St. Mark's Magazine Spring/Summer 2026

THE MAGAZINE

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S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2026

A YEAR IN BLOOM FROM THE FIRST DAYS TO PRIZE DAY, CELEBRATING A MEMORABLE YEAR P. 32 PLUS: WHERE LIONS ROAM P. 28 3

ST. MARK’S | SPRING/SUMMER 2026

MY ST. MARK’S

IGNITING LION PRIDE ON THE EVE OF GROTON DAY, Monitors set a papier-mâché zebra ablaze, flames

leaping into the night as St. Mark’s gathers in a time-honored ritual. The bonfire kindles school spirit ahead of Saturday’s rivalry, where a historic football season reaches its long-anticipated climax.

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PHOTOGRAPH BYPHOTOGRAPH DAN MERCURIO BY

I N T HIS ISSU E S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2026

F EATU RES

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WHERE LIONS ROAM Learning how museums shape the stories we tell

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THREE CAREERS, ONE COMMUNITY

Honoring St. Mark’s retirees

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32 PRIZE DAY The 2025–2026 school year was celebrated at the 161st Prize Day on Belmont Field

IN B R IE F

S T. MA RK ERS

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2025–2026 BOARD OF TRUSTEES President: Michael Boulware Moore ’80 Treasurer: Mark F. Vassallo ’80 Clerk: The Reverend Patricia Phaneuf Alexander ’84

6 LESSON PLAN:

INSIDE MY WORLD:

Kate Erickson’s class on Death and Dying

The many hats of Franklin Chen

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38 THIS IS ME: Charlie Shifrin ’25—blue socks to Red Sox

COMMUNITY MATTERS:

James R. Bartlett ’85, P’17, ’18, ’26 Patricia D. Branch ’04 Tarah Donoghue Breed ’00 Aldel M. L. Brown ’08 R. William Burgess Jr. ’77, P’07, ’08 Sung Shik (Sonny) Cho P’26 Michelle Davis P’21 Thomas F. Davis P’21 Nicholas S. Everett ’69, P’02, ’07 Matthew Golding ’13 The Reverend Canon Preston Hannibal Elaine C. Harvey ’06 Xin (Jane) He P’23, ’26 Dr. Ivory D. Hills F. Stephen Hodi Jr. ’84, P’26 Juli S. Hodi P’26 Jie (Jack) Ling P’23, ’26 Victor Lopez-Balboa ’78 Russell B. Pyne ’73 Reuben F. Richards Jr. ’73 Vanessa L. Ryan ’93 Elizabeth Rutherfurd Santini ’95, P’26 Paul R. Schlaack Jr. ’95 Ian Walsh ’85, P‘17, ‘20 Kun (Theresa) Wu P’28

ST. MARK’S MAGAZINE

The many ways St. Markers are engaging

Chief Communications Officer Dan Mercurio Editorial and Design Team Jenna Nastri Sandra Levandowski P’13

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Creative Direction Dog Ear Creative Contributing Writer Megan Hyland P’20, ’22

55 CLASS NOTES: Catching up with fellow grads

MAKE IT A ST. MARK’S WEEKEND: On and off campus

D EPA RTMEN TS

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CHATTER:

GRAY COLLOQUIUM SERIES:

FROM THE DESK OF:

Four students, four stories

Exploring cooperation and collaboration

Defining St. Mark’s

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SNAPSHOT:

ATHLETICS:

LAST LOOK:

A culture of creativity

The year in review

Turning pages

Head of School Dr. Ivory D. Hills ON THE COVER Photography by Adam Richins Photography ST. MARK’S ON SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram @smlions @SMalumni @SMathletics Facebook smlionsMA LinkedIn smlions SmugMug stmarkslions.smugmug.com

Feedback on this issue?

Email editor@stmarksschool.org.

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FRO M T HE D E S K O F

Defining St. Mark’s DEAR ST. MARK’S COMMUNITY,

Each spring offers a moment for reflection and renewal. It is a time to take stock of who we are, to consider who we are becoming, and to recommit ourselves to the work that matters most: preparing students for their futures. At St. Mark’s, this work has always been timeless in its essence, even as the pursuit evolves thoughtfully with a changing world.

Over the past year, our strategic planning process has invited our entire community into a deep and hopeful conversation about St. Mark’s future. What has struck me most is not simply the quality of ideas that have surfaced, but the remarkable coherence among them. Across students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni, and Trustees, there is broad agreement about the values that define us and the aspirations that should guide our next chapter. This shared clarity is itself a powerful asset. It tells me that our culture is not fragmenting under the pressures of modern life; it is cohering.

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That coherence is rooted in relationships. Repeatedly, our community has affirmed that the heart of a St. Mark’s education lies in deep, trusting, demanding, and supportive relationships between students and adults. Alumni often tell me that, decades later, they still carry vivid memories of the teachers, coaches, dorm parents, and advisors who believed in them and helped them see more in themselves than they initially thought possible.

In a world that increasingly prizes speed and scale, we are choosing something quietly countercultural: knowing students well and walking alongside them through both struggle and growth.

As part of our strategic planning, we have revisited our mission statement. We shaped a statement that centers on deep relationships; intellectual and spiritual curiosity; global community; and sound judgment. These are not ornamental words. They are a declaration of what we are willing to stand for.

We are choosing to affirm that all knowledge is interconnected, and that genuine education must engage both the intellect and the spirit. We are choosing to value breadth of understanding and depth of character over narrow specialization, especially in a world where rapid technological change is reshaping what it means to be “skilled.” And we are choosing to prepare students not merely to compete, but to collaborate—to understand that the problems that matter most in this world will only be solved by teams of thoughtful, principled, and courageous people.

In this sense, our strategic planning work is not about inventing a new St. Mark’s. It is about refining and strengthening the one we already know ourselves to be. The listening phase of the process revealed striking agreement on enduring priorities: belonging and community; intellectual rigor; whole-person education; and the formative power of our intentionally small size.

As we move forward, we are also embracing a simple but demanding belief: We can do hard things. The best education has never been easy to deliver. It requires discipline, patience, and moral courage. It requires resisting short-lived trends and refusing to measure success solely by what is most easily quantified. Our real competitor is ourselves.

Great schools are not built by heroic individuals acting alone; they are built by communities that share responsibility, practice cooperation over self-interest, and commit themselves to a common purpose over the long arc of time. The St. Mark’s culture that is emerging through our strategic planning process places teamwork and shared aspiration at its center. Our planning is a disciplined act of collective self-definition, asking us to align our resources, our programs, our hiring, our admissions practices, and our daily decisions with the values we hold most dear.

PHOTOGRAPH BY ADAM RICHINS

St. Mark’s New Mission Statement, ratified by the Board of Trustees at the April 2026 Annual Meeting:

St. Mark’s prepares students for lives of purpose, courage, and integrity. We cultivate sound judgment through intellectual and spiritual curiosity within a global community that knows and values each student.

What gives me confidence is not only the quality of our ideas, but the quality of our people. I have seen faculty go far beyond what is required in service of their students. I have seen students rise to challenges they initially believed were beyond them. I have seen parents, alumni, and Trustees offer thoughtful counsel, honest feedback, and generous support.

St. Mark’s has always believed in educating the whole person. Today, we are articulating that belief with new clarity and renewed resolve. We are saying, humbly but firmly, that it is acceptable to be countercultural if it means forming deeper relationships, cultivating wiser judgment, and preparing students for lives of consequence.

I am honored to be on this very worthy journey with all of you.

Age Quod Agis,

D R . I VO RY D . H I L L S HEAD OF SCHOOL

Honoring Leadership and Service ON APRIL 10, St. Mark’s recognized

four Trustees whose service on the Board will conclude in June 2026. Through their leadership, counsel, and commitment to the School, each has made a lasting impact on St. Mark’s.

Twenty-Four Years of Impact R. William Burgess ’77, P’07, ’08, Trustee 2002–2026, receives honor

Sung Shik (Sonny) Cho P’26 Seoul, South Korea | 2023–2026 Academic Affairs Committee Member

AS AN OUTGOING TRUSTEE, Bill Burgess was honored with the Potter-

Miller Trustee Prize, which recognizes a Trustee whose service to the School is considered truly exceptional by their peers.

For more than two decades, Bill has helped shape St. Mark’s with a rare blend of energy, conviction, and generosity. A Trustee for 24 years, and a Class Agent long before, he has led with the kind of influence that elevates everyone around him. Whether serving as Treasurer, Board President, or Campaign Chair, Bill has consistently paired strategic vision with a deep and personal commitment to the School’s mission.

His connection to St. Mark’s began as a student leader—Head Monitor and captain of the 1975 football team—and has remained a defining thread throughout his life. As a Trustee, he helped guide the SM2020 strategic plan, advancing transformative priorities including global citizenship, expanded STEM programs and facilities, and the Burgess Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, dedicated in recognition of his and his family’s extraordinary service.

Known for his quick wit, inclusive spirit, and belief in the power of “wealth, wisdom, and work,” Bill inspires not by directive, but by example. His legacy is measured not only by the initiatives he realized but also by the enduring culture of engagement, generosity, and possibility he helped foster. Through his extraordinary leadership and unwavering dedication, Bill exemplifies the spirit of the Potter-Miller Trustee Prize and leaves a lasting mark on St. Mark’s that will continue to shape the School for generations to come.

F. Stephen Hodi Jr. ’84 and Juli Hodi P’26, ’26 Southborough, Mass. | 2022–2026 Parents’ Association Co-Chairs

Jie (Jack) Ling P’23, ’26 Hong Kong | 2020–2026 Investment Committee Member

St. Mark’s extends its sincere gratitude to Sonny, Stephen, Juli, and Jack for their dedicated service and steadfast support of the School.

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I N B R IEF

LESSON PLAN

LEARNING HOW TO LIVE

BY TALKING ABOUT DEATH

BY DAN MERCURIO AT ST. MARK’S, students in Kate Erickson’s Death and Dying course quickly

discover that the class is not really about endings. It is about language, perspective, empathy, and, ultimately, how to live.

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Erickson, Religion and Philosophy department head, Religion faculty member, and softball coach, first encountered the course during the 2020–2021 school year at The Hill School, when COVID protocols created the need for a short virtual class. Her department chair suggested a course on death. Erickson’s first reaction was honest: “That sounds morbid and terrible.” But once she began teaching it, something shifted.

“I was amazed at how much I enjoyed teaching it,” she says. The course also helped Erickson confront her own family’s silence around death. An aunt who lived with her family died of cancer when Erickson was just six years old, but the experience was rarely discussed. “Teaching the class unlocked something for me,” she says.

That experience now shapes the purpose of the course at St. Mark’s, where Erickson has taught Death and Dying for three years. “I want you to have language, to be able to talk about something that will happen in your life, whether it has happened yet or not,” she tells students on the first day. “For me, it took 30 years to gain that language, and I really want you to have those skills earlier.”

