C ELE BRATI NG 5 0 Y E ARS OF C OE D U C AT ION
IN THIS ISSUE 5 6 10 12 18 24
FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF COEDUCATION NEW TURF FIELD & STADIUM PROJECT GETS UNDERWAY SOCIETY OF ALUMNI COMMENCEMENT ACADEMICS Lessons from Industry Leaders Canterbury students attend classes from NYU Stern School of Business with Greg Coleman ’72 and leaders in digital media In Business Class
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D’AMOUR CENTER FOR FAITH, SERVICE & JUSTICE Six Students Recognized by the United Nations Association—USA for Outstanding Community Service Contributions Fourth Form Retreat Brings Class Together in Acts of Service
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HILLTOP HAPPENINGS ADVANCEMENT CLASS NOTES PAGE 2.
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PA L LI U M SPRING/SUMMER 2021
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER Rick Henderson P ’25
2021-2022
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS Jennifer Loprinzo
Mr. Robert H. Steers ’71, P ’11 | President
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS Brittany Carlson
Mr. Michael R. Carretta ’71 | Secretary
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS STAFF WRITER Kelly Slonaker
Mr. Peter J. Cotier ’86, P ’19, ’20 | Assistant Secretary
PHOTOGRAPHY Rick Giles
Mr. Keith G. Angell ’75
CONTRIBUTING WRITER Greg McKenna ’19
860.210.3800 CBURY.ORG
Mr. John A. Donovan ’59 | Vice President Mrs. Rachel E. Stone P ’23, ’24 | Head of School/Treasurer Ms. Dorothy L. Alpert ’78 Ms. Carol Lovell Carmody P ’18 Mrs. Karen B. Casey ’91 Mr. Harold T. Clark III ’86, P ’22 Mr. Matthew P. Dwyer Jr. ’71
ON THE COVER: Five of the first nine female students. Bottom Row: Left to Right: Vicky Weill ’74, Anne Wagenbrenner ’73; Standing: Sarah Krieger; In the Tree: Sarah Huntington ’75, Valerie Gumpper ’74
Mr. Douglas M. Famigletti ’90 Mr. Sean F. Flanagan ’91, P ’23 Dr. Anna Flik P ’21 Mr. Lawrence P. Fisher II ’77
SEND ALUMNI NEWS TO
DEADLINES FOR CLASS NOTES
ADVANCEMENT OFFICE Canterbury School 101 Aspetuck Avenue New Milford, CT 06776 kheslin@cbury.org
FALL—DECEMBER 31 SPRING—JUNE 30
Mr. Theodore C. Hollander ’82 Mrs. Mary Coleman Lynn ’90, P ’22, ’23 Ms. Nancy B. Mulheren P ’03, ’13, GP ’24 Mr. H. Nicholas Ragland ’88, P ’21 Mrs. Nicole D’Amour Schneider ’93, P ’20, ’22, ’23 Ms. Lauren J. Steers P ’11 Mr. Peter J. Tucker ’78 Mrs. Nell P. Williams ’81
instagram.com/canterbury1915 twitter.com/cburynews facebook.com/canterburyschoolct vimeo.com/canterbury1915 communications@cbury.org PALLIUM is produced bi-annually by Canterbury’s Marketing & Communications Office, 101 Aspetuck Avenue, New Milford, CT 06776 NON-DISCRIMINATION Canterbury School does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, age, creed, national origin, age, sexual orientation or disability in admission or employment in its programs and activities. ©Copyright 2021 Canterbury School. All rights reserved. No content from this publication may be reproduced or reprinted in any form without the express written consent of Canterbury School.
TRUSTEES EMERITI Mr. Daniel J. Altobello ’59 Mr. James R. Briggs ’56, GP ’12, ’15 Mrs. Hope Carter P ’86, ’87, ’88, ’91,’95, GP ’09, ’10, ’14 Mr. Denis P. Coleman Jr. ’63, P ’97 Mr. Donn C. Dolce ’63, P ’01 Mr. John P. Duffy ’59, P ’87, ’91 Mr. John D. O’Neill ’57, P ’89 Dr. L. Michael Sheehy ’56
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Fall Greetings from New Milford!
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s eager as we are to turn the page on the 2020-21 school year, it is important that we first ask ourselves what was learned over these past 18 months that we can (and should) carry forward. As you know (and it bears repeating!), Canterbury was one of very few boarding schools to open on time last fall and provide an in-person, on-campus experience that lasted the entire school year. Our students enrolled in the most broad, diverse, and rigorous course offerings in recent history, including dual-enrollment courses through Syracuse University Project Advance (page 26). They competed in more interscholastic athletic competitions than any of our peer schools—146, to be exact, over the course of the year (page 53). They delighted live audiences with music and theatrical performances (page 46) and continued to meet the needs of our greater community through acts of service and social responsibility (page 30). The year culminated with an inperson Commencement ceremony to celebrate the Class of 2021 (page 18), who headed off to some of the finest colleges and universities this fall (page 21). Indeed, the enormity of these accomplishments is not lost on the members of our community, who worked without pause to deliver a rewarding, student-centered experience for our Saints. To be sure, we carry forward a profound affirmation and unwavering belief that Canterbury’s mission matters now more than ever before as we prepare our students to become global citizens and moral leaders in an increasingly complex world. As we begin our new school year, we also take time to celebrate a milestone in our School’s history that was truly transformative in nature. Following the decision of Canterbury’s Board of Trustees to approve coeducation, nine brave female day students enrolled in September of 1971—Terry D’Alton ’73, Gail Erwin, Valerie Gumpper ’74, Sarah Huntington ’75, Sarah Krieger, Lizette Michelman ’74, Judy Sullivan ’74, Anne Wagenbrenner ’73, and Vicky Weill ’74. This issue of PALLIUM marks the beginning of our yearlong celebration of 50 years of coeducation (page 6), recognizing the extraordinary legacy and accomplishments
of our alumnae as members of the Canterbury community and in the world beyond. In much the same way, I have reflected on what Canterbury has carried forward from its visionary decision to become coeducational and the nine pioneering young women who charted a course for these last 50 years. While we acknowledge that it has not always been easy, the journey has been one of profound discovery and growth for our School. From myriad “firsts”—first female students, first full-time female faculty, first girls’ sports, and the like—to integral student life programming such as Women of Canterbury—the first affinity group in School history that has since inspired similar student-led initiatives like Gender Sexuality Alliance and AHANA (African, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American students)—coeducation helped pave the way for Canterbury to become a more diverse and inclusive school community. It has fostered an environment of acceptance and belonging, where we can seek out perspectives different from our own, be challenged in our beliefs, and learn from the thoughts and experiences of others. On both a professional and personal note, I am proud to serve a community whose central values and mission have stood the test of time, from meeting the needs and aspirations of the young men who first arrived in 1915 to welcoming the young men and women living and learning on our hilltop in 2021. As I so often say to our students—whether in School Meeting, during a Women of Canterbury gathering, or sitting in the O'Connor House living room—one of the most wonderful aspects of Canterbury is that we bring our individual stories and voices to a place that we have all chosen to call home. To be sure, coeducation at Canterbury grew from a single idea to a brilliant foundation for this institution. I invite you to join me and the entire School community in turning your eyes to the future as we celebrate the past and imagine the promise of our next 50 years.
Rachel E. Stone P ’23, ’24 Head of School
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IN THE FALL OF 1971, Canterbury embarked on a new initiative that would change the School forever: it admitted nine female students, creating a space for young women to engage and beginning a new era of coeducation. Of course, the decision to admit female students after 55 years of solely educating young men was not reached overnight. In 1968, the School began discussions to become coeducational, with not all trustees in favor of the move. The issue of coeducation was certainly one of the most profound changes the Board of Trustees dealt with during that time. In the late 60s, faculty member Bill D’Alton, father of five daughters, wrote to the Board to suggest they make some provision for tuition (at other schools) for faculty daughters because, at the time, faculty sons were receiving a free education at Canterbury. The Board accepted the request and, furthermore, began to consider the implications of a Canterbury education for young women. That September, the Board formed a planning committee to discuss topics including day students, coeducation, and a summer program. ThenHeadmaster Walter Sheehan also announced that he had invited eight girls from the Sacred Heart School in Darien, CT, to spend a week at Canterbury in a reciprocal program, opening the door to young women for the first time, albeit temporarily. The coeducation trial proved successful, however: at a December 1968 meeting, the committee met with members of the School’s administration and voted in favor of coeducation, to begin in the fall of 1971.
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Head of the committee, Bob Fitzgerald ’43, said in a letter to Headmaster Walter Sheehan regarding the recommendation, “With conditions of education changing so dramatically on all levels, I really don’t think we can afford to hesitate in adapting. The old idea of a preparatory school education as you and I know it, has probably seen its finest day. However, perhaps the preparatory school education of the future, with modifications which would seem drastic in 1968, but old hat by 1978, will provide an even finer educational experience.” And that it did. The first nine female students— Terry D’Alton ’73, Gail Erwin, Valerie Gumpper ’74, Sarah Huntington ’75, Sarah Krieger, Lisette Michelman ’74, Judy Sullivan ’74, Anne Wagenbrenner ’73, and Vicky Weill ’74—became an integral part of Canterbury’s history, paving the way for future female Saints and inspiring all students with their courage and tenacity. To be sure, starting a new school as the first—and only—female students in the 1970s came with many challenges, but these women left their mark on Canterbury in innumerable ways. Thanks in large part to the bravery of these “first nine,” today’s female Saints have a world of opportunity—from designing and building robots in Engineering class to competing in a variety of varsity-level sports (and winning several league championships, to boot) to organizing school-wide service and social justice initiatives that highlight issues that matter to them—and have an equitable stake in the School experience. Groups such as Women of Canterbury celebrate the accomplishments of females within our community and champion their rights and education, both on and off the hilltop. Both individually and collectively, the “first nine” played an enormous role in creating our inclusive and diverse community on campus. As we look back on the history of women at Canterbury, we are profoundly grateful for the female faculty members who have inspired and educated our young minds, the female trustees who have served on the board and steered our School
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boldly forward, and the alumnae who chose to bring their talents, passions, and ideas through our doors. And as we look ahead, we see a future for our female Saints that is even brighter because of them. While we celebrate 50 Years of Coeducation throughout the 2021-22 academic year, we invite you to follow the stories of the women who shaped our School at cbury.org/coeducation.
AN INTERVIEW WITH TWO OF THE “FIRST NINE,” JUDY SULLIVAN ’74 & VICKY WEILL ’74
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o celebrate this momentous occasion, we invited two of the first nine women—Judy Sullivan ’74 and Vicky Weill ’74—to share their memories and experiences of
the initial coeducation years. Judy and Vicky have both stayed actively engaged with the School since they graduated and have displayed a sustained commitment to Canterbury, returning for the Centennial Celebration, where Judy spoke about her time as a student, and Women of Canterbury events. The Very Reverend Judith “Judy” Sullivan ’74 is a graduate of Wellesley College, MA, and was awarded her M.Div. from the General Theological Seminary, NY. She completed two years of her theological studies at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia where she received the Winters Scholarship Award and the Maul Award for academic merit and promise for ministry. Judy is the Dean of the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral where she has led a major campus development project on behalf of the Cathedral. She is also the recent past chair of the board of directors of Interfaith Philadelphia, having served a four-year term. Prior to ordination, she left a career in politics and corporate marketing to direct non-profit organizations which promoted access to higher education for youth with limited opportunities. The Sponsor-A-Scholar Program, replicated in 16 cities throughout the U.S., was recognized by President Clinton with a Point of Light Award in 1993. In the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, she is a member of the Council of Deans and a former Chair of the Diocesan Liturgical Commission. She has served as an Adjunct Faculty member at the Lutheran Seminary, and on the faculty of the Episcopal Preaching Foundation’s Preaching Excellence Program. Judy is also a member of the board of directors for Episcopal Community Services. She lives in Philadelphia, PA, and has two daughters, Emily and Grace, with her late husband Gilbert Rosenthal. Victoria “Vicky” A. Weill ’74 earned her undergraduate degree from Dickinson University, PA, and went on to receive her undergraduate and graduate nursing degrees from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, PA. Vicky
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spent 43 years at the University of
best school that I had ever encountered and I was grateful to be there. I still have my acceptance letter somewhere. As one of so few girls, I felt a challenge and responsibility to excel.
Pennsylvania—36 of them in the School of Nursing—before leaving the role in August of 2021 to focus on her clinical practice. While at the University of Pennsylvania, Vicky was an Associate Program Director and Advanced Senior Lecturer in the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program. She is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at Abington Health Children's Clinic in Lansdale, PA. Vicky also lives in the greater Philadelphia, PA, area with her husband, J. Bruce Boucher, and has three sons, Bryant, Alexander,
Judy Sullivan ‘74
and Nicholas.
Vicky ’74: With the wide-eyed naïveté available only to fourteen-year-olds, I wrote Mr. Sheehan a note and told him: “I’d like to go to your school.” The rest is history. It never dawned on any of us that there would only be nine females that first year. It was a learning experience for ALL of us, the faculty and boys included. It was typical the first year to receive a handout that started: “ Boys will…” with a little caret pointing above to “& girls.”
What was it that initially drew you to Canterbury?
What were your favorite subjects and activities while at Canterbury?
Judy ’74: My father had a close friend from law school, Charles Vejvoda ’46, who graduated from Canterbury and my parents had always intended to send my brother there. In 1971, I was attending a small Catholic girls’ school in Ridgefield, CT, and read in the Danbury News Times that Canterbury was becoming coeducational. I convinced my father to “just let me take the test,” which I did. That was followed by a wonderful interview at the school with Walter Sheehan and Jim Breene. My family and I loved the School and were thrilled when I was accepted.
Judy ’74: My favorite subjects were English, History, and French. In particular, I remember a course on Revolution in Modern European History that has been especially useful to me over the years, and I loved all of my English classes.
Vicky ’74: My town didn’t have a high school. A friend told me that Canterbury was going co-ed and accepting applications for the following year. I was an avid reader, so I always had a romantic notion of “prep school.”
*Note: In the spring of 1965, the Mission Society was founded with the primary goal of promoting the spirit of Christian living by urging Canterbury students to give of their time and money to those less fortunate.
How did you decide to enroll in a high school that, until that point, had been solely for boys? What made you want to be part of its first year of coeducation? Judy ’74: I really didn’t think much about the implications of coeducation or the fact that I would be the only girl in most of my classes. I don’t think that I knew that there were only nine girls until the first day of classes. I really enjoyed and benefited from the academic rigor of Canterbury and that is what was uppermost in my mind at the time of my admission. I thought it was the
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Vicky ’74: Canterbury gave me so many opportunities to try new things and be involved. I wasn’t a great thespian, but I had lots of wonderful occasions to participate in theater productions— something that wouldn’t have happened at other schools or at a different time.The first year, I was not only the sole woman on the swim team, but one of only three in the league. The Mission Society* ran the school store which was a fun way to interact with classmates.
Are there any lessons you learned while at Canterbury that have stayed with you into adulthood? Judy ’74: The biggest lesson is the importance of perseverance and hard work in the face of difficulties and challenges. Vicky ’74: It is hard being in high school and feeling like you must “make choices to decide the rest of your life,” and also realize
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that isn’t true. The beauty of life today is the huge array of options and the ability to pivot if you are not undertaking satisfying work. [...] It sounds so trite, but I really believe if you have passion, you truly will not work a day in your life. I am a perfect example; I started out as a biologist and realized that rats and lab work weren’t doing it for me, so I pivoted to nursing. It wasn’t a highly promoted career, but I have found such joy in taking care of underserved children, teaching graduate students, traveling the country doing continuing education for pediatric pharmacology, and advocating for the needs of children and their families. I love going to work (nearly) every day.
help you make informed choices. Think about what brings you pleasure and where your passions lay. Every career needs people who have good oral and written communication abilities, so work on honing those skills.
How does it feel to have played such a pivotal role in the history of the School?
Vicky Weill ‘74
Was there a faculty member who had a positive impact on your experience? Judy ’74: There were several faculty members who were very helpful to me and whom I remember fondly. Among them are Jim Breene, Jules Viau, Bill D’Alton, Rod Clarke, John and Virginia Martiska, Peter Bordonaro, Chris Doyle, and Jack Gaudreau. Vicky ’74: I am reluctant to single out one—so many of them had a huge impact on my life. The “old masters” were truly amazing, knowledgeable, and caring individuals. They were so generous with their time and they really knew how to get through to adolescents. Masters Shea, Viau, Vanasse, Sheehan, D’Alton, Bordonaro, Martiska, Coffin, Cauchon, Knox, and Father Greenan are a few that come to mind. But I do have to single out Mr. Jean Hebert–he was a little bewildered about “girls” initially, but he was an amazing teacher and we remained close over the years. The first time a group of us burst into tears, though... that was not something he had ever had to deal with when he only taught boys. He and Mr. Vanasse and their jazz band even played at my wedding.
What advice would you give to young women in high school today? Judy ’74: Do not allow other people’s expectations or lack of imagination and understanding to limit or define you. Vicky ’74: I urge you to have lots of different experiences while in high school (and college). Trying many different things will
Judy ’74: I continue to love the School and am so happy to be in touch with so many classmates through Facebook and alumni activities.
Vicky ’74: We didn’t realize at the time that it was pivotal. There were so many delightful changes that went on in the 70s. It was wonderful that Canterbury realized that coeducation benefited everyone.
What has been a memory of your experience that you’ve carried with you? Judy ’74: I recall vividly the experience of my first class in 1971, which was French, and being the only female in the room. Since then, I have often been the only female in the room and my Canterbury experience taught me confidence. Vicky ’74: I have several funny ones, namely: Being lowered down over the observation balcony while at a swim meet at an opposing school. There were no women's changing facilities, so I had to use the ladies’ room, but unfortunately the only entrance to the pool was through the men’s locker room. (I guess there were no female officials). The chagrin of the poor, showering male soccer officials when they realized no one told them that their locker room was now the women's locker room. At school meetings, Mr. Sheehan would have us practice looking someone in the eye while giving a firm handshake. We thank Judy and Vicky for their time, commitment, and candor, and are so grateful for their insight into this important time in Canterbury’s history.
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NEW TURF FIELD & STADIUM PROJECT GETS UNDERWAY
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uring the spring meeting of the Board of Trustees, Phase II of Canterbury’s Athletic Field Master Plan was reapproved. On-site work began in May 2021 to clear the existing field and surrounding area, and the project is on target for completion by November 1, 2021. The project includes a second turf field on the east end of campus, adjacent to the site of Sheehy Family Field, the School’s existing turf. The multi-purpose complex will feature a state-of-theart, all-weather, all-season synthetic playing field lined for football and lacrosse; bleacher seating for 340 spectators; coaching boxes; and a six/eight-lane track. With the addition of stadium lights, multiple sports teams will have access to the new field for night games and more hours of practice and off-season conditioning. The facility will be open to the entire community for recreation and exercise and will provide another campus venue to expand student life programming and weekend activities. To be sure, the prospect of more events that can be held under “Saturday night lights” is creating the most excitement and anticipation for this newest addition to campus. Initially approved in January 2020 and scheduled for completion later that same summer, the project was
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put on hold due to the onset of the pandemic. In parallel, the grass athletic fields to the north and west were upgraded with irrigation this summer, including the new home field for girls’ soccer and the current field for boys’ soccer, both placed on the western edge of the athletic complex. “This project will play a powerful role in our ability to attract and retain student-athletes who want to maximize their ability to perform on the hilltop and, for some, to further develop their potential for playing at the collegiate level,” said Director of Athletics and Head Football Coach Jim Stone P ’23, ’24. “The addition of this second turf field and track is consistent with our long-range strategic plans to provide the best opportunities possible to our present and future Saints.” The entire Canterbury community eagerly awaits the completion of this project that will enhance both the athletic and student life experience of the school. Head of School Rachel Stone P ’23, ’24 shared her enthusiasm for the project: “This new turf stadium highlights the extraordinary momentum taking place on our hilltop and is yet another example of our enduring commitment to providing the best possible experience for our students. Go Saints!”
