Alumni Bulletin Summer 2023 by Portsmouth Abbey School

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY

SUMMER BU L L ET I N 2 0 2 3

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information on upcoming alumni events on campus or around the world, and learn more about Reunion 2024 and our Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament. If you would like to receive Musings, our monthly

Message from the Head of School

A Note of Thanks Message from the Board Chair

Board of Directors

Peter M. Kennedy, III ’64 P’07 ’08 ’15 Named Emeritus Member of the Board of Directors

New Members of the Board of Directors

A Life’s Journey: A Collection of Works of William Grosvenor Congdon

Alumni Profile: Taylor Rock ’98 Growth Rooted in Principles

Involving Parents and Grandparents

Abbey News & Notes Highlighting Faculty, Staff and Student Success

electronic newsletter, please make sure we have your email address (send to alumni@portsmouthabbey.org.) To submit class notes and photos (photos must be original high-resolution jpegs), please email to: alumni@portsmouthabbey.org or mail to Portsmouth Abbey Office of Development and Alumni Affairs, 285 Cory’s Lane, Portsmouth, Rhode Island 02781.

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14 Portsmouth Abbey’s 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

C OV E R F E AT U R E 30 38

Forms III–VI (grades 9–12) in Portsmouth, Rhode Island.

Commencement 2023

If you have opinions or comments on the articles

A Graceful Scholar Colleagues Bid Farewell as Dr. Michael Bonin Retires

contained in the Bulletin, please email: communications@portsmouthabbey.org or write to the Office of Marketing and Communications, Portsmouth Abbey School, 285 Cory’s Lane, Portsmouth, Rhode

Meet our New Ravens

Enhancing our Culture of Student Health and Safety Partnerships in Student Life

number. The editors reserve the right to edit articles for

Portsmouth Institute for Faith and Culture 2023 Humanitas Summer Symposium and PIETAS

Head of School: Matthew Walter

content, length, grammar, magazine style and suitability to the mission of Portsmouth Abbey School.

Director of Advancement: Patty Gibbons

An Outpouring of God’s Mercy Seven members of the Abbey Community serve in Lourdes, France

Athletics

Milestones Births, Weddings, Necrology and In Memoriam Class Notes

Director of Marketing and Communications/Editor: Kristine Hendrickson Editorial Staff and Contributing Writers: Christopher Fisher, Kristine Hendrickson, Carla Kenahan, Nick Micheletti, Mark Nadeau, Nora O’Hara, Andrew Pezzelli,

Engaging More Than a Game Investing in athletics yields results beyond the Abbey

Island, 02871. Please include your name and phone

Brittany Semco, Kate Smith, Michael St. Thomas and Paula Walter Photography: George Corrigan, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Andrea Hansen, David Hansen, Kristine Hendrickson, Tom Kates, Newport Gulls, Tommy O’Hara ’24, Brittany Semco, Louis Walker III, and Kate Whitney Lucey

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

ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

Dear Portsmouth Abbey Community, The warm days of summer have given way to the shorter, cooler days of fall and the promise of a new school year. But as we experience new beginnings, it is also appropriate for us to look back and celebrate the recent past. In this edition of the Bulletin, you will be introduced to our new Board Chair Chris Abbate ’88 P’20 ’23 who, in his column, rightfully celebrates the accomplishments of his predecessor Chris Behnke ’81 P’12 ’15 ’19. We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Chris Behnke who dutifully and expertly served as board chair for the past nine years, and we look forward to continued excellence under Chris Abbate’s leadership. You will also learn of a new governance structure for the Monastery and School that should serve our community well for years to come. English faculty member Kate Smith has written a fitting tribute to our retiring colleague Dr. Michael Bonin, who just completed 21 years with the School, and his wife and colleague Laureen. Dr. Bonin served as a member of the English Department, holding the Dom Damian Kearney Chair in English for many of those years, and also served as the associate director of college counseling for the last eight years. He leaves a dual legacy in the form of hundreds of alumni who can recite Shakespeare with ease, read critically, and write with clarity and acumen, and who have also matriculated to their best-fit schools, including our nation’s top colleges and universities. He has also graced us with “Grace Notes,” a “how to” manual that connects our mission to everyday life on campus. And while we will certainly miss his signature bow tie, classic blue blazer, and stylish cordovan penny loafers, we will miss his wit, his intellect and his good company even more. Please join me in wishing Dr. and Mrs. Bonin all the best in their well-earned and well-deserved retirement. “Whenever we encounter beauty, consideration, effortless skill or kindness, we are pleased. These are the grace notes of life, God’s favor revealed in our works and days.” Grace Notes Excerpt Dean of Student Life Paula Walter shares her perspective in the first of a two-part series of articles on the School’s ongoing efforts to ensure best practices around student health and safety, including an update on our relationship with Praesidium, an industry leader in assessment, training and prevention. Praesidium’s mission is to prevent the sexual abuse of children and vulnerable adults and to preserve trust in respected organizations. Cat Caplin ’10, our new director of residential life will join Dean Walter in becoming a certified Praesidium Guardian to further our efforts to ensure a safe environment for our campus community.

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

Prize Day and Commencement are also chronicled through stunning photos that capture the pomp and circumstance that are becoming of these special events and the tremendous accomplishments of the Class of 2023. The remarkable weather for the weekend only helped encourage the friendship and joy shared by all who were able to attend. Updates on School news and athletics share the successes of others throughout the academic year and remind us of all that makes the Abbey experience unique, including the work of the Portsmouth Institute and its many collaborations both on and off campus, and a rare public exhibit of the works of William Congdon in the McEvoy Gallery in the McGuire Fine Arts Building. We are thankful for the hard work and dedication of faculty, students and staff who help make this possible. Lastly, I encourage you to pay your respects to those we commemorate in our In Memoriam section of the Bulletin. This issue includes a larger list than usual as the section was inadvertently omitted in the last issue. With gratitude for all whose generous gifts of time, talent and treasure allow us to fulfill our mission of helping young men and women grow in knowledge and grace, I remain yours in Christ and in St. Benedict.

Matthew P. Walter Head of School

ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

A Note of Thanks MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD CHAIR As incoming Board Chair, I thought I would use this space to introduce myself but also take a moment to recognize the tremendous accomplishments of my predecessor, Chris Behnke ’81 P’12 ’15 ’19. I graduated from Portsmouth Abbey School in 1988 when the School was still all-boys but with declining enrollment. The School would turn co-ed just three years later, for which I am grateful because that allowed me to send my oldest child Eloise to my alma mater in the fall of 2016. At Portsmouth, I ran track and cross country, sang in the Glee Club, served on the Social Committee and narrowly passed AB Calculus. I was a day student but spent time in St. Aelred’s, St. Hugh’s, and was the day student prefect in St. Benet’s my Sixth Form year. After college, I joined the U.S. Air Force and served in Texas and Washington, D.C. After that, I made my way to New York to work in investment banking and private equity. My wife Catherine and I have three children, Eloise ’20, Michael ’23 and Benedict, age 10. We live in Newport but still travel to New York on a regular basis. I joined the Portsmouth Abbey board in 2017 and was elected to succeed Chris Behnke this past February. I truly look forward to serving you all as Board Chair over the coming years. I have been associated with Portsmouth Abbey Monastery and Portsmouth Abbey School for nearly 40 years —through the leadership of five Monastic superiors and eight Heads of School — and have been a witness to the tremendous success of their collective mission of educating young men and women in knowledge and grace. I believe that today the outlook for the School has never been brighter. With a new Abbot leading our community, a new Head of School, strong boarding enrollment and a record endowment as we approach our 100th year, Portsmouth Abbey School is poised for its most successful and impactful era yet. The strong position the School is in today would not have been possible without the leadership of Chris Behnke, our retiring chairman. Chris graduated from Portsmouth in 1981, the third of three brothers to attend the school. Since college, he has enjoyed a remarkably successful career in the insurance industry and currently serves as area president of Arthur J Gallagher. Chris and his wife Erin also have three children who attended the School, Greta ’12, Will ’15 and Meghan ’19. Always a friend of the Monastery and School, Chris joined the Board in 2013 and was elected Chair in 2014. When Chris was planning his remarks for his last Commencement as Chair, he asked me what I thought he should talk about. I told him it was his chance to give a farewell address like George Washington did in September 1796. While Chris isn’t exactly the “Father of Portsmouth Abbey” like Washington was the father of our country — he has had an incredible and lasting impact on the School that will be remembered for generations of students, faculty and administrators alike. (As an aside, Portsmouth Abbey has two actual “Founding Fathers,” Dom Leonard Sargent who founded the Monastery in 1919, and Dom Hugh Diman who founded the School in 1926). One thing that Chris does have in common with George Washington is that he was so popular and effective that he could have been “ruler for life,” a role neither Washington nor he wanted any part of. The accomplishments of Chris and the boards he led are too numerous and impressive to list fully in this space, but I will cover a few of the highlights. Chris was instrumental in helping to strengthen the relationship between the monastic communities of Portsmouth and St. Louis and breathe excitement into our larger community. Under his watch, the Board conceived of, designed, funded and built the largest and most complex construction project in the history of the School — our new Science Building. More recently, he was responsible for overseeing the transition from one long-standing and successful Head of School to another and for overseeing the drafting of a new Strategic Plan for the School that will be implemented over the next six years. He was also instrumental in helping secure the largest individual gift in the School’s history to anchor the funding for the construction of our latest project, a world-class Student Center in the heart of the residential part of campus. However, Chris’s crowning tangible achievement has been in shepherding the School’s reshaped corporate and governance structure, which will serve the Monastery and the School well for many years. Previously, Portsmouth Abbey 4

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

and Portsmouth Abbey School were housed in one legal entity, “The Order of St. Benedict in Portsmouth Rhode Island.” In December 2022, based on the counsel, vision and wisdom of emeritus board member Barney Phillips ’66 and in line with best practices for Catholic educational institutions run by a religious order, the Monastic Council voted to form a separate legal entity known as Portsmouth Abbey School LLC (the “School”) which has as its single member, the Order of St. Benedict in Portsmouth Rhode Island. So, while the Monastery still fully owns the School, each is a separate legal entity with its own distinct governance, assets, liabilities, and employees. Forming this new legal entity included a change in the corporate governance of the School. Previously there was a “Board of Regents” that essentially served as an advisory body to the Monastery with respect to matters related to the School. The Board of Regents has now been dissolved and a new “Board of Directors” has been formed. The Board of Directors has both “Member Directors,” or members of the Monastery, and “Non-Member Directors,” civilians like myself. All decisions of the Board must be approved by a majority of both Member Directors and Non-Member Directors. Beyond these big, “tangible” accomplishments, Chris has been immeasurably impactful in so many intangible ways. Serving as Chair during a period of enormous societal change, he has helped the Monastery and School navigate the challenges that come with being a co-ed boarding school in the 21st century. His ability to do so with great patience, W. Christopher Behnke ’81, wisdom, empathy and a commitment to our Benedictine and Catholic values cannot be P’12 ’15 ’19 understated. Beyond his formal role of “trusted advisor,” Chris will possibly be best remembered for all the little things he did and the impact they had on individuals, which, to just name a few, include traveling abroad to build new relationships and expand our community, hands-on help for students applying to college or alumni applying for their first job, and endless personal and professional advice to countless colleagues, faculty, students and alumni. If you are a friend of Portsmouth Abbey, you are a friend of Chris Behnke — and I, for one can tell you that being a friend of Chris Behnke is a good place to be. Perhaps Chris’s greatest intangible contribution to the School and his lasting legacy will be the Board itself. The strength of Chris’s leadership as Board Chair is impossible to quantify or even qualify — but the results speak for themselves. His greatest strength has been his ability to guide the group to consensus by seamlessly putting people with different ideas, strengths and weaknesses together in a way that has yielded tremendous success. He has a truly Benedictine approach to things — recognizing that there is the spark of the divine in everyone — and that it is the leader’s job to find that spark and put it to use. The stability and quality of the Board over the past nine years have been an enormous source of strength for the Monastery and the School, and the leadership style and traditions established by Chris form a fantastic base for us all to launch from going forward. I look forward to sharing more about my goals for the School and our progress in implementing the Strategic Plan enacted last September over the coming years in future editions of the Bulletin. As I take the reins from Chris, I can only hope to be a fraction as impactful as he has been. These are really big shoes to fill. As I set out to draft my goals, I could only come up with one that seemed appropriate: Keep doing what Chris did! I ask that our entire community congratulate Chris Behnke on his incredibly successful tenure as Board Chair and thank him for his service. Thank you, Chris.

Chris Abbate ’88 P’20 ’23 Chair, Board of Directors ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

M ISSION S TATEMEN T Portsmouth Abbey School helps young men and women grow in knowledge and grace. As a Benedictine boarding and day school committed to excellence, we embrace the Catholic faith while nurturing reverence for God and the human person, love of learning, and commitment to community life.

Portsmouth Abbe y School Board of Directors 2023-2024

Abbot Michael Brunner O.S.B. Portsmouth, RI

Mrs. Cara Gontarz Hume ’99 Hingham, MA

Mr. Michael Scanlan ’82 South Orange, NJ

Mr. Christopher Abbate ’88 P’20 ‘23

Mr. William M. Keogh ’78 P’13 Jamestown, RI

Mr. Felipe Vicini ’79 P’09 ’12 ’19 Miami, FL

Mr. James Knight ’87 Greenwich, CT

Mr. William Winterer ’87 Boston, MA

Ms. Linda Li P’25 Cleveland, OH

EMERITUS

Dom Benedict Maria O.S.B. Portsmouth, RI

Mr. Peter M. Flanigan g ’41 P’75 ’83 GP’06 ’09 ’09 ’11 ’11 ’19 ’19 Purchase, NY

board chair

New York, NY Ms. Abby Benson ’92 Middletown, RI Mr. Bernardo Bichara ’92 Monterrey, Mexico Mr. John Bohan P’20 ’22 ‘26 Newport, RI Dom Joseph Byron O.S.B. Portsmouth, RI Mr. Ronald Del Sesto, Jr. ’86 Washington, D.C. Dr. Debra Falvey P’18 ’20 Plaistow, NH Dr. Timothy P. Flanigan ’75 P’06 ’09 ’11 ’19 Tiverton, RI Mrs. Margaret S. Healey P’91 GP’19 ’21 ‘24 New Vernon, NJ Mr. Denis Hector ’70 Miami, FL Mr. Thomas Hopkins ’85 Brooklyn, NY

Father Edward Mazuski O.S.B. Portsmouth, RI Ms. Devin McShane P’09 ’11 Providence, RI Abbot Gregory Mohrman O.S.B. St. Louis, MO Mr. Ward Mooney ’67 Westport Point, MA Mr. Philip V. Moyles, Jr. ’82 P ’22 Rye, NY Mrs. Mary Beth O’Connor-Lohuis P’10 ’10 ’21 Quogue, NY Mrs. Daphne Robbins ’04 New York, NY

Mr. Thomas Healey ’60 P’91 GP’19 ‘21 ‘24 New Vernon, NJ Mr. William K. Howenstein g ’52 P’87 GP’10 ’17 ’21 ’22 Grosse Pointe Farms, MI Mr. Peter M. Kennedy III ’64 P’07 ’08 ’15 Big Horn, WY Mr. Barnet Phillips, IV ’66 Greenwich, CT EX-OFFICIO Frank and Rhonda Landers P’20 ’24 Parents’ association chairs

Dom Sixtus Roslevich O.S.B. Portsmouth, RI g Deceased

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

PETER M. KENNEDY, III ’64 P’07 ’08 ’15

Named Emeritus Member of Board of Directors Peter Kennedy III ’64 P’07 ’08 ’15 has been granted Emeritus status as a Portsmouth Abbey School Board of Directors member for his continued service and dedication to furthering the Mission of the School and his devotion to the Portsmouth community. Born in Boston, Kennedy graduated from Resurrection School, Portsmouth Abbey School, Wabash College (B.A.) and the Baruch School of the City University of New York (M.B.A.). As a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, he served as a platoon leader in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg and the 101st Airborne Division in the Republic of Vietnam. He joined Bank of America in 1968 in New York and later rejoined following military service, working in various corporate banking positions. In 1980, he opened the Hong Kong corporate office for Bank of America as manager. In 1982, Kennedy joined Dominick & Dominick in New York. Founded in 1870, the firm was believed to be the oldest continuing member of the New York Stock Exchange. He became president and CEO in 1986. In 1994, as its president, he joined Eighteen Seventy Corporation, a private investment firm with interests in banking, manufacturing and ranching. He is Chairman and CEO of Eighteen Seventy LLP and its subsidiary companies. Kennedy’s affinity for Portsmouth Abbey is unwavering and his generosity is well documented. He served as a member of the executive committee of Portsmouth Abbey’s Board of Consultants during his term as a board member from 1994 – 1999 and then again in 2011 – 2023, supporting not only the growth of academic programs and facilities but also the Monastery and spiritual life within the community. Former Board Chair Chris Behnke served alongside Kennedy for many years and fondly reflected on his benevolence. “Over my many years of service to Portsmouth, I came to know Peter as a true gentleman. His love for the institution, both the Monastery and School, is infectious. His many contributions of time, talent and treasure have had and will continue to make a substantial impact,” Behnke said. Kennedy has also served as chairman of the investment committee at the School of the Holy Child in Rye, New York, and has been a trustee of Wabash College since 2005. He and his wife, Carroll, now reside in Big Horn, Wyoming, and are the proud parents of six children and three grandchildren. Peter’s brothers, Paul ’66 and John ’75, son Matthew ’07 and daughters Catherine ’08 and Mary ’15 are also graduates of the Abbey. In 2021, the Kennedy Classroom Building was dedicated in memory of Kennedy’s parents, Peter and Marie Kennedy. When acknowledging Kennedy’s most recent honor, Head of School Matt Walter said, “Peter is a true son of the Priory. We are grateful for his good counsel, which has served the School well for several decades and will continue to do so in his new role as an emeritus member of the Board. And we are blessed to be able to count him among our most loyal alumni and friends of the School.”

ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

new directors join the board BERNARDO BICHARA ’92 has extensive entrepreneurial, C-level executive, government, political, and social leadership experience. He is president and CEO of EMBIA, a diversified group with businesses in the airport parking, venture capital, and real estate sectors. EMBIA is the holding company of this diversified company portfolio both in Mexico and the United States.

funds with respect to investments in the telecommunications, media and technology (TMT) sectors.

Before founding EMBIA in 2010, Bichara served as COO of Grupo Bichara, a family-owned diversified company with holdings in the media, auto retailing and real estate sectors until 2008. He currently serves as a Board Member for Grupo Bichara. He also worked in London as an investment banking associate for Merrill Lynch in 2002. In addition to his business portfolio, he teaches an advanced course in economics, finance, and politics at the college level at Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey and currently is the Chairman of the Board for Monterrey’s Metropolitan Parks Authority.

LINDA LI P’25 is a partner at Cleveland Clinic Ventures, an investment arm of Cleveland Clinic focusing on healthcare and biotech investment. She is responsible for the healthtech and MedTech innovations and portfolio companies, particularly in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning-enabled clinical breakthrough technologies.

Bernardo holds a B.S. in economics from Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey, an MBA from New York University Stern School of Business, and an MPA from the EGAP School of Government at Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey. He is also a GLS graduate from Georgetown University. He lives in Monterrey, Mexico, and is married to Carolina Gonzalez, with whom he shares four children: Isabella, Carolina, and twins Bernardo and Valeria. RON DEL SESTO, JR. ’86 is a partner at the law firm of Morgan Lewis and represents technology companies on a broad range of issues including corporate, financial, regulatory and cybersecurity. He also advises financial institutions private equity firms and venture capital

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

A 1990 graduate of Georgetown University, he earned his Juris Doctor, Magna Cum Laude from the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law in 1998. He is married to Rachel Tillman, and they reside in Washington, D.C. with their children Oliver and Riley.

Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Ventures, she was a co-founding partner of Vickers Venture Partner and an investment committee member. She started her venture capital career in 2005 and oversaw investments in China, Southeast Asia and the United States. Over her seventeen-year career with Vickers, the fund raised over $750 million and covered a broad spectrum of disruptive technologies in healthcare and clean energy. Li began her career as a statistical modeling research associate at Singapore’s National Institute of Education where she did statistical analysis and research reports for the Ministry of Education. An advocate for digital health, women and youth career growth, and community volunteerism, Li is a CFA Charterholder and Kauffman Fellow (Class of 2016), and serves on the board of the CFA Society Shanghai. She is an advisor to many incubators to promote startups with women leadership. She is a graduate of Peking University and earned her

master’s degree at the National University of Singapore. She is currently earning her Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins University, studying digital health and its implementation. Li resides in Cleveland, Ohio, and is married to Dr. Yongqian Ma. Their son, Ryan will graduate from Portsmouth Abbey School in 2025. BROTHER BENEDICT MARIA comes to Portsmouth from Port Blair, Andaman Islands, India. Before joining the Monastery, he worked as a software engineer for almost 10 years, gaining skills that have helped him develop and manage the Monastery website. He enjoys his life in community and prayer and has learned the arts of mosaic and rosary-making in his time as a Novice from the monks of St. Louis Abbey. Br. Benedict is a graduate of Government College of Engineering, Bargur in Tamil Nadu, India, and is furthering his studies for the priesthood. He also loves to cook and looks forward to opportunities to serve the community. WARD MOONEY ’67 served on the Portsmouth Abbey School Board of Regents from 2011–2014 and has been involved in the financial services industry for forty-five years. In 1992, he joined Gordon Brothers and founded GBFC a specialty commercial finance company focused on asset-based financing to retailers. GBFC became the leading secured financing source for the retail industry and in 1996, was purchased by Bank of Boston. In 1998 while at Bank of Boston, Mooney co-founded Back Bay Capital, a direct lending fund dedicated to underwriting second-lien

debt. In 2006, he co-founded Crystal Financial from which he retired in 2017. During his career, Mooney has served on many public and nonprofit boards including as president and chairman of the Turnaround Management Association (TMA), Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital (finance committee), the American Repertory Theater, the Newport Festival Foundation (NFF) and Destination XL Group (DXLG). After graduating from Portsmouth, Mooney earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Johns Hopkins University. He and his wife Lucy, with whom he shares children Laura and Grace, live in Westport, Massachusetts. DAPHNE ELIZABETH ROBBINS ’04 is a Goldman Sachs Asset Management vice president in the Fundamental Equities division. She currently focuses on U.S. small and small/mid-cap growth equities overseeing approximately $1.5B of assets across different strategies. Her industry expertise spans consumer products, including retail and consumer technology companies. Before joining Goldman Sachs, Robbins was a generalist research analyst and a long-only asset manager with $3.5B under her management. She began her career in financial services at J.P. Morgan in the Consumer/Retail Investment Banking Group. A graduate of Brown University, Robbins earned an MBA from Columbia Business School. She resides in New York City with her husband Avi, and their children, Florence, Leo and Spencer.

ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

A Life’s Journey: A Collection of Works of William Grosvenor Congdon

Visitors enjoy the William Grosvenor Congdon exhibit in the McEvoy Gallery.

