Loomis Chaffee Summer 2013 Alumni Magazine

MAGAZINE

SUMMER 2013

Six Seniors Choosing Courses Leaving a Legacy

Summer 2013/ Volume LXXV, No. 3 ON THE COVER Senior Lauren Horn, one of six members of the Class of 2013 profiled in this issue. See the profiles beginning on page 19.

Photo: John Groo ON THIS PAGE Concert Band under the direction of Kris Allen Photo: Patricia Cousins DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING | Lynn A. Petrillo ’86 MANAGING EDITOR | Becky Purdy CLASS NEWS | James S. Rugen ’70 OBITUARIES | Katherine A.B. Langmaid CONTRIBUTORS | Rachel Allen, Lisa Salinetti Ross, Mary Coleman Forrester, Timothy Struthers ’85, Alexandra Muchura, Katherine A.B. Langmaid, and Karen Parsons DESIGNER | Patricia J. Cousins PRINTING | Lane Press SUBMISSIONS/STORIES AND NEWS Alumni may contribute items of interest to: Loomis Chaffee Editors The Loomis Chaffee School 4 Batchelder Road Windsor CT 06095 860 687 6811 magazine@loomischaffee.org PRINTED AT LANE PRESS Burlington, Vermont Printed on 70# Sterling Matte, an SFI sheet SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY INITIATIVE POSTMASTER Send address changes to The Loomis Chaffee School 4 Batchelder Road Windsor CT 06095

Be a fan: facebook.com/loomischaffee Follow us: twitter.com/loomischaffee See our boards: pinterest.com/loomischaffee

20

INSIDE

LoomisChaffee 19 | Six Seniors

Meet six members of the Class of 2013 whose talents and interests range from Chekov to Multivariable Calculus, from Shakespeare to dance, from student government to sustainability, and from football to jazz piano.

32 | Senior Paths You are invited to navigate the many paths available to Loomis Chaffee students selecting their courses for the upcoming year.

38 | Q&A: Leaving a Legacy Faculty members Ronald Marchetti, Alice Baxter, David Newell, and Maria Schumann retired this year, and we asked them to share a few more gems of their wisdom.

DEPARTMENTS 2 | HEADLINES | Preparation for a Complicated World 3 | AROUND THE QUADS

10 | THE BIG PICTURE 15 | ISLAND ARRAY

16 | OF NOTE | FACULTY & STAFF

1 7 | ATHLETICS 46 | OBJECT LESSONS | Enchanted Views of Distant Lands 47 | ALUMNI NEWS 61 | IN MEMORIAM 68 | THE LAST WORD | Building the Founders’ Vision

Go to Loomis Chaffee online @loomischaffee.org for the latest school news, sports scores, and galleries of recent photos. You also will find direct links to all of our social networking communities. To link directly to the magazine web page, go to loomischaffee.org/magazine.

32

Junior Christina Wang and senior Claire Hard put on an electrifying performance in the Spring Dance Revue.

Photo: John Groo

HEADLINES | BY SHEILA CULBERT

Preparation for a Complicated World

I

am writing this column at the end of a momentous week. The Supreme Court decided a series of significant cases on affirmative action, the Voting Rights Act, and gay marriage, while the U.S. Senate approved an immigration reform bill (although what the House will do remains uncertain). As I reflect on these measures, my thoughts naturally turn to our students and what all this means for them.

In its three decisions, the Supreme Court cautiously upheld the principle that universities and colleges may consider race in admissions as part of a holistic review of candidates (although it does not look likely that this will hold in the long or even medium term), struck down important protections for minority voters in the Voting Rights Act, and then concluded by, thankfully, affirming the rights for gays to marry in states where it is legal. The immigration bill, a carefully forged bipartisan effort, paves a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and their children and represents what The New York Times calls in an editorial “the best chance in decades to improve on a disastrous status quo.”

These actions reflect the complicated world in which we live where race, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, and socioeconomic factors continue to shape our lives in profound ways and where the questions of accessibility and equality loom large. This was also the week that Paula Deen imploded over allegations of racism in her treatment of an employee and 2 |

Head of School Sheila Culbert and her history students engage in discussion around a Harkness table. Photo: John Groo

the George Zimmerman trial got under way in Florida. W. E. B. DuBois famously noted in 1903 that the problem of the 20th century would be the color line.

One hundred and ten years later, that problem, albeit writ more broadly, remains with us.

Frank Bruni, a New York Times columnist and graduate of the Loomis Chaffee Class of 1982, delivered this year’s address to the graduating seniors. (You can find Mr. Bruni’s address as well a wonderful speech by our student speaker, Dale Reese ’13, on our website.) Mr. Bruni apologized for the number of problems his generation has PREPARATION | continued page 67

“

We try to create on our campus a community of serious young scholars and enthusiastic Loomis citizens … who are engaged and active community members.

”

AROUND THE QUADS

Class of 2013 speaker Dale Reese and class president Katherine Kent barely contain their Commencement Day excitement.

Photo: John Groo

Reflections, Sage Advice, and Celebration

N

EW YORK Times op-ed columnist Frank Bruni ’82 returned to the Island in June for the first time since his own graduation and, in a Commencement address to the Class of 2013, offered a comparison of worlds three decades apart. His assessment raised both concerns for today’s world and reasons for hope, and he urged the graduating seniors to build on the good — in the world and in themselves.

Frank’s address as well as reflections and sage advice from Class Speaker Dale Reese, Head of School Sheila Culbert, and Chairman

of the Board of Trustees Christopher Norton ’76 set a thoughtful and celebratory tone for the 97th Loomis Chaffee Commencement, held under a large tent in Grubbs Quadrangle while rain pattered on the roof. The festivities also included presentation of six Commencement prizes and the much-anticipated awarding of diplomas to the 176 members of the Class of 2013.

Frank pointed out that in the 31 years between his graduation and that of his listeners, the U.S. debt increased by $15 trillion, the effects of climate change emerged, and

levels of illiteracy persisted in this country.

But he also drew attention to the relative open-mindedness of 21st century America, a country that welcomes gay marriage in many states, whose first African American president is serving a second term, and whose Senate includes 20 women, compared to two women senators in 1982.

Loomis Chaffee also has become more diverse, Frank noted, with students of color comprising 24 percent of the student body and student organizations like Spectrum continued next page

loomischaffee.org | 3

AROUND THE QUADS

working to eliminate homophobia.

“And that, like the strides in the U.S. Senate and the advance of gay marriage, reflects an America more accommodating and open-minded in key ways than the America of the past. I urge you to cherish that, and I urge you to continue to improve on it,” he said.

Drawing from his own experiences as a Morehead scholar, a reluctantto-transformed Outward Bound participant, and a journalist whose assignments have ranged from covering a presidential election to serving as the New York Times restaurant critic, Frank advised students to say yes to new adventures before they have the opportunity to say no. “Test yourself. Experiment. Grow,” he said. “Life is an adventure only as big and exciting as your willingness to broaden your parameters and stare down your fears.”

Frank also gave myriad practical tips to the Class of 2013, from how to bake and season salmon and what TV shows to watch to the importance of thinking for yourself, loving your friends and family, and taking the time to have a wellearned, well-timed breather before college.

Dale, a three-sport varsity athlete and student leader, focused his remarks on the importance of community, or team, at Loomis and beyond, and the gathering of family, faculty, and friends of the class for the Commencement ceremonies underlined the community pull that Dale described.

“Our time at Loomis has been marked by hard work and a common goal to be our best selves. It is not just a motto, but rather, a driving force behind what makes Loomis such a special place,” he said. “We have seen and experi-

4 |

Commencement prize winners and dignitaries: (front) Christin Washington, Ekaterina Kryuchkova, Michael Basmajian, Rekha Kennedy, Head of School Sheila Culbert, Paul Lee, Katherine Fotos, Dale Reese, and Tatiana Hyman; (back) Trustee Reginald Paige, Trustee Kristen DeLaMater, Chairman of the Board of Trustees Christopher Norton ’76, Trustee Johnny Magwood, Nathan Harris, Darius Moore, Trustee Andrew Carter ’58, Trustee Peter Seigle ’65, Trustee Elizabeth Richmond ’80, and Commencement Speaker Frank Bruni ’82. Photo: High Point

Photo: John Groo

“

Test yourself. Experiment.

Grow, Life is an adventure only as big and exciting as your willingness to broaden your parameters and stare down your fears.

”

enced the benefits of how driven individuals working together foster a caring community, a well-rounded community, a thriving community.”

As Dale and his classmates looked to their futures, he said, they should remember that teams, in their broader sense, can be found throughout life. “Our time here as a team has shaped our lives,” he

—Frank Bruni ’82

concluded. “Continue to assemble your life’s team and set the stage for a better world.”

Commencement culminated with the presentation of diplomas to the graduates. As Head of School Sheila Culbert handed the treasured documents to the 176 graduates, each individual in return handed her a spoon, a nod to the end of the decades-old Spoon

Game football rivalry with Kent this year as well as an acknowledgment that the symbolic spoon has always been “ours.”

In her concluding remarks, Sheila congratulated the graduates on their accomplishments and reflected on the importance of a strong, encouraging, and helpful community. “As I look out over all of you, I see a great diversity of talents and interests and passions,” she said. “I hope that as you leave here, you feel that Loomis has indeed helped you to be your best self.”

Sheila encouraged them to think for themselves, follow their own convictions, and stand by their ideals while continually striving to be their best selves and work for the common good. She closed by alluding to a well-known quotation from the school’s first headmaster, Nathaniel Horton Batchelder: “Be good and friendly and be a catalyst in creating the Loomis Chaffee culture wherever you go.”

To read the full text of Frank’s and Dale’s speeches, and to see a slide show from the day, go to www. loomischaffee.org/magazine

Construction Begins on New Dormitory Shovel-ready: Michael MacDonald of Downes Construction Company, Madelynne Richmond ’15, Anita Richmond ’16, Jeremy Richmond, Harrison Richmond ’13, Trustee Elizabeth Richmond ’80, Head of School Sheila Culbert, Chairman of the Board of Trustees Christopher Norton ’76, Trustee Joel Alvord ’56, and Craig Saunders of Tecton Architects. Photo: John Groo

L

OOMIS CHAFFEE broke ground for the school’s 11th dormitory on May 25. Richmond Hall, named in honor of Howard S. Richmond ’35, will house 50 students, four faculty apartments, and a state-of-the-art health center and will create a courtyard with two companion dormitories, Kravis Hall and the soon-to-be renovated Gwendolen Hall. Richmond Hall is slated for completion in the summer of 2014.

“Howie Richmond enjoyed an eight-decade relationship with the school before his passing in 2012 at 94 years of age. He gave generously to his alma mater over the years, and his wise counsel helped guide the school’s growth,” Head of School Sheila Culbert said at the ground-breaking ceremony, attended by several members of the Richmond family. A three-generation Loomis family, eight Richmonds have followed Howie to

the school to pursue their educations, including three of his children and five of his grandchildren.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Howie's daughter Elizabeth Richmond ’80, who is a Trustee and current parent, said her father loved the school and had a “never-ending dedication to support and continue the dreams of the founding family.

It would give him great joy to know his family will now continue his legacy of supporting and creating opportunities for everyone who counts themselves among the Loomis family.”

A $5 million gift from the Anita B. and Howard S. Richmond Foundation made by Anita and Howie’s children Frank ’71, Larry ’72, Phill, Rob, and Elizabeth ’80 completed the funding to construct the building. Several others also offered generous support to the project, including Joel Alvord ’56, Duncan MacLean ’90, and John “Temp” Keller ’94.

Artist rendering of Richmond Hall perspective view of east side and north entry Tecton Architects

The addition of Richmond Hall will help the school reach one of its strategic goals — to grow boarding student enrollment. “A Loomis education is about far more than just teaching in the classroom," Sheila explained. "It is a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week experience that includes ... invaluable informal interactions among students, their peers, and the faculty — interactions that occur in the dining halls, quadrangles, hallways, and the dormitories.”

Super-High-Tech Classroom Has Global Reach

L

IKE a modern-day superhero’s realm, a mild-mannered classroom on the first floor of the Katharine Brush Library has transformed this summer into the Pearse Technology Classroom, a room equipped with cutting-edge and highly immersive technology and honed to enable global, interactive learning in real time.

The room was made possible by a generous donation from John ’58 and Sally ’58 Pearse. The classroom houses three LCD displays, including an 80-inch multi-touch monitor that acts as a high-resolution interactive whiteboard, projector, television, and audiovisual sharing tool. The room

also is a high-definition video conferencing center, and the integrated technology enables users to collaborate with individuals and groups around the world.

The technology classroom advances the roles of the Center for Global Studies and the Henry R. Kravis ’63 Center for Excellence in Teaching, both of which also are located on Brush's first floor.

“We want to do everything we can to help teachers creatively use this space to their advantage within the classroom as well as outside of it," says Scott MacClintic ’82, director of the Kravis Center.

Granddaughter Abigail Lavalley ’13, son-in-law Jerome Lavalley, and John ’58 and Sally ’58 Pearse in the new Pearse Technology Classroom. Photo: John Groo

loomischaffee.org | 5

A Confluence of Classmates: Reunion 2013

A

off-campus programs, and the school’s upcoming Centennial celebration.

lumni from classes ending in 3 and 8 returned to the Island June 14–16 to celebrate class reunions and enjoy a variety of events, including an alumni service project, a co-ed soccer game, a networking social, a performance by a mentalist, a financial planning discussion, and a seminar on teaching the common good at Loomis Chaffee. The weather was picture-perfect for most of the weekend, allowing the 745 celebrants, including 412 alumni, to enjoy the festive Reunion Weekend atmosphere to its fullest.

Special events during the weekend offered something for everyone. Mentalist Gerard Senehi ’78 made moving objects with his mind and reading others’ thoughts seem easy as he captivated the audience gathered in the Hubbard Music Center. His performance drew many exclamations of amazement and a standing ovation.

The panel discussion on teaching the common good focused on the school’s new Common Good Seminar, a required freshman course. Faculty panelists Aaron “Woody” Hess, Patricia Sasser, and Michael Donegan shared feedback from students and their own experiences as teachers of the seminars as well as explanations of the genesis of the course and its goals.

For the financial planning discussion, Jonathan Pond ’63, a personalized money management expert, author, and Emmy Award-winning television personality, gave an informative talk, “Cleaning Your Financial Closet,” punctuated by humorous asides that illustrated his points. Jonathan aimed his talk primarily to those in the 60–90+ age brackets and focused on how to navigate the various social security options in order to maximize retirement income, investing during one’s later years, efficient ways to pass wealth on to succeeding generations, and how to take the best advantage of taxdeferred financial instruments. Along the

6 |

Larry Baldwin ’33 with Peggy Hale Towson ’58 Photo: Patricia Cousins

way, he offered advice on long-term care insurance, Roth IRAs, and family issues that frequently come up in financial planning.

Down on bonds and up on stocks, he reminded his audience that markets are motivated by greed and fear and that contrarians are often the ones who profit the most. He also stressed that the financial markets are completely unpredictable, and diversification is the most prudent way to plan for the future.

In a State of the School address, Head of School Sheila Culbert spoke to an attentive crowd in Founders Chapel about the history of the school from the Class of 1933 to the Class of 2013, focusing attention on the three new centers —­the Henry R. Kravis ’63 Center for Excellence in Teaching, the Norton Family Center for the Common Good, and the Center for Global Studies. She also fielded questions involving athletics and specialization, the use of the Internet in teaching,

Saturday evening’s Reunion Leadership Recognition Reception honored the many volunteers who worked diligently throughout the year to make the celebration a success while also thanking donors at the leadership level and those who are members of the John Metcalf Taylor Society because they have provided for the school in their estate plans. While announcing class awards for fundraising performance and Reunion attendance, Trustee and 20th Reunion celebrant Kimberly Kravis Schulhof ’93 awarded the highest honor, The Stephen R. Conland Award, to the Loomis Class of ’63 volunteers for demonstration of superior commitment, energy, and enthusiasm. The committee of Tom Engel, Peter Bingenheimer, Bill Brandt, Gardy Gillespie, Gerry Katz, Henry Kravis, Pete Larson, Dan McIntosh, Steve Neubert, Mike O’Connell, Ken Peterson, Peter Pond, and Steve Totti worked tirelessly on behalf the class, embracing the definitions of teamwork and camaraderie, the award citation declared. The group communicated creatively and effectively with the class throughout the year, planned special 50th Reunion events that ensured a memorable Reunion Weekend, and spearheaded recordsetting fundraising efforts. The class raised $7 million in gifts to the school, including $193,306 in Annual Fund giving. Sheila Culbert also made special note of class agent and Reunion volunteer Larry Baldwin ’33, who was on campus to celebrate his 80th Reunion. Larry, who attended the reception with his son Ted ’70, was honored for his impressive tenure, long-standing dedication, and 60 years of volunteer service to the Class of 1933, to the Annual Fund, and to the school.

To view photos from Reunion 2013, go to www.loomischaffee.org / magazine

Members of the Chaffee Class of 1953: Carolyn Weeks Barter, Gloria Barnes Harper, Francine Berth Myles, Alice Ford Ferraina, and Sheila Ward Rome Mentalist Gerard Senehi ’78 in the Hubbard Performance Hall

Camp Pelican for the littlest Reuniongoers Trustee Kimberly Kravis Schulhof ’93 at the Reunion Leadership Recognition Reception Jonathan Pond ’63 before his financial planning presentation Several members of the Loomis 50th Reunion committee (all Class of 1963): Steve Neubert, Gardy Gillespie, Spencer Hays, Mike O’Connell, Peter Pond, Tom Engel, and Peter Bingenheimer Photos: Patricia Cousins, John Groo, Missy Pope Wolff ’04

Gathering 100 Years of School Life and History

A

S the 2014–15 Loomis Chaffee Centennial approaches, two historians are collaborating on a book tracing the history, progress, and unique character of the school through its first century. Former headmaster John Ratté and school archivist and history teacher Karen Parsons are working together to capture the events of and perspectives on the school in its first 100 years.

The book will look back at the Founders, their lives, their families, and the choices they made when the school was chartered, and through the lens of the Founders’ vision, the book will examine the major decisions that have shaped the school through the years. The Loomis Institute opened in 1914 with the goal of fostering skilled and discerning minds in preparation for higher education and lifelong learning regardless of religious or political beliefs, national origins, or financial resources. “We wanted to take a look at how each generation is reenergizing, celebrating, and honoring the vision and how, through major decisions, each time period has stayed true to what the Founders intended,” Karen says.

1 9 14

20 14

The book also will document first-person accounts throughout the school's history, and images from the archives will illustrate the first century of Loomis, Chaffee, and Loomis Chaffee life. “We spent days scouring the archives looking for memories of daily life and reflections from individuals who attended school here. We really wanted to be able to capture various moments of the ‘lived’ school,” Karen says.

Karen and John feel both the weight and the excitement of their undertaking. “It’s undoubtedly a big project, but we are humbled by the work that has been done before us to make the school what it is today,” Karen says. “The affection we have seen for Loomis is so inspiring and honest that it commits us to our task, and it’s been a pleasure.”

loomischaffee.org | 7

AROUND THE QUADS

A Call for Justice

Billy Collins talks with students after the convocation.

Photo: Patricia Cousins

Billy Collins and the Poetry of Life

P

OET Billy Collins, a former U.S. poet laureate whose critical acclaim and broad appeal have earned him the moniker “American phenomenon,” spent a day on campus in April as the Loomis Chaffee English Colloquium speaker.

In front of a rapt audience of students, faculty, staff, and guests, Mr. Collins read several of his poems and discussed his craft in an on-stage conversation with Head of the English Department Scott Purdy.

During the interview, Scott asked Mr. Collins about his use of everyday objects as starting points for many of his poems. “The Lanyard,” one of the poems Mr. Collins read for the audience, describes a braided memento that the speaker made in summer camp as a gift for his mother, in humorous juxtaposition with the gifts of life, love, and wisdom that the mother has bestowed on her son.

“When I write poetry, I try to approach it at an angle through a side door, where something small, like a lanyard, leads to the examination of a daunting subject, such as being indebted to your parents,” Mr. Collins said. “… I try to use something that is a part of everyday life to make it relatable and use it as a keyhole which gives way to a larger topic, and that’s the power of poetry.”

Mr. Collins also discussed the influence of past writers on his work, the use of humor in his poetry, and the persona that he has created as the voice in his poems, and he offered advice to aspiring student writers in the crowd: “I don’t think that writing is so much of a

8 |

“

I try to use something that is a part of everyday life to make it relatable and use it as a keyhole which gives way to a larger topic, and that’s the power of poetry.

”

—Billy Collins

calling. I love John Updike’s line: ‘It was like being swallowed by a hobby.’ … If you love language, love writing, and love looking up words in the dictionary, then the art will eventually swallow you, and you will become a writer.”

P

ulitzer Prize-winning journalist, author, and activist Chris Hedges ’75 visited campus in April, discussing the importance of the common good as it relates to a call for justice in political, economic, and social spheres.

Chris worked as a foreign correspondent for nearly 20 years in many war-ravaged countries, and his published books include Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt, a 2012 collaboration with illustrator Joe Sacco that looks at some of the most destitute and exploited areas of the United States. His visit to campus was part of the Hubbard Speakers Series, which this year focused on democracy in the United States and abroad.

In a convocation address and a freshman Common Good Seminar, Chris explored the events that led to the economic and social landscape of America today, and he touched on his fight for global justice. An Occupy Wall Street participant, Chris asserts that corporate capitalism is hurting the poor and damaging the environment. The suffering he has witnessed as a journalist compelled him to activism, he said. He read a passage from Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt that explained: “I placed myself at the feet of these commodity traders to call for justice because the dead, and those who are dying in slums and refugee camps across the planet, could not make this journey.

I see their faces. They haunt me in the day and come to me in the dark. They force me to remember. They make me choose sides.”

U.S. poet laureate from 2001 to 2003, Mr. Collins has published eight collections of poetry, including his most recent collection, Horoscopes of the Dead. His visit to Loomis Chaffee was made possible by the English Colloquium, the Hubbard Speakers Series, and the Ralph M. Shulansky ‘45 Lecture Fund.

Chris Hedges ’75 speaks at a convocation.

Photo: Patricia Cousins

Summer Adventures Overseas

T

WENTY-THREE students gained global experience this summer on Loomis Chaffee trips abroad. Thirteen students and three faculty members traveled and conducted service work in South Africa for two and a half weeks, and 10 students and two faculty members traveled to France for two weeks to study photography and immerse themselves in the French culture and language.

Both trips were offered through the school’s Center for Global Studies.

Highlights of the South Africa trip included an impromptu meeting with human rights activist Desmond Tutu, a visit to the African Leadership Academy, a surfing excursion, a safari, explorations of the country’s history and culture, and a service learning project involving portable lap desks for South African school children. Director of International Students Megan Blunden, whose family lives in South Africa, and Marley Matlack, associate director of the Center for Global Studies, led the trip.

The France trip combined art- and language-learning with travel in Provence and several days in Paris.

