Nichols SUMMER 2015
Harry Dent ’75 Builds a Legacy
Mission “Our aim is to train minds, bodies and hearts for the work of life, and to carry into all we do the highest ideals of character and service.” – Joseph D. Allen, 1909 (second Headmaster of Nichols School) Jeremy Jacobs Jr. ’81 President, Board of Trustees William Clough Head of School Leslie Garcia Director of Development Simon Chabel Director of Marketing & Communications Editor: Nannie Clough Assistant Editor: Adele Jackson-Gibson ’09 Marketing Assistant Class Notes Editor: Blake Walsh ’98 Director of Alumni Relations Design: Kelley Rechin, Duffy Moon Design Printing: Cohber Contributors: Bill Clough, Chelsy Collins, Jillian Daniels ’16, Larry Desautels, Paul Errickson, Adele Jackson-Gibson ’09, Kristen Kelley, George Kloepfer ’68, Maia Manney ’16, Aranya Maritime, Elisa Peebles ’08, Roddy Potter ’82, Josh Ring, Mary Rech Rockwell, Amanda Simmons, Mary Sykes, Blake Walsh ’98, Laura Yusick ’96 Photography: Simon Chabel, Mason Dent, Paul Errickson, Alex Fisher ’15, Adele Jackson-Gibson ’09, Matt Kianka, Tom Maynor Class Notes: bwalsh@nicholsschool.org All other alumni matters: alumnioffice@nicholsschool.org Published by Nichols School’s Marketing & Communications Office and Development Office for alumni, parents and friends of the School.
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Nichols SUMMER 2015
F E AT U R E S
7 Milestones in Campus Planning 9 Commencement 20 Alumni Profile: Rick Smith ’79 22 Building the Buffalo Myth Project 26 Alumni Profile: Harry Dent III ’75 34 Scholarship Profile: Eames and Guida Donaldson 38 Why We Started a Diversity Conference 42 Alumni Profile: Newell Nussbaumer ’86 46 A Toast to Dick Stratton D E PA RTM E N T S
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6 From Mitchell Hall
45 Derby Day Success
14 Faculty Awards
47 Reunion
15 Classroom Spotlight
50 In Memorium
36 Pen Pals
54 Class Notes
44 Smith Visiting Fellows
– means “that which is true” and is pronounced “taw alay théss.” Nichols School 1250 Amherst St., Buffalo, NY 14216 Telephone: 716.332.6300 • Fax: 716.875.3931 • www.nicholsschool.org Nichols is an inclusive community. Admission granted to qualified students.
CAMPUS CLIPS
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9 1. Boys Novice Eight push for the finish line at the All-High Regatta.
5. Nick Polina ’15 delivers a pitch against CCA.
8. Kaela Parentis ’17 runs down the field against Eden High.
2. Chorus students perform at Cabaret.
6. Cam Lewis ’15 drives to the hoop against Canisius.
9. Students cheer on the Boys Varsity Basketball team in the MSM title game against Canisius.
3. Nick Scott ’19 and classmates work on an A-LEG project. 4. Sean Mann ’15 and Xavier Kyle ’17 perform at Cabaret.
7. Nicole Luko ’16 and Ryan DiPaolo ’16 sing at Cabaret.
10. Students visit China as part of the Nichols Exchange program. S u Smummemr e2r 0 21 0 515
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From Mitchell Hall Head of School Bill Clough
This June the Board of Trustees officially adopted a new campus master plan, culminating a year and a half of work preparing for a moving target we call the future. I am grateful to our board, faculty and staff, alumni, parents, students, and friends for their contribution, and I am confident that our collective effort has prepared us well. Like all planners, we are in a guessing game when it comes to the future. We don’t know where technology will lead us, and we certainly can’t predict the degree that social, economic, political, and climate changes will continue to impact our priorities. What we can do is work to remain relevant and revisit our mission in order to serve our students well. I often hear from alumni that they learned how to think and write at Nichols. They tell me they fell in love with learning by sharing intellectual space with passionate teachers who loved them enough to challenge them to do and be better. There are no shortcuts at Nichols: Excellence is expected and success is earned. This will not change. Great teaching is a Nichols hallmark, and we will continue to emphasize the importance of the student-teacher relationship. Higher education liberal arts institutions are under enormous pressure to justify themselves, and so are we. Families are increasingly interested in measurable outcomes. As a product of and as a firm believer in the sustaining power of liberal education, I am admittedly defensive when I am asked to justify an education that has the generalist in mind. Such inquiry seems to question my own existence, especially as I earn my living extolling its virtues. I am not sure why I am defensive. If liberal arts is under attack, then it is simply incumbent upon me to define why it is relevant. Now I will attempt to do just that. This fall we will offer our first-ever course on the subject of
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entrepreneurship. We are responding to the growth of start-up culture and the call for innovation that is alive and well again in Buffalo and across the country. We can thank technology for accelerating this new reality, but innovation is certainly not a new phenomenon. My Scandinavian ancestors managed to sail to this continent as early as the 11th century. And it’s fair to say that people like the Wright brothers and Bill Gates also knew a few things about innovation. By introducing this course we are acknowledging the fact that we are inventive, creative and naturally risktaking. We hope to give our students the confidence to take us across, up, and into places now unimaginable. Nichols will always be a school that is deeply committed to liberal education, even if we also provide applied and technical courses, which are also important. Our students are already ahead of us as they take greater interest in writing code, building robots, developing apps and researching genomes, and we are responding to their active engagement by promoting active learning environments. Our students are builders and creators like never before, because the tools available allow them enormous reach and unparalleled power. Our strategic and campus master plans ask us to consider how our curriculum and learning spaces contribute to dynamic learning environments. It is exciting, for example, to envision a new library and innovation center, flexible classroom spaces and off-campus learning
opportunities, not just because they’re new and different, but because we want to maximize critical learning outcomes inherent to liberal education: inquiry and analysis, critical and creative thinking, integrative and reflective thinking, written and oral communication, quantitative and informational literacy, intercultural understanding and teamwork and problem solving. Like it or not, technology is changing the way we teach and how our students learn. But what it does not change is the fact that our students need foundational skills in order to successfully adapt to changing environments. Our planning, therefore, must be nimble. In the immediate future, we are excited to re-imagine our classrooms and library, modernize buildings designed for a different century, and even double the size of our dining room. We will stretch our thinking about our curriculum to meet our time. In doing so, we will not lose sight of the fact that our students are still young: full of flaws, full of potential, and in desperate need of connection with themselves and others. Ninety-four seniors began the school year and the same ninety-four graduated on June 5, 2015. If we have done anything right at Nichols, I hope that we have helped them cultivate their inner selves so that they may live humbly and honestly, and carry into all they do the highest ideals of character and service. To the future we go, together. As always, thank you for your continued support. n
H I STO R I C A L P E R S P E C T I V E
A Blueprint for the Future: Milestones in
Campus Planning at Nichols By Roddy Potter ’82, English teacher As Nichols prepares a new campus master plan with a view toward integrating current developments in pedagogical method—inquirybased and collaborative learning, the student-centered classroom, and project-based approaches to instruction—a look into the school’s past may prove illuminating. As we will see, Nichols from its earliest days has placed its physical plant, its architecture, and its use of available space in the service of the most dynamic and effective educational philosophies. Although the school’s move to Amherst Street from its original Norwood Avenue home following the 1908-1909 academic year was motivated in part by a simple need for more overall physical space, the organization of the new campus was driven by winds of change in the world of education. William Nichols’ original school had been, essentially, an oversized house whose interior was broken up into a large study hall and a few smaller “recitation rooms” in which young scholars would repeat in front of masters and classmates the lessons they had memorized over the course of the preceding days. Little if any attention was paid to what we would now call research, or collaborative work, or even discussion, and neither were there any spaces available for physical pursuits—other, that is, than a few
The Norwood Avenue Nichols School, ca. 1907
vacant lots flanking the school. The boys arrived in the morning, crammed, wrote out lessons, performed recitations, had lunch in the basement, and then repeated the operation in the afternoon. This densely-scheduled day was relatively short, with most boys going home around two o’clock. Under the leadership of new Headmaster Joseph Dana Allen and Head Trustee John J. Albright, plans for the Amherst Street campus were undertaken with the explicit end of incorporating the Country Day philosophy. This new educational program, derived from the work of such pioneering theorists as John Dewey and Horace Mann, promoted a view of the learning process that was more holistic, active, and protracted than the older “classical” model familiar to William Nichols.
The toboggan ramp as seen from the back entrance to Albright, 1913
Albright Hall (the main, and until 1925, the only academic building at the new address) was laid out by architect E. B. Green with a number of innovative features. While its first floor was centered on an “assembly room” (later the chapel, now the reading room) with tiled fireplace and south-facing windows reminiscent of the study hall on Norwood Avenue, other areas of Albright were strikingly forwardlooking. The basement housed a
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wood shop in which the younger boys could pursue “manual arts” and crafts, and also featured a printing press on which older students produced periodicals and posters. The second floor of the building incorporated a fully equipped experimental science laboratory (known, for some reason, as “the nursery”) in a long, narrow space on the north side in the area now occupied by classrooms 204-206. For students used to learning chemistry and botany through no other methods than lecture, reading, and recitation, the opportunity to engage in “hands-on” investigative science must have been singularly exciting. On Albright’s first floor Nichols unveiled its first purpose-built audiovisual space: the “lantern room,” in which teachers or visiting speakers could offer “lantern talks,” presentations accompanied by slides projected (via oil flame) onto a silk backdrop. Physical exercise was integral to the new outlook in education, and it is noteworthy that the other new building on the Amherst Street campus was entirely devoted to sports and fitness. The Gymnasium housed a small pool (“the plunge”), squash and basketball courts, and a suspended overhead running track, still visible as the “balcony” of the Dance Studio. Outdoors were found the main track, the baseball diamond, and two football fields. In the winter months the maintenance
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staff assembled a temporary rink in the area behind Albright (its exact location shifting somewhat from year to year), and the imposing “toboggan slide,” visible through the windows in early photographs, came into use. This remarkable set of departures from the example of the Norwood Avenue school, which possessed no athletic amenities
Mitchell Hall on the eve of its completion, 1924
at all, was occasioned by Allen and Albright’s belief—in accordance with the Country Day philosophy—that physical education and community spirit were inseparable from the school’s academic mission. Not all features of a modern school were present in the early years of the Amherst Street campus— library space was minimal, and it would have been difficult to seat more than about 10 scholars in the room provided. (Text and photographic records of goings-on inside Albright at this period are vanishingly rare, with surviving documents testifying to the early administration’s overwhelming
concern with chronicling athletic, rather than academic, affairs.) Neither was there any designated area in which students could gather informally. The need for these features was acknowledged and their absence rectified with the construction of Mitchell Hall in the mid-1920s. The elegant McNutt Library served the burgeoning research needs of the Upper School, while the old library, the present Edmund Petrie Cottle Room in Albright, was revamped (though not enlarged) for the exclusive use of the “Junior School.” To offer leisure space to at least a portion of the student body, a second-floor area in the new building was set aside as a “Common Room,” soon to become known as the “Senior Room” in recognition of the VI Form’s effectivelyexclusive title to its use. (Contrary to a persistent myth, student smoking was never permitted in the Senior Room, nor anywhere else at the school.) As we look forward to new developments in the architecture and layout of the Nichols campus, it is worth bearing in mind that progressive pedagogy and the physical form of the campus have been evolving together for over a century, and will no doubt continue to do so in the years to come. n The next installment in this series will focus on the striking physical development of the Nichols campus between 1964 and 1974.
CO M M E N C E M E N T
Honoring the Class of 2015 at the 123rd Commencement
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n a beautiful morning in the Quadrangle, Nichols School conferred diplomas to the 94 members of the senior class. Head of School Bill Clough welcomed students, faculty, families and guests to the ceremony. He spoke of the growth he has witnessed in this class and the contributions they have made to the school and to the greater Buffalo community. Clough also encouraged students to sustain their connections to Nichols, “I hope Nichols will always feel like a home to you, and I hope you will return, even in memory, often.” Nichols alumna Amy Blum Houston ’85 delivered the commencement address, urging students to use their education to improve the lives of those around them. Houston is a Managing Director of the Robin Hood Foundation, an anti-poverty organization in New York City and a member of the Nichols Board of Trustees.
Head of Upper School, Dr. Aranya Maritime, introduced student-elected speaker Dann Brady Stevens ’15. Stevens spoke of the students cohesiveness, and their many shared experiences, both in and outside the classroom. “We are now outfitted with the knowledge of how to foster a community for ourselves on any level,” he said. Stevens concluded with gratitude toward the Nichols community, emphasizing the importance of the faculty. “We wouldn’t be anywhere near where we are without you, and your efforts mean the world to us.” Congratulations to the Class of 2015! Spencer Bacon ’14 produced a wonderful Commencement tribute video. To watch, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7CSyre7nWI
Alumni Awards Nichols Board of Trustees President Jeremy M. Jacobs Jr. ’81 presented Rosemary Marlette with the Honorary Alumna Award. A longtime supporter of Nichols, Marlette’s family has deep roots with the school, with more than 20 family members having attended over the years. She was one of the first women to serve on the Nichols Board of Trustees, and continues to serve the school on the Trustee Council. In presenting her with the award, Jacobs said, “Your collaborative efforts made Nichols a more diverse and dynamic place of learning.” Alumni Board President Scott Saperston ’90 presented the Distinguished Alumni Award to Rich Adams ’61. Like Marlette, Adams served as a Trustee and continues to serves on the school’s Trustee Council. A loyal donor with more than 30 years supporting Nichols at a Headmaster’s Society level, Adams has served as class agent and Derby Day Auction chair. He is a William Nichols Society member and a member of the Head of School search alumni committee that brought Bill Clough to Nichols. Of Adams’ contributions, Saperston said, “In each role you’ve played, your enthusiasm and commitment to task have been exemplary.”
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Commencement On Friday, June 5, Nichols School held its 123rd Commencement, honoring the Class of 2015. “I asked peers, teachers, alumni, and family what the best thing about Nichols is, and I almost always got the same answer: Community. “Everyone at Nichols becomes a multi-faceted person...and it’s only possible in a welcoming and accepting community like the one we have here. Our sense of community is truly the foundation for everything else we do here, which makes it not only the best part about Nichols, but also the most important one.” – Dann Brady Stevens ’15 “Namibia was my great adventure and you are on the brink of your great adventures. You’ve got to actively seek them out—next door or on the other side of the world. When they say seize the day, they’re talking about you—right now. “Art and science. Head and heart. Rigor and joy. It’s this combination that defines our work in poverty fighting and the magic of our Nichols education. And it’s this combination that you need in equal measure going forward.” – Amy Blum Houston ’85
Upper School Major Awards 2015 Senior Awards (VI Form) Edmund Petrie Cottle, Jr. Award Wilson (Alex) Fisher Awarded to that member of the graduating class whose scholarship, achievement, leadership, and influence based on character has been of greatest value to the school.
Faculty Prize Rebecca Regan Awarded to that member of the graduating class who has contributed most to the school in activities other than athletics.
Williams Cup Brady Stevens Presented to the student with highest scholastic standing in the graduating class who has won a varsity letter at Nichols and exemplified the spirit of Nichols athletics.
Awarded to a senior who embodies citizenship and virtue throughout his or her years at Nichols School, and emerged as an exemplary individual who has contributed to the Nichols community through his or her willingness to live with honor and without pretense or judgment.
Dudley M. Irwin, III ’45 Award Cody Fleckenstein Presented to a junior boy who, by virtue of character and leadership, has assumed prominence in his class.
Nottingham Award Maia Manney Presented to a junior girl who, by virtue of character and leadership, has assumed prominence in her class.
Harvard Prize Book Lindsay Hogan
Awarded to a student who has shown outstanding growth during his or her career at Nichols.
Presented to an outstanding member of the junior class who displays excellence in scholarship and high character, combined with achievement in other fields.
Presented to the student or students who have made outstanding contributions to the school and its life during the year.
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Sophomore Award (IV Form) Yale Award Hailey Miller Presented to that member of the sophomore class who, by scholarship performance, by participation in school activities, and by character, has assumed a position of prominence in the class.
Junior Awards (V Form)
McCarthy Prize Mathias Williams
Head of School Award Elena Ciotta, Carolyn Hoffman, Chloe Keating, Sean Mann, Erin Nebbia, Jenna Rich, Paige Spangenthal, Sam Stark and Derrick Tang.
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Joseph L. Hudson, Jr. ’49 Award Kenny Williams
Williams College Book Award Wendy Hu Presented to a junior who has demonstrated exceptional academic achievement and intellectual leadership, and has made a significant contribution to the extracurricular life of the school.
Freshman Award (III Form) Christopher Wadsworth Award Tannay Chandhok Hanna Prince Presented to that member of the freshman class who, by scholastic performance, by participation in school activities and by character, has assumed a position of prominence in the class.
Cum Laude 2015 Jean Beecher Elizabeth Bourne Alexandra Castiglia Elena Ciotta Alex Fisher Carolyn Hoffman Sam Jones Rachel Larson Sean Mann David Pfalzgraf Kathryn Riter Rebecca Regan Jenna Rich Paige Spangenthal Sam Stark Brady Stevens Derrick Tang Grace Tomczak Jacob Zarzecki
CO M M E N C E M E N T
Middle School Awards and 8th Grade Recognition Ceremony On Wednesday, June 3, students, faculty, staff, parents, and friends celebrated the Class of 2019 during the Middle School Awards and Eighth Grade Recognition Ceremony at the Flickinger Performing Arts Center. Head of Middle School, Paul Errickson, welcomed all in attendance. He spoke to all middle schoolers, complimented the eighth grade class, and wished them well as they move over to the Upper School. Raiza Almonte ’19 led the auditorium in the Pledge of Allegiance, and the fifth and sixth grade chorus sang “America the Beautiful.” Middle School faculty members, Tom Maynor ’81, Annie LoTempio, Debbie Howe, Mary Sykes, Julie Alford ’84, Greg Plumb ’96, Paul Errickson, and Head of School, Bill Clough, presented awards to students. Ontario House Prefect, John Tantillo ’18, presented the John R. Munro, Jr. House Cup to
the 2015 winner, Ontario House. Additionally, Taylor Walker ’21, Anya Acharya ’20, Jordyn Mucklewee ’20, Travis Goodin ’19, and Dorian Williams ’18 presented the Cornelia Dopkins Awards to their classmates. Abbey Gicewicz ’19 and Will Pfalzgraf ’19 served as class speakers and reflected on their shared first four years together at Nichols. Bill Clough delivered the keynote address and shared advice for the students and parents about growing up and heading into the Upper School. Finally, Alison Graziano ’16 and David Gee ’16, Upper School co-presidents, spoke to the eighth grade class and welcomed them to the Upper School. The ceremony concluded with everyone singing the Alma Mater, “We’ll Green You as We Grow,” and a viewing of the eighth grade video.
2014-2015 Middle School Awards The Cornelia L. Dopkins Award Elaina Combs ’22, Joshua Stead-Dorval ’21, Joey Watroba ’20, Naseem Haj-Dahmane ’19 Named in honor of an extraordinary teacher, scholar, and Head of the Nichols Middle School on two different occasions, this award is given to fifth to eighth grade students who have been nominated by their peers because they have demonstrated a genuine concern for others and for Nichols School. The recipient is a person who sees what needs to be done and does it with enthusiasm and without expectation of reward, a quality Mrs. Dopkins displayed throughout her lengthy career at Nichols. The Henry D. Waters Award Macy Halim ’22, Adina Marynowski ’21, Michael Tuber ’21 This award was established to honor Henry D. Waters, who dedicated his life to his second career as a dean, advisor, English teacher supreme, Hall of Fame coach and athlete, and friend of middle school students for 25 years. It is awarded to fifth or sixth grade students who display the qualities Henry Waters valued most: a willingness to participate in all activities to the best of their ability; fair-mindedness; good sportsmanship; honesty; empathy; citizenship; and a positive sense of humor.
The Pliny H. Hayes III Award Eliza Roach ’20 This award was established to honor Pliny H. Hayes, III, former Head of the Nichols Middle School; a brilliant leader, counselor, classical scholar, and world traveler, Pliny was devoted to Nichols, its students, and its faculty. It is given to that seventh grade student whose commitment to and pursuit of excellence in all endeavors challenges others; whose enjoyment and pleasure in new experiences and learning stimulates others, and whose character and personal integrity inspires others. The Bruce Anderson Award Jack DiBenedetto ’19 This award is given by his eighth grade classmates of 1973 in memory of Bruce Anderson. It is awarded to an eighth grade boy who not only displays athletic excellence and a fine sense of sportsmanship but also contributes to the general welfare of his classmates through strength of character and leadership. The Nichols Coaches’ Award Abbey Gicewicz ’19, Audrey Lazar ’19 This award is given to an eighth grade girl who not only has displayed athletic excellence and a fine sense of sportsmanship, but also through strength of character and leadership has contributed to the general welfare of her classmates.
E. Webster Dann Faculty Award Chandra Desai ’19, Mary DiPaola ’19, Travis Goodin ’19, Audrey Lazar ’19, Ryan Leonard ’19, These awards are given by the faculty in honor of E. Webster Dann, a long time dean, math teacher, and hockey aficionado, to eighth graders who have earned our special admiration and appreciation because of their positive contributions to life at the Middle School. With this award, we recognize various combinations of the following: positive leadership, sound character, persistent effort and growth, a true concern for others, and a helping nature. The Charles I. Kleiser Award Nick Scott ’19 This award was established in 1960 by the faculty to honor the memory of Charles I. Kleiser, a Nichols Junior School teacher for more than thirty years whose devotion to his craft and his students remains legendary. It is awarded to an eighth grade student who has demonstrated qualities of positive leadership, sound character, and concern for others. The Robert A. Gillespie-Vincent E. Walsh Award Sarah Rodwin ’19, Nick Scott ’19 The Robert A. Gillespie-Vincent E. Walsh Academic Award was established by Allan J. Lerner, class of 1947, to honor two outstanding Nichols teachers. It is awarded to the eighth grade student(s) who has achieved the highest academic standing during his or her eighth grade year. Summer 2015
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Amanda Simmons, was recently recognized by Buffalo Business First as one of 25 Teachers of Merit in Western New York.
Classroom Reflection: Amanda Simmons, Math Chair My first year teaching in the Middle School was a grand adventure. When I initially suggested to Paul Errickson that I teach eighth grade math, I did so with bravado. After all, I had visited many Middle School classes in my role as department chair, and I had taught ninth grade students for 20 years. However, by September, I was apprehensive. Indeed on that first day of class I was certainly more nervous than my eighth grade charges. I worried that they would be younger than I realized, and that they would not appreciate my quirky sense of humor. My apprehension was fully justified; I was right on both counts! My students and I learned a lot from each other during the year. I delighted in the exuberance that accompanies their youth, and they figured out that most of my outrageous remarks were facetious. More seriously, my experience reminded me that much of what we believe about our school and expect in our classrooms is contextual. There were moments where my ignorance of middle school culture caught me unprepared, and other times when my Upper School assumptions left my students befuddled. This fall I will begin my second “deployment” in the Middle School a little wiser. Certainly I have a fuller understanding of the different sense of tone and community that characterizes our Middle School. I hope I am more sensitive to the challenges that face our ninth grade students. Navigating a community defined by unfamiliar traditions and expectations is exciting, but it can also seem mysterious and sometimes a little intimidating. In September, teachers in Center ’63 will again welcome Middle School students to our classrooms. In addition to my eighth grade class, younger students will add their talents to two Upper School math classes. I’m confident that both teachers and students in these classes will seize the opportunity to create their own grand adventure.