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HISTORIC CAMPAIGN COMES TO A CLOSE
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ith great humility and gratitude, we are proud to announce that Canterbury School has proudly concluded the most ambitious capital campaign in its 106-year history. Mission & Momentum: The Campaign for Canterbury came to an official close on June 30, 2021, culminating in well over $84 million for the benefit of our students and our School. The success of this campaign was driven by the scores of people who came together—trustees, alumni, parents, grandparents, faculty, staff, and friends—with an unwavering belief in and desire to propel both the “mission and momentum” of our great school. Indeed, the power of this collective effort is manifested in myriad ways across our campus today and will have an enduring impact in the years that follow. In all, nearly $35 million was gifted to support investments in our facilities, most notable CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS among them the creation of the Donovan Center for Learning, renovations to Maguire Auditorium, and the construction of our magnificent Steers Center—the largest capital project undertaken by the 41% Facility Improvements School, which has entirely transformed & New Construction the way our community learns and lives 27% Endowment for Financial Aid & Faculty Support together on our hilltop. Approximately $23 million was added to the Canterbury Unrestricted Operational 17% Support Endowment, providing farsighted, sustaining support for student financial 15% Deferred Giving aid, faculty compensation and professional development, and academic innovation and program enrichment. More than $14 million was raised through the Canterbury Annual Fund, fueling the critical operational resources that directly affect every aspect of our student experience, year in and year out. Lastly, bequest commitments and other forms of planned giving account for more than $13 million of the total dollars raised, ensuring that the impact of the campaign will be felt for years to come. To be good stewards of this generosity requires that we are always looking ahead, strategically envisioning how Canterbury will remain current and relevant to students and families seeking the best small boarding school experience in the country. To that end, our strategic planning work has begun in earnest, and we look forward to sharing future updates with you as the next era of exciting projects takes shape that will, once again, be worthy of our community’s meaningful loyalty and support.
Gratefully,
Rachel E. Stone P ‘23, ‘24 Head of School
Robert H. Steers ‘71, P ‘11 President, Board of Trustees PAGE 11.
IN-PERSON
ALUMNI WEEKEND Reunites Saints from Milestone Years
2021
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anterbury welcomed over 160 alumni from milestone years back to campus the weekend of June 10-13 to celebrate and reconnect during Alumni Weekend. The early summer weather offered warm evenings with stunning views of the sunsets from the Steers Center patio and cool nights perfect for catching up with friends around fire pits. “As we all know, the past year has been like no other!” said Director of Alumni Relations Kate Heslin ’96. “It was truly amazing to see alumni from classes spanning over 45 years revisit campus in person and celebrate together. It was a great weekend to be a Saint!” The events kicked off on the evening of Thursday, June 10, with a reunion for the Class of 2020. Members of the class completed their high school careers virtually, and most had not been back to campus since March of 2020. The class was able to spend time in the recently completed Steers Center—the building that was created from their vision—and reveled in being back together in the new space. The Class of 2020 enjoyed dinner, dancing, and laughs with friends and faculty on the Steers Center patio and indulged in the food trucks and s’mores late into the night. The festivities continued on Friday, June 11, for the Classes of 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2015, and 2016. The evening’s events began with a happy hour and lawn games behind Sheehan House and concluded with dinner and dancing to music provided by Dave Overthrow’s band, Block and Blu, in the Steers Center Ragland Commons. Those who chose to stay in on-campus accommodations to relive their dorm days enjoyed breakfast provided by the dining hall team the following morning. Thomas Esposito ’16 loved reconnecting with his fellow Saints and shared, “It was like none of us ever left—we picked up right where we left off five years ago. The entire event helped us forget about the uncertain world we live in and brought all of us back to a simpler time.” On Saturday, June 12, members of the Classes of 1975, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1985, 1986, 1990, and 1991 had the opportunity to reunite. Following a similar program to Friday, the classes enjoyed happy hour with lawn games followed by dinner and dancing, with the addition of campus tours to acquaint them with updates and enhancements to School facilities. “With all that the world has been through, from the summer of unrest to PAGE 13.
the pandemic, I was ecstatic to share the weekend with friends I’ve known for over 40 years!” said Tony Walters ’81, who thanked Canterbury for the experience. Those who chose to stay on campus or nearby, breakfast was offered on Sunday morning, followed by the annual Alumni Memorial Mass in the Chapel of Our Lady. "It was remarkable to witness the energy and enthusiasm of those who returned to campus for Alumni Weekend,” said Chief Advancement Officer Rick Henderson P ’25. “While many schools decided to stay virtual, we were committed from the beginning to host an in-person and fun weekend for our Saints! These amazing three days were just the beginning of an active schedule we have planned to celebrate with our alumni over the next year.” The Classes of 1995 and 1996 are invited to celebrate their 25th reunion, and the Class of 1971 will have the opportunity to celebrate their 50th reunion this fall. Plans are underway to celebrate the belated 50th reunion for the Class of 1970 in June 2022.
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FIRST YOUNG ALUMNUS ELECTED TO SERVE AS DELEGATE FOR THE SOA This year, Canterbury’s Society of Alumni (SOA) created a new opportunity for recent graduates to continue their close involvement with the School. Members of the 202021 Sixth Form Council were invited to apply for the position of SOA Young Alumni Delegate—a role that will regularly engage them with the SOA Executive Committee during their post-graduation years leading up to their five-year reunion. Members of the Sixth Form Council applied for the position by interviewing with the SOA Executive Committee and, through the process, learned more about the myriad networking, mentorship, and representative opportunities offered to alumni. Maximilian (Max) Oeser ’21 was selected as the inaugural Young Alumni Delegate and shared his enthusiasm for the role: “I am excited to interact with my classmates after we leave Canterbury and to keep my peers involved with the school that we all love so much.” Max was introduced in his new role during the SOA Executive Committee meeting on May 7. His role will be integral in guiding the SOA on how to maintain and enhance their connection to current Canterbury students and in serving as a liaison for his class. Max will participate in all SOA Executive Committee meetings and work closely with his class to ensure active involvement with alumni events and giving campaigns. As he approaches his five-year reunion in 2026, Max will serve as the Lead Class Ambassador for the Class of 2021. Congratulations to Max on this exciting new role!
REMARKS FROM CLASS ORATOR MAXIMILIAN OESER ’21 The following is excerpted from a speech delivered by Maximilian “Max” Oeser at the Sixth Form Prize Assembly on May 27, 2021, on the eve of Commencement. Max was one of seven recipients of the Edward F. Mack Award for Outstanding Contributions to Student Government, was a member of the Sixth Form Council, and was the 2020 winner of the Nelson Hume Speech Competition. He now attends Lafayette College, PA.
Each and every one of us completed significant chapters of our lives during our time here at Canterbury. The growth that we have experienced is immeasurable and, for each one of us, it was different. The unique experiences that we had here have played a vital role in shaping who we are today as people and how we are choosing to go about our futures. [...] Maybe you began playing the sport here that you will now go on to play in college. Perhaps you disliked a particular subject, but a specific class or teacher completely changed and challenged your opinion and sparked your intellectual curiosity like never before. Maybe you joined a club, performed in the play, or ran for student government. The possibilities are endless because the possibilities at Canterbury are endless. [...] And never forget, just because our time at Canterbury is coming to an end does not mean our Canterbury chapters have to come to an end. This is our home, and it will be forever.
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The following is an article written by Class of 2019 Valedictorian Greg McKenna (University of Notre Dame, IN, ’23) about his classmate Max Cotier ’19’s accomplishments playing baseball for the University of Virginia, VA. The article was originally published on June 22, 2021, in the New Milford, CT Patch, to which Greg is a Community Contributor, and was updated in August of 2021 to reflect the results of the College World Series.
Virginia’s Cotier Represents New Milford at College World Series Canterbury head coach Todd Mathewson reflects on his former star shortstop and the town’s first player to reach Omaha.
for over a decade. He said several faculty members texted him about Cotier and Virginia’s progress throughout the postseason or constantly poked their heads into his office for updates. “Obviously for me, it’s special [due to] knowing the Cotiers for so long and living on campus, but I think it’s [also] pretty special for the extended Canterbury family that are following,” he said.
A LOCAL TALENT
BY GREG MCKENNA ’19
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hen Virginia sophomore second baseman Max Cotier stepped into the left-handed batter’s box at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, NE, on June 20, 2021, he could have been forgiven for feeling overwhelmed by the occasion. Before the ’Hoos began their College World Series campaign against Tennessee, however, Canterbury School Head Baseball Coach Todd Mathewson said his former star shortstop would naturally relish the intensity and fanfare of college baseball’s biggest stage. “Max has always been a guy that performs well when the bright lights are on,” he said. Cotier ’19, the first New Milford resident to appear in the Division-I College World Series, according to data from TheBaseballCube.com, did not disappoint. The former Saint went 2-5 at the plate, including one of four consecutive RBI singles for the ’Hoos in the seventh, as Virginia shutout the Volunteers—who entered Omaha
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as the nation’s winningest team—6-0. Cotier also impressed in the middle infield, snagging a sharp line drive off the bat of Tennessee’s Liam Spence in the bottom of the fifth before turning a highlight-reel 6-4-3 double play with ’Hoos shortstop Nic Kent in the eighth. Virginia eventually fell short of collecting the program’s second national championship after two consecutive losses to Mississippi State and Texas, respectively, both of which were one-run games heading into the ninth inning. Cotier batted 4-11 for a .364 average while also laying down a team-high three sacrifice bunts in three CWS games. Besides Virginia teammate Jimmy Sullivan, a junior outfielder who played in 12 games for the ’Hoos in 2021, Cotier was the only Connecticut resident on any of the eight rosters playing in Omaha. The moment was not lost on Mathewson, who enthusiastically reflected on his relationship with Cotier, who he has known THE MAGAZINE OF CANTERBURY SCHOOL
Mathewson, who is entering his ninth year at Canterbury, is predated at the school by his best-ever “recruit.” Cotier has lived on campus since 2008, when his father and current Associate Head of School for Operations, Pete ’86, joined his high school alma mater as a faculty member. Mathewson first interacted with Max when he was still coaching at Westport’s Green Farms Academy. Mathewson would work individually with children of Canterbury faculty as a favor while visiting his now-wife Keiko, who currently serves as the school’s Language Department Chair and Co-director of Theater. After throwing a bullpen, taking grounders, doing some tee work, and hitting a few rounds of front toss, the ten-year-old Cotier left Mathewson impressed. “‘I come back, and Keiko asks, ‘How did it go?’” Mathewson recounted. “And I’m like, ‘this kid is actually really good!’ So even when he was 10, just my first time working with him, you could see that he had a lot of talent there.” Cotier was a key player on a dominant New Milford team that won four consecutive New England regional titles and reached both the 10U and 12U Cal Ripken World Series. When Cotier was 12, Mathewson watched him play a live game for the first time. Cotier hit three home runs, with the longest shot going to the opposite field. “And you could see he had a really good feel as a hitter even then as a 12-year-old, being able to stay back and go opposite field,” Mathewson said. Cotier committed to Virginia before his sophomore season at Canterbury and came to Charlottesville as Connecticut’s top-ranked shortstop for his recruiting class, per Perfect
Max ’19 (front) committed to the University of Virginia before his Fourth Form season at Canterbury. “Max has always been a guy that performs well when the bright lights are on,” said Canterbury Head Baseball Coach Todd Mathewson.
Game, the world’s largest baseball scouting service. The Western New England Prep Baseball Player of the Year in his final two seasons for the Saints, Cotier hit .508 and .447 as a junior and senior, respectively.
AN INSTANT STARTER
Not all high school stars find success at the next level, much less earn a starting spot and bat near the top of the lineup right away. Cotier, however, started all of the ’Hoos 18 games in 2020 and quickly established himself as Virginia's No. 2 hitter before the season was cut short due to COVID-19. Cotier hit .338 for the abbreviated season and led the ACC with four triples, which was also tied for first in the country. He finished third and fifth in the conference with 21 runs scored and 25 total hits, respectively. He ended the 2020 season on a 10-game hitting streak and reached base in each of Virginia's final 13 games. Mathewson said Cotier's exceptional feel at the plate sets him apart from other smooth defensive infielders he competes with for playing time. “He just really does handle the bat well,” Mathewson said. “He is able to get a bunt down when they need him to, goes the other
way pretty well, and has a complete approach as a hitter.”
FIGHTING TO OMAHA
After going 14-4 in 2020, Virginia got off the blocks much slower this season. After a 10-13 start, the ’Hoos were far from being considered championship contenders at the end of March. Cotier struggled to replicate the numbers from his rampant freshman season and was briefly dropped from the lineup in mid-March. However, both Cotier and Virginia would turn things around in the second half of the season. Virginia went a combined 19-10 to finish the regular season and reach the ACC Tournament semifinals, earning the No. 3 seed in the Columbia Regional. Despite dropping the opening game of both their regional and super regional, the ’Hoos went 6-0 in elimination games to reach the CWS, the first team to do so since 2008. Cotier, who pulled his batting average back up to .262, which was good for fifth on the team, started 60 of Virginia's 63 games and came up with a vital hit in the decisive game three of the super regional vs. Dallas Baptist. With Virginia down 2-1 with two outs in seventh, Cotier stepped up to the plate with men on first and second. He had previously
gone 1-12 in the super regional, but Cotier beat the shift with a gritty single fielded just past the second base bag to load the bases. Virginia's next batter, freshman Kyle Teel, hit a grand slam to give the ’Hoos a 5-2 lead they would not relinquish. “It's something Max will have as a memory for his entire life—getting to Omaha and being one of those final eight teams,” Mathewson said. When Virginia was eliminated, Cotier's summer of baseball was just beginning. He quickly transitioned from playing for college baseball's ultimate prize to suiting up for the Harwich Mariners on Cape Cod—the site of the country's most prestigious collegiate summer league. Just over a week after the Texas loss, Cotier went 1-3 with a walk for the Mariners in a 10-3 win over the Cotuit Kettleers. Cotier’s exploits on the diamond are already taking him around the country, but Mathewson always looks forward to seeing his former player return home to the hilltop. “[When] he comes back home, it's nice to be able to sit down, catch up and be able to talk a little bit of baseball again,” he said. Greg McKenna (2021), ‘Virginia's Cotier represents New Milford at College World Series,’ New Milford, CT Patch, June 22, 2021
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104 COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES TH
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anterbury School celebrated Commencement Exercises for the 88 members of the Class of 2021 on Friday, May 28. The ceremony took place on Sheehan lawn, with remote Sixth Form students joining virtually, and was attended by faculty, staff, family, and friends. The overcast and cool May morning was marked with bittersweet moments of nostalgia as the Class of 2021 said their final goodbyes as students within our hilltop community. Head of School Rachel Stone and Valedictorian Sandra Xu addressed the Class of 2021, capturing the feelings of joy, excitement, and gratitude felt throughout the community for the culmination of an unprecedented year. The morning was also peppered with the delivery of final prizes, both for faculty and the graduating class. The week preceding Commencement was filled with festivities to celebrate the Class of
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2021, including final concerts; the end-of-year carnival, complete with inflatables, food trucks, lawn games, and a dunk tank; the Sixth Form Dance held in the Steers Center Ragland Commons; the Die-Hard Hike at Lover’s Leap State Park for four-year students; Class of 2021 tree-planting by the chicken coop; the Sixth Form Retreat, where students read notes they wrote to themselves at the beginning of the year; the Sixth Form Prize Assembly and Dinner with faculty; the painting of the rock by the turf with seniors’ initials; and the Baccalaureate Mass in the Chapel of Our Lady, presided over by Fr. Mark Connell. Following Commencement and the week’s packed itinerary of activities, graduates and their families enjoyed final on-campus moments with friends and faculty, including the beloved tradition of the faculty-graduate handshake, before departing as alumni. THE MAGAZINE OF CANTERBURY SCHOOL
CLASS OF
2021
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HEAD OF SCHOOL
MAY 2021
CO M M E NC E M E NT A D D RES S
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ood morning, and welcome to Canterbury’s one-hundred-fourth Commencement Exercises. We are so grateful to be here, finally together, and eager to celebrate with members of the extended Canterbury family joining us on Sheehan Field this morning: our faculty and staff, parents and guardians, Fr. Mark Connell, and, especially, the class of 2021—42 of whom are diehards. As the 2020-2021 school year comes to a close, today marks the beginning of what comes next for all of you seniors—and for all of us, as well. In celebration of that fact, I have decided to NOT use any of the following eight words and phrases in my opening remarks this morning: Fluid medical landscape COVID-19 Close contact Unprecedented Quarantine Zoom Pods Pivot (You’re welcome!) Instead, let’s spend a few minutes talking about the Class of 2021, and what you will carry forward with you in the weeks, months, and years ahead. Of course, you will carry moments, memories, success stories, relationships, and Saints Pride with you. The Third Form Retreat. The Sixth Form Retreat. Victories over the Frederick Gunn School. The first time you stepped on the ice, court, stage, altar, or turf. Your first Steers Center smoothie or fries. The day you met a Canterbury student…who is now a best friend forever. A favorite cereal night, pep rally, carnival, international affair, late-night dorm conversation, or advisor meeting story. And perhaps tears you shed over
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being homesick, or discouraged, or just a little lost… and the friend or faculty member who helped carry YOU forward. Likewise, what you will leave behind as a legacy are these very moments as well, but I believe what will stick most about the Class of 2021 is the gratitude you have all shared. Here’s why: Last May, we ended the year with a virtual school meeting. Rising-senior Sacristan, Max, began with a prayer, and your Sixth Form Council was introduced. I reassured students that we would do everything in our power to be back on campus in person in the fall, and then we opened the floor to gratitude—as we do each May, but as we had never done remotely. I admit I wasn’t sure what, if anything, would happen next. And then, more than 60 students offered a thank-you. Na’Sah shouted out Hickory Hearth and Camila, South House. Jenna thanked Mr. Richardson; Sydney, Ms. Ritter; and Giselle, Ms. Ruderman. Yurou offered gratitude for her AP teachers, Nikhil for Coach Matthewson, Kennison for the lacrosse team, and Sam for Coach Niu. I believe Sean said a thank you to everyone! After two disappointing months of learning from home, you chose gratitude. Twelve months later, the pattern continues. I had the privilege of meeting with several seniors for Sixth Form Exit Interviews, an opportunity for you to share any and all feedback about your experiences here. I once again listened to gratitude—for Mrs. Roffe’s and Mr. Logan’s class discussions, which provided a global perspective; for faculty
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on permanent standby to offer help in calculus, physics, or Spanish; for advisors who have checked in with you—just to check in—and for your teammates, dormmates, and classmates who kept you grounded, made you laugh, and showed up with and for you, every day. And of course, last Friday, the Class of 2021 gathered in Maguire for one final school meeting led by the Sixth Form Council, a moment reminding us that sometimes gratitude is a choice, and sometimes it simply bubbles up inside and pours out… wonderfully, uncontrollably, honestly. We saw this spirited, spontaneous version of gratitude when Lily spoke about Ms. EJ, Autumn and Lucy thanked one another, Katherine highlighted Women of Canterbury, and Oscar shouted out Mr. Omaña from across the world. And so, my final message to you this morning is a simple one: when you remember your Sixth Form year on this hilltop, remember the gratitude. Carry forward with you the decisions you made to choose gratitude over disappointment or frustration. And be on the lookout for the magical, emotional, visceral moments when you want to shout and share your gratitude with anyone who will listen. [...] Congratulations, and welcome to your new role within the Canterbury family—as alumni. May your Canterbury diploma serve as an enduring reminder of all that you have accomplished on our hilltop, individually and as the Class of 2021. We are very, very proud of you!
CLASS OF 2021 COLLEGE MATRICULATION The Class of 2021 is off to do extraordinary things! The following fortunate colleges and universities welcomed members of this great class in the fall: Alvernia University American University Barnard College Bates College Bentley University Boston College Bowdoin College Bryant University Clark University Colgate University Dartmouth College Emerson College Fairfield University Fordham University Furman University George Washington University Georgetown University Georgia Military College Gettysburg College Howard University Johnson & Wales University Lafayette College Lake Forest College Loyola University, Chicago Loyola University, Maryland Miami University, Oxford Mount Holyoke College Muhlenberg College New York University Oberlin College Pennsylvania State University Providence College Quinnipiac University Rhode Island School of Design Roger Williams University
Sacred Heart University Salve Regina University St. Lawrence University SUNY at Binghamton Syracuse University The College of Saint Rose The University of Alabama Trinity College Tufts University Union College United States Coast Guard Academy University of British Columbia (Canada) University of California, Davis University of California, Los Angeles University of California, San Diego University of Chicago University of Connecticut University of Leeds (United Kingdom) University of Massachusetts, Boston University of Minnesota University of New Hampshire University of Notre Dame University of Pennsylvania University of Scranton Vanderbilt University Vassar College Villanova University Wesleyan University Western Connecticut State University Western New England University
J.P. MANDLER TEACHING AWARD
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he J.P. Mandler Teaching Award is named for J.P. Mandler, who served the School for 46 years in the roles of English Department Chair, Director of Studies, Dean of Faculty, Director of Technology, Dean of the School, Senior Master, and Canterbury’s longest-tenured faculty member. Presented each year to that faculty member who reflects the fundamental commitment to excellence in classroom teaching, this year’s award was given to Co-Director of Theater and newly appointed Chair of the Performing Arts Department Sarah Armstrong. Appointed in 2016, Sarah brought 18 years of educational and independent school experience when hired as Canterbury’s music teacher and Director of Theater. She teaches Varsity Voices, Chorale, and Carillon Guild and provides individual voice lessons for many of our students. After earning her degree in music education from Lawrence University, WI, she began her professional career as an opera singer, singing with major companies both domestically and abroad. While she continued to perform, Sarah transitioned into teaching and has worked at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, CT, and the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter School, MA. She is a member of VOCE, a professional choral ensemble, and the Halcyon Duo, CT. Sarah and her husband Dylan lead the music ministry that accompanies Mass every Sunday. Associate Head of School for Academics Sue Roberts P ’24 presented Sarah with the award, saying, “The level of flexibility, ingenuity, and creativity that Mrs. Armstrong has shown during this time attests to her impact as an integral pillar in the foundation of our hilltop. She has truly facilitated, directed, guided, and redefined what it means to think outside of the box.” Sue continued, “Whether you wish to hone your solo vocal skills, learn how to sing tight harmonies in an acapella ensemble, enhance your public speaking, lead the music ministry team at weekly mass, take the stage in a musical, or climb the chapel tower to play the Carillon, Mrs. Armstrong will be there to support you in your endeavors.” PAGE 21.
