RCDS Bulletin - Fall/Winter 2018-19

RCDS Bulletin One school, One family, 150 years of RCDS

Fall Winter 2018-19

Inside: ●

RCDS Celebrates Its 150th!

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What is The Portrait of a Graduate?

2018-2019 Board of Trustees

Alumni Executive Board

Andrea Sullivan President

Scott Weiss ’96 President

Nina Cheigh Vice President

Lauren Fortgang Mandell ’87 Secretary

Gregg Felton Treasurer

Melanie R. Baevsky ’07 Adam Friedlander ’79 Jonathan C. Goldstein ’99 Robert M. Levine ’95 René N. Lumley-Hall '96 Brendan McGuire ’06 Andrew S. Nathanson ’09 Jonathan Ostrau ’80 Robin Quittell Ponticelli ’94 Max W. Schapiro ’04 Zachary Tax ’09 Daniel I. Wallance ’00 Melissa Mahoney Wirth ’97

Blanca Hirani Secretary Lisa Allen Brad Asness Ashok Chachra ’95 Hillary Hoffenberg Comora ’91 Tyler Dickson Sarah Dodds-Brown ’91 Edward Dunn ’83 William Featherston Michelle Kroin Michael Lazar ’87 Laura Mattson Eric Medow Blair Endresen Metrailler ’96 Dennis D. Parker ’73 Juan Pujadas Jonathan Resnick ’85 Fernando Rivas Cindy Ganis Roskind ’90 Vik Sawhney Birgit Townley Andrew Wallach Trustees Emeriti Edward B. Dunn Frederick A. Klingenstein Michael C. Murr Carmen Ribera-Thain ’75 Edgar Wachenheim, III

Ex Officio: Honorary Faculty Gil A. Castagna, Jr. Ex Officio: Alumni Trustees Ashok Chachra ’95 Hillary Hoffenberg Comora ’91 Sarah Dodds-Brown ’91 Edward B. Dunn ’83 Dennis Parker ’73 Jonathan Resnick ’85 Cindy Ganis Roskind ’90 Ex Officio: Members Scott A. Nelson Headmaster Lynette Gioffre Director of Development and Alumni Affairs

RC D S Fal l / Wi n t e r 2 0 1 8 - 1 9 Bu l l e t i n Editor Susan Nelson

Fall2018/Winter2019

Proofreading Lynette Gioffre Sarah Istwany Eliza McLaren Kelly Melandro Melissa Wirth '97

Contributors Erin Dolan Eric Drotch Jay Gerlach Mary Krasovec Gail Sestito

Photography RCDS School Photographer Design Chave Design

RCDS Bulletin Fall/Winter 2018-19 2 The Cohen Center for the Creative Arts Opens!

8 Block Party Kicks Off 150th Celebration

9 150 Speaker Series

10 Alumni Hall of Fame

14 Wildcat Weekend

20 Reunion Classes

24 What is The Portrait of a Graduate?

29 The Fall Drama: She Kills Monsters

30 Fall & Winter Sports

34 Alumni Thanksgiving Games

36 24th Annual Festival Chorus Concert: Calling All Dawns

38 The Young Physicists Tournament

42 2019 Upper School Musical: Urinetown

44 Arts Festival & International Fair

47 Class Notes

52 In Memoriam

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Cohen Center for the Creative Arts Heralds Era of Creativity and Collaboration

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On September 14, RCDS past parents Alex and Steve Cohen joined Headmaster Scott Nelson and Andrea Sullivan, president of the Board of Trustees, for a ribbon cutting ceremony officially opening the new Cohen Center for the Creative Arts. The generosity of the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation's $10 million leadership gift to the Advancing a Tradition of Excellence capital campaign supports a new vision for creativity and collaboration at Rye Country Day. 2

The Black Box Theater Among the many exciting features of the Cohen Center is a state-of-theart black box theater, which is designed to be a learning space for students in all three divisions, fostering the development of skills in collaboration, leadership, public speaking, and creativity.

Jay Gerlach, the head of the Drama and Dance Department, explains that a black box theater is a small, rectangular space that offers flexible seating and the ability to change the space in ways that affect the relationship between audience and actor. “The technical facilities of the space enable effortless transformations, where lighting rigs can be altered and designers and directors can be resourceful without having to deal with the perpetual hindrance of permanent structural features,” he says. Much smaller than the Performing Arts Center, the black box theater lends itself

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to more intimate gatherings and is utilized by students in all three divisions: Lower School students find the space perfect for morning meetings and grade performances; students in Middle and Upper School musicals use the space for rehearsals of music, choreography, and blocking; and Upper Schoolers use it for rehearsals and to present annual productions. (See p.

29). Mr. Gerlach adds, “Imaginative work in unassuming spaces like the black box is an exciting part of the theatrical landscape for our students, and it is the synergy between the space and the production that is so integral to the theatrical experience.”

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Steve and Alex Cohen with Headmaster Scott Nelson at the Cohen Center’s official opening.

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The Cohen Center for the Creative Arts

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The black box theater

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Rehearsal of the Fall Drama – She Kills Monsters – in the black box theater.

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Lower Schoolers use the black box theater for morning meeting.

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The Visual Arts Eric Drotch, head of the Visual Arts Department, notes that the Cohen

approach to idea formation that relies on 3D printing and the laser

Center has opened up many new possibilities for the Middle and Upper

cutter to create prototypes and final projects. In the fall, students in

School visual arts programs. For starters, he says, arts faculty members

Honors Ceramics & Sculpture created projects that combined both

love being in the same building together, and it’s now easier than ever to

clay and 3D printing.

“As you can see,” he concludes, “the Cohen Center has

collaborate across divisions and disciplines.

The Cohen Center offers two large visual arts rooms for Middle

greatly expanded the opportunities our students have for creative

School and Upper School classes, a dedicated space for digital photography,

expression. We are excited to see what else they will create in

and one for videography, as well as hallway gallery space used to highlight

the future.”

the artwork of students, faculty, staff, and alumni. There is also an expanded manual arts workshop that is used for the traditional Middle School curriculum, as well as for set construction by students in drama productions in the black box theater.

Mr. Drotch remarks that in the Middle School, many more students are now able to work with clay thanks to the expansive workspace, and drawing and painting students can work on a much larger scale than had been possible in the old space. “It’s not uncommon to see students spread out on the floor or making large drawings on the tall bulletin boards,” he says.

In the Upper School, Mr. Drotch observes that teachers have been better able to collaborate with other departments. For instance, the faculty used equipment in the makerspace to help design and construct costumes for the fall play. And in Upper School art classes, students have more immediate access to a broader range of tools and equipment to help them more efficiently bring their ideas to life. Students in ceramics, sculpture, and AP 3D Design courses have learned a design-thinking

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Students enrolled in Photography 1 experimenting with digital camera settings.

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A Manual Arts class.

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A laser-cut cardboard spiral sculpture by James Nolan ’22, Ceramics & Sculpture I class.

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A first prototype for a sculpture by Olivia Nash ’20, Honors Ceramics & Sculpture. Olivia transferred her drawing to Corel Draw, a vector graphics editor, then printed it using the laser cutter.

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Pete Gasparro ’20 used Corel Draw to create a three-dimensional sculpture, then programmed the laser cutter to create his geometric design in wood. The pieces were assembled to create a sculpture in the round.

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The Manual Arts Workshop.

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The Makerspace A thrilling new addition to campus, the makerspace is the final piece to the

model photosynthesis energy transfer (Biology 10); and crafting hand-

Cohen Center and one that invites and encourages exploration and collab-

made Chinese abacuses using 3D printing and design (Mandarin 1).

oration. It is an innovative design center located on the second floor of the

Ms. Sestito’s enthusiasm mirrors that of the students and

Cohen Center where students of a variety of ages flock on a daily basis,

faculty who use the makerspace each day. “The makerspace has

whether for class projects in an academic class, independent engineering

opened up many avenues of creativity and learning for the students

work, robotics classes, or individual learning. The makerspace is an open

and faculty here at RCDS, where the focus is on process over

workspace that encourages students and staff alike to learn, work, and

product, and the imagination is limitless,” she proudly notes.

create projects related to STEAM and design thinking. It features traditional engineering and manufacturing equipment, such as computer-controlled machining tools, hardware supplies, motors, sensors, microcontrollers and related electronics, 3D printers and scanners, laser cutting machines, traditional power tools, electrical equipment, and other design equipment.

According to Gail Sestito, makerspace director, one recent project taking place there was the creation of “monsters” using recycled materials and Hummingbird Robotics kits by students in English 10 as a culmination of their study of the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.

“It was wonderful to see all of the different aspects of creation during the five-day experience and how the students were able to easily connect the emotions from the text to their monsters,” she noted.

A recent sixth-grade project in the makerspace involved designing and creating 3D artifacts and currency to complement the Create Your Own Country project, which is a cornerstone of that grade’s curriculum. Other projects during the last few months have included papercraft vovelles and zoetropes for a visual representations of Kafka’s Metamorphosis (English 10 Honors); Rube Goldberg-style machines to replicate and

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The design of the makerspace encourages collaboration and creativity.

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Jaume Pujadas ’20 working on a robot in the makerspace. The Upper School Engineering and Robotics course teaches students to design, build, and program a robot to complete specified goals in the most effective, and creative, way possible. The students then compete with their robot in the New York area VEX EDR competition.

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In Grade 10 Biology, students study electron and energy transfer in photosynthesis. Upper School Biology teacher Joe Rue asked his students to create Rube Goldberg-style, up-scaled models of a particular part of the energy chain in photosynthesis (photosystem 1 and 2) to explore how the energy is transferred and to demonstrate it in a fun, hands-on way.

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Students in Grade 5 history study Sumerian culture. In the makerspace they try their hand at creating cuneiform tablets, the Sumerian form of writing.

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Sixth graders working on mini-sets for a theater class.

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Miles Chun ’20 using one of the many 3D printers.

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Block Party Kicks Off the Celebration

The first official celebration of the School’s 150th Anniversary took place on a beautiful, September Sunday afternoon as the 150 Block Party brought over one thousand members of the community to campus to tour the new Cohen Center for the Creative Arts, play games, dance with Willy the Wildcat, and enjoy fabulous food from a tantalizing array of food trucks.

A special thank you to the co-chairs who organized this spectacular event, RCDS parents Blanca Hirani, Loren Dinger and Cindy Roskind.

