Portsmouth Abbey School Winter 2015 Alumni Bulletin

P ORT S M O U T H

A BB E Y S C HO OL

WINTER ALUMNI BULLETIN 2015

M ISSION STATEMENT The aim of Portsmouth Abbey School is to help young men and women grow in knowledge and grace.

Grounded in the Catholic faith and 1500-year-old Benedictine intellectual tradition, the School fosters: Reverence for God and the human person Respect for learning and order Responsibility for the shared experience of community life

BOARD OF REGENTS Right Rev. Dom Caedmon Holmes, O.S.B. Abbot and Chancellor Portsmouth, RI Mr. W. Christopher Behnke ’81, P ’12, ’15 Chairman Chicago, IL Dom Joseph Byron, O.S.B. Portsmouth, RI Mr. Creighton O. Condon ’74, P ’07, ’10 Jamestown, RI Dom Francis Crowley, O.S.B. Portsmouth, RI Ms. Kathleen Cunningham P ’08,’09,’11,’14 Dedham, MA Mr. Peter Ferry ’75, P ’16, ‘17 Republic of Singapore Ms. Frances Fisher P ’15 San Francisco, CA Dr. Timothy P. Flanigan ’75, P ’06, ’09, ’11 Tiverton, RI Mr. Peter S. Forker ’69 Chicago, IL Mr. Patrick Gallagher ’81, P ’15 Annual Fund Chair Providence, RI

Ms. Margaret S. Healey P ’91 New Vernon, NJ

Mr. Peter J. Romatowski ’68 McLean, VA

Mr. Denis Hector ’70 Miami, FL

Right Rev. Dom Matthew Stark, O.S.B. Prior Portsmouth, RI

Dr. Gregory Hornig ’68, P’ 01 Prairie Village, KS Rev. Dom Damian Kearney, O.S.B., ’45 Portsmouth, RI Mr. Peter Kennedy ’64, P ’07, ’08, ’15 Big Horn, WY Mr. William Keogh ’78, P ’13 Litchfield, CT Dr. Mary Beth Klee P ’04 Hanover, NH Ms. Devin McShane P ’09, ’11 Providence, RI Rev. Dom Gregory Mohrman, O.S.B. St. Louis, MO

Mr. Rowan G.P. Taylor P ’13, ‘17, ’18 New Canaan, CT Mr. William Winterer ’87 Boston, MA Ms. Yanling Xu P ’13 Yantai, China Regents Emeriti Mr. Peter Flanigan R ’41, P ’75, ’83, GP ’06, ’09, ’11 Purchase, NY Mr. Thomas Healey ’60, P ’91 New Vernon, NJ Mr. William Howenstein R ’52, P ’87, GP ’10, ’17 Grosse Pointe Farms, MI

Mr. Philip V. Moyles, Jr. ’82 Rye, NY Mr. and Mrs. Emmett O’Connell P ‘16 Co-Chairs, Parents’ Association Stowe, VT Mr. John Perreira P ’05 Portsmouth, RI

R

deceased

Front cover: Dr. Timothy Flanigan ’75 with health care workers outside the Sr. Barbara Ann Memorial Health Center, named after an American nun who was killed in the Liberian civil war. For more on Dr. Flanigan’s work in Liberia, see the profile by Dr. Mary Beth Klee on page 32.

From the office of the Headmaster

In September, we released two new, professional videos to help our recruitment, one for students and one for parents. Both videos are available on our website – please share them!

Recently a parent asked me why my family and I had moved to St. Brigid’s, and I realized they thought I was serving as a houseparent as well as a headmaster. Not true! I explained that most Houses have three apartments but that St. Brigid’s has four, and we are living in the “extra” apartment. I have often thought of the generosity of so many of you that allowed us to construct St. Brigid’s and St. Martin’s. The decision to build these two Houses – like nearly all other changes to our programs and campus over the last 10 years – came from our last Strategic Plan. Everyone here on campus is benefiting from the planning and foresight that attracted so many of you to support our vision. I was reminded of this again during Parents’ Weekend when a student said, “Only at Portsmouth Abbey would there be a mandatory assembly to bless a turf field.” I am not sure whether that was pride or humor or both, but she was right. And deciding what else could only happen at Portsmouth Abbey is at the heart of two processes going on right now: our Self-Study for the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and the formation of our next strategic plan.

Unlike the last three times we went through this self-study process in the ’80s, ’90s, and ’00s, the NEASC now asks us to

look not only at individual academic departments and school programs, but to also recognize that “the ultimate objective is for our schools to design a sustainable future, which is consistent with their respective missions in serving their students, and responsive to a rapidly changing environment.” The last time we did this process, there were nearly 100 standards that had to be addressed, but now we respond to “only” 14: Mission, Governance, Enrollment, Program, Experience of the Students, Resources to Support the Program, Residential Program, Faculty, Administration, Evaluation and Assessment, Health and Safety, Communication, Infrastructure, and The Accreditation Process. The NEASC tells us that “the test to be applied for judgment as to whether a standard is passed or failed is to ask, ‘Is student experience supported (standard is passed) or compromised (standard is failed) by the school’s position with regard to the standard?’ ” As part of this process, we sent surveys to all faculty, students, parents, and alumni. Thank you very much for the remarkable response rate you gave us at a very busy time of the year. The information you submitted is crucial to helping us learn whether you believe we are doing what we say we are doing.

While the faculty works with Self-Study Coordinator Aileen Baker (Dean of Residential Life), I am also working with my administrative team and the Board of Regents to develop a draft of our next strategic plan. It takes a great deal of collaboration to handle the complexity of the challenges facing a school that wishes to exist for the grandchildren of those currently attending. Consider what the economy has seen in the last 10 years compared to the 20 before it. Consider how much we have learned about learning in the last 10 years compared to the 20 before it. And finally, but certainly not least, consider the impact of technology on our lives and educations over the last 5 years, let alone the last 10 or 20 years.

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It’s not often that these two processes coincide, so this is a very fortunate coincidence for us. We won’t finalize the strategic plan just yet. When the NEASC Visiting Committee comes in the Fall of 2015, they will look at all of our many internal recommendations (typically 2-5 recommendations for each of the Standards) as well as our selection of 3-5 overall recommendations for the entire School. The Visiting Committee will likely endorse some of those, but will also propose others that they feel are crucial after visiting us. When we thoughtfully review our own work, that of the Visiting Committee, and that of the Board of Regents, we will be able to finish – as a school – the next version of the strategic plan. Then you can be confident that we will portray to you the future that we will need your help to implement.

When all of that is completed, we will have10 years until we have to do it again, but only 11 years until the 100th anniversary of the School. As we look to that, we can be proud that we

have a unique mission in the world of independent schools – to help students grow in knowledge and grace – and knowing that you are supporting that mission, even after your and/or your child’s time on campus has passed, is a tremendous encouragement for us. Thank you for helping us live that mission, and for generously supporting us as we continue to grow and thrive.

Please remember that the Monastery prays for all of you daily, and you are always welcome to visit the campus when you are in the area.

In Christ and St. Benedict,

Dan McDonough

Rooted in Generosity A gift to Portsmouth Abbey School in your will or revocable trust enables you to support our mission and make a difference in the lives of future generations of students. Bequests do not cost you any cash flow during your lifetime, and are easy to modify or revoke if your situation changes.

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Visit our website to learn more: www.portsmouthabbey.org/ page/waystogive To learn more about bequests or other ways to support Portsmouth Abbey, contact: Andrew Rose Senior Development Officer 401-643-1280 arose@portsmouthabbey.org

Stay Connected To keep up with general news and information about Portsmouth Abbey School, we encourage you to bookmark the www.portsmouthabbey.org website. If you are an alumnus/a, please visit and join our Alumni Community. Check our our listing of upcoming alumni events here on campus and around the country.

And please remember to update your contact information on our Alumni Community pages, where you can find out more about Reunion 2015, our Annual Golf Scholarship Tournament, and share news and search for fellow alumni around the world: www. portsmouthabbey.org/page/alumni.

If you would like to receive our e-newsletter, Musings, please make sure we have your email address (send to: info@portsmouthabbey.org).

To submit class notes and photos (1-5 MB), please email: classnotes@portsmouthabbey.org or mail to Portsmouth Abbey Office of Development and Alumni Affairs, 285 Cory’s Lane, Portsmouth, RI 02871.

CONTENTS From the Headmaster, Daniel McDonough

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Like a Shepherd He Will Tend His Flock: Understanding the Francis Papacy

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by Christopher Fisher, Executive Director, Portsmouth Institute From the Office of Development & Alumni Affairs

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by Director of Development Matthew Walter Reunion 2015 Wrap-up

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by Events and Alumni Relations Coordinator Cindy Ruiz ’10 Raven About Fitness: The 2014 Parents’ Committee Auction

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Abbey Receptions

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Haney Fellowships 2014

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Service Trip to Chile with the Manquehue Movement

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by Meghan McCarthy ’15 Tracking the Silverbacks of Bwindi The Portsmouth Abbey Alumni Bulletin is published bi-annually for alumni, parents and friends by Portsmouth Abbey School, a Catholic Benedictine preparatory school for young men and women in Forms III-VI (grades 9-12) in Portsmouth, RI. If you have opinions or comments on the articles contained in our Bulletin, please email: communications @ portsmouthabbey.org or write to the Office of Communications, Portsmouth Abbey School, 285 Cory’s Lane, Portsmouth, RI 02871 Please include your name and phone number.

The editors reserve the right to edit articles for content, length, grammar, magazine style, and suitabilty to the mission of Portsmouth Abbey School.

Headmaster: Daniel McDonough

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with Dom Joseph Byron, O.S.B. Alumni Profile: Dr. Timothy Flanigan ’75

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by Mary Beth Klee, Ph.D., P ’04 From the Office of Admission

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by Director of Admission Meghan Fonts Fall 2014 Athletics

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The Abbey Teammate

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by Director of Athletics Al Brown Milestones: Weddings, Births

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In Memoriam:

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William Lowell Putnam, III, ‘41 and Dr. Thomas Head, Jr.,‘74

Director of Development: Matthew Walter Editors: Kathy Heydt, Katherine Giblin Stark Art Director: Kathy Heydt Photography: Jez Coulson, Louis Walker, Andrea Hansen, Kim Fuller, Marianne Lee, Cindy Ruiz, Conor O’Rourke, Kathy Heydt

Necrology

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Class Notes

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Individual photos found in alumni profiles have been supplied courtesy of the respective alumni.

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By Christopher Fisher Executive Director, Portsmouth Institute It is an exciting time to be a Catholic. In the nearly two years since the start of his papacy, Pope Francis has inspired millions by his humble witness, has become an influential player in geopolitics, and has reminded all Christians of Christ’s call to serve the poor, the weak, and the afflicted.

Like a Shepherd He Will Tend His Flock: Understanding the Francis Papacy Announcing the Portsmouth Institute’s 2015 Summer Conference

Yet our age is not without its challenges. Francis’s zeal for reform has at times sparked intense debate over Church doctrine and the requirements of evangelization in the 21st century. Despite the appeal of the man atop the throne of Peter, parishes around the world – especially in the West – still struggle to keep pews occupied, coffers filled, and doors open. And millions of Christians, from Africa, to the Middle East, to Asia, live under constant threat of persecution and even martyrdom; for instance, in areas of Islamic State (ISIS)-controlled Iraq, Christians have fled some of the oldest Christian settlements in the world under threat of execution.

This dynamic setting forms the backdrop for the renewed efforts of the Portsmouth Institute for Faith and Culture. Founded in 2009 as an annual conference for those interested in exploring Catholic intellectual life, the Portsmouth Institute is now a year-round Catholic scholarly institute. In service to the Church, the Institute promotes the best of contemporary Christian thought and explores the rich intellectual heritage of the Catholic Church through lectures, seminars, conferences, retreats, and publications.

In order to help us more fully comprehend the role of the Church in the world today, I am pleased to announce that our 2015 summer conference will address the theme, “Like a Shepherd He Will Tend His Flock: Understanding the Francis Papacy.” The conference will be held on June 19th through the 21st. We are assembling a roster of leading scholars, journalists, and clergy – including a keynote address by one of Pope Francis’s top advisers, Archbishop of Boston Cardinal Seán Patrick O’Malley – for an in-depth look at what motivates the Francis Papacy, and what his example means for faithful Catholics in the 21st century.

In order to help us begin this exploration, I am pleased to present this essay by Fr. Roger J. Landry on “Pope Francis’ Dream of the Missionary Transformation of the Church.”

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Let this essay be an amuse-bouche for your intellectual palate. I look forward to seeing you at the Institute’s 2015 summer conference for further exploration of this timely and important topic.

Please visit www.portsmouthinstitute.org/conference for more information and to register for the conference. You can also call 401.643.1255 or email me directly at cfisher@portsmouthabbey. org with any questions or to register.

Pope Francis’ Dream of the Missionary Transformation of the Church

By Fr. Roger J. Landry Four days before his election, the future Pope Francis addressed his brother Cardinals and told them that the reform that the Church most needed was not the extirpation of various forms of corruption in the Vatican. Rather it was to go from a sick and “worldly Church that lives within herself, of herself and for herself,” to “an evangelizing Church that comes out of herself.”

Using words that would soon become his own job description, he emphasized that the next pope had to be a man who would “help the Church get out of herself and go to those on the outskirts of existence,” who would guide the Church on an exodus from ecclesial introversion and narcissistic self-preservation to bold, joy-filled evangelization.

The Cardinals not only accepted their Argentine colleague’s challenge to put mission above maintenance, but elected him as the one they believed most capable of bringing about that type of deep missionary reform.

In his apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium (“The Joy of the Gospel”), Pope Francis presents his systematic vision of ecclesial reform and gives a compelling summons to all Catholics to take up their role in this missionary metamorphosis.

He first presents his vision: “I dream of a ‘missionary option,’ that is, a missionary impulse capable of transforming everything, so that the Church’s customs, ways of doing things, times and schedules, language and structures, can be suitably channeled for the evangelization of today’s world rather than for her self-preservation.”

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Next he gives the Christological underpinning for that vision: Jesus is the “first and greatest evangelizer” and with his valedictory command, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” he has made us heirs of his own mission. The Church doesn’t just have a mission but is a mission, and therefore missionary outreach Francis stresses, must become “paradigmatic for all the Church’s activity.”

Then he makes that vision personal for each Christian: Just like the Church, none of us has a mission, but each of us is a mission. “I am a mission on this earth; this is the reason why I am here,” Pope Francis asserts each of us should be able to say. To be a disciple at all is to be a missionary disciple. The apostolate is not optional or additional to our faith but essential and constitutive.

“If we have received the love that restores meaning to our lives, how can we fail to share that love with others?,” he asks. “What kind of love would not feel the need to speak of the beloved, to point him out, to make him known?”

We know from personal experience, he states, that “it is not the same thing to have known Jesus as not to have known him, … to walk with him as to walk blindly, … to hear his word as not to know it, … to contemplate him, to worship him, to find our peace in him, as not to. It is not the same thing to try to build the world with his Gospel as to try to do so by our own lights.” But we have to make that knowledge apostolically consequential and have “a passion for Jesus and… for his people” strong enough to move us from within to share that wisdom with others.

Our consciences should be justly disturbed, he says, that “so many of our brothers and sisters are living without the strength, light and consolation born of friendship with Jesus Christ, without a community of faith to support them, without meaning and a goal in life.”

What’s needed is for all of us throughout the Church to stop living “as if people who have not received the Gospel did not exist.”

The papacy, dioceses and parishes all have to be reformed to advance the mission Christ has entrusted to the Church, Pope Francis writes. He reserves his most powerful exhortation, however, for the lay faithful, reminding them that baptism has made every one of them “without exception” a missionary disciple. “The new evangelization calls for the personal involvement on the part of each of the baptized,” no matter what their level of instruction in the faith.

On the one hand, he insists, there’s a need for better “formation” of the laity in general and “training” in evangelization in particular, especially at the level of parishes, so that people are equipped to share the faith more confidently and effectively at work, school and in their neighborhoods and social networks.

At the same time, he adds, “Anyone who has truly experienced God’s saving love does not need much time or lengthy training to go out and proclaim that love!”

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A bigger obstacle, he says, is fear and selfishness. “At a time when we most need a missionary dynamism that will bring salt and light to the world, many lay people fear that they may be asked to undertake some apostolic work and they seek to avoid any responsibility that may take away from their free time,” whether as volunteer catechists, door-to-door evangelizers, or participants in the Church’s institutional charities.

The biggest obstacle is from a defective way of looking at the faith that leads to a lack of joy in living it. Many of us, he contends, live the faith like those who have “just come back from a funeral,” whose lives “seem like Lent without Easter,” because fundamentally we look at the faith as a litany of joyless religious obligations rather than as a drama of divine and human love.

People, however, don’t hear the Gospel from those who are “dejected, discouraged, impatient or anxious,” and seeking to spread their misery, but rather from those “wish to share their joy, point to a horizon of beauty and invite others to a delicious banquet,”– those whose lives, in short, are transfigured

by God’s presence and attract people to the Source of their love and joy.

Francis warns us not to give in to the “tomb psychology” and pessimism of the “prophets of doom” who think that the life of faith is on an inexorable decline. Rather, he urges us to rely on the power of the same Holy Spirit who helped Christians in generations before us spread the faith, even during ages of persecution.