VALEDICTORIAN REMARKS BY SANDRA XU ’21
The following is excerpted from Sandra (Sandy) Xu’s speech at Commencement on May 28, 2021. A day student from New Milford, CT, Sandy was the recipient of the Roderick Clarke ’46 Distinguished Academic Achievement Award for Sixth Form and the Francis T. Carmody ’25 Prize for creative talent in prose and was a member of the Canterbury Honor Society. Sandy attends the University of Connecticut, CT, and received their highly competitive Nutmeg Scholarship, which honors Connecticut secondary school seniors who have demonstrated exceptional academic ability, have performed notable service to school and community, and possess the qualities of a good citizen and leader.
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ello fellow graduates, family, and faculty! Even though not all of us could be here in person today, I am truly honored and excited to be able to deliver this speech celebrating our class. This is definitely an upgrade from speaking in a smelly gymnasium during my 8th-grade graduation. It feels like ages ago when we first arrived on campus. We had our first game, our first concert, our first dance, and our first class where Mr. Johnson showed up in an alien costume. Certainly, that was an interesting precursor to our Canterbury experience. While we’ve gained the skills to read a 500-page book in a week from Dr. Clarke and to finish three assignments in one night from Mr. Diamond, the most important things we’ve learned were outside the classroom. From mandatory fun to using multiple VPNs to vote early and often for a dunk competition, we’ve learned to set aside our differences and become an interwoven community. Now, I’d like to tell you all about a fun incident. About a week ago, my family was driving home from school when we hit a curb on Aspetuck Avenue. Well, I wouldn’t say we hit the curb; my brother, Andy, was driving the
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car. When we got out of the car, we saw that our tire had popped. Luckily, we were still on campus, and we pulled into Marwick Manor. Now, you might be wondering why I’m telling you all this. Am I just trying to expose my brother? Well, partially, but also, I think that incident was a great example of how our community works. Once we pulled over, Ms. Cooke happened to be walking by, and she immediately stopped and got on the dirty pavement to help us get our spare tire from under the vehicle. Mr. Omaña, the Roberts family, and Ben Secor also took time out of their evening to change our tire without a second thought, which truly highlights the family we have created here at Canterbury. We inspire and bolster each other limitlessly. We make posters for each other’s games; we show up for events. We cheer for Torin’s eloquent announcements; we have snowball fights. We make new catchphrases, like “what up wit it.” We experience the highs and lows of high school football, and we beat the Frederick Gunn School in athletic competitions, of course. We are such a close class that we feel comfortable sharing the vulnerable parts of
ourselves in front of 50 people. Like Kennison said during open chapel last night, we don’t just go through the motions. We cry. We cry because we’re losing our homes away from home. Of course, I should talk about the topic everyone dreads: COVID-19. 2020 and 2021 were some of the strangest years we’ll ever experience—hopefully (fingers crossed). We all encountered loss and separation, but we’ve tried to maintain a sense of normalcy. Though we’ve had to modify some of our classic traditions, like the pep rally and the Pink Out, we’ve come to appreciate each other even more over the past year. As former Canterbury student John F. Kennedy said, “When written in Chinese, the word ‘crisis’ is composed of two characters—one represents danger, the other represents opportunity.” For six months, we had to improvise with impromptu Zoom meetings and even hosting the 2020 graduation online. Being able to stay here in person for most of the year was an immense blessing that arose out of our impressive efforts to keep us healthy. I cannot emphasize enough how ecstatic all of us are to be present during this commencement. And while I may have missed out on some activities to do homework, I’ve still been able to see how much we’ve done this year. We’ve been able to laugh during the racy jokes in the musical, and songs could be heard blasting during late nights in the new Steers Center. Day students went out to eat at Wendy’s as we planted tulips in the garden. We were always busy, in the best way possible. While we may not remember every single detail from our time here, we will certainly remember the friendships and bonds we’ve created on this hilltop. I apologize to all the parents out there in the crowd, but many of us would consider our teachers, advisors, and coaches our second parents. Personally, I’ve formed a close bond with my advisor, Mrs. Armstrong. I’ve even heard some of my peers call a teacher their mom or dad, which I think is a deserving title as they’ve shaped our teenage years and brought us to this day. On that note, I would like to show my gratitude for all of the faculty, especially the Stones, the LaVignes, Mr. Dellorco, Ms. Cooke, and EJ. You have worked late nights and early
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mornings to tirelessly make our year the best it could possibly be. Furthermore, I would like to acknowledge the faculty members that are retiring this year. The Diamonds would always be a friendly sight on the patio chairs. Mr. Danenbarger made us all enjoy English (and mushrooms) with his boundless enthusiasm. Ms. Tester truly cared about her art students. And Dr. Stankus-Saulitis delighted us with her witty and informed school meeting announcements. I hope you know that this campus won’t be the same without you. If you get anything out of my speech, I want you all to remember to take pride in where you are now and what you will become. We’ve all made it so far since our first steps onto campus. However, this isn’t the end of our journeys; it’s only the beginning. Keep plowing forward with the energy and drive that you’ve all displayed this year. Recognize that difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations, and don’t let the fear of failure stop you from trying. I mean, I was too nervous to even make a school meeting announcement until junior year, and look where I am today. I guess you could say I’m living the American Dream. For some of us, life after high school is going to be like a meticulously planned road trip filled with budget spreadsheets, while for others, it’ll be a spontaneous drive at midnight. While your parents may not like paying for your tuition as you switch majors for the fourth time, whichever path you choose to take or create, make sure you roll down the windows and enjoy the journey. As Mr. LaVigne loves to say, make good decisions. Let people know what you bring to the table and make us proud to call you a Canterbury graduate. Don’t forget to thank your parents, teachers, and peers today. We don’t know the next time we’ll meet again, so make the best out of the last moments we are sharing together as a unified class. I’d like to end with a quote that resonates with me from the legend Lin-Manuel Miranda: “My dear terrified graduates, you are about to enter the most uncertain and thrilling period of your lives.” Thank you and congratulations, seniors— we did it!
CLASS OF
2021
The Sixth Form on the morning of their graduation. Missing from the photo are students who graduated remotely: Isaiah Joseph Golonka, Dingkun Hong, Brett Thomas Hutchison, Jia Yi Ji, Kexin Li, Jakari Tyree Liston, Yishan Shi, Nicholas Gerard Spinoso, Zhilu Wang, Kai Xu, and Maxwell Judd Zakheim.
COMMENCEMENT AWARDS SPECIAL AWARDS WERE PRESENTED TO THE CLASS OF 2021 DURING THEIR COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY. BENJAMIN SECOR received the Robert M. Steele ’72 Scholar-Athlete Trophy, in memory of Robert M. Steele, a model scholar and athlete, for academic and athletic achievements. LEXAH CARALUZZI and LORELAI LEE SWANEK both received the Charles R. Huntington Scholar-Athlete Trophy for academic and athletic achievement in memory of Mr. Huntington, a teacher, coach, and Athletic Director from 1969-1999. COLLEENA HEALY and BENJAMIN SECOR were awarded the Elizabeth (Betty) Burke Award for the Sixth Form students whose time at Canterbury has been marked by cheerful determination to serve God and others.
FOR MORE SIXTH FORM AWARDS AND HONORS, SEE PAGE 41.
NA’SAH DABBS was named the Class of 1987 Citizenship Award recipient for his role as the Sixth Former who, in the judgement of peers, has best fulfilled obligations to the School, fellow students, and self.
The Richard L. and Mary Catharine Farrelly Award was presented to COLLEENA HEALY for her quiet but thorough leadership. Six students received the Philip H. Brodie Award for exceptional achievement and all-around service to the School: GISELLE BRADSHAW, LEXAH CARALUZZi, JU YEON (THOMAS) CHO, ANIKA FLIK, TORIN KEARNEY, and SEAN QUAYE. The presentation of awards concluded with the naming of the Dr. Nelson Hume Award recipient, given this year to two students. NA’SAH DABBS and KATHERINE DELAMERE were presented with the esteemed award as the Sixth Formers whose leadership, character, and achievements have been of the highest order and whose performance embodies the ideals of the School’s founding headmaster.
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ACADEMICS
LESSONS FROM
INDUSTRY LEADERS
Canterbury students attend classes from NYU Stern School of Business with Greg Coleman ’72 and leaders in digital media
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his spring, our Intro to Digital Media students had the unique and fortunate opportunity to attend graduate-level classes through New York University’s Stern School of Business, NY, taught by Canterbury alumnus and adjunct professor Greg Coleman ’72. Coleman’s Digital Media Innovation course is designed to provide students with an orientation to the best current digital marketing practices. It examines the inner workings of some of the most interesting and fastest growing digital companies and allows students to meet some of the leaders of these companies for a firsthand view of how digital marketing is evolving and progressing. Canterbury students virtually attended several of the Digital Media Innovation classes, which featured esteemed guest speakers including Founder and CEO of VidMob Alex Collmer, Executive Chairman and Director of 890 Fifth Avenue Partners Adam Rothstein, Chief Marketing Officer at SquareSpace Kinjil Mathur, Founder and CEO of BuzzFeed and Co-founder of the Huffington Post Jonah Peretti, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Information Jessica Lessin, Co-founder and former CEO of Moat Jonah Goodhart, and Chief Marketing Officer at Kellogg Gail Horwood. The students were able to learn from some of the best in their respective businesses about industry trends, digital marketing strategies, and the day-to-day operations of their companies as they adjusted during the pandemic. Alex Collmer is the Founder and CEO of VidMob, the world’s leading platform for data-driven human creativity. Since founding the company in 2015, Collmer has raised more than $45M and led initiatives that earned VidMob official marketing partner badges from Facebook, Instagram, Google/ YouTube, Snapchat, Twitter, Pinterest and LinkedIn, and recognition by Apple as one of the Best Apps of the Year. An engineer by background, Collmer has made a career living at the intersection of technology, design, and consumer entertainment. Prior to VidMob, Collmer was co-founder and CEO of Autumn
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Games, a game publisher that developed successful global franchises with partners such as seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, leading urban culture brand Def Jam, and the award-winning fighting game franchise, Skullgirls. Collmer has an engineering degree from Cornell University, NY, and is a frequent speaker at universities and conferences on entrepreneurship and media. Adam Rothstein serves as the Executive Chairman and board member 890 Fifth Avenue Partners, a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC) specializing in converging technology, media and telecommunications opportunities. Rothstein is a Co-Founder and General Partner of Disruptive Technology Partners, an Israeli technology-focused early-stage investment fund, and Disruptive Growth, a collection of late-stage investment vehicles focused on Israeli technology, which he co-founded in 2013 and 2014 respectively. Since 2014, Rothstein has been a Venture Partner in Subversive Capital, and the Managing Member of 1007 Mountain Drive Partners, LLC, which are both consulting and investment vehicles. Rothstein has over 20 years of investment experience and currently sits on the boards of directors of several early- and mid-stage technology and media companies both in the United States and in Israel and is on the Advisory Board for the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Mr. Rothstein graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in economics from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and has a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in finance from the University of Cambridge, England. As the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of Squarespace, Kinjil Mathur leads the company’s world-class marketing and PR teams. Prior to joining Squarespace in 2017, Mathur served as CMO at Foursquare, where she successfully repositioned the company’s brand to accelerate growth in both the consumer and enterprise location intelligence businesses. Mathur spent the previous decade building technology competencies for retail giants, most
THE MAGAZINE OF CANTERBURY SCHOOL
notably as Vice President of Digital Marketing for Saks Fifth Avenue. She has been named to Adweek’s ranking of the top 20 Tech Savvy CMOs driving innovation and one of Adweek’s Young Influentials, along with Forbes’ inaugural CMO Next list. Kinjil holds a bachelor’s degree with Honors from the University of Texas at Austin, TX, in management of information systems and finance. Jonah Peretti is an American Internet entrepreneur, and a founder of BuzzFeed and Huffington Post. A graduate of the MIT Media Lab, Peretti is best known for his experiments with “contagious” or “viral” media, including the parody website BlackPeopleLoveUs.com and a widely forwarded email thread known as the Nike Sweatshop Emails in which Peretti exchanges politesse with an anonymous Nike representative over why “sweatshop” was not allowed to be printed on his custom Nike iD sneakers. Peretti is a member of the New York-based artist group Free Art and Technology Lab (a.k.a. FAT Lab). Jessica Lessin founded The Information in 2013 and is the publication’s Editor-in-Chief. She covered Silicon Valley and the technology industry for eight years at the Wall Street Journal. At the Journal, Lessin wrote nearly 1,000 articles for the paper, consistently breaking news about major products, management changes and strategy shifts at Apple, Google, Yahoo, Facebook, Twitter and other Internet companies. She was part of a team that was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for a 2011 series on digital privacy and has appeared on CNBC, NPR, CNN and PBS’s “The Charlie Rose Show.” Lessin graduated from Harvard University, MA, in 2005 and lives in San Francisco. Jonah Goodhart is the former CEO and co-founder of Moat, a New York–based analytics company focused on driving success for brand marketers and premium publishers. Moat is at the forefront of helping shift digital advertising away from impressions and clicks and toward new models of attention. Goodhart was the founding investor and board member of Right
Media (acquired by Yahoo), founding partner of WGI Group, and co-founder of Billions. org. Goodhart was also a member of Mayor Bloomberg’s Council on Technology and Innovation. Goodhart has a Bachelor of Arts in political science and government from Cornell University, NY. Gail Horwood is SVP, Integrated Marketing and Brand Experience at the Kellogg Company leading marketing transformation and the brand building and planning capability globally. She oversees marketing data, media, digital, CRM, content, design, shopper marketing, retail promotion and agency management. Prior to Kellogg, Horwood was Vice President, Worldwide Digital Strategy, at Johnson & Johnson. In this role, she led digital transformation and was responsible for marketing capability development and acceleration, digital and social media, marketing technology and analytics, data and e-commerce. She has held executive digital/ecommerce roles at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Time Inc., Zagat Survey and was a founder and editor-in-chief of the award-winning food site, Epicurious.com. She has a Bachelor of Arts in art history from Colby College, ME. Greg Coleman ’72 is the current Executive Advisor (and former President) at BuzzFeed, where he works with the company to scale social advertising globally and expand mobile, video, and ad products. Coleman has been advising the company since 2010. Most recently, he was the President of advertising technology company Criteo. He has previously held roles as President and Chief Revenue Officer at the Huffington Post and the EVP of Global Sales at Yahoo. Coleman also served as President of Platform-A at AOL from February to April of 2009 and was formerly Senior Vice President of Reader’s Digest Association and president of U.S. Magazine Publishing. At CBS, Inc., he spent 10 years leading advertising efforts for Women's Day as Vice President and National Sales Manager. Coleman holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Georgetown University, DC, and attended the M.B.A. program at New York University, NY. Director of Curriculum Kelli Darrin, who teaches Canterbury’s Intro to Digital Media course, noted the impact it had on her students. “This was an incredible opportunity for Canterbury students to not only be exposed to a graduate-level course, but also interact with leaders in the digital media and marketing fields. Our students were truly inspired by the connections Greg has made with so many renowned industry professionals, who, in turn, all intersect with one another. It has opened a big door for our students, and we’re so grateful to Greg for his generosity.”
Duchess Harris, J.D., Ph.D. ’87 Lends Expertise and Insight for Curriculum Review
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his summer, Duchess Harris, J.D., Ph.D. '87 Zoomed into the Steers Center Ragland Commons to work with the Academic Committee in creating frameworks to ensure the diversity of voices within Canterbury’s curriculum, the historical accuracy of its courses, and the long-term planning required to sustain this work. Before meeting with Duchess, Canterbury’s faculty reviewed data collected from a student climate survey administered at the end of the 2020-21 school year and analyzed it to identify areas of growth for the School’s curriculum and student life experience. Duchess shared that she was impressed with the diversity of the current course offerings and lent her perspective and insight to guide the discussions. She emphasized that the process for reviewing and updating curriculum “is a marathon, not a sprint” and suggested ways to facilitate the School’s existing community norms in an academic setting, such as
continuing to bring in guest speakers (virtually and in person when possible), having side-by-side voices to address different experiences and perspectives on singular topics, and layering topics to examine where they intersect. Duchess is an academic, author, and legal scholar whose books on race and Black feminism have received widespread acclaim. A professor of political science and American studies at Macalester College, she was appointed to the advisory board for The Kamala Harris Project earlier this year. Coordinated by the Dornsife Center for Leadership by Women of Color at University of Southern California, the Project consists of a collective of scholars across disciplines who will track all aspects of Kamala Harris’ tenure as the nation’s first woman of color to serve as Vice President.
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ACADEMICS
IN
BUSINESS CLASS C
anterbury students have the rare opportunity to learn and practice essential tenets of finance before many of them are even considered adults. Between Canterbury’s college-level courses— Syracuse University Project Advance (SUPA) Economics of Personal Finance and SUPA Entrepreneurship—and the revitalized Business Club, students are exposed to the basics of business at a young age, giving them a head start for college and beyond. SUPA Economics of Personal Finance was introduced to the curriculum last year and was an instant hit, filling all open spots within days and inspiring the renewal of the Business Club. SUPA Entrepreneurship joins the course offerings for the 2021-22 school year and also reached capacity for enrollment almost immediately. The courses are taught by History & Social Sciences and Language teacher Zach Lord (who also teaches his native French), and he additionally serves as the faculty lead of the Business Club. Zach has always taken a personal interest in finance and business and expressed the importance of learning basic skills early on for budgeting, saving, investing, and building credit. “These courses cover many of the foundational concepts of finance that I wished I had learned in high school. They set up our students to start thinking about their future—be it long- or short-term—and to plan accordingly, putting them ahead of the game
Syracuse University Project Advance courses focused on business and finance are providing fundamental knowledge to Canterbury students and inspiring future entrepreneurs.
when it comes to many of their peers.” He added, “I tell my students, ‘You’re going to make mistakes with your finances, we all do; just don’t make the same mistake twice.’ This course gives them the tools to make informed decisions.” SUPA Economics of Personal Finance focuses on the foundations of financial planning—such as setting short-term and long-term financial goals—and then tackles essential aspects of consumer personal finance, including record keeping, budgeting, banking, saving, borrowing,
A noted favorite activity in the course is a realistic budget game. In the simulation, students must set up a budget based on a proposed average income that covers cost of living, savings goals, and unforeseen circumstances that require additional sums of money. The challenge, Zach notes, is that “students must balance their savings with a Quality of Life score, so if they only save money and never spend it on things that bring them joy—taking a trip or going out with friends, for example—their overall score in the game goes down. It lends a very real perspective to making decisions about prioritizing goals.” The class also covers credit scores and how they can affect finances; students are asked to look for car loans using different credit scores and are able to see the correlated difference in payment plans, inspiring them to begin building credit early. Based on their learnings throughout the course, students are then asked to create their own “10 rules of personal finance” to help guide them through financial decisions, some of which have included notes to “start saving early,” “understand the terms of a loan in depth before taking it on,” and “keep a detailed account of spending.” Zach has noted that students in the class are incredibly engaged, always come prepared with questions, and often stay after to discuss topics further. Ryan DeSantis ’22 took the course last year and shared his appreciation
While the educational component of financial literacy is important at any stage of life, the SUPA Economics of Finance course provides the opportunity to extend collegelevel knowledge and understanding to Canterbury students.
