Thayer Magazine Spring 2026

Spring 2026

Magazine

22 Behind the scenes of the fall production of Hadestown: Teen Edition, (pictured: Oliver Massey ’28, sound crew).

SPRING 2026

Thayer Magazine Head of School Chris Fortunato JD, MSW P ’26, ’28 Chief Advancement & Engagement Officer Melissa Tuthill Forger ’92 P ’25, ’28, ’29 Editor Craig Salters ’86 P ’24 Editorial Director Photographer Benn Craig Creative Director Designer Dan Callahan Director of Communications Contributors Caitlin Cook, Diane Haigh, Kelly Hines P ’18, ’19, Anna Juliano, Tom Kates, Caroline Lay, Bobbi Moran, Brad Peterson ’11, Rachael Reichenbach, Bea Sanders, Rachael Vassalotti ’79 P ’07, ’11, ’12

Contact us: Thayer Magazine 745 Washington St. Braintree, MA 02184 781.843.3580 communications@thayer.org Note: Opinions expressed in Thayer Magazine are those of the authors and not necessarily of Thayer Academy. Correspondence concerning the magazine should be sent to Editor Craig Salters (communications@thayer.org).

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FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS 3

From the Head of School

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Scene at Thayer

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Around Campus

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Advancement & Engagement

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Alumni Profiles

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Class Notes

What’s New?

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In Memoriam

22 Technical Knockout

Catch a glimpse into the work that goes on behind the scenes to produce a school musical.

A trio of inaugural academic offerings enhance Thayer’s curriculum.

© 2026 Thayer Academy

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On the Cover: Paige Johnson ’26 (as Hermes) and cast perform during the fall production of Hadestown: Teen Edition.

Forever Forward

A Q&A with Chris Fortunato about progress that’s been made on the Academy’s strategic plan.

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES

THAYER ACADEMY BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR 2025–26 James Coughlin P ’24, ’26 Chairman of the Board

Joshua Bennett Tavares Brewington Rachel Card P ’27, ’29 Abe Ceesay P ’27 Ryan Cox ’98 P ’26, ’28, ’30 Michael Curry P ’26 Guy Daniello P ’22, ’26 Rob DeMarco ’86 P ’19, ’21, ’26 David Devine P ’25, ’30 James Dowden P ’26, ’28, ’30 Joe Farmer P ’23 Lauren O’Neil Goff P ’31, ’33 Jennifer Havlicek P ’18, ’21, ’21 Teresa Hsiao ’03 Liz Joyce P ’27, ’30 Greg Lally ’92 P ’22, ’25, ’26, ’28 Len Monfredo P ’30 F. Marie Morisset P ’26 Jeanine Murphy P ’24 Jeff Robinson P ’26 Ann Stanesa P ’27, ’29 Andrew Sullivan P ’23, ’25, ’29 Chris Sullivan ’95 P ’28, ’28, ’33 Lindsay Wilkinson P ’25, ’27, ’30 EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS: Chris Fortunato JD, MSW P ’26, ’28 Head of School

Kendra King ’02

President of the Alumni Board

Stephen P. Sanford, MBA

Assistant Treasurer of the Board (in his role as Chief Financial & Operations Officer)

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FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL Dear Thayer Community, For generations, Thayer has been a community that has owned and modeled an abiding commitment to servant leadership — to empowering others without fanfare but instead with humility and generosity. I am particularly proud to reflect on the Thayer adults, students, and families who for nearly 150 years have helped one another achieve new heights of excellence with grounded and relentless determination. I love opportunities to celebrate those at Thayer who may not ask but so clearly deserve celebration.

A first example you will see in this issue of Thayer Magazine spotlights the exceptional behind-the-scenes work happening to make this year’s fall musical Hadestown: Teen Edition such an unforgettable experience. For every showstopping vocal, acting, or dance performance, there has been a team of students and adults designing, building, and moving sets; calibrating lighting and sound production; managing costumes and wardrobe changes; directing, blocking, choreographing, and more to produce something greater than the sum of its parts. It is all quintessentially Thayer, and I’m excited to pull back the curtain to honor them.

The musical is just one example of the unsung contributions that take place every day at Thayer. Selflessly taking on jobs both big and small is the lifeblood of a community where results matter more than which student, which team member, or which performer gets the credit.

Nowhere was this more evident than last summer when Thayer, along with much of the South Shore, faced severe flooding that wreaked havoc for days and led to months of cleanup and restoration. Within hours of the storm, buildings and grounds crews began working tirelessly to restore the CFA, the basement of Southworth Library, the Brickyard in Main Building, and Frothingham Hall to ensure we could welcome students back for the start of the school year. Moreover, faculty, staff, and administrators rolled up their sleeves and rolled with

Our great school continues to lean into inspiring and supporting new generations of servant leaders who lift our community and change the world regardless of any award, trophy, or public recognition. In that spirit, I invite and encourage you to think about the Thayer classmate, teammate, teacher, coach, mentor, or friend who did the same for you and to do two things: (1) thank them for what they showed and offered you, and (2) share that story with me by emailing me at cfortunato@thayer.org.

My thanks to all of you whose generosity and leadership on all fronts have forged the incredible Thayer community that is thriving on and beyond our campus. Every member of our community brings a powerful light to our school and our world even when they are not themselves in the limelight. This makes us an exceptional school in which our students are truly known, connected, and prepared.

I so appreciate Upper School Theater Director Kelly Hines P ’18, ’19 who said it best when describing the amazing efforts of her tech crew, articulating a message that’s true of the entire Thayer community writ large: “When the applause starts, it’s for everyone.”

With gratitude,

the many punches, creatively navigating building closures and space redesigns while keeping Camp Thayer running seamlessly.