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The Gannon Family Foundation Award: Amanda Simmons
The Gannon Family Foundation Award (formerly the Olive R. Ringo Award) was established to recognize outstanding contributions by members of the Nichols faculty to the education of Nichols students. Each year’s recipient is nominated by his or her peers and selected by a committee made up of previous faculty awardees. This award is presented annually by Gordon Gannon, Nichols ’50, who heads the family foundation. Mathematics teacher extraordinaire, Amanda Simmons, received this year’s award at the endof-year faculty/staff dinner on June 10. Since the first time she joined the Nichols faculty in 1996, Amanda’s contributions to the development of the mathematics department abound, always looking to improve the curriculum, constantly thinking of creative and innovative ways to adjust our approach to better serve our diverse student body, leading the department in its thrust to create more appropriate trajectories for every level of math. Amanda’s professional expertise is recognized by the College Board as she is an AP Mathematics reader on the national level. Amanda’s work as the creator of the first unified schedule between the school’s divisions since the 1960s cannot be undervalued as she handled every problem with her typical equanimity, patience and expertise. An extraordinary teacher and colleague, Amanda is a most deserving recipient of the 2015 Gannon Family Foundation Award.
William Nichols Award: Josh Ring Each year the William Nichols Award acknowledges the hard work of a dedicated and distinguished member of the faculty or staff. This year’s recipient is Josh Ring, a physics, environmental studies and geology teacher. As the leader of environmental education at Nichols for the past 13 years, Josh directed a myriad of initiatives to promote environmental consciousness on campus and influence the wider world. Driven by a deep, authentic sense of responsibility for our environment and tireless optimism, Josh opens our eyes and helps us modify our behavior. Through EcoSchools, a worldwide educational program that empowers kids to make the world a more sustainable place, he fosters an understanding of how to reduce our carbon footprint and conserve energy. Josh also leads the Big Green Initiative, a push to focus on environmental literacy on school grounds. Whether advising students on plastics pollution, planning Earth Day assemblies, traveling with students to conferences to discuss climate change, or driving the little green bus toward a field trip, Josh encourages students to confront real-world problems that endanger our planet. This year, Josh made a seamless transition to the Middle School, taking over science and math courses in the fifth grade. By using Mother Nature as his classroom, he orchestrated a week of education and observation at the Buffalo Zoo and included fifth-grade projects in our Upper School Science symposium. Congratulations, Josh, and thank you for being a innovative teacher and supportive colleague who inspires us all.
CLASSROOM SPOTLIGHT
Fifth Grade By Mary Sykes, fifth-grade teacher
They arrive every fall. Excited and nervous, eager and apprehensive. They’ve already shadowed for a day in fifth grade, and many have attended a Young Scholars Workshop, so they feel some familiarity. By September, though, questions and uncertainties occupy their thoughts: Will I know where to go? How much homework will I get? Will I make new friends? As current fifth grader Matthew Rothschild expresses it: “Once you start the school year, everything is new. The kids, classes, teachers and expectations are like a new world. Sometimes it could be scary.” The nurturing team of teachers and advisors who work with Nichols’
newest and youngest recognizes that transitioning into a different environment is challenging, and we actively support our students as they adjust to their new surroundings. Girls and boys like Matthew quickly learn that the world of fifth grade includes friendly students, kind and
helpful teachers, challenging classes, and many opportunities to learn, grow and try new things. Fifth grade is the start of an eight-year adventure that builds on children’s innate love of learning, high energy, diverse talents and interests, and desire to achieve. A few weeks into the school
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year, the fifth-grade space is literally buzzing with chatter and purpose. Priyanka Sharma writes: “When I came to Nichols, I felt like I lost a part of my life, but now I have gained an even bigger part. Nichols fifth grade is special because of the dedicated teachers and the unique activities that we do.” Distinctive to fifth grade is a course called Central Studies, which integrates history and literature into a yearlong study of the Middle Ages. Students are immersed in medieval times, studying many aspects of this historical period and reading about its legends, including Robin
Hood, William Tell, El Cid and Beowulf. Artemis Pados observes: “I love the idea of a central theme. It ties your whole experience together.” Abby Graff adds: “What you learn in one class connects to other classes.” Students research a medieval instrument in music, write original plays in medieval rhyming verse in drama class, and study levers and pulleys in science – how else could castle dwellers raise the heavy portcullis and drawbridge? “What’s unique about Nichols’ fifth grade is that teachers know how much challenge is needed to succeed,” writes Laz Rifkin. “They
are not waiting for you to make a mistake, but waiting to help you learn from your mistake.” A rigorous program and supportive atmosphere help our fifth graders learn the values of their new school. Kyle Keane notes that “The expectations are set high for everything, and that is good because then nobody will dare to goof off.” In fact, pursuit of excellence along with increased responsibility, independence and perseverance are part of everyday life. Jane Carney says, “Some of the opportunities that I get here are when I share poetry in front of friends or perform a medieval skit
“I feel that going to a new school is like a bird learning how to fly. It may be difficult at first, but if you keep trying, it will come easy.” – Laz Rifkin
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in front of the whole middle school. Usually I can get scared easily, but I know I am in a safe and loving environment.” Artemis agrees. “With small class sizes you can express yourself and have a say in the conversation, but also get great input and feel from your peers.” “What excites me most about fifth grade is how we can go out of the middle school building to places such as the ice rink, the campus store and the dining hall,” says Rohit Rachala. “You are offered independence, which helps you grow.” Opportunities abound for fifth graders to explore their interests and develop new ones. Anderson Osinski writes: “The experiences on and off campus are just wonderful. There are after-school programs, like the environmental club. We just finished a bottle collection project to show waste of a full week’s use of cans and bottles. Also, we went snowshoeing and learned about birds.” Fifth graders participate in Science Olympiad, robotics club, theater team, SUMO (a student multicultural group) and art club. During the final weeks of school, the team of fifth-grade teachers and advisors smiles as we reflect back on this transformational year. In our soon-to-be sixth-grade students, we see none of the apprehension of the fall. Instead, the children have developed into a community of friends and collaborators, fully ready to take on new challenges. Matthew puts it very well: “What all of this does is help you grow your mind and make you a better person. The teachers want you to be leaders. Nichols fifth grade is a wonderful and different type of class in a good way. That’s why I love Nichols!” n
Our World Around Us By Josh Ring, fifth-grade teacher
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taught ninth-grade physics, geology, and environmental studies for 12 years in the Nichols Upper School. Highlights of my day were in the classroom sharing discoveries and fully enjoying time with enthusiastic teenagers. Geology and environmental class included a lot of field trips and leading these was a highlight of my time in the Upper School. Another group of students I saw out exploring our natural world, investigating right on the Nichols campus, was the fifth graders led by long time fifth-grade teacher Allan Hayes (retired 2014). At times when I was free, I would join along on their sojourns into natural studies. What a joy it was! Any time I was with fifth graders either in the field or in the classroom, it was an amazing experience. When I heard Allan was retiring after years of service and, being at a place like Nichols where you can explore professional growth, I jumped at the opportunity to teach in the fifth grade. At first the thought was to correlate teaching duties, utilizing our new common schedule, to teach courses in both divisions. It became clear to me quickly that the fifth graders need full-time dedication from their teachers as they transition into a new school. To be a fifth-grade teacher, you must be fully immersed all day, every day. With excitement and commitment, I took the plunge and joined the Middle School community. My belief is that I bring a unique perspective on the curriculum in science and math and that years of experience in the Upper School will be beneficial in developing a fifth-grade curriculum. Can I take the fifth-grade excitement to learn and enthusiasm for nature to develop studies that encourage curiosity, investigation, and appreciation for the natural world around us? As I describe the fifth-grade science experience, keep in mind that it is an experience based off the work of predecessors but incorporating new ideas and new approaches that are possible and encouraged in a place like Nichols. Fifth-grade science students are immersed in local studies of our natural world, since we believe that future studies of world issues such as climate change, water use, and pollution will be approached more thoughtfully by people with a strong sense of place and an understanding and appreciation of the natural world. The fifth-grade year starts in September with a class overnight trip to Camp Weona, where students dive right into team-building activities, adventures (new for many) like rock climbing and canoeing, and, most importantly, begin forming new lifelong friendships. Here they also start their nature studies. The naturalist-led hike to the old hollowed out Black Cherry tree is a favorite activity. Here students squeeze up to 10 at a time into the trunk of the tree. As they explore at the base of the tree, they learn about how the
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“Fifth grade at Nichols is a big step up from lower grades. You are more independent and classes are more challenging. More is expected of you. One reason fifth grade at Nichols is great is that teachers try to meet everyone’s needs and offer extra help and ways to practice things you struggle with.” – James Coburn
tree is home to birds like the Northern screech owl, they discover the tree’s age, and imagine the landscape populated by Native Americans at the start of the tree’s life. As fifth grader Charlotte Koch states, “Camp Weona was a favorite trip of mine. We got to interact with nature and meet new people!” Back at Nichols, it is not long before the students are out exploring the natural world of our campus. An early exploration has students complete a sound map. They practice being still and quiet, listening to the sounds around them and putting the sounds down on paper in the form of a map. After a few minutes of silence, the normal hum of traffic gives way to other less heard sounds like wind through trees, birds chirping, bees buzzing, and even the howler monkeys’ deep howls at the adjacent Buffalo Zoo. This simple exercise develops a connection between students and the local area where they will study and become an expert. They start the process of developing a sense of place in the environment surrounding Nichols. As the year progresses, they will collect and identify insects, study birds, become tree experts, and record the phenological spring. Through a connection with the Olmsted Conservancy, the students make use of adjacent Delaware Park in an area termed the Managed Meadow. This area is unmowed for most of the year and planned plantings of native plants and trees occur with help of the Olmsted staff. The students also help mark and clear tree seedlings and spread leaf compost. Fifth grader Nicolle Nuchereno noted the connection between studying nature and improving habitats. “I like going over to the Managed Meadow because it is nice to learn things in nature and that we can make the plants and trees have a cleaner environment.” During the school days throughout the year, fifth graders stride over in rubber boots to learn about different species and their habitats,
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and practice identification skills. When the woolly bear caterpillar begins to pop up in the meadow, students learn lessons about their habitat, grass and woody shrub areas, and the process of metamorphism. By the end of the school year, students create a field guide which documents insects, trees, birds of the meadow and bud bursts for select plants. With the inclusion of writing samples and poems from each student’s Central Studies classes, the field guide is truly interdisciplinary work. Further depth, understanding, and appreciation of sense of place comes from learning about local areas from experts in their field. The fifth graders spend time with scientists and naturalists from the Buffalo Zoo, University of Buffalo, Earth Spirit and Buffalo Audubon. This fall the fifth graders joined Earth Spirit experts at a parcel of woods called Toad Hollow, owned by fifth grader Leif Anthony’s family. Earth Spirit naturalists taught lessons in the woods, including the life history of trees and the habitat of squirrels and chipmunks and the nests they form. Leif himself said, “I loved the experience at Toad Hollow. I never knew you could whistle with acorns and that oak leaves could be so big.” These experiences go beyond the typical field trip and become excursions filled with expeditionary learning, building on knowledge developed in the classroom. Students learn in the field, and complete follow-up projects in the classroom. Field excursions to local areas with experts give fifth-grade students an appreciation and deeper understanding of their natural studies. After the students have studied birds near the campus, at the feeder and in the Managed Meadow, they embark on a winter bird and snow-shoeing trip to Beaver Meadows with activities led by ornithologist from the Buffalo Audubon Society. Students are able to connect the work in the classroom with the experience in the field. The students are proud to illustrate their expertise with the identification and habitat of birds.
In their Central Studies classes, students studied the poet Robert Frost, and arriving at Beaver Meadow, the connection between poetry and nature was well established. Lauren Makeyenko, director of education for the Buffalo Audubon Society, said, “It truly was a pleasure working with the students and in all my years working with kids outdoors, I never had a group of boys start reciting a Robert Frost poem from memory because they connected with it in the woods. It was very moving. The girls also recited it with Ms. Sykes from higher ground overlooking one of the ponds.” As a unifying and expansive experience of their natural studies, the fifth graders join with Buffalo Zoo scientists to explore the world’s biomes with a focus on exhibit design. For three full days, the students walk to the zoo and work alongside the scientists learning the behind the scenes work of designing and running a zoo. Students return to the classrooms of Nichols as experts and design their own zoo exhibits with a biome focus. Each student is an expert in their biome and they divide into groups of four, each with a specific focus learned from their zoo experience: the Biome Expert, the Zoologist, the Botanist and the Conservationist. The zoo scientists return to evaluate the students’ work, offering encouragement and suggestions. The students’ final projects are presented during the all-school Science Days at Nichols in April. At the start of spring, the students once again return to the Managed Meadow to participate in natural studies, like recording the phenological start of spring based on bud bursts from certain tree and plant types. This year, the students completed a unit on Solar Energy, which involved work and a visit to the University at Buffalo’s Solar Strand. Here they studied the placement of the Strand in a meadow setting, learned about solar oven use in developing countries, and designed electrical circuits. Environmental
and engineering students led the students on a tour through the outdoor facility, which highlighted a new GPS-based field guide app. Once again, the learning did not stop there as the students returned to expand their knowledge and complete an in-class project, developed by recent graduate Alex Fisher ’15, designing a city of the future. Through all the activities and experiences for fifth graders in the sciences at Nichols, we aim to establish real and valuable connections. Student projects are an extension of curriculum. Their studies of the natural world are reinforced and made more tangible by establishing the connection between classroom, the outdoors, and experts in the field. n
“Although there is responsibility in fifth grade, the teachers guide you through. Your advisors especially help you get through the struggles that you have. They are always there to help.” – Elaina Combs Summer 2015
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{ALUMNI PROFILE}
Sacred Concrete
by Adele Jackson-Gibson ’09
When I graduated from Nichols, I wanted to get as far away from
Buffalo as I could. “Far” didn’t mean distance as in the number of miles from here to LA. “Far” meant a change in experience and mentality, adventure, big city lights—a bodega with a residential cat. Something.
B
ack in 2009, this Rust Belt city felt hopeless, vacant, weathered with terrible weather, and I readily sighed when my new college friends told me I came from “America’s cold armpit.” Needless to say, last year I wasn’t very excited to leave my exciting teaching job in Japan and return to Buffalo, unemployed and living with my parents. I am sure “the return” sounds familiar to many a millennial in these harsh economic times. I had every intention of leaving as soon as I could, but I settled back into Nichols School as their new marketing assistant. I was uncertain as to how I would enjoy being back in a place that I was so bent on fleeing, but as the year went on, this job has forced me to rediscover this city and the Nichols community in ways I could have never imagined. On one of the coldest mornings of the year, I was assigned to interview Rick Smith ’79 and visit the infamous Silo City on Buffalo’s Outer Harbor. As the owner of
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Rigidized Metals, Rick has always been aware of the grandeur of the silos towering over his office. It’s one of the biggest clusters of concrete elevators on the planet. Eerie and magical, they are a glimpse into Buffalo’s architectural heyday from the early 20th century. Renowned architects like Walter Gropius, Erich Mendelsohn, and Le Corbusier praised the buildings for their geometrical simplicity, bare nature and complex engineering. Yet since the fall of the industrial era, the silos have been left to crumble. The leftover grain quietly flaked down from the bins. Rick and I stood small among the concrete monoliths, analyzing a hoof print in the snow. “There’s a white deer that lives around the silos,” said Rick through the icicles of his burly mustache. “Seneca Nation lore says it’s very lucky to have one on site.” I looked around and dreamed of this majestic creature wandering through Buffalo’s famous grain elevators—a pristine beast among chiseled behemoths. I winced. My ears started to sting and part of me
wished I had Rick’s cowboy hat, but he just kept trudging through the snow, making large foot holes I could hop into to avoid sinking. For Rick, the silos are a spiritual place, especially in the quiet of winter. The cavernous columns provide a lot of space to think. For a moment, we paused to watch the geese hover as the sun winked off the frozen river. He smiled and continued on. The frigid wind couldn’t stop the jokes from floating off his breath and in that laughter I forgot that I couldn’t feel my fingers. “It’s overwhelming,” he said. “But the site is so beautiful. It’s raw, industrial beauty.” In 2006, Rick seized the opportunity to purchase the silos from ConAgra. “It’s a lot of property but I wanted to get it in local hands so we could start to have something over there” he said. One evening, Rick hosted a cocktail party for the National Preservation Trust and the UB School of Architecture, and as the ideas and high spirits wafted in the air, it suddenly hit him: “This could be a pretty cool place to host events and be as design-centric as we can.” Since then, Rick opened the site to the public and Silo City began to grow. He built mezzanines, patios, and stages for weddings and receptions. By virtue of putting in a new dock last summer, the site has seen over 2,000 tourists by water alone—some float in on kayaks or venture in with Queen City Ferry tours. Rick “the Sodbuster” is always
wandering the site, thinking of new paths to forge and new areas to reconstruct, yet he treads lightly. “We treat the concrete as sacred. We don’t poke holes in it. We treat the metal and brick as something that can’t be changed or replaced.” He calls the process “slow-burn regeneration,” a strategy that forces his team to approach the site piece by piece instead of developing it all at once. In this way, the place holds its integrity while keeping costs in check: “Everywhere you look, there’s a fix that’s very expensive,” said Rick. “So with slow-burn regeneration it’s really letting the site teach us what to do next—where we should make it safer, where we should have heat or utilities. It’s evolving and we get a little bit better all of the time.” As I walked around, I noticed that the silos summoned Buffalo’s creative spirit. Screen-print portraits plastered a wall black and white with graffiti art, adding accents of color. “One time the famous Russian poet, Yevgeny Yevtushenko, was here and he just loved the site,” said Rick. “This was a man who was on the cover of TIME. And then all of a sudden, he broke out into vociferous poetry in Russian which none of us
understood, but it was pure magic. ” I shouted to the top of a grain elevator just to hear the echo. Musicians clamber to play in a space like this. In Marine A, there’s a nine-second reverberation that you cannot find easily anywhere else. Rick remembers a performance by three trombonists from the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and how the horns’ hollow sound shook his bones. He remembers when Torn Space Theatre floated a dancer down to the stage on a pulley system in one of their innovative productions. Silo City is also a playground where people collaborate and turn their imaginations into reality: Silo City Rocks built an indoor/outdoor rock climbing gym; PUSH Buffalo, McKinley High School, and Tapestry School planted a garden by the dock; the Good Neighborhood and the Flying Bison Brewing Company once hosted the Buffalo Mustache Hall of Fame and Museum; and one day Rick dreams of creating a classy nightclub full of dancing people in fancy tuxes. In a nook, leaning against a wall of whimsical chalk drawings I found a sun-bleached
playhouse, its door wide open. “With a site with a scale so large, the possibilities are endless,” said Rick. “People wander through the site and say, ‘Let’s do something here. How about bungee jumping? How about a zipline?’ This place inspires so many different ideas.” According to Rick, millennials have been a vital part of the site’s growth. In the midst of the Buffalo Renaissance, younger residents have been known to create something out of nothing, and more specifically, see the usefulness of abandoned spaces. “Ten years ago Silo City would not have happened,” said Rick. “It’s a generational thing and now the young people are really the driving force in its development. The last generation looked at the silos and said, ‘We failed.’ Whereas the young look at these elevators with fresh eyes. It’s cool to go down to Silo City and we are trying to support that.” In this economy, it is cool to be able to take scarce resources and use them effectively, and as the silos demonstrate, all it takes is a bunch of energy to turn visions into reality.” Unfortunately at the end of my exploration with Rick, I could not find the lucky white deer—just the howl of the wind and tiny fox prints. But I felt fortunate enough to discover a place that Buffalo was finally recognizing as a historic treasure. Above all, I felt a new sense of hope. I looked forward to the summer when I could kayak to the dock, catch a glimpse of a flowery wedding, or enjoy a glass of wine while I drowned in the moving sound waves of a brass band. And who knows? There are probably more ideas brewing in the heads of creative Buffalonians. As we embrace the silos, we recapture the innovative culture that once made this city great and that spirit encourages me to be a proud Buffalo pioneer too.n
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Building the Buffalo Myth Project by Kristen Tripp Kelley, theater teacher
Devising a play takes courage. The first time I
tried was with my students in 2008. We built a script based on interviews with refugees who had settled in Buffalo. There are so many unknowns at the outset. What will this production look and feel like, exactly? How will this story develop? Are we writers? Can we handle the discomfort of the process? Might we fail? While creating an original work is a struggle filled with doubt, anxiety and unpredictable setbacks, the growth that is possible when one is pushed, stretched, and turned upside down is tough to match. The Refugee Project turned out to be the most satisfying effort in my teaching career at that time. Resistant to the unknown at the beginning of the process, my students, almost without exception, experienced personal transformation by the end of the production. I still hear from those students today about the impact of that work on their lives. I suppose it’s the reward my students and I received through risk taking that brought me back to such a challenge this year. Nichols alumna Elisa Peebles pitched the Buffalo Myth Project to me two summers ago. I couldn’t resist the opportunity to work with this powerhouse of an artist and activist on such an important undertaking. When the time was right, we started to assemble a team to make this happen. Art teacher Andrea Mancuso got on board to help realize our work visually through her film class. History teacher Caitlin Crowell was very helpful in reaching out to the community, and Mary Rockwell’s perspective as an urban studies teacher was invaluable. The adults worked over the summer and into the fall to lay the groundwork for our student ensemble. The preparation I did for this project was humbling at times. I’ll never forget the August driving tour of the East Side with Elisa and her longtime family friend. As someone who has lived in Buffalo my entire life, I saw some of the neighborhoods in my hometown for the very first time that day. I started to sense I’d be learning just as much as my students.
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Jillian Gately ’16 and Ryan DiPaola ’16
We decided to introduce the play to our student ensemble through a symposium. We shared the themes of the project, viewed some examples of artistic inspiration, and attempted to give students geographical, historical and social context. We encouraged students to explore their personal relationship with the city through various map exercises. They interviewed family members, took field trips to unfamiliar neighborhoods, and spoke with community leaders, urban planners, academics, politicians and developers. This was not an easy time for everyone. We were moving outside of our comfort zones every day. With Buffalo experiencing a so-called renaissance, it was difficult to face some of the disheartening truths about the city’s past and present. Some students wondered whether we’d be able to create a play that would really interest their peers and the greater community. Others questioned whether an arts class was the place to be talking about socio-political issues. At the end of the symposium, the classes split. The film class began editing footage and the actors began to imagine a script. On our first day alone in acting class, I shared some video and written testimonials from former students who had worked on the Refugee Project. My hope was their heartfelt pep talks would give us the jump-start we needed. From day one of the writing process, I was very impressed with the students’ daring ideas. I also was pleased with the respectful way they considered one another’s contributions. Early on we decided the process would be included in the script in an overt, theatrical way. Ensemble members would play themselves as students on a journey. The audience would be given a chance to live through them as they made discoveries. While we worked on the structure of the play, some students began interviewing residents of the East Side, discovering perspectives different from their own. Every student was assigned an interview to transcribe, which helped him or her to become more familiar with the stories. In addition to playing themselves, actors became certain that they’d also like to portray the people they’d interviewed. “Stepping into the shoes” of those we interviewed, a technique we’d studied in the work of Anna Deveare-Smith, had been employed successfully in the Refugee Project. It seemed right for this production as well because it would encourage empathy and understanding. We labored as a class to finish the script, plugging excerpts from the interviews into a skeleton we’d created based on central themes. There was plenty of debate. Students pushed to make sure the script was dynamic, and more than just an academic presentation. They reminded me they were an acting class that wanted acting challenges. Jenna Rich ’15 elaborates on the process: “Throughout the project, we had the opportunity to interview people about the community we live in and we took trips to different parts of the city. It’s broadened my view of Buffalo and has forced me to move outside of the traditional definition of a play. It’s more than just a play. The prospect of writing a script and acting in a show of our own creation was a daunting thought at first, but as an ensemble, we were very supportive of each other and worked together in a collaborative to make it the best it could be.” With only four weeks to rehearse, the exploration we did on our feet was wonderful. I witnessed an ensemble that had lived through a taxing process work together to express their story in a creative, engaging and truthful way. The set was designed to replicate our
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theater classroom, where so much of the play had been born. Andrea Mancuso and her film students came back to the project at this point to help us integrate video and audio. It was so important to have Elisa in the theater for rehearsals. She encouraged students to trust in the power of their voice in the script. While moments of nervousness emerged (as they do in any rehearsal process), the overall mood was that of determination. There is a lot at stake when the story to tell is your own. The commitment level must be high when you are striving to create respectful, honest portrayals of people you’ve come to care about. Rebecca Regan’15 describes it far better than I can: “As an actor, I’m confronting roles I think must be the hardest to portray onstage: real people, and myself. But that’s what makes this project so important to me. Sometimes we use art to explore worlds that are far away from the granted realities of our lives, but in this play, we’re staging people, places, and thoughts which are meaningful to us and (we hope) to our audience precisely because we belong to them; they’re our identities. We’re telling our own story, and trying to tell it true.” The students rose to the challenge. From the great unknown, the ensemble created a piece that was provocative, informative, inspiring and ultimately hopeful. We came out of the production with a better understanding of our city and ourselves. We had received our reward for a risk taken.