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

Abstration #1. Oil on Masonite. 12 x 16 in. 1949.

An important but often overlooked figure in the New York School of Abstract Expressionism, William Grosvenor Congdon was born in Providence the night the Titanic sank in April 1912. He was the second of five sons born to an affluent Rhode Island family, and the cousin of the poet and actress Isabella Gardner, the great-niece of Isabella Stewart Gardner, the art collector, philanthropist and founder of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. He died in Italy on his birthday in 1998 at 86. In May, the McEvoy Gallery in the McGuire Fine Arts Building offered a rare opportunity for the Portsmouth Abbey community and the public to view Congdon’s work. After graduating from St. Mark’s School in Southborough, Massachusetts, Congdon received a degree in English Literature from Yale University and began pursuing a growing interest in art. In 1934 he began taking drawing, painting and sculpture lessons from Henry Hensche in Provincetown, Massachusetts and George Demetrios in Boston and Gloucester, studying for three years with each artist. He also briefly attended the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. During this time he produced his first paintings and also traveled to Europe, where he became familiar with the various artistic trends developing there. In 1942, Congdon joined the American Field Service (AFS) as an ambulance driver during World War II. He served with the British Ninth and Eighth Armies, and as a member of the AFS, he was

Guernica (The Year of Our Lord). Painted Plaster Cast. 15 X 15 X 12 in. (ca. 1940).

ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

one of the first Americans to enter the Bergen Belsen concentration camp during its liberation near the end of the war. After the war, Congdon stayed with the AFS and did rehabilitation work in the most war-stricken areas of Italy. He prolifically recorded his travels in his diaries and made drawings documenting his experiences. Congdon returned to the United States in 1948, settling in the Bowery section of New York City. He began showing at the Betty Parsons Gallery and quickly gained fame as an Abstract Expressionist painter. He became acquainted with fellow artists Richard Pousette-Dart and Mark Rothko and is considered part of the New York School of Abstract Expressionism. With New York serving as the main subject of his paintings during this time, he was influenced by the pouring techniques of Paul Klee and Jackson Pollock. While some of his pieces have characteristics of colleagues’ styles, Congdon’s overall style remained his own, working mainly

William Grosvenor Congdon PHOTO: CONGDON FOUNDATION

Annunciation. Oil, Black Lacquer, Gold and Silver Metallic Paint on Masonite. 57 X 51 in. 1960.

with palette knives and tools for sgraffito, a scratching technique, rather than a paintbrush. His work, according to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, “made an original contribution to American art for its unique balance of Abstract Expressionism and the European figurative tradition.” Despite his growing success throughout the 1940s, Congdon left the United States to live in Venice in the early 1950s, where he met art collector Peggy Guggenheim. Guggenheim recognized his incredible talent for creating a sense of light and when discussing Congdon’s paintings of Venice compared him to the English painter J.M.W. Turner (1775–1851). Winter No. 2. Oil, Aluminum Paint and Enamel on Masonite. 48.87 x 24.75 in. 1950. 12

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

Congdon continued to use Venice as his home base while traveling extensively.

Ischia #1. Watercolor and ink. 17 X 13 in. 1948.

Travels to the Sahara Desert, Algeria, Santorini and Guatemala further influenced his work.

for the exhibition. “When you look at how he traveled and what he covered in his paintings, it’s extraordinary.”

He converted to Roman Catholicism in Assisi, Italy in 1959. He had frequently visited Assisi during his travels and moved there after his conversion. Congdon painted mostly religious iconography in his abstract style in the following years, creating over two hundred artworks of the Crucifixion alone. He exhibited very little at this point in his career. He continued to travel throughout the 1970s, creating work documenting those travels. In 1979, Congdon moved to a monastery in Gudo Gambaredo, near Milan, where he would live and remain an active painter for the rest of his life.

The work displayed at the McEvoy Gallery was created between 1935 and 1996, with the majority representing a significant 25-year span of the artist’s career from 1935 to 1960. The exhibition was comprised of various sculptures, drawings and paintings, including Guernica (ca. 1940), Spring 1950 (1950), Piazza San Marco (1957), Rome No.4 (1958) and Annunciation (1960).

Congdon’s oeuvre documents his world travels and examines the human condition, his religious conversion and his journey toward unique personal expression. “Each piece is quite unique,” said Richard Berkemeier, the private collector who loaned the majority of work

In addition to the four student shows and faculty exhibitions hosted at the gallery each year, Mark Nadeau, chair of the visual arts department, likes to reserve at least one exhibition for an artist outside of the School community. Abstract Expressionism, and in this case, William Congdon was a perfect subject. “I like to show students work that they are most likely not familiar with because it shows them the possibilities beyond what we learn in the classroom,” Nadeau said. “I think that also benefits the rest of the community.”

Those who attended the exhibition agreed with Nadeau, traveling from various towns in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York just to view Congdon’s work. “I am from Italy and own some works by Congdon, “said Francesco Caggioni, who traveled from Boston with his wife and mother-in-law on Mother’s Day to view the exhibit. “I wanted to come to see other works by this artist,” he said. Additionally, Nadeau accommodated several requests by local residents and art enthusiasts to view the exhibition privately as they were unable to attend the scheduled public viewings. The exhibition also received positive reviews from local media outlets and was featured in Newport This Week’s Art Scene section. “Congdon’s sculptures and drawings reveal his most fundamental skills as an artist, just as his paintings take you on a journey from those fundamentals to the artist’s vision and particular style,” wrote John Pantalone. “Certain forms repeat in several of his paintings, whether it is a perfectly round moon illuminating a night sky against a dark, abstract foreground full of swirling paint or primitive-looking scrapes and lines emerging from waves of color.”

The Portsmouth Abbey community graciously thanks Mr. Richard Berkemeier, Emmylou and Evangeline Bush, and the Portsmouth Abbey Monastery for loaning the William Congdon artworks for the exhibition.

Spring 1950. Oil, Enamel, Silver and Gold Paint on Masonite. 48 X 48 in. 1950. ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

ALUMNI PROFILE

Taylor Rock ’98

Growth Rooted in Principles N n

“Change your

Taylor Rock, class of 1998, is no stranger to growth. As a student, Rock enjoyed math, English, history, sacred music and sailing at Portsmouth Abbey, where he learned firsthand the value of an education rooted in a caring community. Now a science teacher at Thompson Middle School in Newport, Rhode Island, he says his Abbey experience influences his daily teaching style. It must be working because he was recently named Teacher of the Year by Newport Public Schools. How did he get there?

opinions, keep to your principles; change your leaves, keep

”

intact your roots.

— victor hugo

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

Rock credits former faculty, specifically Mr. Hobbins’ history course and Dr. Zilian’s class on war and morality, for sparking his interest in political science. While pursuing a degree in the subject at American University in Washington, D.C., a particular course on conservation politics revealed a new interest. Rock plunged headfirst into this newfound subject in true Raven style. He was accepted to Sea Education Association (SEA), based in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, to conduct oceanographic research with a team in the Caribbean. From there, he went on to complete a master’s degree in community development and environmental policy at

the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Rock jumped right into his chosen field, securing a position in conservation and public health, where he started to organize school trips to learn about reforestation projects and mapping coastal areas.

“I grew up with great teachers and coaches. They inspired me to do what they do.

In the classroom, Rock focuses primarily on the scientific method, data collection and interpretation, entry-level chemistry and ecology, which he says lends itself to students connecting with the world around them. Outside of the classroom, he organizes field trips to study animals at Southwick’s Zoo, and works with community partners such as the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography, newportFILM and Casey Farm in Saunderstown. His overall goal? To spark interest and confidence in the sciences at the middle school level.

Rock’s journey eventually led him back home, where he anticipated a land trust position, but took an unexpected — taylor rock ’98 part-time position to run environmental programs at East Bay Met School in Newport. “One thing led to Newport Public Schools another,” he says, “and I was Superintendent Colleen Burns asked to join the faculty at Jermain told Newport Daily News, East Bay.” With a few more sci“Taylor Rock is a ‘Rock Star.’ ence credits and a passed What he does in a classroom is State board, Rock was officially magic…We are so fortunate to a science teacher. Five years later, have such a talented bright young he accepted a position at Roger’s teacher, that does so much, for High School and, in 2017, he so many.” joined the faculty at Thompson Middle School where he has Like the ecosystems Rock spent years continued the Abbey’s tradition of studying, the Abbey is a place for students to ebb and academic excellence and commitment to community. flow: find their passions, adapt; overcome challenges, give back. Rock fondly remembers the Abbey as Following the announcement of Rock’s award, “an extended family,” citing the faculty’s use of humor Newport Daily News noted, “he has led efforts to update and value of the “whole person as opposed to a face in and implement the school’s science curriculum, while the classroom” as paramount. “I grew up with great working closely with other science teachers and parents teachers and coaches,” he says. “They inspired me to to foster a love of science and learning in Thompson do what they do. I think the care from the faculty and students. He has also focused on building community staff, as well as the Benedictine community, really make partnerships, including Sail Newport’s ‘Harbor the Abbey a special place.” Classroom’ program which takes Thompson 5th graders out to learn to sail and about wind, weather and our As an institution, Portsmouth Abbey School takes pride vital ocean resource.” in knowing that alumni like Rock have embraced these values and are passing them on to the next generation.

”

ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

Involving Parents and Grandparents For students and families at Portsmouth Abbey School, each year is filled with new beginnings, rich traditions and meaningful interactions that create lasting impressions and lifelong connections. The Parents’ Association engages family members to share their talents and resources to enhance these experiences, connections and the School’s goals while strengthening the student experience. Membership in the association includes all current parents, with leadership chosen by the School. Equally important to engagement is communication with our families which enhances the overall student and family experience. Parents and families may access important information through School’s website, electronic newsletters such as Communitas and Musings, and various social media channels. The Abbey’s vibrant community of students, faculty and monks grows stronger each year as new families are welcomed to Cory’s Lane.

PARENT ENGAGEMENT CALENDAR NOVEMBER

10 – 12 15 – 19

Abbot’s Reception, New York Yacht Club, NYC, 6:00 pm Advent Service, 5:30 p.m.

JANUARY

19 – 20

Winter Family Weekend and Forms IV and V College Counseling Seminar

16 – 18 Winter Musical 28 – March 3 New England playoffs for qualifying teams MARCH

March Break

APRIL

27 27

Grandparents’ Day – NEW THIS YEAR Spring Family Day

MAY

4 12 17 – 18 25 – 26

Form VI Chair Jennifer Collesano P’22 ’24 Form V Chairs Anne Marie ’96 and Matthew Forbes ’97 P’25 ’26 Form IV Chairs Adam ’94 and Beth Conway P’24 ’26 Form III Chairs Scott and Delicia Ormiston P’24 ’27

INTERNATIONAL PARENT LIAISONS

China Dr. Laiming Luo and Dr. Chang Liu P’26 Chongqing, China

Korea

FEBRUARY

2 – 19

Chairs Frank and Rhonda Landers P’20 ’24

Fall Play New England playoffs for qualifying teams

DECEMBER

PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION CHAIRS & FORM CHAIRS

Pre-prom reception followed by Parent Dinner Confirmation Spring Play Prize Day and Commencement

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

Mr. JongKeun Lee and Mrs. HyoRyoung Kim P’25 Seoul, Korea

Latin America Central and South America Maria Elena and Julian Altamirano P’22 ’25 San Salvador, El Salvador

Bruce Taylor ’24 poses with his grandfather, Bruce Taylor, Sr. P’88 GP’24, his mother Taylor, and grandmother, Barbara Holden Nixon GP’24.

New Event Celebrates Grandparents A few years ago, Pope Francis wrote, “God has a large population of grandparents throughout the world … They are the indispensable link in educating children and young people in the faith.” Portsmouth Abbey School could not agree more, and we are proud to announce the creation of a new event specifically with grandparents in mind. While Raven grandparents are always welcome on campus, the inaugural Grandparents’ Day is scheduled to take place on April 27, 2024, in association with Spring Family Day. To assist with getting the word out, we ask that current parents email grandparent addresses for mailing and email to Director of Parent Relations Meghan Fonts at mfonts@portsmouthabbey.org.

Class of 2023 Head Boy and football captain Michael Abbate and his grandmother, Jennifer Abbate P’88 GP’20 ’23 smile during Parents’ Weekend festivities following the game.

JOIN US FOR

Spring

Family Day Saturday, April 27, 2024 NEW Grandparents’ Day program in the morning followed by the usual home games and BBQ! For more information, call 401-643-1246 or email mfonts@portsmouthabbey.org

ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

news & notes

ABBEY

Highlighting Faculty, Staff and Student Success

Dom Peter Sidler Awards for Excellence in Teaching The 2023 Dom Peter Sidler Awards for Excellence in Teaching were presented at the annual Prize Day by Assistant Head of School and Dean of Faculty Aileen Baker. The awards honor a full-time senior faculty member who has exhibited sustained excellence as a teacher at the School and a full-time junior faculty member who displays superior potential as a classroom teacher. Dom Peter Sidler (1917–1997) was a beloved member of the Monastery and friend of Tom ’60 and Meg Healey P’91 GP’19 ’21 ’24 who established the awards in 2000. A second-time recipient of the award (2011), Elliott Moffie joined the faculty after graduating from Williams College in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in economics. He chose to teach at Portsmouth Abbey so he could give his students the same positive high school experience he received from his own “great teachers and coaches.” Moffie finds joy in working with motivated young adults both in the classroom and on the field. He has taught various levels of mathematics, including Algebra II, and both AB and BC Calculus, and is the head coach of the varsity football and softball teams. In fact, he was elected the EIL Softball Coach of the Year by his peer coaches in 2011, 2017 and 2023. In the summer of 2012, Moffie participated in the Klingenstein Summer Institute at Columbia University, an intensive residential professional learning program held at The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut. 18

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

Asked about this recognition, Moffie said, “Winning the Dom Sidler Award means a lot to me. I have great respect and admiration for my colleagues, so it’s nice to know I have their support.” Moffie has served as a houseparent with each Form at the Abbey. Currently, he is an assistant houseparent in St. Martin’s House, where he lives with his wife, Liz, and their young son

and daughter. They met in 2013 when Liz

versation, Caplin remembers his friend asking

came to work in the Office of Admissions.

“When are you going to work here? This is

The Moffies are proud to be raising children,

your home, man! Ya’ gotta come home!”

Owen and Shea, and to have a family at

Fast forward six years later, Caplin recalls

Portsmouth Abbey. Elliott says, “I know they will be around so many great people, and—as of right now—there are four other boys who will be in the same grade as Owen.”

Elliott Moffie’s speech on Prize Day, during which he mentioned his first Algebra II class in the 2007-2008 academic year. Caplin had been in that class as one of Elliott’s first students. When presented with the award, Caplin says he shook Head of School Matthew Walter’s hand in disbelief, shook Elliott’s hand in awe, and hugged the Registrar Kaye Caplin, his mother, in a state of nirvana. “My entire adulthood has felt like an orphan’s odyssey, and receiving the Dom Peter Sidler Award was the moment I realized I’m not the stray I thought I was, and my family had been right in front of me the whole time,” he reflected.

Daniel Caplin, class of 2010, graduated from

Providence College with bachelor’s degrees in history and theatre and a master’s degree in history. In addition to teaching humanities and history courses at the Abbey, he leads the

He credits Portsmouth Abbey as the place that formed him into a man of knowledge and grace, the place where he and his wife have also chosen to form their young boys. “The men I

School’s Model United Nations club, through

looked up to,” he says, “my father figures, are

which students have received top awards at

now my colleagues, though I’ve not yet earned

national competitions.

the right to call them my peers.”

Caplin’s Raven roots extend far beyond his

Outside of the classroom, Caplin is the head

time as a faculty member. In addition to grow-

coach for the junior varsity girls’ ice hockey

ing up on campus, he met his wife, Catherine

team, assistant coach for the varsity baseball

(Malkemus) ’10, at freshman orientation, and now they are raising their two young boys on campus. His homecoming began one brisk evening in December, at the faculty Christmas party, which he attended with Catherine, who was teaching at the School. Midway through

team, as well as part of the coaching staff for junior varsity boys’ soccer and lacrosse. In his own academic pursuits, he has lectured at the Linda Hall Library in Kansas City and at Northeastern University. His interests

the evening, he stepped outside the warm

include the confluence between the Republic

cheery room and ran into a former Abbey

of Letters, the public sphere and the American

courier on the back porch. After a long con-

church in the eighteenth century. ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

ABBEY NEWS AND NOTES

Students Find Success at State, Regional and National Forums Portsmouth Abbey School students were able to try something new, showcase their talents and gain valuable experience working with others while presenting or performing in science, music and Model U.N. competitions during the academic year.

Rhode Island Science and Engineering Fair “This is senior-level work from a FourthFormer,” Dr. Stephen Zins, chair of the Science Department, told students after an outstanding presentation by Xingchuan “Ryan” Ma ’25 at the School’s annual Art and Science Expo. An international student from China, Ryan entered his project at the Rhode Island State Science and Engineering Fair a few months prior. He received the “Best in Fair” title for developing an interactive visualization platform to reveal key marker genes and mechanisms in non-small cell lung cancer using single-cell RNA sequencing data. This is the fourth consecutive year an Abbey student has won the “Best in Fair” title, earning a seat at the National competition. Also this year, Ryan placed in the Top 150 students (out of 1000+) for his performance in the 2023 U.S. Chemistry Olympiad. Noting the significant time and funds required for in vivo research, Ryan hopes his bioinformatics project will provide new insight and save researchers time and money. He believes wet-lab-based cancer experiments are coming to a limit, and the answer lies in interdisciplinary research. 20

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

Ryan Ma ’25 and Monique Hwang ’24 receive top awards at the Rhode Island State Science and Engineering Fair.

In a similar vein, Seungbin “Monique” Hwang ’24 received a “first grant” medal for investigating the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor on the AGS gastric cancer cell. After testing three concentrations (10, 50, and 100 ng/ml) of this protein responsible for growing blood vessels in a 48-hour period, Monique found that AGS cells in the highest concentration grew the most. She hopes to conduct a secondary experiment using VEGF suppressors to determine their efficacy in slowing cancer cell growth. Monique is interested in overcoming limitations in cancer treatment due to drug resistance and toxicity causing pain to patients. The Society for In Vitro Biology awarded her a certificate for outstanding achievement for ability and creativity in the field.

Students perform alongside other student-musicians at the Annual All-State Music Festival, held at the Providence VETS.

All-State Music Festival Nine student musicians performed in the 83rd annual All-State Festival, hosted by Rhode Island Music Education Association at the Providence Veterans Memorial Auditorium. Katherine Choi ’23, Steve Cheon ’24, Nathan Lee ’24 and Jennifer Shon ’25 represented the Abbey in the orchestra. Bo Howenstein ’24, Gavin Liu ’25 and Jennifer Rui ’25 played in the concert band, and Rebecca Li ’24 and Alaina Zhang ’25 sang in the chorus. The weekend-long event consisted of two full days of rehearsals and multiple performances alongside nearly 800 other Rhode Island students.

The Abbey Singers perform “Bow Down Low (Shaker Hymn)” by David Bridges at the Winter Concert.

Model United Nations Conference Twelve student delegates in Model United Nations (AbbeyMUN) club competed in the Boston Invitational (BosMUN) in February, along with 1500 other high school students. Michael Abbate ’23 and Conoray “Tus” Lawantara ’25 earned awards for their work during the threeday event.

Award for his work during the UNSC Sanctions Committee involving Ukraine and Eritrea.

Lawantara won the World Meteorological Organization’s Position Paper Award for his work representing Sri Lanka and the challenges presented due to extreme weather conditions. Abbate earned the second-highest commendation at the conference with an Outstanding Delegate

Nine students also participated in Noble and Greenough School’s one-day Model UN Conference in April, winning three of the fifteen awards conferred at the event. Jennifer Rui ’25 and Niamh Whelan ’24 received the Honorable Mention Award and the Outstanding Delegate

Along with Abbate and Lawantara were Ethan Kim ’23, Mary Adams ’24, Rebecca Healey ’24, Bo Howenstein ’24, Niamh Whelan ’24, Alaina Zhang ’25 Hans Yuan ’25, Zara Okoye ’25, Jennifer Rui ’25, and Jennifer Shon ’25.

ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

ABBEY NEWS AND NOTES

Award, respectively. Hans Yuan ’25 earned an Outstanding Delegate award by representing Nikolai Dmitriyevich Golitsyn on the Romanovs Joint Crisis Committee. Christopher Chau ’24,

Dylan Galbreth ’25, Rebecca Healey ’24, Regan Landers ’24, Aidan Sainte ’25, and Jennifer Shon ’25 also attended the conference

along with Dan Caplin ’10, the club’s advisor.

Students attend a Model UN Conference with their advisor Daniel Caplin ’10.

Poetry Out Loud “Gracious Saviour, when life’s day-dreams Melt and vanish from the sight, May our dim and longing vision Then be blessed with light, more light.” — Let the Light Enter, by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper

Jennifer Shon ‘25 recites a poem at the School’s annual Poetry Out Loud competition.

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

That is the last stanza of the poem Jennifer Shon ’25 recited at the School’s Poetry Out Loud contest. She was awarded first place for her careful selection, memorization and delivery of “Let the Light Enter” by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper. Jennifer placed third in the State finals for her two recitations, including “Songs for the People” by the same poet. She was extended the honor of reciting one of her poems at the Providence Athenaeum’s Spring Celebration of Poetry. Kent Kim ’23 was awarded second place in the School’s competition, with Jennifer Rui ’25 receiving third. An honorable mention was extended to Alana Collins ’25.

The Examined Life: Portsmouth Abbey Launches Hildegard Forum “The unexamined life is not worth living.” –Socrates, 399 B.C.

The ancient Greek philosopher Socrates famously proclaimed these deadly words during his trial, for which he was later condemned for not subscribing to the accepted worldviews of the time. Two thousand years later, we—the philosophers, the artists, the scientists—are still examining the questions of life’s origins and what it means to be human. The Hildegard Forum, an initiative of the Portsmouth Institute and the School’s Science Department through the Center for Science and Liberal Arts, was launched in April as an evening for students and faculty to explore these questions together. Its namesake, St. Hildegard of Bingen, was an 11thcentury German Benedictine abbess, artist and herbalist who uniquely understood the intersection of spirituality, science and the liberal arts.

Dr. Marc Lavallee

Dr. Marc Lavallee, head of the Theology Department, Dr. Katie Zins ’04, humanities and classics instructor, and Dr. Daryl De Marzio, humanities and history instructor, explored the intersections of their respective fields with science and faith in their opening remarks. Twelve students were selected to participate in the Forum based on their one-page essay examining the meaning of faith and science in their lives. Following the faculty remarks, students had two minutes to share their synthesized ideas—identifying major themes in their academic courses and guest lectures—in response. The School invites several industry experts throughout the academic year to speak to students on various topics ranging from the moral implications of the atomic bomb to the pros and cons of artificial intelligence. Dr. Stephen Zins, chair of the Science Department, says these talks “enlarge students’ perspectives of science and liberal arts, and the Forum allows students to be a part of the discussion and have a voice.” Chris Fisher, director of the Portsmouth Institute, says the Hildegard experience provides students with practice in the art of writing, conversation, and public speaking while engaging in a high-level discussion and thinking on their feet. Zins and Fisher are excited to see the program continue to evolve, though one aspect will remain the same: the questions of life will be examined.