Whether it’s once-in-a-generation floods or the nearly two feet of snow gifted us by a January storm, Thayer has an extraordinary team of dedicated people who work day and night (and sometimes overnight!) — facilities, dining, security, business office,

Chris Fortunato JD, MSW P ’26, ’28 HEAD OF SCHOOL

communications, athletics, advancement, health services staff, and more — so our teachers can do their best work in providing students with a world-class education. That, combined with a faculty whose norm is going above and beyond, makes this school an unstoppable team.

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SCENE AT THAYER

PAINTING PUMPKINS In October, Thayer art students flocked to Frothingham where they had the opportunity to paint pumpkins ahead of Halloween.

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Thayer Leadership Presents at Stanford

A photo from Rania Matar’s collection “Where Do I Go? Fifty Years Later.”

STRENGTH AND RESILIENCY The Koskores Gallery’s first exhibit of the school year featured the work of award-winning photographer Rania Matar and concluded with a visit from the artist, interaction with students, and a gallery reception in Matar’s honor.

“The students had great questions,” said Matar at the Oct. 14 reception which followed a meet-the-artist forum with students from the Upper School’s painting & drawing and photography classes. The questions, she said, ranged from the more technical aspects of photography to the ideas behind her compositions.

“I love working with students,” Matar added.

The gallery exhibit offered highlights from two of Matar’s collections: “Where Do I Go? Fifty Years Later” and 6

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“A Girl and Her Room.” Drawing from her own experiences as a mother and her connections to both Lebanon and the United States, Matar’s images reveal the strength and resiliency of the girls and women she photographs.

“I want to photograph the shared humanity of womanhood,” said Matar, who grew up in Lebanon but moved to the United States in 1984 as a result of Lebanon’s civil war. She added that in many ways she is in awe of the young women she photographs, many of whom are faced with the same difficult question — stay or leave — that she had to answer four decades ago.

Following the reception, Matar enjoyed lunch with students from Thayer’s Honors Studio Art class as well as the school’s Women’s Empowerment Club.

Head of School Chris Fortunato P ’26, ’28 and Associate Head of School Jed Wartman P ’30, ’32 traveled to the West Coast to attend the Challenge Success Conference at Stanford University. There, the two delivered a presentation to fellow educators detailing Thayer’s recent success in increasing student engagement.

“It went great,” Wartman said of the 75-minute presentation, which was entitled “ENGAGEMENT is EVERYTHING: Strategies, Systems, and Structures for Moving the Needle” and offered as part of the two-day conference in early September. “We were well-received.”

Thayer partners with Challenge Success, a nonprofit affiliated with the Stanford Graduate School of Education (Stanford GSE).

At the conference Fortunato and Wartman discussed two Challenge Success student surveys conducted at Thayer and the notable progress reflected in those surveys related to increased student engagement, a decrease in consistent stress and worry among students, and an increase in student sense of belonging.

MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE CAFE

To kick off this year’s Middle School Science Cafe series, Harel Gadot P ’30, ’32 — the CEO, president, and chairman of Microbot Medical, a Hingham-based company specializing in transformational robotic technologies — visited campus during lunch and demonstrated one of his company’s latest products, the LIBERTY Endovascular Robotic System, a single-use, remotely operated robotic system for peripheral endovascular procedures. It’s the first device of its kind to be cleared by the FDA.

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Branfman Earns Teaching Excellence Award Pottery Instructor Steven Branfman P ’00, ’02 was recognized for teaching excellence during the 60th annual conference of the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts this spring in Detroit.

Branfman — who began his teaching, coaching, and advising duties at Thayer in 1978 — received the organization’s Excellence in Teaching Award.

The international conference was held from March 25 to March 28. The award honors a clay artist who “shall be near or at the end of a career dedicated to excellence in the practice of teaching as evidenced by a commitment to the rigorous ongoing development of their own work as well as former students who are actively engaged in the field.”

“It’s very exciting and humbling,” said Branfman, who specializes in Raku ware, a pottery technique with its

origins in 16th century Japan and the tea ceremony. “This teaching award is special, and I still can’t wrap my arms around it.”

The NCECA is a nonprofit that engages and sustains a community for ceramic art, teaching, and learning.

With approximately 6,000 members from more than 20 countries around the globe, the NCECA reaches thousands of individuals each year through its programs, publications, events, exhibitions, and resources.

In addition to those conference kudos, Branfman recently fulfilled what he humorously called “a lifelong dream” when he was invited as a guest lecturer to address students and lead discussion at a philosophy seminar class at Harvard University. “Beauty & Art” was the topic of the class.

THAYER

By the Numbers They say every picture tells a story (don’t it?), but one can also learn a lot just by sharpening the old pencil and crunching the numbers. Here are a few helpful figures to better explain the Thayer experience:

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The height decrease, in feet, of Thayer’s current tower from its original tower, which was torn down and replaced in 1910 due to structural defects.

1968

The year English teacher Mike Shea begins the tradition of Declamation at the Middle School.

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The total number of medals (one gold, one silver, and one bronze) hurdler David Hemery ’62 earned at the 1968 and 1972 Olympic Games while competing for his native Great Britain.

150

The number of students in the cast and crew of Thayer’s 2017 production of Les Miserables, making it the largest such musical in the school’s history.

1930

The year Thayer receives its charter to become a chapter of the Cum Laude Society.

Membership is restricted to no more than 20 percent of the senior class and recognizes outstanding academic achievement.

Steven Branfman P ’00, ’02, Thayer’s longtime pottery instructor, recently addressed a classroom of students at Harvard University.

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Girls Basketball Earns Big Win at TD Garden The girls varsity basketball team had the special opportunity to play at TD Garden on Jan. 18, taking on Milton Academy in a game the team had anticipated all season. The experience lived up to the hype, delivering a competitive and memorable night on one of basketball’s biggest stages.