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investing, insurance, taxes, and even retirement planning. The course is interactive and examines case studies, the stock market (including index funds, bonds, and how trades take place), and real estate, covering a lot of ground and giving students a broad view of various sectors of finance. Students are asked to choose a topic related to the stock market and then work with Zach to confidently present it to the class, empowering them to fully grasp financial concepts and relay them in practical terms. THE MAGAZINE OF CANTERBURY SCHOOL
for the skills it provided. “I enjoyed the course because it allowed me to learn and be proactive while most people learn personal finance from being reactive. Since taking this course, I have started investing more into funds rather than random common stocks. I also opened a credit card to start building credit at a young age. It was refreshing for me to take such a practical class in high school.” Cassidy Rockwood ’21 (Johnson and Wales University ’25) echoed Ryan’s sentiments about the practicality of the course: “I liked how the class covered personal finance for every stage of your life, from creating a budget to retirement planning. I learned that it’s never too early to start investing, and really, the earlier, the better. I also liked that I could apply some of the knowledge I gained to my life now, such as being aware of the due date of my credit card payment.” Lida Coco ’21 (Bentley University ’25) also took the course last year and discovered a new passion. “The SUPA Economics of Personal Finance course was my favorite class of the year—and probably one of my favorites of all time. I learned so much, and it inspired me to choose a university where I can pursue business further.” Associate Head of School for Academics Sue Roberts iterated the importance of the course for young minds: “While the educational component of financial literacy is important at any stage of life, the SUPA Economics of Finance course provides the opportunity to extend college-level knowledge and understanding to Canterbury students.” She continued, “The building of a strong foundation of prudent financial practices teaches awareness and responsibility and encourages shrewd financial choices in the future.” With the addition of the SUPA Entrepreneurship this year, students will not only have the basics of finance covered, but the fundamentals of business as well. During this course, students will assess, explore, critique, and celebrate entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship is approached as a way of thinking and acting, as well as an attitude and a behavior. The course’s emphasis is on entrepreneurship as a manageable process that can be applied in virtually any organizational setting. Moreover, the class will focus on sustainable entrepreneurship—over the life cycle of a person’s entire career, in organizations as they evolve from start-up enterprises to sizable corporations, and in societies as they move from undeveloped to post-industrial. The course is built around five core objectives for students. By the end of the
class, they will recognize the entrepreneurial potential within themselves and others in their environment; develop an appreciation for opportunity, how to recognize it, and how to evaluate it; appraise the nature of creative new business concepts that can be turned into sustainable business ventures; appreciate the role of entrepreneurship within society, and how it manifests itself in different contexts (start-up, corporate, social, public sector) and people; and understand the process nature of entrepreneurship, and ways to manage the process including some of the ethical dilemmas that entrepreneurs may face. The course is especially geared toward students who want to study business in college. Fittingly, it follows a similar structure to a college course, incorporating several group projects, lecture-style presentations, and numerous case studies, along with a midterm and final exam. The course will culminate with a project where students develop a business concept and model (versus a full business plan), which must 1) solve a problem, 2) fill a gap in the market, and 3) be a trend. “Many of our students have expressed that they would like to be their own boss and either take over a family business or start their own. This course will start them on the path to be successful in those ventures,” said Zach. The course also emboldens students to think creatively. “The SUPA Entrepreneurship course teaches students to think outside of the box and nurtures unconventional talents and skills,” noted Sue Roberts. “It encourages them to take risks and make mistakes, to fail and to persist— experiences that will inspire our students to become creative, inventive, and innovative.” In addition to these unique course options, students can become involved in the Canterbury Business Club, which was rekindled in the fall of 2020 by a small group of students who wanted to learn more about finance. The group quickly grew to 35 members and is one of the School’s largest clubs. The club meets weekly and covers a wide range of topics that are proposed by the students, including advertising and marketing, stocks and investments, real estate, nonprofit and for-purpose organizations, and leadership and management. The club aims to have guest speakers from various backgrounds and careers to share their experiences and connect with students about diverse opportunities. Alex Vetter ’89, P ’22, co-founder and CEO of Cars.com was the Business Club’s inaugural guest speaker and the group looks forward to a diverse roster of speakers this year.
A SUPA UPDATE Canterbury is adding a variety of new courses to its Syracuse University Project Advance (SUPA) offerings this year. In addition to Economics of Personal Finance, Introduction to Information Security, and Principals and Contemporary Issues in Sport Management, Fifth and Sixth Form students will also be able to choose from the following SUPA electives: Syracuse University Project Advance: Creative Nonfiction Writing In this course, students will explore varieties of creative nonfiction, such as memoir; biography; the personal essay; travel, science, and food writing; and “new journalism.” As its name suggests, creative nonfiction borrows elements from fiction and poetry yet still aims to tell the truth. For a writer to “tell it slant,” however, is to acknowledge the ways in which one’s subjective viewpoint shapes what counts as “the truth” in telling a story about one’s own or another’s experiences. Students will have the opportunity to experiment with style, genre, and subject in a writing studio environment and to read varied examples of contemporary creative nonfiction. Syracuse University Project Advance: American History Since 1865 American History since 1865 is a study of U.S. history from the end of the Civil War to the present. While such a course cannot be fully comprehensive, it will focus on many of the important developments and major trends that have shaped modern American life, such as the impact of slavery, U.S. expansionism, the Cold War, globalization, and much more. Through analyzing primary and secondary sources, class discussions, and various types of assignments, students will have a chance to do history: allowing them to learn how historians think about and investigate the past. Students will construct persuasive arguments, use evidence effectively, and hone a variety of analytical skills that will be of value to them during their undergraduate experience and in their future. Syracuse University Project Advance: Entrepreneurship See article on the preceding pages for more information. Syracuse University Project Advance: Earth System Science Earth System Science illustrates the interconnectedness of biologic, hydrologic, atmospheric, and geologic processes in shaping our planet. This new approach to geology reflects a more integrated view toward the study of Earth. In today’s world, with increasing global population, the threat of global warming, and a growing demand for raw materials and energy, a basic understanding of the Earth system is more important than ever. PAGE 27.
ACADEMICS
On to New Adventures
At the close of the 2020-21 academic year, five longtime faculty bid farewell to Canterbury after a remarkable, comibined 101 years of teaching and service to the School: Kim Tester; Marija Stankus-Saulaitis, Ph.D.; Wright Danenbarger, Jonathan Diamond, and Anne Diamond, M.D. The veteran faculty members were honored at an end-of-year celebration for faculty and staff and thanked for their years of dedication and hard work. the dorm head of Sheehan House Kim Tester — 1983–1988 and 1995–2021 and lovingly looked after the boys who Kim retired as the Chair of the Visual lived there, along with the faculty who and Performing Arts Department worked with her as dorm parents. after having been with Canterbury for A lifelong Scout, she has worked in more than 30 years. Originally hired various Scout and other summer in 1983, she taught at Canterbury camps in the U.S., Canada, Germany, for five years and was then rehired in Lithuania, Brazil, Argentina, and 1995 and remained on the faculty until Uruguay. She often visits and teaches 2021. During her tenure, she taught in Lithuania, where her Jesuit brother, Drawing, Printmaking, Sculpture, Antanas, lives. Architecture, and all Advanced Dr. Stankus-Saulaitis received her Placement Art courses. Kim received bachelor’s degree from Annhurst her bachelor’s degree in art education College, CT, in English with minors at Southern Connecticut State in French, classical languages, University, CT, and her master's of Lithuanian, and education. She earned fine arts degree in printmaking and a master’s degree in English at Western drawing at Texas Tech University, TX. Kim Tester, Pam LaBrake, Wright Danenbarger, and Bill Swartz were among those Connecticut State University, CT, and Kim has had a long career as a studio celebrated at the end-of-year dinner for faculty and staff. in Islam and Christian-Muslim relations art teacher and was Adjunct Professor at Hartford Seminary, CT. She received her Ph.D. in English at the University of of Art for over 20 years at nearby Western Connecticut State University, CT, where Connecticut, CT. She previously taught at Watertown High School, CT, Privates she also received several “Faculty Recognition Awards for Professional Excellence in Litauisches Gymnasium in Germany, University of Connecticut, CT, University of the Arts.” She has been a Guest Visiting Artist at the University of Dallas, Southern Illinois at Chicago, IL, and University of Maryland (European Division), Germany. Connecticut State University, the University of Delaware, and Indiana University– Former Chair of the English Department Lindsay Mulhern P ’22 shared, Southeast, and was a Visiting Artist at Texas Tech University. Kim was instrumental “Marija’s absence will be felt on campus next year. She is the first to greet you in designing Canterbury's studio arts curriculum based on her experience in her with a warm smile, and you can often find a piece of chocolate and note in your master’s program and college teaching. She is an active practicing artist, and her mailbox when she knows you need it. Our students have been enriched by her years prints and drawings have been included in over 200 exhibitions. Many of her works of experience and her methodical approach to writing. Marija has given selflessly are also on display in public and private collections throughout the U.S. and abroad. to Canterbury for decades; Sheehan House and our hilltop will not be the same Upon her retirement, Chief Advancement Officer Rick Henderson P ’25 without her.” presented Kim with the James R. Briggs ’56 Honorary Alumni Award for her enduring commitment to Canterbury. “Since joining Canterbury School in 1983, Wright Danenbarger — 1999–2021 Kim’s genuine affection for, and commitment to, our students has had a profound Wright, appointed in 1999, served as Canterbury’s Dean of Faculty for five years and lasting impact on our School community. following 18 years of classroom instruction, as well as 15 years as the Chair of the Her tenure, rooted in the Five Values of Respect, English Department. He has also served as a coach for basketball and tennis, and Compassion, Honesty, Self-reliance, and Spirituality, he helped found the fantastic Canterbury Chicken Keepers Club. Before working is marked by a sincere investment in students’ success at Canterbury, he was an English teacher at The Knox School, NY, and a Lecturer and a motivation to provide them with meaningful and Teaching Fellow at his alma mater, the University of Vermont, where he earned experiences both in and out of the classroom. By every both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in English. measure, Kim has adopted Canterbury as her own in A consummate teacher, Wright loved to share his affinity for the English the same spirit as our loyal alumnus and distinguished language—particularly many of its lesser-known and used words—with the trustee, James R. Briggs ’56, and we are pleased to community. Whether in the classroom, in a faculty meeting, or on the tennis court, present her with the James R. Briggs ’56 Honorary his passion for learning and imparting knowledge about myriad subjects was Alumna Award in his name.” infectious. “Wright has been an essential fixture on this campus, and we are so grateful to Dr. Marija Stankus-Saulaitis — 1998–2021 him for his dedication, his enthusiasm, and his unwavering support of our students Dr. Stankus-Saulaitis taught English and worked in the and faculty alike,” said Head of School Rachel Stone P ’23, ’24. “In addition to Writing Lab in the Donovan Center for Learning. She being a terrific teacher and coach, he is always willing to do whatever is asked of had been with Canterbury since 1998 when she came to the School with her husband, Algis Stankus-Saulaitis, him to ensure that the Canterbury experience—for students and faculty—is at the Dr. Marija Stankus-Saulaitis who passed away in 2008. Dr. Stankus-Saulaitis was highest level. From driving a bus, to running the clock at a hockey or basketball
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THE MAGAZINE OF CANTERBURY SCHOOL
game, to collecting eggs from the hens of Peckingham Palace, we could always count on Wright to step in and help.” Jonathan Diamond — 2001–2021 Jonathan, appointed in 2001, has held various roles at Canterbury over the years. Originally hired as a counselor, Jonathan began teaching in 2011 and most recently served as Chair of the History Department, taught Advanced Placement World History, Advanced Placement U.S. History, Advanced Jonathan and Dr. Anne Diamond P ’20 Placement U.S. Government and Politics, and oversaw the election year curriculum for the school community. Prior to Canterbury, Jonathan taught at the Collegiate School, NY. Jonathan received his master’s degree in history from Columbia University, NY, and his master’s degree in social work from Fordham University, NY. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Yale University, CT, where he met his wife, Dr. Anne Diamond. Jonathan was the first recipient of the J.P. Mandler Teaching Award in 2017, presented annually to the faculty member displaying a fundamental commitment to excellence in classroom teaching. J.P. Mandler himself was on the selection committee and presented the award to Jonathan, saying, “Jonathan's teaching is highly informative, and he is very well prepared. He knows his students well and stretches them to the level of the material to learn to think historically. Finally, his students appreciate his intelligence and the time and effort he invests in them.” Rachel Stone echoed these sentiments and shared her experience with having Jonathan teach her own son this past year. “I cannot thank Jonathan enough for not only imparting his vast knowledge and love of history but also for teaching my son that he can write. Jonathan holds his students to high standards and challenges them to create compelling and informed arguments—a skill that they will carry with them through college and beyond.” Dr. Anne Diamond — 2016–2021 Anne joined the Science Department at Canterbury in 2016 and most recently served as its Chair. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Yale University, CT, and her medical degree at New York University, NY, completing her residency in Psychiatry at NYU Bellevue. Dr. Diamond taught Advanced Placement Psychology and Neuroscience and Behavior and served as Canterbury’s on-site psychiatric consultant working with the Director of Health Services and Director of Counseling. Anne is a psychiatrist in New Milford, CT, and is affiliated with Danbury Hospital. She has been in practice for more than 20 years, with over 30 years of experience in the medical field. She and her husband, Jonathan Diamond, have three children. Their youngest son, Gabe, graduated from Canterbury in 2020 and is now enrolled at their alma mater, Yale University, CT. “Anne is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the inner workings of the mind and mental health,” said Rachel Stone. “We have been so fortunate to have her insight, expertise, and compassion as both a teacher and a mental health consultant over the past five years. We were so grateful to have had Anne, Jonathan, and Gabe in our Canterbury community and wish them all the best.” We thank all of our forever Saints for their countless hours of work and devotion to our students.
STAFF FAREWELLS
Three longtime staff members also retired over the course of the last year: Maintenance Mechanic Kevin Heaton P ’97, ’07, ’09; Breakfast Cook and Supervisor Pam LaBrake; and Maintenance Mechanic Bill Swartz were each recognized for their extraordinary commitment to the School during an end-of-year celebration for faculty and staff.
Kevin Heaton P ’97, ’07, ’09 — 1985–2020
Kevin dedicated 35 years to Canterbury and saw his three children—Vanessa ’97, Bridget ’07, and Sean ’09—graduate from the School. A skilled Maintenance Mechanic, Kevin applied his knowledge to service 32 buildings on campus, totaling approximately 350,000 square feet. He also has a background in art, which he used to repair historic paintings. Plant Manager John Moylan spoke about Kevin’s remarkable commitment to the School: “When an individual dedicates himself to an institution for over three decades of his lifetime, you have to stop and think about the kind of person he is. When I think of Kevin, attributes such as honesty, integrity, and care come to mind.” John continued, “Kevin was always up for a good challenge and was an innate problem-solver; there was not much that he was unable to repair. We miss him and his skillset daily!”
Pamela “Pam” LaBrake — 1985–2021
Pam began working at Canterbury in 1985 through the food service company that the School employed at the time. When the dining service became selfoperational in 1995, Pam stayed on as a Canterbury employee. From the time she first started at the School until her retirement this year, she worked under three Heads of School, greeted close to 10,000 students, and served nearly nine million meals. She was a fixture in the Dining Hall and always greeted students, faculty, and staff with a warm smile and
kind words. Director of Dining Services Shannon Greene P ’17, ’25 said of Pam, “She has witnessed the change and expansion of this beautiful campus and this very Dining Hall. Many friendships and relationships with students and faculty have been created and sustained over the years. In fact, many Canterbury alumni have come back during reunions to personally say hello and share special moments with Pam.” Shannon continued, “We are so grateful to Pam for everything she has done for Canterbury, both directly and indirectly. Her guidance and encouragement have helped me and so many other co-workers thrive in this community.”
William “Bill” Swartz — 2004–2020
Bill came to Canterbury in 2004 as a retired teacher from New York, having taught industrial arts. He never lost his affinity for teaching and continued to share his knowledge and talents with anyone who wanted to learn. Plant Manager John Moylan shared, “When I arrived at Canterbury in 2015 to lead the Facilities Department, it became evident to me very quickly that Bill truly cared about every task that he was given. I never had to worry about the job being done correctly because Bill always made sure of that—he knew that his work impacted the lives of our students, faculty, and staff. This was important to Bill, and he showed it through his contributions daily on campus.” John continued, “If you got to know Bill, you are fortunate. He is a true gentleman in every sense of the word and truly cares about others. Bill has a gentle way about him and is always ready to share a kind or encouraging word.” We thank Kevin, Pam, and Bill for their years of dedication and service and wish them all the best in their retirement!
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D’AMOUR CENTER FOR FAITH, SERVICE & JUSTICE
:
SIX STUDENTS RECOGNIZED by the United Nations Association—USA for Outstanding Community Service Contributions
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his spring, six of our students received recognition for their extraordinary community service contributions throughout the school year from the United Nations Association—USA and InnerView, the leading youth platform to help students, groups, and schools highlight community service impact, passion for causes, and connect local effort to the UN Global Goals. Sarina Sheth ’22 earned an Ambassador Award—the highest level of award presented by the organization—for completing over 100 hours of service across multiple activities this school year. Margaret Ondrey ’21 received an Honor Award for completing more than 40 hours of service, and Jerry Liu ’22, Christopher Lynch ’22, Ashley Regina ’22, and Andreas Sorosiak ’21 each earned a Merit Award for completing over 20 hours of service. The award program is in its fourth year and has been designed to elevate and expand the awareness of youth leaders contributing time and talent to drive positive progress toward the UNA’s Global Goals and its values of Connectedness, Compassion, Curiosity, Integrity, Respect, and Spirituality. The platform InnerView allows college and high school students to highlight
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their service activities and areas of passion and interest. This year, the organization has additional recognition for students working toward a world of Zero Hunger and Zero Waste. Both Sarina ’22 and Christopher ’22 earned the Zero Hunger award this year in addition to their service awards. Director of the D’Amour Center for Faith, Service, and Justice Tracy GarciaLaVigne P ’14, ’16, ’17, ’20, ’23 is a proponent of the program and encourages students to become involved. “What I appreciate about the InnerView process for award submission and acknowledgment is that it requires students to go beyond the volunteer work they do to connect it to the United Nations Sustainability Goals as well as reflect on the work they did and the people they've encountered. These six students have done just that, and we couldn’t be more proud of their commitment to helping others.” She continued, “The components of servicelearning involved in the program align with our service philosophy at Canterbury. It is my hope that more of our students become aware of this opportunity to further their own servicelearning experiences both on and off-campus and engage in the process of submission for
THE MAGAZINE OF CANTERBURY SCHOOL
:
consideration for recognition.” The six students contributed a combined 284 hours of community service during the 2020-21 school year, spanning a variety of activities and causes. Sarina ’22 is a member of the Canterbury Honor Society and the recipient of the 2021 Roderick Clarke ’46 Distinguished Academic Achievement Awards for the Fifth Form, awarded annually to the member of each class with the highest cumulative GPA. Sarina initiated and took part in several service projects this year, including running a donation drive for Family and Children’s Aid of Danbury to provide games, puzzles, art and craft supplies, school supplies, sporting goods and equipment, toys, and books for children and teens; delivering meals for the New American Dream Foundation and Meals on Wheels; volunteering with Operation Gratitude to give thanks to members of the military and first responders; and donating time and resources to organizations that help both humans and animals. She spoke about her experiences and the cause most dear to her: “One of my favorite service initiatives was coordinating a drive at Canterbury for Family and Children's Aid of Danbury (FCA). With the help of Canterbury students, faculty, and
MARGARET ONDREY RECOGNITION 2020-21 National Community Service Awards
Honor Award
2020-21 ZERO HERO Award
Blue | Zero Hunger Award
2020-21 ZERO HERO Award
Blue | Zero Hunger Award LOCAL IPMACT Sarina ’22 with some of the items that she helped gather and deliver for Family and Children's Aid of Danbury.
staff, we were able to donate five boxes of children's toys, school supplies, and arts and crafts materials to FCA. I am so happy that we came together as a community to serve a local organization that will help children in Danbury and surrounding areas have better access to education resources.” Sacristan and Day Proctor Margaret ’21 was a recipient of the Ambassador Award last year for her continued dedication to service and has contributed over 232 hours since she began tracking her activities on InnerView in 2018. This year, she spearheaded the annual Canterbury Red Cross Blood Drive, participated in the annual Walk a Mile for a Meal event, wrote holiday cards to the elderly and letters of thanks to members of the military. She also volunteered her time with many organizations, including Common Voice Project, Seal Watch, Black Lives Matter, and Ben’s Bells. Merit Award recipients Andreas ’21 and Christopher ’22 both spent a large portion of their volunteer hours outdoors. Andreas volunteered most of his time with Save the Sound, a regional organization whose mission is to protect and improve the land, air, and water of Connecticut and Long Island Sound.
GLOBAL IMPACT
232.5
194
TOTAL HOURS
TOTAL HOURS
SARINA SHETH RECOGNITION 2020-21 National Community Service Awards
Ambassador Award
2020-21 ZERO HERO Award
Green | Zero Hunger Award
LOCAL IPMACT
111.75 TOTAL HOURS
GLOBAL IMPACT
79
TOTAL HOURS
Margaret ’21 and Sarina ’22 each received the Ambassador Award, the United Nations Association’s highest honor, for their service contributions. PAGE 31.
