deepening his connections.

"I'm a full-bred New Yorker, through and through . . . But I always say that in the first half, I grew up in New York, and then in the second half, I really grew up in New England."

From the start, he leaned into the opportunity to connect with others.

"[At Kent,] I couldn't wait to expand my network and really learn everyone's stories … ‘Where are you from? Where's home for you? What was your favorite thing to do?’ I really love that."

Those relationships became one of the most enduring parts of his Kent experience.

"I always thank Kent for allowing me to grow and understand more about myself. I just

can't believe how lucky I was to be in such a beautiful place that introduced me to my best friends, who I consider family."

Today, Myles brings that same people-first mindset to his work in housing.

"We’re trying to solve the housing crisis day by day. I try to find solutions to help keep housing affordable for low and moderateincome individuals in New York City.… I work to make sure these things actually happen and that these people are happy, living comfortably, and able to actually live in their apartments. We're advocates of the people of the city."

Whether mentoring young athletes or engaging with students and alumni, he continues to emphasize growth through experience—something rooted in his time at Kent.

"I would say [to Kent students], 'Step out of your comfort zone. Sometimes you need to get comfortable with being uncomfortable… Just immerse yourself in the campus, try things that you never thought you would try. It's an awesome time to just discover the world and learn a lot about yourself and the environment that you live in. It's a beautiful thing.'"

Malou Anderson ’00 Montana

Women of Kent: Celebrating 60+ Years of Legacy and Leadership

For more than six decades, Kent women have carried the spirit of the Hill into the world as leaders, creators, and contributors across countless fields. The Women’s Legacy Luncheon, hosted by Liesbeth Hirschfeld at Cumming House this past fall, brought alumnae together to reconnect, reflect, and celebrate the enduring impact of Kent women across generations.

Building on that momentum, the Women of Kent

Through the Decades: A Zoom Series connected alumnae across class years through shared stories and conversation—highlighting the lasting bonds that define Kent women.

The Zoom series culminates on Saturday, May 2, with the Kent Women's Leadership Forum at the Yale Club. This alumnae-focused gathering will bring Kent women together to engage in meaningful dialogue and learn from women who have built careers, businesses, and lives

rooted in the values shaped at Kent. Whether you come to reconnect with friends, expand your network, or simply spend time in community, the forum is designed to be welcoming, engaging, and inspiring.

That momentum continues with the establishment of the Kent Women’s Leadership Fund—Empowering the Next Generation of Kent Women. Created within The Kent Fund, this dedicated initiative provides immediate, high-impact support for Kent’s female students— expanding access through financial aid, supporting leadership and entrepreneurship opportunities, and funding targeted programs such as mentorship and wellness. Focused on current-use support, the Fund ensures that gifts make a direct impact on students today while strengthening the future of Kent women. to learn more or make a gift, visit www.kent-school.edu/givenow

Kent Women’s Leadership Forum

Saturday, May 2, 2026

12:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. Yale Club of New York City

Together, we will celebrate the role Kent played in shaping your path, honor five distinguished Kent women who exemplify our Kent Competencies—Active Empathy, Engaged Citizenship, Critical & Creative Thinking, Effective Communication, and Servant Leadership—and explore ways to support future generations of Kent women.

Alicia Coppola '86

Heidi Stultz Brooks '86

Grace H. Cordsen '15

Wendy W. P. Ettinger '74

Bertie "Bebe" Deming Heiner '67

Kent School’s Annual Day of OutREACH brings together the community in a shared effort to give back through a series of service efforts taking place throughout May, both locally and coast to coast. What unfolds over that time reflects a broader commitment: showing up for others and contributing in meaningful, tangible ways.

In Kent, students, faculty, and staff support projects that strengthen the surrounding community. Beyond campus, alumni and families organize and participate in service efforts in their own cities and towns, extending the reach of the initiative far beyond the School itself.

That reach has expanded steadily over time. “Day of OutREACH has grown from a small, alumni-driven idea into a far-reaching day of service that now includes projects led by alumni, parents, and friends, often in partnership with local nonprofits,” explains Alumni Council Committee Chair Guillane Jean-Pierre ’85. “That evolution reflects a Kent community that stays connected well beyond campus and is eager to translate shared school values into tangible service wherever people live.”

With growth has come greater structure and intention. “There are defined roles and coordinated outreach to partners like NY Cares, Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, and regional nonprofits,” Jean-Pierre

notes. Each year, more locations participate, demonstrating “how strong the alumni network is and how willing people are to step up when given a framework and support.”

Even as projects vary from food drives and supply sorting to park clean-ups and supporting shelters, they are unified by purpose. JeanPierre describes a sense of shared momentum that spans great distances: everyone serving under the banner of Day of OutREACH creates a feeling of “we’re doing this together” even across time zones. Equally important is how participants engage. “Projects are designed around listening to and partnering with established organizations, which ask participants to meet communities where they are and to see service as collaboration, not charity,” says Jean-Pierre. “Because the work is hands-on—packing food, sorting supplies, cleaning parks, supporting shelters—participants can see Kent’s values in action in the faces of the people they serve alongside.”

Day of OutREACH has become central to the Kent community. “This growth reflects a community that sees service as part of its identity, not a one-off event, and that wants its alumni lives to mirror the purpose-driven education they received at Kent,” Jean-Pierre says. These opportunities also strengthen connections. “They deepen alumni connection in a way that goes beyond nostalgia; working side by side on a project creates a different kind of bond than a social gathering or a fundraising appeal.”

For Jean-Pierre, that may be the most important thing of all. “They keep Kent’s Mission alive in a polarized, fast-changing world by giving alumni a concrete way to practice civic responsibility and service together rather than only talking about those ideals.”

2026 Event Locations

May 3

Los Angeles, CA

May 9

Kent, CT

Hartford, CT

Norwalk, CT

Miami, FL

Chicago, IL

Brooklyn, NY

May 16

Bay Area, CA

Boston, MA

Manhanttan, NY

May 30

Vista, CA

SCAN THE QR CODE OR VISIT KENT-SCHOOL.EDU/ALUMNI TO LEARN MORE AND TO REGISTER FOR KENT DAY OF OUTREACH.

Class Notes

1951

Fletcher Hodges shares: Emilio "Peter" Pittarelli died in November. He and I entered Kent as Second Formers in September 1946 for a five-year stint, graduating in 1951. He went on to MIT for a year, then into the Army for a tour of duty in Korea, then onto Cornell, from which he graduated. He became a successful architect, practicing in New Haven and Florida. His wife, Susan, died in September 2025. He had two children. Peter was a highly original, intelligent man, widely read, a profound thinker, and a very good friend.

