Pomfret Magazine Winter 2021

POMFRET MAGAZINE WINTER 2021

Inside:

QuaranTeens (Cover) Seniors reflect on a year of living with Covid

The Anatomy of Steel

Photo Essay: The sculptures of Jack Howard-Potter ’93

Glee

Remembering former music teacher Warren Geissinger

Contents 02

TIM TALK

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CHAPEL TALK

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ON THE HILLTOP

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CLASS NOTES

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

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The Best Way Out Is Always Through by Tim Richards

Campus News May 2020 through January 2021 Michaela Nsubuga ’21 and Jackson Partilla ’21 FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

Pat Boyd

Pomfret School 398 Pomfret Street • PO Box 128 Pomfret, CT 06258-0128 860.963.6100 www.pomfret.org Editor Garry Dow gdow@pomfret.org Proofreader Tina Lefevre P ’21 Class Notes & Gatherings Editor Deb Thurston dthurston@pomfret.org Design Jordan Kempain Writers Tim Richards P ’15 Paul Fowler ’64 Yubing Yang ’21 Shawn Zhu ’21 Bettina Johnston ’21 Eddy Akpan ’21 Svea Anderson ’21 Jackson Partilla ’21 Samia Segal ’21 Michaela Nsubuga ’21

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Between Two Worlds by Yubing Yang ’21 Alumni Spotlights Roger Angell ’38 Turns 100 Remembering Brian Dennehy P ’11 IN MEMORIAM VIRTUAL GATHERINGS ICONOGRAPHY

Cole Art Studio

Photographers Jim Gipe (Pivot Media) Jamey McSweeney Lindsay Lehmann P ’24 Illustrators Anthony Foronda We Want to Hear from You Really, we do. These are your stories and this is your magazine. If we’ve inspired, challenged, or disappointed you, please tell us about it.

Our Mission Pomfret School cultivates a healthy interdependence of mind, body, and spirit in its students as it prepares them for college and to lead and learn in a diverse and increasingly interconnected society.

Pomfret Magazine is published by Pomfret’s Communications Office © 2021 Printed on recycled stock by a facility that is both certified by the FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council) and is an EPA Green Power partner.

Pomfret School does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, handicap, gender, sexual orientation, age, or national origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid, or other programs administered by the School.

features 26

QuaranTeens

Seniors reflect on a year of living with Covid

38 52

The Anatomy of Steel

Photo Essay: The sculptures of Jack Howard-Potter ’93

Glee

Remembering former music teacher Warren Geissinger

TIM TALK

The Best Way Out Is Always Through

By Tim Richards, Head of School

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here are many things I love about Pomfret School. I love its history, its campus, and its traditions. I love its values, its sunsets, and its purpose. Above all, I love its people.

Each year I try to learn the name of every new student by early October; and each year — by and large — I achieve that goal. It starts with a name here, a name there. I’ll meet a handful of new students at a sit-down lunch, a few more in a classroom, and still others in a dorm or at a game. Soon the students I know begin to outnumber the ones I do not know, until everywhere I look, I am able to put a name with a face.

My friend and colleague Dean of Students Wes Jenkins is a true master of this process. In a typical year, it takes him about two weeks to nail down every name. Of course, he and I are not alone. Our entire faculty is engaged in this annual endeavor. It is a testament to the strength and resolve of our small community that we can commit ourselves to learning each other’s names. On this campus, every student is known and every student is heard.

It is impossible to be anonymous at Pomfret.

But this year has been different. This year, because of Covid, because of the masks that hide our faces, because of the distance that has kept us six feet — and in many ways, a world — apart, I have come up short. This failure saddens me. Will I master all of our current students’ names this year? I hope so.

Back in January, senior Olivia Raykhman delivered a wonderful Chapel Talk in which she quoted Robert Frost’s 1914 poem, “A Servant to Servants.” The line she referenced was this: “The best way out is always through.” I am so grateful to Olivia for sharing this thought with us, for the more I turn those

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words over in my mind, the more I like them. They speak to the moment of being stuck in the middle of something we have to finish, whether we want to or not.

There is much to dislike about being “stuck’’ in this pandemic.

The transition to distance learning has been hard for teachers and students alike. The cancellation of the fall and winter athletic seasons was a real blow to our coaches and athletes. The chapel services streamed from a near-empty chapel (or from home) have left our community yearning for the real thing. The absence of sitdown meals, where we meet new people and learn their stories, has created distance where we formerly found connection.

Perhaps most poignantly, not being able to come together as a community to grieve the inconceivable loss of Zach Stolarek, one of our beloved seniors, was devastating. It has not been easy, and yet we forge ahead.

This past year has made us stronger. It has forced us to grow.

It has boosted our self-confidence. It has given us a toolbox to face and fix new and old problems alike. It has reinforced the importance of patience. It has shown us the importance of personal responsibility, not only for ourselves, but for others in our world. And it has reminded us to never take for granted how incredibly fortunate we all are to have the grounding continuity and comfort of Pomfret and its remarkable people in our lives.

Robert Frost was right. Olivia Raykhman was right. The best way out is always through. And when we get “out” of this, when we are “through” to the other side, I can promise you this much: I will know every student by name.

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“Each year I try to learn the name of every new student by early October; and each year — by and large — I achieve that goal.”

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ON THE HILLTOP

Hilltop

ON THE

CAMPUS NEWS MAY 2020 THROUGH JANUARY 2021

CRATIA DEI MECUM

Until We Meet Again Almost one year ago, we bid farewell to the Class of 2020 with a special video tribute released on what would have been Commencement. Campus had been shuttered since March, and though no digital experience was ever going to replicate the emotional impact of a Hilltop graduation, the YouTube Premiere, which debuted on Sunday, May 24, came surprisingly close.

The pre-recorded, live-release event featured an organ prelude

by Music Teacher Sam Beckwith, an invocation by Chaplain Bobby Fisher, a prayer for the sixth form by Faculty Member Louisa Jones, remarks by Student Body President Colin Kroll and Vice President Nisan Korkmaz, comments from Form Dean Pat Boyd, the presentation of select awards by Head of School Tim Richards, the announcement of diplomas by Librarian David Ring, a congratulatory message from Board Chair Justin Klein, and a musical performance by the GriffTones.

In his remarks, Head of School Tim Richards delivered a message of optimism. “At this moment, more than anything, I wish for your continued good health. But beyond maintaining your wellbeing lies my next greatest wish for you: that you will nurture and sustain a deep and abiding sense of hope — hope for an end to this virus, hope for a future of endless possibilities, hope for a better and happier world.”

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PomCon Teaching faculty kicked off the 2020-2021 school year with a professional development extravaganza called PomCon, short for Pomfret Conference. The annual summer event — created by faculty, for faculty — spanned three days and included five unique tracks, ranging from academics to athletics to student life, and everything in between. “After a tumultuous spring and a quiet summer,” says Dean of Faculty Martha Horst, “it felt really good to have everyone back together.”

Better Together It took 642 negative Covid tests and three carefully orchestrated arrival days to get students back to campus, but when the first day of classes finally rolled around on September 11, Pomfret was back.

In his opening chapel talk, livestreamed from a nearly empty Clark Memorial Chapel, Head of School Tim Richards said, “The title we gave to our reopening plan was not an afterthought. Better Together speaks to our belief that community is at the core of the Pomfret Experience.”

And though the vast majority of students made it back to campus, some did not. “For those students who cannot make it back to campus right away, especially our international students, classes are going to look and feel different,” said Assistant Head of School Don Gibbs. “But the essence of the Pomfret Experience, rich with human relationships, challenging courses, and engaging learning opportunities, will remain unchanged.”

Early September also marked the beginning of Pomfret’s Covid-era health and safety protocols, including regular “surveillance” testing of the entire campus population. (Ten percent of students, faculty, and staff were randomly tested each week.)

By the time the fall trimester was over, Pomfret had administered more than 1,600 PCR tests — all negative.

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ON THE HILLTOP

Pomfret Ranked Among the Best Private High Schools in America As one reviewer put it: “You will not find a better place to go to high school.”

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hen it comes to education, the US is home to an incredible assortment of private high schools. Iconic names like Phillips and Choate in the East, Thacher and Cate in the West, and many others in between, make the US one of the most competitive private school markets in the world.

And yet, for the second year in a row, Pomfret has been recognized by Niche — the leader in secondary school rankings — as one of the country’s premier independent schools. In particular, Pomfret was ranked the #7 Best Private High School in Connecticut, the #31 Best Boarding High School in America, and the #117 Best Private High School in America, receiving an overall grade of A+. For context, there are an estimated 4,260 private high schools in the US, which puts Pomfret in the top 3 percent of all independent schools in the country.

“We’re a pretty down-to-earth school. We try not to put too much stock in rankings, but I’m pleased that Pomfret has been recognized as one of this country’s best independent schools,” says Director of Enrollment Management Amy Graham. “We strive to provide a really high quality education and experience for our students, and this recognition validates that work.”

The 2021 Best Private High Schools ranking is based on rigorous analysis of key statistics and millions of reviews from students and parents. Ranking factors include SAT/ACT scores, the quality of colleges that students consider, student-

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teacher ratio, private school ratings, and more. Niche scores nearly 100,000 schools each year.

Posting on the Niche website, one recent graduate wrote, “Pomfret is an incredible community. Most schools say they have a strong community in their catalogue but do not live up to this expectation. This is not true at Pomfret. All of the faculty care deeply about their students in and outside of the classroom.

The students are genuine and caring and cultivate a strong sense of community that allows everyone to be themselves.

“You will not find a better place to go to high school. Everybody is celebrated for who they are and what they bring to the community. It is a wonderful mix of athletes, brainiacs, and those interested in the arts, and everybody feels valued. I struggled socially before coming to Pomfret and met my best friends there, some of the best people I know. I met adults that believed in me and still care deeply about me and my success even after graduation. Best four years of my life.”

Over the past several years, Pomfret has built a reputation among prospective families, college admission officers, and placement directors as a school to watch. Bold initiatives like the Grauer Family Institute and interesting new offerings like the Certificate Program have caught the eye of families looking for a school that both pushes and pulls its students to succeed.

“There’s really no ceiling at Pomfret,” says Gwyneth Connell, who oversees academics at Pomfret. “The sky’s the limit.”

What’s Important?

On Sunday, September 13, Gwyneth Connell, director of the Grauer Family Institute, and Doug MacLeod, director of studies, announced academic awards over Zoom during this year’s Convocation ceremony. Literally a “calling together,” this annual event recognized the academic achievements of last year’s topperforming students.

In her opening remarks, Connell asked, “How many of you know what’s important? Sometimes, in our most cynical moments, it is easiest to pretend that nothing is really that important. After all, deciding what’s important means choosing to care, choosing to invest, choosing to risk disappointment, or even heartbreak. And yet, maybe what’s truly most important is the very act of deciding that something is.”

“How many of you know what’s important?

Sometimes, in our most cynical moments, it is easiest to pretend that nothing is really that important.”

The Value(s) of a Pomfret Education When students returned to the Hilltop after a six-month hiatus, they were greeted by a new sight. Written in big bold letters in buildings all across campus were value statements. In Olmsted Student Union, one statement read, “We care for ourselves, the people around us, and the community in which we live.” In Centennial Academic and Arts Center, another said, “We thrive on creativity, innovation, and change.” The project was the brainchild of Head of School Tim Richards, who didn’t want to see the School’s values filed away and forgotten, especially during the pandemic. “I wanted our students to internalize these words,” he says, “to draw inspiration from them, to use them in their everyday life.”

Code Switch Confusing. Chameleon. Survivor. Intricate. Proud. When asked to describe in just one word what it’s like to be a person of color at a predominantly white institution, these were the words our black and brown students chose.

The question came during a panel discussion moderated by Amon Williams ’21. “The purpose of the event was to give insight into the challenges faced by people of color — the things you may not notice, but we notice every day,” said Amon. Other panelists included Student Body President Michaela Nsubuga ’21, Tay Guirantes ’21, Eddy Akpan ’21, and Laisha Escalante ’23.

“A lot of people have preconceived notions about what it means to be a person of color,” says Michaela. “I know not everyone has the best perception of people like me, so I will intentionally code-switch and portray myself in a way that isn’t problematic or doesn’t seem threatening, so that I don’t have to be put in uncomfortable situations.”

When asked what Pomfret can do to help people of color feel more connected and less on edge, Amon’s response was at once cautious and hopeful. “It takes time for things to change. But we’re going in the right direction.”

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ON THE HILLTOP

Dropping Dots

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Boston College

Bowdoin Dickinson College

Colgate University

As Pomfret enters its second year using the Wellington Engagement Index, we continue to repeat the refrain: “It’s not an answer-finder; it’s a question-finder.”

Pioneered by the Wellington School in Ohio, the online assessment asks students only two questions: “How much do you enjoy this class?” and “How hard is it for you?” Students answer with the click of a button, and their responses are plotted on an X-Y axis and fall into one of four quadrants: grind, engaged, bored, or entertained.

“In a year that has challenged teachers and students beyond measure, I feared student engagement would go way down,” says Gwyneth Connell, who directs the program. “But to my great surprise, the dots showed that students are just as engaged this year as they were last year.”

Bucknell

Skidmore College

Bryant

Syracuse

Virtual Visits With college campuses shuttered and admission reps grounded, it has been a tough year for prospective college applicants. But Pomfret students were thrown a lifeline earlier this year when the College Counseling Office began organizing opportunities for juniors and seniors to meet with college reps virtually.

“They were able to ask questions about academics, campus life, financial aid, and admission procedures,” says Sarah Gawronski, associate director of college counseling. “It was also a great way for our students to show demonstrated interest in a school, which can play an important role in acceptance decisions.”

Each event was broken into two sessions, and each session included representatives from as many as six colleges. In total, students had the opportunity to participate in five different events, connecting them with representatives from over forty different colleges.

Trinity College

POMFRET WINTER 2021

Chapel TV With large indoor gatherings banned by the state, Pomfret needed to get creative with its chapel program this year.

The solution? A twice-weekly livestream of our traditional in-person service, which students watched in advisory groups scattered across campus. “As much as I miss sitting in beautiful Clark Chapel with the entire community, I really appreciated having the extra time with my advisees,” says Advisor Kelly Sheehan.