Led by photography teacher John Mullin and Mary Forrester, director of public information and a former French teacher, the group spent the first week of the trip at the Savannah College of Art and Design’s campus in Lacoste, an ancient town in the hills of Provence. After taking photographs in the picturesque environs, the students worked in the campus' state-of-the art photography lab to edit their photos and make prints for a future exhibit back at Loomis. The students also learned about the region and were treated to a cooking demonstration by the college’s chef. Toward the end of the journey, the travelers took a high-speed train to Paris, where they explored the city, added to their photographic portfolios, and continued to practice their French.

“As I was walking around taking pictures of the castle this evening on our uphill stroll,” one student wrote from France, “I stood a moment basking in how awesome it was that I was in the place I had dreamed of visiting, doing what I love — taking photographs.”

To read blogs from the trips, go to www.loomischaffee.org / magazine

Illustration: Natha Singhasaneh ’14

2013–14 Theme: Wind, Water, Fire & Earth — The Changing Climate

T

he school community will examine the topic of climate change as the theme for the 2013–14 school year. In anticipation of this exploration, the all-school summer reading is Bill McKibben’s book Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet.

Mr. McKibben is a professor at Middlebury College and an environmental activist. He asserts that climate change has advanced past the point of reversal and that we must find ways to adapt to a harsh new global environment.

The Climate Change theme will build on the sustainability culture already present at Loomis and will encourage discussion of the global issue of climate change and its implications. The school is finalizing plans for a series of speakers and other events surrounding the theme.

Activist and retired archbishop of Cape Town Desmond Tutu poses with Loomis travelers and one of the portable desks inspired by his idea.

loomischaffee.org | 9

AROUND THE QUADS | THE BIG PICTURE

Glamour Time In an annual tradition, seniors gather in Grubbs Quadrangle for pre-prom photographs in the evening light.

Photo: Patricia Cousins

C O N TI N U

35

N

GE

E

S

• JO

35

00 % = $ 3 5 0,

•

•O

%

IN US

H U R C ALLE

AROUND THE QUADS

0

$3.4 Million Annual Fund Sets Record

T

HE Loomis Chaffee Annual Fund raised a record $3,472,811 in the fiscal year that ended June 30, a leap of $600,000 over last year.

The Annual Fund launched two major fundraising initiatives during this fiscal cycle.

Under an alumni participation challenge, if at least 35 percent of alumni gave to the Annual Fund, an anonymous donor promised a gift of $350,000 to the school.

Alumni reached this goal with their highest participation since 1997. For the second challenge, the parent of a senior offered to match each gift from a current parent up to $125,000. Parents ultimately donated a record $1.1 million to the fund. The Annual Fund also celebrated Philanthropy Day in March, marking the day when, on paper, the school’s tuition money runs out and the Annual Fund pays for operation of the school.

“Whether you contribute $25 or $25,000, participation is a commitment to elevate Loomis to be the best that it can be,” says KeriAnne Travis, thankful Director of the Annual Fund.

12 |

Board of Trustees: Stepping Down and Stepping Up

A

T its May meeting, the Board of Trustees bade a fond farewell to three esteemed colleagues: parent of alumni Wilkes McClave III, Peter F. Kern ’73, and Sarah L. Lutz ’85.

Wilkes, a former director of Premcor, was a Trustee of the school for eight years, serving on the Admission & Financial Aid Committee and the Education Committee and presiding as vice chair of the Buildings & Grounds Committee, where he was instrumental in a number of building projects. He joined the board during the junior year of his oldest daughter, Caroline ’07, and continued to serve for a full term beyond the graduation of his younger daughter, Andrea ’09.

Peter served on the Board for six years. Former CEO of Building Materials Wholesale in Birmingham, Alabama, Peter followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, Jewett T. Flagg ’20, who served on the school’s board from 1956 to 1979.

During Peter’s tenure, he contributed his expertise to the Buildings & Grounds and Salaries & Benefits committees. Stated fellow Trustee and friend Jamie Widdoes ’72, “I know Peter has been honored beyond words to serve as a Trustee of the school he loves so much and will be a supporter for the rest of his life.”

Sarah, an artist living with her family in New York City, joined the board in 1999 and also followed a prior generation, her father Christopher H. Lutz, who served from 1994 until 1998. As a Trustee, Sarah participated on the Education, Head’s Search, and Leadership Gifts committees. Perhaps her largest committee contribution was as chair of the Admission & Financial Aid Committee, where she

Sarah Lutz ’85

Wilkes McClave III

“

Peter F. Kern ’73

I feel so fortunate to have been part of this school and this community, not once, but twice.

”

William R. Loomis Jr. ’67 and David A. Rogan ’76

served as an unwavering advocate for the school’s commitment to accessibility and affordability. “I am certainly older, hopefully wiser, and more convinced than ever that what happens here at Loomis Chaffee is unique and precious,” Sarah remarked at the Trustee dinner. “I feel so fortunate to have been part of this school and this community, not once, but twice.”

On the day after the dinner, the Trustees elected two new members: William R. Loomis Jr. ’67 of Santa Barbara, California, and David A. Rogan ’76 of Saratoga, California.

Bill is starting his second tour as a Loomis Chaffee Trustee, having

— Sarah Lutz '85 previously served on the board from 1988 to 2002. He is a former CEO and current senior advisor of the investment bank Lazard and is a director of Phillips 66, Limited Brands, and the Pacific Council on International Policy. Along with serving as senior advisor to China International Capital Corporation, he is researching and writing a book about Wall Street in the 1920s.

David, former president of Cisco Systems Capital Corporation and now CEO of Anybots, an 11-year old company that makes remotecontrolled robots, also serves as a director of Atlanta-based Cbeyond.

David, whose son Christopher graduated from Loomis in 2004, has been involved with the school as a Reunion chair and reception host and, most recently, as the chair of the Head’s Council, an advisory group for the school.

As of July 1, the Board of Trustees has 26 members, including Head of School Sheila Culbert.

Norton Family Dedicates Center for the Common Good

“L

EARNING as an act of community invigorates us all,” said Christopher Norton ’76 as he and his family dedicated the Norton Family Center for the Common Good on May 9. His words crystallized both the inspiration for the center and its active, daily purpose.

“What could be more important than instilling strong values in our youth through the active collaboration of faculty and students?” Chris remarked. “The Center for the Common Good is a wonderful opportunity for Loomis to more fully develop standards of academic rigor and personal integrity. And the center is a place where these two vital elements of education can thrive in partnership.”

Trustees, students, parents, and faculty gathered with Nick Norton ’48 and his wife Lynn, Chris and his wife Carter, and Andrew Norton ’80 to dedicate the center and celebrate its successful incorporation into the life of the school since opening in the fall.

“Through this center,” explained Head of School Sheila Culbert, “we look to encourage our students to understand their roles as citizens in a small community and a large diverse democracy, and to foster an active, engaged approach to citizenship in our global society.”

The idea for the center evolved over several years beginning with the school’s reaccreditation and its first formal curriculum review in 30 years. Sheila recalled that during that time Chris, chair of the Board of Trustees, encouraged the school to “broadly examine what Loomis Chaffee teaches and where our curriculum needed to grow and change.” As the idea formed to create a center dedicated to the common good, Chris and Carter eagerly stepped forward to lend their support to the idea.

Many people joined the Nortons to contribute to the evolution of the center. In her remarks, Sheila specifically recognized Nancy Thomas, parent of senior Jamie Nikrie, who has extensive experience with similar centers at the University of New Hampshire and Tufts University. Sheila

Andrew ’80, Chris ’76, Carter, Lynn and Nick ’48 Norton unveil the plaque for the Norton Family Center for the Common Good. Photo:John Groo

also thanked Associate Head Aaron “Woody” Hess, who came up with the idea for the ninthgrade seminar that now serves as the academic underpinning of the center, and Dean of Faculty Ned Parsons, who chaired the curriculum review and looked carefully at how the curriculum reaffirms the school’s mission.

The Loomis siblings who founded the school emphasized the importance of good citizenship and of graduating individuals who would take an active interest and role in the well-being of their communities. They described these principles as distinguishing characteristics of a Loomis education.

“The notion of the common good is in our institutional DNA and has been conveyed with the heart and steadfast commitment of our forebears,” remarked Al Freihofer ’69, the center’s director. “Our shared enthusiasm for the center’s work comes from the knowledge that we are not inventing so much as enriching; we are not defining so much as expanding; we are not even teaching so much as exploring.”

In his closing remarks, Chris gave special recognition to his parents. “My parents are the reason we’re all here tonight. ... My family, which includes a long lineage of New Englanders, has always believed that participation in one’s community is the essential ingredient of America’s unique heritage. Citizenship is the foundation of a good life.” He continued, “Our family’s support for the Center for the Common Good reflects the hope that, through our humble efforts, Loomis students will chose to engage in their communities both while at Loomis and more importantly during the years after they graduate.”

“

The Center for the Common Good is a wonderful opportunity for Loomis to more fully develop standards of academic rigor and personal integrity.

And the center is a place where these two vital elements of education can thrive in partnership.

”

— Chris Norton '76

To visit the center’s web page, follow the link at www.loomischaffee.org / magazine

loomischaffee.org | 13

AROUND THE QUADS

brilliant!

A gathering of paint-splattered runners surrounds staff member Jean Dexter at the finish line of the Color Run. Photo: Patricia Cousins

Senior Projects Run the Gamut

E

LEVEN seniors explored eight different topics intensively over the last two weeks of the spring term as part of the senior project program.

Projects ranged from music composition to yoga study and from creation of a fashion magazine to organization of a benefit run.

An 18-year tradition at Loomis, senior projects allow seniors in good academic standing to propose a topic they would like to explore in depth in the final two weeks of the school year. Proposals are submitted during the winter term, and a committee of faculty and students evaluates proposals and selects those for approval. Seniors whose projects are approved are excused from classes and final exams during this period while they advance their knowledge in the topics they have chosen.

Each student involved in the program this year dedicated more than 80 hours to his or her respective project and presented to students, faculty, and staff on June 3–4.

14 |

Participants Samantha Asher and JiHee Yoon created an installation art project using plastic bottles discarded by the Loomis community; the installation was a commentary on the deteriorating effects of plastic on the ocean.

Payge Kerman examined the physiological effects of bikram yoga. Emelynn Abreu and Ryan Springer-Miller organized the Loomis Chaffee Color Run, a threekilometer fundraiser in honor of staff member Jean Dexter’s grandson, Kaden Bell, who is battling a rare form of cancer. Diana Suciu created a web-based comic book.

Catherine Dunlavey compiled film and digital portraits she had photographed in natural landscapes.

Austin Jubrey demonstrated an introduction to programming in Java and created a computer game. Ben Russell and Dan Wade produced “The Goon Squad,” a recording project that combined modern and traditional music styles. And Sarah Horowitz created a summer fashion magazine using original photography, articles, interviews, and layouts.

 The Boys and Girls Club of Hartford this spring inducted Loomis Chaffee’s community service program into the organization’s Essential Piece Program Partner Hall of Fame. Loomis, which has worked with the Boys and Girls Club since 2004, is the first inductee into the organization’s Hall of Fame.

Through the community service program, Loomis students participate in a variety of volunteer activities with the Boys and Girls Club, from one-onone mentoring and tutoring to hosting soccer skills clinics, field days, and barbeques. At the Boys and Girls Club’s annual awards dinner, the organization also presented Loomis Director of Community Service Roseanne Lombardo with the Helping Hands Award for her many years of exceptional service. Roseanne has spearheaded the relationship between Loomis and the Boys and Girls Club. “We wanted to bring Roseanne on stage to recognize and bless her for all the work she’s done for us,” said Chad Williams, director of programming at the Boys and Girls Club of Hartford.  Twenty-eight students earned medals in their performance on Le Grand Concours, the annual National French Exam sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of French.

The exam is open to all students of French in grades 1–12 in all 50 states and abroad, and there are seven levels from which students compete and five divisions. The exam mixes reading comprehension, grammar, and listening comprehension.  Sophomore Isabel Guigui placed first in the nation on Le Grand Concours with a perfect score on the exam this spring. As a result, the French Embassy awarded her a two-week, all-expensepaid language and culture trip to Perpignan in the south of France. Her stay in Perpignan this summer was to include four hours of French language instruction every morning and sport and cultural activities every afternoon as well as travel to the cities and villages of Catalonia and Carcassonne.

AROUND THE QUADS | ISLAND ARRAY

Spring happenings, night and day, inside and outside, at Loomis Chaffee Student recipients at Gilchrist Environmental Fellowship Awards Ceremony: (back) sophomore Biri Guerrero, junior Minsoo Kim, junior Keara Jenkins; (front) junior Alida Ratteray, junior Lauren Rubino, sophomore Anna Costello

INSIDE Spring Orchestra Concert, conducted by music teacher James Rugen Junior James Daring in the Spring Dance Revue

Sculptures by visiting artist Julie Fraenkel. Other visiting artists this spring: ceramicist Kelly McGrath and illustrator Neil Brigham

Senior Daniela Rakhlina-Powsner on cello during a Recital Sampler

Head of School Sheila Culbert, history teacher Lori Caligiuri, juniors Cameron Nelson (finalist) amd Victoria Smith (first runner-up), and history teacher Eric LaForest at the WALKS Foundation Essay Contest dinner, held at Loomis. Connecticut Attorney General George C. Jepsen, the contest judge, presented the awards at the event.

Performance by the Miami-based Hispanic Flamenco Ballet in Hubbard Performance Hall

DAY

Student band at 2nd annual Americana Fest on Grubbs Quadrangle

NIGHT

PRISM Dinner celebrants on Commencement eve

Running the Loop in solidarity with those affected by Boston Marathon bombing Gathering around a pit kiln, created outside the Richmond Art Center’s ceramics studio and modeled after similar kilns used in Africa

Americana Fest campfire

Members of the Class of 2003 during their 10th Reunion in June

Batchelder Hall boys helped organize a surprise dinner for their dorm head, Nicholas Pukstas (at head of table), who had previously mentioned his vision of a formal dinner on the quad lawn outside the dorm.

OUTSIDE

Correction: A caption for a photograph on page 13 of the winter issue of the magazine misidentified a student. The three students in the photograph from Senior Meditations were Larry “L.J.” Lawrence, Reginald “R.J.” Paige, and Stuart “A.J.” Poplin.

Photos: Patricia Cousins, Rachel Engelke , Mary Coleman Forrester, John Groo, Becky Purdy and Missy Pope Wolff ’04

loomischaffee.org | 15

AROUND THE QUADS | OF NOTE | FACULTY & STAFF

 Four faculty members received instructorships this spring. English teacher Jane Archibald received the Norris Ely Orchard Instructorship in English for masterful teaching, dedicated commitment to young men and women, and devotion to the cultivation of shrewd analytical minds. Theater teacher Candice Chirgotis was honored with the Robert P. Hubbard ’47 Instructorship in Theater, recognizing inspirational instruction, dedicated commitment to young men and women, and exemplary devotion to the arts and sciences of the theatrical arts. Science teacher Elizabeth Conger received the Independence Foundation Instructorship, recognizing compassionate teaching, a dedicated commitment to young men and women, and innovative science instruction. English teacher Scott Purdy received the Allan Lundie Wise Instructorship for innovative teaching, passionate commitment to young men and women, and inspirational devotion to life on the Island. The instructorships were announced in June.  The administration presented Service to the School Awards to six faculty and staff members at the end of the school year. Dan Foley and Steven Morse of the Physical Plant staff, Director of Financial Aid and Associate Director of Admission Nancy Cleary, Associate Director of College Guidance Amy Thompson, Head of the Music Department Faith Miller, and science teacher Simon Holdaway received the honors for exceptional service and commitment to the school during the last year.  The school bid a fond farewell to retiring and departing faculty and staff at the Community Honors Banquet in June. Retiring staff member Nicole Jamieson,

16 |

a 14-year veteran of the Alumni/ Development Office, and retiring teachers Alice Baxter, Ronald Marchetti, David Newell, and Maria Schumann, received laudatory send-offs from their colleagues.

(Please see interviews with the four retiring faculty members beginning on page 38.) Other departing faculty and staff receiving well wishes included Brian Kosanovich, the longtime theater director and head of the Theater and Dance Department; Jeffrey Holcombe, a science teacher at Loomis for the last 27 years; Latin teacher and Associate Dean of Faculty Nicholas Pukstas; boys varsity lacrosse coach Ted Garber; science teacher Neil Chaudhary ’05; Arabic teacher Lucy Thiboutot; English teacher Ben Haldeman; mathematics teachers Isso Shimamoto and Lillie Avalos-Nguyen; staff member Janis Jones-Strange; Band Director Kris Allen; history teachers Alisha Cipriano and Rick Taylor; and College Advisor Tiffani Hooper.

 History teacher Kevin Henderson and Director of Development Timothy Struthers ’85 were honored this spring for completing 20 years — and counting — of service to the school.  Art teacher Chet Kempczynski is spending eight weeks this summer in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, working on a privately commissioned art mural using images that represent the colors of the city as well as the flowering purple Jaracunda tree. Chet is painting the mural on an exterior wall of a condominium owned by author, professor of literature, and lover of the arts Minerva Neiditz.

Mrs. Neiditz's sons graduated from Loomis, and Chet has mentored one son in the arts for more than 10 years. Chet and his wife, Loomis

foreign language teacher Genevieve Rela, visited Mrs. Neiditz and San Miguel during March Break this spring, and while there, Chet created 45 watercolor paintings that reflected the color scheme of the city. The paintings were to be shown in the Skot Foreman Art Gallery in San Miguel this summer.

is chosen by the Student Council based on nominating essays submitted by students. Nick, who also served as dorm head of Batchelder Hall, announced earlier in the spring that he would be leaving the school at the end of the academic year to pursue an advanced degree and other adventures.

 Andrew Matlack accepted the position of associate dean of faculty and began his new role in July. A math teacher and head of the Math Department for the last five years, Andrew moved into the position upon the departure of Nicholas Pukstas, who served ably in the role and departed the school this summer for new ventures. Andrew will work in concert with Dean of Faculty Ned Parsons.

 May and June brought a baby boy boom to the Island. Counselor Erica Ronald and husband Tyler welcomed Wallace Samson Ronald on May 28. Wallace joins big sister Hazel. Joanna Harvey of the Business Office; her husband, Jason; and big brother Andrew welcomed Ryan Joseph Harvey on May 31. Departing Arabic teacher Lucy Thiboutot and her husband, David Cooperman, welcomed Cyrus Bernard Thiboutot on June 18. And English teacher Stella Atufe and husband Mike welcomed Michael A. Atufe Jr. on June 23.

 Mathematics teacher and senior faculty member Barry Moran was presented with the school’s Distinguished Teaching Award in June.

Created in honor of former faculty member Dom Failla, the award recognizes the dedication and excellence of a faculty member with more than 10 years of service.  There are two newlyweds on campus. Social Media Manager Missy Pope ’04 and Benjamin Wolff were married on May 18 in Simsbury, Connecticut. (See a photograph from the wedding in Alumni Newsnotes.) And Associate Director of College Guidance Andrea Rooks married Joseph Straccia on July 21 in Amherst, Massachusetts.  The Student Council presented the Teacher of Year Award to Latin teacher and Associate Dean of Faculty Nicholas Pukstas this spring.

The announcement at the Spring Awards Ceremony prompted a standing, cheering ovation from the students, faculty, and staff in the audience. Teacher of the Year

 Art teacher Mark Zunino received the Austin Wicke Prize this spring at the Community Honors Banquet. Given in memory of Austin by his parents, the prize recognizes a Loomis Chaffee faculty member of less than 10 years of service who demonstrates a dedication to the discipline of teaching and a commitment to fostering the growth and development of young people. Mark, an accomplished artist, teaches printmaking, drawing, and Advanced Placement Art and directs the department’s Visiting Artist Program.

AROUND THE QUADS | ATHLETICS | BY BOB HOWE ’80

17 Years of Coaching the Team to Beat

I

first met Lisa Parsons in the spring of 2004 while I was interviewing for the position of director of athletics at Loomis Chaffee. She sat in an office with Associate Head of School Woody Hess, and they fired questions at me for almost an hour. That session was part of a series of interviews during the day-long visit to the campus where I grew up. When the day began, I was somewhat interested in working at Loomis, but after witnessing Coach Parsons' energy and commitment about teaching and coaching excellence, I left the campus at the end of the day with a burning desire to get the job and return to Loomis to work with quality people. It was clear to me in that very first meeting that Coach Parsons was a special coach.

The 2013 season marked the end of Coach Parsons’ tenure as the girls varsity lacrosse head coach, a role she has filled since the spring of 1997. In 16 lacrosse seasons — Lisa was away on sabbatical in 2007 — her teams compiled a 183-37-7 record. Over this time Loomis girls lacrosse won 10 Founders League titles, seven Western New England titles, and three New England championships.

The team's record under Coach Parsons speaks for itself. However, for Lisa, it’s never been about the record, but about how she and her assistants could make the girls on the team better. Sprinkled in with the school’s traditional rivals in the Founders League and the New England prep school conference, a handful of public school powerhouse girls

Anita Rackovan and Lisa Parsons coaching in tandem this spring Photo:John Groo

“

There is no opponent we wanted to play more [than Loomis] — for the sheer joy of great competition — and no opponent we wanted to play less, for more often than not, it was a loss for us.

” ­ ­­­

— Andover girls lacrosse head coach Kate Dolan

lacrosse programs — perennial state championship-caliber teams from Longmeadow and Westwood, Massachusetts, and Darien and New Canaan, Connecticut — became regulars on the Loomis schedule under Lisa. The girls in the Loomis program have played the best teams in New England at the insistence of their coach, and playing the best is one of the reasons the program has seen so much success.

Lisa started her prep coaching

career at a rival school. “I began coaching at Hotchkiss as an assistant with Kelly Stone [now athletic director at Convent of the Sacred Heart School],” Lisa recalls. “Loomis was always the team to beat. I never imagined that one day this would be my team.” When Lisa arrived on the Island, she was an assistant for two years with Linda Smurl.

In the years prior to Coach Smurl, Sue Biggs and then Kathy Nobles had led the program, establishing a tradition of outstanding coaches.

When asked if there were any particular teams or players that stand out as most memorable, Lisa is quick to say that every season and every set of players created long-lasting memories.

Her three undefeated teams (2001, 2002, and 2010) included incredible athletes and personalities, and the 2005 team was her most athletic. But the list of individual standouts on all of her teams is too long to recite. Big games against rivals Hotchkiss, Greenwich Academy, Andover, and others produced the best memories for this veteran coach. “Playing against schools and coaches you have great respect for has been something I’ve really come to enjoy over my years coaching in this league,” she says. “I have developed great friendships with so many of my fellow coaches over the years.”

There is mutual respect and admiration from her colleagues.

Angela Tammaro, the coach at Greenwich Academy, describes Lisa as a top coach who gets the best out of her players. “Lisa’s teams are always well prepared and competitive. Playing against Loomis always brings out the best in the opponents,” Coach Tammaro wrote recently. “Her teams have always been at the top of [Western New England Prep School] and New England lacrosse. She has given back to lacrosse in so many ways.”