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Speaker Series In honor of the School’s 150th Anniversary, a speaker series was established this year to bring together students and alumni speakers who have modeled the Not for Self, but for Service motto.

Dennis Parker '73 addressed students as the inaugural speaker at the Opening of School celebration in September. Mr. Parker, who has recently been named the executive director of the National Center for Law and Economic Justice, was previously the director of the ACLU National Office's Racial Justice Program (RJP), and served as the chief of the Civil Rights Bureau of the Office of the New York State Attorney. Mr. Parker also worked for 14 years at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, litigating and supervising the litigation of scores of cases involving elementary and secondary education, affirmative action in higher education, and equal educational opportunity.

As well as being an RCDS graduate, Mr. Parker is also a past parent and current trustee of the School, so he is uniquely qualified to talk about values that have long served as the foundation of a Rye Country Day education and about the School’s evolution over the last 46 years.

Eliza McCurdy '13 addressed students in grades 3-12 in January. Ms. McCurdy is a senior re-entry specialist with The Osborne Association at Rikers Island, New York City's main jail complex, where she supervises a team of re-entry specialists who work directly with detainees, facilitating group programs designed to provide those incarcerated with skills ranging from anger management to financial literacy and relapse prevention.

She discussed many of the systemic flaws of the current criminal justice system, the disproportionate number of incarcerated individuals in the United States (particularly in terms of people of color), and noted different rehabilitation systems that have been proven to work in other countries.

Her observations resonated with her audience and aligned with this year’s school-wide focus on empathy and its cultivation.

Dr. Al Rizzi ’82 was the next alumnus in the 150 Speaker Series. Dr. Rizzi is chief scientist at Boston Dynamics, the world’s leading robotics design and engineering company. He has authored over 50 papers in academic journals and conferences, is a co-inventor on more than 10 patents, and received the Nakamura Prize for best paper at the International Symposium on Intelligent Robots and Systems in 2001. He is also a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers and serves on the advisory boards of the robotics programs at John’s Hopkins University and the Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Dr. Rizzi addressed students about the amazing advances being made in the field of Robotics, and he also met with members of the Upper School robotics team to help them prepare for their first competition.

Then, the next evening, Dr. Rizzi was inducted into the Rye Country Day Alumni Hall of Fame.

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Alumni Hall Of Fame

Welcomes Newest Inductees

Traditionally, the Rye Country Day Alumni Hall of Fame Awards are presented at a biennial dinner on the Friday night preceding Wildcat Weekend. This year’s event was no exception, but the significance of the evening was heightened by the ongoing celebration of the School’s 150th Anniversary.

Six individuals of striking achievements and 14 members of Rye Country Day’s storied championship basketball team of 1983 were inducted into this year’s Hall of Fame. They represent leaders in their professions and in their private lives, examples of the power of the Not for Self, but for Service dictum. It was with great pride that the School recognized the following alumni:

W. Lee Pierson Distinguished Alumni Award: Sarah Dodds-Brown ’91

Sarah Dodds-Brown and Headmaster Scott Nelson.

A recipient of the Alumni Prize as a senior, Rye Country Day’s highest honor for excellence, Sarah graduated with a bachelor’s degree in cultural anthropology and biological anthropology and anatomy from Duke University, and then entered Columbia University School of Law, where she earned her law degree in 1998.

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Sarah was honored as the 2018 recipient of the W. Lee Pierson Distinguished Alumni Award. The highest honor for an alumnus/a, the Distinguished Alumni Award was established “to recognize an individual whose generosity and service have significantly bettered and strengthened our society,” and who has demonstrated exemplary service to RCDS and the community at large. The award is named for the late Dr. Pierson, who served as headmaster for 14 years.

Sarah is executive vice president and managing counsel at American Express, where she supervises 50 attorneys and staff in carrying out all legal work for the company’s U.S. businesses. Those businesses account for more than $24 billion of American Express revenues. Meanwhile, she remains active as part of the RCDS family as a member of the School’s board of trustees, on which she is chair of the Legal & Policy Committee. She also manages three future “lifers” with her husband, Brad Brown, a technology executive in the financial industry. All three of their children started their RCDS careers in Pre-K - Eleanor, now in sixth grade, Marshall in third grade, and Walker in Kindergarten.

A recipient of the Alumni Prize as a senior, Rye Country Day’s highest honor for excellence, Sarah graduated with a bachelor’s degree in cultural anthropology and biological anthropology and anatomy from Duke University, and then entered Columbia University School of Law, where she earned her law degree in 1998. She served as a corporate associate at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, a New York City law firm, from 1998 to 2005, then joined American Express.

At Duke, Sarah served as a “young trustee” on the university’s board of trustees following her undergraduate studies and later served two terms on the board of advisors for the College of Arts & Sciences.

She was an inaugural member of the Duke Women’s Impact Network Leadership Council and in 2006 served on a special council to advise Duke’s president on dealing with the lacrosse team scandal that made national headlines. After her first year of law school, she received a Human Rights Internship Award and worked with the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission headed by Archbishop Desmond Tutu in Cape Town, South Africa.

Sarah is chair of the City of New Rochelle planning board; a member of the board of advisors for Direct Women, a not-for-profit organization of senior women attorneys; and a member of the American Law Institute.

Maria Los Notias.

Al Rizzi and Headmaster Nelson.

Science and math were Al's favorite subjects at RCDS, where he also captained the lacrosse team and played hockey. He earned a bachelor’s degree at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a master’s at Yale University and, in 1994, a doctorate, also at Yale.

Academic / Professional: Alfred A. Rizzi ’82 Al is chief scientist at Boston Dynamics, the world’s leading robotics design and engineering company. He has authored over 50 papers in academic journals and conferences, is a co-inventor on more than 10 patents, and received the Nakamura Prize for best paper at the International Symposium on Intelligent Robots and Systems in 2001. He is also a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers and serves on the advisory boards of the robotics programs at John’s Hopkins University and the Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

“Our work is focused on producing legged robots to have a positive impact on society – to make our lives better and provide assistance to humans,” Al said in his Nakamura Prize acceptance speech.

He noted that the company is about to begin producing Spot, a 4-legged robotic dog for a wide range of work that can include patrolling, delivery, construction, search and rescue, inspection, and even home care and personal assistance for the disabled. The legged robots are designed to walk wherever humans walk, plus they can access rough terrain and surfaces not accessible by wheels.

Science and math were his favorite subjects at RCDS, where he also captained the lacrosse team and played hockey. He earned a bachelor’s degree at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a master’s at Yale University and, in 1994, a doctorate, also at Yale. All degrees were in electrical engineering. He worked as an engineer at Northrup Corp. for two years before becoming a research associate at Yale during his studies there. He spent a year as a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Michigan, then joined Carnegie Mellon University for ten years, first as a postdoctoral fellow and later as a research scientist and professor. He joined Boston Dynamics as lead robotics scientist in 2006 and was named chief in 2010.

Al and his wife, Elizabeth Shaw, own and operate a New Hampshire sheep farm from which they sell the meat and wool.

A “lifer” and honor student at RCDS, Maria loved French, math, and art courses, served as secretary of her class as a senior, was co-captain of the cheerleaders, and manager of the baseball team. She went on to Georgetown University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in French and Italian in 1992 and a master’s in Liberal Studies with a concentration in art history in 1994.

Arts: Maria Los Notias ’88 Maria is deputy chairman of Christie’s, the world’s leading art business, which posted first-half 2018 sales of more than $4 billion through global auctions and private transactions. Christie’s has a presence in 46 countries, salesrooms in 10 major cities, and averages some 350 auctions a year in over 80 categories of art and collectibles.

Maria’s clients, primarily from North and South America, number many of the world’s leading collectors from finance, industry, and entertainment. She travels frequently, particularly to London and Paris, representing collectors at major auctions. On their behalf, she casts bids of many millions of dollars – and in one case, $62 million.

In May 2018, she was deeply involved in auctions of 1,600 lots from the Peggy and David Rockefeller Collection, which netted $832 million.

A “lifer” and honor student at RCDS, Maria loved French, math, and art courses, served as secretary of her class as a senior, was co-captain of the cheerleaders, and manager of the baseball team. She went on to Georgetown University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in French and Italian in 1992 and a master’s in Liberal Studies with a concentration in art history in 1994.

Maria remained in Washington to work at the National Gallery of Art and then the National Endowment for the Arts before joining Christie’s in 1995. She rose through various positions, was named a vice president in 2001, senior vice president in 2007, and deputy chairman in 2014.

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Special: Dick Pike H’11

Fred entered RCDS in the seventh grade, played football, baseball, and basketball and captained the basketball team in his senior year.

He holds a BA in economics from Brown University and a law degree from Columbia

Fred Watts.

University School of Law.

Service: Frederick J. Watts ’75 Fred’s love of kids, sports, and the law has led to his prestigious position as executive director of the Police Athletic League, Inc., the largest independent, not-for-profit youth services agency in New York City.

He oversees some 900 full-time and part-time staff with a $28 million budget that serves 30,000 children in education, sports, and youth development programs at numerous sites throughout the city’s five boroughs.

These programs range from activities for pre-school and grade school youngsters to intervention programs and employment programs aimed at helping reduce recidivism among troubled teenagers. High on the list are “Cops & Kids” and dozens of other sports and recreation programs in which NYPD officers volunteer to coach and mentor kids from 6 to 19 years of age.

Fred was named to his PAL position in 2014 after 31 years of public service in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau brought him aboard in 1983 as an assistant DA handling a broad range of violent crime cases, and he advanced through numerous higher positions to become executive assistant DA in 2007.

Fred was born in the Bronx and grew up in Mount Vernon, the son of an NYPD officer and a mother who taught children with special needs. He entered RCDS in the seventh grade, played football, baseball, and basketball and captained the basketball team in his senior year. He holds a BA in economics from Brown University and a law degree from Columbia University School of Law. He and his wife, Celia Colbert, live in Summit, New Jersey, with their sons Michael and Nicholas. Over the years, Fred has been involved in numerous professional and community activities, including ten years as a member of the board of trustees of the Summit, New Jersey area YMCA and has received several awards for his contributions. In the last few years he has participated in RCDS programs focused on diversity and public purpose.

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Dick’s reputation as a tireless worker is well earned - he never slowed down during his 40-year career as teacher, coach, and actor, and as a member of four departments at RCDS. Looking back, Dick recalls arriving at school at 6:30 a.m. to open the ice rink for the hockey team, then teaching and coaching during the day, rehearsing a play in the evening, and going home at 10:30 p.m.