Sheltering Myths and the Work of a Student By Elisa J. Peebles ’08 Graduation from Nichols marked my departure from Buffalo. Over the past seven years, life in New York City, travel, the shifting of family members, and selling of childhood homes have increasingly made this a permanent departure. It has not, however, made me stop thinking about what it means to be from Buffalo and how Buffalo has shaped me. As my concrete connections to the city fall further away, I cling tighter to the intangible ones. Memories and stories that make up my Buffalo DNA are scattered
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all around the city. I grew up on the East Side, and so did my mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Our roots are tied to that community while our stories branch across the city. My grandfather was a saxophonist and bandleader who played the nightclub circuit, including the Colored Musician’s Club. My grandmother was a real-life Rosie the Riveter at one of the Curtiss-Wright factories. My mother studied at Sacred Heart and Nottingham, where she had an unfortunate incident with one of the same metal stools I sat on in freshman year Physics (be careful with your fingers). Whole dramas, romances, and coming-of-age sagas of my family and community played out on key streets or in neighborhoods like the Fruit Belt. All of these experiences, including my own, form my myth—the narratives I use to build my perspective and understanding of my place in the world, the kind of things we imagine as truths. The dependable stagnancy of Buffalo’s landscape—every boarded up industrial building, every bumpy Fillmore Avenue,
Jenna Rich ’15
every block of aging Prairie-Box homes— meant that my stories and the stories of so many others would always have a place to live. Currently, a new wave of development is challenging that idea. New narratives are forming about neighborhoods that have specific cultural meaning to communities in the city, and instead of taking the time to learn about and validate this meaning, the city proceeds with (sometimes literally) bulldozing over it. This is often the case in moments of redevelopment and one of the main reasons the word “gentrification” makes people uneasy: The insistence that the past or present culture of a neighborhood is inferior or insignificant. But what if the old informs the new? If we are all to share this city of good neighbors truly as neighbors, shouldn’t we see and understand the similarities and differences between our DNA? We have a unique opportunity for introspective communal reckoning. Buffalo Myth Project was conceived out of desires to give the stories
and memories a place to live and question what we are leaving in the past in order to move faster toward the future. We hoped to create a space for connection between performers, characters, audiences and their respective communities. This was an ambitious project. There were many types of challenges: thematic, technical, personal. From day one, the process was emotional work. It was surreal to see my city through the eyes of people in the same position I was in right before I left it. I was eager to learn about the students’ connections to the place we call home and why they call it that. The stories of how their families came to Buffalo differed: Some spanned generations, others involved happenstance or a decent job opportunity. All of them shared one major similarity: The families stayed. This was the common ground on which we had 90 minutes to build a case for wholesome citizenship. Of course, this would only be possible if we overcame the aforementioned challenges. It’s difficult to teach a performer to dramatize herself. All character interpretations should be rooted in truth, but what does that mean when the character is actually a re-presentation of yourself and the “truth” is not an experiential anecdote but the essence of who you are? Even the performers in the play I saw that inspired the format of this piece, El año en que nací, struggled with this. The play, written and directed by Argentine creator Lola Arias, is centered on the stories of several Chileans as they experience Pinochet’s U.S.-backed coup d’état of the Allende government as told by their now-adult children. The performers reenact and re-present their parents’ actions and words as they remember and understand them. I thought of my friend’s critique of them—that their performances felt like empty projections that lacked passion and connection to the real stories being told—when I walked into our rehearsals. How would I get high school students to perfect such a delicate approach? Furthermore, how would I get them to take that same approach toward the truth in the stories of real people who, despite being the students’ neighbors, are strangers and foreigners to them? It turned out that the answers came directly from the students. I provided them with exercises and notes to guide them into the play, but it was through their determination and commitment that the work got done, and often quite effortlessly. In fact, the thing that surprised me the most was how easy they made the tasks seem. For example, during one rehearsal I asked a student struggling with projection and specificity why it mattered she spoke the lines she wrote about her family. Many young actors, and people in general, are stumped when asked why their words, actions, or presence are significant, but this student
didn’t skip a beat. “Because it’s who I am; this is who we are,” she said. What more of a reason is there to stand on stage and really tell an audience your family’s story? It’s who we are, and we matter. Sometimes, it can be that simple. Standing in my old high school, after leaving it to grow up in a world full of complications, it was refreshing to relearn the value of simplicity. I could tell more stories, but I can’t write about the precise moment when everything clicked. Only the cast knows when that was. What I do know is that one night I was watching a run and realized the ship was in very capable hands, or at least 90 percent of it was.
Cast, crew, and co-directors Kristen Kelley and Elisa Peebles ’08
The other 10 percent was with the rest of us as we grappled with new projection technology and organized a myriad of visuals. Nonetheless, the true captains had made themselves known. There was no doubt the two performances would be smooth sailing. I also attribute the success of this project to the environment it incubated in. The most beautiful thing about Nichols, the aspect I cherished the most during my time here, is that it’s rooted in a true culture of learning. Our cast came to us not only as performers, but also as students. They had natural curiosity, intuitive critical thinking skills and leadership qualities, including a willingness to make bold choices and a willingness to be wrong. Most importantly, they knew when to step up and say yes and when to ask for help. All of these attributes, this brilliant mix of humility and confidence, made them the perfect participants for this project. After all, at least in my experience in the big city,
humility and confidence are the first two things the world chips away at. I think this is why adults falter with this work—not just the style of performance, but the work of empathy and compassion; the work of taking a leap to the Other. The initial question of this project, or rather social experiment was: Can you teach people to recognize themselves in others? Can you teach empathy? I’ve learned the answer is no. You can encourage it, set the grounds for it, demand it and hope for it, but you can’t teach it. It has to come from within. It has to come from a place of openness and curiosity, a willingness to be wrong and explore, a natural desire to share love, a comfort with being uncomfortable and a certainty that there is growth and truth at the end of the tunnel. This sounds like too much to ask for in this complicated, adult world where neighbors struggle to see each other. Maybe, however, it’s actually quite simple. n
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ALUMNI PROFILE
Cabin Fever:
A Dream, a Journey and a Sharpened Saw By Larry Desautels, English teacher
Y
ou see the cedar log sauna first, as you climb the path from the beach where you’ve just landed your boat. A bit higher, you pass the guest house, Atelier, its back cut into the hillside, its front porch high enough to walk under. And then you see what you can only sense from the lake below—an imposing log and beam house,
shading from white to pale yellow, its coffee-brown tin roof stretching into the trees that surround it. And in the back of the lot, there’s another log structure, smaller, its walls a bit darker and seasoned—the workshop, the oldest of the four buildings that seven years earlier were just sketches on paper, and stick models on a table in a Chicago home, far from this hillside clearing in the Canadian woods.
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The path of many retired executives is well worn, and leads to new labors such as sitting on boards, working as a consultant, and cutting strokes from golf scores. But the path that Harry Dent III ’75 took led him into the woods to build log cabins, leaving his desk and briefcase in Chicago for a woodlot and chainsaw in Quebec. Unlike Huck Finn, who “lit out for the frontier” to avoid being civilized, Harry Dent had already been civilized . . . somewhat anyway. Harry had nearly 40 years on Huck and a corporate life in Chicago when he lit out, but not in an act of avoidance; he went to the woods to build a legacy. After his graduation from Nichols, Harry received a B.A. in Spanish from Dartmouth and an M.B.A. from Columbia. While he was pursuing academics in the ’70s, there were a number of family friends spending time in the Quebec woods, three hours north of Ottawa, building log cabins at the Lac Pythonga Fish and Game Club. Two of these were brothers Sandy ’42 and Bill Dann ’44. “Though I was too young,” Harry reflected, “and then too engaged in my career to participate, something about that really inspired me, watching them build old-school, with logs taken from the surrounding woods.” And that inspiration got him thinking about how he could position himself to be able to do something similar, some day. After graduate school, Harry worked for 18 years in marketing and brand management, and then in senior management for Quaker Oats in Chicago. When Quaker was purchased by PepsiCo in 2000, Harry moved to a strategy and innovation consulting firm, Strategos, where he still does some consulting in the non-building season. “Many of my professional colleagues understood [when I gave up my partnership], and were very supportive, while others simply didn’t get it, and still don’t. I can say the same of my friends in Chicago. ‘Why is this senior executive building log cabins off the grid?’ many asked, usually behind my
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back. I admit,” Harry confessed, “there is a certain delight in confounding those bound by convention.” For all those years Harry successfully, and stubbornly, navigated his career path, while persistently pursuing a goal beyond his career. His dream was not going to be just an idle hope: “It was an inspiration and a true north through the good and not-so-great times associated with careers in the business world. Less glamorously, it was a kick in the pants to just gut it out, to keep grinding, to get to a point when I could be successful enough to have the time and space to do something similar to those cabin projects, to build something with my hands.” But of course those who would be affected most were his wife, Anne Moore, and his three children. While many of his friends and co-workers probably viewed his transition as self-indulgent romanticism, Anne knew better: “As long as I’d known him—we met when I was 19—he had wanted to build a true log cabin on that land. When he first retired at age 50, I was impressed by his intense interest and study of these structures. This was no lark. He had a dream. I wouldn’t stand in his way.” Anne added that Harry had spent two years commuting to Switzerland while with Strategos, so she was accustomed to him being away for long stretches. To break up their time apart, Anne and the kids would all travel to Pythonga for a week or two, in July and August, and get Harry to take some time away from the job site. Both Alexandra and Evan went to summer camps in Algonquin Park, but Mason, the oldest of the children, would spend a great deal of time working with his father.
And when back in Chicago, between building seasons, the kids were not embarrassed in the least to be picked up and dropped off at the Latin School in a pick-up truck. “Having my family in camp helped me to learn, actually forced me to learn, that to take a few days away from the job is better. In the corporate world, I was a workaholic, around the clock, most weekends throughout the year. The first few years in the woods, I followed this path, almost never taking a day off.” The last few years he had a change in head and heart, he says, taking all weekends off and even getting on to the lake to do some fishing. “Leaving a thorny problem you are trying to work through, and then coming back to it is a great way to break the log jam.” That’s advice he passes on to those who are still in that corporate world he mostly left behind. In 2007, the real work began, getting through quirky provincial and local zoning requirements, and working with his sister Georgia, who would also be involved with the project, in planning what would later be called by a co-worker “Harry’s wicked vision of possibility.” Georgia’s suggestion that they “not build one thing, but rather a bunch of things,” was the moment when Harry’s vision of what could be built grew higher and wider. For so long the plan had been to build one cabin, and maybe a generator shed, but the project’s arc changed significantly, allowing him to learn from the construction and completion of multiple structures. The physical labor that first summer was focused on moving furniture out of an older cottage that had been built there in the 1972, a pre-fab that had arrived
on a truck. Harry attended a log building school in the Minnesota Boundary Waters during that fall, requiring him to read 10 books on log work, including the Scandinavian style he would use for his construction. Returning to camp after the course, he crawled around those structures that had inspired him three decades earlier, with a tape measure and a camera, hoping to “appropriate” ideas for his cabins. The major difference between the cabins that had inspired him, and those he would construct, is that he would be building in that Scandinavian style he had been taught. There would be no gaps filled with chinking and caulk; instead, each log would be scribed and hewn to fit snugly on top of the one beneath it, and the ones adjacent to it. “From the time you select a peeled log off your log pile, to the final setting and roll-down of the log on the wall, there are approximately 43 steps, as opposed to the seven steps required if you are leaving spaces between the logs to later be filled.” There’s nothing simple or straightforward about log construction, particularly in the style of the four cabins he would be building. In mid-April 2008, with ice still on the lake, Harry returned to camp to dismantle and burn the old cabin, as the land was cleared for the new. During the summer and fall, he built a 10' by 10' tool shed, applying what he had begun to learn in his log construction course. “This opportunity, after a career using my brain and mouth constantly—indoors—to make something significant and lasting with my hands— outdoors—allowed me to break frame. “My father died at a pretty young age, and we often wondered what dreams he was robbed of pursuing in later life. This was a powerful motivating force to stop thinking about [my dream], and talking about it, and to finally get off the dime.” And off the dime he got. In 2009, he oversaw the cutting of a new road, the excavation of the cabin sites
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and the installation of the septic system, built a sauna, and began the walls of the Atelier/guest house. He initially constructed those two structures across the lake, on the club side, in a space that allowed for easier log delivery, cutting and initial assembly. Then both buildings were disassembled and carefully numbered, and the cedar logs were floated on docks, and the heavier logs trucked, to be reassembled on site. He spent six months in camp that year, usually working with a helper or two—his son Mason, local laborers and his sister Georgia. But there were many days and weeks in the first five years on site when he worked alone: “In some ways, alone you are more up on a tightrope—no one to confer with on decisions; [you’ve] just got to plunge ahead. I don’t mind working alone, but much of what I learned in solitude was about myself.” Harry also said that those first two or three years affirmed his patience and ability to persevere, to the point of stubbornness. “Nature has a mind of its own,” he said, “and its own plans, and they often don’t sync up with yours. The first year, 2008, it rained so frequently, so hard, I was sure the elements were conspiring against me. People couldn’t understand how I dealt with black flies, horse flies, deer flies, mosquitoes, who relieved each other in shifts, throughout the building season. The unrelenting hot, cold, wet. After a while, you learn to be and work in it, not against it; you barely notice the bugs. “And then nature does throw you a break, when you haven’t asked—an eagle coming into its nest so close to your head that you are engulfed in its shadow as you stand there sawing, a deer running down the dirt road and through your work site or happening on delicious wild mushrooms off the path in the shaded woods after extended rains. This all makes you aware that we are the guests of nature while we are here on earth, not the opposite.”
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With that, Harry Dent sounds more like a poet in the woods than a businessman. I can imagine him during those corporate years, at times pretending to be seriously in that world, even performing skillfully in it, while knowing that, in his own soul, he is somewhere else. The craftsman–either builder or poet–gains an aesthetic satisfaction with the material, in Harry’s case, with the logs he worked with nearly every day for seven years, from early May’s ice out to November’s snow flurries. The quiet grain of the wood reacted to his saw, while at the same time directed his labor. That sounds much sexier than the sweat the labor might have offered each day on the site, but anyone who sees those log buildings can’t help but respond as to a work of art. “For beauty, give me trees with the fur on,” said Thoreau when visiting cabins in Maine, but for Harry’s mode of cabin-building, the logs must be shaved of their bark, so Harry’s early helpers were mostly engaged in peeling the logs. That same summer, so many people came to visit the project that someone jokingly suggested Harry should open a souvenir shop. Within a week, there was a display of tiny-toad racetracks, pine-beetle fighting arenas, pirate knives, and bags containing sawdust, shavings, and woodchips, labeled “Authentic” by the worksite wags. (The Desautels family owns a tiny toad racetrack.) Harry and his helpers weren’t working with milled or manufactured logs that were kiln dried. With an average diameter of 13 inches, a normal log would taper from 16 to 18 inches at the fat end to 10 to 12 inches at the tip. There were some “behemoths,” 24 inches at the butt and 19 inches at the tip, which made for complications. “The
goal with each round (four logs) is to have no more than a 1/4 inch difference in height. We also had to consider the settling as the logs dry out over time and reach their equilibrium moisture content (over three to five years). You have to allow for this when putting in windows and doors, allowing space for the settle. Every opening is also keyed, or slotted, so the logs can slide down in the frame sides.” Harry worked with a variety of helpers over the years, often working through conflicts between his perfection and the let’s-get-it-done impulse of others who weren’t quite as invested in his dream. “There was yelling, high drama, and a number of times people just walked off the job, but today some of my closest friendships are with those same guys.” As the buildings got bigger, so did the need for a different kind of assistance. In 2012, some complicated demands of construction on the largest of the four structures called for collaboration with two of Canada’s most experienced master log builders, Pierre Morin and Leonard Conroy. Neither was keen on coming into a project they hadn’t started, especially having to work with this amateur who, in their minds, was “playing” at log building. Eventually they became intrigued with the challenge of attaching two non-log structures–a post-and-beam sleeping porch and a cocktail porch–to the main cabin. “Our relationship warmed as they saw I was more than a dabbler, that I shared their love of and respect for log-building, and they taught me every little trick they knew. “Pierre and Leonard discovered quickly that I’m not a hobbyist, and they’d chirp ‘Work! Work! Work!’ as I
moved about the job site. They also faced new challenges, problems that they had never seen before in log construction, as every log structure has its own, unique personality.” One of the immediate changes on the work site with Pierre and Leonard on the job was that the skyline, a cable strung between two trees, with a chain hoist attached to help maneuver logs into place, was replaced by a crane. The house was simply too big, and a cable and hoist wouldn’t be able to lift the logs beyond seven rounds. Pierre told Harry when he first agreed to add his skills to the project, “Un câble aérien et un treuil peuvent te botter le cul,” which loosely translated meant, “We need a crane.” And though Harry liked working alone, and with those he could mentor, he learned that it isn’t a sign of weakness or failure to ask for help from people who have been doing this work for years. “You just can’t do everything yourself.” As the main house neared completion, it was difficult to look back seven years to the lakeside lot and imagine it as it was when I first walked it with Harry. I’ve visited the site a few times a year since Harry first took a metal detector to find the corner pins that marked the actual boundaries of the property. One summer–actually one day one summer–I even spent a couple hours peeling bark . . . just to see what real labor is like. One of the first lessons Harry learned was the importance of keeping his saw sharp. I know that sounds like a metaphor, and it is. I learned the practical importance of a sharp blade that one day, straddling a log, but Harry applies it to business, and likely to life in general: “You come to appreciate how beneficial it is–to the quality and long-term success of your work–to stop very frequently, and sharpen that saw. How often, with our nose to the grindstone [in business], we feel too busy for a break, so we cancel that training, skill development exercise, seminar, and even some days off.”
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It’s easy to be deviled by problems that arise daily in this kind of project, and bedeviled he was. “If it had been easy, then the accomplishment would feel hollow. Nothing in life that carries any significant meaning can and will come easily. I know it sounds corny and trite, but that’s the most important thing I learned as a student, and I learned it at Nichols, early. I wouldn’t have entered into this project or persevered, if my education hadn’t instilled this principal…deeply.” In a recent conversation with Harry, I learned that he was fixed on Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson’s 19-day free climb of the Dawn Wall on Yosemite’s El Capitan. In a New York Times interview conducted immediately after the men reached the summit, Jorgeson expressed hope that with the whole world watching, people might be inspired to find their own Dawn Wall: “I think that everyone has their own secret Dawn Wall to complete one day, and maybe they can put this project in their own context.” The climber continued, pointing out how perseverance pays dividends: “I’m pretty stubborn to begin with.” Those words about secret challenges and stubborn ambition could well have been spoken by Harry Dent
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regarding his “Dawn Wall.” Harry’s assent, however, took longer–eight years of building, following decades of dreaming and planning–and there were no journalists at the summit to document its scale and scope. The cabins are done, mostly, and they are settling. The roof lines, meticulously measured, will drop their different distances; the walls will embrace their doors and windows; the forest will reclaim much of its territory; the wildlife will nest comfortably close to the cabins. Now the building of furniture begins, and the activity in and around the cabins will be more social, more familial. The work isn’t over, but the labors won’t be Herculean. A gentle hum of a muffled generator will replace the daily rattle and scream of chain and table saws. Harry will wet a fish line more often than snap a chalk line. Creation will get the prefix “re” far more often, and Harry Dent can look back and measure the climb, as well as look forward to those who will go to the woods to share the echo, and the substance, of his loving labor. n Nichols alumni who are Lac Pythonga Fish and Game Club members: Lindsay Arthurs ’03, Ryan Arthurs ’01, Wyatt Arthurs ’00, Jeff Birtch ’64, Kim Kennedy Cardwell ’74, John Chudy ’72, Jake Dann ’71, Peter Dent ’78, Greg Desautels ’95, Caralyn Desautels Foster ’99, Michael Kennedy ’71, Sharon Kennedy ’76, Meaghan Booth Mansfield ’98, George Smith ’75, David Talley ’71, Gina Wettlaufer Tomenson ’98, Carl Yerkovich ’75
3RD ANNUAL
Nichols Golf Day Monday, August 10, 2015 Harvest Hill Golf Club
The Alumni Board is excited to announce a new venue, Harvest Hill Golf Club in Orchard Park, for the 3rd Annual Nichols Golf Day on August 10. In 2012, former Nichols parents Ross and Anna Marie Cellino purchased Harvest Hill, which features rolling bent grass fairways complemented by natural wetlands and woodlands, and topped off with plenty of bunkers and lakes that add to the tiered greens. Among the numerous tournaments that have been held at Harvest Hill are the NYSGA Mid-Am Qualifier, WNY Public Links and the 2011 Western NY PGA Section Championship. A new clubhouse designed by former Nichols parent Charlie Gordon opened on Memorial Day 2013. Gordon’s design drew inspiration from the surrounding rural setting, resulting in a series of five simple structures arranged in a farm-like compound. The arrangement shapes specific views of the golf course via strategically located “slots” between the individual buildings.
Current Nichols Varsity Boys and Girls Golf Coach Ron Montesano offers: “I love par five holes and Harvest Hill has a great collection. When you climb the hill on 18 with a shot at birdie or eagle, golf doesn’t get any better.” Brigitte Cellino ’08 is Harvest Hill’s General Manager, overseeing daily operations, and older sister Annmarie ’05 is helping plan the Nichols outing in her role as a current member of the Alumni Board. The Alumni Board’s Golf Day planning committee is comprised of Matt Miller ’95 (chairperson), Tim Vanini ’87, Jon Blumhagen ’01 and Annmarie Cellino. We invite all alumni to reconnect with your alma mater, spend a day with old friends and make new ones all while enjoying a great day of golf. Online registration is available now. Alumni can register a foursome, a twosome or a single. Visit the golf homepage at www.nicholsschool.org/alumnigolf for more info.