Do you realize that if every Catholic in the United States were to try to bring just one Catholic back to Mass over each of the next two years, that by Christmas 2016, two-thirds of Catholics in the United States would be practicing each Sunday?

Francis encourages each of us to set out on this missionary transformation with such achievable goals in mind. “Every person is worthy of our giving,” he affirms. “If I can help at least one person to have a better life, that already justifies the offering of my life!”

That’s the type of missionary reform he’s trying to bring about in each of us.

d

Fr. Landry is a priest of the Diocese of Fall River , MA, and national chaplain for Catholic Voices USA. His writings, speeches and homilies are found at CatholicPreaching.com. In March of 2015, Fr. Landry was called to work at the Holy See’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations. The Permanent Mission is comparable to the Vatican’s embassy at the U.N. This article was originally published in The Anchor on December 13, 2013.

It has been adapted and republished with permission.

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

Supporting the three R’s has made for a busy fall for the development office. Here are some of the highlights:

FROM THE OFFICE OF DEVELOPMENT & ALUMNI AFFAIRS

• Receptions in Westport, Boston, Chicago, New York and the Bahamas (See photos on page 20).

• Reunions Weekend in September, at which the classes ending in ’4 and ’9 gathered to mark their milestone years (special congratulations to the Class of 1964 which, on the occasion of its 50th reunion, committed to donating at least $64,000 to the Annual Fund this year ... I am happy to report that they have met and exceeded their goal. (See story on page 10).

Dear Portsmouth Abbey School Alumni, Parents and Friends, It is with great pleasure that I write to you as Portsmouth Abbey School’s new Director of Development. Since my family and I arrived last August, we have received warm welcomes at every turn, whether it has been attending our first official function – a reception for supporters of the Westport/Little Compton endowed scholarship fund, or joining the Class of 1964 for its 50th reunion dinner during Reunion Weekend, or meeting fellow Abbey parents at our son’s (John Patrick ’18) football and basketball games. All of these experiences have served to confirm what we had hoped to find at the Abbey, namely that the three R’s the School seeks to foster are more than just words in a mission statement; they are ideals that are lived daily in a community committed to excellence. We have truly encountered:

• The most successful auction in the School’s history, raising more than $240,000 for fitness and wellness programs at the School. The initial expenditure of these funds will go toward completely refurbishing the Healey and Sheehan Fitness Center, which, after 10 years, is beginning to show some wear and tear (a testament to how much the Abbey community uses and benefits from this spectacular facility). We anticipate the fitness center renovation will be completed by the end of spring vacation (See story on page 18).

Reverence for God and the human person Respect for learning and order Responsibility for the shared experience of community life In its most fundamental sense, the work of the development and alumni relations office is the work of supporting the three R’s. It is no mistake that they played a prominent role in the Growing in Knowledge and Grace campaign. They continue to play a prominent role in the self-study and accreditation process outlined in Headmaster Dan McDonough’s article on page 1. And they will inevitably inform the School’s next strategic plan, which, in turn, will help determine the School’s development priorities in the years ahead. We will always be about fostering the three R’s so that we can give young men and women the best opportunity possible to grow in knowledge and grace.

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The 2014-2015 Annual Fund launched, which, thanks • in no small part to your support and good work, has already raised in excess of $1 million toward our goal of $1.5 million.

• Travel to Colorado, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Texas, California, Illinois, Wisconsin, the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic on behalf of the School,

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PORTSMOUTH ABBEY ANNUAL FUND meeting with a variety of Abbey constituents about annual, major and planned gifts.

• Beginning with the 2015-2016 school year, Meghan Fonts, who has been the director of admission for the past seven years, will assume a new role at the School as the director of parent relations and will have an office in the development office. We look forward to working with Meghan on enhancing our overall engagement of our current parents and parents of alumni.

• We will be hiring a Director of the Annual Fund for the 2015-2016 school year as well and hope to have this position filled by the time you are reading this. This addition to the office will be important to our goal of growing the Annual Fund from $1.5 million to $2 million in the coming years.

Here are a few of the initiatives the office aims to accomplish this spring: • Our main priority will be to build upon the success of last year’s record-setting $1.4 million Annual Fund to see that we meet this year’s record goal of $1.5 million.

• As mentioned earlier, we have started the self-study portion of our reaccreditation process. This effort will carry through the rest of this and into next school year, culminating with a site visit from our accrediting body in November 2015.

We anticipate that this process will provide the basis for the School’s next strategic plan and capital campaign.

The School has purchased the red house at 252 Cory’s • Lane. This building will become the future home of the Office of Communications and the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs and will be known as Alumni House.

It will be a busy travel season for the office, with • gatherings in Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., Colorado, New Jersey, Florida, California and more.

Thank you again for your warm welcome and for your continued support of Portsmouth Abbey School. If you’d like to know more about development at the Abbey, or if you are interested in making a gift to the School, please contact me at mwalter@portsmouthabbey.org or 401-643-1291.

With warm regards,

Matthew P. Walter

The Annual Fund continues to be Portsmouth Abbey School’s first and most fundamental source of non-tuition revenue. It provides critical resources for the School to fund annual budgeted activities and to take advantage of special opportunities as they arise. Our goal for the Annual Fund is, simply put, constant and continual growth. We must grow to become stronger; we must grow to keep pace; we must grow to compete. But most importantly, we must grow to ensure that the School has the resources it needs for all members of the Abbey community to grow in knowledge and grace. To that end, the Board of Regents has set a $1.5 million goal for the Annual Fund this year.

How can you help accomplish this goal?

1. Start! giving if you haven’t already or increase! your support if you have been giving at the same level for more than a few years.

2. If you are an alum, make a major Annual Fund gift during a major reunion year!

3. If you are a current parent, make the School your philanthropic priority! while your child is a student at the Abbey.

4. Endow! your Annual Fund gift through a planned gift during your lifetime or through your estate.

5. Volunteer! . . . join the more than 230 alumni and parent volunteers who help with the Annual Fund each year.

For more information or to make a gift, please contact Associate Director of Development Polly Antol at pantol@portsmouthabbey.org or 401-643-1204, or give online at www.portsmouthabbey.org/makeagift.

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2015

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY

by Cindy Ruiz ’10, Events and Alumni Relations Coordinator The turnout for Saturday’s activities was tremendous. Highlights included “Back to the Classroom;” a New England clambake; a children’s carnival with hayrides; and an art tour with Fr. Damian.

From the Class of 1979, from left, Stephen Huntly-Robertson, Alex Mikulich, Steven McKenna and Joe Tucker

enjoy the New England lobster bake on Saturday.

Dom Damian Kearney ’45 provided a guided tour of the Alfonso Ossorio ‘34 artwork on Portsmouth Abbey’s campus, called “The Art of Alfonso Ossorio: 80th Class Reunion Display.”

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Classes ending in ‘4s and ‘9s returned to campus for Reunion Weekend on September 26-28. More than 260 alumni made it back to Portsmouth, and for some it was their first time seeing classmates since graduation. The classes celebrating particular milestones this year included the Class of 1964 (50th Reunion), the Class of 1989 (25th Reunion) and the Class of 2009 (5th Reunion), which boasted outstanding attendance. Everyone enjoyed reconnecting with the campus on which he or she had spent so much time.

On an especially warm weekend for New England, Friday began beautifully with alumni from all classes hitting the links at the world-class Carnegie Abbey golf course. Back on campus, alumni attended classes with current faculty and students to sample the excellence of Abbey academics. Later in the evening, reunion classes met at various locations in Newport, Middletown and Portsmouth for their respective class dinners. A great time was had by all as classmates reminisced about Abbey days.

Director of College Counseling Mary McDonald presents to the Class of 1964 during its 50th reunion.

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REUNION 2014 Left: from left, Jason Bazarsky ’04, Maria Morris, Antonio Leal ’04, Jeff Willis ‘04 and Reon Curry

Right: The Class of 1984 gathers for dinner at Carnegie Abbey on Friday night.

From left, David Cummings, Red Cummings ‘63, Andy Godfrey, Guy Farrington, David Mazzella, Mike Rappaport, and David FitzSimons

Alumni returned to campus on Saturday to feast on a New England-style lobster bake under a tent on the lower campus. While enjoying some traditional clam chowder, guests were entertained by the music of the North Shore Jazz Trio, Jim Coyle’s (Class of 1979) band. Simultaneously, alumni were able to attend a number of athletics games including the varsity boys’ soccer team in a match against Beaver Country Day as well as the varsity football team squaring off against Hebron Academy. Later in the day, Dom Damian Kearney ’45 led a guided tour of “The Art of Alfonso Ossorio: 80th Class Reunion Display.” The Raven mascot also made special appearances throughout the day, greeting alumni and their families. A very special treat was offered for alumni children, who enjoyed an activities area featuring pumpkin painting and arts and crafts.

Throughout the weekend, the St. Thomas More Library hosted a display of books by alumni authors.

Chuck Ausburn ‘79 and his wife, Terry, prepare to dig into some New England lobster

Left: Sam Francis ’43 enjoys his 71st reunion

From left, Fal de Saint Phalle, Dana Robinson and Mark Whidden sporting their Abbey gear

Keegan McCarthy, son of teachers Shane and Susan, enjoys the clambake.

Above: Matt Geremia ‘83 helped his daughter, Kasey ‘09, celebrate her 5-year reunion.

Right: 1999 classmates Cara Gontarz Hume and Amara Murray Mulder, babies in hand, were able to spend time catching up.

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REUNION 2014

Right: From left, Mariano Martinez, Bunky Bakutis and Ciro Scotti, all from the Class of 1964, are happy to reunite over dinner on Saturday night.

Below: From the Class of 1984, seated, from left, are Chip Lattanzio, Guy Farrington, David Mazzella and David Cummings. Back row, from left, Mike Rappaport, David FitzSimons, Don Dowd, Charlie Matthews, Sam Carter, Andy Godfrey, Tim Howes and Richard McCauley.

Director of Development Matt Walter welcomed attendees on Saturday night.

Right: Gregg Dietrich ‘74 enjoys the moment.

Above: 2004 classmates at dinner, front row, from left, are Whitney Connell, Julia McGlynn Reinalda, Katie Scott; back row, Eamon McGlynn, Genevieve Block and Sean Galvin.

Members of the Class of 2004, front, from left, Whitney Connell, Julia Right: Members of the Class 1964 highlighted their 50th McGlynn, Katie Scott; back row, from left,ofEamon McGlynn, Genevieve reunion by presenting HeadmasterBlock, Dan McDonough with a and Sean Galvin. $64,000 check in honor of their milestone – with an impressive class participation of 83%!

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The festivities continued Saturday evening as alumni and guests enjoyed a cocktail party on the Winter Garden terrace. Portsmouth Abbey School Director of Development Matt Walter introduced himself to alumni and welcomed them back to campus for a well attended reunion weekend. Matt also recognized Sam Francis ’43 for attending his 71st reunion. An evening highlight included the celebration of the Class of 1964 in its 50th reunion year. The ’64 classmates were pleased to present Headmaster Dan McDonough with a $64,000 check to the Annual Fund in honor of their milestone reunion. With an impressive class participation of 83%, the bar is set high for upcoming years.

The presentation capped off a night of delectable food and warm collegiality.

Members of the Class of 1979 joined Fr. Ambrose at the Jubilee brunch in celebration of Fr. Edmund Adams, O.S.B. ’57 and Fr. Paschal Scotti, O.S.B., on Sunday

Sunday morning began with a Jubilee Mass in celebration of Father Edmund Adams, O.S.B., ’57 and Father Paschal Scotti, O.S.B. Celebrations continued with a brunch in their honor at the Stillman Dining Hall.

Preparations for Reunion 2015 have already begun, and we look forward to another wonderful weekend on September 25 -27. Classes ending in ‘0 and ‘5, as well as members of the Diman Club (those having graduated more than 50 years ago), will be honored, and all alumni are welcomed back to campus! If you are interested in volunteering for Reunion 2015, please call or email Cindy Ruiz ’10, events & alumni relations coordinator, at 401-643-1276 or cruiz@portsmouthabbey.org .

Above: Abbot Matthew Stark, O.S.B., stirring up some fun with Chas Grace ’74 at the brunch for Father Edmund ’57 and Father Paschal on Sunday.

Below: From the Class of 2009, Alaina Andreozzi, Kelly Coffin, Riley Grant, Elena McCarthy and Kerry Klemmer join in the Jubilee festivities.

Fr. Philip and Sandy Lewis ‘64 sharing a laugh at brunch on Sunday.

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REUNION 2014

The Diman Club

Those celebrating their 51st or higher reunion Front row, from left: Roger Moriarty ’50, Fr. Christopher Davis, O.S.B., ’48, David Kearney ’50 Back row, from left: Fr. Damian Kearney, O.S.B., ’45, James Williamson ’54, Fr. Malcolm Kennedy ’54, Bill Winans ’54 f, and Blasdel Reardon ’54

Class of 1964

Front row, from left: Edward ‘Ned’ Skae, Mark Whidden, John Poreba, Samuel White, Austin ‘Jerry’ Philbin, Mark Rogers, Fal de Saint Phalle, Alexander Sandy Lewis, Thomas Tobin Back row, from left: Thomas Shevlin, Peter Kennedy, Dana Robinson, Regan Kerney, Robert ‘Bunky’ Bakutis, Frank McCormick, Mark Hauserman, Robert Peever Henerey, Ciro Scotti, Mariano Martinez, Antoine ‘Twerp’ Maloney, William Mullen, John Madden, John Sullivan

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Class of 1969

From left: Lincoln Kerney, John Oliver, Joe Spears

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REUNION 2014

Class of 1974

Front row, from left: Chas Grace, William Levo, Thomas Keely, Jan Schwarzenberg, Dan Sturrup, Scott Miller, Jim Tietje, Ken Stier Back row, from left: Michael Dasovich, Paul Swann, Kevin McNally, Rob Ryan, Tony Caputi, Bob Andre, Phil English, Joe Robinson, Gregg Dietrich, Joe Sullivan, Tim Cunningham

Class of 1979

Front row, from left: Chuck Ausburn, Michael McGinn, Joe Tucker, Chris Sullivan, Steven McKenna, Joe Flatley Back row, from left: John Marchand, Jim Coyle, Alex Mikulich, Stephen Huntley-Robertson, James Ortiz, Stephen Jaegle

Class of 1984

Front row, from left: Mike Rappaport, David Cummings, Andy Godfrey, Sam Carter, David FitzSimons Back row, from left: Tim Howes, Charlie Matthews, Guy Farrington, David Mazzella, Richard McCauley, Don Dowd, Chip Lattanzio

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REUNION 2014

Class of 1989

Front row, from left: John Coleman, Peter Howe, David Doyle, Matt Schwab, Tom Keenan, Sean Wilson, Dan Scanlan Back row, from left: Tim Kiernan, Jorge Guajardo, Chris Meyer, Mark Colbert, Michael du Vigneaud, Jim Koelzer, Anthony Del Vicario, Ryan Fitzpatrick, John Doyle

Class of 1994

Front row, from left: Nick Lombardi, Blythe Macomber, Donny Marcogliese, Miguel Bichara, Jeremy Kane Back row, from left: Bob O’Reilly, Brendan Kearney, Eero Pikat, Patrick Kelly, John Relihan, John Oglesby

Class of 1999

Front row, from left: Amara Murray Mulder, Justine Reeber Button, Francesca Tauber, Sienna Tauber, Virginia Ryan, Jillian Hawes Back row, from left: Derek Gatta, Peter Morton, Cara Gontarz Hume, Ethan Case, Gregory Mataronas, Timothy Conrad

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REUNION 2014

Class of 2004 - Front row, from left: Chad Wood, Nick Micheletti, Jason Bazarsky, Antonio Leal, Lawrence Slocum, Eddie Ring, Jeff Willis (lying down), Kate Lyons, Paul Petronello, Julia McGlynn Reinalda, Eamon McGlynn

Back row, from left: Katie Scott, Marco Salaverria, Andy Valenzuela, Charlie Baum, Noah Swistak, Sean Galvin, Genevieve Block, Whitney Connell, Katheryn Hupczey, Leslie Wood, John Connelly and Connor McGlynn

Front row, from left: Rodrigo Bicharra, Peter Tasca, Alex Gallo, Courtney Rutledge, Horace Allen, Parker Barry, Devin Laviano, Jorge Ibarra

Class of 2009 -

Second row, from left: Elena McCarthy, Will Sheehan, Alaina Andreozzi, Merritt Bauer, Kevin Wooters, Brendan Hammatt, Kayla Bowers, Matt Franklin, Mia O’Donnell, Ben Lichtenfels Third row, from left: Audra Foster, Kerry Klemmer, Susan Skakel, Lilli Donahue, Riley Grant, Meggi Johnstone, Kara O’Hearn, Mary-Frances Holte, Alicia Turner, Kasey Geremia, Ben Lynn, Mike Popham Back row, from left: Stephen Cunningham, Josephine O’Reilly, David Garvey, Ben Theriault, and Shane McComiskey WINTER Alumni BULLETIN 2015

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RAVEN ABOUT FITNESS! THE 2014 PARENTS’ COMMITTEE AUCTION

More than 250 Abbey faithful gathered on Friday evening of Parents’ Weekend for Raven About Fitness, the 2014 installment of the School’s biennial auction. Thanks to the tremendous efforts of auction chairs Liz Kinnane P ’12,’15, Heather Savoie P ’10, ’11, ’15, and Judi Sullivan P ’14, ’15 and their powerhouse committee of volunteers, party-goers enjoyed a festive evening that featured delicious fare and more than 100 silent and live auction items.

