Crimson Fall 2023

Fall 2023

Mor r istown Beard Bear d School M agazine

Students Engage in MBS Centers for Learning

The Class of 2029 posed for a picture in front of the New York skyline during a class trip to the Liberty Science Center last May. COVER: Students collaborate on mathematical equations at the Center for Quantitative Reasoning Cover Photo by Peter Chollick Photography

Crimson

Fall 2023

Contents

Remarks from the Head of School........................2 MBS Moments...........................................................4 New Additions........................................................ 24 Staying Centered.................................................... 30 Stories of Excellence in Teaching & Learning............................................. 38

Beyond the Classroom........................................... 42 Crimson Corner..................................................... 44 Powerfully Prepared............................................... 52 Alumni Moments................................................... 54 Class Notes............................................................... 60 In Memoriam.......................................................... 66

REMARKS FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

Dear MBS Family & Friends, As this magazine finds our alumni and members of the MBS community scattered across the country and around the world, let me paint a picture for you of your beloved campus. It’s autumn in Morristown, and the vivid crimson of the leaves matches our school color. The bright white columns of Beard Hall nearly glow against the autumnal mums. Senior Circle is covered in fallen leaves, and the air is particularly crisp and clear.

I was recently telling our underclassmen that one of the things that shapes us into who we are is our sense of values and beliefs. Although MBS is an 2

Crimson Fall 2023

academic institution that prepares students for college and beyond, we also encourage all members of our community to cultivate a life guided by moral principles. At MBS, we are guided by these values: Personal Responsibility, Awareness of Diverse Perspectives, Engagement, Tenacity, Independence of Mind, and Humor and Humility.

As some of you will remember, last year we started a tradition of using a school value, engagement, as our “word of the year,” keeping it front of mind in all that we do. Our alumni also heeded the call, with record

Crimson Fall 2023

Office of Advancement

Board of Trustees 2023-2024

Director of Advancement Betsy B. Patterson P ’14, ’16

OFFICERS

Executive Assistant to the Director of Advancement Linda Riedell

numbers of young alumni attending events in New York City, Bay Head, and at regional gatherings in North Carolina.

They engaged with each other and with the life of the School. The many alumni who returned to campus remarked that while the passage of time necessitates evolution, which may mean new facilities or academic offerings, the feeling of community is as palpable and familiar as ever. They recognize that the School adapts, but at its core it remains the same institution they were proud to be a part of.

This year, we are focusing on Personal Responsibility. In our classrooms, in our club meetings, and at our athletic contests, students, teachers, and coaches are discussing what it means to take responsibility for one’s thoughts, actions and decisions. At the same time, being part of a community means your actions can have direct consequences on those that share your spaces. Perhaps you’ll reflect on the ways that your actions and decisions at Morristown Beard helped you gain confidence, purpose, and accountability.

We know this place powerfully prepares its graduates for a life of meaning, and we hope you enjoy paging through this issue and seeing the ways students and alumni are thriving!

Director of Marketing & Communications Crimson Managing Editor Janet Burdorf News & Information Manager Crimson Senior Writer Steve Patchett P ’24 Graphic Design Associate Crimson Graphic Designer Sharon Cain Website & Social Media Manager Brad Hickey Media Manager Tiffany Zuber Director of Annual Giving Riley Shaaber Director, The Center for Academic Writing & Strategic Communications Kate Sheleg Muttick ’97 Director of Alumni Engagement Maggie Ranger ’10 Advancement Services Manager Melissa Hickey Director of Special Events & Parents Association Liaison Kerianne Skobo-Trought Contributing Writers Kate Sheleg Muttick ’97, Carol Selman ’64 Photography Bryan Bedder/Variety via Getty Images, Janet Burdorf, Vincent Carchietta (MCV Photography), Jopofoto, Peter Chollick Photography, Steve Patchett P ’24, Tiffany Zuber

Printed locally by Intellicor Communications on recycled & sustainably-sourced paper

Ravi Chopra ’97, Co-President Carisa V. Strauss P ’20, ’22, ’24, Co-President Kelly MacMahon Ewing ’91, P ’24, ’24, ’24, ’28, Vice President Michael Morais P ’22, ’24, ’26, Vice President Darnell T. Parker ’00, Vice President Lee Kellogg Sadrian ’89, P ’26, ’28, Vice President R. Cartwright Wallace ’93, Treasurer Pamela Nelson Davidson ’90, Secretary TRUSTEES Liz Morrison, Head of School Dena Y. Baptiste P ’14 Mary Ellen Campbell P ’72, ’78 (Honorary) Lissa Jean Ferrell P ’22 Peter Fiverson P ’25, ’28 Shanae M. Green P ’27 David V. H. Hedley ’64, P ’87, ’90, ’97 (Honorary) David A. McManus P ’21 Cory Pine P ’21, ’25 Michael W. Ranger P ’10, ’13 (Honorary) Susan Reale P ’23 Bruce Sanford P ’16, ’20 Marlynn Scully P ’87, ’92, GP ’20, ’22 (Honorary) Laurence H. Sherman P ’20, ’22, ’26 Penny Sokolowski P ’18, ’20, ’25 Eric Soos P ’25, ’25 Scott J. Tannen ’95, P ’22, ’25, ’25 Janine Webb P ’24, ’26 Sherif Zakhary P ’20, ’22, ’27

Senior Leadership Team Liz Morrison - Head of School Darren Burns P ’19, ’22 - Chief Innovation Officer Alonda Casselle P ’27, ’30 - Head of Middle School Klarissa Karosen P ’26, ’28 - Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Dr. Richard Kasmin P ’21, ’24 - Chief Financial & Operating Officer Philicia Levinson P ’19 - Director of Human Resources Ryan Liese - Head of Upper School Boni Luna - Dean of Faculty Robert L. Mitchell II P ’15, ’20, ’23 Director of Enrollment Management Betsy B. Patterson P ’14, ’16 Director of Advancement Chantal Thornberry - Director of Student Culture and Wellbeing

Warmly, Liz Morrison Crimson Fall 2023

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MBS MOMENTS

Spring

2023 Jazz & Percussion Concert

Dance Concert

The Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Dr. John Girvin, played a range of songs from jazz standards by Chuck Mangione, Duke Ellington, and Chick Corea to contemporary pop songs like Taio Cruz’s “Dynamite.” On George Gershwin’s “Summertime” and Erroll Garner’s “Misty,” the group was joined by talented vocalist Maya Bhide ’23. The Percussion Ensemble’s selections included Frank Loesser’s “If I Were a Bell” from Guys and Dolls and Miles Davis’ “Pfrancing.”

More than 70 students participated in last spring’s concert, which featured Middle School Dance, Intro to Dance, Intermediate Dance, Advanced Dance, and the Dance Ensemble. The concert, produced by dance teacher Andrea Deventer, featured “Oldies But Goodies.”

String Ensembles, Chorus, and Band Concerts In last spring’s concert, the Middle School Strings played an English round and a Liberian round before closing with Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.” The Middle School Band played three songs including Herbie Hancock’s jazz standard, “Watermelon Man.” The Upper School String Ensemble performed three pieces and a faculty/student duet, and the Upper School Chorus sang a diverse collection of songs including the spiritual “Soon and Very Soon” by Andrae Crouch and “Beautiful City” from Godspell.

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Performing Arts Festival This informal event held in Founders Hall gave MBS students and faculty a forum to showcase their talents. A variety of impressive acts— from singing and dancing to dramatic dialogues—were performed.

Middle School Musical The Middle School performed Guys & Dolls, Jr., an adaptation of the original musical comedy. The show, directed by MBS music teacher Ben Krauss, featured popular songs such as “Luck be a Lady” and “I’ll Know.”

MBS MOMENTS

MBS Student-Athletes Take Their Game to the Next Level These Class of 2023 graduates enjoyed success as Crimson and will continue their athletics in college. The students were honored with a special signing ceremony in May. Dax Bush — Franklin & Marshall College (Baseball) Isa Daniels — Hobart & Williams Smith Colleges (Tennis) Alexa Degan — Long Island University (Ice Hockey) Ali Dorrego — Haverford College (Soccer) Collin Faraher — Bates College (Swimming) Noah Kasper — College of Wooster (Baseball) Will McDonald — Dickinson College (Lacrosse) Ian Michel — Maryville College (Tennis) Skylar Reale — Gettysburg College (Basketball) Lily Warnock — Plymouth State University (Ice Hockey)

Grandparents & Special Friends Day Grandparents and special friends came to campus in May and had the opportunity to become familiar with life at MBS. The day included a special assembly with welcome addresses from Head of School Liz Morrison, Head of Middle School Alonda Casselle, and Head of Upper School Ryan Liese, along with student performances.

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“Moving Up” Ceremony 2023 This year’s 8th Grade ceremony took place in Founders Hall on Friday, June 9 and included 58 students who advanced from Middle School to Upper School.

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Class of 2023

Commencement Ceremony 2023 On Saturday, June 10, the Morristown Beard School Class of 2023 joined the ranks of MBS alumni.

This class of 106 seniors are attending the following colleges and universities:

American University Auburn University Bates College Baylor University Boston College Boston University Bryant University Bucknell University California Polytechnic State University 8

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Case Western Reserve University Chapman University College of Charleston College of the Holy Cross College of William & Mary College of Wooster Colorado College Concordia University Montreal Dartmouth College

Davidson College Dickinson College Elon University Emory University Fordham University Franklin and Marshall College George Washington University Georgetown University Georgia Institute of Technology

Gettysburg College Haverford College High Point University Hobart and William Smith Colleges Indiana University Lafayette College Lehigh University Long Island University Maryville College

MBS MOMENTS

Miami University Michigan State University New York University Northeastern University Oberlin College of Arts and Science Pennsylvania State University Plymouth State University Princeton University Providence College

Purdue University Sacred Heart University Santa Clara University Savannah College of Art and Design Spelman College Stevens Institute of Technology Syracuse University Temple University The Ohio State University

Trinity College Tufts University Tulane University University of Alabama University of California Los Angeles University of Colorado Boulder University of North Carolina Wilmington University of Rhode Island University of Richmond

University of South Carolina University of Southern California University of Utah Villanova University Wake Forest University Washington University in St. Louis West Chester University of Pennsylvania Crimson Fall 2023

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MBS MOMENTS

Commencement 2023

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MBS MOMENTS

Back to School

2023

Community Days As part of MBS Community Days on September 6 and 7, Middle and Upper School students participated in an array of workshops and activities designed to develop bonds within grades and advisory groups. A highlight for the Upper School was the Crimson Cardboard Boat Regatta, where students designed boats and raced them in the School’s Rooke Pool. They also participated in a series of workshops focusing on leadership and engagement, DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging), and counseling and stress management.

Middle School workshop topics included technology, social media, DEIB, and communication. They also enjoyed community-building and retreat-style activities on their day trip to Harbor Hills Picnic Grove in Mendham, New Jersey.

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Convocation Morristown Beard School celebrated the start of the 2023-2024 academic year with a Convocation ceremony in Founders Hall on September 8. Head of School Liz Morrison encouraged students “to seize the moment and make the year everything they want it to be.” She also discussed the theme of the school year—personal responsibility.

“This value is the very foundation of character, and we can practice it in big and small ways every day,” she said. “Because you’re part of a community, you also have the responsibility to make a difference.”

The Convocation ceremony began with an address from Art & Design teacher Jeanine Erickson—celebrating her 34th year at MBS— and continued with inspiring remarks from Student Government Association (SGA) President Ethan Levy ’24, rising 9th Grader Zach Zweibel ’27, and Director of Alumni Engagement and alumna Maggie Ranger ’10.

The ceremony also featured student performances by Olivier Phanord ’26, who delivered an original poem titled “The Equation of Excellence,” senior Juliette Joubran ’24, who sang a version of “Dancing on My Own,” and the MBS Percussion Ensemble, which played the processional (“Marche en Rondeau”) and recessional (“Minuet” from Water Music).

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MBS MOMENTS

Homecoming & Reunion 2023 The rainy weather couldn’t dampen the Crimson spirit on Saturday, September 23 as Morristown Beard School celebrated Homecoming & Reunion. Students cheered on the Crimson as they defeated Newark Academy, 33-7. Alumni gathered in the “MBS Skybox” in Wilkie Hall to enjoy snacks and conversation while watching the game.

Senior Marcello Laracca ’24 led the way for the Crimson in the Homecoming game, amassing a total of 350 yards and five touchdowns on 23 carries. Sophomore Oscar Speranza ’26 added 58 yards on nine carries for MBS.

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Nick Troiano ’25 wins Kirby Mile Race Although the 31st running of The Kirby Mile couldn’t be held during Homecoming festivities due to the weather, it was rescheduled for Saturday, October 14 during halftime of the football game against Pingry. Nick Troiano ’25 won the race with a time of 4:48, followed by Ian Patchett ’24 in 5:11, Patrick Birnbaum ’25 in 5:43, and then the father-son duo of Nicholas Turben P ’24, ’28 and Alex Turben ’24, both of whom clocked in under 6:00!

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MBS MOMENTS

John Sheppard

Welcomed into MBS Athletic Hall of Fame Beloved coach and teacher John Sheppard P ’17 was welcomed into the Morristown Beard School Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, September 23 at a standing-room-only ceremony in Kirby Chapel.

Through several presentations during the ceremony, John Sheppard was praised not only for the many accolades during his 30-year baseball coaching career, but also for his personal character and his pioneering work at MBS. “John created the pathway for what we know MBS Athletics to be today,” said Upper School Athletic Director Joanne Dzama. “Our student-athletes’ experiences and opportunities increased tenfold by his vision and passion. It is very rare today that you find someone who is so knowledgeable, friendly, and approachable, and who truly is a good person. As a friend, colleague, mentor, teacher, and coach, John continues to inspire this community and those around him to show up each day as their best selves.”

Head of School Liz Morrison added that “It is rare to find a coach who is as committed to character-building opportunities and scholarship as they are to wins. Under John’s leadership, the MBS baseball team has been honored nationally for academics by the American Baseball Coaches Association for eight consecutive years.

This is a very difficult accomplishment. He holds our scholar-athletes to a high standard both on and off the field.”