Dr. Katie Zins ’04

Dr. Darryl De Marzio

ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

ABBEY NEWS AND NOTES

Developing Writers English Department Creates Outline for Sequence of Writing Instruction The best writers are often the most frustrated ones. No one ever “gets it right,” at least not entirely. Something can always be changed to render an idea more precisely or capture an image more sharply. Accordingly, instruction in writing should help students grow comfortable with “getting it wrong” and encourage them to remain open to refining their understanding. One might call this dimension of writing instruction spiritual—as students sharpen their theses, clarify their topic sentences and analyze their evidence; they learn how to be truth-seekers for proper academic life and the discipline of English. Accordingly, Portsmouth Abbey School aims to teach the process of writing, including drafting, teacher feedback and revision. Class time is often dedicated to working on various stages of this process. At the end of each year, students submit a writing portfolio that incorporates their major essays, a revised paragraph and a reflective cover letter. This portfolio travels with them from year to year, inviting them to reckon with their growth as writers, consider the development of their voice, and, hopefully, come to see writing as a method of inquiring into the world rather than simply another skill utilized to earn a grade on an assignment. To aid Abbey teachers as they craft assignments and offer feedback to their students, the English Department created an outline for the sequence of writing instruction that charts the development of student writers across the forms. The outline, shown on the following page, illustrates what should be considered while cultivating inquisitive, confident and self-reflective students throughout their academic journey. “Good writing is inextricable from good thinking, and in our distracted and polarized age, 24

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

teaching writing has, perhaps, never been more pressing than it is now. It goes without saying that good writing is the sine qua non of academic and professional life; teaching writing also teaches individuals how to search for truth in the context of an academic community. As students learn to write, they learn how to inquire—how to pay close attention to what they read, how to listen with humility to the words of others, and how to shape their ideas in response,” said Michael St. Thomas, head of the English Department. “Our goal in documenting the sequence in this manner was to make it a bit easier for all faculty members to ascertain where students should be in terms of their writing skills each year and to offer a resource to help guide their instruction toward the most meaningful outcomes for each student.”

The Writing Sequence Third Form: Instruction in this year should help students recognize and achieve the unity that an essay calls for, including: g Identifying a central argument and using observations in support of it g Organizing and structuring paragraphs (outlines, strong topic sentences) g Identifying and integrating key quotations through analysis, demonstrating

close-reading skills

Fourth Form: Writing instruction in this year continues to develop the skills covered in the Third-Form year with an eye toward expressing the nuanced ideas of the diverse thinkers encountered in the interdisciplinary Humanities course. Emphases include: g Clear articulation and precision in language g Close reading through writing (tracing a word through a play, poetry explication) g Comparing/contrasting different works to chart the development of an idea

Fifth Form: The Fifth-Form year encourages students to use the academic essay as a means of developing and exploring their own ideas in response to works (such as “Hamlet” and “Moby-Dick”) that present reality as a complex thing, less stable and more interesting than first assumed. Instruction includes: g Crafting arguments that attempt to reveal something not readily apparent about

a literary work and/or its implications for our lives g Allowing an argument to develop over the course of an entire essay g Introducing students to reflective, as well as analytical, writing

Sixth Form: The Sixth-Form year serves to reinforce all of the above aspects of good writing, with an eye toward helping students develop their own distinct voices in inquiry and argumentation. Instruction includes: g Helping students find direction as they explore their own voice g Introducing students to literary criticism and encouraging them to view their

own writing as participating in a larger conversation g Guiding students through the Sixth-Form Thesis, an independent literary analysis paper

and graduation requirement

ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

ABBEY NEWS AND NOTES

Faculty and Staff Update: New Positions and Promotions ACADEMICS AND STUDENT LIFE Aileen Baker Assistant Head of School and Dean of Faculty Aileen Baker has been promoted to Assistant Head of School in addition to serving as Dean of Faculty. After joining Portsmouth Abbey School in 2006, Baker has held several roles, including admission officer, mathematics teacher, dean of residential life, and assistant to the headmaster. In addition to her administrative and classroom responsibilities, she also works as an assistant coach for girls’ varsity soccer. Catherine Caplin ’10 Director of Residential Life Catherine (Cat) Caplin ’10 has been promoted to Director of Residential Life. In her new role, Caplin will oversee the residential experience for students by working with houseparents, affiliates, prefects and student leaders to plan the advisory program and campus activities. She will also coordinate school assemblies and special events, including spirit weeks, Raven Cup competitions and Springfest. She will remain the Head Houseparent for St. Mary’s House and continue teaching history courses. Julia DellaRusso Assistant Director of Athletics, Head Houseparent - Manor House Assistant Director of Athletics Julia DellaRusso has been appointed Head Houseparent for Manor House. Previously, she served as an assistant houseparent in Manor House in addition to her athletic responsibilities. DellaRusso will continue to coach varsity field hockey, girls’ varsity ice hockey, and girls’ varsity lacrosse.

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

Anne De Marzio Beacon Student Newspaper Advisor, English Faculty Anne De Marzio will serve as the advisor to the Beacon Student Newspaper and join the English Department full-time. She is also an assistant houseparent in St. Mary’s House and an assistant softball coach. Entering her second year at Portsmouth Abbey, De Marzio has more than sixteen years of experience in secondary and post-secondary education. Shane McCarthy Science Faculty Shane McCarthy will return to the classroom full-time after serving in the Department of Operations. He has joined the Science Department and will continue to teach several environmental science and chemistry courses. He will also be coaching football and girls’ JV basketball. Kate Smith Associate Director of College Counseling, English Faculty Kate Smith has been promoted to Associate Director of College Counseling after serving as the department’s assistant director since 2011. Smith joined the Abbey community in 2002, taught English and humanities courses, and served as a houseparent in Manor House and St. Brigid’s House. She has also served on the School Committee and the Honors Committee. She will be teaching AP English this academic year.

Paula Walter Dean of Student Life Paula Walter has been appointed Dean of Student Life at Portsmouth Abbey School. In this role, she will continue to enhance the student experience through a robust student life curriculum focusing on topical subjects such as time management, stress reduction and mindfulness. A member of the Portsmouth Abbey community since 2014, Walter will remain the international student and student council advisor. She will continue to serve as a certified Praesidium Guardian, leading the community in education and best practices around health and safety, and as an ambassador for Portsmouth Abbey School in local and distant communities. Walter will also continue to coach girls’ varsity basketball. Stephanie Waterman ’12 Study Skills Specialist, French Faculty Stephanie Waterman ’12 has been appointed to the role of Study Skills Specialist. She received much of her training through the Independent School Teaching Residency, a unique fellowship linked with the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned her M.S. in Education in 2020. Waterman will also continue to teach introductory-level French classes and is an assistant houseparent in Manor House.

ADMISSION Amelia Tracy ’10 Director of Financial Aid and Associate Director of Admission A member of the Class of 2010, Amelia Tracy has been promoted to the position of Director of Financial Aid. Before her promotion, Tracy served as the director of admission marketing and was an associate director of admission. She is also assuming the role of Head Houseparent in St. Brigid’s House and coaches track and field.

ADVANCEMENT Daré Odeyingbo Assistant Director of the Annual Fund Dare Odeyingbo joined the Portsmouth Abbey School community in 2021 as a houseparent in St. Leonard’s House and a three-sport coach (football, basketball, track and field). He is now serving the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs as the Assistant Director of the Annual Fund, where he will oversee outreach and engagement of Alumni from 1998–2023. He looks forward to further increasing the strength of the Portsmouth Abbey Alumni community.

OPERATIONS Tina Grilli Facilities Manager Tina Grilli has been promoted to the position of Facilities Manager. In this role, she will oversee and manage the day-to-day operations of facilities and grounds, including general maintenance of buildings and the campus. Previously, she served as the assistant director of operations. Dr. John Perreira Director of Operations, Science Faculty In addition to his role in planning and supervision of the School’s campus, facilities and emergency preparedness, Director of Operations John Perreira, N.D., was elected to a second term as Chair of the Rhode Island Department of Health Athletic Trainers Licensing Board. As a longtime volunteer with the Rhode Island Medical Reserve Core, Perreira assisted with providing medical care for people experiencing homelessness and those in crisis during the winter months at the state’s Emergency Warming Station in Cranston, Rhode Island. Perreira is board certified in sports medicine as an athletic trainer and in naturopathy. He also teaches Medical Physiology and Cardiac Life Support, among other science courses at the Abbey.

ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

ABBEY NEWS AND NOTES

Welcome New Faculty Stephen Devaney Science Faculty, Physics Stephen Devaney has been teaching high school Chemistry, Physics and Theology at Catholic high schools for more than sixteen years. A graduate of Phillips Academy Andover, Devaney earned his B.A. in Chemistry from Cornell University, a Master of Theological Studies from Providence College, a graduate certificate in Semiconductor Photonics from the University of Colorado-Boulder, and is currently pursuing his master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from UCB. Prior to coming to the Abbey, Devaney taught science at Saint John’s High School in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, where he was chair of the department and the science club moderator, coached soccer and led the service immersion experience to Ecuador. In 2017, he received the Faculty Service Award selected by students. He will be teaching Physics at the Abbey in addition to serving as a houseparent and coach. Stephanie Devaney English Faculty Stephanie Devaney, J.D. has taught English language and literature at the middle and high school levels for over two decades. She received her B.A. in Comparative Literature from Cornell University and an M.A. in Secondary English from the State University of New York. She taught high school French and English for several years before becoming interested in law. Shortly after, she earned her J.D. from Syracuse University, where she was the associate editor for the Syracuse Law Review. After serving as an attorney in the New York County Court for four years, she became an editor of legal education materials at a nationally-known publisher. Twelve years later, she moved back into the classroom to teach English at Saint John’s High School in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. There, she also served as the middle school book club moderator, the high school mock trial team coach, co-chair of the parents’ association, and helped lead a service immersion trip to Ecuador.

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

Grace Hobbes ’10 Athletic Trainer Grace Hobbes ’10 returns to her alma mater as the Ravens’ athletic trainer after serving in a similar role at Providence College for the last several years. She earned a bachelor’s degree in athletic training from the College of Charleston and interned at Bryant University. From there, she pursued her M.S. in Nutrition at Stony Brook University, where she worked as a graduate assistant athletic trainer. Most recently at Providence College, Hobbes served as the assistant athletic trainer in multiple sports, including Division 1 women’s field hockey and basketball, men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs, cross-country and track and field. A BOC-certified athletic trainer, she holds certifications in CPR and AED, dry needling, COVID-19 contact tracing, Owens Recovery Science Blood Flow Restriction Therapy and IAR Manual Therapy. Originally from Bristol, Rhode Island, Hobbes graduated from Portsmouth Abbey in 2010. She is a houseparent in Manor House, where she was a student prefect. She is excited to call the Abbey home again, this time with her husband, Tristan. Olen Kalkus Spanish Faculty Olen Kalkus has joined the Modern Language Department and will teach Spanish during the 2023–2024 academic year. Before returning to the Portsmouth Abbey community in 2021, he served as the headmaster at Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart in Miami, Florida for seven years and at Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart in Princeton, New Jersey for 16 years. He will also coach boys’ tennis. He previously served at the School in the 1980s as the dean of students and taught Spanish and Psychology courses as well as coached tennis and soccer. He and his wife, Kim, reside in St. Benet’s House where Kim is head houseparent.

Colin McKay English Faculty Colin McKay hails from Culver, Indiana, where he taught high school-level humanities courses at The Culver Academies while coaching soccer, hockey and baseball. He earned a B.A. in English literature, specifically UK and European, with a minor in philosophy from Hobart and William Smith Colleges in 2020. Finding himself drawn to the richness and scope of the Western canon, he is pursuing a master’s of liberal arts at St. John’s College in Maryland. The school’s Great Books Program has allowed him to continue grappling with both the material and spiritual essentials to the human condition. He values virtue-driven leadership on the competition fields and in residential life. In addition to teaching English, McKay will serve as the head coach for boys’ junior varsity soccer and ice hockey. Margaret Sheppard ’06 Humanities and English Faculty Margaret Sheppard ’06 grew up on the campus of Portsmouth Abbey and has joined the faculty to teach humanities and English. The education she received at the Abbey fostered an enduring passion for the written word and book history that she carries into the classroom today. After earning her B.A. at Saint Michael’s College, she founded Peace Paper Project, a hand papermaking program that used traditional book arts processes as forms of trauma therapy and empowerment. Her work has been exhibited internationally and is archived at the Library of Congress and the Haas Arts Library at Yale. In 2017, Margaret received her M.A. in English with a focus on the history of text technologies from Florida State University. She holds a Graduate Certificate in book arts from the University of Iowa, where she completed doctoral coursework. Previously, Margaret taught literature and rhetoric at the university level as well as AP Literature and English at Saint Andrew’s School in Florida and Millbrook School in New York. In addition to teaching, Sheppard will serve as a houseparent in St. Brigid’s and assistant coach for varsity field hockey and junior varsity squash.

Diane Soboski Director of College Counseling Diane Soboski comes to Portsmouth Abbey as the Director of College Counseling after serving as the director of admissions at Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont since 2018. She has a B.A. in Psychology from Hamilton College and an M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from the College of William and Mary. Soboski began her career in college admissions at Wheelock College in Boston. She continued at College of the Holy Cross to support international students and student-athletes in addition to serving as the admissions liaison to both the men’s and women’s tennis and track and field teams. She has also served in several leadership positions within the New England Association of College Admissions Counselors (NEACAC) including being elected to serve as a representative for the New England Region. Anita Vigerstol Director of the Annual Fund Anita Vigerstol has joined the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs as the Director of the Annual Fund. She previously served for fifteen years as the Director of Advancement at Cataldo Catholic School in Spokane, Washington. Under her leadership, fundraising at Cataldo saw a significant and consistent increase in its fundraising programs year after year. In addition to her expertise in fundraising and constituent relations, Anita was responsible for all admissions, marketing, and special events, bringing with her a rich and diverse skillset to Portsmouth Abbey School. Anita has four children, all of whom attended Catholic schools through high school. She lives in Providence after her recent relocation from Spokane.

ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

the class of 2023

prize Day

commencement

Portsmouth Abbey School confers 88 degrees to students from 16 states and 11 nations Beginning Thursday, May 25, with the unveiling of their chosen quote during the Stone Quote Dedication Ceremony and followed by the Sixth Form Dinner, the Class of 2023 and their families experienced blue skies, sunshine and many joyful moments amid the traditional celebrations marking the end of the academic year. They could not have asked for a more perfect weekend to spend together before processing across the Holy Lawn for Portsmouth Abbey School’s 93rd Commencement on Sunday, May 28. If one were searching for a theme for this Commencement season, it would be embracing change in ways typical of the Abbey experience. Among the many things Abbot Michael Brunner O.S.B. shared in his personal message to those graduating was his gratitude for how he was welcomed as he embraced his new life in Portsmouth. “In many ways, you and I have grown up together. Thank you for all you have done to make me feel at home here. I have come to respect and admire you,” he told them as they gathered in the Church of St. Gregory the Great in the days leading to their graduation. He shared the same sentiment in front of their families on Sunday. Alumnus Austin Kreinz ’13 advised those attending the Sixth Form Dinner to “embrace the journey and make the most of everything.” Kreinz is the founder and CEO of Atomix, a logistics company providing customized shipping

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

The Class of 2023’s stone quote, revealed at the Sixth Form Stone Dedication in June. below: The newest alumni cheer

following the end of their Commencement ceremony.

Soon-to-be graduates gather at First Beach for a class photo before the Sixth Form Dinner.

fulfillment for online businesses. After graduating from the Abbey in 2013, he attended the University of Pennsylvania and captained the lacrosse team. He began his address by thanking faculty for helping to “build the foundation” of his life ten years ago and asking students to consider the question, “Why not?” He suggested they may surprise themselves with what they could accomplish.

Joseph Verderber ’23 and Sara DeSousa ’23 show their awards on Prize Day.

“I’d highly recommend that you embrace that feeling of uncomfortableness and further challenge yourself to go outside your comfort zone,” he said. “Whatever you do, commit to it 100 percent.” Prize Day was held on Saturday, May 27, under the Holy Lawn tent. Academic, athletic and student life-related awards were presented to students in all forms. Before handing out athletic awards, Dean of Student Life Paula Walter, who also serves as the head coach for girls’ varsity basketball, energized the audience with her remarks about the word “unkindness” which is the term for a flock of ravens. “I’ll be honest, it kind of ruffled my feathers,” she said as the crowd laughed. “We talk about being kind all of the time. It is, in fact, the first characteristic of our honor code.” Walter shared her theory that when a team from Portsmouth Abbey gets together and works really hard, they can accomplish great things. “And while we always do so within the bounds of great sportsmanship and within the limitations of the rules of the game, I can understand how that may feel unkind to our opponents,” she said. “But, what if our unkindness is actually what inspires our opponents to train harder, to work with more focus and to eventually achieve loftier goals?” She cited memorable examples of athletic achievement, including two girls’

Slade Crouse ’24 receives the Dartmouth College Book Award on Prize Day from Jay Bragan, head of performing arts.

Jermaine Anson ’23 smiles after accepting the Matthew Penney ’07 Perseverance Award on Prize Day.

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hockey championships in four years. Walter encouraged students to remember that no matter what team they may join in the future, their “unkindness” could always be found at the Abbey and they were loved. She advised, “When your opponent is unkind to you, use it as motivation to do better. Display outstanding sportsmanship, work within the rules of the game and observe the legal boundaries of the law, but keep accomplishing great things against your opponents so as to serve as an inspiration to them.” The graduates and their families attended a concelebrated Mass in the Church of St. Gregory the Great Sunday morning before heading into the tent for Commencement. Abbot Michael Brunner O.S.B. offered the Invocation for the ceremony, and Chair of the Board Christopher Behnke ’81, P ’12 ’15 ’19 who retired after nine years in that position, congratulated the class.

Kent Kim ’23 with his parents, Mr. Yongkeun Kim and Mrs. Migeum Jin.

Head of School Matt Walter began his address by recognizing Dr. Michael Bonin, who retired after completing twenty-one years of service as a faculty member, Dom Damian Kearney Chair in English and assistant director of college counseling. He then offered reflections shared by members of the Class of 2023 on memories such as movie nights, winning championships, participating in the student production of Matilda (from which a photo appeared on the front page of the Newport Daily News), or being moved by a community service visit to My Brother’s Keeper in Dartmouth, Massachusetts.

Sarah Edwards ’23 with one of her awards on Prize Day.

“ My hope for each of you is that you have at least one, if not numerous, such experiences from your time at the Abbey that you will take with you. — head of school matt walter

” Graduates attend the Concelebrated Mass in the Church of St. Gregory the Great.

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“My hope for each of you is that you have at least one if not numerous, such experiences from your time at the Abbey that you take with you,” Walter said. He continued his address by describing the words from Ephesians 2:19-21 embossed on the doors leading into the Church of St. Gregory the Great: So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. Through him, the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord.

Abbot Michael Brunner O.S.B.

“ In many ways, you and I have grown up

Walter acknowledged that these words were a lot to remember and admitted that he usually just used his wife’s translation: “Y’all belong here…come on in.” He then said that what he wanted students to remember most about their time at the Abbey was that they belonged and were always welcome.

together. Thank you for all you have done for me to make me feel at home here. I have come to respect and admire you. — abbot michael brunner o.s.b.

In keeping with the idea of embracing change, elected student speaker and Portsmouth resident Mary Powell credited the Abbey with helping her overcome her shyness to become authentic. “People who accept, people who help us find our way, and people who encourage. That is how the Abbey has shaped us, and that is why I can speak to you all today,” she stated. Powell, along with Benjamin Bredin of Bay Head, New Jersey, was chosen to address her classmates during Commencement ceremonies. “I put my name into the pool of Commencement speakers to prove to myself that I have changed and grown and become an improved version of myself. Little did I know I would be voted as the one to address my graduating class. But it happened. Standing here is more than enough to prove to myself, if not everyone around me, how much the Abbey changes and affects every student who spends time here.” Bredin, known for his hospitality and always greeting staff in the dining hall before each meal, also described how the Abbey changes lives. “You know how you can drop a rock in the ocean, and after a long time, the water molds it into a grain of sand? I like to think the Abbey works in a very similar way; unlike many other places, it doesn’t force us to become

”

Jonathan Kamdani ’23 leads the responsorial psalm during Commencement Mass.

Elected speaker Mary Powell ’23 credits the Abbey with helping her overcome her shyness.

Elected speaker Benjamin Bredin ’23 tells classmates how the Abbey has guided them down the path of greatness.

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great people, but rather it guides us on our own journey down the path of greatness, teaching us how to be independent, and pushing us to do better because we want to be better for ourselves” he said. Both students received standing ovations and many cheers from their classmates. “There was not a dry eye under the tent,” one parent commented.

Commencement speaker Sarah Matthews ’99 asks graduates to applaud their parents.

Sarah S. Matthews, a graduate from the class of 1999, became the first alumna to deliver the Commencement address. “I hope I won’t be the last,” she said, thanking the School for the honor. Relating to what the student speakers said, Matthews also attributed her years at Portsmouth Abbey School as setting the course for her life. “Everything followed from the decisions I made here” she stated.

Head of School Matt Walter congratulates Muhammed Lamin Bajinka ’23.

Georgia Sones ’23 embraces Dean of Faculty Aileen Baker after receiving her diploma.

Alexis Dahlberg ’23 hugs her grandfather, Peter Fagan ’55.

Tracey Mirembe ’23 and her family.

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

After joining the Abbey during her fifth-form year, Matthews attended Brown University, where she wrote for the Brown Daily Herald and was a member of the varsity equestrian team. “I wrote my college essay about how I learned from my Dad that the secret to a happy life is learning to love your work and how I came to eventually love my unglamorous job shoveling manure at the barn because I got to ride horses in exchange for the work. That fall, I happened to meet the admissions officer at my CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

Like Mother, Like Daughter Marina McKeating ’23 crossed the Commencement stage exactly thirty years after her mother, Charlene McKeating ’93, graduated as one of the first twentyone girls to attend Portsmouth Abbey School after it became co-ed in 1991. The first mother-daughter alumnae both experienced life in St. Mary’s House, shared similar experiences, and credit the Abbey for shaping them into the women they are today.

Marina McKeating ’23 hugs her mother, Charlene McKeating ’93, after Commencement.

