NFA magazine_5

NFA The magazine for Norwich Free Academy Alumni and Friends

Spring 2017

Playshop Presents: Scenes from the Slater Stage

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Playshop

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A Recipe for Success

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Leaders Matter: David J. Klein

Family Ties Janet Barnett ’51 has fond memories of attending Norwich Free Academy as a student and later as a teacher in the day care center. She recently returned to campus to visit her granddaughter, NFA English teacher Sara Nazzaro. It didn’t take long for Sara and Janet to realize that Sara’s classroom in the Shattuck Building is only one room away from where Janet also taught.

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NFA Spring 2017

EDITORS Kathleen McCarthy Director of Institutional Advancement Geoffrey P. Serra Director of Communications & Public Affairs MANAGING/COPY EDITOR Molly Hudson ALMA MATTERS EDITOR Linda Clang Ververis ‘78 CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Nicholas Bolt ‘96 PHOTOGRAPHY Brian Ambrose Photography Robb Cyr Photography Laura Howe Red Skies Photography CONTRIBUTING WRITER Danielle Tirocchi ‘18 DESIGN Lavender Design OverAbove PRINTER The Pyne-Davidson Company

NFA magazine is produced two times a year by the NFA Foundation, Inc. and the NFA Office of Communications & Public Affairs, 321 Broadway, Norwich, CT 06360.

Phone 860-887-2507 • Fax 860-889-4363 Email: communications@nfaschool.org Letters to the editor, comments, class notes and address changes may be sent to the NFA Foundation, Inc. 321 Broadway, Norwich, CT 06360 or alumni@nfaschool.org Views expressed in the NFA magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the NFA Foundation, Inc., the NFA Alumni Association, Norwich Free Academy or the editorial staff.

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INDEPENDENCE IS OUR IDENTITY

Private endowment and independent governance have attracted outstanding leaders to serve and steward Norwich Free Academy throughout its 160 years. Such longevity is a testament to the success of the model. Private endowment and independent governance are the essence of NFA’s strength. They are so intertwined that only the story of the Academy’s origin enlightens their force.

In many ways, the Academy began with the offhand remark of a Norwich citizen fed up with the continual political wrangling about governance and finance of the city’s schools.

John Breed, the son of the second mayor of the city, was a hardware merchant in Norwich. Breed had himself served as mayor of the city 1840-1842 and was re-elected in 1845.

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He diligently attended all public meetings. In 1850, a series of crowded, contentious, noisy debates had been held in the Town Hall before opponents managed to indefinitely postpone any action about a public high school for the area’s young people.

Earlier that night, Reverend John Putnam Gulliver, a member of the school committee, had delivered a passionate appeal supporting educational reform. Defeated and discouraged, Breed remarked to Gulliver on his way out of the hall. He commented that if ever there would be a high school in Norwich, he would favor an independently governed, privately endowed school, rather than one managed by “such assemblages” characterized by political and financial wrangling. He mentioned, in fact, that he would contribute money to found such a school.

Breed’s remark initiated Gulliver’s quest to found an independently governed, privately endowed, school – Norwich Free Academy.

For two years Gulliver mulled over Breed’s words. He studied similar schools in nearby Colchester and Newburyport, Massachusetts. By 1854, Gulliver had begun laying the groundwork for a very successful and long-lasting paradigm of support. He solicited funds from people he knew would be interested in investing in the future of the community – to found and endow an institution that would educate the region’s youth, free from the challenges and pressures of political forces and governmental purse strings. In 15 months, Gulliver had procured the money from 35 individuals, who pledged amounts varying from $500 to $7,500 (about $14,500 to over $215,000 in today’s dollars).

On May 5, 1854, Gulliver and the 35 Corporators filed a petition with the State of Connecticut for an official Act of Incorporation founding Norwich Free Academy. Among the 36 names listed on the legal document establishing and endowing the independent Academy was John Breed.

Within months, as plans to build the school began, it became evident that the original amount would not offset expenditures. Original Corporators then contributed an additional $4,500 and other citizens contributed $5,500.

In less than two years, the original 11-room Norwich Free Academy Building, designed by Norwich architect Evan Burdick, was built. The Academy opened with three teachers and 80 students, both male and female; in 1858, NFA’s first two students graduated.

Since the beginning, loyal Academy alumni have followed the generosity of the original founders. Over the years, contributions of time, talent, and treasure have reached far into the future to sustain independence and endowment, provide an affordable high school choice to the region, and maintain a dependable community-based mission.

To this day, this support transforms an ordinary high school education into an extraordinary NFA experience.

In today’s competitive high school marketplace of southeastern Connecticut, the Academy, in the innovative spirit of Breed’s remark 160 years ago, offers unparalleled choices and opportunities to students in eight surrounding communities.

Those first 36 Corporators invested in the future. Their support was an act of faith, but it was driven by confidence.

Confidence that, free from contentious political forces, their independently governed school would return students to their communities educated people of character prepared to participate in the future.

Campus AROUND NFASchool.org/Calendar National Art Honor Society Induction Ceremony 6 p.m., April 4, Ensemble Room Spring Musical “Into the Woods” 7 p.m., April 21 & 22, Slater Auditorium National Honor Society Induction Ceremony 6 p.m., May 2, Slater Auditorium National Spanish Honor Society Induction Ceremony 6 p.m., May 3, Slater Auditorium Chinese National Honor Society Induction Ceremony 6 p.m., May 16, Ensemble Room Athletic Awards Ceremony 6 p.m., June 7, Slater Auditorium Class Night* To be determined Class of 2017 Graduation* To be determined First Day of School for 9th Grade & Sachem Campus 7:25 a.m., August 30 First Day of School for 10th, 11th & 12th Grades 7:25 a.m., August 31 *Check NFA Website for updates.

Tayla Willson Receives George Ripley Student Humanitarian Award At the opening day of school, senior Tayla Willson was named recipient of the prestigious 2016-17 NFA Alumni Association George Ripley Student Humanitarian Award. Willson, and nominees Colin Jacobs and Lauren Forando, represented an astounding portfolio of accomplishments, achievements, talents, volunteerism and character.

As part of a field study project, Wilson led classmates in her UConn Individual and Family Development Class in developing and presenting the program “Beyond Addiction: Reality Speaks” to 11th and 12th-graders last spring, making students aware of important community resources to help those struggling or living with substance abuse with family or friends. It featured “real speakers” including two prisoners serving time for drug related charges at Corrigan/Radgowdski Correctional Facility in Montville, a mom whose son died from an overdose, and a recovering addict who shared the long road to rehabilitation and recovery.

Alumnus Speaks to Students Robert “Jaz” Jastremski ‘62, founder and CEO of Mystic Innovations Group, Inc., came to NFA in December to speak with students about education, career and life. The author of Working World Mentor: A Comprehensive Guide for Students and Young Adults, Jaz has been presenting to groups at high schools and colleges about preparing for and entering college and the workforce. His goal is to share his personal experience, garnered from over 45 years leading groups and organizations for innovative solutions to business and engineering challenges. A 1966 graduate of the University of Connecticut, Jaz has presented at the UConn School of Engineering and the University of Rhode Island, in addition to stops at local high schools including Waterford and Stonington.

The Adam Ezra Group Rocks NFA Boston’s roots rock band, the Adam Ezra Group, stopped by in February during national tour to conduct workshops with students and to entertain in two concerts.

Known for their musical talent and their social activism, the group describes themselves as “lovely, happy people,” and is known for tirelessly devoting time to local charities and causes and for connecting directly with fans.

One of the group’s newest initiatives is the production of a free album with their fans. That work will release previously unreleased songs, including the popular “I Believe.”

Special educator Judy Bilda, who is an ardent Ezra fan, looks upon the song “I Believe” as an anthem for the positive and affirming unified culture at NFA. The song’s lyrics reinforce this year’s R2 Campaign (Respect & Responsibility), which encourages all in the NFA Community – students, faculty, and staff – to be united in their commitment to promoting a climate of respect and responsibility. Bilda says, “We were very excited about this opportunity to showcase these musicians with our students to deliver a positive and inspiring message.”

Besides meeting with a group of students in the ABLE and ILSP programs, the group of 6 and their technical staff worked in a series of sessions with students to create a custom arrangement of the song “I Believe” incorporating vocalists, instrumentalists, and dancers. It was a tremendous learning experience with actual arts performers.

“We are so grateful to be able to provide our students with this opportunity,” says Instrumental Director Kristen Motola.

“Where else would students be studying geometry one period and rocking with a top level rock band the next! Adam Ezra and his band are so easy to work with. Our students instantly felt a connection with the group and really enjoyed creating music and getting to know the band!”

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PLAYS

SHOP “ The most fundamental instinct of human life is to express oneself; and the stage is perhaps the most complete form of self-expression.�

(Tesh, The Flattering Word by George Kelly)

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For over 80 years, Norwich Free Academy students have explored aesthetic self-expression on the Slater Auditorium stage by participating in Playshop. In the words of Brett Bernardini, Playshop adviser 1989-1999, NFA believes “in the power of theater to transform lives and serve as a vehicle for career exploration and enhanced learning opportunities within the school curriculum.”

Among the longest-standing clubs and activities at NFA, Playshop began in the 1934-35 school year under the direction of Miss Millicent Disco. The group produced one act plays including Wurzel-Flummery, by A.A. Milne, The Flattering World, by George Kelly, and The Rehearsal, by Maurice Baring, as well as A Christmas Carol, a performance which required the entire Playshop membership.

Today, Playshop is poised for a renaissance, and the prospects and possibilities for the future are very exciting.

Beginnings “Millicent Disco’s . . . office was located in the vestibule of the Commercial Building (Cranston). She was very talented, dedicated and theatrical. Her contagious enthusiasm and expertise motivated her many students to succeed on the stage. Being a member of the Playshop was very important to so many of us at NFA. Friendships were formed and our love of drama and the theatre has continued through the years due to the inspiration of Millicent Disco.”

– Nancy Driscoll Dutton ’42 of her experience as a student in Playshop under Millicent Disco Hallan’s direction A member of the Disco Brothers Dry Goods Store Family, Millicent Disco graduated from NFA in 1924, Emerson College in 1928, and received an MA from Columbia University. She taught English at NFA from 1935-1942, but her legacy as the founding faculty member of Playshop reaches far beyond those 7 years. In recognition of her long lasting influence upon the dramatic arts at the Academy, Slater Stage was named the Millicent Disco Hallan Stage in 2003. Disco’s daughter Kira Van Deusen ’64, an accomplished musician, linguist, writer, and world traveler, was on campus to accept the honor on her mother’s behalf. Today, a brass plaque on the stage apron marks its name.

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Before teaching at NFA, Disco had an interesting series of experiences that together with her innate talent and spirit groomed her to usher in a dramatic company at Norwich Free Academy.