Another benefit of going virtual was that distance learners could participate. One example: Liv Riley ’21 and other members of her advisory group took turns FaceTiming with Brian Gao ’21, a distance learner from China. “One of us would connect with Brian and prop the phone up in the room,” says Liv. “It was like he was right there with us.”

Am I Good Enough?

Christopher Gruber, vice president and dean of admission & financial aid at Davidson College, was this year’s W.P. Carey ’48 College Admissions Lecture Series speaker. In announcing the selection, Bruce Wolanin, who directs the College Counseling program at Pomfret, said, “Having spent time with Chris each of the past few summers at an annual conference, I’ve been impressed by his humanity, by his humor, and by the wisdom he brings to higher education.”

Gruber was all of those things and more when he met with students and parents over Zoom earlier this year. During his sixtyminute lecture, he spoke about the changing landscape of college admissions, pausing throughout his talk to praise Pomfret, and in particular, the College Counseling Office, saying, “I hope you realize what very good hands you’re in as you navigate these challenging times.”

Perhaps the most telling moment came near the end when one parent asked: “Is being a good student and a good community member enough?” For the first time, Gruber removed his glasses. Then he looked straight into the camera: “There are so many different roles a community needs. Be a good citizen. Be a good friend. Be the unsung hero. Is that enough? Oh, yeah. That’s more than enough.”

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ON THE HILLTOP

Remembering Zach

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n the evening of Friday, January 8, Pomfret senior Zach Stolarek passed away following an extended battle with cancer. Everyone who knew Zach knows he was a fighter, and now that courageous fight is over.

“This is a profoundly sad moment for our community, for Zach’s friends, and for his family,” said Head of School Tim Richards, during a virtual chapel service held the following Monday. “He was an incredible young man, so full of life and joy. He was a strong student, a passionate athlete, especially in his first love of baseball, and he was an amazing friend to so many people. The light in our world burns a little more dimly today because Zach is no longer with us.”

During the service, Chaplain Bobby Fisher, who directs spiritual and ethical education at Pomfret, shared these words of solace, written by the poet Mary Oliver: “To live in this world you must be able to do three things: to love what is mortal; to hold it against your bones knowing your own life depends on it; and, when the time comes, to let it go, to let it go.”

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Philosophizing In October, a few lucky Global Studies students received an invitation to attend an event with an extraordinary guest list. A guest list which included names like Benjamin Franklin, Jean Jacques Rousseau, and Marie Jean Antoine Nicolas de Caritat.

“The Enlightenment Salon was the Starbucks of the 17th and 18th centuries,” says History Teacher Doug Litowitz. “The elites — the artists and the philosophers and the writers — they would all get together in these salons and discuss big ideas.”

Phase One of the project required students to research and assume a character from the Enlightenment or the Scientific Revolution. Phase Two brought this star-studded group of thinkers together to discuss questions ranging from how to establish a just and humanitarian society, to whether human nature is shaped more by innate ideas or by outside experiences.

“By taking on these characters, they had the chance to be a little silly while gaining a deeper understanding of what things were really like,” says Litowitz.

A Lesson in Civil Discourse It can be difficult to stand up in front of your peers and teachers and share your thoughts on a controversial topic. But that is just what students in American Studies were asked to do as part of an exercise in civil discourse that wrestled with several contentious Supreme Court decisions, including Texas v. Johnson (flag burning), Roe v. Wade (abortion), DC v. Heller (gun control), Tinker v. Des Moines (free speech in schools), and University of California v. Bakke (affirmative action).

“Having these difficult discussions is really important to help students develop confidence in their own thoughts and perspectives,” says Humanities Teacher Kena Gilmour. “But more importantly, it encourages them to see the other side, to be comfortable speaking with someone who may not agree with them, and to learn from people who might be different from them.”

Camera Obscura Here is your design challenge: develop an easy-to-operate camera obscura with an adjustable aperture that someone can make in less than an hour out of inexpensive materials — oh, and make it wearable.

Welcome to Engineer Your World, a college-level course written for high school students, designed by the Cockrell School of Engineering at the University of Texas, Austin. Camera obscura, which means “dark chamber” in Latin, is an ancestor to the modern film camera, dating back to the second half of the 16th century. “This project pushed me to bring out a side of myself I don’t see a lot,” says Jamie Madison ’22, a student in the class. “I had to use some ingenuity, propelling myself to think in ways I hadn’t before, and I am very excited to continue learning and growing as an engineer.”

Once their projects were complete, students presented their camera obscuras for critique. Students who received high scores were invited to enroll in a course at the University of Texas for college credit.

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ON THE HILLTOP

Superordinate Goals Do five hundred push-ups. Check. Score sixty goals in the back of the Skillz net — while blindfolded. Check. Complete five different Rubik’s Cubes. Check. Consume food from a box full of Rice Krispies Treats, tangy mustard packets, and cloves of garlic. Check. These are just a few of the superordinate goals the freshman class was charged with accomplishing in just thirty minutes during one of the fall term QUEST sessions this year.

Meanwhile, sophomores gathered on the soccer field to identify their unique character strengths in an unusual way — “speed dating.” During this activity, students were asked to share significant fears, ridiculous pet peeves, and personal reasons for coming to Pomfret.

“I really enjoy these QUEST programs,” says Bridget Fallon ’23. “Not only do they help me identify my own character strengths, they also give me insight to those of others. Hearing their stories helps me feel more connected to my peers and teachers.”

Purple Wave On the third Thursday in October, students, faculty, and staff donned their favorite purple attire in allyship with members of the LGBTQ community, on campus and around the world. “Spirit Day is an opportunity to show our support in a very visible way to LGBTQ people who face bullying simply for being who they are,” says Gabi Lemery ’23. “It was amazing to see how many allies there are here at Pomfret. This event made me feel seen, loved, and supported by our entire community.”

Al Fresco Ask any seasoned Pomfret student to name the first thing that comes to mind when they think of advisory, and chances are it will have something to do with food. From Dr. Chase’s famous brownies to the McMahons’ buffalo mac and cheese, sharing a meal is how Griffins connect. “Having a meal together encourages people to sit a while,” says Assistant Head of School Don Gibbs. “And you can get a lot of mileage from a plate of brownies.”

So what happens when Covid restrictions make the dining part of advisory dinner impossible? Well, it turns out you get a picnic. This fall groups gathered everywhere — around fire pits, atop stone walls, beneath trees, on terraces, in the woods. Louisa Jones was one of the first advisors to pack up her dinner plans and take them outside.

“Students really enjoyed the al fresco dining experience. It was easy to feel the energy.”

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Flexing It has been a rollercoaster of a year for student-athletes at Pomfret. The near constant evolution of protocols and restrictions handed down by the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) and the Connecticut Department of Public Health made competition between schools impossible.

But there was a silver lining.

This year Pomfret gave students the option to add a secondary activity to their afternoon program. This meant two- and threeseason athletes could train out-of-season in winter sports like ice hockey or spring sports like lacrosse. “We really wanted to be flexible with what we offered,” says Jon Sheehan, who directs the athletic program. “About two-thirds of our students opted to participate. So I guess you could call it a success.”

NLI Signings Even as athletics were curtailed, a bright spot took place on Saturday, November 14, when four Pomfret seniors signed National Letters of Intent to play college sports next year.

Hannah Twombly will play lacrosse at Saint Michael’s College, Jason Roche will play basketball at The Citadel, Keegan Palmer will play lacrosse at Quinnipiac University, and Lance Martineau will play lacrosse at the University of Hartford.

Additionally, Amon Williams was accepted to Cornell as a recruited DI football player, and more than a dozen Pomfret seniors have been recruited for athletics to various DIII institutions. “The dedication of these student-athletes has paid off, and we are incredibly excited for what their futures hold,” said Director of Athletics Jon Sheehan.

Soaker One sunny afternoon in early October, as Nick Campagnone ’21 sat crouched in the back seat of his black 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee, he could feel his pulse racing. With nine “kills” in the last forty-two hours, only one target remained. He knew he had to eliminate Jason Roche ’21 before Jason eliminated him. His fingers tightened around his weapon of choice — a red Pomfret School Nalgene water bottle — as he stealthily rolled down the passenger side window, took aim, and fired. Jason was hit; his once dry clothes now darkening where the water made contact.

Nick was the victor of Soaker, a game sponsored by the Pomfret Student Activities Office. The goal? Soak or be soaked. The campus-wide contest attracted more than 100 students and took forty-eight hours to complete. “I was on edge the entire weekend,” says Nick. “It was a lot of fun. I can’t wait to do it again!”

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ON THE HILLTOP

Go with the Flow “It’s no secret that teenagers are feeling stressed out,” says Director of Community Service Anne Richards, who along with English Teacher Katie Forrestal, runs yoga classes for students and faculty at Pomfret. Thanks to Richards, upwards of fifty students per week have been finding their vinyasa flow recently. “Yoga has been a very productive and enriching experience for me,” says Jonathan Bouvier ’21, “especially the guided meditations at the end. They have helped me become more in tune with my own mind.”

D.O.S.E. of Dance Fun fact. Moving your body to the beat activates brain pathways that release feel-good, trust-boosting neurochemicals like dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins. Experts who study the relationship between movement and emotion often refer to these chemicals as D.O.S.E. So, it should come as no surprise that a troupe of Pomfret dancers has made it their mission to share the healing properties of dance with others this year.

Through screendance, a hybrid art form that combines movement with camera work, this group has been choreographing, performing, filming, and sharing unique dance sequences that have brought a smile to our face and a rhythm to our step.

“This is proof that connection, creativity, hard work, collaboration, and pure joy is still alive and kicking at Pomfret,” says Nina Joly, who directs the dance program, “even during these weird times.”

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A Bench at the Edge

It took some doing, but Pomfret School Theater presented A Bench at the Edge in November. It was the first live, onstage performance in almost a year. Writt en

by Luigi Jannuzzi, A Bench at the Edge is a dark comed y that examines mental health and free will.

Covid capacity limits meant only sixty audience members were permitted to attend each performance , and all three shows quickly sold out. “History tells us that theater has survived multiple pandemics — even Shakespeare wrote under quarantine,” said Theater Director Chip Lamb. “This week, Pomfret School Theater did its part to keep the lights on.”

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ON THE HILLTOP

The Fierce Urgency of

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his winter, the entire community came together via Zoom to celebrate the life and legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The MLK Day celebration began with a webinar hosted by Derek Hall and Rinne-Julie Früster from Ramiz-Hall Consulting, who led the community through excerpts of I Am Not Your Negro, a documentary that tells the stories of Medgar Evers, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King, Jr., based on James Baldwin’s unfinished manuscript Remember This House. Following the media viewing, Früster and Hall led talkback sessions, providing an opportunity for students and faculty to unpack what they had just seen.

“MLK Day is a day not only for acknowledging our past and the gruesome history of America, but it is also a day to continue to rally for and make change,” said Kaitlyn Curley ’22.

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Singing in the Rain As sheets of rain blew across campus, students from Honors Vocal Chamber Ensemble delivered an outdoor music performance from the terrace of Parsons Lodge to a poncho-clad crowd of students and faculty members.

“The pandemic has been difficult on the performing arts, especially singing, but we continue to look for creative ways to safely share our work with the community,” said Dr. Ryan Burns, director of music. “The poise, preparedness, and professionalism of the performers were amazing, and I am thankful to everyone who came out — in the pouring rain — to support the event.”

A King-Sized Opportunity In January, members of the Pomfret School community were invited to participate in a private webinar with American businessman Daniel Schwartz, the executive chairman of Restaurant Brands International, which owns Burger King, Popeyes, and Tim Hortons.

The event was sponsored by LinkGuide, an organization founded by two Pomfret juniors, Cole Hecker and Raul Wald. “The goal of LinkGuide is to connect students with the professional world,” says Cole.

“It provides opportunities for students to speak directly with business professionals about their careers and their path to success.”

While Cole and Raul have been pleased with their speakers to date, they are quick to agree on who the crème de la crème of guests would be.

“Bill Gates, without a doubt,” says Raul. “He’s obviously accomplished and extremely passionate about what he does. He’s innovative. He’s philanthropic. He would be the ultimate guest!” If anyone has a connection, we’re pretty sure Cole and Raul would like to hear from you!

Digging In Like so many teens, Grace Bullied ’22, the daughter of Facilities Director Brenda Bullied, spent the summer in quarantine with her family. “I had a lot of time on my hands,” she said, “and I was looking for a reason to get outside, so I joined the community garden.” This was the first year Pomfret’s garden had been active in a while, and Grace immediately dug in. As summer drew to a close, you could say the place had grown on her, and not long after, Grace teamed up with Senior Associate Director of Admissions Kelly Sheehan to create a new club dedicated to nurturing community gardens at Pomfret.

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FACULTY & STAFF NEWS WELCOME NEW FACULTY!

W Joshua Wildes ’04

Kena Gilmour

hat a year to start a new job!

In September, four new faculty members (three teachers and one administrator) joined the Pomfret community. Joshua Wildes ’04, who spent the last eight years at Roxbury Latin in Boston, is our newest math teacher. Kena Gilmour, who teaches Humanities and works in the Collaborative Learning Center, is a recent graduate from Hamilton College in New York. Natalia Aragón, a native of Argentina, is our newest Spanish teacher, and Will Mitchell ’84, who comes to us from St. Andrew’s School in Delaware, is Pomfret’s new Director of Advancement.

To read all about these fine folks, visit www.pomfret.org/about-us/employee-directory.

Natalia Aragón

Will Mitchell ’84

Congratulations to Humanities Teacher Kena Gilmour on being named 2020 Division III LGBTQ Student-Athlete of the Year. A key member of the men’s basketball team at Hamilton College from 2016–2020, Gilmour came out to his coaches and teamates in his freshman year.

From there, he led the Continentals to four NESCAC championship appearances, including the tournament final in 2019. “Kena is one of the most outstanding student-athletes ever to attend Hamilton and someone who epitomizes a true student-athlete experience,” Hamilton Head Men’s Basketball Coach Adam Stockwell said.

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BABY BOOM!