Coach Sheppard has been with Morristown Beard School as the varsity baseball coach for the past three decades. John served as the School’s Director of Athletics for 10 years (1998-2007). During that time, he created an athletic handbook, created and organized the “Crimson Week” preseason camp, gained the School’s membership into the state athletic association, designed the MB athletic logo, started a lecture series for parents of athletes, and coordinated

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The Athletic Admissions Night with the Office of Admission. One of John’s most rewarding achievements was to facilitate the creation of a girls’ interscholastic hockey program at MBS. He has also served as Director of Athletics for the Middle School and taught Middle School Geography and American History. Currently, John serves as a Wellness teacher and advisor.

As the Director of Athletics in the Middle School, John created a preseason orientation in the fall for athletes and parents, and started field hockey, flag football, fitness, and track programs. He also initiated membership into the Greater Morris County Junior School Coaches Association.

As head baseball coach at Morristown Beard School, Coach Sheppard and his teams have had many successes including a Morris County Championship (2016), five NJISAA Prep Championships (1996, 1997, 1999, 2007, 2008), two NJSIAA Private B State Sectional Championships (2005, 2010), the Colonial Hills Conference Championship (2008, 2009), the Colonial Hills Conference Coach of the Year (2008), four NJAC Conference Championships (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016), three-time Morris county Semi-finalist (1995, 2010, 2011), Team of the Year honors from Mugs Media (2016), Team of the Year honors from Daily Record (2016), Coach of the Year Award from Daily Record (2016), and the Frank Sayre Award for Sportsmanship From The NJ Umpires’ Association (2016). Coach Sheppard was inducted into the Newark Hall of Fame in 2009 and the New Jersey High School Coaches Hall of Fame in 2014.

John holds a masters degree in Counseling from Montclair State University. Prior to joining MBS, he worked as a 6th Grade teacher in the Orange, New Jersey school district.

JOHN SHEPPARD 2023 Athletic Hall of Fame

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MBS MOMENTS

Culture Fest 2023 MBS celebrated the traditions and cultures of our community at this year’s Culture Fest in October. The celebration began at the All-School Meeting in Founders Hall with performances by students and faculty. The festivities continued on the Class of 2020 Quad with more student performances, cultural displays from our families, and music and dance from Folklore Urbano and LaRocqueBey.

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Crimson Fall 2023

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MBS MOMENTS

NBC Sports Highlights Coaches Joe DeKasar and Tahj Valentine ’18 An NBC Sports TV crew was on campus in October to do a profile piece about MBS football coaches Tahj Valentine ’18 and Joe DeKasar, who are among the youngest and oldest coaches in the state. Tahj, who became head coach this year, is 23 years old, while Joe, who has served as an assistant football and baseball coach at MBS for the past 20 years, recently turned 90.

In addition to interviewing Tahj and Joe, host John Chandler also spoke with football captains Micah Leibowitz ’24 and Brooks Limbert ’24 as well as Director of Upper School Athletics Joanne Dzama.

The story aired throughout the day on Monday, October 23 beginning with NBC’s “Today in New York” program.

Scan QR code to view NBC news story

MBS Hosts NJAIS Conference This past August, Morristown Beard School hosted a New Jersey Association of Independent Schools (NJAIS) instructional strategies conference on “The Science of Teaching, Learning and Belonging.”

The three-day conference was attended by teachers from 13 independent schools throughout the state, including Morristown Beard School, Academy of St. Elizabeth, Academy of the Holy Angels, Dwight-Englewood School, Gill St. Bernard’s School, Hun School of Princeton, Kent Place School, The Pingry School, Princeton Day School, Red Oaks School, Rumson Country Day School, Rutgers Preparatory School, and Wardlaw Hartridge School.

Teachers explored the current understanding of how students learn and investigated an array of research-informed teaching strategies and feedback techniques based on Mind, Brain, and Education science research. They discussed principles of effective teaching and learning, including the role of student beliefs and mindsets in influencing that effectiveness.

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Workshop sessions also explored learning contexts beyond the classrooms, including advisory, parent conferences and communications, assemblies, and athletics.

Kevin Tone ’24 Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist Kevin is among 16,000 students nationwide (less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors) who have been named semifinalists.

He will have an opportunity to continue in the competition as a finalist in the spring.

Seniors Named Commended Students in the National Merit Scholarship Competition

Annual Party & Auction Event THIS YEAR’S THEME IS

“TAILGATE!“

Put on your favorite football team jersey and join us!

Finn Fleming ’24, Ethan Kothavale ’24, and Ethan Roitman ’24 are among 34,000 Commended

Students throughout the nation that placed among the top five percent. Although they don’t continue in the competition for a scholarship, they are recognized for their academic promise.

Scholarship finalists and commended students are selected from more that 1.5 million students for earning the highest scores when taking the 2022 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).

FRIDAY

FEB 2

2024

CRYSTAL PLAZA 305 W NORTHFIELD RD LIVINGSTON

7:00 - 10:00 PM

VIP

ROW 1

SEAT 1

REGISTRATION DETAILS COMING SOON Crimson Fall 2023

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MBS MOMENTS

“Rock Through the Ages” Party This Parents Association event held in September featured food trucks, drinks, retro snacks, and music by The Exits, who played favorites from the 1970s to the present.

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Parents and guardians gathered under the tent on the Alumni House patio at the Parent/ Guardian Welcome Coffee on the first day of school.

The “MBS Goes Kayaking” group met on the Passaic River in the Great Swamp in October.

Kayak East led the group and supplied the gear.

The PA Book Club met in October to discuss The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth. MBS faculty member Rebecca Van Horn led the discussion.

The Parent/Guardian Welcome Reception held in September gave new parents an opportunity to mix and mingle with other parents and chat with Head of School Liz Morrison and other members of the senior leadership team.

The PA Hiking Club met at South Mountain Reservation in September.

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NEW ADDITIONS

MBS Welcomes New Co-Presidents of Board of Trustees RAVI CHOPRA ’97

Ravi became a member of the Board of Trustees in 2018. He served on the Building & Grounds Committee and chaired the Finance Committee for three years. He also served on the Head of School Search Committee in 2020. In 2021, he was appointed to the Executive Board as Treasurer and held that position until he was named Co-President this year.

At his MBS graduation, Ravi was awarded the Arthur Lee James Award which is given to a young man judged by his peers to best exemplify the qualities of integrity, responsibility, cooperation, and School spirit.

Ravi is the Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Azora Capital, a hedge fund focused on financial services investing. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude from Dartmouth College, earning an AB in Economics. Currently, Ravi resides in Miami, Florida with his wife, Allison, and their two children.

CARISA STRAUSS P ’20, ’22, ’24

Carisa joined the MBS community in 2013. She has served as a Class Parent, on the PA Executive Board as Middle School Coordinator, and Co-Chair of the School’s Gala. After joining the Board of Trustees in 2017, Carisa has served on numerous committees

including Advancement, Governance & Nominating, Endowment, Student Experience, Finance, and Audit & Compensation. In addition, Carisa was on the Head of School Search Committee in 2020, Co-Chair of the Racial Justice Task Force (RJTF), and also co-chaired the 2021-2026 Strategic Plan Steering Committee. Before being appointed Co-President this year, she served as Vice-President for two years.

Carisa has also held volunteer leadership roles as PTO Co-President at Tamaques Elementary School, and as a member of the Board of Directors at the JCC of Central NJ, where she also served as Co-Chair of the Early Childhood Parent Committee. Previously, Carisa was a Vice President of Healthcare Public Relations at Porter Novelli.

Carisa graduated from Georgetown University with a BA in English and received an MS in Communications from Boston University.

Carisa and her husband, David, reside in Westfield, New Jersey and have three children; two MBS graduates, Caden ’20 and Dylan ’22, and Grayson ’24, a senior this year at MBS.

MBS Welcomes New Board Member SUSAN REALE P ’23

Susan grew up in Howell, New Jersey and graduated from Rutgers University with a BA in Communications, minor in Women’s Studies, and a BA in Art History. She worked at A.I.S.G. as an Event Planner and Manual Editor, and then at Deloitte & Touche as a Program Coordinator for Marketing. Later, she went on to work at the Rutgers University Foundation as a campaign organizer.

Susan spent many years as a volunteer in several different capacities. She was a member of the Rutgers University Board of Overseers where she held the position of Liaison to the Women’s Leadership Committee. Susan has given her time and talent volunteering at the independent schools her children attended and held leadership positions that included Committee President for Far Hills Country Day School and Co-Chair of the Brotherhood Campaign for Parents of Current Students at Delbarton School.

In addition to these responsibilities, she was a Girl Scout leader for nine years.

Susan is married to Andrew Reale and they have three children. Skylar is an MBS alumna, Class of 2023, currently attending Gettysburg College. Andrew and Jack are Delbarton graduates currently attending Dickinson College and Elon University, respectively. The family resides in Warren and Spring Lake, New Jersey.

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ELANA ANDERSON — English

BA, Psychology & Spanish, Wesleyan University MA, the Teaching of English, Columbia University From the Abraham Joshua Heschel School, New York, where she taught English

“I am an English teacher because of my belief in the transformative power of the Awareness of Diverse Perspectives. If storytelling is the engine of compassion, then literature propels us into a richer, more nuanced understanding of others and their lived experiences. I strive to create a classroom community in which students feel empowered to take radical leaps of empathy and, over time, challenge and shift their own assumptions. I do this right along with them: year after year my students delight me with their noticings and interpretations, and I learn something deeper about each text by rereading it through their eyes.”

KATIE ASHBY — Science

BS, Education & Human Development, Lesley University MEd, Mathematics & Science focus, Lesley University From All Saints Episcopal Day School in Hoboken

“The MBS core value that resonates with me the most is Personal Responsibility because we can apply this to life outside of MBS. As a Middle School teacher, it is important to make sure that students are given strategies for their developing brain to help them succeed both in and out of the classroom. Being a Middle School student is tough, but learning Personal Responsibility strategies early in a nurturing environment will create well-rounded adults ready to thrive in any situation.”

AWARENESS OF DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES

Y TEN ACI T

ENT ENG AG EM

OUR VALUES

NEW ADDITIONS AL SON ILITY PERONSIB P RES

The following are the newest members of the MBS community along with their answers to the question: Which MBS value resonates the most with you?

ND RA MO ITY HU UMIL H

MBS Welcomes New Faculty & Staff

INDEPENDENCE OF MIND

CAROLYN BALDACCHINI — Performing Arts Bachelor of Music, The Juilliard School Master of Music, The Juilliard School

Accomplished violinist and violist with a distinguished career as a professional musician. Teacher of music for over two decades.

“MBS’s core value Tenacity resonates with me because it reminds me of the importance of staying on the journey of music and music teaching. As a musician and music teacher, tenacity gives me the patience to focus on the process of music making, staying in the moment while practicing.”

ANDREW BROWN — Mathematics

BA, Religion and Philosophy, Carson-Newman University MDiv, Princeton Theological Seminary Joins us after teaching math at the Pingry School

“Morristown Beard’s core value Independence of Mind is a reminder that education should have as one of its goals the development of novel ideas. The math classroom is one of the best places to hone the ability to think this way. Success in math, by necessity, builds upon the foundations of others, whether it is mastering the factoring of polynomials or utilizing Pythagoras’ theorem about the sides of right triangles. However, math education cannot stop with the recognition and repetition of algorithms. Education requires that mathematicians think independently of those that came before, seeking to develop new ideas and applying old ones to contemporary problems. My classroom is a place where I strive to help students build this skill.”

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NEW ADDITIONS

VICKI COATES — Wellness

BA, Applied Psychology & Human Development, Boston College MA, Social Work, Boston College MA, Public Health, University of South Carolina Joins us after working as Program Director at the Shaw Wellness Institute, Colgate University

“The value of Engagement is key to my teaching. In the classroom, I see myself as a resource who provides empirical evidence to the students who must then take the lessons and apply them to their own lives. I encourage students to actively participate with the content in the safety of the classroom and then learn to utilize it beyond the classroom and MBS. For each student to determine what wellness means to them, they need engagement in the classroom, in extra-curriculars, in social activities, and in self-care.”

HALEY DUGGAN — Center for Teaching &

Learning BA, Elementary Education, Applied Psychology & Human Development, Boston College MEd, Language and Literacy, Harvard University From the Philip’s Academy Charter School of Paterson

“The MBS core value I would like to focus on this year is Personal Responsibility. I'm choosing this value because I want to teach students to advocate for themselves and hold themselves accountable to high expectations.

Responsibility is especially going to be a critical component in my Organizational Skills classes in the Middle School. I hope to support students with preparing for assignments and prioritizing what is most important in their weekly routines.

Acting responsibly will also take leadership and courage to do the right thing. I’m looking forward to a great year!”

SARAH ELLERTON — Director of Admission & Financial Aid BA, English — Macalester College

From BASIS Independent School in Brooklyn where she was Director of Admissions

“The values of MBS speak deeply to me as a human and an educator, but the value that resonates most is Personal Responsibility. Personal Responsibility is fundamental to the success of any thriving community, and 26 Crimson Fall 2023

I will work to exemplify a high level of accountability and leadership as Director of Admission and Financial Aid and as assistant coach for the MBS swim team. My goal for our admission process is to be warm, honest, and transparent for every family. As a coach, I look forward to developing strong connections with our student athletes across their MBS experience!”

NICOLE GUADAGNINO — Permanent Substitute BS, Early Childhood Education & Special Education, Lebanon College Previously a teaching assistant at a variety of schools in Pennsylvania

“The core value that resonates most with me is Humor & Humility. The quote that I live by every single day is ‘A day without laughter is a day wasted,’ and I firmly believe this is true in all aspects of life. When it comes to our everyday lives, we can get so caught up in the stress and high demands of the grind. Whether it’s dealing with work, grief, or just the consistent busy day. It can be so easy to lose sight of the fact that our life is meant to be filled with joy, laughter, and enjoying those small victories. There are definitely times where we need to stay focused and driven towards our goals, but making time to smile or crack a joke to a friend can go a long way. When it comes to the classroom, I will make sure this value is always implemented by making sure the students feel they can be silly, while also still getting their work done.”

BRAD HICKEY — Website & Social Media Manager BS, Communications, Alliance University

Joins us from Alliance University where he was Director of Digital Media and also served as Interim Director of Marketing & Communications

“The MBS core value that resonates with me is Awareness of Diverse Perspectives. Empathy starts with curiosity, and it helps you learn about others and one’s self.