Early on she had been the director of children’s radio programs, an unprofitable stint; she had to solicit advertising in order to earn a wage. When the Depression hit, she worked for General Electric Broadcasting in NYC, and was an instructor of speech at University of Connecticut and State Teacher’s College in Geneseo, NY. According to her daughter, Disco also worked for a company that provided a traveling musical show – script, music, costumes, etc. She arrived in a town, a big trunk of materials in tow, and directed a musical with a cast

of locals. She spent three weeks in each location, start to finish. Disco had a great deal of fun and learned a tremendous amount, but life on the road was hard, and after about a year and a half, completely exhausted, she returned to Norwich.

noted for his mobile camerawork, dazzling kaleidoscopic routines and casts of thousands, including multitudes of chorus girls. He had reached a peak of popularity in America in 1934. The Bulletin, emphatically comments upon the Pageant’s “grandiose style” of the Pageant’s “unique staging arrangement.”

Soon her talents were in demand in the local market.

Disco staged a musical at Norwich’s new Masonic Temple in January 1934, six months before the city’s 275th Celebration. To follow was Disco’s orchestration and direction of a grand celebration which attracted an audience of 6,000.

A final element of the extravagant celebration was an episode in which then Mayor Edward G. Moran ‘20 portrayed Benjamin Huntington, first mayor of Norwich with others portraying NFA’s original corporators in a reenactment of NFA’s 1856 dedication.

An outdoor pageant produced in the summer of 1935 on the then fields behind the Norton Building was perhaps one of Millicent Disco’s grandest accomplishments. Certainly it was one of the most memorable and grandiose.

With this bow to the city, the Academy, and contemporary culture, it is no wonder that Disco was hired at NFA; she was perfectly suited to set in motion generations of dramatic productions on the Slater Stage.

It included recognition of the city as a gateway to American liberty and opportunity and a tribute to the evolution of Norwich’s diversity. Ceremonies included descendants of Mohegans, 300 French children, Irish “Lilt” dancers, “The Negro Group” to sing spirituals, costumes from Poland, Swedish folk dance, Hebrew religious music, a Greek ceremony, and an Italian Orchestra.

The highlight of the Pageant was a huge rose characterizing Norwich, the “Rose of New England.” As the pageant progressed, the rose petals opened to reveal The Spirit of Norwich, represented by Millicent Disco, who, then, dramatically interpreted the progress and achievements of the city since 1784.

Disco is remembered for this performance, which reflected some elements of the turn of the century and certainly many popular elements of the times. For example, pictures reveal Disco in a diaphanous gown somewhat reminiscent of the flowing costumes worn by iconoclast Isadora Duncan. Duncan, an indisputable influence upon modern dance, introduced primitive and mythological elements to dance while rejecting the classical style of earlier forms. The Norwich Bulletin reported that “Miss Helena Crandall and Mrs. Florence Olson will interpret a dance evocation, symbolizing the wood nymphs, calling the spirits of Norwich.”

Additionally, Disco’s Pageant demonstrates much of the Berkeley style popularized in Forty Second Street (1933), Gold Diggers of 1933 (1934), and Dames (1934).

Innovative Hollywood choreographer William Berkeley Enos (1895–1976, popularly known as Buzby Berkeley, was

Forward Motion By 1938, Playshop was reaching out beyond campus to collaborate with others in the area. On May 19, at Bulkeley Auditorium in New London, students from both Bulkeley (NFA’s growing arch rival in football) and Playshop presented a joint production. The Mirror of that year states, “This, we hope, will be the beginning of a new tie of friendship between the two schools. Bulkeley has been called our nearest and closest ‘rival’ and we hope to imprint in its stead ‘ally.’”

By 1943, Mrs. Louise Reed had become Playshop’s faculty advisor. Later, her husband Ray Reed ’22, also a member of the English Department, joined her in this endeavor.

By all accounts, she was a beloved teacher to whom the yearbook was dedicated in 1949, and again in 1961, together with Ray. Mr. Reed received his BA from Providence College and instructed English at Bulkeley School, New London until 1951, when he joined the NFA Faculty.

Mrs. Reed, was an alumna of Jamaica Plain High School and Boston State Teachers College. Before teaching at NFA, she was an instructor at Williams Memorial Institute in New London and Roslindale High School in Boston.

She joined the Academy in 1942. In addition to advising Playshop, the Reeds coached and directed the school’s Cadden Williams prize reading and speaking contest, still to this day, the oldest continuous prize activity in NFA history.

Louise & Ray Reed, 1961 Mirror.

Louise & Ray Reed, 1961 Mirror

The 1961 dedication honored the Reeds for their “honest devotion to teaching . . . As sponsors and advisers their help and encouragement have become an essential part in the life of the school.”

Under Reed, Playshop received multiple awards and recognitions in state and New England dramatic festivals, winning first prize in 1945 and 1946. By 1950, The Mirror

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reports that “The Playshop of the Norwich Free Academy has been completely reorganized . . . It has branched out into many new fields. Originally formed for playmaking only, the members now have their choice of taking up square dancing, radio scripts, and puppet shows.

These new fields, along with acting and stage work give the more than one hundred members plenty of interesting and educational enjoyment in their spare time.”

play in the spring. The revues consisted of talent selected from the student body.

A The Mirror description in the 1960s states that Playshop’s “principal purpose is to read and act plays with proper oral expression. The plays are first read orally, giving an interpretation in character. They are then read with makeshift properties until they are ready for presentation.

Every year one act plays are produced for the student body.” This study of dramatic works laid the foundation to build a performing arts program in the future.

From Playshop to a Performing Arts Program Brett Bernardini, a performer, classical pianist and vocal director, always knew he wanted to work as a high school teacher. He joined NFA in 1989, hired by then head of school, Mort Sherman, to build a performing arts program.

The administrative support combined with Bernardini’s creative and entrepreneurial spirit combined to develop a performing arts curriculum including acting classes, dance classes and choral instruction. During his 10-year tenure, Bernardini enlarged interest in theatre, ultimately teaching 400 students per year in the program. The after school component of the program included rehearsals and production work.

This kind of expansion and development of a program is not unusual in NFA’s history. In fact, it is the history of the institution in a nutshell – growth and change to meet the ever-shifting needs and interests of students.

Under Mr. Arnold Seybolt, who advised Playshop from 1953-63, the group met for the first time during the school day. The group focused on two productions annually – the Varsity Club Minstrel Revue in the fall and a dramatic

In addition to being the Playshop director, Bernardini also directed the choral program, including four vocal ensembles. Under Bernardini’s leadership and direction, the choral program won several music festivals in the eastern United States. The program garnered notoriety for its touring ensemble, Carnivale, which performed all over North America. Carnivale was a perfect venue for Bernardini to execute the skill and leadership he had learned in “Up With America,” a touring dramatic and musical arts program for young people in which he had worked before coming to NFA. Like Millicent Disco before him, Bernardini, found the touring experience to be a perfect training ground for Playshop.

The performing arts program grew to thirteen productions annually, including drama, choral and dance, each directed by Bernardini. Course offerings expanded to include AP classes, including one in music theory in which students were required to create and perform an original score for 13 musicians.

Reflections Ken Lamothe Playshop adviser (1969-70, 1973-80) In 1969, one day in my homeroom, Calvin Mellor had left his books on the desk. On top was a MASTERS OF MODERN DRAMA, used in an English elective. I began thumbing through it as the bell rang. Calvin came in and asked “are you interested in drama?” I answered that I was. Calvin mentioned that Playshop, the school’s theater group was without an adviser, and asked would I be interested. I hemmed and hawed, and stumbled all over myself; my total theatrical experience had been two high school productions. Calvin assured me that Playshop had a bunch of veterans who could pretty much take care of themselves and merely needed a teacher to sit in the back of Slater. I figured I could do that, and I agreed.

Playshop did, indeed, have some experienced, talented young people. They chose EVERYMAN, a medieval morality play as the fall production. What a crowd pleaser! Calvin was right, the students did pretty much run Playshop on their own and did a great job. We even took the play on the road for one performance, at the Thorn coffeehouse downtown.

I thoroughly enjoyed myself that semester and vowed to take a more active part for the spring production, the comedy BELL, BOOK AND CANDLE. I conducted auditions, double cast the play to allow more students a chance onstage and directed it! I even cast an interracial couple as romantic leads in one of the casts. It went very smoothly; the major obstacle was a misbehaved Siamese cat.

As soon as my first Playshop year ended, I was gone; I had received my draft notice in the fall and was permitted to finish the school year before reporting for duty .

Three years later, after my tour of duty, and within a year of returning to NFA, I was back at Playshop, and there I remained until 1980.

I look back on those years with great fondness. The kids were great, and we provided the area with thought-provoking entertainment. It had all happened accidentally because I was looking at a student’s textbook before school. Ironically, I was stationed in a clinic at Fort Dix, New Jersey, examining incoming basic trainees when one day in my exam room appeared none other than............Calvin Mellor.

I have a lot to thank Calvin for. After I left Playshop, I auditioned for a play in Waterford and got the part. One of the other cast members, Mary Norris, and I discussed during that rehearsal period the feasibility of trying to form a theater group in Norwich. That year was 1982, and the following year, Chelsea Players was born.

Chelsea Players is still active. I’ve been a Board member the entire time, treasurer for 30 years, and I still act and direct.

His first major musical production at the Academy, Bernardini recalls was an artistic risk, which he gladly took. He successfully produced and directed “A Chorus Line,” and the performances were a big hit. He still has and treasures a note sent to him by colleague author Wally Lamb ‘68 in response to that performance, which states, “It is a honor to work with anyone who believes that great art is about putting it all on the line.” Today, Bernardini is Executive & Artistic Director of Theater Harrisburg in Pennsylvania. He believes that “Music and theatre are universal. You can change the world one show at a time.”

After leaving NFA in 1999, Bernardini became the founding artistic director and CEO of The Spirit of Broadway Theater in Norwich, CT. One of the actors who performed in the community theater company was Phil Troestler ‘03.

A new age for the performing arts at NFA Like so many other aspects of Academy history, there are peaks and valleys to Playshop’s story, but the appearance of outstanding faculty and students always define the peaks. Such is the case, today with a new, reinvigorated Playshop under the direction of Phil Trostler ‘03, and with the passion of talented senior actor/playwright Elise Vanase ‘17.

In the fall of 2016 when Trostler, NFA’s new drama teacher and Playshop adviser advertised an afterschool meeting, 50 students interested in auditioning and 30 students interested in support/tech help showed up – two and one-half times the number of students who attended similar meetings in the previous fall.

The wide interest in the performing arts noted by all Trostler’s predecessors continues, and NFA’s new drama teacher has a vision for the future.

