LEGACY FAMILIES

from SUFFIELD [2023-2024]

by Suffield Academy

Faculty Sabbaticals

BY ELIOTT GROVER

JARON KLINE ’24 & STEVE KLINE ’83

From the moment Steve Kline visited Suffield as a prospective student, he knew he had found his home away from home. “There was something special about the campus that instantly resonated with me,” Steve says. The people he met during his tour and interview reinforced this strong first impression.

Steve was born in Miami and raised in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. He has a deep appreciation for the diversity of Suffield’s student body, which allowed him to build relationships with peers from across the country and around the world. Steve remembers how conducive campus life was to fostering these friendships. “The dining hall was the center of everything,” he says. “Regardless of grade, classes, or activities, that’s where we got to know so many of the students and faculty.”

In Suffield’s dedicated faculty, Steve found mentors who nurtured his interests and helped him develop the tools that he would rely on for success in college and beyond. Teachers and coaches like Phil Currier and Andy Lowe, who have both sadly passed away, instilled lifelong values. Since graduating from Muhlenberg College with a double major in psychology and philosophy, Steve has worked in the music industry. He is currently the president of Better Noise Music, an independent record label headquartered in New York City. In a notable Suffield connection, the daughter of Steve’s classmate Dave Nye ’83 also works at Better Noise Music.

Even though he only spent a year at Suffield, Jaron is confident that the relationships he formed and the lessons he learned will last a lifetime. He credits this to the school’s identity, the same special environment that first attracted his father.

When Steve’s son Jaron ’24 decided to attend Suffield as a postgraduate, Steve was thrilled about the opportunity to reconnect with his alma mater. “Watching Jaron walk the same walkways I did, through many of the same halls, was amazing,” Steve says. “I credit Suffield with so much of who I have become, and I love knowing that Jaron’s experiences will last him a lifetime.”

Aside from growing up hearing about his father’s positive experience, Jaron was drawn to Suffield by what he perceived as an ideal balance between academics and athletics. This harmony was exemplified by his interactions with Bryan Brissette, who coached him on the baseball diamond and taught him in the history classroom. “His class allowed me to really stay involved and taught me skills that I will take with me in life,” Jaron says.

Upon reflection, Jaron says that Suffield helped accomplish his goals for his postgraduate year by preparing him for the next chapter of his education. “It helped give me the organizational skills I need for the future and allowed me to really grow and mature as a whole,” he says. Even though he only spent a year at Suffield, Jaron is confident that the relationships he formed and the lessons he learned will last a lifetime. He credits this to the school’s identity, the same special environment that first attracted his father.

“The vibes are just different,” Jaron says. “It’s a nice and comforting feeling being there.”

SHEA BRACELAND ’24 & JEANINE FIEDLER BRACELAND ’89

“Suffield is a family,” says Jeanine Braceland ’89. “Whenever I meet someone who attended Suffield Academy, there is an instant bond.” This bond has woven itself into the fabric of her own family, connecting seven alumni across generations. Jeanine and her sister, Terri-Lee ’90, were the family’s first Tigers. They found their way to Suffield as talented basketball players attending a small private school near their home in Westfield, Massachusetts.

Looking to unlock their potential, they sought a bigger school with a stronger athletics program. After touring some of the best boarding schools in New England, Suffield was their top choice.

“It was an easy decision,” says Jeanine. During their visit, they fell in love with the campus and the positive environment created by students and faculty. The fact that girls’ basketball coach Leon Waskiewicz was looking for a pair of power forwards made it an ideal match.

Sports were a huge part of the sisters’ Suffield experience. They racked up wins on the court and bonded with teammates while belting songs on the bus to away games. Athletic trainer George Pervear had a tremendous impact on Jeanine’s life. “I spent countless hours in his office doing homework and retaking tests,” she says. “He was always an upbeat person.” Beyond basketball, Jeanine found joy in other extracurricular pursuits.