The goal for the evening was to raise funds for health and wellness programs at Portsmouth Abbey, starting with a complete renovation of the fitness center, which, after 10 years of heavy use, is beginning to show some wear and tear. Mr. Steve McDonald served as the evening’s auctioneer, entertaining and cajoling attendees throughout the very-successful live

auction portion of the evening, highlighted by the Gift from the Heart. New to the event, the Gift from the Heart began with presentations by current Abbey students Bobby Cloughen ’15 and Taylor Lough ’15 on the need for improved fitness and wellness programs and concluded with attendees raising their paddles to make outright gifts to the project. This effort raised an impressive $100,000 alone. Shattering all previous auction records, this year’s event netted more than $240,000 overall.

Renovation of the fitness center is anticipated to be completed by the end of spring break.

The remaining funds will be used to enhance fitness and wellness programs at the School.

Visit our Parents’ Weekend photo gallery online at: www.portsmouthabbey.org/page/parentsweekend2014

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P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL

Special thanks to our many sponsors who helped underwrite the cost of the evening: SPRINT – David Locke RUN – Image Printing Southcoast Health

F

F

JOG – Bay Coast Bank Newport Hospital

F

Sayles Livingston Design

F

Three Golden Apples F

Gil’s Television and Appliances F

Sodexo

WALK – C.H. Yates Rubber Corporation F Country and

Coastal Properties F DaPonte’s Landscaping Services F Lila Delman Real Estate F Portsmouth Pediatric Dentistry F Saint Anne’s Hospital F Sullivan & Associates, LLC F Dr. and Mrs. Mark A. Ventura and Family P ’18

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Abbey Receptions Fall receptions for the Portsmouth Abbey community enjoyed robust attendance from past, present and future Ravens. Abbey alumni, parents, and friends gathered in Boston, Chicago, New York and the Bahamas.

Please be sure to check the alumni section of the School website for a schedule of future events both on and off campus. www.portsmouthabbey.org The Abbot’s Reception at the New York Yacht Club included, from left, Ryan Lohuis ’ 10, Cam Shirley ’ 10, Makonnen Jackman ’ 10, Assistant Director of the Annual Fund Conor O’Rourke, and George Carter ’ 85.

Tim Cunningham ’14 met up with Headmaster Dan McDonough and Director of Development Matt Walter at the Chicago Reception.

Greg Nebergall ’06 catches up with Cliff and Nancy Hobbins in Chicago.

From left, Carroll Kennedy P ‘15 enjoys the Abbot’s Reception with Jim and Deb DeVecchi.

From left, Pat Tobin ’05, Molly Comerford ’00, and Headmaster Dan McDonough at the Boston Reception.

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P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL

2014 Haney Fellowships The Haney Fellowship was established in 1998 by William “Bill” Haney, III ‘80, in honor of his father, the late William Haney, Jr., who lived and worked at Portsmouth Abbey School from 1968 to 1991 as a chemistry teacher, houseparent and golf coach. This creative and generous fund provides Fifth Form students with a unique educational experience during the summer before their Sixth Form year.

Five rising Sixth Formers were chosen in the spring of 2014 to receive a Haney Fellowship. Following are the accounts of their extraordinary summer 2014 experiences, from time spent in a robotics engineering lab in Korea and a school in Uganda, to the United Nations in New York City, a Christian orphanage in Cairo, Egypt, and a remote village in Cambodia.

FENTON BILLINGS ’15 Fenton Billings ‘15 spent one month in Korea, shadowing professors and Ph.D. students at Seoul National University who were working on biologically inspired robots in the Robust Design Engineering Lab (RoDEL).

In a Sunday morning daze, I shuffled off of the plane towards immigration. I stood in a short line that stated “Foreigners,” and slumped in place. I froze, looked around, and reminisced about the joy of being home. In Detroit, where I had spent my sixhour delay, the lines bustled boisterously and rang with clamor.

Here, lines drifted slowly, silently, with people ranging from ages 10 to 80 staring at Galaxy S4s. The attendant called my name, and I nervously recorded my fingerprints and submitted my passport. She waved me through, saying, “Welcome home.”

Professor Jongwon Kim kindly escorted me back to his apartment, where I would stay the night before moving to the dorm.

It was about an hour’s drive from the airport, so I asked Professor Kim about the vision of the lab. He answered with the RoDEL mission statement, “Our vision is being the world’s best research group in design, and developing creative products and

systems that have never been imagined before.” He then explained how the RoDEL lab came to be.

Thirteen hours later, Professor Kim dropped me off at the entrance to dormitory 906, Gwanak-gu, Seoul National University. A pair of Professor Kim’s students, Jongwon and Jihoon, introduced themselves. They led me to my room, a double single.

They seemed pleasantly surprised at the idea that they would not need to hold my hand around the entire campus, and told me that they would take me to dinner at six. Jihoon said to me as he left, “if you have any problem, please, uh, call him,” pointing to Jongwon. Jongwon responded with a weak smile and managed to say, “uh, yes, if you have any problem, you call me. Okay?” I nodded. As expected, the young RoDEL lab’s intern – me – was just extraneous mass to the PhD candidates.

Read the rest of Fenton’s Haney Fellowship account online at www.portsmouthabbey.org/billings haney fellowship.

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NATALIE MISTIKAWY ’15 As a first-generation American in an Egyptian family, I had no understanding of where my family really came from. For this reason, I chose Egypt as my Haney Fellowship destination. My main goals were to improve my Arabic while serving to children in need.

When I first arrived in Cairo, Egypt, I was scared. My first sight walking off the plane were men in camouflage uniforms holding guns for security. Going into customs alone in a foreign country, I was nervous. The man spoke to me in Arabic and I responded in English, as I was used to doing at home. I received my visa, walked out of the airport and was greeted by my aunt, cousins and the hot Egyptian sun. On my car ride through Cairo to my aunt’s apartment, I was struck; this wasn’t the first time I’ve been to Egypt, but this was the first time I really understood the cultural difference. The city was infused with pollution, and the streets were crowded with poor people and beggars. Each time the car came to a halt, a different Muslim lady covered with a burka begged us for a single Egyptian pound ($1 American dollar= 7.15 Egyptian pounds).

Natalie Mistikawy ’15 traveled to Cairo, Egypt, homeland of her parents, where she taught at a Christian school and worked at an orphanage in one of the poorest sections of Cairo.

I then became aware of the driving in Egypt. To summarize it with one word: hectic. The drivers there do not follow lines, signs, or traffic lights; all you had to be was aggressive and all you had to know was how to use your horn. Arriving to my cousin’s apartment, I was greeted by another dozen of my cousins; this is the “Egyptian way” to greet family. The apartment I stayed in was in a Christian neighborhood and had a school and church beside it. To ensure protection, the Church, school and apartment building were all gated.

It was Day 1 and all I felt was nervous and excited.

Read the rest of Natalie’s Haney account online at www.portsmouthabbey.org/mistikawy haney fellowship

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P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL

KEVIN SILVERMAN ’15

Kevin Silverman ’15 spent two weeks at the United Nations in New York, and two weeks in El Salvador, where he worked at an orphanage and with a Swiss non-government organization (NGO).

This past summer, I participated in many activities that formed a unique and cohesive experience that has transformed me as a person. I worked with Swisscontact, an economic development non-government organization (NGO) based out of Switzerland at their New York office as an intern and their representative to the United Nations.

I also spent two weeks in El Salvador. Originally, I was to spend that time doing an economic development analysis with Swisscontact and the European Union’s mission to El Salvador, but the EU portion of the project was cancelled because of diplomatic business. So, I decided to visit an orphanage of an NGO called Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos.

Each individual adventure in my Haney Fellowship provided me with memories I will never forget.

The first event I attended in New York was the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum. Various youth members from around the world joined, along with many notable UN figures, such as Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and ECOSOC President Martin Sajdik. I had a conversation with His Excellency Sajdik and talked about where I am from and the importance of a youth voice. Hearing Ban Ki-Moon speak was mesmerizing. He is a personal hero of mine and he has a certain demeanor that conveys diplomacy, humor and insight. My daily schedule consisted of a three-hour meeting from 9-12, a lunch break from 12-1, a side event from 1-3 and meetings from 3:30-7 each day.

I met various other youth participants from around the world. I also ran into Joel Davis, old friend of mine who is a U.S. Youth Ambassador and had taken a gap year from Oxford University to work at the UN. Everyone knew him on a first-name basis, and he was recognized as an activist against sexual violence in conflict zones. He ended up serving as the Virgil to my Dante through the UN. Read the rest of Kevin’s Haney account at www.portsmouthabbey.org/silverman haney fellowship

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ZHIROU “ROSE” WANG ’15 Zhirou “Rose” Wang ’15 traveled to the Siem Reap region of Cambodia, where she worked at a preschool, teaching children English and art, and visited remote villages, where she donated latrines and water-wells to families without sanitation facilities.

Travelling to Cambodia last summer, for the second time in my life, was totally different from the first time. Frankly, I had only negative thoughts in my mind before the first trip in 2013: the “King-Father of Cambodia,” Norodom Sihanouk, fleeing from his own country, the spectacular Angkor Wat eroding away, and the notorious Khmer Rouge massacring its own people. The only goal I had before leaving my house in the summer of 2013 was to visit the World Heritage Site before it disappeared completely.

My journey went smoothly until I saw five-year-old kids wandering outside the temples, selling souvenirs to tourists, and heard from my guide that only 22% of Cambodians were able to finish elementary school. This knowledge shocked me so much that I cancelled my tour for the coming days to visit an internationalsponsored school and volunteer there for three days. Those few days motivated me to apply for the 2014 Haney Fellowship and return to Siem Reap in order to help those kids in need.

I only applied for $1,000, which is quite a lot compared to the average wage for a Cambodian, which is $2 per day. Prior to my arrival in Siem Reap, I worked with CCDO (Cambodian Child’s Dream Organization) and donated one latrine and one waterwell, which cost half of my fellowship. I also used money earned from my private English tutoring sessions to build another set of sanitary facilities. The remaining $500 of the fellowship was used to purchase simple English storybooks, sports equipment, and stationery.

I would like to thank Mrs. Irene Haney and Mr. Bill Haney III, and Ms. Jenni Lipa from CCDO, for this incredible opportunity. I could not have done this and fulfilled my dream without your help. I am glad to have done meaningful things with the fellowship and realized how much can be done even with a seemingly small amount of money.

Read Rose’s full account of her Haney fellowship online at www.portsmouthabbey.org/wang haney fellowship

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P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL

ISABELLA WELCH ’15

Isabella Welch ‘15 volunteered for three weeks with the Connect Africa Foundation, teaching at a school in the Ugandan village of Joggo.

“Oli otya?” How are you?

“Belunge.” I’m good.

Walking down the dirt roads of Joggo, a small village outside of Uganda’s capital city Kampala, I would attempt these words, mumbling the phrases out of fear of pronouncing the Lugandan words incorrectly. The language of Luganda comes from the tribe of Buganda, the largest in Uganda, and still only one of the 54 tribes within the country.

I spent the three weeks of my Haney Fellowship in Uganda with the Connect Africa Foundation (CAF). CAF sponsors children who are orphans, some due to the AIDS epidemic, and cannot pay for school. CAF gave me the opportunity to visit Uganda and live in their newly built guesthouse in Joggo. CAF bought the land a few years ago, and a Ugandan man named Andrew built the guesthouse, kitchen, and library. There is also a community center for the village. CAF also provides educational enrichment on Saturdays for the children as well as adult literacy classes and programs, such as knitting and weaving, to generate income for the village.

Maryhill Primary School welcomed me on my first day with open arms. A boarding and day school located in the village of Ssonde, it is about 10 minutes from Joggo. My first day there was the first time the school had any visitors or volunteers. I went to the school to meet the headmaster and was met with hugs, lots and lots of hugs from the schoolchildren. The children would walk into the room, kneel and say, “Welcome,” and then hug me on their way out. Respect for your elders is a large part of the Ugandan culture. A Ugandan child always kneels when speaking to an adult.

The cultural differences between the United States and Uganda astounded me in the beginning, but these traditions and cultures make up who they are as a people.

Read Bella’s full account of her Haney fellowship online at www.portsmouthabbey.org/welch haney fellowship

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Service Trip To Chile with the Manquehue Movement

by Meghan McCarthy ‘15

We spent the first two days touring some of the Manquehue schools and were surprised by the warm welcome we received when we first arrived on campus at the Colegio San Anselmo; we must have been greeted and kissed by more than 100 people that day. Everyone whom we passed as we walked through the schools stopped to give us a traditional Chilean welcome.

While touring San Anselmo, I was surprised and excited to see Mary, an English girl who went to Ampleforth whom I met last year on the Lourdes Pilgrimage! She had decided to spend a gap year in Chile, working with the Manquehue Movement, before going to Oxford University.

In July of 2014, Meghan McCarthy ‘15 embarked upon an unforgettable journey along with five of her Abbey schoolmates and her mom, mathematics and science teacher Susan McCarthy.

The group was headed for Chile on a two-fold mission: to reconnect with Portsmouth Abbey’s Manquehue Movement friends and to help build a

mediagua, a pre-fabricated building for a local family.

The following is an excerpt of Meghan’s account of her work and travels. To read the full account and to see more photos, visit: www.portsmouthabbey.org/ page/chiletrip2014.

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We arrived to the Santiago airport early in the morning, a little groggy after a long night on our overnight flight, where we were greeted by a smiling group of Chileans waving at us with a “Portsmouth Abbey” sign. Instantly, we forgot about the lack of sleep and were filled with excitement as we piled into a van and traveled to the Colegio San Anselmo. In just a 30-minute ride, we enjoyed a breathtaking view of the snow-capped Andes mountains to the east and the coastal mountains to the west along the highway. The van was filled with chatter between us and the Chileans. The people from the Abbey on our trip were Joy Loftus ’16, Rajahnah Matra ’16, John Billings ’17, Sean DeMieri ’16, and Naythan Delgado ’17, along with myself and my mom, Susan McCarthy.

At the Colegio San Anselmo, we met our host families, who couldn’t have been more welcoming and hospitable. All of the Chileans we met were so thoughtful and kind to us throughout the trip. My mom and I loved staying with María José and Jaime, who came to Portsmouth Abbey in 2012. It was amazing to see them again, and we loved being introduced to various Chilean traditions, manjar (the Chilean take on caramel) and an amazing barbeque on the last day.

We had a special luncheon outside on a warm Chilean winter day with the leaders of the school and the Chileans whom we’ve met during their visits to the Abbey. We ate soup, delicious empanadas, and a special cake. While enjoying tea and coffee, we were entertained by two traditional Chilean chinchineros, or street performers. We spent the rest of that day getting to know students and faculty at the school. Rajahnah even learned a dance and sang with the schoolgirls.

On Friday morning, we were greeted by an equally eager group of students at the Colegio San Benito, including a group of teenage boys who cheered as we took a picture with them.

We had a delicious breakfast – that even included chocolate cookies and Coca-Cola – with leaders and teachers of the Colegio San Benito. In the afternoon, we toured Santiago. As we admired the Chilean Capitol Building, called the Palacio de La Moneda, we saw a motorcade, and the President of Armenia stepped out and greeted the President of Chile. We then visited Santiago Cathedral and, afterward, got a taste of Chilean “fast food.” Once we had deciphered the menu, written completely in Spanish, we received a delightful meal that included hot dogs or chicken sandwiches, both smothered in mayonnaise, avocado, and tomatoes. After lunch, we visited the Cerro Santa Lucia, where the founder of Chile first settled, and shopped for Chilean jewelry, and sweaters and hats made of alpaca wool.

On Saturday, we left for a small town about an hour south of Santiago, called Coinco, for “trabajos,” or work. The scenery lined by mountains was astounding; unfortunately, when we arrived at Coinco, the devastating damage from the 2010

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earthquake, which registered 8.8 on the Richter scale, was still evident even though it was four years later. However, this town, with a population of about 6,000, was absolutely charming, surrounded by farms and breathtaking mountain landscapes. Each day, we were greeted by the townspeople, and we found ourselves saying “Hola” to everyone we passed by.

Despite what we were warned, the accommodations at the local Coinco school were pretty good.

We were given two classrooms to sleep in, one for the boys and one for the girls, mattresses to put our sleeping bags on, and a propane space heater.

We were expecting “spring-like weather,” but being an hour south of Santiago, it was still winter there and most of the school was cold, especially the showers. Even though the boys in our group claimed that they were not cold and wore shorts and t-shirts the whole week, we soon realized that wearing several layers and wool socks was essential to staying warm during the day.

Along with the seven of us from the Abbey, there were seven Chileans, including Ale, 39, an oblate of the Manquehue Movement; Maca, 39, an oblate; and Rosa, 24, a promisora who devotes a year at a time to the Manquehue movement and who came to Portsmouth Abbey in 2012. There was also Charlotte, 21, who led us in building the mediagua, a small pre-fab house; Cata, 22, a promisora and the leader of our group that week; Javi Lu, 22, a promisora and in charge of prayer that week; and Javi Rojas, 21, in charge of meals, supplies, etc.