Following Abel’s extraordinary entrance, we welcomed six more extraordinary babies to campus. Catherine and Rob Toste (History, 2017–present) announced the birth of their son, Christopher Michael Toste, on February 28, 2020. Charlotte McMahon (English, 2017–present) and Quinn McMahon (Admissions, 2017–present) welcomed Willow Charlotte Jay McMahon on May 29, 2020.

Andrew and Betty Bloch (Science, 2018–present) announced the arrival of their son, Benjamin Isamu Bloch, born June 24, 2020. On November 4, 2020, Joe (English, 2019–2020) and Jenn Gaudet (Admissions, 2019–present) welcomed their baby daughter, Willa Audrey Gaudet.

Stephen and Haley McInerney (Learning Support, 2017– present) proudly announced the birth of their daughter, Magnolia Jean Sanborn McInerney, on November 5, 2020.

On December 16, 2020, Keith DeFranca and Alex Roberts (Head of School Office, 2018–present) welcomed Olivia Rose DeFranca.

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n the evening of February 24, 2020, Science Teacher Micaela Dangelo (2013–present) made Pomfret history when she gave birth to her second child, Abel Amir Dangelo, in Pomfret’s Front Circle. During the delivery, Micaela was assisted by her husband Jon Dangelo, a nurse at Day Kimball Hospital, and a handful of startled colleagues who just happened to be walking by.

On campus, these good samaritans are now affectionately referred to as the Babies & More Medical Group!

PROMOTIONS

The following faculty and staff members also stepped into new roles this year:

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ver the summer, Head of School Tim Richards announced that Dean of Academics Don Gibbs would be Pomfret’s next Assistant Head of School, replacing Rich Dempsey, who left Pomfret in July to become the new head of school at Detroit Country Day School. “Don stood out for his deep and enduring commitment to Pomfret School in many different roles, his formidable work ethic, and his skills working with students, parents, and colleagues in our community,” said Richards.

Doug MacLeod | Director of Studies Sarah Gawronski | Associate Director of College Counseling Wes Jenkins | Dean of Students Martha Horst | Dean of Faculty tc Hanmer | Co-director of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Fannie Deary | Director of Counseling Beth Dow | Director of Advancement Operations Johanna Mawson | Director of Annual Giving and Constituent Programs Karen Marshall | Associate Director of Admissions Shane Dunphy | Associate Director of Admissions

RETIREMENTS

After forty-five years of combined service, two longtime Pomfret employees retired in 2020. Congratulations to Cindy Antos (School Office, 2000–2020) and Dave Couillard (Athletics, 1995–2020).

Cindy Antos

Dave Couillard

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

gainst the backdrop of a global pandemic, Class President Michaela Nsubuga and Class Vice President Jackson Partilla have led the student body with grace, helping to create a sense of hope, positivity, and inspiration for others.

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FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

INTERVIEW BY Tina Lefevre

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

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Full Service A Q&A with Pat Boyd

at Boyd is a history teacher, form dean, fireman, and Connecticut state representative who has lived and worked at Pomfret for more than fifteen years. The guy is practically a boy scout. What’s that? He’s an actual boy scout? Well, okay then.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO RUN FOR OFFICE? I’m the State Representative for the 50th House District, which covers the towns of Woodstock, Pomfret, Brooklyn, Eastford and Union. And believe it or not, the inspiration to run actually came from teaching my students here at Pomfret. I had long thought about running for office, but the time never felt right — it’s obviously a huge commitment. In 2015, while teaching my AP Government class, getting my students excited about the election process, and teaching them about the importance of participating in government, it occurred to me that maybe it was time. The gentleman who represented this area in the Connecticut State House announced his retirement, so I decided to throw my hat in the ring.

TELL ME ABOUT THE PROCESS OF RUNNING. The process was just unbelievable. When you’re running for office, you have the opportunity to go out and meet people in the community. The first time I ran was in 2016, the same year as the TrumpClinton election, so people were more engaged than ever before, which just made the work really interesting. Nick Fulchino ’15, one of my former AP Gov students, was my campaign manager in 2016 and 2018. I really went into the race wanting to help make a difference in my community, but you never really know how these things will turn out. But after a long campaign season, I was elected with about 55 percent of the vote.

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HOW DID YOU FEEL ONCE IT SET IN THAT YOU HAD WON THE ELECTION? I’ll never forget what it felt like walking into the Capitol building for the first time. It’s a beautiful building built in the 1800s with a massive gold dome. When I walked in I was in awe. I could just feel the little hairs on the back of my neck standing up and I thought to myself — “Wow! I’m here. I’m working here!” It’s such a privilege to have had 25,000 people trust you enough to send you to Hartford to be their voice.

HOW DO YOU FEEL NOW, WITH FOUR YEARS UNDER YOUR BELT? There are times that I’ve left the Capitol shaking my head and thinking — “Oh, this is frustrating. Why do I put myself through it?” But there are other times when things click and I leave with a huge smile on my face because we’ve accomplished something really important. Also, when I am at the Capitol, I work with Chris Jackson ’15, another former government student and Lower 3 prefect, who is on the current staff of the Connecticut Speaker of the House. Overall, it’s been a truly rewarding experience to be able to help people in my community, particularly over the last year. The pandemic has been really

hard on everyone and people will call me for help when they have nobody else to turn to. Whether it’s unemployment issues they’re facing or they need help because their business is struggling, I do what I can to help. And it’s such an honor to be able to influence policy that can make a difference in people’s lives. To be one of 151 people on the legislative branch is honestly the greatest honor of my life.

I UNDERSTAND YOU ALSO SERVE THE POMFRET FIRE DISTRICT. I will always remember this day. Back in 2008, I was teaching on the second floor of the School Building and Pete Gillin, who was the dean of students at the time, came up to see me. He had a piece of paper in his hand and he said, “I want to join the fire department.” He had recently learned that Reid Anderson, who was also a member of the faculty and a longtime member of the fire department, was leaving Pomfret. Because Pete felt it was important that the School had somebody involved at the fire department, he decided he was going to be that guy — but he didn’t want to join by himself. So I agreed to join along with him, just so he wasn’t alone. Pete lasted three years, I'm going on sixteen. I started off as a medical responder in the back of the ambulance. I’ve also done firefighting and I currently serve as an EMS lieutenant.

SIXTEEN YEARS IS A LONG TIME TO VOLUNTEER. WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO KEEP GOING? It’s funny. When people call 9-1-1, they imagine a magical firehouse with poles and dalmations. But in rural Connecticut, firefighters are your neighbors. They’re people that live and work in town, and they volunteer. You have everyone from the milkman to a financial analyst to a high school history teacher volunteering their time to serve.

And for me, it’s been such a wonderful way to give back and contribute. Through my work with the fire district, I’ve learned a lot about myself and the importance of serving my community.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THE CAMP IS IMPORTANT TO YOU. It really is. I love being in charge of the camp that I went to as a kid.

My experience as a scout taught me so much about problem-solving and teamwork. Those lessons have lasted my entire life. I see about 2,000 kids come through every summer and it’s such a gift to be able to offer them the same kind of experience I had, and then to wonder where that experience might take them. I sometimes bump into them years after they’ve left camp. Recently, when I was walking out of the Capitol, a young man saw me and yelled “Mr. Boyd!” I looked over and saw he was wearing a military uniform. He said, “I recognized you and I just wanted to say hello. I was a CIT [counselor in training] at camp five years ago.” He was heading over to the National Guard headquarters across the street. It’s just so gratifying to see these kids as adults, knowing that the experiences I helped create made a huge impact on the people they’ve turned out to be. That’s what keeps me coming back every year.

HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED YOU? I know the word is overused, but we are living in such an unprecedented time. People are having a really hard time; many are losing their jobs or being furloughed. There are business owners here in my district that are on the edge of failing — they just can’t continue to sustain it. Back at the Capitol, I’m working with the Department of Health and the Governor’s Office, trying to figure out how to help people get through.

Because the pandemic is not permanent. We’ll get through it and we want to make sure people can bounce back. We need to remember that. And I think, in many ways, the pandemic has brought out the best in people. Despite the hard times and frustrations, the community is more engaged than ever, and people are looking to help one another more than ever. So as awful as Covid is, I’m seeing it bring out the best of society. That fills me with optimism.

HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED WITH THE BOY SCOUT CAMP? I was a boy scout from a very young age, eventually earning the rank of Eagle Scout. As a kid, I went to camp at June Norcross Webster Scout Reservation. When I was eighteen, I began working there as a camp counselor. I’ve been there everr since. For the last fourteen years, I’ve been the camp director. I oversee eighty staff members — everyone from retired folks to your best and your brightest high school and collegeaged kids. I’ve even had some Pomfret Griffins come work for me at camp.

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CHAPEL TALK

CHAPEL TALK

Between Two Worlds Yubing Yang ’21

Delivered October 19, 2020, in Clark Memorial Chapel

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he receiving of the red scarf is part of a ceremony for second graders being enrolled into the Chinese Young Pioneers — a national organization for children that feeds the Communist Party. However, as a first grader, I knew little about what was happening at the time. Alongside my classmates, I could not wait to be handed our red scarves and wear them patriotically every day, like those second- and third-graders we played with and looked up to.

Yet, I completely missed out on the enrollment ceremony that I had been looking forward to all year when my mom decided to bring me along for a one-year research stay in the US. Needless to say, I had major FOMO (fear of missing out). As much as I was excited to step foot in “the land of the free” and experience American pop culture, I was also anxious about leaving my friends back in Beijing and not being able to receive my first red scarf with them.

On my first day of elementary school in Michigan, everything was new to me, from getting off the yellow school bus for the first time

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to looking around and recognizing people who looked different from me. However, despite the foreign environment and new faces, I found a strange sense of familiarity when the teacher asked us to stand up, put our hands over our hearts, face the American flag, and read from a poster in the classroom.

Though I did not realize it then, throughout my short stay in Michigan I had been drawing parallels in my head between the nationalistic indoctrination that underpins the polarized relationship between these two political rivals, both of which I now reside in and call home.

Returning to Beijing to finish elementary school, I then immigrated to Massachusetts with my family. The junior boarding school I attended had a decent number of international students, but it was still dominated by white Americans from the surrounding towns.

Whenever my birth country was brought up, I knew there would always be an awkward pause followed by questions unasked and thoughts unsaid. Even if they were not expressed, I knew what they entailed.

In conversation, if I (or any of my fellow Chinese nationals) hinted at anything even slightly positive about China, we were assumed to have been brainwashed by communist propaganda and our opinions were automatically invalidated.

China’s authoritarian way of governing has raised many red flags in the United States over the years, and at the time, US-China relations were strained, the result of military tension in the South China Sea. Chinese citizens are portrayed by western media as suffering under suppression, and people treated us with sympathy as they expressed their relief that I had finally left the inhumane surveillance state.

Since the first Chinese immigrants arrived in the States, the mysterious oriental nation has been vilified, an existential danger and menace to the Western world. From the Chinese Exclusion Act to McCarthy’s Red Scare, Yellow Peril continues to linger and perpetuate the social and political landscape in America, as China grows to be dominant on the global scale.

Are we, in America, threatened because of the supposedly different political ideologies? Or is it the discomfort and uncertainty that a non-western, non-white country is rising and cannot be controlled?

Perhaps it’s both.

Living in the awkward overlap of two distinctly different worlds, I’ve discovered there to be more similarities than differences within the polarization. The red scarves and the Pledge of Allegiance are not a coincidence. As soon as children begin to gain a perspective, both countries immediately impose their own system of governance upon them. Even though China is slightly more overt in building a roadmap of enrollment into the Communist Party, the US has its own unique kind of American exceptionalism, advertising that everything is superior here, while implicitly centering the world around itself. This is what I have been taught throughout my education here.

It wasn’t until recently, in my Humanities classes at Pomfret, that my teachers began discussing the other side of the American Dream. America, for example, is ranked 52nd on Global Freedom in the Freedom House report. Many more statistics have proven the

imbalance of this economy, which lacks the secure safety net that many outside of America take for granted, but which is deemed “socialist” here. Besides, China practices a state capitalist economy more than anything else, far from socialist or communist. Just like how the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is nowhere near democratic, the Chinese Communist Party is not necessarily communist.

Despite being raised in two ideologies, I am constantly being told and reminded by both societies that my only and inherent source of value is based on what I produce. The expectation of productivity continues to stumble me in my attempt to deprogram from the toxic grind culture.

As I leverage my bi-cultural identity, the state-censored Chinese internet seems to stand in stark contrast to America’s freedom of speech and press; however, there is still a distinctly western lens and bias within American media that trickles down into classrooms that many fail to acknowledge. The strong media bias present in both countries has challenged the way I consume information. Constantly traveling between the US and China, I struggle to learn and unlearn my worldview and an understanding of reality that is warped by both societies.

How do you make a citizen? Is it defined by where you were born and where you live? Or is it determined by an interview and six correctly answered questions on a history test? I ask these questions of myself constantly, and I put them forward to you all today.

With a red passport in one hand and green card in another, I stand at the border of cultures and nationalities. Growing up surrounded by either American citizens or international students, I am always half-in and half-out. Community is just not a reality when no one else is on your block.

My citizenship in this world is shaped by my conflicting legality. As I grapple with dissociating myself completely from the Chinese sociopolitical narrative and distinguishing capitalistic indoctrination in my everyday American life, I am building my own individual identity as I navigate the gray area between two worlds.

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COVER STORY

STORY BY Garry Dow ILLUSTRATION BY Anthony Foronda

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QuaranTeens It’s a tough time to be a teenager.

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ore than a year has passed since Covid-19 reared its ugly head. Since then, the pandemic has led to shelterin-place orders, the closure of businesses and public spaces, and the shutdown of schools. Some families have been crammed together for months on end. Others have been cleaved in two. Many people have known sickness. Some, death.

And though we have fared better than most, Pomfret has not been immune to this virus. Like every other school, we were forced to shutter our campus last spring.

We opened back up in the fall, but then had to close back down again this winter, as Covid numbers in our local area spiked to dangerously high levels.

During this rollercoaster-of-a-year, students have traded classrooms for bedrooms, lost touch with friends, missed out on sports, and grappled with unprecedented levels of anxiety and depression. And yet, our students keep showing up. They keep trying. Their optimism undimmed. Their hope for the future bright. It’s a remarkable story — a testament to the strength and resolve of a student body that has been challenged like no other.