D’AMOUR CENTER
FOR FAITH, SERVICE & JUSTICE
“Community service isn’t as elaborate as it sounds; really anyone can chip in and make a difference with their unique passions and efforts” JERRY LIU ’22
Christopher volunteered time outside caring for Canterbury’s own chickens, and also made masks to be donated to those in need. Ashley ’22, a rising Sixth Form student who has been selected as a Sacristan, Sixth Form Council member, Boarding Proctor, and Admission Lead Ambassador for the 2021-22 school year, served several local organizations. She helped run the School’s annual Red Cross Blood Drive; made sandwiches to benefit patrons of Dorothy Day Hospitality House in Danbury, CT; decorated eggs for a New York Easter picnic for those experiencing homelessness; donated Easter baskets; and volunteered at her local YMCA to help cleanse and sanitize the space. Ashley shared why community service is important to her: “Participating in community service allows me to put a smile on someone else’s face and make their day. It allows me to show that I care and
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do my part to help others.” Jerry ’22 is a member of the Canterbury Honor Society and Sixth Form Council for the 2021-22 school year and is also a Boarding Proctor and Admission Lead Ambassador. He took his interest in computer science and technology and spent the bulk of his service hours volunteering with Random Hacks of Kindness, which matches children in grades 4–8 with representatives from local charities, along with high school students who act as computer science mentors, and together they devise a technological solution to address one of the charity’s needs. “Community service isn’t as elaborate as it sounds; really anyone can chip in and make a difference with their unique passions and efforts,” he explained. Jerry also helped plan and execute this year’s Red Cross Blood Drive and regularly devoted time to the Sustainability Club. “For me, it is a
THE MAGAZINE OF CANTERBURY SCHOOL
practical way to make our society a better place, a consistent way to contribute my value, and an opportunity for mutual improvement.” We couldn’t agree more and commend these six on their dedication to service. These students inspire peers to find volunteer opportunities about which they are passionate and endeavor to better the world around them. We look forward to what they will continue to accomplish on our hilltop and beyond.
A SAINT AND A SCOUT
Ryan DeSantis ’22 has committed to serving his community through his involvement with the Boy Scouts of America
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yan DeSantis ’22 earned two big accolades for his commitment to community service this year: he became an Eagle Scout through the Boy Scouts of America, and received the St. Lawrence University Book Award during the Underform Awards in May. In recognition of the value that the St. Lawrence community places on service to others, the St. Lawrence University Book Award honors the achievements of a student who has displayed significant commitment to community service. Ryan has done just that through his hard work with the Scouts, even paying it forward by helping several other Boy Scouts attain their Eagle rank, including friend and fellow Saint Andrew Xu ’21. Eagle Scout is the highest rank one can receive in the Scouts. Requirements include earning at least 21 merit badges and demonstrating Scout Spirit through the Scout Oath and Law, service, and leadership, all before or by age 18. This includes an extensive service project that will benefit the community that the Scout plans, organizes, leads, and manages. Once complete, Eagle Scouts are presented with a medal and a badge that
visibly recognizes their accomplishments. For his service project, Ryan chose to help the New Milford Fire Department by building new lockers to store essential fire and rescue equipment. One of the merit badges a Scout must attain to be a candidate for the Eagle ranking is Emergency Preparedness. Ryan had the opportunity to attend a search and rescue drill put on by the Fire Department earlier in the year and after speaking with the firefighters, he learned their need for enhanced storage and immediately wanted to help. Ryan assembled a team of fellow Scouts, set up a GoFundMe page, and got right to work. He attained his Eagle Scout rank in December 2020, after six and a half years in the Scouts. For his service work, Ryan even received a Silver Palm for earning an additional fifteen merit badges beyond those required for Eagle Scout. Ryan is grateful to his father—who also achieved the ranking of Eagle Scout— for inspiring him to commit to helping others and feels like he has a better connection to his community because of his involvement with the Scouts. “Many people in our community need help, and many others want to help—but it can be tough to make that initial connection. Through the Boy Scouts, I’ve met and spoken with so many members of our community that I wouldn’t have known otherwise,” he shared. Ryan plans to stay involved with his local community wherever he chooses to attend college. Ryan is also appreciative of the leadership skills he has learned through managing a team in his service project. “[The experience] has helped me become more confident and allowed me to put myself out there when it comes to meeting new people.” Ryan hails from a family of Saints, including brothers Sean ’20 and Paul ’24, mother Nicole (Duff) DeSantis ’91, aunts Kimberly (Duff) Hassiak ’88 and Renee (Duff) Rossman ’86, uncle John Duff ’94, and cousins Luke Hassiak ’21 and Donald Hassiak ’23. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition, Ryan!
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D’AMOUR CENTER
FOR FAITH, SERVICE & JUSTICE
FOURTH FORM RETREAT Brings Class Together in Acts of Service O
n Friday, April 30, the annual Form Retreat was held, focusing on cultivating compassion and bringing awareness and action to issues that many people face, such as hunger and poverty. Traditionally, the retreat includes students taking part in an act of community service, which, in the past, has included participation in the annual “Walk a Mile for a Meal” event to benefit the New Milford Food Bank, and an Oxfam Hunger Banquet, a simulation that brings statistics about poverty to life. In a similar theme, this year’s retreat centered on service to the Dorothy Day Hospitality House in Danbury, CT, whose mission is to feed and shelter individuals who are homeless in the Danbury area. The retreat began with an opening prayer and remarks from Sacristans and Director of Campus Ministry Devon McCormick. Students then broke out into groups in the Steers Center Ragland Commons, where they made over 350 sandwiches to be donated to Dorothy Day Hospitality House. Devon helped organize the retreat and shared her impressions of the Form: “The Fourth Form Retreat rounded out our year of retreats in the best way. The entire Form gathered for an evening of service, reflection, and community-building and brought with them energy, humor, and incredible light. It is such a wonderful group of kids who care deeply about one another and their communities, so it was a great opportunity for them to put their
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passion for giving back into action by making sandwiches for the Dorothy Day Hospitality House.” She continued, “I have been able to teach almost every student in the Fourth Form this year and know from first-hand experience how fantastic this class is. I am so glad we were able to allow them to spend that time together and to watch them grow as people working towards the common good of our world.” Building upon the lessons of last year’s Third Form Retreat, which focused on reflection, the Fourth Form Retreat helps students identify their own personal challenges and recognize and empathize with the difficulties of others. In turn, the retreat often results in a deeper level of gratitude among students for the resources and opportunities they possess. Kiley McCooey ’23 shared, “The retreat opened my eyes to how fortunate I am and showed me how an action as small as making a sandwich could make someone's day. My favorite part of the retreat was being able to be with friends while also doing something positive for our community.” Jake Kloss ’23 echoed this sentiment, saying, “The most meaningful part of the retreat was being able to do something to give back to our community.” Hannah Nash ’23 noted that the retreat made her think differently about service to others: “The Fourth Form Retreat was a meaningful experience for me. Being able to give back to the community and people in need, while bonding with classmates, changed my perspective on how service works. Not only was it fun, but also important that we all came together as a Form to reflect and provide service. Overall, it was an amazing experience, and I look forward to the next retreat.” The Fourth Form Retreat was the final retreat for the 2020-21 school year, but service opportunities for Dorothy Day Hospitality House continue throughout the summer and fall.
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D’AMOUR CENTER
FOR FAITH, SERVICE & JUSTICE
SACRISTANS ANNOUNCED for 2021-22 School Year
T
he position of Sacristan is one of the most respected and highly regarded student leadership positions at Canterbury, available for students to apply as they enter into their Sixth Form year. Personal character, demonstrated faith, and leadership qualities define those Sixth Formers who earn a position as Sacristan. Those selected for this role in the 2021-22 school year include Stella Bandak, Gabriella Cafiero, Isabella Carioscia, Max Cooper, Giovanna Esposito, Giancarlo Faraci, Lindsey Grandolfo, Claire Kessing, Patrick McKiernan, Katelynn Pizzano, Ashley Regina, David Salazar, and Alex Schneider. Director of Campus Ministry Devon McCormick is looking forward to working with the new Sacristans: “This group of students is unlike any other and represents such a diverse range of our student body, bringing many different strengths with them. They will be incredible faith leaders for our campus, and I cannot wait to see how they are able to journey with their peers in a meaningful way.” Sacristans live a life of faith and service, encourage the spiritual life of their peers, and contribute to the positive growth of the school community by exemplifying Canterbury’s Five Values. They help organize retreats, offer daily reflections and prayers at School Meeting, serve at Mass, and inspire others to participate in service opportunities.
STELLA BANDAK
MAX COOPER
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GIOVANNA ESPOSITO
GIANCARLO FARACI
LINDSEY GRANDOLFO
PATRICK MCKIERNAN
ASHLEY REGINA
ISABELLA CARIOSCIA
GABRIELLA CAFIERO
DAVID SALAZAR
THE MAGAZINE OF CANTERBURY SCHOOL
CLAIRE KESSING
KATELYNN PIZZANO
ALEX SCHNEIDER
HILLTOP HAPPENINGS Head of School Rachel Stone P ‘23, ‘24 Appointed to Board of Directors of CAIS
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ell respected by her peers for her extensive knowledge, understanding, and experience in independent school education, Head of School Rachel Stone P ’23, ’24 was appointed to the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) Board of Directors, to begin her tenure in the 2021-22 school year. Prior to this appointment, Rachel has also presented multiple times at The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS) Annual Conference, and in 2020, was invited to serve on the TABS Healthy Opening and Operations Committee. Founded in 1950, the CAIS is a voluntary association of 93 non-profit independent schools serving over 30,000 students from all Connecticut towns and many other states and countries. It is a Recognized Accrediting Association in the State of Connecticut and is affiliated with the National Association of Independent Schools and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. CAIS is governed by its Board of Directors, who are elected by members, and brings professional development events to several thousand teachers, administrators, trustees, and students each year, including the New England Teaching Seminars, Teaching and Learning in the 21st Century programs, and the CAIS Commission on Diversity in Independent Schools’ annual Student Diversity Leadership Conference. As a Director of the Board, Rachel helps the CAIS set policies, oversee Association activities, and report on CAIS activities to the heads of member schools at the Annual Meeting. She will also help fulfill the CAIS mission to serve both independent institutions and the children and families of Connecticut by working to foster independence and freedom of choice in education; giving leadership and support to member schools in their pursuit of excellence, access, diversity, and accountability; fostering collaboration among member schools and cooperation with other educational organizations and the public sphere; and providing appropriate services in keeping with models of best practice for each aspect of school life. “I look forward to working with the organization more closely as we continue to promote the value and importance of an independent school education,” Rachel shared. “I am honored to serve on the CAIS Board of Directors with such passionate and talented educators as we strive to provide a standard of excellence and equity among Connecticut independent schools that benefits students and their families.”
CAIS Board of Directors OFFICERS:
Alex Curtis, Choate Rosemary Hall
Lisa Potter, The Montessori School
President: Kai Bynum, Hopkins School Treasurer: Tom Lasley, Eagle Hill School Secretary: Marijke Kehrhahn, The Independent Day School
Mark C. Davis, St. Luke’s School
Arati Pandit, Cold Spring School
Mark Fader, The Williams School
Teri Schrader, Watkinson School
Matt Fitzsimons, Grace Academy
Rachel Stone, Canterbury School
2021-2022 MEMBERS:
John Fixx, The Country School
Bob Whelan, Greens Farms Academy
Cara Johnson, Litchfield Montessori School
Matt Byrnes, Wooster School
Fred Williams, Rectory School
Jamel Keels, Waterside School
Aléwa Cooper, Foote School
Sharon Lauer, The Unquowa School
Glenn Winfree, Former Head, Covenant Preparatory School
HILLTOP HAPPENINGS
Jake Dellorco Assumes New Position as
DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT
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anterbury School is pleased to announce that Jake Dellorco has been appointed its first Director of Strategic Enrollment Management, effective July 1, 2021. In this newly created role, Jake brings a dedicated, metric-driven, market-focused strategy to the School’s recruitment and retention efforts and will collaborate across all areas of school life to track, measure, improve and sustain the lifecycle of our students, from prospective students to alumni. Jake joined Canterbury in 2017 as Dean of Students, following nearly ten years of independent school teaching. In his time on our hilltop, he has had an immeasurable impact on our student community. He has broadened opportunities for student leadership, has been the architect of many programs that define our students’ cocurricular and residential life experiences, and has empowered students to express themselves and share their stories through the creation of myriad clubs and community affinity groups. Additionally, he has been a partner in the evolution and expansion of our D’Amour Center for Faith, Service & Justice and has helped to guide the School’s reaffirmed commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Jake received his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Tufts University, MA, and began his career at Blair Academy, NJ, as a math instructor and coach of football, basketball, and baseball. Jake then earned a Master of Arts in Independent School Leadership from the Klingenstein Center, Columbia University Teachers College, NY, and spent three years at Choate Rosemary Hall, CT, as faculty in the Mathematics Department, Director of Choate’s Prefect Program, and a Dean of the Summer Program. In addition to serving as the Dean of Students at Canterbury, Jake has taught Probability and Statistics (including Advanced Placement), coached Varsity Football, and has been the Dorm Head of Carmody House, where he and his wife Meredith resided during their first four years on campus. “Jake has an outstanding record of leadership and effective collaboration
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in independent school settings and is passionately committed to the recruitment and retention of mission-minded students,” said Head of School Rachel Stone P ’23, ’24. “His vast array of skills and deep, broad experience in areas of school life beyond admissions position him well to drive our enrollment agenda forward with strategies that are informed by research, data, and, most of all, Canterbury’s unique value proposition.” Jake joins our established team of talented admission professionals—Senior Associate Director of Admission and Director of Financial Aid Erin Deshaies ‘86, Associate Director of Admission and Head Coach of Girls’ Varsity Hockey Molly Gintoli, and Assistant Director of Admission and Head Coach of Boys’ Varsity Basketball Brian Baudinet— in a shared commitment to advancing Canterbury’s success and to meeting the School’s enrollment goals in the highly competitive boarding school market. New members of the Admission Office were also welcomed this fall: Senior Associate Director of Admission and Assistant Coach for Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse Timothy Goggins, who comes to us after eight years at Blair Academy, NJ, most recently serving as the Senior Associate Dean of Admission, Director of Financial Aid, and Coach of Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse; Assistant Director of Admission and Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator of Boys’ Varsity Hockey Jay Hebert, a former professional NHL player and coach of the San Diego Junior Gulls, among other regional teams; Assistant Director of Admission and Head Coach of Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse Casey Lyons, most recently a Graduate Assistant Women’s Lacrosse Coach at Division I Canisius College, NY, and former award-winning DI college athlete; and Assistant Director of Admission and Assistant Coach of Boys’ Varsity Basketball and Varsity Football Edward Ogundecko, a former two-sport collegiate athlete in basketball and football. For more details about our Admission team, visit cbury.org/admissions/ meet-our-team.
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“ Jake has an outstanding record of leadership and effective collaboration in independent school settings and is passionately committed to the recruitment and retention of missionminded students. His vast array of skills and deep, broad experience in areas of school life beyond admissions position him well to drive our enrollment agenda forward with strategies that are informed by research, data, and, most of all, Canterbury’s unique value proposition.” — Head of School Rachel Stone P ’23, ’24
Office of Student Life Introduces NEW FORM DEANS
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he Office of Student life is pleased to announce the appointment of Director of International Travel and Spanish teacher Julio Omaña P ’19, ’20 and Spanish teacher Meredith BerryToon to the newly created roles of Form Deans. The two join Assistant Head of School for Student Life Peter LaVigne P ’14, ’16, ’17, ’20, ’23 and Director of Community Life Elyse “EJ” Soifersmith in the Office of Student Life and begin their new positions in the 2021-22 school year. The Form Deans will take the place of the Dean of Students role, formerly filled by Jake Dellorco, who has assumed the position of Director of Strategic Enrollment Management in the Office of Admission. In this new format, Peter, Julio, and Meredith will each be responsible for one full Form: Meredith will be the Dean of the Third Form, Peter of Fourth Form, Julio of Fifth Form, and the three will share responsibilities for the Sixth Form. As Form Deans, Julio and Meredith will be responsible for the overall welfare of the students in their Forms and will serve as the key leaders for those students’ personal success. They will be charged with serving as a resource for the students in their Forms and connecting with them in positive ways to create a sense of accessibility, care, and support; working with the Form Councils to promote a program of class spirit and identity, including overseeing major Form activities (such as retreats and adventures), running Form meetings and organizing social gatherings outside the class day; reviewing the files of new students prior to the opening faculty meeting, assisting as needed in the orientation of new faculty, and establishing plans and goals for the year; acting as the primary contact between the school and individual parents/ guardians of students as necessary;
JULIO OMAÑA
MEREDITH BERRY-TOON
working with other Canterbury faculty, including those in the Academic Office, Student Activities, Counseling, and the Health Center to create an environment that is safe, welcoming and caring, and inspires students to pursue their best selves; staying current on best practices around adolescent issues and development and planning related educational programs as needed; and engaging in their own diversity, equity, and inclusion education and practices and illustrating commitment to DEI in their daily work. Along with Peter LaVigne, Julio and Meredith will also be responsible for the overall tone, morale, and efficient functioning of the school community and determining ways to enhance the student experience. As such, they will attend Discipline Committee hearings; investigate school rule violations; meet regularly with Peter and with advisors and Dorm Heads; and participate in committee work that supports the mission of the school, including Dorm Head Committee, Guidance Advisory Board, and Calendar Committee. “Meredith and Julio bring great energy and experience to the Student Life Team,” said Peter. “They are wonderful educators and care deeply about their students. I am so excited to welcome them to our office and look forward to the
impact they will make on our Student Life programming. Julio shared his enthusiasm for the new role and why he wanted to become more involved with Student Life: “I am most looking forward to working with students and families at a deeper level and to getting to know them even better. I am also looking forward to working with the incredible faculty on the Student Life team—I have been in conversations and meetings where I have seen and heard firsthand how much they care about, and how hard they work for, our community.” Meredith explained why she was interested in taking on this role and what she hopes to achieve over the next year. “I wanted to take on this role because it’s all about the students—getting to know them not only in the classroom but also as learning, growing, young adults through our interactions in dorm life and athletics—and this role was another avenue to continue to forge those connections.” She continued, “I hope that over the next year Julio and I can work together to enhance the culture of the school that the Office of Student Life has already fostered, which promotes a culture of inclusion, curiosity, love of Canterbury, desire to be involved, and genuine care and consideration for their peers.” PAGE 39.
HILLTOP HAPPENINGS Sixth Form Leaders Elected for 2021-22 School Year
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he Sixth Form Council leadership program is entering its fifth year, and members are elected by the rising Sixth Form each spring. The group is charged with fostering community on campus through events like the Frederick Gunn School Day (formerly Gunnery Day) pep rally and Spirit Week, working with the Student Life Office and the Head of School on student initiatives, and running School Meeting each Friday. They set an example to their peers and to underformers by the way they live their life at school each day. The nine members of next year’s Sixth Form Council include Hanyan Cai,
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Isabella Carioscia, Mark “Maverick” Foster, Jerry Liu, Abigail Mitchell, Matthew “Cullen” Mulhern, Diego Paredes, Ashley Regina, and David Salazar. Assistant Head of School for Student Life Peter LaVigne shared his enthusiasm for the new group of student leaders: “This will be a fantastic group of young people to work with next year. The energy, creativity, and hard work they will bring to the table will truly be inspiring.” Congratulations to all our Sixth Formers selected for leadership positions for the 2021-22 academic year!