The only girl in many of her classes, Charlene remembers being welcomed into the Abbey community and witnessing it grow with even more boarding girls the following year. “We changed and grew together as students and as an entire community, which was such an exciting part of Portsmouth Abbey’s history,” she said. Similarly, Marina reflects, “Growing up I heard many stories about the Abbey and visited during most summers so it felt surreal when I finally stepped onto campus as a student.”

countries and cultures. The Abbey experience extends well beyond the classroom with community bonding on the athletic fields, community service opportunities, and amazing trips such as Oxford and Lourdes.” For Marina, the most meaningful part of her experience was the tightknit community. “While I valued the high-end education and life skills that the Abbey provided me with for four years, the relationships that I made, and the people that I met is something that will stick with me forever,” she said.

After witnessing her daughter enjoy her four years and graduate this past spring, Charlene says “beyond proud is an understatement. The shared experience forever enhanced our mother-daughter relationship.” Having experienced the value of an Abbey education herself, she hoped her daughter would follow in her footsteps, but ultimately left the decision to Marina. Charlene is “forever grateful” to the Abbey for preparing Marina for her next step in life. “We are so proud that Marina took a chance on herself and the Abbey by deciding to attend. A very shy girl, we watched her grow into a much more outgoing, confident young woman.” Marina agreed and said, “the Abbey is demanding, however, it taught me a level of hard work that I would not have achieved anywhere else.”

It doesn’t end there. Charlene says most importantly, the Abbey education reinforced her and Marina’s Catholic upbringing. “We are definitely more faithful, more devout Catholics because of our time living at the Abbey.”

When asked about the School’s impact on their lives, Charlene said the courage of the first twenty-one trailblazers determined the Abbey’s future as a successful co-ed force and showed the community its young women are much more than their white graduation dresses. “The Abbey education is second to no other,” she said. “Students are able to interact and live with other kids from various

Ironically, after graduating from a predominantly boys school, Charlene went on to attend Mount Holyoke College, the first all-women’s college in the country. She studied education and psychology, then went on to complete her master’s in education with a specialization in curriculum and mathematics from the University of Vermont. After several years teaching at an elementary school in Vermont, Charlene left the classroom to be a literacy and mathematics coach in Rhode Island, helping teachers become better teachers in those subjects. After Marina was born, she decided to stay home full-time to raise her two children. Marina now attends Villanova University in Pennsylvania while her brother, Seamus ‘27, has just begun his adventure at Portsmouth Abbey. As Marina says, “If I could redo my high school career all over again, I would choose the Abbey every time.”

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college who had read my application. She told me the essay about my dad had struck a chord with her. It reminded her of her own lovable but eccentric father who happened to pass away the year before. She said the essay had made her laugh and cry and helped her grieve his loss. Learning that my words could be powerful and help people meant so much to me. I didn’t realize it at the time, but those were two things I would keep striving for throughout my life — to write and to help others.” Matthews later earned her J.D. from New York University and now serves as the deputy general counsel for the non-profit news outlet ProPublica, an organization dedicated to investigative journalism in the public interest. She outlined how her opportunities came from a willingness to accept and embrace change. Like Kreinz, she told the graduates they might be surprised by the power of their skills.

A joyous moment shared by Dahmaux Kouassi-Brou ’23 and his mother, Dr. Nicole Kouassi.

“So, as you embark on this great adventure, remember what you’ve learned. What you’ve discovered about yourself—your strengths, your interests. Use the skills you have, nurture them, and you might just surprise yourself with how powerful they can be. A big part of life is figuring out who you are and then being true to that person,” she advised.

For the commencement photo gallery, visit: abbeycommunications.smugmug.com 36

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

The Class of 2023. Liz Park ‘23 created an icon for each of her classmates and incorporated them into this graphic to represent the Class of 2023.

below:

Class of 2023 Anahuac Merida Assumption University Babson College Bates College Boston University Brandeis University** Brown University Bryant University Bucknell University Colgate University College of Charleston College of the Holy Cross ** Columbia University Cornell University Davidson College Duke University Eckerd College Elmira College Elon University Fairfield University*** Franklin and Marshall College George Washington University**** Hamilton College

Hampden-Sydney College High Point University Hobart and William Smith Colleges Ibero-American University IE University Madrid** Johns Hopkins University** Kenyon College Lehigh University Massachusetts Maritime Academy McGill University Merrimack College Miami University-Oxford** Mississippi State University New York University** Palm Beach Atlantic University Pennsylvania State University Princeton University Providence College Purdue University Rhode Island College Rhode Island School of Design Rivier University Roger Williams University**

94 %

MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 2023 WERE ACCEPTED TO MORE THAN

DIFFERENT COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES REPRESENTING 34 STATES, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND 6 COUNTRIES

DESTINATIONS

SUBMITTED AT LEAST ONE EARLY APPLICATION

MATRICULATED TO 13 DIFFERENT CATHOLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

WERE RECRUITED TO PLAY COLLEGIATE ATHLETICS

Salve Regina University Skidmore College St. John’s College Stonehill College SUNY College at Plattsburgh SUNY Polytechnic Institute The College of Wooster The New School Tulane University** Union College** United States Air Force Academy University of Mississippi University of California-Los Angeles University of California-Santa Barbara University of Michigan-Ann Arbor University of Navarra University of Rochester University of Vermont** University of Virginia Villanova University Virginia Polytechnic Institute Wentworth Institute of Technology *denotes number of students attending

ONE MATRICULATED TO A U.S. SERVICE ACADEMY TWO RECEIVED FULL ROTC SCHOLARSHIPS

COLLEGE COUNSELING PROGRAMS AND INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS

ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

A Graceful Scholar  COLLEAGUES BID FAREWELL AS DR. MICHAEL BONIN P’11 ’13 ’18 RETIRES By Kate Smith

Colleagues applaud Dr. Michael Bonin during Commencement in May.

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL



hen the Bonin family arrived at the Abbey from the West Coast in

the summer of 2002, they brought with them enormous talent and impressive experience, a sense of adventure, and a desire to embrace the all-in lifestyle of the New England boarding school. For more than twenty years, the Bonins and their three children (Drake ’11, Fletcher ’13 and Sydell ’18) called the Abbey home. With Michael’s retirement after this academic year and their return to their beloved California, they leave behind them a school community transformed by their passion, talent and dedication. Michael came to Portsmouth from his position as English Department Head at Gonzaga University in Washington State. Here at the Abbey, he held the Dom Damian Kearney Chair in English and served as a sailing coach and squash coach. He participated in residential life as an affiliate houseparent and chaperone as well as a supporting spouse to his wife Laureen’s work running girls’ dorms. He joined the college counseling office in 2015 as Associate Director, guiding students in their college application process and developing a network of colleagues at colleges and universities across the country. Along with Head of Performing Arts Jay Bragan, Michael energized and nurtured the Abbey’s public speaking program, reinvigorating the English Department’s recitation program and contributing to the success of the student church

talks as well as the valedictions at commencement ceremonies. Over the course of their twenty years here, Michael and Laureen were involved in too many aspects of the school to capture comprehensively. Michael always showed respect to his colleagues. He would flatly

Dr. Michael Bonin

deny this, but he is pretty much always the smartest guy in the room—truly, in any room—and yet, as English Chair, he encouraged even the most junior of new faculty to speak up, involving them in the group’s discussions, and in this way, enriched the department with fresh perspectives. Even more challenging, he dealt with the old curmudgeons (myself included) with the same respect and with the requisite subtlety and tact. Practically speaking, Michael ran meetings efficiently, and yet he hid the scaffolding so well that the discussions always felt relaxed, natural and calm. This balance of tone often allowed us to venture into uncharted territory, producing inventive and intelligent new ideas while respecting the importance of tradition. Most impressive of all, at the end of a meeting, the objectives were always reached within the time limit, and within what seemed

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like seconds, any necessary follow-up materials or meeting notes or conclusions would appear in a concise, usually amusing email to all; it was like a conjurer ’s trick. Michael’s expertise and conviction that good leadership is all about service to others meant that he would often be tapped to represent the faculty in difficult and mostly thankless jobs. Need someone to reach out to faculty for the Annual Fund? Ask Michael. Need someone to write up that tricky section of the accreditation report? Michael could do it. Need someone to

Dr. Bonin inspired students with his energy and delivery of key points.

represent faculty for a Head of School search? Michael. No matter the task, Michael handled it graciously, the consummate diplomat: trust-worthy, observant, articulate, insightful, persuasive, and polite. As much as Michael was a fantastic colleague, it was his work

Dr. Bonin teaching in his notable blue classroom and wearing his signature bow tie.

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

with students that made him a legend. His encouragement of students to use their own voices, both in and out of the classroom, is just one example of his influence on their experience. His work with Jay Bragan included engaging students in the EnglishSpeaking Union (ESU) Shakespeare Competition and the National Poetry Out Loud program. “Working with him was always a delightful giveand-take,” says Jay. “A master of language and rhetoric, Michael coached students in a way that

made them feel comfortable. He always shed light on the meaning of a text and highlighted the subtler implications of tone and feeling. Michael knows how to ‘pop the language,’ encouraging the student to use more pitch and energy to convey the lines.” This work has inspired other departments to also get the students up in front of audiences in a variety of ways, from arts and science presentations to history lectures to debate club. The result is that our graduates, almost across the board, are comfortable and confident speaking in front of people. In true boarding school tradition, both Michael and Laureen wore many hats over their years at the Abbey, and extremely stylish ones at that, and they worked as a team throughout. Michael played the crucial supporting role to Laureen’s excellent work as houseparent, first in St. Mary’s and then as the inaugural Head Houseparent in St. Brigid’s. A skilled and passionate teacher with years of classroom experience, Laureen contributed enormously to the English Department, but as a houseparent, she was a force of nature. In St. Brigid’s House, she was passionate and proactive, developing routines and thinking carefully about house rules. She knew that getting it right from the start would establish the

foundation for the dorm’s future, and she took that responsibility seriously. By clarifying expectations and focusing on the day-today rules and habits of the house, she created a sense of comradery, calm, and joy for the girls that exists to this day. The girls also came to trust her, and this trust freed them to come to her with both their problems and their

pictures, and hold down the fort whenever the occasion called for more hands on deck than the houseparents could supply. Laureen’s work extended beyond the classroom and dorm to athletics as an assistant coach to the newly formed volleyball team, once again establishing a foundation of good sportsmanship and encouragement,

Dr. Bonin announces the inductees to the Cum Laude Society on Prize Day.

victories. In the house, Laureen never passed up a chance to create dorm fun: from spa nights to the Oscars or Super Bowl watch parties to homemade breakfasts and Cuban dinners during exam weeks, Laureen truly made the girls feel that the dorm was their home, their safe haven. And more often than not, Michael was enlisted to lug pots of food, take

developing in her athletes’ tenacity and dedication to the game and to each other. Her work with awardwinning student publications and as founding advisor to the Culinary Arts Club (now named in memory of Jonathan D. Sellitto ’01) opened the door to a variety of creative outlets and cultural experiences for the students.

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The Bonins worked together as advisors as well, combining their advisory groups each week and for special events. Alumni remember the amazing food and sense of good fun of those advisory meetings, peppered with constant support and solid advice in navigating the sometimes treacherous waters of high school. Michael and Laureen understood that the job of independent schools is to build confidence and character, not merely a transcript. A few days before the prom every spring, a bunch of boys would head over to Michael’s classroom, where he used his bust of Milton to demonstrate how to tie a proper bow tie. I have witnessed more

than one panicked young man at the Bonins’ door, asking for his help in the fraught minutes before heading over to the girls’ dorms to pick up his date. Whether it be in the classroom, the sports field, running a club, or as mentors and counselors, Laureen and Michael looked at their role in students’ lives as holistic and truly parental. Perhaps this is why so many Abbey alumni have stayed in touch with the Bonins, reaching out to them years after graduation for advice and support, to express gratitude, or to share a good laugh. In the end, though, Michael is a scholar and master teacher. Over

The Bonin family (l-r), Michael, Fletcher ’12, Laureen, Drake ’11 and Sydell ’18.

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

the years, Michael taught every level English class at the Abbey, and he always found a way to reach the students, making the classroom engaging and edifying. As a teacher, Michael set a formal tone in the classroom and in his relationships with students. And yet, the students learned quite rapidly that Michael knew and cared for them. As much as the younger students enjoyed his classes, his A.P. Literature course revealed Michael’s true genius. His classroom, tastefully decorated and painted a warm marine blue, was a sanctuary of academic performance art. Every year, in the first few weeks of school, students would make some important

discoveries upon entering his classroom. First discovery: every class was meticulously planned and focused, with a word of the day, Latin of the day, term of the day, and quote of the day, each seemingly chosen randomly at the start of class. But then, the magic happened. In the process of analyzing the literary work at hand, these disparate parts were woven into a perfect whole, and by the end of the 50-minute period, the students discovered a harmony previously unimagined. And this happened every class. It’s no wonder that so many students list Michael’s class as their favorite even years after having graduated. Second discovery: early in each school year, his students, a little awe-struck, would describe Dr. Bonin’s class as brilliant, even more brilliant than they expected. But a bit later, they discovered, still awe-struck, that Dr. Bonin is downright hilarious. His wit and irreverent insights into both literature and the idiosyncrasies of human beings hinted to them that this crazy Renaissance literature just might be worth their time and effort. And they were hooked. Michael truly inspired his students, from the naturally talented literary whiz-kid to the student who struggled with basic sentence structure. He made them believe in the magic of words.

Laureen and Michael Bonin enjoying retirement.

Third discovery: Dr. Bonin knew each and every student in his classroom, and he strove to engage that student in this magic. If asked by a colleague about even the most quiet, reticent student, Michael could speak to his or her strengths. Michael was always surprised when a student would seek him out for help with a nonacademic problem; he felt humbled by the role and honored that students would entrust him with their struggles. This is why he was such a natural college counselor. He knew these students and saw their best natures and potential, even in moments of questioning and vulnerability. Michael Bonin is a gentleman in all circumstances, able to both dignify a situation and at the same time put people at ease, considerate and attentive to the details that can carry or lose an audience or a classroom; he and

Laureen have been untiring and generous in their efforts to serve the school and its students. In the lovely booklet Grace Notes that Michael wrote as a guide to living in community at the Abbey, he defined grace in this way: “Whenever we encounter beauty, consideration, effortless skill, or kindness, we are pleased. These are the grace notes of life, God’s favor revealed in our works and days.” Michael’s legacy at the Abbey can be found in these words. Stylish, generous, talented, and deeply caring, Michael has approached every aspect of his work at the Abbey with grace. We say goodbye to him and Laureen with appreciation and gratitude for their transformative impact on this school. Kate Smith is the associate director of college counseling at Portsmouth Abbey School and a longtime colleague of the Bonins.

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Meet our newest Ravens WHO THEY ARE

STATES AND COUNTRIES REPRESENTED

121

NEW STUDENTS

51%

49%

STATES

MALE TO FEMALE

COUNTRIES

SIBLINGS

Cameroon

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Enhancing our Culture of Student Health and Safety Partnerships in Student Life are key in supporting community well-being. above: Head of School Matt Walter and Dean of Student Life Paula Walter walk with students on campus.

When students are asked to share why they chose to attend Portsmouth Abbey School, they often say it’s because of the sense of “community” they felt when visiting. For some, that means finding friendship and joy, as the Vision Statement describes, and for others, it is ensuring that there are systems present to help guide them toward a future they know awaits but cannot yet see. “I chose the Abbey because I knew from the beginning that I wanted to start my high school career in a community that emphasizes unity and the fact that I wanted to create bonds that would last a lifetime,” said Class of 2023 graduate Dami Opawumi while serving as a Red Key Head on campus. Her classmate and fellow Red Key Head Aidan Duffy cited connections between students and teachers as an asset to his experience as a Raven athlete and a main reason why he also chose to attend the Abbey. a

Editor’s Note: This article is the first in a two-part series examining community health and safety at Portsmouth Abbey School. Part one outlines the School’s current partnership with the Praesidium organization and highlights work to facilitate a culture of safety that supports mental wellness through the Office of Student Life. ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

“ Statistically, we know that young people have the best chance at success when surrounded by adults who are consistent, predictable and overtly interested in their success. We also know that a young person has to feel safe, and they have to feel like they belong, in order to thrive.”

— paula walter, dean of student life What is more difficult for students to articulate in social media captions or conversations with prospective families is the notion that this “sense of community” is crafted not only by living the Mission of the School but also by focusing on the health, safety and well-being of the school community through both internal and external partnerships. These collaborations are key in supporting students as well as faculty and staff. “Our motivation for all efforts in the Office of Student Life is crystal clear,” says Dean of Student Life Paula Walter. “It is simply but powerfully this:

Nurse Susan Swain and Jenny Rivera ’26.

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that God created each one of us in His own image. It follows that every person is deserving of dignity and respect. When that truth guides you and our Mission and Vision Statements support it, every day spent on campus with students is a gift, an opportunity and a responsibility to community health and safety.” Walter says that if every student grows in knowledge and grace during their time at the Abbey, they have succeeded. She believes students can find their success in many ways. For example, they can learn how to know and live with others who are different from them. They can take positive risks and learn how to fail. They can feel challenged beyond their perceived capabilities and not give up. She admits it is work that is not always easy, and it is never finished. “I’m proud of all we’ve done in the last decade, but we know that community health and safety must be a priority in every day we are together on this campus. Whatever we are doing, we can always do more,” Walter added. “Statistically, we know that young people have the best chance at success when surrounded by adults who are consistent, predictable and overtly interested in their success. We also know that a young person has to feel safe, and they have to feel like they belong, in order to thrive.” The School seeks to foster safety and a sense of belonging in many ways. One of those efforts began in 2017 with a partnership forged with Praesidium, an organization staffed by social workers, human resource professionals, attorneys and

Transporting students safely is just one factor in creating successful experiences for Portsmouth Abbey Students.

researchers. Praesidium’s mission is to help organizations remain at the forefront of best practices to protect those in their care from abuse. They advocate for creating a culture of safety, which includes organizational operations dedicated to preventing and detecting abuse and assessing risks associated with youth behavior and the mental and physical wellbeing of those within an organization or independent community. Walter completed a Praesidium Guardian certification process in 2018, including an action project centered around updating screening and selection procedures for individuals involved with the School as employees or volunteers. A team from Praesidium visited campus in 2018 to observe, interview, and make recommendations for enhancing other practices within student life such as training, transporting students, supervision on trips, and the importance of operating within the limits of one’s background, training or expertise. According to Walter, the information offered by Praesidium is used by her office on a regular basis, and it guides student life training and responses. Portsmouth Abbey School’s Director of Residential Life Cat Caplin ’10 will begin to pursue a Guardian certification this year. Sharing collective experiences and resources with peer institutions also helps Walter keep abreast of what is taking place in the student life world at other high schools and on college campuses across the country. Collaborating with colleagues on best practices aids in the development of programming and assists in preparing for potential risk factors.

Sixth Formers on their day of service.

“We keep an eye on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS),” Walter says. “It is a set of surveys that track risk-taking behaviors of students in grades 9 through 12, and it helps us spot trends and current concerns. It does not, obviously, take the place of getting to know our students as individuals and therefore being most equipped to know when someone is struggling.” The National Institutes of Health fostered Walter’s interest in teen brain development years ago, and she also reads information from organizations like the National College Health Association. They publish the results of a health survey in the fall and spring of each year. The American Psychological Association is another valuable resource. Walter says the APA had an initiative that began in 2005 to partner with health care providers to provide care for the “whole person,” and that helped her begin to understand the importance of including mental health in all student life efforts. She also says that Harvard University Graduate School of Education’s Making Caring Common Project, which started in 2013, has been a great resource. ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

Examples of Current Health and Safety Efforts General Student Health and Safety

Training

v Infirmary is staffed 24/7 while school is in session

v New faculty members go through a three-day training prior

v Two counselors serve the student population; appointments

are made either same day or within 24 hours v Space is provided for students who engage in telehealth

counseling v Houseparents and affiliates get to know students well;

evening house meetings and prayers v Weekly Student Progress Report (SPR) group meeting to

identify and plan for students of concern v Advisors meet weekly with small groups of 5-7 students,

typically for the entirety of the student’s Abbey career; plus advisory groups sit together at Monday assemblies and have additional individual meetings several times throughout the year v Winter Wellness Week, to spotlight the importance of

to full-employee training in the fall v Annual boundary and sexual misconduct training with all

employees v Annual training on Code of Conduct, plus refreshers during

the school year; updated on an ongoing basis v Staff training upon return from every break, led by CFO

Dr. Ellen Eggeman v Fall Student Leader Training, hosted by the Office of

Student Life v Ongoing review of policies and procedures around

community health and safety v Presentations from outside experts on topics such as

suicide prevention and creating a stronger atmosphere for equity and inclusion as well as school safety

nutrition and health v Trips Committee creates policies and procedures for all

Abbey trips off campus and reviews all proposals v Medical Leave of Absence policy is reviewed and updated on

an ongoing basis; available to students who need support in addition to what they can receive on campus

Mental Health v Increased visibility of counselors; meetings with each house,

plus pilot program in 2022-23 including drop-in hours on campus v Mental Health Club provides activities and education about

student mental health v Supportive Resources for Students – a published compilation

of on and off-campus resources for medical, emotional, confidential and anonymous hotlines (including substance abuse, Trevor Lifeline, Sexual Assault Helpline, National Suicide Prevention, eating disorders, etc.) v New Assistant Director of Spiritual Life position tasked with

creating a vibrant, action-oriented faith community v Buddy advisory meetings facilitate communication and

mentorship between students in different Forms v Sit Down Dinners provide a forum to share a meal with and

get to know others v Multiple student leader groups provide opportunities for

students to connect with others, such as prefects, international student leaders, student council, team captains, club officers, etc.

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Campus Safety v 24-hour Campus Safety officer while school is in session v Keycards are required to enter all houses and some

campus buildings v Addition of cameras to the entrance gate to Manor

House Road v Screening and selection procedures include background

checks, reference checks and documentation, and a meeting to review the Code of Conduct and mandatory reporting laws v Fire and active intruder drills v After-hours answering service for the main school number v Creation of an Emergency Procedures Guide to include

procedures for many situations such as active intruder, bomb threat, serious injury, etc.

“It is important to be data-informed but studentdriven,” says Walter. “Our first question is always, ‘How can we best support this individual student?’ In order to effectively answer that question, we have to really know our students.” The structure of Portsmouth Abbey School facilitates that effort on a daily basis. Houses contain 22 to 40 boarding students, with three houseparents and three affiliates for each. Every day school is in session, each of the eight houses gathers in the evening for a house meeting and prayer. Every student has an advisor they are guaranteed to see twice weekly, once for a meeting and once at assembly. Students are surrounded by teachers and coaches six out of seven days a week. Additionally, students have valuable adult support staff who get to know them around campus, on the field or at the cage (the equipment room in the gym), Tin Box, Stillman Dining Hall, and mail room. Studies show that mental health is greatly supported by feeling connected, and it in fact serves as one of the leading protective factors against suicide. Walter says peer-to-peer connections are vital, and students generally do a nice job connecting with others. She says that having roommates is often a primary connector. The required after-school programs, the clubs and activities program, the advisory program, and sit-down dinners are all builtin activities that help foster connections between students. Additionally, activities like orientation, school trips, Springfest, and the Sixth Form Day of Service bring students together who may not otherwise get to know each other. One goal is that every student has at least one adult on campus that they can go to without hesitation. “When the chips are falling, and we all know they will fall at some point, we want students to know they will have at least one adult in their corner,” Walter says. A comprehensive student survey, administered every two years, indicates that nearly every student can identify one such trusted adult. The Mission Statement highlights the importance of community life, and the Vision Statement further expounds: “Called to live in mutual service to each other, we seek the growth of our members as individuals while advancing the common good.”