On the first day in Coinco, we were given our daily schedule for the week. At first, all seven of us from Portsmouth Abbey found it to be daunting, beginning with Lauds in the early morning; work and Lectio Divina mid-day; more work in the afternoon, along with Vespers; and finishing with dinner, recreation and Compline each night. But by the end of our stay, Naythan said, “If you asked me if I would like to go to Chile to work for hours digging holes, while having mud slung on my face and spend the rest of the day praying, I would tell you that you are crazy. But, if you asked me to come again, I would go a hundred times all over again. This experience is just amazing.”

I began to truly appreciate the prayers we said several times every day. We prayed the Divine Office, an important part of the Benedictine tradi-

tion, and I came to realize how beautiful it was to stop what we were doing multiple times each day just to sing the prayers together. In our reflections on our last day, each of us said that we felt great peace during our time in trabajos, and each of us experienced spiritual awakening. Our days usually ran until 11:00 p.m., but in the 15 hours of togetherness, there was never a harsh word or gossip or complaint. It was 15 hours of building a community and service and love to one another.

Another central part of our trip was building a mediagua, a pre-fabricated building, for a family in the town. The family we helped included Raymundo, the 49-year-old father; Yessica, the 32-year-old mother who was expecting her fourth child; Yunitza, the 15-yearold daughter; Maxdiel, the eightyear-old son; Vernice, the six-year-old daughter; and their five cats and four dogs, who were very much underfoot during the building of the mediagua. We were immediately taken aback by the poverty and how much of the day-to-day needs were lacking.

The family lived in a small, two-room shelter without running water. We were told that they used the creek running by their house for taking baths. Their house had a small kitchen in one room and a small bedroom in the other, where all five of them slept on mattresses on the floor.

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From top: Meghan, Joy and Rajahnah sightseeing in Santiago at the start of the trip.

Sean at work hammering in the flooring of the mediagua The group about to set the floor on the foundation of the mediagua

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From top: The last wall is up, and it fits together perfectly! From left are Ale, Maxdiel, Nate, and John.

Inset: The finished project: a complete mediagua The group on an excursion to Cerro Santa Lucía in Santiago, Chile Joy and Meghan enjoy down time after playing fútbol with some local boys at Coinco’s public elementary school.

The family intended to use the mediagua that we were building as a bedroom for the children.

One of my favorite parts of going to work on the mediagua each day was seeing the children.

Some days, we would spend hours on end playing different games and soccer or playing with their many pets. Joy and I practiced our Spanish with Yunitza. She was very patient with us, and we were soon able to have a lengthy conversation. John, Nate, and Sean bonded with Maxdiel and would beat box with him while working on the house. Yunitza taught Rajahnah some traditional South American dances while listening to music on her headset.

The first day of building the mediagua was by far the most adventurous.

Upon arrival at our worksite, it started to pour. Within minutes, all of our clothes were caked with mud as we carried buckets of rocks and dug four-foot-deep holes to set the foundation posts for the mediagua. When we returned to our school campout, we all wanted to take a shower at the same time, so our normally lukewarm showers were especially frigid that day.

On our final day, when our project was complete, we all felt a tremendous sense of accomplishment. We also found it surprising that just as important as providing

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the family with their physical needs, we also provided them with friendship and renewed hope.

Raymundo, the father, insisted on thanking us with a cookout. They provided the meat and we brought the sodas and sides. He served us choripán, spicy sausage, in very good Chilean bread followed by a second course of chicken.

We were all a little nervous as we watched the mom, Yessica, wash the dishes in cold water with a dirty wash cloth and dirty wash bucket, but the food tasted delicious. In the final ribbon-cutting celebration, the father had tears in his eyes, and the mother and children all hated to see us go, too. My mind immediately drifted to a Bible verse we read early that morning from Matthew: “Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it and stay there until you leave.” (Mt 10:11) As I reflect back on my experiences in Chile, a verse from one of the Bible passages that we read really strikes me. It says, “Without cost you have received, without cost you are to give.” (Matthew 10:8) This verse is not only an invitation to appreciate and give thanks for what I have received in my life but also to serve others without looking for any payment. During trabajos, we did not serve just the impoverished family by building the house; we served each other as a community. Everyone from the Abbey said in their reflections on the last day that they believed their faith had been strengthened by our trip. I also hope to further spread this spirit of faithfulness and service that we learned in trabajos throughout my final year at Portsmouth Abbey.

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Tracking the Silverbacks of Bwindi with Dom Joseph Byron, O.S.B.

Brother Joseph Byron traveled with his brother, Ken, last August to Uganda where, over a period of 12 days, they and six others traversed the Ugandan countryside, visiting national parks and exploring the distinct and often-breathtaking flora and fauna of the Ugandan landscape. The highlight of the trip took place 6,000 feet above sea level, in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, where the group spent two days in the dense forest observing critically endangered mountain gorillas.

Once widespread throughout many parts of the African continent, there are now less than 900 of these fascinating creatures – the closest living relatives to human beings – still in existence, and only 400 can be found in Uganda; poaching, agricultural development and human encroachment have wiped out much of the mountain gorilla population. Brother Joseph was able to view two separate families of gorillas for an hour at a time.

“I am just so incredibly grateful that, through the kindness of my brother, I was able to see a beautiful country and actually spend time with gorillas living in the wild,” he said. “Who’d have thought?”

The route taken by the safari group, beginning and ending in Entebbe, Uganda.

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Wildlife abounded throughout the 12- day trip that began and ended in Uganda’s capital city of Entebbe.

Top, from left: Ugandan long-horned cattled Monitor lizard at the Kazinga Channel between Lake Edward and Lake Albert, where the temperature held steady at around 100 degrees F. Yawning Chimp in Kibale National Forest Row 2, from left: Uganda has tree-climbing lions. This male lion was spotted sleeping in a in Euphorbia tree near Kyambura in Queen Elizabeth National Park, part of Rift Valley, on the way to Bwindi.

While tracking chimpanzees in Kibale, all were warned that chimps are more aggressive than gorillas; they are also cannibalistic, so the group had to be much more wary of their surroundings.

Row 3:

Photos by Brother Joseph and Joshua Katzman

Marketplace on the outskirts of Entebbe

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P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL

Top, from left: Colorful fungus with flies in Entebbe Botanical Gardens Br. Joseph’s brother, Ken, meets an industrious spider in the Entebbe Botanical Gardens at the start of the trip.

Red Colobus Monkey in Kibale National Forest Row 2, from left: One of the great Silverbacks in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a Ugandan national park. The population of great mountain gorillas is constantly threatened by agricultural development, human encroachment, and, especially, poaching.

There are fewer than 900 mountain gorillas left in the wild.

Br. Joseph and his brother, Ken, standing on the equator Inset: A curious baby mountain gorilla of Bwindi. Wilderness trips such as these contribute to the efforts to maintain and protect the mountain gorilla in its remaining habitat.

The photos and notes shown here are a small portion of the trip taken by Br. Joseph and his brother. To see the full slide show and to hear more about the trip, visit www.portsmouthabbey.org/page/ugandagorillas.

WINTER Alumni BULLETIN 2015

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Dr. Timothy Flanigan ’75

by Mary Beth Klee, Ph.D., P ‘04

When Tim Flanigan graduated from Portsmouth Abbey School in 1975, his future was unclear.

Would he go into banking – the family business? Or history – his probable major at Dartmouth? Tim insists that 40 years ago he had “not a clue,” but that Portsmouth Abbey had already instilled in him a strong sense of life as an adventure to which he was being called.

“You have no idea what you’ll be asked to do,” he told Abbey students at a recent talk, but “Portsmouth Abbey School doesn’t just want to impart knowledge. The School wants us to find out who we are called to be.” Growing in knowledge and grace, the School’s stated mission, has been for Tim a journey-filled, lifelong quest.

That journey took Tim into medicine (infectious diseases), marriage (to fellow physician Luba Dumenco), fatherhood (to five), prison ministry (at the Rhode Island Correctional Facility), teaching and research (at Brown University), starting scholarship programs for at-risk children (RISE and Star Kids), service in the Deaconate (in Providence) and, most recently – volunteering for two months in Liberia to combat Ebola and re-open Catholic hospitals.

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P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL

PROFILE: DR. TIMOTHY FLANIGAN ’75

Opposite: Tim pauses in Our Lady of Lebanon Catholic Church, in Monrovia

Prior to his departure, Tim’s son, Patrick, helps him pack thousands of dollars in critical, much-needed protective medical equipment to assist health care workers in Liberia.

Funny, self-deprecating, and a happy warrior on all counts, Tim’s high energy is equaled only by his extraordinary openness to “what’s next in God’s playbook.” During his years at Dartmouth, Tim majored in history, and did a short internship in banking, but was increasingly drawn to medicine. He took all the pre-med courses required for medical school admission, but still wrote his senior thesis at Dartmouth on “Thomism in the Twentieth Century.” Medicine, though, became Tim’s passion and career choice, and in 1979, he enrolled at Cornell Medical School.

Medical training afforded Tim more than an education: it introduced him to his wife, Brown University hematologist Luba Dumenco.

Grounded, unflappable, and amazingly adept at managing chaos, Tim shows off a protective suit covered with well-wishes from family and friends

Luba strongly suspected that marriage to Tim would immerse her in an unpredictable, life-long adventure. In 1986 she threw caution to the wind and agreed to marry him anyway. They proceeded to raise five children (three of whom are now Portsmouth Abbey alums) in Tiverton, Rhode Island, while both pursued careers at Brown and served alternately as Regents on the Portsmouth Abbey Board.

WINTER Alumni BULLETIN 2015

Tim carried 12 large bags of supplies and equipment with him to Liberia

PAGE 33

PROFILE: DR. TIMOTHY FLANIGAN ’75

Sr. Thava, FMM, and Fr. John Toai with Tim. Sr. Thava directs the local HIV Counseling and Testing program, and she was very helpful to Tim in providing assistance in facilitating his Ebola training.

As an infectious disease specialist in

If medicine, marriage, teaching,

the ‘90s, Tim made numerous trips

parenting their brood of five and

to West Africa and Southeast Asia to

non-profit work were not a heavy

combat AIDS. But it was his work

enough load, Tim says that in his

at the Rhode Island State Prison

late forties, he began to feel that

(treating HIV-positive inmates)

perhaps God was calling him to

that touched him the most person-

something more. After a rigorous

ally. He was deeply moved by the

program of study and prayer, Tim

concern of incarcerated mothers for

was ordained a Roman Catholic

their children. His patients worried

Deacon on February 2, 2013, and

that their own children would not

assigned to serve in Tiverton.

escape the cycle of under-education, poverty, and joblessness that had led them into the death spiral of drug addiction, disease, and jail.

ishes it not for what he can do – baptisms, weddings and funerals. “It’s not about hatch ‘em, match ‘em and

Vigilante asked: how could these

dispatch ‘em,” he cheerfully sum-

children of incarcerated mothers

marizes his sacramental roles. “It’s

be lifted out of their grim circum-

been God’s way of calling me closer

stances? In 1997, the two doctors

to Him, and through it, I hope I can

founded the “RISE” program in

make the love and mercy of Jesus

Providence, and in 2000 Tim went

more evident to others.”

gram on Aquidneck Island. Both programs sought to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty, crime and addiction by providing scholarship assistance to private schools for at-risk kids. Their goal: move vulnerable children into educational institutions and peer groups that encourage striving, study, and

PAGE 34

deacon has surprised him. He cher-

Tim and fellow physician Kevin

on to launch the “Star Kids” pro-

Tim dons his PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) before a training session

Tim confides that his service as a

Tim continued his own daily life as an infectious disease doctor, but last June was reading about the spread of Ebola, the most virulent viral threat since HIV/AIDs. Five distinct Ebola species made up a disease that carried a 50-90 percent mortality rate, and in West Africa, the disease was spreading at an alarming pace.

excellence. The results have been

Tim contacted Sr. Barbara Brillant

stunning. Every year more than 200

of the Franciscan Missionaries of

children benefit, and Star Kids have

Mary (FMM). A Maine native, she

attended Portsmouth Abbey, LaSalle

had served 37 years as a mission-

Academy, Prout and many others.

ary in Liberia and was president of

Most go on to college.

the Mother Patern College of Health

P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL

PROFILE: DR. TIMOTHY FLANIGAN ’75

Tim and the Cenacolo Community, a foster home run by Italian nuns and volunteers, for children outside of Monrovia.

Sciences in Monrovia. She welcomed his assistance, telling him, “We’ll figure out what you’re going to do when you get here.”

Liberia was particularly hard-hit

by Ebola. The nation had not fully recovered from a civil war that claimed 250,000 lives between 1989 and 2003. The health system had been devastated in that conflict.

Most hospitals and clinics operated without running water (hand pumps prevail); most lacked necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); and many reused what should have been disposable equipment and gloves. The physician-topatient ratio was 1 to 86,000. In August 2014, Liberia experienced a sharp rise in infection.

Tim obtained permission – first from Luba and his family, then from Brown University – for a threemonth leave of absence. He hopped Delta’s last flight to Monrovia, Liberia, on August 31, along with 10 hockey bags full of PPE. A veteran of numerous West African and Asian trips to help control the spread of AIDS and tuberculo-

Tim and two students at the Liberian Mission, run by an American and founded as a boarding school for children who’d lost parents in the war.

Tim demonstrates the proper use of a public hand-washing station

sis, Tim says this experience was uniquely challenging for him because he was not sure what his role would be. “Usually when we go overseas to work,” he said of his past medical trips, “we drive the agenda, but this was different. I didn’t know

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PAGE 35

Tim and his mobilization team trained health workers on infection control and safe practices in Do Lo Town, two hours outside of Monrovia. The health workers, from a number of surrounding communities, returned home after their training to educate people in their respective towns and parishes about preventing the spread of Ebola.

A Do Lo Town school, built with the support of local nuns

what I would do.” This time, he

of cleansing with bleach water;

was there to assist Sr. Barbara and

the need for triage; the isolation

the Franciscans in whatever way he

of Ebola patients; and “No-Touch

could. “God was teaching me that

Care.” The latter was particularly

if I was willing to trust in Him, He

difficult. The natural instinct to

would unfold his will for us. That

reach out, hug, touch and comfort

level of day-to-day trust is not how I

is particularly common in Liberia

usually live.”

but particularly fatal in the face of

Tim’s task became to train medical

Liberian girls on their way home from the market

PAGE 36

this highly infectious disease.

staff in clinics throughout the region

Tim’s two-month stint was gruel-

and help reopen two Catholic hospi-

ing, but uplifting and energizing.

tals that had closed because of staff

He spoke after Masses about the

deaths caused by the crisis. He was

disease, and as a deacon was at

not treating Ebola patients directly.

times asked to give the homily. He

Instead, he worked with a group

himself found strength and solace

of faith-based organizations, to

in prayer – particularly one night

teach nurses, physicians, and clinic

when he was running a fever and

staff how to control the disease.

wondered if he himself had con-

He and fellow health care profes-

tracted the disease. (He had not.)

sionals (some of whom had recov-

But Tim was most deeply im-

ered from Ebola) taught about the

pressed with “how incredibly brave

proper use of the Protective Profes-

and committed the Liberian health

sional Equipment; the importance

care workers are.” By day, he saw

P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL

PROFILE: DR. TIMOTHY FLANIGAN ’75

Tim with members of the community training team

Liberian midwives put on funny

reason to be opti-

skits for other midwives about

mistic that it can be

delivering babies in these circum-

achieved in Liberia.

stances. Young men in a Salesian Brothers school who called themselves the “Don Bosco Health Animators” wrote and sang songs (in amazing harmony) about how the disease spread and how to stop it.

In a December talk at Portsmouth Abbey entitled, “Faith and Fear in the Ebola Crisis: Two Months Volunteer-

The key, Tim insists, was partner-

ing in Liberia,” Tim

ship and solidarity with the local

addressed students

community. He had nothing but

about his experience. He urged the

praise for the robust Catholic health

Abbey students to stand in solidar-

network in action in Liberia. The

ity with the poor when their time

Liberians trust in the faith-based

for action came. (“Solidarity means

groups, such as FFM, was key to its

GO. Be with them. It doesn’t neces-

success, and the Liberians, in turn,

sarily mean fixing it, but you might

mobilized local leaders, youth, and

be able to help.”) And he advocated

women to publicize proper hygiene

“subsidiarity,” the Catholic teach-

as a means of stopping the disease.

ing of working with people in need

International aid was late and slow

at the most local level possible. But

in coming, but the Obama adminis-

mostly this Portsmouth Abbey alum

tration’s decision in October to send

and Regent urged Abbey students

military personnel to set up hospital

to remain open to the great ad-

isolation units (over 600 beds) was

venture God has in mind for them.

greatly appreciated.

The Abbey taught Tim that, “It’s

For Liberia, the results have been encouraging; by November 19, there had been an 80 percent decrease in new infections (compared to September). The ultimate solution to halt the disease may come in the form of a vaccine still being developed, but Liberian President Ellen Sirleaf Johnson expressed her hope for eliminating the disease’s spread shortly. Tim believes there is

Patient waiting areas at an Ebola Treatment Unit in Bong County, Liberia, set up and run by the International Medical Corps

not about what we know. It’s about how we can flourish as men and women and draw closer to Our Lord. It’s about how we use what we know on His behalf.”

d Mary Beth Klee, Ph.D., serves with Tim Flanigan on the Portsmouth Abbey School Board of Regents, and welcomed the chance to write about her courageous colleague and friend.