It’s exciting to switch the lens sometimes and gain a different perspective. It’s how we are challenged, it’s how we learn, and it’s how we grow.”

MATHILDE JOCTEUR-MONROZIER — World Languages BA, English, Literature, Cultures & Civilizations, Grenoble-Alpes University MA, English, Literature, Cultures & Civilizations, Grenoble-Alpes University MSEd, Literature & Language Education, Purdue University

From Purdue University where she taught French and worked as a Research & Teaching Assistant in the College of Education

“The core value that resonates with me is Personal Responsibility. I believe strongly in holding myself accountable for my own actions, and often take the time to think about the consequences my decisions have on others.

In a society that is often perceived as becoming more and more individualistic, we can find purpose and strength by trying to be conscious of our choices and our decisions, and how what we do affects others. I also believe that making mistakes is always an opportunity for personal reflection and growth, and I completely identify with MBS values that center around becoming the best self you can be. From the start, I was impressed by how the idea of community and the role everyone has to play in it is at the center of everything the School does.”

DR. RICHARD KASMIN P ’21, ’24 — Chief Financial & Operating Officer BS, Business Administration, SUNY Albany MA, Economics, NYU MBA Management, Cornell University PhD, Education, Rutgers University

Previous worked as an economist for Merrill Lynch, WPG Management, and the New Jersey Development Authority; Adjunct professor at Morris County College and the New Jersey Insititute of Technology.

“The core value that resonates with me is Engagement. My understanding of this word is the act of being involved in something. And I believe this is at the core of being an active learner — finding the things that interest and excite you and getting deeply involved in doing them. Morristown Beard offers its students and staff so many opportunities to be engaged in our community, both in and out of the classroom. Just get engaged in things, even things you are unsure about.”

JOE LODATO — History

BA, Secondary Education Social Studies, Misericordia University Joe was our permanent substitute last year as well as a Middle School coach, Head Coach of boys’ lacrosse, and Director of Player Development.

“Tenacity is often seen during a moment in time, but I believe true tenacity is shown not only in the moment but also in preparation and reflection. I think there is a misconception that people who are ‘successful’ at their craft are just more talented. Putting oneself in situations where they have failed and how one responds to those obstacles is where growth comes from. Learning to embrace tenacity in all aspects of a student’s life can positively affect not only their experience in the classroom and on the playing field, but moving forward as a lifelong learner.”

ITZEL POPOVA — World Languages

BS, Industrial Engineering, Universidad Tecnológica de México MS, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Iowa.

Comes to us from the School District of the Chathams where she taught Spanish

“I resonate strongly with the MBS core value of Awareness of Diverse Perspectives. In today’s interconnected world, understanding different viewpoints is essential for personal growth and fostering a harmonious community. I believe that by embracing this value, I can create a more inclusive classroom and campus life. I’ll actively seek out diverse perspectives, encourage open discussions, and promote empathy. This approach will not only enrich my own learning experience but also contribute to a more tolerant and accepting environment for everyone.”

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NEW ADDITIONS

LINDA RIEDELL — Executive Assistant, Advancement BA, Psychology, Montclair State University

From Villa Walsh Academy where she served as a Business Office Assistant

“Humor & Humility is so simple, yet so powerful in helping me build my interpersonal relationships.

The act of being humble, empathetic to others, and attuned to their feelings allows us to develop a strong relationship with a person. Celebrating the successes of our friends, family members, and colleagues in life without being jealous allows us to be one amazing human! A kind smile, friendly hello, and heartfelt thank you can go a long way. Even better, a good laugh can relieve stress and brighten someone’s day. #youareneverfullydressedwithoutasmile”

to different perspectives, cultures, and languages started at a very young age. In fact, while being raised in a Latino household and educated in a school of the French educational system with classmates not only from France but from other countries around the world, I had the privilege to learn, experience, respect, and value the uniqueness of traditions and values from other cultures different than mine. These experiences have prepared me to become a better educator, and have also encouraged me to motivate my students to be curious and interested in new cultures and languages. By doing so, they are becoming citizens of the world.”

DEBRA WAHLE — Mathematics

BS, Business, Seton Hall University MA, Teaching, Montclair State University.

From Madison High School where she taught mathematics

RILEY SHAABER — Director of Annual Giving BS, Marketing, Florida State University

From Columbia University where he served as Associate Director, Annual Fund Programs

“Engagement is what resonates with me the most this year; in fact, it’s the reason why I chose to join Morristown Beard School over the summer.

While working mainly remote for Columbia University since 2020, I felt myself yearning for more connectivity. Yes, there are benefits to a more relaxed work schedule; however, I was prioritizing a handful of conveniences over my physical and mental health. I knew I needed to become an active member of a local community once again, and it’s been a wonderful four months here at MBS. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know my fellow colleagues, our inspiring students, and their families.”

VERÓNICA TOSCANO — World Languages

BA, Teaching English as a Second Language, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, Ecuador MA, Spanish Language and Culture, Universidad de Salamanca, Spain From Montclair Kimberley Academy where she taught Spanish and French

“Awareness of Diverse Perspectives is a core value that resonates with me both personally and professionally. As an Ecuadorian-born teacher who had the opportunity to be educated in a French school system from PK to 12th Grade, my exposure 28 Crimson Fall 2023

“Tenacity is the core value that resonates with me. As a teacher of mathematics for decades, I have seen many students decide to give up once they encounter a difficult or challenging problem. I believe anyone can learn mathematics, but more importantly, to be tenacious. Tenacity is a skill which can be learned. At MBS, I will encourage my students to push through difficulties, try again after feeling defeated and find internal motivation to persist until reaching their goals. Whether they're solving a problem in my math class or deciding how to involve themselves in our MBS community, having the courage to stay the course despite setbacks is an important skill which they will carry throughout their lives beyond MBS.” KATIE ZIEGLER — World Languages

BA, Classical Studies and German Studies, Bates College MA, Teaching Latin and Classical Humanities, University of Massachusetts Amherst From UMass Amherst where she taught Latin

“Awareness of Diverse Perspectives is the MBS core value that immediately jumps out to me. The way I see it, learning about new perspectives is the heart and soul of language teaching. Although all languages have much to offer, I believe Latin is unique in that it allows students to have ‘conversations’ with the writers and thinkers of the ancient world. It is my hope that exposure to ancient perspectives will enrich students’ academic, creative, and philosophical thinking.”

Welcome Back

MBS Warmly Welcomes Back Three Members of the Upper School Mathematics Department TOM CORBO — Mathematics

BS, Mathematics Education, Cortland SUNY MA, Mathematics Education, University of New Hampshire MA, Curriculum and Instruction, New Jersey City University Rejoining our community, this time in a part-time capacity, Tom brings with him more than 30 years’ experience teaching high school math. Tom has also worked as an athletic director, assistant principal, and principal. At MBS, he chaired the math department and was an assistant coach of the football program.

“The MBS core value that resonates with me most is Tenacity. Some students develop anxiety around math, creating a mental block that hinders their ability to approach problems with a clear mind. This fear can stem from previous negative experiences or believing they are not ‘good at math.’ A growth mindset and a belief in one’s ability to improve can make a significant difference.

Everyone can improve their math skills with the right support and approach. A positive mindset can significantly impact your learning. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes.

They’re essential to the learning process. Remember, learning math is a journey, not a race. Take your time, stay persistent, and you’ll find yourself mastering those mathematical challenges.”

LISA IEVERS — Mathematics

BA, Math & Philosophy, Bucknell University MA, Philosophy, Johns Hopkins University PhD, Philosophy, Johns Hopkins University Prior to first joining MBS in 2018, Lisa was an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Philosophy Department at Georgetown University.

While at MBS, Lisa focused on forging strong connections between the disciplines.

intimidating and anxiety-inducing for my students. The fact that there is often one, and only one, correct answer to a problem in math can easily make students feel that the classroom divides sharply into those who ‘just see it’ and those who have difficulties charting a path to the solution.

In reality, the line between these two groups is fluid, and fluctuates on a daily basis. Some of my favorite moments in the classroom have been when my students realize the value of being able to laugh at themselves for making careless mistakes that they later catch, and which obscured their path. Approaching a problem with intellectual humility, and a willingness to tolerate missteps and blind alleys, is one of the most valuable things that a student can bring to the table in my classroom.”

KELLY MAUGER — Mathematics

BA, Mathematics, Drew University MA, Mathematics Education, NYU. Kelly first joined MBS in 2010 after 3 years teaching in New York City. While at MBS, she coached the cross country team, co-led the new faculty orientation program, and taught at the MBS Summer Institute.

“Tenacity is the value that resonates with me the most. One of the things I love about math is that you can keep working at a problem until you determine a correct solution. There’s no opinion involved. You can keep trying until you reach some universally accepted truth. Similarly in physics, students are able to explore in a very hands-on way to try to answer questions. It’s so important in both disciplines that students don’t get discouraged when they make a mistake or don’t immediately know an answer. In fact, some great learning can come from the mistakes we make along the way.”

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S TAY I N G

CENTERED DECADES OF ACADEMIC RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF

BOTH MEANINGFUL TEACHER-STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND HIGHLY EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING IN THE INTELLECTUAL GROWTH OF YOUNG PEOPLE. ACCORDINGLY, MORRISTOWN BEARD SCHOOL HAS THOUGHTFULLY CREATED FOUR CENTERS FOR LEARNING TO SUPPORT AND CHALLENGE EVERY STUDENT WE SERVE.

By KATE SHELEG MUTTICK ’97

Director of the Center for Academic Writing

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C E N T E R

F O R

QUANTITATIVE REASONING “The CQR provides students

with help for math-related questions in a way that enables the student to learn from their mistakes and genuinely build a foundation of the material. I’m also finding it to be versatile in the sense that students in science classes such as Physics, Chemistry, and Biology can find the help they need beyond just math.

”

—FINN FLEMING ’24

“The Center for Quantitative

Reasoning has been one of my biggest resources so far this year. I’m taking Integrated Math 3 Honors, and whenever I am confused or need to study for assessments, I go to the Center. Ms. Costanzo is always there to help and answer my questions.

”

—JAKE BRESLOW ’27

Center for Quantitative Reasoning It’s a sunny, fall afternoon and light streams through the oversized windows that line the Math & Science Center. The outside air is crisp while the air inside the newly opened Center for Quantitative Reasoning (CQR) is charged; the chatter from students collaborating trickles out of the CQR, catching the attention of other students passing through the halls. One pops her head in and sees two seniors working on an Advanced Physics assignment. A student in AP Calculus practices limits. A freshman studies for his Integrated Math 2 quiz.

Word spreads quickly; more than 150 students dropped into the Center in its first month. Another part of the draw is its director, Rose Costanzo, an expert in the field of mathematics who also assumes the role of coach and cheerleader.

It is the School’s fourth Center (joining the Center for Teaching & Learning, Center for Academic Writing, and Center for Innovation & Design). The “Centers approach” is premised on a college model and offers students unparalleled learning opportunities.

In accordance with its mission, the CQR helps students strengthen their foundational skills, receive extra help on their classwork, and explore an interest in mathematics that goes beyond the classroom. As Ms. Costanzo explains, it is “a place where students can build confidence in their ability and help alleviate the perpetual math anxiety that exists for so many students and adults.”

The CQR embodies the MBS ethos of meeting students where they are. Ms. Costanzo notes that in addition to collaboration and preparation activities, “students are coming in for additional practice.

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They’ve completed everything their teachers have given them and want more.”

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In addition to dropping in individually or joining small group review sessions, later this year the CQR will introduce class workshops to help bring quantitative reasoning across the curriculum.

Ms. Costanzo shares, “I’m working with our Middle School History teachers to think about introducing statistics to the narrative study of historical events. We’re considering questions like: What do percentages mean? What does data literacy look like at the middle level? What are the effects of data on the study of History?”

Similar conversations are underway between Ms. Costanzo and faculty across the curriculum, such as: What does reasoning look like in poetry? Students and faculty can drop in for support or schedule appointments (particularly useful at busy sections of the semester). While Math Department faculty help staff the Center, later this year Ms. Costanzo will begin to train peer tutors, based on teacher recommendations and a placement test.

Center for Innovation & Design Steps away, you enter the corridor of innovation where hubs of play and pedagogy challenge students and provoke them to create in ways they never imagined possible. Just past the drone engineering lab, you’ll find a Complex Systems class working through a programming equation as they attempt to solve a real world problem involving a U2 spy plane gathering data via high resolution photography.

The students learn to simplify complex functions and build up rows of measurement for their proposed flight line. Working like a team of programmers, they look at their individual results and attempt to knit them together while taking into account issues like speed, altitude, weather conditions, and instability of the plane. It only takes a moment for students to start proposing solutions. They build off each other’s ideas, until one student suggests a shift in the equation. Mr. Fisher admits, “I haven’t tried this, so I hope it works.”

Spoiler: It works. As Fisher reminds these budding programmers, “You have to test your model, but in the real world your solution might not work anymore. But you can’t just let your bridge fall down. Real

“I spend a lot of my day in

the CID with my advisory being there, recording guitar in the studio, and of course being in Complex Systems.

Being a discussion-based class, it is valuable that the CID is the perfect space for collaboration, having a ubiquity of resources to aid us in our conversations. For Complex Systems, the computers are the most important asset to us, and the software installed on them has allowed us to model the real world systems that we discuss. Complex Systems has been the most influential class I have taken because the mathematical ideas we study have now become pertinent in my daily life.

”

—KAYLA RUGGIERO ’24

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engineering isn’t concluding you’re missing a differential equation. It’s making one based on the data available and the best fit possible.”

Next semester, this same lab will be home to Space Flight Engineering, where Fisher draws on his years as a NASA scientist to again propose real problems to an eager group of upperclassmen. Fisher worked at NASA in various roles, first at Brown University and then at the California Institute of Technology at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory ( JPL). He has been able to bring many exciting real-world opportunities into his classes at MBS. Students have had the unique opportunity to remotely operate a 110-foot radio telescope located at NASA’s Deep Space Communication Complex in California, as well as participate in the Mars Student Imaging Program, using real mission tools to target a Mars orbital camera.