Her music career, for example, was not limited to bus ride sing-alongs. “Performing in the spring musical my senior year will forever hold a beautiful memory in my life,” she says. “I loved being on that stage playing Sandra Dee in Grease.”

When Jeanine and Terri-Lee were students, their father, Norman Fiedler, fell in love with Suffield. After they graduated, he became the varsity football coach and led the team to its first New England championship. Norm passed away in 2022. He was mourned and remembered fondly by the Suffield community. “I feel that a part of my dad has been left there forever,” Jeanine says.

Jeanine’s daughter, Shea ’24, grew up knowing exactly where she wanted to attend high school. “My mom and aunt would always tell me how much Suffield changed them and made them who they are today,” she says. Now that Shea has graduated, she feels the same way. “The person that I was at the start of my journey at Suffield would not recognize the person I am today,” she says. “I have grown as a student, a friend, an artist, and even an athlete.”

There is truly no other place that makes me feel so seen, heard, and loved. I have made my best friends here.

Shea credits her teachers and coaches, like her advisor Nathan Zwirko, with providing the support and motivation that propelled this growth. “Mr. Zwirko has been my rock at Suffield,” she says. “I can go to him with absolutely anything and he knows just what to tell me.”

During her time at Suffield, Shea thrived as a member of the lacrosse team while pursuing her love of music. Like her mother, one of her fondest memories was performing in the winter musical. In 2023, she starred in Mean Girls as Regina George, the meanest girl of all. Getting into character was hard because of how different Shea is from Regina, but she relished the experience.

Suffield helped nurture Shea’s love of science, which she plans to build on by studying nursing at the University of Tampa. While she’ll miss many aspects of life at Suffield, leaving such a strong community is the hardest part of moving on. “There is truly no other place that makes me feel so seen, heard, and loved,” Shea says. “I have made my best friends here.”

SUSAN DELLAQUILA WHITE ’84 , JAY O’BRIEN ’13 , KATIE O’BRIEN ’89 , BEN WHITE ’25 & STEPHEN DELLAQUILA ’56

Stephen Dellaquila ’54 was the first person in his family to go to college. Attending Suffield was the critical stepping stone that made this achievement possible. “The school prepared him for his future,” says his daughter Susan Dellaquila White ’84. Growing up, Susan and her sister, Stephanie Dellaquila Greco ’88, were accustomed to their father regaling them with tales from his time at Suffield. “Knowing those stories, I knew that Suffield would be a home for me just as it was for him,” Susan says. “The school is central to our family’s story, our lives, and our identities.”

In addition to her father and sister, Susan’s children, nephews, and niece are all proud alumni. While everyone had their own unique experience, Susan says they all benefited in the same way. “Suffield provides a strength of character and a solid foundation from which you can begin your academic career and build your life,” she says. “Suffield expects something of you, but it also works hard to give you the tools to help you get there.”

She praises the teachers who helped her develop and sharpen these tools. “My advisor, the great Barry Cleary, and the wonderful faculty defined my experience,” says Susan. “Mr. Vianney taught me, my sister, and my children all how to write.” Susan’s favorite subject was history, which she proceeded to study at Skidmore College. She now lives in West Hartford and is the president of an aerospace company. Suffield, she believes, was the launch pad for her success.

Jay O’Brien ’13, Susan’s son, also credits Suffield with preparing him for his career. He works in broadcast journalism, covering Congress and politics for ABC News. “I’m so lucky to have found the theater program and to have gotten to know Tom Dugan,” says Jay. Tom, who chairs the Performing Arts Department, helped Jay build the confidence to shine on stage while supporting him through all the highs and lows of his high school experience. “He is an example of the kind of impact one fantastic teacher can have on a student,” Jay says. “And a credit to the value of a Suffield education.”

Beyond the professional skills Suffield helped Jay acquire, he is most grateful for the character-based education he received. “The news business is tumultuous. It’s easy to lose your center,” Jay says. “But, if you remember how much being a good person matters and how much good character matters, you’ll survive. And Suffield instilled those values in me.”