A native of Bolsters Mills, Maine, and a graduate of Bowdoin College, Dick joined RCDS in 1971 to teach drama and English in the Upper School. He later added psychology to his teaching schedule before retiring in 2011 as an honorary member of the class.

Dick directed over 80 dramas, musicals, and one-act plays, as well as most student-faculty shows, and acted in a number of them.

Bowdoin College presented him its “Distinguished Educator Award” for his more than 20 years of teaching Shakespeare in its summer Upward Bound program for disadvantaged, pre-college high school students.

Outside of the classroom, Dick coached girls’ softball for over 25 years, started the girls’ ice hockey program, coached the varsity team for four years, and also started the girls’ soccer program in 1983.

He coached the soccer team to 275 wins, 137 losses, and 37 ties over 28 years, during which the team won the Fairchester AA championship nine times and five times qualified to play in the New England Prep School championship tournament.

Dick remains involved with RCDS and its many alumni programs and also returns to the classroom on occasion as a long-term substitute teacher of English and psychology.

Dick Pike, left, with Ted Heintz, Gr. 10 Dean and Upper School English teacher.

Dick’s reputation as a tireless worker is well earned - he never slowed down during his 40-year career as teacher, coach, and actor, and as a member of four departments at RCDS.

From left, Roger and Carole Kenny (parents of Glynn Kenny ’84), Richard Williams, George Stein, David Miller, Steven Kornfeld, Hugh Burns, Billy Cooper, David Bart, Coach Castagna, Alex Gardner, and Michael Pfeffer.

Seated: Coach John Sabia.

Athletics: Wallis K. Finger ’00 Wallis was a distinguished student and outstanding athlete at RCDS, entering in Kindergarten and graduating as a “lifer” and recipient of the Alumni Prize, the school’s highest honor for excellence. Today, she is corporate counsel for National Entertainment Network, the nation’s leading amusement vending company. NEN provides kiddie rides, gumball, and other vending machines to over 15,000 locations in all 50 states.

At RCDS, Wallis played ice hockey, soccer, and lacrosse, captained the hockey and soccer teams, and led the soccer team to the Fairchester AA championship in both her freshman and senior years.

At Yale University, where she earned a B.A. in history in 2004, she also played hockey and was named to the ECAC All-Academic team and the Jewish Sports Review All-America team.

From Yale, Wallis went on to Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, where she became senior editor of the school’s law review and consistently was a member of the dean’s list. She graduated in 2009.

Wallis worked for two New York law firms from 2010 to 2013, when she became managing director and legal counsel at New York City Runs, a national producer of running events. She joined NEN in Broomfield, Colorado, in 2015. Her husband, Ed Gorman, is an attorney with the city of Denver.

Her spare-time interests focus on outdoor activities, particularly running. Wallis has run in 12 marathons, and the Empire State Building run-up, and belongs to two running clubs. In 2004, she cycled with a group across the U.S., and in 2009 she climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro on a trip to Tanzania with RCDS classmate Rebecca Avrutin, a New York attorney.

At the end of the 1983 high school basketball season, the New York Daily News headlined a story that stated: "The Little School that Could - and Did."

Athletics: 1983 Undefeated Championship Boys’ Basketball Team

At the end of the 1983 high school basketball season, the New York Daily News headlined a story that stated “The Little School that Could – And Did.” A copy still hangs on the office wall of Billy Cooper, who was co-captain of the team, along with classmate David Bart. The article tells the story of what is remembered as the best boys’ basketball team in the history of RCDS. The team was undefeated, with a 23-0 record that included upsets of several higher-ranked teams throughout Westchester County, and the championship of the Fairchester Athletic Association.

Coach John Sabia, an honorary member of the RCDS Class of 2002 and a member of the Alumni Hall of Fame, remembers the 13-man team as “dedicated to prove they could play with the best. They were a tight-knit group, and everyone contributed,” he said.

The first eye-opener was at the Salesian H.S. 1982 Christmas tournament, when the Wildcats beat the highly ranked host team in overtime and went on to top Rye Neck H.S. for the championship.

They rolled along, topping a powerhouse Horace Mann team, as well as Hackley School, on their way to the season-ending Fairchester AA playoffs. They took down Brunswick School in the semi-finals and beat Hamden Hall in the title game.

Five members of the team went on to play on their college teams, and many of the players return to play in the annual alumni game on Thanksgiving Weekend. And, they make a point of getting together every so often with their revered coach.

Wallis Finger, right, with RCDS Athletic Director Wendy Haft.

Wallis was a distinguished student and outstanding athlete at RCDS, entering in Kindergarten and graduating as a “lifer” and recipient of the Alumni Prize, the school’s highest honor for excellence.

Today, she is corporate counsel for National Entertainment Network, the nation’s leading amusement vending company.

Team Members Coach John Sabia

Alex Gardner '84

David Bart '83, Captain

Thomas Kelly '84

Billy Cooper '83, Captain

Glynn Kenny '84 (dec.)

David Miller '83

Michael Pfeffer '84

George Stein '83

Rowland Preston '84

Hugh Burns '84

Steven Kornfeld '85

Angelo Fazio '84

Richard Williams '85

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Wildcat Weekend It was an October weekend full of WILDCAT

Saturday morning's fun run, participating in

PRIDE, as the entire RCDS community came

Fall Fair activities, and roaring in support

together to celebrate the School's 150th

of the Blue and Gold during the afternoon

Anniversary. The Wildcats showed their spirit

varsity games.

throughout the weekend, braving the rain at

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Wildcat Weekend Fall Fair

Spirit

Rain didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of runners in the 1-Mile Fun Run.

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Wildcat Weekend Alumni Art Show Rye Country Day alumni from around the country submitted artwork to be included in the 150th Anniversary celebration’s Alumni Art Exhibit.

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Wildcat Weekend Alumni Gatherings More than 400 alumni came back to campus on Wildcat Weekend to see friends, celebrate reunions, and recognize Rye Country Day’s 150th Anniversary. Members of the Golden Alumni Club – those who graduated 50 years ago (1968) or earlier – enjoyed a luncheon with current and former faculty members; former RCDS athletes were recognized during halftime of the varsity football game; and alumni of all ages gathered in the renovated Performing Arts Center foyer for a Headmaster’s reception in the evening that included a performance by veteran members of the WildScats.

Alumni athletes were recognized during halftime of the football game.

Charles Fields ’08

Hilary Greene ’78

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Wildcat Weekend Former Middle School teacher Donna Brown and current Middle School teacher Ginny Black.

Golden Alumni & Former Faculty/Staff Lunch Former Classics Department head David Tafe and his wife, Christine, right, laugh with current English Department head Kate Ordway.

Seated: Dorothy Quimby Greene ’48 and Marilyn Peterson Gerrish ’42; Standing: Hilary Greene ’78 and Merrily Gerrish ’68.

Bill Buck and former math teacher Cliff Paige.

Seated: Betsy Mitchell and Max Ule ’57; Standing: Spike Mitchell ’62 and Dick

Pinkham ’63.

Former Drama Department head Cary Fuller, left, chats with Eileen Coleman, past parent and former RCDS employee.

Seated, from left: Jackie Stuart, Gina Gillies,

Ginny Rowen, Mary Cavallero, and Rheta Kanen; Standing, from left: Josette Amsellem, Zenaida Bongaarts, and Mary Mullaney.

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Wildcat Weekend Haden Gerrish and Marilyn Peterson Gerrish ’42.

Headmaster’s Reception Raishaun McGhee ’13, Carolyn Binder ’13, Anthony Faustini ’13, and Robert Levine ’13.

Justin Lipton ’08, Sean Bryant ’09, and Anthony Henry ’08.

Former WildScats showed they hadn’t lost their touch when they performed for guests at the reception. (For a list of singers, see p.23 )

Science teacher Joe Rue talks with Eliza McCurdy '13 and Brandon Boyer.

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REUNION CLASSES 1973 1978 1983 1988 1993 1998 2003 2008 2013 WildScats Alumni

1973 Front row: Sharon Press, Barbara Boucher Wells, Debora Graves Westcott, Jean Sandman Manthorne, and Susan Blair Brew.

Back row: Gordon Witkin, Tim Shea, Will Graves, Dennis Parker, and Eric Tillman.

1978 Front row: Mark Solomon, Liz Mechcatie, Tova Snyder, Lilly Pray, Mary Spence Lino, Jody Ann Sabia Pongratz, and Liz Goodman.

Center row: Peter Lese, Isabel Salgar, Hilary Greene, Mary Beth Gruber, Liz Reid Taylor, Lisa Ennis Barron, Sara Patterson, and Jon Gilbert.

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Back row: Stuart Fischbach, Mauricio Salgar, Tom Davis, Adam Singer, Dan Tillman, Peter Weiss, Jeff Higgins, and Jon Lese.

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1983 Front row: Richard Kane,

Center row: Geoff Beringer,

Back row: Nori Juba,

Madyn Gwynne Byrnes, Andrea Greer, Rebecca Victor Baadarani, Jennifer Segal Madden, Julie Grossberg Harding, Carolyn Ginsberg Durcan, and Lilli de Brito Schindler.

Edward Dunn, Stephen Binhak, Hilary Goins van Kleeck, David Bart, and David Miller.

Randy van Kleeck, George Stein, Billy Cooper, David Sandak, and Hugh Selby.

1988 Front row: Melissa Gerson, Maria Los Notias, Laurel Britt-Webb, Melinda Wasserman Boxenbaum, and Julie Zelman.

Center row: John Yarmy, Josh Goldman, Tim Dockery, Hilary Greer ’87, and Charles Fields.

Back row: Adam Draizin, Melissa Barrett Rhodes, Joanna Ifrah Goldman, and Julie Brimberg Rothschild.

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1993 Front row: Margo Otis, Andrea Sluder West, Amanda May Dundas, Miryam Rojas-Shaleesh, Deb Miller, Megan Clark Eisenberg, Sam Benerofe Giberga, Veronique Toyloy Brinson, Kareen Zahr Walsh, and Anna Kaufmann Horner.

Center row: James Burger, Fernando Albino, Liz Everett Krisberg, Tracy Taylor Wydra, Liz Schumacher Norquist, Neva Lindner, Lissy Jones-Hennessy, and Sharon Grossman Herzog.