With both teams familiar with one another, scoring was hard to come by early. Strong defense on both ends led to a tightly contested first half, with Milton holding a narrow one-point lead at the break. Thayer responded in the fourth quarter, utilizing timely shots and smart decisions to take control and hold the lead down the stretch.

“Coaching at the TD Garden was an incredible experience,” said Head Coach Billy O’Dwyer ’02. “Being able

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to coach on the same floor as the Celtics was amazing. I’m so happy my team got to experience this, and I cannot thank Bobbi Moran and the Athletics Department enough for the opportunity. I know my girls and I will never forget that day.”

The game was part of The Andrew James Lawson Foundation Invitational, an event dedicated to advancing and improving the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Foundation supports and promotes programs, projects, and individual scholarships that encourage inclusion and create meaningful opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities within their communities.

speech & debate program

In a first for Thayer Academy’s Speech & Debate program, students participated in Congressional Debate, a format that mirrors the legislative process and challenges students to grapple with complex policy questions facing society today. Thayer students competed in multiple tournaments throughout the semester, notably the Xaverian Brothers High School Fall Festival and the Gracia Burkill Memorial Tournament at Natick High School.

The Congressional Debate format provides a unique opportunity for students to research, write, and debate real legislation on issues that matter.

New Mural Installed in Cahall Campus Center Award-winning artist and muralist Sophy Tuttle made Thayer history in February of 2024 when she visited campus as the school’s first artist in residence. Two years later the Boston-based Tuttle added to that history with a new mural recently installed in Cahall Campus Center and visible from Student Commons.

Measuring 12 feet by 12 feet, the five-panel mural depicts a large tiger with Thayer’s campus in the background. Foliage from sassafras and chestnut trees, which are both native to the South Shore, surround the tiger.

The tiger is also in water, a nod to the region’s natural connection as a coastal community.

Brynn Wartman P ’30, ’32, director of the Karen & Ted Koskores Gallery, praised not only the new mural but the muralist’s willingness to engage with Thayer students in the creative process.

For instance, Wartman said, Tuttle discussed the various images used in the mural with a group of Upper School students who weighed the pros and cons of each particular symbol. That design process saw five to six iterations before the best ideas were distilled into a plan of action.

“We’re incredibly grateful,” said Wartman of Tuttle, whose work — sometimes as high as seven stories — can be seen from Boston to Colombia; Tuttle’s art often explores the natural world and humanity’s relationship to it.

Tuttle began prepping the panels over Winter Recess. However, she didn’t start to actually paint the panels until Jan. 12 when students had fully returned from break. And that, said Wartman, was also by design.

“It was really important to me that she paint with students here,” Wartman said. “I wanted students to see a real

artist at work.”

Students, in fact, did more than just watch Tuttle. Honors Visual Arts students in the classroom of Upper School Visual Arts Department Head Anni Zukauskas ’94 P ’28, ’29 documented the creative process via interviews and filming as part of a long-term project.

The mural is built so that it can be easily moved, helping to ensure the piece of art will be part of the Thayer landscape for decades to come.

Wartman was quick to praise the efforts of Thayer’s Buildings & Grounds Department, whose team members handled the logistical details of mural creation with skill, making the entire process as seamless as possible.

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THE POWER OF CONNECTION Renowned social scientist and Harvard professor Robert Putnam used the first part of his Global Speaker Series talk to outline the dire situation the United States currently finds itself in. He used the second half of his talk to offer possible solutions in addressing what he called a crisis in democracy.

But throughout his October 2025 address before a large and receptive Hale Theater audience well populated with Upper School students, he was adamant on one point: America’s youth are not to blame for the enormous challenges they’ll be tasked with solving.

“I’m not blaming you for this,” Putnam told students at one point during the 90-minute event which ended with a brief Q&A with audience members.

“You’ve inherited that plight from people of my generation.”

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Putnam’s talk — entitled “Long Run Changes in America: Society, Politics, Economics, and Culture” — employed charts, graphs, and narratives to describe the “plight” he was referring to: a nation facing historic levels of political polarization, economic inequality, social isolation, and cultural self-centeredness. Using Civil War hostilities, “Gilded Age” income disparities, and the tribal politics of the 1890s as reference points, Putnam contended that the United States has come a long way from the relatively bipartisan, egalitarian decades of the 40s, 50s, and 60s.

“I’m going to use a technical term now: America is in a pickle,” said Putnam, who used humor to leaven the serious nature of remarks targeted especially to the young people in the audience.

Americans, he said, are feeling increasingly isolated from one another — the term he used was decreasing social cohesion (or social capital) — for a number of reasons, and it’s having disastrous consequences.

In terms of economic equality, said Putnam, the United States, a nation that once rivaled socialist Sweden as the most equal of countries during the Eisenhower presidency, is now the least equal country in the world.

“The gap between rich and poor has been growing even more rapidly,” he told the Hale Theater crowd.

The Malkin Research Professor of Public Policy at Harvard University and author of Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community, Putnam was quick to emphasize that, while liberals and conservatives might

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Left: Robert Putnam addresses the Thayer community during the Global Speaker Series event last fall.

debate the causes of or the solutions to such issues, no one disputes that these issues exist.

“Maybe [this income data] is a good thing, maybe it’s a bad thing, but it’s a fact,” he said.

When it came time to discuss possible answers to these thorny problems, Putnam pointed not to the middle of the 20th century, which his data showed was a high point of the nation’s “We’re all in this together” attitude, but the period between 1890 and 1910 when people faced similar issues and, bit by bit, found their way to a more cohesive place.

“Those people must have done something right,” he said, “because they won.” Moments later he added: “Most of us want to get out of this, and we now know where to look for lessons.”