For this issue of Pomfret Magazine, we wanted to get a better sense of what it feels like to be them right now. So we asked seven seniors, scattered across the country and the world, to tell us. This is what they had to say.

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COVER STORY

Shawn Zhu California

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he memory is blurry now, faded, fossilized. Sitting with my family around the artificial fire pit, we restlessly awaited the coming of a new year, a new decade. 2020.

The very digit seemed special. Two 2s, two 0s. Easy on the tongue. Special it was. Not special in the way my family optimistically hoped it would be, but special nonetheless. In that moment, two realities loomed in the impending shadows of 2020, yet unbeknownst to me. First: that gathering around the artificial fire pit would be the last time I would see my family for eleven months.

Second: 2020 would be the year of endless “firsts.”

As the clock hit midnight, we cheered and embarked on our journey into the new decade. The road was bumpy from the beginning: the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani spawned concerns of WWIII, the US House of Representatives sent impeachment articles against Trump to the Senate, and Kobe Bryant died in a tragic helicopter crash. In hindsight, those were just hills preceding the mountains that would come.

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While our eyes fixated on the stream of shocking headlines, the seemingly benign virus loomed closer and closer. Finally, news headlines became reality. An urgent school meeting was announced. I remember the auditorium flooding with voices full of angst. I remember the sudden silence that afflicted the room as Mr. Richards stepped towards the podium. And I remember the moment 300 hearts sank as the words “headed home early” were verbalized.

I was still optimistic. I was confident that the virus would run its way through the country, and we’d be back in school by the spring term. I even celebrated the opportunity to stay with a friend for a couple of weeks. “A quick vacation in Florida while we wait out this virus,” I remember thinking.

My definite confidence diminished with each passing week, along with growing uncertainty. A Florida vacation couldn’t last forever, and I needed to find a more permanent

No one, and I mean NO ONE, knows what they’re doing. quarantine location. But where could I go? My family was trapped in China, and after four failed attempts to fly back to China, I set off on a $20 flight to California. A suitcase in each hand, I stepped into an empty house, greeted by nothing but the dust that had accumulated after months of neglect. The impatient calls of an angsty teenager craving independence was suddenly realized. As I walked through the house, echoes of familiar scenes played out in my mind: my mother cooking while a rich aroma spread through the house, my father intensely studying his golf swing, my brother getting lost within the cubic world of Minecraft.

Soon enough, I too would lose my grip on the world. The pressures that kept me grounded suddenly dissipated. No more daily proverbs from my parents about hard work or staying proactive. No more Google calendars to keep my daily life on a regimented schedule.

And no more need to find my place in the social hierarchy of high school. I was a bowling ball spinning towards the gutters, with the guide rails suddenly lowered. 2020 was a year of contradictions: It was a year spent lying in a quiet room, trying to silence the thoughts screaming in my head. It was a year spent trying to get a head start on college apps when I hadn’t even started the day by getting out of bed.

And most importantly, it was a year spent disconnected yet hyperconnected to the chaos of the world.

In a year without the usual stimulations of joy and excitement from chatting with friends or a tense basketball game, the internet stepped in to fill the void. The tiny handheld screens of our lives stimulated us with fear, angst, and anger as we heard George Floyd beg for his mother with a dying breath. Balled up on my bed, I would watch millions march in the streets, chanting as tear gas filled their lungs. In the darkness of my room, I watched as the scar that divided the nation cut deeper and deeper.

Social media became a deadly battleground, filled with endless antagonism, a brewing ground for polarization and misinformation.

And all of this chaos I observed from the comfort of my bed, slowly becoming accustomed to seeing the unimaginable. We are a generation of teenagers overstimulated by information: if you told me aliens are invading the Earth, I would simply shrug and go on about my day.

Uncertain, polarizing, chaotic, unmotivated. 2020 was all those things, yet there were endless silver linings to be found. Even while disconnected, my close friends continued to find ways to be there for each other. Daily FaceTimes with my roommate gave me a sense of normalcy during quarantine, as if, for those brief minutes, we had never really left campus. The pandemic served almost like a great filter, allowing me to focus my energy on things and people I truly cared for, while sifting out the unnecessary parts.

2020 was also a year of discovery. A year where I rediscovered my cultural roots through cooking. I learned just how much went into preparing a meal, how cooking a meal was really an expression of love, and how damn annoying it is to put stuff in the dishwasher.

All that I learned only through doing it myself. I discovered that I could live not just as American or Chinese, but rather I could navigate both lanes of identity simultaneously. I discovered that after years of pushing it to the side, my mental health was long overdue for a check-up. I discovered that I could be even more independent, but I could not survive by myself. All that I discovered thanks to the pandemic.

Without a busy schedule to occupy me, my mind was free to roam. Whether it was cooking, cleaning, or simply lying on my bed trying to sleep, I had time to reflect. Three thousand miles away from Pomfret’s campus, away from the need to fit in or impress, I suddenly realized how ridiculous the high-school experience is.

And even more ridiculous, it seems now, was how much I used to care about all of it. I spent so much time appealing to others, trying to become some idealized version of a high schooler, when in reality, there is no such thing. No one, and I mean NO ONE, knows what they’re doing.

High school is a kiddie pool. We’re all fallen leaves drifting down a tranquil stream towards the ocean. Now I’m not saying you should just stop doing your homework. I’m saying while you’re still in the river, make some splashes! Blast that Taylor Swift if you want, try that quirky outfit, and stop caring so much about what your peers think. After all, the river only runs so long until it meets the sea.

Finally, I’ll attempt to list the many “firsts” I experienced because of the pandemic, and I hope you’ll do the same. The first time I ... went on a spontaneous road-trip hiked Yosemite’s trails went bald made my own boba discovered Bojack Horseman went on a virtual photoshoot walked from my house to the Pacific Highway made pasta from scratch worked as a nature camp counselor fell in love with indie music confronted my mental health The first time we ... were united in our search for joy within darkness.

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COVER STORY

Bettina Johnston Florida

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hen I was a little kid, I used to fantasize about what it would be like to be a teenager, specifically a high school senior. I used to watch classic movies such as The Breakfast Club, Bring It On, and Grease, and think, “Wow, that looks awesome.” At the time, I truly believed that my high school experience would exactly mimic those movies. Boy was I wrong.

As you can imagine, Covid has seriously impacted my high school experience in unprecedented ways. If someone were to have told me in 2019 that I would have to do my classes online during my junior and senior years because of a global pandemic, I definitely would not have believed them.

After the quarantine, I heard many people say that they took part in a lot of self-discovery and reflection.

Honestly, listening to other people’s quarantine experiences made me feel worse about my own, because of how unproductive I realized it was. Over my quarantine, I was discovering myself through binge watching movies and shows on Netflix and HBO. Outer Banks, Money Heist, Big Little Lies, Little Fires Everywhere, Gilmore Girls, I Am Not Okay With This, and Tiger King are just a few of the shows I binge-watched,

to give you a little taste of my quarantine library.

Growing up, I loved watching TV and movies. I’ve always known the power of them, and how they can transport you to different places. Although I wasn’t able to go on a plane or leave my house, when I was watching Netflix, I was transported to places like 18th Century France or the Royal Mint in Madrid.

Movies have a way of making me feel alive when I need to the most. Dealing with college applications while also spending my junior spring online was anything but fun, but somehow watching Little Women every other night, granting me a twohour-and-fifteen-minute escape, made it a little bit better.

After experiencing so much time away from Pomfret, and hearing so many stories of schools not going back at all, it makes me so much more aware of how unbelievably lucky we were to be able to go back to Pomfret in the fall. Being reunited with my closest friends after six months apart was a feeling that I had been longing for. This quarantine has made me appreciate and miss them more than ever.

In the future, when I look back on my high school experience and my time rewatching some of my quarantine comfort movies, I know that even though I was online for a portion of the best years of my life, quarantine allowed me to reconnect with the joy I felt as a child by transporting me from place to place.

When I was watching Netflix, I was transported to places like 18th Century France or the Royal Mint in Madrid.

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How could I feel like I was at school with my family, pets, and every other house distraction surrounding me?

Eddy Akpan Nigeria

T

here have been many downsides to the invasion of Covid-19 into our lives, and in particular, our school lives. I’ve chosen to talk about our school lives because, as seniors, this is the most critical time in our education.

This threatening virus holds the world at gunpoint. It has made it so I can only hear teachers through computer audio.

It has forced me to look at my fellow classmates — soon to be fellow Pomfret alumni — through an HP computer screen. But, I have found, at times, that I can transfigure the big picture to find the good within it. This drastic change has shown me that I can adapt.

I was incredibly disheartened when I first found out, during a school assembly last spring, that we were all being sent home. I had never done online school before, and I was convinced it would be a very hard transition. I had imagined what school would look like, but I had failed to imagine what school in my house would look like.

When I first began this new scholastic journey, this was a serious problem. I don’t

think I am alone in this observation. My home was usually where I’d come to rest and get away from the hustle and bustle of school.

School, however, now invaded this safe space. How could I feel like I was really at home if I had to have a class meeting in my own room? And how could I feel like I was at school with my family, pets, and every other house distraction surrounding me?

One fact remained: this was going to be my reality for the rest of the spring term.

When we returned to campus in the fall, I told myself this was going to be the only distance period. That was apocryphal.

I am writing this piece now, in another DL period. As much I do not appreciate the fact we are forced to assimilate information through a video call, I am grateful for the opportunity.

Experiencing distance learning has prepared me for learning in any type of environment and through any method.

I have adapted my learning capability to fit the classroom and the bedroom. And however uncomforting it was, I gained a valuable skill from it. So I would sum up my DL experience as less of a curse and more of a blessing that’s been heavily disguised.

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COVER STORY

There has not been a single day that has passed when I don’t wonder how our world will ever recover from this.

Svea Anderson

North Carolina

T

he world wept with me as I packed up the life I had known for the past six months. Gray light filled my room until all the colors I had pasted on my beige wall were reduced to a desolate ash.

Slowly, I pulled open the drawers of my desk and rummaged through the treasure chest that it had become.

Corrected tests saturated in purple. Green pens with missing caps hastily thrown in after a long night. A red and black team photo crushed and wrinkled at the seams. Notes from a night where we huddled under blue light and wrote wishful notes to our future selves. But as quickly as they were found, these red, blue, purple, and green memories were packed away. And right then, I wept for my losses, and the sky wept with me.

I know this sounds like just a yearning for what could’ve been.

But that gloomy day, I wept for my neighbors whose lives have been uprooted. I wept for the pain of my kinship and the cold blood drawn from their veins. The wounds cut deeper when you see yourself in the faces of the casualties.

I’m lucky to have something to miss, but it would be terribly naive of me to ignore the catastrophe awaiting at my doorstep.

There has not been a single day that has passed when I don’t wonder how our world will ever recover from this, how we will once again open our doors and finally breathe. When strangers

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will mumble apologies after bumping shoulders on a bustling street or when friends will point out an amber sunset from the window of a restaurant.

We have lost the subtleties of everyday life, and that is what we miss the most. As we watch the world pass by through our windows, it is hard to ever think of a time when the world won’t be gray anymore or if we will ever be okay again.

Though my dreary thoughts have stuck with me, I found solace the other day sitting on the doorstep of my house.

The world had stilled around me as it had done for the past few weeks.

It felt silly sitting there, trying to find enjoyment during a time of crisis. But it was then that I saw a bee land on a flower next to me.

Its yellow body hovering curiously above delicate rose petals. And as strange as it sounds, I smiled at the sight of the buzzing creature.

You see, bumblebees aren’t aware of the state of the world. They know nothing of sickness, death, or violence. They only know one thing, only know one dance. Their blissful ignorance reminded me that the world still turns in the face of trauma. Bees still pollinate, and flowers still bloom. The tree outside my window will still drop white flowers, and my neighbor’s dogwood will flourish into a brilliant magenta. It is easy to drown in fear until the world around us becomes ghostly, but much like bees, we only have one job: to carry on. We have one dance that we must learn, and all we will do is whirl and leap until the color of our world returns.

Jackson Partilla

New York, NY

T

he other night my mom and I went out to get sushi. We sat down in the modified outdoor-butindoor seating area that most NYC restaurants have had to erect due to the cold temperatures and strict restrictions. The waitress came around and guided us to the QR code for the menu, and we proceeded to order. Although somewhat sheltered from the cold, it was still 25 degrees and freezing. I thought to myself for probably the 500th time this year, “What the heck is going on?”

Last spring, as we began to hear the news about Covid and learned that we would not be returning to campus, I thought this would be over in a couple of weeks, maybe a couple of

months at worst. Never in my wildest dreams could I imagine the current situation that we are in.

Being from New York City, I saw firsthand how awful and vile this virus truly was. During the spring distance learning period, after my assignments were completed for the day, my family would eat dinner together and then proceed to the living room where we would watch the nightly news and Covid briefings. We would see the anchor announce the grim death toll every night and ask ourselves when will this be over.

I would watch these briefings and get the same powerless feeling each night. Knowing that there is nothing I could do to change what was happening.

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I watched as each day more refrigerated trucks made their way to NYC, and I became more and more grateful that I was still able to wake up every morning next to my family.

I watched as each day more refrigerated trucks made their way to NYC, and I became more and more grateful that I was still able to wake up every morning next to my family. Although many little annoying things made their way into daily life, such as mask wearing, I had to put it in perspective because so many people had it worse than me. Throughout the summer I resided at my house in a small beach town in New Jersey. I would wake up, work out in the morning, and finish the day at the beach. But this routine began to grow old, and I was eager to get back to school.

When I heard that we planned to go back in the fall I was ecstatic. I could not wait to get back to the Hilltop, where I could return to being my best self and hang out with all my friends again. It was probably the first time in my life where I was actually excited to go back to school and attend class again. Covid had turned life upside down, and I was looking forward to returning to a sense of normalcy.

Being on campus felt like a breath of fresh air for me.

Walking to my classes every morning, getting a chocolate chip muffin from the Tuck, playing sports each afternoon, and returning to the dorm in the evening were all things that I had missed deeply while at home. I was so happy to be at school.

Covid still remained, though, a constant threat to campus.