Though the course title may sound grim, Erickson is intentional about balancing seriousness with curiosity and even humor. Students study religious traditions, literature, film, funeral practices, ghost stories, and pop culture. They read Dante’s Inferno and Milton’s Paradise Lost, watch Pixar’s Soul, and, more recently, explore Beetlejuice as a way to think about death through an absurdist lens.

The course asks students to consider how different cultures imagine the afterlife and honor the dead. That work is especially meaningful in a diverse school community. “Everybody experiences death and dying,” Erickson notes, “but they experience it in really different ways.” A student from New England may arrive with one set of assumptions about funerals and burial; a student from another country or religious tradition may bring an entirely different understanding.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY ADAM RICHINS

“I want you to have language, to be able to talk about something that will happen in your life,” Erickson tells her students.

“For me, it took 30 years to gain that language, and I really want you to have those skills earlier.”

Erickson wants students to recognize that difference without judgment.

One of the most powerful moments comes when students study funeral practices around the world.

Erickson notes that many students arrive with a fixed idea of what is “normal”: a casket, a cemetery, a familiar set of rituals. Then they encounter traditions such as Tibetan sky burial, in which the body is offered to birds in a context shaped by geography, Buddhism, and reverence for living beings. “There are so many different, societally correct answers to the question, how can you bury somebody and

honor them?” Erickson explains. “That’s when students really start to think, wow, this is way more interesting than I thought it was.”

For students who have experienced loss, the course can offer a rare space in which to reflect. For those who have not, it can build empathy. Erickson has heard students say that while they had never lost a close family member, the class helped them better understand what to say to a grieving friend.

Still, Erickson insists that the central message is not fear. “The fundamental takeaway that I want the students to have at the end of this is the feeling of mindfulness that your life, your time on Earth, is finite,” she says. “That shouldn’t scare you. You should use that as a catalyst to make decisions that allow you to live a life of purpose.”

One lesson that resonates is the “4,000 Mondays” project, based on the idea that an average person has roughly 4,000 Mondays in a lifetime. Even ordinary days, Erickson reminds students, are limited. “You shouldn’t distract yourself or allow your time to get used as a resource on things that aren’t important to you,” she tells them. She applies the lesson to herself, too: “I think about this when I scroll on the internet, like I’m using my one wild and precious life to be on Instagram.”

Erickson continues to refine the course, imagining future units on technology, artificial intelligence, and transhumanism. But its heart remains unchanged.

“Learning about this material and teaching this class changed the course of my life,” she says. “This is work that I genuinely find important and really rewarding to get to teach young people.”

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INSIDE MY WORLD

CONNECTION, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY Franklin Chen, Chinese Language Faculty Member FRANKLIN CHEN has been a dedicated member of the St. Mark’s community since

2020, serving as Head of the Modern and Classical Languages Department and as the Antony and Elsa Hill Chair in Asian Studies. His work reflects a deep commitment to helping students find belonging and broaden their perspectives, whether through cultural traditions, shared meals, or experiential learning.

Across his teaching and leadership, he brings a genuine love for St. Mark’s and a belief in the power of connection, culture, and community.

As faculty advisor for the Association for Southeast and East Asians, supporting Asian students at St. Mark’s in finding their voice and sense of belonging is deeply meaningful to me. This is from the Asian American Footsteps Conference hosted virtually in 2022, organized with two colleagues and an outstanding student committee.

A few years ago, I dressed as “the iceberg that sank the Titanic,” inspired

by Bowen Yang’s SNL character, still one of my proudest moments.

The costume won best faculty look and was even reshared by the official SNL Instagram account.

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Nothing brings me more joy than sharing culture through food. A hot pot dinner I prepared for my advisory brought us together to celebrate the end of the academic year. I always love when a student tries hot pot for the first time.

PHOTOGRAPH BY ADAM RICHINS

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With Boston just 30 minutes away, students experience China firsthand in Chinatown while practicing their language skills in real-world settings. On our most recent trip, they created video projects in Mandarin.

During the Mid-Autumn Festival, I bring the game of bó bing to my classroom, a “gambling” game unique to Xiamen, China, where I grew up. Playing with my students helps them see the many ways the same festival is celebrated across China, with the game at the center surrounded by prizes to win.

Every other year, I co-lead a Lion Term trip to Los Angeles, where students explore Asian American spaces and histories. After a day of volunteering at Manzanar National Historic Site, one of the Japanese American internment camps during World War II, students connect with history through lived experience.

Lunar New Year is a major celebration for many of our Asian students. As the Chinese teacher at St. Mark’s, I organize events with colleagues and students to both educate the community and create a sense of home for those unable to celebrate with family. Students write Chinese calligraphy to decorate the School in red.

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Community Matters SERVICE IS A VISIBLE and valued

part of student life at St. Mark’s, with a wide range of opportunities that allow students to engage with and contribute to the surrounding community. These experiences take many forms.

In Southborough, students may spend time at the food pantry sorting donations and helping donate groceries, or visit the senior center to play cards, share conversations, and help at Pine Hill Meadow Gardens.

Beyond Southborough, students extend their efforts to neighboring communities in Needham and Worcester in equally varied ways. Some work with African Community Education, supporting youth through tutoring and mentorship; others spend time at New Horizons for Tech Time, helping senior citizens with their technology questions; or volunteer with Circle of Hope, helping organize and distribute clothing and essential resources. On a global level, partnerships like the Haiti Partnership offer another dimension of service, connecting students’ local experiences to broader global needs. Together, these examples reflect just some of the ways St. Mark’s students engage with the world around them, developing empathy, initiative, and a lasting commitment to making a difference.

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During a weekend service project, students partnered with Sonia Baerhuk, St. Mark’s horticulturist, to remove invasive vines from campus trees, helping preserve the health and beauty of the School’s grounds.

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1. Charlotte Han ‘27 presenting at the Southborough Senior Center on her pop-up bakery (Grain & Loaf Co), which came into being thanks to a Matthews Grant and the use of the PattersonSculley kitchen 2. A thoughtful round of canasta and conversation at the Southborough Senior Center, where connection is just as meaningful as competition 3. Volunteers at the book sale for the Southborough Public Library on Groton Day 4. Bake sale for Haiti Partnership 5. Students at Tech Time at New Horizons Assisted Living Facility Center 6. Paws for Cause at Circle of Hope

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9 7. Helping harvest vegetables at Pine Hill Meadow Gardens, where they donate all the food they grow to local pantries

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8. Working with children at ACE (African Community Education) center in Worcester 9. Bringing Food to Southborough Food Pantry 10. Seed exchange at the Southborough Library

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CHAT TER

MAE BARTLET T has embraced many aspects of life at St. Mark’s. From exploring global issues in the classroom to building community through athletics and sustainability work, she reflects on the experiences that have shaped her St. Mark’s journey.

MAE BARTLETT ’26

FAVORITE ST. MARK’S MEMORY SO FAR: One of my favorite experiences was traveling to Cuba during Lion Term. While visiting a community center, we organized a soccer game with local children. Despite

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE

language barriers, we connected through

CLASS AND WHY?

the game, celebrating together after. It

My favorite class at St. Mark’s has been

was a meaningful reminder of how people

Advanced Studies in Global Citizenship.

can connect across cultures.

The course broadened my perspective on global issues by exploring how history

DESCRIBE THE STUDENT-TEACHER

shapes current events and what it means

RELATIONSHIP AT ST. MARK’S:

to be an engaged global citizen. What

Student-teacher relationships are a

makes the class especially meaningful is

defining part of St. Mark’s. Teachers

its interactive approach, with discussions,

become mentors who support students

presentations, and mock U.S. Senate

beyond the classroom. Ms. Lohwater,

sessions. These activities allow us to

for example, guided me in creating

apply ideas in a practical way. The

a workshop on microplastics for

class has helped me better understand

elementary school students. Her support

the world and think about how I can

helped turn an independent idea into

contribute to positive change.

a meaningful project and inspired my interest in education.

WHAT SPORTS AND OTHER

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ACTIVITIES ARE YOU INVOLVED IN?

SHARE A LESSON LEARNED

Throughout my four years at St. Mark’s,

THAT HAS HAD A LASTING IMPACT

the girls’ squash team has been my

ON YOU:

favorite extracurricular. Although squash

One significant lesson I have learned

can feel competitive due to its ranking

is the importance of “buying in.”

system, our coach emphasizes a sup-

During JV field hockey, I initially

portive team culture. One of our favorite

felt disappointed, but I realized the

traditions is the Non-Dominant Hand

experience would only be meaningful if I

Tournament, where everyone plays with

committed fully. By focusing on building

their non-dominant hand. It leads to a

relationships and supporting my team,

lot of laughter and reminds us that

I helped create a positive culture. That

rankings do not define our value.

experience taught me that the value

This positive environment has made

of any opportunity depends on the

squash a highlight of my winters.

mindset you bring to it.

ST. MARK’S | SPRING/SUMMER 2026

PHOTOGRAPHS BY ADAM RICHINS

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CHAT TER

IAN CHO has explored many corners of the St. Mark’s experience, combining academic curiosity with leadership and community engagement. From engaging in thoughtful discussions in the classroom to organizing campus initiatives and connecting with communities beyond St. Mark’s, Ian reflects on the moments that have shaped his journey.

IAN CHO ’26

WHAT SPORTS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES ARE YOU INVOLVED IN? During my time at St. Mark’s, I have been involved in boys’ varsity and JV crew, served as a Global Ambassador, and worked as an editor for The St. Marker and LEO. I also took on leadership roles as a Form representative, organizing events such as dodgeball tournaments and class gatherings to build community. As a Prefect in the freshman boys dorm, I learned to balance approachability with responsibility while supporting younger students.

Serving on the Student Discipline Committee for two years taught me the importance of empathy, honesty, and thoughtful judgment, with a focus on helping students grow from their mistakes.

FAVORITE ST. MARK’S MEMORY SO FAR: One of the most meaningful experiences was helping organize the “Artificial Intelligence in Education: New Trends in Teaching and Learning”

one of two students selected to help plan and host the event, I coordinated panels and served as a liaison for educators from 38 schools. It was inspiring to see collaboration around how AI is shaping education and to contribute to those conversations.

DESCRIBE THE STUDENT-TEACHER RELATIONSHIP AT ST. MARK’S: My relationship with Dr. Russo has been especially impactful. From Spanish I to Advanced Spanish, she encouraged confidence, persistence, and deep engagement with language and culture.

She also mentored me through my AI in education project, supporting my ideas and helping turn them into action.

Her investment reflects how teachers at St. Mark’s genuinely support student growth and initiative.

SHARE A LESSON LEARNED THAT HAS HAD A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU: I learned the value of stepping outside my comfort zone through my work with ProGente Connections, a nonprofit that supports the Brazilian immigrant community in Framingham, Massachusetts. After initially feeling intimidated, I began studying Portuguese and volunteering with children’s classes.