While offering the caveat that that era’s resilience, which he termed “the last upswing,” wasn’t nearly inclusive enough in terms of race, gender, religion, and other factors, Putnam said he derived key lessons from that earlier success story: It was driven by youth; It was a grassroots movement led by ordinary people; and it included a moral/cultural shift where people recognized their obligations to their fellow citizens. As one example, he pointed to the growth of public high schools sometime around 1910, which proved to be one of the greatest drivers of economic growth the United States has ever seen. For another example, he cited Frances Perkins, a wealthy and connected young woman who personally witnessed the horrific 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Fire in New York City (a sweatshop tragedy which claimed the lives of 146 garment workers) and then dedicated her life to workers’ rights, becoming the first woman cabinet member as the secretary of Labor under Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

“She realized she had a moral obligation to them (those garment workers),” Putnam said of Perkins.

He then noted that, statistically, one’s chance of dying in a 12-month period is cut in half simply by joining one group.

“Help other people,” Putnam advised. “Connect with other people.”

Head of School Chris Fortunato P ’26, ’28 welcomed both Putnam and that evening’s guests to campus; he also sat down for a brief discussion with Putnam before facilitating the night’s Q&A session.

“It’s hard to imagine a more relevant topic than how we engage and connect and join,” Fortunato said in his welcoming remarks, “as a community and as a society.”

The Global Speaker Series brings thought leaders, innovators, and difference-makers to the Thayer campus to engage the community in issues that matter to the world.

Great Reviews for Rooney’s Translation The novel Cécé, written by Emmelie Prophète and translated from the French by Upper School World Languages Faculty Aidan Rooney P ’07, ’15, has generated positive reviews and much interest since its publication in September of 2025.

Reviewing the coming-of-age novel in The New York Times under the headline “A Heroine To Root for in an Unforgettable Novel of Haiti,” Susie Boyt calls the book a “brave novel” and one “that marvels at people who feel entitled to their tears.”

Originally published in French as Les Villages de Dieu, Cécé tells the story of a 20-year-old Haitian woman who turns to sex work following the death of a caregiver; the woman, the eponymous Cécé, soon becomes an influencer on social media.

In addition to garnering good reviews, the novel was one of 10 finalists for the 2025 Cercador Prize, which recognizes works of literature in translation. And as the year came to a close, the Los Angeles Times named Cécé one of its best books for 2025.

A teacher and coach at Thayer since 1988, Rooney is the author of three poetry collections: Day Release (2000), Tightrope (2007), and Go There (2020).

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THIS AND THAT

Highlights and happenings from the first semester Educator and performer Rodney Eric Lopez explored Hispanic and Latino culture through the power of salsa music and dance during an Upper School morning assembly. The talk — sponsored by Mi Gente, Thayer’s Hispanic/ Latino affinity group — celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month ... The Middle School held its annual Bring ‘N’ Share community potluck in late September as families enjoyed one another’s company as well as dishes representing a variety of family backgrounds and heritages ... Held a few hours before the Friday Night Lights football game, the inaugural Kicks for Kenya soccer tournament, a student-led fundraiser, raised $400 for the Green Belt Movement, a nonprofit which empowers communities in that country to conserve the environment and improve livelihoods

... The girls volleyball program held its annual Dig PINK volleyball game and raised $2,652 for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute ... Thayer’s alliance group OMEGA (Organization for Minorities through Enrichment, Growth, and Advancement) held its annual fall potluck Oct. 28 in Cahall Dining Hall.

The event celebrates identity, connection, and belonging ... Writer, artist, design researcher, and academic Sara Hendren, a professor at Northeastern University, visited Thayer to discuss where the worlds of disability and design meet. Hendren was the guest author of the Benelli Visiting Writer Series ... Thayer welcomed noted planetary scientist Sarah Stewart Johnson to an Upper School assembly.

The award-winning author also visited science classes that day ... Deshawn

Fentress took the reins as the wrestling program’s new varsity head coach ...

Both the Middle School and Upper School hosted Grandparents & Special Friends Day just before Thanksgiving Break ... Harry Levant, director of gambling policy with the Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) at Northeastern University, spent the entire day of Dec. 1 at Thayer to help students, faculty, staff, and parents/guardians understand the risks of youth gambling ...

Former Tiger football standout Aaron Gilmer ’13, today a successful business consultant, served as guest speaker for the program’s end-of-year banquet ...

The musical abilities of all grades were front and center during December’s two student music concerts.

Students perform during December’s Winter Music Concert.

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CLASS TRIP In the fall, the eighth grade class enjoyed its annual visit to Washington, D.C.

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COMING HOME

Scenes from Homecoming 2025 Thayer Academy enjoyed postcardperfect weather, tremendous Tiger spirit, and great varsity sports competition as it celebrated its Homecoming this past fall.

The annual event got off to a great start on the afternoon of Sept. 19 as both the girls and boys cross country teams defeated Saint Mark’s School on the Harold B. Hatch Cross Country Course. The meets marked the Tigers’

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opening races and the only home races of the season. On the following Saturday (Sept. 20) Thayer teams continued to kick off their ISL seasons with several highlights — most notably, the girls varsity soccer team’s 3-2 victory over Governor’s Academy and the boys varsity soccer team’s 2-2 tie with that same school.

In addition to sporting events, Tiger families enjoyed a cornhole

tournament and other games; spirit swag; a petting zoo; complimentary concessions; a bake sale; food truck fare; and the sale of limited-edition Thayer merchandise under the Big Tent thanks to the efforts of TAPA (Thayer Academy Parent Association) volunteers.

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HOMECOMING 2025

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FALL SPORTS SEASON HAD MUCH TO CHEER ABOUT With the fall 2025 sports season in the books, Athletic Director Bobbi Moran lauded the accomplishments of Tiger teams and the student-athletes who competed so admirably.

“We’ve brought in a lot of young and talented student-athletes who will help us continue to build our fall teams, and I look forward to our fall programs’ continued growth,” said Moran.

“We had tremendous senior leadership on all of our teams, and I’m very proud of that.”

One particular highlight of the fall season, Moran said, was the well-attended Friday Night Lights game when Thayer football defeated St. George’s.