Another friend and coaching colleague, Kate Dolan at Andover, wrote: “Lisa is a great teacher of the game of lacrosse.

The number of LC lacrosse players competing in college and coaching at all levels is tes-

loomischaffee.org | 17

AROUND THE QUADS | ATHLETICS

Senior Nick Miceli

tament to her impact on those who have played for her. She instilled in all her athletes competitiveness, intensity, and a will to win that were unmatched. There is no opponent we wanted to play more — for the sheer joy of great competition — and no opponent we wanted to play less, for more often than not, it was … a loss for us. It has been a pleasure and privilege to share the sidelines with her all these years.”

Sophomore Brittany Bugalski

Sophomore Charlotte Gacek

Next year Lisa faces another challenge in her coaching career. She will remain with our program as an assistant under head coach Anita Rackovan. The two talented coaches worked together this spring and will reverse roles at the start of the 2013–14 school year. As with everything she does, Lisa will make the most of her new opportunity and provide great support and leadership to the program in the years ahead.

With utmost admiration I, along with countless alumni, parents, and girls high school lacrosse colleagues from all over New England thank Lisa for all she has done with the sport. We are grateful for her presence at Loomis Chaffee, past, present, and future. ©

Junior Matt Rollings Sophomore Dontay Downer, junior Tate Knight, senior Mauro Serrano, and senior Michael Horowicz

Bob Howe ’80 is the director of athletics.

VARSITY SCOREBOARD SPORT

RECORD ACCOLADES

Baseball 10-6 Girls Golf 4-12-2 Boys Golf 6-12 Girls Lacrosse 9-6 Boys Lacrosse 2-12 Softball 7-8 Girls Tennis 1-9 Boys Tennis 4-8 Girls Track 7-2 Boys Track 8-0

Girls Water Polo 1-15

3rd at New Englands Founders League Champion, 3rd at New Englands

Photos: Tom Honan

18 |

six

seniors ­­— class of 2013 Stories by Becky Purdy | Photos by John Groo

loomischaffee.org | 19

Ekaterina Kryuchkova Hometown: Moscow, Russia Senior courses: Advanced Placement Senior Seminar in Literature, AP Government & Politics, Multivariable Calculus, Linear Algebra, and the term electives Microbiology and Myth, Dream & Ritual Other interests and activities: Jazz Band, Loomis Chaffee World Bulletin, Model United Nations, Foreign Policy Association, Film Club, peer tutoring in Quantitative Resources Center, community service, club cycling

E

katerina Kryuchkova prefers the unvarnished truth. She laughs and shakes her head when someone tells her she has determination.

“I am stubborn,” she declares, and she offers a case in point.

Kath, as she likes to be called, enrolled in Advanced Placement Physics II as a junior because she received credit for Physics I from her previous school back home in Moscow, Russia. But the earlier course had not covered all the fundamentals of physics, a fact that quickly became clear in the opening weeks of AP Physics at Loomis. She persevered, however, declining advice to switch to a science class more in keeping with her experience. “I got the midterm [grade], and I said, ‘Oh, look, it’s not a failing grade.

I’m not switching,’” she recalls.

And she didn’t. “Mr. [Edward] Pond is a great teacher,” she adds, suggesting that her even-

tual success in the class was not due to her bootstrap determination alone.

Call it perseverance or stubbornness, but Kath’s decision to stick with one of the hardest courses in the Loomis curriculum did no harm to her academic standing in the end. The top female scholar in the Class of 2013, she received the Charles Henry and Mary Chaffee Willcox Prize at Commencement. In awarding Kath with the prize, Head of School Sheila Culbert described this scholar as “an extraordinary young woman [who] took advantage of every opportunity Loomis had to offer and gave back in the process, contributing immeasurably to our community.”

Kath came to Loomis Chaffee as a sophomore after finding Russian schools at home too limiting for her intellect and thirst for challenge. “The teachers would always tell me, ‘I know that you know it, so just be quiet,’” she says. British schools would have required her to take a year of intensive English before following their regular curriculum, and Kath didn’t want to delay her education. She heard about Loomis through one of her father’s colleagues whose son had attended the school.

Language did present a major challenge for Kath during her initial months on the Island.

“The first half of sophomore year was brutal,” she says. The first book that her sophomore English class read was Grapes of Wrath, and Kath struggled to understand the dialogue. “John Steinbeck transcribes regional accents, and you can’t look

those up,” she says. Precalulus/ Calculus proved to be a more comfortable environment in her first weeks because she could use gestures to ask questions or explain her ideas, much to teacher Pam Byrne’s goodnatured amusement. Language and culture also presented a social obstacle until Kath’s English fluency improved and she adjusted to the American social mores. At first, she says, she found it easier to make friends with freshmen who were more reticent — and less talkative — than many of the sophomores she encountered.

But English didn’t hinder Kath for long. An excellent language learner — she already was fluent in Spanish as well as her native Russian — Kath’s English improved dramatically through immersion, and she thrived in and out of the classroom.

Academically, she received five departmental prizes as a junior and four as a senior. She also earned induction into the Cum Laude Society and recognition as an AP Scholar with Distinction.

Math is her particular academic strength among many. In the college-level course Multivariable Calculus, which she took this year along with Linear Algebra, she earned 100 percent on every test from September until Winter Break in December, after which she received a 97 on a test and declared the streak over. Hardly a slacker, she maintained an A+ in the class through the end of the year. Intellect, not grades, however, is the driving force behind Kath’s scholastic excellence.

In her junior year, for instance, she did an independent study

in language because she had completed the school’s regular course offerings in Spanish. The project involved comparing a short story by Colombian writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez in its original Spanish to a short story

by Anton Chekov in its original Russian.

Beyond the classroom walls, Kath wrote for The Log and edited The Loomis Chaffee World Bulletin; served as a senior leader at the Sophomore Retreat and a peer tutor in math; participated in the Foreign Policy Association and Model United Nations; played guitar in the Jazz Band; and helped found the Crafts for a Cause Club, whose members knit for charities.

During her three years at Loomis, Kath says she gained selfconfidence and developed more awareness of and appreciation for other people. “It’s hard to believe, but I used to be really shy, anxious, self-conscious too.

But that’s really how all 15-yearolds are,” she says. Her more outward focus and acceptance of differences among people enriched her Loomis experience. Now, she says, “I just look at this other person, and I say, ‘I am just so happy that we are going to the same school at the same time.’”

In the fall, Kath will enter Brown University, where she expects she will pursue a double major in math and — something else. She’s not sure about the other half of the double major yet because so much interests her. “That’s my problem," she says. "I like everything.” And that’s the unvarnished truth.

loomischaffee.org | 21

22 |

Reginald “R.J.” Paige Hometown: West Hartford, Connecticut Senior courses: Advanced Placement Statistics, Spanish IV, and term electives Astronomy; Anatomy & Physiology (two terms); The Presidential Election; Race, Roles & Religion; Satire; Creative Writing; Myth, Dream & Ritual; and Jurisprudence Other interests and activities: Varsity football, basketball, lacrosse, and track & field; Jazz Improv Ensemble (piano); PRISM, a student multicultural group

R

eginald “R.J.” Paige had a choice this spring.

Should this threeseason varsity athlete take a season off from sports, giving him more time for school work, friends, and playing the piano while he finished rehabilitating an injury and turned his sights toward college? He already had an acceptance letter from Princeton University and an invitation to play football at the Ivy League school. He already knew that rehabbing his torn muscle would prevent him from playing lacrosse, the spring sport he loved. He had participated in interscholastic sports every season since arriving at Loomis Chaffee four years ago and had played at the varsity level in three sports a year since he was a sophomore.

Why not give himself a break

from the physical, mental, and time commitment of varsity athletics?

But R.J. knew himself too well to take a season off. Sports anchor him. He says they provide daily structure, an energy release, and a focus that carries over into his academic success.

Besides, they provide an endless source of fun. He looked back at the winter season, when he had paced the sidelines while he waited for his muscle to recover from surgery and heal. “The winter was just awful for me, not doing basketball,” he says. If he couldn’t play lacrosse this spring, he’d find another sport.

On the advice of his coaches and the encouragement of friends, R.J. joined the track and field team. He was fast, but he could get faster, football and track assistant coach Adrian Stewart told him. Running track would hone his form and increase his explosive athletic power, improving his speed on the football field when he got to college, Adrian said. R.J. also liked the idea of sharing a new sport with several of his football teammates and getting to know a new group of athletes on the large and perennially strong track team.

Not only did he have fun and get faster, as predicted, R.J. says he also learned about taking care of his body to prevent injury and gained an appreciation for the sport of track and field. From the outside, sprinting from the start to the finish line looked easy, he says, but he learned about the work and detail and discipline behind trying to make that journey to the

finish line faster than anyone else. He tried several events, running the 100-, the 200-, and the 400-meter dashes in various meets; competing on the 4 x 100-, and 4 x 400-meter relays; and throwing the javelin.

Director of Athletics Bob Howe ’80 lauded R.J.’s decision to contribute to the track team during his senior spring. “Never once did he look back and rest on his past accomplishments and feel as though he couldn’t be a key contributor at the highest level here. He has demonstrated to us all the highest level of commitment and passion for sport,” Bob said in presenting the Friends of Loomis Chaffee Grubbs Prize to R.J. at the all-school Awards Assembly in May. The prize honored R.J.’s leadership and excellence as a varsity athlete in football, basketball, lacrosse, and track at Loomis Chaffee.

In athletics and beyond, R.J. has never been one to focus too narrowly. Football is his strongest sport — he was a football captain and a New England Prep School Athletic Council first-team All-New England linebacker last fall — but he says he loves whatever sport he is playing in any given season.

The same diversity of interests is true of R.J.’s academic and musical pursuits.

R.J. had played classical piano since age 7, but he decided to join the school's Jazz Improv Ensemble as a freshman.

“When I came to Loomis, I wanted to [try] a different genre,” he says. The more intuitive, free-form approach of jazz improvisation intimidated him at first, but experience and

additional piano lessons with music faculty member and jazz musician Kenneth Fischer helped him adjust. R.J. loved playing with the ensemble and stayed with the group all four years. Even when he was tired or having a bad day, he says, going to jazz class smoothed things out. “As soon as I touch a note, I’m feeling better,” he says. He also liked connecting with the other musicians in the ensemble — “a different group from the athletes that I usually hang out with.”

As for football, R.J. was thrilled to learn after his junior season that he could aspire to play at the next level. “I didn’t know I was good enough to get looked at by college coaches until Coach Reid asked, ‘Are you going to send out your film?’” he recalls, referring to Loomis head football coach Charles "Chuck" Reid. R.J. sent out game film and began meeting with college coaches, attracting interest from a number of schools. After determining that he wanted to attend an Ivy League college, he ultimately narrowed his choices and, after a visit to Princeton, decided to commit to the Tigers.

His New Jersey locale may make it harder for his dad, Reginald Paige Sr., to see him play quite as often as when R.J. was in high school. Reg attended every one of R.J.’s Loomis football, basketball, and lacrosse games and every track meet this spring. Undoubtedly, though, a Paige contingent will be wearing Princeton orange and cheering from the stadium at many, if not every, Tigers football game. loomischaffee.org | 23

24 |

Amy Ward Hometown: New York, New York and Chapel Hill, North Carolina Senior courses: Chinese IV, Advanced Placement Senior Seminar in Literature, Algebra Topics, Statistics, and term electives Ecology, Existentialism, Shakespeare, Human Populations & Impact, Social Psychology, Death & Dying, and Choreography Other interests and activities: theater, including roles in numerous NEO plays and musicals; Musical Revue; prefect in Carter (junior year); resident assistant in Ammidon (senior year); contributor to The Log

F

ew would dispute Amy Ward’s individuality, least of all Amy herself.

She describes herself as “crazy and funky and unique,” and her waist-long tresses, her flowing and expressive clothing choices, her frequently bare feet, and her melodic voice reinforce this impression. Snippets of conversation overheard between Amy and her best friend, Mark Crawford ’13, on the way to and from classes — conversation often punctuated by dark, uproarious laughter or spirited exchanges of mock-accusation — complete the picture. Amy is her own person.

Her three years at Loomis Chaffee have solidified her individuality, she says. Coming from a school on the Upper West Side of Manhattan where teachers went by their first names and artistically-driven students were the norm, Amy knew she was entering a different world when she sought a boarding school with a more structured and challenging academic environment along with opportunities for creativity.

“It was kind of a culture shock,” she says of her first couple of months at Loomis as a new sophomore. For a while, she doubted her decision to leave the artsy haven of her previous school, but her parents reminded her that she had wanted the change. They urged her to stick it out at least through her first year. And soon Amy found her way, involving herself in the Norris Ely Orchard Theater, landing a role in The Laramie Project, and immersing herself in her classes and dorm life.

“By the end of my sophomore

year, I was absolutely in love with Loomis,” she says. She had found her niche in the NEO and became more comfortable in her own skin. “I really had to become even more secure being an individual,” she reflects.

It’s not surprising that the NEO atmosphere helped ease Amy’s culture shock. Theaters have been familiar environs for her since the third grade, when she began acting in school plays.

She says she’s known since then that she wanted a life in theater.

Her family moved several times and traveled extensively when she was younger, but wherever she has lived or visited, theater has figured prominently. While still a grade-schooler, she joined a children’s theater company in Colorado, performing in shows with the troupe during the summers and in several winter shows while she was homeschooled in fifth and sixth grade. As she grew older, Amy became increasingly interested in Shakespearean theater. She participated in the Working for Shakespeare program at New York University for two summers as well as studying at a Shakespeare conservatory at Oxford University for a month last summer.

Amy played the role of Luciana in A Comedy of Errors this fall at the NEO. But her repertoire is by no means limited to the Bard’s work. During her three years at Loomis, she played Penny Pingleton in Hairspray and Paulette Bonafonte in Legally Blonde: The Musical and had roles in Metamorphoses, The Boy Friend, and The Laramie Project. Amy received the Junior Theater & Dance Award

and the Morris H. Brown Senior Theater & Dance Prize.

A member of Loomis’ Company Dance program, she enrolled in the choreography and composition course this year. She also sang in the Musical Revue, an annual student-run show that fills the Hubbard Performance Hall to the aisles.

While the NEO centered Amy’s life at Loomis, her involvement radiated well beyond its barn walls. A prefect as a junior and a resident assistant as a senior, Amy devoted herself to these commitments as well. Her academic strengths, she says, lie in English, where this year she undertook the challenging combination of the Advanced Placement Senior Seminar in Literature and the advanced term elective in Shakespeare, and in Philosophy, Psychology, & Religion, where she took more than the required number of classes. But she also loved her junior science class, Integrated Earth and Physical Sciences, studied Chinese, and welcomed the new ideas of a variety of other courses.

As Amy heads to Boston for college this fall, she plans to study theater and psychology. Just as she gained confidence as an individual and found her niche in the theater during her Loomis years, Amy will no doubt blaze a unique and creative trail at college.

loomischaffee.org | 25

26 |

Paul Lee Hometown: Palisades Park, New Jersey Senior courses: Advanced Placement Senior Seminar in Literature, Spanish V Advanced, AP Calculus BC, and term electives Genetics, The Presidential Election, Introduction to Ethics, Jurisprudence, Social Psychology, and teaching assistant for World History Other interests and activities: Student Council (president as senior), prefect in Kravis (junior year), resident assistant in Taylor (senior year), The Log staff, Orchestra, Chamber Music Ensemble, Model United Nations, cross country, swimming, and varsity tennis

P

ondering the list of classes, sports, and activities in Paul Lee’s life at Loomis Chaffee may leave you breathless.

Here’s a partial accounting of his many roles as a senior: Cum Laude scholar with three year-long AP or advanced classes along with two electives every term; Student Council president; resident assistant in Taylor Hall; managing editor of The Log; member of the varsity cross country, swimming, and tennis teams; award-winning participant in Model United Nations; and cellist in the Orchestra (where he was principal cellist), in the Chamber Music Ensemble, and for the 8 a.m.

Mass on Sundays at St. Gabriel’s Church in Windsor.

Even more amazing may be Paul’s full commitment to each of his pursuits and his humbleness despite many academic and community honors. He is quite possibly one of the nicest people you ever could meet.

For these qualities, his peers adore him, as evidenced by the resounding cheers of his classmates as Paul stepped to the Commencement stage in June to receive the Nathaniel Horton Batchelder Prize for industry, loyalty, and integrity.

Paul’s broad involvement in the school overwhelmed him at times, he says, but this Yale-bound scholar would not trade in any of his many, varied experiences on the Island.

They helped him encounter new people and new interests, discover untapped strengths, and gain confidence.

As a freshman, the advice of faculty and older students rang in his ears: “Get involved. Try new things.” So he did. He ran successfully for Student Council representative, joined the Orchestra, wrote for The Log. Sports especially offered him opportunities to step out of his comfort zone. “Before coming to Loomis, I never considered myself an athlete,” he says. He had played tennis in middle school but had pursued no other sports. As a freshman, he heeded the advice of his prefect, Mike Curtin ’11, and tried wrestling. As a sophomore, Mike’s advice led Paul to cross country.

“I loved it from the start,” Paul confirms, and he continued to run every fall. During the winter of his sophomore year, he tried out for the swim team and was cut, but he tried out again as a junior and made the

team, continuing with that team through his senior year. The endurance work improved his tennis as well, and by junior year, Paul moved up from the JV to the varsity tennis team.

With each passing year and in every realm, Paul grew into more of a leader, whether by example or by position — and often both. In the classroom, he rose to the challenges of an increasingly advanced curriculum. He counts Chemistry I Advanced with Robert DeConinck in his sophomore year and Advanced Placement Calculus BC with Barry Moran this year among his most challenging courses, and he developed deep respect for the passion that his teachers shared for their subjects. His AP Spanish class with Courtney Carey and AP U.S. History with Mark Williams, both in his junior year, solidified his interest in the humanities. “Those two classes and those two teachers were the biggest influences in shaping what I want to study in college,” he says. Although it’s still early to decide, the Ethics, Politics & Economics major at Yale interests him.

Beyond the classroom, Paul took on more responsibility each year, serving as news editor then managing editor of The Log, serving as a prefect then an RA in the dorms, moving up to principal cello in the Orchestra, and winning election as Student Council president.

Dorm life at Loomis played a crucial role in Paul’s development as a person and a leader.

“Going to boarding school was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. … The biggest thing I

learned was taking responsibility,” says Paul, who grew up in New Jersey and whose parents and younger brother now live in South Korea. As a freshman in Kravis Hall and a sophomore in the small enclave of Longman Hall, he watched his prefects in action and applied these lessons when he became a prefect and an RA. Ever humble, Paul sees leadership not as power, but rather as service and responsibility. He listens more than he speaks.

As Student Council president, he strove to make sure every voice was heard on issues under consideration. He also learned to put his confidence in others.

“I think that I grew as a leader when I abandoned the ‘only I can do it’ mentality,” he reflects.

And he learned to reach out to others — close friends, family members, teachers — when he felt overwhelmed. Their support, he says, carried him through a busy and fulfilling senior year.

Attached and devoted to the community that nurtured him for four years, Paul set a goal this year of meeting every person on the Loomis campus — students, faculty, and staff — and he came close to reaching it. As he looks ahead to college and beyond, Paul says he will miss the simple pleasures of Loomis life, like walking around campus with his friends. “Seeing familiar faces all over campus — it really makes it home,” he says. Paul is too modest to admit that he’s the one who made it feel like home, for himself and for the many Loomis students who found in him a good listener and a friend.

loomischaffee.org | 27

28 |

Lauren Horn Hometown: Windsor, Connecticut Senior courses: Calulus, Advanced Placement Spanish IV, and term electives Literature of the Sea, Introduction to Economics, Genetics, Voices of Dissent, Anatomy & Physiology, Developmental Psychology, Satire, and The Culture Wars Other interests and activities: Dance Company; Concert Choir; PRISM, a student multicultural group; swim team

W

hen Lauren Horn was preparing to perform at the White House a couple of years ago, she got cold feet. Literally.

“I was so nervous before we went on,” she recalls. “When I get nervous, my feet get cold.

But I need my feet to stay warm to tap dance.”

The audience included First Lady Michelle Obama as well as actors Forest Whitaker and Sarah Jessica Parker and other members of the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities. The occasion honored the Artists Collective of Hartford, where Lauren studied dance, and 14 other community organizations from around the country. The Artists Collective was invited to perform at the ceremony, and the collective chose members of its youth Jazz Orchestra to play a musical piece created for the occasion and Lauren to tap dance to the lively tune.

Luckily, Lauren does not get

cold feet in the figurative sense.

A powerhouse of positive energy, she approaches every day and every challenge as an opportunity. Chilly toes or not, there was no stopping her from putting on her tap shoes and stepping onto the stage set up in the East Room of the White House. Once the music started and she began to dance, Lauren says she was having too much fun to feel nervous. Michelle Obama herself led a standing ovation for the performance.

Dance — tap, ballet, jazz, modern, hip hop — takes up a large chunk of every day for Lauren. Yet this dynamo carved out time for full involvement in Loomis Chaffee life as well, from a full load of challenging courses to singing in the Concert Choir, competing on the swim team, participating in the multicultural organization PRISM, and serving as a senior leader for the Sophomore Retreat.

“Time management is my best friend,” she says with a characteristic beaming smile. On a typical Wednesday this year, she attended classes until 12:35 p.m., spending her one free period getting a head start on homework. After lunch, she rehearsed with Loomis’ Dance Company 2 then parked herself at Katharine Brush Library to do homework until about 6 p.m., when her mom picked her up to take her to Hartford for two hours of dance classes. When she and her mother arrived at their home in Windsor at close to 9 p.m., Lauren ate dinner then returned to her homework until bed time.

During her three years at Loo-

mis and her previous middle school years, Lauren says she learned to use gaps in her schedule wisely, to write down everything she needed to do, and not to procrastinate. “I was really nervous about the planbook system and the schedule” when she came to Loomis, she says, but she adjusted well. She chose to attend Loomis because of its friendly, open community and its inspiring classroom environment, where students are encouraged to speak up. “The teachers treat you in a way that you want to learn,” she says.

Although literature and language draw Lauren’s keenest academic interest, she says she is keeping an open mind about where she will focus her studies at Amherst College beginning next fall. She is certain, however, that she will pursue a dance minor and is excited about the dance program at Amherst and the dance opportunities in the five-college system of which Amherst is a member.

Lauren’s large extended family, many of whom live in Windsor and Bloomfield, provides enthusiastic support for her pursuits and achievements. The “loudest cheering section” at the Spring Dance Revue in the Norris Ely Orchard Theater in May, she says, was a group of her aunts, cousins, grandparents, and other relatives.

Her passion for dance dawned early in her life. At age 3, she started tap dance and then African dance at the Artists Collective. By age 11, she was in the highest-level tap class, and she also studied jazz, ballet, and modern dance. She danced with Dance Company 2 as a junior

and senior. And this year she also began studying at Studio 860 in Hartford, where she focused on modern and jazz dance and joined the studio’s hip-hop dance team.