Later, I helped build a children’s library at the center. This experience taught me that meaningful opportunities often begin with simply reaching out.

symposium during my junior year. As

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CHAT TER

SEEDI SHERIFF has taken full advantage of the opportunities St. Mark’s offers through academics, athletics, and leadership.

Whether competing on the football field and wrestling mat or building relationships with classmates and teachers, Seedi reflects on the lessons and experiences that have shaped his time at St. Mark’s.

SEEDI SHERIFF ’26

accountability. The relationships I have built with teammates and coaches have made the experience especially meaningful.

FAVORITE ST. MARK’S MEMORY SO FAR: One of my favorite memories was the Friday Night Lights football game

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE

against Middlesex during my freshman

CLASS AND WHY?

year. The energy from students, faculty,

If I had to choose a favorite class at

families, and alumni made the game

St. Mark’s, I would say Ethics and

feel special. Winning and celebrating

Morality. The class challenged me to

with my teammates and the broader

think about perspectives I had not

community made it a moment I will

considered before. Through discus-

always remember.

sions and debates, I learned that people can approach the same issue

DESCRIBE THE STUDENT-TEACHER

in very different ways. Before the class,

RELATIONSHIP AT ST. MARK’S:

I often viewed problems from my own

The relationships between students

perspective, but I began to under-

and teachers are strong and personal.

stand the value of considering others’

Faculty take time to get to know stu-

viewpoints. I also learned that dis-

dents, creating a supportive environ-

agreement can be productive, creating

ment. Knowing there are adults on

space for meaningful discussion and

campus who genuinely care and are

growth. The class helped me become

always willing to listen has made my

more open-minded and thoughtful

experience more meaningful.

about how people form their beliefs.

SHARE A LESSON LEARNED THAT HAS

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WHAT SPORTS AND OTHER

HAD A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU:

ACTIVITIES ARE YOU INVOLVED IN?

A lesson from my wrestling coach, Coach

At St. Mark’s, I have been involved in

Welch, has stayed with me: “Wrestling is

football and wrestling, with football

hard . . . but life is going to be hard too,

having the biggest impact on me.

and how you respond to challenges says

The coaches push us to improve and

a lot about who you are.” This taught me

give our full effort, even when things

that challenges are inevitable, and what

feel difficult. Through football, I have

matters most is staying positive, working

learned perseverance, teamwork, and

hard, and pushing through adversity.

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CHAT TER

EMILY LING has immersed herself in the creative and intellectual life of St. Mark’s. From exploring the intersection of art and history in the classroom to helping bring student-led theater productions to life, Emily reflects on the experiences and relationships that have shaped her time at the School.

EMILY LING ’26

have grown as both an actor and a director. One of my most meaningful experiences was helping revive the Student-Led Musical alongside Yejee Hwang ’25. Together, we staged SIX and Mamma Mia! and are currently rehearsing Hadestown. These productions have brought together

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CLASS AND WHY? One of my favorite classes at St. Mark’s was Art, Religion, and Social Change with Rev. Katie Solter.

We studied art from the Prehistoric Age to Impressionism, exploring how shifts in society influenced artistic expression. My favorite part was the final project, where I created my own exhibition based on seven works. I connected these pieces to fashion, examining how depictions of women’s clothing reflect changing ideas about autonomy. The class’s Socratic seminar format also encouraged meaningful discussion, helping me develop a deeper interest in art history that I hope to continue exploring in college.

WHAT SPORTS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES ARE YOU INVOLVED IN? I am a proud theater kid and have participated in theater every cocurricular season at St. Mark’s, while also playing JV tennis in the spring.

Theater has shaped my experience the most. Through productions and an Independent Student Project, I

students across campus while allowing me to develop leadership and creative skills.

FAVORITE ST. MARK’S MEMORY SO FAR: Some of my favorite moments are getting ready with friends before Chapel, dances, and school events. Living on campus means my closest friends are always nearby, and we spend time together helping each other get ready, sharing clothes, and playing music.

These simple moments have created lasting memories and reflect the strong sense of community at St. Mark’s.

DESCRIBE THE STUDENT-TEACHER RELATIONSHIP AT ST. MARK’S: The relationships between students and faculty are deeply supportive and personal. One night before a college interview, I was nervous and ran into Dr. Erickson, who took the time to talk with me and help me practice. Her encouragement made a huge difference. Experiences like this, along with the ongoing support of my advisor, Ms. McCann, show how much teachers care about students beyond the classroom.

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SNAPSHOT

A CULTURE OF CREATIVITY THE ARTS AT ST. MARK’S are both a discipline and a celebration. From the richness of orchestra and a cappella to the intimacy of the Black Box Theater, students engage

deeply in performing arts, music, and visual arts. Ideas take shape, skills are refined, and voices are discovered. The community comes together to share in creativity that is both personal and collective.

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Photographs: 1. Cutler Jazz Festival

6. Frankenstein (Fall Play)

2. Choir performance in the Putnam Family Arts Center

7. WICK a cappella performance

3. Peter Pan Goes Wrong (Winter Play)

8. Fall Orchestra Concert

4. Arin Kim ’27 wins Congressional Art Competition 5. Unity Vase from Aggie Belt’s class

9. Hadestown (Spring Musical) 10. Charlotte Han ’27 earns Scholastic Art Honorable Mention 11. End-of-Year Concert

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Gray Colloquium Series Explores Cooperation and Collaboration

BY JENNA NASTRI

academic year, the C. Boyden Gray Colloquium Series invited the St. Mark’s community to explore this year’s theme: Cooperation and Collaboration. By means of conversations spanning journalism, media, theater, music, and philosophy, students and faculty examined how meaningful work is shaped through dialogue, creativity, and shared experience.

THROUGHOUT THE 2025–2026

The series opened in September with a conversation featuring Alex Ward ’08, White House correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, and Nahal Toosi, senior foreign affairs correspondent at Politico.

Moderated by Gray Colloquium Student Committee Heads Ian Cho ’26 and Emily Ling ’26, the discussion focused on journalism’s role in helping people understand complex global issues. Ward emphasized the importance of curiosity and empathy in reporting, while Toosi encouraged students to remain open to uncertainty and trust in their ability to connect with others. Together, the speakers highlighted how collaboration begins with listening to and understanding perspectives different from one’s own.

The second colloquium, held in January, turned to digital sports media with Lyndsey Armacost ’14, a video producer at ESPN, 18

ST. MARK’S | SPRING/SUMMER 2026

and Ryan Sullivan, Senior Manager of Digital at the Big Ten Network. Their discussion explored storytelling, adaptability, and initiative in a rapidly changing industry.

Armacost shared how volunteering to manage an unused Instagram account early in her career unexpectedly led her into digital content strategy and eventually to ESPN. Her story reinforced one of the colloquium’s central messages: Opportunities often emerge from a willingness to step forward and try something new.

Both speakers described how sports organizations increasingly operate like media companies, producing content that connects audiences more personally with athletes and teams. Sullivan emphasized the importance of authentic storytelling, encouraging students to focus not only on technology but also on creativity and human connection.

Gray Colloquium student ambassadors share the stage with featured speakers throughout each event, helping facilitate discussion and audience Q&A.

The series concluded in the spring with an interdisciplinary panel on artistic collaboration featuring playwright and director Peter Coy ’65, jazz musician Grace Darko ’18, and philosopher Christopher Phillips. Bringing together perspectives from theater, music, and philosophy, the conversation explored how creative work depends on cooperation and collective inquiry. Coy reflected on the collaborative nature of theater, noting that “nothing in theater happens alone.” Darko described music as a shared form of memory and storytelling, while Phillips emphasized the value of dialogue and “thinking together.”

The final colloquium extended beyond the panel with a dinner conversation on theater and clowning, hosted by Coy, and with Darko’s guest performance at St. Mark’s Cutler Jazz Festival.

Together, the year’s Gray Colloquia demonstrated the many ways collaboration shapes intellectual, artistic, and professional life, encouraging students not only to listen to but also to engage deeply with ideas and with one another.

I N BRI E F

MAKE IT A ST. MARK’S WEEKEND THERE’S NO SUCH THING as a typical weekend at

St. Mark’s. On any given Saturday, groups may head to Fenway Park for a Red Sox game, explore local corn mazes in the fall, or spend time locally trying new restaurants, shopping, or seeing a movie. Back on campus, the rhythm shifts but remains full: students gather for pickup games, cook together in PattersonSculley’s kitchen, attend open gym sessions, or simply spend time catching up with friends over a firepit after a busy week.

Weekends also bring the broader community together through both long-standing traditions and student-led celebrations. Cultural events such as Lunar New Year, Diwali, and Holi feature student performances, music, and shared meals, while favorites like Neon Dance and Casino Night continue to anchor the social calendar.

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I N BRI E F

SPORTS

A YEAR TO REMEMBER

St. Mark’s Athletics Shines Across ISL and NEPSAC

BY DAN MERCURIO

marked one of the most successful and wide-ranging seasons in recent memory for St. Mark’s athletics. Across all three seasons, Lions teams competed with pride in both the Independent School League (ISL) and the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC), combining historic achievements, championship runs, and program-defining moments. From the fall fields to the winter rinks and courts, and into a promising spring, St. Mark’s student-athletes demonstrated resilience, growth, and a deep commitment to excellence.

THE 2025–2026 ACADEMIC YEAR

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ST. MARK’S | SPRING/SUMMER 2026

FALL HIGHLIGHTS

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WINTER HIGHLIGHTS THE FALL SEASON set the tone early with strong performances across

multiple programs. Both varsity girls’ soccer and varsity boys’ soccer secured memorable Groton Day victories, with the boys earning theirs in dramatic shootout fashion. Varsity field hockey recorded several league wins, while JV field hockey enjoyed an impressive undefeated stretch.

On the trails, boys’ cross country placed runners among the top 30 at the New England Championships, while girls’ cross country capped their regular season with a statement victory over Tabor.

In just its second full season, varsity volleyball continued its rapid rise, narrowly missing the NEPSAC Class B playoffs but establishing itself as a competitive force across the league and region.

Capping the season, varsity football made school history with seven wins and earned a bid to a NEPSAC Championship Bowl Game, an achievement that energized the entire community.

WINTER BROUGHT CHAMPIONSHIP-LEVEL success and historic milestones. Wrestling contin-

ued its dominance, with St. Mark’s finishing as the top coed boarding school at the ISL Graves–Kelsey Tournament for the second consecutive year. The program sent 10 wrestlers to New Englands and one to the National Tournament, while Seedi Sheriff ’26 captured a remarkable third straight ISL Championship.

The winter season concluded with a championship moment for boys’ varsity basketball, which claimed the NEPSAC Class B Large Championship, its first in 14 years. The team finished 22–6, with Alex Echevarria ’26 and Luca Palermo ’26 named Co-Players of the Year.