Lourdes Navarrete ’23, Xingjie (Jimmy) Wang ’23 and Ana Teran ’23 serve at My Brother’s Keeper mission.

Walter calls this a guiding light for those who work with students every day, especially her team. “We have developed a common language around health and safety, and we use it every day. Whether collaborating with the closest available adult when a situation arises, disclosing a meeting with a student in isolation, noting appropriate boundaries in a house log, or operating ‘within the limits of training’ when working with a student in need, health and safety are woven into the fabric of all we do.” Having systems to foster connections and build a support network is vital to maintaining a communal culture of safety on campus. The partnerships established to create these systems are true collaborations with a shared focus. The School has received positive feedback with every effort to bring mental health support and services to the forefront and remains committed to continuing to serve students’ needs by increasing availability and access to care, destigmatizing mental health challenges, and celebrating all that students are able to accomplish. Part two of the series Enhancing our Culture of Student Health and Safety will appear in the next issue of the Bulletin. The article will share insights on training and curriculum to safeguard against abuse. ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

The Portsmouth Institute for Faith and Culture 2023 Humanitas Summer Symposium Hosted in collaboration with the Providence College Humanities Program, the 2023 Humanitas Summer Symposium was held June 9–11. It featured notable speakers Thomas Hibbs, the J. Newton Rayzor Sr. Professor of Philosophy at Baylor University and New York Times columnist Ross Douthat. Bishop Emeritus Thomas J. Tobin of the Diocese of Providence offered Holy Mass and led the Eucharistic Procession. The pastoral grounds of Portsmouth Abbey offered the perfect setting for participants to share in lively, thought-provoking discussions around the theme ‘To Cultivate and to Toil: On Profession and Vocation.’ Explorations of how dignity, faith and service are challenged in the contemporary world along with a diminished sense of a common good engaged those attending as they also contemplated how faith could be enriched through what Abbot Michael Brunner, O.S.B. aptly imparted during his invocation, “Our Holy Father Benedict has taught us that the means of our work are not separated from the Christian life, and the tools of our work are to be treated with great respect; that both work and the means we employ for work can be encounters with the sacred in even the most simple circumstances.”

Brother Basil leads Sunday’s Eucharistic Procession to celebrate the Solemnity of Corpus Christi with Bishop Emeritus Thomas J. Tobin.

The Humanitas Summer Symposium was sponsored by Cluny Media, Saint Benedict Classical Academy, Exodus90, and the Ciocca Center for Principled Entrepreneurship.

Members of the Humanitas Summer Symposium, the Portsmouth Abbey and the wider community join for the Eucharistic Procession led by Bishop Emeritus Thomas J. Tobin.

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

Abbot Michael Brunner O.S.B. proclaiming the Gospel for the Solemnity of Corpus Christi.

2023 Humanitas Summer Symposium and PIETAS

Dr. Thomas Hibbs delivers Friday evening’s Keynote address entitled “Why We Work.” Pietas attendees read materials to discuss as a group.

PIETAS: The Soul of Christian Learning Collegium Ancora, a Rhode Island based professional chamber choir featuring Portsmouth Abbey’s Director of Music Michael Carnaroli, performed a concert of sacred music on Saturday evening in the Church of St. Gregory the Great.

Attendees of the Humanitas Summer Symposium enjoying fellowship with one another at Friday’s keynote dinner.

Offering Catholic educators an inspirational encounter with the best literature, philosophy and theology of the West in addition to an immersive monastic experience, the Pietas professional development retreat was held June 18 – June 23. Attracting Catholic school teachers from across the country, the program utilizes an interdisciplinary approach to learning to form teachers in the mission and character of Catholic education. In addition to Pietas, thirty new teachers from Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Boston attended a three-day formation program hosted by the Portsmouth Institute this July. The participants experienced seminar discussions and lectures led by Abbey faculty liturgies with the monastery, lectio divina and hospitality.

For more information on these and other programs at the Portsmouth Institute for Faith and Culture, visit portsmouthinstitute.org ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

An Outpouring of God’s Mercy Seven members from the Portsmouth Abbey community serve in Lourdes, France

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(from l-r) Lauren Revay, Dottie Ward, Brother Sixtus, Piper Torrey ’24, Jonny Miller ’24, Michele Rentschler, Tracey Mirembe ’23, Aidan Surber ’24 and Marina McKeating ’23 get ready to board the bus for the airport.

Every year, millions of pilgrims seeking spiritual and physical healing make their way to a small town in southwestern France nestled in the foothills of the Pyrénées Mountains. Seven members of the Portsmouth Abbey community were given the opportunity to serve them this summer. “On Tuesday, we brought the Assisted Pilgrims [those seeking healing] up into the mountains on foot to a beautiful community called San Pietro. It was quite a trek up the mountainside pushing wheelchairs and carts but it really served as a defining moment of the week,” said Lauren Revay, assistant director of spiritual life at Portsmouth Abbey School. Along with Director of Oblates Br. Sixtus Roslevich O.S.B, Revay led the annual 10-day service trip and pilgrimage to Lourdes, France to connect with the 70th anniversary Ampleforth Lourdes Pilgrimage (1953–2023). Together with four recent graduates and one current student, they joined Sanctuaire Notre Dame de Lourdes.

ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

250 other pilgrims from Ampleforth Abbey in England, another U.S. school and a member from the Manquehue mission in Chile. Br. Sixtus says the group pledged to accompany and help people who were sick or less able and in need of assistance to seek Christ through the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Bernadette, and within the spirit of the Rule of St. Benedict. Once at the summit, “Mass was celebrated outside where there are stone seats carved into the mountainside with a stone altar,” Revay continues. “Assisted pilgrims received the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick after Mass followed by prayer from the chaplains present if requested. There were few dry eyes, as groups of individuals supported and uplifted one another in prayer. It truly was an outpouring of God’s mercy.” Br. Sixtus said one of his favorite moments from the trip was being one of those 11 chaplains present in front of the altar as various individuals and small groups patiently came to pray quietly together. “They shared the prayer intentions which they brought with them to Lourdes from family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, classmates, parishioners and others,” he said. Described by another pilgrim as a “thin place,” one where the veil between Heaven and Earth seems to lift in some ways, Revay says there are beautiful places in Lourdes to pray, reflect and contemplate one’s place in the world while serving another. Referencing Gaudium et Spes, a Church document from Vatican II speaking on faith within the modern world, she quotes the passage, “man can fully discover his true self only in a sincere giving of himself ” (GS §24). “In many ways,” she reflects, “the goal of the trip is to teach our students to give of themselves both to those they serve and to all that Lourdes is.” Br. Sixtus believes although some of our students on this journey may have traveled internationally in the past, either for educational or family purposes, this particular call to service has broadened their worldview of the need for improved healthcare and career opportunities available to them. In fact, he says one of the students attended a session with Dr. Hamilton Grantham, the pilgrimage Medical Officer, and came away with greater resolve to pursue studies in the field of medicine. In the moments of levity amid the solemnity of the trip, the group played games with other pilgrims that ended in laughter and relay races. Br. Sixtus was surprised by the fortuitous meeting of an old friend from a previous service trip. One day that stood out for the group began Sunday morning with a 9:30 a.m. International Mass Candlelight Procession.

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

Piper Torrey ’24 (right) carries the Ampleforth Abbey banner with another student-pilgrim in the Blessed Sacrament Procession.

in the subterranean basilica church at the Sanctuary, also known as the Notre-Dame de Lourdes. The group felt the gravity of standing on the same sacred ground as those who had converged from all over the world for years. Prayers and hymns were presented in numerous languages, with a homily by the Bishop Celebrant who said no matter how much work the groups did to make things better for their brothers and sisters, “Jesus Christ is the savior of the world, not us!” After a time of lectio divina in the afternoon, the group had dinner and went back to the Sanctuary for the daily 8:30 p.m. Torchlight Procession. The day was capped by a concert by the Italian tenor, Andrea Bocelli, in front of the basilica façade, backed by a 50-voice choir and a full orchestra. “It was a Sunday none of us will soon forget,” Br. Sixtus said. Reflecting on the trip as a whole, Revay said, “The best part of the trip was how quickly a stranger became a dear friend throughout the course of a week. It was such a joy to meet the other pilgrims and support one another throughout the trip sharing some incredible memories along the way.” For Br. Sixtus, this trip meant a further conversion of heart in the sense that his needs and wants (and pains) are so inconsequential compared to those of the assisted pilgrims. “The work continues, beyond Lourdes” he says, “as we pledge to bear witness to the message of Our Lady of Lourdes each day through our actions and spiritual life. The Benedictine charism of hospitality plays a big part in both the practical and spiritual realms of our work, in that we are called to see Christ in all visitors especially those in need.”

The Grotto at Night.

ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

Engaging More Than a Game Investing in athletics yields results beyond the Abbey

The Healey and Sheehan Fitness Center was upgraded in August 2023. 56

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

In an age where engagement in athletics at the high school and college levels often encompasses far more than what happens on the court or playing fields, Portsmouth Abbey School continues to recognize that athletics, outlined in the Vision Statement as “a key dimension of human excellence,” builds character, cultivates leadership skills and promotes physical and mental wellness that benefits students well after graduation. The School’s commitment to enhancing the Raven athletic program as part of its Strategic Plan is evident through recent investments in facilities and professional development opportunities. a

ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

The new Moyles Family Scoreboard.

In terms of physical additions, a new scoreboard and portable scorer’s box and tower for filming, courtesy of the Moyles family, have been added to the football field. The scorer’s box and tower will be moved to St. Hilda’s turf field in the spring for lacrosse. The Carlos X. Arjaujo’96 track is also being resurfaced and a major redesign of the Healey and Sheehan Fitness Center was completed in August. Athletic Director Christopher Milmoe, now in his second year, has also spearheaded improvements to the Raven conditioning program to prepare athletes for varsity competition and beyond. “We want to completely transform the strength and conditioning program so that our students can succeed more as athletes,” stated Milmoe. “Health and wellness are incredibly important. I want our kids to have a sense of what it really means to train and be active so they can improve as people long-term, but also as competitors right now.” A renewed focus on conditioning was one of Coach Milmoe’s first priorities after becoming the athletic director and conducting an internal audit of athletic resources. “I recognized that we did not have a strength and conditioning coach, so I immediately reached out to my network,” he said. “I brought in Tony Mure who’s been working with high schools for almost 35 years, and he got right to work for us.” As a consultant, Mure travels to Portsmouth a few Racks serve as dividers for training spaces and help organize equipment used during workouts. 58

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

times every month and has an app for students to follow their conditioning program. He also conducts strength and agility testing for the School and lent his expertise to the recent redesign process of the fitness center.

“Health and wellness are incredibly important. I want our kids to have a sense of what it really means to train and be active so they can improve as people long term, but also as competitors right now.”

professional workshops for women in athletics will become available for female varsity and JV coaches in the coming months.

When looking toward the future, the focus is often on what needs to be changed or improved. However, what remains can sometimes have the largest and most long-lasting impact.

— DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS CHRISTOPHER MILMOE

Mure took data from a 2022 school community survey and developed an updated design for the Healey and Sheehan Fitness Center to better meet program needs. Working with the fitness company, Perform Better, the 5,000 square foot space was transformed into a more functional area that includes locations for free weights, team lifting, plyometrics and speed and agility training. “Having a more effective space for training our studentathletes will help us have a high-performing program so we can assist our students in achieving higher levels of athleticism and physical fitness,” said Milmoe. “It will also benefit everyone who uses the fitness center.” Investments have not just come in the way of facilities and equipment but also by supporting staff through professional development opportunities. The School invited Tim O’Shea, a long-time collegiate basketball coach currently working for the Naval Academy Prep School, to speak with the coaching staff. O’Shea shared his insights on the rapidly changing world of college recruiting, offering suggestions to build better programs to develop young men and women in preparation for playing at the collegiate level.

One constant for Raven athletes has been the dynamic between player and coach. The term “student-athlete” is a familiar phrase. What is often overlooked is the “teachercoach” who not only has a vested interest in seeing students succeed but who quite literally lives and breathes the Abbey Mission on campus every day. “The teacher-coach model is at the heart of everything that’s been done here at the Abbey,” said Milmoe. “These individuals are invested in seeing the whole person succeed. Often, they are a student’s teacher before they are their coach and they provide a wealth of experiences and knowledge. They understand life at the Abbey and are part of a larger support system. It will remain a part of our program indefinitely.”

The Abbey also sent the baseball coaching staff to the World Baseball Coaches Convention in January and volleyball head coach John Huynh attended the Gold Medal Squares coach’s clinic in May. Additionally, a revised coaches handbook and John Huynh serves on the faculty and as head coach for girls’ volleyball.

ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

The benefits of the “teacher-coach model” and involvement in Raven athletics yield results beyond the fields of Portsmouth. Whether as a collegiate athlete or later in the working world, many alumni have drawn on their knowledge and experiences from the Abbey long after they have left. Caitlin Villareal Kenahan ’12 enjoyed a sensational collegiate career in lacrosse at Saint Anselm College where she was a four-time Northeast 10 Second Team All-Conference selection and led her team to its first NCAA tournament bid in 2014. She also played for the Boston Storm in the United Women’s Lacrosse League, the first professional women’s lacrosse league in the United States. Now the head coach of the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University women’s lacrosse team, Villareal Kenahan credits her experience as a Raven with helping her grow as an athlete, teammate and coach. “You have the opportunity to participate in three different sports which makes you such a well-rounded athlete,” she said. “Everyone has the one sport they want to focus on, but having to learn others and maybe not be the star in another sport really helped me grow as an athlete and made me a better lacrosse player.

Being a role player in another sport helped me become a better teammate and understand the game much more. It all translates to me now as a coach, too. I try to talk to my freshman athletes who might not be playing and explain how everyone has a role on a team. That’s part of being a successful college athlete. Be coachable, have a great attitude, and work to fill whatever role the team needs you to fill. It doesn’t mean you need to be complacent in that role, but accept your role and work every day on getting better. I really feel like I learned so much of that through my experience of being a Raven and it helped me in my career. Now, I want so badly to get that message through to my student-athletes.” It is a message that Connor Baughan ’17 echoed when speaking to parents during the School’s 2023 Winter Family Weekend panel, Athletics at the Abbey and Beyond. Baughan was joined by fellow Raven alumni Dr. Gus Gleason ’07, Taylor Lough ’15 and Claire Davidson ’16. “Challenge and success go hand-in-hand,” said Baughan. After playing successfully in an offensive position throughout his four years at the Abbey, he suddenly found himself being moved to a defensive midfielder position

“Be coachable, have a great attitude, and work to fill whatever role the team needs you to fill. It doesn’t mean you need to be complacent in that role, but accept your role and work every day on getting better. I really feel like I learned so much of that through my experience of being a Raven and it helped me in my career. Now, I want so badly to get that message through to my student-athletes.” Caitlin Villareal Kenahan ’12 is the head coach of the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University women’s lacrosse team.

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— CAITLIN VILLAREAL KENAHAN ’12

(L-R) Gus Gleason ’07, Connor Baughan ’17, Claire Davidson ’16 and Taylor Lough ’15 were panelists during the Winter Family Weekend presentation “Athletics at the Abbey and Beyond.”

in college at Bentley University. “This was a mental challenge for me—a reality check. I looked in the mirror and told myself that I could either fold to the idea that defense was for those who were not good enough to play offense and score, or I could become the best at the position I was asked to play,” he recalled. “This mindset came from my parents and my time at the Abbey.” His determination led to him being named a senior captain, a Division II All-America FirstTeam selection by the U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association, USA Lacrosse Magazine’s AllAmerica SecondTeam and “short stick” Defensive Midfielder of the Year. He now works as an analyst for the lifestyle brand Vineyard Vines. “Being a Raven doesn’t just challenge you on the field, but in all areas of life,” said Frank Holbrook ’08. “I was pushed more in the classroom than I was willing to admit at that time. In a smaller classroom, you can’t blend in and slip through the cracks; the teachers are on top of your performance. The Abbey exposed me to people from different backgrounds from all over the country and even the world,” He added. “When I was in college, but even after in the working world, learning how to relate to and work with people who had different experiences than me was important. The time management skills can’t be understated either. Balancing your athletics, academics and social aspects of life and how it all fits together. I saw

“Being a Raven doesn’t just challenge you on the field, but in all areas of life.” — FRANK HOLBROOK ’O8

Frank Holbrook ’08 is the manager for the Newport Gulls in the New England Collegiate Baseball League, the former head baseball coach at Rhode Island College and the assistant coach at Northeastern University. ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

some kids get bogged down and overwhelmed in the first year of college because they had not been held to the same standards that the Abbey expects.”

received All-NESCAC honors for squash and served as team captain. She graduated with a degree in psychology and now works as a research lead for Mindset Health.

Holbrook attended Wheaton College earning a degree in philosophy in 2013. He helped Wheaton’s baseball team earn four regular season NEWMAC titles and season championships, four NCAA appearances and a secondplace finish in the 2012 College World Series. He also serves as Manager for the Newport Gulls of the New England Collegiate Baseball League during the summer and is a former Gulls player. He was selected as the manager for the East Team in the NECBL’s 2023 All-Star game in July and was named the league’s Manager of the Year after leading the Gulls to the NECBL championship.

“Playing a college sport is year-round,” said Taylor Lough ’15. “With competitions, training and post-season conditioning, a lot goes into being a college athlete. That isn’t easy without having had three full athletic seasons behind you—so I was prepared. Still, having the right conditioning program and knowing what conditioning truly means was something I had to learn. It isn’t just about working out.” During her four years at Portsmouth Abbey, Lough was captain of the field hockey, basketball and lacrosse teams. She continued her education at Bates College, where she played field hockey and earned a degree in mathematics. She is now a sales representative for HubSpot, a technology company that builds marketing and other management services platforms.

Dr. Gus Gleason ’07, also a three-sport athlete for the Ravens and a former decathlete at Division I Fordham University, serves as a lieutenant in the medical corps of the U.S. Navy Reserve and is currently the chief resident of trauma and general surgery at Tufts Medical Center. “The whole boarding school experience, specifically at the Abbey, requiring sports and having to do three sports, it’s a unique experience,” said Gleason. “The other part is that it builds a framework for approaching a lot of team-based activities, not just in athletics. It builds the discipline that translates to finding success in college and then in work. Obviously, I connected it with the military and then with my job as a surgeon. It permeates throughout everything” he added. “I learned a lot about how to lose,” commented Claire Davidson ’16 when talking about the value of being a three-sport athlete and how it prepared her for playing at the collegiate level and life beyond the Abbey. Davidson was a standout student competing in cross country, squash and tennis. The squash court is where she really excelled, playing as the “number one” on the Raven team all four years and placing in the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Championship three times. “When you excel at one sport, that can sometimes go to your head. Learning how to lose at other sports allows you to turn those losses into lessons and then to learn how to win humbly at more than just your sport,” Davidson shared. After graduating from Portsmouth Abbey, she had a successful athletic career at Tufts University, where she

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

When deciding where to go to college and whether to pursue athletics at the collegiate level, these Raven alumni agreed that students should start by asking simple questions and trusting themselves. “Ask yourself if you feel like all aspects of your life are going to improve there, whether it’s socially, academically, athletically, spiritually or mentally,” advised Gleason. “Can you really be successful without one of those components being there?” “Find where you are happiest,” said Villareal Kenahan. “It’s cliché, but it’s like the broken leg test. If you get injured and can’t play anymore, are you still going to be happy with where you’ve chosen to go to school and what you’re studying? Because you’re a student-athlete, not an athlete-student, you need to choose where you can be successful in both. Someday the playing career will end. Be honest with yourself about your expectations as an athlete and where you can thrive as a student too.” Many of the lessons learned at the Abbey that helped guide these Ravens through their collegiate days have also stuck with them as they carry on those same messages and values to their present work. “I like to say that surgery is the ultimate team sport,” said Gleason. “I was driven to surgery because of my time at the Abbey with athletics. The surgeon I work

Gus Gleason ’07 discusses the benefits of the Abbey experience, life as a Division I athlete and how skills developed early-on translate into the working world.

with is my “coach.” The other residents I work with are my “captains”; the other “teammates” are my nurses, scrub techs, et cetera. Athletics teaches you that you can’t do anything alone successfully. You need a support group, and a lot of times that must come from the people you work with or the team you’re on, and that all comes from the Abbey.”

we can provide the best possible teachercoaches, programs and facilities to help our students accomplish all they are capable of. We’ve done a great job with teacher-coaches and programs over the years, but some of our facilities are lacking. Our plans for upgrading the track and the fitness center are best in class, but we desperately need a new field house and baseball field. We will be working hard over the next few years with our alumni and other parts of our community to see these become a reality as well.”

“Athletics teaches you that you can’t do anything alone successfully. You need a support group, and a lot of times that must come from the people you work with or the team you’re on, and that all comes from the Abbey.” — GUS GLEASON ’07

“I’m very competitive, and everyone likes to win, but I learned under my coaches how to go about it the right way. How to win and lose in a mature and humble way,” stated Holbrook. “The importance of treating others with respect whether things are going your way or not, that philosophy rubbed off on me at the Abbey, and it hit home with me again as a coach.” ”Portsmouth Abbey is a School where the multi-sport student-athlete thrives, not only on the field of competition but in other aspects of life as well,” said Head of School Matt Walter. “Our challenge as a community is to ensure

Portsmouth Abbey School is poised to provide a missiondriven experience for students through athletics for years to come, knowing that investments now and in the future will continue to foster human excellence from generation to generation.

ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

ATHLETICS Boys’ Varsity Track and Field Wins NEPSTA DIVISION III Championship and EIL Championship with Undefeated Season

Girls’ Varsity Softball Wins EIL Championship and Remains Undefeated in EIL Regular Season

The Portsmouth Abbey Boys’ Track and Field team pulled off an

who defeated Dana Hall on May 13 by a score of 13-1 to bring

undefeated season this past spring, culminating in first-place

home yet another undefeated EIL regular season championship.

finishes at the EIL Championship and the NEPSTA Division III

Danielle Longuemare ’23 had a no-hitter in performances

Championship. The leadership of the captains and other Sixth-

perfect for Senior Day, pitching all five innings and allowing

Form athletes was crucial to the team’s success. Captain Obi

0 earned runs on 0 hits. She also struck out seven batters.