HANYAN CAI
ISABELLA CARIOSCIA
MARK “MAVERICK” FOSTER
JERRY LIU
ABIGAIL MITCHELL
CULLEN MULHERN
DIEGO PAREDES
ASHLEY REGINA
DAVID SALAZAR
THE MAGAZINE OF CANTERBURY SCHOOL
M
embers of the Class of 2021 were honored and presented with awards during an assembly held in the Steers Center Ragland Commons on May 27, on the eve of their Commencement. As with the Underform Awards Assembly earlier in the week, the ceremony was livestreamed for family members and friends. The assembly opened with a prayer from Sacristan Benjamin Secor, followed by opening remarks from Head of School Rachel Stone P ’23, ’24. Rachel noted, “You have made it to May 27, 2021, because being in this community mattered most. Because taking care of one another, living through a pandemic together, competing athletically and performing artistically in ways most high school students did not, and establishing new traditions (like the Hill Hunt) while recreating old ones (like the Pink Out) was far, far better than experiencing a pandemic without the support of your fellow Saints. Even seniors who were remote found ways to contribute to both the academic and extracurricular life of our school, going above and beyond for the sake of building community.” Rachel continued, “Collectively, you have embraced your experiences here and developed self-awareness, discipline, and confidence along the way. That learning curve never ends; you will face it again next fall as a new round of challenges arrives. But you are ready. You know yourselves as students; you know that persistence counts just as much as intelligence—if not more; and you know that seeking help is a strength, not a weakness. [...] All of you have found success along your Canterbury journeys, and it’s the journey, of course, that is the true prize. The faculty and I thank and congratulate you for your good work and the impact you have made, and will leave,
Form Awards Honor the Class of 2021
Members of the Sixth Form were presented with awards for their achievements in academics, athletics, art, service, and student life.
on our community.” Preceding the first awards, Assistant Head of School for Student Life Peter LaVigne P ’14, ’16, ’17, ’20, ’23 recognized all members of the class who had held leadership positions over the course of their final year, including Sacristans, Sixth Form Council members, and proctors. Class of 2020 members of the Canterbury Honor Society—Giselle Bradshaw, Nicholas Capanna, Lexah Caraluzzi, Ju Yeon (Thomas) Cho, Na’Sah Dabbs, Katherine Delamere, Anika Flik, Katherine Hawley, Jia Yi Ji, Abigail Kavanaugh, Torin Kearney, Cameron Krinsky, Lorelai Lee Swanek, Yurou Li, Ella Olcese, Sydney Ragland, Cassidy Rockwood, Jack Rufa, Benjamin Secor, Yishan Shi, Samuel Tscheppe, Sebastian Tseng, Andrew Xu, Kai Xu, Sandra Xu, and Charlotte Zapletal—were also recognized individually for their hard work and academic accomplishments. Mr. LaVigne left
the Class of 2021 with inspiring words from Ignatius of Loyola: “Go forth and set the world on fire.” ★ Athletic Director Jim Stone P ’23, ’24 began the award presentation with athletic awards in several categories. Charlotte Zapletal and Sean Quaye received the Most Improved Athlete Awards. Anika Flik and Evan Burke received the Best Leadership Awards for serving as captains on the Girls’ Varsity Hockey and Boys’ Varsity Baseball teams, respectively. Cassidy Rockwood and Jack Barton were presented with the Best All-Around Athlete Awards for their skills and dedication to multiple varsity-level sports.
★ Dean of Faculty Wright Danenbarger
then presented the Edward F. Mack Awards to members of the class for their contributions to particular areas of school life. For Outstanding Contributions to Community Service, Margaret Ondrey; for Outstanding Contributions to the
Cantuarian, Katherine Hawley and Jia Yi Ji; for Outstanding Contributions to the Sustainability Club, Katherine Hawley and Benjamin Secor; for Outstanding Contributions to Theatre for Performance in a Male Role, Torin Kearney; for Outstanding Contributions to Theatre for Technical Theatre, Giselle Bradshaw; for Outstanding Service as a Proctor, Evan Burke, Anika Flik, Colleena Healy, Benjamin Secor, and Celine Yoo; for Outstanding Service as an Admission Ambassador, Lexah Caraluzzi, Ju Yeon (Thomas) Cho, Na’Sah Dabbs, Katherine Delamere, and Anika Flik; for Outstanding Contributions as a Sacristan, Ella Olcese and Torin Kearney; and for Outstanding Contributions in Student Government, the members of the Sixth Form Council: Ju Yeon (Thomas) Cho, Na’Sah Dabbs, Katherine Delamere, Lily Greenwood, Maximilian Oeser, Ella Olcese, and Sean Quaye. PAGE 41.
★ HILLTOP HAPPENINGS
★ The award presentations continued
★ The Weldon R. Knox Award, established
★ The Francis T. Carmody ’25 Award for
★ Given in memory of Mr. Farrell, a founding
★ The Gerald A. and Therese J. Vanasse
★ The Hubert McDonnell Award for
with academic honors given to Sixth Form students for specific areas of study. The Edward J. Duffy Family Award for excellence in the study of Studio Art, given in memory of Mr. Duffy by his children, was presented to Elizabeth (Betsy) Ondrey. creative talent in art—given in memory of Trustee Francis Carmody, son of founding Trustee Terence Carmody—was presented to Peyton DeRouen.
Choral Music Award was presented to Katherine Delamere in memory of Mr. Vanasse, who served as school organist, choral club accompanist, glee club director, music director of spring musicals, and shared his love of music with Canterbury students from 1960 to 1990. The award is given to the student who has demonstrated the highest level of leadership.
★ The Stephen N. ’43 And Lacey Hume
Award—given in memory of Trustee Emeritus and son of the founding Headmaster, Stephen N. ’43, and his wife Lacey—was presented to Nicolas Graham, Fatima Nda-Isaiah, and Sebastian Tseng for excellence in the study of contemporary music.
★ The Frederick L. Gilson ’50 Award was
presented to Lorelai Lee Swanek for excellence in classical music performance and to Yurou Li for excellence in the study of the Carillon.
★ The John Thomas Smith Award for
excellence in the study of English—given in memory of John Thomas Smith, benefactor of the School and parent—was presented to Katherine Delamere.
★ The English Essay Award, presented
to the author of the best critical essay written for the annual Sixth Form English essay assignment, was given to Lexah Caraluzzi.
★ The Francis T. Carmody ’25 Prize Awards
were presented to Sandra Xu for creative talent in prose and to Katherine Hawley for creative talent in poetry.
★ The Allan A. Ryan Award for excellence in
the study of History—given in memory of Mr. Ryan, a founding Trustee and parent— was presented to Jia Yi Ji and Yurou Li.
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by the Class of 1971 in memory of Mr. Knox, who taught math from 1960 to 1975, was presented to Declan Clancy. The award is given to that student who has demonstrated the greatest improvement in the study of mathematics while at Canterbury. Trustee and benefactor of the School, the James A. Farrell Award for excellence in the study of mathematics was presented to Kai Xu.
excellence in the study of theology—given in memory of Mr. McDonnell, a Trustee from 1938-1950 and parent—was presented to Abigail Kavanaugh and Torin Kearney.
★ Given in memory of the founding
Trustee, the Terence F. Carmody Award was presented to Lexah Caraluzzi and Katherine Delamere for excellence in the study of Spanish and to Lorelai Lee Swanek and Charlotte Zapletal for excellence in the study of French.
★ The James K. Breene Jr. Latin Award, given to the Sixth Former who has demonstrated unusual dedication to the Classics while at Canterbury, was presented to Abigail Kavanaugh. The award is given by the Class of 1963 in memory of Mr. Breene, who was a Master at Canterbury from 1955 to 1973, during which time he inspired his students with his integrity, intellect, and humor.
★ The Captain Thomas J. Sartor Award for
excellence in the study of science—given in memory of Captain Sartor from the Class of 1919, benefactor of the School and parent—was presented to Jia Yi Ji and Yurou Li.
★ The final honor, the Roderick Clarke ’46 Distinguished Academic Achievement Award, given by the Class of 1956 in memory of Mr. Clarke, who served Canterbury from 1954 to 1990 as a history teacher, Director of Studies, College Counselor, and as Canterbury’s Headmaster for his last twelve years, was awarded to the student with the highest GPA. Rachel Stone presented the award to this year’s recipient and Class of 2021 Valedictorian, Sandra Xu.
The ceremony concluded with remarks from
THE MAGAZINE OF CANTERBURY SCHOOL
Dean of Students Jake Dellorco and Sixth Form Council member (and last year’s winner of the Nelson Hume Speech Competition) Maximilian Oeser. Max spoke about the importance of the interests, relationships, motivations, and personal growth that were fostered at Canterbury (read an excerpt from his remarks on page 15.) Following the award ceremony, Sixth Form students enjoyed a final dinner with faculty in the Steers Center Ragland Commons and were addressed by this year’s Cantuarian dedicatee, Elyse (E.J.) Soifersmith. As the Assistant Dean of Students, Director of Student Activities, Head Coach of Volleyball and Basketball, and Dorm Head of South House, EJ is ever-present for students. EJ first joined Canterbury as the head coach of Varsity Volleyball in 2005 but soon thereafter transitioned fully into Student Life. She received her bachelor’s degree at Rutgers University, NJ, where she played D1 volleyball and was captain her junior and senior years. She earned her master’s degree in social work from New York University, NY, and served as a social worker at Children’s Rehabilitation Center in White Plains, NY, for nine years before joining the Canterbury family. Given her background in social work and her extraordinary compassion for others, it is no wonder she is lovingly referred to as “Campus Mom.” EJ shared some parting advice for the graduating class: “In my opinion, there is nothing more important than being a good person in this world. Living your life as a good person can mean many different things: giving someone a compliment, taking the time to say hello or listen to a friend in need, being the CEO who treats her employees right, asking someone how their day is going, donating money, being kind, picking up trash, volunteering your time, or simply doing what you think is right and just.” She concluded by sharing an anecdote from the Sixth Form Dance, which took place the night before: “During the last song at the dance, I watched all of you break off from five separate groups to create one huge Sixth Form community circle. It made me tear up because it reminded me of your beautiful friendships, how you take care of one another, and how you demonstrate inclusivity.” Congratulations to all the award winners!
CANTERBURY HONOR SOCIETY EVENT Celebrates Sixth Form Members
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n Monday, May 17, the School celebrated Sixth Form members of the Canterbury Honor Society with a reception and awards ceremony held in the Steers Center Ragland Commons. The Canterbury Honor Society was founded during the 1989-1990 academic year to advance scholarship and to foster the love of learning at Canterbury School. The faculty Honor Society Committee meets each September and January to review the academic program of eligible candidates in the Fifth and Sixth Form. To be eligible for consideration, candidates must be enrolled in a rigorous academic program—including honors and Advanced Placement classes—in a diverse course of study. Students must additionally demonstrate academic integrity and consistent engagement as a positive contributor to the academic culture of the School. The evening began with opening remarks from Head of School Rachel Stone P ’23, ’24 and an opening prayer read by Sacristan and Honor Society member Torin Kearney ’21. Associate Head of School for Academics Sue Roberts P ’24 then introduced each Sixth Form Honor Society member with commendations from their teachers and advisors and invited them to receive their award from Rachel. The Sixth Form students inducted into the Society included Giselle Bradshaw, Nicholas Capanna, Lexah Caraluzzi, Ju Yeon (Thomas) Cho, Na’Sah Dabbs, Katherine Delamere, Anika Flik, Katherine Hawley, Jia Yi Ji, Abigail Kavanaugh, Torin Kearney, Cameron Krinsky, Lorelai Lee Swanek, Yurou Li, Ella Olcese, Sydney Ragland, Cassidy Rockwood, Jack Rufa, Benjamin Secor, Yishan Shi, Samuel Tscheppe, Sebastian Tseng, Andrew Xu, Kai Xu, Sandra Xu, and Charlotte Zapletal. Honor Society Members invited faculty and fellow students as guests to celebrate the occasion. Typically, the prior year’s recipient of the J.P. Mandler Award for Excellence in Teaching is the guest speaker at the event. As last year’s award was presented to the entire Canterbury faculty for their fundamental commitment to classroom teaching during an unprecedented and particularly challenging spring, Dean of Faculty Wright Danenbarger took the podium as a representative of the extraordinary group of teachers, mentors, advisors, coaches, and dorm parents. “Go to college with a general sense of what you like and where to find it and seek it with an abiding sense that everything is a source of bliss, and you will end up with a trove of intellectual nourishment that is dear and not so easy to find,” Wright imparted. He continued, “I hope one of you spends lots of time in a lab and finds a cure for cancer and another of you immerses yourself in literature long enough to write the next great American novel. You are sitting here right now because you are good at many things, and I don’t want college or a career to ruin the beauty of your multiple selves.” Newly inducted Fifth Form members of the Canterbury Honor
Society included Hanyan Cai ’22, Emily Chickering ’22, Ian Fernandes ’22, Jerry Liu ’22, Maxim Mochalov ’22, Katelynn Pizzano ’22, Logan Sanford ’22, Sarina Sheth ’22, Qingzhi Tu ’22, Ziqian Yang ’22, and Qixiu Yao ’22. The Fifth Form members were celebrated at the Underform Prize Assembly on May 24.
Class of 2021 members of Canterbury’s Honor Society were celebrated during a formal reception in the Steers Center Ragland Commons as part of their end-of-year activities.
HILLTOP HAPPENINGS
Prize Assembly Celebrates Members of the Third, Fourth and Fifth Forms
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he Underform Awards Assembly took place the morning of May 24 to honor Third, Fourth and Fifth Form students for their academic accomplishments and extra-curricular leadership in the 2020-21 academic year. Held in Maguire Auditorium, the assembly was attended in person by award recipients and via Zoom by the rest of the student body, who joined virtually from across campus, the country, and the world. The event took place during School Meeting and was livestreamed for faculty, family members, and friends. Head of School Rachel Stone P’23, ’24 addressed the community in her opening remarks and expressed gratitude and pride for the students’ collective commitment to the Canterbury community and making an in-person school year possible. Rachel also referenced several highlights of PAGE 44.
the year as well as growth exhibited by the entire student body: “Let me offer congratulations to all of our students for reaching these final days of the academic year. And what a year it has been: you have learned in new spaces, from outdoor classrooms to English in the Science Lecture Room, to theology in the brand new D’Amour Center; you have started each day with CrisisGo and endured nasal swabs most Mondays; you have figured out how to communicate and collaborate despite plexiglass dividers and masks that made it difficult to read expression, emotion, and empathy; and you have approached “special schedules” in stride as a constant throughout the year. For this, and for the extraordinary efforts of your teachers, we are both proud and grateful.” She continued, “These stories, friendships, accomplishments, and funny moments THE MAGAZINE OF CANTERBURY SCHOOL
create and define the Saints community. As I say every year: your experiences here— the relationships you build, classes, sports and instruments you try for the first time, faculty you learn to lean on and trust—and your individual growth that stems from those experiences…that’s the true prize, wouldn’t you agree? So as we celebrate success and noteworthy performance this evening, please remember that these awards are an acknowledgement of excellent, persistent work but not a definition of where you stand, or who you are, as students and people.” Ruari Bamrick ’24 and Kip Stone ’24 were selected for The Nicholas DiTullio Award ’01, presented each year to a girl and boy from the Third or Fourth Form who competes at the sub-varsity level and has demonstrated a love for and dedication to athletics.
★ A speech competition was held earlier in May, and the Underform Speech Competition Awards for the event were presented to Isabella Carioscia ’22 and Ziyi (Owen) Wang ’24 for their outstanding delivery. The Francis T. Carmody ’25 Prize Awards, given in memory of Trustee Francis Carmody (son of founding Trustee Terrence Carmody), were presented to three students for creative talent in poetry: Benjamin Bochicchio ’22, Irene Chen ’24, and Beckett Reynolds ’23. The James P. Shea Award was earned by Mason Santomero ’22 for her improvement in persuasive argument and general appreciation for historical interpretation as demonstrated in her spring semester research project. The James D. Higgins ’44 History Thesis Award, awarded to the author of the best research paper written for U.S. History classes, was presented to two students enrolled in Honors U.S. History, who have conducted a thorough process of research and writing to create the best historical research paper: Laurence Brady, Jr. ’22 and Nicola Sherriff ’22. The Award was also presented to two students enrolled in Advanced Placement U.S. History, who have written the best historical argument using historical documents and research: Alastair Ostrowski ’22 and Hanyan Cai ’22. For excellence in the study of Vocal Performance, the Stephen N. ’43 and Lacey Hume Award was presented to Ava Faruol ’24. The award was given in memory of Trustee Emeritus and son of Canterbury’s founding Headmaster, Stephen N. ’43, and his wife, Lacey. The Edward F. Mack Awards, given in memory of Edward F. Mack, who was a Master at Canterbury from 1928–1957, were presented to several students for their contribution in a particular area of school life. The awards for Outstanding Service as a Proctor were presented to Maxim Mochalov ’22 and Diego Paredes ’22. The award for Outstanding Service as an Admission Ambassador was earned by Matthew “Cullen” Mulhern ’22. The award for Outstanding Contributions to
Theatre for Performance in a Female Role was awarded to Sylvia Pinheiro ’24. Rachel Stone also presented a group of Fifth Formers with book awards; the awards are given by prestigious colleges and universities to outstanding high school juniors from participating schools. In recognition of the value that the St. Lawrence community places on service to others, the St. Lawrence University Book Award honors the achievements of a student who has displayed significant commitment to community service. The award was presented to Ryan Desantis ’22. Given to a student in the Fifth Form with significant academic potential and a commitment to making a difference in their school community, the Smith College Award was presented to Ziqian Yang ’22. Awarded to a student in the top ten percent of the Fifth Form whose academic performance in advanced math and science courses has been outstanding, who demonstrates the potential for success in a challenging academic setting, and exhibits significant involvement in extracurricular activities, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Award was given to Hanyan Cai ’22. The Dartmouth College Book Award, presented to a student in the Fifth Form who is in the top ten percent of the class, who has demonstrated strong character, has made a positive contribution to the school community, and has excelled in at least one non-academic area, was awarded to Ian Fernandes ’22. Presented to a student in the Fifth Form who combines excellence in academics with significant achievement in extracurricular endeavor, the Harvard College Book Award was presented to Qixiu Yao ’22. Sarina Sheth ’22 was given the University of Pennsylvania Book Award. The award is presented to a student in the Fifth Form who is ranked near the top five percent of the class, is enrolled in the most rigorous academic program, demonstrates leadership in athletics and the school community, and is highly respected by peers and faculty for high personal and academic integrity.
Members of the Fifth Form class who earned a cumulative GPA of highest honors, are enrolled in a rigorous academic program, and challenge the most demanding courses in at least three disciplines were inducted into the Honor Society. Those students included Hanyan Cai ’22, Emily Chickering ’22, Ian Fernandes ’22, Jerry Liu ’22, Maxim Mochalov ’22, Katelynn Pizzano ’22, Logan Sanford ’22, Sarina Sheth ’22, Qingzhi Tu ’22, Ziqian Yang ’22, and Qixiu Yao ’22. The final awards of the morning were the Roderick Clarke ’46 Distinguished Academic Achievement Awards, given by the Class of 1956 in memory of former Headmaster Rod Clarke ’46. It is awarded annually to the member of each class with the highest cumulative GPA. Irene Chen received the award for the Third Form, Lily LaVigne for the Fourth Form, and Sarina Sheth for the Fifth Form. The ceremony featured two beautiful, musical performances: “Take Me Home” by Varsity Voices and “Fall On Me” by the Canterbury Chorale. Rachel Stone concluded the event with words of inspiration for the Underform classes: “Tomorrow marks the end of the 2020-2021 school year, a year of persistence, flexibility, frustration, victory, and extraordinary community spirit. After a summer intended for rejuvenation, health, time with family and friends, and some goal-setting mixed in, you will return to our hilltop a summer older and wiser, finally sit by Form in Maguire, not eat in dinner waves, and realize that you are one year closer to your graduation from Canterbury. In three quick months, you will be welcoming new students, looking forward to Friday School Meeting with a new Sixth Form Council, and rebuilding the Saints community once again. Know that we look forward to your safe return and that our high expectations of you stem from hope and confidence. We believe in you.” Congratulations, Saints!
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HILLTOP HAPPENINGS
Spring Musical Production Leaves Campus Buzzing
In a year where many artistic performances were still confined to virtual experiences, the Canterbury Theater Department was able to produce a live, safe and fantastic musical to the delight of the community.