1955

Harold Pachios shares: Dick Sanford died on August 25, 2025 in Philadelphia. Born in 1936 and raised in Montclair, New Jersey, Dick entered Kent as a Second Former in September 1950, where he was active in the football, hockey, and baseball leagues. Dick graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1959 and had a successful career as an insurance broker at his family firm of Sanford & Purvis in New York City. In the years following his graduation from UPenn, Dick pursued a conventional life—commuting daily from New Jersey, wife, three children, and 10 years as President of the Bernards Township Board of Education. And then, in the mid-1980s, it can be said Dick’s life became less conventional, but certainly interesting. After his divorce, Dick moved to Battery Park City in Manhattan, where he maintained a bachelor apartment for nearly

40 years. He continued in the insurance business and began a partner relationship with Leslie Hyde, a New Jersey native who moved to Maine, where she and Dick established a home. Dick became a regular commuter between Portland and New York, driving his little (and aged) Subaru, often pulling a boat trailer with his sailboat, which he sailed both in New York Harbor and in Maine. He also frequented New Jersey, where often he could be found either on the tennis courts at Somerset Hills Country Club in Bernardsville, or on the ice rink at the Essex Hunt Club in nearby Peapack. One never knew when or where Dick would show up, which earned him the name "the Velvet Fog," almost identical to the childhood nickname bestowed on him by his Kent classmates back in the early 1950s, "the Fogster." The 1955 Kent yearbook described Dick as having "a 42 pulse beat." Dick was laid back. He almost never drove between Maine and New York without diverting to his beloved Kent to take in a hockey game or just visit with faculty and students. Throughout his long life, Dick was devoted to Kent and, particularly, Kent hockey. Dick’s legacy is the seemingly endless Dick stories his legion of friends tell. And one of the best is about his devotion to Kent hockey. Dick had twin grandsons who were top Division I hockey players. They went to Westminster. When Westminster played Kent, you could be certain Dick was there. Once when Westminster was playing at Kent, both teams were leaving their dressing rooms to begin the third period when, lo and behold, the boys saw their grandfather emerging from the

dressing room with the Kent team, their opponent. Dick played in senior hockey leagues until he was 85. He appeared in senior hockey tournament games in Maine, New Jersey, California, and many other states. The Velvet Fog also appeared in senior hockey tournaments around the world, including Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia; Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia; all the Scandinavian countries; Serbia, Iceland, Thailand, and several other countries. Dick was recently inducted into the 80+ USA Hockey Hall of Fame. Dick was devoted to his four children: Richard Jr., Andrew, Lindie, and Sara, as well as nine grandchildren. He was Kent ’55 Class Secretary for over 60 years, and he was an unforgettable character.

1958

Former Trustee T. Anthony Brooks died on December 3, 2025 surrounded by family in Jackson, Wyoming. Tony was born in Short Hills, New Jersey, on September 16, 1939, to Charles W. and Honour S. Brooks, and was raised with his two younger brothers, Colin ’60 and Michael ’63. At Kent, Tony was a member of the Senior Council and played football, hockey, and tennis. He was captain of the tennis team in his sixth form year. As a member of the undefeated ’57 hockey team, Tony was inducted into Kent’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Tony graduated from Yale University in 1962, where he also captained the tennis team. After two years of active duty as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy serving on the USS Barton, Tony married Linda Leith, the love of

his life for 61 years. They raised their three children, Charley, Rhys, and Leith in Rye, New York. Tony had a rewarding career on Wall Street, where he was known for his uncompromising integrity, strong work ethic, good judgment, and colorful sense of humor. He worked at First Boston and Loeb Rhoades before moving to Salomon Brothers. He finished his career at Lehman Brothers in 1997 as Global Head of Capital Markets and a member of the Operating Committee. Tony believed in the importance of giving back. He served as a member of the Kent School Board of Trustees from 1987-1995 and as Class Secretary from 2003-2008. In 2008, he was awarded the Fuzz Foster ’41 Class Secretary Award for his leadership of the Class of 1958’s 50th Reunion. Tony also served on the board of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and as chairman of the board of Jackson Hole Land Trust. When their oldest son, Charley, died tragically at the age of 22, Tony and Linda established a scholarship at the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) in his name. Upon his retirement, Tony and Linda moved to Jackson Hole. They built strong new friendships and embraced the outdoors and the local community. Together, they hiked the peaks, skied the chutes, cycled the paths, and fished the rivers of Teton Valley and the broader West. Tony is survived by his wife, Linda, brother, Michael ’63 (Dede), children, Rhys (Mandy) and Leith (Stewart), and eight grandchildren. He is predeceased by his son, Charley, and brother, Colin ’60.

1960

Jim Mell shares: Amazingly, another year has now begun! Wishing everyone a healthy and happy 2026! Hugh Hardcastle and his wife, Surrey, experienced a first at holiday time. According to Hugh, “…for the first time no one came to us for Christmas!” Consequently, Hugh wrote, “As is totally appropriate, our children all have their own family centers, so Surrey and I will travel serially to each to celebrate Christ’s birth and the blessing of our family— four kids, 14 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. He and Surrey are “reasonably healthy and compos!” Johnny Smithies writes that he and his wife, Laura, just celebrated 54 years of marriage. They had a wonderful Thanksgiving, celebrated at his cousin’s house in Key Biscayne, Florida, with a house full of family members! Johnny continues to recover from his stage 4 cancer and is grateful for God’s provision of wonderful treatment and support from the Miami Cancer Institute, Dr. Nicole Eisler, and the staff at Baptist Hospital in Miami, as well as superb care from his wife, Laura. We all wish Johnny continued progress with his recovery, keeping him in our prayers. Bob Anderson writes that he and his wife, Lucy, will be hosting the Kent Florida Spring Reception at The Johns Island Club on Monday, March 9, while Dave Kepner and his wife, Cristina, will be hosting the Palm Beach reception on Wednesday, March 11, at their spectacular Palm Beach apartment. According to Bob, any and all 1960 classmates are invited. News has arrived from Johnny Smithies that

classmate Morgan Brookfield has had his book entitled The Water, The Wind, and The Lee Shore published and is available for purchase. The description by Amazon reads, “The Water, The Wind, and The Lee Shore follows Brookfield’s eight-decade journey from near-death sailing experiences to banking success, ultimately discovering wisdom through spiritual surrender." Sounds like a winner to me, and I can’t wait to read it! Congrats, Morgan! Another update was received from Lucian Ferster, who writes that this is his first alum entry since Peter Alford was our class secretary—15 years ago! Lucian says that in spite of his intentions, being in his 80s, life has slowed down. He and his partner, Sylvia, used to travel a lot, but they don’t do that anymore. He also used to be a “gym rat” and lap pool regular, but no longer. However, he finds wonderful things to do. Gardening is very rewarding, as is his daily one-mile walk and geriatric workouts. “Reading historical writings and good novels are my friends." Also, he has restarted drawing and says his portraits are “marginally passable." Meanwhile, Silvia continues to work running her inner-city after-school program. They see friends regularly. Lucian has retained his bar card, but hasn’t seen a courtroom in a decade. Politically, he continues to promote progressive policies and candidates. Lucian’s only dramatic news is his granddaughter’s wedding this past summer. It was a beautiful event held on San Juan Island, Washington. After the wedding, Lucian and Silvia ferried to Vancouver Island , British Columbia, for a few days to visit

with an old law school friend and then flew to Laguna Beach, California to visit friends from Lucian’s 1960s Caracas days. He concluded, “After that, exhausted, it was great to get home.”

Take care and stay in touch, classmates!

1961

Former Trustee Michael Stewart Duncan Pollock, 82, died on September 15, 2025, after battling cancer for three years. Known as Duncan, he was a resident of Lee, Massachusetts, where he lived for many years with his life partner, Karen Carhart, and his beloved dachshunds. In addition to Karen, he is survived by two sons: Michael and Jack ’07 and his wife, as well as his siblings. Duncan was a dedicated alumnus, serving as a Trustee from 1997-2009, volunteering for his class reunions, and for the school’s fundraising initiatives. Duncan grew up in Darien, Connecticut. At Kent, he served as a prefect, played football, basketball, and captained the tennis team. After graduating from Yale with a BA in Art History, he worked as Director of Admissions at St. Stephen’s, an international school in Rome, Italy, founded by former Kent Headmaster Fr. John O. Patterson. He later returned to New York and earned an MBA at NYU’s Stern School. Duncan had a distinguished career in advertising, first at Young & Rubicam and later as CEO of Ammirati & Puris New York, overseeing a 750-person operation before becoming president of a private equitysponsored branding firm. In retirement, Duncan consulted

and served on museum and school boards, including the Norman Rockwell Museum and St. Stephen’s, as well as church and tennis committees locally. Duncan was a gourmet cook and wine connoisseur, and until recent years, he ran a website, Chow Guys, which specialized in sharing food and recipes. Later, he spent three years researching his family’s generational genetic disposition and authored The Rubicam Women, as well as contributing to The Christian Choice. Exploring their individual lifelong passions for art, church history, languages, and international living and travel, Duncan and Karen shared that enthusiasm with a wide circle of friends both locally and globally.