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I N BRI E F

Girls’ basketball achieved its best season since 2006–

Class E Championship.

On the ice, girls’ varsity

2007, finishing with 13 wins

hockey earned the No. 5

and just missing qualification

seed in the Dorothy Howard

for the Class B Large NEPSAC

Small School Tournament and

Tournament.

advanced to the semifinals, fin-

Both squash programs

ishing a strong 12–9–4 season.

excelled on regional and

Meanwhile, boys’ varsity

national stages. The girls’

hockey delivered a historic

team earned the No. 8 seed in

campaign. The team earned the

a highly competitive NEPSAC

No. 2 seed in the Elite Eight,

Class C bracket, while the

advanced to the championship

boys’ team delivered one of

game at UConn, and finished

the season’s most thrilling

with a program-record 26 wins.

moments by defeating St.

The Lions also captured another

Sebastian’s 4–3 in the New

ISL Eberhart League title, their

England finals to claim the

fourth in six years.

SPRING HIGHLIGHTS BUILDING ON THE MOMENTUM of a highly successful fall and

winter, St. Mark’s spring teams delivered another outstanding season marked by impressive team accomplishments demonstrating the depth, determination, and championship mindset that define the School’s athletics. Varsity baseball finished the season with a 15–5 record, the most wins for the program since 2000, earning the No. 2 seed in the ISL Tournament.

Coach Rob Calagione ’04 was named ISL Coach of the Year.

Girls’ tennis capped off a remarkable season by winning the NEPSAC Class B Championship and finishing 12–2 overall. The team was especially dominant in postseason play, compiling a 15–1 mark in matches while defeating Mount St. Charles, Rivers School, and Kingswood Oxford on the way to the title.

On the water, girls’ crew delivered one of the most historic performances in program history, capturing the du Pont Cup for the first time ever before their 1V boat went on to earn silver medals at the New England Interscholastic Rowing Association (NEIRA) Championships.

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ST. MARK’S | SPRING/SUMMER 2026

I N BRI E F

LOOKING AHEAD BEYOND TEAM SUCCESS, the year has also been

defined by individual achievement and future promise. A total of 28 VI Formers, representing 12 different sports, will continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level this fall, a testament to the strength and breadth of St. Mark’s programs.

From historic wins to emerging programs and championship performances, the 2025–2026 year will be remembered as a defining chapter for St. Mark’s athletics, one built on teamwork, perseverance, and pride in the Lions community.

FROM DORCHESTER TO DIVISION I BEFORE THEY BECAME St. Mark’s girls’ basketball captains, 1,000-point scorers, NEPSGBA All-Stars, Division I college athletes, Cortney Howell and Bleu Kerr were two young players from Dorchester learning basketball together.

They met around age six, first at the Lee School Community Center and later through local leagues and AAU programs. Cortney’s mother, Neycole, coached them both, helping shape not only their games but also a bond that would carry them through injuries, school changes, and eventually one of the best seasons in St. Mark’s history.

“I would describe it as sisterhood,” Cortney says.

“She’s my sister, and her mom is like my second mom.”

Bleu says the same of Cortney’s family, remembering how Neycole pushed them both toward their goals. “Even though I wasn’t her child, she was always saying, ‘Bleu’s making it to the D1 level, Cortney’s making it to D1,’” Bleu recalls. “If I didn’t have a ride to a workout, she was taking me.”

The two attended different high schools before arriving at St. Mark’s. Cortney transferred from Belmont High as a sophomore, while Bleu came from Boston Latin School the following year. When they finally became teammates year-round, their connection only deepened.

“It was nice because I had a friendly face,” Cortney says. “We were seeing each other all the time, so we got even closer.”

That familiarity translated immediately on the court. “We know each other’s game so well,” Cortney explains. “She’s the best passer to me, and I’m the best passer to her.”

As senior captains, they helped lead a dramatic turnaround. After winning six games in 2024-2025, the Lions finished 13–10 in 2025-2026, the program’s highest win total in more than 20 years. St. Mark’s defeated AAA St. Andrew’s School and eventual Class B-Large runner-up Lawrence Academy on the road and captured the Ray Brown Holiday Tournament title. Cortney was named tournament MVP, while Bleu earned all-tournament honors.

Individually, Bleu averaged 18.5 points per game and Cortney averaged 17 points and 9 rebounds.

Both reached 1,000 career points and earned NEPSGBA All-Star recognition.

“Not making the playoffs was tough,” Cortney says. “But playing with Bleu, we both got better and had a great group of teammates to share it all with.”

Their senior season carried extra meaning because both had overcome significant injuries.

Cortney battled foot issues, while Bleu returned from ACL surgery.

“When I got hurt, I had no choice but to sit back and reflect,” Bleu says. “Now when I play, I don’t forget.”

Next year, Howell and Kerr will continue their journey together at Manhattan University. They will arrive with new teammates, new challenges, and something few freshmen have: a best friend who has been there from the beginning.

“At the end of the day,” Bleu remarks, “I always have Cortney.”

Soon, they will be Jaspers. But they will always be Lions.

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23

Three Careers, One Community After decades of dedication, three beloved members of the St. Mark’s community say farewell.

BY MEGAN HYLAND P’20, ’22 | PHOTOGRAPHS BY ADAM RICHINS AND SANDRA LEVANDOWSKI P’13

ON STAYING CURIOUS Peter Glomset’s Enduring Love of Teaching AFTER MORE THAN two decades at St. Mark’s, Peter Glomset is stepping away from the classroom, but not from the habits of mind that defined his career. Curiosity, intellectual rigor, and a deep respect for students as thinkers have long been at the center of his teaching, and they remain evident as he reflects on his time at the School.

Peter arrived at St. Mark’s in 2000 with his wife, Dr. Leigh Swigart, and their sons, Alex ’10 and Marcus ’12. In the years prior, Peter was a Rhodes Scholar and studied English literature at Oxford. He also spent time teaching at Villanova and as a Senior Fulbright Scholar in Senegal. Drawn by family ties to New England and a desire to focus more fully on teaching, he found in St. Mark’s a place that aligned with his priorities. “I didn’t want to spend my life writing articles,” he says. “Teaching has always been the most important thing to me.”

Over the years, Peter became a central presence in the English Department and across campus life.

As the longtime holder of the Weezie Foundation Chair, he taught core V Form English along with a wide range of VI Form electives, including Caribbean Literature, Dante’s Divine Comedy, and Literature and Immigration. He continually developed new courses that reflected his evolving intellectual interests and deep commitment to students.

Beyond the classroom, Peter coached JV soccer and girls’ tennis, served as a dorm faculty member and advisor, and contributed for many years to the Cum Laude Society, becoming its president in 2020. Together, these roles reflect the full life of a St. Mark’s teacher, one grounded in daily connection, mentorship, and care for students.

That commitment to teaching, paired with an unusual willingness to regularly reinvent his courses, became a hallmark of his career. By his own estimate, Peter has taught roughly 40 different courses. “I made myself a challenge that I wouldn’t repeat a course,” he says. “It kept me

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ST. MARK’S | SPRING/SUMMER 2026

on my toes.” For Peter, literature has never been static. “In all subjects, including English, things are moving—it’s a moving target,” he explains.

“What we’re teaching has to reflect that.”

His classroom was never a place where ideas were settled in advance. Instead, it was a space of active discovery. As English Department Chair Sarah McCann notes, “One thing I have always admired about Peter is his unparalleled excitement for each course and even for each class; for pairing texts, for discovering fantastic texts for students to interact with and write about.” Peter’s own philosophy aligns closely with that spirit. “Students think they’re studying literature,” he says. “But really, they’re learning how to read and write well.” His guiding principle was clear: “English classes should prepare students to be taken seriously as adult writers.”

Central to that mission was the time he spent working closely with students. One-on-one writing conferences became a cornerstone of his teaching.

“That’s my favorite part,” he says. “It’s a very personal kind of work, helping a student say something more clearly, more thoughtfully, than they could on their own.” He hopes students leave his classroom with that confidence: the sense that they can meet the demands of college-level writing with clarity and purpose.

His teaching was further enriched by experiences beyond the classroom, particularly through travel and study supported by the Loudon Fund.

These opportunities took him into art history and museum studies, including coursework at London’s Courtauld Institute. While the impact was not always immediate, it was lasting. “Being in a classroom where I probably knew less than most

people was a really good thing for me,” he says. “It reminded me of what it feels like to be a student.”

Those experiences deepened his commitment to interdisciplinary teaching. In his courses, literature often intersected with history, visual art, and philosophy, offering students multiple entry points into complex texts. A painting in his classroom, for example, might become a way to explore how literature holds competing ideas in balance. “Rather than taking a position, a work can capture a debate,” he explains, an insight that reflects both his teaching and his broader intellectual approach.

Again and again, Peter returns to the moments of discovery that animated his classroom. Sometimes they were small and unexpected: a student realizing that a concept from English class helped her answer a question in biology, or another making a connection he himself had never seen. “There’s something almost magical about the encounter between a student and a text,” he says. “When a student notices something new, something I hadn’t even seen, that’s still incredibly exciting to me.”

He will miss those moments most, along with the daily engagement with students and the closeknit community of faculty. “Because we live and work together, there’s a built-in academic community,” he says. “That’s very special.”

As Peter looks ahead to retirement, he plans to spend time with family, tend the garden at his home in Gloucester, and perhaps return to writing, this time focusing on essays of his own. It is a fitting next chapter for a teacher who has spent decades helping students discover and develop their voices.

If his career has been defined by anything, it is this: a belief that education is not about arriving at fixed answers, but about cultivating the habits of inquisitiveness, openness, and careful thought.

Those are the qualities Peter brought to his classroom every day, and the ones his students will carry with them long after they leave St. Mark’s.

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25

THE HEART BEHIND THE HALLWAYS Maria Freitas helped make St. Mark’s feel like home FOR 24 YEARS,

Maria Freitas has

been a familiar and beloved

working in the dorms, where

presence across campus, known

she formed close connections

for her kindness, humor, and

with generations of students.

unwavering commitment to the

Former residents often stopped

St. Mark’s community. As she

to greet her in the hallways,

retires this spring, colleagues are

eager to reconnect after sum-

reflecting on the lasting impact

mers away or time off campus.

she made through decades of

Outside of St. Mark’s,

quiet, meaningful service on the

Maria enjoys cooking, cro-

custodial team.

cheting, and exploring the

During her time at St. Mark’s,

outdoors on Cape Cod with

Maria worked in nearly every

her husband, children, and

corner of campus, from West

grandchildren. In retirement,

Campus to the Library, Black

she looks forward to spending

Box Theater, English Wing,

more time at their camper at

and Patterson-Sculley House.

Bourne Scenic Park, rid-

She took great pride in helping

ing electric bikes along the

the School feel welcoming and

canal, and visiting family in

cared for wherever she was

Delaware and Montreal.

assigned.