Fisher fosters a collaborative culture, where students mimic the work environment and then pivot outcomes based on their results. According to the School’s Chief Innovation Officer, Darren Burns, “The Center for Innovation & Design (CID) becomes a bridge between academic skills, innovative work, and vocational connections. Up and down the CID hallway, you will see real world challenges that not only help students understand what they’re learning, but how it applies to the world they’re going to occupy.”

He further explains, “We just had a drone class with a seemingly straightforward assignment: develop a vertical takeoff and landing vehicle. Yet each team member held a specific role—designer, engineer, tester, sketch artist, and concept designer. Their academic work mirrors the professional setting and that’s different from what you’ll find in other high school classrooms.”

The CID provides more than 8,000 square feet of flexible space where students design, build, and problem solve as they engage in multidisciplinary projects. The overarching goal of the CID is to create a hub where all students will collaborate and practice critical thinking and problem-solving skills. There’s also the opportunity to engage in activities that reinforce classroom instruction. From the STEM Club and Innovative Engineers Club to students organically gathering to create, you might see students flying a drone designed to look like a shark down the hallway while a group in Human Centered Design tests the scale of a chair crafted out of cardboard while considering the constraints of mass production.

Students who have been trained as engineers on the sound board are bringing in classmates to make their own music and podcasts. According to Burns, “This place is buzzing with excitement. Outside my 34 Crimson Fall 2023

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office window, I see quad rotor drones flying by, 3D designs being printed, and students iterating on the whiteboards. Students are coming in with their own projects and are occupying the space with a new found excitement. The Center has become a space where students can dream with their eyes open, and it’s exciting to be part of that.”

Burns is confident the Center will continue to innovate, particularly as faculty provokes even more critical and creative thinking. He envisions, “creating a marketplace for things that we make, which entails understanding economics and consumer demands.”

The CID is not only a makerspace, but a space where students are making meaning and crafting their own individual identities.

Center for Teaching & Learning A third learning hub is tucked on the second floor of South Wing and offers both small group instruction and individualized strategies so that each MBS student can find academic success. The School is committed to meeting students where they are, and no place on campus better illustrates that commitment than the Center for Teaching & Learning (CTL). Staffed by five professional educators with backgrounds in education, psychology, counseling, and learning disabilities, the CTL has, for decades, served and supported a diverse community of learners.

According to Director Dr. Kim Pottratz, “We’re open to every single student on this campus. Although our offerings look different in Middle School and Upper School, the biggest takeaway is that each child has a learning story and by providing support services that include both social/emotional and academic learning, we can attend to the whole student and his or her journey.”

C E N T E R

F O R

T E ACH I NG L E A R N I NG

“When I enter the CTL,

a feeling of relaxation and peace comes over me. First, the teachers help with stress management because we figure out a weekly schedule.

They really prioritize student needs and my study strategies and do so much to make sure I learn and understand.

Everyone is so friendly there; you feel like you belong and are supported.

”

—ADDISON KELLY ’25

In Middle School, students participate in Study Strategies, during which a dedicated learning specialist leads small groups. Students spend 30 minutes on a lesson (growth mindset, different modes of studying for different types of learners, etc.) and then 30 minutes on their own, trying out strategies for the work they’ve been assigned by content teachers. The goal is twofold: provide academic content reinforcement and teach executive functioning skills. Those executive functioning skills are then infused into work that has already been assigned in class.

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ACADEMIC WRITING

“My four years at MBS

prepared me well for college, in particular for the demands of college writing. As a freshman at Boston College, I felt well prepared for the extensive writing requirements. Reading and critical thinking were core to my Writing Seminar, Philosophy, and Theology courses. I perfected these skills during my time at MBS. Most importantly, the Center for Academic Writing’s oneon-one tutoring and writing workshops helped me with the essential skills necessary to express myself effectively in conversation and in writing.

Once I became a tutor at the CAW, I was able to hone my leadership skills which have continued to be valuable in college as I frequently participate in peer-review and feedback sessions.

”

—TYLER ZAKHARY ’22

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In the past, Upper School Study Strategies were mostly underclassmen, yet more juniors and seniors are scheduled than ever before. Students may drop by during collaborative period, flex time, or during their study hall. In part, they’re learning to manage their calendars (filled with extracurriculars and sports) and to advocate for their accommodations (such as how to notify their teachers of their preferential seating, extended time, or alternate test site).

As an example of skill development, this fall students are creating and maintaining a personal graph of the ways in which they studied for their tests, along with the corresponding grade they received. Color coded by discipline, students can have a real-time look at the cause and effects of their preparation strategies.

Across the MBS student body, 18% of students are scheduled to a Study Strategies class (29 middle schoolers and 76 upper schoolers).

As Dr. Pottratz explains, “We’re working toward independence and are trying to put ourselves out of business. When students first come to the CTL, we try to transition them from parent/guardian dependence to adult dependence at school. We intentionally scaffold and facilitate independence so that eventually students will advocate for themselves and have strategies to tackle a variety of assignments and obstacles.”

Supporting students means supporting families, and the CTL faculty help parents understand the results of their child’s neuropsychological testing. Over the summer, Dr. Pottratz spends “a lot of time meeting with every individual family that is going to be scheduled in the CTL. We go over all data and history and test evaluations. For the 70+ students and families we speak to, every single family says they chose MBS for the support we provide.”

That’s the goal: provide robust programming, offer individual support, and teach students strategies to find success within a challenging college prep curriculum. Part of student success is connected to faculty outreach and training.

In a recent teacher workshop, CTL staff met with the World Language Department to wrestle with the fundamental question: How do you help a child who struggles with reading in English? What are strategies for finding success in a foreign language? The CTL experts help teachers understand

accommodations and ways to differentiate instruction. While learning objectives are the same for all students, some students qualify for accommodations. For example, all 9th Graders investigate the fall of the Roman Empire and need to identify four main factors that led to its demise. Students might demonstrate their knowledge through an essay, song, or poem, yet students with accommodations might get extra time to complete the in-class essay.

As the School’s original center, the CTL continues to be a light for students who felt insecure about their educational story but are revising those narratives with a much happier ending.

Center for Academic Writing It’s early October and the entire 7th Grade is cycling through the Center for Academic Writing (CAW) as they learn to script podcasts while studying the “Age of Exploration” in History class. Armed with research about European explorers and Indigenous peoples of the Americas, they listen to models and then practice crafting open-ended questions that will reveal historically accurate narratives and capture a listener’s attention.

Twelfth Grade Environmental Science classes visit a few days later, with a focus on academic argument.

They too are armed with research. This time about the problems with plastic and equally, the practical and socioeconomic difficulties of replacing plastics on a global scale. Students are partaking in a series of debates and are learning rhetorical strategies to both acknowledge their opponent’s arguments but also to support and defend their own evidence.

More than a decade ago, Morristown Beard fully committed to integrating academic writing across the curriculum. At times, it was challenging to imagine where writing tasks might live in an art or math class.

But the philosophy is simple: Writing is thinking. As the School embraced low stakes written assignments (ungraded, short response, reflections) and high stakes ones (process-oriented, graded, formal), it was clear that writing made thinking visible across divisions and departments.

The Center for Academic Writing launched in 2012, along with an honors elective entitled “Writing Center Theory & Practice.” Every spring, English and History teachers make recommendations, and those students submit writing samples and take part in an interview process. Approximately a dozen are chosen to train as peer tutors; they will assume a leadership role and lead fellow students through a variety of written tasks.

The Center is situated between the library and the first floor of Grant Hall. With oversized windows giving a glimpse of the softball and football fields, the space is cozy and intimate. Round tables help dispel any sense of hierarchy. Peer and faculty tutors sit elbow to elbow with students, working as coaches and collaborators. Overstuffed chairs invite students to stay awhile. While in the past, writing was perhaps perceived as a deeply personal task done in the confines of home, the process is demystified in the CAW. If writing is thinking, then being able to think aloud and receive real-time feedback only strengthens what lands on the page.

Depending on the time of year, the CAW is filled with seniors (polishing college essays and supplements), juniors working on History capstones, sophomores articulating claims in their Chemistry lab reports, or Middle School students taking on an 8th Grade project. At the end of each semester, students from all levels and departments seek feedback as they attempt to submit their best work.

Like so much of the interdisciplinary work across campus, teachers collaborate and build off each other’s strengths. CAW Director Kate Sheleg Muttick ’97 partners with faculty on assignment design, and she creates one or more workshops to help students with specific skills and tasks. From invention activities that lead to topic selection to revisions strategies like reverse outlines, when students work through all stages of the writing process, they end up with the strongest product. Giving testimony to the effectiveness of the MBS academic writing program are many alumni, who report being well prepared for the assignments that await in college and beyond.

Middle School Class Uses Centers for Learning With a project-based curriculum, 7th Grade History treats the entire Morristown Beard campus as its classroom. While studying the age of exploration, students recently paired with partners to investigate essential questions: How did the Columbian Exchange change Europe and the Americas? How did indigenous people react to the Europeans? To answer those questions, they took to the microphone and produced podcasts. First, classes visited the library and learned both the art of research and how to use scholarly databases. During the script writing process, students visited the Center for Academic Writing three times.

Workshop topics included structuring their scripts, writing for listeners, and revising with the help of Upper School writing tutors. Finally, armed with their episode notes and scripts, they headed into the CID audio studio to record and blend sound effects and music.

Pseudo time traveling history detectives, these students are now experts in their topics and in a broad range of skills.

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Stories of Excellence

Teaching& Learning in

Human Scale Class Creates Furniture Last May, students in Matt Martino’s Human Scale class unveiled three pieces of full-sized cardboard furniture that they created for the Beard Hall reception area. The students began the project in December, responding to a prompt to create custom seating that brings people together. The students persevered through many different design phases, concepts, and prototypes to convey a message of togetherness and inclusivity. The fully functional furniture was displayed in front of the Admission Office for the remainder of the spring semester and throughout the summer.

This fall, the class began the year by studying modularity and working with concrete as a medium to create their own bucket stools.

The students explored how to cast concrete and they connected it

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to modularity based on the form they poured the concrete in—in this case, a classic 5-gallon bucket.

Human Scale is an advanced design studio course open to juniors and seniors that lies at the intersection of design, art, science and engineering. Students bring their varied creative experience and work both digitally and hands-on in a collaborative studio environment.

They spend a full year working on a series of large-scale team-based projects that incorporate all of their prerequisite skills and experience.

New Center for Quantitative Reasoning Opens This Fall This fall, Morristown Beard School introduced the Center for Quantitative Reasoning (CQR), a support center providing a place for students to strengthen foundational skills, receive extra help on their coursework, and explore an interest in mathematics that goes beyond the classroom. The new Center, under the direction of faculty member Rose Costanzo, is open to students in grades 6-12 for both drop-in assistance and scheduled appointments.

At these meetings, students will be able to ask content-specific questions and receive general support by means of small lessons and additional practice. Located in the Math & Science Center, the CQR will provide the opportunity for entire classes to complete workshops during particular units. In the coming years, the expectation is to develop a peer tutoring program akin to programs in other Centers.

See feature story on all four Centers starting on page 30.

3D-Printed Specimens Created for “Biology Museum” Dr. Dennis Evangelista created many of the non-human vertebrate “specimens” (including life-sized Tyrannosaurus Rex and Megalodon teeth and a variety of skulls) for his biology class using the 3D printers in the School’s Center for Innovation & Design (CID). Students were invited to explore the museum and sketch or write about any object they found to be particularly interesting.

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IN THE CLASSROOM

Mathematical Physics Class Creates Accessible Boardwalk Games Ninth Grade students in Dr. Chris Payette’s Mathematical Physics Honors class were tasked with designing a boardwalk or amusement game that would be accessible to individuals with a particular disability. The game designs included a version of ski ball for individuals with muscular dystrophy, a ball catapult game for people suffering from arthritis, and a ball launch game for those with cerebral palsy. When the students unveiled their creations during class, they had to review the rules for each game, demonstrate how they increased its accessibility, and explain the underlying physics and calculations behind the design.

Mathematical Physics Honors is geared towards 9th Grade students with very strong algebra skills and who are intent on pursuing further advanced science courses.

Environmental Science Students Debate Pros and Cons of Plastic Manufacturing Should plastic manufacturing be banned? In groups of three, students in Dr. Sara Chuang’s Environmental Science classes engaged in a series of debates and explored the issue from different perspectives by taking turns arguing the affirmative and negative position to the question. The students that debated the pro-plastic position cited the material’s durability, versatility, low production cost, and lightweight advantages. The cons focused on the dangers including concerns about harmful chemicals added as stabilizers and colorants, the material’s non-degradable properties, and the amount of landfill space required for disposal. The third student in each group served as a judge and evaluated the arguments before sharing key points with the rest of the class.

In the Environmental Science course, students investigate the interactions between human society and the Earth System. The course, open to juniors and seniors, focuses on case studies involving the formulation of policies in response to various pressures and threats that arise between societal and natural systems. Some examples include climate change, energy policy, and coastal flooding.

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Art Students Complete Projects Inspired by University of Virginia Exhibit Inspired by the “Critical Lines” exhibition at the University of Virginia by Andrea Ruedy Trimble, Laurie Hartman decided to bring the pen and ink landscapes project to her Art 2 classes last June. Ms. Hartman shared Ms. Trimble’s artist’s statement, biography, and images of her work with her classes. The students were then asked to walk around campus, their towns, neighborhoods, or any other place they chose or happened to be traveling to, and look for “forgotten landscapes” to photograph. Then, with pen and ink, using only “lines,” they recreated their image and added accents of color to highlight and lead the viewer’s eye toward a specific area of interest.

Middle School Students Demonstrate Jewelry Design Techniques Students in Jeanine Erickson’s Jewelry Fabrication and Design class created “how-to” videos to demonstrate the different ringmaking techniques that they learned while creating their pieces.

In this course, students learn basic principles of design and jewelry fabrication by working with copper, brass, and silverfilled wire and sheet. They are also encouraged to incorporate nonmetal objects into their work. They learn how to cut, drill, file, and hammer metal. Wire work, chain maille, and installing manufactured rivets is also covered in the course.