1962

Sam Watkins shares: Tom Ryan famously issued an edict at any group gathering he attended: "There will be no discussion of health issues." Risking his wrath, I will report three of such issues. Herb Tully was bitten by a tick outside his house in Kent. This was no ordinary Lyme disease tick, it sent Herb to the hospital for a week. He has fully recovered but it took a number of phone calls with me to achieve that result. Tom Carey had a tussle with cancer and has been treated at Hyannis Hospital on the Cape. He says he will win the battle and reminds me of the grit we showed together on Smokey Smith’s Massie Soccer Team during Second Form year. Your scrivener had a mild stroke in August but has recovered completely. If the mystery meat we had at Kent didn’t get me, this is nothing. Keep your notes coming.

1966 B

Doug Henry shares: The Bay Area 1966 alumni met for their annual lunch at Buck’s Restaurant in Mountain Side back in October. Nick Farwell, Ken Miller, Pete Pervere, Rich Locksley, and your humble scribe were in attendance. John Eaton, Beth Ferree, and Muffy Mallory ’67 were unable to attend, but based on social media, they are doing fine. Some time was spent stoking the fire in the “hot stove league” in an effort to right the San Francisco Giants’ ship. In an ongoing competition of sorts, Ken is closing in on Rich as the group’s premier raconteur. Nick, Peter, and I sit quietly and take notes as Ken recounts stories from his days as an Oakland sportswriter covering the A’s, Reggie Jackson, and Joe DiMaggio. Rich regales us with his interactions with Nobel laureates, the Pope (honest), and other worthies. Here’s a sample of the latter—"I gave the UCSF Academic Senate 2025 Basic Science Lecture, which is awarded to a person responsible for outstanding basic science discoveries. It was a pretty humbling experience, given the incredible scientists and Nobel laureates who have presented the lecture in prior years." Kent gets a mention in Rich’s background section, showing the School and the 1965 soccer team. Google "Dr. Richard Locksley UCSF Faculty Research Lecture in Basic Science" on YouTube. George Mallory reports: I continue to live in Houston due to close ties with my church and doctors. Still pedaling 70 miles each week, which helped stabilize my health. Debbie and I will be at the 60th in June and are sharing a rental with Terry Rogers and his wife, Diane. There is room for one more couple. Chris Dixon shares: The past couple of years

have been a little rough. My wife, Barbara, passed away in 2023, and I spent six weeks in the hospital in 2024 dealing with the hell of cancer. I am now stable and have been able to resume sailing with cruises to Maine and the Mediterranean. The restoration of Stone Acres Farm (circa 1765) keeps me busy focusing on the shared importance of food and sustainable farming. Over 5,000 students have come through the campus and the Yellow Farmhouse Education Center.

Derek Pretty shares: 2026 marks 60 years since I arrived at Kent on a cold winter’s day as an ESU exchange student. I was taking a “gap year,” as it’s called in England, after having failed to win a place at Oxford. (Ed.—their loss, our gain). My experiences in the next six months at Kent were transformative, and I am very proud to have had the chance— both at school and while traveling 11,000 miles by Greyhound bus— to learn a little about the people and geography of the U.S. The time was so positive that, when I returned three years later, I nearly stayed permanently, earning an MBA, teaching Accounting, and ranking top in Washington state on the national AICPA exams.

But I returned to England for the next 22 years, spending time in retailing, three years in banking, and 12 years in higher education. Since then, I have served 15 years as a director and trustee of a variety of organizations. I remain on the board of the University of Plymouth and intend to continue doing so for another four years, if I am able. This year, Carolyn and I will celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary with our three sons, one granddaughter, and two grandsons. And that’s me and my family in a nutshell. Jim Harvie shares: In anticipation of our 60th reunion, my wife, Colleen, are planning on attending. We’re living in Charlotte, North Carolina, where we have made

many friends, which was a concern upon moving here, knowing no one. Our church, Carmel Country Club, the Yale Club, etc., have filled that void. Charlotte is a great city and a particularly hot real estate market. With cultural attractions, good restaurants, and easy traffic patterns. “Come on down." My daughter, Gabriella ’11, lives in Washington, D.C. after graduating from Elon University. She worked for many years for the Endowment of the Humanities, pre-Trump 47, but is now an event coordinator for the World Resources Institute. Early on in our marriage, Colleen informed me that we would be spending summers in Cleveland, Ohio to escape the Charlotte heat. I suspect I am the only person who says he has a vacation home in Cleveland. After 22 years in Puerto Rico, I keep busy with a bunch of activities. I am a SCORE (SBA-affiliated group) mentor where I coach wannabe real estate entrepreneurs. I’ve taken up oil painting, taking a class once a week. I’m admittedly terrible, but then so was Hunter B. Drafted to join a spiritual/ Bible study group that meets at the Qualil Hollow Country Club. Golf is another humbling experience, and I play with the other worst player at our club. We limit ourselves to nine holes and never keep score. I visited Croatia on a 19-cabin mega yacht—very beautiful excursion. Christmases are spent in Puerto Rico with Gabriella, while Colleen is snowbound with her family in Cleveland. Not a bad arrangement—Win-Win!

See you in June. George-Ann Gowan (Hon) (Hon) '66 '71 '08 P'91 '95 '00: My grandson, Donald K. Gowan IV, turned 11 on Christmas Eve. He is quite the athlete, enjoying baseball, swimming, and go-kart racing. See the picture of the heir and George-Ann nearby. My son,

Andrew ’00, and his family, who live in Oak Park, California, celebrated the holidays with us. We are still happily living on Main Street in Kent, frequently visiting daughter Anna’s ’95 restaurant, Kingsley Tavern, now in its 13th year. Sounds like a perfect spot for a reunion dinner. Kenneth Neher shares: Lots have been going on with several political planning meetings throughout this past year. Also spent time helping out with a local elementary school with donation drives and food for students and teachers.

1966 G

Leslie Gleason Smith shares: Hopefully, all are giving serious thought to joining me in Kent from June 26–28 to celebrate our 60th reunion. So far, we have confirmation from Lynn Williams, Weezie Potter, Lynn Doe Shipway, Caroline Mastin Welsh, Kate Noble Davies, and Jenny Wolcott that they will be attending. Since our last (delayed) reunion in 2023, we have lost four members of ‘66G—Holden Humphrey, Lanie Peterson,Vicky James, and Stina deVillafranca. Time is more precious than ever,

George-Ann Gowan and her grandson, Donald K. Gowan IV

so don’t put off this chance to reconnect with friends. Our years at Kent were a coming of age in a time and place only those of us who were there can understand and appreciate. Now the news— from Wimberly, Texas, Pebbles Wadsworth writes she is setting up a new business, “Pebbles Pet Pastels." She intends to launch her website, www.pebblespetpastels. com, in January. “I paint people’s pets to raise money to help others pay vet bills they otherwise could not afford. I decided to go “public” with this project based on input from many clients. She recently completed a portrait of Darcy, Weezie Potter’s Golden Retriever. Pebbles and Inky, her rescue standard poodle therapy dog, continue their good work.