His sister, Katie O’Brien ’24, had a similarly formative experience. “Suffield has made me the person I am today,” says Katie. She credits her English teacher Catherine DeWalt with igniting a passion for learning, and she expresses gratitude for the uplifting power of the school community. “Suffield is such a special place because everyone is so welcoming and there is always a support network to extend a helping hand.”

Suffield provides a strength of character and a solid foundation from which you can begin your academic career and build your life. Suffield expects something of you, but it also works hard to give you the tools to help you get there.

A versatile athlete, Katie received the Coach’s Awards in soccer and lacrosse. She now attends Southern Methodist University, where she plans to study Fashion Media. As a Suffield legacy, she is proud of the fact that her educational journey has overlapped with so many of her relatives. “It’s cool to know that some of my teachers also taught my mom and aunt,” Katie says.

The youngest member of the family to attend the school is Ben White ’25. As a member of the football team, Chris Setian has served as an invaluable mentor to Ben over the last three years. “Coach Setian is the best,” remarks Ben. Additionally, Ben is an outstanding baseball player, playing outfield for the Tigers. Undoubtedly, the instruction he has received from Bryan Brissette and Chris Pentz has advanced his skills and deepened his love for the game. Ben has committed to playing baseball at Nichols College. Academically, Suffield has provided the type of structured and nurturing environment needed to be competitive and successful in college and beyond.

Suffield Academy has been an important chapter in every family member’s life stories. “As Charlie Cahn so often says, Suffield is a place where you can always return,” Susan says. “It’s home. And we feel that in our family. It’s left an indelible imprint on all of us.”

2023-2024 • LEGACY STUDENTS

[Front Row L-R]

Martin Bruderer ’27, Ellie Ruffa ’24, Avery Freeman ’24, Katie O’Brien ’24, Delainey Pappas ’27, Riley O’Keefe ’27, Campbell Thomas ’27, Sage Hodgkins ’25, Anna Jolly ’26, Brooke Hostetter ’26, Ava D’Angelo ’24, Lauren Dobler ’25, Shea Braceland ’24, Hannah Ashley ’24, Leelee Sammis ’24, Kate Willcutts ’26, Campbell Hudkins ’25, Sophie Lawry ’25, Ronan Sullivan ’26, Allie Zeytoonjian ’24, Claire Mastella ’25

[Back Row L-R]

Will Ruffa ’26, Patrick Bosma ’27, Ben White ’25, Will Kotchen ’26, Robert Holcombe ’27, Charlie Gamere ’25, Josh Gamere ’25, Andrew Lange ’25, David Bowers ’24, Charlie Riegel ’24, Griffin Santopietro ’24, Finn O’Keefe ’24, EJ Lee ’26, Matthew Hulst ’25, Siena Dagnoli ’24, Alexi Wolkoff ’25, Elizabeth Cerrato ’25, Jaron Kline ’24

Not Pictured: Seamus Sullivan ’26 and Ava Willcutts ’26

GOLF OUTING

1 James and Vinnett Michel P’12, ’17, Ali Salehi P’12, Raz Ghazarian P’20, ’27

2 Duncan Harris P’24, Mitchell Belanger, Niece Massoni P’24, Bronya Shillo ’03

3 Corey Caron P’24, ’25, ’28, Tim White P’13, ’24, ’25, Chris Setian ’09, Richard Brook P’23, ’25

4 Sean Atkins P’26, Brett Vianney P’12, ’14, David Godin P’12, Suqing Wang ’27

SOCCER GAME

Alex Clarke ’17, John Watson ’71, Jim Watson ’86, Zach McCormick ’14, Ricardo Ball ’14, Chase Crean ’14, Thomas Ianello ’14, Paul Faude ’10, Adam Pistel ’08, Colin Dowd ’12, Will Cooley ’08

CHRISTIAN MOORE ’21

Selected in the first round [#8] of the 2024 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Angels | Helped lead the Tennessee Volunteers to their first National Championship