SPACE IS LIMITED! You can reserve your spot now by emailing your party’s name(s) to Blake Walsh ’98, Director of Alumni Relations, at bwalsh@nicholsschool.org. Questions? Call Blake at 716-332-5164. Summer 2015
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Supporting Exceptional Students: the Eames and Guida Donaldson Scholarship By Laura Lombardo Yusick ’96, Director of Financial Aid Nichols School is extremely fortunate to have many named endowment funds, known as need-based Named Scholarships, established by alumni and friends of the School to support our financial aid program. One such scholarship established by the Donaldson family— Eames and Guida Donaldson, and their sons, Edward (Ted) E. Donaldson ’45 and William (Bill) Donaldson ’49—has been extremely memorable for our students. The Named Scholarship committee selects recipients based on applicants’ admission profiles, financial need, demonstrated contributions to their school communities and character. Our Donaldson Scholarships, awarded to ninth grade students, fund the recipients’ education through graduation. Eames Donaldson, a native of Buffalo, was a sales manager for the Magna Drive Corp., a small tool manufacturing firm where he began working in 1951. He also was associated with J.H. Williams and Co. and Gulf Oil in research and technical capacities. Donaldson attended Hill School, in Pottstown, Pa., and graduated in 1918 from Yale University in mechanical engineering. A veteran of World War I, Donaldson passed away in 1960. Guida Marx Donaldson carried on the generous legacy of her husband and family. Inspired by her sons’ experience at Nichols, she approached the school in November 1973 about making a gift to the financial aid program. The Donaldson family wanted to give exceptional students the extraordinary experience of a Nichols education. Their loyalty to Nichols and the programs that contributed to their sons’ successes motivated this act of kindness and generosity. Mrs. Donaldson passed away in 1986. Guida and Eames’ eldest son Edward (Ted) Donaldson, was born in Buffalo, N.Y., in 1927. In 1945, he graduated from Nichols School first in his class. In his yearbook, his fellow classmates references him as “the Deacon.” The editors wrote, “Ever since Ted entered Nichols back in the First Form, his genial character has provided his associates with a great deal of excitement and humor. Voted ‘Brightest’ in the Senior Ballot, he is commonly regarded around campus as ‘one of the brains’
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because of his name’s consistent presence on the Highest Honor Roll.” Ted was a co-editor of the Gleaner and a member of the Verdian and News boards. Following graduation, Ted enlisted in the U.S. Navy. After his service, Ted enrolled at Yale University, earning two undergraduate degrees. He went on to earn an MBA from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in engineering from the Chrysler Institute of Engineering. At the start of the Korean War, Ted joined the U.S. Air Force as a first lieutenant. He spent his entire professional career with Chrysler, including time in England in the 1960s and ’70s. Ted died April 19, 2011. William H. “Bill” Donaldson ’49, Chairman of Donaldson Enterprises, a private investment firm, has spent more than 40 years at the highest levels of business, government and academia. “Bill brought to Nichols a rare personality that has gained him a distinguished place in the senior class and school,” the editors of the Verdian wrote in the 1949 yearbook. Bill played football and hockey and served as the chairman of the Assemblies Committee and was the business manager of the Verdian. A graduate of Yale University and Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration, Bill served as the 27th chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, from 2003 to 2005, making him the chief regulator of America’s securities markets and chief enforcer of the nation’s securities laws. His tenure marked the greatest period of activity of the SEC since its founding in 1934. Prior to heading the SEC, Bill on was Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aetna, Inc.; and as Chairman and Chief Executive of the New York Stock Exchange. Earlier in his career, he was the Co-Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the investment banking firm of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette (DLJ) and helped found its wholly owned subsidiary Alliance Capital Corp. Bill also was founding dean of the Yale School of Management, where he taught as a tenured professor of management studies. Bill served as a first lieutenant in the U. S. Marine Corps during the Korean War. This year’s Donaldson Scholar, Elena Ciotta ’15, said this about receiving the award: “I cried, I was so happy!
I had driven by so many times and when I visited I upperclassmen her freshman year inspired her to always knew; I just knew.” Elena was an outstanding member try new things and be unafraid of new experiences. of her class, contributing to Nichols in the classroom, She thrived with this kind of approach. When asked on stage, and in so many what were her favorite other ways. Elena took experiences, she responded, nothing for granted, arriving “The Edinburgh Fringe at school each day with a Festival, where I spent determined and enthusiastic time with good, talented approach to her studies and friends, discovering what an extracurricular interests. She independent study means has been instrumental in our and having a mentor to recruitment efforts, hosting guide me; and wanting many prospective students to meet my friends all and sharing her experiences over again…there are so with visiting parents. many interesting people Her college counselor, here. I hope I always Vickie Garner, writes, find interesting people in “Elena’s positive impact is any new environment.” everywhere—but, where Garner further states: “Her people see her depth and commitment to study arts spirit is on the stage. Elena is management in college is an extraordinarily expressive born of a true passion and dancer and actor. Her appreciation for the power characters in theatre and of artistic endeavor.” We dance performances radiate wish Elena luck as an inner life that captivates she continues her studies Bill Donaldson '49 delivers the Commencement address at Nichols in 2009, his 50th reunion year. audiences with their at Fordham University intelligence and sensitivity. next year. Elena’s work ethic extends beyond her school life into a To be considered for the Eames and Guida children’s dance troupe, Pleien Dance Company, where Donaldson Scholarship or any other Named Scholarship, she has been a performer, teacher and choreographer students must complete the admissions process and the for five years.” financial aid application to determine eligibility. Please The reasons for Elena’s success? Elena says she call Laura Yusick at 716.332.6329 about the need-based found acceptance at Nichols. Her experience with the scholarship process. n
Those wishing to support the Donaldson Scholarship at Nichols are encouraged to contribute to the fund, which is a part of the School’s permanent endowment. If you would like information on establishing a new Named Scholarship in honor or memory of a family or loved one, please call Leslie Garcia at 716.332.5151.
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1
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Pen Pals 2015
The Class of 2022 Meets the Class of 1965 To commence Reunion Weekend festivities each year, members of the 50th Reunion class gather in the atrium of Regan Hall to meet their fifth-grade pen pals. The fifth-grade class sends letters to members of the 50th Reunion class in the winter, sparking a four-month back-and-forth dialogue with their older counterparts. The fifth graders explain life at Nichols today and eagerly ask questions about school life 50 years ago. One of the most heartwarming events of the year, we look forward to continuing the tradition with next year’s 50th Reunion Class of 1966 and the Class of 2023!
Our fifth graders report the following from their meetings with the Class of 1965: Jack and Jane: “Thanks to Mr. Banta for writing us. We learned a lot about old family friends.” Abigail: “It was cool to hear about what used to be in the building. I learned what college he went to after Nichols.” Ella: “It taught me how to write a letter, and it was exciting to receive a letter back!” Jackson: “I like how I could show how Nichols is evolving.”
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Pen Pal letters snippets: Rich Hinkley ’65 writes to his pen pal, Artemis: “I am glad to hear that you have visited Corning and know the beauty of the area that I like to call home. My house is about 15 minutes outside of town up in the hills. In the last year, my wife and I sat in our living room and watched a bald eagle eat a rabbit it had just killed, and recently a red fox has started to make his rounds around the house . . . Part of my daily routine is meditating, Qiquan and Tai Chi. If you get nervous before your tennis matches at Nichols, I could teach you a breathing exercise called “balancing the heart.”
Julian Fisher ’65 writes to his pen pal, Rohan: “I was not a sports person [at Nichols] . . . my interests were in photography, which led me to photojournalism at Yale and afterward, finally into medicine. [Photojournalism] has stuck with me, and it is something I am undertaking again for a major photojournalism study of the decline of the middle class in America today, a result of increasing inequality in our society. This is a sociological and political issue that will affect you and your generation more than mine, and is something that should be of great national concern.”
3 Luke Moore ’65 writes to his pen pal, Ella: “Your interest in Dystopian (I had to look it up) societies is intriguing. Do you favor the gruesome sort, i.e., “The Hunger Games” or the Ayn Rand type of dysfunctional societies? As for the historical fiction, I share your enthusiasm. I was into Wilbur Smith’s African historical fiction for a while. Great reading. Of particular interest is your coursework in
Mandarin. I’m pretty sure that in the fifth grade, I wouldn’t have known that Mandarin was anything other than an orange.” Bill Bergantz ’65 writes to his pen pal, Jackson: “I enjoyed reading your letter very much. It brought back many memories and piqued my curiosity
about how Nichols has changed over the years. In 50 years I have never made it back to Nichols for a reunion, but your letter helped convince me to come this year for my 50th.” 1. Bruce Keiser ’65 greets his pen pals 2. Jim Biltekoff ’65 greets his pen pals 3. Owen Goller ’22, Jack Carney ’22, Addison Zacher ’22, Ray Peters ’65
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Why We Started a Diversity Conference By Jillian Daniels ’16 In many ways, Nichols is a great community: the education is strong, the faculty is caring, the students are talented, and the food is amazing. But building a strong community requires vigilance and work. Like every school, we struggle to make sure everyone feels welcome, and I was determined that we could do more. My classmate Maia Manney ’16 felt the same and together, we decided we would put together Nichols’ first diversity conference. In 2012, my sophomore year, I became more involved with the Students United for Multicultural Awareness (SUMA) and Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) clubs at Nichols. Then my friends and I were asked to attend the Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC), hosted by the National Association of Independent Schools in Washington D.C. My experience at SDLC was unlike anything I’ve been a part of.
Mikyle Hassanali ’17 with speaker Rodney Glasgow
When I arrived, I was overwhelmed by the excitement buzzing from the sea of thousands of kids of all colors and cultures sitting in the auditorium of the opening reception. I saw that there were
so many others who thought and felt the same way I did—kids who were passionate about change and appreciating diversity. I found a sense of belonging, especially when I went to the Black Affinity Group,
“It was an honor to be invited to the Diversity Conference Alumni Panel. The fact that my memories can benefit someone else’s experience is really special. I was able to share with my peers and gain insight on others’ experiences. I am reminded at how important it is to have discussions that broaden your perspective, rather than reinforce it.” — Conrad Burgos ’10
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MORE ABOUT OUR PRESENTE RS By Maia Manney ’16
where students who identified as black could discuss issues we faced at our schools. This opportunity to express myself emotionally in such a safe, open space is rare and unique and it was amazing to shed the feeling of loneliness. It felt physically painful to leave; two days were not enough. That conference played a major part in shaping the person that I am today. I’m a better listener, I am more understanding and I took that back to my life at Nichols. Maia, too, had the opportunity to attend the SDLC conference in Indianapolis her junior year and returned similarly inspired. As we shared our experiences over lunch one day, we decided that we wanted to have a diversity conference at Nichols. So we marched down to Mr. Clough’s office and told him about our mission. He cautioned us that it would require a lot of planning and work; I think he was testing us to see how motivated we truly were. We were resolute. He gave us the green light to begin our work. But honestly, I was nervous. Junior year was tough. Balancing SATs, ACTs, and JPPs while maintaining a good GPA and making room for extracurricular activities was hard enough already. How were we going to pull it off? But to my relief, Maia and I had a great support system at Nichols. With the help of faculty members, especially Dean Habelt and Ms. Crowell, the diversity conference
Jarrett Mathis, our opening speaker for the conference, received grants while he was a student at Dartmouth College to research effective ways to empower AfricanAmerican youth. Upon graduation, he created a grassroots organization called Empowering Ourselves in his Brooklyn neighborhood to foster better self-esteem in inner-city youth. He explained to us that the organization encourages people to think critically about “the role of language in shaping [kids’] values and attitudes.” Mathis said it is important for kids to have a role model to remain inspired. His opening speech was a great kick-off for the diversity conference. We would have to be thoughtful about the language we use and keep encouraging each other in order for this experience to be successful. Our keynote speaker was Rodney Glasgow, co-founder of the Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC). Rodney immediately connected with the students by doing what he does best: storytelling. He started by taking off his shoes to signify that he was at home in the FPAC and it was a safe space where he could be honest and vulnerable with us. His sassy demeanor and painted red and green toenails immediately made a favorable and lasting impression on the students and teachers in the room. He told us stories about growing up black and non-heterosexual at Jarrett Mathis an all-boys private high school, and about being bullied and having been a bully. He talked about how people are always capable of change. Though he teased the only white girl while in elementary school, he realized somewhere along his journey that his mission was to promote diversity and acceptance. He challenged a bully who teased him for being gay, but spoke powerfully of how amazed and humbled he was when that same bully later became an LGBT ally near the end of his life. One of the activities Rodney brought to the Nichols conference was “Silent Movement.” In this activity, students stood in a circle as the group leader called different identifiers, including but not limited to race, gender, religion, sexuality and economic status. Prompts included “If you identify as Catholic, please step into the circle,” or “If you identify as someone who consistently has their daily needs met, please step into the circle.” Those who identified with the statement stepped into the circle, then returned to our places before we moved onto the next prompt. This activity, like all the other exercises we performed, can be probing and painful, yet surprisingly empowering too. For me, this activity made me feel powerful. Knowing that there are others like me makes me feel proud of who I am and realize that I am not alone. Another activity Rodney facilitated was called “The Privilege Walk.” Depending on whether we identified with a statement Rodney made, we either stepped behind or ahead of the starting line. Examples included, “If you live in a divorced parent’s home, take a step back” and “If one of your parents has a Ph.D., take two steps forward” and so on. I found myself near the back of the group and it was clear to me that I have to work harder in life to overcome those disadvantages. Overall, regardless of our backgrounds, each of us found the exercise insightful. The game helped us identify our position in life and it helped us to see and feel that everyone’s experience is different. The conference was a huge success and I’m so grateful for all of the help Jill and I received throughout the process of planning and executing this event. It was amazing to see students, faculty, alumni, and parents come together to make this possible, and gratifying to find so many students with the same motives and values. We are committed to help each other make our school environments safe and inclusive communities. Despite all the work that was required to create a conference of this scale, it all paid off in the end and I enjoyed seeing how it made a mark on my high school and the greater Buffalo area. n
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“I was a SUMA co-president from ’10-’12. When I graduated, Monica Manney, the most perfect person for the job, took over. It was heartening to see that she passed the torch down to her sister, Maia. As I looked into the crowd I saw my little sister and many of my old classmates’ younger siblings. Nichols truly is a family. When Emerald and I were presidents this conference did not exist. I was delighted to see how the next generation has broadened the club. They reminded me that there is still something to fight for.” — Nicole Lowe ’12
started to come together more and more each week. We reached out to other area schools, including Park, Nardin, Canisius, Bishop Timon, St. Joseph’s and other EdCo-affiliated schools to invite students from across the Buffalo community to attend. With help from the development office at Nichols, we invited alumni from different walks of life to participate in a discussion panel. We were also lucky to get social activists Jarrett Mathis and Rodney Glasgow as our keynote speakers. Mathis, a 2010 Dartmouth College graduate, established Empowering Ourselves Inc., a grassroots initiative bent on inspiring inner-city youth to better themselves and their neighborhoods in Brooklyn, N.Y. Glasgow is the cofounder of SDLC and my inspiration to create the Nichols Diversity Conference. Despite all of our busy schedules, Maia and I and the rest of the team worked hard through winter break to put the final pieces together and finalize the schedule. Days before the conference, we arranged a student facilitator workshop with Dr. Phyllis Floro, director of the Office of Student Engagement at the University at
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Buffalo. We were pleased to find that many students wanted to participate, and many of them wanted to be discussion leaders. We played fun icebreakers that got us thinking about our identities, assumptions and stereotypes, and we learned how to lead discussions on difficult topics surrounding social status. It’s not easy to lead such discussions with strangers so it was exciting to see so many students interested in being leaders. I couldn’t wait for the conference to begin. Fast forward to the first day of the conference: Thursday, February 12, 2015. I was running around in panic trying to make sure everything was running smoothly. Ms. Crowell, Maia and I unloaded snacks and supplies from the car, setting up the classrooms for activities and discussion groups. With the weather threatening snow and recordbreaking cold temperatures, I was afraid students wouldn’t show up. But as soon as the smiling students filed one by one into the FPAC, I took a deep breath and let go. “Okay. Just leave a great first impression and let the others take it from here.” And they did. Our keynote speakers gave powerful and insightful speeches. I was proud to see my
fellow classmates and new friends from other schools come together to discuss important societal issues. Our student leaders asked the tough questions in a patient, respectful way while others engaged thoughtfully or quietly listened. We laughed, we cried, we hugged—and some of us got angry, but that was okay because I knew we could move forward. Emotions were raw, and though we were afraid to express our feelings, we felt like we were in a safe space to do so. It was encouraging to see the environment transform into an inclusive haven. After the conference ended, I was happy that everyone had such a great time and thankful to everyone who had supported the effort. But I was sad to see everyone go because once again, it meant I had to return to a reality where the world doesn’t always hug you when you feel angry or alone. But I think we were all inspired to carry that warmth and passion forward into our communities and make the world a better place. n
Alumni Hockey Weekend The Nichols Alumni Board presented Alumni Hockey Weekend events February 7, with 30 alumni playing in the morning game at Dann Memorial Rink and twice as many family and friends gathering for a post-game lunch on campus and an evening reception at Cole’s. Big thanks to Mark Kuryak ’89, Senior Vice President of Global Sales at Easton Hockey in Los Angeles, for generously donating spiffy alumni jerseys to the cause, and Mike Shatzel ’90, for hosting the evening reception at his legendary Elmwood Village restaurant.
Basketball Reunion
More than 40 former Nichols basketball alumni reunited over Reunion weekend at Blue Monk to celebrate respective anniversaries of the 1985, 1990, 1995 and 2010 state championship teams. Joined by former varsity basketball program coaches Jim Kramer (coach of the ’85, ’86, ’90 and ’95 state champs) and Greg Plumb ’96 (coach of \the 2010 state champs), the gathering was hosted by \Mike Shatzel ’90, owner of Blue Monk and a member \of the 1990 team.
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{ALUMNI PROFILE}
Rising on Positive Vibes By Adele Jackson-Gibson ’09 Buffalo winters are long and dark and enough to break anyone’s spirit. Many people do not see hope and wonder why we were ever called the Queen City. But Newell Nussbaumer ’86 wears the rose-colored glasses that turn his vibrant visions of Buffalo into reality. One Saturday night in the dark of February, you could find Newell wearing Hawaiian shorts and a warm smile. He sipped beer at RiverWorks for Buffalo’s first Madd Tiki Winter Luau Festival. For months, Newell’s team worked to break up the Buffalo blues with festival fun. The once cold concrete floor was lit by fire dancers, hula hoops, live music, ice sculptures, paintings and summer spirits. He stood on a stage watching the local Capoeira group ebb and flow to Afro-Brazilian drums. The audience shook hips and swayed torsos in their grass skirts from Party City. As the event wrapped up, a rosy man hugged Newell, thanked him and posed for his wife to take their picture. “Thank you so much man, thank you so much.” In that hug, you could tell Newell felt relieved at successfully pulling off a risky venture. “We didn’t have any commitments for funding when we launched it,” he said. “We just hoped our excitement and enthusiasm would attract the necessary funding to start.” And with that moxie, Newell made it work. Through his sheer excitement and unbreakable optimism, Newell could reenergize anyone’s Buffalove. Talk to him and he will paint you a colorful picture of the West Side brimming with cultural diversity, tell you all about the unique local restaurants, and go on about millennials, sustainable movements and chicken coops. The Elmwood Village native likes to give tours of Buffalo: “Back in the day, giving tours was kind of a hit or miss,” he said. “But these days it’s ‘Where do I even start?’ I love the fact that
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I know so much about Buffalo and I’ve seen it turn the corner. I could look at just about any corner in Buffalo and tell you the history over the last 14 years.” As for his occupation, it’s hard to pin Newell down. He calls himself “an instigator, a connector.” He’s the founder of the online publication Buffalo Rising, a once print, now online publication that heralds Buffalo’s exciting developments. He also is the co-founder of the Elmwood Avenue Festival of the Arts, the creator of the Powder Keg Festival that built the world’s largest ice maze, the creator of the Halloween Witches’ Ball, the co-creator of Rusty Chain Beer…and the list goes on. However growing up, Newell felt like he had to leave his hometown. When he graduated from Nichols in 1986, he followed the exodus of high school graduates that planned on never turning back. He attended Skidmore College, where he studied English, and soon after graduation, he launched off to the West Coast. “The goal was to end up in California and get a job, and then stay there for a while. It’s not that I didn’t love Buffalo, it’s just that nobody stayed in Buffalo. It wasn’t even a consideration.” He traveled, worked, and played ultimate Frisbee for a while until he ran out of money. He had no choice but to return but he did so with a new venture in mind. Elmwood Avenue in the 90s was a rough neighborhood. There were no cafés or chic sushi bars or flourishing boutiques. The street was dotted with storefront vacancies, striped with graffiti, and if you lurked in the wrong corners, you might’ve bumped into a nightwalker. Newell recounted his boyhood and the time he ran home to his mother with bloodstained leaves he had found after a recent shooting around the corner of his house. The lack of security and sense of community left the remaining business owners grumbling over light purses while trying to keep their shops afloat, but Newell came in with hope and a dream to open a boutique. Since rent was lower than $700 a month, Newell thought it was time to take a chance.
“I thought, ‘Maybe Buffalo is so far bottomed out there are opportunities here,’” he said. “But all the business owners told me, ‘Do not invest in Buffalo. It’ll be the worst mistake you will ever make in your entire life.’ All they did was complain about everything that was wrong with the street. But nobody was talking about solutions at all.” In 1993, he opened up an eclectic retail store called Thunder Bay, which was a huge success during its first few months of business. “I bought a couple of bracelets, a couple rugs, and opened the store right before the holiday season,” he said. “I sold everything I had.” The store saw a successful run for the next 13 years. In 1994, he ran with that momentum and helped to establish the Elmwood Village Association with Mike Attardo of Get Dressed and other enthusiastic neighbors who saw potential in the neighborhood becoming a hub for local businesses. The association began to clean the streets, scrub away the graffiti and chase the nightwalkers. And what started as just a band of Newell’s friends playing music over good food on the weekend slowly morphed into the Elmwood Avenue Festival of the Arts. Newell started to get excited: “We can do these types of things left and right!” he said. “We can start festivals; we can clean up neighborhoods; we can really take back our city. And the more we started doing it, the more
people would pay attention, the more people would open up businesses. There’s just so many opportunities here. You don’t have to make a fortune to live a really quality life and start something.” That energy is part of what turned Elmwood Avenue into the hip destination that it is today. With the Elmwood Village Association’s emphasis on creating a mixed-use community, people seized the opportunity to start coffee shops, clothing stores and restaurants to create a bustling, family oriented neighborhood. In addition, the association recognized Buffalo’s impressive buildings and worked to preserve the historical structures that made the city great. Now the commercial vacancy rate is less than 2 percent with 215 businesses that bring the street to life. However, as the Elmwood Village movement developed, Newell knew that this surge of hope needed a voice. “People were leaving Buffalo without knowing that some of us were giving Buffalo a chance. You needed someone to play the horn—beat the drum for these exciting initiatives.” In 2003, Newell gathered a team of eager grassroots activists to form the print magazine Buffalo Rising. Their goal was to combat the doom and gloom clouding the daily papers and highlight the great developments happening in the area. “I’m excited by the fact that you can effect change,” Newell said. “When there is something that you
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have an issue with—this is what I tell my writers all of the time—I say ‘You got to write about positive things, but if you want to write about a negative thing, don’t write about it unless you have the solution. Without the solution, you are just dragging everyone else through the mud.” Now an online publication, Buffalo Rising reaches loyal readers worldwide. Since Buffalo is on the national radar as one of the Rust Belt phoenixes, readers from all over are interested in the new developments in Buffalo. Last year, Buffalo Rising reached 1.1 million unique visitors, averaging 90,000 visits per month. This does not count the many loyal followers that check in regularly. Yet despite the modern renaissance, there are still many doubters in Buffalo who think there are no opportunities here. Newell thinks that this is a matter of perspective. Business owners and entrepreneurs must see the city with fresh eyes.
“Creativity is #1,” he said. ”I see all the people that are thriving these days and it’s all the people that are doing things that no one else has really done. You can’t just open up the same restaurant that’s been opened up a million times because Buffalonians are on to you. You can’t open up an Italian restaurant but if you open up a Korean BBQ, chances are you’ll make a goldmine here. You have to carve your own road.” To recent graduates he says: “If you stay in Buffalo: awesome. There are so many opportunities here. But if you do go away, hopefully you come back someday, whether it’s a visit or whether it’s to move back here. Hopefully you have a love for Buffalo somewhere in your heart. If you come back, bring something with you that you think Buffalo needs.” n
Smith Visiting Fellows: Save the Dates October 19: Patricia Park According to past visiting author Margot Livesey, “In Re Jane, Patricia Park transforms Charlotte Bronte’s beloved novel with her own inimitable wit and imagination….A wonderfully suspenseful novel that will delight those who know the original, and those who don’t.” November 5: Andrew McFadyen-Ketchum’s book of poems is Ghost Gear. Andrew has been described by Dana Gioia as “A rhapsodist spinning words into a musical web” with “a tender alertness to the world.” He also writes reviews, interviews established and burgeoning writers, edits journals, and produces a podcast. You can check out his work at PoemoftheWeek.org. March 7: David James Poissant’s short stories from his debut book, The Heaven of Animals, has been praised by the NY Times Book Review as “wise” and “beautiful” but “with a rogue touch.” April 11: Ron Capps of the Veterans Writers Project are helping veterans and civilians better understand themselves through writing. His books include Seriously Not All Right: Five Wars in Ten Years, Writing War: A Guide to Telling Your Own Story, and 100 Questions and Answers about Veterans: A Guide for Civilians.