For Moran, the fact that so many alumni returned for the game gave current students the opportunity to see Tiger pride of the past while showcasing their own version for alums.

Moran also called this fall’s Homecoming celebration “phenomenal,” adding that she meant both on and off the field.

“I was proud of how the teams comported themselves that day,” she said.

Yet another highlight, said Moran, actually occurred immediately after the season with the Varsity Awards Dessert Night for all fall varsity sports teams.

In a new wrinkle to the event, captains from each team offered remarks and shared what it means to wear the black and orange.

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VARSITY HONORS

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Field Hockey All-ISL: Dakota Adams ’26 ISL Honorable Mention: Beatrix Cohen Raymond ’27 All-NEPSAC: Dakota Adams ’26 NEPSAC Honorable Mention: Beatrix Cohen Raymond ’27 Football All-NEPSAC First Team: Drew St. Pierre ’26, Will Bewley ’26, CJ Talabi-Oates ’26 All-NEPSAC Second Team: Neil MacKinnon ’26, John Sullivan ’26 All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention: Joey Fisher ’27, Dante Lamonica ’27, Nate Martin ’27, Finn Forger ’28, Sully Carven ’27, Davens Lazarre ’29 Boys Soccer All-ISL: James Morrison ’27 ISL Honorable Mention: Khaio Pelegrini ’27 Girls Soccer All-ISL: Osie Fuqua ’27 ISL Honorable Mention: Kate Brooks ’28, Phoebe Catlin ’28 All-NEPSAC: Osie Fuqua ’27 NEPSAC Honorable Mention: Kate Brooks ’28 NEPSAC Girls Soccer Junior All-Stars: Osie Fuqua ’27, Gabriella Berardi ’26 Volleyball ISL Honorable Mention: Kaitlyn Butkuss ’26, Naraya Dasilva ’28 NEPSAC Honorable Mention: Kaitlyn Butkuss ’26

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1. Sevy DeFranceaux ’26 2. Declan Bergan ’27 3. Boys Cross Country Team 4. Joey Fisher ’27 5. Kayleigh Abell ’29 6. Katerina Kiziuk ’27

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7. Naraya Dasilva ’28 8. Alyssa McGuirl ’26 9. Davens Lazarre ’29 10. Nikola Hysenaj ’27 11. Kate Brooks ’28 12. Katie Donahue ’28, Alaina Millian ’26, and Alyssa McGuirl ’26

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FRIDAY NIGHT

LIGHTS The fall Friday Night Lights football game saw an incredible turnout from the Thayer community, and the Tigers rewarded that faith by posting a 21-0 victory against St. George’s.

“Our kids were focused and fired up all week,” said Head Coach Jeff Toussaint ’82. “They fed off the energy of their classmates and others in attendance. Undoubtedly, the crowd and overall atmosphere were factors in the game.”

Led by captains Will Bewley ’26, Drew St. Pierre ’26, CJ Talabi-Oates ’26, and John Sullivan ’26, the Oct. 10 game proved a true team effort from start to finish. Nowhere was this all-for-one attitude more evident than the defensive squad’s impressive shutout performance; buoyed by the stellar play of Talabi-Oates and the team’s five overall sacks, the Tigers simply refused to let the Dragons into the end zones of Ward Donner Field.

Thayer’s gridiron victory was the centerpiece of a festive night which included food trucks, a spirit table, and orange-and-black merchandise sold by volunteers from the Thayer Academy Parent Association (TAPA). The night even included a bit of stargazing at Cahall Observatory thanks to the efforts of the school’s astronomy club who welcomed curious guests throughout the evening.

Members of Thayer’s 2005 football team served as honorary captains for the night with several former players and coaches walking out for the pregame coin toss. Fall 2025 marked the twentieth anniversary of that team’s NEPSAC championship.

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Student stage crews bring their own imagination and talents to theater productions

TECHNICAL KNOCKOUT

by Craig Salters ’86 P ’24

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Kai Robinson ’26, Kasey Sheehan (lighting designer), and Casey Lukens ’27 in the Hale Theater production booth.

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t’s fitting to shine a spotlight on the terrific performances of the Upper School’s recent production of Hadestown: Teen Edition (featured on the cover of this issue of Thayer Magazine), but let’s not forget the students who ran the actual spotlight … and the soundboard, and the set changes, and the wardrobe changes, and everything else that made the musical … well … sing.

Thayer’s arts department prides itself on collaboration and community, and nowhere is this more evident than the respect given to its student tech crews. Everyone understands that, without their (literal) behindthe-scenes hard work and dedication, the show simply wouldn’t go on.

This cooperative spirit, of course, has been alive and well for decades, from productions of Beauty & The Beast to Les Misérables to Mamma Mia!, but Technical Director Thomas Cappelli says this most recent tech team can stand with the best of them.

“It’s incredible,” Cappelli says of the sweat equity put in by this Hadestown: Teen Edition crew. “I chose this career because I love working with people like this.”

According to Cappelli, there are two distinct elements to Thayer’s theater production. The first part consists of roughly 10 students in Thayer’s Technical Theater course — a half-credit class which meets twice per week for the entire year — and another 15 or so students who volunteer for no credit after school on Wednesdays. These two dozen students gain practical experience by exploring set design and construction, lighting, sound, and stage management. The second part of the equation, says Cappelli, is “the run crew,”

Caroline Wolford ’28 and Rory Dowden ’28 work on building the Hadestown set.

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or the students who work backstage during the actual performances.

Cappelli estimates that students in the tech course put in approximately five hours per week, a figure that translates into roughly 60 hours of work per production. And keep in mind, he adds, that’s for three productions per year. Cappelli likens the contributions of time and talent to a sports team and says that, like a sports team, the rewards are worth the effort.