Though she already misses

“She was just a comfort-

her coworkers, Maria leaves

ing presence,” one colleague

behind a legacy of warmth,

shared. “Students knew her,

dedication, and generosity that

faculty knew her, and everyone

will be deeply missed across campus.

looked forward to seeing her.”

26

Maria especially loved

ST. MARK’S | SPRING/SUMMER 2026

A LEGACY BEHIND THE SCENES Claire Messier helped keep St. Mark’s running, one detail at a time.

FOR NEARLY FOUR DECADES, Claire Messier has been a steady and dependable presence at St. Mark’s, helping keep the School running smoothly through countless changes, milestones, and generations of students.

Claire joined St. Mark’s in 1987, beginning as a receptionist in the Business Office before moving into accounts payable. She later spent 15 years supporting the Studies and College Office and, in 2010, assumed the newly created role of registrar and grading coordinator.

Over the course of her career, Claire witnessed and helped manage the School’s transition from paper files and handwritten comments to sophisticated digital systems. Along the way, she became known for her organization, reliability, and remarkable responsiveness. Whether sending a last-minute transcript, maintaining accurate academic records, or

shepherding important deadlines, she took pride in helping students, families, and colleagues when they needed it most.

What Claire will remember most, however, are the people.

“I have been fortunate to work with so many people who cared about me as a person, not simply as an employee,” she says. “Much of my work happened quietly behind the scenes, and while it may not have always been visible, I felt that those contributions were recognized and valued. That sense of belonging and appreciation is something that I will always carry with me.”

In retirement, Claire looks forward to spending more time creating wildlife art, exploring the woods near her home, caring for her animals, and enjoying the next chapter with family and friends.

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Through Lions Roam 2026, students explored Sweden’s museums, history, and cultural narratives, and learned how museums shape the stories we tell.

BY JENNA NASTRI

W

hat does it mean to truly experience history?

And what does it mean to help others experience it? For students in St. Mark’s 2026 Lions Roam

course, Surfacing the Past: Museum Design Through Artifacts, the answer was not found just in the pages of a book or in classroom discussions. Through this fully endowed program, established by the Crotty family in 2014, combining academic study with immersive international travel, students investigated how museums shape our understanding of the past, in preparation for traveling abroad to put those lessons into practice.

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ST. MARK’S | SPRING/SUMMER 2026

Over just 13 days in Sweden, students visited 18 museums and cultural sites as part of an interdisciplinary course designed and led by faculty members Ron Spalletta and Emilie Griffin. From the very beginning, the faculty emphasized that the group’s time abroad was never meant to be “just a trip.”

It was a course built around immersive learning, professional collaboration, and the challenge of understanding the role museums play in constructing the stories societies tell about themselves.

Unlike many educational travel ventures, the program did not rely on a tour company for constructing their itinerary, as Griffin and Spalletta organized every aspect via their own research and experience. Students navigated trains, airplanes, ferries, buses, and city streets, learning independence and self-reliance while engaging deeply with

ST. MARK’S | SPRING/SUMMER 2026

29

Swedish culture. These logistics became part of their education.

“By relying on public transportation and moving through the city ourselves, students experienced immersion in a more authentic way,” Spalletta reflects. “We wanted them to learn how to operate as young professionals, not tourists.”

That sense of ownership continued and transformed the experience. Students were never passive observers moving from landmark to landmark.

They were researchers, designers, critics, and collaborators learning directly on-site.

In the classroom at St. Mark’s, students studied museums, exhibition design, Swedish history, and the ethics of curation. They also explored how curators shape visitor understanding through selection, organization, multisensory design, and narrative framing.

Once in Sweden, those concepts became a reality.

At the Vasa Museum, home to a 17th-century warship recovered from Stockholm harbor after 333 years underwater, students encountered an institution that blends history, science, engineering, 30

ST. MARK’S | SPRING/SUMMER 2026

anthropology, and storytelling into a single immersive experience. Over the course of a full day of focused study, purposeful framing, and artistic engagement by the students, the museum became a classroom and a site of discovery.

Griffin and Spalletta intentionally shifted the course’s capstone project to the students’ time in Sweden. They challenged students to apply everything they had learned both in the classroom and in all the museums and conversations with museum professionals, such as Petter Ljunggren, they had while abroad. Working individually, but constantly providing feedback for one another, students designed original exhibition proposals for the Vasa

Museum itself. They created visuals, dioramas, models, and slideshows, and delivered four-minute professional pitches directly to Vasa Museum curator Sofia Törnqvist.

While completing a capstone presentation in a different country presented unusual challenges, the project was built into the course from the beginning. Being able to work in direct dialogue with the museum and the culture that the students had spent months studying gave students real accountability, real risk, and the opportunity to build confidence and skill. They were able to move from navigating within the city to navigating within the cultural institutions of the city.

Through all their work, the students realized that strong exhibit design is not simply about displaying information. It is about understanding audiences and cultural context, communicating through many senses with clarity, and engaging people through storytelling.

“The skills students developed are incredibly portable,” Spalletta notes. “What they learned will apply to nearly everything they’ll do in the future.”

For many students, the experience also

sharpened their awareness of representation and cultural perspective. As they explored museums across Sweden, students began noticing absences as much as artifacts.

After reflecting on many visits to museums in Stockholm and Uppsala, Griffin and Spalletta decided to fly the class 90 miles above the Arctic Circle to visit with the Sámi people, the Indigenous population of northern Scandinavia. In their time in the far north, students began to understand how museums represent or fail to represent Indigenous voices and experiences. After two museum visits with Lena Rydström in Kiruna and time spent with Sámi guides at the Markanbáiki open-air museum in Jukkasjärvi, students came to understand more about the rich history of the Sámi and the ways museums can silence history and culture through omission.

“One of the most important questions students learned to ask was not just ‘What is here?’” Griffin explains. “It was ‘What’s missing?’”

“One of the most important questions students learned to ask was not just ‘What is here?’ It was ‘What’s missing?’”

That question became an important guiding lens throughout the course. Students considered who creates exhibits, whose perspectives are prioritized, and how cultural institutions shape public understanding. They drew connections between Sámi history and Indigenous cultures around the world, recognizing common themes of tradition, destruction, resilience, and representation.

The course’s emphasis on reflection remained constant throughout the experience. Students maintained sketchbooks and journals, documenting observations, questions, and visual studies as they moved through museums and cultural sites.

Those sketchbooks became records not only of places visited, but of intellectual growth.

The result of the course design, the intense studies and capstone in Sweden, and student work and reflection was an educational program that opened a window from the classroom to the world. The course’s central lesson remained clear: Museums are not neutral spaces. They are conversations across time, shaped by choices about whose stories are told, how they are framed, and what future audiences will carry forward. The students in Lions Roam now know that their voices are necessary in shaping the stories about the past that will shape the future.

ST. MARK’S | SPRING/SUMMER 2026

31

2026 PHOTOGRAPHS BY ADAM RICHINS ON MONDAY, MAY 25, 2026, the St. Mark’s community came together on Belmont Field for the School’s 161st Prize Day exercises, marking the close of the 2025–2026 academic year. Families, faculty, and friends gathered to recognize the achievements, leadership, and contributions of the graduating VI Form class. Alumna Elaine Harvey ’06 delivered the Keynote Address, and Elijah Abraham ’26 offered the Valedictory Address to his classmates and the broader St. Mark’s community.

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ST. MARK’S | SPRING/SUMMER 2026

Jamie Eslick gets a big hug from proud mom and faculty member Sarah Eslick.

ST. MARK’S | SPRING/SUMMER 2026

33

1

3

4

1. Ivory D. Hills welcoming the Class of 2026 beneath a full tent 2. Valedictorian Elijah Abraham 3. Celebration in the air 4. Mary Jane Fisher and Aaron Zhou 5. Founder’s Medal recipient, with a Classics and Global Diploma, Catherine Zhang 6. Tess Kelly and Seedi Sheriff receiving the Fearing Athletic Prize from Dr. Hills 7. Siena Letendre and Sofia Tati 8. Keynote speaker Elaine Harvey ‘06

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ST. MARK’S | SPRING/SUMMER 2026

2

5

Class of 2026 Matriculation List 6

Assumption University Babson College Bates College (2) Bentley University Boston College (10) Boston University (3) Bowdoin College Brandeis University (2) Brown University Bryant University Bucknell University California State Polytechnic University (Pomona) Colby College (2) Colgate University (3) College of the Holy Cross (2) Columbia University Cornell University (5) Duke University (3) Emerson College (2) Fairfield University (3) Georgetown University (2) George Washington University (2) Georgia Institute of Technology (2) Haverford College Hobart and William Smith Colleges Ithaca College Loyola University New Orleans Manhattan University (2) Middlebury College (3) New York University (4)

7

Northeastern University Northwestern University Oxford College of Emory University Providence College (2) Purdue University (2) Rhodes College Rice University (3) Saint Anselm College Smith College Stonehill College Swarthmore College Trinity College (3) University of California, Los Angeles University of Chicago (2)

8

University of Miami University of Michigan (3) University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) University of Rochester University of Southern California University of St Andrews University of Wisconsin Villanova University (3) Wake Forest University Washington University in St. Louis Wesleyan University (2) Yale University (2)

ST. MARK’S | SPRING/SUMMER 2026

35

9

9. Classics Diploma recipients 10. Global Diploma recipients 11. Mae Bartlett receiving diploma (and hug) from dad, alum, and Trustee, Jim Bartlett ‘85, P’17, ’18, ‘26 12. Emily Ling and Jasmine Zhang 13. David Vachris P’13, ‘19 delivering the Baccalaureate Address 14. Charles P. Lewis Jr. ‘60 and his granddaughter, Scout Lewis, a fifth-generation St. Marker, sharing a proud moment 15. A triumphant lift from Franklin Wright to capture the excitement of Prize Day with Juhan (Ryan) Kim 16. Janina Manaloto’s biggest fans showing their support as they watch her cross the stage 10

11

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ST. MARK’S | SPRING/SUMMER 2026

12

13

14

15

16

ST. MARK’S | SPRING/SUMMER 2026

37

S T. MAR KER S 55: CLASS NOTES 60: IN MEMORIAM 64: LAST LOOK

THIS IS ME

Finding His Way Home

Charlie Shifrin ’25 and the Power of a St. Mark’s Education at St. Mark’s, he carried more than the usual uncertainty of a new student. He was grieving the loss of his father to ALS, and he was battling a series of injuries tied to football that would ultimately reshape his path.

“I didn’t feel like I belonged,” he recalls. “I had just lost my dad. . . . I was a very quiet kid, not in the best shape, and I couldn’t really play sports.”

WHEN CHARLIE SHIFRIN ARRIVED

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ST. MARK’S | SPRING/SUMMER 2026

(CONTINUED...)