“We were involved in helping during the floods in Kerrville, Texas last summer, and currently are going to places that include a maximum security prison and an assisted living facility, as well as to many venues in between. Here is a comment about what our work means to those we visit…

“My wife and I enjoyed meeting you and Inky today. I know this won’t come as a surprise, but the comfort and positivity that you and Inky spread works wonders.

Although our CCRC is taking amazing care of my mom (who just moved to the memory care a month ago), this has been a tough transition for all of us. Talking to you and being able to get a hug and kiss from Inky saved the day today!” Also from Texas, Chichi French Armstrong had her left knee replaced in November, then celebrated the holidays with family in Chicago. Replacement of her right knee is next on the agenda. She and Tom are looking forward to the arrival of a new kitten! She continues her dedicated work as head of the non-profit she founded, Ladies Let’s Talk, in Austin. Judy Keur writes that her family is doing well—“Grandson is a junior at UVM and has two profitable businesses as well as a good grade average! (He is NOT a partier, obviously!). Granddaughter is at Roger Williams University, and is an architecture major, and playing basketball—exhausted all the time—the other two grandkids, 11 and eight, are thriving and happy! Barry and I have become involved in neighborhood HOAs. He is finishing up as President in Vermont and I am on the HOA Board in Florida and on a Board via Zoom in Vermont for church … and College Class President …

why do we say yes? Because we still can! As for news from your Class Agent, I had an enjoyable week’s visit from Weezie in November, enjoyable because we did nothing, zip! However, I am keeping busy. After a too long hiatus, I returned to church almost 10 years ago, when I was rebaptized in the Lutheran faith (great and great-great grandfathers were Lutheran Pastors). We have a very active Justice & Peace Ministry that is primarily focused on immigration and racial equity issues. We have been supporting two Afghan families and a family from Guatemala who were separated at the border. It is fulfilling, but we face an uphill battle as there are so many, many more families needing support. Love to all and hope to see you in the lovely valley land in June.

1967

Muffy Mallory shares: Fall brought me back to Kent and a coffee date with John Holzinger, who is still working although scaling back. We had a wonderful visit mostly talking about the state of things. He is little changed. I keep in touch with Cornelia Lewine Fortier who makes me laugh more than almost anyone I know. We have bonded over many things, but mostly over dogs and cats. I still get together every Sunday evening with Beth Ferree ’66 and John Eaton’66 for wine and snacks, and to discuss politics, nostalgia, and family. These visits keep me going. In early December I flew to NYC to attend the Kent Holiday party which was a lot of fun. It made me realize that I have so many friends now, thanks to being on the Alumni Council. Horrifyingly, I believe I might have been the oldest person there. I stayed in Rye with Marf Beebe Knowles and her husband who graciously

took me in and transported me back and forth to the train station so that I could spend part of all three days in Manhattan. It was magical. I didn’t see half the things I had hoped, but had lunch with Erin Reilly ’08 and Barbara Vaughan (BV) ’78 at the National Arts Club, decorated for Christmas. Other than that I do hear from Ray Baxter fairly regularly often to discuss our 60th which is a year and a half away. He is updating our website with a new link and we are thinking of other ways to update it so our class can keep up with each other. It is very generous of him. When it is ready, we will let everyone know. In the meantime, I try to stay healthy, walk four miles almost every day and attempt to maintain my mental health despite what is going on in this world. Peter Farnum writes: After 49 years we sold our home in Chestnut Hill (Philadelphia) three years ago and built a summer home in Cape May, New Jersey. Our primary home is in Delray Beach, Florida. Our biggest news is that our youngest son, Michael, got married in early November. The wedding was supposed to be in Jamaica at the Half Moon resort, but Hurricane Melissa forced us to move things to Delray at the last minute. Fortunately, everything worked out fabulously. Medically, I have had four surgeries on my right knee in the last three years as I got bacterial infections after the first two surgeries. I’m getting better slowly after months of physical therapy and antibiotic infusions, but I still have to walk with a cane. I haven’t played golf in three years. Linda and I celebrated our 55th wedding anniversary last September, and she has not changed, as beautiful as ever. Needless to say, time flies by so fast when you’re having fun. Our four grandchildren are now teenagers, two girls and two boys, and, hopefully, more to come.

Painting of Darcy Potter by Pebbles Wadsworth ’66

Bill Pickard writes: I could bore everyone to death with reports on my sore hips (who knows why) and other infirmities, or my kids (all fine), or my wife (dealing with lumps and bumps), but it’s more fun to talk about starting a not-for- profit to develop a waterfront center in SE Seattle on the lake to provide access to kids/people with fewer resources to the great things that come from paddling and rowing. Lots of history here—3,000 years ago this shoreline supported large villages of Salish long houses, so we’re bringing back part of the culture that existed here before us Europeans arrived. So everyone, get prepared to send me donations once we get this all up and running Paul Gasek writes: I went to Australia twice this year, a month each time, once to shoot a documentary about sharkman Rodney Fox, and the second time, just because I like it there. I’ve been going to the opal fields at Coober Pedy since 1986 to see old friends, take long walks out in the outback, and pick up some opals. And being somewhat aged, the dry desert air is great for sinus and chest congestion, too. Will spend the winter editing and finishing the film, and then go Down There

again. Saw Hal Stevens and wife Carol back in the fall; and we text from time to time with Todd Seymour. We’re all hanging in there. Craig Benepe writes: Regretfully, I do not have any relevant news to report except that my wife of 55 years, Mieke, and I are healthy and doing well here in the Charleston, South Carolina area. Any classmate who comes to Charleston are invited to come visit with us. John Cole writes: My goal for 2026 is to get published—or at least find a receptive publisher for—my book Shadow Boxers, a collection of black and white photos I took in the mid-70’s of gritty NYC boxing gyms, where the real life Rocky’s trained for a shot at glory. An era of boxing that no longer exists. More info is on my website: www.johncole.co.uk. And when I’m not looking for a publisher, I continue to take photos of Hastings fishermen/women, as well as do a bit of teaching. I also work with the Hastings Conservation volunteers, helping to maintain our beautiful country park, as well as volunteering at Hastings Contemporary Gallery. Plus I enjoy a bit of gardening and cooking. I think that if there’s any secret to staying healthy as we get older, it’s keeping ourselves busy

doing things we love doing. Or least I hope so!

1968

Pam Coburn writes: My son and his family moved from Maine to Hawaii last year, leaving me on my own in New England. To be near my children and grandchildren, I’ve migrated from New Hampshire to the West Coast to live in Southern California with my daughter and her family. So far, I am enjoying that closeness and the warmer climate. Peggy Tuttle shares: It’s been a busy and unexpected year. At the end of 2024, Hurricane Helene flooded our home in St. Pete Beach with several feet of seawater, and we’ve been temporarily living in Safety Harbor while figuring out what comes next. In the midst of all that, our book production work at Foster Design Collaborative has shifted into a higher gear. One of our most recent projects, The Invisible Yankee, is now on press. It tells the little-known story of Dandy—the New York Yankees’ short-lived and only mascot—written by Rick Ford, the man inside the suit. At the same time, I’m hard at work on the third in a series of wall

murals I created for Academy Prep, a wonderful scholarshipbased school in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area with a year-round rigorous middle school program focused on college readiness. The mural visually interprets the school’s pledge, which students recite each morning. The hard work involves creating silhouettes of every student’s face, which is a time-consuming process, but the result is always worth it. Sending my best wishes to all my classmates!