“NFA is a powerful force in the region; there’s strong name recognition in sports and marching band. I want to use NFA’s resources to make this aspect of the Visual and Performing Arts at the Academy a powerhouse,” says Trostler. “If NFA puts on a show, I want all to expect high quality, artistic risk, and spectacular musicals.”

Trostler, a humble man with a creative mission, knows he has to “build a program,” “take small steps,” and then “push and grow to new limits.”

Trostler’s solid experience and passion back his strong words. At NFA, Trostler was a musician, a member of the Ambassadors, and a Playshop performer. In the the same year Slater stage was dedicated to Playshop’s founder, Millicent Disco Hallan, a 2003 spring issue of the Red and White pictures senior Philip Trostler in his role in Playshop’s production of “Once Upon a Mattress.”

Trostler attended Drexel University in Philadelphia as a music industry major, but time and experience led him to finish his degree in drama at Eastern Connecticut State University. “For me, going to Eastern was the best thing I could have done,” he says, but all the other opportunities made a difference also –summer theater study in London, a summer in New York City’s Circle in the Square Theater School, and stints at Norwich’s Spirit of Broadway Theater working with Bernardini.

In 2009 Trostler went to Los Angeles and fell in with the UpRight Citizens Brigade (UCB), an improvisational and sketch comedy group co-founded by former Saturday Night Live comedienne Amy Poehler. “There just was lots of creativity,” says Trostler. “It was like Greenwich Village in the 60s.”

Hard core auditioning landed Trostler parts in advertisements and a bit part on CBS’s sitcom How I Met Your Mother. He was also driving a tour bus to make ends meet. “That was teaching,” he says, and it made him understand his calling to teach.

At NFA, Trostler says, “I love teaching the acting course.

I love watching students drop their nervousness and develop skill at becoming in the moment. It’s just great skill development for college, public speaking, or anything students will do in life.”

Trostler also remembers the power of a teacher. “I had Bruce Bierman [NFA English teacher] senior year for

Shakespeare. I had no sense of myself as an actor. We had to read various quotes, and on my way up to the front of the class for my turn, he asked, ‘You’re an actor, right?’ I never forgot that. He thought of me as actor before I thought of myself as an actor. That’s powerful.”

Trostler is helping a new generation of wildcats find their skill and dramatic voice, and he is “super happy to be here.” Early November was the premiere production of Dates, an original work by senior Elise Vanase ‘17.

Vanase tracked down Trostler last summer when she heard he was joining NFA as drama teacher and Playshop adviser. She asked him what he intended to do as his first production. She had a play for him.

Dates, a full-length comedy written in modern high school language with reference to high school experience, resonated with both students and alumni. Five 11thgrade friends – 4 males and 1 female -- make a friendly pact about dates for the upcoming fall coronation ball and wager to kiss their date before the end of the night.

According to Vanase, “Each picks a date for a very different reason, and each relationship is very different.”

For example one character is very connected to the girl he asks, while another choses a weird, unpopular girl just to have a date. Yet another, an openly gay young woman, takes her gender identity to a new level by asking another female. All the characters have something to learn, and the wager and competition, not to mention social interaction and expectation, teach them needed lessons about friendships, relationships, and themselves.

Along the way each couple faces obstacles like jealous friends, overzealous fathers, and general incompatibility.

The play climaxes the night of coronation, where at least one couple kisses by the end of the night.

When asked about what makes the play funny, Vanase says, “The play is ironic. There’s slapstick and ridiculous and clever banter.” In fact, Vanase says much of the meaning lies in rapid-fire dialogue.

The strength of the production, says the playwright, lay in the “strong chemistry” among the actors who become close personal friends in the rehearsal process. That fact “popped” on stage, she says, adding to the depth, reality and comedy.

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The set used various school-related objects like desks and tables to represent high school; a student-built paper mache tree loomed over a pre-dance date in the park. Lighting and sound added to the realistic setting, culminating in a high school dance on stage complete with flashing lights and dance music. The group brought in volunteer Sharon Murphy-Boski to oversee the technical aspects of production to bring student-run sound and light to a new level. Murphy-Boski introduced new concepts allowing students themselves to design and run the show.

Vanase also made her debut as a director. “Directing taught me to be humble,” she says. “I had all these ideas, but then had all these people to work with and through. I took on a new role because I was leading people I knew and who were my own age. The process taught me to be professional.”

“Dates,” says Trostler, “was unlike any production here before and the actors did a wonderful job of bringing Elise’s impressive script to life.”

Maine comes to Norwich, Almost Playshop’s winter production took place in January 2017. Almost, Maine, a play by John Cariani, was first presented at the Portland Stage Company, Portland, Maine, in 2004. It ran for a brief time off-Broadway in New York, and now the play enjoys the distinction of the most often produced drama in North American high schools.

The piece presents a variety of vignettes, which take place simultaneously in a fictional small town in Maine; eight scenes of 15 minutes, a prologue, an interlogue, and an epilogue are linked by variations on a theme. For the most part, each scene presents different characters.

The traditional concept of plot as a series of sequential events gives way to a more post-modernist sense of time and point of view; nineteen characters, deal with their various love related issues at the same time – 9 p.m., on a Friday in the middle of winter against the backdrop of the Northern Lights. Collectively, the play reveals a picture of humanity in pursuit of love. Some characters profess their love for each other, awkwardly, desperately, romantically; others try to rekindle and rediscover love; and still others try to break up or discover that they no longer love, and yet others, despite all odds, discover that they continue to love.

Overall, at one moment in time in an average American town, a dramatic riff on love is played out in a variety of permutations.

Trostler says, “This is a perfect play for high school students because it has multiple roles and gives opportunities to many different talents, and because the message resonates with both young people and adults.” Trostler cast the play so that some actors play two different characters to give them opportunities to grow in different ways by portraying, in some cases, dramatically different roles.

He says, “While our last show, Dates, was a comedic ensemble piece built around blossoming relationships and snappy banter, Almost, Maine puts the spotlight on individual actors. Actors played multiple roles and worked hard to develop and differentiate their characters and genuinely connect onstage with their scene partners.

The show was chosen as an acting challenge/exercise for those students willing to step up, and I am extremely proud of what they accomplished.”

Playshop’s spring production will be Stephen Sondheim’s musical, Into The Woods, April 21-23.

For years, Playshop has given students academic and personal opportunities to grow, to explore, to discover and to become their best selves. Dramatic production reaches to the core of the Academy. On the stage, students use all their skills and apply their knowledge in performance, the ultimate comprehensive examination. The dramatic arts are no frill. They are essential elements of a strong educational program and a vibrant institution. As Brett Bernardini points out, “Musical Theater is a valid career choice for many students and for others, it is more than just a ‘school play’; it is the opportunity to develop self-esteem, discover a new country, find personal skills in public speaking, independent learning, and leadership skills.“ Casting Call: The story of NFA’s Playshop is more than the history of its advisers. If you were a member of Playshop as a student, we are interested in your story for a future piece about the students of Playshop. Send your story to communications@nfaschool.org.

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Chef Todd Daigneault, A Recipe for Success Western fed braised boneless short ribs of beef in a red wine Chianti demi glaze, fire-roasted dry-rubbed St. Louis cut ribs, slowly seared, smoked aged pork belly, and pumpkin tortellini stuffed with julienne of candied butternut squash served with maple sage infused cream sauce, and much, much more -- a menu for tailgating?

When members of NFA’s Class of 1981 tailgated for their 35th Reunion at Homecoming last fall, their classmate, Chef Todd Daigneault treated them with style and generosity to a tailgating extravaganza.

Daigneault, an alumnus of Johnson & Wales University, is among our nation’s premier chefs, devoted to helping people incorporate healthy eating into their daily lifestyle.

He is passionate about food, and passionate about his work, logging in long days running from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m. most of the year.

As Executive Chef for Atlantic Health Care Systems of New Jersey, Chef Todd is responsible for a staff of 450 in three medical centers and serves over 2.5 million meals a day. Among the challenges of running such a large operation, he says, is keeping the workers focused. He believes, “You must have compassion and respect for your employees.” For him, leadership should be an excuse to do more, not less.

Daigneault first began cooking in his grandmother’s kitchen, learning the dishes and recipes of his FrenchCanadian background. As a teenager he worked in D’Elia’s Bakery, “sweeping the floor and making grinders.”

He also worked at Pizza Kitchen on weekends. But his experience at NFA opened to him the creativity of the culinary world. At NFA he found a way to combine the creativity of his artistic temperament and skill with food.

“I wasn’t a good student,” he says, “unless I was into something I liked.” Starting out in art, painting and jewelry, Daigneault says, “It all clicked when I discovered food. I knew then that my future would include food. I didn’t like math, but apply it to a recipe or a budget, well, then I got it.”

“It all started here at the Academy,” Daigneault reflects, and to a great degree, Deb Rand “was responsible. She was key. She suggested culinary school to me.”

In 1979, the only male student in home economics, he was featured in a video production carving a turkey out of an apple. His teacher, Deb (Finney) Rand was the one who encouraged him to pursue culinary school. “You know, in life, everyone around us recognizes our talents before we do,” Daigneault says.

At the start of his career, he worked in prominent restaurants and resorts around the country.

While working for the Nordstrom family in San Francisco, he realized the importance of learning all he could in the moment to take it with him to his next step. “The doors we walk through in our lifetime,” he says, “accumulate to bring us where we are today – they lead us toward our success.”

He has found success in the industry – and he is BUSY. Chef Todd has competed on the national stage in chef challenges, winning the Tyson National Chef Challenge, Fox TV, in 2009. This fall he was a featured chef at the New York Restaurant & Hotel Show at the Jacob K. Javitz Convention Center, where foodservice and restaurant industry leaders unveil new concepts and ideas.

In addition to his full time position in health care food service, Daigneault is currently participating in a rigorous program, the Culinary Enrichment and Innovation Program (CEIP) which offers advanced training in culinary leadership for professional chefs. In the cooperative of the Culinary Institute of America and Hormel Foods, 16 chefs selected from an applicant pool of 3,000, work in product development to explore and create effective use for food by-products.

Embracing the current wave food’s popularity in the media, Chef Todd is the food expert for “Change Your Attitude…Change Your Life,” WOR 710’s show on Talk Radio New York. His television program, “Todd’s Table,” airs on Clifton and Montclair Public Access Television on New Jersey Cablevision.

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Daigneault is also a food entrepreneur having entered the digital world of on-line, on-demand food service.

“Technology has elevated our profession,” he observes, and “I always try to think outside of the box.” His latest business endeavor is MySousChefs.com, established to help people with their meal and event needs through gourmet, sustainable, on-demand catering. This mailorder service differs from others because once the food is delivered, 24 hours after ordering, it needs only to be warmed and served. All the packaging is recyclable.