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Beyond the

Classroom TRIP TO THE JERSEY SHORE

A visit to Sandy Hook, New Jersey (part of the Gateway National Recreation Area), provided 6th Graders the opportunity to gain first-hand experience and make connections with some of the concepts they studied in their geography and science classes. Students learned about beach erosion, local wildlife, salt marsh ecology, and the history of the Sandy Hook area.

SERVICE TRIP TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC As part of the School’s Global Studies initiative, 12 students and three chaperones volunteered in the Dominican Republic last June. The group’s first service project was in San Pedro, where the students leveled a dirt floor, mixed cement, and laid a concrete floor for a family in the community.

They also traveled to Jarabacoa and worked on environmental infrastructures and built several outdoor cooking stoves for the local community.

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COMMUNITY SERVICE Offering our time, service, and friendship

nourish.NJ Members of the MBS football team and their families engaged in a service project to benefit nourish.NJ, a local food pantry. More than 150 breakfast bags for local children were assembled.

SNAP Michael Urbach ’25 earned the Silver Presidential Volunteer Service Award for his volunteer work with SNAP (Special Needs Athletic Programs) of Morristown. In addition to being engaged in weekly mentoring at SNAP’s sports clinics, Michael created a scavenger hunt for the participants.

Interfaith Food Pantry Jennifer Dubeck’s 6th Grade advisory kicked off the Middle School’s community service partnership with a trip to the Interfaith Food Pantry in Morris Plains in October. The students learned about food insecurity and got a tour of the facility before helping to sort food items. Each 6th Grade advisory will be visiting the IFP twice during the year.

Goryeb Children’s Hospital Kevin Fraga ’26 organized a charity ice hockey game, “Hockey Helping Kids,” to benefit Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown. Several students from MBS participated in the game, which supported the Child Life Supplies Fund to help provide toys, games, and Netflix accounts for each patient’s room.

The Neighborhood House MBS 7th Graders recorded videos of themselves reading stories for the preschoolers at The Neighborhood House in Morristown. They also donated the actual books and made cards for each classroom.

Grow-A-Row MBS faculty and staff participated in a service project at the America’s Grow-A-Row farm in Milford, New Jersey. They learned about the organization’s mission and its commitment to combating food insecurity before heading out to the fields to harvest more than 50,000 pounds of corn that will provide more than 228,000 servings of healthy produce to be donated to food banks, food pantries, soup kitchens, and crisis centers in New Jersey, New York City, and Philadelphia.

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CRIMSON CORNER

SPRING & FALL SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS S P RI NG Boys Lacrosse The boys lacrosse team had some highlight wins last season, posting an overtime Senior Day victory over Hanover Park as well as a 16-10 triumph over Cedar Grove. The Crimson were seeded seventh in the Prep Tournament and fell in the quarterfinal round to Princeton Day School.

Softball The softball team clinched the conference title with a hard-fought 4-3 win over Parsippany High School. The Crimson finished the year with a record of 11-8 and advanced to the semifinals of the Prep Tournament.

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Boys Tennis Boys tennis had a tremendous season, posting a 12-7 record and finishing as co-champions of the NJAC Liberty Division.

The Crimson placed fifth out of 21 schools in the Morris County Tournament.

Girls Lacrosse The girls lacrosse team finished the year with a solid 10-9 record. The Crimson won their first-round State Tournament game with a convincing 16-2 win over St. Rose before falling to Montclair Kimberly in a hardfought 9-6 contest.

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CRIMSON CORNER

Track & Field Members of the track and field team accumulated nearly 200 personal records this past season and broke School records in the girls 100-meters (Raidah Karriem ’25), girls 200-meters (Chloe Higgins ’24), boys 200-meters (Spencer Anderson ’24), and long jump and pole vault (Tristen Miscia ’23). Both the boys and girls teams placed third in the Prep Championships.

Boys Golf It was another impressive year for the boys golf team, which captured the Prep B championship, placed second in Non-Public B North, and placed 12th at the Tournament of Champions. They won the LBI Wildcat Invitational to begin the season and finished second in the Kinnelon Golf Classic.

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Baseball Highlights for the baseball team included a 9-8 come-from-behind win over Madison High School and a 9-0 victory over Boonton High School. In the Prep Tournament, MBS was seeded 8th and lost a tough quarterfinal matchup to Pennington.

Girls Golf The girls golf team finished the year with an impressive 10-5 record. The Crimson placed second at the Morris County Tournament and qualified for the NJSIAA State Tournament for the first time in School history.

The team finished in second place in the NJAC Conference.

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FA LL

Football The football team enjoyed a winning season under first-year Head Coach Tahj Valentine ’18.

They finished with a 5-3 regular season record including a 33-7 Homecoming victory over Newark Academy.

Senior Marcello Laracca ’24 was named the Morris Sussex Football Player of the Week twice as he rushed for 350 yards and 179 yards in consecutive games.

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Girls Tennis The girls tennis team showed improvement throughout the year and notched impressive victories over Parsippany and Madison. The team’s 5-0 win over Madison on October 2 marked the 100th career victory for Head Coach Brett Michel ’86, P ’20, P ’23.

Cross Country The cross country team worked hard, had fun, and posted numerous personal records under first-year Head Coach Barbara Erickson. Nick Troiano ’25 was 10th overall at the NJAC Championships (17:17), and Ian Patchett ’24 ran a 17:57 at the Morris County Championships.

Riley Schmid ’27 finished second overall at the NJAC Girls Freshman/Sophomore race, and Indiya Weinmann ’25 set a PR at the Morris County Championship meet.

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CRIMSON CORNER

Boys Soccer The boys soccer team posted memorable wins this year over Whippany Park and Belvidere.

The Crimson also played one of their best games late in the season against Parsippany, scoring a second half goal as they finished with a 1-1 draw.

Volleyball The volleyball team enjoyed a very successful season, capturing the NJAC – Independence title with a perfect 10-0 record. The Crimson posted a 17-5 regular season record overall, led by seniors Colleen Ewing ’24 and Ellen Manke ’24, who finished in the top-10 in kills, assists, and aces in the NJAC conference.

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Girls Soccer The girls soccer team finished the regular season with a solid 7-5 conference record and an 8-9 mark overall. The team was led offensively by junior forward Jess Byrne ’25, who tallied 18 goals and was named NJAC Offensive Player of the Week in mid-October.

Field Hockey The field hockey team (9-8) advanced to the semifinal round of the Morris County Tournament this year following an exciting 2-1 win over 2ndseeded Mendham in the quarterfinals.

The Crimson were led offensively by senior Ryland McDonald ’24, who was named NJAC Offensive Player of the Week after scoring five goals and 11 points in Morristown Beard’s win over Whippany Park along with another goal in a huge upset win over West Morris.

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POWERFULLY PREPARED

The alumni in this issue demonstrate that our graduates are exceedingly well-prepared for college, careers, and beyond.

Passionate and hardworking, these alumni are making meaningful contributions, and we are proud to be a part of their journey.

By Steve Patchett

JEFF PRYSTOWSKY ’02

From Barre Chords to the Bar Exam During his days at MBS, Jeff Prystowsky ’02 was widely known as “Jeff the bassist.” “Since Middle School, I went everywhere with my bass guitar. I even slept with my bass. Like surfers carrying their surfboards anticipating the next wave, I was always ready to catch a musical idea,” he explained.

For the past 17 years, Jeff has played with his band, The Low Anthem, releasing six albums, touring around the world, and appearing on national TV shows like The Late Show with David Letterman and Later with Jools Holland.

Recently, however, he added a new identity—“Jeff the lawyer.” “When my first child was born, I really started to pare back from touring and rethink my lifestyle,” he said. “So I decided to reinvent myself in my thirties as an intellectual property attorney.” In 2020, he enrolled at Roger Williams University School of Law, where his studies centered on music and law in the digital age. Last May, Jeff graduated as Valedictorian of his class, and, appropriately enough, delivered his Commencement address in the form of a song.

“At first, I quickly wrote a vanilla speech that anyone could write. I read it to my wife and she told me it was so underwhelming it could have been written by artificial intelligence. She said, ‘I want you to go downstairs and write a song that no other valedictorian could write but you.’ So I literally flipped the pages over from my first speech and wrote the song that night with a red pen that she used to edit the first draft.”

Jeff will now begin working as an intellectual property litigator in the Boston office of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius—a firm where he was a summer associate in law school. “I enjoy the practice of law, and here’s one way to think about it—instead of persuading music fans and record label executives, I will now be persuading judges and juries.”

He plans to commute to Boston from his home in Providence, Rhode Island— site of his alma mater, Brown University. “I went to Brown to study music and writing. I loved the experience so much that I never left Providence,” he said. “It has been a constant source of creative energy for me through the years.”

Jeff has also found tremendous inspiration from his days at Morristown Beard School and three teachers in particular—John Sheppard, John Mascaro, and Jeanine Erickson. “I played baseball for Coach Shep all my years at MBS,”

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he said. “Shep believed in me as a pitcher and trusted me with the ball. That confidence led me to throw two no-hitters. I still have the balls from those games. Shep is baseball royalty in my mind and taught me a lot about mental and physical preparation.”

He said that English teacher Dr. John Mascaro became his “writing guru and general mind expander.” “Doc came from California and brought with him a West Coast approach to creative writing—and life—that I had never seen before,” he said. “Even outside the classroom, he was there for me, whether to advise on issues of the heart, art, or politics.”

Music teacher Jeanine Erickson encouraged Jeff ’s musical ability from the very beginning. “She let me compose for the jazz band and always opened her room for practicing with my musical classmates,” he said. “She played all kind of instruments and is the only musician I have ever played with who referenced the hands of a clock to get the right time for a musical piece!”

Jeff continues to stay in touch with all three teachers today, and is grateful for the lessons that they have passed along. He encourages today’s MBS students to dream big, be themselves, and create their life through the choices they make.

“Question well-trodden paths and fixed routines. The next moment is never scripted,” he said. “Widen your field of view. The best version of yourself is still ahead of you.”

DR. ANNA GRUSHEVSKY SUESSMAN ’05

A Childhood Dream to Help Children Achieving her childhood dream of becoming a pediatrician may have seemed like an insurmountable challenge for Dr. Anna Grushevsky Suessman ’05, who immigrated to the United States at the age of nine.

Her family’s decision to relocate to America was rooted in the hope of securing a brighter future, yet Anna didn’t speak a word of English when she arrived, and her mother lost her battle to cancer within the first year of their move.

“Confronting such adversity at a young age was undeniably challenging,” said Anna. “Yet, this childhood dream of mine was unwavering, and I was not going to let anything stand in my way.”

Due to financial strain brought on by her mother’s illness, Anna’s father had to seek welfare assistance and work tirelessly beyond retirement age to provide for her. “It became evident to me that I wanted to excel in my education, and I made the decision to attend a private high school,” Anna said. “The moment I set foot on the MBS campus, I felt it was the perfect fit for me. Fortunately, I was granted a scholarship to attend my dream high school.”

At MBS, Anna immersed herself in a wide array of activities. She was active in student government, theater productions, and various clubs, all while serving as a part-time office manager and medical assistant in a pediatric office. During her senior year, she authored her inaugural case report, later published in a medical journal in 2007. She also dedicated holidays and summers to volunteering in a pediatric emergency department. To enrich her overall growth, Anna also studied abroad in Montpelier, France during her junior year at MBS. “What truly made my time at MBS exceptional was the profound sense of community and the remarkable educators who played a pivotal role in shaping my path,” said Anna. “One individual who stands out prominently is (Receptionist) Kathy Hemmer. Even nearly two decades since my graduation, she remains an integral part of my life, serving as a mentor and a cherished friend.”

Anna graduated as the MBS Valedictorian before continuing her premedical preparation at the University of Rochester, where she received a full scholarship. She majored in Public Health with a minor in Organic Chemistry and American Sign Language (ASL). She completed her physician degree at the University of Medicine and Dentistry – New Jersey before embarking on a pediatric internship and residency at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center through the University of Connecticut.

She later honed her skills in Pediatric Emergency Medicine and reinforced her passion for teaching at Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital. “I discovered that parents, during their children’s most vulnerable moments of illness, require both medical guidance and compassionate teaching,” she explained. During this time, she decided to formally pursue a Master of Education (MEd) degree, which led to her first job after fellowship training.

In 2018, she was recruited by Ochsner Health/Ochsner Hospital for Children as the Director of Education. Since 2019, she has guided residents, medical students, and new faculty through the world of academia within healthcare. She played a pivotal role initiating two residency programs (Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics), reshaped curricula as the Clerkship Director for University of Queensland and Tulane Medical School’s students learning pediatrics, and, most recently, led in the role of Director of Faculty Development.

Beginning in January, she will assume the role of Medical Director and Regional Advisor for Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Medical City Children’s Hospital in Dallas.

While her career may define her, Anna says that family is the most important part of her life. “I couldn’t have achieved this without the support of my husband, Rush, whom I married in 2018. And my most cherished achievement is becoming a mother. In 2019 and 2021, I welcomed two daughters—Zoe Rae (4 years old) and Riley Quinn (2 years old). My daughters are amazing, spirited, determined, fierce, and at times, just a bit bossy—taking after their mother.”

Anna advises today’s MBS students to find gratitude in every experience and to pursue their dreams relentlessly. “Regardless of the obstacles or setbacks that life may present, stay committed to your path and childhood dream,” she said. “And always keep in mind that your family forms the bedrock of your journey.”

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ALUMNI MOMENTS

FBI Agent John Robertson ’97 Teaches Field Study Course John Robertson ’97 returned to campus last spring to teach a field study course on The Ethics of Investigation. As part of this pilot program, students examined ethics and the criminal justice system in hypothetical, real, and theoretical ways.

In the hypothetical, students acted as federal agents working a fraud case from inception to conclusion. They interviewed and developed informants, witnesses, and co-conspirators regarding a fraud perpetrated within the so-called Crimson Financial Group. They collected and examined evidence and weighed the merits and ethics of certain investigative techniques. In the real, students examined ethical dilemmas facing law enforcement investigations such as the necessity for secrecy regarding ongoing investigations, the use of surveillance techniques as they relate to the Fourth Amendment, and policies regarding the use of deadly force. In the theoretical, students have read ancient Roman and Greek authors whose notions of justice remain as fresh today as they did 2,000 years ago.