Nearby schools began to get cases, and the surrounding area turned into high risk, but each day I could only “control the controllables,”

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as Coach Burke reminded the soccer team regularly. We had some speed bumps along the way, but for the most part, being at school was the highlight of my 2020. There is nothing that can replicate the sense of community that is felt while being on a boarding school campus.

I have certainly faced many losses and disappointments of my own this year. Senior year is one of the best parts of growing up and it has been tough not having a normal year. One of the hardest pills to swallow is knowing that I will likely not wear the Pomfret soccer jersey again. Do not get me wrong, I enjoyed every minute of soccer practice this year, but I was really looking forward to leading my team through a normal season with my fellow seniors and playing real games.

When I heard the news that our return to campus would be delayed by several months this winter, I was quite frustrated. However, at the same time, as I reflect on what this past year has brought me, I truly have enjoyed being home with my family for an extended period. I have appreciated the extra time Covid has granted us. It is my hope that we return to campus as expected, and I look forward to seeing Mr. Rodman and his chocolate chip muffins each morning as I start my day.

Samia Segal

New York, NY

D

issimilar to my peers, I began to pack up my room at Orchard Cottage in early January of 2020. After being accepted to a small program for the spring semester, I knew in December that I would not be returning to Pomfret until fall of 2020. So, in a way, I was lucky knowing that I needed to say my goodbyes then, for what would be seven months without seeing my friends. But the greater Pomfret community, and the entire world for that matter, did not have this same privilege.

I remember the news stories, beginning in early March, about this “novel coronavirus” that had started in China, and was slowly making its way through Italy and Western Europe. At first, nobody really talked about it, and if they did, it was purely a method of comedy. But as the cases drew closer and the death toll rose slowly, the realness of this virus started to kick in. What was going on?

I arrived home, completing my final trip through an airport without a mask. And even though my mother is a doctor, the lack of information I seemed to have was tough to comprehend. When can I see my friends? When will I be able to travel and visit family? When can I drive to the grocery store and shop without a mask? I kept asking questions and no one had answers.

In retrospect, these concerns were valid, and I am almost certain that most others had these same wonders in April or

May, too. I had been separated — suddenly — from the place I had learned to love so much, without any glimpse of when I’d be able to go back. And as our “return” date got pushed further and further out of reach, I became aware that this was not just a two-week vacation. This was real, and this was not going to be easy.

I am lucky that I was able to spend time doing the things I love most: painting, reading, and laying in the sun.

But the gratitude I have for the paintbrushes and books that kept me entertained the entire summer is newer than I think I’d like it to be. At the time, I was desperate for something to keep my attention away from the chaos circling my head. An activity which was no more than a means of distraction. But today I am thankful for the peace and solitude I could find, whenever I needed it, just me and my book.

There is no question that quarantine was hard. I was physically and mentally isolated from all I had ever known.

If it weren’t for FaceTime and the newcomer, Zoom, I am not quite sure how I would have gotten through this. But as I move forward and carry what I’ve learned from the time I spent alone, I see myself as an individual growing from these isolated months in more ways than I could have ever understood at the time.

As our return date got pushed further and further out of reach, I became aware that this was not just a two-week vacation. This was real, and this was not going to be easy.

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COVER STORY

You see, my Mum is a nurse, and is on the front lines at the hospital, which meant that our quarantine was a lot different from many other people.

Michaela Nsubuga

Connecticut

This is my sincere reflection on this time of mass infection: Going home...

Who knew one school meeting would become an unforgettable moment in so many of our lives? That fateful meeting was the last time our community gathered in one place; from the balcony, to the plastic fold up chairs, to the alcove of standing faculty, and to the rows of red seats, we heard these fateful words, “You will all be going home.”

This is where my story begins.

As much as this moment may have brought many in our community a sense of sadness, I will forever cherish this day because, for me, that is not what this day represents. This day represents all that this community is: a family. Together we packed, cried, and joked, all while supporting one another. It was in this moment that I truly realized how special and important Pomfret was to me. I guess what they say is true, you never really appreciate something until it is gone.

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Home....

Quarantine taught me many things, and quite honestly challenged me in ways that I didn't think were possible. When I first got home, I was incredibly optimistic. I was so optimistic that I refused to unpack; claiming we would be returning to campus soon, so there was no point in unpacking.

My optimism, however, eventually waned when we were officially told we would not be returning for the remainder of the year. All too quickly, the idea of “distance learning” was no longer a fun trial period we would joke about later, but our reality.

The dining table, which usually housed placemats, soon became my sister’s and my desk — housing piles of textbooks and notebooks.

I would wake up each morning, get ready, and sit at the dining table across from my sister. Together we sat, both on Zoom or occupied with various assignments, until my sister would finish her work, leaving me to continue mine. I would sit at the table until the time came for me to cook dinner.

Lesson number one: I knew how to cook, but I can’t say I had ever cooked this often until this quarantine, and that was a lesson in itself.

Most nights my sister and I ate dinner by ourselves, as our Mum was still at work. You see, my Mum is a nurse, and is on the front lines at the hospital, which meant that our quarantine was a lot different from many other people. My Mum would come home and try to distance herself from us — and let me tell you, in-home social distancing is not an easy feat. This left my sister and me to our own devices most days, and quite quickly I fell into a lackluster routine.

The days began to blur, and I lost track of the date; all I knew was that I had homework and it was due in a particular number of days.

Like many others, my motivation fluctuated throughout this period, but I learned how to hold myself accountable, and with each day I got through, I saw that as a win.

Almost an anniversary...

2020 was a rollercoaster of a year filled with ups, downs, stagnation, loses, and successes. I write this paper approaching the one year

anniversary of where it all started. I am in the same space I was last March (literally), at home, but I am not the same person.

I have learned how to better organize myself and manage the beast that is online learning. I have grown closer to my sister. I can now honestly say that I know how to cook. I have learned the value of my relationships, and the effort it requires to nourish them.

During quarantine, I put myself out of my comfort zone, ran for school president, and found success. I learned how to connect with people virtually and how to bring people together in meaningful ways.

I have evolved since last March. However, beyond quarantine’s sentimentality, if there is one thing to take away from this, it is that we are much stronger than we think; if we can come this far, then we can go even farther.

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FEATURE

STORY BY Garry Dow PHOTOGRAPHY Courtesy of Jack Howard-Potter

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The Anatomy of Steel

Inspired by the human form, sculptor Jack Howard-Potter captures movement in a medium that does not move.

I

n 2001, Jack Howard-Potter ’93 (aka Jake Gumprecht) did something unexpected. After years of working as a metalworker and sculptor, he enrolled in a series of anatomy and drawing classes at the Art Students League in New York City. For two years, Jack immersed himself in the human form, sketching five days a week, completing thousands of drawings.

The experience changed his life. “One of the things that make my sculptures unique is that they seek to convey the motion of the body in extremely stressful and beautiful positions,” he says. “The moment that a dancer is at the peak of a jump, the weightless split second before a body succumbs to gravity.” In 2005, Jack took everything he had learned and set out to make his largest and most daring sculpture to date, The Muse. Standing almost thirty feet tall, the monumental figure was also a monumental success.

Today, you can find Jack in his Long Island City studio, fabricating an astonishing collection of statuary. Alone, without any assistants, he shapes, cuts, and welds each steel rod by hand. You will not find a machine stamping out parts here.

Instead, Jack relies on his intimate knowledge of the human form, gleaned from his years at The Art Students League, to breathe life into the anatomy

and musculature of the figures he bends to his will.

As a final step, each statue is galvanized and powdercoated, protecting the steel from corrosion and adding vibrant color to its surface.

No stranger to success, Jack’s work routinely turns up temporarily and permanently in sculpture parks, city sidewalks, public art shows, and galleries across the country, including Coral Springs, Florida; Chicago, Illinois; Suwanee, Georgia; Roanoke, Virginia; Leonia, New Jersey; Ossining, New York; Long Island City, New York; and Manchester, Vermont. His work has even appeared on the television shows Gossip Girl, Billions, and the upcoming premier season of Run the World.

Jack was born in 1975 in New York City. After Pomfret, he headed to Union College to study art history and sculpture, before eventually landing in Colorado, where he worked as a blacksmith, learning about the fluid properties of steel and the commercial trade of metalwork.

“As soon as I made my first weld, I knew I had finally found the material and process I wanted to devote my life to,” he says. “There was some sort of primordial, magical transformation that was taking place in me and the material. Liquifying solid steel instantaneously and having a medium that was ultimately malleable and changeable sparked my soul like nothing else.”

To learn more about Jack Howard-Potter and his work, visit www.steelstatue.com.

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FEATURE

THE MUSE | 2005

The Southern Vermont Arts Center in Manchester, Vermont Standing twenty-seven feet tall, the monumental figure of a female form taking to the sky is made out of almost 2,000 pounds of steel, covered in a galvanized, powder-coated, silver skin. The sculpture took four months to complete.

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POMFRET WINTER 2021

41

FEATURE

Hand Plant, 2016

Untitled Digital Drawing, 2016

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Belvedere Torso, 2010

Valkyrie, 2008

Balancing, 2004

Kinacer, 2016

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FEATURE

SWINGING II | 2012 Court Square, Long Island City, New York

Swinging II is a kinetic sculpture that moves freely with viewer input. The sculpture invokes the joy and freedom of childhood memories swinging on a swing. The kinetic movement aids in depicting the figure in motion.

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45

FEATURE COVER STORY

DANCER XX | 2014 Heartis Suwanee, Suwanee, Georgia

Dancer XX is a twenty-foot-tall kinetic figurative steel statue. The entire sculpture is mounted on a large bearing that allows the figure to orient itself towards the wind with the aid of the curtain the sculpture is holding.

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47

FEATURE

LARM | 2012

Bethany Arts Community, Ossining, New York Larm is a body part collage sculpture. The figure is easily recognizable but challenges the viewer to discern the missing pieces. The steel fabric or exploded beach ball aids in the dancing movement of the figure bringing life to the work.

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ANGEL OF DEATH | 2020 Chicago Sculpture Exhibition, Chicago, Illinois

The Angel of Death has had a tragically busy year in 2020. The sculpture, which stands as a symbol of the beauty in transition, was initially a response to the pervasive and perverse gun violence in America but has taken on new meaning during the Covid-19 pandemic.

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FEATURE

DROWN

| 2009

Private Collection, Grand Rapids, Michigan Drown is a three-times-life-size figure. Weighing in at almost 1,000 pounds, the figure is six feet tall and four feet wide. If the sculpture were to stand up, it would be close to fifteen feet tall.

It has a matching male counterpart called Goliath.

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Goliath

51

FEATURE

Glee

Warren Geissinger brought Joy to the World.

STORY BY Paul Fowler ’64 PHOTOGRAPHY Courtesy of the Geissinger family, Matt Hobbs ’64, and Paul Fowler ’64

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Glee Club, 1963

M

r. Geissinger, Warren, Goose, however you knew him, brought his light-up-the-world smile to school every day, and he brought music into our lives that lit up our worlds.

Warren Geissinger H ’64, P ’72, ’74, ’76 died on November 21 at the Havenwood retirement community in Concord, New Hampshire, with his wife Barbara H ’64 by his side. He was ninety-eight years old. A legendary music teacher and skilled organist, Goose taught at Pomfret for nineteen years, from 1956 to 1975. When the news of his passing reached me, it unleashed a flood of fond memories.

In 1964, 80 of the 200 students who attended Pomfret were involved in one or more musical activities. These were elective activities, run by one man. But his impact went way beyond music, as many of my classmates — who had little if any involvement with music — remember specific, memorable, life-changing experiences with Mr. Geissinger. He was my adviser and I would not have graduated from Pomfret without his help.

Of all his magic music programs, Glee Club may have been the most popular. Beyond the joy of singing under Warren’s direction, there was another benefit in an allboys school: ‘join Glee Club, meet girls.’ The Glee Club held concerts with Oxford, Bancroft, Wheeler, Miss Porter’s, and other all-girls schools in the area, which were followed by dances. In the spring, these concerts were rehearsals for the Spring Choral Festival, which involved a number of school choruses performing together, with

orchestra, at the Bushnell in Hartford. It ended the Glee Club season on a high note.

Beyond Glee Club, Mr. Geissinger left no musical interest unattended. A growing number of us participated in octets, which Mr. Geissinger accommodated by expanding beyond the original Octet — the Griffinpoofs — to the Rejects, and even to the Deject (yes, that was me). Mr. Geissinger also instructed and coached those who played instruments, or who were developing solo singing careers.

Winter musicals were always a high point of the season, bringing the latest from Broadway to Pomfret with Guys and Dolls, Damn Yankees, and Once Upon a Mattress.

In collaboration with Peter “Cap” Marble, the leader of the Dramatic Society, these shows featured several memorable performances by Owen Williams ’63 as the lead. The somewhat slapstick, all-male chorus line always produced a lot of laughs.

Memorable to many was Mr. Geissinger’s talent in making the chapel’s great organ come alive. Thanks in part to his theological and church experience, the choir attracted a large number of members, and provided a solid foundation for the enthusiastic singing of hymns.

For many of us, his playing of the organ before and after chapel was a time for reflection that brought with it an overwhelming sense of peace.

In the summer of 1963, Mr. Geissinger and his wife, Barbara, led the Pomfret International Affairs Seminar to Africa. Two of our classmates, Matt Hobbs ’64 and

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FEATURE

Rufus Phillips ’64, went on the trip, along with Art Teacher Alice Dunbar, and eight other students from schools across the country. The purpose of the trip was interracial understanding. Through the Africa program’s outreach back in the United States, John Irick ’65 was invited to attend Pomfret as our first African American student. It was a seminal moment in the history of Pomfret School and its journey toward diversity.

During Reunion in the spring of 2014, Warren Geissinger was recognized with three honors. He was awarded Pomfret’s William Beach Olmsted Award for “distinguished, sustained, and dedicated service to Pomfret School.” It is the highest honor the School can bestow upon a member of the community. He and Barbara were named honorary members of the Class of

"...his light-upthe-world smile will be fondly remembered for bringing Joy to Our World."

ulty ht) alongside other former fac rig the m fro th ur (fo ger in iss Warren Ge in October 2014. during a luncheon at Pomfret

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Second, third, fo urth, and sixth fr om left: Rufus P Alice Dunbar (art hillips, ’64, Warre teacher), Matt H n Geissinger H ’6 obbs ’64. Third fr 4, om right: Barba ra Geissinger H ’6 4

1964. And a plaque inscribed “role models for life and inspired leaders” sits at the base of a maple tree planted on the circle, dedicated to Warren and Barbara from the students of the International Affairs Seminar.

