History of Rumsey Circle

Rumsey Circle The history of

The spirit of Rumsey Hall is rooted in its family atmosphere, a nurturing home away from home. While Rumsey’s faculty challenge and inspire students both in and out of the classroom, there is another group of individuals committed to the School and its mission—the Rumsey Circle. In bygone years, the Rumsey Circle, comprised of dedicated parents and grandparents, organized various events designed to bring the Rumsey community together and, in certain instances, to raise valuable funds for the School. Past events included the annual Spring Luncheon and Fashion Show/Boutique fundraiser, the Tex-Mex Family Supper hosted on the Friday evening before Spring Parents’ Weekend, and the annual Book Fair in May held in Rumsey’s Library.

As the needs of the School have shifted over time, so has the role of the Rumsey Circle. Some of their earlier activities have ceased, but others, like the annual Auction fundraiser in the fall, continue to thrive. First held in 1985, the Auction’s proceeds support the students and faculty, as well as the programs that enrich and strengthen the Rumsey community’s shared experience at the School. Many of the Auction’s successes can be attributed to the Lynette Cornell FP’72, ’74, ’84, ’86 and Former Trustee Judith NaviaAuchincloss FP’87 who co-chaired the event for 17 years.

When the Fall Term starts to wind down, members of the Rumsey Circle assist with the annual holiday card mailing and then gather to assemble the traditional packages of cookies and other sweet treats on which the faculty have graciously relied to fuel them as they grade students’ exams. Come spring, the Rumsey Circle oversees the refreshment tents during Track & Field Day, serving snacks and beverages provided by the Dining Hall to feed and hydrate the competing students.

Today, the Rumsey Circle continues to evolve, adding more and more dedicated parents to the ranks who are willing to contribute their time and energy to the School. The Rumsey Circle Parents Association, as the group is now known, meets monthly to stay apprised of the day-to-day activities that make up life here on campus. As the School communicates its needs and the parents share their interests, opportunities for parent involvement grow and develop, from engaging in outreach to new Rumsey families to planning the Lower School Carnival at the end of the academic year.

Want more information about joining the Rumsey Circle Parents Association? Contact Associate Director of Alumni & Parent Relations Xanthe Hilton at xhilton@rumseyhall.org or (860) 868-0535.

The Rumsey Circle volunteers who helped create the Rumsey Quilt. Standing left to right: former faculty member Jacqueline Ostrander P‘79, ‘80, Diana Hardee P‘79, ‘80, ‘82, ‘84, GP‘01, ‘20, ‘23, Nancy Craig P‘79, ‘80, Deborah Swigart P‘76, ‘79, ‘84, Doris Hoeniger P‘78, ‘81, GP‘11, ‘15, and Paulette Bellin. Sitting: former faculty members Virginia Berberian, Bonnie Haberle P‘80, ‘84 and Jan Magnoli P‘71, ‘72, ‘74, ‘77 GP‘01, ‘02, ‘07; Nancy Ware P‘82, Diana Tagley P‘81, GP‘15 and former faculty member Martha Poskas P‘84, GP‘18

class & faculty notes

ENO COMPTON ‘58 “In 2014 my wife Donna and I purchased Vagabond Ranch on which we are now retired. Vagabond has a huge history at Rumsey by virtue of its relationship with Charlie Pavek, a towering personality. Donna and I bump into his ghost daily. Pictured here, in front of the Vagabond Ranch House, left to right, are Eno Compton III ‘58, Laura Compton Treleven ‘00, and Eno Compton IV ‘97.”

JOHN MCDONALD ‘59 “I’m still operating my internet company on Cape Cod and finding it hard to believe that my Rumsey Class of ‘59 was also 59 years ago. For the second year in a row, I visited friends and family in Ekaterinburg, Russia. I went to California with my son Nick in January and visited some of my former clients from rock groups I worked with in the 1960s. I plan to return to Russia in June and spend another month there visiting Nick and some of the former exchange students I have hosted over the years.”