Kristy Cotter ’15 Delivers Cum Laude Address A Registered Nurse at Hackensack Meridian Health, Kristy returned to campus last April to deliver the Cum Laude Address at a special All-School Meeting. As part of her address, Kristy spoke about switching career paths from finance to nursing. She reminded the students that life isn’t linear and it’s important to follow your passions.

At MBS, Kristy excelled in the classroom as well as on the playing fields. She was inducted into the Cum Laude Society and the Spanish Honor Society and received the Nancy Carolyn Hoyer Memorial Award at Commencement for best exemplifying integrity, responsibility, friendliness, and school spirit.

Brett Michel ’86 P ’20, ’23 Reaches 100 Wins MBS head coach Brett Michel ’86 P ’20, ’23 picked up his 100th career win with the boys tennis team on May 8 when the Crimson defeated Gill St. Bernard’s. Coach Michel, alumnus and parent to Ian Michel ’23 and Molly Michel ’20, has coached the varsity boys tennis team for 13 seasons (2007-2010, 2015-present). He has also coached the varsity girls tennis team for 11 seasons (2013-present).

At MBS, Coach Michel was a three-year varsity tennis player (19841986) before playing on the collegiate level for Drew University. In 2000, he was ranked #2 in the Eastern Men’s 25 and over Division.

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Nicole Borowiec ’19 Honored at Providence College Nicole Borowiec ’19 was honored last spring at the Providence College All-Sports Gala for earning the highest cumulative GPA of all student-athletes. Nicole was a track and field athlete at Providence and graduated in May 2023 with a double major in Psychology and Sociology.

At Morristown Beard School, Nicole excelled in indoor and outdoor track as well as girls varsity field hockey. In spring track, she set School records in the 400-hurdles (1:03.45) and 100-hurdles (14.9) and advanced to the Meet of Champions for three years in a row. In her senior year, she captured state championships in the 100-hurdles as well as the 100-meters. Nicole was named First Team NJAC-Liberty Division in her junior and senior seasons.

Trevor Baptiste ’14 Captures Second Gold Medal Trevor Baptiste ’14 helped Team USA repeat as Men’s World Lacrosse Champions with a 10-7 victory over Canada in July in San Diego.

This was Baptiste’s second gold medal as he also led Team USA to the title in 2018. In this year’s championship game, Baptiste went 10-for-18 in faceoffs with five ground balls and a caused turnover. In the seven-game tournament, he finished 59-for-79 (.747), while picking up 35 ground balls and providing two assists off draws.

Field Hockey Alumnae Enjoy Game on Burke Field On June 17, former MBS field hockey players from the classes of 1997 to 2023 gathered for a field hockey game on campus. Everyone enjoyed getting back on the field and catching up with old friends!

Bridget Monaghan’s ’19 Jersey Displayed at Women’s Hall of Fame The basketball jersey of Bridget Monaghan ’19 is on display in the Ring of Honor at the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tennessee through May 2024 in recognition of her outstanding play during her senior season at the University of Scranton. The Ring of Honor is an exhibit to honor the nation’s top players at every level.

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ALUMNI MOMENTS

Finn Wentworth ’76 Inducted into New Jersey Hall of Fame

Mr. Wentworth is founder and partner of the Morristown-based Maple Partners, a private investment firm targeting growth opportunities. Previously, he was a founder and partner of Normandy Real Estate Partners which was founded in 2002 and sold to Columbia Property Trust in 2020. Prior to forming Normandy, he was president, chief operating officer and board member of YankeeNets LLC, the holding company of the New York Yankees, New Jersey Nets, and New Jersey Devils, where he also helped form the organization's media company, The Yankee Entertainment Sports (YES) Network. His more than 35 years of real estate experience includes co-founding Gale & Wentworth, a nationally recognized investment and development firm that assembled a multi-billion-dollar property portfolio. Mr. Wentworth is a member of NJBIZ Magazine's 2011 Hall of Fame which recognized his long-term commitment to business success in New Jersey.

Also active in community and philanthropic endeavors, he has been honored by several hospitals and charitable organizations. Mr. Wentworth is currently a member of the Board of Trustees at Morristown Medical Center. He was chairman of the Foundation for Morristown Medical Center and a director of the Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge Foundation. He served on the Board of the U.S. Olympic Rowing Team, and he received the Jack Kelly Citizenship Award from the U.S. Rowing Association. As an alumnus of MBS, he received the Morristown Beard School Distinguished Alumni Award and was inducted into the MBS Athletic Hall of Fame.

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Photo by Bryan Bedder/Variety via Getty Images

Congratulations to Morristown Beard School alumnus Finn Wentworth ’76, who was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame on October 29. Mr. Wentworth is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and investor in major commercial real estate and sports ventures. He is part of the 15th class of inductees, which includes famed Giants running back Tiki Barber, singer-songwriter Patti Scialfa, and Sopranos filmmaker David Chase, among others.

NEW ADDITIONS Alumni Board Welcomes New Members MBS is happy to announce the appointment of four new board members. In true MBS fashion, these alumni bring to our community the unity, spirit, and dedication coveted among our past and present MBS community.

Stephen Chiarello ’99

Stephen attended Drew University after MBS, receiving both a B.A. and M.Litt. He is currently a Managing Partner and Chief Underwriting Officer at Joseph Chiarello & Co, where he has worked since 2007. Stephen takes pride in being business partners with his brother, Joseph, as the third generation of an 89-year-old familyowned business. Stephen started his insurance career at AIG. “I had developmental setbacks after complications from open heart surgery as a child. My parents and I decided MBS was the right choice for me to attend due to the structure and focus on academic tracking. I credit my hard work, ethics, leadership skills, and my persistence in work and personal life to my time at MBS. While attending MBS, I enjoyed playing on the varsity tennis team and managing the varsity men’s hockey team for my junior and senior year. After graduation, I returned to assist coaching the men’s tennis team,” said Stephen.

Stephen resides in Summit, NJ with his wife Maggie and three children Amelia, Eloise and Robert.

Jordan Deombeleg Anthony ’06

After graduating from Morristown Beard, Jordan attended Bucknell University where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and History. For the past 13 years, she has worked in Financial Services and Recruitment. Jordan started her career at The Bank of New York Mellon within Wealth Management, but then transitioned into executive search at Michael Page and then Dore Partnership.

She currently works at Davidson Kempner Capital Management as the US Head of Human Resources Business Partners and Recruitment.

Jordan grew up in Bernardsville, New Jersey and attended Morristown Beard for high school. “I chose Morristown Beard for the rigorous academic curriculum; competitive sports programs and it’s loving and supportive community. I was a three-sport varsity athlete for the majority of my Mo-Beard career, playing tennis, ice hockey and lacrosse. As an athlete, I was afforded the opportunity to make lifelong friends and receive incredible mentorship. From an academic standpoint, I received a world class education and learned invaluable skills that made my transition into college a bit less daunting. I was fully prepared to handle independent learning and time management, which I noticed many of my Bucknell classmates were lacking freshman year,” said Jordan.

Jordan lives in Hoboken, New Jersey with her husband Campbell and their three children, Carson, Lander and Miller.

Ryan Green ’17

Upon graduating from Morristown Beard, Ryan attended Lafayette College, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and Law. After graduating from Lafayette in 2021, Ryan continued his education at Fordham University School of Law. This past summer, he was a Summer Associate at Cahill Gordon & Reindel and accepted an offer to return upon graduation. He currently resides in New York City and spends his free time playing golf, basketball, and traveling with family and friends.

“I returned to campus to remember the incredible Eddie Franz last year. The impact he made on me and countless other individuals in the Morristown Beard and surrounding communities inspired me to become more involved with my alma mater. I look forward to giving back to a place made special by those such as Coach Franz,” said Ryan.

Alumni Association Morristown Beard School

Alumni Board members work to promote a mutually-beneficial and rewarding relationship between Morristown Beard School and its alumni and are looked upon for their engagement, dedication, and leadership. Alumni Board members make meaningful contributions of their time, talents, and wisdom to the School and its students.

They connect the traditions of the past with the vibrant future of our students.

Alumni Board members meet three times throughout the school year. Term limits are three years with possible extension.

2023-2024 Alumni Board Members

Jordan (Deombeleg) Anthony ’06 Christina (Toth) Breen ’95 Nancy “Taz” (Tasman) Brower ’47, P’86 (Emeritus) Stephen Chiarello ’99 Matthew Engel ’07 Laura Geron ’08 Ryan Green ’17 Tiffany Halo ’01 KC Hnat Joubran ’84, P ’24, President Brian Kilduff ’05 Todd McConnell ’02 Rosalie Small ’84

Interested in serving on the Alumni Board?

Please contact Maggie Ranger at alumni@mbs.net or 973-532-7588.

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ALUMNI MOMENTS

MBS Community Enjoys Reception at Bay Head Yacht Club Members of the Morristown Beard School community— alumni, current and incoming parents, and friends— enjoyed an evening of food and drinks overlooking Barnegat Bay in July at the Bay Head Yacht Club. Alumni in attendance spanned more than 35 years—from the Class of 1984 through the Class of 2021. Many thanks to Justin and Lee Kellogg Sadrian ’89, P ’26, ’28 for hosting this lovely event!

SUBMIT YOUR CLASS NOTE TODAY FOR THE SPRING 2024 CRIMSON! Keep the MBS community updated on your latest personal, professional, and civic achievements.

Please email alumni@mbs.net or scan the QR code by March 1, 2024 to be included in the next issue of Crimson.

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Homecoming & Reunion 2023 Despite the rainy weather on Saturday, September 23, an enthusiastic crowd of alumni turned out to celebrate Homecoming & Reunion.

The day began with the induction of John Sheppard, beloved coach, teacher, and mentor, into the MBS Athletic Hall of Fame. In the afternoon, alumni gathered in the “MBS Skybox” in Wilkie Hall to enjoy food, drink, conversation, and to watch the MBS football team defeat Newark Academy. The day ended with an alumni cocktail party.

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The Kirby Mile is held in memory of alumnus and former Trustee Allan P. Kirby, Jr. ’49, P ’75, GP ’01, who passed away in 2020.

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Although the 31st running of The Kirby Mile couldn’t be held during the Homecoming festivities due to the weather, it was rescheduled for Saturday, October 14 during halftime of the MBS football game against Pingry. First place went to Nick Troiano ’25 with a time of 4:48.

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CLASS NOTES

KC Joubran ’84, P ’24 President, MBS Alumni Board

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Need volunteer or event information?

Please visit www.mbsconnect.net or email alumni@mbs.net

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Beyond connecting virtually, let’s also continue to find ways to connect in person. Perhaps you’re in an area with a contingent of old classmates and want to host an alumni event. The Alumni Board—and Office of Advancement—would love to hear from you and support you through the planning process. Whether you’d like to open your home to an event or gather alumni to play pickleball, golf, watch a professional sports game, or attend an art opening, let us know! Please contact alumni@mbs.net and we can start the planning process.

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During the game, I also overheard alumni connecting and networking, finding commonalities and sharing professional experiences. It reminded me how important our alumni network is and that there are different ways to both use the network and also contribute to it. If you are looking for a mentor or trying to learn about a particular company or organization, please consider visiting MBS Connect, our alumni networking portal, to see what other alumni are doing in that field. Similarly, if your company would consider mentoring a current student in a senior project or has advice for a young alum launching their career, please consider posting your services on our alumni portal.

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From students recording podcasts in an audio booth to a makerspace full of 3D printers and other tools, or to a broadcasting studio where students are filming news reels, anything that a student can imagine, they can create. I remember that entrepreneurial spirit when I was a student, and it’s exciting to hear how students are supported to develop and deepen their passions.

Ann Probert writes, “Since losing my wonderful husband, Ted, in July 2022, this past year has had some upturns. My grandchild, Emily Sirbaugh, is having my first great grandchild in November. She will be named Schuyler, my middle name. Our younger son David, still lives in Hong Kong.

He, his daughter, Leslie, and I are going to Boudreaux and Spain in October. I was thrilled to be inducted into the NJ Golfers Hall of Fame last May. Will return to home in Florida for winter. In all, I feel fortunate.”

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I remember Wilkie Hall as a black box theater. Yet on Homecoming, we stood in a state of-the-art computer science lab, with huge glass windows overlooking the football field. It was a skybox of sorts, and our alumni gathered to both cheer on the team and each other. Some visitors took a tour of campus, amazed by all the campus improvements and the opportunities students have—especially in the Center for Innovation and Design.

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On a very soggy day in September, a number of alumni gathered in the back room of Wilkie Hall to celebrate Homecoming & Reunion and a big Crimson football team win! As I chatted with different members of our alumni community—who had traveled from different towns and cities along the east coast to connect with old friends—we laughed at our old memories of campus compared to the incredible facilities present today.

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Dear Fellow Alumni,

Carolyn Clarkson Markham is keeping busy maintaining her home and garden but is disappointed that she can no longer travel as she enjoyed doing it in past years. She says hello to all she knew through the years. She would love to hear from you at cmredfox3@gmail.com.

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Updates From the

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Ken Phillips shares, “After graduating from Morristown and with degrees from Princeton, Michigan and NYU, my initial career was as fundraiser, executive director, and board chair for AIESEC, Save the Children, Plan International, InterAction, and the International Red Cross Federation. My second career was training and consulting for NGO leaders in more than 35 countries with nonstop travel (100+ countries) for 25 years. I love travel and cultural experiences.”

He adds, “My third career is writing what I’ve learned in all of those years with books on leadership when you’re not the boss, strategic planning, strategies for fundraising, and the importance of trust and impact for NGOs (www.NGOFutures.com). I am now writing on ‘Governance, Management and Teams for Nonprofits with Clues for Corporate Executives.’ My last book will be 25 essays by young people about what they think is most important to improve in the world with five to eight doable steps for each issue for

what every reader can do where they study or work, in their neighborhoods and family, and everywhere else. Morristown School played a powerful role in the development of my thinking and my leadership and management. Meetings with classmates have been highlights of my life.”