Around Mr. Geissinger's ninety-eighth birthday in June, I traded letters and emails with him. He explained he had moved to an assisted living facility in New Hampshire. In typical Goose style, he made it sound like he had been upgraded to the Presidential Suite on the Concierge Level at the World's Fanciest Hotel. I hope he got first class service. He deserved it.

While Mr. Geissinger, Warren, Goose will be sorely missed, our many memories and his lightup-the-world smile will be fondly remembered for bringing Joy to Our World.

Paul Fowler is a proud member of the Class of 1964.

During his long and valued relationship with Pomfret, he has served as a class agent, trustee, and alumni association president. He lives in New Canaan, Connecticut, with his wife, Kitty.

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FEATURE

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POMFRET WINTER 2021

Obituary 1922-2020

W

arren S. Geissinger died on November 21 at the Havenwood retirement community in Concord, NH, in the arms of his wife Barbara. He was ninety-eight years old.

Warren’s life was defined by music. He was the third son of Annie Stichter Geissinger and Monroe Geissinger, a railroad switch operator in Macungie, PA. As a child he attended two services every Sunday, Lutheran and Mennonite, singing in the choirs and, later, accompanying on piano and organ. He studied music at West Chester State College, where he met his future wife, Barbara. In 1943, he enlisted in the US Army Air Force, serving as a Bombardier, 1st Lieutenant, in southern Italy. When he wasn’t on a flying mission, he led an on-base barbershop quartet, played the pump organ for services, and visited the local cathedral in Cerignola to practice the pipe organ.

He loved Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms. And Stravinsky and Poulenc. And Porter, and Loesser, and Bernstein. And the Widor Toccata. From the organ bench, piano bench, conductor’s podium, theater pit, or front of the classroom, he radiated the joy he felt in sharing the beauty and power of music, energizing the room with his enthusiasm, empathy, and humor. His standards were high, and he elevated students and amateurs alike with his depth of understanding and generosity.

And he had a laugh that could fill a room.

Thanks to the GI Bill, Warren earned a Masters in Music Education from Temple University, and a Masters in Sacred Music from Union Theological Seminary. He taught for many years at St. Mary’s-in-the-Mountains (NH), Pomfret School (CT), and Middlesex School (MA), and served as organist/ choirmaster at Christ Church, Pomfret, St. Anne’s, Lincoln (MA), and All Saints, Littleton (NH). In 1959 he founded The Concert Choir of Northeastern Connecticut, a community chorus that continues to thrive today. He continued playing organ for church services until he was 97, and was an active congregant of Grace Episcopal Church, Concord.

Warren and Barbara loved to travel, and in 1963 they took a hand-picked group of students from around the country to

Africa on an International Affairs Seminar. Two years later they took their three young daughters for a sabbatical year at Kodaikanal School in southern India, teaching music and English, and studying Carnatic drumming and singing. They toured England with many Middlesex School shows, and Europe with the North Country Chorus. Closer to home, they loved hiking in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and many visits from their daughters and friends included sunset drinks and pretzels on Bald Mountain.

In 1992, Warren and Barbara suffered the devastating loss of their eldest daughter, Eve. They turned their heartbreak into action, testifying in the New Hampshire State Legislature to lower the legal limit of blood alcohol levels in drivers, and completing the training for the Support Center for Domestic Violence — a cause championed by Eve — answering the hotline and representing victims in court. They were also longtime volunteers for Meals-on-Wheels, Hospice, The Friendly Kitchen, and the office of Bishop Gene Robinson.

Warren leaves behind many admiring students, colleagues, and friends who stayed in touch with him right up until his death. A few quotes from the many tributes the family has received: “He could make the chapel organ come alive”; “He had that ever-present light-up-the-world smile“; “He inspired me in so many ways, but mostly by just being who he was”; “He was one of the most positive, enthusiastic, creative and decent educators and human beings we have ever known.”

In addition to Barbara, his wife of seventy years, he is survived by his daughters Annie Geissinger and Katie Geissinger and their spouses Amy Joseph and Billy Shebar, his grandson Miles Shebar, and his niece Carol Fredian, nephews Eric and Thomas, and their families.

In lieu of flowers, donations to The Eve Geissinger Memorial Scholarship Fund, Smith College School for Social Work, Smith College Gift Accounting, Stoddard Annex, 23 Elm Street, Northampton, MA, 01063, or to the non-profit of your choice, would be appreciated.

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CLASS NOTES

1938-2020

Roger Angell ’38 marks a century

B

ack in September, Roger Angell ’38 turned one hundred.

Angell is a renowned writer, known far and wide for his essays on baseball. For many years, he served as chief fiction editor for The New Yorker. In 2007, he became a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Science. Three years later, he was inducted into the Baseball Reliquary’s “Shrine of Eternals,” a kind-of Baseball Hall of Fame for people who have impacted the game in ways statistics cannot measure.

In the The Summer Game — Angell’s breakthrough book about baseball — he writes, “Baseball’s clock ticks inwardly and silently, and a man absorbed in a ball game is caught in a slow, green place of removal and concentration and in a tension that is screwed up slowly and ever more tightly with each pitcher’s windup and with the almost imperceptible forward lean and little half-step with which the fielders accompany each pitch. Whatever the pace of the particular baseball game we are watching, whatever its outcome, it holds us in its own continuum and mercifully releases us from our own.”

The stepson of legendary children’s book author E.B. White, Angell describes himself as a New Yorker “through and through.” And like his famous stepfather, he has strong ties to the coast of Maine. He first visited the state as a twelve-year-old boy, back in the summer of 1933. Almost eighty-eight years later, he continues to spend much of his time in Brooklin, Maine, at his gray-shingled camp, overlooking Eggemoggin Reach, near Deer Isle.

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50s 60s 1951

1964

Carey McIntosh just released a book in July 2020 entitled Semantic and Cultural Change in the British Enlightenment: New Words and Old. Published by Brill, the book explores the evolution and change of English words, from obsolete to new, and how they reflected a changing class culture and the role they played in the science, stereotypes, individualism, and civilization that defined the British Enlightenment.

1956 Many thanks to Tony Hoyt, Ed Johnson ’58, Dave Allen ’58, Galen Griffin ’58, and David Sage ’58 for working together to get Peter Beard’s last book, published just after his passing by TASCHEN, into the Pomfret School Alumni Authors bookcase.

Naomi Boak, honorary 1964 classmate and widow of Mike Boak, reinvented her life after illness, unemployment, and two hip replacements. She gave up her apartment in Harlem in May 2019 to become a park ranger in the very remote Katmai National Park in Alaska. Ten days after her arrival she was at the Brooks River, where the world’s highest concentration of brown bears gathers each summer. This is a dream job that used Naomi’s forty years of experience as a producer and filmmaker to educate and inspire people about the Brooks bears she had been avidly following for so long on Explore.org. She interprets the amazing resources of the park to visitors who have come to see the bears or fish the river, while keeping those hundreds of visitors safe around very large wild animals. Naomi is also the media ranger, doing weekly live broadcasts to the nine million people around the world who watch Explore’s bear cams.

1958 Bill Woods wrote, “I wanted to let you know about my just published book, The Trumpidemic Mother Goose: Four Years of Scary Political Rhymes. It’s a collection of satirical rhymes published in StreetVibes, a biweekly newspaper located in Cincinnati. Utilizing the Mother Goose rhyme format, I critique the rhetoric and policies of President Trump and his administration. In my old age, I have been having some fun writing political humor, but I still spend a few days a week at my non-profit corporation, Applied Information Resources, that focuses on local issues such as homelessness and the need for more affordable housing. As the former Chair of Common Cause Ohio, the need for political reform also keeps me involved. If we ever get through this pandemic, I would love to return to Pomfret for a visit. It’s hard to believe that I haven’t been back since 2008.”

’64 L-R: Linda Findlay, Connie and Jock Dix ‘64, and Spinner Findlay ‘64 in the Blue Mountains of Sydney, Australia in January 2020.

Class notes featured in this issue were received prior to December 15, 2020. Notes received after this date will be published in the next issue. Class notes are appreciated and may be submitted via your Class Agent, the Pomfret School website, or by e-mail to: Debby Thurston, class notes editor, at dthurston@pomfret.org.

We encourage and welcome appropriate news items and photographs from all alumni and friends. Please note that not all submissions are guaranteed to appear based upon subject matter, photo reproduction quality, and space availability. Also, we reserve the right to edit for consistency and style but we will give every consideration to each author’s individual writing style.

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CLASS NOTES

’65 ’64 Spinner Findlay ‘64 (left) and Jock Dix ‘64 by The Ghan, an Orient Express-like train on which they, along with their wives, traveled from Adelaide to Darwin, Australia.

Sharon and Jim Seymour ‘65 (back right) and their family at the wedding of their son, Stephen.

1965 Jim Seymour wrote, “Sharon and I were very fortunate for the wedding in January 2020 of our older son, Stephen, to Sarah Vincent, at Aynhoe Park, Oxfordshire - just before the pandemic lockdowns. It was the last wedding at this wonderful estate. Stephen’s two daughters (10 and 7) were in the wedding party along with the daughter (14) of Jeffrey, our younger son from Connecticut. Jeffrey’s wife and one-and-a-half-year-old daughter stayed in Connecticut.

It was truly an amazingly wonderful wedding and weekend in a fantastical estate. And, in October, Sharon and I were blessed when Stephen and Sarah produced our fifth granddaughter! Since March 2020 Sharon and I have been observing Covid protocols staying home in Wickford, Rhode Island. We have been very, very busy with lectures, concerts, book clubs, courses, webinars, board meetings, family and friends, Zooms, etc. — all virtual of course — I’m sure much like many of our classmates. Unfortunately, we did have to cancel our trip to London in December for Christmas and to meet our newest granddaughter, and we cancelled our usual winter at our condo in Naples. Yet we recognize we are fortunate compared to the severe hardships so many people and businesses have endured. Best wishes for the 2021 New Year!”

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’67 A tree was planted on the Pomfret campus in memory of Joe Twichell ‘67 on May 12, 2019. Attending the ceremony were (l-r) Nancy Twichell, David Twichell, Anne Twichell, Michael Petty ‘67, Head of School Tim Richards, Bill Hayes ‘67, and Associate Director of Advancement Vassar Pierce.

70s

1973 David Rosen reported, “On March 1, 2020, I was in Boston for the World Indoor Rowing Championships C.R.A.S.H.-B. Sprints to do medical classifications for US paralympic rowing.

While I was there I was given the opportunity to compete.

Heck I won [in my class]!!! It all started at Pomfret.”

Will Woodruff wrote, “After thirty wonderful years of teaching and practicing pediatrics, I retired in October 2020. My wife and I will now chase after our preschool-aged grandson.”

1974

’73 David Rosen ’73 with his pararowing medal

Rob Casper wrote, "[My daughter] Jessie is a neurosurgical PA-C at Beth Israel Deaconess, [my son] Charlie is an application analyst at Mass General Brigham (the new enterprise name), and [my son] Ben just completed his second year at Sackler School of Medicine, the American Program, operating at Tel-Aviv University. With the pandemic, we have had the pleasure of Ben's company, and bedrooms becoming Zoom medical school classrooms. Sue and I are still living in North Truro for the better six months and Leominster for the rest of the year. This past winter we stayed in Coconut Grove although, with Covid-19, we think we will stay home. Sue and I both had the virus, late March and early April, and thankfully recovered very quickly with no apparent lingering problems."

Talk Radio

By Ham Martin

In his new book, Talk Radio, Ham Martin deftly imbeds a surprising story in live dialogue spoken over the air. His protagonist, Vivien Kindler, is a local phone-in radio show host with an unusual idea: she thinks all her callers have worth, and if they’ll just stay on the line long enough, everyone else will think so too. Is Vivien’s gentle radio counsel really doing anything — or is it all just talk?

Isham “Ham” Martin is the father of Ike ’94 and John ’00.

He’s also the woodcarver responsible for the captains boards and conference room plaques in the Corzine Athletic Center. Ham lives with his wife, Mary, in a small village on the coast of Maine.

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CLASS NOTES

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Broadcast Yourself

MALIK DUCARD ’91

As the VP of Content Partnerships at YouTube, Malik Ducard ’91 has been bringing great Covid content to parents and learners since the pandemic first began. One highlight?

Teaming up with popular creators like Daily Show host Trevor Noah to interview health experts like Dr. Anthony Fauci.

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’78 L-R: Arthur Diaz ‘78, Tony Malagrino, Matt Ouellet ‘15, Amy Diaz ‘10, and Dana Ouellet ‘11

1978 In early July 2020, Arthur Diaz had lunch with former Pomfret facilities director Tony Malagrino, who was visiting the east coast for a week. They were joined by his kids, Dana Ouellet ’11 and Matt Ouellet ’15, and Arthur’s daughter Amy Diaz ’10. They met at the restaurant in Westerly, Rhode Island where Tony’s other son, Lenny Malagrino, works — Lenny was a former chef in the Pomfret dining hall.

1982

80s

Congratulations to Mike Zurbrigen, Director of Operations for Euro-Wall Systems, LLC, for being named Localpreneur of the Year by SRQ Media in February 2020.

Euro-Wall was one of five companies in Charlotte County, Florida, to be chosen for making a tremendous impact and impression in the region while supporting efforts to improve the lives of homeless and low-income residents through employment programs.

Congratulations to James Snyder, who was a recipient of the 2020 James A. Lindner Archival Technology Medal as part of the Society of Motion Picture & Television Engineers (SMPTE) Honors & Awards Gala in November 2020. James received the medal in recognition of his work developing workflows and methodologies for digitizing and archiving large media collections, and his commitment to sharing his knowledge and experience. He was named a Fellow of SMPTE in 2019.

’86 Brooke Toni ‘86 flew an ultralight plane around Lake Tahoe in October 2019 and skied at Zermatt Matterhorn in Switzerland in January-February 2020.