1969

Peter Malin shares: Many Kenties and their parents were big fans of Peter Starbuck who owned and ran the Starbuck Inn on Main Street for many years. I had the pleasure of visiting him in November and we met our fellow classmate, Tim Pickering, for lunch at a restaurant nearby. In case you missed it, the School has invited all alums who have already celebrated their 50th to join this reunion in 2026. I know there are a number of grads from the early 70’s who plan to return this year. If you can’t make it this year, our 60th is in 2029, not that far off!! Class Agent Barbi

Mural by Peggy Tuttle ’68 on the Academy Prep St. Petersburg campus

Barbi Kingsbury ’69, Dick Schell ’69, and Debbie Rinehart Fowler ’69 in Newport, Rhode Island in August 2025

Tim Pickering ’69, Peter “Bucko” Starbuck ’69, and Peter Malin ’69 gathered for lunch in Middletown, Connecticut, in November 2025.

Kingsbury writes: I spent a few weeks in August 2025 traveling through New England, and that included memorable visits with a few classmates: Bridget Thorne, Peter Starbuck, and a wonderful lunch in Newport with Dick Schell, Debbie Rinehart Fowler, and Elaine Griffin, Dick’s former assistant at Kent. John Drinker writes: My daughter Lauren and I went on a great ski trip to Austria for five days in Winter, 2025. We stayed at a 5-star ski in/ski out hotel in Lech. It was supposed to be a once in a lifetime trip, but we’re now thinking we should go every year! Janet Stroup

Fox writes: My next book (for all you science geeks) is a nonfiction biography of Rosalind Franklin, English biochemist called The Real Rosalind: The Truth About Rosalind Franklin’s DNA Discovery and How It Was Erased. It will be out April 7, 2026. Still plugging away…”

1970

Jere Fletcher shares: Ernest Fair and I were back in the D.R., making this year’s international youth beisbol exchange happen. We first connected on this at the 2021 mashUp reunion (ostensibly ’71’s 50th with neighboring

classes). Do what you can while you can. Keep moving forward. Smile—be well—go forth!

1971

It has been five years since the Class of 1971 established the Class of 1971 Prize for Multicultural Equity Endowed Fund at Kent. Awarded annually, the prize honors students whose words and actions affirm the dignity of every individual and strengthen a truly multicultural community by celebrating both our differences and shared humanity. Recent recipients of the Class of 1971 Prize for Multicultural Equity

are Agar, Jeremy, and Angel (2025); Tiffany (2024); and Nancy (2023). Of note, in recognition of the intent of the Class of ’71’s Prize, we commissioned the Octave of Gyres, a fabulous sculpture by Kent’s own George Windsor Sherwood '72, who graciously oversaw not only its artistic realization but also its remarkable installation in June 2022. Come to Reunion to see it! Laura Ellis Bruckmann shares: This year we were fortunate to be able to preserve a seven-acre parcel of land that was slated for development, which has given me a lifetime project of restoring the neglected gardens, going organic, and welcoming all wildlife except deer. We have five beautiful grandchildren who love gardening and dogs. I wonder where that came from? Looking forward to Reunion with great pleasure. Love to All! Thaddeus Bennett shares a recent Amazon review he wrote for fellow classmate Ed Woodhouse’s new book, Joe Burk: An American Ideal: “Five Stars, but you need to love rowing to fully appreciate this book. Ed Woodhouse has captured Joe Burk as the ’gentleman coach’ that he was and that all coaches should try to be. In the current

John Drinker ’69 and his daughter, Lauren, in Lech, Austria, winter 2025 Burlington, Vermont, May 2025. Back row (left to right): Terry Thoren ’71, Staige Davis ’71, George Sherwood ’72, Ned Costello ’73, Tucker Allen ’72, and Dave Cherry ’71. Front row (left to right): Vinnie Davis ’72, Basil Stetson ’71, Peggy Ragusa, Bev Cole-Costello ’73, Betsy Tobin ’72, Laura Ellis Bruckmann ’71, and Andy Phypers ’73—with cookies from Robin Bodell ’71!

Solvang, California, September 2025. Back row (left to right): Vinnie Davis ’72, Shep Bryan ’71, Geof Garth ’71, and Peter Rosecrans ’71. Front row (left to right): Basil Stetson ’71, Terry Thoren ’71, and Peter Fairhurst ’71

The Octave of Gyres and plaque, gifted by the Class of 1971 and friends in honor of the Class of 1971 Prize for Multicultural Equity.

era when athletes and others are told ’Win or else,’ we read a story about a coach who wanted to win, but not at the expense of helping to form young men (and in our day also women) to be great citizens and adults; win, but not at the expense of losing your true self/your soul. Thank you for this glimpse of greatness in the history of rowing and for the inspiration to bring back some important lessons of rowing and of coaching.” Terry Thoren writes: The Kent Mash Up Reunion Organizing Committee conducted two successful planning sessions in 2025. They met for one day in May at the home of Basil Stetson in Burlington, Vermont, and for four days in September at the home of Terry Thoren in Solvang, California. In 2021, already five years ago, we organized the first “Kent Mash Up Reunion” for the classes of 1966-1975 at the Marvelwood School (former home of the Kent Girls School).

The event was a huge success and motivation for the Mash Up to be bigger and better in June 2026! This year the organizers plan to bring together the “Golden Lions” from the classes of 1968-1975 for the second Mash Up Reunion at Kent on June 26-28. It will be the largest, most successful, most exciting gathering of Kent senior citizens in one mash up cluster ever assembled in the history of the planet earth. Kent School has agreed to allow all the Kent Mash Up attendees to be housed together in one dorm on campus. Along with the Kent Reunion schedule of events, there will be a parallel agenda of Mash Up events including the Kent Memorial Walk at the Kent cemetery on Skiff Mountain. Barbi Kingsbury ’69 has already contacted her classmates John Drinker, Bridget Thorne, Kate Kuhner, Debbie Travis, Ed Evans, Janet Stroup, Pete Malin, and Fred Schoch. Terry

Thoren is asking for assistance from class of ’70 ring leaders John Samerjan '70, Curtis Jordan '70, Tonia Shoumatoff '70, and Nola Fooshee Ray '70 Vinnie Davis '72 and Kathy Shreiber '72 will pitch in from the Class of ’72 and Tracy Fairhurst '73 and Andy Fipes '73 will assist from the Class of ’73. Inspired by the incredibly successful Kent Mash Up event in 2021, Kent has introduced the Golden Lions Tradition. Starting with Reunion 2026 in June, Kent will launch a new tradition to honor the lasting bond between our alumni and the School. All alumni who have reached their 50th Reunion milestone and beyond will be welcomed into a special circle of recognition as Golden Lions. As Golden Lions, these alumni will be invited to attend every Reunion, every year, regardless of their class’s official reunion cycle. Each year, we will celebrate and honor them for the enduring role they play in the Kent community. We look forward to gathering our Golden Lions annually and celebrating the lifelong connections that make Kent so special.

1974

Rob Smith shares the passing of his mother, Madeline Smith P’74, GP’10 of Washington, Connecticut, who died peacefully on December 7, just short of her 101st birthday. Madeline had a deep affection for Kent and the role it played in shaping Rob’s life. After his graduation, she remained closely connected to the School, enjoying time at the indoor tennis courts and forming lasting friendships with members of the Kent community. She especially loved watching her grandson, Connor ’10, play basketball and baseball, and most recently attended the dedication of the new Admissions Office. A funeral and reception

are planned for June 13 in Washington Depot, Connecticut. May she rest in peace.