The hip-hop team traveled to New York City to try out for the television program America’s Got Talent earlier this year, an experience Lauren and her dozen teammates will always remember. After taking a train to the city, they navigated their way to the enormous hotel where the auditions took place.

An animated storyteller, Lauren describes the backstage scene as intense. “All the other dance teams are there, and they’re all glaring at you,” she narrates with a furrowed brow. “And you’re, like, ‘Hi!’” she continues as her face smoothens into a perky smile. Her team didn’t make it onto the show, but the group auditioned well, Lauren says, and benefitted from the experience.

Lauren looks eagerly toward her next set of adventures at college, but she knows she will miss the Loomis community, her teachers and advisor, the Island campus, and her Loomis friends. She also will miss the certainty of the school that became her second home over the last three years. “I’m going to miss just being here,” she says, looking around her. “I’m going to miss knowing what I’m up against.”

For this young woman who has performed at the White House and managed a daily schedule that rivals that of the commander-in-chief, uncertainty won't deter her for long.

loomischaffee.org | 29

30 |

John Macdonald Hometown: West Hartford, Connecticut Senior courses: Advanced Placement Latin, Calculus, Physics Advanced, and term electives The American Civil War, Shakespeare, Satire, Creative Writing, Photography II, and Death & Dying Other interests and activities: Environmental proctor, peer counselor, The Log news editor, Pelicode Committee, cross country, ultimate frisbee

“I

was very scared about the change that would come with Loomis,” says John Macdonald, looking back on his decision in ninth grade to join his older sister, Casey, at Loomis rather than continuing in the West Hartford public schools, where he had a comfortable group of friends and a good handle on the academic landscape.

He worried about finding new friends and managing the school work he had seen Casey encounter.

His parents left the final decision to him, and on the last day before the deadline, John chose to attend Loomis. Although the transition took some time and the school work proved even more challenging than he had expected, John flourished on the Island. He discovered potential for scholarship and social change that he never knew he possessed, and he developed into an outstanding, contemplative student and a driving force behind the sustainability movement on campus.

A straight-A student for nearly every term of his junior and senior years, John earned induction into the Cum Laude Society as one of the top students in the Class of 2013. A self-motivated community member with little need for fanfare, he convinced the school to acquire a brood of chickens to advance sustainability efforts, helped establish an interscholastic ultimate Frisbee team, and stepped up to fill a critical gap on the varsity boys cross country team last fall.

John’s unassuming, laid-back manner — think bookish neighborhood boy crossed with friendly snowboarder — offers few clues that he is a tireless go-getter. But when John sets his mind on a task, whether academic or organizational or athletic, consider it done.

Among his many environmental contributions at Loomis, John is probably best known for initiating the school’s chicken project.

The school’s 12 hens live in a coop behind the Clark Center for Science & Mathematics.

They eat food compost from the dining hall and bugs in campus gardens, aerate and fertilize the soil, and lay eggs that are made available for faculty and staff to take home and eat. (Because the eggs are unpasteurized, the dining hall cannot serve them.)

Beginning during his sophomore spring, John served as one of the original Loomis environmental proctors, or e-proctors, a student leadership position charged with maintaining the school’s food composting operation, championing student environmental efforts, and contributing to the broader work of the school’s Sustain-

ability Committee. Through this work, John heard about the benefits of chickens as agents of sustainability and decided to propose a plan for the Loomis campus. He researched the idea and, working with Sustainability Coordinator and science teacher Jeffrey Dyreson, prepared a proposal for the project.

The administration approved the plan, and in the spring of 2012 the first chicks arrived on campus, living in a cage in the Clark Center until they grew old enough to move outdoors to a coop.

The chickens have been a big hit, going about their work with dedication and charming many Island denizens. Beyond the tangible benefits, John explains the philosophical value of having chickens on campus. “Mainly it’s just a connection back to your food,” he says. Students see where their food comes from, how farms work, and what goes into producing food. John became a vegetarian for about a year during his work on the chicken project, but he returned to eating meat this year, partly because he came to understand the role of animals in a sustainable farm environment. “The chickens have provided me with a lot of education,” he notes.

The chicken project and John’s other environmental work on campus led to his selection as a U.S. Green School Fellow of the 2012 Student Climate and Conservation Congress. John was one of just two Connecticut students among the 150 selected fellows.

Meanwhile, the Advanced Placement Environmental Science course that John took as

a junior sparked his interest in the subject as an academic pursuit. He plans to delve further into this field at Colby College, where he will matriculate in the fall. He is particularly interested in marine ecosystems and the effects of environmental changes on them.

The great outdoors ties together John’s many other interests. In addition to running cross country in the fall, freestyle snowboarding in the winter, and playing competitive ultimate Frisbee in the spring, he often could be spotted skateboarding, tossing a Frisbee, or even walking a low tightrope in one of the quads on campus.

His athletic versatility and his acceptance of behind-thescenes work make everything he does look easier than it is.

In cross country, for instance, John enjoyed the sport, the trails, and the team, but he disliked the inherent discomfort of racing. He resisted pushing himself through the pain, but Head Coach Sally Knight helped him put the discomfort in perspective. “Everyone here goes through that pain,” she told him. “It’s nice that you have guys here to go through that with.” When the team developed a gap in the crucial No. 5 spot this fall, John came through, helping his squad to a 4-2 dual meet record and third place at the Founders League Championship. “It was nice knowing that when the team looked to me, I was able to do it for them,” he says. You can count on John Macdonald to get things done. ©

loomischaffee.org | 31

SENIOR PATHS A flow-chart tour of the diverse course offerings for the final year of a Loomis Chaffee education.

STORY } BECKY PURDY CHART } PATRICIA COUSINS

S

ELECTING courses at Loomis Chaffee can sometimes feel like navigating a hedge maze, with choices around every corner and a mixture of delight and relief when the chosen path ultimately brings you out of the labyrinth and on to the courses themselves. Recent revisions to and expansion of the school’s curriculum created even more choices, especially for rising seniors, who often say they only wish they could take all the electives and year-long courses that intrigue them.

With some well-considered questions and with guidance from their faculty advisors, directors of studies, college counselors, and parents, students find their path through the maze of choices. The adult voices along the way help students to consider the big picture and attend to the details, push their limits but avoid overload, pursue their academic interests but take a liberal arts approach to their education.

The best way to understand and appreciate the process may be to follow in students’ footsteps, at least on paper. You are invited to trace the course decision-making process of a typical rising senior at Loomis.

Illustration: iStock

AP Senior Seminar in Literature

Yes

No

Approved for AP Lit?

Yes

No

ENGLISH

Apply for AP Seminar in Literature?

Yes

Take history?

HISTORY No

CHOICES FOR TERM ELECTIVES (PICK 3): Short Story Craft of Nonfiction Literature of the Sea Creative Writing Contemporary Literature Race, Roles, and Religion Voices of Dissent The American Dream Satire * Shakespeare * Democracy & Desegregation in Southern Africa (interdisciplinary) Global Literature & the History of Sport in Society (interdisciplinary) * Advanced course

YearTerm long or term course(s)?

Year

YEAR-LONG CHOICES: AP U.S. Government & Politics/Comparative Government & Politics AP Economics

TERM CHOICES: The American Civil War * China: Past & Present Arab Culture Today Contemporary Europe: 1919–1991 Germany & the Holocaust Japan: The Chrysanthemum & the Sword Russian History Modern African History History of Modern Brazil Culture Wars Intro to Economics Microeconomics Applied Economics Globalization * Jurisprudence International Relations * Advanced course

32 |

Year -long Yes

Are you striking a healthy balance between reaching for your potential and keeping stress at bay?

Term

Have you completed French 4?

French

No

No Take language?

Spanish Year -long Yes Term

Have you completed Latin 3?

Latin

No What language are you studying?

No

Want to take more?

THE ARTS

Yes

Have you completed AP Chinese 5?

Chinese No

Visual Arts

Which discipline(s) interests you?

Theater

Beginning or experienced?

Studio Art

Music Beginning or experienced in the medium?

E

Applied Music, Music Theory, or Music History?

B ART HISTORY term choices: 7 Wonders of the Ancient World Renaissance & Baroque Art 19th and 20th Century Art

BEGINNING choices: Photo I - darkroom Photo I - digital Film/Video Production Digital Animation/Special Effects Painting Watercolor Painting Drawing I Printmaking Ceramics Sculpture

Applied

What level of Arabic have you completed?

Next level of Arabic

CHOICES (BOTH HALF COURSES): Modern China Through Literature From Monkey King to the Tea House

Advanced Acting for Shakespeare Advanced Acting for Comedy Technical Theater II

APPLIED MUSIC choices: Jazz Band Jazz Improv & Theory Voice I Concert Choir/Chamber Singers

Theory

EXPERIENCED choices: Digital Photo III Advanced AP Art Seminar Advanced Drawing Ceramics II Advanced Studies in Sculpture and Ceramics Photo II - darkroom Photo II - digital

Next level of Spanish

Next level of Chinese

EXPERIENCED choices: Fundamentals of Acting Improv

E

Art History

No

SPANISH 5 TERM CHOICES: Latin American Civilization Latin American Short Story Spanish Literature

BEGINNING choices: Intro to Acting Theatrical Production & Management Technical Theater I Playwriting & Directing Public Speaking & Argumentation

B Studio or Art History?

Yes

Term

YEAR-LONG COURSE: Spanish 5 Advanced

LATIN TERM CHOICES: Virgil Historians at Rome Cicero Catullus Roman Comedy Roman Satire

Arabic No

Yes

YEAR-LONG COURSE: AP Latin

Next level of Latin

Yes Have you fulfilled graduation requirement?

No

Year -long Have you completed Spanish 4?

Yes

LANGUAGE

FRENCH 5 TERM CHOICES: French Civilization Modern French Writers French Cinema Next level of French

Yes

Have you fulfilled the graduation requirement?

YEAR-LONG COURSE: French 5 Advanced

Hi

sto r

y

Orchestra Concert Band

MUSIC THEORY choices: Music Theory I Music Theory II: Harmony Advanced Projects in Harmony & Composition AP Music Theory

MUSIC HISTORY choices: World Music American Musical Theater Music of the Americas History of Music I: Middle Ages through Beethoven History of Music II: Schubert through Today

Beginning Piano Lab

Multivariable calculus Independent Study

MATH

What level have you completed?

Linear Algebra

AP Stats (year)

Advanced Precalculus

AP Calculus AB AP Calculus BC

Advanced Precal with Differential Calculus

AP Stats (half) Linear Algebra Multivariable Calculus

AP Calculus

Calculus

Precalculus Advanced Precalculus Advanced Precalculus with Differential Calculus Advanced Statistics: Global Issues (term) Topics in Algebra (term) Topics in Discrete Math (term) Stats (2 terms)

Precalculus

Algebra II (and Geometry)

What does Math Department recommend?

Photo: John Groo

INTERDISCIPLINARY

PHILOSOPHY, PSYCHOLOGY & RELIGION No

Which area(s) of the department interests you?

Have you fulfilled graduation requirement?

No Want another PPR course?

Yes

Yes

Religion choices:

Prophetic Voice Children of Abraham

Literature of the Bible Intro to Hinduism & Buddhism

Philosophy choices:

Ancient Philosophy New England Transcendentalism Intro to Logic

Intro to Ethics Existentialism Theory of Knowledge

Psychology choices:

Developmental Psychology Death & Dying Seminar on Freud & Jung

Social Psychology Myth, Dream & Ritual

Want to take an interdisciplinary course?

Yes

Are you working toward a Global Studies Certificate?

Consult with directors of global studies and directors of studies.

Choices: Desegregation & Democracy in Southern Africa Oil in Water: Topics in Environmental Law Global Literature & the History of Sport in Society Food in the Americas Model T & American Industrial Revolution Economics & Statistics of Human Behavior

Have you considered not only which course levels each department recommends, but also your program as a whole?

SCIENCE

Will you have enough hours in the day to do the necessary work well and still have time to sleep well?

No

Take science?

Yes

No

Have you taken chemistry?

Yes

Yes Assumption: You have fulfilled the graduation requirement of at least one life science and at least one physical science.

Yes

Have you taken physics? No

Have you taken or Yes are you taking Advanced Precalulus with DifferenPhysics I Advanced tial Calculus?

Interested in Physics II AP? Yes No

No

Yes Have you taken or are you taking Advanced PrecalPhysics I culus?

Did you take Physics I Advanced or Regular?

Interested in Chem II AP?

No

No

No

Did you take Chem I Advanced or Regular?

Yes

Have you taken or are you taking AP Calculus?

No

Regular

Yes

Advanced

Are you ready to take chemistry?

r

a ul

g Re

Yes

No

Advanced

Have you taken or are you taking Algebra II?

What electives does Science Department recommend?

Chemistry I

Chemistry I Advanced

Chem II AP

Biology II: Microbiology (fall term) Biology II: Molecular Biology (winter & spring or just winter term) Biology II: Evolutionary Bio (fall term) Biology II: Anatomy & Cell Bio (winter & spring or just winter term) Biology II: Genetics (term) Astronomy I (term) Astronomy II (2-term) AP Environmental Science (year) Ecology (fall term) with the option of winter and/or spring courses in: Water: A Limited Resource Sustainable Agriculture Energy & Sustainability Human Populations & Impact

Physics II AP loomischaffee.org | 37

LEAVING A LEGACY Four long-time faculty leave the island Interviews with Rachel Allen Photos by John Groo

F

OUR treasured faculty members retired this year: Ronald Marchetti (43 years of tenure), Alice Baxter (34 years), David Newell (21 years), and Maria Schumann (14 years) leave legacies of devoted teaching, wise counsel, and many fond memories with the generations of students and scores of colleagues whose lives they have influenced and enriched.

As we wished them well in the next chapters in their lives, we also asked them to indulge us by sharing a few more gems of their wisdom before they departed the Island.

Excerpts of our interviews with each of these retiring teachers appear on the pages that follow.

To read the complete interviews, go to www.loomischaffee.org/ magazine.

38 |

RONALD MARCHETTI “I

want to begin my remarks about Ron by apologizing for all that I am not going to say,” mathematics teacher Barry Moran stated during his tribute to retiring Latin and English teacher Ronald Marchetti at the Community Honors Banquet. “After all, 43 years is a darn long time. … A full exposition of his life and time at Loomis Chaffee deserves a book.” The greatly abridged version is that Ron came to Loomis in 1970 after graduating from college, and during his long tenure on the Island, he served as a faculty member, coach, administrator, and friend to many. He also met his wife, Ruthanne Marchetti, who retired from the Loomis faculty last year, and the couple raised their two children, Adam Larrabee ’92 and Daniel Marchetti ’98, on campus. When Ron first arrived at Loomis, he typed assignments on purple ditto paper and mimeographed them for his classes. By the time he became director of studies in 1989, the digital age was in full swing. Under his leadership, course selections, scheduling, record-keeping, comment-writing, and myriad of other tasks were streamlined. Ron stepped away from the director of studies role in 2008 and returned to fulltime teaching. He was named Teacher of the Year in 2010.

Photo: Robert Benson

Q: H ow did you end up working at Loomis? oomis was my first fullA: L time job. I was a senior at Bowdoin College studying classics and English. My plan after college was to do something in the Peace Corps, but my advisor told me that I would make a wonderful Latin teacher and that going into the Peace Corps was a waste of my talent. He set up an interview for me at Loomis, and all I remember was that it was a blur. The head at the time called me a couple weeks later and told me that I had gotten the job, and I accepted. The lottery for the [Vietnam War] draft happened a few days after I accepted. Luckily my number was 327 out of 365, and I was free to teach.

Q: W hen did you know it’s what you wanted to do for the rest of your career? y father owned a plumbA: M ing company and had always wanted me to take part in it. After being at Loomis for a few years, I got my plumbing license and worked in the summers with him. My sabbatical year was really the deciding factor for me. I devoted that year to plumbing. I gave it my all but never did plumbing again. While my father kept saying that joining the family business would allow

me to be set for life, I found that there was no reward in it other than money. The pipes didn’t talk to me, and I didn’t get anything out of it.

After that, I knew I wanted to stay at Loomis, a place where I always received something back for the time that I put in, and it wasn’t measured in wealth but in a life well-lived.

Q: W hy did you stay at Loomis for 43 years? cynic would say inertia, A: A but Loomis started as a job, turned into a career, and then turned into my life. It’s going to be hard imagining my life without Loomis as a part of it. There is no place replicable to it, and there is nothing more satisfying than the relationships I’ve built within this community.

Q: W hat have you learned from working with students? ne of the things that I’ve A: O learned over the years is that I don’t know what I think I know. The students have always challenged my assertions, my ideas, and my presumptions, which allowed the learning environment to keep going.

Q: W hat did you most enjoy at Loomis outside of teaching?

A: I ’ve worn a lot of hats during my time at Loomis, but I’ve really enjoyed the activities where I was able to participate with students.

I played in the Jazz Band as a bass player and also played bass in the Orchestra. I coached the ski team for 30 years, and there was hardly a practice that went by where I didn’t run the slalom course myself.

Q: W hat will be one of the hardest things for you to leave behind? ne of the hardest things to A: O leave behind would have to be daily breathing adolescent air. I have loved being able to stay current with this segment of society, and I’m going to miss that greatly. hat are your plans for Q: W retirement, if any? uring my retirement, I A: D will just do things that I enjoy doing like skiing, sailing, biking, reading, and traveling — nothing too earth-shattering. I don’t feel a lack of having done anything, and I don’t have a bucket list. I’m just excited to do things I already like doing.

loomischaffee.org | 39

40 |

ALICE BAXTER S

CIENCE teacher Alice Baxter arrived at Loomis Chaffee in the fall of 1979 after earning her bachelor’s degree from Stony Brook and her doctorate from Yale and teaching at Avon Old Farms for three years. Alice; her husband, Dick; and their daughters, Gwen ’96 and Sarah ’01, lived in Palmer Hall then Mason Hall, where Alice was dorm head for four years. She served as head of the Science Department before taking on the role of dean of faculty in 1986, a position she held for the next 17 years. After her tenure as a dean, Alice returned to the Science Department as a full-time teacher.

In 2006 the Student Council honored her as Teacher of the Year. This spring Commencement speaker Frank Bruni ’82 acknowledged his former chemistry teacher as “the incomparable Alice Baxter” and praised her ability to make science thrilling even for the more humanities-inclined students like himself. “Alice, thank you for making the periodic chart as exciting and inviting as a Shakespearean sonnet,” he said.

Q: What has been your most formative experience while at Loomis Chaffee? eing the dean of faculty A: B while John Ratté was head of school was an extremely transformative and inspirational experience for me.

I’d have to say that it was the highlight of my career.

He taught and nurtured me not only as a mentor but as a friend.

Q: What are your retirement plans? e bought a house in A: W Hamden, Connecticut, so we are moving, but besides that, I don’t really have any plans. I talked to some of my friends who have retired, and the biggest piece of advice that they gave me was to not sign up for a lot of different things to fill my time even if I’m afraid of the void after leaving Loomis. But I am excited to have more time to spend with my granddaughter and to do some small projects.

Q: W hat is your favorite place on campus?

A: My favorite place on campus would have to be the science building. Even when I was dean of faculty, I would come over and visit.

It’s my home away from home. hat do you hope your Q: W students gained out of their education? y overarching goal as a A: M teacher is to have students leave liking and maybe even loving the discipline.

The most wonderful thing that a student can say is

that they didn’t like science before taking a course of mine and that, when they left, they enjoyed it and wanted to study more. I want my students to leave excited about science, especially because it has a reputation of being hard and not very interesting.

Q: W hat is going to be the hardest thing for you to leave behind? he community. To be a A: T part of Loomis Chaffee is to be a part of this community here. I’m constantly surrounded by my friends who are also my coworkers. You walk across campus and everyone says “hi” to you, and you know that you are all working for a common purpose. After leaving Loomis, I will have to become a part of a different community, which I think will be hard for me since I will never be able to reproduce the environment of Loomis anywhere else.

Q: W hat do you hope never changes at Loomis? he faculty has a way of A: T taking care of the students and connecting with them, establishing a really good relationship between the two. There’s a culture of caring here at Loomis where the students feel as though the faculty knows them and wants to help

them, and I really hope that never changes. hy did you choose to stay Q: W at Loomis for 34 years?

A: I f you want to be a prep school teacher, Loomis is a great place. The school offered me the ability to do a lot of things, and I had a lot of freedom to change what I wanted to do within the Loomis community, from being part of the dorms to dean of faculty to a science teacher.

Q: H ow do you think education has changed in the digital age?

A: I can't imagine teaching now without the Internet because not only are the resources infinite, but it makes preparing for class a lot easier since they are so accessible. Education, however, in the 1970s was just as good as it is now. Teaching isn't about technology but about the relationship between a teacher and a student. No one is going to look back after graduating and say that the smart board really changed their entire educational career.

All that students really care about is the teacher.

loomischaffee.org | 41

DAVID NEWELL

P

SYCHOLOGY teacher David Newell started working at Loomis 21 years ago as director of counseling.

He lived on campus for the first year before moving into the town of Windsor, where he and his wife, Kim, live and raised their children. While he ran the Counseling Office, David and English teacher and then-counselor Sally Knight established the peer counseling program that still thrives at the school. After eight years in counseling, David joined the Philosophy, Psychology & Religion Department full time. In 2012 the student body chose David as Teacher of the Year. Even after his retirement, David will continue to join faculty member Peter Gwyn in leading the school's Backcountry Program, as they have since its inception. “I am so blessed to have had David as a supportive colleague and, above all, an understanding friend who always offered unfailing concern and encouragement,” former colleague Dominic Failla said at the Community Honors Banquet.

“I am certain that if your many students were present tonight, they would express their love and gratitude for teaching them the art and joy of learning.”

Q: H ow have you changed in your years at Loomis?

n both a professional and A: O personal level, I think that

42 |

I’ve become more knowledgeable. Professionally, for the last 13 years, I’ve focused more on pedagogy and on the dynamics of the classroom and through teaching have developed an enthusiasm for the material and desire to learn more. Personally, after having two children, I’ve become more patient, more forgiving, and more sympathetic than I otherwise might have been.

Q: W hy is it important for students to study psychology? he human mind and A: T behavior is the final frontier. I’d recommend that students take psychology because it can give insight into the ways that individuals behave, the way that various groups behave, and the way that individuals act within those groups.

It can explain why some people help and others don’t, why some people are heroes and others are not.

The study of psychology is just fascinating.

Q: W hat will you miss about Loomis? hat I will miss most are A: W the discussions that I’ve had with those who have been in my classroom, and even outside of it. There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing a young person get excited about an idea or

a way of seeing the world for the first time. As teachers, we are able to introduce them to something new and open their minds, even raise awareness, which is beyond gratifying.

Q: A re there certain things you feel relieved to be leaving?