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CLASS NOTES

90s

’91

Lorenzo Borghese ‘91 was excited to announce the release of Home & Artists magazine on July 7, 2020. The publication will be distributed at Public Swim in Chinatown, New York, as well as local Hamptons boutiques and galleries, doctors’ waiting rooms, and select residential and hotel lobbies in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Follow @ homeandartists for further details on the publication and an upcoming exhibition in Amagansett.

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’92 Adrianna Day ‘92 was married to John Ransom on August 12, 2020 in a very private ceremony at Emmanuel Church in Manchester-by-theSea, Massachusetts, after their wedding was postponed due to Covid. She said, “It was just the two of us, the minister, and a photographer!

We are still hoping to celebrate with friends and family as soon as all this craziness is behind us.”

’98 In front of attendees from over 30 countries, Helena Franck of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Kip Hale ‘98 were married in Lisbon, Portugal on September 13, 2019 at a beautiful location overlooking Lisbon, the Tejo River, and the Atlantic Ocean. Pictured (l-r) are Peter Gesswein, J.D. Rogers ‘98 , Kip and Helena Hale, Rachel Schoppe Rogers ‘02, and Conor O’Malley ‘98.

1997 Alessandra Folz wrote, “It’s been nearly a year since my husband died, and this has been a year of the most painful firsts I could have imagined. It has also been a year that has shown me the kindness and strength of the most surprising people, in their efforts to reach into the pit of my grief and shine a little light down in the darkness. It has also shown me that no matter what we think of ourselves, we impact more people than we can ever possibly imagine. We are important to more people than we know. And we are, all of us, loved so deeply. So, here’s to our tomorrows – may they be brighter than our yesterdays.”

1999 Tiffany Hayes Romaniello wrote, “I am now in my third year at Rumsey Hall, a private K-9 school in Washington Depot, Connecticut, as the language skills specialist in grades K-5. I’m working on my second master’s to gain my degree as a reading specialist. My daughters are still really busy in their sports. We continue to travel each summer in our camper exploring North America as much as we can. Be well and stay safe!”

’99 Tiffany Hayes Romaniello ‘99 with her family (clockwise l-r): daughter Piper (8), husband Jerry, and daughter Brooklynn (10).

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CLASS NOTES

Heather Farrell ‘00 and former faculty member and coach Waddy Rowe at the 2020 NEPSAC Prep School Championships in Worcester, Massachusetts. Heather is the coach for the St. Paul’s School girls’ varsity hockey team, which defeated the opposition in the tournament and won the 2020 Patsy Odden (Large) Bracket. Waddy is holding the Small School MVP Award, which has been named the Waddy Rowe Award.

’00

2000

00s

Andy Butler reported, “Ace Fernando Butler was born on June 27, 2019 at South Shore Hospital in Weymouth, Massachusetts. Ace has brought so much happiness to our Butler clan which includes myself, wife Kate, daughter Addie (11), and son Kam (7), along with Roxy, Coco, Lucky, and Ginger (three dogs and a cat). Ace was happy to show his Griffin Pride in the awesome tee shirt that Mrs. [Louisa] Jones was kind enough to send. We reside in Walpole, Massachusetts where I work primarily as a firefighter/ paramedic, and I am also the assistant women’s soccer coach at Wheaton College. Kate is a registered nurse in the MICU at Boston Medical Center. We have both been working relentlessly on the ‘front lines’ throughout this pandemic, but are happy that we, and our family, have remained healthy thus far. We came to Pomfret last fall with our daughter to watch a soccer recruit for my team at Wheaton (sorry to say she was playing for Westminster, but Pomfret won!). It was great to share Pomfret’s beauty and some reflection of my time there with my wife and daughter, and I was able to catch up with Mr. [ Jeremiah] Jones while we were there! We are looking forward to coming to visit again soon! I cannot believe it’s been twenty years since I graduated from Pomfret!!”

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’00 Ace Fernando Butler, son of Kate and Andy Butler ’00

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

A Fighting Chance

SHANE DUNPHY ’11

In the early stages of the pandemic, current faculty member, Shane Dunphy ’11, a First Lieutenant (1LT) in the Rhode Island National Guard was assigned to State Activated Duty (SAD). As the Assistant Officer in Charge, he oversaw the setup of an Alternative Care Hospital (ACH) designed to receive Covid-19 overflow patients at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence.

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CLASS NOTES

’02 Liana and Dale Ledbetter ‘02 welcomed their baby boy, Porter Rock Ledbetter, on February 14, 2020.

’02 Nour Castagnola, daughter of Sarah Castagnola ’02 and Magnus Tulloch

2002 Sarah Castagnola wrote, “My husband Magnus and I welcomed a baby girl, Nour, in Beirut, Lebanon on New Year’s Day 2019.

We have since moved to Amman, Jordan, where we both work for humanitarian relief and development organizations.”

2003 Congratulations to Charlotte Rand, who was named Volunteer Attorney of the Month for the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault (ANDVSA) in April 2020.

According to their website, she is a volunteer for ANDVSA’s Information and Referral Hotline, where she provides information to survivors who are looking for legal help. After attending law school, Charlotte made her way to Alaska for a clerkship in Palmer. Soon after, she began working for the Attorney General’s office as an associate and special assistant, where she continued to expand her understanding of domestic violence. Charlotte joined ANDVSA when the opportunity to volunteer with them arose, and found it exciting that she could apply her pro bono hours spent working on the hotline as working hours. Most rewarding for Charlotte is connecting with people and being able to help them.

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’03 Twins Hugo and Gwynne Baum, children of Michael and Chelsea Weiss Baum ‘03, showing their Pomfret pride!

’05 Davinia Buckley ‘05 and Ethan Selfridge ‘02 were married in Atlanta, Georgia, on Saturday, August 29, 2020.

After postponing their New York City wedding twice, they decided to have a small ceremony in the back garden at the home of Davinia’s parents. It was a special, magical, and intimate evening with just their parents and Davinia’s brother and sister-in-law. They look forward to a larger celebration in 2021.

2004 Spencer Bailey has just authored a book entitled In Memory Of: Designing Contemporary Memorials. The book explores the art, architecture, and design of memorials around the world. It is a moving collection of more than sixty exceptional structures that commemorate some of the most destructive events of the 20th and 21st centuries, including war, genocide, massacre, terrorism, famine, and slavery. The book also provides thoughtful essays on the subjects of hope, strength, grief, loss, and fear, which help to give context to the projects and address the emotional aspects of memorialization. In Memory Of was released in October 2020 and is available on Amazon.com.

’04 Alex Funnell ‘04 visited with Elisabeth Brubaker ‘06 in Amman, Jordan.

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CLASS NOTES

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Answering the Call

ALEX ADAMS ’13

Back in May, Alex Adams ’13 was looking forward to graduating from NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing, but when a friend at New York-Presbyterian Hospital told her they urgently needed nurse's aides, she sent in an application. “I got a call back that day, sent in my paperwork, and was driving into the city less than a week later. I’m lucky to be surrounded by such empathetic and strong workers at NYP, who are risking a lot to help others.”

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’07

’06

Becka and Pete D’Agostino ‘07 welcomed their first son, Thomas Rowley D’Agostino, on January 17, 2020. The family lives on the Upper East Side in New York City.

Amanda Jordan ‘06 and her husband Todd Coletto

2007 2006 Jeff Rhodin announced that he started a new job at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art as the Director of Marketing and Communications.

Congratulations to April and Morgan MacKay on the birth of their son, William “Liam” Douglas MacKay, on January 10, 2020. Morgan noted, “He is a happy, rambunctious baby who loves jumping up and down, being outside, and watching cars go by. We have also discovered his favorite food is pizza crust.”

Amanda Jordan announced, “I was selected as the U.K. School Librarians’ Association’s Middle Grade Creator of the Month for my debut novel, Theodora Hendrix and the Monstrous League of Monsters — my first industry award! The book was released in October 2020. I would also like to share (though I’m late in doing so!) that I married Todd Patrick Coletto on September 19, 2019, at City Hall in Manhattan. A reception for family and friends was held two days later at Del Posto, also in Manhattan.

Joey Army and James Fitzgerald ’08 were in attendance.”

’07 Morgan MacKay ‘07 and his son Liam

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CLASS NOTES

’07 Emily Detmer Taylor ‘07 and her husband, Denton, welcomed a daughter, Constance Lee, on February 8, 2020.

’07

2007

Cecilia Walker Norris ‘07 and her husband Matthew Heffington

Congratulations to Cecilia Walker Norris, who married Matthew Heffington in an intimate and enchanting wedding in Bermuda on October 16, 2020. Guests included Alexandra Avalone and her husband Cameron Begg, Blaine Wise, and Cooper Stevenson.

A serendipitous and unexpected cameo was made by Else Ross and her husband Brady Griffin ’06. The wedding took place at the stoic and storied Unfinished Church with reception at the Coral Beach & Tennis Club. Guests were required to test and quarantine by the Bermudian government before arrival.

2008 Andrea Micci had earned a spot in the 2020 Boston Marathon, which was subsequently postponed from April to September due to the coronavirus. The Boston Athletic Association decided it was still not safe to hold the traditional marathon event, so they gave all entrants the option to do the marathon virtually, wherever they were in the world, during a two week window in the month of September. On Thursday, September 10, 2020 Andrea traveled to Hopkinton, Massachusetts and ran the 26.2 miles back into Boston. Although a different experience than the traditional day, Andrea achieved her goal and fulfilled the commitment she had set for herself last fall, and raised $8,281.94 for Thompson Island Outward Bound in the process.

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’08 Andrea Micci ‘08 completing the Boston Marathon in September.

’09

’09

Becky Smith Sosik ‘09 announced, “We welcomed our second baby girl, Mila Rose, on November 11, 2020. She was 9 lbs 7.6 oz and 21 inches long.”

Marcus Sesin ‘09 and his wife, Hilary, welcomed a baby boy into their family.

Daniel Robert Sesin arrived healthy and happy at 6:24 pm on March 20, 2020.

10s 2010 John Hong reported, “After graduating from Pomfret in 2010, I attended Dartmouth College, Class of 2014, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in biology (cum laude). I attended Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Class of 2018, and am currently training as a pediatric resident at NYU Langone Health. I am looking to further specialize in pediatric gastroenterology after residency graduation next June 2021.”

’09 Merideth Stuart ‘09 married Ryan Bender on November 1, 2020 in Richmond, Virginia.

Congratulations to Zenab Keita for being named a member of the 2020 Sports Business Journal/Daily New Voices Under 30. According to SBJ/D, the 30 members of the class of 2020 represent a new generation of sports business influencers. They reflect the diverse and dynamic industry across all sectors — leagues and teams, agencies and brands, media, and finance.

Zenab was selected to be part of the New Voices Under 30 for her entrepreneurial spirit, her willingness to take risks and disrupt an industry, her conviction to lift voices to advance social causes, her talent to make an impact on our organization, and her ambition to reach greater heights in her career.

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CLASS NOTES

2014 Kelli Mackey wrote, "I am working (and living) at St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire, as a Humanities IV teacher. I am the assistant varsity ice hockey coach under Heather Farrell '00 and will help coach lacrosse in the spring."

2015 Cody Maynard was happy to announce,”I’ve been accepted to Arizona State University’s in Geographical Information Science MAS program. I’m excited for the opportunity to bring cutting edge technology and data analytics to the forefront of Arizona’s water quality and watershed remediation efforts!”

’12 Cayman Macdonald ‘12 works at an Apple store in the Palm Beach area and discovered that one of her co-workers is fellow Pomfret alum Mike Dunn ‘66. They shared Pomfret stories on their lunch break and took this picture together. Pomfret is everywhere!

After taking a few years off of school and working once graduating college, Amy Diaz decided to go back to school last March to get her degree as a physical therapist assistant. In early October 2020, Amy graduated her program, took her boards, and is now a registered physical therapist assistant working in Rhode Island.

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POMFRET WINTER 2021

Matt Clayton wrote, “I’ve been working at a small business in Scituate, Massachusetts, called BirchBarn Designs. We’re a local wood shop specializing in cutting boards, serving boards, countertops, tables and more.

Having a great time developing a unique career path!

Hope everyone is staying safe!”

2016 Breana Lohbusch graduated summa cum laude from Gettysburg College with a Bachelor of Arts in Health Sciences. She received departmental honors for her major, and cords for her sorority AOII, Honor Society Omicron Delta Kappa, and the Phi Beta Kappa society. She moved to Charleston in August 2020 to begin her master’s degree in cardiovascular perfusion at the Medical University of South Carolina.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Staying Flexible

NEIL MCDONOUGH ’75

After a healthcare worker called asking for help, CEO Neil McDonough ’75 and his company FLEXcon rose to the occasion, swiftly shifting its production from pressure-sensitive film products to medical-grade face shields for healthcare professionals. FLEXcon has since donated tens of thousands of shields to over 100 organizations, including UMass Memorial Hospital, Mass General Hospital, and Baystate Hospital.

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CLASS NOTES

CLASS AGENTS & SECRETARIES Classes not listed do not have a class agent at present.

If interested in volunteering, contact Louisa Jones, Director of Constituent Engagement, at 860.963.5295 or ljones@pomfret.org.