“It’s about commitment, tenacity, and attention to detail,” says Cappelli. “These are life lessons they’ll take with them even if they’re never in a theater production again.”

Assistant Stage Manager Zoë Rudolph ’27 and Rehearsal Stage Manager Kai Robinson ’26 agree with Cappelli’s estimate regarding the time commitment, but both students say that things really heat up during “Tech Week,” which is that week of controlled chaos just before opening night when the entire cast and crew take an all-in approach to get the job done.

“We’re basically in school more than we’re home that week,” says Rudolph with a laugh, adding that eight-hour rehearsals are common during that stretch.

“We all run through the play to get it perfect or as good as possible.”

For Rudolph, working on the tech crew allows her to pursue a passion of hers on her own terms.

“I love theater and I love musicals, but I don’t want to perform,” she says. “It’s a way I can contribute to the musical without being onstage.”

Robinson also enjoys being part of Thayer’s theater scene.

“I really love the sense of community and collaboration,” he says, praising his fellow crew members for working so hard to make Hadestown: Teen Edition the best it can be.

While Robinson says the experience has also taught him valuable time management skills, he states that the most important lesson he’s learned is to make sure that the lines of communication are always working properly.

“The key takeaway for me is the importance of communication — with the director, the actors, the lighting director, the set design director, the sound operator … essentially everybody.”

Both Rudolph and Robinson underscore that the production’s collaborative nature is a two-way street, meaning that the actors not only appreciate the efforts of the tech crew but pitch in themselves to make sure things go smoothly. In fact, Rudolph says, there’s a group of ninth grade actors who are contributing tremendously even as they ready themselves for showtime.

Compton Jones ’27 makes sure the lights are set correctly prior to the performance.

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“They’re really passionate,” she says of those students.

And there are perks to having backstage access to the fall musical, like knowing in advance how great the performances were going to be.

“I got chills watching the rehearsal,” says Rudolph.

Rudolph says she has no regrets about not treading the boards herself but does hope people understand all the work that takes place when no one is watching.

“This whole set is student-built [with the help of

Mr. Cappelli],” says Rudolph, “and I wish more people knew that.”

One person who definitely understands such dedication is Upper School Theater Director Kelly Hines P ’18, ’19, who has forged a career out of uniting students behind a shared goal: to create shows which entertain audiences, inform minds, and move hearts.

“We are all equal parts of this collaborative art, and we’ve created this together,” says Thayer’s longtime director. “When the applause starts, it’s for everyone.”

Thomas Cappelli, Gracie Shepherd ’29, and Colleen Murphy ’28 paint the set.

SCENES FROM A SET DESIGN It’s a typical Thursday morning in the CFA’s Hale Theater, and members of Thayer’s Technical Theater class are hard at work putting together what will eventually become the set for Hadestown: Teen Edition.

The sounds of drilling, sawing, and hammering can be heard above music — Broadway musicals, of course — from an unseen speaker. One student carries a long beam from the scene shop just to the right of the stage while another student uses a roller to patiently paint a large set piece. In the middle of the stage four students work together

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under the direction of Technical Director Thomas Cappelli to put together an even larger set piece. The work continues until one student pauses, studies the problem before her, and turns to Cappelli.

“So how do I screw that side in?” she asks him.

In the otherwise empty rows of seats to the left of the stage sit Upper School Theater Director Kelly Hines P ’18, ’19, Assistant Stage Manager Zoë Rudolph ’27, and Rehearsal Stage Manager Kai Robinson ’26. Hines patiently discusses various entrances and exits,

timelines, and transitions — essentially, the day’s “to-do list.”

“It’s two and two, and they need to meet in the center,” Hines explains to Rudolph and Robinson, who listen attentively, “but in between I need enough room for one person to come through.”

It’s an ordinary scene without a hint of drama, but it’s a moment those in the theater know all too well. That’s because they understand that before there’s a work of art, there must first be the art of work.

XANADU JR. DELIGHTS While the Upper School was performing Hadestown: Teen Edition, the Middle School cast and crew of Xanadu Jr. helped everyone’s disco dreams come true with two terrific performances of the musical in the CFA’s Hale Theater.

In all, more than three dozen Middle School students performed in the two shows. The production’s tech crew consisted of eight Middle School students and four Upper School students. Several faculty and staff members ably assisted with the show, which was led by Middle School Theater Director John Crampton.

What’s New?

A trio of innovative offerings enhance Thayer’s academic programs and curriculum

by Craig Salters ’86 P ’24

Thayer Academy welcomed three new programs in the fall of 2025 to ensure that students are given the right tools to compete in a world where creativity, collaboration, and community are the sine quibus non for success. The three programs are distinct but share the goal of aligning the Thayer experience with the educational needs of the modern world. They are:

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The Peer Education Collaborative, which seeks to equip students with the leadership skills to enhance one another’s health and well-being and to strengthen civil discourse on campus and beyond.

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The Business & Entrepreneurship Program, which builds upon recent successes in entrepreneurship programming and introduces fundamental business theories and concepts along with real-world case studies and real-world insights.

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The Global Engagement Program, which incorporates Thayer’s proud history of academic travel programs, civic engagement, and civil discourse; the program offers a cohesive approach to prepare students for an ever-changing world where building connections across lines of differences is essential.

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Director of Global Engagement Kim Gilmore.

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“It’s going great,” said Peer Education Collaborative Director Leigh Carroll, who explained that the collaborative is designed to empower teens and preteens in two key areas: health & wellness and civil discourse. “I’m really excited about the program.”

In April of 2025 Thayer was one of only a handful of schools to receive an educational leadership grant from the Brooklyn-based Edward E. Ford Foundation. The $250,000 grant provides Thayer with the unique opportunity to create — in partnership not just with the Thayer community but with private and public schools as well — a curriculum to train juniors and seniors to lead classes for younger students in their own schools and, via Zoom, in under-resourced schools in Massachusetts and beyond.