Back row: Andrew Wiener, Eddie Green, Bill Trenchard, Rob Klein, Jon Hale, Luke Enos, Ben Moss, and Liza DeKoven Ganitsky.

2003 From left, Jackie Rubbo Kopcho, Casey Keeler, and Samantha Black.

1998 Front row: Jen Tembeck, Ward Savage, Carlo Bertucci, Shayla Titley, Shanina Robinson, Nadine Zhar, Amber Harris Rabines, Laura Wexler, and Lindsay Sichel Rubinstein.

Center row: Jordan Gershuny, Diana Brilliant Gershuny, Will Jovanovich, Betsy Brown Sunderji, Noah Gittell, Maya Rock, Hillary Wright, Bridget Dungan, Ashley Lee McGrail, Sam Shalen Pugh, Ines Thieme, Marie Murr, and Alex Nivelle.

Back row: Matt Meladossi, Andrew Pisacano, Morgan McCall, Guy Turner, Hallie Rosenberg, Ewen Cameron, Carrie Gabel Cameron, Phil Cameron, John Klingenstein, and Dyer Halpern.

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Fall2018/Winter2019

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2013 Front row: James Kissell, Eleanor Fanto, Sarah Peck, Eliza McCurdy, Carolyn Binder, Summer Elbardissy, Emily Hauben, Billy Ostrau, Eve Wulf, Sammy Friedwald, Adam Alpert, and Robert Levine.

Center row: Matthew Crowley, Andres Soto, Clare McClintock, Sam Murphy, Ariana Boccanfuso, Madi Friedman, Henry Heller, Anthony Faustini, Amanda Simensky, Marlaina Moysak, Nicole King, Bryce Smith, and Victoria Montgomery.

WildScats Alumni Front row: Guy Turner ’98, Mary Marcell, Liz Baker ’12, and Ines Thieme ’98.

Second row: Sean Bryant ’09, Janelle McDermoth ’10, Nadine Zahr ’98, Rene Lumley-Hall ’96, and Ellen Sluder ’95.

Back row: Elizabeth Judd, Raishaun McGhee, Ryan Carroll, Jack Carroll, Tyler Tananbaum, Tommy Garry, Brett Saperstein, Jack McGovern, John Rigby, and Adam Simon.

Third row: Robert Kim ’13, Reid Secondo ’12, and Casey Keeler ’03.

Back row: David Townley ’16, Henry Townley ’14, Jon Lassman ’12, and Sam Fleischman ’11.

2008 Front row: Anna Diefenbach,

Sarah Kanarek, Rachel Brody, Alex Rosanelli, Lisa Khanna, Jess Ostrau Gray, Al Boillot, Sam Toth, Ryan Coughlin, Marissa Heller, and Danielle Hammer.

Center row: John Wulf, Katrina DeRosa, John Ordway, Eleanor Fisher, Erin Sanders, Liz Seter Bradley, Scott Weinreb, Will Baine, Maddy Moelis, and Matt Duarte.

Back row: James DeSantis, Justin Lipton, John Lium, Anthony Henry, Andrew Lee, James Hutchins, Evan Oleson, Sam Rosenfeld, and Charles Moran.

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PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE

WHAT IS THE PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE?

CHARACTER

KNOWLEDGE

SKILLS

CITIZENSHIP

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Over the course of the 2017-2018 school year, the entire Rye Country Day School community collaborated in developing a compiled set of learning outcomes that tie together the School's mission statement, core values, strategic initiatives, and curricular and co-curricular goals. These outcomes are grouped into four domains - character, knowledge, skills, and citizenship - each of which is then expanded into a list of attributes and habits RCDS students practice. The learning outcomes listed in this portrait are both ambitious and realistic, and they extend across all departments and throughout the RCDS program, Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12.

The purpose of this document is rooted in a basic concept: agreement on what we want our students to be able to do is necessary if we are to deliver these expected outcomes to the best of our ability. This Portrait of a Graduate provides a cohesive statement of who we are and what we believe, bringing together our existing values and initiatives as both stemming from and contributing to a central vision. This is, notably, a living document. We will amend it as the needs of students evolve, and we will put it to use regularly in the years to come in our teaching, in our strategic initiatives, and in our professional development.

Thank you to the entire RCDS faculty and staff, and to the many students, alumni, parents, guardians, members of the Board of Trustees, Klingenstein Center graduate students, and outside experts who contributed to this document.

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PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE EVIDENCE

CHARACTER RCDS students cultivate strength of character through the development of social and emotional intelligences, strong and positive moral compasses, and passionate and principled actions.

STUDENTS: SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL AWARENESS

l l l l l l

VALUES AND ETHICS

l

l

FLEXIBLE AND REFLECTIVE APPROACH TO WORK AND THE WORLD PASSION

l l l l l

l l l l

Possess self awareness and confidence.

Know and express themselves authentically.

Understand their impact on others.

Empathize with compassion and acceptance.

Manage relationships effectively and intentionally.

Act with kindness.

Demonstrate and commit to living with: l Integrity l Respect l Patience l Courage l Humility l Optimism l Gratitude Navigate complex ethical dilemmas, developing and practicing models for effective decision making.

Act conscientiously.

Practice accountability and trustworthiness.

React and adapt with resilience to challenge and change.

Approach ideas and others with an open mind.

Work hard and persist.

Are engaged.

Are curious.

Are motivated.

Love learning.

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PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE EVIDENCE

KNOWLEDGE RCDS students acquire and use knowledge in complex and meaningful ways. They transfer and apply their understandings beyond disciplines to address novel, real- world questions.

STUDENTS: ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE

l

l l

LEARN HOW TO LEARN

l l l l l

TRANSFER KNOWLEDGE

l

l

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Learn information in conceptual frameworks according to disciplinary principles and relationships.

Understand accepted theories and facts.

Examine big themes and questions.

Monitor, direct, and assess their own learning.

Develop positive and productive beliefs about themselves as learners.

Identify and create value in the activity of learning.

Approach learning with courage and with tolerance of mistakes.

Build a passion for understanding and truth.

Synthesize new information with prior knowledge to draw connections, form new ideas, and adjust understandings.

Meet and enjoy challenges that require the application of knowledge to novel tasks and real-world situations.

RCDS 150

PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE EVIDENCE

SKILLS RCDS students practice skills and habits essential for wellness and success in college, in work, and in life, including communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, and adaptability.

STUDENTS: COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY

l

l l l l

WAYS OF THINKING

l l l l l l l

GROWTH MINDSET & EFFECTIVE EFFORT

l l l l

LIVE WELL

l

l

l

COLLABORATION

l l

l

INITIATIVE AND FOLLOW THROUGH

l l l l l l l

Express well-formed ideas clearly and powerfully in writing, speaking, presenting, and creating.

Listen, read, and watch to gain understanding and perspective.

Navigate difficult conversations and manage conflict.

Understand non-verbal communication.

Communicate in more than one language and across difference.

Think critically.

Think creatively.

Think empathetically.

Think analytically.

Take time to reflect.

Ask questions and seek to understand.

Think ‘outside of the box’ to solve complex problems.

Approach learning and personal development with a growth mindset.

Apply effective and persistent effort.

Adapt to challenges and feedback.

Build resilience.

Engage in the active process of making choices that lead to physical and emotional wellness.

Develop strategies for practicing mindfulness, managing stress, and controlling impulse.

Find beauty and joy in the world.

Team with others to tackle complex problems.

Practice and value working with others with differing skills, backgrounds, and perspectives.

Develop leadership strategies and styles that influence and serve others.

Take action and initiative.

Seek information.

Solve complex problems.

Leverage technology effectively.

Develop a creative and entrepreneurial spirit.

Learn independently.

Prioritize effectively.

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PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE EVIDENCE

CITIZENSHIP RCDS students make a positive difference in the world as aware, engaged, and purpose-driven citizens.

STUDENTS: AWARENESS

l l l l l l l

ENGAGEMENT

l l l l

PURPOSE

l l l l

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Practice empathy and perspective taking.

Examine local and global issues.

Show openness and flexibility towards differences in opinion.

Recognize stereotype and bias.

Understand communication in intercultural contexts.

Embrace diversity, understanding its importance.

Recognize the rights, responsibilities and opportunities of living, learning and working in an interconnected and often digital world.

Are upstanders, not bystanders.

Are changemakers.

Engage in open, appropriate, and effective interactions across differences.

Seek solutions and take bold action to address societal needs and issues.

Identify what drives them and design their lives and actions accordingly.

Aspire to make a meaningful and positive difference in the world.

Are committed to justice and social and environmental responsibility.

Demonstrate the Rye Country Day motto of “Not for Self, but for Service� through the choices they make and the actions they take.

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FALL DRAMA

She Kills Monsters

By Jay Gerlach

This year’s fall play, She Kills Monsters, was the first theatrical production to be performed in the brand-new black box theater in the Cohen Center for the Creative Arts. Known for flexibility and simple design, black box theaters offer the ability to easily transform a scene through creative staging and alternate lighting configurations. More important, the theater serves a greater purpose of connecting the audience to the performers in a purposeful and uninterrupted way.