1976

On September 13, 2025, alumni and former faculty from the northeast corner of Connecticut gathered at the home of Stewart Chute to honor Father Steve Hulme. Stewart hosted a dinner for Fr. Hulme with help from two other Kent School alumni and family members. Julia Chute ’18 participated virtually from her new home in Twin Falls, Idaho. David Simpson shares: Exciting news, this spring or summer (exact month still TBD), McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers will release my WWII nonfiction book Beyond The Landing Zone Memoir of an 82nd Airborne Glider Soldier in WWII. The book expands on my late father Ted Simpson’s 40-page memoir, written in 2004. Dad was a sharp, quick-witted but quietly confident glider artilleryman in the 82nd Airborne—one of the most dangerous and often overlooked roles in the war. I’ve woven his story into a larger narrative that blends biography, battlefield moments, reflection, and a long-overdue father–son

reckoning. It’s part war story, part travelogue, part letter to a man I was still getting to know. The book isn’t just about his experiences—it’s about how they echoed through our family, shaping memory, courage, and the way we understand history. It will be available in libraries nationwide (public, private, and schools/universities), on Amazon, and other online bookstores. A portion of proceeds will be donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC, the The National WWII Museum in New Orleans, and the Wobbelin Concentration Camp site and museum in Germany—a camp liberated by my father’s battalion and the rest of the 82nd in early May of 1945. I’d be grateful if any of you follow along on my Facebook page at https:// lnkd.in/ej43AKGf and join the conversation. Your support would mean a lot! Thank you!

1978

Karin Anderson shares: After many years of being a math/ science teacher in public schools in northern New Hampshire, I have retired. I have five granddaughters, and I will spend

Kent graduates shown here (from second left): Stewart Chute ’76, Ann P. Barry ’70, and Janet Booth ’82. Not pictured: Julia Chute ’18. Father Hulme is second from right, with his daughter Eva at left. Ann’s husband, Dennis, is at far right

more time with them. I look forward to traveling to relaxing and adventurous places. Perry Clutts shares: I attended two Kent gatherings in 2025. The first was a spring ’78 cocktail party hosted by Barbara Vaughn Hoimes at her home in New York City. I hadn’t been to the city since the ’80s, so it was a fun visit on a couple of fronts. Joining Barbara and her husband Telly were Laura Park, Mike Gochman, Tracy Butler Hamilton, Michael de Cordova, Christina Scoccimara Surtees, Bruce Whalen, Carolyn Bain Ottenbright, Dan Dobkin, and Larry Cohen. It was great to see friends from that time in life—to reminisce and talk about the nearly 50 years since we left Kent—even with those I didn’t really know when I was there. We all share a bond from our Kent time that connects us. The second event was the annual Holiday Party at the New York Yacht Club. Laura Park organized and hosted drinks at the Algonquin before the main event. In attendance were Scott Craighead, Jessica Stedman Guff, Rich Alexander, Kelly Pipher Frankenfield, Larry Cohen, Dan Dobkin, and Barbara Vaughn Hoimes Mike

Profenius joined us for the party and the fun dinner that followed at Carmine’s. An added 2025 bonus was joining Teresa (Titi) Mills ’77, in Wellington, Florida, for New Year’s Eve, as we have celebrated the new year together several times in recent years. On my way back to North Carolina, I stopped to spend an afternoon with Jessica Stedman Guff, who is nearby in the winter months. In other ’78 news, Abby Gouverneur Carr, retired from corporate communications, is engaging in local politics and writing in Needham, Massachusetts. She had a recent visit with Jane Hewetson Frances in London, and saw Elisabeth Webber Gruner in Richmond. Elisabeth is an English professor at the University of Richmond, and following her Kentette experience, is singing in local community choirs. Also in Richmond is Grace Schneckerburger Parker, who is retired from teaching and is involved with multiple aspects of the Children’s Hospital there. She’s seen Karin Jorgensen in New Hampshire and will see Jamilla Johnson in Antigua soon. Pete Constable checked in from Seattle, his home of 33 years, to report that he’s busy with his

6’8” son, a 16 year-old basketball player, his wife, who has multiple sclerosis, and playing “geezer beer league hockey." He’s been in touch with Steve Osborne and Scott Craighead Kaja-Anne Jezycki lives in Phoenix and is the U.S. General Counsel to a Belgium-based conglomerate. She, her husband and dogs unwind at their cabin in northern Arizona. She’s been in touch with Bonnie Ammerman, her former rowing teammate who’s a veterinarian in North Carolina. And speaking of girls crew, Val Lester lives outside Chicago in Oak Park and is engaged with community service and traveling. She’s heard from Lynn Kenney Stultz and Jamilla. Russ Miron is also in Chicago but heads to Florida for the winter. Family, travel, board work and mentoring fill his plate, and he’s in touch with Andy Peake, Suzanne Markarian, and other abovementioned classmates. Mike Profenius visited Guillermo Sol and his family in El Salvador in 2024. He shared that Guillermo is doing really well, and manages his coffee farm in the mountains. Christina Scocimara Surtees is training to become a volunteer EMT, and is in touch with the cocktail party crew. Suzy Gulliver

is in Texas directing a healthcare research institute and running her small ranch. Family, fox hunting, and skiing fill up her free time, and we’d all like to thank her again for her previous work as our esteemed class agent. The excitement is building for our big 5-0 in 2028. Let’s get 50 of us at the 50th!

1979

Geoff Isles got together with Molly Absolon when she and her husband biked through Ketchum on a four-day tour of the area. Catherine Ericson shares: 16 members of our class gathered together for the Kent Holiday Party in NYC in December 2025, with many of us traveling days before the party and taking full advantage of being together. The Harvard Business Review Press released Byron Loflin’s book, CEO-Ready: What You Need to Know to Earn the Job—and Keep the Job, in November. The book is written for aspiring CEOs, entrepreneurs, and board members responsible for selecting leaders. Byron credits many of his Kent teachers and coaches—including Mr. Rand, OB Davis’42, William Armstrong (Hon) ’48, and Don Gowan ’66—

Geoff Isles `79 and Molly Absolon `79 in Idaho

Class of 1978: Scott Craighead, Laura Park, Larry Cohen, Perry Clutts, Mike Profenius, and Barbara Vaughn Hoimes.

Tom Melly ’76, Jim Crovatto ’80, Brad Dorman ’80, and Doug Teague ’80 on Martha’s Vineyard, fall 2025.

with helping lay the foundation for his business leadership journey, and he is proud to support and inspire the next generation of leaders. The book can be purchased on Amazon.

1980

In the summer of 2025, Brian McElwee and his wife Quinn enjoyed a Tour du Mont Blanc hiking trip. While hiking through Les Contamines, France, they met a Kent alum, Cheyenne Quinn ’99, then bumped into her again in Cournoyer, Italy. “Kent just seems to pop up in places you’d never expect!”

1982

Mary Ellen (Carroll) Goodsir and Rohan Goodsir share: In January, Linda (Cardello) Street and her husband Scott Stoll came to visit us in New Zealand. We rang in the New Year, walked the beaches, and traveled to Rotorua and Queenstown together. It was great to share our new home in New Zealand with long-time friends. Looking forward to more visitors this year! We have also converted an old city bus into a nice Airbnb and have enjoyed meeting travelers from around New Zealand and the world. Marty Harrington visited in

October. We were first roomies back in 1979! We had a great time touring the North Island of New Zealand! Can’t wait for the next visit. Who’s next? We love sharing our new home country with Kenties! Alex Hunger shares: I’m expanding my small scale model enterprise Gecko Heavy Industries Models with 3D generated Models of cold war Swedish and NATO military equipment and even got the brand name tattooed around my ankle. I’m otherwise being self indulgent by driving around the region in my 1960s Muscle Cars all while running the household and looking after aging parents. I’m hoping to get back to music

when things calm down. Scott Whitaker reports 2026 will be a busy year with our daughter getting married and the second edition of my book, Mergers & Acquisitions Integration Handbook, being released earlier this year. I am still playing hockey in an over 50 league here in Atlanta, and just enjoying empty nest life with my wife Eve. Any Kenties traveling through are always welcome.