Tim, in Rome with Fr. Robert Vitello, Fr. John Toai and Dr. Klemens Ochel, on his way home to Rhode Island after his two-month mission in Liberia. Tim met with Caritas officials there to share his observations about the Ebola epidemic and response.

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PAGE 37

FROM THE OFFICE OF

ADMISSION Recently a parent whose child attends a Boston-area day school asked me, “What is your elevator pitch to prospective families?” The parent’s knowledge of Portsmouth Abbey School was that we are a Catholic boarding school; he was curious about what sets us apart from any other Catholic high school or New England boarding school. I replied by telling him that we believe intellectual and spiritual development are partners in our core curriculum. Our Catholic identity provides a foundation essential for a meaningful and purposeful life, and through living and learning among faculty and classmates, our students receive superior preparation for college and the world beyond.

This message is central to what our admission team crafted throughout the summer of 2014 from three years of data collected from accepted student/parent surveys. The survey results tell us that students and parents are using specific key factors in making their final school choice; the top five reasons, in order, for families applying to the Abbey are:

s

Academic reputation

s

Personal attention

s

Quality of faculty

s

Community

s

Character development

“The study of classical languages, literature and history provides students an excellent opportunity to engage and measure themselves against fundamental truths, beliefs and texts that have challenged every generation since the ancient world” and “students will be continually expanding their common base of knowledge and honing their verbal and analytical skills in complimentary subjects ranging from science and mathematics to art.” 1 Thus, upper formers will take electives and courses in more specialized topics once they have taken foundation courses.

Using these factors along with the major tenets from a document written in the early 1990s titled, “Why A Portsmouth Education?,” the admission team began shaping our messaging for the admission cycle. We not only articulate how an Abbey education meets these expectations of our families but, more importantly, why we incorporate both the core principles of intellectual and spiritual development.

The perception of the academic reputation of a school can be noted by course offerings, standardized test

PAGE 38

scores, and college placement; these are data points that most schools share with applicants. But the Abbey doesn’t simply have a competitive list of data points.

We share why we require all Third Formers to take Latin, why our Conceptual Physics class is offered before Chemistry and Biology, and why the Christian Doctrine curriculum has been placed within the context of the interdisciplinary Fourth-Form Humanities course. The Abbey education believes the following:

The personal attention our students are afforded comes in many forms. Families looking at independent secondary schools are expecting that the student will be part of a caring environment and that their child’s strengths and weaknesses will be understood and enhanced. The Abbey believes that treating all students as individuals is essential for their success, and this is why the personal attention we give our students goes far beyond knowledge found in the classroom. Through the personal attention given to them

P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL

As described in the document written 20 years ago, and still stands true today, “We at Portsmouth Abbey School are in the enviable position of doing this explicitly and confidently.” The balance given to the intellect and the spirit is what allows our students to define their character and their place in society.

by their house parents, coaches, teachers, advisors and the monks, they develop their ideas and talents. We believe that growing in grace is having the opportunity to ask the tough questions and that “however any one individual defines his or her spiritual life, the human heart is made with a connection with God.” (This is also from “Why A Portsmouth Education?”) The concept of being attentive to an adolescent’s spiritual formation is a cornerstone to an Abbey education.

A qualified faculty is at the helm of all that we do at the Abbey. Our faculty members share their lives with their students, who in turn revere them as mentors.

The Office of Admission publicizes and promotes its dedication to and passion for its discipline through our Faculty Guide. The members of our faculty are dedicated to improving themselves in and outside of the classroom, as is displayed by their frequent accomplishments and commitment to professional development. Our students observe their teachers as lifelong learners in their academic discipline and beyond.

Needless to say, “community” at the Abbey is one of its hallmarks. Our surveys over and over again state the sense of community at the Abbey was felt as soon as the visitors walked on the campus. Portsmouth Abbey is unique because not only are we a community of students and faculty but we are also a community where men have come to live out their vocations to God. This is always present on our campus. Whether it is the monastery the students pass when they leave the Burden Classroom Building or hearing the bells rings at 5:15 p.m. for Vespers, or house prayers each evening in the houses, this is a part of our community.

Headmaster McDonough often says that he believes the presence of the monastery and its Benedictine teachings and traditions is an added value to the lives of our students.

Lastly, the development of a child’s character could not be more malleable than in his or her adolescent years, and the foundation of the four factors above is crucial to this. When we explicitly speak about a student’s active participation in our community or allow him to question his spirituality, we are making a connection to morality and being a full person. As described in the document written 20 years ago, and which still stands true today, “We at Portsmouth Abbey School are in the enviable position of doing this explicitly and confidently.” The balance given to the intellect and the spirit is what allows our students to define their character and their place in society.

So what do we say when our inquiring families want to better understand how we will meet their expectations? We not only tell them how we do things at the Abbey or how we are different from other schools, but we tell them why. The Abbey offers an environment to students during a period when they have the potential for tremendous intellectual growth that embraces and purposely delivers these five important factors. An Abbey education provides each student a balanced foundation of intellectual and spiritual principals, grounding him or her for life – revealing that our students are prepared for college and the world beyond.

– Director of Admission Meghan Fonts

1 Why A Portsmouth Education?, 1991, Portsmouth Abbey School – http://www.portsmouthabbey.org/page.cfm?p=1435

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FALL 2015 ATHLETICS Boys’ Cross-Country Coaches Award: Jon Campau ‘16 MIP: Barrett Xiong ‘16 Captain-Elect: Jon Campau ‘16 Overall Record: 7-5 (EIL): 4-2

Girls’ Cross-Country Coaches Award: Annie O’Donnell ‘17 MIP: Gabi Blaine ‘15 Captain-Elect: Joy Loftus ‘16 Overall Record: 8-4 (EIL): 5-3 Field Hockey Hannaford Trophy: Taylor Lough ‘15 MIP: Jane Jannotta ‘18 Captains-Elect: Emily Bredin ‘17, Maddy McCann ‘16 Overall Record: 9-6 (EIL): 7-4 Football John M. Hogan Football Trophy: William Behnke ‘15 Coen Award (MIP): Teddy Fenton ‘16 Captains-Elect: Kevin Ellicks ‘16, Seamus O’Connor ‘16, Chris Weiss ‘16, Jacob Mercier ‘16 Evergreen Division Record: 2-5 Overall Record: 2-5 Evergreen League Sportsmanship Award

Ben Vergara ‘15

Boys’ Soccer Williams Franklin Sands Memorial Soccer Trophy: Ben Vergara ‘15 MIP: Tristan Howlett ‘15 Captains-Elect: Finnian O’Farrell ‘16, Anthony Christian ‘16 Overall Record: 7-4-8 (EIL): 5-3-6 Selected to the NEPSAC Tournament Girls’ Soccer Girls’ Soccer Trophy: Maggie Stark ‘15 MIP: Molly Joyce ‘17 Captains-Elect: Carly Johnston ‘16, Jenny Yates ‘16 Overall Record: 4-12 (EIL): 2-10 Boys’ Golf Boys’ Golf Trophy: George Sturges ‘16 MIP: George Sturges ‘16 Captains-Elect: Stephen Vye ‘16, George Sturges ‘16 EIL Record: 12-1 Co-Champions, EIL

Maggie Stark ‘15

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Jon Campau ‘16

Post-Season Honors Boys’ Cross-Country EIL All-League: John Billings ‘17, Jon Campau ‘16 EIL Honorable Mention:

Dylan Bedford ‘15, Frank Loughran ‘15

Girls’ Cross-Country

Annie O’Donnell ‘17

EIL Honorable Mention: Annie O’Donnell ‘17, Johanna Appleton ‘17 Field Hockey EIL All-League: Taylor Lough ‘15, Maddy McCann ‘16

FALL 2014 ATHLETICS MILESTONES

EIL Honorable Mention: Grace Jannotta ‘15

Boys’ Golf finished 12-1 and was EIL Co-Champion.

Football

Harrison Wall tied for 2nd in the EIL Individual Golf Tournament with a score of 80.

Evergreen All-League: Kevin Ellicks ‘16, Chris Weiss ‘16, Ben Wilson ‘15 Evergreen Honorable Mention: Will Behnke ‘15, Jacob Mercier ‘16, Seamus O’Connor ‘16 Providence Journal 2014 Independent School All-State: Ben Wilson ‘15 All-New England: Ben Wilson ‘15 Boys’ Golf EIL All-League: Oliver Ferry ‘17, Harry Wall ‘15, Steve Vye ‘16 EIL Honorable Mention: Davis Kline ‘17, George Sturges ‘16 Providence Journal 2014 Independent School All-State: Harrison Wall ‘15 EIL Coach of the Year: Shane McCarthy Boys’ Soccer EIL All-League: Juan Manuel Brenes ‘15, John Falvey ‘15, Ben Vergara ‘15 EIL Honorable Mention: Aidan Cain ‘15, Patrick Carlson’ 15 NE Prep School Senior All-Star Game: Juan Manuel Brenes ‘15,

Boys’ Golf Coach Shane McCarthy was selected by his peers as the EIL Coach of the Year.

Boys’ Soccer placed 3rd in the EIL and was selected to play in the New England Prep School Tournament (top 8 out of 24 New England Class C schools).

Ben Wilson ‘15 was selected All-New England in football.

Juan Brenes ‘15 and Eduardo Alfaro ‘15 were selected to participated in the New England Prep School All-Star Soccer Game.

Varsity Football was voted by opposing coaches as the Evergreen League Sportsmanship Award winner.

Eduardo Alforo ‘15 Providence Journal 2014 Independent School All-State: Juan Brenes ’15 Girls’ Soccer EIL Honorable Mention: Maggie Stark ‘15

PAGE 41

Will Behnke ‘15

Portsmouth Abbey Fall Junior Varsity Awards Taylor Lough ‘15

The Portsmouth Abbey Junior Varsity Award is given to the athlete who best demonstrates the spirit of Abbey athletics.

The award recognizes hard work, individual improvement, sportsmanship and a willingness to do what is best for the team.

JV Boys’ Cross-Country: Christopher Chow ‘16 JV Girls’ Cross-Country: Min Ji Lee ‘16 JV Field Hockey: Grace Fink ‘17 JV Football: Daniel Sliney ‘18 Boys’ JVA Soccer: Nicholas Velcea ‘17 Boys’ JVB Soccer: Chris Motta ‘16 Girls’ JV Soccer: Maddie Villareal ‘16

Visit our athletics photo galleries online at: www.portsmouthabbey.org/page/athletics/photo_ gallery

Taylor Lough ‘15

George Sturges ‘16

PHOTOGRAPHY BY LOUIS WALKER III (www.louiswalkerphotography.com/Sports) and BILL RAKIP PHOTOGRAPHY

PAGE 42

P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL

The Abbey Teammate

by Athletics Director Al Brown In November 2014, Athletics Director Al Brown, Assistant Athletics Director Kate Reardon, and 17 Abbey student-athletes (representing all varsity sports) met to discuss what defines “the Abbey Teammate.” The students worked in small groups, listing the positive qualities of the “ideal teammate.” Those groups then prioritized their lists and presented their findings to the entire group. Remarkably, each group listed “selfless” (putting the team before self and doing whatever helps the team) as the most important characteristic in a teammate. After each of the groups presented its list, an overall list was compiled. The final list was then shared with our coaches to solicit their input.

I wanted our student-athletes to think through what it means to be a good teammate and to develop a document that will become a model for each current Abbey student-athlete as well as for those who will enter the School in the future. It was not a surprise to see what our students produced; I think our athletics culture is a healthy one, and the way our coaches and student-athletes approach their athletics experiences reflects the ethos of our School community. I knew that in having our student- athletes discuss this topic, they would identify much of what already exists in our approach to athletics at the Abbey. Our student-athletes followed this same process with our Athletics Code of Conduct (Sportsmanship), in 2002, and The Roles and Responsibilities of Captains, in 2006, with similar results.

1. The Abbey Teammate exhibits a positive attitude, so that all team members have a

positive experience in the sport.

2. Selfless: Puts team before self; looks beyond his or her own performance and does

whatever helps the team.

3. Dependable: Is on time and prepared for all practices and games.

4. Hard-Working: Displays a strong work ethic and enthusiasm every day to improve as an

individual and a team.

5. Supportive: Treats teammates with respect; develops a caring environment.

Everyone counts!

6. Practices good sportsmanship at all times: Abides by the Abbey Code of Conduct

(Sportsmanship). Displays humility, and copes with emotions in stressful situations.

Every member of the team has the responsibility to lead her or his team in a positive direction by being an “Abbey Teammate.”

Identifying what it means to be an Abbey Teammate will help both individuals and teams grow.

With approximately 100 new students each year, this is an ongoing process, one which will help to insure that Portsmouth Abbey student-athletes have fun playing sports and develop those life skills, such as a strong work ethic, empathy, teamwork, accountability, and poise under pressure, which can be applied throughout their lives.

WINTER Alumni BULLETIN 2015

PAGE 43

MILESTONES BIRTHS 1986 A girl, Josephine Peers, to Victoria and Bill Brazell January 30, 2014

1989 A girl, Henley Rose, to Ann and Christopher Meyer August 9, 2014

1995/6 A girl, Opal Amara, to Jessy Berretto and Adam Donaldson November 26, 2014

1997 A boy, William, to Kate and Chris Runey September 22, 2014 A girl, Emily Newbury, to Carissa and Ken Tambaschi August 6, 2014 Samir Sebastian, newborn son of Kartini and Dan Tortorice ‘98, was welcomed by his brother, Jai. Josephine Peers was born to Victoria and Bill Brazell ‘86 in January 2014.

1998 A boy, Connor Wynee, to Michael and Debra Berret Legassie April 23, 2014 A girl, Catherine Moncure, to Edward and Kathleen Mannix Grandin December 3, 2014 A boy, Samir Sebastian, to Kartini and Dan Tortorice October 27, 2014

Emily Newbury Tambaschi, daughter of Carissa and Ken Tambaschi ‘97

PAGE 44

Big sister, Soleil Isabelle, welcomed Caden Harper, born to Beau and Brooke Gilligan Beecy ‘01 in August.

P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL

MILESTONES 2001 A boy, John Timothy “Jack,” to Emily and John Kraper June 20, 2014 A girl, Caden Harper, to Beau and Brooke Gilligan Beecy August 20, 2014

2004 A boy, Issac Ambrose, to Christina and Andres Klee Valenzuela

Opal Amara was born to Jessy Berretto ‘96 and Adam Donaldson ‘95.

December 25, 2014

2005 A girl, Mila, to Joe Tamburo and Lahna Son Cundy November 6, 2014

Joe Tamburo and Lahna Son-Cundy ‘05 with their new daughter, Mila

Issac Ambrose joined Christina and Andy Valenzuela ‘04 and their family on Christmas day, 2014.

WINTER Alumni BULLETIN 2015

PAGE 45

MILESTONES

Conor Casey ’00 and Amy Leasca were married by Dom Paschal Scotti, O.S.B., in August 2014

WEDDINGS 2000 Conor Casey to Amy Leasca August 31, 2014 2002 Katherine Glover to LT Mike Knickerbocker September 27, 2014 Patrick Neimeyer to Jennifer Day October 4, 2014 2005 Craig Bazarsky to Julie Roseman May 25, 2014 Keith Hoffman to Rachel Kaplan June 7, 2014 2006 Kyle Biddick to Emily Samartino April 24, 2014 2007 Maximilian Klietmann to Lavinia Garthwaite Lowerre June 21, 2014

Patrick Neimeyer ‘02 and Jennifer Day on their wedding day in October 2014

PAGE 46

P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL

MILESTONES

Craig Bazarsky ’05 and his bride, Julie Roseman

Maximilian Klietmann ’07 married Lavinia Garthwaite Lowerre.

Keith Hoffmann ’05 got a little help from his Abbey friends at his wedding: (from left, front row) Bill Hoffmann ‘00, Alex Hogan ‘05, Kim Thomas ‘05, Josh Parks ‘05 and Kate Dennis ‘05; (middle row) Lisa Hoffmann Walker ‘02, JJ Rok ‘05, Rosie Fulton ‘05, the bride, Rachel, Susan Ferrara ‘05 and Bridget Royer ‘05; (back row) Jack Keating ‘05, Alex Fernandez ‘05, Craig Bazarsky ‘05, Keith, Garrett Thompson ‘05 and Mike Humphrey ‘05.

WINTER Alumni BULLETIN 2015

Emily and Kyle Biddick ‘06 on their wedding day

PAGE 47

IN MEMORIAM

Ray Kelly | rkelly@repub.com

Bill later authored a number of books about a variety of topics, including mountain climbing, Lowell Observatory history, his wartime adventures, his recollections of the early days of WWLP, railroads, merchant ships of World War I, and freedom of the press.

WILLIAM PUTNAM ’41 William Lowell Putnam, III, of the Class of 1941, died December 20, 2014, in Springfield, MA. He was 90. A longtime stalwart in the Springfield community, Bill was the son of a Springfield mayor and founder of WWLP-TV, greater Springfield’s first television station and the first licensed UHF television station in the United States. He was also a prominent alpinist and, for 26 years, sole trustee of the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, AZ, founded by his great uncle Percival Lowell.

The Lowell Observatory announced his death.

Born in Springfield, Bill matriculated at Harvard after graduating from then-Portsmouth Priory. He interrupted his studies there to volunteer to fight in World War II, where he joined the elite 10th Mountain Division, a specialized ski unit trained to fight in mountainous and arctic conditions. He served in both the Aleutian and Italian campaigns, rising to the rank of first lieutenant, and was awarded two Purple Hearts and the Silver and Bronze Stars.