T
Clockwise from top: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee was Canterbury’s first live musical performance in two years; Bryce Stone ’23 as speller Chip Tolentino; spelling bee contestants, played by Qixiu (Neil) Yao ’22, Yurou Li ’21, Bryce Stone ’23, Beckett Reynolds ’23, Sylvia Pinheiro ’24, and Ava Faruol ’24; Sylvia Pinheiro ’24 as speller Logan Schwartzandgrubenierre. PAGE 46.
he Canterbury spring musical is a highlight of the academic year, with terrific student performances and always-entertaining guest cameos. Last year’s highly anticipated production of Chicago was unfortunately put on hold due to the pandemic, but this year’s performance of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee was well worth the long wait to see our students back on stage. “With the go-ahead from the School’s Medical Task Force, we chose a show that would allow us to have an audience and give our actors a wonderful experience of being back in live theater,” said Co-Director and Chair of the Language Department Keiko Mathewson. Typically, the Theater Department obtains rights to the show chosen for the spring musical before January and begins their rehearsals as soon as students return from winter break in early January. This year, because of a later in-person start to accommodate safety precautions around holiday travel, rehearsals began in mid-February, giving the cast and crew only nine weeks to put up the show. Coupled with the fact that the group always rehearsed in masks, the production had its share of obstacles. Keiko explained, “Singing with a mask is nothing like singing without one! Not to mention, theater is all about expression—when you can only
THE MAGAZINE OF CANTERBURY SCHOOL
see one-third of an actor’s face, it creates challenges.” But one would never know it—everything from the songs and choreography to the acting and costumes, to the set design, lighting, and sound was perfectly thought-out and executed. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee follows six high schoolage contestants as they compete for the title of County Spelling Bee Champion and the three adults in charge of running and judging the competition. Some Saints took the stage for the very first time, and others for their last time as Canterbury students. The top-notch cast included Yurou Li ’21 as speller Marcy Park; Torin Kearney ’21 as Vice Principal Douglas Panch; Irene Chen ’24 as parolee and “Comfort Counselor” Mitch Mahoney; Ruari Bamrick ’24 as moderator Rona Lisa Peretti; Bryce Stone ’23 as speller Chip Tolentino; Sylvia Pinheiro ’24 as speller Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre; Beckett Reynolds ’23 as Leaf Coneybear (and his spelling sock puppet); Ava Faruol ’24 as speller Olive Ostrovsky; Qixiu (Neil) Yao ’22 as speller William Barfée (that’s bar-FAY); and Jerry Liu ’22 as Logainne’s dad. Director of Theater Sarah Armstong and Keiko Mathewson served as Co-Directors, with Musical Direction by Christopher Scott Rich, Sound Design by Ken Mard III ’99, and Lighting Design by Robyn Joyce. The quirky contestants compete in spelling myriad words (some potentially made-up) while sharing humorous personal anecdotes, and the three adults keep the audience entertained with hilarious definitions and examples of the words used in sentences. An added dose of humor comes in the form of audience members who are called up on stage to participate in the spelling bee, and a surprise guest appearance by Jesus, played by none other than Assistant Head of School for Student Life Peter LaVigne P ’14, ’16, ’17, ’20, ’23. The show was a smash and brought such joy and laughter to campus as students, faculty, and staff enjoyed the first live theater performance in over a year. The cast and crew relished in the experience as well. This was Sixth Form student Yurou’s third time taking part in a musical (she performed in Sweeney Todd and rehearsed for Chicago). She described her character Marcy as “a talented, studious young lady who is always trying to live up to others’ expectations. Admittedly she is the best speller among them, but she is not happy and does not take pleasure from winning.” Yurou continued, “Portraying Marcy was a fun challenge for me, as I was given the chance to reflect on my similarities and differences compared to hers, and I believe that at the end of the whole process, a part of Marcy’s happiness and freedom is already staying with me.” This was the first musical performance for Sixth Form student Torin whose spot-on, deadpan portrayal of Vice Principal Douglas Panch and his ridiculous usage of spelling words elicited many laughs. “The most challenging part [of the musical] was to get the reactions and facial expressions down in order to bring my character to life. It was my first time performing in a musical, and I very much enjoyed it.” Based on his performance, we sincerely hope it’s not his last! With 23 musical numbers and a live orchestra, achieving spectacular lighting and sound was no small feat. To boot, the entire operation is managed exclusively by students during the show. Keiko explained, “I don’t think many people know that the show becomes entirely studentrun during Tech Week (the rehearsals leading up to performances). Once our designers have put finishing touches onto things, everything is handed over to students to execute. Our booth, where the stage manager, light and sound board operators work, is entirely students—there are no adults overseeing them. The students call the show and execute it themselves. It is a huge undertaking, and we are blessed to have dedicated and talented students who manage it all.” The technical crew included Stage Manager
Clockwise from top: Irene Chen ’24 as parolee and “Comfort Counselor” Mitch Mahoney; Ruari Bamrick ’24 as moderator Rona Lisa Peretti; and Beckett Reynolds ’23 as speller Leaf Coneybear.
Giselle Bradshaw ’21, Associate Lighting Designer and Light Board Operator Daniella Suarez ’21; Associate Sound Designer and Sound Board Operator Sydney Ragland ’21; Costume Designer Katherine Delamere ’21; Prop Mistress Celine Yoo ’21; and Follow Spot Operator and Electrician Xavier Leone ’23. Stage Manager Giselle ’21 shared her thoughts about her final stage production at Canterbury: “This was my first time managing tech for a musical, and it was definitely an experience where I had to learn as I went along. I reached out to the Stage Managers before me [Canterbury alumni], and they were a big help. I am extremely proud of the tech crew for nailing every light and sound cue and each costume change. I really couldn’t have done it without them.” She continued, “The most fun part of the show was being in the booth and backstage with all my crew members and the cast members, especially my fellow seniors. It was our last show at Canterbury and I think we made it a memorable one.” To be sure, this performance will not soon be forgotten. Yurou ’21 shared, “I’d like to give a huge shout-out to our directors Mrs. Armstrong and Mrs. Mathewson, and our Music Director Christopher Scott Rich for being so amazing and supportive throughout the whole show! Thank you for making my senior finale a memorable experience.” Well done to the entire cast and crew for a phenomenal performance! PAGE 47.
HILLTOP HAPPENINGS
Best Lighting Design and/or Execution: Daniella Suarez ’21 & Xavier Leone ’23 for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Best Sound Design and/or Execution: Giselle Bradshaw ’21 for A Christmas Carol: A Radio Play Best Scenic Design and/or Execution: Celine Yoo ’21, Katherine Delamere ’21, Giselle Bradshaw ’21, Sydney Ragland ’21, Xavier Leone ’23, and Danielle Suarez ’21 for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
19 Halo Award Nominations and Four Wins for
Winter and Spring Theater Productions
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anterbury’s Theater Department ambitiously put up two shows this school year in the midst of the pandemic, and the casts’ and crews’ hard work and talent were formally recognized in July: the School received a record 19 Halo Award Nominations and four awards for its productions of A Christmas Carol: A Radio Play and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Sponsored by the Seven Angels Theatre in Waterbury, CT, the 18th Annual Halo Awards recognize the very best in high school theater across the state of Connecticut, with more than 60 high schools participating annually. Awards were announced during a virtual ceremony on July 10, and Canterbury had four big wins: Best Comic Male Performance in a Musical was awarded to Beckett Reynolds ’23 as Leaf Coneybear in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee; Best Special Effects was presented to Giselle Bradshaw ’21, Sydney Ragland ’21, and Celine Yoo ’21, for their role as Foley Artists for A Christmas Carol: A Radio Play; Best Performance by the Cast in an Ensemble Musical was awarded to the cast of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee; and a special Above & Beyond Award was given to Stage Manager Giselle Bradshaw ’21 for her work behind the scenes in A Christmas Carol: A Radio Play.
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Canterbury received nominations in the following categories: Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play: Bryce Stone ’23 as Fred/Peter Cratchit in A Christmas Carol: A Radio Play Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play: Asher Hughes ’24 as Tiny Tim/Fan/Partygoer in A Christmas Carol: A Radio Play Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play: Isabella Carioscia ’22 as Ghost of Christmas Present in A Christmas Carol: A Radio Play Best Comic Female Performance in a Play: Irene Chen ’24 as Jacob Marley/ Man with Packages/Mrs. Dilber/Business Man #2/Passing Brother/Dick Wilkins in A Christmas Carol: A Radio Play Best Comic Male Performance in a Musical: Beckett Reynolds ’23 as Leaf Coneybear in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Best Comic Female Performance in a Musical: Sylvia Pinheiro ’24 as Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Best Costume Design/Execution: Katherine Delamere ’21 for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee THE MAGAZINE OF CANTERBURY SCHOOL
Best Special Effects: Giselle Bradshaw ’21, Sydney Ragland ’21, and Celine Yoo ’21, Foley Artists for A Christmas Carol: A Radio Play Best Stage Management: Giselle Bradshaw ’21 for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Play: Ruari Bamrick ’24 as Ghost of Christmas Past/Fred's Wife/PA Voice/Whitlow in A Christmas Carol: A Radio Play Best Performance by a Couple or Dynamic Duo in a Musical: Ruari Bamrick ’24 and Torin Kearney ’21 as Ms. Rona Lisa Peretti and Douglas Panch in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Best Performance by the Cast in an Ensemble Musical: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Best Male Standout Performance in an Ensemble Musical: Qixiu (Neil) Yao ’22 as William Barfee in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Best Female Standout Performance in an Ensemble Musical: Ava Faruol ’24 as Olive Ostrovsky in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play: Sylvia Pinheiro ’24 as Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol: A Radio Play Best Musical: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Congratulations to the entire cast and crew of each production for their hard work and fantastic performances!
Creativity Abounds as Students Exhibit Works in Final Show
F
rom May 17–25, Advanced Placement Art students Can (Ada) Cui ’22 (who was remote), Peyton DeRouen ’21, and Elizabeth (Betsy) Ondrey ’21 exhibited their completed portfolios in the year’s final art show. The works were exhibited both virtually and in the Edward J. Duffy Family Art Gallery on campus, and some of Peyton and Betsy’s works were also included in the nearby Washington Art Association’s Student Art Show in April. Each AP Art student chose a concentration and produced a collection of 15 works. Ada ’22 explored the “masks,” both literal and metaphorical, that people hide behind; Peyton ’21 depicted important moments in American history using different artistic styles and techniques that were popular during the periods she chose; and Betsy ’21 told the story of her childhood and evolution into adulthood through digital paintings. The artists were celebrated during a Virtual Art Show on May 18, and an in-person closing reception on May 25. The closing reception was well-attended by students, faculty, and staff. In addition to the AP Art projects, the exhibition showcased body portraits by Advanced Art students Samantha (Jade) Brinker ’21, Olivia O’Connor ’22, Lisa Weng ’23, Margaret Ondrey ’21, and Shea McKenney ’21. Architecture students Lily Greenwood ’21 and Jenna Lynch ’21 displayed their impeccably done residential-scale models. The evening also celebrated the final student art show for Visual and Performing Arts Department Chair Kim Tester. Kim retired at the end of the 2020-21 academic year after more than 30 years of teaching at Canterbury and will be greatly missed by students, faculty, and alumni alike.
Clockwise from top left: The Introduction to Painting class created masked self portraits in the style of Andy Warhol for their spring project; “Selective (Goldfish) Memory” by Betsy Ondrey ’21 (Rhode Island School of Design ’25); Peyton DeRouen ’21 (College of Saint Rose ’25) with her work “1960s”; Jade Brinker ’21 (Union College ’25) created a mixed media body portrait in Advanced Art; Lily Greenwood ’21 (Fordham University ’25) created a to-scale mode of her dream home in her Architecture course.
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HILLTOP HAPPENINGS
Jazz-Rock-Pop Spring Concert and Senior Recital Kick Off the End-of-Year Events Top: Lorelei Lee Swanek ’21 (Oberlin College ’25) performs her first solo recital in the Chorale Room. Bottom, left to right: Fatima Nda-Isaiah ’21 (University of Leeds, UK ’24) sang several well-known pop and rock tunes during the Spring Concert; Yurou Li ’21 (University of Chicago ’25) performed on stage with the Duo Band.
S
tudent-musicians kicked off the end-ofyear festivities with a bang. Several student bands performed in the Jazz-Rock-Pop Spring Concert on Saturday, May 15, and Lorelai Lee Swanek ’21 played her first-ever solo recital on Sunday, May 16. These were the first live concert events held this school year, with each performance offering limited in-person seating as well as the option to watch via livestream both remotely and on the projector in the Steers Center Ragland Commons. The Jazz-Rock-Pop Spring Concert was held in Maguire Auditorium and featured student renditions of many well-known songs, including “I’m Not the Only One” by Sam Smith, “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder, “Who’s Lovin’ You” by Smokey Robinson, “When the Saints Come Marching In” by Luther G. Presley, “Diamonds” by Rihanna, and “Take Me to Church” by Hozier. The program included 23 songs, and students in each band spent the past several months preparing for the show. Members of the Contemporary Music Band included Nicolas Graham ’21 on drums, Fatima Nda-Isaiah ’21 and Alessandra King ’22 on vocals, Xavier Leone ’23 on bass, and Sebastian Tseng ’21 on piano. The Jazz-Rock-Pop Ensemble was composed
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of students Nicolas Graham ’21 on drums; Andrew Xu ’21 on trombone; Chigozie Dike ’21 and Mark “Maverick” Foster ’22 on tenor saxophone; Ryan DeSantis ’22, Connor Koh ’23, and Bryce Stone ’23 on trumpet; and Xavier Leone ’23 on alto saxophone. The Canterbury Jazz Horn Quartet included Andrew Xu ’21
THE MAGAZINE OF CANTERBURY SCHOOL
on trombone, Maverick Foster ’22 on tenor saxophone, Connor Koh ’23 on trumpet, and Xavier Leone ’23 on baritone saxophone. The newly formed Duo Band featured Yurou Li ’21 and Xinyi (Lisa) Weng ’23 on vocals, and Sebastian Tseng ’21 on piano. This was the final concert performance as Canterbury students for Sixth Form musicians, and they expressed gratitude for being able to play one last time with friends and faculty present. Sebastian ’21 (University of Pennsylvania ’25), who played piano with both the Contemporary Music Band and the Duo Band, shared, “It was a pleasure being able to perform for the last time at Canterbury with an audience. I’m thankful in particular for being able to perform my favorite J-Pop tune, “Daddy Daddy Do” (Masayuki Suzuki). It’s been a privilege performing with the band over the last four years.” Andrew ’21,
A MUSICAL FINALE
TO THE SCHOOL YEAR
who played trombone in the Canterbury Jazz Horn Quartet and the Jazz-Rock-Pop ensemble, said that he was thankful to be back on stage, and looks forward to pursuing music at Tufts University, MA: “I’ve been with the Canterbury music program for the last four years, and it felt strange not having a concert this [fall and winter]. But once I got back on stage, I remembered how much fun it was to perform. After an amazing four years, I look forward to continuing my passion for music and performing beyond Canterbury.” Lorelai Lee Swanek ’21 has played piano for 13 years and has performed in—and won!—competitions throughout the northeast for her skill, but Sunday, May 16, marked her first solo recital. Held in the L. Michael Sheehy ’56 Chorale Classroom, Lorelai’s performance treated the audience to a program of works from Bach, Beethoven, Liszt, and Mendelssohn that she curated. Lorelai shared, “I haven’t performed for a live audience since February 2020, so having my friends and teachers at the concert with me was very special. I was able to draw energy from the audience and really put my soul into each note. I am grateful for the opportunity to give a senior recital to showcase all of the repertoires I’ve worked on in high school.” She continued, “During the concert, I dedicated my performance of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata no. 17 in D Minor “The Tempest” to my history teacher Mr. Diamond. Mr. Diamond has been an amazing mentor for the past three years, and he shares my love and knowledge of classical music.” Lorelai will attend Oberlin College, OH, in the fall and continue her music studies there. Lorelai also played violin in Canterbury’s Vocal and Instrumental ensembles, which performed their first and final concert of the year in the Chapel of our Lady on May 21. Well done to all our talented and hardworking musicians!
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n Friday, May 21, student musicians and vocalists gave a fantastic performance in the Chapel of Our Lady. The Spring Serenade was a celebration of music by the Carillon Guild, Chamber Ensemble, Chorale, Orchestra, and Varsity Voices, most of whom gave their first live performances of the year. Limited in-person seating was offered, and students had the opportunity to watch via livestream both remotely and on the projector in the Steers Center Ragland Commons. Many family and friends tuned into the live broadcast to enjoy the performances. The Spring Serenade featured beautiful performances of well-known classics by Mozart and Wagner and more contemporary hits such as “Somebody I Used to Know” (Gotye, arrangement by Pentatonix) and “Count on Me” (Bruno Mars, arrangement by Beck). Students in each of the ensembles spent the past several months preparing for the show. Members of the Carillon Guild included Katherine Datlow ’24, Yurou Li ’21, Qingzhi (George) Tu ’22, and Qixiu (Neil) Yao ’22. The Chamber Ensemble included students Annaleise Booth ’23, Ian Fernandes ‘22, Lorelai Lee Swanek ’21, and Sandra Xu ’21 on violin, and Beckett Reynolds ’23 on cello. Chorale included Katherine Delamere ’21 (who also played the ukulele), Colleen Gallagher ’24, Kayleigh Keefe ’21, Emily Lang ’24, Yurou Li ’21, Andrew Martin ’23, Fiona Yao ’23, and Lezhi
(Martin) Zhang ’24. Orchestra was composed of students Camryn Beauvais ’24 and Laurie Etienne ’24 on flute; Annaleise Booth ’23, Giselle Bradshaw ’21, Lorelai Lee Swanek ’21, and Sandra Xu ’21 on violin; Hayden Devorsetz ’24 on tuba; Kennison Harmon ’21 on cello; and Steven Song ’24 on piano. Varsity Voices members included Ava Faruol ’24, Colleena Healy ’21, Andrew Ji ’23, Stella McCormack ’21, Sylvia Pinheiro ’24, Sydney Ragland ’21, Cooper Stepankiw ’22, Bryce Stone ‘23, Oscar Wang ’21, and Qixiu (Neil) Yao ’22. Director of Theater Sarah Armstrong served as the Director for the Carillon Guild, Varsity Voices, and Chorale, and music teacher Hafez Taghavi conducted the Chamber Ensemble and Orchestra. Christopher Scott Rich was the accompanist for Chorale. As the final concert performance for Sixth Form singers and musicians, students expressed gratitude for being able to play one last time with friends and faculty present. Sandra Xu ’21 (University of Connecticut ’25) said, “Since we weren’t able to have a concert during my Fifth Form year, I was very grateful to be able to perform live again this spring. It felt like a great culmination of my four years playing in Chamber and Orchestra, and I’ll be sad to not be a part of the Canterbury ensembles anymore.”
Over 37 percent of graduates from the Class of 2021 will continue to pursue their talent and passion for athletics in college.
BASEBALL
LACROSSE
BASKETBALL
Ian Cooke (University of Connecticut, CT)
Jack Rufa (Vassar College, NY)
Jake Elston (University of Scranton, PA)
Andrew Widlar (Lake Forest College, IL)
Quinn O’Connor (Roger Williams University, RI)
Christian Johnson (Clark University, MA)
Charlotte Zapletal (Wesleyan University, CT)
Luke Pliego (University of Massachusetts — Boston, MA)
HOCKEY
Evan Burke (St. Lawrence University, NY)
Nikhil Sheth (Clark University, MA) Avery Smith (Emerson College, MA) Nicholas Sturino (Fairfield University, CT)
SOCCER
Natasha Burns (St. Lawrence University, NY) Peyton DeRouen (College of St. Rose, NY)
Jack Barton (Bryant University, RI)
Camryn Liuzzi (Alvernia University, PA) Autumn Mish (University of New Hampshire, NH) Luciana Robertelli (Western New England University, MA) Cassidy Rockwood (Johnson and Wales University, RI)
Brett Hutchison (SUNY Binghamton, NY)
Nicholas Spinoso (University of Pennsylvania, PA) Max Zakheim (Bryant University, RI)
FOOTBALL
Declan Clancy (Trinity College, CT) Nicholas DeMatteis (Sacred Heart University, CT) Natale Frangione (University of British Columbia, Canada) Isaiah Golonka (Dartmouth College, NH)
CROSS COUNTRY
Abigayle King (Bates College, ME)
Lorelai Lee Swanek (Oberlin College, OH)
Ella Olcese (Bowdoin College, ME)
WRESTLING
FIELD HOCKEY
Sean Quaye (Muhlenberg College, PA)
Lida Coco (Bentley University, MA)
THE MAGAZINE OF CANTERBURY SCHOOL
SAINTS
COLLEGE ATHLETIC RECRUITMENTS
❝
This year in athletics was certainly a complicated one due to COVID-19. Although every school dealt with myriad challenges, Canterbury provided an afternoon experience of training and competing in all of our sports. That said, it certainly came with its obstacles and stressors; whether we were waiting on test results, making sure everyone followed health and safety protocols, or dealing with postponements, the students and coaches stayed positive and were appreciative of every opportunity to play.”
JIM STONE P ’23, ’24 , DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS AND HEAD COACH OF VARSITY FOOTBALL We finished the year in strong fashion as we resumed a competition schedule that was as close to normal as possible. This spring, Canterbury played 100 contests (the most of any New England boarding school), with each team playing several games. It was incredible to see our Saints playing on campus on a sunny Saturday. We are very proud of all of the efforts from our athletes and coaches to make this year a successful one.”
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HILLTOP HAPPENINGS
❝
It was phenomenal to be able to practice and compete after missing the entire spring season last year. Getting back on the field helped the development and morale of our players and program. We’re so grateful to our Athletic Department for scheduling 19 games for our team this spring—more than most, if not all, other independent schools in New England. While most seasons measure successes by wins and losses, I think just being on the field and allowing these young men to play the game they love was the biggest success of all this year!”
SAINTS TODD MATHEWSON, DIRECTOR OF STUDIES AND HEAD COACH OF VARSITY BASEBALL
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SALLY RUDERMAN, SCIENCE TEACHER AND HEAD COACH OF BOYS’ CREW PAGE 54.