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All-League Recipients

Fall Sports

Boys’ Cross Country Connor Marrs ’19 Aaron Serianni ’20 William Murphy ’21, Honorable Mention

2018 Team Records + Awards W L T Boys’ Varsity Cross Country

17

9

Girls’ Varsity Cross Country

17

15

Varsity Field Hockey 3rd Consecutive NYSAIS Champions

15

4

Varsity Football MIFL Champions

8

1

Boys’ Varsity Soccer

3

10

2

Girls’ Varsity Soccer

8

8

2

Girls’ Cross Country Katie Farrell ’21, Honorable Mention

Field Hockey

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Elizabeth Friedberg ’20 Olivia Friedberg ’20 Kaela Smith ’21 Paulina Harasimowicz ’19, Honorable Mention Boys’ Soccer Mick Bronsky ’19 Lucca Piccinini ’19 Cole Boester ’19, Honorable Mention Girls’ Soccer Juliette Grasso ’20 Isabel Stronski ’20 Charlotte Townley ’19 Charlotte Price ’20, Honorable Mention

Football All Metropolitan Independent Football League Selections: First Team MIFL: Malcolm Brydson ’19 Cameron Coleman ’19 Cullen Coleman ’20 Allan Houston ’19 Nick Owens ’19 Second Team MIFL: Franklin Hong ’19 Alex Kelly ’19 Justin Mandell ’19 Julian Martelly ’19

Individual Honors Boys’ Cross Country Coaches Award: Laszlo Kopits ’19 Wildcat Award: Connor Marrs ’19 Girls’ Cross Country Coaches Award: Samantha Buchbinder ’19 Wildcat Award: Sarah Colin ’19 Field Hockey Coaches Award: Paulina Harasimowicz ’19 Wildcat Award: Elizabeth Friedberg ’20 WNESPFHA: Elizabeth Friedberg ’20, Olivia Friedberg ’20 New England All-Star: Olivia Friedberg ’20 Westchester/Putnam Field Hockey All Stars Second Team: Olivia Friedberg ’20 Honorable Mention: Elizabeth Friedberg ’20, Kaela Smith’21 NFHCA High School National Academic Squad: Wendy Corona ’20, Paulina Harasimowicz ’19, Amelia Lower ’20, Evalise Melgar ’20, Natalie Sanchez ’19

Football Coaches Award: Senior Class Wildcat Award: Cameron Coleman ’19 Journal News Westchester/Putnam All-Star First Team: Cameron Coleman’19, Allan Houston ’19 Second Team: Cullen Coleman ’20 All New England Class C Prep School First Team: Cullen Coleman ’19, Allan Houston ’19 News 12 Westchester Scholar-Athlete Achievement Award: Allan Houston ’19 Westchester Golden Dozen: Cameron Coleman ’19 Honorable Mention: Nick Owens ’19 Boys’ Soccer Coaches Award: Jack Miller ’19 Wildcat Award: Mick Bronsky ’19 WNESPSAA: Brett Robinson ’19 Girls’ Soccer Coaches Award: Isabel Stronski ’20 Wildcat Award: Charlotte Townley ’19 WNESPSAA: Isabel Stronski ’20, Charlotte Townley ’19

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All-League Recipients

Winter Sports 2019 Team Records + Awards W

L

15

10

Girls’ Varsity Fencing – Foil

10 1 6 7 7

11 11 6 3 9

Girls’ Varsity Fencing – Epee

14

0

Girls’ Varsity Fencing – Sabre

3

Boys’ Varsity Ice Hockey

17

9 4

Girls’ Varsity Ice Hockey

13

4

Boys’ Varsity Squash Girls’ Varsity Squash

7 7

14 13

Wrestling

4

10

Boys’ Varsity Basketball

T

NYSAIS C State Champions

Girls’ Varsity Basketball Boys’ Varsity Fencing – Foil Boys’ Varsity Fencing – Epee Boys’ Varsity Fencing – Sabre

ISFL League & Tournament Champions

FAA League Champions 3rd Consecutive FAA Tournament Champions WIHLMA Miran Division Champions

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Boys’ Basketball Billy O’Meara ’19 Shane Regan ’20, Honorable Mention

Boys’ Squash Andrew Felton ’21 Will McPhail ’19, Honorable Mention

Girls’ Basketball Alana Jones ’20 Katie Lefever ’21, Honorable Mention

Girls’ Squash Amanda Bortner ’20 Ashley Hatstadt ’21, Honorable Mention

Boys’ Ice Hockey

Wrestling Cameron Coleman ’19 Alex Hackett ’19, Honorable Mention

Josh Cohen ’19 Jack Kissell ’19 Charlie Keating ’21, Honorable Mention Girls’ Ice Hockey – WIHLMA League Caroline Keating ’22 Charlotte Price ’20 M.K. Braun ’22, Honorable Mention All-Academic: Ryan Hammel ’20 Ellie Stevens ’22 Jordan Miller ’21, Honorable Mention

1

Individual Honors Boys’ Basketball Coaches Award: Jason Schnall ’19 John Sabia Award: Billy O’Meara ’19 Westchester/Putnam Basketball All-Stars Honorable Mention: Allan Houston ’19, Billy O'Meara '19, Shane Regan ’20.

Girls’ Basketball Coaches Award: Annie Cooper ’19 Wildcat Award: Alana Jones ’20 NEPSAC All-Star: Alana Jones ’20 Boys’ Fencing Coaches Award: James Kernan ’19 Wildcat Award: James Chen ’19 1st Place Sabre – Abhinav Kumar ’20 4th Place Epee – James Kernan ’19 Girls’ Fencing Coaches Award: Valeria Morales Ciriaco ’20 Maureen Hartman Award: Yusra Suliman ’19 2nd Place Epee – Yusra Suliman ’19 6th Place Epee – Aisling Kernan ’21

Boys’ Ice Hockey Maria Effinger Award: Josh Cohen ’19 Stahlin Award: Jack Kissell ’19 Girls’ Ice Hockey Coaches Award: Ella Birchenough ’20 Wildcat Award: M.K. Braun ’22 Harry Rulon-Miller Award: Harley Caggiano ’21 Boys’ Squash Coaches Award: Jack Featherston ’20 Wildcat Award: Liam Pope ’19 Girls’ Squash Coaches Award: Amelia Lower ’20 Wildcat Award: Maya Hirani ’22 Wrestling Coaches Award: Robbie Fox ’20 Frank Antonelli Award: Cameron Coleman ’19 2nd Team All-Section: Cameron Coleman ’19 Journal News/lohud 2018-19 Westchester All-Section 2nd Team: Cameron Coleman ’19

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Alumni Thanksgiving Games HOCKEY A record number of Wildcat athletes, spanning 34 years of RCDS graduates, returned to the ice rink and basketball court the day after Thanksgiving for the Alumni Thanksgiving Games.

Congratulations to basketball MVP Michael Pfeffer '84 and ice hockey MVPs Rob Grossberg '86 and Brendan Mooney '05!

Front Row, from left: Larry Parades ’86,

Eddie Abrams ’18, Jack Birchenough ’18, Tim Schliftman ’01, Will Collingham ’04, Hank Gerson ’86, Shayne Bingham ’11, Tom Collingham ’02, Andrew Collingham ’07, Georgia Kleiner ’13, Andrew Pisacano ’98, Charlotte Fleischman ’16, Jeff Zelman ’90, Geoff Exum ’03, Ryan Burke ’04, Jacob Marcus ’04.

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Back row, from left: Rob Grossberg ’86, Coach Effinger, Jeffrey Chen ’17, Frank Tedeschi ’17, Andrew Gillen ’13, Larry Kosilla ’00, Jack Carroll ’13, Grant Savage ’00, Matt Toth ’99, Chris French ’91, Michael Pisacano ’87, Charlie Rothschild ’18, Harry Kadlish ’18, James Neumann ’86, Scott Weiss ’96, Rob Striar ’90, John Klingenstein ’98, Andrew Wiener ’93, Michael Zody ’86, Jory Benerofe ’95, Rick Lipsey ’85, Brendan Mooney ’05, Coach Felice, Coach Castagna.

BASKETBALL

Front Row, from left: Michael Pfeffer ’84, Alex Gardner ’84, Rob Yaffa ‘86, Shams Elbardissy ’17, Matt Farber ’16.

Back Row, from left: Coach Barile, Charles Moran ’08, Coach Sayer, James Hutchins ’08, Coach Milt Farrar.

Hockey MVPs Brendan Mooney ’05 and Rob Grossberg ’86 with Headmaster Scott Nelson after the game.

Headmaster Nelson with Coach Sabia.

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24th ANNUAL FESTIVAL CHORUS CONCERT

Calling All Dawns After opening with a beautiful rendition of Shawn Kirchner’s Unclouded Day at its 24th annual concert, the Festival Chorus then presented Calling All Dawns by composer Christopher Tin. Calling All Dawns is a song-cycle in three movements: day, night, and dawn. Each movement corresponds to a different phase of life - life, death, and rebirth - and each song within the three movements is sung in a different language. Each song flows seamlessly into the next, and the piece ends on the same chord that opens it, thereby representing the fluid, cyclical nature of the universe. Calling All Dawns carries a strong message of unity, one that says regardless of race, culture, and religious belief, we are all connected through our common human experience.

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Fall2018/Winter2019

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The Young Physicists Tournament Rye Country Day welcomed nearly 200 students and jurors from across the globe to campus in January to participate in the United States Invitational Young Physicists Tournament (USIYPT).

This annual event, hosted for the first time by Rye Country Day, is a physics research and debate tournament that provides high school students with the opportunity to showcase their knowledge and application of physics.

The 13 teams – from the USA China, and Tunisia - had been training for the tournament for a year, studying a series of challenges ranging from predicting extraterrestrial rainbows to testing transport via a pneumatic tube system. During the tournament, teams competed via "physics fights," or student-led debates, with scoring based on the quality of each team's solutions. Each round was judged by a panel of jurors comprising RCDS faculty, alumni, USIYPT board members, and physics professors.

Dr. Mary Krasovec, RCDS physics instructor and a YPT board member, was in charge of the proceedings on campus, with help from RCDS lab technician Emma Ring, Science Department Chair Cathie Bischoff and science instructors Dr. Mary Ross and Katie Sandling. Just as final touches were being made, word came that the team from Tunisia was stranded in Germany due to bad weather, and Dr. Krasovec and her organizing committee jumped in to reschedule the entire weekend’s events, ensuring that the Tunisian team’s hard work would not go to waste. A special round of student-judged physics fights was scheduled for the second day which, Dr. Krasovec notes, turned out to be a great success, not only for the Tunisian team, but also for the student judges from the other schools who got to work with professional jurors to

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evaluate the research. “This was such a great experience for everyone involved that the YPT board is considering making it a permanent feature of the tournament,” she said.

Dr. Krasovec explained the sequence of events: “Once underway, the weekend saw extremely talented students emulate the professional world of scientific research. Just as competing research groups might discuss a presentation at a symposium, two teams were pitted against each other, one required to present its findings, the other prepared to challenge and dissect the research techniques to evaluate the validity of the conclusions reached. Students had to access many skills and really think on their feet. Not only did they have to communicate college-level content clearly and confidently, but they had to have the breadth of knowledge across all four problems and flexibility of thinking to critique or defend methodologies. Once the student-led debate was summarized, it was then over to the professionals, as the jurors stepped up to challenge, praise and ultimately judge the proposer and opposer on their merits. At the end of the hour and conclusion of the first physics fight, the teams then switched up and repeated for a different problem, different school, and different side of the debate."