Bill returned to Harvard to finish his schooling in geology and then briefly taught at Tufts University. In 1951, he married Joan Faith Fitzgerald. Moving back to Springfield, Bill turned his attention to television. In 1953, he founded WWLP, adding stations in Ohio and Utah before selling the corporation in the 1980s. He was inducted into the Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2001. Bill was well known in the Springfield area for his extensive involvement in the community.

While making a name for himself in the broadcasting world, Bill also became prominent in alpinist circles. He made several first ascents and exploratory expeditions in the Selkirk Mountains of British Columbia, served as president of the American Alpine Club and vice president and councilmember of the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation, and edited Canadian Rockies climbing guidebooks for years. Locally, he was known for his successful mountain rescue efforts of stranded climbers in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

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After retiring from broadcasting, Bill assumed the trusteeship of Lowell Observatory from his brother, Michael. He retired in 2013. During his years at Lowell, he significantly expanded the visitor program by spearheading the construction of a new visitor center in 1994 and helped to bring to fruition a new library, repository and the flagship Discovery Channel Telescope, which enables the Observatory to conduct a number of pioneering studies in important research areas. Bill welcomed, at different times, Portsmouth Abbey Physics Teacher Robert Rainwater and then-student Zachary Bazarsky ’07 to the Observatory to spend a week working with his staff of astronomers. Zach’s experience there greatly influenced his decision to study physics at Johns Hopkins University.

Bill and his second wife, Kitty, were well-known philanthropists. He was honored with Flagstaff’s Viola Legacy Award in 2013, given annually to a citizen for lifetime contributions to the arts and/or sciences in the Flagstaff area.

Bill had numerous connections to Portsmouth Abbey. He is survived by his children, Katherine, Lowell ’72 and Erica Broman and their spouses; stepchildren Karen Talbot and Morgan Broman; brothers Roger ‘40 and Michael ’50; sisters Anna and Polly; and many grandchildren, step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren, along with nephews Jaime ’68 and Charles ’69 Finnerty. Portsmouth Abbey offers its sympathy to the Putnam and Finnerty families.

Above left: The former owner of WWLP-TV, Bill is shown working on a manuscript at Baltte Abbey, British Columbia, in July 2000.

Above right: Bill and his wife, Kitty, in 2006 with Abbey student Zachary Bazarsky ’07. The Putnams hosted Zach at the observatory in Flagstaff where he spent a week working with the Lowell Observatory astronomers.

P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL

IN MEMORIAM Dr. THOMAS HEAD, JR. ‘74 Dr. Thomas F. Head, Jr., Portsmouth Abbey School Class of 1974, died November 12, 2014, at the age of 58. Born at Camp Lejeune, NC, he was a son of the late Dr. Thomas. F. Sr., and Dorothy (Minor) Head.

After graduation from the Abbey, Tom earned his A.B., graduating magna cum laude, from Harvard University. He went on to earn his A.M. from Harvard before moving west to teach at The School of Theology at Claremont. He described himself as “the only Catholic scholar teaching in a Methodist theological school.” At Claremont, Tom taught a wide variety of courses including those required for the Master’s of Divinity degree – not only in Luther and Calvin, but also in Aquinas and Augustine.

After several years at Claremont, Tom took a sabbatical to complete his dissertation titled, “Hagiography and the Cult of the Saints in the Diocese of Orleans, 750-1250.” He subsequently earned his Ph.D. from Harvard University.

Tom worked as a professor of ancient history at Yale University from 1994-98, then moved to New York City to become a professor of history at Hunter College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. Upon his move he became the focus of an article in The New York Times Sunday lifestyle section called “Habitats.” The article highlighted Tom in his new Brooklyn Heights co-op apartment located in a 19th-Century gothic revival church. The building also served as a stop on the Underground Railroad that helped black slaves escape to freedom in the North. The author, Trish Hall, noted that Tom, “raised as a Roman Catholic, is not impervious to the emotional power of the building’s history. The building’s transformation, according to Tom, is not unlike the process that drives his life in history, trying to get a contemporary perspective on the past.

‘That combination of old and new,’ he said, ‘is what being a historian is about.’”

While in New York, Tom was awarded consecutive fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities and took a leave from his teaching duties to conduct additional research into hagiography. In an article he authored for Hunter College, Tom said, “Lately, I have been enjoying communing with the dead. That statement is one of mundane fact, not an indication of a taste for the occult.

My daily companions have been remarkable inhabitants not only of tombs but also of heavenly courts… My goal is to describe and analyze how the living of that distant era [150-1500 A.D.] formed relationships of friendship, service, and patronage with their chosen saints.” The result of Tom’s research: Hagiography and the Cult of Saints (Cambridge University Press; 2005).

In addition Tom authored a number of studies on medieval monasticism and religion, including That Gentle Strength: Historical Perspectives on Women in Christianity. He was also the editor of two books, along with Richard Allen Landes: The Peace of God: Social Violence and Religious Response in France Around the Year

1000 (Cornell University Press, 1992); and Medieval Hagiography: an Anthology (New York, 2000), a comprehensive guide to the developments of hagiography and the cult of saints in Western Christendom during the Middle Ages.

Hunter College described Tom as, “a highly respected and influential scholar, author and editor on the early Middle Ages, a period beginning with the Roman Empire and running through the initial growth of the European economy. He was a supportive, sympathetic and warm-hearted friend to his colleagues, reading their papers with interest and freely offered insights and help.”

In a profile of Tom written by Portsmouth Abbey Daniel Sargent Master of English Emeritus David McCarthy in the 1980s, McCarthy remarked, “Listening to Tom’s animated discussion of subjects usually thought dull and remote, one can’t help but realize that one of the unexpected but most precious gifts of education is the ability to realize that all knowledge is and must be personalized. We recall not dry facts, but teachers who embodied, often in their idiosyncrasies, the very subjects they taught. Even as a student, Tom Head had a fascination for those nooks and crannies of knowledge which most of us pass by or overlook. Talking with him, one imagines him a gifted teacher, one who recognizes that our futures are free only insofar as we can unknot the loops and coils of the past.”

Tom wrote a “Point of View” for the Portsmouth Abbey Winter 2003 Alumni Bulletin where he noted, “Scholarship is, at its best, about the preservation, dissemination, and advancement of knowledge. At its most basic level, taking the Latin root of this English word seriously, it is simply that which is done in a schola or school. The Benedictine tradition of scholarship – in which the Abbey of St. Gregory the Great and its school at Portsmouth stand – is one of the most famed and productive in the world.” About Portsmouth Abbey, in particular, Head commented, “ From physics to philosophy, the members of the monastic community of Portsmouth – and the school which they inform with their teaching – continue the distinguished Benedictine tradition of scholarship. The dynamic tension between inquisitive enquiry and meditative reflection remain, as for Benedict and Hildegard and others before us, at the heart of a Christian life.”

Tom spent his last few years back in Narragansett, RI, the place of his birth. At Tom’s funeral, his cousin, Mary Lou Walter, described Tom as “a warm-hearted cousin, friend and colleague.”

She recalled how Tom loved returning to his beloved Anawan Cliffs where he had spent the summers of his youth. Tom is survived by many cousins and will be missed greatly. Portsmouth Abbey School extends its deepest condolences to the Head family.

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CLASS NOTES NECROLOGY Benjamin Adams Brother of Father Edmund Adams ’57 December 2014

Keith Botsford ‘44 is working on a rewritten edition of his 12-volume memoir

Thomas Barry ’54 April 6, 2014

Photo by The Toby Press

Mary Behnke Mother of John D. ’76, Stephen H. ’78 and Chris Behnke ’81 Grandmother of Greta ’12 and Will Behnke ’15 December 22, 2014 Thomas F. Head ’74 November 12, 2014 Dr. Jorge Lawton ’63 Uncle of Luis Torruella ’84 September 21, 2014 George MacLellan ’39 Brother of Peter ’42 Uncle of Patrick MacLellan ’72 July 20, 2014 Kathleen Madden Mother of Ryan ’17 and Megan ’18 Madden December 10, 2014 Joseph Motta Father of Andrew J. Motta ’87 July 31, 2014 William Putnam ’41 Father of Lowell Putnam ’72 Brother of Roger ’40 and Michael ’50 Putnam Uncle of Jaime ’68 and Charles Finnerty ’69 December 20, 2014 Brooks Thomas ’87 August 6, 2014 Dorothy Towne Mother of Ray ’70 and Andrew ’79 April 1, 2014 William Winans ’54 October 22, 2014

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44 I

DIMAN REUNION v SEPT 25-27

Keith Botsford is working on a new and rewritten edition of his 12-volume memoir, Fragments, soon to be published. Keith is now living in London, noting he is “still alive and kicking.”

46 I John Lyons is now one year retired from teaching anatomy at Dartmouth Medical School, as well as developing and running a small fruit plantation. Prior to that, he retired from an active general and vascular surgery career. He and his wife are well, and all four of their children are healthy and thriving in New England. The new addition to the family is a six-month-old loveable labradoodle puppy!... Caroll Carter shares that Portsmouth Abbey School has been at work in Washington, D.C., rebuilding and enlarging Stead Park, a city playground named in memory of Mary Force Stead by her husband, Robert Stead, great grandfather of Portsmouth’s own Dom Julian Stead. Dom Julian encouraged Carol Carter, Chris Dorment ’63, and Outerbridge Horsey ’71 to take leadership roles in Friends of Stead Park for this project. Stead Park is an almostcity-block-sized playground with facilities for tiny tots, small children, with a walking

P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL

and running track, and large, lighted general playing fields. A ribbon-cutting ceremony with the mayor took place in November 2014, and work continues!

54 I Blasdel Reardon returned to campus to celebrate his 60th reunion, attended by Jim Williamson, Malcolm Kennedy, Ted Johnson, George Lamborn, and the late Bill Winans. Classmates all enjoyed the opportunity to catch up, but certainly mourned Bill’s passing shortly thereafter....

Nagle Jackson’s play, “Taking Leave,” entered the repertory of the National Theatre of China this past year. Nagle has been commissioned to write a play for the 50th Anniversary of the Creede Repertory Theatre in Colorado, which he will stage for them this summer (2015). He was saddened to learn of the passing of wonderful classmate, Tom Barry, who was part of the team that wrote “Breaking Loose,” performed by the Class of 1954. Jacques de Spoelberch has met with classmates Nagle Jackson and Fr. Malcolm Kennedy for lunch on several occasions. Nagle travels north from his home in Princeton Junction, NJ; Jacques heads south from Norwalk, CT, meeting Fr. Malcolm in the center – in Manhattan; they plan on continuing the tradition into the New Year.

CLASS NOTES

Nagle is still writing astonishing plays, and Jacques continues to place quality books with publishers for quite a few writers.

Unfortunately, Jacques missed reunion last fall owing to some surgery but had the pleasure of speaking with classmates Ted Johnson and Blasdel Reardon. He also looks forward to seeing Basil Carmody in St. Tropez this Easter.

58 I Ramón Ferreyros and his son, Ramon, took a full day course on advanced racing driving at the world-class Bob Bondurant Driving School, in Phoenix, AZ; they utilized a Chevrolet Corvette with 450 horsepower for the drills.

58 I Schuyler MacGuire was honored in halftime ceremonies at the GeorgetownBrown game last Fall on the 50th anniversary of successfully leading the Hoyas back into intercollegiate football competition against NYU. Called “the poor man’s Roger Staubach” by the Washington Post, Sky had previously quarterbacked the Priory team as well.

66 I Eric Sandeen and his wife, Sue, spent the fall semester in Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Eric was senior Fulbright professor at Radboud University, teaching American Studies to undergraduate and graduate students and observing the commemoration of Operation Market Garden, a significant event of the World War II liberation of Europe. Radboud, it turns out, is the country’s preeminent Catholic university with a long line of theologians now known mostly through street names in this thoroughly secular culture. In July, Eric stepped down as director of American Studies at the University of Wyoming after 32 years, but he continues as the founding director of the Wyoming Institute for Humanities Research. “After June 2016,” he writes, “who knows?”

Nagle Jackson’s (Class of 1954) play, “Taking Leave,” entered the repertory of the National Theatre of China this past year.

68 I Charlie Chase has had much reason to celebrate: the marriage of his youngest Ramón Ferreyros ’58 with his son, Ramón, at racing school

62 I John Newlin reports that he is in the midst of a M.F.A. degree program in fiction writing at Converse College.

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50 TH REUNION v SEPT 25-27

Jim Sturdevant is enthusiastically looking forward to his 50th reunion this fall! His oldest daughter just started college at Skidmore, and his youngest is now in 8th grade. Jim is still practicing public interest and civil rights law and waiting for the next revolution. He and his wife joined Oren Root at Nick Keefe’s wedding to Debbie Hersch in August. Jim is happy to share that Nick still plays a mean guitar.

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Tech x-bikes accented with stud tires used by Jose Eduardo C. Delgado ’73 during the rainy season

In this image taken by Dolores Lonergan, Elisa ’14 and Teresa ’11 display their rowing skills on the canal at Versailles while Tom ’71 braces for the inevitable splashing.

child in the fall of 2014; four grandsons; and the publication of a new book of poetry, Runway Lights: Life in the Undercloud, available through Amazon. He retired at the end of 2010, works as a life coach and a business trainer, and is on the Board of the Norwich (CT) Arts Center.

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Schuyler Schrode ‘70 and his fiance, Joanie

Catholicism and the American Experience, the fifth in the Portsmouth Institute series released by James MacGuire ‘70

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45 TH REUNION v SEPT 25-27

Jamie MacGuire released the latest Portsmouth Review in August, Catholicism and the America Experience, the fifth in the Portsmouth Institute series. Jamie also made a visit to the Morgan Library in August to see the exhibition of Carter Burden ‘59’s collection of 20th-Century American authors’ first editions, letters and other ephemera: “It was fascinating and is apparently just a sliver of the total collection.”.... Schuyler Schrode shares that over Christmas he became engaged to his wonderful fiancé, Joanie, after seven years of knowing, growing, and loving together. Schuyler believes that life has many phases, and one never knows what lies ahead, or when one might be showered with a gift such as this. As this new phase occurs, many chapters after the Portsmouth experience, and as he approaches retirement, he feels tremendous joy in having found his one and only; he is so thankful for his good fortune. Life in

P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL

South Florida continues to be wonderful as he works and continues to drum as often as he can.... Paul Curcio has retired from the practice of law in Providence, RI. He and his wife, Bonnie Bennett, have relocated to sunny Naples, FL.... Chris Walsh has started his third term in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Putting aside the daily practice of architecture after a 30-year career wasn’t as difficult as it might have seemed. Chris is relishing the opportunity to apply a somewhat different skill set from the typical legislator to the issues facing our communities, and it has been immensely rewarding and fascinating for him. “The political landscape in New England, springing as it does from its town meeting roots, can seem wildly byzantine, but after a couple of sessions, the tempo of Beacon Hill becomes a tad more apparent – more like swimming in a choppy ocean surge.” He offers an open invitation to those in the neighborhood to stop by Beacon Hill for a visit.

71 I Tom Lonergan and his wife, Dolores, and their two daughters, Elisa ’14 and Teresa ’11, spent the first half of June in France. To celebrate their 25th anniversary, Tom and Dolores retraced the steps of their honeymoon. Tom would like to remind all his classmates of their 45th reunion in 2016.

Billy Regan, Chris ‘73 and Mac Regan’s ‘68 brother (and godfather to Caroline ’07), took this picture at Chris’s 60th birthday party. The Portsmouth crew included: Tony Klemmer ‘73, Mac, Peter Regan ‘71, Peter MacGuire ‘73, Steve McDonnell ‘73, Paul Kinnane ‘75, John McManus ‘73, Chris Banks ‘72, and Chris Regan (the birthday boy).

Phil English ‘74

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The beautifully illustrated book, The Bartlett Book of Garden Elements: A Practical Compendium of Inspired Designs for the Working Gardener by the late Michael Bartlett and his wife, Rose, has been published (David R. Godine, publisher). Michael (1953–2008), a fifth-generation landscape architect, designed gardens for embassies, commercial projects, and private homes; he redesigned the gardens of the Moroccan, French, and Finnish embassies. Michael had begun his distinguished career as a landscape architect at Portsmouth, inspired by and working under the tutelage of another gifted gardener, Dom Hilary Martin.... Peter Tovar and his family enjoyed outstanding Maine hospitality once again this summer in Camden thanks to David Flanagan and his sisters. Their visit coincided with a Bill Crimmins ’48 family reunion which included sons Tom, who flew in from Kodiak, AK, and brother John, of Newport.

73 I

Chris Regan celebrated his 60th birthday with some great Abbey company. Those in attendance were Tony Klemmer, Mac Regan ’68, Peter Regan ’71, Peter MacGuire, Steve McDonnell, Paul Kinnane ’75, John McManus, and Chris Banks ’72.... Jose Eduardo C. Delgado shares that, at 60 years

old, he still really enjoys technical Hard Enduro motorcycle riding, where one can easily burn 2,400 to 4,000 calories within five to eight hours. He reports that he is still in shape at his high school weight of 136 lbs.