A: I won’t miss grading papers or evaluating students’ intellect with a number or letter because I just feel as though each student is so much more than that. A number or letter grade can’t evaluate a creative mind properly, and with teaching today, there’s so much emphasis on achieving the highest grades in the highest courses; teaching should be about learning. For me, the best part of every day was being in the classroom and really being able to teach, to have discussions, and to learn from my students as much as I was teaching them.

Q: W hat do you hope never changes at Loomis? he one thing that makes A: T Loomis what it is: the willingness of faculty to develop relationships with students. I think that if the character of the school were to be diminished or vanish, it would take a lot away from what I think the institution is and what it

was intended to be.

Q: W hat do you hope students do with an education from Loomis Chaffee?

A: I hope that students leave Loomis with an increased emphasis on character.

I hope each student is a valued citizen in pursuit of their passion and has the ability to follow their dreams to make the world a better place. Too often students value themselves just on the grades that they receive, but it’s our job as teachers to help them realize the bigger picture and to help them gain an understanding that while grades are important, they are not a measure of your worth or a comprehensive measure of what it is that you understand.

Q: W hat are your plans for retirement?

A: I love building wooden boats, canoes, and sailboats; it’s been a hobby of mine for quite some time.

I’m excited to be able to have time to devote to this craft. I plan on continuing to volunteer my time to community service projects since that has been an integral part of my life. I plan to travel with my wife since she’s never been outside of the U.S. except to Canada. And I have about three or four bookshelves full of books I want to read.

loomischaffee.org | 43

MARÍA SCHUMANN

A

native of Ecuador, María Schumann and her husband, Rainer, lived in Germany and Mexico for five years before moving to the United States, settling in Simsbury, Connecticut. A long-time teacher of Spanish, María joined Loomis Chaffee full time in 1999. Down-toearth and personable, she thrived in the classroom and created an environment where students not only came to learn but found a love for another language.

Curious and intellectual, María constantly sought new opportunities to advance her knowledge while at Loomis.

“María, your friends in the department will miss teaching and collaborating with you every day, but we’re so very happy for you, too,” Spanish teacher and friend Katherine “Kitty” Peterson ’72 remarked in a send-off for María.

Q: H ow have you changed during your time at Loomis?

rofessionally, I have A: P gained this desire to keep learning and broadening my perspective. Loomis has inspired and cultivated an intellectual curiosity within me that allows continual expansion of my knowledge. I have a passion to learn everything and find myself always wanting to know more. I ask more questions, seek more clarity, and I am in

44 |

constant awe of the world around me. Personally, I have become very open and accepting, more so than I was when I first arrived on campus 14 years ago. Loomis encompasses the values embedded in the [founding documents] that neither religion, sex, geographical origin, nor financial standing will preclude a student from enrolling in the school, creating a highly diverse student body, which really opens your eyes to other cultures and other people, demonstrating that we are all interconnected and, regardless of differences that may exist, we are all human.

Q: W hat will you miss the most about Loomis?

A: I will miss most of all my students and my colleagues. The transition out of teaching is going to be a difficult one for me because I love my job. I can have a headache when I wake up in the morning, and the minute I am in my classroom, anything negative disappears as soon as I see my students. I know that I’m going to miss waking up and having them to look forward to every day.

Q: A re there certain things you will feel relieved to be leaving?

A: I t’s not so much a relief, but I think it will be nice to be able to relax at home and just have things slow down a bit. I’m excited and looking forward to being able to spend more time with my family, specifically my husband and grandchildren. It’s hard when you are working all of the time to maintain the relationships that you have at home. On the other hand, I’ve made some great friendships here at Loomis as well, so I’m grateful for that.

Q: W hat are your plans for retirement, if any? y husband is from A: M Germany, and I’m from Ecuador, so part of our plan as a retired couple is to go visit our relatives in both countries. And I’m going to enjoy my family and spend time with them as much as I can while I don’t have any outside obligations. It’ll be nice to be closer with my grandchildren and to do various things with my husband that we never had a chance to do while we were both working.

Q: W hat do you hope never changes at Loomis?

A: I love the community. We have an unwavering commitment to others, and I’m proud to say I know that is something that will never change. Creating a social consciousness among students and their accepting it as a way of their daily life is something I hope will never change. It is so important to introduce our children into an environment that reflects the real world so they are better prepared when they enter into it.

Q: W hat would you say are your lasting contributions to Loomis?

A: I hope that I created an environment where students looked forward to learning Spanish and developed within them a love for a foreign language. I hope that students who have come into my classroom and thought that learning a foreign language was too difficult but have mastered it, now see that anything is possible if they set their mind to it. ©

loomischaffee.org | 45

OBJECT LESSONS | BY KAREN PARSONS

Enchanted Views of Distant Lands In Aachen, Germany, Osbert wrote that Morford “called my attention to the picturesque and quaint cut which the Market women, men & boys presented. … I felt an irresistible desire to sketch it. M had the same artistic fit come down over him.” A crowd of merchants, customers, small children, dogs, and geese gathered to watch the artists at work, and “the whole business of … [the] square was totally suspended.” A few months later, Osbert sketched the image of a town house damaged in the 1871 Prussian Siege of Paris. His friend was to have been a translator at a secret meeting arranged for that home, but having misplaced her muff, she was late to arrive, only barely missing the intense shelling.

Photo: Archives

I

N October 1871, artist and Loomis Institute Founder Osbert Loomis purchased a landscape painting by German artist Otto Sommer. Acquired for his brother James, the artwork depicts majestic, rugged snow-topped mountains with a stream rushing toward a still lake. This scene, juxtaposed with two small human figures tucked into the landscape and descending from alpine heights, leaves no question about the artist’s respect for the grandeur of nature.

Osbert found the painting in Munich, Germany, during a five-month stay in Europe and England. He described the art market of Munich as “a feast” and sent James four oil paintings, two by Sommer. His nearly 100-page travel journal, letters to friends, and the paperwork required to ship art to America recount Osbert’s adventures in seeking out art, making art, and seeing Europe through the eyes of an artist.

Osbert traveled by ship, ferry, stage coach, train, and foot. American travel writer Henry Morford accompanied him for some of the trip, and Osbert wrote in his journal of 46 |

Osbert visited artists and art collections throughout Europe and was especially moved by the ruins of Pompeii. their ferry crossing on the English Channel with a misbehaving poodle and an English gentleman who freely extolled his solutions to the public sanitation issues of the day. Osbert visited artists and art collections throughout Europe and was especially moved by the ruins of Pompeii. Mineral hunters, herdsmen and their cows, fellow travelers, and country folk populate the journal’s accounts. Joining a party of seven walkers on the way to Mer de Glace in the French Alps, Osbert could not keep up with their conversations in French and German.

They discovered Spanish to be “a familiar tongue … to communicate freely,” a nod to Osbert’s long painting career in Cuba.

Walking in the mountains near Chamonix, France, during the second week of August, Osbert stopped for a rest. He observed: “How beautiful and yet how grand, approaching the sublime, is the scene around me.” Without warning, natural events interrupted the respite. “[W]hat is that rumbling like thunder in a cloudless sky? … [M]y sight caught the first crackling and breaking away of those immense blocks of ice snow, as a Grand avalanche fell over the rocky precipice, and rolled down over. … It made an impression of its power which cannot be conveyed by words. … Though lucky to have an opportunity to see one so advantageously, still I must confess distance lends enchantment to the view.”

A year after Osbert returned to America, the first souvenir picture postcards for travelers were produced in Europe. As a storyteller, artist, and art connoisseur, Osbert collected and crafted his own impressions of Europe.

Like the souvenirs that soon followed, Osbert’s images — and Sommer’s landscape — helped to bring enchanted views of distant lands to family and friends. © Karen Parsons is archivist and teaches history.

ALUMNI NEWS | EDITED BY JAMES S. RUGEN ’70

1935

Arthur Schoenfuss reports that he continues to enjoy retirement in Florida.

1938

A new book by George P. Shultz, Issues on My Mind: Strategies for the Future, has just been published. From the inside flap: “We live in an age of seismic changes affecting every part of the globe. It is an age that calls for renewed efforts to understand these changes and to re-create a global economic

and security commons. The United States must regain the capability and willingness to take the lead in this effort, honoring the legacy of our Founding Fathers and ensuring the future strength and security of our nation. Issues on My Mind contains some of George Shultz’s most compelling analyses on the topics of governance, the economy, energy, drugs, diplomacy, and nuclear security. In this how-to guide, Shultz charts a path to a better future for the United States and the rest of the world.

He offers his views on how we

Chaffee

BOOK CLUB

can repair the essential process of governance. He explains how to put our fiscal house in order so that we can once again enjoy a vibrant economy. He discusses new ways to handle the problems associated with addictive drugs. He identifies proven ideas for effective diplomacy and reveals how we can get better control of nuclear weapons and take the necessary steps to achieve their eventual elimination. Ultimately, says Shultz, the reemergence of the United States as a strong, respected player on the world scene is the

key to a more secure world. Now is the time to take a leading role in the creation of a new global and security commons that will benefit the United States and countries around the world.

The need is clear, the path is well marked, and the stakes are monumental. We must maintain a sense of urgency as we take the bold actions required to secure our future.” The book includes a foreword by Henry Kissinger. George is the Thomas W. and Susan B. Ford Distinguished Fellow at the Hoover Institution.

[

SAVE THE DATE: October 2, 2013 BOOK : Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power

by Jon Meacham DISCUSSION LEADER: Sheila Culbert, Head of School

Front: Evelyn Smith ’50, Miriam “Mims” Butterworth ’38, Joan Tilton Kenney ’45, Kate Butterworth DeValdez ’67. Back: Priscilla Ransom Marks ’66, Katie Cox Reynolds ’45, Anne Schneider McNulty ’72, science teachers and discussion leaders Alice Baxter and Ewen Ross, Sally Hoskins O’Brien ’55. Missing from photo: Florence Ransom Schroeter ‘71

S

CIENCE teachers Alice Baxter and Ewen Ross provided spring book club attendees with a guided tour through the solar system with Mike Brown’s How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming as the discussion backdrop. Brown’s memoir, which tackles the topic of Pluto’s demotion from the eight-planet solar system, navigates this debate in an easy-going, light-hearted tone, juxtapositioning the scientific discussion with amusing commentary about his marriage, new baby, and fatherhood. Alice and Ewen similarly balanced the conversation over dinner, dessert, and the book discussion for an enjoyable evening for all.

loomischaffee.org | 47

1941

John Metcalf Taylor Society

“… desiring to make a record of our united sentiments for ourselves and all who in the future may be interested in the story of the love and tenderness we bear to each other, … [we] pledge ourselves to … remain true and signally faithful to the Loomis Institute … so that nothing short of death shall divert us from our purpose of mutual support; hoping and trusting that some good may come to posterity from the harvest, poor though it may be, of our lives.”

— Hezekiah Loomis, circa 1877

For more information about how you can join Hezekiah, his Loomis siblings, and the 582 members of the John Metcalf Taylor Society who help to perpetuate the excellence of Loomis Chaffee through their commitments of planned gifts, please contact Tim Struthers ’85, director of development, at 860.687.6221 or tim_struthers@ loomis.org.

48 |

Classmates and friends extend their condolences to Clayton Ryder II upon the passing of his wife, Joan Maureen Coffey Ryder, September 25, 2012. A Cornell graduate, Joan was active in many charitable pursuits: the Candy Stripers during World War II, the Junior League in Boston, the Milwaukee Achievers, the Milwaukee District Attorney’s Office assisting battered women, St. Coletta Day School, and other organizations in the Greater Milwaukee area. Her first position after Cornell was handling special testing for all job applicants at Oldsmobile’s new Rocket 88 engine plant in Michigan. Besides Clayt, Joan leaves six children, eight grandchildren, a sister, a sister-in-law, and many nieces and nephews. Proud of her Irish heritage, Joan is remembered for her sharp mind, sense of humor, love of books and music, passion for politics, and her strong belief that “It takes a village.”

1942

From Douglas F. Dorchester: “My wife is a genealogist and I am her editor. We have published five genealogies and are completing our sixth and final book this year.

It is on the Freese family in New England and has Loomis connections. I am Douglas Freese Dorchester, and my cousin C. Gates Freese Jr. ’43 (deceased) attended Loomis a year behind me. The family came from Friesland (near Denmark and the Netherlands), and they were merchants and shipbuilders, constructing many of the Viking ships. They also raised the famous jet-black Friesian horses, still in use in America and over the world. Some fun!”

1943

“Hard to believe that I have been out of Chaffee 70 years!” writes Marilyn Griffin Lombardo. “I keep in touch with Dot Schoenfuss Howell via letters — would love to hear how my other classmates are doing. My husband, John, and I celebrated our 60th wedding anniversary (September 6) at Cape Cod when our whole family was there last August — three sons and wives

and six grandchildren. We are still going to Florida December to May. Doing okay health-wise; bones ache and move slowly, but mind is clear.”

1944

“Still working full time in the stock brokerage business,” writes John A. Peterson Jr. “If any classmates are down in the Naples, Fla., area, please give me a buzz.”

A new book by Alan Rabinowitz, Middle Way: Freedom & Progressive Social Change Since World War II, can be downloaded in PDF format at www.quansoopress.com or ordered online or from bookstores. Alan writes: “Middle way provides us with our civil rights, our civil liberties, and an economy that is a happy mixture of capitalism and socialism. Our uniquely workable middle way for the U.S.A. (and for the postcolonial world) developed out of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal and his Four Freedoms doctrine. It has evolved over my lifetime in the seven tumultuous decades since World War II began and now provides the basic framework of our politics and our economy. Middle way is actually what we envisage for our own nation and for the rest of the world’s peoples, and we are happy to note that America clearly rejected right-wing extremism in the presidential election of 2012. Right-wingers and fanatics, here and abroad, oppose most of the elements of our middle way, devoted as it is to freedom, fairness and social justice.”

1945

Gordon W. Thomas recently completed a cruise: “Crossing the Atlantic with visits in the western Mediterranean to Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, and Tunisia. Sailed with two daughters, celebrated 60th wedding anniversary and two birthdays, and had a great time, but at age 85 traveling is tougher these days.”

1947

Joyce Cooksey McCallum, beloved wife of Dean Ames McCallum, died March 18 after a long course of Alzheimer’s disease. A native of Oklahoma, Joyce spent early years

’50 ’79 ’80

’83 ’86

’13

Members of the Covello and Schneider families gather in Soprabalzano, Italy, July 2012: Tim Covello ’80, Nancy Covello Murray ’83, Klaus Schneider ’79, Dorothea SchneiderHoffman ’86, Alfred V. “Tim” Covello ’50, Helena Murray ’13, Hildegard Schneider Mohren ’81, and rising junior Matthew Covello.

on the family ranch and learned to train horses and herd cattle; she was a lifelong lover of dogs.

In addition to raising her family, she worked as a school teacher, ran her own nursery school out of her home, and volunteered in a school office, at a hospital, and as a Sunday School teacher.

Joyce is survived by Dean, son Michael McCallum, daughter Elise McCallum, and four grandchildren. The condolences of the school community are extended to Dean and his family.

1948

From Patricia Beach Thompson: “Calvin and I sold our farm in Millerton, N.Y., in December 2012. This had been the center of family gatherings and celebrations for 25 years. I miss the beauty, the peace, the stars at night, the fresh air, the freedom to frolic; but it was time for a change.”

1949

Simeon B. Dunlap-Smith writes: “I often look over from my car as my wife, Sharon, and I travel from our apartment in New York City to our farm in Massachusetts and hope to see Loomis. But alas, no one I knew then is there now. My best to all.”

1950

“In May, Bill and I will cruise from the north of Finland along the fjords of Norway down to Oslo,” reports Penny Beach Chittenden. “That will be a big contrast to our week in the Dominican Republic. I am busy as patriotic service chairman for the National Society of the Colonial Dames. Good news this year is that our grandson Tyler Barhydt ’08 has his commission for Navy D.C.S. starting in May. I’ve had two solo art shows this year and keep on painting.

That is easier than mastering my computer and iPad.”

1951

John F. Foster has been nominated by his bridge club for the American Bridge Teacher Association’s Teacher of the Year award. John writes: “I’m not holding my breath, but it’s very gratifying to be considered.”

1952

“Enjoying life,” reports Stephen M. Solomon. “I live in Boynton Beach, Fla., November to May and in the mountains outside Brevard, N.C. Play golf six days a week and have been shooting my age occasionally over the last five years.”

LLING CA AL S AV E L

T H P E L I CA N S E DA TE!

Homecoming

October 12, 2013

Come home and show your school spirit as we cheer on the Pelicans. Join alumni, faculty, parents, and students for a pre-game BBQ lunch on the Quad.

Root for the fall athletics teams as Loomis Chaffee takes on the following opponents at home: Varsity Soccer JV Soccer III Soccer Varsity Soccer JV Soccer III Soccer JV Field Hockey III Field Hockey Varsity Football

Girls vs. Deerfield Academy Girls vs. Deerfield Academy Girls vs. Deerfield Academy Boys vs. Williston Northampton School Boys vs. Williston Northampton School Boys vs. Northfield Mt. Hermon Girls vs. Deerfield Academy Girls vs. Deerfield Academy Boys vs. Deerfield Academy

Check the athletics web page at www.loomischaffee.org for times and away games.

loomischaffee.org | 49

Pick a Pelican

D

o you love Loomis Chaffee and know someone else who will too? We are always inter-

ested in learning about students who can become future Pelicans. It takes just a few minutes to fill out the online nomination form and help us “pick a Pelican.”

Visit www.loomischaffee.org/pickapelican

1953

Gloria Barnes Harper writes: “After Garter Day at Windsor Castle in June 2012 and visiting friends in London, Stockholm, Oslo, and Copenhagen — which was a lot of moving — this year we are signed for a cruise from Barcelona to Dubai. Hope we have peace. My husband and I go to Tobago for nine weeks January to March to escape winter; 2013 was our 18th year.

I’m forever grateful for the education I received at Chaffee.”

Yona Donner Hermann writes that her granddaughter Ally, 15, swims for Carmel High School and granddaughter Alexis, 15, rides horseback “just like her mother,” Sarah Hermann Russell ’82.

1954

Lew Knickerbocker’s third novel, Jockey on a Crocodile — A Memoir, Almost, was published last November. Midwest Book Review called it “irreverent, off the wall … (a) wild adventure.”

The San Francisco Literary Review dubbed the novel “a collection of snippets … alternately sad, historically interesting, and always engaging.” Lew reports that he fictionalized some of his experiences at Loomis for the book.

1955

“Carolyn and I visited JoAnne and Jim Kelley in Kansas City last fall,” writes Georges Peter.

Among the highlights of seeing one of my best friends, Jim took me to a wonderful World War I museum. Bob Keller, who also lives in the Boston area and is a college classmate, and I have lunch every several months.

50 |

Bob is active in a number of activities and shares my interest in Harvard athletics.”

1956

“I remarried on March 27 to Warren Kimball,” reports Sally Sullivan Kimball. “He is a retired Rutgers University history professor. We are very happy.”

1957

Rosalie Savitt Asher writes: “Grandson Ben graduated in May from the University of Michigan with honors in computer science.”

1958

From Marcia Goodale MacDonald: “Having just returned from our ‘sweet 55th’ Reunion, I am filled with a renewed sense of what an impact Chaffee had on my life. How great it was to catch up with 20 forever friends and spend some quality time together. What a terrific job the school did, and our class was thrilled to receive the award for the highest percentage of attendees!”

1959

“This has been a big year! 50th wedding anniversary — 50th college reunion!” reports Debbie Savitt First. “Yes, I married Bob after my junior year and graduated from Wheaton with a B.A. and Mrs.! Continuing working in public relations and enjoying golf and [cross country] skiing and most of all love our seven grands and helping Rich [First] ’86 with PR for his POMG Bike Tours of Vermont company.”

’61 ’65

The sixth novel by Ward Jones ’61, The Way Up, has recently been published.

The novel “reveals an almost microscopic intimacy of the life of a salesman, and as minutely, what it’s like to be an associate of a law firm. The hours of work, the personal sacrifices, the pressure of showing your worth, day after day, have rarely in a novel been shown with this kind of clarity and honesty.” (PR News Channel) Alex Zautra ’65 teaches intently and up close in Uganda.

1960

Robert G. Kaiser’s new book, Act of Congress: How America’s Essential Institution Works, and How It Doesn’t, has received a great deal of publicity and excellent reviews. Bob was interviewed about the book by Judy Woodruff on the PBS NewsHour on May 27.

Barry O’Neal reports: “A good year so far. Many good concerts (heard the Boston Symphony twice last week) and a busy, satisfying Holy Week singing and reading at St. Michael’s Church. Sad news: I had to put my beloved cat to sleep. Tigger was 16! Both of my kids are fine and gainfully employed.”

1962

Barbara J. Brown writes: “I enjoyed the 50th Reunion. I’m retired in Rushland, Pa., but still doing seasonal tax work. Last fall, I did a week-long cruise up the Columbia and Snake rivers starting from Portland, Ore.” From David Cane: “This has been a happy and fulfilling year for all our family. I am completing my 40th year on the faculty at Brown University, where I teach chemistry and biochemistry and where my research group studies the biological formation of naturally occurring organic substances, from antibiotics to vitamins to the

compounds that are responsible for the characteristic smell of the earth. In April I received the Alfred Bader Award of the American Chemical Society for research on the interface of chemistry and biology and was also elected as a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. My wife, Suzanne Sherwood Cane ’64, and her colleague Janet Chapple, have just published Yellowstone, Land of Wonders: Promenade in North America’s National Park.

(See Suzanne’s newsnote). Our daughter Rachel, who received her doctorate in anthropology from Berkeley last year for studies of Mayan archaeology, graduated at the end of May with an M.D. from the University of Chicago Medical School and begins her residency in pediatrics at the University of Chicago Hospitals this summer.

She and her husband, Josh, have two children, Micah, nearing 6, and Tayvah, 1, both of whom are our continuous delight. Our son Eli lives in Brooklyn, where for the last four years he has been producing films with his independent company, Normal Life Pictures. Their most recent film, Land Rush, which focuses on agricultural land use in Africa and has been screened in more than 70 countries by the BBC and PBS as part of the eight-part Why Poverty series, has been recognized by

a prestigious George Foster Peabody Award. Eli’s fiancée, Rachel Kaadzi Ghansah, is a writer who recently published an already widely-cited essay in the Los Angeles Review of Books entitled “When the Lights Shut Off: Kendrick Lamar and the Decline of the Black Blues Narrative.”

Cynthia Knox writes that she is still in private practice as a marriage and family therapist.

“Looking forward to less work, more play by 2014. Traveling with husband, Bill, and riding my already-retired Arabian endurance horses in dressage. Really enjoyed our 50th Reunion.”

David Wilbern is the author of the recently-published book The American Popular Novel After World War II: A Study of 25 Best Sellers, 1947–2000 (McFarland, 2013).

1964

Robert Anderson writes: “We’ve recently moved from Connecticut to South Dartmouth, Mass. Looking forward to moving into a new, though downsized, studio as part of our renovation. Enjoying grandfatherhood and a more rural life on the Massachusetts south coast.”