THE MAGAZINE OF CANTERBURY SCHOOL
With a young and enthusiastic team, we hit the water in early April after not even touching boats last school year. The team was eager to learn, excited to make up for lost time, and thrilled to get the full season of experience. We were lucky enough to have a handful of dual races on our schedule, with huge improvements each time we raced.”
CHRIS ROBERTS P ’24, CHAIR OF THE MATH DEPARTMENT AND HEAD COACH OF BOYS’ VARSITY LACROSSE
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It was great to be out on the field again. Having lost the spring 2020 season, there were a lot of puzzle pieces to put into place, especially as we welcomed several new players that were new to the varsity level this year. The boys worked hard each week preparing for back-to-back games. Our schedule was similar to that of a college team’s schedule, with practices during the week and games on weekends, and having the opportunity to compete was crucial for building our players’ skills and for their spirit.”
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WE DID IT AGAIN! On April 20, we called upon the extended Saints family to unite in celebration and recognition of today's students. Thanks to this extraordinary community, in just 24 hours, we exceeded our goals!
815 proud and loyal donors supported Canterbury and collectively raised a TOTAL of $311,359. This inspiring demonstration of support makes it possible for the School to weather any storm. On behalf of the students, faculty, and staff who benefit directly from your generosity, thank you for a truly remarkable SAINTS GIVING DAY.
DONORS BY CONSTITUENT GROUP:
131 ALUMNI: 504 FACULTY & STAFF: 40 STUDENTS: 15 CURRENT PARENTS:
GRANDPARENTS, FRIENDS, AND PARENTS OF ALUMNI: 125
CURRENT PARENT PARTICIPATION BY CLASS:
2021 = 37 donors 2022 = 39 donors 2023 = 35 donors 2024 = 17 donors
DONORS FROM EIGHT COUNTRIES:
USA | UK | China | Hong Kong Bulgaria | Dominican Republic | Canada Spain
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:
TOP ALUMNI CLASSES:
Alumni class with the most donors
2006 with
Alumni class with the most dollars
60s: 1966
00s: 2006
19wi7th5
$8,850
21 DONORS
Alumni classes with most donors by decade: 90s: 1995 50s: 1956 70s:1971
80s: 1981
10s: 2010 &
2011(tie!)
REUNION CHALLENGE (1s & 6s)
MOST DONORS:
2006 with 21 donors
:
MOST DOLLARS:
1986 with $8125
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Michelle (Almeida) Wohlfahrt, Esq. ’95, P ’25 CLASS AMBASSADOR AND NEW CANTERBURY PARENT Michelle (Almeida) Wohlfahrt, Esq. ’95, P ’25 graduated from Marist College, NY, in 1999, where she played on the women’s soccer team, was a peer tutor, and interned with the United States Secret Service. Michelle graduated from New York Law School, NY, in 2003 and then began practicing real estate and corporate law with a law firm in Dutchess County, New York. Her focus later transitioned into the healthcare field where she represented several hospitals and healthcare systems. In the spring of 2016, Michelle started her own law practice and currently represents start-up, small-, and medium-sized pharmaceutical companies focusing on clinical trials. In 2009, Michelle was awarded the Greater Southern Dutchess Chamber of Commerce “Forty Under 40
What is your favorite Canterbury memory? I have so many wonderful memories, but one that stands out was the Guys and Dolls spring musical my Fourth Form year. We had a blast during rehearsals and the production was fantastic. Other great memories include hanging out in the dorms, watching the hockey games, listening to Mr. Bice’s stories, and Sunday Mass with the entire Canterbury community.
What is some advice you would share with current Saints? My advice would be to try new things and take advantage of all of the opportunities Canterbury has to offer. You may end up enjoying something you never even thought would interest you. Canterbury is such a supportive community, so it is the perfect place to have an open mind and try a new class, sport, art, community service opportunity, or club.
What words do you use to describe your Canterbury experience? My Canterbury experience was formative, motivating, life-changing, and extraordinary.
How do you keep in touch with your Canterbury classmates? I mainly keep in touch with classmates through social media, but I have reached out to different classmates when traveling over the years. If I know I will be in someone’s area, I try to contact them and make plans to meet.
Shaker Award” and was also recognized as a Super Lawyers “Rising Star” in Healthcare law and Corporate law from 2013–2016. Michelle has served on various not-for-profit boards and committees and currently serves on a committee for the Anderson Center for Autism. Michelle has stayed engaged with Canterbury over the years, more recently as a Class Ambassador for her 25th Reunion and member of Canterbury Core and, presently, as the parent of an incoming Saint. We asked her about some of her favorite memories of her time here, the courses and activities she took part in, and what she is most looking forward to as her son begins his Third Form year at Canterbury.
Has anyone in your life been a mentor to you? How did their advice help you? At Canterbury, I had so much support and several mentors. Mike Hennessey (my soccer coach), Amy Omaña (my advisor), and Guy Simonelli were all people that I could talk to, and they each guided me in different aspects during my time at Canterbury. Mike Hennessey really pushed me on the soccer field, making me want to work harder and get better. I went on to play soccer in college. Amy Omaña guided me in class selection and was supportive during some tough personal times. Guy Simonelli was always a wonderful listener and a voice of reason. Early in my law career, I had a mentor that I could always reach out to for both legal questions and advice as I navigated my career path, and whose guidance helped me make some career-changing decisions within the legal field.
Why did you choose Canterbury for your child, and what are you looking forward to when being back on campus as a parent? Connor ultimately chose Canterbury on his own, and, of course, I am thrilled with his choice! Connor chose Canterbury for many of the same reasons that I loved Canterbury: it’s a smaller school but is still able to offer a variety of classes, including at the honors and AP levels, and competitive sports. Connor likes the family-like, community feeling. I am looking forward to watching Connor compete on his sports teams and cheering him on from the sidelines.
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Class Notes
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THE MAGAZINE OF CANTERBURY SCHOOL
1956
Pat Bennison moved to Fort Mill, SC, recently and extends wishes for good health to all Saints.
1958
Richard Bray is in his 22nd year of retirement from SNET, SBC, and AT&T. He moved from Connecticut to Naples, FL, in 2017 and loves it there. He would enjoy hearing from anyone in the class of 1958.
1964
1966
Terry Meehan’s son, Matthew, graduated from Bard College; his other son, Luke, is attending Columbia University; and his step daughter, Taryn, is studying for the Bar, having graduated from Fordham University.
1970
Stephen Cunningham, Peter Kiernan ’71, and Greg Ahern ’70 reminisced together about Canterbury and enjoyed the cool weather in beautiful Newport, RI, in July 2021.
1982
Chuck Frydenborg joined MarketMuse in 2018 as Senior Vice President of Sales. After leading the company through a period of unprecedented growth, he was recently named Chief Executive Officer. MarketMuse is a leading AI driven, content optimization software company based in Boston, MA.
Christopher Colvin is still teaching at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in Austin, TX, during the school year (History, Geometry) and teaching Philosophy for Bogazici University in Istanbul, Turkey, in their summer term. The latter was all online the summers of 2020 and 2021.
Chuck resides in Richmond, Virginia with his wife, Lisa.
1972
Tom Brennan and John O’Brian visited Christopher during the pandemic.
1974
Albie Coles, Jr. was promoted to Head of Research at CBD Science, LLC.
Peter “Chewy” White Holland, died suddenly a year ago; his family and some 300 of his closest friends gathered at Chewy’s favorite ski resort in New Hampshire on July 20, 2021, to celebrate his life. Griff Doyle, Steve Finley, Fran Foley, and Charlie Glennon joined the crowd remembering Chewy and learned that the nickname he acquired in the fall of 1960 became his usual name for the rest of his life. Known to his wife, children, grandchildren, and many friends as Chewy, the stories told at the remembrance showed that he remained the same Chewy we knew 50+ years ago for the rest of his full and happy life: open, honest, and transparent with a large heart and a generous soul.
1975
Larry Turkheimer was inducted into the United States Lacrosse Hall of Fame — Southern California Chapter.
Flippo Guerrini-Maraldi So lovely to read the words of Tony Walters ’81 in the recent Alumni Spotlight. Tony was a class ahead of me but all his words ring true. Here’s to you my friend, I share all your thoughts.
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CLASS NOTES
1996
Christoffer Mannix Schlarb recently relocated to Upper Westchester County, NY, where he now lives with his wife Adriana and two children Dylan and Bailey. His long career in the music industry has recently seen him on the production team at Interscope Records for Sting and Shaggy’s 2019 Grammy-award-winning album 44/876. His company, DubShot Records, just celebrated its 10th anniversary as one of the largest distributors of Caribbean music. In 2020, he received another Grammy nomination for the project The Final Battle: Sly and Robbie vs. Roots Radics. The company also distributes hit songs such as Inner Circle’s “Bad Boys (COPS Theme Song),” “Sweat (A la la la la long),” as well as releases from multi-platinum recording artist Sean Paul.
1989
Felice Torre visited the incredible Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming and Arches National Park in Utah with his beautiful family. The goal of the trip was to show his wonderful girls the power of god and nature.
1995
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KJ and Dominique, children of Jen (Weiss) Agnew, are pictured celebrating Dominique’s graduation from Cornell University this past May. Dominique will be attending Northeastern University School of Law as a Public Interest Law Scholar. KJ is a recent high school graduate and will be attending the University of South Florida in the fall.
THE MAGAZINE OF CANTERBURY SCHOOL
1997
Sheila Banas, who never missed the Run for Joe fundraising event, presented Corporal Giuseppe “Joe” Leto’s family a commemorative quilt made with the t-shirts given out to participants’ over the 21 years of the run. Joe died in July 1999 during a training exercise while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. Proceeds raised from the event support the Joe Leto Scholarship Fund. The Leto family would like to thank Sheila for all her hard work and love she put into the quilt.
Peter Milliman is the current head men’s lacrosse coach at Johns Hopkins University and will serve as the head coach of the Iroquois Nationals Sixes Team at the World Games 2022.
2003
Steve DeMaio was ordained into the Salesian Community on Saturday, June 26, 2021, and celebrated his first Mass the following day on Sunday, June 27. In attendance was Melaine (Carlson) Hecht ’92, Viv and Guy Simonelli P ’89, ’91, ’92, ’99, Amy (McKenna) ’86 and Julio Omaña P ’19, ’20, and Erika DeMaio ’05.
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CLASS NOTES
2005
2006
Caitlin Garzi and Robert Dalton welcomed their daughter, Jane Elizabeth Dalton, in December 2020.
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THE MAGAZINE OF CANTERBURY SCHOOL
2010
Hillary (Buzaid) Moreno led our Canterbury Society of Alumni Virtual Yoga class on May 8, 2021. Hillary has been practicing yoga for three years and received her certification during quarantine!
Carolyn has a B.A. in Politics from New York University, NY, and an M.A. in Business Administration from Wake Forest University, NC. She is a Human Resources leader at SPX Corporation in Charlotte, NC. Dennis has a B.A. in Industrial Engineering from Clemson University, SC, and is both a
military pilot with the North Carolina Air National Guard and a commercial airline pilot at American Airlines. The couple resides in Charlotte, NC.
Carolyn Malloy of Stamford, CT, married Major Dennis Rawls IV of Lake Wylie, SC, on May 22, 2021. They were married by the bride’s uncle, Governor Dannel Malloy, at the Stamford Yacht Club in Stamford, CT.
Jay Zuck is the new Social Director and Board Member for Back to the Island Society. The mission at BTTI is to preserve, honor, promote, and celebrate Jimmy Buffett’s music, writing, lifestyle, and impact on countless people and places. The Society also strives to give back to various communities through events and fundraising and has already donated over $20,000 to charities Jimmy Buffett founded in the three months since its founding. The organization will host its first big event in Key West, FL, on November 3 and 4, 2021, with live music and a silent auction. Visit backtotheisland.org to learn more.
2016
Mary LaVigne, a 2020 graduate of Loyola University-Maryland, helped prepare the table during the Baccalaureate Mass for the classes of 2020 and 2021. Mary also just completed a year of service with Taller de Jose in late July. Mary took part in aiding over 800 Latinx community residents with access to food, shelter, and financial assistance. Thank you, Mary!
Quinn Greene graduated from Gettysburg College on May 17, 2021. As a senior, he was named Player of the Year to lead the 2021 All-Centennial Men’s Golf Team. The individual champion at the Centennial Conference Championship, Greene was a unanimous All-Centennial pick en route to Player of the Year accolades. A four-year starter, Greene helped Gettysburg post the three lowest singleseason scoring averages in program history,
Paige Woodhouse married Reed Carlson on September 21, 2019, in Newport, RI. They met while attending Villanova University, PA, and currently live in New York City. On January 24, 2021, Paige and Carlson welcomed their first baby, Chase Marshall Carlson.
Tyrus Xanthos and Amelia Haynes are engaged and getting married!
2017
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2019
Max Cotier played in the NCAA Regionals on June 5, 2021, with the University of Virginia. (See article on page 16 by classmate Greg McKenna ’19 for more info!)
including the school record of 303.4 in 2018-19. He helped the Bullets claim the CC title and qualify for the NCAA Division III Championship for the first time in 17 years in 2019.
On June 24, 2021 Quinn was named to the NCAA Division III PING All-MidAtlantic Region Team by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA).
2018
Anna Oeser, a rising senior at Boston College, has been named captain of the Women’s Cross Country team for the upcoming 2021 season. Boston College’s 2021 season schedule will feature seven regular season meets before the ACC Championship.
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THE MAGAZINE OF CANTERBURY SCHOOL
Remembering Paul J. Hanly, Jr. ’69, P ’06
T
he Canterbury community mourns the passing of former Trustee, Paul J. Hanly, Jr. ’69, P ’06, who died on May 22, 2021, at his home after a months-long battle with anaplastic thyroid cancer. A named shareholder of Simmons Hanly Conroy, Paul dedicated his 40-year legal career to helping others. A trailblazer in the legal industry and gifted trial lawyer, he played a leading role in the settlements of thousands of cases, resulting in recoveries for his clients amounting to more than $1 billion. Paul was renowned for his exhaustive trial preparation, imaginative trial strategies, nearly photographic memory of the contents of documents, and tightly controlled and disarmingly effective cross-examinations. He was also known for his bright sartorial choices and bespoke suits and shoes, which he wore to display respect for the court and judicial process. For the last 20 years, Paul represented plaintiffs exclusively. He held key roles in some of the largest multidistrict litigations in the country and helped clients who experienced child abuse, defective drugs and devices, toxic exposures, economic conspiracies, and even the terrorism of September 11, 2001. Incredibly, he crossed paths with fellow Canterbury alumnus Desmond “Des” Barry ’63 during the 9/11 proceedings. Des is an internationally renowned defense attorney specializing in aviation and product liability law and represented American Airlines at the time. He was the lead defense lawyer on the case, and Paul was on the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee; the two sat down together many times to settle the case and even chatted about their shared memories of Canterbury. “Over my 47-year career, I have dealt with
many, many plaintiffs’ lawyers—some were pleasant dealings, and others were not so pleasant—and I can tell you that Paul Hanly was always a gentleman,” shared Des. “He was a pleasure to deal with even though we were adversaries in the courtroom. Paul was involved in a highly competitive side of the law, and his reputation among both the Plaintiffs’ Bar and the Defense Bar was impeccable. He was very well respected.” Most recently, Paul’s work brought him to the forefront of the unprecedented mass tort litigation seeking to resolve the ongoing opioid crisis. He served as the co-lead of the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee that oversees the prescription opioid multidistrict litigation consolidated in the Northern District of Ohio, and he also held leadership roles in state court litigation. In 2020, the National Law Journal awarded him its Lifetime Achievement Award, in part, for his work on the opioid litigation, which Paul continued until his passing. His firm, Simmons Hanly Conroy, was twice named the nation's "Law Firm of the Year" for Mass Tort Litigation/ Class Actions - Plaintiffs in the 2020 edition of U.S. News & World Report - Best Lawyers®, in 2018 and 2020. The firm was also ranked nationally in Tier 1, the highest possible rating, for Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions - Plaintiffs, and received Tier 1 metropolitan rankings for Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions - Plaintiffs in New York City and San Francisco, for Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs in San Francisco and St. Louis, and for Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs in St. Louis. At Canterbury, Paul was the recipient of the 1969 Higgins Award for leadership and contributions in school life at his Commencement. In 1974, he graduated from Cornell University, NY, magna cum laude
with a B.A. in analytic philosophy, where he was a three-year starter on Varsity Football as well as the recipient of the University Scholar–Athlete award for the highest GPA while playing a varsity sport. Paul continued his education at Cambridge University, UK, graduating with an M.A. with honors in 1976, and he received his J.D. in 1979 from Georgetown University Law Center, DC. After law school, Paul clerked for the Hon. Lawrence A. Whipple, a U.S. District Judge in the District of New Jersey. Paul maintained a strong connection with Canterbury over the years. His son graduated from the school in 2006, and Paul served on the Board of Trustees from 2003–2010, where he was a member of the Education and Admission Committees. He was the 2019 recipient of the Thomas J. Sheehy III Distinguished Alumni Award, which recognizes an alumnus/a of the School who, through their professional, community, or public service, has brought distinction to themselves, credit to Canterbury, and benefit to the communities they serve. Paul is survived by two sons, Paul J. Hanly III ’06 and Burton J. Hanly; a daughter, Edith D. Hanly; a brother, John K. Hanly ’57; and a sister, Margo Mullady.
PAGE 65.
Remembering Former Faculty Member Beverly Lee, DVM, P ’80, ’82, ’84, GP ’13
I
t is with great sadness that we announce the passing of former longtime Canterbury faculty member Dr. Beverly “Bev” Lee P ’80, ’82, ’84, GP ’13. Bev passed away at her home in New Milford, CT, on Thursday, August 26, 2021. Originally from Elkins Park, PA, Bev grew up on Long Island, NY, graduating from St. Mary's High School in Garden City in 1955. Bev then went on to attend Cornell University, NY, first as an undergraduate and later to earn her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree in 1961, graduating as one of only two women in the program. Bev lived in Framingham, MA, before moving to New Milford, CT, in 1964, where she worked as a veterinarian at New Milford Animal Hospital for six years before turning her full attention to raising her family. In 1980, Bev embarked on a second career as a faculty member at Canterbury. In her first year, she was appointed Athletic Director for girls’ athletics in addition to coaching cross country, squash, and tennis. In her second year, Bev was offered a position to teach biology. However, there was a last-minute need for a chemistry teacher, so Bev began her career as a faculty member teaching both courses. In a strange twist of fate, Bev’s youngest daughter, Jen Chandler ’84, was also hired to teach biology at Canterbury but soon switched to teaching chemistry. The two taught in parallel for over 20 years and were highlighted in a 2013 issue of Pallium, in which former faculty member and Chair of the Science Department Sandy Behan noted, “Bev’s ability to teach and to instill a love for learning biology and chemistry is remarkable. She is a mentor to all of us in
PAGE 66.
the department.” In the same article, former faculty member and Dean of Faculty Lou Mandler described Bev as “irreplaceable.” Bev guided students through some of Canterbury's most challenging biology and chemistry classes until her retirement in 2016 at the age of 79—after 36 years. During her tenure, she taught Microbiology, Anthropology, regular and Honors Biology, regular and Honors Chemistry, AP Chemistry, and Introduction to Physical Science, while also serving as a coach and advisor to the Canterbury Honor Society. In 2006, she was the recipient of the esteemed Women of Canterbury Award, presented to a Canterbury woman who has influenced the lives of Canterbury's young women and whose accomplishments reflect her wisdom, compassion, and selflessness. Fittingly, her daughter, Jen ’84, received the same award in 2013. Chair of the Science Department and Director of Sustainability Cammy
THE MAGAZINE OF CANTERBURY SCHOOL
Roffe P ’12, ’15 worked with Bev for over 20 years and shared gratitude for her colleague and mentor: “Several years ago, the Science Department dressed as characters from Winnie the Pooh for Halloween. Bev was Owl—a perfect fit, as she was the one we all would go to for answers to hard scientific questions. She was an incredible mentor to faculty, a friend to all, always ready to laugh, and known to blow something up once in a while to explain a point to her students! We miss her dearly.” Outside of teaching, Bev was an avid golfer and loved spending time with her three daughters, Laura Lee Quirk ’80, Amy Lee ’82, and Jen Chandler ’84 and their families, especially her grandchildren— Deirdre Quirk and her wife Leya Strode, Keely Quirk, Kinsey Chandler ’13, Brenna Quirk, Robin Chandler, and August Lee-Kovach. She will forever be remembered fondly by all who knew her at Canterbury for her humor, wisdom, and can-do attitude.
J. Gregory Merrick ’53 1935-2021
Gerald A. O'Connor Jr. ’55 1937-2021
Mary Grace (Gately) Boucher ’75 1956-2021
Susan (Cooper) Hodge ’77 1959-2021
Morton R. French III ’84 1965-2021
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