Onwudiwe ’23 broke the school record in the triple jump during

Erin McNamara ’23 led the offense going 2-3 with a double,

the season and then won that event in both championship meets

an HR and five RBIs. Ashtyn Bringardner ’23 went 2-3 with

and scored in the high jump and shot put. Captain Sawyer

two doubles and two RBIs. Sarah Edwards ’23 went 1-3 with a

Robinson ’23 was the team’s strongest performer in both the

double and an RBI, and Cassidy Cross ’23 went 1-3 with 2 RBIs.

Thirteen must be a lucky number for the Raven softball team,

400 and the pole vault. Captain Dahmaux Kouassi-Brou ’23 competed in javelin, high jump, and the 400. He completed a 1-2-3 sweep of the high jump, which was the most crucial element in

Boys’ Varsity Baseball Brings Home Third EIL Championship in Four Seasons

the team’s victory. Bernard Dushie ’23 broke the school record

Following back-to-back EIL Championships in 2018 and 2019,

in the high jump during the season and then won that event at the NEPSTA meet, making him a back-to-back champion in that event. Jermaine Anson ’23, the team’s top sprinter, came through in a big way at the NEPSTA meet. He outperformed his projected finish by six places in the 100 meters and pulled off a gamechanging second-place finish while managing a solid fourth place in the 200. Max Osei-Assibey ’24 scored in both the high hurdles and triple jump. Last but certainly not least, Osi Onwudiwe ’25 was the top points scorer (narrowly edging out his older brother for the honor). He won both hurdles events, making him one of the rare double-event winners at the meet. Onwudiwe had only begun his career in hurdles a few weeks before, making it an especially

the Boys’ Varsity Baseball Team brought home its third EIL Championship in four seasons with a 12–0 victory against Bancroft School on May 17. The team finished an impressive 6-1 in the increasingly deep EIL. The Ravens’ pitching overpowered the Bulldog hitters, as Mitch Canuel ’25 and freshman Andrew Foley ’26 struck out 13 of a possible 15 batters in combining on the shutout. The Abbey offense was led by Matthew Parella ’23, who went three for three with three runs scored and two RBIs. Drew Pepi ’24 and Levi Maguire ’25 also enjoyed multiple-hit and multiple-RBI afternoons. Jesus Gonzalez ’25 contributed his first career hit.

impressive achievement. The team showed determination throughout the season, which was made even more clear by their resilience despite monsoon conditions at the NEPSTA meet. It’s not easy to high jump in a puddle or sprint in waterlogged shoes, but the Ravens got the

Photos: 1

The boys’ track team poses with Head of School Matt Walter after presenting him with the NEPSTA Division Championship plaque.

Obi Onwudiwe ‘23 broke the school record in the triple jump and won the event in both the EIL and NEPSTA championship meets.

The 2023 Girls’ Varsity Softball Champions.

The baseball team presents Head of School Matt Walter with the EIL Championship trophy.

job done. It was a magical season, and it is hard to imagine being able to repeat its success in the near future. Returning male athletes will certainly try to prove that they can carry on a winning tradition. Meanwhile, the girls’ team has been on the rise for several seasons, and they have a great opportunity to take home a Top 3 finish in the league next season and hopefully, another championship.

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

4 ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

ATHLETICS

3 Photos:

Matthew Parella ’23 pitches at historic Cardines Field during a game against the Dragons.

Danielle Longuemare ’23 at bat for the Ravens.

Alessandra Cristiani ’24 won 12 of her 13 matches during the 2023 season.

EIL Players and Coaches of the Year

Alessandra Cristiani ’24 was named a Boston Herald

The Ravens were well-represented at the top of the Eastern

All-Scholastic for girls’ varsity tennis. Playing at number one

Independent League for the spring season. In addition to three league championships and the New England Championship in boys’ track and field, the following players and coaches earned

singles, she had an outstanding record winning 12 of her 13 matches. Over the 13 matches, she only dropped 28 games, a superlative effort. While offensive play is key, Cristiani’s defensive

high praise for their performances on and off the field.

play was some of the best in the league, a facet of the game not

Baseball:

captain for the 2023 team, she will lead the Ravens again as a

EIL Player of the Year: Matthew Parella ’23 Coach of the Year: Derek Gittus

Softball: EIL Player of the Year: Danielle Longuemare ’23 Coach of the Year: Elliott Moffie

Tennis:

often appreciated and something she should be proud of. A tritri-captain in 2024. Danielle (Dani) Longuemare ’23 was named a Boston Herald All-Scholastic for girls’ varsity softball. A powerhouse on the mound, she capped off her senior day on May 13 against Dana Hall with a no-hitter, pitching all five innings and allowing 0 earned runs on 0 hits. She also struck out seven batters. In a game against

EIL Player of the Year: Alessandra Cristiani ’24

Tabor Academy the day before, she again earned the win, pitching

Track and Field:

went 4-5 with a double, her first career home run and five RBIs. Her

EIL Player of the Year: Obi Onwudiwe ’23 Coaches of the Year: Nick Micheletti ’04 and Allie Micheletti ’05

Ravens Named Boston Herald All-Scholastics Ashtyn Bringardner ’23 was selected as a Boston Herald All-Scholastic in girls’ ice hockey after finishing the season with 22 goals and 26 assists and being named the EIL Player of the Year, All EIL team member and All NEPSAC Second Team selection. For her career, she had 37 goals and 43 assists for 80 points in three seasons. She will continue her career on the ice playing for the Salve Regina University Seahawks in Newport, Rhode Island.

all five innings and allowing one earned run on four hits. She also total ERA was 2.10 for the season. The third hitter on the team, with 43 plate appearances, Longuemare had 14 runs, 18 hits, and 18 RBIs. She plays ice hockey at SUNY Plattsburgh. Obi Onwudiwe ’23 earned a spot on the Boston Herald All-Scholastic boys’ track and field team. A key undefeated New England Championship team member, Onwudiwe finished a tremendous career by placing first in the triple jump, second in the high jump and sixth in the shot put. He dominated at the EIL championship a week earlier, breaking his school record by winning the triple jump with a distance of 44’2½”. He also won the high jump at 6’0” and the Shot Put with a 42’10¾”. Onwudiwe now attends Purdue University.

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

Matt Parella ’23 Earns Boston Globe, Boston Herald and New England Baseball Journal Honors Matthew Parella ’23 followed his brothers Peter (Class of 2019) and Joey (Class of 2021) to the Raven diamond and enjoyed an outstanding senior season that ended with him being named the EIL Player of the Year as well as a Boston Globe and Boston Herald All-Scholastic for baseball. Additionally, he was named an All-NEPSAC Class C and earned First-Team All-New England Baseball Journal honors. When asked about the 2-year captain’s performance, coach Derek Gittus commented, “In this era where we have an increasing number of Pitcher Only (POs), he not only dominated on the mound, but he led us in every offensive category, including a .449 average, 1.226 OPS, 22 hits, and ten extra-base hits.” As noted in a New England

Ravens Commit to College Athletic Programs Congratulations to the following Raven athletes who have committed to playing at the college level: Jermaine Anson

Bates College

Football

Muhammed Bajinka

College of Wooster

Football/Lacrosse

Ashtyn Bringardner

Salve Regina University

Ice Hockey

Sofia Cebrero

Rivier University

Lacrosse

Sara DeSousa

Merrimack University

Field Hockey

Bella DiReda

Assumption University

Ice Hockey

Aidan Duffy

Union College

Basketball

Spring Sports Awards

Bernard Dushie

University of Rochester

Basketball

It was a season to remember with a New

Will Hurlbut

Roger Williams University

Tennis

Luke Kenahan

Mass. Maritime Academy

Sailing

and softball, record-setting performances,

Dani Longuemare

SUNY Plattsburgh

Ice Hockey

and wins over the Dragons in multiple sports.

Jack Lucey

Union College

Lacrosse

our athletes supported and encouraged each

Matt Parella

Rhode Island College

Baseball

other. Our Spring Sports Award recipients

Garrett Roskelly

Elmira College

Wrestling

cannot wait to see what their future holds.

Bridget Sachs

College of the Holy Cross

Track and Field

To view all award recipients please visit

Teghan Torrey

Hobart and William Smith Colleges Tennis

Joe Verderber

Skidmore College

Baseball Journal article in July, Parella struck out 51 batters in 36 innings with a strikeoutto-walk ratio of 51:12 and is only the second Raven to win the EIL Player of the Year award in the team’s 15 years in the league. He has committed to Rhode Island College. “I chose Rhode Island College because it is local and has an excellent program,” Parella said in his interview with NEBJ. “

England Championship win in boys’ track and field and EIL Championships in baseball

Even more memorable were the many ways

were leaders both on and off the field, and we

https://www.portsmouthabbey.org/learn/ athletics/athletic-awards-2023.

Lacrosse

ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

ATHLETICS Alumni Athletic News Rorke Applebee ’22 Joins NCAA with Commitment to Lake Superior State University

one loss in the post-season. Holbrook earned accolades as the

The Central Canada Hockey League and Ottawa Junior Senators

following the Gulls’ win in August.

announced earlier this year that Raven alumni Rorke Applebee ’22 committed to join the NCAA to play Men’s Ice Hockey for the Lakers of Lake Superior State University for the 2024-2025 season. Applebee went 24-2-3 with a 2.07 GAA, .934 SV%, and 3 shutouts in 2022-23 with Ottawa, being named a 2nd Team All-Star. He would then go 12-2-3 in the playoffs to help the Junior Senators capture their fourth-straight Bogart Cup title while being named Playoff MVP.

Margot Appleton ’21 Takes Bronze in the NCAA National Championship A sophomore at the University of Virginia, Margot Appleton ’21, the current Atlantic Coast Conference champion in the 1500m, reached the NCAA final for the second time in her career after placing fourth in the mile at the indoor championships in March. Competing in a loaded field of runners in the 1500m race on June 10, she clocked a time of 4:09.30 – less than a second off her personal best. Appleton became the fifth Cavalier to earn All-American honors in program history and the first in the event to record All-American honors since 2009. This was an impressive breakout season for Appleton, who earned All-American honors in the indoor mile and achieved All-Southeast region in cross country.

Frank Holbrook ’08 Named NECBL Manager of the Year In a full circle moment, Frank Holbrook ’08 stood by the Fay Vincent Cup trophy on August 8, reflecting on his journey from local host family kid and bat boy for the New England Collegiate Baseball League’s Newport Gulls, to a player on the championship team in 2012, and to the manager of the 2023 NECBL Championship team. “For me, it’s a bit different,” said Holbrook when asked how he felt about coaching the team that ended nine years between championships. “Having grown up here as a bat boy, host family, player and assistant, it’s surreal. To be in this role with these guys has been pretty cool. I am proud of these guys.” The team dominated the season, remaining in first place with just

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

coach for the East Team in the 2023 All-Star game and was named the New England Collegiate Baseball League Manager of the Year

Tony Hooks ’19 One of Six Nominated to Represent NESCAC for Division III Award Six athletes from the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) institutions were nominated for the Division III Commissioners Association Men’s Sport Student-Athlete of the Year Award, including Tony Hooks ’19, a 2023 graduate of Bates College. The award recognizes graduating student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service, and leadership. Hooks is one of 89 Senior Scholar Award-winners who participated in varsity sports for four years and maintained a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or better. He graduated with a degree in politics, a concentration in political economy and a minor in Africana, earning a GPA of 3.74. He was also a College Sports Communicators Football Academic All-District selection, winner of the Bates Senior Scholar Award and the Charles A. Dana Scholar Award. A two-time MVP for the Bobcats’ football team, Hooks was named to the All-NESCAC First Team Defense twice and led the conference in tackles as a junior and senior. He was a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy given out by the National Football Foundation and honored with the Scholar Athlete Award by the Maine Chapter of the National Football Foundation. The Gridiron Club of Greater Boston presented Hooks with the Nils V. “Swede” Nelson Award. He recently visited campus to speak with the football team before returning to London to work for Fidelity Investments.

Sebastian Gonzalez Heads Boys’ Varsity Soccer Sebastian Gonzalez has been tapped to lead the boys’ varsity soccer program. A former semi-pro player from Florida, Gonzalez also has experience as a trainer specializing in player development. At Portsmouth Abbey, he teaches Algebra and Spanish and is a houseparent in St. Hugh’s House.

Coach Milmoe’s Top 10 Raven Moments From 2022–2023 At the end of each season, Athletic Director Chris Milmoe announces his top 10 Raven moments spent with athletes, coaches and fans during special assemblies. Here are some of the favorites.

Zachery Cappelli Joins the Ravens as Boys’ Varsity Ice Hockey Head Coach Zachery Cappelli officially began his tenure as the Portsmouth Abbey School Boys’ Varsity Ice Hockey Coach on July 1. A graduate of Becker College in Worcester, Massachusetts, he has previously seen success as a head coach and assistant coach at the independent school and collegiate levels. An experienced leader in youth training and development, he has worked with students aged 12 to 25 to build their skills and knowledge of the game and to understand the importance of conditioning and specialized cultivation of personal strengths and skill sets. Cappelli previously served as the Assistant Men’s Hockey Coach at Nichols College, where he recruited student-athletes from North America and Europe to play hockey and helped lead the Bison to the 2023 Boston Landing Championship and the 2022 Worcester Cup Championship. Before his collegiate experience, he was the assistant coach at Winchendon School (NEPSAC) and the head coach and assistant athletic director at Hoosac School (NEPSAC), where his team captured the Holt Conference Championship.

10. Being in the support boat with the sailing team for the regatta versus Tabor. I learned so much from hearing Luke Kenahan ’23, Jonathan Kamdani ’23, Mary Davidson ’24 and Jancy Grayson ’24 discuss the strategies and moves needed to win a race. What a beautiful sport to be a part of.

9. The regular season volleyball game against Cushing Academy. To see the student body go absolutely crazy to support the girls’ varsity volleyball team was a sight to behold.

8. Dancing in the locker room after the boys’ varsity ice hockey win over St. George’s in OT and the boys’ varsity lacrosse team after the victory over Kimball Union Academy. I don’t dance a lot, but I had to join these celebrations.

7. New events like Signing Day for the college commits and the Homecoming Pep Rally. Seeing so many fellow students come out and support those Ravens that will continue competing at the collegiate level was a lot of fun. I love the enthusiasm that exists in this student body. I can’t tell you how many times after the rally I told the story, “And then this kid came in dressed as Moses and he parted the Red Sea of students and led them all out to the bonfire.”

6. The one-two punches on the girls’ tennis team and the girls’ golf team. Alessandra Cristiani ’24, Bella No ’24 for girl’s tennis, Kristina Greim ’23, and Carley Costrageni ’23 for girls’ golf. Watching these four women compete with passion, pride, and ability was inspiring and something every Portsmouth Abbey student should strive for.

5. Another combo. The girls’ ice hockey team winning the EIL championship and qualifying for the New England Championship and the girls’ squash team winning a New England Championship. Special thanks to Maggie Whelan ’24 and the girls’ squash team for being supportive and helping me post pictures on Instagram.

4. The awards ceremony at the EIL Championship for cross country. Seeing how close all the runners on the team had become, watching them calculate the results to see if the boys’ team would be victorious and then the Portsmouth Abbey team was announced as champions!

3. The baseball win over Pingree School. Matthew Parella ’23 dealing on the mound, the boys being rowdy in the dugout and Coach Gittus managing it all. That win propelled the baseball team to the EIL Championship.

2. The softball win over Newton Country Day. The team was down a run heading into the bottom of the 7th inning, and Ashtyn Bringardner ’23 and Cassidy Cross ’23 came up to bat like Wonder Woman and Supergirl. They proceed to get on base and score two runs to grab the victory and league championship.

1. Boys’ track and field winning the New England Championship! At the home meet, when I saw Bernard Dushie ’23 break the school high jump record, I spoke with Coach Micheletti, and that was the first time she told me we had a real shot to do it. And then the team did it! And we will be hanging another New England Championship on the wall.

ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

22ND ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP GOLF TOURNAMENT Thank you to our sponsors and players for making the Scholarship Tournament a huge success!

Thank you!

Through your generosity, this event raised more than $110,000 toward scholarships that help provide a Catholic Benedictine education to students for whom this opportunity would otherwise be out of reach.

Save the Date: Friday, June 7, 2024 Patrick Scanlan

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

With appreciation to our sponsors

milestones

births 2006 A girl, Isla Maxine Kandell, to Sebastian Kandell and Isabel Burnham June 16, 2023

2006/2008 A girl, Mary Elizabeth Parker, to John Gray Parker ’06 and Margaret L. Power Parker ’08 July 7, 2023

A girl, Catherine Christina Issa, to Christina and Luke A. Issa April 4, 2023

2010 A boy, Everett Jameson Cooke, to Ashley and William D. Cooke April 25, 2023

A boy, Camden Leonard Moore, to Timothy and Carolynn Taddei Moore November 12, 2022 ’06 | Isabel Burnham’s son Zephyr with sister Isla.

2013 A boy, Coleman Joseph Clark, Jr, to Sydney and Coleman J. Clark July 12, 2023

2011 A boy, James Philip Youngberg, to Maria and Philip O. Youngberg October 31, 2022

weddings 2004/2006 Michael T. Weaver ’04 to Courtney J. Doran ’06 May 17, 2023

2010 Caroline M. D’Amario to James Peach May 27, 2023

2006 Zachary W.C. McCune to Larisa Berger October 2022

2011 Philip O. Youngberg to Maria Powell October 9, 2021

2006/2008 John Gray Parker ’06 to Margaret L. Power ‘08 March 26, 2022

2012 James M. McField to Linda Nguyen December 10, 2022

2009 Horace G. Allen to Syeeda Briddell October 8, 2022

2013 Rhoads W. MacGuire to Isabel M. Keogh July 9, 2023

Rodrigo Bichara to Ximena Richardson March 4, 2023

’04 /’06 | Courtney J. Doran ’06 and Michael Weaver ’04

ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

necrology

Namer J. Gorra ’73 July 9, 2021

Richard J. Ahlborg Grandfather of Kristina L. Greim ‘23 February 27, 2023

Leatrice J. Caval Widow of the late John P. Caval ’58 March 15, 2023

Lois Anderson Mother of Thomas D. Anderson ’73 and Mark E. Anderson ’75 February 9, 2023

Henry J. Coz ’73 Brother of Stephen W. Coz ’75, Thomas L. Coz ’76, and John E. Coz ’80 April 26, 2023

Helen D. Behan Grandmother of Michael J. Behan ’08, Kathleen R. Roussinos ’08, Brigid L. Behan ’11, Garrett C. Behan ’11, Tristan B. Howlett ’15, and Ella K. Howlett ’21 July 26, 2023

A. Jeffrey Denessen Grandfather of Lucia H. McLaughlin ’21 and Caroline R. McLaughlin ‘23 April 22, 2023

Charles M. Holder, Sr. Former Portsmouth Abbey School Basketball Coach August 6, 2023

Anna M. Di Mittino Mother of Marco Di Mittino ’08 January 25, 2023

Laurence L. Lacaillade III ’91 Nephew of Gregory Knox ’65 and M. Geoffrey Knox ’71 May 24, 2023

Claudia H. Bell Mother of Molly M.L. Bell ’12 May 22, 2023

William J. Dowling, Jr. Father of William J. Dowling III ’90 April 5, 2022

John H. K. Belt ’57 Brother of the late Edward S. Belt ’51 August 1, 2023

John G. Ducharme Grandfather of Mark Anstiss ’24 August 13, 2022

Emmett Bonner ’64 Brother of Mark H. Bonner ’65 May 16, 2023 James L. Buckley Father of Peter P. Buckley ’72, James F. Buckley ’73, and William F. Buckley ’76, grandfather of Anna E. Kendrick ’07, James L. Buckley ’08, and Sean T. Buckley ’12, uncle of Christopher T. Buckley ’70 and William H. Buckley ’70, and brother-in-law of the late Richard P. Cooley ’41 August 18, 2023 Carol J. Canty Mother of Jason J. Canty ’89 April 28, 2023

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

Philip M. Duda, Jr. ’85 July 24, 2023 Marcel M. Dursin, Jr. ’49 November 23, 2022 Christine S. Fitzpatrick Mother-in-law of W. Christopher Behnke ’81, grandmother of Mary Greta Behnke ’12, William C. Behnke ’15, and Meghan L. Behnke ’19 December 8, 2022 Patricia A. Fix Mother of K. Christopher Fix ’86 and grandmother of Olivia Vipond ’25 February 28, 2023

James E. Greichen ’49 September 19, 2022 John Owen Habib ’20 April 11, 2023 Paul F. Harkins ’82 September 29, 2022

Jaime A. Hill Argüello ’55 Father of Jaime A. Hill ’88 and Eduardo Hill ’91, brother of the late Harold J. Hill ’61 and Ricardo Hill ’65, brother-in-law of Roberto Mathies ’54, uncle of Juan Marcos Hill ’95, and cousin of the late Eduardo Llach-Hill ’56, Roberto J. Llach-Hill ’58, Eduardo F. Llach ’77, Roberto A. Llach ’85, Marcos Llach ’94 and Diego Llach ’94. March 22, 2023 Jonathan A. Hufstader Former Faculty of Portsmouth Abbey School and former Monk of Portsmouth Abbey June 28, 2023 Carol M. Hunt Mother of Kevin M. Hunt ’70, Peter M. Hunt ’71, James G. Hunt ’83 and sister of the late David J. Meehan ’43 September 9, 2022

Joseph M. Kelly Grandfather of Kelly R. Shea ’16 September 27, 2022 John P. Z. Kent ’58 Brother of the late William J. Kent ’56 June 6, 2023 Eduardo Llach-Hill ’56 Father of Eduardo F. Llach ’77, brother of Roberto J. Llach-Hill ’58, and uncle of Roberto A. Llach ’85, Marcos Llach ’94 and Diego Llach ’94, and cousin of the late Jamie A. Hill ’55, the late Harold J. Hill ’61, Ricardo Hill ’65, Jamie A. Hill ’88, Eduardo Hill ’91, and Juan Marcos Hill ’95 September 30, 2022 Brian A. McLaughlin ’60 July 3, 2023 Creighton McShane ’50 Brother of the late Gordon McShane ’41, uncle of the late Bruce W. McShane ’68, Bryan McShane ’71, and former Board of Directors member Devin McShane, great-uncle of Kelley T. McShane ’05, Parker M. Barry ’09 and Mary T. Barry ’11 July 3, 2023 James V. Minor III ’65 April 1, 2023 Marion Craig Morrison Mother of Alexandra P. Morrison ’15 and Jacqueline C. Morrison ’18, sister of Grenville V. Craig ’59 and Franklin C. Craig ’76, and aunt of Cristina M. Wurster ’98, Karina V. Craig Pinder ’01, and Cedric V. Craig ‘07 March 19, 2023

Carroll Moulton ’64 March 1, 2023 Philip V. Moyles, Sr. Father of Philip V. Moyles, Jr. ’82 and grandfather of Philip V. Moyles III ’22 February 2, 2023 James A. Murphy, Sr. Grandfather of Taryn E. Murphy O’Connell ’12, Madison McCann ’16, and James A. Murphy ’19 June 12, 2023 Joan M. Ostendorf Widow of the late Edgar L. Ostendorf, Jr. ’52 December 20, 2022 Richard S. Phelps ’58 August 2, 2022

Charles J. Ritter Father of Paul J. Ritter ’01 May 12, 2022 Irene J. Salerno Mother of Steven F. Salerno ’85 February 28, 2023 Geoffrey J. Schmidt ’67 Brother of Clinton L. Schmidt ’66 May 31, 2023

Jaime Urrutia ’60 Father of Francisco J. Urrutia ’87, Manuel L. Urrutia ’90, and Nicolas Urrutia ’98, brother of the late Jorge Urrutia ’52 and the late Francisco A. Urrutia ’67, and grandfather of Mauricio Posada ’11, Luisa Posada ’13, and Laura Posada ’14. May 1, 2023

note from the editor: The In Memoriam section that follows was inadvertently omitted from the last issue

Stratford C. Wallace Father of Stratford C. Wallace ’88 and uncle of Andrew F. Wallace ’92 October 10, 2022

of the Bulletin. We have

James Solomon Father of Nicholas Solomon ’19 November 24, 2022

Paul Wankowicz ’43 January 26, 2023

from the Portsmouth Abbey

James G. Stier ’46 Father of Kenneth J. Stier ’74 January 3, 2023

Thomas F. Weld ’55 Brother of the late William G. Weld, Jr. ’49 September 24, 2022

Dong Su Shon Grandfather of David Shon ’22 and Jennifer Shon ’23 March 2023

included the omissions in this issue. We respectfully remember these individuals Community.

ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

R IN MEMORY OF CREIGHTON MCSHANE ’50 (1931-2023)

A gentleman among gentlemen, Creighton McShane, was born

Moving and Storage Association and was co-founder of Data

on March 10, 1931 to Katherine and Edward C.J. McShane in

Protection Inc., an organization that stored and backed up

New York City. He graduated from Buckley Country Day School

corporate computer media in a secure facility and provided clients

and was a member of the Portsmouth Abbey Class of 1950.

with disaster recovery systems.

He spent his youth in Great Neck, New York and later lived in Locust Valley, New York for more than 50 years, followed by Winter Harbor, Maine and Vero Beach, Florida.

Dedication to his faith was the guiding principle of Creighton’s life, and his devotion to Louise was known to all. Portsmouth Abbey also held a special place in his heart. He sincerely

He passed away on July 3, 2023, in Vero Beach at 92. His wife

appreciated the education he received. Along with his brother,

of 57 years, Louise Parry McShane, was at his side, along with

the late Gordon McShane ’41, Creighton established a long-

their three daughters, Suzanne, Margot and Nina. His eight

standing affiliation with the School that has spanned generations.

adoring grandchildren also survive him. A ninth grandchild,

He was the uncle of the late Bruce W. McShane ‘60 and Bryan

Creighton Funke, preceded him in death three months prior

McShane ‘71 and the great-uncle of Kelley T. McShane ‘05,

at 21. They shared the same birthday, and young

Parker M. Barry ‘09 and M. Tiernan Barry ‘11.

Creighton was named after his grandfather.

“Creighton was one of those ‘best generation’ figures. He was always eagerly interested in the

Commissioned as a Deck Officer in the U.S. Navy

goings on of the School and the Monastery,”

after graduating from Columbia University,

remarked Brother Joseph Byron, who often

Creighton served his nation in the latter part of

visited with Creighton when traveling to Florida.

the Korean War. For several decades, he was the Owner/Agent of Allied Van Lines, specializing in

“He was the definition of a lovely guy,” shared

relocating domestic and overseas corporate

his niece, Devin McShane P’09 ‘11, a member of

clients. He served as Chairman of the National

the Board of Directors. “He was an unassuming, Yearbook photo1950.

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

generous and thoughtful man with an irreverent sense of humor that was always grounded in affection. Reliable in all things and an excellent listener, his life was a testament to his willingness to commit his time and attention to others. He loved Portsmouth Abbey School, hosting gatherings in Vero Beach for many years. He was unfailingly engaged and curious about what was happening at the School and the Monastery. His authenticity and lack of pretension were hallmarks of his character, and I can see him rolling his eyes and hear him saying, “Devin, take it down a notch!!” We loved him so very much and are so grateful that we had him with us for as long as we did.” Creighton’s unwavering integrity and quiet, caring ways were respected by those who knew him, especially his grandchildren. These traits also made him well-suited for the court-appointed role of Guardian Ad Litem, representing abused and neglected children in the 19th Circuit (East Mid-Florida), a position he took upon retiring and held for 21 years. Additionally, he served on two financial committees in the Catholic Diocese of Palm Beach for many years. At Portsmouth, Creighton was involved with the Glee Club, the Beaverboard newspaper, and several other student organizations. He also played football and tennis, a sport which he continued throughout his lifetime. He was an enthusiastic golfer and a diehard New York Giants fan. He read extensively, swam, skied and was an avid sailor. He also loved a turn on the dance floor. His sharp sense of humor was treasured by all who knew him best.

Creighton and Louise posed with the 2022 Summer issue of The Bulletin while enjoying an apéritif sent from Brother Joseph.

“Creighton was kind, generous and a good friend. Everyone who knew him misses him. He represents the best of what we do here,” said Brother Joseph. “May God grant him eternal joy and peace.”

R Portsmouth Abbey extends its prayers and condolences to the McShane family.

ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

R IN MEMORY OF JAIME A. HILL ARGÜELLO (1945-2022)

Jaime Hill Argüello ’55 was a businessman and philanthropist who founded the Anti-drug Foundation of El Salvador (Fundasalva) in 1988 for the comprehensive prevention of drug addiction with treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration programs. He directed the foundation with the help of his daughter, now El Salvadoran Foreign Minister Alexandra Hill Tinoco. He passed away at the age of 85 on March 22, 2023 and is remembered by his beloved family members, including his sons Jaime ’88 and Eduardo ’91. Mr. Argüello was born in 1938 in San Salvador, El Salvador to a family dedicated to producing and exporting coffee. After graduating from Portsmouth in 1955, he went on to study economics at the University of Pennsylvania and graduated in 1960. According to an article written about Mr. Argüello, he held important business and public positions throughout his career, including councilor in the San Salvador mayor’s office between 2015 and 2018 during the administration of the current President. The Legislative Assembly dedicated a moment of silence in his memory in the plenary session on March 22. His son Eduardo Hill ’91 shared memories and sentiments from himself and his siblings. He wrote, “In every story that my Dad told, either to us, his grandsons or friends, he always spoke about the Abbey, his Abbey, where his eyes sparkled and his whole soul turned into a smile. The Abbey made him the person he turned out to be.” Mr. Hill recalls a favorite story of his father’s, having been dropped off

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

at 11 years old and feeling lost, but only for a minute. “After that, he felt like he was home. The priests, the faculty and his friends gave them a sense of belonging, a sense of being and a sense of purpose.” At the Abbey, Mr. Argüello was a prefect in “the Barn.” A note from his teachers in the 1955 Yearbook reads, “Five years ago a very small, wide-eyed boy, incapable of a single word of English, set up housekeeping in the Barn. Jaime quickly overcame [this] and was on his way to great things.” An active member of campus, he played tennis and varsity baseball, captained the varsity soccer and basketball teams, and was a sports editor for the Raven magazine, and more. The note continues, “Despite his size he captained both varsity soccer and basketball and was respected and admired by those he

A file photo of an address by Jaime Hill Arguello ’55 was

led. A large part of each team’s success can be ascribed

published by Diario El Salvador upon news of his passing.

to his spirit and ability.” Mr. Hill shared how his father truly loved the Abbey, mentioning its impact on his life often. He wrote, “He was engaged in every single activity of the Abbey. My dad’s faith also grew at the Abbey… because of the love that he got from the priests and from the community; a faith that remained with him until the last day of his life. My dad’s principles, vision, social consciousness and philanthropy made a difference in our country of El Salvador. He is remembered for his kindness, for his commitment to the poorest of the poor, and especially for helping drug addicts and alcoholics, making a difference in thousands of peoples’ lives and returning hope to their families.”

Mr. Jaime Hill Argüello ’55, former Councilor and founder of the Anti-Drug Secretariat of the Mayor’s Office of San Salvador, accepts an award for helping to positively transform the lives of thousands of Salvadorans.

R Portsmouth Abbey sends its prayers and condolences to the Hill Argüello family.

ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

R IN MEMORY OF CHRISTOPHER OGDEN ’62 (1945-2022)

“As he plans hopefully for the future and reviews his well-rounded

career at Portsmouth, we are confident that the youthful Mr. Ogden will continue to be a superb American citizen.”

– EXCERPT FROM THE 1962 GREGORIAN YEARBOOK

Christopher “Chris” Bennet Ogden ’62 was an accomplished

wit and sportsmanship. John Newlan ’62, describes Chris as, “a

author, photographer and senior journalist for TIME Magazine.

sensitive, insightful and gentle person.” Looking back on his

He was born in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1945, to Michael J.

teammate, John writes, “To me, Chris was the MVP of our

Ogden, a prominent journalist and managing editor of the

basketball teams for our junior and senior years. That’s not

Providence Journal, and Agga Bennett Ogden. He tragically

because he led the team in scoring, rebounds, or assists. In fact,

passed away on August 27, 2022 near his home in Kalaheo on

one could probably count on both hands the number of game

the island of Kauai at the age of 77. He is remembered by his

time minutes Chris accumulated over two seasons. He was a

wife of 22 years, Linda Fuselier, his son, Michael, and his family,

superb practice player. He sacrificed himself for the good of the

his daughter, Margaret, and the alumni at Portsmouth Abbey

team by playing hard at every practice, even when he knew he’d

School.

ride the bench at the next game. He laughed, encouraged, and drove the starting five to greater

“I knew Chris before Chris was as tall as he

heights. He’s a big reason why we won the Rhode

became,” writes John Reid ’62, a childhood friend

Island Prep School title as seniors. The tongue-in-

who recalls growing up with Chris as classmates at

cheek informal photo he posted on his page in

Henry Barnard School, and eventually at the Abbey.

the yearbook spoke to that.”

“Chris was a true lifelong friend,” he writes.

Speaking of the 1962 Gregorian, a review from

A prefect in the “New” House, Chris played multiple

his classmates reads, “Foggie has remained a

sports including varsity basketball, track and

mainstay of Priory football for two years by

football. He was respected by many for his integrity, Yearbook photo 1962.

TOP: Chris and his wife Linda.

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

holding down the difficult left tackle position. In fact, his fame

Class Agent Dr. Geza Serenyi ’62 says, “I have vivid memories of

has spread so far that upon occasion even the Providence Journal

Chris since we started to have mini-reunions via Zoom. I will

has mentioned him on its editorial page. Despite Chris’ obvious

always remember him as an incredibly articulate, kind, and

ability, we can still vividly recall his never-to-be-forgotten fumble

thoughtful person who wanted to have us focus on what is really

one yard away from a touchdown as an eager J.V. fullback…As

important during the last quarter of our lives.” Speaking on the

he plans hopefully for the future and reviews his well-rounded

mini-reunions, Serenyi says he could always rely on Chris to bring

career at Portsmouth, we are confident that the youthful Mr.

out the best in others. He reflects, “I was always astounded by

Ogden will continue to be a superb American citizen.”

his genuine love of Portsmouth and his desire to make sure that

Chris did just that. He went on to study at Yale University, graduating in 1966, after which he served as an Army Intelligence

Portsmouth would continue to instill in current students the strong set of moral values that he learned at the school.”

Officer in the Vietnam War. He began his career as an

Fellow journalist Julia Langdon met Chris in 1985 outside the

international correspondent at UPI in London and the USSR,

presidential palace in Cairo, where the then British prime minister,

followed by a decades-long career with TIME Magazine, where

Margaret Thatcher, was engaged in talks. After Chris’ passing,

he was the chief diplomatic correspondent and columnist.

she wrote a piece in The Guardian that opened with, “My friend

He also served as TIME’s bureau chief in Chicago and London.

Chris…was one of the most distinguished American journalists

His iconic TIME cover photograph of Soviet author and dissident,

of his generation,” citing “he had all the most important

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in

attributes for success in journalism: he was whip-smart, his prose

Washington, D.C. He authored several biographies including:

was as elegant as his manners, and he had a charm that could

“Maggie”, a profile of UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher;

open doors anywhere in the world.”

“Life of the Party,” a New York Times best-selling biography of Pamela Harriman; and “Legacy,” a multi-generational biography of US business leaders, Moses and Walter Annenberg.

Most importantly to us at Portsmouth, Chris was and always will be a Raven.

His fascination with other countries began in 1953 when, as a 7-year-old boy, he accompanied his parents on a year-long sabbatical in post-WWII Europe.

Circa 1963: Chris in a glider plane in Hawaii with childhood friend and fellow Raven, John Reid ’62.

R Portsmouth Abbey sends its prayers and condolences to the Odgen family.

ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

R IN MEMORY OF CARROLL MOULTON ’64 (1947-2023)

Carroll Moulton ’64 was a descendant of three signers of the

in the Barn. “I was the jock in that co-prefect pair at the

Declaration of Independence: Charles Carroll, Daniel Carroll

Barn,” shared Antoine “Twerp” Maloney. “Carroll was the

(who also signed the Constitution), and John Carroll.

polymath.”

His classmates remember him as someone whose

independence and exceptional intellect were surpassed only by his genuine kindness toward others. Born Daniel Carroll

Stephen Moulton in New York City on July 14, 1947, he passed away suddenly on March 14, 2023, in Nagpur, India.

Barney Phillips ’66 recalled how, despite Carroll’s genius, he was never arrogant and was both revered and respected by students and faculty alike. “Certainly, I, a nerdy, unsophisticated underclassman, was in awe of him,” he wrote in a touching message upon learning of Carroll’s passing. Phillips

A passionate student, Carroll grew up in New York City and

also recalled when Carroll taught Math 5, the advanced

summered in Shinnecock Hills. He loved trains and riding his

placement course, when Father Andrew was indisposed.

bike all over Southampton village. He attended St. David’s and St. Bernard’s Schools in New York before attending

Beta Kappa from Harvard University and Magna

Portsmouth Abbey School, where he was involved

Cum Laude from Yale University, where he

in numerous activities, including cross-country,

obtained his Ph.D. in Classics. He became a

sailing, soccer, debating, the yearbook and the

professor of Classics at Princeton, Oxford, and

Beaverboard newspaper. His “historic talents,” as

Duke Universities. He then started his own

described in the yearbook, found expression in the

business writing and tutoring. He was a choir

Dramatics Club, where his frequent imitations of the

and vestry member of St. John’s Episcopal

faculty “won acclaim from students and teachers

Church in Southampton. His friends will

alike.” His leadership was evident through

remember him as a linguist, a mentor, an

engagement in the Student Council and as a Prefect Yearbook photo 1964.

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

As outlined in his obituary, Carroll graduated Phi

aficionado of opera and classical music, an environmentalist, a cartographer, a numerologist, and a lover of cats. India held special meaning for Carroll. His father, Charles, was a tea taster in Darjeeling for 13 years before his marriage, and his aunt Anita went to India in 1946 as a Sacred Heart nun to work with the Warli tribals. In 1990, Carroll and Ernie J. Hulsey, his spouse and life partner of 45 years, visited the Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh. Nine years later, after more than 200 tiger sightings and multiple excursions throughout the park, they wrote: “Kanha Tiger Reserve: Portrait of an Indian National Park,” which became the national park’s guidebook. In an interview with Indian media, the authors expressed how they thought the park was one

The cover of “Kanha Tiger Reserve: Portrait of an Indian National Park,” written by Carroll Moulton and Ernie J. Hulsey.

of the best places in the world to spot a tiger in the wild and experience the natural beauty of the Indian jungle. “The central dimension of our interest is the park as an institution,” Carroll said. “After all, Kanha and places like it will likely hold the key to the tiger’s survival in this country.” The two lectured in India, Europe, and the United States about saving the tiger and the Indian forest. They built “Chital Haven,” a compound next to the reserve they visited annually. Carroll spent his last days in a place he loved. Pre-deceased by his brother, Charles F. Moulton, he is survived by Deborah, Sarah and Gordon Faux, Clara and Byron Faux, Blaire and Lindsay Baldwin and their children, Campbell and Jones, Ernie J. Hulsey and his family in Georgia, and the Tulis, his family in India.

R The Portsmouth Abbey community extends its prayers and condolences to Carroll’s family and friends.

ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

R IN MEMORY OF MICHAEL OWEN GARVEY ’70 (1951-2022)

Born to Hugh and Jane Garvey in Springfield, Illinois, Michael was

Michael returned to Notre Dame, where he served as assistant

the fifth of nine siblings. His father operated the Templegate

director of news and information for thirty-five years. After his

Press, a noted Catholic publisher. Michael came to the School in

death from complications of lung cancer, his funeral Mass at the

1966 and spent all four years in St. Benet’s under Father Damian’s

Basilica of the Sacred Heart was concelebrated by 25 priests on

care. He excelled in English, edited The Raven, sang in the

the altar and an overflowing congregation. The Gospel reading

Glee Club and was elected Valedictorian. His address at

of the Beatitudes was the same as at Michael and Margaret’s

Commencement in those rather fraught times began, “We have

wedding in Rock Island, Illinois, in 1979. His eulogist remarked

failed.”

on how well trained in the love of words Michael had been at

His wit, wisdom and friendship graced all with whom he connected, from the then newly elected Abbot Matthew to lowly underformers. Peter Tovar ‘72 and David Flanagan ‘72 remember him as the funniest and kindest Fifth Former they encountered. After Portsmouth, Michael attended the University

Portsmouth, especially Hopkins, Yeats, Joyce and Flannery O’Connor, and gave examples of Michael’s infectious humor: “Is your family dysfunctional or just Irish on both sides?” He wrote beautifully and for years had a column in the National Catholic Reporter. Among his books were “Confessions of a Catholic Worker” and “Finding Fault,” an excerpt

of Notre Dame, majoring in English and minoring

from which recounting dinner with Portsmouth

with honors at Corby’s, the campus watering hole,

friends in 1980s New York is printed nearby.

where I had the privilege of observing his social

Christopher Buckley remarked that Michael was

skills in action. In 1977, Michael moved to

the best writer of our time at Portsmouth. He was

Davenport, Iowa, to serve at the Catholic Worker

also the best of friends. R.l.P.

House founded by Margaret Quigley, who, in

— Jamie McGuire’70

addition to being his boss, became his best friend, wife and the mother of his children, Michael Benedict, Joseph and Monica. The hospitality they practiced, inspired by Servant of God Dorothy Day, led to an ever-widening network of beloved friends over the next four decades.

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

Yearbook photo 1970.

R Portsmouth Abbey extends its prayers and condolences to the Garvey family.

R IN MEMORY OF FRANCIS I. SPAGNOLETTI ’00 (1981 – 2022)

Francis Isadore Spagnoletti passed away

business he founded in Los Angeles grew to

on May 29, 2022, at forty years old.

inspire and host artists who are now

As premature as his passing, so was his

household names.

birth. He was born two months early, on August 24, 1981, to Deborah and

Frank Spagnoletti of Houston, Texas. Francis learned at a young age to persevere through life’s challenges and live life to its fullest at each and every moment.

Paying homage to his father’s favorite pastime, Francis used his creativity and entrepreneurial spirit to found and trademark his own cigar company. The product he produced was presented masterfully–a cunning design with a narrative for each

From the time he was a young boy, if

cigar that was predicated on the history of

Francis took an interest in a subject, he

pirates from the late 17th and 18th centuries.

mastered it. Whether it was building Lego

The motto of the company was “Live until

Kingdoms, mastering Origami, becoming

you die!” Francis did just that.

a professional in-line skater at age 14, or DJ’ing to hundreds in a nightclub, Francis had an uncanny ability to encapsulate his creativity and produce magic. He did so wherever the world took him. At Portsmouth Abbey School, he engaged in many activities,

Francis was loved by many but no more than his daughters Aster, Indi and Ivy, his brother, and his mother and father. His family held a private service and celebration of life, asking us to love our families and friends a little extra and “live for the living.” In closing, they assured Francis would catch us all “on the flip side!”

including soccer and swimming. He was known for his smile and sense of humor, which he frequently used to connect with others. “I remember Francis well as a thoughtful and charismatic young man, growing much in his time with us,” wrote faculty member Blake Billings in a tribute following his passing. In his obituary, Francis’ brother Marcus wrote, “Perhaps Francis’s most alluring trait is personified by the company he kept over the decades. His family and friends appreciated his pioneering spirit and, most of all, his ability to make them laugh.” Paul Suk-Hyun Yoon ’00, who was on the swim team with Francis, shared, “I still remember the ways he made us all laugh on the bus rides to and from practices or to and from meets.“ He also revealed what Francis said was his secret to swimming fast. “Don’t bother breathing; just swim as fast as possible.” After graduating from the Abbey, Francis earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of San Francisco and a master’s in screenwriting from the New York Film Academy. Always acting with precision and care when producing, his innate creativity was inspirational to those around him. His music and the studio

Francis with friend, the late Angus Brown ‘01, in the 2020 Gregorian Yearbook.

R Portsmouth Abbey extends its prayers and condolences to the Spagnoletti family. ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

R IN MEMORY OF JOHN OWEN HABIB ’20 (2002 – 2023)

John Owen Habib ’20 died on April 11, 2023, following a fall

a nonprofit clothing company whose proceeds are donated to

while hiking with friends in Morocco. An adventurer at heart, he

the Bahamas Hurricane Restoration Fund. He also taught himself

embodied Portsmouth Abbey School’s mission. Throughout his

to play guitar and was thrilled to have the opportunity to learn

short but blessedly full life, John Owen pursued a love of learning

from one of his favorite jazz fusion players, Alex Hutchings.

and embraced his Catholic faith with reverence for God and all with whom he came in contact.

Through courses with his beloved teachers at the Abbey, John Owen developed a love of Russian authors like Tolstoy and literary

Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on March 11, 2002, he was

giants including Dante and Milton. Literature was, for John

the second child of Cressida Bainton-Habib and Khalil Habib and

Owen, a path to explore his spirituality, and he was involved in

the younger brother of Jordan. He grew up in Saunderstown,

Catholic spiritual life and the Maronite church of Rhode Island.

Rhode Island, and before enrolling at the Abbey, was a student at Quest Montessori Elementary and Middle School. John Owen lived ‘Life on Corys Lane’ to its fullest: he became editor-in-chief of The Beacon during his Sixth Form year, creating its first online platform for news, podcasts, and other digital content. In his Fifth Form year, he founded the Philosophy Club to provide his fellow students an opportunity to continue conversations that began in Humanities on how to live the good life. He also co-founded the Mind and Market Club to engage his fellow students in discussions on business, economics, and business psychology. John Owen was also a co-leader of the Cultural Club, helping fellow students develop a taste for great art through cultural excursions around New England. While a student at the Abbey, John Owen founded Island Time Company,

John Owen Habib ’20, with his parents, Cressida Bainton-Habib and Khalil Habib, and Christopher Fisher.