Six physics fights later, the 12 teams were narrowed down to 6 finalists who would then face each other in the play-offs before one would be crowned the ultimate winner.

Meanwhile there was no rest for the non-playoff teams, who now had one hour to prepare

their best research for a poster session to compete for a parallel prize.

In addition to providing students with the opportunity to showcase the considerable work they completed over the course of the year, the event also featured a fascinating and engaging keynote by RCDS alumnus Dr. Alfred A. Rizzi '82, chief scientist at Boston Dynamics.

Other members of the RCDS community who participated included alumni Alex Peters ’04, Scott Wieman ’10, Sarah Strong ’12, Andres Soto ’13, Jason Goettisheim ’14, Cynthia Luo ’14, Johnny Ma ’14, Henry Townley ’14, JP Mattos ’04, and Michael Mossman ’14. Their help as jurors was invaluable throughout the weekend. Also in attendance were former science teachers Dr. Bruce Oldaker, who co-founded the USA-YPT organization, and his long-time co-coach of the RCDS YPT team, Dr. David Hinman.

Tournament Rankings: 1st Place Phillips Exeter Academy, New Hampshire (82.39 pts) 2nd Place Phillips Andover Academy, Massachusetts (76.56 pts) 3rd Place Woodberry Forest School, Virginia (75.51 pts) 3rd Place Shenzhen Middle School, China (74.79 pts) 3rd Place The Nueva School, California (73.65 pts) 4th Place Cary Academy, North Carolina (68.2 pts)

Awarded the Swartz Trophy for Best Physics Poster: Pioneer High School Menzah VIII, Ariana, Tunisia Awarded The Tengiz Bibilashvili Award for Excellence in Physics: Phillips Exeter Academy, New Hampshire Phillips Andover Academy, Massachusetts Woodberry Forest School, Virginia Shenzhen Middle School, China The Nueva School, California Cary Academy, North Carolina The Harker School, California Rye Country Day School, New York

Dr. Al Rizzi ’82, held the young physicists spellbound as he discussed his work in robotics at Boston Dynamics.

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Fall2018/Winter2019

The 13 teams – from the USA, China, and Tunisia - had been training for the tournament for a year, studying a series of challenges ranging from predicting extraterrestrial rainbows to testing transport via a pneumatic tube system.

RCDS alumni attendees and volunteers: Front row, from left: Scott Nelson, RCDS headmaster; Dr. Mary Krasovec, RCDS science instructor, team coach, & USA-YPT local organizing chair; Cathie Bischoff, RCDS Science Department chair; Cynthia Luo ’14, juror; Katie Sandling ’10, RCDS science and engineering instructor, team coach & local organizer; Michael Mossman ’14, juror; Andres Soto ’13, juror; Jason Goettisheim ’14, juror; and Henry Townley ’14, juror.

Back row, from left: Dr. Alex Peters ’04, juror; Dr. JP Mattos ’04, juror; Dr. Al Rizzy ’82, juror & keynote speaker; Dr. David Hinman, former RCDS chemistry instructor and longtime YPT team coach; Scott Wieman ’10, juror; Adam Colombo ’10; Johhny Ma ’14, juror; and Robby Kirkham ’05.

(Missing from photo: Dr. Bruce Oldaker, former RCDS physics instructor & YPT coach; Sarah Strong ’12 juror; Emma Ring, RCDS team coach; and Dr. Mary Ross, RCDS science instructor & team coach.)

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Upper School Musical 2019

Urinetown

By Jay Gerlach

The RCDS Drama and Dance Department was proud to present the 2019 Upper School Musical, Urinetown! Yes, that really is the title. This musical tells the story of a Gotham-like city with a terrible water shortage caused by a 20-year drought. There is a government-enforced ban on private toilets, and the citizens must use public amenities, regulated by a single malevolent company that profits by charging admission for one of humanity's most basic needs. Amid the people, a hero decides that he's had enough and plans a revolution to lead them all to freedom!

This hilarious musical comedy played to packed houses in the Dunn Performing Arts Center.

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A r t s Fe s t i v a

l & Internati

Februa ry 23, 12-3 :00 pm

Art Activities & Global Cuisine

Musi Dancc & e

Arts Festival & International Fair

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Fall2018/Winter2019

FREE Family Event!

2

o n a l Fa i r

/Athlet 019 ic Cent er

Kor Daenan Fo cers lk

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ANNUAL FUND 2018-19

IT TAKES ALL OF US PLEASE MAKE YOUR GIFT TODAY

Every gift makes a difference in supporting the next generation of RCDS students. Annual Giving allows us to recruit and retain outstanding faculty, offer financial aid to deserving students, and fund programs in the arts, athletics, community service, and sustainability, to name a few.

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To give, go to ryecountryday.org/give, call 914-925-4523, or use the enclosed envelope.

Fall2018/Winter2019

CLASS NOTES-Fall Winter 2018/19 1970 Tom Hess writes, "We're so excited about our new granddaughter Livia's arrival. She is part of our family.

It is an exciting new life chapter for our daughter Carly and son-in-law Graham.”

1972 Cindy Rosenwald was sworn in on December 5, 2018, as the newly elected New Hampshire State senator representing District 13.

1973 Paul Erhard performed at Lincoln Center with the Takacs Quartet in March. Paul is a professor of double bass at the University of Colorado/ Boulder College of Music.

Will Graves and his brother, Harry Graves ’74, were two of several pairs of siblings on campus for the gala 150th Anniversary Wildcat Weekend.

Dennis Parker returned to campus in September as the first speaker in the RCDS | 150 Alumni Speaker Series.

Dennis was recently named the excutive director of the National Center for Law and Economic Justice. His remarks to the students encouraged the next generation of Rye Country Day leaders and change-makers to pursue lives in keeping with the school's motto, "Not for Self, but for Service."

1974 45th Reunion Harry Graves and his brother Will Graves ’73 were two of several pairs of siblings on campus for the gala 150th Anniversary Wildcat Weekend.

Harry and his wife, Lynne Reichart Graves, were also one of several married alumni couples who were honored on Wildcat Weekend as RCDS alumni athletes.

1976

1980

Jim Barnett’s HR firm, Glint, based in Redwood City, Calif., has been acquired by LinkedIn. Read more here: https://bit.ly/2NuYFhA

John Treacy Egan was tapped to play Ozzy in the Manhattan Concert Productions' concert performance of the Tony Award-nominated musical The Scarlet Pimpernel at Lincoln Center in February.

1979 Lorre Erlick has relocated back to the East Coast with a new home in Manhattan. She recently enjoyed dinner with a cohort of ’79 alumnae, including Mary Liebman Blum, Lucy Klingenstein, Laurie Rubin, and Beth Linton.

Lorree Erlick and '79 alumnae.

Laura and Duncan Hennes welcomed their second grandchild, Duncan Oscar Hennes, in September 2018.

Oscar is the son of D.J. Hennes ’05 and Victoria Williams Hennes ’05.

1975 Fred Watts was inducted into the RCDS Alumni Hall of Fame, in the service category, on October 12, 2018, as part of the Wildcat Weekend Festivities. (See page 12) A former Manhattan district attorney, Fred is the executive director of the Police Athletic League of New York.

Lisa Scher Gregory wrote in August: “I am so excited to begin my new work as a Peer Recovery Specialist with the State of Connecticut.”

1982 Al Rizzi was inducted in to the RCDS Alumni Hall of Fame on October 12, 2018. (See page 11) Earlier that afternoon, Al spoke with students in all three school divisions about the amazing robots he has developed as chief scientist at Boston Dynamics.

Al was also a judge and speaker at the International Young Physicists Tournament that was hosted at RCDS in January. (See page 38.)

1983

Tracy Suitt Keogh says she was sorry to miss Wildcat Weekend 2018 in October and reconnecting with the big group of classmates who gathered in Rye. In December 2018, Tracy and her husband, Joe, hosted a birthday party in Florida for former Music Department Chair Nancy Zarowin.

Will and Harry Graves

RCDS on the Road in Los Angeles

The entire 1983 Undefeated Championship Basketball Team was inducted into the RCDS Alumni Hall of Fame on Wildcat Weekend 2018. (See page 13) Class of 1983 members of the team there that evening included David Bart and Billy Cooper, co-captains, David Miller, and George Stein.

Not only was Andrea Greer instrumental in organizing the Class of 1983’s 35th Reunion, she didn’t miss a beat in her training for the NYC Marathon, which she completed just a few short weeks later.

Special thanks to former parents Alex and Steve Cohen for hosting the reception in their home in Beverly Hills.

Rye Country Day headed to the West Coast in March to hold a reception in Los Angeles. Faculty and administrators visited with over 30 alumni and friends who live, work, or attend school in California. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet alumni who don't often return to campus and great for the alumni – who spanned the classes of 1959 to 2018 – to meet others they did not know were neighbors.

The RCDS visiting team included Headmaster Scott Nelson, Director of Development and Alumni Affairs Lynette Gioffre, and Coach Gil Castagna. www.ryecountryday.org

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The class had the opportunity to meet RCDS alumnus Michael Zody, senior director of Computational Biology for the Genome Center. Dr. Zody's team was recently awarded a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Cancer Institute (NCI) based on their findings in a cancer cell mutation study.

Maria Los Notias was inducted into the RCDS Alumni Hall of Fame on Wildcat Weekend for her work in the arts. Maria is the deputy chairman and head of client advisory at Christie’s in New York City. (See page 11)

George Stein reports: “Excited that my son, Morry, has committed to play Division 1 lacrosse at Furman University. Go, Paladins!”

Carolyn Longbotham Russell reports that she was thrilled to be aboard Bill Ketcham's J/44 boat, Maxine, as it beat out 13 other boats in the race for one of the New York Yacht Club's most prized trophies, the 63rd Queen's Cup. Carolyn’s teammate in the race was RCDS alumnus Eliot Beck ’03.

1984

1985 Ted Hosp recently reported: “After more than 20 years with the law firm of Maynard, Cooper & Gale, I am joining Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, where I will be Executive Director of Governmental Affairs. I am thrilled to be joining Blue Cross, a company that I have worked with for almost as long as I have been practicing law.”

On Wildcat Weekend 2018, Steve Kornfeld and Richard Williams were inducted into the RCDS Alumni Hall of Fame along with their ’83 and ’84 teammates on the 1983 Championship Undefeated Basketball Team. (See page 13)

1986 On October 26, 2018, the Computational Biology class, accompanied by teachers Jen Doran and Jason Leath, visited the New York Genome Center.