PHOTOGRAPH PHOTOGRAPH

BY XXXXXX BY

Now a freshman at Boston College, Shifrin looks back on his time at St. Mark’s as a turning point. What followed was not a straight line, but a journey defined by setbacks, reflection, and the steady presence of a community that refused to let him navigate it alone.

THE PEOPLE WHO SHOW UP

Ask Shifrin what defines his St. Mark’s experience, and he does not begin with academics or athletics. He begins with people.

On his first day on campus, he was greeted

by Carl Corazzini, the varsity hockey coach.

Shifrin was not a hockey player, and he never would be. That did not matter. “He was the one who came and got me right when I walked in the door,” Shifrin says. “And it didn’t stop there . . . he always checked in, whether it was after a surgery or just to see how I was doing.”

That relationship became emblematic of the St. Mark’s experience. Faculty and coaches showed up in ways that extended far beyond their formal roles, offering encouragement in quiet, consistent ways. “Even the small things, just someone saying hello or asking how you are doing, they add up,” Shifrin says. “That is how you grow.”

REDEFINING SUCCESS

Shifrin entered St. Mark’s as a recruited football player, but repeated injuries forced him to reconsider both his athletic future and his identity. “I felt like I had to be that football guy,” he says. “But I realized I was doing things for other people, not for myself. And that never worked.”

Football, however, still left a lasting imprint. It taught him lessons that continue to shape how he approaches challenges today. “One of the biggest things I learned is that nobody owes you anything,” he explains. “You have to create your own opportunities and be willing to fail 100 percent.”

PHOTOGRAPH BY

Letting go of the sport was difficult, but he says it proved to be a pivotal moment: “I learned that people care about you, but not whether you are playing a sport.”

In that space, he found a new connection— to baseball, one rooted not in competition, but in memory. “That was my thing with my dad,” Shifrin says. “I wanted to give myself a chance to experience that.”

LEADERSHIP AND CONFIDENCE

By his VI Form year, Shifrin had become a very different student from the one who first arrived on campus. The confidence he built through adversity and reflection culminated in his selection as a Monitor, a role he once thought was out of reach. “I always thought I was at the bottom,” he says. “But there is so much time and space to grow.”

As a Monitor, he began to understand leadership not as authority, but as action. “You do not need a title to lead,” he notes. “It is the little things you do over time that build something bigger.”

He also learned that leadership is not about doing everything alone. It is about bringing people together. “It took working with people I barely knew to make things happen,” he says of later experiences that built on what he learned at St. Mark’s.

FROM FENWAY DREAMS TO PURPOSE

Now a freshman at Boston College, Shifrin is already balancing academics with meaningful work with the Boston Red Sox. Fenway Park was a constant in his childhood, a place he shared with his father long before ALS entered their lives. “We were season ticket holders . . . we were that family that would skip school for opening day,” he recalls.

Later, during his father’s illness, the Red Sox

community became a source of support. “They were the group that got me through a lot,” Shifrin says. “When things were hard at home, that community meant everything.”

That connection has now come full circle.

Recently, Shifrin helped coordinate a special Fenway experience for a family affected by ALS, ensuring they received behind-the-scenes access and time at the ballpark. “It was about giving back the kind of experience that meant so much to me,” he shares.

TURNING ADVERSITY INTO ACTION

In addition to his work with the Red Sox, Shifrin is emerging as an advocate for ALS awareness and research. He is currently developing his own nonprofit, focused on building community and creating opportunities to support families facing similar challenges.

“I want to bring that awareness back,” he says, reflecting on efforts to expand ALS advocacy in the communities he is part of. His approach reflects the same philosophy he developed at St. Mark’s: start small, stay consistent, and bring others along.

A LASTING IMPACT

Despite his early success, Shifrin remains deeply connected to St. Mark’s. He returns often, maintaining relationships with faculty and serving as a member of the St. Mark’s Summer Camp staff.

“The School is everything that shaped me,” he says. “The person who walked in freshman year is not the same person who walked out.”

That transformation, built through adversity, relationships, and self-discovery, reflects the essence of a St. Mark’s education. For Charlie Shifrin, the lessons he learned on campus are not behind him. They are the foundation for everything he is building next.

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REUNION WEEKEND

In Fu�� Co�or Smiles, stories, and familiar faces from a weekend back on campus.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY ADAM RICHINS

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Class of 1996 alumni enjoying the clambake

Anne Truslow ’86 and Alice Hung ’86

Members of the Class of 2006 posing for a class photo

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Old Friends, New Moves Reunion Weekend blended nostalgia with new experiences as alumni celebrated milestones, explored campus, and strengthened connections across generations. The festivities culminated under the tent, where classmates filled the dance floor, and Chadd Hippensteel ’06 became a crowd favorite, keeping the energy high well into the evening.

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Back on Belmont Field The weekend brought together St. Markers from 13 classes spanning 60 years with a robust offering of activities and spirited celebrations. Whether taking master classes, cheering the Lions from the sidelines, playing a game of Cloisterball, honoring the 2026 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees, or gathering with classmates throughout the weekend, alumni reaffirmed that the connections made at St. Mark’s last a lifetime.

Honorary alumnus Hudson B. Mason and his owner Matthew Mason ‘06

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Advancement ambassadors interacting with alums

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Class of 1976 50th Reunion Celebration

Old friendships sparking new energy on the dance floor

Cloisterball connecting St. Markers across all generations

Class of 2021 gathering at Empire in Boston

The Class of 1996 turning out in force

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A DAY FOR ST. MARK’S FEB. 24, 2026

BY THE NUMBERS

A Year of Generosity & Growth St. Mark’s accelerated significantly this year, reflecting a growing investment in the School’s mission and vision for the future. To date, several generous donors have made transformational seven-figure commitments in support of St. Mark’s.

Together, contributions to The St. Mark’s Fund, endowment, unrestricted support, and capital projects are projected to surpass $12 million for the 2025–2026 fiscal year—an increase of more than 150% over last year’s fundraising total. We are deeply grateful for this extraordinary generosity and the confidence it reflects in St. Mark’s. Final 2025–2026 fundraising results will be shared in the Annual Report.

PHILANTHROPIC MOMENTUM AT

Our newly branded annual day of giving rallied a record number of St. Markers across campus and around the world in support of the people and programs that make our School exceptional.

$

385 053 ,

95+

alumni and parent volunteers engaged in peer outreach

16%

Donors from 2025

Every gift makes an important difference.

Together, we are preparing the next generation of St. Markers to lead with character, courage, and compassion.

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37%

Increase in Alumni Donors from 2025

Increase in Total

THANK YOU, DONORS!

TOTAL RAISED

1

new fundraising platform

fueled giving, providing real-

time progress toward the goal and a scrolling list of donors.

940 total donors

45%

Current Parents’ Contribution of Total $ Raised

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CLASS AGENTS The Heart of the Alumni Network

1941

STAYING CONNECTED to

CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME CLASS AGENTS FOR THE CLASS OF 2026

Join us in welcoming

St. Mark’s begins with

St. Mark’s newest

a Class Agent. These

alumni volunteers:

dedicated volunteers serve as ambassadors for the School.

ALUMNI DONOR CLASS RANGE

Through outreach, relationship-building, and advocacy, they help classmates stay

Chloe Duran ’26

informed, engaged, and connected long after Prize Day. For the past nine years, Aubrey Borland Shinofeld ’89 has embraced this position with enthusiasm and dedication. As a Class Agent, she has played an

Alexander Hodi ’26

important role in fostering bonds among her classmates spanning 85 years

while encouraging support for the School. Most recently, her outreach efforts helped the Class of 1989 achieve the highest participation during A Day for St. Mark’s, resulting in 93 individual visits to the fundraising platform and 29 gifts from alumni.

2025

Reflecting on how she became a Class Agent, Aubrey

Stephen Hodi ’26

says, “What started as a project honoring Coach Andy Harris turned into a rewarding way to reconnect with classmates and give back to St. Mark’s.”

For her, the most meaningful part of serving as a Class

6,500

$

gift processing fees paid by donors

GET INVOLVED

Agent is the opportunity to reconnect with old friends and strengthen the ties that unite her class. “Some

Despina Macri ’26

of my favorite moments as a Class Agent are hearing back from classmates I hadn’t spoken to since leaving Southborough in 1989,” she says.

Through volunteers like Aubrey, the St. Mark’s alumni network continues to thrive, creating opportunities for connection, engagement, and support across generations.

Eleanor (Ellie) Tesoro ’26

Interested in helping strengthen the St. Mark’s alumni community?

Learn more about alumni volunteer opportunities.

Scout Windsor ’26

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Alumni Events & Celebrations

New York Reception | October 2025

Untapped: Chicago | October 2025 Young Alumni Pub Night | November 2025

Los Angeles Brunch | September 2025

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New York Reception | October 2025

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AN EVENING WORTH FRAMING Boston Reception at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum THIS FALL, ST. MARK’S welcomed alumni, parents, and friends

to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum for a memorable Boston Reception. Set amid one of the city’s most treasured cultural landmarks, the evening reflected the enduring strength of the St. Mark’s community and its connection to Boston. The venue held special significance given the Gardner family’s long-standing ties to St. Mark’s, creating a fitting backdrop for conversation, connection, and celebration among generations of Lions and friends of the School.

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Rebecca Gardner Campbell and Dr. Ivory Hills

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Groton Day: A Cherished Tradition competition, shared laughter, and lasting memories, Groton Day continues a 139-year-old tradition that brings the St. Mark’s community together.

A DAY OF SPIRITED

The Lion mascot welcomed fans of all sizes.

Steve Morte ‘72, Gordie Nye ‘72, Sandy Weedon ‘73, and Dick Gordon reconnected on Groton Day.

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Board President Tarah Breed ’00 and Alan Breed ’00, with their family, showed their Lion pride.

A tradition of sportsmanship: Heads of School Temba Maqubela and Dr. Ivory Hills enjoyed the day.

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Spirits were high as Lions football roared to victory.

Zack Twitchell ‘13 and Teal Gosselin Twitchell ‘13 posed with their future Lion.

Gordon Muessel ’75 brought generations of Lions spirit into the huddle.

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ST. MARK’S AROUND THE WORLD

During a March trip to Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Seoul. Dr. Hills and Stephanie Katz P’25 met with dozens of parents, alumni, newly admitted families, and educational partners, strengthening the School’s global connections and commitment to engagement beyond Southborough.

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C LA SS NO T E S

1959

1962

David DiCicco enjoyed reconnecting with classmates during the summer of 2025 at a lunch organized by Sam Cabot and his wife, Deamie, at the Essex County Club on the North Shore. Attendees included Sam and Deamie Cabot, Neal and DeeDee Ryland, Chuck Mercer, and Carol Tyler, sister of classmate Mike Tyler. David writes that while the group has certainly grown older, “like fine wine, it has only gotten better.”