About the Graham W. Smith ’48 Fund, established 2007:To honor the memory of Graham Wood Smith ’48 and to celebrate and promote writing at Nichols School, the George G. & Elizabeth G. Smith Foundation started the Graham W. Smith ’48 Fund. Graham’s wife, Mary Jane Smith, was a regular attendee of readings, classes, and social events with the visiting writers, until her passing in the summer of 2012. “She loved her association with the writers and the students,” said Chair Larry Desautels. “Mary Jane read widely, but really, her charm and wit led to those bonds of respect and affection that visiting writers took away with them.”
Alumni, parents, and friends are welcome to attend readings at 8 a.m. in the Flickinger Performing Arts Center (FPAC) at Nichols. For more information, please contact Larry Desautels, English teacher and Graham W. Smith ’48 Chair. 44
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A Big Success!
With the generous support of sponsors, advertisers, item donors, attendees and volunteers, our 38th Annual Derby Day Auction grossed over $250,000 for students. Attendees enjoyed a silent auction followed by dinner and a high-end live auction. Auctioneer Cash Cunningham raised spirits and paddles, and as in previous years, specialty dinners (such as an Iron Chef competition with Bill Clough and Paul Errickson) attracted some of the strongest bids. Perhaps the biggest highlight of the evening was the raise-the-paddle bidding for faculty enrichment, which netted its largest total ever. This generosity supports Nichols’ commitment to providing faculty access to advancement training and educational growth opportunities. We send a heartfelt thank you to Vicki and Jim Newman ’79, who graciously chaired this year’s event. We are grateful to committee chairs Cynthia Ciminelli, Sheila Kowalski, Mary Powers, Carol Cicatello-Sibick, Valerie Zingapan and Kristin Saperston, and to the many committee members, parent volunteers, faculty, and staff for their efforts in making this event spectacular! Finally, we wish to thank all of you who attended the auction. We look forward to seeing you next year: May 7, 2016!
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A Toast to Dick Stratton Nichols hosted a toast to Dick Stratton on June 5 in the Albright Hall Reading Room. Stratton retired from teaching in June, concluding more than five decades of teaching, 41 of those at Nichols. Dick’s upstairs tenant, Ben Gerhardt, who teaches Spanish at Nichols, greeted the crowd and set the tone with some amusing anecdotes about the questions students ask him whenever he mentions that he “lives with Mr. Stratton.” Two former students, Alie Wright ’07 and Patrick Long ’85, provided reflections about Dick’s influence on them. Alie enumerated the top six things she learned from Mr. Stratton, foremost among them to “cut the flab” when writing essays. Pat Long commented that Dick’s true genius lies in how he grades student papers: “There is simply no one else who devotes such care to every single paper. Night after night, in that armchair, with the plank of wood across his lap, Dick immerses himself in his students’ writing, wrestling with their grammar, fixing
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their spelling, and most important, engaging with their thoughts. When Stratton reads a paper, he ponders the ideas the students express; he enjoys their attempts to turn a phrase; he relishes references to other works. Submitting a paper to Stratton is to engage in the life of the mind.” Head of School Bill Clough then unveiled a surprise for Dick. Through the generosity of the Collins family (John, Katie, Jack ’09, Erin ’09, Kerry ’11, Emily ’13), a baseball scoreboard named for Richard G. Stratton will be installed prominently near right field. Dick thanked all of the speakers and audience members for their appreciation and then treated the crowd to a final rendition of “Casey at the Bat.” It was a perfect finale to the evening, and to an unparalleled 41-year teaching career at Nichols. n To the right and on the inside back cover you will find a sampling of the many tributes collected and presented to Mr. Stratton at Reunion this year. If you’d like to contribute a remembrance, please email Blake Walsh at bwalsh@nicholsschool.org.
Reunion 2015 On Friday, June 5, following the 123rd Commencement, Nichols alumni gathered for the 2015 Reunion cocktail reception in the Quadrangle. Celebrations began early in the day, with the 50th Reunion Class of 1965 meeting their Pen Pals in the Class of 2022, and went well into the weekend, with class parties and activities through Saturday night. With 400 people in attendance over the weekend, and great weather on hand, Reunion 2015 proved a true success.
Mr. Stratton, you embody the spirit of the Nichols education: I never had a class with you, and yet you taught me so much. Editing “Leviathan” with you was an incredible experience, and your feedback on my stage performances echoes in my ears to this day. You will be missed at Nichols, but I know you will continue to challenge minds and brighten days for many years to come. With best wishes, Nora Williams ’07
SAVE THE DATE! Reunion 2016 For those who will celebrate a reunion next spring (classes ending in “1” and “6”), now is the time to get involved! We welcome your help in planning events for your class reunion. Email us at alumnioffice@ nicholsschool.org. Save the date for Friday, June 3 and Saturday, June 4, 2016. We look forward to seeing you back at Nichols!
If anything, what I have learned both from you and about you, Mr. Stratton, is that you understand both the value and the meaning of excellence. You understand why it is worthy of unwavering pursuit, and you will not hesitate to share this understanding with others. I know you will remain true to these qualities, which you have shared with generations of students, generations of teachers, and even generations of students who became teachers. Bradley M. Pagliaro ’81
Graduating as I did into a world increasingly dependent on email, the skills Mr. Stratton taught me have been invaluable in communicating ideas, promoting a point of view, crushing dissent, and guiding teams toward shared goals. Andrew Adams ’89
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Reunion 2o15
1940 Bud Graves 1945 Joan and John Bozer 1955 Row 1: John Cryer, Wyn Eaton, Jim Warner, Danforth Rogers, Thomas Eighmy, Bob Gorski Row 2: Larry Levy, Tip Putnam, Steve Kellogg, Penn Watson, Walter Hoffman 1960 David Donaldson, Bill Hudson, Don Miller
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1965 Row 1: Luke Moore, Richard Hinkley, Rick Benson, Nick Entrikin, William Bergantz, James Biltekoff. Row 2: John Brizdle, Bruce Buyers, Sam Dold, Tom Miles, Bill Genrich (w/umbrella), Ray Peters, Bruce Keiser, Bryant Alford, Robert Constantine 1970 Row 1: Trey Dedecker, Eli Tubbs, Charlie Duffy. Row 2: Mike Walsh, John Hurley, Trum Cary, Peter Faust
1975 Row 1: Neil Goodman, Brad Randaccio, Andy Plager, David Alexander, Kevin Cullen, Dorothy Foigelman-Holland, Ellen Rachlin, Shelia Anderson. Row 2: George Smith, Jud Weiksnar, Tim McClive, Randy Fling, Sam Gurney, Allison Prince, Charlie Masterson, Neil Fatin. Row 3: Cam Brown, Elizabeth Gurney, Carl Yerkovich, Phil Barth, Chip Ivins, Rip Collins, Carl Goldfarb
1980 Row 1: Peter Brason, Sydney Prince Dougherty, Kristan Carlson Andersen, Steve Teach, Donna Nesselbush, Bill Hibbard, Ron Chmiel, Rob Laws. Row 2: Susan Ziegler, Susan Goodyear, Bill Kraetz, Scott Aquilina, Kate Campbell Balkin, Alex Flickinger Secor, Tim Hopkins, John Marlette. Row 3: Ian Jones, John Williams, Frank Campagna, Bill Gurney, Peter Vogelsang, Nelson Walsh, Elizabeth How Bartolone, James Schaffstall, Mike Fitzhenry. Row 4: Chris Russ, Mark Lippman, Ted Nagel, Stuart Houlahan, FW Pearce, Tom Wagner, Reed Stevens, Tom Hersey, Jim McFarland 1985 Row 1: Joy Stieglitz Gottschalk, Anne Manning, Amy Blum Houston, Martin Dennis, Alexandra Murphy Matalavage, Tara Midlik, Mark Maussner. Row 2: Tom Houston, Mark Appelbaum, Karen Ravin, Piper McCalmon Madland, Mark Roberts. Row 3: Ryan Gellman, Jon Cox, Germante Boncaldo, Bob Leong
1990 Row 1: Ryan Murphy, Dave Schulz. Row 2: Fayyaz Barodawala, Scott Saperston, Michael Hassett, Brian Tan, Lisa Ciavaglia Lostumbo, Matt Kushner, Susan Cooney Ghirsig, Andy McDonald, Liz Fox Keogh. Row 3: Jeffrey Saltzman, Nader Adeeb, Josh Angert, Dinesh Maneyapanda, Dan Mead, Cory Kasimov, Meredith Angert Kenna, Sareena Fazili, Aaron Hoffman. Row 4: Scott Elwood, Jason Heferle, Patrick Schuleit, Mike Shatzel, Rob Greene, Amy Decillis Bard, Larry Jacobs, April Campbell Cyr, Ted Cotsen
2005 Row 1: Tess Alberts, Kyle Winnick, Annmarie Cellino, Kate Todd, Matt Felser, John Potoczak, Frank Puglisi. Row 2: Kristina Doyle, Sarah Kadukil, Ashley White, Casey Sanborn, Joe Walter, Emily Donowick, Phoebe Hazzan, Alicia D’Alba, Kellie Stanchak, Blake Carbone. Row 3: Will Olena, Amanda Lickfeld, Kelly Regan, Amanda Todd, Jennifer Hill, Ashley Balon, Shoan Yin Cheung, Anna Ellis, Kayla Zemsky, Jesse Baier Radford, Carly Wopperer, Jaime Ferrentino, Eric Walton
1995 Row 1: Erin Moore Mastroianni, Betsy Kreiner McCarthy, Cathleen Santarosa, Jim Pieri, Jillian Ejbisz Rautenstrauch. Row 2: Travis Mastroianni, Danielle Vallas, Erin Lifeso, Neesha Patel, Kyle Walsh, Catie Sessions Kersey, Jessica Burgasser Hapeman, Chris Catanzaro. Row 3: Tad Brown, Greg Desautels, Aarthi Vijaykumar, Loris Decillis Tiedje, Marr Roland, Matt Miller
2010 Row 1: Amanda Schoene, Abhi Khurana, Laura Carless, Victoria Vossler, Rene Sobolewski, Julia Accetta, Grace Munro, Jill Tokarczyk, Devin Friedlander, Madalyn Vershay, Kelsey Ryan. Row 2: Tess Williams, Siobhan Hanley, Caroline Russ, Haley Fromen, Madeleine Waters, Matt Angelakos, Sean Griffin, Anna Montesano, Katie Smith, Jonathan Plotkin, Rami Sherif. Row 3: Dillon Joseph, Bo Gurney, Ben Certo, Tony Juliano, Brandon Kaczmarz, Boris Borovcanin, Ed Spangenthal, Will Regan
2000 Row 1: Lauren Williams Sunderland, Ashley Robb Lewis, Matt Makowski, Pat Lewis, Jared Kozinn. Row 2: Rob Drake, Aaron Santarosa, Allison Drake
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A LU M N I Llewellyn Jones ’37 – June 7, 2014 Llewellyn Hosford Jones passed away on June 7, 2014. He was 94. At Nichols, he had many nicknames, including Jenny, Lew, Jonesy and Dream Buffle. He was a strong math and science student. Llew received degrees in chemical engineering (B.S.) and physical chemistry (M.S.) from the University of Michigan and University at Buffalo, respectively. He also spent 28 months in the service. Llew married Jean Schuster in 1948 and soon after received his Ph.D. from Cal Tech before beginning work at one of the strongest inorganic chemistry groups in the world. Climbing mountains was another one of Llew’s passions. His favorite mountains were the Truchas Peaks. He is survived by his wife, Jean; his son, David and wife Dawn; and his four daughters Barbara Trujillo and partner Basil Swanson; Susan Jones; Cindy Jones; and Fran Jones-Lory and husband, Jay Lory. He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Michelle Trujillo, Jason Jones, Phil Jones, Lupe Ruiz-Jones, Nanda Ruiz-Jones, George Ruiz-Jones, Maria Lory, Richard Lory; and one great- grandchild, Blake Jones.
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Church. He also belonged to the Saturn Club, was a past member of the Country Club of Buffalo, Ducks Unlimited, the Flight Club, Buffalo Shooting Club and the Ruffed Grouse Society. He was a competitive shooter in trap, skeet and brush walk, and was the Buffalo Country Club champion several times. Family members say he traveled extensively, enjoyed baseball, reading, history and his hunting dogs. George was preceded in death by his wife, the former Jane Monahan. He is survived by two daughters, Diane D. MacDonald and Jane D. Cabot, and four grandchildren.
Ray Walter ’80 – Dec. 17, 2014 Ray Walter passed away on Dec. 17, 2014. He was a member of the Artpark & Company board of directors. During his Nichols career he was a big Lennon and McCartney fan. On his senior yearbook page, he quoted a song lyric: “One thing I can tell you is you’ve got to be free.” He was the beloved husband of Diane E. (nee Elia) Walter; the loving father of Grace E. and Natalie P. Walter; the adored son of Joseph H. and Margaret M. (nee Mandell) Walter; the caring brother of Marge (Gary) Lampka, Barb (Barry) LeQuire, Paula (Andy) Fischer, Donna (Tim) Brennan, Joseph (Kathy) Walter, Michael (Anne) Walter and the late Kathy (Jud) Heck; the dear son-in-law of Peter R. and the late Mary (nee DiMuzio) Elia; and the brother-in-law of Bob (MaryAnn) Elia. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and friends.
Clinton “Ranny” Wyckoff ’57 – Feb. 8, 2015 Clinton Randolph Wyckoff III, known as Ranny, died peacefully on Feb. 8, 2015, at The Cleveland Clinic in Weston, Fla. after a short illness. He was 76 and lived in Palm Beach, Fla., as well as East Aurora and Fishers Island, N.Y. He attended Aiken Preparatory School, Hotchkiss School, Nichols School and the University of Buffalo. At Nichols, Ranny was a member of the soccer, hockey and baseball teams. They called him the “raconteur,” for his colorful stories and wry sense of humor. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1957-1961. He was President of Atlas Steel Casting Company and the CEO and founder of SoPark Corporation. He was a member of The Saturn Club, The Pack Club, Fishers Island Club, and a founder and member of Crag Burn Golf Club in East Aurora. An avid sportsman in fishing, skiing shooting and boating, Ranny particularly loved playing golf all over the world. He was an accomplished photography student. In all, Ranny was an inveterate traveler and lived life to the fullest. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Shelby de Peyster Wyckoff; his daughter Shelby Laurel Wyckoff and her husband, John Pierce; his son Ashton Goodyear Wyckoff and his wife Shay; his brothers Peter G. Wyckoff and Kevin M. Wyckoff. He is also survived by his four granddaughters, Mackenzie Binger, Elsa Binger, Lhotse Wyckoff and Payton Wyckoff. He was predeceased by his son Clinton Randolph Wyckoff IV.
George Driscoll ’40 – Feb. 1, 2015 George T. Driscoll Jr., a lifelong Buffalo resident, World War II veteran, and former owner and operator of a Seneca Street lumber business, died on Feb. 1, 2015, at his home in the Park Lane condominiums. He was 92. Born in Buffalo, George attended the Nichols School and the Hill School in Pottstown, Pa., before serving as a sergeant in the Army Air Forces. He graduated from the Georgetown School of Foreign Service in Washington, D.C., in 1948, and went on to own and operate D&M Plywood. He was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic
Richard “Dick” Cutting ’49 – Feb. 14, 2015 Richard W. Cutting of Buffalo, a certified public accountant, died on Feb. 14, 2015, at Canterbury Woods in Williamsville from complications due to cancer. He was 83. Born in Buffalo, he graduated from Nichols School in 1949. He was known for his rosy cheeks and his ability to maintain “a steady excellent on his annual physical report.” He was an honors student, advertising manager of the News, and manager of the baseball team. He earned a Bachelor of Science in biology and chemistry from Amherst College. Dick received his MBA in accounting
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from Columbia University Business School and served in the U.S. Navy from 1953 to 1955. He worked in various positions in New York City, including as a CPA and consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers, founder of EDP Printing & Systems, and certified public accountant and partner at Main Lafrentz & Co. In 1972, Dick returned to Buffalo to accept a position at Ernst & Young LLP as managing partner. He was a board member and treasurer of various community organizations, including the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Episcopal Diocese of Buffalo, YMCA Buffalo Niagara, Children’s Foundation, Buffalo Prep and the Bristol Home. He was also a distinguished member of the William Nichols Society. His hobbies included golf, tennis and fishing. Survivors include his wife of 43 years, the former Elaine Duff; and a sister, Elizabeth C. Brown. William Taylor ’44 – Mar. 28, 2015 William Hilyer Taylor, Jr. died on March 28, 2015. He was 88. Born on August 28, 1926, in Buffalo, N.Y., he was the son of William H. Sr. and Irene Taylor. He graduated from Nichols in 1944, where he was “one of the most liked members of his class.” He was given the nickname “Wild Will” for all of his pranks and jester, but he was a hard-working student who earned varsity letters in track, football and hockey. Following Nichols, he attended Dartmouth College and Harvard Business School, receiving an M.A. in business. He served in the United States Air Force during the latter portion of WWII. Bill moved to the Seattle area with his family in 1982 and joined the Spokane-based Sonderen Packaging Company as the Western Washington Regional Sales Manager, retiring 1991. He was a successful athlete, playing hockey for Nichols High School and also for Dartmouth College, where he was member of a National Championship team. Bill loved tennis, skiing, sailing, and hiking throughout his life. Most of all he loved spending time with his family, friends and his dogs. Bill was always fascinated with the tugboats and freighters that plied the Great Lakes near his childhood home. Bill is survived by his wife Faris N. Taylor; his daughter, Melissa I. Ferdinandi; son, William N. Taylor; and five grandchildren, Matthew, Dylan, Erin, Hilary and Jon. Lewis Harriman ’33 – Apr. 1, 2015 Lewis G. Harriman Jr. died Tuesday, April 1, 2015, in Portsmouth, N.H. He was 99. After graduating from Nichols in 1933 and Punahou Academy in 1934, he completed degrees at Dartmouth College and the Tuck School of Business. In April of 1941 he was drafted into the Army as a private. He ended his military service as a major in 1945, serving on the general staff after
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commanding coastal artillery units in Hawaii. Returning to Buffalo, he worked as an insulation marketing manager for National Gypsum, and then for 29 years as a vice president of community development at M&T Bank. With his wife, Helen Burrows, he shared 51 years of marriage and three children until her death in 1998.He was instrumental in winning funding to create Buffalo’s light rail system, founding and serving as the long-time chair of the Area Committee for Transit (ACT). For 25 years, he served Calasanctius School as board member and vice chair. He also served as chair of the New York State Governor’s Advisory Committee on Vocational Education, and Buffalo’s East Side Youth Development Council that provided opportunities for disadvantaged youths. At Nichols, he served as the editor of the Verdian in his senior year and graduated with high honors. He was a strong math student with varsity letters in soccer and baseball. Nearing the end of his life, one of Lew’s poems written in the Japanese haiku style summarized the way he chose to live his life: “Wholeness: Action and passion... In search of truth and justice... Are their own rewards.” He is survived by his son, Lewis G. Harriman III of Portsmouth, N.H.; by his daughter, Raimonde H. Manch of Phoenix; and by his son Frederick S. Harriman of Vashon Island, Wash. He is also survived by his brother Thomas J. Harriman (Nichols ’38) of Santa Barbara, Calif., his sister, Anne H. White of Juno Beach, Fla., six grandchildren, three great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife, his brothers William B. Harriman ’36 and John H. Harriman ’37, and by his sisters Elizabeth H. Bean and Joan H. Dann. Howard Davis ’61 – Apr. 23, 2015 Howard Crittenden Davis of Amherst passed away on April 23, 2015, at age 72. Born on Jan. 1, 1943, to Charles Samuel Davis and Faith (Howard) Davis of Getzville, N.Y., Howdy was an active member of many organizations. He attended Nichols School, Darrow School, Parsons College and the University at Buffalo. He was a writer and a columnist, worked in industrial sales, and was even a radio repairman. In his 2011 bio he wrote: “I am really indebted to all my English teachers, starting with Andy Anderson, for helping me unconsciously forge and ultimately realize a genuine sense of accomplishment – and I am still learning.” A combat theatre veteran during the Vietnam War, Howdy was an ardent patriot and loved his country above all. His dearest hope was to see veterans cared for by the country they served. Howdy loved music and was a devoted member of the Barbershop Harmony Society, formerly known as the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America (SPEBSQSA). Howdy is survived by
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I N
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his wife of 38 years, Jerrie (LoDestro) Davis; daughters Morgan (Thomas) Krauss of Williamsville and Erica (Andrew) Secor of Charlotte, N.C.; granddaughters Hailey, Kelsey and Catie Krauss; and granddogs Henry Jones Jr. and Ridley Secor. Howdy is also survived by his loving sister, Margo Davis, and a beloved extended family, including Tony and Marcella LoDestro, Kathy LoDestro (Late Joseph), Gene and Diane Vogel and their families. Bernard Anthone ’40 – May 17, 2015 Bernard (Bud) Anthone of Boca Raton, Fla., passed away May 17, 2015. Bud was the beloved husband of the late Ethel and (significant other of Sheila Trossman); father of Robert (Barbara and the late Jackie) and Susan (Robert) Bodansky; grandfather of Pamela, Lindsey and Daniel; great grandfather of Morgan, Ashley, Brooke, Jonah and Blake and brother of Dr. Roland (Betty) Anthone and Dr. Sidney Anthone. David Hershey ’49 – May 23, 2015 David Robert Hershey, Sr., 83, of Savannah, Ga., passed on May 23, 2015, at The Oaks on Skidaway Island. David was born on June 18, 1931, in Buffalo, N.Y., to the late Frank Stone Hershey and Marjorie Long Hershey. He attended Nichols School, The Governor’s Academy of Byfield, Mass., and Cornell University, where he got the nickname Moose. He joined the Army and served in Colorado Springs, Colo., where he was joined by his late wife and companion Barbara Hitchcock Hershey before settling in Buffalo. David worked for Marine Midland Bank and NY Life Insurance before becoming co-owner of IDSI Products. In 1977 he moved his company and family to Savannah. Mr. Hershey was an avid yachtsman and tennis player. He is survived by his two sons Peter M. Hershey, Sr. and wife Margarette; David (Skip) R. Hershey, Jr. and wife Sharon of Spring Hill, Fla.; daughter, Susan H. Smith and husband Leo of Brentwood, Tenn.; grandchildren Peter (Cord) M. Hershey, Jr., Bridget Heiterer Hershey, Theodore Knox Hershey and Meghan O’Connell Smith; two stepchildren Matthew Robert Gunn and wife Jessica of Cleveland, Ohio; Heyward Gunn Kreutzer and husband Justin of Coram, N.Y.; three step grandchildren, Ava Natalie Kreutzer, Avery Gunn Kreutzer and Preston Matthew Gunn. Mr. Hershey was preceded in death by his brother Donald Long Hershey and wife Brenda Heyward Gunn Hershey.
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Nichols School
Patrick Reilly ’77 – May 26, 2015 Patrick J. Reilly, president of John W. Danforth Co., died on May 26, 2015, in Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. He was 56. A lifelong Buffalonian, Mr. Reilly graduated from Nichols School in 1977, where he was the senior photographer of the Verdian. He earned a bachelor’s degree in geology from the University at Buffalo in 1984 and another bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1990. He also earned an MBA from UB. Patrick started at John W. Danforth Co. in 1979 as an intern, and in 1982, he was hired full time as estimator and project manager. He worked his way up to vice president in 1992 and became president in 2011. During Mr. Reilly’s four years as president, he was instrumental in the company’s transformation from private ownership to 100 percent employee ownership. Under his direction, Danforth has become one of the largest mechanical contractors in the eastern United States. He was active in many local organizations, including Families of FANA, where he, along with his wife, was a member of the board of directors. He also served on the board of directors of Gateway Longview and the Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute. He was an outdoor enthusiast and enjoyed fishing and hunting with friends and family. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, the former Maureen Godzich; a son, Kevin A.; a daughter, Julia M.; his mother, Helen; and two brothers, Kevin Duke and Dennis. Seth Bowen ’79 – May 29, 2015 Seth Watkins Bowen died unexpectedly in Laguna Beach, Calif., on May 29, 2015. He was 54. Born in Buffalo, N.Y., Seth graduated from Nichols School in 1979, where he was a member of the football and tennis teams. He then graduated from the University of Arizona in 1984 with a degree in finance/accounting. He was the tennis team captain at the University. He traveled to Africa, Europe, and Australia on the tennis circuit and held a professional ATP World Ranking of No. 409 in singles and No. 334 in doubles. In 2001, Seth was the National Public Parks Open Singles Champion. He was inducted into the Buffalo Tennis Hall of Fame in 2006. He was a member of the Screen Actors Guild. Seth was the beloved son of Elizabeth Ann Bowen and the late Henry May Bowen; loving and devoted father of Sterling Chase; loving brother of Lee, Scot, Kent and Eric.