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1992 Nicole Malina is a development professional based in Los Angeles.

She recently began a new job as the southwest deputy regional director at J Street, a non-profit advocacy group.

Andrea Greer at the NYC Marathon.

Alex Gardner, a regular on the basketball court at the RCDS Alumni Thanksgiving Games, was one of a number of alumni who completed the NYC Marathon in November 2018.

Alex was also a member of the 1983 Undefeated Championship Basketball Team that was inducted into the RCDS Alumni Hall of Fame on Wildcat Weekend 2018. (See page 13) Other team members from the Class of 1984 included Hugh Burns, Angelo Fazio, Glynn Kenny (dec.), Tom Kelly, Michael Pfeffer, and Rowland Preston.

trustee of RCDS, and she and her husband, Brad, are the parents of three RCDS students. (See page 10)

Michael Zody ’86 and RCDS students at the New York Genome Center.

1988

1989

Nina Anastos Floyd writes, “It may have been a television first. On Thursday, July 12, three generations from one family, grandfather, son-in-law, and grandson, each anchored a TV newscast on the same day. It happened in NYC; Albany, New York; and Casper, Wyoming. Incredible to see my father, husband, and son all on the air. Pretty cool day.”

Emily Lazar made history at this year’s Grammy Awards as the first woman mastering engineer ever to take home the Grammy for Best Engineered Album for Beck's Colors.

1990 Brett T. Funck was recently promoted from Colonel to Brigadier General in the United States Army. General Funck currently serves as the deputy chief of staff in the United States Army Reserve Command with responsibility for all army reserves worldwide.

Rob Striar has launched a new alumni networking program for the Professional Hockey Players' Association.

As a regular on the ice at the RCDS Thanksgiving Alumni Games, Rob knows well the power of alumni networking.

Members of Nina Anastos Floyd’s family anchored the news from three different locations on the same day in July. From left, Ernie Anastos, Fox5 NYC; Greg Floyd, WRGB Albany; and Billy Floyd, KTWO Casper, WY.

1991 On October 12, 2018, Sarah DoddsBrown was presented with the W. Lee Pierson Distinguished Alumni Award, the highest award presented to an RCDS alumnus/a. Sarah is a current

Carolyn Longbotham Russell ’92 and Eliot Beck ’03.

1994 25th Reunion Irina and Christian DeGennaro welcomed daughter Siena Natalia DeGennaro on August 29, 2018.

1995 Emily Vides’s new venture, Small Change Brewery, was featured in The Boston Globe on November 12, 2018.

You can read the article at: https://bit. ly/2DEWHsY

1996 Chris Kooluris and Brenda O’Donovan were married at India House in New York City on December 1, 2018.

Chris is a senior vice president at the public relations firm Weber Shandwick.

Congratulations to Rene Lumley-Hall, who has completed training and is now a certified yoga instructor.

Scott Weiss and Tom Khoury both completed the NYC Marathon in November 2018.

Tom Khoury ’96

David Lamont and Chantelle Brinkley were married on September 15, 2018, in Croton-on-Hudson, New York.

RCDS folks in attendance included Headmaster Scott Nelson and his wife, Sue, Ethel and Bill Buck H’03, Beth and Lee Fleischman ’74, and Rachel Rones, and her husband, Daniel Barnett.

Ben Turshen returned to campus on November 26 to lead a professional development workshop on meditation. Faculty, staff, administrators, and coaches enjoyed his guidance on breath work and other tools to help relieve stress and improve health. Ben is a master teacher of vedic meditation, a breath work practitioner, and a personal coach. His company provides individuals and organizations with instruction and tools “to promote immediate, profound and sustainable personal growth and development.”

Learn more at https://www.benturshenmeditation.com/

2000

Nicole Fanjul was named a partner at the NYC law firm Latham and Watkins, where she is a member of the Finance Department’s Banking Practice.

Cookbook author Julia Turshen visited the kick-off party for the RCDS Book Fair in November, where she signed copies of her latest book, Now & Again.

Dani Hager won the 2018 OnStage Theatre Award for outstanding actress in a leading role in a musical, for her performance as Francecsa in The Bridges of Madison County. The Onstage Awards honor the best and brightest in local theater.

Katie Hunt has launched a new retail start-up, Showfields, in New York City. Read more about the evolution of this project at https://bit.ly/2DEshr5

2003 Eliot Beck was aboard Bill Ketcham’s J/44 boat, Maxine, as it beat 13 other boats in the race for one of the New York Yacht Club’s most prized trophies, the 63rd Queen's Cup. Eliot’s teammate in the race was RCDS alumna Carolyn Longbotham Russell ’92.

Wallis Finger was inducted into the RCDS Alumni Hall of Fame in athletics in October. (See page 13) Wallis continued her ice hockey career at Yale, and has since run 12 marathons and climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Julia Turshen at the Book Fair kick-off party.

2004 15th Reunion Meghan Cross Breeden has joined the team at Amplifyher Ventures, a new firm looking to invest in visionary founders. Read more here: https://tcrn. ch/2Sw6XcH Meghan was one of a number of RCDS alums who completed the 2018 New York Marathon.

Brian Hirsch was named a partner at the New York City law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell in July 2018. Brian is a member of the firm’s corporate department in the real estate group.

Scott Weiss ’96

1997 Lisa Weinberg and Adam Isaacson were married at Cipriani 25 in New York City on November 3, 2018.

1998 Bridget Hartman and Jeff Laviolette were married on November 20, 2018, at the Lodge at Torrey Pines in La Jolla, Calif.

1999: 20th Reunion Sarah Campbell and Colin Graham were married in South Carolina on November 3, 2018.

2001 Alex Chassin and Jennifer Brier were married on July 28, 2018, at the Tuxedo Club in Tuxedo Park. Alex is a director of marketing with Universal Music Group, and Jennifer is the director of the Humanities Department at Hannah Senesh Community Day School in Brooklyn.

2002 Samantha Grenell-Zaidman Britt made her debut at Staatsoper Berlin Unter den Linden in March 2019 singing in Jörg Widmann's "Babylon" https://lnkd.in/dgM-QEG

Eliot Beck and Carolyn Longbotham Russell ’92.

Meghan Cross Breeden at the NYC Marathon.

Casey Keeler reports that she is thrilled to be cast as the Duchess of Plaza-Toro in the Blue Hill Troupe’s next production of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Gondoliers, premiering in Spring 2019.

Brendon Nimphius and Susie Nathan were married on October 6, 2018.

The couple lives in New York, where Brendon is a leadership trainer for LifeLabs Learning.

Peter Shalek is co-founder and CEO of Joyable, whose app was chosen as one of Apple’s Best Apps of 2018 for the second year in a row. https://developer. apple.com/app-store/best-of-2018/

2005 Lily Beck and Billy Matthews were married in Bar Harbor, Me., on September 8, 2018, with many RCDS alumni in attendance.

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DJ and Vicky Williams Hennes welcomed their second child, son Duncan Oscar Hennes, in September 2018. Oscar joins older sister Frances.

list in November 2018. Maddy and her business partner, Sierra Tishgart, have founded cookware start-up Great Jones.

Cara Rock-Singer has begun a two-year post-doctoral fellowship in Jewish Studies at Cornell.

John Siderides and Emily Barnes were married on June 30, 2018.

2006 Josh Bennett writes, “Friends! I am excited to share that my first work of narrative nonfiction, Spoken Word: A Cultural History, was just sold to Knopf. The book will trace the history of spoken word in the United States and celebrate the brilliant writers (Sonia Sanchez, Amiri Baraka, Miguel Algarín, Nikki Giovanni and so many others) that helped turn it into a cultural force and global phenomenon.”

Emily Cole and Matthew Dover were married on August 11, 2018. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo officiated at the home of Emily’s parents in Purchase, New York. Emily is an associate at the law firm of Kaplan Hecker and Fink, and Matthew is a data analytics consultant in Manhattan.

2007 RCDS Alumni Executive Board member Melanie Baevsky and Adam Besvinick were married on October 20, 2018, at Brae Burn Country Club in Purchase. Melanie is a director on NBCUniversal’s digital partnerships team, and Adam is a venture capitalist at the Anchorage Capital Group, a hedge fund in New York.

Andrew Citrin has left Los Angeles and relocated to New York City, where he has accepted a position as operation director for Viacom Velocity.

2008 Christina McClintock was sworn in to the Illinois Bar on November 8, 2018.

Christina works in the environmental bureau of the Office of the Illinois Attorney General.

Maddy Moelis was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 Food and Drink

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2009 10th Reunion Carter Aronson and Kathleen Koenigs were married on October 6, 2018.

Marni Aronson is principal of Success Academy Bed-Stuy 1, which has been awarded a coveted National Blue Ribbon Award from the U.S. Department of Education.

Alba Hancock and Robbie Dexheimer were married on October 28, 2017, at the Metropolitan Building in Long Island City, New York.

2012 Elizabeth Baker posted this news, “I guess this is the most fitting way to announce that come 2019 I'll be Bisnow's Mid-Atlantic Producer, covering DC/Maryland/Virginia, the Carolinas, and Nashville! This is a major region with HUGE development potential and growth, and I can't wait to start producing in a market I've lived in - and loved for so long.”

Hmad for about a year through the Labouisse fellowship from Princeton.

You can read more about the cool work we do at www.darsihmad.org.

After my year in Agadir, I’ll return to New York as a consultant for Oliver Wyman. Until then hit me up if you’re in Morocco!”

2016 Ben Arquit posted that he was thrilled to complete his first marathon on November 11, 2018, in Athens, Greece. Noted Ben, “What an incredible experience! I am thrilled with my time on such a tough course. Finishing in the original Olympic Stadium was definitely the highlight!”

Michael Karr was recently quoted in an article in The Atlantic on the digital divide between Washington, D.C. and Silicon Valley.

In November 2018, RCDS students and faculty attended the annual Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC) and People of Color Conference (POCC) in Nashville, Tenn. Ruiy Shah, currently a junior at Vanderbilt, met up with the group to reconnect, share stories about her time at SDLC in 2014, and talk about her interfaith/diversity work in college.

2013 In September 2018, Adam Alpert was named one of Rhode Island’s 25 innovators under 25. Adam was also instrumental in the great turnout at the Class of 2013’s Reunion.