The business grew mostly by word of mouth and recently launched nationally on the internet site Groupon as the first featured mail order catering business on the site. His customer base ranges from upstate New York and New England to Florida.

The endeavor was sparked when Chef Todd was moved to help a single mom in his catering business provide for her children. He always made extra so she could bring a pan home to her family. His sister’s stories of Navy moms working and raising children while their spouses were at sea furthered his interest in helping provide meals to working families.

Proud of this newest endeavor, Chef Todd recounts the first sale of MySousChef.com to his sister Christy D. Benton ’94, a navy spouse, at Fleet Command Groton with her husband who serves on the USS New Hampshire.

Grinning widely, he says, “She was impressed.”

Family, and service, mean a great deal to Daigneault.

He is close to his brother Scott ’82, who continues his 30+ year career in the United States Air Force, currently stationed at Westover Air Force Base.

“It all starts at home where you get a good foundation,” he muses, reflecting upon his humble background of Canadian roots in the Taftville and Baltic areas. “It starts there and in community” where he learned the importance of community involvement and public service and was inspired by his parents’ volunteerism in organizations such as Boy Scouts and Lions Club while he was growing up.

In one of his many, many community-based projects, he is responsible for feeding 4,000-5,000 spectators at the Clifton (NJ) Knights of Columbus annual Tank Pull.

The event raises funds for Wounded Warriors through the Gary Sinise Foundation. Sixty percent of the gross earnings of the event is generated by food sales; Daigneault coordinates the food production from items donated by Hormel, Tyson and Rich’s Products. In fact, Daigneault lists his work with the Gary Sinise Foundation among his greatest professional achievements.

Success and achievement for Chef Todd are really measured in and by people. He learned about hard work by example from his family – his father owned a paving business and worked at Electric Boat, his grandfather owned a chicken farm in Baltic, an uncle owned a dairy farm in Columbia, and his uncle who was an EB worker by day, but a hog farmer by night. From New England and immigrant ingredients he developed a work ethic seasoned by his own special bled of spices: a bit of enthusiasm and mortality, “If it’s your passion, age doesn’t matter. The only destiny I have is food, so every moment counts”; a pinch of energy and perseverance, “I am here to do more”; dashes of compassion and drive, “You can always do better”; stirred with experience: “I don’t care about failure. Never worry about failure.

If you fail, you learn that much more.”

In part, Chef Todd, who went from NFA to be a classmate of Emeril Lagasse at Johnson & Wales, learned this recipe at NFA from his teachers. “When you wanted to give up as a kid, the teachers at NFA wouldn’t let you,” he says.

Truly, all the doors Todd Daigneault has passed through, including the hallowed doors of Norwich Free Academy, have brought him where he is today.

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Brickview Transforms into

Modern Bistro

On October 11, NFA celebrated the grand reopening of the Brickview. The student-run restaurant has been located in the Cranston Building since 1995. The restaurant opened in 1990 on the top floor of Bradlaw, in a room with a window that overlooked a brick wall. Over the summer, the restaurant underwent some renovations, including new paint, pendant lighting, reclaimed wood tables and benches, steel chairs and a refrigerated display case, chalkboard menu and NFA student artwork on the walls. Renovations were funded in part by the NFA Foundation, Inc. Linda Farinha, Career and Technical Education Department Head, consulted with NFA Corporator Jon Kodama, owner of several local restaurants, on

the renovations. His expertise helped guide the effort to bring the restaurant from a kitchen-style facility to a more modern and industrial feel.

In addition to the physical changes, the culinary program now offers a Unified Foods class. Students with and without disabilities work together to select menus, greet guests and make food. The Unified Foods class prepares the menu available on Tuesdays – known as Brickview Lite featuring graband-go options including soups, salads and lighter fare. On Thursdays, the restaurant serves traditional hot entrees, dessert options and has full wait staff.

The Brickview is open to the public on Tuesdays and Thursdays from October to May.

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“

”

I like being where the action is.

– David J. Klein

S

ince his days as a middle school principal, David J. Klein has always liked to be an approachable and visible administrator. Daily, he is out and about interacting with students who know him and find him fair and humorous.

He wants NFA students, parents, and alumni to see his humanity and know what he does. “As a leader, it’s important to be a person of the people,” he says. “The work humanizes me; the position doesn’t define me.”

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With big impact, far-reaching vision and a compassionate heart, Klein is in his sixth year as the Academy’s Head of School. The steady forward progress of the institution under his leadership has been and continues to be transformative. The list of accomplishments includes implementing the national free and reduced lunch program, ushering in significant enhancements in campus safety, creating a transitional program on

penetrating. “Parents need to know that we’re caring for their children as if they were at home. This is a major responsibility.” In fact, Klein defines the relationship between school and family as a “sacred covenant.”

“We all bring to work who we are as people every day,” says Klein reflecting upon leadership. Raised by a former U.S. Marine and educator, he wears the mantle of leadership seriously and proudly. “I am NFA’s Head of School in a restaurant, in the deli aisle of the local grocery store, in the movie theater…not only in my office on campus. For me, it’s service above self. Some call it servant leadership.”

Noting that in NFA’s history, heads of school have shaped the job, Klein looks upon his leadership role to help sustain the institution as a “treasured gift.” Klein calls himself an “all in” leader. “For the time I have here, parents, students, alumni, our partner communities – all – can be sure I will do my level best to be thoughtful and strategic on behalf of this institution. A leader needs to be patient, understanding to a fault. That was my intention when I came to NFA; that is my vow to myself every day when I arrive on campus and step out of my car. I give the Academy my best with dignity and respect.”

Sachem Street, installing lights on the turf field, effecting robust marketing and recruitment efforts that have stabilized enrollment, establishing a new arrival center for students who do not speak English, establishing new remedial and honors programs in grade nine, engaging new leadership in the NFA Foundation, and overseeing a data team initiative to improve student performance.

Long, high-energy days are filled with meetings and interaction with others on all levels. A favorite saying, “Sometimes, the work is in the talk,” describes his leadership style, as he is a consensus builder.

Credit for success, however, he always places elsewhere.

“I have the benefit of working with great people – smart, committed, hardworking people – who do what is best and right every day for the students we serve and their families.” In fact, Klein often refers to NFA faculty as “the heroes of this campus.”

His motivation is as simple as that of any parent.

“Think of the overwhelming responsibility we have each day,” he says, his blue eyes deeply, but clearly,

These days Klein is consumed by the fact that a college education is a gateway to social mobility and economic stability. “We can’t be all things to all people, but we have to do everything we can do for the students we serve,” he says, underscoring his position with an emphatic hand gesture. “As a leader, it is crucial to be solution driven, not problem consumed.

It is vital to cultivate the talent and confidence in the administrators, faculty and staff so that change can happen. I want to encourage and nurture the will to change. And I hope that people feel that this institution is in good hands because people are proud of NFA. I hope they feel confident in the forward progress of the institution that they love so much.”

When he discusses change, Klein places it in the context of NFA’s 160-year-old mission statement.

The mission is stable, but the “execution is different” because students, times and conditions are different.

Leadership is about attitude and courage. “You have to be a cheerleader,” he says with a winning smile.

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UPCOMING Exhibitions at

123rd Saturday Morning Children’s Art Program Exhibition March 26 – April 14 Featuring artwork students have chosen to display from the projects they have created throughout the year in a variety of mediums, including but no limited to clay, photography, drawing, and printmaking.

127th NFA Visual Arts Student Exhibition April 28 – May 25 Featuring work by NFA students in all two-dimensional and threedimensional mediums created throughout the school year. The show will also feature our distinguished senior Fine Arts student panels, mini solo shows displayed within the gallery.

Local Color – An Exhibition of Fiber Art June 11 – August 4 Opening Reception: 1-3 p.m., June 11 A dual exhibition presented by Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) members from the Connecticut and Northern California/Nevada regions showcasing recent, innovative works celebrating the personal stories and narratives of Connecticut and Northern California/Nevada.

I

SLATER GATE

RESTORATION

n anticipation of the Slater Building masonry restoration and construction of the Atrium, all of the ornamental iron, including the two pairs of front gates from Slater’s front portico, were removed in 2008. The iconic gates were placed in storage in NFA’s building on Sachem Street, which at the time housed the Print Shop and the Facilities Department.

Soon after, with technical assistance grant funding from the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation, NFA engaged specialist Barbara Magnum of Sculpture and Decorative Arts Conservation Services of Sommerville, MA, an expert in early metals, to study the gates and prepare a condition assessment and conservation plan. The gates were not in good shape.

Slater’s wrought iron gates were created by an unknown craftsman and installed in 1886 by the time the RomanesqueRevival building, designed by Worcester architect Stephen Earle, was dedicated. About 8’4” tall at their highest point, the gates taper to 6’; they are positioned between two side sections. The very long side gate at the auditorium entrance and the shorter one at the “stage” door complete the gating on the Slater Building. Each is unique and designed with decorative ironwork including circles, cross pieces, spikes, scrolls, rosettes, and a large central sunburst design on the two front gates.

That central sunburst has captured the imagination of students and faculty for years and has become a favorite NFA design element. For example, the sunburst and the portico gates are often motifs studied by art students sent out and about on campus to draw.

Before Head of School Mary Lou Bargnesi finished her tenure in 2007, anticipating increasingly complex security concerns in the future, it was her goal to construct fencing around campus and to gate all campus entrances. That goal was accomplished in an understated and tasteful manner when the central starburst design of Slater’s gates integrated new campus features with traditional campus design.

Clinton S. Wright and the Garden Gate Blacksmith Shop at their Noank, CT, foundry restored the gates. According to Wright, the gates had been hand forged of traditional wrought iron by a sophisticated craftsman. Wright stripped the gates of all coatings, refashioned missing elements, and straightened misshaped pieces. Latches and hinges were replaced or repaired, and once repaired, the gates received new coating. They were reinstalled in late summer 2015. Today the magnificent gates once again grace Slater Portico and the side entrances, the space for which they were hand-fashioned over 130 years ago. They, like many other elements on NFA’s beautiful campus, have stories to tell, and like Norwich Free Academy itself, tell a story of stability, durability, beauty, and dedication to a singular purpose.

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Celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the 1942 Undefeated Baseball Season Friday, May 5 • 4 p.m.

Dodd Stadium NFA vs. Fitch Five members of the 1942 team will be recognized for their contributions to the undefeated season.

Rain Date: Saturday, May 6 • 5 p.m.

A New Class of Hall of Fame Members The NFA Athletics Hall of Fame recognizes extraordinary accomplishments by Norwich Free Academy athletes and coaches. The biennial ceremony took place in Slater Auditorium on Friday, October 14, 2016, honoring ten inductees.