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FAC U LT Y
Marjorie Gardner – Aug. 4, 2014 – former faculty; mother of Leslie ’76 and Andrew ’79 Marjorie Ann (nee Fox) Gardner passed away after a sudden illness on Aug. 4, 2014, at the age of 80. Marjorie was an active member of the Unitarian Universalist Church for 50-plus years, an inspiring teacher at Elmwood-Franklin School and, later, at Nichols School for an aggregate 30-plus years. She was also an active member and President Emeritus of the College Club of Buffalo, an active member of the League of Women Voters, a volunteer teacher for refugees at Vive la Casa, and an avid traveler and music lover. At Marjorie’s direction, her remains have been donated to the UB Medical School for educational purposes. She was the beloved wife of attorney William H. Gardner; loving mother of Leslie Gardner and, in law, of her husband Michael Glanzer (of Brooklyn, N.Y.); loving mother of Andrew Gardner and, in law, of his wife Randi Hedin (of Woodinville, Wash.); and doting grandmother of Rebecca and Cyrus Glanzer and of Robert and Harry Gardner. Marjorie is also survived by two of six brothers, Dale Fox (of Bradford, Pa.) and Tom Fox (of Boulder, Colo.), and by several nieces and nephews.
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FR I E N D S Elizabeth Burgos – Dec. 24, 2014 – grandmother of Conrad Burgos ’10. Boonchuay Anunta – Dec. 26, 2014 – father of Koi Anunta ’96. Steven Kucmierz – Dec. 27, 2014 – brother of Mary McCarthy (staff); uncle of Samantha McCarthy Wakefield ’01 and Brendan McCarthy ’07. Joan Holzman – Jan. 20, 2015 – mother of Annette Holzman Fitch ’82; grandmother of Elizabeth ’13 and John Fitch ’17. Phil Vance – Jan. 31, 2015 – father of Jack Vance ’14 Elizabeth Coley – Apr. 23, 2015 – wife of Charles ’37; mother of Chip ’66, Dick ’69, Mark ’77 Gloria Dent – May 20, 2015 – wife of Harry ’42; mother of Harry ’75, Peter ’78; grandmother of Wyatt ’00, Ryan ’01, Lindsay Arthurs ’03.
Norman Pederson, Jr. – June 9, 2015 – former faculty; father of Norman Pederson III ’76 Norman A. Pedersen, 88, Brunswick School’s fifth Headmaster, died Tuesday, June 9, 2015, in Sarasota, Fla. Mr. Pedersen served as Headmaster of Brunswick from 1969 through 1987, shepherding the School through purchase of the Maple Avenue campus, construction of a new Upper School library/classroom building, and the start of the Upper School coordination program with Greenwich Academy. Born in Harvey, Ill., Norman attended high school in Elkhart, Ind., and graduated from Princeton University in 1949. He earned a master’s degree from the University at Buffalo in 1958. For 15 years, he taught and coached at Nichols, before moving to Greenwich to head Brunswick. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Isabel; three children and their spouses, Selina Johnson (Robert), Norman III (Sarah) and Laura Pedersen (Tony Becket); and six grandchildren, Isabella and Robert Johnson, William, Jessica, Katherine and Brian Pedersen.
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If you would like to serve as a Class Agent, please contact the Alumni Office at 716-332-5151 or alumnioffice@nicholsschool.org.
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Howard B. Graves, Jr. ’40 hbgraves22@yahoo.com Sidney G. Robinson ’40 sidney_r1@yahoo.com
Philip Mugler reports from sunny Florida that he has recently moved from Marathon, Fla., to St. Augustine, Fla., where his daughter lives.
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75th
John P. Halstead ’41 jphalstead@roadrunner.com Charles Pearson III ’41 grizabella@roadrunner.com
Nothing to report. Please send news.
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Allen Short ’43 12 Emory Dr., Jamestown, NY 14701
David Howard recently celebrated his 90th birthday and still plans to be at the 75th reunion at Nichols in 2018!
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Richard W. Dates ’44 rwdates@msn.com
No Class Agent
Kirke Rockwood writes: “Barbara and I are very fortunate. She had her 86th birthday in January and I turned 90 on February 28. We’ve been married 61 and a half years. We’re both in excellent health and enjoying hobbies and travel. We have two children, five grandchildren and three
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great grandchildren. I’m sorry not to get back to reunions, but it’s 2,700 miles from Spokane, Wash. Also sorry that we lost friend and classmate Hank Wall last year. I can’t believe how the campus has grown since ’42!”
Nichols School
Doug Lewis writes: “If my first year at Nichols (as a first former freshman from public school) had not been so wonderful, my life might have followed a very different path. Thanks to teachers Herbie Kenyon, Doc Kleiser, and later Tracy Tuthill, Don Waterman, Ray Verrill, Dr. Walsh, Tommy Thompson, Ray Gillespie and Bernie Pierce, all under the magic spell of Phil Boocock, the school shaped me indelibly. After a brief stint in the Navy and too many colleges (MIT, Vanderbilt and Harvard), I could not resist Mr. Boocock’s invitation to come home and teach. After three years teaching, coaching
soccer, and directing school plays in the Dining Room, with students I still think fondly about, I married Bingle Gratwick, a niece of former Nichols Headmaster Mitchell Gratwick. Bingle was also a good friend of the Boococks’ daughter, Tidey. Bingle is at my side as I write. We spent the next year studying on my GI Bill benefits and traveling around Europe, but soon I needed a job to support a growing family. Before we left Europe, Phil Boocock secured me a position at Shady Side Academy. After five happy years teaching chemistry and English, serving as a dormitory housemaster, directing the annual school play, and doing some JV coaching, we moved with our three children to unfamiliar Winston-Salem, N.C., a small Southern tobacco and textile city where I began and endured as headmaster at Summit School, a modest coed private day school, happy in that role for 33 years (all without a contract) until retirement in 1990. Summit School thrives today with more than 600 students, prekindergarten through ninth grade. In retirement, Bingle and I wisely decided to stay in Winston-Salem, where our fourth child also grew up. An hour away, we have a 100-acre farm almost surrounded by a 14,000acre state park, a needed refuge at times from job pressures. For the past 25 years, we have restored some local residences and engaged in many volunteer activities with local nonprofits in the arts and social services. In all, we are living a wonderful life, thanks greatly, I do firmly believe, to my very earliest years at Nichols, a school whose heart I still recognize when I occasionally return to the campus. Some early classmates who left before graduating, such as Joe Cary, Steve Potter, Nelson Graves, Chuck Utley and Bobby Robinson, influenced me, in different ways, almost as much as fellow graduates Dann Stevens, Forey Read, Tom Mitchell, Tom Punnet, Fulton
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Cooke, Bill Taylor, Herb Hamilton, Denis Powel, Wim Smith and many others, along with those who went off to war before June 1944. The class lists, on big dark wooden panels at the back of the chapel in the center of Albright Hall where the whole school began each day, of Nichols students in the armed services, with tragic Gold Stars marking those who would not return, even a dozen or so recent graduates I had known, awed and inspired us. The era and Nichols bound me to a remarkable generation. Like thousands of others, I cherish my Nichols associations and memories.”
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Robert L. Miller ’45 rlmiller@millergesko.com
Bruce Friedman writes: “I am in my 57th year as a San Francisco trusts and estates lawyer and winding down.”
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70th
Frederick J. Batson, Jr. ’46 FBatmanJr@aol.com
Nothing to report. Please send news.
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H. Ernest Montgomery II ’47 41 Saint Georges Sq., Buffalo, NY 14222
Warren Prince and his wife, Bonnie, have been married 61 years. Bonnie plays tennis and golf and rides horseback, while Warren “pretty much observes,” although he does hit the occasional golf ball. They report that their three girls and college-aged grandchildren are doing well. Warren sees John Williams quite frequently. They would certainly welcome a call from anyone coming into the Daytona area.
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Malcolm Strachan II ’48 272 Rivermist Dr., Buffalo, NY 14202
NOTE S
matches with Monty. Misstated in the article on Nichols squash in the recent winter issue of “Toaxnoes” was that I had won the Buffalo singles title along with several other Nichols alumni. Sorry to say that my level of talent and absence from Buffalo made that impossible!”
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Russell J. Baker ’49 rebake@verizon.net Bernard D. Wakefield ’49 197 Bering Ave., Buffalo, NY 14223 Reginald V. Williams, Jr. ’49 suggiewil@aol.com Charles L. Yeager ’49 33 Gates Cir Apt 1-C, Buffalo, NY 14209
John Davis writes: “Hello to all classmates. I’m in reasonable health, physically active, and working hard to get my book on the history of Cooperstown’s Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital (now the Bassett Healthcare Network) to the publisher by the end of the year. The best to all fellow survivors!” Wolcott Johnson writes: “Interesting voyage up the Atlantic coastline of Norway from Bergen to Kirkenes (Russian border) and back in late October/early November 2014 on a Hurtigruten service liner that stopped to deliver mail/cargo at 37 fjord villages. Beautiful scenery and country even during inclement times. After 12 years of living in Maine, it continues to delight me. Bowdoin College provides a fine academic resource. Tough winter this season with Buffalo-like snow accumulations and few instances of above freezing temperatures! To set the record straight, although I played squash for years, only on a few occasions did I do so in Buffalo, and that was always with my late brother-in-law, Monty Pooley, at the Tennis and Squash Club. Any fine point of the game that I acquired came from my
Nothing to report. Please send news.
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John R. Bray ’50 68 Bridle Path, Orchard Park, NY 14127
Allan Lefcowitz writes: “If I tell all the changes in my life since I last attended a class gathering, I’ll have nothing to tell when I attend the next reunion in June. However, I will note that since the last reunion I attended in 2000, I have gone against the grain as usual and retired to New York City, only to un-retire and pursue my third career, playwriting, with some small off-off Broadway success.”
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65th
David G. Strachan ’51 kbunkport@roadrunner.com
Steve Gurney still competes in single, double and quadruple sculls, which he describes as “getting harder!” Lewis McLean writes: “Arlene and I have closed our clinical trials consulting service and are concentrating on cultivating our backyard gardens, traveling to exotic corners of the earth, and looking for the perfect beach. Retired at last!”
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Charles L. Abell ’52 lee_abell@ml.com Jack A. Karet ’52 53 Danbury Ln., Kenmore, NY 14217 E. Dennis McCarthy, II ’52 buffalowireman@aol.com
Lee Abell is a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch in Buffalo, working with his wife, Sally, and their son, Mark ’07. They enjoy tennis and periodic “warm up” trips to Destin, Fla.
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Henry F. Goller ’53 HFG35@msn.com James J. Herlan ’53 jherlan35@gmail.com
Former Nichols faculty member Jim Herlan attended the Green and White Luncheon at Nichols over the holidays and enjoyed seeing four of his classmates: Roger Georgi, Henry Goller, Dave Loughborough and Bob Schwartz. Jim writes, “Having a chance to chat with all of them was a real treat! And thanks to Nichols for bringing us together!”
a non-profit. (“You may help out with any tax deductible donation.”) Tim has received numerous rewards for his work from major animal rights organizations, as well as from several film documentary groups. Needless to say, his family is filled with pride! Bill Harder writes: “Just do not miss that white stuff! We spend winters in Rancho Mirage (Palm Springs), Calif., and we summer fishing on the Columbia River in Longview, Wash. We enjoy catching king cod, salmon and Dungeness crab. Good feasting!” As of last year, Danforth Rogers has declared Rochester as his home, but still keeps an apartment in New York City for visiting his grandchildren.
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Roger W. Putnam ’54 rogerputnam911@aol.com Frederick D. Turner ’54 fturner@brownkelly.com
Nothing to report. Please send news.
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No Class Agent
Bob Gorski relays that his son Tim has moved to Taiwan from Thailand to take up residence and continue work on the production of his documentaries. He already has several to his credit including, among others, “Lolita: Slave to Entertainment”; “At the Edge of the World”; and the current film, “How I Became an Elephant.” Tim’s exploits can be followed on rattlethecage.org,
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Nichols School
Oscar- and Grammy Award-winning composer and Buffalo Music Hall of Famer David Shire has been busy collaborating on three new musicals. “Waterfall” will have its regional pre-Broadway tryout premiere at the Pasadena Playhouse in June, play Seattle’s Fifth Avenue Theatre in October, and, if all goes well, come into New York City by spring 2016. “Table,” which he is writing with New Yorker essayist Adam Gopnik, has just started a four-week developmental
workshop in New York, and it looks like it will be trying out at San Diego’s Old Globe next summer. “Madam Sousatzka” will hopefully be ready to premiere in Toronto next year, directed by Adrian Noble of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Amazon has offered a development deal to David and his wife, Didi, for “Didi Lightful,” an animated musical children’s series they’ve been working on for a number of years. David scored two independent feature films last year, one of which, “The American Side”, was mostly shot on location around (and under!) Niagara Falls. David received an honorary doctorate of music from the University at Buffalo at the school’s commencement ceremonies in May. David writes, “Our 22-year-old autistic son, Daniel, is doing gratifyingly well at the Center for Discovery in Monticello, N.Y., and my 38-yearold son, Matthew, is writing for television and films in Los Angeles. We hope he will soon be producing some grandchildren with a lovely playwright he’s almost engaged to and has been living with for quite a while. Didi is about to start workshopping a one-woman show she’s been writing for several years, and she had a lot of fun hosting last year’s annual Grease Night at the Hollywood Bowl for 18,000 people on her birthday. Her acting career continues mostly in off-Broadway and regional theatre productions. I’m grateful that life is so full at 77, and with a loving wife, three RetroFitness workouts, and two yoga sessions a week, I hope to stay healthy and productive for at least another decade or two.” Norman Wilson writes: “I am saddened by the death of John Wadsworth ’55, a gentle soul with a warm heart. As for me, after years of physical fitness and adventure travel, I am finally accumulating various ailments but also am enjoying my young grandchildren. I am now
retired from my psychiatry practice, which I loved. My dear wife has Parkinson’s disease, so I am helping her a lot. But I visit my son, his wife, and my two grandchildren in New York. I also am taking computer courses so I can master my Apple devices as much as possible.”
am about 70 percent recovered! My current recovery progress is slowing down, but I have big hopes. I won’t know my ultimate status for about another year, but resuming skiing, which I have done for 74 years, is questionable and is definitely out for this season. ”
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60th
David C. Laub ’56 davidclaub@aol.com
Roger Barth was recently reappointed as tax counsel to the Republican National Committee. He is still playing lacrosse in a 35+ league in the Washington, D.C., area. A strong advocate and proponent of his native Buffalo, Roger continues to invest in the Queen City though the Buffalo Angels, a group of investors from Buffalo that supports start-ups in upstate and Western New York. As described in Buffalo Business First, “the Angels are defined in part by wealth, in that members must have at least $1 million in net worth, and thus it’s full of people who’ve held distinguished and interesting careers.” As Barth told Business First, ““I like the idea of putting some of my money from Washington back into Buffalo, my home community, because that’s where my heart is… I have an affinity for investing in health-related companies, but beyond that I’m open for anything that sounds interesting.” Tom Trimble writes: “On March 31, 2014, I was totally paralyzed in a terrible skiing accident. I had crushed C1 thru T1 and was 1/16th of an inch from dying. Fortunately, I had a wonderful and renowned surgeon. About two months later, I was able to walk a little. A month later, I could feel things with my hands and walk without any equipment or aid. Now, at eight-plus months, I
George C. Morris ’57 gcm@jdcousins.com Charles A. Smith II ’57 chicsmith1033@aol.com James M. Wadsworth ’57 jwadswor@hodgsonruss.com
Peter Boer and his wife, Ellen, are in good health and staying active. They authored a book on their world travels entitled “Grand Tourist.” Both of their children went to Princeton, married fellow Princetonians, and produced a total of four grandchildren, of which the oldest is 13. They are in day schools, much like Nichols, but in Greenwich, Conn., and Cambridge, Mass. Since 1991, Peter and Ellen have lived in Florida, where they have hosted local Nichols functions. They have a second home in Alexandria, Va., on the Potomac River. Peter keeps busy as a board director for pharmaceutical, chemical and engineering companies. He fills the rest of his time with writing (you can find his books on amazon.com or Google) and traveling with Ellen and the grandchildren. Bob Carter writes: “Nothing new except for a new hip, seeing 11 plays at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and keeping my mind busy with courses at Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. We welcome visitors.”
Jim Cole retired from the practice of orthopedic surgery in March 2013. He keeps busy with his local rotary club (Teaneck, N.J.) and is on the regional senior citizen board. He spent November 2014 in Malawi, a poor country in East Africa, giving orthopedic lectures and consulting on difficult problems. That trip was his third to Malawi and he did similar work in South Africa in fall 2007. His son is a veterinarian in Michigan and was married in October, and his daughter lives in Greenwich Village in New York City with her daughter and another on the way. Al Oestreich, professor emeritus of radiology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, continues to campaign, as does his wife, Tamar, to alert health care workers, parents, and everyone else about the dangers of children swallowing magnets, especially more than one. The latest interview on the Legal News Network can be found at http://molllawgroup.com/legal-newsnetwork (scroll down to “magnets”). Chic Smith is retired from his orthodontic practice in Williamsville and now lives in Delray Beach, Fla. He writes, “I am divorced, have two adult boys and three grandkids. My oldest son went to Nichols and is a dentist. My other son has his own social website. I love Florida and enjoy hitting the gym, tennis, golf, the beach and warm weather! Come visit!”
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58
Stuart H. Angert ’58 stuart.angert@roadrunner.com Howard T. Saperston, Jr. ’58 htsaperston@hotmail.com
Bill Leed is happily retired and serving as a legal guardian for one elderly veteran. He is most grateful for his Nichols education, in particular from teachers like Austin Fox, Millard Sessions and Norm Pederson. Peter Morrison moved to Nantucket in 2005 and is now doing political redistricting around the nation, as well as serving on several local town committees.
scattered from London to Austin, Chicago and Oakland. Jerry is retired from his law and city planning firms, and from teaching at Washington University’s architecture school and all boards. He now has time to write his memoir and build in his basement shop building six-inch models of Modernist chairs. He and Bo would love to hear from and/or see any of the Class of ’59, their kids, or grandkids who wander their way.
Nichols School
Richard B. Adams ’61 rba@richardbadams.com Frederick B. Cohen ’61 fcohen@fbcesq.com
In rocky places No two steps Are the same
John W. Henrich ’59 johnhenrich@msn.com Daniel J. Kraft, Sr. ’59 krafty@legacyagency.com George H. Ostendorf ’59 callieo121@gmail.com Jerry Pratter ’59 jbearstl@gmail.com
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55th
Hugh Levick writes:
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Jerry Pratter and his wife of two years, Bo, vacationed in the northwestern U.S. last August, exploring Olympic National Park and visiting Charlie Haniford and his wife, Inge Noorgarrd, in Port Townsend, Wash. Charlie and Inge have settled happily into the wooden boat capital of Washington, where son Lief was raised. Inge is an internationally renowned textile artist, painter and photographer. One of her large, hauntingly beautiful photos of the abandoned General Mills plant on Lake Erie hangs above Jerry’s desk. Charlie manages properties in town. Bo and Jerry live in a small 50-foot tract, one-story house with a lovely garden just west of St. Louis, Mo. They sold their historic homes where her boys, Mike and Tom, and Jerry’s girls, Lee and Kate, grew up. Their children and grandchildren are
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Instead of striding You step from one stone To the next Wishing light And hope to all Bob Yost completed his sixth annual swim from Alcatraz Island to San Francisco in September, finishing third in the 65+ age group. He writes of the accolade, “Probably because the rest were in nursing homes.”
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Donald E. Miller ’60 donmil43@gmail.com
Nothing to report. Please send news.
With whom I share This rocky place And the sea Which stretches Infinitely vast Infinitely vast…
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David H. Desmon ’62 david_desmon@ml.com
Paul Eisenhardt writes: “2014 was a good year for us. Our son and two young grandkids (ages 3 and 5) live in Friday Harbor, Wash. We visit by ferry or our sailboat (35 miles to San Juan Island). We had a fun afternoon and evening with Turi and Mark Janes ’62 in Gig Harbor this summer. We squeezed in a sailing trip (two weeks) in Gulf Islands, travel to Hawaii (April) and Europe (September). In between, I enjoyed Port Townsend and Tahoe. I am still consulting with several clients.”
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Warren B. Gelman ’63 warren@mcgee-gelman.com Charles F. Kreiner, Jr. ’63 charles.kreiner@ubs.com
Jack Walsh writes: “It was my privilege to recently attend the 2015 EdCo Diversity Conference at Nichols, which featured about 100 students, mostly of color and from 11 area independent schools. The keynote speakers in the Flickinger Performing Arts Center were part of a two-day series of workshops organized by two young Nichols students. The focus of the dialogue was on race, gender, sexual and religious orientation. Exercises required participants to think about inclusion, character, kindness, diversity, rights, feelings, family, and lessons learned by exposure to difference. It was impressive to sense support for school
communities, for academic rigor but also for our becoming, without diluting our love of country, more globally informed and sensitive citizens. It made me proud to be an alumnus. Nichols had not been a particularly diverse nor world-engaged place in the 1950s and 1960s. It is more so today, to the clear benefit of the school and its students.”
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P. Jeffrey Birtch ’64 jbirtch@ChasonCOS.com Howard L. Schweitzer ’64 howschweitzer@gmail.com
Nothing to report. Please send news.
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Bruce N. Keiser ’65 bnk@carterfinancialmanagement.com
Skip Comstock writes: “I had hoped very much to make the 50th in June but a scheduled bike trip to France with family conflicts. My loss. I had looked forward to seeing many old friends who I have not seen since I left Nichols after my freshman year. In spite of not graduating, Nichols remains very dear to me as my whole experience there was excellent and prepared me as much for my adult life at Andover and Williams, which came after. I live and practice law in Boston and welcome any classmates to contact me when in town.” Richard Hinkley of Corning, N.Y., writes: “Still enjoying the beauty of the Southern Tier of New York and train trips everywhere else.”
Friendship with Nichols teacher continues after 50 years Most graduates indicate that there was one special teacher that had a major effect on them during their years at Nichols, and for me that was Ray Glover. Back in the era when the arts were not yet mainstream, the Glee Club was the exception. Most students were not aware that Mr. Glover was also the organistchoirmaster at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Buffalo as well as a leader in the music world of the Episcopal Church. He was tapped to be the editor of the 1982 hymnal still in use in most Episcopal churches today, and he went on to other similar church and teaching positions after he left Buffalo. Mr. Glover got me started as an organist while at Nichols. I would sit on the organ bench Sunday mornings at St. Paul’s, turning pages and getting pointers. He and Hans Vigeland at Westminster Church were responsible for my now 50-plus+ years as a church organist. We have kept in touch over the years and I have visited him in Virginia, where he now lives at a large senior residence. His beloved wife, Joyce, died several years ago, and I made the trip down for the funeral and sang in the choir for her service. His residence has a chapel that had a very old electronic organ. Since I was the sales rep for Allen Organ Company for many years, Ray contacted me about finding a replacement instrument. As a result, I just returned from a two-day trip installing a large three-manual organ in the chapel, and at age
87 years, Ray Glover was there during the entire installation helping out! What fun to listen to him at the organ after so many years! He looks so much like he did 50 years ago, with the same smile and upbeat personality! One picture is of Ray and me in 2008 with the organ pipe lamp (one of my hobbies) inscribed to honor our 50-year friendship. Notice how we just happened to be dressed alike! The other picture shows me at with the 1982 hymnal pointing to Ray’s name as editor. I’m not sure how many student-teacher relationships last this long, but this one has been a great joy in my life for which I am grateful to Nichols for fostering. Fred Astmann ’62 In 1991, Raymond Glover became professor of music and organist at Virginia Theological Seminary, Alexandria, where his daughter, Kathryn A. Glover is now Vice President for Human Resources and Institutional Effectiveness.