Jean Gordon shares: My debut historical novel, Girl in a Box, launches on April 21, 2026! The book follows the life of Japanese

Cheyenne Quinn ’99 and Brian McElwee ’80 during a summer 2025 hike in France.

Ellen Kirby ’80 and Dorsey Weber ’79 at the New York Holiday Reception.

A New Year’s beach walk in New Zealand for members of the Class of ’82. Left to right: Rohan Goodsir ’82, Linda (Cardello) Streett ’82, her husband Scott Stoll, and Mary Ellen (Carroll) Goodsir ’82

Class of ’79 attendees at the New York Holiday Reception: Jackie Casey, Neco Alvarez, Geoff Isles, Byron Loflin, Jennifer Thayer, Dorsey Weber, Charlie Hurdman, Diane deCordova, Rob Kingston, Mark Gregory, Tom Campo, Hank Reichner, Cathy Ericson, Ron Jackson, and John Carr. Missing: Perk Perkins.

Susie Honsinger ’83 and Liz Post ’83 at the Botanical Gardens

Susie Honsinger '83 and Kate Worthington '83 at the Botanical Gardens in June 2025

Elizabeth Courtney ‘86 and Holly Izant-McSharry ‘80 at the New York Holiday Reception.

feminist poet Yosano Akiko (1878-1942) and is filled with my original translations of her tanka poetry. Akiko broke out of the box that society forced her into to live a life dedicated to her art. It will feel familiar to anyone who has struggled—or whose grandmother or mother struggled—to break free. Much of my life has been spent focused on Japan—the roots of that passion began with a 1982 trip with Kent students to China. More information on the book (and me) is at www.jeangordonkocienda. com. Susan Toth shares: On December 31, I retired from fulltime federal service. Since 1986, I have worked in some capacity for the Department of Defense through active duty, reserve duty, and as a DoD civilian. So after welcoming a first grandchild, it’s off to greener pastures, diving into community theater among other things. I am hanging a very small shingle out as a consultant, just in case I get bored. Libby Sporer-Moffitt shares: Hi all, hoping this finds everyone well. My husband and I have been Florida residents for the past five years, eventually settling on beautiful Amelia Island. Last year was an exciting year for us as we became grandparents to

a baby boy in June and again to a baby girl in September. It was a heartfelt day to have Emily Ferman Catalano and Beth Winters Porter to my son’s and daughter-in-law’s baby shower in Boston in May! I am currently trying to get fit and stay fit to be “the fun grandmother.” (Proving to be harder than I thought in our 60’s). When I am not busy with family, friends, beach walks or traveling, I volunteer as a greeter/ docent at our local history museum. It’s great fun! If you find your way to Amelia Island, please reach out at libby40102@ gmail.com. I’d be happy to show you around this wondrous island. Hope to see everyone at our 45th (how is that possible?)

Reunion in two years. Susan Honsinger shares: All is well here. I’m still teaching algebra in South Florida and have become a cruise junkie. We cruise every chance we get. Last summer, we did a three-week Mediterranean cruise that was absolutely wonderful. I was so lucky to get together with Elizabeth Post in June for our annual botanical garden/5-hour lunch meetup. Kate Worthington came down to visit for a few days in December, which was delightful! Sayre Coombs shares: I still

live and work in Seattle and have broadened my business to include a wider variety of visual communications. (I just finished a donor wall installation in Washington, D.C.). I am shocked to have become a grandmother and now see what all the fuss is about. My daughter, son-in-law, and little Lucy are living with me while they find a home of their own, so it’s been a year of big messy, chaotic piles of joy. Maureen Mountcastle shares: I am still living in Wilmington, North Carolina. I moved from Wrightsville Beach to downtown right on the river. It’s a super fun spot right next to the Live Oak pavilion, where all the concerts are, so if anyone’s in the area, please let me know. I would love to see any of my Kent friends. A movie I made a few years ago finally got released. I had a small part in the film, Nonnas, with a scene opposite Vince Vaughn, which was a lot of fun. The scene is about 60 minutes into the film and it’s a quick one so don’t blink, but I play Gabriella who works in the bakery that he comes into to get his favorite cookies. He is exactly as you would think he would be: charming and funny. I do mostly commercials and day player work on TV shows,

but I am currently working on a Christmas film called The Proper Christmas where I have a nice role as the mother of the lead character in a story about four generations of women. It’s really a Christmas love story. It should be out next Christmas, so that will be fun.

1993

Dave Marulli shares: I have spent more than three decades in commercial real estate, completing over $1 billion in transactions and advising high-net-worth investors across multiple market cycles. After discovering Bitcoin, I began a deep study of monetary history, energy, and economic systems, ultimately leading me to author, Bitcoin Consolidated: Volume I, an accessible guide designed to help readers understand Bitcoin beyond price speculation. Since its publication on December 18, 2025, Bitcoin Consolidated, has maintained the #1 Top New Release position in Amazon’s Money & Monetary Policy category. I appeared on The Rusk Report on January 28, 2026, and am scheduled to speak at the Midwest Bitcoin Summit at the Greater Columbus Convention

Sayre Coombs ’83 found herself happily stranded at Logan Airport on Mother’s Day alongside classmate Andrea Miano ’83 and Sayre’s son, Owen. While waiting out a shared delayed flight to Washington, D.C., the trio passed the time at the airport bar, where Owen treated them to Mother’s Day cocktails. Hours of conversation turned an unexpected delay into the best layover.

Jean Gordon Kocienda ’83 shows off her novel Girl in a Box at Ninenzaka in Kyoto, a place her protagonist Yosano Akiko would recognize.

Sue Toth ’83 with her grandson, Luke, born on December 21, 2025

Holly Izant-McSharry ’80 and daughter Meghan ’14, at the Kent School 2025 New York Holiday Party.

Center in September 2026. David continues to bridge traditional finance and modern monetary innovation. More information on his book, Bitcoin Consolidated: Volume 1, can be found at www. davidmarulli.com, and the book is available on Amazon.

1997

Kristine Palmero met Seth MacFarlane ’91 after his sold-out New Year’s Eve concert with the Boston Pops at Symphony Hall. Ayaka Uchida shares: I moved back to Japan in 2018 after living in the U.S. for 24 years. In December 2025, Pai

Sermsukskulchai ’98 and his sister Pam Sermsukskulchai ’00 were visiting Tokyo from Thailand and we had a little Kent reunion! It was fun for our daughters to hear about our life in the 90’s. I hope to catch up with more Kenties. Please message me if you visit Tokyo! I go to California (San Francisco Bay Area) twice a year to teach the traditional Japanese painting "slow art" workshops and visit my daughter in college. Last year I did a workshop in Atherton, and I found out later that when my late father (Kent Class of 1968) was getting his masters at Stanford after graduating MIT,

he was introduced to a family in Atherton by someone connected to Kent and stayed with them during the summer holidays. (I wish I could meet them!) It felt serendipitous, as if I’m still following my father’s steps, which led me to Kent :) Instagram: AyakaUchidaDesigns

1998

Delegate Michael Webert won re-election with over 60% of the vote, earning an eighth term in the oldest continuous legislative body in the Western Hemisphere. He remains proud to walk the halls once traveled by Jefferson,

Madison, Monroe, Henry, and Washington. A trusted statesman for Fauquier, Culpeper, and Rappahannock, Michael is a leader in Virginia agriculture and state policy. His peers recently re-elected him to a third term as Republican Caucus Whip. In addition to his legislative service, Michael has joined the UVA Community Health Foundation Board, supporting UVA’s network of community hospitals and regional healthcare facilities.

