Staying Connected

Class Notes

1940s Joany Marsh Lawrence ’48 writes, “I cannot resist writing. I have been receiving your wonderful bulletin for years. Now I find myself in a retirement community Newbury Court in Concord, Massachusetts, and have found many here connected to DCD. To name a few, Gordon Pettengill ’36 , Sally Willaver Nash, and Barbara and Jake Brown. I have kept in touch all these years with Sandra Forbes Walker ’48, and last, but not least, I see my wonderful brother Francis “Nim” Marsh ’50 as much as possible. Fond memories of the old school—carpool with Mrs. Cole, Gilbert and Sullivan, and the boys pulling my hair!” 1980s Erin Keith Epker ’86, above, responded to the call to alumni to volunteer as a “mystery reader” in Mrs. Maloney’s kindergarten classroom. She read to the children during a live Zoom on April 27. 2000s Paige Durham ’09 just returned home from Japan, where she had been living for the past two years in a remote area working at five different schools until their closure due to COVID-19. Reflecting on turning 25, she wrote on her Instagram page, “Between this birthday and the current world situation, I’ve done a lot of reflecting recently. Thinking about how I managed to manifest this dream life among the mountains and mikan trees, surrounded by amazing company, in the country of my dreams, still amazes me almost two years later.” You can follow Paige on Instagram at @ultipaige. She has also started a live stream at twitch.tv/ ultipaige.

Alumni gathered on Wednesday, February 26, at Analogue in New York City, left to right, back row: Head of School Allison Webster, Dominique Saint-Louis ’80, Odile Weissenborn Gordon ’84, Greta O’Marah ’10, Lily Grant ’08, Laura Naparstek ’05, Katie Adams ’06, Henry Howard ’07, Director of Athletics Mark Jackson, Whitney HunterThomson ’98, Ryland Kenyon ’06, and Ned Beckwith ’07; front row: Andrew Beaudoin ’07, Associate Director of Admissions Deb White, Cassie Goode ’07, Liza Howard ’10, and Josie Linell ’10.

Lilly Arrends ’17, Charlie Cao ’19, and Hugh Geraghty ’19 performed in the Thayer Academy Upper School Winter Musical Chicago February 28 and 29, 2020.

2010s Alexandra Naddaff ’12 was named to the dean’s list for academic achievement during the fall 2019 semester at St. Lawrence University in New York, where she majored in history and Spanish. Alyssa Landry ’15 was named to the dean’s list for academic achievement during the fall 2019 semester at St. Lawrence University in New York. Olivia Sinnott ’15 writes, “Now I go to the University of Michigan where I am an acting major and English minor. I am so happy to be at my dream school doing what I love! However, this year has been tough for my family as we recently lost my father, David Sinnott, who was one of my biggest supporters. Sending love to DCD!” Molly King ’16 was named the 2019 Most Valuable Player in field hockey at Thayer Academy. She also received ISL All-League honors for the season. Molly will be playing field hockey for Trinity College.

DCD alumni at Winter Escape field hockey tourney in Florida, left to right, Lilly Arends ’17, Molly King ’16, Charlotte Epker ’16, Mia D’Angelo ’16, Kenzie Kelly ’17, and Callie Joyce ’18. Missing from photo: Nina Falkson ’18

Class Notes

Paige Durham ’09 with her parents Jim and Karen, who visited her during her two-year stay in Japan.

Meaghan Daniels, an assistant teacher in grades 1 and 2, had a baby girl, Mirabelle Frances Daniels, born on March 17, 2020.

DCD Reading Specialist Diane Duggan , left, reconnected recently with former faculty member Elaine Murphy .

Kenneth Burt, father of Daphne

Burt ’68 , passed away on January 11, 2020.

Morris (Mo) Gray ’58 died on

April 18, 2020, at age 73 after a ten-year battle with brain cancer.

Douglas (Scott) King, father of

Molly ’16, Abby ’13, and Emily ’12 , and husband of Becky King, former PA president, VP Community

Affairs, Community Outreach Chair, and Fair Co-Chair in 2009 and 2014, died suddenly on March 4, 2020, at the age of 52.

Former DCD Board President Neal Litvack , father of Peter ’04 and Alex ’02, has taken over as president and CEO of the MSPCA and its Angell Medical Center. Neal was a trustee from 1998 to 2002 and from 2004 to 2009 and served as president of the board from 2006 to 2009. As reported in the Boston Business Journal, Neal had worked for the American Red Cross since 2009. He previously worked as chief operating and financial officer of Milton Academy between 2003 and 2009. He said in a statement, “I’m honored by this once-in-a-career opportunity to combine my leadership experience in for-profit and nonprofit organizations with my passion for animals.” Neal is a member of the PetSmart Charities board, and previously served on the boards of the Animal Rescue League of Boston and

In Memoriam

Buddy Dog Humane Society.

Nancy Levy, mother of Shannon (Goode) Teles ’94 , passed away on

January 12, 2020.

Nancy (Fox) Mayo-Smith, wife of Richmond (Dick) Mayo-Smith ’34 and mother of Katrina MayoSmith ’69 , passed away on March 16, 2020.

David Sinnott, father of Olivia ’15 and Charlie ’17, passed away on December 12, 2019, at age 58, of complications following a heart attack.

We extend our deepest condolences to all those who have lost loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dedham Country Day School 90 Sandy Valley Road Dedham, MA 02026-5898

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DCD Community Celebrates the Return to Health of a Special Little Boy

DCD student Gavin Brennan, a rising second-grader, beat COVID-19 and lymphoma, and came home to a communitywide celebration of his recovery on his seventh birthday. His mom, April, told Boston 25 News, “If we could survive this, we can survive everything.” Gavin was diagnosed in January and started to receive chemo treatments. In March he tested positive for coronavirus. Mostly asymptomatic, he came home after a few weeks, then came down with pneumonia, and a second test came back positive again. Finally, he had his last chemo treatment and tested negative for COVID-19. DCD families, students, and faculty members joined the parade by his home in Dedham to celebrate his recovery.

Photograph by Hilary Rochelle

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