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Bruce Keiser writes: “I am still living in Orchard Park (moved back to Buffalo in 1995) and working at Carter Financial Management as a financial advisor on behalf of Cadaret Grant in Syracuse. I look forward to seeing all our classmates who are returning for our 50th. For those who haven’t been back to Buffalo in a while (even five years), there have been some exciting changes for the better in and around the city which will hearten you about the future here (major medical complex in and around Buffalo General Hospital, Solar City manufacturing plant in Lackawanna, new HarborCenter and hockey rinks downtown). I strongly urge those who return to take a driving tour of these new sights!
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Jonathan R. Wright ’66 jonathan@niagara.com
Ralph Gabarro wrapped up an interim CEO role at a small hospital on the coast of Maine in May. “Then back to retirement?”
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George O. Bergantz ’67 gbergantz@benchmarkgrp.com Dale B. Haidvogel ’67 dale@marine.rutgers.edu
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John M. MacCallum ’68 964 Parkside Ave, Buffalo, NY 14216
Nothing to report. Please send news.
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John J. Cordes ’69 jcordes@irdprojectmanagers.com Arthur W. Cryer ’69 art.cryer@fnrm.com
Nothing to report. Please send news.
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Michael K. Walsh ’70 mwalsh@walshins.com
Nothing to report. Please send news.
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45th
No Class Agent
Nothing to report. Please send news.
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Thomas E. Caulfield ’72 tecaulfield@roadrunner.com Roland L. W. Hayes ’72 rhayes@legalaidbuffalo.org
Luke Moore and his wife, Pamela, are enjoying post-career life in Normandy Park, Wash. Senior hockey, fishing the flats from Christmas Island to the Seychelles, powder skiing and hiking in “Wydaho” and six grandkids living close by in Seattle keep them busy! Luke writes, “We look forward to our Buffalo visits. Pamela is fascinated with Buffalo and the ’East Coast lifestyle,’ and I reconnect with old friends and memories. We are excited to see everybody.”
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Donald Ehre writes: “On February 9, I played in the alumni hockey game and had a great time both at the game and talking with the other alumni who were present. As the oldest participant by some 14 years, I can’t say that I contributed much to the game itself, but I can say that I did pass the puck a few times. The school has really changed over the years, but there was enough of the old flavor to bring back memories of the past, whether it was playing marbles on the lawn behind Albright Hall, the morning meetings in the chapel, or seeing the coverage of the Kennedy assassination on the TV that was hastily set up there. As they say, “Those were the days, my friend, we thought would never end.”
Jeff Reed finished eighth in his age group at the World Sprint Triathlon Championships last fall in Edmonton, Alberta. A sprint consists of a half-mile swim, a 20K bike ride and a 5K run. Recently, he qualified for the September 2015 world championships that will take place in Chicago. Describing his success, Jeff says, “It pays to get in old age group events, because the field starts thinning out.”
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Seymour H. Knox IV ’73 SHKIV@aol.com Theodore B. K. Walsh ’73 bwalsh@walshins.com Henry D. Waters, Jr. ’73 hwatersufs@aol.com
Phil Bean lives in Norwich, Vt. He writes, “I am enjoying living in the woods on 14 acres, in a home I designed and built. I am still working as an architect, doing metal sculpture on the side, and occasionally get to see Doc Bagley, who lives eight miles down the road in South Strafford.” Nancy Galeota-Wozny continues to avoid the Buffalo weather by living in Houston, where she is editor in chief of Arts + Culture Texas. Monica Galeota Hamill lives in Ambler, Pa., near Philadelphia and has enjoyed a career as a service coordinator in early intervention for children with disabilities. Her son Alex is a wealth management advisor for TIAA CREF in Buffalo. He married Lindsay Zak this past August at St. Anthony of Padua Church, followed by a reception at the Hotel Lafayette. Her son Jonathan resides in Philadelphia and works for Wells Fargo Advisors. Monica and former Nottingham classmates continue to celebrate their years together. Tim Hayes and his wife, Mary, moved to the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2013, where Tim continues to be involved in the financial services sector as a corporate lawyer. Their children live in San Francisco, Houston and Boston, and they are expecting to welcome their first grandchild later this year.
Jeff Heckman lives with his wife, Julie, just north of NYC in Westchester County. Their son, Ned, is teaching biology at a private school in Minneapolis and their daughter, Sarah, is in her last year of college, where she is specializing in teaching special needs kids. Jeff gets to Buffalo from time to time for work and got part of the “band” back together at the 40th reunion. Jeff writes, “It was great to see everyone and I hope we get a bigger turnout for our 45th.” Christine Karnes writes: “My husband, Rick Check, sold our distribution company last March to Sysco, so we have been traveling quite a bit now that he is fully retired. We still reside on our horse farm in Willistown Township, Chester County, Pa., and spend a couple months a year at our place in Aspen, CO, both summer and winter. One daughter is a Ph.D. candidate at UNC Chapel Hill in public health policy and our daughter Morgan is a pediatric nurse practitioner at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles. I see Jeanne Egan MacDonald, Sally McKendry Haungs, Monica Galeota Hamill and Melissa Weiksnar every year. Our Nottingham class does a good job at attending reunions every five years and staying in touch. Seymour Knox writes: “My son Seymour ’08 recently graduated from Lake Forest College. My son Jack ’11 is a senior at Canisius College. I have enjoyed watching both boys play senior hockey with Peter Marlette ’06 and Bo Gurney ’10 in the new HarborCenter. Like many of our classmates, I recently turned the Big 6-0 and have been reflecting on life and its many changes. Engagements, weddings, births and funerals. It has been a great exercise. I am blessed to share in the successes and failures I have made over the years and see the successes of my friends as well. In 2014, I started a wine called Love and
we recently celebrated our one-year anniversary. We sold a little over 900 cases in the Western New York market. So feel free to share the LOVE. I have also been working with a great health product called Enagic (www. awesome-water.com). This amazing water helps put your body back into balance and is used by a number of professional teams, including the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks. Our book on Knox Farms State Park recently cracked the 1,000 barrier. I had some photos in the CEPA show again this year. Classmate Barney Walsh recently moved onto our street!” Paul Noller retired in 2002 from the U.S. Navy and is working with brother David ’71 at Dewey-Noller Builders Inc. in Boca Grande, Fla. Paul and his wife, Donna, have two children and two grandchildren. Since leaving Buffalo, Paul and family have lived in Fallon, Nev.; Concord, Vallejo, Mountain View, and San Jose, Calif.; Mount Holly, N.J.; New Orleans, La.; and Orlando and Venice, Fla. Paul writes, “Temporary residences included a large haze-gray ship and assorted military facilities. It is nice to be in one place!” Katie Vogt Schneider continues to live in Lake View, N.Y., with her husband Jake, in a renovated barn with a continued flow of children and grandchildren. Katie and Jake both work in Buffalo (in the former Mabel Danahy building on Delaware Avenue). Katie is a photographer who shoots portraits, architecture, art and everything in between. Their four children all live and work in Buffalo, enjoying the renaissance of our fair city. Katie’s two daughters own two local restaurants: Merge on Delaware and the Handlebar on Swan Street. Her son Zack has an advertising firm named 15 Fingers Digital, and Max has just returned from Los Angeles to work with Jake at Schneider
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Development. The Nottingham Class of ’73 has made opportunities to stay in touch and spend time together when in Buffalo. Katie writes, “Every day I consider how blessed I am to have received the sort of education that Nottingham afforded me. The ability to find academic and spiritual excellence, open the mind, and continue to be grounded and humbled by my own humanity is a gift I will never be able to repay. I thank all who influenced my education and hope that we turn our strengths into continuing to improve our world in Buffalo.” Melissa Weiksnar published “It’s Not Gunna Be an Addiction: The Adolescent Journals of Amelia F. W. Caruso (1989-2009).” She continues to write, speak, and advocate for substance use disorder prevention and treatment in her daughter’s memory. She was a panelist at this year’s Associated Alumnae & Alumni of the Sacred Heart national conference in Boston, where Sister Gail O’Donnell, former Headmistress of Nottingham Academy, received the Woman of Conscience award, and Kathleen Hirsh ’71, a professor of writing at Boston College, gave a keynote address. Rick Zeller and wife, Lucyann, have been living in Canterbury, N.H., for 23 years. Rick works at the Derryfield School, where he teaches geography and civics to sixth and seventh graders. Lucyann is a math professor at NHTI in Concord. Their son Robby, 29, has been married for five years to Sarah, and their first baby was born in May. Robby teaches French at Bedford High School. Their other son, Tuckerman, is 21, works at a local daycare and takes a class periodically. Daughter Zoe is 18, a high school senior, and heading to college. Rick writes, “Lucyann grew up just up the road, so we have family all around us. Grammy Zeller is just two hours west in Weston, Vt. Life is good.”
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Kurt Ziemendorf ’73 lives in Rochester working in the commercial real estate business and Colette is a graphic designer. Kurt and Colette have two boys. Kolby just graduated from Clarkson University with a degree in mechanical engineering and sustainability/alternative energy. Conrad is a junior at SUNY Cortland who is, as Kurt puts it, “majoring in baseball (his team went to the DIII College World Series last year) with a minor in fitness development.” Kurt writes, “We’re still trying to turn that around. ”
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William T. Jebb II ’74 wtjebb@aol.com Peter M. Jones ’74 pmjones55@gmail.com Gregory D. Stevens ’74 maplewoodgreg@yahoo.com Joseph A. Trimboli, Jr. ’74 bhtrimboli@yahoo.com
Dion Birney and Doug Hopkins send their respective thanks to the Class of 1974 40th reunion committee, specifically giving thanks for the live music and for former faculty member Peter Amershadian making the trip back to campus.
Mark (Liebman) Morris’ book, “Living Yes, A Handbook For Being Human,” was recently published by Amirh Voice and is available on amazon.com. More information about Mark and his work is located at www.LivingYes.org.
Martha Bukowski Thomson and her husband, Cary, completed the Great Loop, a more than 5,000mile circumnavigation of eastern North America, aboard their trawler “FREEDOM.” A highlight so far has been traveling the full length of the Erie Canal, arriving in Buffalo just in time to watch the Fourth of July fireworks over the harbor. Read all about it at freedomontheloop. blogspot.com.
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Hon. Thomas P. Franczyk ’75 tfranczy@courts.state.ny.us Charles L. Gurney III ’75 cgurney@gbbourne.com Elizabeth Stevens Gurney ’75 Elizabeth.Gurney@fnfg.com Brad F. Randaccio ’75 brandaccio@lippes.com
Sheila Anderson was recently selected as a Columbia University Community Scholar. This three-year program grants Sheila access to “all of the school resources” necessary to work on her upcoming book about the 1970s. Tim Franczyk has been playing guitar and singing at Sportsmen’s Tavern, Iron Works, and Pausa Art House with the Kensingtons, a collagenous collection of mostly post-middle age rockers, including John Farmelo ’76 on drums, Buffalo Music Hall of Famer Willie Schoellkopf (guitar and vocals), Jack Freedenberg (piano and vocals), Tom Lillis (bass), Joe Nicastro (lead guitar and vocals) and Julie Atti Rogers (vocals and air guitar). Brad Randaccio is a senior partner in the Buffalo law firm of Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP, practicing in the real estate and the banking and financial transactions groups. Brad was also recently elected president of the Country Club of Buffalo.
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40th
Todd W. Brason ’76 tbrason@willcare.com
Fred Strachan recently completed his 20th year as quality assurance at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. in Chico, Calif. Lillian Sinks Sweeney (aka: Muffit) has lived in Pittsburgh, Pa. for 19 years. She works for a post-acute company called naviHealth, providing care for the Medicare population. Her son, Taylor, graduated from Kenyon College in May, and husband John works in new technology in the printing industry.
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John C. Farmelo ’77 jcfarmelo@yahoo.com Wende A. Mix ’77 mixwa@buffalostate.edu M. Grosvenor Potter III ’77 gpotter@buffnews.com
Chris Kennedy still lives outside of Boston in Weston, Mass., with wife Heather, daughter Brooke (17), who finished her junior year at Dana Hall, and son Pierce (12), who finished sixth grade at Dexter Southfield School. Hockey, basketball, club field hockey, and the exploratory approach to college are keeping Chris and family busy, and with more than 100 inches of snow last winter, he’s keeping pace with Buffalo and for the most part loving it. After 14 years of solo private practice, George Kingsley closed his office and joined an OB/GYN group in the rolling pine forests of East Texas. George writes, “Life is a little bit slower and the pace suits me. In my time off, I’m active in my church and we travel often to visit grown kids and my three grandsons (two, three and five years old) in northwest Arkansas. Life is good! I enjoy keeping up
with my friends from Nichols on Facebook. Class of ’77 rocks! Hope to see you all at the 40th reunion in 2017!”
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Hugh M. Russ III ’78 hruss@hodgsonruss.com David D. Tiftickjian ’78 tiftrugs@aol.com
Nothing to report. Please send news.
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Wendy Zacher Hammond ’79 hammondxander@aol.com Kristin Weber Somers ’79 kristin@tkii.com
This past fall, Dave Duryea retired from the U.S. Navy after more than 31 years of service. He recently started a new job as vice president of finance and management at SUNY Cortland. Dave writes, “I am excited to be back up in New York, although the -18 degree morning the other day gave me a few second thoughts.”
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clinic on Niagara Street. Recently, Dr. Mercedes Carota ’05 joined the team. Dr. Michael Harr ’75 has also joined the Ellicott team. Reed appreciates the long list of Nichols families that make Ellicott their other family doctor!
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35th Jennifer Jarvis Hamberger ’81 jsjh1988@gmail.com Stephen Kellogg, Jr. ’81 Kellogg@Kellogg.net
Susan Hurwitz St. Pierre writes: “I became a grandma on November 14, 2014. My daughter, Sydney, gave birth to a perfect little baby girl named Cameron Grace at 4:11 a.m. Sydney, Cameron, and Sydney’s husband, Capt. Nick Dieter, are all doing great! It is truly a blessing.”
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Annette Holzman Fitch ’82 afitch@printplus.us Stephen J. Joyce ’82 steve_joyce@verizon.net
Kristan Carlson Andersen ’80 kcandersen@me.com William H. Gurney ’80 bgurney@couriercapital.com William D. Hibbard II ’80 bill@efacilitysolutions.com Ian W. Jones ’80 iwjones42@gmail.com
Dr. Reed Stevens is proud to share that Ellicott Small Animal Hospital in downtown Buffalo is celebrating its 135th year of caring for Western New York pets. While the hospital started as an equine practice next to the then-thriving Washington Market, it now treats birds, reptiles, pocket pets, cats, and dogs with advanced techniques such as laser therapy and acupuncture. It was the recipient of the 2014 Buffalo Niagara Business Ethics award partly because of its opening of the West Side Pet Clinic, the region’s only low-cost vet
Classmates Lisa LeVann Haarmann and Wendy Wisbaum caught up in April at the new Whitney Museum of American Art’s pre-opening in New York City.
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Douglas J. Bradley ’83 doug@bradleymediaworks.com Wendy M. Pressman ’83 wmpress18@gmail.com Katherine B. Roach ’83 kkcl@roadrunner.com
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Mark J. Appelbaum ’85 mark@oehlerswelding.com Mark N. Roberts ’85 markroberts1@roadrunner.com
Nothing to report. Please send news.
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Ellen Hassett Cahill ’84 ellen@e-sagacity.com Gregory J. Castiglia ’84 drcastiglia@buffaloneuro.com Joy C. Trotter ’84 joyct601@gmail.com John P. Weiksnar ’84 jpw@roadrunner.com Valerie A. Zingapan ’84 vazingapan@yahoo.com
Sarah Burstein Blair lives in San Diego with her husband, William, and daughter, Eva. Sarah is a surgical oncologist and professor at the University of California at San Diego School of Medicine. In addition to her surgery practice, her current research project is locating the margins of tumors using nanoparticles.
Joy Trotter writes: “Spent a wonderful evening celebrating the birthday of Kristen Rhodes, including fellow Nichols folks Jane Vendetti, Pam Bos Kefi, Sarah Yerkovich and Tara Midlik ’85. Fantastic dinner at Left Bank followed by cocktails and conversation at my home. All agreed that we love keeping up with the old friends. We hope and intend to see more of our Nichols friends in the future.”
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LeeAnn Fronckowiak writes: “It was a great start to the Florida lacrosse season seeing Beth Stone, Wendy Stone, and Coley Felser at Champions Challenge in Naples.”
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30th
Michelle Rosenberg Parentis ’86 michelleparentis@gmail.com
Kyle Bacon passed his doctoral dissertation proposal defense in December 2014. He is looking to defend his dissertation by December 2015. He is pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Courtney Coppola Kessler and husband Jim, owners of LASERTRON, are proud to announce that they will be opening another LASERTRON in Rochester, N.Y., this summer. Jim came up with the company’s concept and started the business as a junior in college, almost 30 years ago! Daughters Bella, almost 14, and Anna, 10, are healthy and thriving; they are both avid dancers. In addition to competing in a dance company, Bella recently danced a halftime show at a Magic game in Orlando, the Kesslers’ hometown. Bella also earned an academic scholarship for high school.
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Joseph T. Vanini ’87 lavanooche@icloud.com
Rachel Bronwyn writes: “This summer will mark 20 years that I have lived in Southern California. After earning an A.B. at Princeton (1991), an M.A. in art history at Williams (1993) and doing some post-grad work at University at Buffalo, where I earned my teaching credential, I have been happily living in the San Diego area. Last year, our house was featured quite prominently in the national news: It burned down May 14, 2014, in the Poinsettia fire. I have taught at a public high school for 19 years. The school is 91 percent free/reduced lunch and 87 percent Hispanic; we are very poor and very bilingual. My students are simply magnificent; they are without doubt the finest people I have ever met. Though there are 38 in each of my classes, I try to provide them with same outstanding education, and most significantly, individual attention, that I received at Nichols. The results are gratifying. I have been involved with the AVID program since I began teaching. As a teaching site team with the help of a designated counselor, we do for our students what our parents and teachers did for us at Nichols: guide them to four-year universities. At present, approximately 20 percent of our students are in the AVID program; 93 percent go on to four-year universities. All are the very first in their families or in the first generation to do so. We have sent students to Williams, Harvard, Princeton, Bennington, Smith, Bryn Mawr, Cal Poly SLO, Berkeley and Stanford. I have taught almost an entire generation of students [I teach English, art history and AVID], and soon I will be teaching my students’ children. I have spent my adult life fighting for social justice by providing the poorest of the poor with the education I received at Nichols. Every day I grin, because I know
I am winning the fight. My life is blessed beyond measure, because the work I do is so profoundly useful and effective.
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No Class Agent
Leah Schierlitz Hughes had the pleasure of hosting a special book club at her house in late May. The assembled readers were honored with a visit from classmate and author Sandra Block, who spoke to us about “Little Black Lies,” her new psychological thriller. “It was a great night and a great book!” writes Leah. Pictured in the front row are: Sandra Block and Adrienne Stanfill with her daughter, Willa. In the back row: Tina Burker, Elizabeth Duffett, Leah Hughes (with Leela Mookerjee on the phone) and Beatriz Llugany. Carl LeVan, a professor at American University, recently published “Dictators and Democracy in African Development: The Political Economy of Good Governance in Nigeria” with Cambridge University Press. He travels to Nigeria frequently, and has discussed that country’s politics on CNN, NPR’s Diane Rehm Show and the PBS News Hour. His book addresses conditions for good governance in Africa and examines
why democracies struggle with persistent poverty. Carl describes further: “Drawing on a study of Nigeria since independence, I challenge conventional explanations for government performance such as regime type and oil wealth. Using the theory of veto players and original data from extensive field research, I link the political structure of the policy process to divergent outcomes across two broad categories of public policy. This generates a dilemma with important implications for African countries struggling with institutional trade-offs presented by different regimes.”
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Mary Giallanza Carney ’89 giallanzalaw@gmail.com
Nothing to report. Please send news.
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W. Scott Saperston ’90 Scott.Saperston@morganstanley.com
Trish Duggan Brostek writes: “In May 2014, my husband, Derek, retired from the Marine Corps after 20 years as a lieutenant colonel. We have settled in Harrisonburg, Va., where he has joined the law firm of Wharton, Aldhizer & Weaver. I remain active as a consultant in the textile technology industry.” Nandita Shenoy’s play “Washer/ Dryer” was produced at East West Players in Los Angeles in February. She acted at San Francisco Playhouse in the world premiere of Richard Dresser’s “Trouble Cometh” this spring. Sadly, the show conflicts with her 25th reunion at Nichols, but Nandita “hopes to hang out with Jeff Saltzman and any other Nichols alums in the Bay Area during the run.”
Solomon Siegel is keeping busy with SWDC Inc. and two children, Sam (10) and Ava (8) in Exeter, N.H. He is also busy running SS Knotical Designs, a unique/custom jewelry business. Father and kids went skiing in Beaver Creek, Colo. in February, where “skiing/weather was amazing!” Pieter Weinrieb was recently elected to serve as co-president of the Holocaust Resource Center of Buffalo. Since 1983, the HRC has kept the history of the Holocaust alive in order to ensure that new generations will apply its lessons to the construction of a more just, humane and tolerant future. Dan Williams writes: “Lindsay and I welcomed our second child, Broderick Daniel, into the Nichols family in November 2013. He and his older sister, Amelia, are bracing themselves for another winter in Madison, Wis.!”
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25th
Bridget McIntee Bartolone ’91 bridget0622@gmail.com B. Kevin Burke, Jr. ’91 kburke@lippes.com
Nisha Patel recently published her first children’s book, entitled “Princess Avni Gets Her Beauty Sleep,” available on amazon.com, mascotbooks.com, bn.com and booksamillion.com. NIsha writes, “It’s a great bedtime story about a little Indian princess, perfect for kids aged 2 to 8!”
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Sarah Gelman Carney ’92 sarahgcarney@verizon.net Ryan J. Lucinski ’92 rlucinski@gmail.com Christine Leone Sabuda ’92 tsabuda@curbell.com Christen O’Mara Smith ’92 christenomara@aol.com
Elizabeth Kreiner McCarthy ’95 betsy.k.mccarthy@gmail.com Matthew D. Miller ’95 miller@ruppbaase.com
Nothing to report. Please send news.
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Nothing to report. Please send news.
Gregory F. Plumb ’96 gplumb@nicholsschool.org Jennie Brinkworth Ramsey ’96 jbrinkworth2222@yahoo.com Laura Lombardo Yusick ’96 lyusick@nicholsschool.org
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Jodi Priselac de Riszner ’93 jodi@esacompany.com Elizabeth Constantine Janowski ’93 betsyc@cfgb.org Mark J. Travers ’93 markjtravers@gmail.com
Betsy Constantine was a finalist for the Buffalo Niagara Partnership’s 2015 Athena Young Professional Leadership Award. At the BNP’s 25th annual awards luncheon March 19, Betsy was featured in video clips defining what leadership means.
Lauren Gioia was recently appointed to the position of worldwide head of communications for Sotheby’s in New York City. A 16-year veteran of the world-renowned auction house’s press office, she is a highly valued member of the senior leadership team. Sotheby’s is the world’s fourth oldest auction house, and boasts 90 locations in 40 countries.
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Amity Lippes Mann ’94 amann@unyts.org
Becky Crane Mercatoris, her husband Jake, son Teddy (age 3), and grandparents Jeff and Eileen Crane are very happy to welcome Emily Grace, born September 27, 2014.
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20th
Gary Occhino, a PGA golf pro, is coach for the U.S. Junior Golf Team. Gary’s “Your Last Golf Lesson Ever” is one of the top golf coaching programs for amateurs. Feel free to reach him at gary@garyocchinogolf.com.