Family and friends traveled from across the country to celebrate the extraordinary accomplishments of former NFA athletes and coaches.

The 2016 NFA Athletics Hall of Fame Inductees are Matthew J. Sheridan ‘21, Darryl MarcAurele ‘82, Dr. David E. Coletti ‘83, Robin Willett Christian ‘87, Jemal Davis ‘90, Anthony Gizio ‘94, Stephanie Johnson DeLucia ‘96, Janelle Plowden Wagner ‘99, Myles Bradley ‘05 and Coach Gilbert P. LaPointe, Sr.

One Hundred and Counting An Interview with the Voice of NFA Football:

BRYAN LAWSON

by Danielle Tirocchi ‘18

Q & A

As the sun sets on game nights, Bryan Lawson changes from his campus safety uniform into a NFA Wildcat hoodie, before heading to Alumni Gym. Up in the makeshift announcer’s stand overlooking the football field, Lawson sits in the middle; Robert Malouf to his left and a referee to his right. Malouf calls out names and numbers to expedite Lawson’s process of announcing. Lawson’s calm, clear voice sets the right tone for football fans watching the game.

Lawson, a campus security officer, let out his first roar as the Academy’s football announcer in 1997. On October 28, 2016, he announced his 100th consecutive game for the Wildcats against Ledyard. This impressive milestone was acknowledged by escorting Lawson and his family onto the field during halftime. The presentation of a plaque and game ball was given to him by NFA Athletic Director, Eric Swallow, and Head Football Coach Jemal Davis ‘90.

Lawson recently talked about his announcing career and future plans in a Q&A. Did you ever play football?

I played as a youth and in high school as an offensive running back and defensive safety. I loved it, but had to stop playing because of a shoulder injury.

How did your career as the NFA football game announcer begin?

I fell in love with sports at a very young age.

During the 1980s, I was a party disc jockey.

When I started working at NFA as a security guard there was no announcer at the football games so I asked if I could do it - way back in 1996 - and that was beginning of my career as an announcer.

What do you feel has changed with the game over the years?

Throughout the years the game has become faster, the kids are bigger, and the game is more complex. It’s like a college game now and more challenging to announce with the pace of the game.

Is it time for you to retire from announcing?

I haven’t decided yet. Each time I have a group of players graduate who I have seen grow with the game, I plan to retire. However, this has yet to happen because I fall in love with the next group of kids and want to see them thrive. I have worked with Robert Malouf in the announcer’s booth and I am confident that he will be ready to step in when I do retire.

When the time comes, will it be hard for you to watch a game from the stands instead of the announcers booth?

I think it will be super hard to watch the football games from the bleachers instead of announcing. My own children tell me to keep announcing because if I retire I will miss it.

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ALMA

Matters

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Joseph H. Goldberg retired after serving 42 years as a member of the Connecticut Judiciary and lives in a retirement community in Palm Beach, FL. He credits NFA for giving him a wonderful start for his successful career.

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Loretta Leone Rispoli is now in her 87th year and still going strong. She has 4 children, 12 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

Mary Korenkiewicz Sanborn will be enjoying Spring Break 2017 in the Outer Banks, NC, with 32 members of her family.

Edward Zizulka was an aviation meteorologist for the USAF for 26 years before retiring in 1974. He then

Class of

worked as a civilian for the USAF at Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio and at Vandenberg AFB, CA, and for the Navy at NAS Point Mugu, CA, before he retired in 1993. Also from 19771988, he forecast weather conditions for Continental and Eastern Airlines.

He now volunteers as a coordinator for the Southeast Florida American Cancer Society.

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James Plunkett and his wife reside in Peru. They attended an artist’s workshop in Carmel, CA, during the summer. Jim came to NFA from Colchester to finish his last two years of high school and says he will never

1950 Reunion

Submitted by Sis O’Neil Members from the Class of 1950 did not want to miss an opportunity to reconnect with classmates, celebrating their high school friendships twice this year. They first reunited at the NFA Alumni Association sponsored Jubilee Reunion. Seventeen classmates attended and appreciated having the chance to reconnect and reminisce with one another. The second meeting was at their Annual Reunion Picnic held on September 24, at Acorn Acres Campground in Bozrah. Eighteen classmates gathered for yet another celebration of NFA friendships

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forget the experience. He was one of the voices in the recording of the Alma Mater that was played on the P.A. for many years after his graduation.

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Ann Dugas Carignan is proud of her daughter, Linda Carignan ’84, who uses running to tackle life’s challenges, including breast cancer.

Linda ran the NYC Marathon a week before finishing treatments.

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David Connell was awarded second place honors in the Maryland Writers’ Association 2016 Novel Contest. His novel, Last Leaf to Fall: Haunted by History & Spirits, was praised for capturing the scourge of racism during various periods in American history. The novel is not his first publication.

that span more than 66 years. The best part of our celebration was taking the time to remember everyone. That’s what it’s all about.

We look forward to celebrating our 67th Reunion next year!

1st Row: Sis O’Neil, Richard Spurgas, Babe Angelopolous Ververis, Mary Ann Koscinski Lavoie, Prudence Morosi Scalaro, Anna Maruzo Pepin, Bob Chabot, Francis Mitchell 2nd Row: Paul Portelance, Al Fratoni, Joe Coutu, James Dubois, Bob Smigiel, Joan Cosentino, Charlie Stanton, Bob Faille, Stephen Altschuler, Walt Wadja.

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Michael Adelman, a 1962 graduate of the University of Michigan and a 1967

Class of

1951 Reunion

Submitted by Dorothy Wisnieski Gravel The Class of 1951 celebrated its 65th class reunion on September 14, 2016 at Modesto’s Restaurant. Twentysix classmates and friends attended this most enjoyable reunion. The best part of the day was sharing friendships and bringing people up to date on what was going on in our lives. We had a wonderful early afternoon dinner and all were all so happy to be able to visit with our classmates. It was so good we forgot to take any pictures! The committee members were: Dorothy Wisniewski Gravel, John Sisco, Gwendolyn Moore Palazzolo James & Kay Booth and Kathleen Jello Arnold.

graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, recently won an appeal before the Mississippi Supreme Court against the Mississippi Power Company and the Mississippi Public Service Commission, resulting in customer refunds in excess of $350,000,000.

Bob Bolduc is retired president and COO of Bonacker and Leigh Food Brokers in Florida, Georgia and Alabama. He is former President of the Miami Food Brokers Association and a Member of the Society of University Founders, University of Miami.

Charles Burdick generously established the Chuck Burdick ’58 Science Scholarship endowment with the NFA Foundation, Inc. The scholarship is awarded annually to a student who has excelled in the sciences and who will pursue a career in chemical engineering, chemistry or biology.

Warren Hall photographed current NFA art students on assignment in the Converse Gallery on a review of the recent RON WING exhibit.

Class of

1954 Reunion

Submitted by Bernice Rankin Mileski The Class of 1954 held its 62nd reunion on September 17, 2016 at Modesto’s Restaurant. Although this was a small, intimate reunion with 17 classmates and guests attending, we thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company. The best part of the day was seeing our classmates and we plan to do it again in 2017!

Class of

1961 Reunion

Submitted by Priscilla Carlson On a late-summer evening, members of the Class of 1961 met at The Spa at Norwich Inn to celebrate the 55th year since graduating the Academy.

The master-of-ceremonies, Frank Coletti, took us on a nostalgic walk down memory lane. Head of School David Klein brought greetings from NFA. Following dinner our favorite songs of the 50s and 60s were performed cabaret-style. The reunion committee thanks all those loyal attendees who took the time, made the effort and traveled the distance to celebrate our reunions with us over these past 55 years (John O of VA, Tom F of MN, Frank C of CA and countless others). Classmates left the Inn that evening with a beautiful mum plant -- a memento of this special evening.

Red &

White REUNION

Members from the Classes of 1957 – 1965 enjoyed the 6th annual Red & White Reunion on August 27, 2016, Langley’s Restaurant at Great Neck Country Club.

The 2017 is scheduled for August 26 at The Spa at Norwich Inn.

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Eric Meyers is a well-regarded archaeologist and biblical scholar who has taught at Duke University for 48 years, training more than 40 PhDs and thousands of students.

Joerg Wartenberg is honored to be the post chaplain of the largest American Legion Post (347) in the world with over 6200 members in Lady Lake, FL.

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Madelin Coit’s exhibition “Interface” was recently on display at The Center for Contemporary Arts in Santa Fe. Coit’s work is conceptual, utilizing multi-media elements that engage many senses at once: sight, hearing, thinking.

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Elaine Porucznik Heeren and her husband Bill are happily retired and divide their time between Vero Beach, FL, and Killington, VT, and take trips to the Boston area to visit daughter Manda and her family.

Leslie Miller Hicks retired in 2012 after 45 years as an international flight attendant, 18 years with Pan Am and 26 with United Airlines.

She traveled on all the continents and became multilingual and culturally aware.

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Valerie Caron Campbell spent the month of June 2016 in an apartment in the 11th Arrondissement of Paris, France. While there, she traveled to Giverney and Auvers sur L’Oise, the residences of Monet and Van Gogh respectively. She took a French cooking class and took bicycle tours of the city and Versailles.

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THE

22ND ANNUAL JUBILEE REUNION

Over three hundred alumni and guests attended the 22nd annual Jubilee Reunion on July 14, 2016, Norwich Holiday Inn. The annual event brings alumni from the classes of 1929 – 1956, those who graduated over 60 years ago, together for an afternoon of fun, food, and fond memories. The 2017 Jubilee Reunion, welcoming the Class of 1957, is scheduled for Thursday, July 13.

and classmates who are no longer with us. We give thanks for their lives.

In an address to the group, Sis O’Neil ‘50 stated “In deep gratitude that stretches back through the years, we remember the strong friendships forged in our youth. We give thanks for the devoted lives of teachers, coaches, mentors and family whose generosity nurtured us. Even as we rekindle old friendships, we are tenderly mindful of our friends

May our festivities be a toast – in honor of and thanksgiving for those who had a part in our lives at Norwich Free Academy.

May our time together be joy-filled as we share memories and news of life’s journey; may our personal reunions be shaped by kindness and laughter, and may the stories told and retold bring delight and good will.

May these moments together lead us to treasure ever more fully each beat of our hearts and every new day life brings.”

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Debbie Ferra Cook won the 2016 President’s Cup at Great Neck Country Club, Waterford, CT. Richard Crawford and Andrea Andersen Crawford have been together since they started at NFA in 1961. “The time we had at NFA was the greatest time of our lives. We had the best teachers in the world.

They taught us how to live our lives to the fullest, and we succeeded.

We thank God for our parents and our teachers, and for what we have today. Remember to live and learn; life is not a bed of roses. Good luck.”