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

While at the Abbey, John Owen also embarked on an intellectual

evenings spent fishing with John Owen at the bay and house life

and spiritual pilgrimage to England as part of the Portsmouth

in St. Martin’s, where he was a prefect. John Owen Habib’s life

Institute’s Oxford Summer Programme, further kindling his love

and legacy will forever live on both at Portsmouth Abbey and

of art, history, philosophy, and literature. His excursion to Oxford

within the hearts of everyone who was ever so blessed to have

was a homecoming of sorts, having traveled there over the years

known such an incredible person.”

with his family when his father, a college professor, led academic trips to the famed “city of dreaming spires” during John Owen’s childhood. The Humanities Award, given his Fourth Form year, was among the many academic honors bestowed upon him during his time at the Abbey.

Reflecting on the life of John Owen is to recall Augustine’s teaching in the Confessions that God loves who we love. John Owen was so profoundly loved—loved by his friends, loved by his brother, loved by his mother and father, and loved by all his family. John Owen has known God’s love because he has known

John Owen was also — perhaps to his own surprise — an excellent

the love of his friends and family. Those of us who knew John

student-athlete, leading the boys’ varsity squash team to win the

Owen have known God’s love too, because of the love John

2020 New England Championships. In a thrilling final match

Owen gave to us.

against Trinity-Pawling School, he came back

— Christopher Fisher

from being down in his first game to win his next three games. With points against him in his fourth game, he fought hard to earn his biggest career win and propel the Ravens to victory. At the time of his passing, John Owen was a junior at Brown University studying Chinese, philosophy and economics. As at the Abbey, John Owen was an institution-builder at Brown: was a co-founder of the Brown Private Equity Club, participated in the Brown Journal of Philosophy, Politics and Economics, the Brown/

John Owen Habib ’20 holds the championship trophy with members of the boys’ varsity squash team.

RISD Arab Society, the Economics Departmental Undergraduate Group and the chess club. The day after his accident, the family received word that he had been accepted into the Barclays Financial Sponsors group, a prestigious summer banking internship program in New York City. The attributes of wonder, humility, and passion for truth that

(Left l-r) Aidan Brown ’20, John Owen Habib ’20, David Appleton ’20 and Ken Zheng ’20 represented St. Martin’s in the Headmaster’s Run.

John Owen nurtured at the Abbey were central to his personality. He was not only uniquely gifted; he was kind, generous, empathetic, and loving. As recounted in his obituary, “During his most recent trip to Morocco, he met a young boy who was desperate to start a website, so John Owen offered to create it for him for free to help him realize his dreams. In a call to his father, he reflected on the randomness of life, the hope of those living in poverty and the stark difference between this boy and the circumstances of his own birth. ‘It’s on us,’ he said, ‘to do better and be better.’’ John Perik ’20, John Owen’s good friend from the Abbey, recalls that “John Owen Habib was the quintessential Portsmouth Abbey student. Learning for John Owen was not a task: it was his passion. He was a genuine and caring friend who made everyone around him a better person. I’ll always cherish the

R Portsmouth Abbey extends its prayers and condolences to the Habib family.

ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

R IN MEMORY OF JONATHAN HUFSTADER (1939-2023)

Jonathan Hufstader grew up in Manhattan and spent summers at his family’s home in Edgartown, Massachusetts. He learned to sail at the Edgartown Yacht Club and enjoyed racing his boat, “Sunset.”

An author and English professor emeritus at the University of Connecticut, he passed away peacefully at Bryn Mawr Hospital in Pennsylvania on June 28, 2023, surrounded by his family. He was 84.

Before entering the Catholic priesthood, he attended the Buckley School, Milton Academy and Yale University. He studied for four years at the College of Sant’Anselmo, a Benedictine monasterial college in Rome, and was ordained there by Pope Paul VI. Taking the name Father Anselm, Jonathan joined the Monastery at Portsmouth Abbey in 1960. A lifelong learner and excellent teacher, he taught French and religion at Portsmouth Abbey School and coached sailing. He served as Headmaster for several years in the early 1980s. His first book, “God’s Time is the Best Time,” was published while he was in the priesthood. As his family recalled in his obituary, Jonathan always shared many fond memories of adventures with his students at Portsmouth, whether begrudgingly adopting the dorm cat, Fang, or leading bike trips through Europe and pilgrimages to Lourdes.

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

After leaving the priesthood in 1986, he taught at Dana Hall School and earned his Ph.D. in English at Harvard University, where he studied with the eminent literary critic Helen Vendler. He married teacher Janis Franklin in 1987. Their daughter Rebecca was born in 1988, followed by daughter Susannah two years later. In 1993, the family moved to Storrs, Connecticut, where Jonathan taught and advised University of Connecticut students for more than 20 years. During that time, he published his book “Tongue of Water, Teeth of Stones: Modern Irish Poetry and Social Violence.” Jonathan endeared himself to his family, friends and students with his dry sense of humor, depth of knowledge, thoughtful insights and cheerful humility. Repeated injuries and infections plagued the last years of his life, but he never became bitter or despairing. Those who knew him best will remember that Jonathan was always ready to dive deep into the etymology of a word, a close reading of a poem, a good palindrome, a joke in French, or an insight at Torah study at Beth El Congregation of Mansfield in Storrs. He loved UConn basketball and the New York Yankees, who had a perfect game on June 28 just for him. Jonathan and Janis moved to Pennsylvania last year to be closer to family. He was always fully supportive of his daughters and their endeavors. In addition to his wife, Janis, Jonathan is survived by his daughter Rebecca Hufstader, son-in-law Jonah Eaton and new grandson, Tobias, of Philadelphia; daughter Susannah Hufstader and her partner Aliza Gazek of Oakland, California; and seven dear nieces and nephews and their families, including Louisa Hufstader of Edgartown and Elizabeth Balay of Edgartown and Earlysville, Virginia.

R Portsmouth Abbey extends its prayers and condolences to the Hufstader family.

ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

class notes

cl ass notes

1956 Rev. Joe Healey writes in from his new post in NJ. “After serving in Eastern Africa for over 50 years as a Maryknoll missionary priest I have returned to the states to be a member of the US Region of the Maryknoll Society of Priests and Brothers. I am living with my brother Thomas Healey ‘60 in New Vernon, NJ. I am 85 years young. Like the old work horse, I thought that they would put me out to pasture, but I am now in full-time Internet Ministry. My motto is Go digital or die. My most recent book is “Building the Church as Family of God: Evaluation of Small Christian Communities in Eastern Africa.” The book is updated every month and is available as a free, online digital (electronic) E-book (1,412 pages as of 28 June, 2023) on the Small Christian Communities Global Collaborative Website at: http://smallchristiancommunities.org/ wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Build_new.pdf. A new book in the making is tentatively called “Uncle Joe, Mass is Boring” about my grandnieces and nephews, some of whom went to Portsmouth. I am also the Moderator of the Small Christian Communities (SCCs) Global Collaborative Website and Facebook Page at: https://www.smallchristiancommunities. org.”

1964 John Sullivan is happy to have been able to support the William A. Crimmins ‘48 Scholarship Fund for Arts, Athletics and Civilization in the name of all in the Class of 1964 who so greatly benefitted from Bill’s example and support.

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

’65 | The late Jim Minor with classmates Geoff Green, Matt Flynn, and Eugene McGuckin in 2016.

1965 Matt Flynn is happy to announce the publication of his novel, “China Code”, which was just released by Speaking Volumes Publishers and is available wherever books are sold. Matt encourages summer reading, it’s a great vacation read! A team of Communist Chinese assassins comes to America to kill a young Math genius, Bernie Weber, and his CIA protector, Audrey Knapp. The gangs of Milwaukee step in to help them. Our beloved friend and classmate Jim Minor passed away on April 1. We miss him very much. The picture above was taken on July 7, 2016 in Vancouver at our last mini-reunion with Geoff Greene and Gene McGuckin.

’69 | Douglas Andrews

1969 Douglas Andrews is leading his fourth start-up company in global healthcare markets as co-founder and Executive Chairman of DoubleWing Health & Beauty (www.dwhab.com), which is preparing to launch a broad range of foreign cosmetic and personal care products in the $70 billion Chinese market.

1971 Marvin George, his friend Crysta Donadelle, Tom Lonergan and Tom’s wife Dolores Grenier met for dinner at the Barnsley Resort in Northern Georgia. Struggles to Trust God.” Drawing on my experiences as a physician, pastor, and personal life challenges, I try to provide support to those wrestling with issues of the heart that put up walls in our relationship with God. Book 1 focuses on guilt, shame, and fear. (Books 2 and 3 are in the revisions stage.) Available on Amazon, B & N, and WestBow Press. Just type in “William Paul Lero.” Best wishes to all my classmates on our 50th reunion in 2024!”

’69 | Francis McQuade and family.

Francis McQuade competed in Master’s Track & Field (70-74 age category) in 2022 finishing with a worldwide ranking of #28 in the Hammer Throw, #6 in the Weight Throw, and #1 in the Super Weight Throw.

’71 | Marvin George and friend with Tom Lonergan and his wife.

JJ Johnson and Jack Thayer met up in Baltimore at their 50th Reunion from Johns Hopkins University.

’74 | Bob Risko

’74 | Bill Lero recently published his first book of a trilogy.

’69 | JJ Johnson and Jack Thayer at their Johns Hopkins University 50th reunion.

Bob Risko has been named senior budget officer in the finance division at Roger Williams University in Bristol, RI. Bob lives in Portsmouth, RI.

1974 Bill Lero MD, MDiv writes in from NH. “Lots happening since I retired from medicine several years ago, but something fun to consider for summer — I recently published Book 1 of a trilogy entitled “Deep Calling to Deep, Overcoming the

ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

class notes

1976/1979 Jamie Tovar ’79, Jim Coyle ’79, Chris Sullivan ’79 and Chris Tovar ’76 reunited in Gloucester, MA and had the opportunity to catch up on their lives. Jamie Tovar is working in Washington, D.C. as Development Director with the National Legal and Policy Center shedding light on public and corporate corruption. Jim Coyle continues to teach music and professionally perform in the Boston and North Shore area. Chris Sullivan is back in court trying cases post-pandemic in the metropolitan Boston area. Chris Tovar ‘76 has retired from Exxon/Mobil and has joined his brother Jamie working part-time for the National Legal and Policy Center as an information specialist.

’76/’79 | Jamie Tovar ‘79, Jim Coyle ‘79 Chris Sullivan ‘79 and Chris Tovar ‘76 sharing a meal in Gloucester, MA.

Portsmouth Abbey School

y l a t I o t e g a m i r g Pil For Alumni and Parents of Alumni With visits to Rome, Norcia, Assisi, Siena and Florence

March 4-12, 2024

$5,249 per person from Boston (BOS) (Includes flights, transportation, guided tours, breakfast and lunch daily, and more.)

To register, scan code or visit website: www.206tours.com/portsmouthabbey

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

With Head of School

Matt Walter

and Fr. Edward Mazuski

1977 Tim Seeley shares news of his retirement, “This was my last year as head at George Stevens Academy — I retired on June 30, after eight years. In July, I started work as a carpenter at the Brooklin Boat Yard, in Brooklin, ME, about 10 miles from my house. They are one of the very top wooden boat building companies in the world. I have loved my 40-year career in education, but am looking forward to something new, to doing something with my hands, and to not being responsible for an organization and a school. I am also playing a lot of music, performing several times a week at restaurants and bars in the area. If any classmates are in downeast Maine, I hope they will look me up. My wife, Jill Clendenen, runs a great little bar in town where we can hang out.”

’88/’89 | Eduardo Alfaro ’88 P’15, Jorge Guajardo ’89, Alex Cristiani ’89 P’24, and Jaime Hill ’88 celebrate Jamie’s birthday in El Salvador.

1986 William Harrison and his wife Tamsin Shoults are excited that their daughter, Abigail, will be attending the Abbey, joining the Class of 2025.

1988/1989 Last May, Alex Cristiani ’89 P’24, Eduardo Alfaro ’88 P’15, Jaime Hill ’88, and Jorge Guajardo ’89, got together in San Salvador, El Salvador for a surprise celebration of Jaime’s birthday. Arturo Regalado ’87 could not make it but was an integral part of all the shared memories.

’94/’96 | Ryan Kern ’94 and his son Beckett (L) and Chris Block ’96 and his son Sander (R). Their sons compete in sailing regattas around the country.

1994/1996 Ryan Kern ‘94 and Chris Block ‘96 recently connected on the national youth sailing circuit. Ryan’s son Beckett (13) and Chris’s son Sander (13) are both members of the United States Optimist National Team and compete against each other regularly at major regattas around the country. Ryan’s daughter Molly (10)

is also an up-and-coming Opti sailor. Despite neither having sailed at the Abbey, Ryan and Chris have both become very involved in the youth sailing programs at their respective clubs in San Francisco, CA and Miami, FL and they are having a blast watching their children sail fast and have fun.

ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

class notes

’96/’97 | Matt Igoe ’96, Todd Rich ’96, Enrico Palazio ’96, Jeff Dec ’97 and Jaymes Dec ’96 at a reunion in Maine.

’95 | Jacob Sahms with his new book “The Mustard Seed Diary.”

’97 | Colin O’Higgins and Gino Tieppo have dinner in Boston.

1995 Rev. Jacob Sahms is in his fourth year as pastor of Bethia United Methodist Church in Chesterfield, VA. He was recently named the Virginia Youth Soccer Association’s Boys Recreational Coach of the Year for 2021-22. In December 2022, a collection of his writings was published as “The Mustard Seed Diary” and two additional books will be published this winter.

1996/1997 Matt Igoe ’96, Todd Rich ’96, Enrico Palazio ’96, Jeff Dec ’97 and Jaymes Dec ’96 recently met up for a long weekend on Cousins Island, ME. Matthew Forbes ’97 and Ann Marie Forbes ’96 were thrilled to catch up with Lexi (Krol) Riordan ’97 in August while their sons Francis Riordan and William Forbes competed in the NE Jr PGA Tournament at the Acoaxet Club in Westport, MA. In a hard fought battle, Fran came out victorious! The boys are looking forward to a rematch next summer!

1997 Janessa LeComte-DaQuay is excited to announce that her daughter Jessleanna LeComte-DaQuay graduated from St. Philomena School of the Sacred Heart in May, was accepted at Portsmouth Abbey,

and started school in the fall as part of the Class of 2027! Janessa is thrilled that they will be 30 years apart in graduation years from the Abbey and will share Reunion weekends. Colin O’Higgins, his wife Renee, and son Colin met up with Gino Tieppo, his wife Jessica, and daughter Anna for dinner in Boston this past Easter weekend. It was a great meal with even better company.

’96/’97 | Future Abbey students, Francis Riordan (L) and William Forbes (R), competed against each other in the NE Jr. PGA Tournament at the Acoaxet Club.

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

23rd Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament

FRIDAY, JUNE 7, 2024 The Aquidneck Club

’97 | Janessa LeComte-DaQuay’s daughter Jessleanna is a Portsmouth Abbey student in the Class of 2027.

’97/’00 | Janessa LeComte-DaQuay ’97 with husband Marc, daughters Jessleanna ’27 and Jonmarie, mother in law April DaQuay, Justin LeComte ’00 with his wife Colleen, and sons Jean and Charlie, Jean LeComte ’10 with his wife Caitlyn and daughter Lylah, and matriarch Florine LeComte P’97 ’00 ’10 GP’27.

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class notes

1998

2004

2007

In January 2023, Governor DeSantis appointed Jason Weida as Secretary of the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration. The Agency is Florida’s lead health policy and planning entity. It manages the state’s $37 billion Medicaid program, licenses more than 50,000 health care facilities, and regulates 47 health plans. Jason lives in Tallahassee, FL with his wife Kyley and their four children.

Aaron Byron graduated this May with his MBA from Cornell University. He completed their Executive MBA Program in NYC while continuing to work full-time as the Director of Talent Intelligence and Analytics with Baretz+Brunelle. Aaron was also promoted to Major in the Army Reserves and took command of one of only four Army Reserve Counterintelligence (CI) Detachments in the U.S. He now has the pleasure of not only working full time with a family but also overseeing all Army Reserve CI activities in the Southeast Region.

Alexandra Curran has been promoted to Head of Production for Immersive at M ss ng P eces, (missing letters are intentional) an Emmy award winning commercial production company based in New York and Louisiana. M ss ng P eces was also named AdAge’s Production Company of the Year in 2022, a huge honor in that industry.

Taylor Rock was named as Newport Public School District’s Teacher of the Year for the 2022-23 school year. He is currently teaching seventh grade science at Thompson Middle School in Newport, RI.

2001 Paul Yoon writes in, “Recently, along with my business partners, our small business, CQ Strategies, was awarded the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2023 Vermont Minority-Owned Business of the Year award! This annual award recognizes the achievements of SBA-assisted small businesses and the contributions they have made to their communities and Vermont’s economy. More about our team and award can be read about here: https://vermontbiz. com/article/june/book-club-supergroup. Also, I am happy to share that I recently joined the board of an amazing local community organization. The King Street Center is a non-profit community organization in Burlington, VT that provides children and families the core life-building skills necessary for a healthy and productive future. They are home to Head Start Toddler and Preschool programs, enrichment & care for kids in kindergarten-5th grade, and a Teen Program – including tutoring & mentoring opportunities. More can be read about it here: https://kingstreetcenter.org.”

2004/2006 Michael Weaver ’04 and Courtney Doran ’06 recently celebrated their wedding in Turks and Caicos on May 17, 2023 in front of their closest family and friends.

2006 Isabel Burnham and her husband Sebastian welcomed a daughter, Isla Maxine, on June 16, 2023 in Newport, RI. Big brother Zephyr couldn’t be happier!

Caroline Greene and her partner Manny welcomed their first child, Sylvie, in January 2022. They currently reside on the East Side of Providence where Caroline is an English and ESL teacher at a city high school and Manny works for Google Cloud.

2008 Madison Nunes was selected for the English Language Fellowship Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. Madison is an experienced TESOL educator with over 9 years of experience teaching English abroad and in the US. While on assignment, Madison will lead courses on

’01 | Paul Yoon with business parter receiving 2023 Vermont minority-owned Business of the Year award.

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

communication, writing, leadership, and critical thinking skills for students pursuing undergraduate degrees in Hospitality Management. In addition to university teaching, she will conduct a variety of programs at the American Center, working specifically with LGBTQ+ community leaders, anti-TIP activists, NGO leaders, and volunteers.

’08 | Madison Nunes ’08 with 3rd year Hospitality Management University students in Kolkata, India.

2009 Rodrigo Bichara married Ximena Richardson at The Reina de los Ángeles Parish on March 4, 2023.

2010 Cat Caplin writes in from Cory’s Lane, “I am entering my tenth year working at the Abbey and I’m very pleased to share that I will be the new Director of Residential Life. Ten years have gone by a lot faster than I expected, but I feel very fortunate to be working at this special place and I’m looking forward to starting this new position. I am always grateful to Portsmouth Abbey for providing me with an excellent education, some of my best friends in the world, and a great job.”

’10 | Cat Caplin and Danny ‘10 with Westley and Walker.

2011 Phil Youngberg and his wife Maria welcomed their first child, James Philip, into the Abbey Family on October 31, 2022. Phil finished his tour teaching Seamanship and Navigation at USNA this past winter and moved his new family to Newport, RI where he is attending Department Head School at the Surface Warfare Officer’s School (SWOS).

2013 Fletcher Bonin, who writes under the nom de plume Fletcher Michael, just had his second novel, entitled “Glass Bottle Season,” published, and shared that he would “love to get the word out to my fellow Abbey alumni

(especially considering that many of the characters are based off my fellow class of 2013 friends, and the characters share a boarding school past)!” Fletcher’s new book explores the fragile standing of the middle-class Cuban American protagonist among the wealthy community in Newport, RI in which he finds himself one summer. His book is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and nearly anywhere books are sold.

’13 | (L-R) Sean Knowlan, Andrew Lowis, Nick Medley, Julia Thompson, Fletcher Bonin, Michael Stark, and Michael Sheerin — all class of 2013.

ALUMNI BULLETIN • SUMMER 2023

class notes

2017 Marcel Smith is working in London for an event planner that does all the events for the military and the royal family. He helped plan the birthday party for the Duke of York and was also involved in the event arrangements when the Queen of England died. He shares that he loves his job! Mark Maley received his Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from Teacher’s College at Columbia University in May after receiving a B.S. in Psychology at the University of Illinois. Mark is currently involved in multiple research projects as a research assistant (RA) for a Columbia professor and as a RA at the Moses Child Outpatient Psychiatry Program of Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx. Mark is the lead RA on two of his projects. In addition, Mark will be working this summer for Cognitive and Behavioral Consultants (CBC), a New York based firm providing mental health services in NYC and Westchester County. Mark will be a counselor at two summer camps held by CBC to help children and young adults struggling with stress, anxiety, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Mark plans on applying to Doctoral programs in the fall which specialize in adolescent mental health issues.

’17 | (L–R): Jason Xiang ’18, Mark Maley, Mikaela Nueva, Thomas Driscoll, Mike Guyon, Bobby Allcock and Nick Nadalin.

2021 Margot Appleton earned All-American honors in NCAA Division 1 Track and Field with her stunning 3rd place finish in the 1500M finals in Austin, TX. Margot is currently the University of Virginia record holder in the women’s 1500M and was also the ACC champion in the 1500M this outdoor season. ’20 | Matthew Walter with Jim Nantz at the 2023 ProAm in Pebble Beach, CA.

2022 Alex Bordelon, currently at Macalester College in St. Paul, surprised Anna Friendshuh at St. Cate’s, also in St. Paul with a visit of their mutual friend Jenny Yu (Washington University of St. Louis) and held a mini-Abbey reunion.

2020 Matthew Walter had the opportunity to catch up with Jim Nantz during the 2023 ProAm at Pebble Beach, CA this past February. Matthew also teamed up with Ted Falvey as a relay to run 71 miles in the Pinetum Mind Games Endurance Event in July 2023 in Dixon, IL. Paynton Black writes in from Spain, “After our senior year came to a quick end, I didn’t get to say goodbye to a lot of my international friends. Three years later as a junior in college, I was able to see my good friend Katia Seoane while studying abroad in Spain! Such a great reunion!”

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL

’20 | Paynton Black and Katia Seoane had a great reunion in Spain.

’22 | Alex Bordelon had a mini reunion with Anna Friendshuh and Jenny Yu in St. Paul.

Portsmouth Portsmouth Portsmouth Portsmouth Abbey Abbey Abbey Abbey isisis grateful grateful isgrateful grateful for for for the for the the the

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Save the Date Abbot's Reception DECEMBER 7, 2023

NEW YORK YACHT CLUB about the cover:

Marina McKeating ’23 crossed the Commencement stage exactly thirty years after her mother, Charlene McKeating ’93, graduated as one of the first twenty-one girls to attend Portsmouth Abbey School. The first mother-daughter alumnae both experienced life in St. Mary’s House and credit the Abbey for shaping them into the women they are today. Read their story on page 35.