Azim Barodawala married Dr. Sofia Chaudhary last summer in Buffalo. The couple lives in Atlanta, Ga. Sofia works as a pediatric emergency room physician, and Azim is CEO of Volantio Inc., a travel technology company with operations in the U.S. and Australia. Nichols folks at Azim’s wedding pictured left to right are: Fayyaz Barodawala ’90, Steve Moscov (former faculty), Aashiyana Koreishi ’92, Sofia Chaudhry, Azim Barodawala, Omar Malik and Anil Nathan. Christian Campos was recently named president of TM Montante Development in Buffalo. He joined the firm in 2012 and has been CFO for the past year. As president, he will oversee the company’s major real estate development projects, including the Gates Circle site (former Millard Fillmore Hospital) in Buffalo and the Riverview Solar Technology Park in the Town of Tonawanda.
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in Canaan, N.H., where he continues to serve as PEAKS department chairperson. Jarrod arrived at Cardigan in 2005.
Emily DeCarlo and husband, Josh Malenbaum, welcomed their third child, Benjamin, in May. Big brothers Jacob (6) and William (3) are thrilled! Emily continues to work as a pediatric ophthalmologist in the greater Philadelphia area. Ebony Robinson landed in D.C. for law school and works there as an assistant attorney general, prosecuting gun, drug and prostitution-related crimes. She will marry her longtime sweetheart on August 22 in Aruba. Bisi Giwa-Jackson and Kelly Clark will be in attendance.
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breaking ground on several largescale construction projects. She is looking forward to visiting Buffalo this summer with her children and husband! Dan Weinrieb is senior vice president of risk adjustment for Gorman Health Group in Buffalo. Dan and his husband, Brian Walsh, have a son named Declan, born January 22, 2014.
99 Eric DeLange and his wife, Laura, welcomed their first son, Charles (Charlie) Stirling DeLange, on February 10. Weighing in at 6 pounds, 9 ounces, Charlie arrived after “a very speedy labor.” The DeLanges reside in Hoboken, N.J.
Margaret Stevenson Auerbach ’99 megauerbach@gmail.com John T. Soron ’99 jtsoron@gmail.com
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Elizabeth Walsh Keenan ’97 lizakeenan@gmail.com
Andrew Mitchell is happy living in Buffalo, housesitting for his parents who are living in the South of France. He is a very proud uncle to his new nephew, Xander, and enjoys time with his girlfriend of seven years.
Alexis Muscato Agnello ’98 aagnello@mtb.com Craig E. Semple ’98 CSemple@courts.state.ny.us
Nadia Malik lives with her family in Abu Dhabi, where she works as a radiation oncologist at Gulf International Cancer Center, Abu Dhabi, UAE. Her two children, Samar and Zayna Ghadiyali (right), are pictured with her brother Omar Malik’s (class of 1996) children, Noah and Nyle Malik.
This past fall, Jarrod Caprow became a member of the St. Lawrence University Athletic Hall of Fame for his role as student assistant coach for the 2001-2002 Women’s basketball team. Additionally, he was promoted to the role of assistant director of studies at Cardigan Mountain School
After spending the last five years at home raising her children, Gabby (5) and Connor (3), in their home city of Happy Valley, Ore., Meaghan Booth Mansfield has joined the (paid) work world again. With two former colleagues, she formed a real estate development company and is
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Linda Groff Mroz is in her second year as head coach for MMHSAA Girls Varsity Ice Hockey Federation team. This year, the team was the regular season champion and won the playoff championships as well, beating Kenmore, the defending champions and section VI champs, by a score of 1-0. Linda is the first female head coach to have a team finish first in the league and also win the championship.
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In addition, Linda has been named general manager of the Buffalo Beauts, one of the founding four teams in the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL). She was recently joined by Nichols alumnae Amanda Todd ’05, Emily Pfalzer ’11, Annarie Cellino ’05, and Brigitte Cellino ’08 at Buffalo’s HarborCenter for the Beauts’ training camp. The team will play their home games at HarborCenter, with the home opener taking place on Sunday, October 11. For more information on the NWHL, visit www.NWHL.co (yes, that’s .co, not .com). J.T. Soron was promoted to major in the U.S. Army. He is currently pursuing an LL.M. in military law at the Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School in Charlottesville, Va. After graduation, he will be the senior defense counsel at Fort Knox, Ky.
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Robert C. Drake ’00 rdrake@mtb.com Ashley Robb Lewis ’00 alewis@skmgroup.com Patrick Lewis ’00 patrickzlewis@gmail.com
Nichols alumni and friends are leading a major community initiative to nominate the Elmwood Historic District East in Buffalo for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Wyatt Arthurs chairs a community council that is leading the way, along with Buffalo Common Council Members Michael LoCurto, David Rivera, and Darius Pridgen,
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Assembly Member Sean Ryan, State Senator Marc Panepinto and the Landmark Society of Western New York. Council members include Chuck Kreiner ’63, Chris Vogelsang ’73 and Susie Lenahan, wife of the late beloved Nichols teacher, Kim Kimberly ’47. Clint Brown ’71 and his architecture firm are preparing the massive nomination. The National Register listing will bring the benefits of historic preservation to approximately 1,800 properties. Elmwood East and its companion Elmwood West will make one of the largest historic districts in New York State. Sean Devlin and wife Betsy welcomed their first child, Winifred Watt Devlin, October 29, 2014. Sean writes, “Betsy and Winnie are healthy and doing great. I had a fun time catching up with Emily Constantine Doren ’00 at Colgate University’s reunion last June.” Sarah Ward Kirke recently moved from Chicago, Ill., where she had been living and working for the past 10 years, back to Buffalo with her husband, Ryan, and daughter, Charlotte. She is the HR director at U.S. Energy Development Corp., an independent oil and gas firm headquartered in Getzville. Sarah, Ryan, and Charlotte reside in Orchard Park and are extremely happy to be back with family and friends! Jared Kozinn ’00 recently joined the Detroit Lions as director of business development and premium seating. Jared and his wife, Margo, reside in West Bloomfield, Mich., with their daughter, Shayna (4 years old), and son, Dane (9 months).
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Matthew S. Baldauf ’01 Matthew.Baldauf@gmail.com Jonathon W. Blumhagen ’01 jblumhagen3@hotmail.com Sarah Jane Burke ’01 sarahjane.burke@yahoo.com
Catie Plumb Day and husband Thomas recently welcomed their second child, Eleanor Elizabeth Day, in August 2014. Since returning from maternity leave, Catie has become the store manager of a Starbucks in the Carmel, Ind., area.
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Andrea G. Ward ’02 andieward@gmail.com Jeremy J. Witt ’02 jeremywitt1@gmail.com
Tara DeCarlo graduated from Thomas Jefferson University Jefferson School of Nursing in May 2014 and moved to Washington D.C., where she works as a labor and delivery nurse at Sibley Memorial Hospital. Jeremy Witt married Melissa Novack May 31, 2014. Alumni in attendance included Jonna Wopperer, Ashley Lotempio, Tara DeCarlo, Star Davis, Karr Marlette, Mike Laberta, William Henneberry, Duke Pharr ’03, Kristen Rhodes ’84, Seymour Knox IV ’73, Seymour Knox V ’08 and Jack Knox ’11. Jeremy and Melissa welcomed their son, Harrison “Harry” on April 16.
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Erin E. Hart ’03 erinhart03@gmail.com
“Welcome to your Happy Place!” In an effort to share her enthusiasm for jewelry, Anita Somayaji ’03 has created an oasis that highlights jewelry fashion trends for women of all ages. Sunshine + Bluebirds is a locally owned company located in the Walden Galleria Mall offering everything from scarves and books to fun yoga wear. The affordable prices and exciting shopping experience has proven to be a desired destination for people around Western New York. As of July 1, we just expanded the brand and opened up a pop-up shop in the East Hamptons! Alexandra Logel ’09 is joining Anita Somayaji as marketing manager.
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No Class Agent
Max Brown and his wife, Christine, welcomed their second son, Jackson, into the world in March 2014. He is loved by his older brother, Cameron, 2 ½. Max is director of sales for Garrett Leather Corp. in Buffalo.
Jennifer Grace completed her law degree at Georgetown University this spring.
Laura (Tubbs) Maher married Devin Maher at the India House Club in New York City November 8. Many Nichols alums, parents, and faculty were in attendance! Pictured left to right are: (Row 1) Stephanie Perna Celani, Tess Alberts ’05, Darcy Zacher ’88. (Row 2) Eli Tubbs ’70, Laura and Devin Maher, Mike Walsh ’70, Bill Gisel ’70, Brendan Burke ’03. (Row 3) John Celani ’03, John Mascari, Dena Tubbs, Mary Rockwell, James Kalec ’03, Rick Zacher ’86, Nancy Cheyney P’05,’07,’09. (Not pictured: Carlie Wopperer ’05) In response to an alumni communication from faculty member Larry Desautels this year, Marykate Oakley writes, “I had every intention of giving [to Nichols] anyway, but I wanted to reach out personally and let you know how much I enjoyed reading your words and how the veracity with which you spoke (wrote) reinvigorated the great pride I have in the opportunities Nichols afforded me. It’s hard to believe I graduated nearly nine years ago, and though I don’t make it back to Buffalo nearly as much as I’d like, not a day passes that I’m not grateful for the ways Nichols shaped me into the person I am today. From the field, to the ice, to the classroom, my Nichols experiences instilled in me the importance of being a loyal teammate, a diligent student, and most of all, a good person with integrity and strong
character. And for all of these things, I am forever indebted. It was not until I went on to other academic institutions that I could fully appreciate the solid foundation Nichols provides its students. As you know, I did my undergraduate work at Princeton. I then went on to get my master’s from Columbia, and I am pursuing a doctorate in clinical psychology at UMass Amherst. The point (aside from catching you up on my life) is to share that, to this day, I have never felt more engaged in and challenged by my academics than I was at Nichols, and for this, I fully credit the teachers and administrators for creating an environment that encourages intellectual curiosity and fuels a passion for knowledge. So I hope your students are taking full advantage!”
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Jane K. Arcadi ’05 jane.arcadi@gmail.com Jesse E. Baier ’05 jesse.baier@gmail.com Annmarie R. Cellino ’05 arcellin@buffalo.edu Patrick M. Hanley, Jr. ’05 patrick.hanley.jr@gmail.com
Alicia D’Alba recently accepted a new job in Boston, Mass., as a lawyer for McDermott Will & Emery LLP. Matt Felser is still teaching Spanish and coaching soccer and lacrosse at Vail Mountain School in Vail, Colo. Kenton Muscato moved to Hong Kong with Ralph Lauren and is the buyer for women’s luxury labels for Asia Pacific.
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John Potoczak recently opened a winery called Midgard Winery in Corfu, N.Y. John writes, “We are just getting off the ground but [business] is taking off very quickly. We produce three honey apple wines: sweet, dry and a hot pepper. We also produce a blueberry wine and a blended rosé.” Jesse (Baier) Radford was married to Jason Radford on November 15. Kate Todd writes: “In October 2014, I married James Nims Hubbell in front of 100 family and friends on the island of Nantucket. Many Nichols alumni were in attendance and a Nichols flag was hung on the wall for photos. In late July, we will be expanding our new family by one and I cannot wait to send him or her to Nichols in the future!” Kyle Winnick passed the New York and New Jersey Bar examinations and is practicing civil rights and employment litigation in New York City. Chris Winter was promoted to manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers, New York City office, in June 2014.
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at Nichols and Pierre works for M&T Bank. Classmates Ashley Tibollo and Joseph Giangreco-Marotta were in the wedding party. Alexandra Hare, a baker for Bourbon & Butter and Merge restaurants in Buffalo, received a national-level fellowship from the James Beard Foundation’s Women in Culinary Leadership program, given to “upand-coming women in American kitchens … in an effort to help women break through the culinary world’s ’glass ceiling.’” Alexandra will spend six months working in the kitchen and dining room at Nico Osteria in Chicago, one of the city’s best Italian seafood specialists. Alexandra left New York City in 2013 for Buffalo to work for Mike Andrzejewski at Mike A’s at the Lafayette Hotel, then Bourbon & Butter, and also makes gluten-free flatbread and desserts for Merge on Delaware Avenue.
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Alumni board member Sean Heidinger left Artvoice to help start “Buffalo’s #1 weekly newspaper,” The Public, where he serves as director of community engagement. Jessica Rae Pacciotti was recently appointed director of the Perry Public Library in Perry, N.Y.
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Sean T. Heidinger ’07 heidinger.sean@gmail.com Matthew K. Parker ’07 mkparker@buffalo.edu Tyler J. Van Schoonhoven ’07 tyvanschoonhoven@gmail.com
William S. Gurney ’06 William.s.gurney@gmail.com
Stephanie (Tibollo) Gautreau married Pierre Gautreau on July 7 in an intimate setting at Beaver Island State Park, Grand Island, N.Y. Stephanie teaches Upper School Math
pressures and commercialism of the Christmas season.” The guys provided their own unadorned aluminum pole. Pictured left to right are: Tim Olsen, Harry Zemsky, Rick Pierce, Ryan McQueeney, Tyler VanSchoonhoven, Peter Randaccio, Thomas Tobias, Matthew Parker, Chris Arnold, Sean Heidinger, Brett Roehl and Gunnar Burke.
Twelve members of the Class of 2007 convened on December 23 at the Zemsky family-owned restaurant Hydraulic Hearth in Larkinville to celebrate Festivus, a popular parody holiday among “Seinfeld” fans that, as defined on Wikipedia, “serves as an alternative to participating in the
Angelica Rivera was an honoree at the Women Touching the World awards banquet presented by Unlimited Possibilities Overcoming Poverty Ministry Inc. (UPOPM), a mentoring/intervention ministry created to empower females from a poverty background who are college bound or enrolled in a trade school. Angelica, a bilingual outreach associate at Blue Cross Blue Shield, has served on a number of organizations fighting for racial and economic justice in the city of Buffalo, including Citizen Action, the Alliance for Quality Education (AQE), PUSH and Teens in Progress. She has continued her work with Citizen Action and the AQE and is now chair of the education committee. She considers herself an activist-mother who fights to make
the world her children live in (she has twin 5-year-old girls) to become one that gives equal opportunities to all youth regardless of race, ethnicity, gender or social class. Hydraulic Hearth, a wood-fired pizza restaurant and brewery in the historic Larkin District founded by Harry Zemsky, was named to the Top 100 Hot Spot Restaurants by OpenTable.com, which determined the list of honorees after analyzing more than five million reviews from verified diners of more than 20,000 restaurants across the country.
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Brigitte R. Cellino ’08 bcellino@gmail.com Allison L. Todd ’08 altodd716@gmail.com
James Avino writes: “I completed Naval Nuclear Power School in Charleston, S.C, in May 2013, and the Submarine Officer Basic Course at the Naval Submarine School in Groton, Conn., in September 2013. I completed training at the Nuclear Prototype Training Unit in Ballston Spa, N.Y., in September 2014. In October, I reported to the USS Helena, a Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine home-ported in Norfolk, Va. I’ll serve as a division officer aboard the Helena for about three years.”
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Joseph G. Trapp ’09 jgt853@aol.com
Laura Hettrick was recently promoted to coordinator of athletic facilities, game operations, and championships at Duke University after interning for a year.
Nick Williams graduated from the University at Buffalo Law School in May and is slated to take the bar exam in July. He will be finishing a doctorate in political science over the course of the next year, with a hoped-for completion date of May/ June 2016. Adele Jackson-Gibson writes: “This summer, my sister Zoe ’12 and I flew to Winnipeg, Canada, to fulfill a lifelong dream: attend the Women’s World Cup. We bought tickets for four Group D matches and couldn’t wait to see America take on Nigeria, Sweden and Australia. Unfortunately, our sister Maya ’11 couldn’t come because she was busy studying science and becoming a doctor, but all three of us have played soccer for most of our lives and admire the U.S. Women’s National Team so much it’s unhealthy. So without hesitation, Zoe and I ventured into the middle of Canada to see our idols up close and personal and feel the intoxicating energy of 30,000 American fanatics with their starspangled face paint. Since Winnipeg was such a small city, we even got the chance to bump into our favorite players on the streets during their off days and take photos with them. It was truly a dream come true and after watching some impressive performances, we are confident that our ladies will give us a great show throughout the tournament. Go USA! Madisson Lank won a silver medal at the women’s national curling championships in Kalamazoo, Mich., in February. She is a pilot living in Peterborough, Ontario.
After graduating from Denison University in May 2013, Megan Ziske went on to receive a master’s degree in biomedical sciences from the University of Toledo. She is now pursuing an M.D. at the University of Toledo College of Medicine (Class of 2018). Additionally, she had the opportunity to present her research on an exciting new treatment option for ovarian cancer at the American Medical Association’s Research Symposium in Dallas, Texas, in November 2014.
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Siobhan T. Hanley ’10 siobhan.t.hanley@gmail.com Stephen Kellogg III ’10 Stevekellogg1@Gmail.com Jacob Stark ’10 jcs2@williams.edu Theresa M. Williams ’10 tmw49@cornell.edu
Nothing to report. Please send news.
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Spencer C. Bacon ’14 spencerbacon@gmail.com Christopher B. Bean ’14 bean_18@gwu.edu Caroline M. Hogan ’14 caroline.hogan95@gmail.com Marie C. Zaccagnino ’14 zaccagnino@roadrunner.com
No Class Agent
Matt Benedict was named to the NESCAC First Team in football for his senior season at Middlebury. As detailed on the Middlebury website, “Matt served as a captain and finished second on the team and eighth in the league with 76 tackles this past season. After earning second-team honors last season, the co-captain turned in many impressive performances in 2014. He tied a school mark when he recorded 20 tackles against Amherst to go along with a sack. The free safety earned double-digits in tackles three times this season, while picking off a pass in a November 1 win at Hamilton. Benedict ends his four seasons with 193 tackles in 29 games, including 10 pass break-ups and 5.5 tackles for loss [of yardage].” Bethany Bisone completed a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering at Binghamton University. During the summer of 2014, she worked as a mechanical engineer intern at National Grid’s Erie and Niagara County offices. Bethany is looking forward to travelling abroad this summer before beginning employment with Ernst and Young in Manhattan. Jacob Zimmer, a senior at Bentley University, has helped co-found Bentley’s Venture Capital & Private Equity Club. He has helped develop a network of individuals in the industry that Bentley students can reach out to for advice and expertise. The club also holds events and conferences, hosting high-level executives in the industries from the Boston area. Jake hopes to raise his own fund one day.
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Three members of the Nichols Class of 2011 were inducted into the Mercyhurst University Service Honor Society this past spring. Marissa Faso, Mary-Kate MacKinnon and Gaelin Carrig received the awards in a school ceremony on May 1.
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Harrison C. Bacon ’12 hbacon26@gmail.com Michael D. Gates ’12 mdgates@bu.edu Jenna M. Herskind ’12 herskind.jenna@gmail.com Spring Sanders ’12 springin2it@aol.com Meredith M. Vivian ’12 meredith.m.vivian@gmail.com
Zach Cole was named Harrow Sports College Squash Player of the Week for the week ending February 8. As detailed on the College Squash Association website, Zach, a freshman at Haverford College, defeated Boston College junior Robert Bohn in a fifth set tiebreaker to capture the individual match (911, 11-9, 11-8, 6-11 and 14-12) and give Haverford a crucial point in its 5-4 victory. Haverford finished the season 10-7, its most wins since the 2006–2007 season.
Nothing to report. Please send news.
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Joel P. Almand ’13 joelalmand@gmail.com John F. Faso ’13 faso@bu.edu Lauren Randaccio ’13 randaccio.lauren@gmail.com Hillary A. Vossler ’13 hillaryvossler@gmail.com Coumba E. Winfield ’13 winfield.coumba@gmail.com
Nothing to report. Please send news.
Nichols classmates Caroline Hogan (Williams College) and Grace Louise Munschauer (Hamilton College) reunited at the NESCAC Squash Championships in February in Williamstown, Mass. Trinity College defeated Williams in the finals, with Hamilton finishing sixth in the 11-team field. They were joined at the tournament by their mothers, Kate Roach ’83 and Grace Munschauer.
A Toast to Dick Stratton A certain advisee of Mr. Stratton’s was racking up too many blue slips one year and Mr. Stratton would give him blue slips for getting blue slips. Eventually, the student and Mr. Stratton made the mutual decision that he should switch advisories. The first Wednesday morning advisory meeting following the student’s departure to his new advisory group yielded questions from Mr. Stratton’s other advisees. When asked “What happened to *****?” Mr. Stratton swiftly replied, “We traded him for a bottle of camel oil and a late-round draft pick,” which still to this day brings a smile to my face. Few seemed to realize what a great sense of humor he had because he often had students walking on eggshells in the classroom due to their concerns about the notorious “fickle finger of fate,” in which anyone could be called on at any moment and asked a question. If you got it wrong or gave Mr. Stratton any indication that it is more probable than not that you skipped the reading, then you would promptly be asked to exit the room. – Ryan M. McQueeney ’07
As the years have passed, I have realized how much I learned from Mr. Stratton in 10th, 11th and 12th grade. Not from Harvard. Not from graduate school. I learned how to write, how to think, how to teach, and even how to listen from Mr. Stratton. I was lucky enough to have him for a number of classes, both history and English. I still have my papers, with his corrections. A few years ago, I contacted Mr. Stratton. Perhaps it was during a visit I made to the school? Perhaps in a letter? In any case, I told him how I had been trying to teach poorly prepared university students in Haiti the basics of strong, clear writing. I had returned to Haiti, where I had spent most of the 1990s and many of the 2000s, to found and coordinate an investigative journalism program in order to watchdog the 2010 earthquake so-called recovery. We put out some 40 investigations over three years and had major impacts with investigations that, for example, exposed waste in housing reconstruction schemes, detailed and denounced “sex-for-work” schemes, and uncovered foreign companies’ unsupervised and in some cases illegal gold-mining exploration in Haiti’s hills. To my surprise—but not to his—it turned out that, in the rickety makeshift classroom erected in the shadow of a cracked and crumbled classroom building at the State University of Haiti’s Faculty of Human Sciences, I was teaching most of Mr. Stratton’s “10 Principles of Good Writing!” Mr. Stratton later sent me the full list and I immediately incorporated those which I had forgotten. This is only one anecdote from examples that might easily fill a paper (ideally error-free!) or a chapter, because I have devoted most of my life to relentless (I hope!) analysis, clear thinking, and direct speaking and writing, all of which were sine qua nons for those hoping to survive, and perhaps thrive, in the Stratton classroom. Thank you, Mr. Stratton. – Jane Regan ’78
My English and history classes with Mr. Stratton were wonderfully lively, mindopening experiences. He didn’t just teach “Hamlet” and “Macbeth”; he portrayed them. My Shakespeare class with him was as theatrical as didactic, and the equal of anything I went on to encounter at Harvard. I remain a big fan of the Bard today, and think of Mr. Stratton fondly as I surprise and, I trust, inspire my psychiatric patients with relevant quotes from Shakespeare. – Adam Cotsen ’81
Your class on East Asia played a major role in my decision to learn Mandarin Chinese and major in East Asian Studies in college. Since 1992, I have spent a total of 16 years in Asia, first as a teacher, then a journalist, then a businessman (developing electric power-plant projects), and then a diplomat for the State Department in various embassies. I’ve also gone on to become fluent in Cantonese and learn some Japanese. In closing, I’d like to quote the Chinese statesman Guan Zhong (Guanzi), who lived during the Spring and Autumn Period. He is famous for saying 一年之计，莫如树谷；十 年之计，莫如树木；终身之计，莫如树人, which is often translated , “If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of 10 years, plant trees; if in terms of a lifetime, teach the people.” Mr. Stratton, it is no exaggeration to say that your legacy of teaching will last generations, as those whom you have taught incorporate the lessons into their own lives, and pass on a love of learning to their children. – Dusty Clayton ’88
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Classes celebrating at Reunion 2016 end in 6s and 1s
Save the Dates Open House: Sept. 27, 2015 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Alumni Holiday Reception: Dec. 23, 2015
Big Green Weekend: Oct. 2-3, 2015
Green & White Luncheon: Dec. 23, 2015
Derby Day: May 7, 2016 Graduation/Reunion: June 3, 2016