The key to the program, said Carroll, is the concept of “near-peer teaching,” which is when students teach fellow students who are close to them in age. Research shows this to be an incredibly effective form of instruction because the slightly older students are still seen as one of the peer group, and therefore credible, while also being respected role models trained in a particular topic and in facilitation. At Thayer, this work is most evident in the Peer Leadership Fellowship Course, a first-of-its-kind honors program that trains Upper School students as peer educators.

Clinical psychologist and best-selling author Lisa Damour, PhD, serves as a scholar in residence at Thayer and an advisor to the collaborative. This fall Damour visited Thayer to lead a day of programming in support of mental health for the entire Thayer community. The collaborative recently invested in Damour’s Untangling 10to20 for Schools, a resource of premium materials which, in addition to her free library of resources, enables further guidance into classes, programming, and faculty development.

“We want Thayer to be a hub of best practices for education where other schools can join with us,” said Carroll.

In the burgeoning Business & Entrepreneurship Program, eight courses afford students exposure to a wide range of business leadership, finance, accounting, marketing, and entrepreneurship topics. These electives — available to sophomores, juniors, and seniors — include Business Leadership Fundamentals, Business Sports & Entertainment, Entrepreneurship I & II, Finance & Accounting Essentials, and Principles of Marketing. The program also includes two optional business co-curriculars — a Stock Simulator Series and a Financial Literary Series — which have proven quite popular.

“It’s going quite well,” Upper School Business Faculty Jamie Johnston said of the new program which she leads.

Johnston added that, in addition to setting a foundation of core business

principles, the program allows students to become more familiar with email etiquette, presentation skills, fluency with spreadsheets, effective writing skills, and productive collaboration with peers. Those wins both big and small, she said, prepare Thayer students for university-level business courses in the near future.

In February of 2026 the program continued its Business Leadership Masterclass Speaking Series, an initiative which saw great results when it was introduced last year. And one new wrinkle took place in February: a Business & Economics Student Conference whose topic was “The World of Coffee: From Production to Consumption.”

Luke Mazzocco ’27, who participates in the Stock Simulator Series, said he’s taken part in Thayer’s various business offerings since he was in the ninth grade.

“There’s really a lot of opportunity that comes from this,” the junior said.

“The people who teach these courses have so much to offer. There’s really no downside.”

As for Thayer’s Global Engagement Program, it’s new in terms of its interdisciplinary organization and mission but familiar in terms of many of its offerings. The goal, said Director of Global Engagement Kim Gilmore, is to provide comprehensive, coordinated, and evolving programs that equip students with the skills they need to thrive in an increasingly complex global landscape.

“All of these programs are designed to be cohesive and connected to the Thayer experience,” said Gilmore.

“They’re not ‘extras.’”

One case in point: The office oversees civic engagement programming and has revamped The Common Good

Peer Education Collaborative Director Leigh Carroll meets with her class in Southworth Library’s Bakker Reading Room.

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Upper School business teacher Jamie Johnston works with CJ Talabi-Oates ’26 in the Hanflig Technology Center.

I and The Common Good II courses, which are taken by all ninth and 10th graders, respectively. The Common Good I course is now framed by five social issues — food security, housing, healthcare, education, and the environment — examined through both historical context and their presence in the Boston and South Shore communities. The Common Good II course will now dovetail with its prerequisite while focusing on civil discourse and how students can engage across difference.

The reason behind the revamp, said Gilmore, is to provide younger students the scaffolding for the experiential education they’ll receive during their high school years at Thayer, whether through service-oriented student organizations, grade-wide civic engagement projects, or international travel programs.

“We want everyone to have the same foundation,” said Gilmore.

On a similar note, Gilmore’s office now heads Thayer’s vibrant academic travel programs — nine in the Upper School and two in the Middle School — and is working to continue their success while ensuring they align with Thayer’s overarching educational mission.

“It’s clear that travel programs have long been a pillar of the Thayer experience,” said Gilmore, noting the school’s strong tradition of sister schools as just one example. “It’s not new to us.”

But such travel programs take on increased urgency in a world growing more connected in many ways yet more 32

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divided in others.

“We want to equip students with the skills they need to interact with a different culture in a respectful and meaningful way,” said Gilmore.

The Global Engagement Program also oversees the Global Scholars Capstone Program, whose classes Gilmore teaches under the mentorship of Upper School Director of Studies and History Faculty Lynette Sumpter, its former director. That program, now celebrating its 10th anniversary, encourages greater awareness of and engagement in global public policy issues. To further its work, Thayer recently became a member of The Institute of Global Learning, a nonprofit with more than 300 member schools across the globe.

To improve interdisciplinary communication, Gilmore’s office also created the Civic Engagement Council, an umbrella organization for all of Thayer’s community service clubs, and the Global Engagement Committee, composed of faculty and staff and tasked with creating a mission statement and learning objectives for the overall program.

Like Carroll and Johnston, Gilmore said she’s encouraged by the progress made in such a short time.

“Things are going well,” said Gilmore. “I really love being part of this community. I feel so supported.”

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Head of School Chris Fortunato P ’26, ’28

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Forever Forward In this Q&A with Head of School Chris Fortunato P ’26, ’28, learn about the progress that’s been made since the launch of Thayer’s strategic plan, Forever Forward, and the work that’s underway to prepare for the school’s 150th anniversary celebration.

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ast summer, Thayer launched its Forever Forward strategic plan. That document outlines a series of priorities and goals that were based on surveys and conversations that took place with the extended school community last spring. All of the ambitious work going forward will be guided by five principles of a Thayer education: 1. Relationships matter most; 2. Innovation drives excellence; 3. Real-world engagement and service are essential; 4. Effective communication is paramount to success; and 5. Diversity strengthens learning, achievement, and Thayer’s mission.