WILLLIAM LEFFERTS ‘62 After a career spent working in public and private secondary schools, Bill is currently retired. He and his wife Pamela have five grown children and twelve grandchildren. They live in the log cabin of their dreams in the woods of Woodstock, CT. Besides working on their hobby farm, they are spending time traveling through all fifty states, and around the world. JOSH KAIMAN ‘74 Josh moved to Milwaukee, WI in July and started a new position as global category manager for Rexnord Corporation, an industrial machinery manufacturer.

TIMOTHY KNAUTH ‘76 Timothy and his wife live a stone’s throw from the Nautilus Museum and Submarine base in New London, CT. He recently found himself in West Sussex, England where he discovered this 1,500 year old Yew tree, in the Warblington churchyard.

Pictured below at a visit to campus: Jay Przygocki, Celine Spooner, Rick Spooner (Former Associate Headmaster), Lou Magnoli (Former Headmaster), Ali Spooner ‘90 Linley and Matthew Hoeniger ‘81.

AMY BENTON ‘92 “I’m very happy living in Philadelphia working as a dog walker and pet sitter. I enjoy knitting, reading and going to my local Episcopal church. I’m happy to have recently connected with some former Rumsey friends via Facebook and I’d love to keep in touch and reconnect with anyone in the Philadelphia or New York City area!”

WALTER NEIL ‘92 Walter and his wife Laura visited campus with their children Lily, Claire, and Turner. MEGHAN ROWE ‘96 Meghan ran into former classmate Syungyoun Nam at the Natural Products Expo West in California. JON NEUHAUS ‘87 Former Trustee Gary Cole hosted a fishing trip for Jon Neuhaus ‘87 and Headmaster Emeritus Tom Farmen at his lake house in the Ozarks.

BENJAMIN LEVY ‘01 Former staff member Benjamin Levy, and wife Rachel are the

proud parents of Elena Marie Levy, born February 27, 2018.

ARVOLYN HILL ‘04 “This past April I decided to turn a lifelong dream into a reality and did a solo trip to Japan. I first fell in love with Japanese culture at Rumsey when I took Japanese History with Mr. Spooner in VIIth form. Ever since that class I dreamt of visiting this beautiful country. I was lucky enough to travel there this past April, just in time for peak Cherry Blossom season. In this picture I’m outside Tokyo in a small town that only the locals know

about, in the mountains away from the tourists.”

KELLY RUSCOE ‘04 Kelly stopped by campus with his friend Shermin.

GENEVIEVE ZASADA ‘05 Genevieve Zasada is about to upgrade from flying the T-6 Texan II to the T-38 Talon. Her projected graduation from pilot training is June 2019. Afterwards she plans to move to Oregon to fly the F-15C Eagle.

JENNIFER BARRETT ‘06 “I moved to California two years ago and now work for WilliamsSonoma doing construction management of store buildouts. My sister Sara Barrett ’04 and I recently bought a house together and are having fun remodeling it. I am also enjoying the opportunity to explore the west coast. In the photo is Sara and I during our recent trip to Seattle.” “Due to the amazing upbringing I received at Rumsey Hall, I have been able to start accomplishing my dreams. Last year my record company AMAX MUSIC debuted on national television and I have signed to broadcast music INC. I have also signed a record deal with universal distribution to Russia/Europe, and I’m currently awaiting my trip to Russia for my first line of concerts! This has been a dream of mine since participating in Rumsey theatre productions. I couldn’t have done it without Mr. Clayton Ketchum, Dr. Ros Craft and Mr. John Craft.” HAYLEY AHOUSE ‘10 Hayley had a baby boy named Leo David, weighing in at 11lbs 3oz. Born on Monday, June 4, 2018. Hayley currently resides in Woodbury, CT.

DEBBIE (SEUNG HYUN) LEE ‘11 Debbie graduated from Boston College and went to work at Price Waterhouse Coopers in Boston in October.