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Andrea Kaplan Lieberman celebrated the Bat Mitzvah of granddaughter, Kayla Padowitz, in Israel in June.

Andrea and husband Michael have 9 grandchildren in New York and Israel.

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Rosalyn Carlson Lachapelle became a great-grandmother June 10, 2016, to beautiful baby boy, Brentley Fraser, born in Mountain Home, ID.

“Bumps on a Log” is a whimsical story for children ages 4-8.

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Susanna Coffey had a thirty-year solo retospective show of her artwork at the Alexandre Hogue Gallery at the University of Tulsa School of Art. The show was titled “Going to Ground.”

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Donna Lussier Ralston, the Assessor of the City of Norwich, was elected president of the Northeast Regional Association of Assessing Officers at their annual conference. She began her career as a Tax Assessor in June of 1981 in Lisbon; she also worked in Windham from 1985-1988, and East Hampton from 1988-2009 before coming to Norwich in 2009.

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Chuck Bartnicki recently retired from Electric Boat’s Facilities Management department after 32 years. He began a second career with the State of Connecticut as a Structural Engineer. He lives in Preston, CT, with his wife, two grandchildren, five African birds, and two dogs.

Pat Bowman Moravek thanks classmates Bobbie James Thompson, Ken Brostek and Faye Ringle for their work on the NFA 1969 Reunited Facebook page online auction that raised funds for the 50th Reunion in 2019.

Over 230 members of the Class of 1969 are on the private Facebook page. If anyone from the class would like to join, contact Pat at pmora33@att.net.

Susan Lavoie McElaney has recently published two books. “Me, Myself and Ivy” tells the story of a 12-yearold girl who is uprooted by an unspeakable family tragedy and

Sharen S. Paster Peters recently released her first children’s book “I’m Just a Little Someone” in Feb. 2017. Through the book, based upon her childhood, she hopes to help lonely children around the world find happiness and friendship.

Class of

1966 Reunion

Submitted by Mary Jane Vessels Biase Members of the Class of 1966 came together in the Navick Garden at Norwich Free Academy on June 11, 2016.

Our mission was to kick off the first of three days of celebration of our high school graduation just 50 short years before.

Planning for the event began the previous summer and the celebration was better than we ever dreamed. The number of classmates attending was much greater than we could have imagined, participation in the weekend’s events was amazing, and our class’s generosity, to the scholarship fund (in memory of our classmates who have gone before us) and to support the NFA Loft program, exceeded any contribution from previous 50th reunion classes in the history of NFA. Who wouldn’t be proud to be a member of the 1966 graduating class? In addition to our contributions to our alma mater, we renewed old friendships and the making of many new friendships occurred that memorable June weekend. Fifty years had passed but we were all young again as we toured the school, sat on the field with the graduating Class of 2016, shared breakfast together, and danced the night away at the Mystic Marriott.

The Class of 1966 would like to thank the school’s staff in the never-ending support and generosity we received in making this event happen.

It was truly magical.

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Robert Beebe has served as principal of New Hope School, a Clifton, NJ, private school for the past 12 years.

He previously lived in Russia (St. Petersburg and Moscow) with his family for 13 years, holding the position of Eurasian Director of the International Educational Foundation, publishing character education textbooks, and training teachers in the use of these materials. The work took him to all the former republics of the Soviet Union as well as to dozens of other countries beyond Russia.

Kenneth Fitch returned to secondary education at the Holy Family High School in Broomfield, CO, after working 18 years in hospitality management. While there, he initiated the Mary Luke Tobin SL Social Justice Award, now in its fifth year. He has retired and now works with progressive Catholic organizations for social justice, such as Call To Action and New Ways Ministry. He has shared the past 32 years of life with his spouse, Lee Giacoletto. Ken’s ancestor of eight generations, The Reverend James Fitch, was a Norwich, CT, founder.

Admiral Robert J. Papp, Jr. was recently honored with the Distinguished Sea Service Award from the Naval Order. In the first two and a half years since retiring from the U.S. Coast Guard, Admiral Papp worked as the State Department’s Special Representative for the Arctic under the Obama administration.

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Kathleen O’Hearn Pepin is Director of Nursing Programs at Iowa Western Community College.

Class of

1971 Reunion

Submitted by Cindy Schmidt Crocicchia The Class of 1971 held their 45th reunion on June 25, 2016 at the Moose Lodge in Bozrah. We had also held our 40th reunion at The Moose, and the consensus from most of our classmates was to celebrate there again.

Eighty-one classmates and 45 guests attended this year’s reunion. We are very lucky that Bob Straub from the band Melaena is a classmate of ours and will always play for us. The class partied and danced to the music of Melaena, which really made our evening. We anxiously await our 50th reunion. A class speaker has already come forward and we look forward to walking onto the field with the Class of 2021.

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Terrie Tidd Huss found out that Diane Ward Cordes was living just 10 miles away, in Gainesville, FL, by reading these class notes. They had not seen or talked to one another since graduation. Now they enjoy renewing their friendship. Thanks NFA! Gina Barbarossa Kaiser is a nationally certified freelance court reporter, a nationally certified dog trainer, and a field representative with Paws With a Cause, a service dog agency that places service dogs individuals with disabilities around the United States.

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Robert Ayer is the Managing Editor of the Naval War College Press in Newport, RI, as of October 2015.

Laura Lonardelli retired from teaching high school history after 35 years. She is a SSUSA, SPA and ISSA softball player who travels to highly competitive senior tournaments with teams all over

the country. She will participate in the National Senior Olympics in Alabama in 2017.

Class of

1976 Reunion

Submitted by Pam Adams-Mish The Class of 1976 held their 40th reunion at the Norwich Inn and Spa on August 20th, 2016. Approximately 100 attended this funfilled evening with great food, dancing to DJ John Caulfield. A few highlights were Beth Delaney traveled from France to join us and Johnny Burns won the award for being married the longest to his high school sweetheart and having the most children! Many stated that this was the best reunion ever. I was so honored and pleased to be part of this committee and I look forward to our 45th!

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76

Dr. Raymond Hill recently earned the Air Force Science and Engineering Educator of the Year Award.

He is also a recipient of the 2016 Dayton Affiliate Societies Council Outstanding Engineer and Scientists Award. He is a Professor of Operations at the Air Force Institute of Technology in Dayton, OH. Bella the pug, Judith Pepin’s 9-year old therapy dog, enjoys the 2016 tailgate festivities with the Wildcat mascot!

Class of

1981 Reunion

Submitted by Joni Tramontozzi The Class of 1981 held its 35th reunion on Homecoming weekend 2016.

We had 47 classmates attend the tailgating festivities. That evening 130 guests, 88 of them classmates, gathered for a night of dancing and reminiscing at Harp and Dragon. A great time was had by all.

late August, she traveled to San Francisco, Las Vegas, the Hoover Dam, the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, and Salt Lake City for 24 days with her husband; she then toured Scotland and Ireland with 2 friends for 2 weeks.

81

Ellen Gunther moved her family from downtown Norwich to Taftville. She celebrated five years as a part-time Domestic Violence Adult Advocate with United Services last summer, and she increased her work hours from part-time to full-time at the end of October.

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Marla Schlessinger Tapper had a busy, fun summer with sister Reva Winston ’83 and family including trips to Hershey Park, PA, and Family Camp in NH. In

Class of

Dale Kingsley is a psychotherapist and owner of Trinity Therapeutic Care, Groton, CT.

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Lou Leta, owns Digital Video and Consulting in Plymouth, MA, was profiled in the November 25, 2016 Boston Globe.

85

Diane Santos recently published a book “Onward into the Light,” the true story of her grief journey since the sudden passing of her soulmate.

1986 Reunion

Submitted by Beth Kalinowski Belliveau & Kristen Nagel Small The Class of 1986 held their 30th reunion on August 6, 2016, in the Atrium on the NFA campus. A total of 120 classmates and guests attended. It was a night of bridges. Some bridges returned classmates to NFA after 30 years of adventures elsewhere in the world, while other bridges reconnected classmates with their high school friends. ‘86ers traveled from California, Florida, Washington and the Carolinas as well as other locations. Salem Prime Cuts catered our event, featuring Angela Regalo Celico ‘93, who provided us with a phenomenal array of gourmet hors d’oeuvres. Holding the event on campus was excellent for out of towners who hadn’t seen the changes or been to the Atrium. Earlier in the day, a campus tour was provided for many classmates. They had the opportunity to see the Latham Science Building, Sidney Frank addition, multipurpose turf athletic field and new scoreboard for the first time. They were amazed by all the other changes and additions to campus as well. The time flew by and everyone agreed that the reunion was a pure success.

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86

Michelle Kalin Jacobik, owner of Sick Of The Hustle Financial Caiching & Prosperity After Divorce, obtained her designation as Certified Divorce Financial Analyst and released her E-book for women “5 Things You Must Know Before Signing A Settlement.�

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William Taylor Jr. became an English teacher after an extensive (and exhausting) career in food service management, He currently teaches in Coolidge, TX, a small community just outside of Waco. He is excited to be in the classroom and encouraging young, middle school children to appreciate the classics as he did at NFA.

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Becki Jacobson is an attorney in private practice, specializing in immigration law.

94

Matthew Aubin has been named Music Director Designate of the Jackson Symphony Orchestra (Michigan).

Before deciding to devote his time entirely to his role as Artistic Director for The Chelsea Symphony in New York, Dr. Aubin was the Educational Programs Conductor for the Hartford Symphony Orchestra and served on the faculties of Washington State University and The Hartt School.

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Charles and Laura Anderson Yeager welcomed a son, Andrew Charles Yeager, March 21, 2016.

Born at 7:51p.m. the new Wildcat weighed in at 7lbs 8oz, 19.5 inches

are located all over the country.

Some of the more notable include the NYC DEP and DC Water, which operates the largest Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant in the world.

00

Bryan Fratoni married Krystal (Homon) Fratoni, June 25, 2016, at the Harkness Chapel Connecticut College. Zachary Maurice and Brian Sheldon, Class of 2000, were Best Man and Usher.

Melanie Wilson Mendoza married Tony Mendoza of El Paso, Texas, October 15, 2016. They live in Rhode Island.

01

Greg Knight welcomed his first child, Alexander Timothy Knight, May 6, 2016. He was 9 lbs. 9oz. and 22 inches long.

Zack Lamothe has had a second book, “More Connecticut Lore: Guidebook to 82 Strange Locations,” published by Schifferbooks. He lives in Plymouth, MA, with his wife Jaclyn and son Danny. Zack is a regular contributor to Norwich Magazine.

06

Kaitlin Black is a PhD student in Developmental Psychology at Clark University; she also teaches undergraduate courses in family and diversity studies.