1949 Tony LaPalme

1961 Tim Carey Steve Dexter Clark Groome Richard Jackson George Morgan George Walker

1972 Milton Butts

1962 Howie Mallory

1975 Andre Burgess

1954 Chet Lasell Bill O’Brien

1963 Dick Fates John Griswold Ted Swenson

1977 John Leeming

1955 John Huss Brooks Robbins Will Stewart

1964 Peter Clement Spinner Findlay

1979 Brad Painter

1965 Donald Gibbs

1980 Rachel Kamen

1967 Michael Petty

1981 Eric Foster

1968 Greg Melville Rob Rich

1982 Luis Cruz Joey Moffitt

1969 Rick Levin

1983 Wendy (Reeder) Enelow Tim Robinson

1951 Rolfe Floyd 1952 Chuck Henry 1953 Fred Gaston

1956 Tony Hoyt 1957 Dan Fales 1958 Ed Johnson George Shaw 1959 Jeb Embree 1960 Ben Fairbank

1970 Ben Bensen 1971 Jacques Bailhé

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POMFRET WINTER 2021

1973 Pete de Treville John Matthews Andy Teichner

1978 Mark Breen

1984 Jeff Curran

1985 Chris Berl Lisa (Thompson) Thomas 1987 Kay Cowperthwait 1989 Katie (Moriarty) Whittier 1990 Rachel Baime 1993 Elisabeth Costa de Beauregard 1994 Karrie Amsler Daniel Levin Ed Wartels 1995 Carson Baker Whitney Cook Allison (Glasmann) Reiner Robin Thebault Dan Thompson 1996 Anderson Bottomy Hillary Lewis Mike Newton Rebecca (Holt) Squires 1997 Miriam (Jamron) Baskies Wheeler (Simmons) Griffith Hadley (Weiss) Rosen

1998 Buzz Evans Kip Hale Toyin Moses Livia (Skelly-Dorn) Roustan 1999 Lindsey (Boardman) Duerr TJ Patrick 2000 Hilary (Gerson) Axtmayer 2001 Caitlin (Rogers) Connelly Cooper Hastings Wendy (Smith) Scarisbrick 2002 Christina (Galanti) Dickson Jo Anna (Galanti) Fellon John Lindsey Colton Riley Chris Watkins Bill Wentworth 2003 Saleem Ahmed Chelsea (Weiss) Baum Laura (Keeler) Pierce Chris Pike Mackie (Pilsbury) Spadaccini Poon Watchara-Amphaiwan 2004 Bob Saunders Etienne Vazquez 2005 Laura (Dunn) Cona Tim Deary Alysia LaBonte-Campbell Josh Rich Davinia Buckley Selfridge Bona Yoo

2006 Michelle (Gilmore) Castiglione Hillary (Ross) Charalambous Caroline (McLoughlin) Davis Young Hoon Hahn Maryam Hayatu-Deen Greg Jones Katherine (Winogradow) Munno James Pinkham Erin (Wolchesky) Schnare 2007 Chris Golden Else (Ross) Griffin Travis Holloway Holly Lorms Shawn McCloud Melissa (Stuart) Rogalski Darren Small Emily (Detmer) Taylor 2008 Alexandra D’Agostino Steve Harkey Emily Johnson Joanna (Gaube) Nemeskal 2009 Molly Downey Katie Kramer Sam St. Lawrence 2010 Maura Hall Kayla Sheehan Samantha Slotnick Stanton Ryan Wainwright 2011 Matthew Bourdeau Kenri Ferre Daniel Palumbo Margaret (Thompson) Stevens Ray Zeek

2012 Allie Bohan Helen Day Moira MacArthur Jack Nicholson Georgia Paige Sorrel Perka 2013 Alex Adams Lindsay Barber Alyson Chase Hayden Clarkin Jordan Ginsberg Lexi Gulino Dan Kellaway Dylan O’Hara Izzie Tropnasse 2014 Isaiah Henderson Meghan MacArthur Annie Zalon

2018 Abby Conway Taylor Ettore Henry Linhares Nia Medina-Orrantia 2019 Rory Schauder Brinton Thomas Caroline Woodard Sawyer Zimmerman 2020 Tyler Bourque Nisan Korkmaz Colin Kroll Trina Madziwa Sarah Miller Teagan O’Hara Marcus von Recklinghausen Candy Vorasadhit

2015 K.C. O’Hara 2016 Madison Dean Abby McThomas Caelan Meggs Sofie Melian-Morse Rhone O’Hara Chloe Saad Dave Samberg Sam Skinner 2017 Olivia Kremer Mallory McArdle Brandon Mitchell Sophie Nick

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SAVE T

F Y A D O

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THE DATE G N I GIV 1 2 0 2 .

7 2 4.

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IN MEMORIAM

In Memoriam To request a printed copy of full-detail alumni obituaries, call the Advancement Office at 860-963-6129.

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’41

’41

’42

’44

William B. Coley II ’41 January 7, 2020

David B. McDougal, Jr. ’41 February 28, 2020

Theodore F. Babbitt ’42 November 14, 2020

Lanning MacFarland, Jr. ’44 October 13, 2019

’44

’45

’47

’48

Myles Standish III ’44 November 21, 2019

John A. Bogardus, Jr. ’45 June 28, 2020

David D. Lambert IV ’47 July 28, 2019

DeCourcy L. Taylor, Jr. ’48 April 17, 2020

’50

’51

’56

’56

Edward A. Sprague ’50 January 1, 2020

Rolfe Floyd III ’51 February 24, 2020

Peter H. Beard ’56 April 19, 2020

Richard S. Fahnestock ’56 October 10, 2020

POMFRET WINTER 2021

’59

’61

’65

’67

Timothy H. Crawford ’59 April 2, 2020

Alan Kardon ’61 August 18, 2020

Raymond K. Brucker, Jr. ’65 July 18, 2020

Corbin Eissler ’67 December 27, 2020

’70

’70

’71

’71

Willie D. Lewis ’70 August 18, 2020

Roger D. Morse ’70 September 5, 2020

Derek A. Reveron ’71 July 1, 2020

Peter H. Wright ’71 May 5, 2020

’75

’80

’81

’83

Karen A. Felton ’75 April 12, 2020

Stephen N. Lander ’80 July 21, 2020

Marc V. Byron ’81 May 23, 2020

Judith Gascoigne Pashoian ’83 November 23, 2020

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IN MEMORIAM

’83

’99

’19

’21

W. Andrew Shea ’83 May 20, 2020

Ishmael N. Brown ’99 February 9, 2020

Joseph C. Noyes V ’19 June 25, 2020

Zachary K. Stolarek ’21 January 8, 2021 See Hilltop News on page 10

Former Staff

Former Staff

Former Staff

Marcia A. Birdsall March 10, 2020

Warren Geissinger November 21, 2020

Carole Wiquist October 23, 2020

See feature on on page 52

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Brian Dennehy and Chip Lamb

A Tribute to Brian Dennehy

The Tony Award-winning actor died in April 2020 at the age of eighty-one.

By Chip Lamb, Arts Chair/Theatre Director

I

am sitting backstage in the dressing room of the Harvey Theatre at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, with Brian Dennehy P ’11, who has just completed a soldout performance of Eugene O’Neill’s masterpiece, The Iceman Cometh.

“God, I’m tired,” Dennehy mutters. “You know, we close on Sunday. I’m ready.”

He has every reason to be. In a career that has spanned over forty years, Brian’s output has been remarkable. Just since 2010 when I first met him at Pomfret (his son, Cormac, graduated in my daughter’s class), Brian has been constantly busy on stages throughout the United States, Canada, and Ireland. His schedule would wear anyone down: six months at the Stratford Festival in Ontario, Canada; four months in Chicago; three months in Dublin; weeks in Los Angeles here and there. The schedule goes on and on. By any standard, Dennehy’s pace is relentless, but especially for a man his age.

In a partnership with Robert Falls, artistic director of Chicago’s Goodman Theatre, Brian Dennehy has tackled some of the most difficult roles in the English language. He is

widely respected as one of the finest interpreters of the plays of Eugene O’ Neill and won a Tony Award for his performance in Long Day’s Journey Into Night playing opposite Vanessa Redgrave in 2003. The Tony was Dennehy’s second; he also won for playing Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman (again directed by Falls) in Chicago, New York, and London.

When I caught up with Brian in the fall of 2011 in Stratford, after seeing him perform in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and Harold Pinter’s The Homecoming in the same day, he mentioned that he might be doing something “special” in the spring — The Iceman Cometh in Chicago with Nathan Lane. One of the longest and most difficult plays of the twentieth century, Iceman is rarely performed. Frankly, there are few theatres that would risk the demands of producing such an epic.

“All you have to do is get yourself to Chicago,” Brian remarked.

It isn’t everyday that I would travel halfway across the country to see a play. But the offer was tempting. As it turns out, I was not able to see the production, though I followed the opening and subsequent run with keen interest. I crossed paths with Brian once again when I drove a group of Pomfret students to the Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven to see him in Samuel Beckett’s one-man play, Krapp’s Last Tape.

Backstage after the performance, Brian greeted the students and intimated that Iceman might go to New York.

“We’re working on it,” he said with a twinkle in his eye.

“You shouldn’t miss Nathan’s performance.”

Almost three-and-a-half years later, The Iceman Cometh finally opened in New York, in a limited run at BAM. With a running time of nearly five hours, the play tests the audience not only with its length, but with its remorseless gaze into the human condition. The play forces every audience member to take a long, hard look at themselves and what stands between them and happiness. It explores how dreams can far exceed ambition and lead to a life of emptiness, regret and despair.

The denizens of Harry Hope’s saloon (the play’s location for all four acts) are not simply a collection of pathetic drunks; they represent all of us who have lost our way. In his unflinching but poetic way, O’Neill confronts us with a tragedy as gripping as any of Shakespeare’s. For me, this play is more than seeing great actors at the top of their game. It is an affirmation of the power of theatre to speak to us about the most hidden parts of our lives.

It is well past midnight and it is time to say goodnight and leave Brian’s dressing room for the subway. He graciously thanks me for coming by and mentions that he will be at his home near Pomfret for the next couple of months. As he heads down the hall to Nathan Lane’s dressing room filled with devoted fans, Brian Dennehy glances back at me.

“I’ll see you around.”

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VIRTUAL GATHERINGS

Virtual Gatherings

During the pandemic, we found new and novel ways to stay connected.

Catalyst Conversations Following the murder of George of Floyd in May, Jillian Forgue and tc Hanmer, codirectors for diversity, equity, and inclusion at Pomfret, facilitated dialogues to help alumni understand and confront issues of racism and injustice.

Parent Meet and Greet This fall, parents got the chance to meet and mingle during these form-specific mixers. The gatherings were sponsored by the Pomfret Parent Executive Council (PPEC).

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This Is Pomfret What makes Pomfret, Pomfret? During this weekly webinar, prospective parents and students got the chance to spend an hour with Director of Enrollment Management Amy Graham finding out.

Virtual Campus Tours During these virtual jaunts across campus, our friendly student tour guides brought prospective families into classrooms, athletic facilities, dorm rooms, performance spaces, and community hubs.

Virtual Family Weekend The exceptional lineup of webinars included an informative State of the School presentation by Head of School Tim Richards P ’15, a highly anticipated talk by the Vice President and Dean of Admission & Financial Aid at Davidson College Christopher Gruber, an arts immersion presentation for freshman parents, and our ever-popular college application workshop for junior parents.

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VIRTUAL GATHERINGS

DEI Update Sunday, November 1

Pomfret’s DEI co-directors, Jillian Forgue and tc Hanmer, unveiled a slate of new initiatives focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion at Pomfret.

Good Wine and Good Company Thursday, November 19

It was hard to say which was better — the wine or the company — when alumni logged in for this remote wine tasting event with Jim Baker ’82, winemaker at Hopkins Vineyard in New Preston, Connecticut. The event came with two bottles, an award-winning Cabernet Franc and a Vineyard Reserve white, which were shipped to the participants in advance.

TimTalk | What’s Good?

Tuesday, December 8

During the final stretch of a difficult and challenging year, Head of School Tim Richards invited alumni and parents to join him for a conversation. During this webinar, Tim spent some time looking back at what had been good on the Hilltop in 2020, before looking ahead to 2021.

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TIMTALKS

Alumni Trivia Night Thursday, January 21

Boston sports radio personality and Gillette Stadium announcer Mike "Sarge" Riley hosted this event, which pitted teams of alumni against each other, testing their knowledge of random facts and Pomfret lore.

COMING SOON

REUNION @

H ME

Reunion @ Home

Friday, May 7 and Saturday, May 8 Reunion is going virtual this year. And while we are disappointed you cannot come home to the Hilltop, we are still very excited to offer you an exceptional lineup of weekend events. All alumni are invited, with an emphasis on graduating class years ending in 0, 1, 5, and 6.

Register at www.pomfret.org/reunion.

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ICONOGRAPHY

Artists at Work Tucked away in one of the studio’s corner mezzanines, in what used to be an old storage area, you can often find Artist in Residence JP Jacquet working away in his private studio: “One of the things that attracted me to Pomfret is that they weren’t looking for an art teacher. They were looking for an artist who could teach.”

That important distinction has made a lasting impact on generations of Pomfret art students, apprentices all.

— ICONOGRAPHY —

CHARLES D. “CHICK” COLE ART STUDIO

Here’s Looking at You, Kid When Painting & Drawing Teacher JP Jacquet got to Pomfret in the early 2000s, the walls of the studio were bare — and, as JP puts it — “begging for color.” To bring life to the space, he began asking students from his Advanced Painting and Drawing class to paint their own self-portraits directly on the walls, then the ceiling.

Twenty years later, the faces of more than 200 student-artists look out from almost every square-inch of this larger-than-lifesized canvas.

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On the Brightside When Mark Simon ’64 of Centerbrook Architects designed the Centennial Academic and Arts Center, he intentionally located Cole Studio (and the ceramics studio below it) on the north end of the building. Then he installed expansive windows on the north, east, and west walls, and added skylights overhead. The result?

A room with bright, even, natural light that lasts the whole day long.

Namesake

On Saturday, October 24, 1998, the Charles D. “Chick” Cole Art Studio opened its doors for the first time. A gifted teacher, an exceptional human being, and a true Pomfret icon, Chick was a legendary art teacher who taught at Pomfret from 1951 until his retirement in 1998. He passed away in 2016 at the age of ninety-two.

A Huge M

ess

The sprawling space measures a whopping 63,000 cubic feet, with a huge sloped ceiling rising to an astonishing thirty-five feet.

Down below, it’s an artist’s playground, a wonderland, jam packed with half-finished work clipped to worn wooden easels, coffee cans overflowing with bristle brushes, tubes splattered with paint, taxidermied animals, even a human skeleton.

Always Ope n

You never know when inspiration is going to strike, which is why Cole Studio is never locked. The space is accessible to students, faculty, and staff, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Pablo Picasso, who was famous for sleeping all day and painting all night, would have felt right at home.

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398 Pomfret Street PO Box 128 Pomfret, CT 06258-0128

NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID HARTFORD, CT PERMIT #1382

Change Service Requested

Save the date

May 7-8, 2021 REUNION 2021 IS GOING VIRTUAL

Since you can’t come to the Hilltop, we’re bringing the Hilltop to you.

Register at www.pomfret.org/reunion