Doug Mockett reports: “Things are well here in Los Angeles with an amazing summer highlighted by concert/picnic evenings at The Hollywood Bowl. Rita and I are doing great, we just celebrated 11 years of wedded bliss! And both of us are in good health, thankfully. And enjoying life. The big excitement is that after 60+ years of racing cars ‘The Big One’ had to happen sooner or later. And it did, May 2, racing a vintage stock car on open roads of northern Mexico. Car went off the road, down into a cow dung strewn ravine at, shall we say, an ‘excessive’ rate of speed, but here I am, a few operations later. Quite right, Rita was not happy. Car was a mess but thanks to truly sturdy construction came out of it pretty well; has been rebuilt and a friend will drive it in the 2500 mile, 7-day Carrera Panamericana in October. I’ll start racing next year. Still running the furniture components biz I founded in 1980 and loving it; now trying how to incorporate AI into it. It is not dull! Wonderful challenges.”

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Thomas McEwan wrote a book about his time in the Peace Corps called: Out in Africa Senegal 1966-1968.

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Charles Coffin writes: “My book TEMPEST continues to do well. It was featured at the Chicago Literature Festival in September. There have been expressions of movie interest.”

Barbara Hardenbrook reports: “Last winter Adventure Barbie, me, did the Balkans! It was a wonderful three-month experience seeing Albania, Montenegro, and southern

Croatia. I travel by myself with a small backpack. I don’t speak any other language but that doesn’t hold me back. I manage quite well and hand gestures work really well.

This winter I am heading to the coast of Turkey and a few of the lesser known Greek islands. I look forward to the adventure of exploring new places! Maine in the summer, spring and fall and then it’s the world!”

Jeanie Hayes said: “No vacation for me! I have a farm and petting zoo in my backyard to tend to with horses, mini horses and donkeys, goats, a pot-belly pig, 18 lb wabbits, 22 chickens, two dogs, one cat, and a Partridge in a Pear Tree. Come visit me in the San Francisco Bay Area!”

Ted Lawson shares: “Liz and I just moved from our home in Buck Hill Falls, Pennsylvania to Fellowship Village (CCRC) in Basking Ridge, New Jersey just miles from where Ted grew up. It’s a lovely retirement community on 76 acres in the rolling hills of Somerset County, New Jersey. We still have our home at Sea Oaks in Vero Beach, Florida. Both of us are well and enjoying life.”

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The Class of 1964 has a pandemic Zoom group that is ongoing, with Julie Glover (Whidbey Island, Washington State), Sharon “Sherry” Grady (Portland, Oregon), Nancy Quad Cochran (Missoula, Montana), Sandy Paine Stewart (Shaker Heights, Ohio), Caroline “Lin” Orchard Smallwood (Pittstown and Bay Head, New Jersey), and Carol Selman (West Orange, New Jersey).

Nancy Quad Cochran and husband Todd Cochran had a remarkable holiday in Scotland, visiting Todd’s son and son’s partner. They all traveled off the tourist track. A fine photographer and a lovely wordsmith, Nancy shared photographs and impressions with her many friends.

Back home, Nancy continues to mentor Syrian families resettled in Missoula.

Nancy also flew east for her Mt. Holyoke reunion, capped with a visit with Penny

Schultz and husband Jody Mishman at their Western Massachusetts home.

“Penny has just retired from a life of choral music conducting but still vigorously farms with Jody, taking care of an amazing variety of fruit trees, vegetables, and even bees,” Nancy writes.

Nancy Wallin Flores, a painter and lifelong dancer, who holds many ballroom dancing titles, sailed through a knee replacement.

She and husband Mark Lessler have plans to travel east from their Napa Valley, California home for a short NYC holiday and then a leisurely cruise to see the Northeastern fall foliage, a first viewing for husband Mark. Nancy and Mark spend what Californians call winter in their second home in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Julie Glover writes: “I live on a magical island north of Seattle and am mostly retired from a long career in international youth development. I am still helping a few programs to replicate aspects of the Manhattan youth development program that I co-founded in 1972 (https://www. door.org).” Julie, an accomplished vocalist, performs with her fellow world musicians.

Sharon “Sherry” Grady and husband Mike Marks made several 2023 trips to visit family in New Mexico. One of her brothers was sadly in hospice and is now gone.

Sherry, Mike, and their three daughters and four delightful grandchildren are all in or near Portland, Oregon. The two keep up just fine with the young ones.

Sherry, another photographer with a discerning eye, sent a record of her and Mike’s trip to Olympic National Park.

She and Mike have transformed their backyard into a wondrous pollinator garden. Sherry also leads a local senior hiking group and enjoys art.

Marty Blackwell Meserole and Sydney Dunn Reed ’63 meet up each summer on Point O’Woods, Fire Island, New York.

The Dunns and the Blackwells have long summered there. Marty writes, “Indeed, I do enjoy seeing Sydney every summer and

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Christine Pence traveled a lot this year to India, Dubai, and the western US, all for photographic interests. She had two photographic articles published on mating practices of western prairie chickens and sage grouse. Next up is a photographic conference in Williamsburg, Virginia and a visit with extended family in Texas that is long overdue.

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Malcolm Miller reports: “My grandson Jenson in Alexandria, Virginia at age 7 is on a 10-12 year old travel baseball team. He plays in the outfield, pitches, and hits line drives. His manager played for the Baltimore Orioles for 14 years. I took him to Yankee Stadium this summer, he is now a Yankees fan. Last year on the 9U team he led his team in batting average. My wife Sherrie thought she was done sitting in the stands as I played 48 years of Men’s Windmill Softball in NJ and 8 different states. Now she is back in the stands watching Jenson play!”

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Emma Kalaidjian and husband Gary Rhodes are enjoying an active retirement in New Hampshire, where she and her family have long vacationed. Both her brothers visit. She enlists her brother for the heavy lifting in her gardens. Em is also active in book, film, and theater discussion groups along with the local garden club.

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Gary Lineberry and his wife Joyce relocated in April from Sunapee, New Hampshire to Pawleys Island, South Carolina. This October they celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

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Sandy Paine Stewart and her husband Bill, lifelong road warriors, were back traveling to visit their orthopedist daughter and her family in Atlanta, then on to a family holiday on Amelia Island in Florida. After their drive home, they met up with their other four children and a few of their 12 grandchildren for a Jackson Hole holiday.

Their eldest grandson is a sophomore at UVA. Their eldest granddaughter is starting Columbia University and will be swimming for the Columbia Lions as well.

“Over the Fourth of July, our children and grandchildren joined us in Shaker Heights to celebrate our 55th wedding anniversary, a wonderful occasion!” Sandy writes.

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Caroline “Lin” Orchard Smallwood took a cruise around Iceland, Norway, and other on-water and on-land destinations. Lin and husband Bob are enjoying the quiet

Holly Berdan Sweetow is most sadly planning a memorial for her dear daughter who died earlier this year. She and husband Alan are a great support for one another and do take time on their San Diego boat, “The Good Ship Hollypop.”

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Carol Selman writes: “I stay close to home and spend most of my time cooking, conducting interviews, writing and viewing possible films for my print only Now Screening, a themed column for an area, print-only magazine. I also have a monthly ARTS BEAT column on www. thefouroranges.com, a publication which many of my Beard friends enjoy reading not only for my work but also for in-depth stories on the towns many of us grew up in or knew.

(Yes, Town Hall Deli is still making Sloppy Joe’s but the rest of So. Orange Village is transformed with outdoor murals, parks, and a major performing arts center.) All marvel at the blossoming of music, art, and theater in all the Oranges. My deepest gratification is researching and writing In Memoriam for Crimson Magazine as well as some special assignments. Husband Bob DeVos, the jazz guitarist, continues to perform—and brilliantly. We share a love of music, art, and lesser-known old films and British TV shows.” Anyone interested in the print column may email Carol for a download. She hopes more ’64 classmates will be in touch.

of September in Bay Head, their summer houseful of family and guests from Lin’s churches having decamped for home.

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we reminisce about Beard. My husband Corky and I have been summering here in Point O’Woods where we met in the early 60’s for a long time. This year we celebrated his 80th birthday with all our kids and grandkids (only three) and just last week with his siblings. We love the easy access from Bronxville, New York but have made the decision to move to Bend, Oregon to a retirement community when a place opens up. There we will be near family. One son lives in Bend, another plans to move there from Portland and our daughter in LA is even toying with the idea of a move there once her youngest graduates from high school! We enjoyed a trip to Egypt this past February with Cork’s brother and sister-in-law—remarkable what they accomplished so long ago! I enjoy hearing about as many classmates as I can.”

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Barbara Baron and Debbie Hall Liotti have been meeting up every year and talking often since they reconnected in 2020. Debbie lives in New Jersey and Barbara in North Carolina. After 50 years went by they picked up their friendship right where they left off during school at MBS. Debbie and Barbara also keep in touch with Sally Shea Heath ’73 who is in Florida now.

Victoria Rockhill Schneider was so sorry she could not attend her class reunion in September. She writes: “I continue to work in ballet in beautiful Boca Raton, Florida.

I am in my 29th year of the same job, in the same place, The HARID Conservatory, a privately funded residential scholarship high school specifically for ballet. We have trained some of the most noted ballet dancers throughout the world. It has been a pleasure without a doubt. I have traveled to Asia every summer for the past 21 years to recruit students for our school.

It is always the highlight of my travels.

I am still in touch with a few of our Beard School ladies, mostly on Facebook or

Instagram as we are scattered across the US. Those friendships from grammar school days are difficult to shake. We have met twice over the years and are due to get together again, I hope! I also cherish being in touch with Gordon Saunders, Dennis Flynn and Peter Chavonelle from our MBS days. They continue to be kind and intelligent “teachers” even outside of MBS. Missing Rose Koch more than ever.

My sister, Christine Rockhill Lane ’70 remains in NJ leading The Lane Team, Compass Realty. They are a top producer for NJ Compass Realty, so if you are looking to sell your home, give them a call. While I do not get to NJ often, it is always a pleasure when I do get there to visit my niece, my two nephews, and their beautiful families.

Not sure when I will be winding down from my labor of love, ballet, but I am pretty sure, I will always be teaching ballet in some capacity! I bet Miss Sutherland is rolling over in her grave as a full-time career in ballet back in 1963 was not exactly what one went to the Beard School for, but I am ever so grateful for the fine education I did receive at both The Beard School and Morristown Beard School. I cannot thank you teachers enough and I still cherish many lasting friendships.”

1974

Bob Namar completed a pro bono communication project by developing and implementing a social media campaign to drive awareness and engagement for a Somerset County civic issue project. His daughter, Ava Namar ’19, was signed to be represented by leading talent agency UTA in NYC. She has been added to the dance roster in Production Arts at UTA.

1976

Steven Zuckerman reports: “My team and I recently produced a feature documentary in Brazil, ‘We the People, We the Power’ focusing on restoring democracy after a four year dictatorship in Brazil. In addition to producing solutions-focused Television for Free Speech TV and consulting for numerous forward-thinking organizations, I am now the Executive Director of a solutionsfocused Network called Mobilized.”

1977

Susan Milford Bandy and Greg Bandy have moved from New York state to Mississippi to be near two of her daughters and her eight grandkids. Recently they traveled through Bluffton, South Carolina and had dinner with Jim Brennan who is retired.

They had a wonderful time catching up. “I also wanted to report the loss/death of one of our classmates. I recently learned that Steve Fitch passed away in Arizona in 2021 after a long illness. He left behind three grown sons and his devoted sister, Susan.”

1980

Warren Bobrow with his cannabis infused libation, drinkklaus.com has recently won gold at the LA Spirits Awards, in the segment for High Spirits. He also recently appeared in the Los Angeles Times for his carefully made craft cannabis libation, currently available in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Richard Malehorn reports: “I retired this spring. Actually it’s more like an extended vacation. After 30 years as an anesthesiologist, first in a couple of hospitals and then 20 years in a surgical center, I’m now working about four times per month so I can still feel like a productive member of society. The rest of my time I spend riding my bike around the Rochester/Finger Lakes region walking my dog, and trying not to overwhelm my wife Nancy with my ever presence!”

1981

Michael Gettinger writes: “Hello all!

Still living in Phoenix, Oregon near the California border. I am the hockey director for The Southern Oregon Ice Rink and run the learn to skate and the learn to play hockey programs. In my off time I still surf weekly and try to race flat track motorcycles. I also started a business called Servi-car Ice-Cream, you can check it out on Facebook. I will get back to MoBeard for one of the reunions soon.”

Three years ago, Sarah Jahries relocated to Maplewood. “This year, my youngest child, the fourth of the bunch, is (finally) off to college, and I find myself adapting to the newfound tranquility (and tidiness) of my house and the absence of high school sports. If I am being honest, I miss him terribly (even his socks on the floor and his dishes in the sink), but I will adjust!

In June, Brooke Billings ’82 and I had a great time at the Dead and Co. I want to give a special shout-out to Charlie Cave’s son, who will play lax for Amherst next year, and will be going head-to-head against Betsy Bayne’s son at Middlebury; can’t wait to see that matchup! If you’re in the area, I’d love to connect over pickleball, paddle, drinks, or a walk in the reservation.

Let me know! sarahjahries@gmail.com”

1986

In August, Dennis Budd, an architect in San Francisco, reconnected with Tom Vogel, proprietor of Topanga Mercantile, at his shop in Topanga Canyon for a quick catch up and mountain bike ride.

They’ll see each other again, along with Katherine Jacobus, when Tom comes up to northern CA for a visit.

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Michael Masini is currently recurring on Apple TV “High Desert” with Ben Stiller, Patricia Arquette, and Matt Dillon.

Additionally, he is in an upcoming series called “The Big Cigar” for Warner Brothers with Don Cheadle and Noah Emerich and recently wrapped filming on “Ghost” for Starz and “Law & Order SVU.” Michael resides in Los Angeles with his wife and two kids and recently opened an entertainment company, Industry Artists, with his longtime friend and Movie Producer Sean Robins (Mortal Kombat, Paul Blart Mall Cop, Vacation Friends) where they consult aspiring actors and screenwriters on navigating the entertainment industry.

1999

Brian Dougherty lives at the beach in Cohasset, Massachusetts with his partner Nick and their five-year-old son Henry.

He is Managing Director at Compass and Head of Private Brokerage where he oversees special real estate sales between Boston, Cape Cod, and the Islands.