Curtis Darragh, IV moved to Newtown, CT, last year and is currently in his second professional year in school counseling at Westside Middle School Academy in Danbury, CT.

07

Michael Good is a project manager for Schneider Electric, managing large scale electrical scopes for construction projects in the water/ wastewater market. His projects

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Lieutenant Shareena Lee Echavarria and husband Emmanuel have recently returned to the CT area, taking over the administrative and pastoral reigns of the Bristol, CT, Salvation Army Church and Community Center.

They return after serving 2 years in charge of the Cortland, NY. service area. They have 2 children, Mia and Gabe.

Danielle Moran and Kyle Oñate were married on July 1, 2016 at the Connecticut National Golf Club in Putnam. Danielle is the daughter

REUNION News 1996

Class of Reunion Submitted by Sarah Scepanski The Class of 1996 held its 20th reunion the weekend of August 12-14, 2016. On Friday, roughly 60 classmates gathered in Downtown Norwich to kick-off the reunion weekend. The stories and laughs shared that night foreshadowed what fun the remainder of the weekend had in store. The following morning two of our classmates who work at NFA, Nick Bolt and Sarah Marshall Edmond, volunteered to give all who were interested a tour of our Alma Mater. A lot has changed since the days we roamed the halls of the NFA, so we couldn’t have been luckier to have an inside look at our school and its many changes hosted by two familiar faces. Thanks again, Sarah and Nick!

Saturday night our reunion dinner was held at

of Arthur and Debra Harris Moran ‘87, Jr. Kyle is the son of Carlos and Sandra Oñate. Both Danielle and Kyle graduated from NFA in 2007.

Danielle went on to receive her Master’s in Education and is now a math teacher at Woodstock Academy. Kyle has a degree in Fiber Optics and works at IPG Photonics in Oxford, Massachusetts. They currently reside in Danielson, CT.

the Norwich Holiday Inn. Our class invited three faculty members from our years at NFA. Mr. Henry Laudone, Mr. Reggie Bullock, and Mr. John Iovino all graciously accepted our invitation. We enjoyed retelling high school stories and catching up with some classmates we hadn’t seen in 20 years.

We were able to capture some new memories in our photo booth and many other classmates entertained us with their moves on the dance floor! Finally, on Sunday August 14, we hosted a winetasting and a family picnic lunch at the Preston Ridge Vineyard as a farewell to a very busy and memorable weekend with great friends. Overall, the weekend was a tremendous success and we look forward to seeing the Class of 1996 at our 25th!

America, holds 2 world records, 3 American records and the 2016 Log Lift World Championship.

Class of

08

Jonathan Justiniano, a 2012 graduate of Johnson and Wales (BS Finance), works in Resource Management at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Boston and is pursuing a master’s degree in Human Resources at Johnson & Wales.

09

Rob Kearney has been traveling the world competing in Strongman Competitions and is ranked #2 in

worked at Armstrong State University in Savannah, GA, as an alumni program coordinator where he helps plan events for alumni, and encourage volunteerism among alumni at their events.

2006 Reunion

Submitted by Sarah Lord

10

Zachary Yeager graduated from the University of North Texas with a Master’s in Higher Education in May 2016. Since then, he has

The Class of 2006 held their 10th year reunion on Friday, November 26, 2016 at These Guys Brewing in Norwich.

It was a huge success with well over 100 alumni & guests attending. It was a night to be remembered.

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11

Josh Cingranelli has joined the NBC Connecticut First Alert Weather team. “I’ve had a fascination with weather since I was a young boy,” says Cingranelli who began communicating with NBC weathermen Brad Field and Bob Maxon when he was 8 years old. Cingranelli graduated from Lyndon State College, VT, with a degree in atmospheric science.

Following college, he worked for a TV station in Burlington, VT, and of his return to CT, he says, “It’s a dream come true to be working with such great people and working in my home state. I couldn’t be happier.”

Paul Musso graduated from Rutgers University and will attend the University of Pennsylvania to pursue a PhD in Philosophy.

16

Jade St Vil is studying Theater at Columbia College in Chicago.

“The city is amazing!”

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING The 139th annual meeting of the NFA Alumni Association was held Saturday, November 19, 2016 in the Land Library. Three new members were elected to the Alumni Association Board of Directors.

James Sipperly ‘79 brings to the board finance, legislative, strategic planning and by-law revision knowledge. Jim currently sits on the CT Resource Conservation and Development Council, the Urban Forestry Commission and the Harbor Improvement Agency. He is the past President for the National Association of Resource Conservation & Development (NARC) an organization based in Washington, DC. Nathan Wheeler ’08 is a world language teacher at the Academy teaching our students American Sign Language. Nate has been a part of NFA’s data team and loves working at his Alma Mater. He would like more of his fellow alumni to remember their roots and would like to ensure that our young alumni who are doing great things receive recognition.

Derell Wilson ’10 is the immediate past-President of the CT NAACP Youth and College Division. He has volunteered in one capacity or another his entire life and he believes in giving back to those who helped him succeed. He was the 2nd recipient of the Alumni Association’s George Ripley Student Humanitarian Award.

Re-elected to the Board were Concetta Colonna Franchetti ’78, Judy Payne Paro ‘79, and Elizabeth Armen Troeger ’67.

NY ALUMNI RECEPTION Stunning views of Central Park were one highlight of the New York Alumni Reception on April 27. Michael Arsenault ’84 generously hosted the event at the Solarium of the New York Athletic Club. Metro New York area alumni heard about current initiatives of the Academy from Head of School David Klein and enjoyed an evening of reconnecting with one another and their alma mater. Pictured are Class of 1984 members James Topor, Michael Arseneault, Anthony Allen and Christopher Long.

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YOUR YOUR DEDICATION DEDICATION

SHOWS SHOWS 3 YEARS OF 3 YEARS OF FUNDRAISING FUNDRAISING GROWTH GROWTH (TOTAL GIFTS JULY 1-JUNE 30)

OVER OVER $390,000 $390,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS

(TOTAL GIFTS JULY 1-JUNE 30) FISCAL YEAR ‘16 $710,531 FISCAL YEAR ‘15 ‘16 $575,646 $710,531 FISCAL YEAR ‘15 ’14 $575,646 $415,431 FISCAL YEAR ’14 $415,431

‘14

‘15

‘16

‘14

‘15

‘16

YOUR GIFT, YOUR GIFT, YOUR IMPACT YOUR IMPACT

RECOGNIZING NFAAND STUDENTS’ IN SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDS ACADEMIC, ARTNFA AND ATHLETIC RECOGNIZING STUDENTS’ ACHIEVEMENTS JUNE 2016 ACADEMIC, ARTGIVEN AND ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS GIVEN JUNE 2016

COMPUTERS, IPADS, COMPUTERS, IPADS, PRINTERS, SOFTWARE LICENSES PRINTERS, AND UPGRADES SOFTWARE LICENSES AND UPGRADES

SLATER SLATER MUSEUM MUSEUM JOHN MEYER

NEW MUSICAL NEW

INSTRUMENTS MUSICAL AND REPAIRS INSTRUMENTS AND REPAIRS

OF NORWICH JOHN MEYER EXHIBITION OF NORWICH EXHIBITION

NEW NEW KILN ANDKILN CLAY ROOM AND CLAY ROOM

2,033 NEW 2,033 NEW TEXTBOOKS FOR SOCIAL STUDIES, TEXTBOOKS SCIENCE AND MATH FOR SOCIAL STUDIES, SCIENCE AND MATH

SENT 340 SENT 340 STUDENTS ON FIELD TRIPS STUDENTS

ART ACQUISITION AND ARTCONSERVATION ACQUISITION AND CONSERVATION

TEACHER TEACHER

TRAINING TRAINING CERTIFICATION FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS CERTIFICATION FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS LEVELED LITERACY INTERVENTION SYSTEM LEVELED LITERACY INTERVENTION SYSTEM

ON FIELD TRIPS

N FA S C H O O L .O RG /G I V I NG N FA S C H O O L .O RG /G I V I NG

FACULTY & STAFF News

Math teacher Nosa Imasuen and his wife welcomed Rachel Oghogho Imsuen on July 15, 2016.

Lauren Dickey married Brian Girasoli ’94 August 19, 2016. Lauren is an NFA English teacher and Brian is an English teacher in Lebanon. Dr. Anthony Girasoli ’89, the groom’s brother and NFA Director of Information Technolgy, was best man.

Spanish teacher Evi Correia welcomed son Thailon Correia Dos Santos on November 1, 2016.

Social Studies teacher Marisa Haralson married David Seng on November 25, 2016.

Social Worker Brooke Leone ‘08 welcomed daughter Gianna Isabella Leone on September 7, 2016.

Slater Museum’s Assistant Director Leigh Thomas and family welcomed Rosalie Juliet Thomas on October 27, 2016.

Facilities Technician John James and family welcomed Gabriella on July 8, 2016. Josh is a proud big brother.

Social Studies teacher Kasey McNatt welcomed daughter Elisabeth on June 14, 2016.

Science teacher Aiden Weeks and Michael D’Elia married on August 6, 2016.

Diversity teacher Piper Deltenre and husband, Matt, welcomed son Logan Archer Deltenre on August 8, 2016.

Campus Safety Officer Angelica Anderson welcomed daughter Skye (Cielo) Alessia Anderson on August 29, 2016. Cielo is the Spanish translation for Skye.

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SARAH MATTERS BURCHMAN ’94 NAMED TEACHER OF THE YEAR Physical Education teacher Reuben Shirshac and wife, Mandy, welcomed Peyton Ella, January 24.

Art teacher Sarah LeFrancois and husband, Chris Andrew, welcome Opal Eloise Andrew, January 30.

S

ocial studies teacher Sarah Matters Burchman took the honor of 2016-17 NFA Teacher of the Year. An avid equestrienne, Burchman has taught in NFA’s signature ninth grade program for much of her 15 years at the Academy. Her classroom is a place of activity, engagement and high-interest learning. Kind and caring, Burchman also is firm and challenging. Students love her no-nonsense manner served with a smile.

“Sarah Burchaman is a “wonderful teacher and leader who has a passion for meeting the needs of each and every student,” says Ninth Grade Principal Diane Giarratona.

“We are very fortunate to have her on our team.”

Burchaman’s speech to faculty and staff on opening day was a study in humility and fully characterized this year’s representative of the NFA faculty. “I am not the type who likes to be recognized for anything,” says Burchman.

“Like most, I come in every day and work as hard as I can; it’s that simple. I model the effort that I expect from my students.”

Burchman began teaching in 2001, and credits former ninth grade Principal Thomas O’Rourke for “taking a chance, and having the faith to hire me.”