David also reports that he and his wife, Vicki, spent time skiing in Snowmass, Colorado, this winter.

In San Diego, he continues to edit a newsletter on aging for his local psychological association and welcomes contributions from classmates interested in writing about aging or retirement. (PHOTO 1)

Wallace Mills and his wife, Beau, are now spending most of the year in Kodiak, Alaska. Their son Jonathan recently remarried and lives in San Dimas, California, with his wife, Simone, and her two children. Jonathan’s son is expected to graduate from the University of California, Santa Cruz, in 2026. Their daughter, Eliza, lives in Homer, Alaska, with her three children. Wallace would welcome hearing from classmates and fondly recalls his years at St. Mark’s.

1961

Joe Sheppard shares the news that his friend and classmate Perry Hall “Tim” Burr passed away from prostate cancer in December 2023.

Tim was a landscape architect in California and is survived by his wife, Linda, and daughter, Olivia.

Tim’s father, Fred Burr, was a longtime St. Mark’s coach and mathematics teacher.

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1963

Clement Moore II was honored in December with appointment as an Officer of the Civil Order of OrangeNassau by His Majesty the King of the Netherlands. The ceremony took place at the ambassador’s residence in Washington, D.C. Clem writes that his passion for Dutch Golden Age art began more than 40 years ago and has since led to exhibitions of drawings from his Netherlandish collection at major museums in both New York and the Netherlands. Alongside his wife, Liz, he has also supported aspiring museum curators in building careers in the field. Reflecting on the recognition, Clem shares that this work has

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been both rewarding and great fun during his retirement.

1968

Classmates gathered for the annual Newport lunch this year, including Jim Pingeon, Moses Goddard, Mike Kinnicutt, Paul Szapary, Tack Eddy, Bob Masland, Anne Masland, and Kelly Kinnicutt.

(PHOTO 2)

Leif Rosenberger recently accepted a position as a subject matter expert connecting economics and security at the Institute of Applied Engineering at the University of South Florida. Beginning in July 2026, he will also serve as a visiting scholar in the Economics Department at Harvard University, where he will research the origins, trajectory, and impact of the U.S.China trade war. Leif reports that he is purchasing a home in Needham, Massachusetts, ahead of his move.

(PHOTO 3)

John S. Newberry IV married Elizabeth “Betsy” Kelley Evans on August 29, 2025 at Stanwich Church in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Betsy’s daughter, Grace, joined the celebration, and the couple honeymooned in Honfleur, Normandy.

(PHOTO 4)

1969

Carl Wilke and his wife, Paula, walked the Camino Francés in September and October, traveling 600 miles over 40 days from SaintJean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago and continuing on to Finisterre, once considered the “end of the earth” in Roman times. (PHOTO 5) 56

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Samuel Spivy and his wife, Nancy, recently completed a book about her great-grandfather, John Philip Sousa, titled John Philip Sousa: Music, Life, & Legend. The project includes a full biography of the famed “March King” as well as an annotated catalog of his musical and literary works. Sam describes the endeavor as a tremendously enjoyable project and notes Sousa’s enduring legacy as a musician, athlete, and businessman.

1970

Wilder Bellamy “Influence back then: Faulkner :) Currently participating in a writing program and software platform called Fictionary.”

1972

Stuart Barlow writes that annual wilderness backpacking trips have now given way to Airbnbs and day hikes, though the memories remain strong. Recently gathered in Stowe, Vermont, were Van Spaulding, Bill Floyd-Jones, Stuart Barlow, Chip Williams, and Thompson Davis.

(PHOTO 6)

1975

Evangeline Lincoln Wollmar continues to enjoy island life in Maine and welcomed her third granddaughter, Maia, in August 2025. Maia and her family live in Exeter, New Hampshire, allowing for frequent visits with Evangeline and her granddaughters Ari and Evie. Evangeline was sorry to miss her 50th Reunion this spring, but is happy to report that she is healthy again and enjoying life fully. (PHOTO 7) 1976

Dan Kittredge lives in San Diego with his wife, Lilly, and their two

dogs. After nearly 47 years working in software development and systems support, he plans to retire later this year. Dan credits his interest in the field to his experience with St. Mark’s DEC PDP-8/E computer as a III Former, and he attended his 50th Reunion. (PHOTO 8)

1990

1980

1996

Sarah Rust Mackenzie enjoyed welcoming her sister, Bonner SS ’73, for Thanksgiving in Asheville, North Carolina. Together they spent time hiking and enjoying the area’s recovery and beauty following Hurricane Helene. Sarah continues to love life in the mountains, where she spends much of her time hiking and volunteering for the Blue Ridge Parkway.

In March, Armstrong “Army” Robinson became senior vice president and head of federal affairs at UnitedHealth Group.

(PHOTO 9)

2003

Classmates Lanse Robb, Tom Martinson, and Tim Smith gathered for lunch together in December.

(PHOTO 10)

1982

Members of the Class of 1982 came together in Boston to celebrate Mike Jensen’s Distinguished Alumni Award.

L-R: Jennifer Morss Drayton, James Hadley, Martin Fenton, Mike Jensen, Carrie Cleveland Royster.

(PHOTO 11)

James R. Dartt celebrated his 25th wedding anniversary alongside fellow members of the Class of 1990, including Joseph Walent, Hugh J. Weidinger III, Christopher Willis, John Hurley, and Jonathan Markarian. (PHOTO 13)

Classmates Perry Morton, Hamzah “Marshall” Henshaw, and Nabil Kassam recently gathered in Whistler, British Columbia. (PHOTO 14)

Philip Pulitzer recently reunited in Big Sky, Montana, with fellow Lions Ben Hindman, Liz (Greenwood) Meisel, Lance Stratton, and his brother Cael for a ski trip with their families. The group enjoyed celebrating Shabbat together, continuing a St. Mark’s tradition first introduced years ago in the Crypt. (PHOTO 15) 2004

Elizabeth Cavanaugh Motsonelidze and her husband, David, welcomed their daughter, Siobhan Cavanaugh Motsonelidze, on October 21, 2025, in New York City. (PHOTO 16)

1987

Joshua Fenton and his wife attended a performance by Storm Large in Mamaroneck, New York, last December and thoroughly enjoyed the show. Joshua also recently connected with Melissa (Zipser) Murray at an investment conference in Miami. (PHOTO 12)

2009

Caroline “Carrie” Bergan married Taylor Smith in Washington, D.C., on January 3, 2026. Among the St. Mark’s friends attending were Merrill Calotta Elliott ’07, Laura Crowley Yao ’09, and Katherine Moynihan ’09. (PHOTO 17)

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Wyatt Bertz exhibited new work with Cristina Grajales Gallery in late 2025, debuting his first “automaton,” a large pink glittering car animated with motors and lights.

Buggy Valhouli’s wedding photos were featured in Vogue Weddings in November 2025.

2011

Greg Jacobs and his wife, Michelle, welcomed their third child, Veronica Rose, in November. (PHOTO 18) Jordan Harris received a Gold VETTY Award from the North American Veterinary Community for the design and execution of Wedgewood Pharmacy’s immersive VMX conference booth, created to support veterinarians’ mental health.

The VETTY Awards recognize

excellence in marketing across the animal health industry. (PHOTO 19)

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2023

Darius Wagner was elected president of student government at Georgetown University.

2024

Ezio Salimbeni recently participated in the St. Andrews career trek to Washington, D.C., and says the experience strengthened his interest in international affairs and diplomacy.

He also looks forward to volunteering with the Italian Consulate in Boston this summer.

Representing St. Mark’s at Bentley University are (L-R) Vir Sidhu ’25, Munene Muindi ’24, Jacob Snell ’25, and Machias Belt Poreda ’25.

(PHOTO 20)

SEND US YOUR CLASS NOTES Your classmates want to hear from you! Whether it’s a new job, recent move, family update, travel adventure, or get-together with fellow St. Markers, we welcome your news for the next issue of St. Mark’s Magazine.

2 WAYS TO CONNECT: Submit class notes at stmarksschool.org/alumni/class-notes E mail them to: advancement@stmarksschool.org

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ALUMNI AWARD WINNERS

ST. MARK’S ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME CELEBRATES NEW INDUCTEES MEMBERS OF THE ST. MARK’S

community

returned to campus during Reunion Weekend on Saturday, May 2, to honor four individuals and two historic teams as the newest inductees into the School’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Alumni, families, former coaches, teammates, and friends gathered in the Putnam Family Arts Center to celebrate the accomplishments and lasting impact of this year’s distinguished class.

Established in 2001, the St. Mark’s Athletic Hall of Fame recognizes athletes, coaches, teams, and contributors whose achievements exemplify excellence, leadership, and dedication to the School’s athletic tradition. With the addition of this year’s honorees, the Hall of Fame now includes 60 athletes, 11 coaches, one manager, and eight teams whose contributions have shaped generations of St. Markers.

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The 2026 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees (L-R): Jason C. Gates ’91 (posthumous ) — Three-sport standout, All-American lacrosse player, and leader of undefeated 1991 team. Jason’s sisters Erin Gates and Ainsley Gates Nunley ’96 (L-R) accepted the award on his behalf.

Tess D’Orsi Dunlap ’16 — Record-setting lacrosse All-American who starred collegiately at Princeton University.

Katherine “Kip” Porter ’79 — Trailblazing threesport captain and standout collegiate hockey player at the University of New Hampshire.

Edward F. Miller ’60 — High impact tri-varsity athlete and All-New England football lineman who later starred in football and hockey at the University of Pennsylvania.

Pictured below: 1975 Football Team — Undefeated 7–0 squad led by dominant defense and legendary coaching staff.

1975 Boys’ Varsity Soccer Team — Historic unbeaten team that finished 9–0–3 with seven shutouts.

Learn more about our 2026 Inductees

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IN MEMORIAM

CL E S SOC RO

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The obituaries listed in this section reflect information gathered by St. Mark’s as of April 28, 2026.

CLASS OF 1945

Michael Carter (d. February 18, 2026)

J. Clark Grew II (d. December 22, 2025) Arthur Schwartz (d. March 05, 2026)

CLASS OF 1946

CLASS OF 1959

David Jones (d. January 23, 2026)

Robert Goddard III (d. August 06, 2025)

CLASS OF 1950 STEPHEN B. THAYER ’62

Giving Back to a Place Called Home My early years at St. Mark’s felt both comfortable and familiar. Many teachers, and Headmaster Bill Barber, knew me by name because of my grandfather, William Greenough Thayer, who served as headmaster for 36 years. My father and several of his siblings were also born at the School, making St. Mark’s an important part of my family’s story long before it became part of my own.

That connection has inspired my desire to give back. During my six years at St. Mark’s, I gained lessons that stayed with me well beyond campus. After college, I spent four years in the Peace Corps in Tunisia, teaching English while drawing often on what I had learned at the School. It was a deeply meaningful experience, and I still keep in touch with friends from that time.