74 I Phil English recently joined the board of directors of the Faith and Politics Institute, a non-partisan and non-sectarian forum that permits national policy makers to engage in discussions of key ideas and issues from a faith perspective. The organization is sponsoring a congressional civil rights pilgrimage to Selma, Alabama, this spring to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Dr. King’s march across the Edmund Puttus Bridge. Phil has also been advising Catholic Charities USA in its outreach to Congress on anti-poverty issues.

40 TH REUNION v SEPT 25-27

Michael Alexander just returned to Marco Island, FL, after two weeks in Costa Rica. Michael spent a week in San Jose visiting with friends, and then embarked on a road trip with his friend and her twin six-year-old daughters. “La Fortuna near Lake Arenal and the active Arenal volcano were wonderful as always,” he shares.

Michael then traveled a short distance to San Isidro to a biodynamic farm/motel surrounded by rain forest (Finca Luna Nueva Lodge), an outstanding experience. After many trips to Costa Rica, he finally made it to Monteverde in the cloud forest. “The wind was howling around 50-60 mph and it rained off and on all day, every day.

People went about business as usual, even on the soccer fields.” An old gentleman told him that it would be like that until February.

The Bartlett Book of Garden Elements: A Practical Compendium of Inspired Designs for the Working Gardener by the late Michael Bartlett and his wife, Rose Lane Bartlett, has been published.

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Andrew White ’77 finished a three-year assignment in Jakarta

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Hank Schmitt had a busy fall sailing from Newport, RI, to St. Maarten in the 15th Annual NARC Rally that he organizes. He then flew directly to Las Palmas, Canary Islands, to sail in the ARC Rally across the Atlantic to St. Lucia. Seven weeks and 5,000 offshore miles later, he flew home a week before Christmas to celebrate with his wife, Catherine, and their eight grandchildren, all under six years old.

77 I

After four years of working at Portsmouth Abbey as the Director of Summer Programs, teaching Christine Doctrine and mathematics, and coaching football, Tim Seeley has accepted a wonderful opportunity at George Stevens Academy as head of school for the upcoming school year.

George Stevens Academy is a high school of 330 students, 40 of whom board, in the coastal town of Blue Hill, ME. It is an independent school, but serves as the public school for seven small towns in the surrounding area. Tim has greatly appreciated his time at the Abbey and feels blessed to have been given the opportunity to be

Tim ‘77 and Jill Seeley are heading to Maine.

Dave Rondeau ’87 and Paul Baisely ’87 in Florida

McCauley for dinner in West Palm Beach, FL. Mike’s mom and dad, Geri and Coach John McCauley, joined them. Coach was in great form and reminded Bryan, “If ifs and buts were candy and nuts we’d all have a helluva Christmas!” Mike also visited with Rick Abedon during his trip, and they are already putting plans together for the Class of 1981’s 35th Reunion.

here, but is excited for this next step!... Jim Moran has been living in Greenville, SC, since 1995. He and his wife, Adie, recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with a trip to Italy. Jim and Adie have one child, Faith, who is a nursing student in her sophomore year at the University of South Carolina. Jim has a private psychotherapy practice in Greenville. He specializes in using intensive, short-term dynamic psychotherapy to treat patients with pain due to psychosomatic illness. After struggling with alcoholism, Jim has enjoyed 28 years of recovery. He has enjoyed re-connecting with Portsmouth Abbey classmates through Facebook, and sends good wishes to all...

In December, Andrew White finished a three-year assignment in Jakarta as managing director of The American Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia. His wife, Kaleria, and he are now living in Tsarskoe Selo, Russia, where they recently bought an apartment. While Kaleria is renovating the apartment, Andrew is spending time studying Russian, jogging in the nearby parks of the Catherine and Alexander Palaces, cheering on the local hockey Team SKA (Army) and learning not to get lost on St. Petersburg subways. Andrew recently had a great chat via email with Jeff Calnan ’76. He hopes to make it to a reunion weekend before too many more years go by.

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30 TH REUNION v SEPT 25-27

After eight years in the studio system, Jon Kuyper, will return to producing. He just wrapped “The Last Face” in South Africa and plans to head to Australia next.

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Conor Bohan continues to make incredible strides in Haitian education through his program HELP (Haitian Education & Leadership Program). He was featured in Nicholas Kristof’s op-ed piece entitled,

81 I

Over the holidays, Bryan McGuirk had the chance to connect with Mike Bryan McGuirk ‘81 met up with Mike McCauley ‘81 (right) and parents, Geri and Coach John McCauley.

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P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL

Keith Cardoza ’88 became a Knight of Magistral Grace of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta.

Abby Benson ’92 and her husband, Andrew, in Colorado

his way to getting it in full production.

Ten percent of sales will directly support the Literacy Volunteers of Washington County, a cause Tom is very passionate about. Tom is also a global businessman and has worked in Hong Kong, Australia and Europe..... Christopher Meyer and his wife, Anne, welcomed a beautiful baby girl, Hanley Rose, on August 9, 2014.

Chris returned to campus for his 25th reunion in September, recalling, “It was a fantastic time, and I specifically enjoyed rehashing stories with the crew from the old ‘St. Benet’s Haven.’ Some things never change!”

90 I

“The Gift of Education,” in The New York Times Sunday Review in December 2014.

In recognizing Conor’s remarkable efforts, Kristof concluded, “So I raise my eggnog to toast all those promoting education at home and abroad, thereby spreading opportunity. It’s the updated version of giving a person a fishing pole rather than a fish.”

To learn more about Conor’s great work, visit, http://uhelp.net/... Bill Brazell and his wife, Victoria, were thrilled to welcome their third child, Josephine Peers, on January 30, 2014. Josephine joins older sisters Genevieve and Penelope for what Bill’s cousin, Kathy, calls “Little House on the Prairie…in Brooklyn.”

87 I

Greg Burns, PLS Logistics Services chairman, president and CEO, has led PLS to the Transport Topics Top 25 Freight Brokerage Firms list for 2014.... Dave Rondeau and Paul Baisely met up in Jacksonville, FL, in January 2015. Dave lives and works in Jacksonville, FL, with his wife, Rose, and their two chidren, Katie and Melanie. He works for National General Insurance as an senior claims representative.

25 TH REUNION v SEPT 25-27

John Pappalardo was recently appointed to a federal management body; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration selected John as a new council member. He also serves on the New England Fishery Management Council.

88 I This past November, Keith Cardoza became a Knight of Magistral Grace of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta. Keith was joined by his family and friends as they celebrated the Solemn Mass of Investiture at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, with Cardinal Timothy Dolan, fellow Knights and Dames, and more than 700 guests. Keith’s investiture capped off a very special year with the Knights of Malta, as he and fellow Knights and Dames journeyed last May to serve and care for pilgrims who traveled to Lourdes, France, seeking healing through the intercession of the Blessed Mother.

92 I Abby Benson and her husband, Andrew, relocated from Silver Spring, MD, to Boulder, CO, where Abby works in government relations for the University of Colorado. It was a big decision to leave the D.C. area after almost 10 years, but she is looking forward to being more involved with the day-to-day at CU while exploring all the

89 I Tom Keenan just launched a Kickstarter for his innovative new product, Mukava (Finnish for “comfortable”). It is the world’s first BIFMA standard reading table that can handle all types of reading media while incorporating high-end design and eliminates tech neck. He’s raised almost $11,000 so far and is on John Pappalardo ‘90 was recently appointed to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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Natalie, Maya, and Jack, the children of Brendan O’Higgins ’93

1995 classmates John Machado, Nick Corrigan, Court Dignan and Brian O’Reilly at Carnegie Abbey

outdoor recreation opportunities that Colorado has to offer. “After living on the East Coast for so long, we are enjoying the change of scenery, but look forward to regular trips back to Rhode Island to visit with family.”... Henry Snape, with his wife, Silvia, and his son, Joe, welcomed Mark Leander to the Snape family. The boys were doubly lucky to celebrate Christmas in the Dominican Republic and the Epiphany in Barcelona.

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93 I

Henry Snape ‘92, his wife, Silvia, and their sons, Joe and Mark Leander

Brendan O’Higgins took his children, Natalie (5), Maya (10), and Jack (8), on a trip to the California Mountains (Sierra Nevada).

95 I

Shannon Finn, daughter of John and Katie Burke Finn ‘95 is a year old.

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to celebrate their daughter, Shannon’s, first birthday! Katie and John live in Saugus, MA; Katie is a fourth grade teacher in Malden.... Adam Donaldson and Jessy Berretto Donaldson ’96 welcomed daughter Opal Amara on November 26, 2014. They have gone to a cover-two-zone defense to manage Opal, Isaiah (age 6) and Norah (age 4). They carry diapers in a Portsmouth Abbey tote!

20 TH REUNION v SEPT 25-27

Brian O’Reilly returned to campus in November for a golf outing at Carnegie Abbey with fellow Abbey friends, John Machado, Nick Corrigan, and Court Dignan.... In September of 2014 John Plummer and his wife, Marina, watched their daughter, Siena, begin her first year in school at the Buttonwoods School for Young Children, in Warwick, RI. Their son, Jack, is now two years old and cannot wait to follow his big sister to school! Marina also started a job as an attorney with Marinosci Law Group, PC, in Rhode Island....

Katie Burke Finn and her husband, John, had an exciting year and are getting ready

P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL

Angus Davis and his wife, Joanna, welcomed their second son, Angus MacDonald Davis, Jr., in April 2014. They call him “Mac.” Their elder son, Ryder, is exactly two years older. Angus was honored to be named “Man of the Year” by GoLocalProv for his work in the community and in entrepreneurship, but he feels he has a strong team to thank rather than deserving any individual credit. A thrill for his family was visiting his friend Charlie Enright, who was competing in the Volvo Ocean Race in January in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.; it was their first visit to a Muslim country.

They are excited to welcome the fleet to Newport in May. Angus’s younger brother, Foster, is now attending Portsmouth Abbey in the Class of 2018 – full circle!... Jessy Berretto Donaldson and her husband, Adam ’95, welcomed their third child, Opal Amara, on November 26, 2014....

Mary Aranda began a new job in the summer of 2014 as a senior communica-

Jaymes Dec ’96 spent much of the past year working with organizations around the world.

tions advisor for John Snow, Inc., a public health consulting firm. Her family husband and children, Vivianna (4) and Lucia (2), still enjoy living in the Boston area and spending time in and around the city and traveling.... Jaymes Dec spent much of the past year working with organizations around the world to introduce digital design and fabrication, as well as physical and creative computing into education and schools.

In January, he worked with USAID and Columbia University to build digital fabrication laboratories and train staff at five high schools and a university in Indonesia.

Along with a full-time teaching job at The Marymount School of New York, he is also keeping busy with his company, The NYC Makery. They are about to open doors to a public makerspace for families and training center for teachers in New York City.

Jaymes is also very proud of the work that he’s doing as the president of the Nerdy Derby, Inc., a nonprofit that sets up creative design challenges at schools. Last year, he was named “Teacher of the Future” by the National Associates of Independent Schools. This year, he received a FabLearn Fellowship from Stanford University and the National Science Foundation. Recently, he joined a working group organized by Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Project Zero: Agency by Design, which examines how educational initiatives that emphasize making, design, engineering, and tinkering are gaining traction in schools and organizations across the country.

97 I Chris Runey and his wife, Kate, welcomed their first son, William Christopher Runey, on September 22, 2014. Chris is currently enrolled at UMass Boston, earning his nurse practitioner degree that he will have completed by spring 2016.

He currently works in the cardiac surgical ICU at MGH as a staff nurse.... Colin O’Higgins was able to meet up with classmate and friend Dan Hughes over the holidays in South Beach, in Miami, FL. They enjoyed a great afternoon of drinks and catching up.... Ken Tambaschi shares that 2014 was pretty action-packed for the Tambaschis “and it sure flew by with everything we had going on!” Ken accepted a promotion with Republic National Distributing Company, which moved his family from Northern Virginia to just

Chris Runey ’97 with his wife, Kate, and their son, William

Carissa and Ken Tambaschi ’97 with daughters Emily Newbury and Taylor Elaine

outside Richmond (still selling wine but had to give up the home office). They were lucky to sell their home in Northern Virginia very quickly, and after only a few months in temporary housing found an incredible new home in Glen Allen, VA. On August 6, Emily Newbury Tambaschi was born and Taylor Elaine became a big sister! Carissa and Ken are blessed with two wonderful girls and are having a great time exploring Richmond with both of them. They love reading updates from everyone and hope to see many at Ken’s 20th reunion!...

Dan Hughes recently published a memoir entitled Pageland, available via all major electronic books outlets including Amazon and Barnes & Noble, about his experiences as House of Representatives page, and in particular, becoming enmeshed in the Mark Foley scandal.

Dan shares his experiences while in Washington, D.C., along with his interactions with a number of power players – including President Bill Clinton and Speaker Newt Gingrich – from that tumultuous congressional era.

“Pageland,” the recently published memoir from Dan Hughes ’97

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Chris Beer ’99 with his wife, Jess, and their daughter Abigail

Ron Passaro ’99 has sold over 3,800 licenses to his music for commercial use in film, TV and online projects.

98 I Dan Tortorice and his wife, Kartini, were thrilled to welcome second child, Samir Sebastian, to the family on October 27, 2014. Samir weighed in at 8 lbs., 1 oz., and was 21 inches. As you might imagine, big brother Jai is very happy with him....

Jen Stankiewicz has accepted a faculty position with Teachers College at Western Governors University. She is a student mentor – “a cross between a professor and academic advisor who gets to work from home and talk on the phone all day.

I love it! No more driving in the snow, but also no more snow days…”

Sean O’Higgins ’99 shared a lovely picture of his daughter, Lily, sporting an Abbey shirt!

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99 I Sean O’Higgins celebrated his 15-year reunion in September with fellow classmates.... Chris Beer and his wife, Jess, have just bought their first home, and celebrated their daughter, Abigail’s, second birthday. In addition, Chris and Jess will be celebrating their fourth wedding anniversary this year. Chris reports that they are settling nicely into their life in Manassas, VA, and his main hobby right now is spending every moment of his free time with his daughter. He spends extra time in his day reading, mostly history, a passion he learned from Dr. Zilian... Christina Beccue Kunec completed a fellowship

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at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s Sports Concussion Program. She then moved to Connecticut and joined Stamford Hospital as a full-time clinical neuropsychologist. In Stamford, Christina is leading a multidisciplinary team of experts who comprise the hospital’s concussion program. After years of schooling and moving around, Christina and her husband have finally settled in Darien, CT.... Ron Passaro recently completed the score for the feature documentary, “Queen Mimi,” directed by Yaniv Rokah and produced

by Michael Shamberg (“Pulp Fiction,” “Django Unchained”). He also composed 10 minutes of music for a tribute to Hilary Clinton on the occasion of the Children’s Defense Fund’s 40th Anniversary. The event was held at the famed Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., with Hilary Clinton in attendance. Since 2001, Ron has sold over 3,800 licenses to his music for commercial use in film, TV and online projects. His current musical theater work includes writing the songs for a musical about New York real estate with collaborators Alex Lippard and David Lee. Ron launched his own music production company, Audio Verite, with co-founder Shawn P. Russel. Recent clients include AIG, M&G Investments and Reuters. Their music can currently be heard on popular TV shows such as “Amish Mafia,” “Catfish,” “Ink Masters,” “Married to Medicine” and

Liz Ribera ’02 at the baptism of her son, Leo Dean Scanlan, by Fr. Damian Kearney ’45 in the church of St. Gregory the Great.

“The Real Housewives of Miami,” and they also wrote the theme song for the upcoming Travel Channel show, “Hotel Amazon.”

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15TH REUNION v SEPT 25-27

Conor Casey was married on August 31, 2014, in Narragansett, RI. Fr. Paschal Scotti officiated, and Andrew DeRussy served as best man. Also attending from the Abbey were Kate Ferrara Homes, and Danny Murray ’01.... Meredith Clark Puzio and her husband, Matthew, welcomed a daughter, Leighton Emilia, last year on December 13, 2013. Meredith and Matthew celebrated Leighton’s first birthday this past December.

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Brooke Gilligan Beecy and her husband, Beau, welcomed their second child this summer. Caden Harper was born on August 20, and his older sister, Soleil Isabelle, could not be more excited.

02 I Sean Biddick and his family are living in Vienna while he works for Boston Consulting Group in Europe. They took the opportunity to travel to the Benedictine Melk Abbey, located in Melk, Austria.

Founded in 1089, it is among the world’s most famous monastic sites. The Baroque-

Sean Biddick ’02 and his family live in Vienna, Austria.

style monastery overlooks the Danube in the Wachau Valley. Melk Abbey’s school serves 900 students....Katherine Glover Knickerbocker married LT Mike Knickerbocker on September 27, 2014, in Rhode Island. They are currently living in Norfolk, VA, where Mike is serving on the USS RAMAGE.... Patrick Neimeyer married Jennifer Day on October 4, 2014, at the historic Christ Church (church of George Washington and Robert E. Lee) in Alexandria, VA. Jennifer is a kindergarten teacher in Fairfax, VA.... Liz Ribera and her husband, David, were back at the Abbey in June for the christening of their son, Leo Dean Scanlan.

The sacrament was administered with great reverence and beauty by Fr. Damian Kearney to a full church of family and friends.

Gabrielle Tigan and Ryan Egan, Liz’s uncle, were godparents.

03 I Evan Piekara is living in Washington, D.C., and is helping to launch a public sector management consultant practice for BDO USA LLP. Please look him up if you’re ever in the area!