From the University of Denver website: “Founders of Lacrosse, 1961–68 — Charles W. Dean and

Harry C. Beaver III will take their rightful place in Denver athletics history as co-founders of the men’s lacrosse program at the University of Denver over 40 years ago. Together the duo brought the sport of lacrosse to the intramural fields and helped develop it into a recognized club sport, only to hope it would evolve into what it is today, a nationally renowned Division I program. … Known to his close friends, Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity brothers and teammates as ‘Beav,’ Harry Beaver III was a driving force in gaining recognition for lacrosse as both a club and varsity sport.

Serving as co-captain during the 1966 and 1967 seasons, Beaver served the team off the field as much as he did on the field. To insure that the team was properly equipped, like Dean, Beaver continued to raise funds, procure equipment and uniforms, and even had helmet paint sessions in the basement of the SAE house. Likewise, he organized game schedules, coordinated with ground crews to get the field lined and ready for games, contracted officials, and even made sure that his teammates had oranges on the sidelines on game day. In the team’s three seasons as a recognized club sport, Beaver helped lead DU to a 17-11-1 overall record.

In 1968, DU went 8-1-1, with the Pioneers’ only loss coming in loomischaffee.org | 51

REUNION 2013: CHAFFEE CLASS OF 1963 – 50TH REUNION

Front: Ginger Pratt Root, Carol Toppin Walsh, Margot van Otterloo Bruijning, Linda Leonard Fowler, Barbara Hartman Berner, Lucy Beach McCord, Ann Montgomery Sessions, and Sara Maher Atherton. Back: Nancy Flasch Twist, Marianne Bracken O'Neil, Nancy Hooker Seymour, Mary Ann Newfield-Bowser, Margie Hoke Riddle, Kathryn Wardner Oakes, Sue Haas Bralove, Pat Hickcox, Ann Hayden Hamilton, Wendy Wolcott, Gene Armstrong, and Susie Park Weissman. Photo: Wayne Dombkowski

lunch at the Bishop Museum in Honolulu in December 2012.

We coincided when Jinnet returned from the Peace Corps in Tonga (two years); Tonia was in residence, and I was vacationing. Great to catch up. Back in Anchorage, I noticed the name Raissa D’Antonio in the paper, called to ask if she is related to former faculty member Bill D’Antonio (and wife Lorraine).

Yes! Bill and Lorraine are retired from Notre Dame and live in Storrs, Conn. Raissa did not live at Loomis, as she was born in Illinois.”

Eugene Saenger writes: “Huge Lake Michigan storm last September — both boats damaged.

The ’46 Chris Craft sank! Good news: Both will be in tip-top shape this summer — just like me!”

1965

REUNION 2013: LOOMIS CLASS OF 1963 – 50TH REUNION

Front: Ted Noyes, Peter Doherty, Fred vonPechmann, Bill Brandt, Peter Bingenheimer, Frederick Allstetter, Stephen Roos, Rob Cosel, Spencer Hays, Steve Hunter, Stephen Dahl, and Scarborough Smith. Back: Steve Neubert, Mark Glass, Jonathan Pond, Dexter Bullard, Jay Boak, Miles Mulcahy, Bob Lehrer, Gerry Katz, Tom Engel, Peter Pond, W. John Boscardin, Gardner Gillespie, Mitch Vigeveno, John Watts, Pete Jones, Bob Hancock, Ken Peterson, and Barret Bassick. Photo: Wayne Dombkowski

overtime to Stanford. Beaver, a 1968 graduate, also played on the first Denver Alumni team at the Vail Shootout in 1997. Denver lacrosse began as a dream to many, but under the twosome’s leadership, their vision became a reality.”

Suzanne Sherwood Cane and her colleague, Janet Chapple, have just published Yellowstone, Land of Wonders: Promenade in North America’s National Park (University of Nebraska Press, 2013), the first English translation and annotation of a 19th century French language account written by a Belgian traveler, Jules Leclercq, of 52 |

his 10-day visit on horseback in 1883 to the then-still new Yellowstone National Park, describing for the first time for a European audience the wonders of the geysers, waterfalls, lake, and canyons of the world’s first national park. Leclercq’s account has been called a “literary Ansel Adams” by Peter Schulman, translator, author, and professor at Old Dominion University. Although a sensation in Europe, Leclercq’s book was never published in English until now. Suzanne writes: “I give grateful thanks for my ability in French to my Chaffee teachers, especially Anne Sbarge.”

From Don Hooper: “I had supper in Boston with Bogs (Ronald Bogdasarian) recently. He was attending a medical conference and looks as fit, smart, and thoughtful as ever. I continue to work for The National Wildlife Federation, trying to save the planet from ourselves; I guess I’ll always have a job! Our Vermont Creamery Goat Cheese, after 30 years, is pretty edible. Ask for it at Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s … See you at our 50th in 2014. Come visit us in Vermont.”

Susan G. Rogers writes: “Enjoyed a ‘reunion’ with Jinnet Fowles ’65 and Tonia Fasi over

Haynes Johnson keeps busy building trails, canoe and kayak access points, and other projects on public lands in the North Georgia mountains.

Alex Zautra and his wife, Eva, recently returned from a two-week trip to Uganda as part of their philanthropic work to develop, test, and distribute online programs in social intelligence. Their first major challenge was that Ugandan students, even those in universities, do not have Internet access. Classrooms lack laptops and projectors, and there are no media centers. Alex writes: “What was going to be a display of online learning turned into a ‘brought-to-you-live’ production with us holding forth.”

The program attracted an enthusiastic following among students and a strong interest

’70

by administrators at Kampala International University. The university’s plan is to develop social intelligence programs in clubs and youth groups across the country. Eva and Alex are monitoring these developments closely, solving the first challenge by making an app that students can download onto their cell phones. A second challenge is tailoring the program to fit the cultural mores of the country. Alex writes: “Uganda is a country of many tribes, each with its own language and customs. [Social intelligence] in Uganda means valuing those from different tribes with equanimity.” The third challenge is that Alex and Eva are establishing a nonprofit foundation with the hope of attracting donations from individuals and organizations wishing to support social intelligence efforts in Uganda and elsewhere. To learn more, go to www.socialintelligenceinstitute.org.

1968

David Standish writes: “I received a delightful phone call from a great Mason first floor classmate, Wilder Gleason. It was loads of fun catching up on old stories and old friends.

I will miss the 45th Reunion, but please let me offer a warm hello to all those who attend and to those who do not. Also, a special thank you goes to the hardworking Reunion Committee members William Watts, Stewart Brownlee, Gerry Cohen, Wilder Gleason, Lanning Melville, David Powsner, and Robert Shea. I miss you guys.”

’77

David Margolick ’70 and Ed Cymerys ’70 enjoy a reunion in San Francisco.

Ed writes: “I had the good fortune of attending a reading by David of his new book, Dreadful: The Short Life and Gay Times of John Horne Burns. David was promoting his book about the former Loomis teacher. It is steeped in Loomis history, which made my reconnection with David all the more timely. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the book — as well as all the memories that it brought back. Congratulations to David on a finely written and incredibly well-researched book.”

Noted conductor Gustavo Dudamel and musical collaborator Marika Kuzma ’77 share a moment of joy after a rehearsal.

“He is as wonderful a human being and musician as all the hype,” Marika writes.

1969

R. Kevin O’Malley is the author of The Difference in the Game. Description: Jessica Jamison is 13, and she is having trouble being the only “co” in the Rustic Canyon coed basketball league. Her newfound friend, Shanika Bolt, is 26. And she is having a little trouble making her new team, too: the Los Angeles Lakers. Available on iTunes.

“The Class of 1969 Alumni Committee members are looking forward to our 45th Reunion next year,” writes Tom Shea. “We hope to see every one of our classmates return for a fun and rewarding weekend together.”

Tony Weil reports that he spent the last five years as a head county volunteer for Obama for America. He adds: “In Superstorm Sandy lost power for 10 days, so went to Reading, Pa., to organize. Retired in 2007 after growing Kelly Scientific Resources into world leader in scientific staffing.”

1970

Andy Cohn reports that life is good in Philadelphia. “Still practicing construction law and trying to spend more time at our vacation home in Quechee, Vt. I see Steve Engel regularly in New York City. The last Cohn nephew/niece, Ethan, started at Loomis this last year. He is rumored to be a better baseball

player than his father Bob ’76.”

From Charlie Darling: “I’m hard at work on the 100th monthly issue of The Andover Beacon, the non-profit, hyperlocal community newspaper I’ve run for the past nine years here in Andover, N.H. Working in the non-profit sector has been extremely gratifying, full of many new and interesting challenges … many! It was great to get a boost recently from classmate James Rugen and his LC team who walked me through the technical and fundraising logic of the school’s ‘I Gave’ button. Now that I understand it, I hope to put the idea to work for The Andover Beacon and AndoverBeacon.com. Looking forward to seeing classmates in 2015!”

1973

“Having lots of fun showing my Sheltie in dog agility trials across New England,” reports Connie Packard Kamedulski.

“I am still running Animal Fair Pet Shop in Ridgefield, Conn.

My older son, Brad, has moved to Los Angeles, and my younger son is a junior at Cornell. My husband, Greg, and I enjoy weekends at our beach house in Madison, Conn., and are thrilled that it survived two hurricanes in two years with no damage!”

John “Rubes” Rubinow has founded a baseball nonprofit called PBBC Under the Radar.

Its mission is to grant college

scholarships to deserving high school baseball players. The board of directors includes Tampa Bay Rays Manager Joe Maddon. To learn more, visit www.pbbcundertheradar.org.

1974

Christopher Coley writes that his son, Alex, 25, is a first-year student at University of California, Berkeley, School of Law and is an associate based in Tokyo for a San Francisco-based law firm this summer.

Sally Hellerman continues to work as director of medical services for Planned Parenthood of Southern New England.

1977

After a sabbatical year, Marika Kuzma returned to the University of California, Berkeley, last fall as the Virginia Lew Professor of Music and director of choirs. “It was like jumping into the frying pan,” she writes.

“First, an invitation to prepare my chamber chorus to perform Berg’s Wozzeck under Esa-Pekka Salonen with the Philharmonia Orchestra of London and a European cast of soloists both in Berkeley and then at Disney Hall in Los Angeles … and then an invitation to prepare my large chorus to perform pieces

by Villa-Lobos and the Venezuelan composer Antonio Estevez under Gustavo Dudamel with the Simon Bolivar Orchestra from Caracas (the ‘El Sistema’ orchestra). It was good to put loomischaffee.org | 53

’83

’81

Andrea Korzenik McCarren ’81, reporter and news anchor with WUSA (CBS, Washington, D.C.), was recently presented five more Emmy awards — for a total of 15! This past awards season, she also was presented the Edward R. Murrow Award for Hard News Reporting, the Associated Press Award for Best News Series, and the Society for Professional Journalists Headliner Award for Best Investigative Reporting.

Julie Clarke McManus ’83 thinks of Don Joffray and her Darwin Club buddies as she continues to engage in whitewater and river paddling, backpacking, and camping.

my Loomis-learned Spanish to use with the musicians and the stage crew. The UC Chamber Chorus has been invited to sing at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall next March alongside the Australian Voices and Indiana University Contemporary Vocal Ensemble.” A CD of Marika’s has just been released on the Naxos label: Dmitry Bortniansky: I cried out to the Lord. The CD, which Marika calls “a labor of love,” is a recording of Slavic sacred music that she made with some of her favorite singers from San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City, and Montréal — and a favorite sound engineer. Marika reports: “It’s traditional music but sung, I think, in a less traditional way with lots of attention to the meaning of the words instead of the usual lush wash of Slavic sound.”

1979

“After many years of working in health policy,” writes Jennifer Hincks Reynolds, “I’m taking a respite and working in the admissions office at The Ethel Walker School, where my daughter Abby is in the 12th grade and daughter Lila is in the 10th. My husband is Walker’s director of technology, so it’s all in the family. It’s fun to be back in the wonderful, all-encompassing life on a boarding school campus.”

1981

From Santina Smith Bolowich: “After 27 years in Chapel Hill, N.C., my family moved to Omaha, Neb., where my husband took the head coaching job 54 |

for men’s soccer at Creighton University. We’ve been here for two years and absolutely love it.

My son is a junior at Creighton.

My daughter has graduated from college and after being in the work force for two years is taking time off to globetrot and add to her résumé. She is currently in Asia. I have retired from real estate and have gone back to managing my husband’s soccer camps.”

Doug Brown was pleasantly delighted and surprised to see Ken Klapproth noted in a recent issue of IEEE Spectrum as the point officer of his engineering software firm dispatched to Minsk, Belarus, where he oversees software developers in his company there. The inevitable phone contact then revealed that Ken knows the whereabouts of Stan Saucier also, and Doug hopes his recently-filed Off Grid Power patent can reach a point of development enough to be attractive for all of these engineering minds to come together.

Doug also visited Ukraine not long ago and almost visited David Lawrence, who lives there with his family.

1983

“I recently started working in the early education field,” writes Julie Clarke McManus, “researching a model for teaching pre-kindergarten math. I’m also getting ready to send my son Drew, 17, off to college. We had a great visit with former faculty member Dom Failla as we passed through Windsor last summer.”

Sean co-founded St. James School with Audrey Evans, the noted retired chief of oncology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, a leading researcher in the field of pediatric cancers, and the inspiration for the first Ronald McDonald House. Both serve on the school’s Board of Directors. “Our school aims to find kids with the greatest need — not the kids who happen to look like the best prospects for success,” Sean says. “It has not been hard to identify kids with need in the school’s neighborhood, which has the highest murder rate of any neighborhood in Philadelphia. It costs us $22,000 per student a year to give our kids what they deserve; Jennifer Giron Bogan reports we ask their parents to contribthat she is busy with all that ute $250 a year if they are able. is involved in raising three The rest of the funding has to be children. She looks forward to raised by our board and our dereturning to the Island for the velopment staff.” The fortunate 30th Reunion. students enrolled at St. James School experience an educaThe Rev. Sean E. Mullen serves tional environment where their as rector of Saint Mark’s Church talents are nurtured, where they gain confidence and compe(Episcopal) in Center City, Philadelphia. In 2008, under his tence, where individual needs are met, and where expectaleadership, the church adopted tions for commitment, integrity, as a mission of the parish the and citizenship are high. The abandoned Church of St. James dedicated staff of head, teachers, the Less in the Allegheny West neighborhood of North Philadel- and volunteers help the students develop personal and commuphia — with the ultimate intent nity responsibility. Students of founding a school there. “After years of praying and meeting are evaluated not only on their academic progress but also on and talking,” Sean writes, “and after establishing an urban camp behavior and attitude. They are trained to become leaders and (City Camp) on the property, in expected to serve as examples 2011 we opened a tuition-free, for others. Previous to his independent middle school for service as rector of Saint Mark’s boys and girls from low income Church, Sean was the chaplain families — St. James School — which is now in its second year.” to the Most Rev. Dr. Peter CarnFrom Linda Huang Tolentino: “Our family moved from Winchester, Mass., after 20 years to Holly Springs, N.C., last July because of my husband’s job. It has been a bit of an adjustment, but we love it here: the open expanse, fields of cows, and slower Southern pace. Our oldest son, Alec, remains as a boarding junior at Phillips Andover. His younger brother, J.J., 13, is doing well and loving lax down here.

I had to close my acupuncture practice in Winchester and am now working with chiropractors and massage therapists in Durham.”

1984

1985

ley, Archbishop of Perth, Western Australia (1998–2002). He served as assistant rector of All Saints Church, Richmond, Va., for two years before that. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary (1989) and of the General Theological Seminary in New York (1996). For information about St. James School and supporting its mission, visit www.stjamesphila.org.

1986

“Our lives carry on!” writes Andy Mayo. “I am now department supervisor for music in West Hartford, and my wife, Silvia, is a principal in Middletown. My rock opera The Clowns was staged in January, and I’m working on a new one for tweens all summer. My kids are helping me record the demos!”

Jill Traverso Vogel was on the Island last fall with her daughter, who was on an admissions visit. Jill writes: “I told the tour guides a story of my freshman English paper, which Mr. Follansbee [Nat Follansbee, now associate head of school for external affairs] had graded C — ouch! As we finished the tour, who did I see strolling down the sidewalk toward us? Mr. Follansbee! Inside, sophomore Caleb Rudnicki greeted us, and I have been in touch with his father, Phil Rudnicki, through this process. Lynn Petrillo [director of communications & strategic marketing] came to say hello as well. While my daughter decided to stay closer to home for boarding school, my visit confirmed what I have felt in my heart all these years — that Loomis Chaffee is a wonderful, magical place. In

REUNION 2013: LOOMIS CHAFFEE CLASS OF 1988 — 25TH REUNION

Front: Elizabeth Mitchell Alexandra Cutting, Jenn Grieveson Searls, Steve Rosenstein, Lisa Pinney Hall, Katherine Williamson Day, Rebecca Clark Bennett, Susan Stagg, Rika Stevenson, Lisa Johnson Stevenson, and Marcus DeBaise. Second row: Christopher Cieplik, Heather Lundberg Kibbe, Leigh Todd Camard, Nonie Muse Shore, Andy Nagy-Benson, Heather Burall Heins, Jen Rhodes, Marc Peter , Emily Brown Coyne, Jen Hartley-Johnson, Erika Heim Abella, Vicki Seawright, and Dean Manning. Third row: Richard Woolfson, Michael Scott, Jeffrey Gandel, Bobby Wice, Steph Mason Bulkeley, Debbie Berland Kaster, Erin Glassman, Maureen Crombie Sanderson, Kathy Schickler Capone, Jennifer O'Connell de Viana, Julie Dragat, and Jamie Langmaid. Back: Keith Brown, Andy Grayson, Jay Bride, Paul Hogan, David Daley, Bill Gottlieb, Bradley Solmson, Jim Shea, and Hugh Redford.

Photo: Wayne Dombkowski

’84

this high school search, I have also heard from Trina Bazyk McHugh and spent a day at Hotchkiss with Rachael Scott Beare. My best to all past, present, and future LC family members!”

’86

’89

1987

Rolf Aalto enjoys his busy life and career as a British academic at the University of Exeter.

He reports: “I visited Loomis Chaffee recently with my daughter, as we’re thinking that an American prep school is the best possible education for ages 15–18.”

’91

Henry David Caron was born December 24, 2012, in Minneapolis, to Kimberlee Sinclair ’89 and Justin Caron.

Andrew Kurian reports: “After 16 years running my firm, I closed it and am now the CFO of a hedge fund in Westport, Conn.

The downside is my new boss is an Avon Old Farms grad.”

1988

From Carol Lynn Blackwelder: “After eight years in the corporate world, I’m much happier and fulfilled as a Montessori teacher at a local school here in Charlotte, N.C. My two young sons, Owen, 8, and Peter, 3, keep my husband and me busy.”

William Bissell ’84 and Jamie Parkinson ’86 enjoyed a visit at William’s home when Jamie was in Delhi, India, early in the spring.

Heather Cook ’91 and her husband, Jason, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Lucy Michelle Isenberg, June 18, in New York City.

1990

“After 13 years in government service as a prosecutor, I moved into the private sector doing civil litigation in New York City at Kagan Lubic Lepper,” reports Peter Kolp. “A new world for me. Maybe make some $ to bring Whalers back to Connecticut! Speak to Leo Bozzuto

often; he’s finishing up business school and looking forward to Lee Guzofski’s video game coming out.”

Hanne “Poppy” Thrush Murphy writes: “Still living in Larchmont, N.Y., with my husband, Sean, and four kids: Liam, 13; Luke, 11; Grace, 9; and Connor, 7. Love catching up with loomischaffee.org | 55

’96

’00

’97

Sabine Mañas ’96 visited the Island in the early spring, and she and retired Dean of Students Ruthanne Marchetti enjoyed catching up with each other. Ruthanne reports: “Sabine is thriving.”

Members of the wedding party Ethan Leight (brother of the bride), Ali Satvat and Farzad Moazed (cousins of the groom), Eleanor Boudreau (maid of honor), Giles LongleyCook ’00, Jeff Herzberger ’00, and Willie Leight (brother of the bride) pose with happy newlyweds Amir Satvat ’00 and Jessica Leight, April 13.

Stella Mae Mlynarczyk is bundled securely against the cold Catskill winter. She is the daughter of Alex ’97 and Sarah Keenan Mlynarczyk ’97.

33rd district, challenging the incumbent, Steve Levin. The Brooklyn district comprises Brooklyn Heights, Dumbo, Boerum Hill, Greenpoint, and Williamsburg. With 50 friends, community supporters, and a pair of representatives from the Satmar Hasidic community showing their support, Stephen announced his decision on the steps of Brooklyn Borough Hall. Critical of the incumbent, Stephen promises to be more responsive to the needs and concerns of all the constituents in the district.

1996

Eric Chang and Sarah Pickett were married April 13 in Stow, Mass. Eric writes: “Sarah and I have been together since 2010. Joining us on our happy day were Jon Demery, Karyn Groth Backus, Jonathan Gans, and Chris Morosky.”

Eric and Sarah live in Northborough, Mass.

1997

’98 Samuel Amadon ’98 recently completed his doctorate and was hired by the University of South Carolina, where he teaches in the master of fine arts program.

His second book of poems, The Hartford Book, was published last year and is on the short list for the Believer Poetry Book Award. Samuel’s poems have appeared in The New Yorker, American Poetry Review, Ploughshares, and other publications.

Spencer Lewis ’98 created the cover artwork for Samuel’s latest book as well as for his earlier collection, Like a Sea.

’97 Yelda Batur Kalkandelen ’97 and her husband, Erman, welcomed the birth of their son, Kaya Ethem Kalkandelen, February 19, in Istanbul, Turkey. “We are enjoying every minute of parenthood,” Yelda reports.

56 |

my old LC friends on Facebook.

Hope to see some of them in Long Island this summer.”

1994

In April, Stephen Pierson announced his candidacy for City Council in New York’s

1995

John Cannon serves as organist and choirmaster of St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, Estes Park, Colo. He has traveled throughout the country as a recitalist in numerous churches, including the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York City; the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels and the First Congregational Church, Los Angeles; and the National Cathedral, Washington, D.C. In the summer of 2009, he competed in the Luxembourg Organ Competition, Organs Without Borders.

Fiona Keeley Wortley was born March 9 in Boston to Meghan Hickey and Neil Wortley.

Sarah Keenan Mlynarczyk and Alex Mlynarczyk were married October 8, 2006. Standing with them were Lianne Lissauer Cisneros, Tamara Dickson, and Karsten Strauss.

Corinne Teed ’98 was in attendance. Alex and Sarah

’03

Luxury real estate broker Alex Kaplan ’03 flourishes in Florida.

welcomed their daughter, Stella Mae, November 17, 2012, and are excited that another baby is due in December. They live on a farm in the Catskills.

1998

Norell Hall Liddell lives with her husband and daughter Julianna. She reports that she enjoys motherhood and that she recently visited Kara Johnston Kharmah ’97 and Liz SalsedoSurovov.