CHANDLER HOULDIN ‘13 “At the beginning of 2018 I was elected to serve as Bucknell University’s Student Body President and lead Bucknell Student Government for the entirety of 2018. In April of this year, I was awarded the Class Award of Excellence for the Class of 2020 for the second year in the row. Finally, I plan on studying in

ARIELLE ZWIEBACH ‘09 Stockholm, Sweden this coming Spring semester.”

ZOEY ZHENG ‘16 Zoey enjoyed a dinner with faculty member Jillian Dufresne over the summer. From left to right are Lili Xie, Zoey Zheng and Jillian Dufresne.

ELLIE KETCHUM ‘17 Over the summer, Ellie completed the first two sections of the Vermont Long Trail with her father, Dean of Students Clayton Ketchum.

ULI LINN ‘24 Fishing the drift on the Housatonic River with alum and former faculty member Rob Nicholas ‘79.

TOM FARMEN COMES BACK TO CAMPUS FOR A BOOK READING Rumsey welcomed Headmaster Emeritus Tom Farmen back to campus to share a reading from his newly released book, Bessie’s Story: Watching the Lights Go Out, an inspiring story – much of which took place right here on Rumsey’s campus – about a charming, brave, unpretentious chocolate Lab who gradually loses her eyesight. The author chronologically leads the reader from the original diagnosis of terminal blindness for his beloved four-year-old pet through the two-and-a-half-year transition to sightlessness. In the process, Bessie unwittingly becomes an expert mentor and teacher for the high-wire act of growing older with grace and optimism.

Both the Lower and Upper School attended the reading, and while all were excited to see Mr. and Mrs. Farmen, the real star of the day was Bessie, who won everyone’s hearts with her kind and playful spirit.

“Bessie reminds me that we are defined more by our spirit and effort than by our results. Resilience is the inevitable trump card that allows us to keep playing long after our skill and youth have simmered and boiled off.” Thomas Farmen

notes... y facult

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2 1 Robert and Kim Mandl were interviewed by Jeff Sochrin “Dr. Soc”, on the most listened to radio station in St. Martin, Island 92. We chatted about our trip, the volunteering we did and talked about Rumsey donating soccer balls (thanks to Jay Przygocki and Liz Butler), community service, tech-free time and other aspects of Rumsey.

2 Ben Tuff raised $10,000 by competing in the Swim Around Key West in Florida. Ben finished in just over 5 Hours and 30 Minutes and earned second place in his age group.

3 Peter Linn ‘10 took a road trip this summer from Hamburg, Germany to Venice, Italy, stopping in Munich, Milan, Monaco, and the Cinque Terre along the way. “It was a blast and an unforgettable experience! It was a trip I’ve been planning since I was 14 years old with a childhood friend.” Peter is now a teacher at Rumsey, and in the photograph is his younger brother Uli Linn (Class of 2024).

4 Chris Dyball graduated with a Masters Degree in Education from Post University with a concentration in learning design and technology.

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Weddings

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1. Alyson Hill ‘04 married Peter Cipollone on May 26, 2018 at the Colony Hotel in Maine. 2. Faculty member Zach Lord and Madelaine Hutchings were wed on June 23rd. The reception was held at Rumsey Hall. In August, Zach and Maddie summited Mt. Whitney in California, the highest peak in the continental United States. 3. Emily Keech married Sean Carney on June 9th. Pictured here: (from left to right) Christian Budd ’05, Geordy Hale, Christian Miranda, Christian Anderson, Peter Linn ’10, Dale Eriksen, Sean Carney, Kirby Bunnell, Emily Carney, Chelsea Searles, and Jillian Dufresne 4. The Farmens attended the wedding of Mike Parent ‘04 and Bridget Powers, who were married on May 19 at Mystic Seaport, CT.

In Memoriam

KATHLEEN LAMBERT EHRET ’12

BRADLEY FRANKLIN LOPEZ ’00

ELLIOT AVI DARER ’94

DUANE HYDE NEWTON, JR. ’43

JOHN B. ZABRISKIE ’43

JAMES A.D. POLLOCK ’41

F. DOUGLAS WINTER ’40

DUDLEY TAFT ’38

SPENCER KELLOGG NEALE ’35

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