She also credits her Department Head Karen Cyr Cook ‘89 and her colleagues, “such great people” for their collaboration and support noting that teaching is a team effort.

& We Will Miss

ALUMNI FRIENDS 1931 Sara O’Neil Mulcahy 1933 Lillian Komeck Rioux

Mary Wiemann McShane Lois Miner Alfred Savage Marie Gaumond Tremblay

1936 Louise Payette Baran Chester Prezkop

1941 Eugene Deshefy Vesta Stevens Downer Helen Przylucky Ennis Albert Gualtieri Joseph Gwiazdowski Edna Zawislinski Tetreault

1937 Helen Wierzbinski Eccleston Magdelena Schaeffer Kimbrough

1942 Helen Mahoney Chinigo Gladys Levitsky Chudy Nancy Driscoll Dutton Phyllis Turner Ross

1938 Gurdon Slosberg Ruth Gray Snow Arlene Fields Sullivan

1943 Joseph Bellone Mary Corning Statia Gwudz Helen Shaw Woolley

1935 Paula Laskowski Gruill

1939 John Armen Maria Brayman Friswell Victoria Gatrousis Wilk 1940 Mabel Bushnell Abbott Lucy Serra Abruzzo Bertha Mish Jorsz Mary Riley McKirahan

1944 Pearl Cote Cotnoir Lois Browning Crowell Donat Frechette Elizabeth Piacenza Gentile Madeline Tryon Lambert Gerald Loweth Joan Bennett Murphy Charles Rossoll

We express our deepest sympathy to the families and classmates of the following NFA graduates who are known to have recently passed away. They will be missed.

Janet Lebovitz Rudolf Raymond Thiel 1945 Michael Cipriani Florence Raftowicz Comeroski Diana Lefebvre Ducharme Felicia Petka Mares Vera Mellor Barbara Lovell Moore Gloria Campbell Stefansky 1946 Rita Arpin Coleman Fred Gale William Kane Charles Lamphere Harold Lamphere Cornelius Leary John Lonardelli 1947 Manuel Cardoza Arthur Director Lawrence Hanrahan Geraldine Quintiliani Kane John Piela 1948 Charles Natzel Rita Vicente Ransom Joseph Ulikowski

1949 Nicolina Romano Clark Richard Comrack Patricia Dowling Filburn 1950 Stephanie Bibik Bailey John Fortier Karen Stern Piscatelli 1951 Dorothy Rydzewski Joseph Torchia 1952 Agnes Bassett Barnes Elizabeth Gibbs Cummings Roland Gauthier Ronald Lucier Jean Gavitt Payne 1953 Francis Buckley Esther Palmer Kenerson Arlene Cantara Marchenkoff Shirley Peterson Patenaude Charles Pieniadz Richard Raymond Kevin Riordan

John Armen ‘39

Albert Gualtieri ‘41

Robert T. Sullivan ‘72

John Armen, Class of 1939, passed away on November 10, 2016 at the age of 95. Mr. Armen was a drafting and descriptive geometry teacher at NFA from 1943 – 1978. He was very involved in the production of the yearbooks for many years when the NFA Mirror was printed in-house.

Mr. Armen was married to Blanche Cimikoski Armen ’46, who passed away in June 2016.

Together they had three children, Elizabeth ( Beth) Armen Troeger ’67, John Armen, Jr. ’69 and David Armen ’73. John is also survived by his sister Martha Armenkas Duhaime ’43.

Albert Gualtieri, Class of 1941, passed away on October 16, 2016.

Heavily involved in his class reunions, he served as a member of the NFA Jubilee Reunion committee for the past 20 years. He is survived by his wife Lucy and his children, Theresa Gualtieri ’69, Antoinette Gualtieri McNally ’73, Michael Gualtieri ’76, Mary Ellen Gualtieri Martin ’80, and sister Rose Gualtieri Slaga ’41.

Robert T. Sullivan, Class of 1972, a life-long Norwich resident, passed away on October 1, 2016. He was named an NFA Corporator in November 2013. He is survived by his children, Erica Sullivan Corbett ’93 and Sean Sullivan ’08 and siblings Maureen Sullivan ’67, Carol Sullivan McCarthy ’68, Joanne Sullivan ’69, Jean Sullivan Depot ’70, John Sullivan ’70 and James Sullivan ’84.

1954 Elaine Bazinet Chartier Floyd Chesbro Marie LoPresti Fleming Evelyn Syphers Jankowski Kathleen Kelly Walker 1955 Myrtice Ferry Edward Krajewski Oscar Lavalley Barbara Corcoran Shahan 1956 John Avila Cora Boulware Victor DeBartolo Hervey Hinse Henry Milewski Paula Berkman Miller Frances DePina Toliver 1957 John Dytko Victor Fontaine 1958 Robert Desbonnet Jo Ellen Connell Leone Zina Pizarko Pisarko Roger Rondeau Robert Scolaro 1959 Andrew Dudek Joan Scepanski Grills Carl Johnson Jennie Glinski Radzwilowicz Judith Berkman Sikorski

1960 Kenneth Bujnowski Gail Balawender Delaney Marjorie Phillips Hayes 1961 Nancy Papparelli Brigner Phyllis Miraglia Chiappone Mahlon Currier Dianne Flagg Gaudreau 1962 Richard Bourbeau Richard Cox John Czajkowski Raymond Jarvis David Judson John Markley Michael Quinn 1963 Maureen Murphy Depot James Dugas Paul MacDonald Patricia Baggarly Northrop Janice Russo Podurgiel Geraldine Benac St. Germain 1964 Barbara White Lewis John Marciniak Lorna Nadolny Seney 1965 John Avdevich Theodore Gladue Gerard Jarry Ann Deschamps Jones Edward Lunt

Dennis Perry Susan Whipple Traphagen 1966 James Ferando Gary Gelmini 1967 Aldo Gasparino Alice Racicot Pothier David Rice Kenneth Roderick 1968 Nancy Geer D’Andria Anthony Jacobik Doris Preble Lillie Margaret Corneau Nolan Daniel Sullivan 1969 Sally Dytko Haddad 1970 David Gillis Cheryl Perras Mostad 1972 Thomas Morosky Robert Sullivan 1973 George Cagle Mark Sayet 1974 James Serwinski 1975 Arlene Paquette Freeman Laurie Stafford O’Banion

1976 Donna Morgenstein Benjamin William Malinowski Merlene Provost Newman 1977 Kenneth Andruskiewicz 1979 Robert Schultz 1981 Laurie Reel White 1982 James Januszewski Michael Sposito 1984 John Jolie Mary McIvor 1986 Pasquale Amodeo 1987 William Claffey Kevin Godwin 1995 Traci Beauregard Abbott-Fargo 2001 Jared Sampson 2002 Daniel Ventura 2003 Ned Smith

Vesta Stevens Downer ‘41 Vesta Stevens Downer, Class of 1941, died November 22, 2016, at the age of 92. She had a lifelong devotion to Norwich Free Academy and kept up friendships with her classmates for many years. Vesta earned a B.A. from University of Vermont in 1945 and an M.S.W. from Smith College in 1950 before beginning her career in social work in Falls Church, Virginia. She lived for many years abroad in Thailand and the Philippines, while her husband Bob held Foreign Service positions for the U.S. Department of State. While in Bangkok, Vesta started a drug-treatment center and continued work as a social worker upon her return to the United States, working at Crossroads drug-treatment centers. She also maintained a private psychotherapy practice, supervised graduate students, was on the board for social work licensure, and was instrumental in securing health-insurance coverage for psychotherapy performed by social workers in Virginia. A devoted runner since the age of 50, she frequently entered 5K and 10K races, often finishing first in her division.

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peoplematter In November, Special Education’s Independent Living Skills Program (ILSP) class invited members of the NFA Foundation and Communications teams to a thank-you celebration. Students took turns reading individually written thank-you notes filled with touching gratitude for tools and opportunity.

But the thanks really go to you and the NFA Foundation’s many donors.

Do you remember the morning PA Announcements in the 70s and 80s always ending with “and the time on the Council Clock is…”? In the early 90s, PA announcements gave way to live homeroom video broadcasts. Here, like everywhere else in the information age, people access information through multiple channels when needed, not just when provided.

Students now receive daily notices via email (at their NFA Gmail account), on Twitter (accessed through their personal handheld devices), and on posts at their Student Portal Dashboard accessible from the NFA website.

Digital signs in all building lobbies and the cafeteria display campus news. Independent Living Skills Program teachers and staff willingly embraced the new communication methods as opportunities to teach their students digital citizenship skills to become informed consumers and community members. But, there were challenges.

“Our students,” says special education teacher Kathryn Beit ‘77, “were accessing information using iPads, and it was difficult for them. They needed keyboards, and they needed reliable Wi-Fi. The signal in our classrooms in Tirrell was weak and unreliable.”

“In addition, students needed to read all of the content,” said special education colleague Karen DiCrosta. “For many it was difficult, or it took too long. But, we wanted them to access information in new ways like everyone else.”

The Information Technology department solved the Wi-Fi problem by installing a wireless access point in the classroom suite.

Procuring laptops for the students was made possible through the generosity of NFA Foundation donors. With the Foundation’s help, the Special Education Department has 25 Chromebooks for class use. Now, daily, students log on to their Portal Dashboard and access school information, either by reading it themselves or by using text to speech software that was installed on the Chromebooks.

A result of the new laptops and assistive technology is access to information for research, projects and extended learning.

New software rephrases or rewrites in more accessible language content that might otherwise be too difficult for some students and helps others learn new vocabulary embedded in the text they read online.

“The technology has individualized lesson planning and learning to help every student in the class. Sometimes, it’s like having three or four more people in the room, all helping different students at the same time,” Beit says.

With a smile, DiCrosta agrees. “It’s fantastic.”

On Monday mornings, Beit and DiCrosta quiz students about information which is emailed weekly to all students in a “Sunday Night Reminder” giving a look ahead to the activities and events of the week to come.

Providing all students the tools to develop the skills to become good digital citizens is one way of furthering NFA’s mission to return to our communities educated students “prepared for the highest usefulness and the purest happiness.”

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NORWICH FREE

ACADEMY

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Hartford, CT Permit #3344

305 Broadway, Norwich, CT 06360 W W W. N FA S C H O O L .O RG

HELP PROTECT OUR INDEPENDENCE NFA is built on a commitment to independence. Our founders saw that, when free from politics, their school could focus on developing

students into productive, contributing members of their communities. Today, 163 years of independence empowers NFA to meet student needs in a way that is both innovative and affordable. It allows for a breadth of opportunities that set us apart.

Senate Bill 786 (ยง11 and 12) would end our independence and, effectively,

community-driven mission that NFA has upheld since 1854.

end the

Visit NFASCHOOL.ORG/INDEPENDENCE for more information.