Dan Marchetti was recently appointed head of school at The Grammar School, Putney, Vt. Founded in 1960, The Grammar School serves students from preschool age through grade 8. In his announcement of the appointment, Chairman of the Board of Trustees Peter Howe noted: “Dan is a person of great enthusiasm, intelligence, and vision. He has been at Hillside School in Marlborough, Mass., for the past nine years, most recently as assistant headmaster, and he and his wife, Courtney, are looking forward to establishing roots at TGS for their daughter Lila and her awaited sibling.”

Rob Southall helped coach the Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s men’s basketball team to a 22-1 season and a fifth national ranking among Division III schools this past season. In his

eighth season as a full-time assistant coach with head coach Chris Bartley, Rob has helped the Engineers accumulate a 150-41 record during his tenure, including five New England Men’s and Women’s Athletic Conference regular-season championships, five NCAA Division III tournament appearances, and an Eastern College Athletic Conference New England championship last season. A graduate of Springfield College, where he played basketball for two seasons and was a graduate assistant under coach Charlie Brock for two years, Rob was also the head JV basketball coach there. He received both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Springfield and then spent a season at Bates, assisting head coach Joe Reilly to the best season (19-8) in the college’s history. Rob has been at WPI since 2005.

2000

From Galen Bepler: “Loomis Chaffee was a wonderful place to be a kid and become an adult.

My brother Peter Bepler ’93 was back for his 15th Reunion and had a wonderful time. I’m in California now but hope to visit the Island in the future.”

Evan Gillespie and his wife, Julie, are happy to announce that they welcomed their first child, Henry, born November 13, 2012.

Amir Satvat and Jessica Leight were married April 13 in a ceremony at the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Mass., attended by more than 200 family members and friends.

Jeff Herzberger and Giles Longley-Cook served as

groomsmen. Hilary Burrall ’99 and Amir’s cousin Mina Owlia were in attendance. Jessica recently graduated from M.I.T. with a doctorate in economics.

A Rhodes Scholar and 2006 Yale University valedictorian, she is an assistant professor of economics at Williams. Amir holds a master’s of business administration in healthcare management from Wharton and a master’s of public administration in health policy from New York University. He received his bachelor’s degree in finance from Boston College and a master’s degree in biotechnology from the University of Pennsylvania. He works for the EMC Corporation as a principal in the go-to-market group, focusing on technology investment with partners in rapid growth markets. Amir and Jess live in Cambridge, Mass.

2001

Jack Knorps graduated in June from Brooklyn Law School with a certificate in business law. He writes: “Even though plenty of alumni are available for extensive networking and career opportunities, I was not given any help.”

Jason Kraus received his master of fine arts degree from the Art School at Columbia University. “I have a new baby, Sila Asher Kraus,” he adds.

2002

Emily Allen reports: “I had the opportunity to return to Loomis Chaffee on Memorial Day weekend. [Faculty member] Betsy Conger gave a wonderful tour of the building renovations that have taken place over the last few years. The campus

looks as beautiful as ever. I am thrilled to be starting my second summer directing Camp Stonewall, a sleep-away camp for kids 8–15; our assistant director is former Loomis Chaffee faculty member Nicole Tingle!

Small world! I live and work at Marianapolis Prep School in Thompson, Conn., with two cats, a spectacular boyfriend, and wonderful friends. When I’m not concentrating on camp, I work in advancement for the school. I also serve as a dorm parent and coach volleyball (and I hope softball again next spring!). I think of Loomis often and am still grateful for every minute of the experience.”

Lee Horn is back at Wharton finishing his first year in the master’s of business administration program.

“I am currently living in East Longmeadow, Mass.,” writes Kathryn Kogut. “I am getting married August 10 to Daniel Montagna. We have a beautiful daughter, 17 months old. I am working as a nurse practitioner at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, and Dan works as an attorney in Springfield.”

2003

Alex Kaplan writes: “I have been selling luxury real estate in Palm Beach County, Fla., for the past three years, specializing in golf/country club communities and waterfront properties. Alex formed Kaplan Realty Company and reports having done $10 million in transactions this year. “My extensive list of satisfied clients includes professional athletes, celebrities, CEOs, foreign and domestic investors, retirees, loomischaffee.org | 57

’04

Missy Pope ’04 and Benjamin Wolff were married May 18 at The First Church, Simsbury, Conn., with a reception at Hop Meadow Country Club. The newlyweds and members of the wedding party gather in this photo: Katherine Dunlop ’04, Michael Demirjian, Kathryn Virzi, Michael Migliorino, Kathryn Farley ’04, Michael Jackson, Beckie Pope Aderholz ’02, Maddy Aderholz, Emerson Aderholz, Benjamin Wolff, Missy Pope Wolff ’04, Christopher Wolff, Amy Wolff, Andrew Morley, Natalie Moutoussis, Megan Langman, and Tyler Aderholz.

Missy and Benj live in Farmington, Conn., with their two cats. Missy is social media manager at Loomis Chaffee.

’06

India Daley ’06 received her master’s of education degree from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education, May 13.

empty nesters, growing families, veterans, and young professionals. In the future I hope to continue to grow my business and become the best young broker in my market.” His website is www.leibowitzrealty.com/ alex-kaplan/.

2005

Sarah Wilson went from Pelican maroon to Harvard’s crimson and donned red, white, and blue for the United States, but the number 17 has been a constant throughout her 58 |

athletic career. A former field hockey, ice hockey, and softball player at Loomis and former ice hockey player at Harvard, Sarah was selected to represent the United States in the World Ball Hockey Championships held in Toronto June 3–9. Sarah relates: “To some, this sport is reminiscent of gym class in elementary school, where you dominated everyone during the week that they presented us with the plastic, bendable blade sticks and tried to teach the concept of passing. To others, it reminds us of playing in the street with the neighborhood kids. Since finding a good paying job is tough when your resume talks about poke checks, I was too poor to have a car or pay entrance fees into an ice hockey league the year after college. The only answer to my athletic longing was a sport that required tennis shoes and a stick. I joined a pick-up league around my apartment and quickly involved myself in the ball hockey world. The deeper my passion became, the more I played. The more I played, the

more I realized I had stumbled upon America’s best-kept secret.

I was only touching the surface of a sport that was deep in talent and young in establishment.

As I found more serious leagues, I was also introduced to the fact that the USA has a street hockey national team. I decided to try out and, after three tryouts, made the team. Ball hockey, street hockey, dek hockey — whatever term you choose to use, this sport is an awesome option after the college career has ended. … I have found an outlet for my hockey retirement that fulfills my competitiveness and keeps me as a functioning member of society.” The women’s world champion this year was Canada, with Slovakia as runner-up and the Czech Republic in third place.

2009

Following graduation from Amherst and having surmounted the series of highly-competitive pre-actuarial exams, Alex Butensky began his actuarial internship this summer at the Hartford Insurance Company.

Jesse Chapman won the BIG EAST decathlon on May 4 at the 2013 BIG EAST Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Piscataway, N.J. A junior at UConn, Jesse reached the top of the podium with 7,437 points, and he helped the Huskies to dominate the decathlon, with his teammates finishing second, fourth, fifth, and ninth. In the decathlon, each athlete competes in 10 different running, jumping, and throwing events.

Individuals earn points in each event based on their performances, and the decathletes’ overall scores determine final placing in the event. Jesse finished first in all of the throwing events — the shot put (15.29 meters), discus (44.62 meters), and javelin (60.37 meters).

He also placed second in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 15.03. At Loomis, Jesse was a standout thrower and hurdler on the track team. He attended Bates College for his freshman year then transferred to UConn.

He competes for the Huskies in the seven-event heptathlon in indoor track and in the

’04

Michael Stubbs ’04 and Kathleen Shea-Porter were married June 15 in Rye, N.H. They met at the University of Richmond. The occasion brought Nicole Meo ’04, Ray Carta ’04, the groom, David Nightingale ’04, the bride, Daniel Schachter ’04, Kathryn Griffin ’04, and Carolyn Carta ’06 together to share in the festivities. Also in attendance but not pictured: Steve Book ’69, Steve Nightingale ’69, Peter Knight ’85, Dan Griffin ’01, John Mitchell ’04, Julie Stubbs ’09, and rising senior Tate Knight.

decathlon during the outdoor season. Jesse was second in the BIG EAST decathlon in 2010–11 with 6,643 points and placed fourth in the event at the IC4A Championship that same year.

As a senior defenseman for the St. Lawrence University women’s ice hockey team, Brooke Fernandez was named a finalist for East Coast Athletic Conference Hockey’s 2013 Student-Athlete of the Year Award. The award recognizes a player who has matched on-ice contributions with those in the classroom.

Justine Johnson-Makuch plans to attend Fordham Law School in New York City this fall. She recently graduated from Northwestern University.

2010

Kate McCarthy is a standout lacrosse and soccer player at Boston College. (See newsnote for Sarah Byrne ’11 for more on Kate’s lacrosse season.)

Trinity College junior Abigail Ostrom was named to the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Softball All-Conference Second Team this spring.

Trinity finished the 2013 season with a 16-18 overall record and placed third in the NESCAC East with a 7-5 division record.

A catcher and utility player for the softball team this past season, Abby led the team in batting average (.391), hits (43), RBI (27, tied), and slugging percentage (.500). She scored 22 runs during the season, ranking her third on her team. Defensively, Abby had a .993 fielding percentage and caught 9 runners stealing (1st in NESCAC).

2011

Thomas T. Barry is excited to report that he will be studying global health and development policy in Geneva, Switzerland, for the fall 2013 semester and then studying West African culture, language, and development politics in Dakar, Sénégal, for the spring 2014 semester.

Dartmouth sophomore Sarah Byrne this spring became the second player in Big Green women’s lacrosse history to have consecutive games with at least four goals in the NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Tournament. The only other Dartmouth player to accomplish this feat was another LC alumna, Katieanne Christian ’01. After starting with four goals against Boston College in Dartmouth’s opening-round win, Sarah matched that output in the second round against Syracuse. In the game against Boston College, Sarah posted her career-high scoring effort and helped

carry her team to an 11-8 victory. Playing against Sarah in that game was former LC teammate Kate McCarthy ’10, who led the Eagles in ground balls and caused turnovers and was second on her team in draw controls. Kate earned second team Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association honors this season. In the second round of the tournament, when Dartmouth faced fourth-seeded Syracuse, Sarah and her teammates played another strong game, but the depth and strength of the Syracuse team proved to be too much for the Big Green, and Syracuse won the game 21-8.

Three former Pelican classmates and teammates played in the Final Four of the NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse Championship Tournament this spring. Cal Paduda suited up for the Orangemen of Syracuse, Chris Cook played for the Big Red Bears of Cornell, and Jack Rowe was a part of the Duke Blue Devils’ national championship squad.

Chris played against his former teammate Cal in the Syracuse–Cornell semifinal game. Syracuse won the semifinal, advancing the Orangemen to the national championship game against Duke, which the Blue Devils won 16–10.

The Williams College women’s tennis team tied an NCAA record with its sixth national title in a row, and former Pelican Maria Pylypiv helped get the Ephs there.

The Division III national championship tournament finals took place on May 22 in Kalamazoo, Mich. In the doubles matches, Maria and her partner, Kathleen Elkins, defeated Emory’s No. 2 pair 8-5, but the Ephs found themselves behind going into the singles matches. Maria again spurred on the Williams team at the No. 5 singles spot with a 6-0, 6-1 performance. Williams won the singles matches at No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4 to capture the title.

2012

Devin Markison was a member of the University of North Carolina lacrosse team that won the Division I national championship this spring. The Tar Heels played an undefeated Maryland team to a triple-overtime win in the championship game. Devin, loomischaffee.org | 59

Members of the Class of 2013 gather with their alumni parents and grandparents at Commencement Front row: Frederick “Fritz” Gleason ’35, James Gleason ’70, Alfred “Tim” Covello ’50, Helena Murray ’13, Nancy Covello Murray ’83, Claire Hard ’13, Suzanne Cohen Hard ’80, Caroline Landy ’13, Neil Landy ’76, and Sarah Horowitz ’13. Second row: Thatcher Gleason ’13, David Nightingale ’76, Robert Nightingale ’13, Helen Healey Rice ’83, Melissa “Rowan” Rice ’13, Claudia Lindsey ’73, Kate Fotos ’13, Patricia Macdonald, John Macdonald ’13, Payge Kerman ’13, David Sayles ’76, Nina Sayles ’13, Philip DeLaMater ’13, Edward “Ted” Storrs ’51, and Barry Horowitz ’77. On stairs: Elizabeth Richmond ’80, Harrison Richmond ’13, Aaron Chiu ’13, Jeffrey Yaker ’68, Polly Pearse Lavalley ’85, John Pearse ’58, Abigail Lavalley ’13, Sally Crowther Pearse ’58, Noah Blumenthal ’13, and Samuel Blumenthal ’47.

Photo: Highpoint

a freshman, was among the top 10 scorers for the Tar Heels this season, and she played in 18 out of the 21 games. At Loomis, Devin was a New England AllStar in 2010, 2011, and 2012 and amassed a 42-5 record.

2013

Wyatt French looks forward to attending Middlebury and playing on the squash team.

60 |

Please don’t forget to write!

Please email Alumni Newsnotes Editor James Rugen ’70 at james_ rugen@loomis.org with news to share with classmates and friends. Highresolution photographs are welcome; be sure to identify all people clearly.

Thank you!

JOIN THE CONVERSATION! Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram and join nearly 1,800 alumni on our private LinkedIn group. loomischaffee.org/mashup

IN MEMORIAM

Founders Hall circa 1916 Photo: Archives

1933

Russell Conwell Tuttle, surrounded by his children, on April 14, less than three weeks after the death of his beloved wife. Russ, who was named for his famous great-grandfather, Temple University Founder Russell Conwell, was a fouryear student from Windsor. He was involved with the Student Council and the Athletic Council. Russ was active with the tennis team, of which he was captain; the basketball team; and Allyn football. Following Loomis, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University and a master’s degree from Springfield College. Russ taught at the American University in Cairo, Egypt, until 1940, when the war forced him to return hastily to the United States. He registered as a conscientious objector and served for four-and-a-half years in various Civilian Public Service projects. He subsequently taught at Evansville College in Indiana and at Urbana-Cham-

paign. He joined the Religious Society of Friends in the early 1950s and served as director of overseas personnel for American Friends Service Committee for 24 years. He maintained a lifelong enthusiasm for tennis and singing and was a master of harmony with a wide repertoire. He managed a tuneful stanza of “Pistol Packin’ Mama” the day before he died.

Russ is survived by his four children, Lawrence, Carolyn, Stephen, and Richard; and his sister, Carol Tuttle Christian ’39. A memorial service was held at Foxdale Village in State College, Penn., on April 20.

her family and her unwavering Catholic faith. She was a lifelong parishioner of Saint Mary’s Church in Windsor Locks. She was a great cook and loved to share her table with friends and family. Mary was predeceased by her husband, Frank. She is survived by her children, Tom, Sarah, Bill, and Mary Ann; her grandchildren, Julia and Clare; and her sistersin-law, Bernice, Betty, and Mary Lou. A Mass of Christian Burial was held on February 27 at Saint Mary’s Church, followed by a burial at Saint Catherine Cemetery in Broad Brook, East Windsor.

Mary Elizabeth Little Luscinskas, on February 23.

Mary was a student at Chaffee from Windsor. She was voted “gentle, modest, little flower” by her classmates and faculty.

Following Chaffee, she earned her degree from Morse Business College before working as a secretary for C.H. Dexter.

Mary’s first priority was always

Robert Ross Reid, on June 21, surrounded by his family. Bob was a four-year student from Windsor. He was involved with the Student Council and Senior Committee. He was active with the second football team, Ludlow senior basketball, and second baseball. Following Loomis, Bob earned degrees from UConn and the Institute

1935

1936

of Accounting. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. Bob held several senior financial management positions with the Hartford Insurance Group in Chicago, Toronto, and Hartford before his retirement after 45 years of service. He was a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Avon, Conn., and formerly of the Aldersgate United Methodists Church in Wheaton, Ill., and of the Collinsville Congregational Church, in Canton, Conn., where he served in many capacities, including deacon, elder, and financial advisor. In addition to enjoying fishing, boating, and other outdoor activities, Bob loved cooking the men’s breakfast at the Collinsville Congregational Church. He loved traveling with his family to places such as Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. In retirement, Bob and his wife attended several Elder Hostel programs and traveled frequently. They were members of the Avon Seniors and regularly attended luncheons loomischaffee.org | 61

IN MEMORIAM

and programs. Bob was also a member of the Farmington Valley Men’s Club. He was predeceased by his sister, Barbara Bradley. Bob is survived by his wife of 54 years, Pat; his children, David Reid and Sandra Townsend; one granddaughter; one great grandson; three nephews; and several cousins.

A funeral was held on June 29 at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Avon. Burial was to be in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hartford.

Addison Beecher Colvin Whipple, on March 17, in Greenwich, Conn. Cal, as he was known, as a four-year student from Suffield. He was involved with the Glee, Debating, Tennis, and Rifle clubs, as well as Le Cercle Francais.

He was active with Wolcott senior football and basketball, on the Athletic Council, and as manager of the wrestling team. Following Loomis, Cal earned a bachelor’s degree from Yale and a master’s degree from Harvard. He joined Time Inc., where he would spend his entire career, in 1941 as an office boy before becoming a researcher, reporter, writer, and editor for Life magazine.

In 1943, as Life’s Pentagon correspondent, Cal succeeded in clearing for publication the first photograph of American soldiers killed in combat. Cal helped edit the memoirs of General Douglas MacArthur and Winston Churchill; he also worked closely with such authors as James Jones, Walter Lord, and Rachel Carson. He was editor of Life’s International Editions and executive editor of Time-Life Books. After his retirement in 1975, Cal wrote 62 |

books about naval warfare, whaling, and clipper ships for a Time-Life Books series titled The Seafarers. He also wrote the history Vintage Nantucket and Critters, which recounted his uneasy relationship with the raccoons, squirrels, and other fauna he encountered in Old Greenwich, Conn., his home for more than 50 years.

Cal taught the Harvard-Radcliffe Publishing Procedures Course and was a member of the editorial board of the Harper’s Dictionary of Contemporary English Usage. He served on the Historic District Commission in Greenwich, Conn. He was co-founder and president of the Time-Life Alumni Society, and he was corresponding secretary and secretary of his Yale Class of 1940. Cal’s hobby was maritime history, about which he wrote more than a dozen books on whaling, pirates, the Royal Navy, yachting, the Barbary War, and clipper ships.

His book on the clipper ship era, The Challenge, won Honorable Mention for the John Lyman Book Award. Cal was predeceased by his first wife, Jane Banks; his second wife, Sally Schilthuis Johnson; and his sisters, Frances Whipple Brigham ’39 and Elizabeth Whipple Jourdan ’48. He is survived by his daughter, Ann Whipple Marr; his son, Christopher Whipple; three grandchildren, Abigail, Melissa, and Samuel; four great-grandchildren, James, Lucy, Matthew, and Victoria; five step-children; 12 step-grandchildren; four step great-grandchildren; and his cousin, retired Loomis Chaffee Dean of Students Jane Mackay Howe ’49. The family

has asked that gifts in Cal’s memory may be made to The Loomis Chaffee School or to one’s favorite charity.

1938

W. Hawley Scott Jr., on April 17. Hawley was a two-year student from Syracuse, N.Y. He was involved with the Glee and Table Tennis clubs, Batchelder Dormitory Committee, and Senior Committee, and he was a cheerleader. Hawley was active with Wolcott club basketball, fall tennis, and the second tennis team. Following Loomis, Hawley earned a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He was a sales management consultant in the machine tool industry for many years. He was predeceased by his son, Henry. Hawley is survived by his wife of 70 years, Joan; his children, W. Hawley Scott III ’62 and Amy C. Scott; three grandchildren, Jennifer, Andrew, and Emily; and two great-grandchildren, Meghan and Connor. A private burial was to be held at the convenience of the family.

1940

David B. Baldwin, at the York Hospital in York, Maine, on December 20, 2012. David was a one-year student from Belmont, Mass. He was involved with the Student Council, Ludlow Club, Glee Club, and the Founders Committee. He was active with the first football team, first hockey team, and second tennis team. Following Loomis, David earned a bachelor’s degree from Harvard College, a master’s degree from Columbia University, and a doctorate from the Uni-

versity of Pennsylvania. During the war, David worked at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute as an underwater photographer, part of the wartime sonar research. He taught at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Northeastern University, Rutgers University, and Dean Junior College (as chairman of the English Department) before joining the faculty at Hartwick College in 1964, where he remained until his retirement in 1993. David also served as editor for Arthur D. Little Management Consultants. He was a member of the American Studies Association and the College English Association. His publications included contributions to a major reference work on Walt Whitman. He served on various committees at Hartwick and in the community, including the Catskill Choral Society, in which he sang bass; the Catskill Symphony Orchestra; the Center for Continuing Adult Learning; and the city of Oneota’s Board of Assessment Review. After his retirement, David took up oil painting.

David was predeceased by his wife, Ruth, and his son, David.

He is survived by his children Ben, Anita, and Liza; two brothers; one sister; and six grandsons. A funeral mass held on December 28, 2012, at St. Mary’s Church in Oneonta, N.Y. Burial followed in Glenwood Cemetery in Oneonta.

1941

Andrew M. Hume, peacefully, at Kindred Crossing West in New London, Conn., on March 27, following an extended illness. Andrew was a three-year student from the American

Marathi Mission, Wai, Satara District, India. He was involved with the Political Club and the Ground Committee, and he was active with Wolcott club baseball and soccer. Following Loomis, Andrew went on to Yale, where his schooling was interrupted by his service in World War II. He served the U.S. Army in Burma and China during World War II and was recalled to active duty in the Korean War. Following World War II, David returned to Yale to earn his bachelor’s degree.

He then earned a master’s degree from George Williams College and began his career at various YMCAs. He eventually settled in New London, Conn., where he worked as youth director for 30 years until his retirement in 1987. His family was his pride and joy, and he loved spending time with them. He looked forward to the daily crossword puzzle and Tuesday night’s “Evenings at the Opera” on the radio. He was a member of the Second Congregational Church in New London and served for many years as treasurer of the New London Area Food Coalition.

David is survived by his wife of 63 years, Dorothy; four children, Walter, David, Elizabeth, and Katherine; five grandchildren, Nicole, Christine, Rachel, Kendra, and Robert; three great grandchildren, Wade, Kacey, and Isabelle; a sister, Katherine; three nephews; and a niece. He was predeceased by another sister, Harriet. A memorial service was held on April 14, at the Second Congregational Church in New London.

1942

Taylor Wood Mead, on May 8, in Denver, while visiting family.

Taylor was a two-year student from Detroit, Mich. He was involved with the Darwin Club and the Entertainment Committee. He served as editor of The Loom and was a member of the cast in You Can’t Take It with You and Green Pastures.