04 I Lawrence Slocum was accepted to the Cornell University M.B.A. program for the fall of 2015.... Andrés Klee Valenzuela and

wife, Christina, are delighted to announce the birth of their son, Issac Ambrose. He was born on Christmas Day and weighed 8 lbs., 9 oz. Big sisters Sofia and Emilia think that he’s the best Christmas present ever. (See Milestones for photo).... Susan Willis finished her Ph.D. in October 2014 at the University of California, Berkeley, in environmental fluid mechanics. She spent the past five years studying internal waves and turbulence in the coastal ocean. In the meantime, she has been working at a startup in Palo Alto as a data scientist, working on trade promotion optimization.

Although she has not been able to catch up with any Abbey alums, she is happy that her little sister, Karla Norton ’18, is now a Third Former!

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REUNION v SEPT 25-27

Bridget Royer is currently living in Boston and working as a physician’s assistant in a urology practice. This past year Bridget had the pleasure of attending two amazing weddings that served as epic reunions for all of her Abbey friends. The first was the wedding of Craig Bazarsky, who married Julie Roseman at Marble House in Newport, RI. In the second, Keith Hoffman married Rachel Kaplan on a ranch in Granby, CO. Bridget reports that it was great to gather

WINTER Alumni BULLETIN 2015

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Lahna Son-Cundy ‘05 with her husband, Joseph Tamburo, and new daughter, Mila Sonny

From the Class of 2007, from left, Mike Reilly, Lucas Zipp, Mike Gorman, Laura Dobbs, and Ryana Barbosa hanging out in California.

Michelle LeMeur ‘07 received a Fulbright grant to teach in Malaysia.

together again, with delicious food, great music, laughs and, of course, several nights of dancing.... Lahna Son-Cundy and her husband, Joseph Tamburo, welcomed their daughter, Mila Sonny, on November 6, 2014.... Ronan Babbitt shares that he has had a great year, maybe his best yet. His list of milestones includes shooting a pilot that has been shopped at production companies, “and said pilot won multiple awards.”

Ronan has also filmed his first commercial and ended a two-year run at a comedy club.

In addition, he married Dana Covarrubias on October 4, 2014, in New York. Ronan and Dana went to the Maldives for their honeymoon and could only describe it as “where paradise goes to take a vacation.”

Ronan also reports that he was hit by a car last year, but in good humor says, “It’s true,

it was bad, but you know what they say… whatever car doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Also it is an awesome story, so I have that going for me now.” The newlyweds also welcomed a new puppy, NoddleBean, into their lives and attended The Sundance Film Festival for Dana’s first movie premier. More importantly, Ronan would like to announce he has finally found a good hair style: “This has been important because the ‘thread-count’ has started to diminish…know what I’m saying?” The couple has also purchased a new car, and of prime importance, Ronan is now down to one cup of coffee a day. “The only thing that would make it better is if I saw a few more Abbey faces this year.” Ronan has made it his New Year’s resolution!

living and working in Brooklyn for the past few years, Michelle LeMeur embarked on a new adventure in Malaysia. This year, she will be teaching English in the Malaysian state of Perak on a Fulbright grant. She looks forward to exploring Southeast Asia and hopes to bring some of her Abbey friends to her school for show-and-tell....

In the summer of 2013, Ryana Barbosa left her corporate job in Boston, MA, to move across the country to Oakland, CA, where she took on a completely different role as an AmeriCorps VISTA teacher for the Oakland Unified School District.

06 I Kyle Biddick and Emily Samartino married on April 24, 2014, in Connecticut. Abbey alumni in attendance included Sean Biddick ’02, Neal Biddick ’03, Jonny Valcour ’07, Pam Biddick ’03, Carolynn Taddei, Kyle Raposo, and Tom Lessard.

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Ronan Babbitt ‘05 and his bride, Dana, welcomed a new puppy, NoddleBean. He has added quite a list of milestones to his life this past year!

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Cornelia Vaillancourt lived in three different countries in 2014 and has finally settled in Dublin, Ireland. She loves her job as a business analyst for State Street as she continues to travel a good deal.... After

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Cornelia Vaillancourt ‘07 has settled in Dublin for now.

Kyle Biddick’s (‘06) wedding included Abbey alumni Sean Biddick ’02, Neal Biddick ’03, Jonny Valcour ’07, Pam Biddick ’03, Carolynn Taddei ’06, Kyle Raposo ’06, and Tom Lessard ’06.

Never having traveled west (in the USA) of New York City, and never having worked in urban education, she knew she was in for multiple shocks. “One of the most unexpected was a warm Bay Area-welcome from Mike Reilly.” Though track and field co-captains during their Sixth Form year, Mike and Ryana had only greeted each other in passing. Seven years later, they have fortuitously become roommates and found themselves hosting a joint holiday housewarming barbecue. They have since become a part of a growing San Francisco Bay Area Abbey presence, and they regularly spend time with former classmates.

Ryana encourages any Portsmouth Abbey alumni who are considering a career switch or a geographical move to trust their instincts and pursue their passion. “If you’re specifically eyeing the Bay Area, there are plenty of alumni across multiple industries that would be happy to host and connect with you.”... Maximilian Klietmann married Lavinia Garthwaite Lowerre on June 21, 2014, in Lenox, MA. Several Abbey alumni were in attendance, and Grady McCune served as best man. Max is working as a strategy consultant in the biotech industry in Boston, and Lavinia is pursuing a career in photography. The two live in Boston’s South End with their two dogs, Eloise and Millicent.

08 I Tad Walgreen happily announces that he launched his own business this past November. After four years working in executive recruiting, he has founded K&W Research Group, which provides data to executive search firms. His business partner is a longtime friend from his home town in Lake Forest, IL, where the company is headquartered. They have hired a total of three researchers and are expecting tremendous growth in 2015.

a season in Orvieto, Italy, working at an archaeological dig. (One of the finds of the dig included a young man from the 1400s!)

Kristin has been working for the past two seasons at this particular extension of the dig site, located at a medieval church in a small town outside of the city. She has had fun being so close to this type of historical experience, both at the latter site, the medieval church, and their earlier site, a Roman bath complex. In addition, Kristin met up with her sister, Kelsi ’13, and traveled over the summer to Switzerland and Germany, where they enjoyed a good deal of hiking. Kristin

09 I Kristin Harper spent the summer of 2014 finishing the first year of her MA/ PhD program in classics at the University of Missouri-Columbia. She then spent

Left: Kristin Harper ‘09 has been working in Italy at a dig site located at a medieval church. Below, Kristin and her sister, Kelsi ‘13, at Reichenbach Falls, the fabled falls where Sherlock and Moriarty fought

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has also devised and taught a collegelevel etymology class; she enjoys teaching her students about puns! In addition, she cannot wait to continue developing her own teaching style as she moves forward.

Kristin looks forward to teaching Latin 1100, an equivalent to introductory Latin for college students, and will be presenting an original paper at the 2015 Classical Association of the Mid-West and South (CAMWS) Conference in Boulder, CO, on her research on Horace’s Satires and the Augustan age. She hopes for a year filled with continued work in her graduate program, enjoyable teaching, and digging around in the dirt.

Amelia Bradley ’10 loves working at the Abbey and living in Bristol with her dog, Penny.

Cindy Ruiz ‘10 traveled at Christmas to Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar, which included a desert tour (camel rides and all) in addition to tours of the souqs, the King’s palace, and dolphin watching.

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5 TH REUNION v SEPT 25-27

Amelia Bradley graduated in May from Salve Regina University with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry. She spent the majority of her summer on Cape Cod but managed a visit to a friend in Berkeley, CA, in August. In September of 2014, she began working in the Portsmouth Abbey Office of Admission.

She loves working at the Abbey and living in Bristol with her dog, Penny.... Pierce MacGuire started at Baylor Law School in Texas in September 2014 and was elected president of his first-year class....

After passing her boards in May, Grace Popham started working at Bryant University in August as a certified athletic trainer. She works primarily with the volleyball and women’s lacrosse teams. She enjoys being back in Rhode Island and being close to family, friends, and of course, the Abbey.... Makonnen Jackman, Ryan Lohuis, and Cam Shirley met up in New York City for the Abbot’s Reception in December. Makonnen is finishing school at Georgetown, with hopes of moving back to New York after his graduation. Ryan is working for the National Hockey League Network in New York as a part-time production assistant. Cam is also living

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and working in Manhattan, as a business/ quality assurance analyst at IntegriDATA, a consulting firm.... Quent Dickmann has graduated from Villanova University and moved to Charleston, SC, where he is in training to be a submarine officer at the Nuclear Power School. He hopes to graduate in May and will begin training at a prototype reactor this summer. He also completed a half-ironman last year! ... Sarah Savoie recently returned to the States from leading a medical/dental trip to Panama and is also a volunteer EMT for the College of Charleston Emergency Medical Services. Sarah will be completing her certificates for specialized strength and conditioning.... After graduating from Williams College last spring, Frank Pagliaro joined his classmates Amelia Bradley, Cat Malkemus, and Cindy Ruiz as a faculty member at the Abbey. He teaches Humanities, leads the stage crew for the drama department, and lives in St. Aelred’s House. He has greatly enjoyed delving back into great books that he has not read since 2007 and also (mostly) appreciates the various shenanigans of his students in Aelred’s. He hopes to pick up an English class next year. Cindy joined the development office at Portsmouth Abbey this past July. Aside from working at the Abbey, Cindy has been fortunate enough to do some traveling over the holidays. She visited Easter Island, Chile, over Thanksgiving, where she was able to see the famous Moai in person. She then traveled at Christmas to Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar, which included a desert tour (camel rides and all) in addition to tours of the souqs, the King’s palace, and dolphin watching.

She’s thrilled to be sharing time on campus with Cat, Amelia, and Frank, and is excited to see what 2015 brings. Cat is happy to say her address is on Cory’s Lane once again. She loves house parenting in St. Benet’s, has started working part-time in the Office of Development and is enjoying getting to know her former teachers as peers. One of the biggest perks of the job is getting to see Amelia, Frank, and Cindy every day! It has always been her dream to work at Portsmouth Abbey, and she feels

Classmates from 2012, Toni Ramos, James McField, Carly Augustis Kokoni, Taryn Murphy and Liam O’Connor in Washington, D.C.

Gabrielle Fonts ’12 and Andrew Godfrey ’12 at a Sigma Delta Tau formal

Remember to stay in touch by visiting the front page of the School website for news and event info, and to connect to our social media pages.

very blessed to be here... While at the Abbey, Evan Sylvia was a starting defenseman for the EIL Championship Lacrosse Team and a place kicker for the football team. Coach Al Brown reflects that Evan was a “great team player” during his time here. Guilford College was a great fit for Evan as he continued to play on the Men’s Lacrosse Team as a four-year member. Over Christmas of his senior year, Evan’s coach, Tom Carmean, suggested that he apply as a year-long lacrosse development officer for the city of Nottingham in the UK. After interviewing in Baltimore, Evan landed the position as lacrosse coach at Nottingham Trent University. In May, Evan graduated from Guilford with a degree in business management and minors in International business and economics. Evan joined the

Nottingham Trent community this past summer. He has been coaching six different college teams both men and women divisions. The University is about 30,000 large, and they are enjoying having Evan and his coaching skills on campus. With Evan’s help, the city of Nottingham hopes to expand and grow its lacrosse program.

Evan has led his team to an undefeated season with a recent win against Oxford (16-5). In addition to coaching, Evan has made time to continue playing with a local team, allowing him to travel to various cities around England.

11 I In October, Liz Dubovik, a senior at Connecticut College, had a successful sailing run at the New England Singlehanded Championship on the Thames River in England, which qualified her for the 201415 Singlehanded National Championship in November... Katia DaSilva, currently a senior at Georgetown University, is expecting to receive a B.A. in philosophy with minors in English and economics. She is in the process of applying to post-baccalaureate pre-medical programs with the hopes of going to medical school. In November, the Georgetown sailing team won the College Match-Racing Nationals in New York for the second year in a row.

Evan Silvia ’10 coaches lacrosse in Nottingham, England.

WINTER Alumni BULLETIN 2015

12 I Gabrielle Fonts is in her “middler” year at Northeastern University and just finished her first six-month-long co-op as a veterinary technician! She is the newly elected vice president of recruitment for her sorority, Sigma Delta Tau, and has recently been slated for the executive board of the TriBeta-Chi Delta Epsilon Biological Honor Society. Andrew Godfrey was in Boston this December to attend a Sigma Delta Tau formal with Gabrielle at Northeastern....Toni Ramos, James McField, Carly Augustis Kokoni, Taryn Murphy and Liam O’Connor reunited at Catholic University to support Taryn (who plays for Drew University) at one of her field hockey games. Taryn, a junior on the Drew’s field hockey team, sits on the Drew StudentAthlete Advisory Committee as an executive board member and was the institution’s eyes and ears on the ground floor of collegiate athletics’ governing body at the NCAA Convention in January. Taryn said, “Attending the Convention helped me learn more about the NCAA and Division III athletics from a broader, governance perspective. An important takeaway for me was that student-athletes can and probably should be more in tune with the broader athletic community, division-wide and nationwide, rather than just confining our

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attention only to our individual sports.”

Taryn has scored eight goals in her career as a Ranger and majors in sociology and Spanish at Drew while minoring in public relations and marketing.... Drake Kreinz was named one of Penn State’s “Players to Watch” as he returned to the Big Ten for a second year following an All-CAA Rookie Team campaign. Starting every game, he led the blue and white to the sixth-best face-off winning percentage in the nation (60 percent) and picked up a team-high 70 ground balls to rank 31st in the NCAA. The No. 14 Penn State men’s lacrosse team was picked to finish third in the inaugural season of Big Ten Lacrosse by the conference’s coaches.

Joe Yates ‘13 and Mo Kouassi-Brou ‘13 with Abbey Director of Development Matt Walter in Princeton, NJ.

14 I Aside from joining us at receptions both in Boston and Chicago, Tim Cunningham has begun his first year at the University of Chicago. He was also featured in a Boston Globe article in January 2015 for a project he completed in his hometown of Dedham, MA. Tim created a self-guided tour of veteran’s monuments and memorials for his Eagle Scout project as a member of Dedham’s Boy Scout Troop 1. His work earned him not only his Eagle Scout badge

Tim Cunningham ’14 was awarded the Joseph F. Pagliuca Scholarship.

but also the Dedham Historical Society’s first Joseph F. Pagliuca Scholarship, named after a longtime society volunteer and World War II veteran. Tim volunteered to help the society upgrade archival information on veterans buried in Old Village Cemetery, in Dedham. He has not declared his college major, but he expects to continue to study history, and down the road he may pursue law or go on to obtain his doctorate in history.

Ask a alumn bout our i disco unt *

13 I This past summer, Joseph Yates and Mossiah “Mo” Kouassi-Brou, both currently sophomores at Princeton, met up with Portsmouth Abbey Director of Development Matt Walter (also a Tiger) in Princeton, NJ, at Thomas Sweets Ice Cream Parlor.... Callie Hall is happy to report that all is great at St. Michael’s College. She has a job in her field, and is spending her weekends skiing Smugglers Notch. Callie wishes everyone a happy 2015, and invites anyone in the Northern Vermont area to visit!.... rhodes MacGuire is head of Southwestern University’s Ultimate Frisbee Club.... Michael Stark will be pitching this spring for Boston College’s Club Baseball Team. He was one of just 12 players chosen from nearly 90 who tried out last fall.

The Eagles’ 17-game season begins March 14 against Drexel University.

Fun and Learning. What could be better than that?

THE PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SUMMER PROGRAM

Sunday, June 28 - Sat�rday, July 25, 2015

For more infor�ation, contact prog�am director Tim Seeley ’77 at 401.643.1225 or summer@por�smouthabbey.org PAGE 64

* Limited space remaining

Dedham Historical Society and Museum

Drake Kreinz ‘12 plays lacrosse for Penn State and was recently named one of Penn State’s Players to Watch.

PORT SMOUTH ABB E Y SC HO OL 14 TH ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP GOLF TOURNAMENT JUNE 8, 2015 CARNEGIE ABBEY GOLF CLUB

Our tournament’s mission is threefold: S To build a greater endowment that continues to fund scholarship opportunities, supporting an Abbey education for qualified students S To recognize the excellent education that a Portsmouth Abbey School student receives during his/her tenure at the School

S To have a great day on the links with our Portsmouth Abbey family and friends

How can you help?

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Sign up to play as an individual or in a foursome Become a sponsor of the event Donate a silent auction item Don’t play golf? Join us for the post-tournament reception!

Save the date and watch for your invitation this spring!

Want to help? Need more information?

Contact Cindy Ruiz ’10 at 401- 643-1276 or email her at cruiz@portsmouthabbey.org.

Check our website at www.portsmouthabbey.org.

A portion of the tournament fee is tax-deductible

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

285 Cory’s Lane Portsmouth, Rhode Island 02871 www.portsmouthabbey.org

PAID

Providence, RI Permit No. 30

Address Service Requested

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PORTSMOUTH ABBEY

September 25- 27, 2015 Save the Date!

Classes ending in 5 and 0 – this is your reunion year!

We especially welcome back members of the Diman Club – alumni from all classes prior to 1965!

Visit www.portsmouthabbey.org/reunion for more information regarding the schedule, alumni golf, class dinners, accommodations, babysitting and more!

Questions? Contact Cindy Ruiz ’10 at 401-643-1276 or cruiz@portsmouthabbey.org

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