1999

Alexander Taft shares: After a wedding in September, my wife

Boonrat Lohwongwatana ’96, Morgan Milner ’96, Kristine Palmero ’97, Tommy Vitolo ’96, P ’29, and Matt Elliott ’96 met up at TimeOut, Boston

Kristine Palmero ’97 with Seth MacFarlane ’91 following his sold-out New Year’s Eve concert with the Boston Pops at Symphony Hall.

Ayaka Uchida ’97 (second from left), her daughter (left), Pai ’98, and Pam ’00 in Tokyo, Japan, December 2025.

Ayaka Uchida ’97 teaching “Nihonga,” traditional Japanese painting from the 16th century, in California.

Michael Webert ’98 with his wife, Rebecca, and their sons, William and Benjamin.

Alexander Taft ’99 with his wife Shelby, and Marty and Tom Holcombe P'87 ’92 GP’18 ’20 ’24

2011

Morgan Weaver shares: In October, the Weaver family welcomed Marlowe Rose Weaver. Born October 25, 2025, she is dreaming about her future at Kent School!

2016

Madeline Kabasakalian was married on December 13, 2025.

2020

Shelby and I had an unexpectedly free Sunday afternoon before our flight home. We enjoyed spending it with classmate Tom Truelove at @ The Corner in Litchfield, which was followed by an impromptu trip to the Valley Land for a visit up Skiff Mountain Road with Marty and Tom Holcombe P’87 ’92 GP’18 ’20 ’24.

2006

Julia Willman shares: On January 10, 2026, I had the pleasure of watching my former second-grade student, Zachary Zusman ’28, take the ice with Kent’s boys varsity hockey team.

2010

Caroline Brooks Melly Crovatto '10 and Christopher James Crovatto '09 welcomed their identical twin girls, Isabella Brooks Crovatto and Antonia Eiger Crovatto, to the world on December 19, 2024, and have had their hands and hearts full ever since! Their grandfathers, Tom Melly '76 and Jim Crovatto '80 are excited about the future Kenties and got together with Brad Dorman '80 and Doug Teague '80, at Jim’s daughter’s wedding this past fall at Vineyard Haven Yacht Club on Martha’s Vineyard.

Sawyer Russell shares: Since graduating from Kent in 2020 on Zoom during Covid, I felt a loss of connection and purpose in the world of academia. I graduated from Tulane University in 2024 with a B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. By the time I got to my junior year at Tulane, I knew as a hands-on, "get dirty learning," animal person, my love for animals had already told me long ago, as a 10-year-old, animals and zookeeping was my call to action for conservation. I began an internship working with Jaguars and other South American species at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans in May 2023, and after two months of 32

hours of unpaid work experience, my curator had an opening and offered me the job. I spent my senior year at Tulane working full-time as both a student and an AZA zookeeper. Two years later, I care for and train rhinos and giraffes. I have been involved with conservation efforts with endangered species, and continue to support conservation and zoo medicine efforts as an AZA zookeeper.

CLASS AGENTS

SCAN THE QR CODE OR VISIT KENT-SCHOOL.EDU/ALUMNI TO EXPLORE THE CLASS AGENT DIRECTORY AND SEE WHO REPRESENTS YOUR CLASS YEAR.

A reminder to our readers and contributors In our Class Notes section, we take great care to edit submissions for style and brevity while preserving the accuracy of the information provided. However, it’s important to note that we do not alter factual content. The information shared by our alumni is presented as accurately as it is received. Any discrepancies or inaccuracies should be brought to our attention for verification and correction.

Julia Willman ’06 and Zachary Zusman ’28

Caroline Brooks Melly Crovatto '10 & Christopher James Crovatto '09

Morgan '11, Makenzie, Maisie, and Marlowe Weaver

Madeline Kabasakalian ’16, married on December 13, 2025, pictured with Kent alumni Christina Dwyer ’16 (formerly Lyons) and Christiane Bender ’17 (formerly Poulin).

Russell Sawyer ’20 with her two southern white rhino females, Yvonne (35) and Bonnie (27). Photo taken during National Zookeeper Week 2025 at Audubon Zoo in New Orleans, Louisiana.

In Memoriam

1944

Charles H. Russell

June 23, 2025

1946

Rev. Charles G. Newbery

August 25, 2025

1948

Thomas W. MacLeod Jr.

February 9, 2026

1950

Peter R. Coughlan

October 13, 2025

1951

Emilio “Peter” W. Pittarelli

November 2025

1952

James G. (Jim) McCulloh

January 13, 2026

1953

Kibbe N. Fitzpatrick

December 9, 2025

1955

Richard C. Sanford

August 25, 2025

1956

William H. Lane III

September 14, 2025

1957

Robert “Pete” E. Kenyon III

December 21, 2025

1958

T. Anthony Brooks

December 3, 2025

Winthrop M. Hodges

November 30, 2025

Peter B. Brainard

January 22, 2026

Roger M. Rowe

August 18, 2025

1959

Geoffrey S. Mason

January 25, 2026

1961

M. Duncan Pollock

September 15, 2025

1964

Katherine J. Grosscup

November 27, 2025

1966

Bruce Allen

February 17, 2025

Sara H. Humphrey

September 28, 2025

1967

William Michael Hewes

July 8, 2025

1968

Anne Lyall Wyman

November 4, 2025

1974

Sidney D. Kirkpatrick III

September 24, 2025

1977

Anthony W. Palmer

April 28, 2024

1993

Theodore S. Troth

February 1, 2026

2000

David J. Taylor

December 20, 2025

2006

Alejandra C. Gonzalez

December 18, 2025

FORMER FACULTY

Bruce Higley

October 22, 2025

ALUMNI

The chapel bell tower stood amid a snow-covered campus during winter as birds moved across the sky.

P.O. Box 2006

Kent, Connecticut 06757

To support sustainability, we send one issue per household. If this magazine is addressed to a family member who no longer lives with you, please email us at alumni@kent-school.edu with their updated address.

Kent School Reunion Weekend 2026

COME HOME TO KENT

Friday, June 26-Sunday, June 28

We warmly invite you to return to Kent for Reunion Weekend, a chance to reconnect with classmates, revisit familiar places, and experience campus as it is today.

along with those who have already celebrated their 50th Reunion. Scan the QR code to register now!

Join us for a weekend of shared memories and time together as we celebrate the enduring connections that make the Kent community so special Kent School

10:00 a.m. 3:00 p m 6:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 8:00 a m 10:00 a.m. 11:30 a m 12:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m.

Schedule Highlights

Registration and Dorm Check-In

Hill Campus Tea, hosted by Liesbeth Hirschfeld

Athletic Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony

Class Dinners

2:00 p.m. 5:15 p.m. 6:00 p m 9:00 a.m. 9:30 a m Saturday, June 27

Registration and Dorm Check-In

A Conversation with Head of School Mike Hirschfeld and School Leadership

Reunion Weekend 2026

Alumni Picnic and Lawn Games

Ice Cream Social

Class of 2021 Celebratory Toast, hosted by Mike and Liesbeth Hirschfeld

Alumni Row

Class Photos

First-Ever Reunion Attendees Group Photo & Celebratory Toast, hosted by Mike and Liesbeth Hirschfeld

Cocktails, Dinner, and Dancing

Friday, June 26 Sunday, June 28

Farewell Brunch

Alumni Memorial Eucharist at St. Joseph’s Chapel