Taylor was active with Ludlow club soccer, hockey, and tennis. Following Loomis, Taylor joined the Pasadena Playhouse in California before volunteering for World War II. He was said to be declared unfit for service because of a drooping eye, which would later become a hallmark of his numerous performances on the stage and screen. He returned to New York, where he briefly studied acting before moving back to Detroit to attend Wayne State University for a short time and then working for several months as a stockbroker-intraining. Taylor then hitchhiked around the country for more than a decade. Inspired by his experiences, he began jotting short poems and one-liners.

He aligned himself with Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, and other early leaders of the San Francisco Beat scene of the 1950s before settling in New York to eke out a living as a member of its thriving arts underground. Taylor was an instinctive and natural performer who became associated with the New American Cinema movement. His acting break came in 1959, when the experimental filmmaker Ron Rice cast him in The Flower Thief.

Called “the Charlie Chaplin of the 1960s underground,”

Taylor was an elfin figure with kewpie-doll eyes who appeared, by his count, in 130 films. He became one of Andy Warhol’s first superstars, appearing in films such as Tarzan and Jane Regained … Sort Of, Lonesome Cowboys, The Nude Restaurant, Couch, and Imitation of Christ.

He was also known for his work in Rice’s The Queen of Sheba Meets the Atom Man and Robert Downey Sr.’s Babo 73. Calling himself “a drifter in the arts,” Taylor also acted on stage, winning an Obie Award in 1963 for his performance in the Frank O’Hara play The General Returns From One Place to Another. He published poetry and three volumes of his journals, displayed his art in the 2006 Whitney Biennial, and read his poems weekly at Manhattan’s Bowery Poetry Club. More recently, he appeared in 2003 in Jim Jarmusch’s Coffee and Cigarettes, whose cast also included Bill Murray, Cate Blanchett, Tom Waits, and Iggy Pop. Taylor was predeceased by his brother H. Hudson Mead ’40.

1946

James Bruce MacWhinney Jr, on January 11, after a valiant struggle with Parkinson’s Disease. Jim was a two-year student from Short Hills, N.J. He served as vice president of the Student Council, president of the Senior Class, vice president of the Darwin Club, and chairman of the Dance Committee. He was involved with the Junto Committee and the Senior Entertainment Committee. James was a cast member of Princess Ida. He was active with first team football and first team hockey, for both of which he earned a varsity

letter, and with Wolcott senior baseball. At Commencement, Jim was recipient of the Evelyn Longman Batchelder Prize for Sportsmanship. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University and a medical degree from the University of Rochester Medical School.

He served his residency at the University of Rochester Medical School before practicing pediatrics for 38 years with Panorama Pediatrics in Rochester, N.Y. He was an “old-time doctor” who made house calls day and night and was known for being a good listener. For many years he was also medical director of the Mary Cariola Center in Rochester, N.Y., and St. Joseph’s Villa in Rochester, N.Y. Jim was an avid skier, backpacker, and outdoorsman who enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Nancy; three daughters, Bonnie, Kathryn, and Elizabeth; four grandchildren, Daniel, Shira, Marisa, and Riley; a sister, Barbara; a brother, Mike; and several nieces and nephews. A celebration of his life was held on April 20 at the First Unitarian Church in Rochester, N.Y.

1948

Niels Arthur Chew, peacefully in his home with his family by his side, on February 25. Niels attended Loomis from Scarsdale, N.Y. He was involved with the Darwin Club, Halloween Night Patrol, Ludlow Senior Debating, and the Grounds Committee. He was a laboratory attendant, station wagon chauffeur, and editor of the handbook. He was active with first team soccer, Ludlow soccer, and senior hockey. An loomischaffee.org | 63

IN MEMORIAM

honor roll student, Niels spent one year at Dartmouth before his restlessness and adventuresome spirit prompted him to join the Norwegian Merchant Marines, working on freighters in the North Atlantic. He then spent a year at Reed College in Portland, Ore. Niels then went to work with his father in the food export business in New York City. He worked and lived in New York until the business prompted him to move to California, where, in 1968, he ventured out on his own to purchase Miner Tool Company, the foundation of what became Dowling Miner Magnetics Corporation. A consummate philanthropist, Niels took an enormous amount of pleasure in making a difference, and he worked passionately to support numerous local charities and nonprofit organizations. His legacy lies in the greatness of his generosity, the depth of his kindness, and his unwavering commitment to volunteerism.

Niels was predeceased by his brother, Ralph. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Susan; four children, Gordon, Lisa, Jennifer, and Andrew; nine grandchildren, Nicholas, Tyler, Emily, Sterling, Spencer, Meryl, Shelby, Alexander, and Hannah; and his twin sister, Nancy. A memorial service was to be held at a later date.

1949

David L. Berman, on March 23. David was a three-year student from Hartford. He was involved with the Nautical, Classical Music, Sportsman, and Ping Pong clubs as well as with the Dining Hall and Founders committees. He was active with Ludlow senior football, 64 |

winter track, and first team track. Following Loomis, David earned a bachelor’s degree from Yale University, where he was a champion boxer. He served as an army social worker during the Korean War. David worked at many occupations during his 81 years, including as an insurance salesman, stock broker, writer, poet, book store owner, researcher, surveyor, and landscaper. He was a voracious reader and made almost daily trips to the West Hartford Public Library during the last 20 years of his life. He was also an outdoorsman, a woodworker, and an accomplished gardener.

David is survived by his sister, Nancy; his loving children, Daniel and Tamara; two grandchildren, Pascale and Isaac; and his oldest friend since fourth grade, Donald Cantor ’49. A private family ceremony was to be planned.

briefly by a foray to establish the Fort Collins National Bank in Fort Collins, Colo. He wholeheartedly embraced and lived a Western way of life. At his earliest opportunity, he bought the first of three ranches that he owned over a span of 30 years, thereby launching his first lifelong avocation as a rancher and cowboy. He enthusiastically and generously shared these ranching adventures with his family and friends. Don was predeceased by his wife, Marie; and his sister, Jean Robotham Sellin ’46. He is survived by his children, William W. Robotham ’77, Sarah C. Robotham ’77, and Douglas M. Robotham; a grandchild, Wilson; and a cousin, Louise McTague ’45.

Don’s body was to be cremated.

An interment was to be held at the Walnut Grove Cemetery in Meriden, Conn., at the convenience of his children.

Donald Wilson Robotham, peacefully at home, on April 7.

Don was a four-year student from West Hartford. He was involved with the Political, Glee, Jazz, Musical, Sportsman, Rifle, and Fizz clubs. He was a member of the World Student Federalists and a supervisor of the kitchen patrol. Don was active with Allyn senior football, winter track, and first track team.

Following Loomis, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Yale University. After enlisting in the Army in 1956, he chose a post in Denver. He built his career at the United Bank of Denver, where he eventually served as senior executive vice president.

His tenure at the United Bank of Denver lasted for almost three decades, interrupted only

Paul Wemple Brubacher, on October 16, 2012. Paul was a three-year student from Hamden. He was involved with the Political, French, and Glee clubs and served on the Senior Scholarship Committee and the staff of The LOG. Paul was active with first team tennis, for which he served as co-captain and earned three varsity letters; Wolcott soccer; and senior basketball. Following Loomis, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Yale University before enlisting in the U.S. Army, where he worked with the 3rd Missile Battalion on the Loring Air Force Base in northern Maine. He was honorably discharged in 1961. He earned a master’s degree and doctor-

1950

1955

ate in higher education from the University of Michigan.

He served as assistant dean of students at the University of Massachusetts and as dean of students at the University of Rhode Island before becoming vice president for student affairs at the University of Redlands in Redlands, Calif. In 1980, Paul left the university to become a financial representative for the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, where he worked until his retirement in 2011. Paul was part of the YMCA Board of Directors for 31 years and served as president in 1984. He also helped raise money for the nonprofit organization, earning the Junie Schultz Award for his leadership and service to the YMCA in 1995. He was a board member and chaired the fund development committees for the Redlands Community Music Association and the Redlands Community Hospital Board Foundation. Paul was an active sports enthusiast, taking home many tennis tittles as a singles and doubles player. He was president of the Redlands Racquet Club for a year and, after taking up golf in his later years, served as secretary for the Inland Empire Senior Golf Club. Paul also served on the Town and Gown Board for several years. He is survived by his wife, Elaine; three children, Sarah, Susan, and David; and four grandchildren, Elizabeth, Katherine, Max and Jack. A service was held on November 2, 2012, at Redlands Trinity Episcopal Church in Redlands, Calif.

Stephen Lester Margolis, at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, on February 16, 2012. Steve was a four-year student from West Hartford. He was involved with the Student Council, Glee Club, and Ground Committee, and he was president of the Athletic Council.

He was active with first team football, for which he earned three varsity letters and served as captain; first team wrestling; and first team track, for which he also earned a varsity letter and served as captain. He held the Loomis shot put record for several decades following his graduation. Following Loomis, Steve earned a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College, where he was a member of Psi Upsilon fraternity and was a member of the football team during his freshman and sophomore years and the track team all four years. He earned his master’s in business administration from Columbia Business School before working in sales and marketing at General Foods, Colgate Palmolive Company, and Chunky Chocolate Company. In 1970, he founded Stephen L. Margolis Company, a gourmet, health food, and candy brokerage company in White Plains, N.Y. A few years later, he took a partner, and the company became M&Y Sales Associates in Tarrytown, N.Y., where Steve represented such lines as Jelly Belly and Lindt Chocolate, among others, to the metropolitan New York market.

He retired from the company in 2007. Steve enjoyed salt-water fishing, returning to the Connecticut shoreline where he had spent summers growing up, traveling with his wife, reading spy and thriller novels, and

spending time with his three granddaughters. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Roberta; his daughters, Julie and Loren; and three granddaughters, Lily, Talia, and Mia.

1958

Boyd Paterno Brown Jr., at the Maine Veterans’ Home in Scarborough, on June 16.

Boyd was a four-year student from Cross River, N.Y. He was active with Loomiscellany and Northfield Regional Conference and served as manager of the Stagehands Union, co-chairman of the Key Society, chairman of Senior Supervisory Committee, and a cheerleader. He was active with first team rifle, in which he earned a varsity letter, and as coach of Ludlow junior baseball. Following Loomis, Boyd earned a bachelor’s degree from Yale University. He served in the U.S. Navy and had one tour of duty in Vietnam as an operations officer. He then served in the Navy Reserve as a lieutenant commander. In 1972, he relocated his family to Augusta, Maine, where he began a long career as a salesman. He worked for many years selling real estate in Maine and was a member of the Maine Board of Realtors. He then worked in computer technical support for Occupation Health Research in Skowhegan, Maine. An avid outdoorsman, Boyd loved to spend time at his camps on Millinocket Lake. He loved the outdoors, hunting, and fishing with friends and family, and he became a Registered Maine Guide. In 2001, he completed his first leg of a through-hike of the Appalachian Trail with his son, and he later returned to finish the final half in 2013 with

friends. Boyd was predeceased by his brother, Gary; and his half-brother, Keith. He is survived by his children, Beverly and Boyd III; and four grandchildren. A memorial service will be held later this summer in Millinocket.

1960

James Fryars Pilkington, on June 6. Jim was a four-year student from West Hartford. He was involved with the Key Society and the French, Classics, Modern Jazz, and Radio clubs.

He was on the Senior Elections and Senior Scholarship committees. Jim also served as business manager of Loomiscellany.

He was active with Allyn fall tennis, as manager of club basketball, as a basketball scorer, and as student coordinator of athletics, for which he earned a varsity letter. Following Loomis, Jim earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and his master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He completed coursework for a doctorate in French literature at the University of Virginia in Charlottsville. While pursuing his Ph.D., Jim taught in the classroom. He also taught at Denison University in Granville, Ohio, during an interval between his master’s degree and his doctoral work. Jim’s love of French and France continued throughout his life. He had an equal love for the classroom and intended to combine the two by making the teaching of French his career. With a lack of French teaching positions, however, his professional life took other directions. He worked for the May Company and the National Bank of Washington in Wash-

ington, D.C before moving on to the American Bankers Association and then to the National Council of Savings Institutions.

During that time, Jim taught during the evenings at the American Institute of Banking.

He also developed a love for the podium and created and spoke at hundreds of banking conferences and seminars. During his last two years in Washington, Jim volunteered as a teacher of English as a second language at the Adult Refugee Center of Arlington County, Virginia. At the age of 48, Jim quit his job, sold his house, put his furniture in storage, and moved to France for a much-needed break from work. He lived in Paris and on the French Riviera near St. Tropez for seven months, during which time he traveled extensively in France, Italy, and Spain. Jim returned to the United States as community affairs officer at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), first in Washington, D.C., and then in Atlanta. During his 14 years with the FDIC, until his retirement in 2004, Jim encouraged banks to meet the credit needs of underserved communities, promoted regulations and programs that protected consumers, and worked with banks, governments, and community-based organizations on community development initiatives. Jim also served as a subject matter expert at industry conferences and meetings. During his retirement, Jim continued to travel to France and to numerous other countries. Jim is survived by his partner, Benjamin Klopfenstein.

A memorial service was held on June 29 at All Saints Episcopal Church in Atlanta, Ga. Interloomischaffee.org | 65

IN MEMORIAM

ment followed immediately at the All Saints’ cemetery.

1963

Donna Dianne DeCourcy Conlin, peacefully at home on February 25, with her loving husband of 45 years and their daughter by her side. Donna was a three-year student from West Hartford. She was involved as secretary-treasurer of Chaffers and as a cast member of The Princess Marries the Page and House Divided. She was active with field hockey. Following Chaffee, Donna earned a bachelor’s degree from The University of Maine at Orono and a master’s degree from Boston University. She began her career as a special education teacher in the Bedford, Mass., Public Schools. After a brief stint as a sailmaker, Donna spent 35 years in human resources for technology companies, including Software Arts, Digital Equipment Corporation, and most recently as global director of organizational development and coaching at Bose Corporation. In this role, she traveled around the world building the Bose organization and providing executive coaching. Donna had an uncommon amount of energy, which she applied to rhythmic dance classes, and exhausted her family on vacations.

She also enjoyed gardening, knitting, and sailing with her family. Donna is survived by her husband, Jim; and her daughter, Anne. A memorial service was held on March 1, at the Wellesley Hills Congregational Church in Wellesley, Mass.

66 |

Kris Richard Nielsen, on February 16, after a long battle with cancer, at his home, with his wife by his side. Kris was a two-year student from Mollywood, Md. He was involved with the Darwin Club, as a prefect, and as head laboratory assistant. Kris was active with Allyn senior football; Allyn senior baseball, for which he served as captain; and varsity rifle. An honor roll student for both years at Loomis, Kris graduated with distinction and went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from Princeton University, his law degree from George Washington University Law School, and his doctorate from Kochi University of Technology in Japan. With a never-ending thirst for knowledge, Kris was, at the time of his death, in the process of earning his certificate in dispute resolution from the Straus Institute of Dispute Resolution at the Pepperdine University School of Law. Kris was a principal owner of many businesses in his career, all based on his extensive knowledge of construction. Kris wrote two books during his career, his first published in both English and Japanese regarding the Japanese construction industry, and the second a book on managing large construction projects that is now used as a textbook in college courses. He received the American Society of Civil Engineers Outstanding Projects and Leaders Award in Construction in 2010 for his many contributions in construction risk management and best practices. Many in the industry describe him as the brightest individual they ever met. Along with his wife, he established a foundation to assist scientists

and engineers in developing creative and innovative ideas that will combine the technical concepts of science and engineering with social management in order to improve the quality of life for all. He loved to mentor young people involved in engineering and construction and derived satisfaction in knowing there was a new generation learning and striving for project success. Kris is survived by his wife, Patricia; four children, Chri, Tanya, Tara, and Lia; and two grandchildren, Sarah and William.

1968

James Lauren Otis, on March 14, 2012. Jim attended Loomis from Richland, Mich. He was involved with the Glee Club, Religious Life Committee, and Stagehands Union. He was active with varsity football, in which he earned two varsity letters. A memorial service was held on April 21, 2012, at Riverside Church in Fort Myers, Fla.

1972

William Harris, on March 18.

Bill attended Loomis Chaffee from Hartford and was a member of the varsity basketball team. He graduated as the school’s all-time leading scorer.

Following Loomis, he earned a bachelor’s degree from UConn.

His love of basketball continued as an avid fan of the UConn women’s team. Bill could often be found cheering on the women Huskies and the Chicago Bears. His passions didn’t stop with sports but included his love of training, mentoring, and teaching. He is survived by his wife, Delores; his children, Ariel, Amber, Crystal, Cynthia, and Gregory; his sister, Sheila;

his brother, Douglas; 11 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two god-children; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Robert; and a granddaughter, Mireyah. A funeral was held on March 23 at Wellspring Church in Berlin, Conn.

1974

Jane Wei-Yueh Low, on September 5, 2012, peacefully at home from a debilitating neurological disease known as multiple systems atrophy. Jane was a student at Loomis Chaffee from West Hartford. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Trinity College. Her career included working for Princeton University, Simon & Schuster, and Comprehensive Mental Health Services. Jane is survived by her father, Henry Low; and her three siblings, including David W. Low ’72 and Christine W. Low ’79.

2003

Kathleen Anne Fischer, on August 3, 2012, in Charlotte, N.C. Kathleen was a four-year student from Utica, N.Y. She was active with the swim team and water polo team. Kathleen worked as a substance abuse counselor for Urban Ministries of Charlotte. She is survived by her husband, Chadd; her parents, Chuck and Mary Fischer; her brother, Steven; her niece, Quinn; her father-in-law, Larry Bland; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. A memorial service was held on August 11, 2012, at Kirkwood Presbyterian Church in Kannapolis, N.C.

Former Faculty

Dorothy M. Fuller, on March 9, at the Collonnades assisted living in Charlottesville, Va. Dorothy’s early life was spent in Plainville, Conn., where she participated in Campfire Girls and attended school. She graduated at the top of her Plainville High School class before going on to receive her bachelor’s degree from Radcliffe College and her master’s in English education from Harvard University. A devoted educator, Dorothy began her teaching career at Williams Memorial Institute in New London, Conn. In 1957, she joined the faculty at The Chaffee School, where she taught English and served as faculty advisor to The Chiel. She became director of studies at Loomis Chaffee in 1968 and dean of faculty in 1978.

In those capacities, she was responsible for developing and directing a number of initiatives that included teacher training and education and the implementation of technology by students and faculty. Dorothy retired from Loomis Chaffee in 1986, but she remained keenly interested in all facets of education, often remarking when asked about her profession that she always loved school and had always wanted to be a teacher.

“Dorothy Fuller was the first dean of faculty and the founder of the school's advanced mode of faculty development,” reflects John Ratté, headmaster during Dorothy's tenure. “She was

as well a genius of recording and analyzing what the school did, how students learned, what reforms might work, and what ones might not, all in order to effect change where it was needed, and to stay the course — literally, stay with the courses — that worked. She loved Chaffee, and came to love Loomis Chaffee, and above all, she loved those who teach and those who learn.” Dorothy moved to Virginia in 2007 to be close to her daughter. She was predeceased by her husband, Sumner. Dorothy is survived by her sister, Marjorie Kennedy; her daughters, Joyce F. MacDonald ’64 and Susan Fuller ’67; two grandchildren, Rebecca and Ian; and two nephews. In accordance with Dorothy’s wishes, no service was held.

The family requests that gifts in Dorothy’s memory be made to The Loomis Chaffee School or to one’s favorite charity.

More News

The Alumni Office has learned of the passing of Sydney P. Harrison ’37, on February 20, 2013; Francis E. Jones ’38, on December 22, 2011; John Edward Ladish Jr. ’44, on May 12, 2013; Christie Conlon Barter ’46, on February 14, 2013; Charles Kelly Lunt ’52, on December 29, 2012; Fred G. Roberts Jr. ’56, on April 10, 2008; Justin M. Schwamm Sr. ’56, on November 26, 2012; Robert E. Kurzius Jr. ’68, on February 1, 2009; James V. Reveaux ’68, on November 16, 2006; and former ice skating coach Norma Stacy.

More information, as available, will be printed in future issues.

PREPARATION | continued from 2

left for them to solve, including the unimaginably huge national debt and the scary issue of climate change. He also noted the many positive changes at Loomis since he was a student, including a much more diverse student body with 24 percent students of color and Spectrum, an organization that provides a safe and supportive environment for gay, lesbian, and heterosexual students to build community spirit, mutual understanding, and self-affirmation. He ended his address with some practical advice, including that our students should know at least five of the nine Supreme Court justices, which indeed they should.

Much has changed since the early 1980s, but the United States and certainly Loomis are far from being post-racial, gender neutral, or free from the impacts of privilege. We try to create on our campus a community of serious young scholars and enthusiastic Loomis citizens—what one of our admission associates calls “true Pelican warriors”—who are engaged and active community members. We are fortunate to have a school culture that is open to a broad range of ideas, values discussion and debate, and encourages students to reflect on their values and beliefs and to recognize, appreciate, and celebrate the differences that surround them. The discussion format used in so many of our classrooms in English, history, language, philosophy, psychology, and religion; the hands-on application of concepts in math and science; as well as in the newly introduced Norton Family Center for the Common Good’s ninth-grade seminar, encourage students to debate and discuss, to speak up, and, as important, to listen to others. Distilling those conversations and reflections into thoughtful, carefully written essays further cements the reflective process. Likewise, the range of outside speakers that we bring to the school through a variety of programs exposes students to still other ideas.

It is this sort of education that will best prepare our students to not only face the changes that they will encounter in their lives, but also, I hope, to find the creative solutions to the problems identified by Mr. Bruni. We cannot precisely predict the challenges our students will face, but we can arm them with the skills and values they will need to face those problems with grace and perseverance, embracing fully the school’s motto, Ne Cede Malis.

loomischaffee.org | 67

THE LAST WORD | BY RALPH THELLER

Building the Founders’ Vision Editor’s Note: The following excerpt is from a letter written in May 1916 to Nathaniel Horton Batchelder, Loomis headmaster from 1912 to 1949. His former Hotchkiss School colleague Ralph Theller visited the Island that spring and talked with Mr. B’s wife, Gwendolen Sedgwick Batchelder, about the ongoing construction of Founders Hall.

“

Ralph Theller. Courtesy of The Hotchkiss School Archives & Special Collections.

I was most impressed with the general and detailed adaptation of the new building. I cannot conceive of anything that has been left out either in utility or ornament; … I was amazed at Mrs. Batchelder’s grasp of detail covering that part of the works.

It must be a source of pleasure to you and to her to see dreams realizing themselves to the smallest detail.

”

— Ralph Theller

68 |

With Founders Hall under construction in the background, Gwendolen Sedgwick Batchelder stands with her dogs Sonny and Jock. The photograph is from the scrapbook of Walter Wood ’18, compiled 1914–1918 and now in the collection of the Loomis Chaffee Archives.

Photo: Loomis Chaffee Archives

The Loomis Chaffee School 4 Batchelder Road Windsor, Connecticut 06095 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Loomis Chaffee School