Years later, through a family trust, I established the Stephen B. Thayer Fund to support the Gay and Straight Alliance and increase awareness of the LGBTQ+ community at St. Mark’s.

After facing health challenges, my husband and I reflected on how we could support the organizations that have shaped our lives. St. Mark’s remains central to those plans, both through gifts today and through our estate, so the School can continue to meet its greatest needs.

Learn more about becoming an esteemed Androcles Society member by contacting our Advancement Office at 508.786.6279.

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Ashby Saunders (d. May 26, 2025) William Elkins (d. November 11, 2025) CLASS OF 1951

CLASS OF 1960

Lou Rowan (d. March 26, 2025) Wilfred Skey (d. March 11, 2026) William Forbes III (d. April 10, 2026)

Tristan Argenti (d. April 07, 2024) CLASS OF 1961 CLASS OF 1952

Eric Moore (d. June 12, 2024) Martin Fenton Jr. (d. March 06, 2026)

Perry Burr (d. December 17, 2023) James Tilney (d. March 19, 2025) CLASS OF 1962

CLASS OF 1953

John Callaway Jr. (d. August 01, 2025)

Benjamin Hall (d. May 29, 2025) Lee Berthelsen (d. October 09, 2025) Albert Beveridge III (d. January 03, 2026)

Mainert Peterson Jr. (d. March 10, 2026)

CLASS OF 1963

CLASS OF 1954

CLASS OF 1969

Lewis Pell (d. March 23, 2024) Lorenzo Giacomuzzi-Moore (d.

February 20, 2026)

Harvey Hardy (d. October 21, 2025) CLASS OF 1986

CLASS OF 1958

Malinda Newman (d. October 03, 2023)

Peter Supino (d. January 03, 2025) George Meyer III (d. September 27, 2025) Henry Dechert (d. December 20, 2025)

Please visit stmarksschool.org/ in-memoriam for the most up-to-date information on classmates, including obituaries.

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Called to Faith and Service Remembering J. Clark Grew ’58, GP’11, ’21, ’23, ’25

J. Clark Grew II, whose lifelong devotion to St. Mark’s spanned more than seven decades, passed away on December 22, 2025.

Scholar, athlete, naval officer, teacher, coach, administrator, priest, bishop, Trustee, and grandparent, Clark embodied the School’s highest ideals of leadership, service, faith, and community.

As a student at St. Mark’s, Clark distinguished himself in nearly every aspect of School life. He served as a four-year member of the Student Council and as a Prefect, while excelling athletically in football, basketball, and baseball. He was a member of the undefeated 1956 varsity football team, later inducted into the St. Mark’s Athletic Hall of Fame, and played on the 1958 Private School THE RIGHT REVEREND

League champion baseball team.

Clark also served as Secretary of the Athletic Council, edited The St. Marker, participated in the performing arts, and embraced the full life of the School.

Central to Clark’s St. Mark’s experience was his deep faith. In addition to the required Chapel services, he regularly attended the voluntary Wednesday Eucharist in Belmont Chapel, often among only a handful of students present. Those services remained profoundly meaningful throughout his life and helped shape his understanding of St. Mark’s as a community grounded in compassion, faith, and love.

After graduating from St. Mark’s, Clark attended Harvard University.

In 1962, while bringing his younger brother to campus, he was invited by Headmaster William Barber to assist with teaching for the fall term. After three months teaching English at St. Mark’s, Clark entered service with the U.S. Navy, where he spent five years as an officer, including a two-year assignment as commanding officer of the USS Constitution.

Clark returned to education in 1967, first joining the faculty at Groton before returning to St. Mark’s two years later. Beginning as Assistant to the Headmaster, he soon became Director of Admissions and later served as Assistant Headmaster and Dean of Faculty. He also coached varsity basketball, leading the Lions to consecutive New England Championship titles in 1973 and 1974.

Following a call to the priesthood, Clark attended Episcopal Divinity School and was ordained an Episcopal priest in 1978. He served congregations in Massachusetts and

Illinois before becoming Bishop of the Diocese of Ohio in 1994, where he earned a reputation as a thoughtful and progressive church leader.

Throughout his life, Clark remained deeply connected to St. Mark’s. He served as Secretary of the Alumni Association, as a faculty member and administrator, and later as a Trustee and Clerk of the Board.

Even in retirement, he frequently returned to campus, often officiating the annual Confirmation service in Belmont Chapel.

The School recognized Clark’s extraordinary contributions in numerous ways. In 2018, the Grew Room in Elkins Field House was named in his honor. He received the Potter-Miller Trustee Prize in 2021 for distinguished leadership and exceptional service to the Board of Trustees, and in 2023 he was inducted into the Cloister of Distinguished Alumni.

In 2024, St. Mark’s established the Bishop J. Clark Grew ’58 Community and Equity Prize, awarded annually to a VI Former who demonstrates outstanding leadership and commitment to community and equity.

Clark married Sarah Winslow Loomis Jones, known as Wendy, on December 27, 1972. Together, they built a loving family that included Wendy’s children, Patrick Suydam Jones Jr. and Elizabeth Winslow Jones, whom Clark embraced as his own, and their daughter, Sarah Winslow Grew.

Clark Grew will be remembered with deep gratitude and affection by generations of St. Markers whose lives he shaped through his wisdom, generosity, faith, and unwavering devotion to the School.

—BY MEGAN HYLAND P’20, ’22

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A Teacher Who Changed Lives Remembering Jeniene Matthews P’22

a beloved member of the St. Mark’s community from 2010 to 2023, passed away peacefully on November 28, 2025, surrounded by family and friends. A gifted educator, mentor, colleague, and friend, Jeniene leaves a lasting legacy of intellectual curiosity, compassion, and joyful service.

Before joining St. Mark’s, Jeniene practiced public interest law for 18 years, where she became known for her commitment to mentoring young attorneys, particularly women and attorneys of color. She brought that same spirit of generosity and advocacy to her work at St. Mark’s, investing deeply in her students and colleagues alike.

During her 13 years at the School, Jeniene taught all four levels of English, chaired the English Department for four years, and served as a faculty representative to the Board of Trustees. Her contributions to campus JENIENE MATTHEWS,

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life extended far beyond the classroom. She established the School’s first digital learning coach role, lived in Thayer dormitory, served on the Thieriot North duty team, and coached at the varsity, junior varsity, and thirds levels. She also advised countless students, mentored new faculty members, chaperoned a student trip to Chile, and pursued professional development opportunities in Greece, England, and Scotland.

In recognition of her many contributions, she held the Evill-Glavin endowed faculty chair and received the George Howell Kidder Faculty Prize in 2020.

Among Jeniene’s most celebrated contributions was her signature VI Form elective, Literature on Trial. Combining her passions for literature and law, the course invited students to study novels through the lens of the American legal system, culminating in legal briefs and live courtroom trials presided over by “Judge Matthews.” The course quickly became legendary on campus for its rigor, creativity, and energy, drawing enthusiastic student interest year after year.

Jeniene will be remembered as a dynamic and inspiring teacher whose classroom radiated warmth, humor, and intellectual excitement. Her 2015 Baccalaureate Address captured the values she lived every day: “Don’t ever forget that you’re a citizen of this world, and there are things you can do to lift the human spirit: civility,

Jeniene will be remembered as a dynamic and inspiring teacher whose classroom radiated warmth, humor, and intellectual excitement. respect, kindness, and character.

All you have to figure out is how you will serve the world. What does it need that your talent can provide?”

Above all, Jeniene will be remembered for the love she shared with her husband, Gregory, and their son, Logan ’22, and for the courage, grace, and joy she brought to every part of her life.

Her impact on St. Mark’s and on the many students and colleagues she inspired will endure for generations —BY MEGAN HYLAND P’20, ’22

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A Place to Belong The Legacy of Ms. Vernell Givhan

often unseen ways that define the heart of a school, certain individuals shape lives far beyond their formal roles. Ms. Vernell Givhan, who passed away in July 2025, was one of those people. During her years working in the St. Mark’s infirmary, she became something much more than a caregiver. As Taren Bradley ’93 reflects, “St. Mark’s has always been built on relationships and connections that shape our community across generations. Ms. Givhan exemplified this spirit through her programs, kindness, and good nature, bringing people together in lasting ways.”

IN THE QUIET,

In the 1990s and early 2000s, she established a host family network that matched boarding students of color with local Black families, creating a sense of home beyond campus, a place to exhale, to be known, and to feel supported in ways that extended beyond the school day. More than a logistical program, it was an intentional act of care, connecting students with families who could offer cultural familiarity, understanding, and a deep sense of belonging. “Ms. Givhan and her immediate family recognized the yearning that Black students at St. Mark’s had for a community that felt warm, inviting, and familiar,” recalls Myeta M. Moon ’93. “She took it upon herself to help us achieve that.”

This work was not part of her formal role in the infirmary. It grew out of her own sense of responsibility and care for others, shaped by a life rooted in family, faith, and community, and by her own experiences navigating unfamiliar places and relying on the kindness of others. She believed that no one should have to walk through their experience at St. Mark’s alone.

“She was completely transparent and totally determined,” says former Dean Jana Porter. “When she saw a need for human connection, absolutely nothing could stop her from finding a way to make that happen.”

For many students, the impact of that care was both immediate and enduring. The spaces she created offered more than comfort. They provided restoration and strength during formative years away from home. “She provided a necessary alternative environment that nurtured and replenished our personal

“Ms. Givhan’s willingness to open her home to the children of strangers and help them however she could embodied ‘community’ in a way rarely seen."

strengths,” shares Sym Hogue ’91. It was in those moments, often around kitchen tables and in living rooms, that students found not only support, but a renewed sense of self.

Her influence extended beyond those gatherings into the ways students carried themselves and supported one another. “Ms. Givhan showed us to continue being our true selves, to come together to support each other even while away from our homes, family, and friends,” says Kendall Strong ’95. For many, her example became a model for community and care that endured long after their time on campus.

“Ms. Givhan’s willingness to open her home to the children of strangers and help them however she could embodied ‘community’ in a way rarely seen,” reflects Damon Marques Patton ’94. It is a legacy defined not by title or role, but by action: a quiet, determined commitment to ensuring that no student felt alone, and that every student had a place to belong.

— B Y D A N M E RC U R I O

ST. MARK’S | SPRING/SUMMER 2026

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LAS T LO O K

Turning Pages

The now Parkman Room was the original St. Mark’s library.

Pictured is librarian Elvera Bianchi, who presided over the library for 40 years (1934-1974).

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ST. MARK’S | SPRING/SUMMER 2026

ST. MARK’S | SPRING/SUMMER 2026

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ST. MARK’S SCHOOL 25 Marlboro Road Southborough, MA 01772-9105 www.stmarksschool.org

Class of 2026

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