In October 2018, Chris Hanson started a new venture, You Don’t Need a CMO, focused on providing marketing teams to support businesses without their own internal marketing personnel.

2014 5th Reunion Katie Tyler posted the following in July 2018: “ I am no longer in the US but have now found Paradise [Valley]!

I moved to Agadir, Morocco, where I’ll be working with the NGO Dar Si

Ruiy Shah ’16, left, with RCDS students and faculty in Nashville.

Jarvey O’Neill ’17, standing left, with RCDS students and faculty on Broadway.

2017 A special thank you to Jarvy O'Neill who, in addition to attending NYU, is working in security at the Lyric Theater, home of the hit musical Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

In December, Jarvy was thrilled to see Drama and Dance Department Chair Jay Gerlach and seven RCDS students at the show. Jarvy welcomed them with a private tour, and the drama students attended a workshop with the actor who plays Harry Potter!

We are proud to introduce Rye Country Day School, a limited-edition commemorative book detailing the storied history of the School and its first 150 years. This visually stunning coffee table book will include the fascinating history of Rye Country Day School, archival photographs, and contemporary photography featuring the campus, students, and faculty as captured by award-winning photographers. Purchase your copy at: www.RyeCountryDay.org/book

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In Memoriam Frederick A. Klingenstein 1932-2019

On January 5, 2019, Rye Country Day School lost a dear friend and dedicated benefactor. Fred Klingenstein, Trustee Emeritus, passed away at the age of 87, leaving behind a legacy of philanthropy and service that stretched for decades.

Fred and his wife, Sharon, became RCDS parents in 1958, when their daughter, Kathy, entered the School in Pre-K. Over the next 21 years, as their daughters attended, Fred and Sharon dedicated themselves to supporting and guiding Rye Country Day. Fred joined the RCDS Board of Trustees in 1968 and quickly proved to be a very knowledgeable member whose counsel was sought on myriad topics. The list of committees he served on is lengthy - Buildings & Grounds, Finance, Faculty Affairs, Executive – and the committees he guided helped shape the School’s future. He was chairman of the search committee that tapped Lee Pierson as Rye Country Day’s 5th headmaster; and he was chairman of the Centennial Campaign, which ran from 1971-1973, raising over $1.3 million to construct the Field House (ice rink) and also increase endowment. Fred served on the Board of Trustees for 13 years, logging four years as secretary, a year as vice president, and four years, 19771981, as president.

Ed Wachenheim, himself a Trustee Emeritus, former president of the board, and current grandparent in the School, recalls Fred’s singular devotion to Rye Country Day and the critical guidance he provided:

When I was asked to become President of RCDS’s board, I immediately picked up the phone and called Fred. I knew that, under Fred’s leadership, RCDS had forged ahead to become among the outstanding independent schools in the nation – and I eagerly sought Fred’s advice. Fred volunteered that, in his opinion, there were two keys to RCDS’s success: first, building and supporting a particularly talented and caring faculty; and, second, providing students with a rigorous education in a supportive and enjoyable environment. I valued Fred’s advice, and I enjoyed getting to know him as a warm and friendly person – a constant source of joy to all whose lives he touched. I will miss him.

Bill Buck, former faculty member and administrator from 1965-2010, remembers Fred’s unstinting generosity and concern for others:

Fred Klingenstein was the most generous of supporters of Rye Country Day in the 1970’s and 1980’s. As well as a committed parent at the School for more than two decades, he showed an understated trust of, and encouragement for, teachers and staff. Most memorable to me, though, was his generosity of self. In the late seventies, Fred led the Board of Trustees at a time of administrative uneasiness for the School.

When this period of indecision and uncertainty confronted the faculty and staff, Fred stepped into the breach, calling us all together to give of his readiness, wisdom, and reassurance and, thereby, providing needed confidence for all. His means were timely and significant for the School; his human presence equally so.

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Fred’s business ventures and accomplishments were considerable.

He spent 30 years at the helm of Werthheim & Co., an investment firm co-founded by his father, Joseph Klingenstein, then served as co-chairman of the firm for another three years after it merged with Schroders plc. In 1989, he formed Klingenstein, Fields & Co, Inc., a money management firm, and served as chairman there for another three years. At the same time, he served as director of a number of investment funds and companies and was involved with various securities industry organizations, serving as chairman of the Securities Industry Association Committee on Federal Legislation and its Committee on Money Management and Brokerage, and on the Nominating Committee of the New York Stock Exchange.

Fred and Sharon devoted themselves to service, and to helping others.

In addition to RCDS, other organizations fortunate to receive their guidance included Mount Sinai Medical Center, where Fred served as a trustee for 30 years and president of the board for ten. He was a member of the boards of The American Museum of Natural History and St. Lawrence University, and chairman of the finance committee of the UJA-Federation of Jewish Philanthropies, to name but a few.

Fred is survived by his four daughters: Kathy ’72, Susan, Amy ’78, and Lucy ’79; by his sons-in-law, Robert Miller, Ken Pollinger, and Brandon Sall; and by 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

In Memoriam

Alumni

Friends

Gretchen Keehn Thomsen ’44 died at home in Bellevue, Wash., on June 2, 2018. She is survived by her three sons, Brogan, Keehn, and Webb, as well as by four grandchildren and a step grandchild.

She was predeceased by her husband, Ted.

Susan Bridge Blair, wife of former RCDS Classics Department Chair Whitney Blair, died on June 21, 2018, in Brunswick Me. Sue was a founder of the Rye Arts Center, and raised her four children in Rye. She is survived by her husband, Whitney, and three children: Susan Blair Brew ’73, Kathy Blair Beringer ’76, and Tim Blair ’87, as well as 12 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Her son, Whitney “Pete” Blair ’72, predeceased her.

John H. Plunkett, Sr. ’53 of Rye, N.Y., passed away on July 14, 2018. An involved alumnus and Rye Country Day trustee from 1974-1977, John went from Citbank to Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., and then to Thorsen, Brown and Plunkett, Inc. as partner.

He continued his role as partner and financial advisor at TBP Advisors, LTD. from which he retired. John is survived by his wife of 35 years, Diana Luce Plunkett; his children by a previous marriage: Ashley Trivett, Amy Osten, and John Jr.; 5 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

Susan Ames ’56 died on April 15, 2018, in Pennsylvania. Susan was an artist and a metal sculptor, producing beautiful animals in copper. She is survived by her daughters, Nicole Nordling Padgett and Tamis Nordling, as well as her honorary daughter, Lesley Hendricks Vitelli of Doylestown, Penn. Susan’s sister, Mary Ames Spence ’58, passed away two weeks after Susan. According to Susan’s daughter, Tamis Nordling, “Anyone lucky enough to have known Susan will remember her for her ready wit, tireless work ethic, extraordinary imagination and skill, rebel spirit, strong opinions, and uncommon generosity.”

Joan Griffen Miller ’56, a resident of Lakeville, Mass., died on January 15, 2016, after a lengthy illness. Joan is survived by her husband of 56 years, Donald, and their two sons, Barrett and Jeffrey. She was predeceased by her son, Gregory.

Mary Ames Spence ’58 passed away on April 30, 2018, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Mary founded and ran the successful Ponte Vedra Interiors for many years and was “a formidable and passionate golfer.” Mary is survived by her children: Mary Spence Minchew, Ames Spence Kohn, and Richard Todd Spence. Mary is predeceased by her husband, Richard, and her sister, Susan Ames ’56.

Jonathan C. Ochsner ’84 died on February 2, 2019. A resident of Stamford, Conn., Jonathan enjoyed a lengthy and successful career in sales. He is survived by his wife, Barbara McLaughlin; son Eric Ochsner; and daughters Alexandra and Emelina Catterson; as well as by his mother and stepfather, Ginger and Donald Heller; brother Noah Heller; stepsister Elizabeth Lynch ’76 and her husband, Dan Lynch; stepbrother Warren Heller ’79 and his wife, Amy Heller.

Nancy Ake Cecil of Rye, N.Y., died on June 17, 2018. Along with her late husband, Russell, and four other couples, Nancy was a founder of the Rye Arts Center. She was one of two teachers the initial year of the organization’s establishment in 1960, teaching drawing and painting in an old carriage house. Nancy is survived by her children, Russell Cecil, Sarah Cecil ’73, and Andrew Cecil ’77.

Joyce Insler Glantz, wife of former RCDS faculty member Harry Glantz, passed away on December 5, 2018.

Norma Iarocci, former chief bookkeeper at RCDS, passed away on October 12, 2018. She is survived by her children, Keith, Kent, and Kim. Oriana Catherine Parker, mother of Dennis Parker ’73, passed away on February 2, 2019. After Mrs. Parker and her husband, Frederick, raised their three sons in Mount Vernon, NY, she returned to the workforce as an employee at the Westchester County Department of Social Services, Child Protective Services, where she remained until her retirement. In addition to Dennis, she is survived by sons Frederick and Michael, five grandchildren including Zoe Parker ’09, and three great-grandchildren.

Cornelius Shields, Jr., father of Allison Shields ’90, died on December 19, 2018. He was a partner at Shields & Co., a firm founded by his father and late uncle Paul Shields. He was a prominent yachtsman, an America's Cup Skipper and winner of North American Yacht Racing Association's Mallory Cup. In addition to his daughter and his wife, Carol, he is also survived by his son, Cornelius.

Ellen Singer, mother of Adam Singer ’78, passed away on August 31, 2018, in Bethesda, Md. Ellen was an executive assistant at NBC in New York and was a personal assistant to Leopold Stokowski. In her later years she volunteered for Jewish charities. In addition to her son, Adam, she is survived by son Michael, and three grandchildren.

Phoebe Maravel Tompkins, mother of Andrew Tompkins ’69, Penelope Tompkins ’75, and Diana Tompkins Schwatka ’72, died on December 1, 2018. Phoebe had a successful career practicing law in New York City for 30 years, culminating in a three-year term as an administrative law judge in the Bronx. In addition to her children, she is survived by seven grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

Elizabeth Houghton Weinberg passed away on December 25, 2018 in Marion, Mass. She is survived by three children from her first marriage to the late James B. McCord: Jay McCord, Alan McCord and Laurie Grauer; by three children from her marriage to Jim Weinberg: Betsy Weinberg Smith ’70, Sydney Weinberg ’71, and Peter Weinberg ’75; and by 12 grandchildren and eight great- grandchildren.

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Rye Country Day School

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