Ridgely Harrison recently celebrated his 10-year anniversary as a Financial Advisor at Northwestern Mutual, helping clients build their financial security through education and investment and insurance planning. He is also coaching both of his daughter's soccer teams and is in the process of attaining his USA Soccer National D License. Ridgely says, “Life is very busy but I still enjoy hearing about Mo-Beard and am hopeful

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that, now that the pandemic is behind us, we can coordinate a gathering of MBS Alumni in the Albany, New York area!”

Scott Robertson continues to direct a $6 million inclusive apprenticeship project to improve access to career pathways in highgrowth fields, such as IT, cybersecurity, healthcare, and clean energy. Scott also guided a $2.9 million employment research project on autism. In March, he visited Penn State University to receive the Outstanding Alumni Award from the College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST). This esteemed honor recognized his achievements to advance accessible, emerging technology, and foster inclusive employment and careers through enhanced policies and practices.

Scott guest presented to IST students in an undergraduate course on humancentered design and spoke about access and equity issues for artificial intelligence, extended reality, and automated vehicles.

In June, he delivered the opening keynote address for a webinar on neurodiversity at work hosted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). He also presented a training session on this subject at a conference hosted by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in August.

2002

Jeff Prystowsky recently graduated as the Valedictorian of Roger Williams University School of Law. Singing his speech and strumming a guitar, Jeff serenaded his fellow graduates about his path from being a professional musician in the band The Low Anthem to becoming a law school graduate. A 2006 graduate of Brown University, Jeff will work for Morgan Lewis as an intellectual property litigator.

2005 Brian Kilduff and his wife Alicia

welcomed their second child in June.

Jonathan “Jack” Easton Kilduff, a happy and healthy baby boy!

Roshan Nozari Leslie lives in Manhattan with her husband Dave and two children Kian (4 yrs.) and Roya (almost 1 year!) She works as a Senior Director of Marketing at a technology company. She loves seeing what former classmates are up to through social media and it has allowed her to stay in touch with some as they tackle parenthood.

2007 Corey Schneider got married on April

22, 2023 to Olivia Lau at the historic TWA Hotel (formerly the TWA Flight Terminal) located at JFK Airport.

2009 Christopher Farra welcomed his second child, Oliver Fred Farra, to the world this summer!

2014 This past summer, Trevor Baptiste helped

Team USA repeat as Men’s World Lacrosse Champions with a 10-7 victory over Canada in San Diego. This was Baptiste’s second gold medal as he also led Team USA to the title in 2018 after winning a tournament-best 75.3 percent of faceoffs. In this year’s championship game, Baptiste went 10-for-18 in faceoffs with five ground balls and a caused turnover.

In the seven-game tournament, he finished 59-for-79 (.747), while picking up 35 ground balls and providing two assists off draws.

2017 Leah Seldin began her Doctorate in Clinical

Psychology at Rutgers University in New Jersey.

She also founded her own small business—an exclusive social group for NYC women in their early 20s looking to make meaningful friendships—called The Girls NYC. The group has over 750 members and is growing.

2019 James Cunningham graduated Summa

Cum Laude from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University with a major in Television, Radio & Film, and a minor in Philosophy. James also earned two awards from the Newhouse School—the Dean’s Service Award and the Zach Trifone Love of Life and Music Award.

Perri Easley graduated with distinction from Wesleyan University, where she pursued a double major in American Studies and French Studies with a minor in Film.

This past summer, Perri was selected as a 2023 Fellow at The Takeoff Institute.

Out of a pool of hundreds of students, she was chosen to be part of a cohort of 50 talented undergraduate students who are dedicated to shaping the undergraduate students’ professional paths.

The college basketball jersey of Bridget Monaghan is currently on display in the Ring of Honor at the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in recognition of her outstanding play during her senior season at the University of Scranton. Bridget earned WBCA Coaches’ All-American and D3hoops.com All-American honors along with being named D3hoops Regional Player of the Year and Landmark Conference Player of the Year.

Rebecca Tone graduated Summa Cum Laude from Georgetown University, earning a B.S. in Foreign Service with a major in Culture & Politics and a double minor in Environmental Studies and Russian Literature & Culture. She is now pursuing a joint J.D./M.S.F.S. degree at Georgetown University Law Center and Georgetown

University Master of Science in Foreign Service and has been accepted into Georgetown’s Global Law Scholars Program.

2021 Sarah Karbachinskiy spent the summer

2020 Molly Michel, a senior at Dickinson

in Tel Aviv, where she completed an internship with Vert, an organization that helps banks and customers identify opportunities for decarbonization.

Sarah is a junior at the University of Colorado–Boulder, where she is pursuing a B.A. in Statistics & Data Science with a focus on Environmental Studies.

Ashleigh Scully, a senior at Texas Christian University, was named a National Collegiate Equestrian Association All-American for the third consecutive season and was honored as NCEA Co-Flat Rider of the Year. This year, she racked up a team-leading 22 Jumping Seat victories split evenly between Flat and Fences, and became the first competitor in TCU program history to be named a First Team All-American in both Flat and Fences in the same season.

This summer, Tim Schietroma took a break from his political science studies at Davidson College to explore his passion for soccer refereeing. He spent three weeks with Referee Abroad, officiating three different tournaments in Spain and France, where he worked with referees from five continents.

“I was honored to be appointed to three finals across those three tournaments, and learned a great deal from the FIFA, UEFA, AFC, and National observers and referee coaches at all of the tournaments,” he said. At MBS, Tim played four years of varsity soccer and also completed a Senior Project with FC Motown—a local semi-professional soccer team.

College, was selected as a 2023 ScholarAthlete by the intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA). The team as a whole was also honored by being named an All-Academic Team by the organization.

Dr. Alan Cooper P ’99, ’03 Receives Award Retired MBS history teacher and archivist Dr. Alan Cooper P ’99, ’03 was presented with the Special Recognition Award for “Work and Dedication to the Lord Stirling Archaeological Project” at the Somerset County (NJ) Historic Preservation and History Awards Ceremony, given by the county Cultural and Heritage Commission. Dr. Cooper had led the public archaeology program for the Somerset County Park Commission for over 25 years, uncovering structural and artifact material representing the 250+ year habitation on the site, most particularly the residence of William Alexander, the Earl of Stirling, who was a prominent figure on the staff of George Washington during the Revolution.

The ceremony was highlighted by the keynote address, given by Dr. Richard Veit, Professor of Archaeology and Associate Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Monmouth University. The talk focused on the work of Dr. Cooper at the Lord Stirling site, bringing greater attention to this hero of the Revolution.

Dr. Cooper would like to thank the many students who participated in the excavations either at Lord Stirling’s Manor or Lenape Meadow through the Anthropology and Ancient History classes or the Senior Project. Their work and the finds they uncovered added greatly to our understanding of our local history.

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IN MEMORIAM Margaret “Peg” Herdeg Mason ’43, August 7, 2023, age 98. Peg and her late husband Dave Mason were blessed both with long lives and long lives together. Dave died at 100 in 2017. The couple raised a family and worked for common goals for 62 years.

Peg was born in East Orange, New Jersey in 1925, grew up in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, and died in Winter Park, Florida. She lived most of her adult life in New England. Her memorial service was at Lovell United Church of Christ in Lovell, Maine where she and Dave were longtime church members. After her years at the then Miss Beard’s School in Orange, Peg graduated from Wellesley College and earned a degree from Columbia Teachers College of Columbia University in New York City. She taught at Plumfield Academy. Peg met her husband at church in Connecticut. Together the pair relocated to Maine where they were the beloved owners/ directors of Camp Agawam on Crescent Lake and Kezar Ski School at Camp Agawam in Lovell. In 1985 they turned the camp’s reins over to the Agawam Council made up of former staff, parents and campers. In a 2017 interview, Dave explained their division of labor. “During the camp summers, Peg and I were a team. She ran the office and I ran the camp,” Dave said. Together they inaugurated The Main Idea Program at Agawam in 1971, providing low-income Maine boys with a free week-long camp experience. The program continues. They brought up their three children in their Kezar Lake home, welcoming town kids and scout troops for ice skating parties. They both were tireless area volunteers. Peg ran the Lovell Thrift shop for 20 years, and was there every Wednesday for decades. She was treasurer of the Christ Church for a decade, raising money for its outreach programs. Each year during Fryeburg Fair Week she manned a farmstand in front of her home. There she sold her homemade cookies, annually clearing about $800 for the church. For many years, she and Dave would pick up day-old baked goods and distribute them to area churches and food pantries. Additionally, Peg organized and ran the kitchen at the Lovell Arts and Artisans Fair for 15 years. Her three children and their families survive her.

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William Emil Dickten ’53, 2023, age 89.

Bill grew up in Totowa Borough, New Jersey.

At Morristown, Bill was on the varsity football and ice-hockey teams, played on the baseball team, sang in glee club, and played the trumpet. Outside of class he enjoyed working on his car and weightlifting. He graduated from the Newark College of Engineering. Bill married his high school sweetheart, Barbara. They have one daughter, Leslie. His family survives him. During his working years, Bill and Barbara lived in Saddle River, New Jersey where he was active in the Republican Club. In retirement the couple relocated to Haw River, North Carolina.

Stewart Aldwyne Dunn, Jr. ’58, January 27, 2023, age 83. Stewart grew up in Short Hills, New Jersey. After his years at The Morristown School, he graduated from New York University in 1964. He relocated to California, working for Merrill Lynch in Los Angeles before later co-founding Capital Markets, a subsidiary of Blyth Eastman Dillon in New York City. He was also founder and president of Renwick Associates, Ltd. Marrying in 1974, he and Anne MacIver Dunn, his wife of 49 years, brought up their growing family in Short Hills, New Jersey. Anne, three of their four children and their partners, eight grandchildren, four great grandchildren and nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews survive him. Daughter McKinne Dunn ’94 and her husband Todd Schlachter ’94 are MBS graduates. Sisters Penelope Dunn Alexitch ’54 and Sydney Dunn Reed ’63 also survive him.

His son Stewart A. Dunn III and brother David Dunn predeceased him. Stewart loved being surrounded by family. Stewart was a natural athlete, enjoying tennis, paddle tennis, squash, and skiing in Vail, Colorado and Park City, Utah. In later years he and his wife lived in Vero Beach, Florida and spent summers in Point O’Woods, Fire Island, New York where the Dunn’s long had a home. Stewart loved windsurfing in Fire Island’s Great South Bay. But golf became his main game. Stewart spent hours on the greens in New Jersey, New York, and Florida. He belonged to Riomar Country Club, the Moorings Yacht and Country Club, and the Club at Point O’Woods. He was a member of St. Augustine of Canterbury

Episcopal Church in Vero Beach. He was generous, quietly supporting many charitable groups. With his dry humor, Stewart loved telling stories, sometimes with an exaggeration designed to bring laughter. In 2019, Stewart, childhood friend and Morristown School classmate Douglas Mockett ’58 and other members of their class caught up at an MBS Alumni Reception in Vero Beach. “Stewart looked like the handsome dasher he always was,” Doug wrote. “He was a wonderful guy and friend to all who knew him.”

Neal Ramasamy ’23 It was with great difficulty and sadness that the MBS community learned that beloved graduate Neal Ramasamy ’23 passed away on September 2, 2023 after a courageous battle with cancer. Neal was a passionate student and a dedicated and caring friend whose laughter, generosity, and creativity touched many lives at Morristown Beard School and beyond. The MBS community will forever remember the remarkable way in which he shared his happiness, optimism, and joy for life.

“When I look back on what should have been my darkest time, going through chemo and missing the start of school, it’s not the hardships I remember,” Neal said in his Commencement address last May. “Instead, it’s the moments of my family and friends helping me feel loved that linger in my memories.”

Neal was diagnosed with osteosarcoma at the end of 8th Grade, a very rare type of bone cancer. Throughout all the trials and tribulations of treatments and surgeries, Neal bore everything with grace and still found time to quench his insatiable curiosity for nature, travel, star-gazing, and herping (lizard hunting). All the while he was determined to keep up with his high school education at MBS. Neal graduated from MBS with his class and gave the benediction speech at the Commencement ceremony where he profoundly stated “you should plan for the future, but live in the present.” He planned to attend Bucknell University where he serendipitously found a professor who shared his passion for the rare Hellbender Salamander.

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“Neal was a magical creature who sprouted in my family and continued to bloom in unimaginable ways,” said his aunt at the memorial service at MBS. “His sense of curiosity and playfulness seeded a sense of awe in everyone around him. He was, and still is, a constant reminder that the world is full of mysteries and incredible beauty if you take the time to look.”

looks like, what humility looks like, and what grace under fire really looks like, how one should behave even when they’re under siege.”

Photo of Neal

At the service, Neal’s advisor and English teacher Darren Lovelock read part of Neal’s college essay in which he wrote about his decision to live life with optimism and joy in the face of tremendous adversity. “I discovered by my personal strength; I had a choice,” wrote Neal. “I could choose to succumb to despair or I could choose to uplift my spirit.”

Neal’s best friends, Aaron Hong ’23, Jonathan Hong ’23, and Zubin Pande ’23 also spoke at the memorial service, offering personal memories and reflections about Neal’s impact. “He had this knack for making people feel comfortable. He wasn’t the kind of guy to just stick to his circle; he always had room for one more,” said Zubin Pande ’23. “Neal wasn’t just a friend; he was a brother to a lot of us. You know how people say that you measure a person by how they touch others’ lives? Neal was a giant by that measure. His enthusiasm, his strength, and his kind, generous heart made him the best of us.”

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“He taught me a great deal,” said Mr. Lovelock. “He showed me what resilience

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Powerfully preparing students for

LEARNING AND

The MB Fund

Morristown Beard School’s annual fund—The MB Fund—provides resources across campus that heighten the educational experience for every MBS student. The fund is comprised of unrestricted donations made by alumni, parents, grandparents, and friends that are used within the current academic year. Contributions are allocated to the arts, athletics, financial aid, and other areas of need.

68 Crimson Fall 2023

LIFE

Ways to Give

ONLINE Scan the above QR code or visit www.mbs.net/support to make your gift via credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, or Venmo

MAIL Send checks to Morristown Beard School Attn: Advancement Office 70 Whippany Road Morristown, NJ 07960

DAF, STOCK, AND SECURITIES Contact Riley Shaaber, Director of Annual Giving at 973-532-7578 or rshaaber@mbs.net

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