With those principles in mind, there is broad agreement that students, educators, alums, families, and supporters are engaged like never before, with a sense of excitement in the classrooms, in the hallways, and throughout the community.

The shared belief in possibility and momentum has the school poised to embark on the next chapter of its remarkable journey. The path ahead is one where Thayer leads the way in offering an education that’s responsive and forward-looking, one where students engage with diverse people, ideas, and opportunities so that they may rise to honorable achievement and contribute to the common good.

With this framework in place, Head of School Chris Fortunato P ’26, ’28 shares his thoughts on how we got here, what he’s working on right now, and what comes next.

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Thayer revealed the Forever Forward strategic plan in June 2025.

Can you talk a little bit about the purpose of a strategic plan and how it benefits Thayer?

The value of a strategic plan is that it provides an opportunity for us to look at our history, to look at our values, to look at our mission, and to affirm all the things that have driven the school forward, that the school celebrates, and that the school has helped to create to become the institution that it is right now.

And it’s also a time to evaluate the landscape in which our students are living, to think about the opportunities that lie ahead, and to look at how we can evolve from what we’ve been to what we need to become in order for our students to have all the opportunities and experiences that we know they’re going to need to be successful, not just in college and university but beyond. Every educational institution needs to be nimble. It needs to think about what its students need — what are the experiences that they need to be a part of in order to be competitive now and in the future? The strategic plan allows us to take stock of the very best of who we are and who we have been, and it provides a structure to help us plan for the future.

In the strategic planning processes, there was no shortage of really valuable input from students, parents, faculty, staff, and alumni. We need to be judicious about what we’re going to lean into. And we need to think about what, even though it’s valuable, we are going to lean away from. And so strategic planning processes help us to prioritize and to consider where we need to devote the most resources, the most energy, and the most attention. Because as we often talk about, life is what you pay attention to.

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When Forever Forward launched last summer, how was it received?

Did you get any feedback from the Thayer community?

The feedback we received reflected enthusiasm for our commitment to prioritize people and programs by growing Thayer’s endowment. I think there was a recognition of and appreciation for the relationship-based nature of our education that in many ways has been ahead of the curve for decades. I think people saw our strategic plan as honoring the very best of who we are.

I also think it was received positively by those who see that we’re being responsive to the rapidly evolving landscape that students are a part of right now.

We are blending our appreciation for history and tradition with a strong sense that we need to be nimble and look to the future. And that’s where the capital projects come in, most notably a very different kind of academic facility on our main campus for the Upper School: the Innovation and Collaboration Center. There’s a tremendous amount of energy around bringing together our new academic centers — the Center for Business Studies, the Center for Global Engagement, and the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence — in a facility that mirrors and draws inspiration from some colleges and universities who are developing more flexible, technology-laden spaces for their students to work collaboratively with adults and with one another.

The first pillar of the plan is to expand and deepen student access to community and global engagement opportunities. What are some steps that have been taken to move that initiative forward?

As we look at our students becoming more engaged global citizens — both in the Braintree and South Shore communities and across the world — we’ve already taken some important steps to show proof of concept and also to really

establish where the Global Engagement Program is going and how it will even more fully expand and flourish in a new facility. We’ve hired the inaugural director of the Global Engagement Program, a faculty member who is focused on enhancing and expanding our travel opportunities domestically and internationally. We’ve seen significant growth in student interest, including among students who receive tuition assistance from Thayer, and it’s our goal to ensure that all students have access to these opportunities, regardless of their financial circumstances.

The Global Engagement Program gives Thayer students an opportunity to learn about other cultures in a way that can never be replicated in the classroom or online or through artificial intelligence.

In addition to the travel component, we’ve further enhanced and evolved our Common Good curriculum, where our students develop a stronger sense of their own personal value systems and how their value systems and their commitment to being global citizens manifests itself in action in the surrounding communities. That includes connecting with other schools, nonprofits, and local government to find ways that students can actually make differences in other people’s lives.

Even as we think about how we bring our students out to the world, we’re also pursuing ways to bring the world to our students, most obviously through the expansion of our Scholars in Residence program.

So whether it’s in the field of astronomy or leadership and public service, or in orchestral music or in artificial intelligence, we’re bringing some of the leading practitioners across disciplines and academics to our community in a sustained way so that they’re working closely with our students on everything from curriculum development to research opportunities to understanding how to build skills and learn a craft.

The ambitious goals of the Forever Forward strategic plan are built upon a core belief that the close relationships between teachers and students lie at the heart of a Thayer education.

In terms of investing in the campus, what are the highest priorities?

There are a number of opportunities to continue to grow and enhance this beautiful campus. The highest priority is the development of the Innovation and Collaboration Center, which will be a very different kind of academic facility that will serve predominantly the Upper School but also benefit the Middle School. The building will create a home for three academic centers: the Center for Business Studies, the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, and the Center for Global Engagement.

It will give us a space that’s more flexible and focuses on collaborative work among students and with adults.

The space will allow us to meet as a large group — whether that’s for the James Tufts Pener Environmental Stewardship Conference or business-related conferences or TA Talks — and then break into smaller groups to work on

projects and have further discussion before reconvening for conversation and reflection. There’s no space at the Upper School to do that right now. The development of collaborative conference rooms and classroom spaces is essential; we very much see that this new space will become an academic hub for our students to utilize across different disciplines.

At a purely practical level because of the broad range of classes and electives we offer at Thayer, our classrooms are overutilized. This new building will provide additional space that we truly need.

The second capital project we’re focused on is the development of a multisport athletics complex on our main campus. We’ll install a turf field to be used by our football, soccer, lacrosse, and field hockey teams. The design includes lights so that we can host night games on campus. In recent years we’ve brought in temporary lights and found that Friday night games become real

community moments where students, parents, and alumni are able to enjoy the games together. This project is an important programmatic investment and also a signal to our community about our continuing commitment to Thayer’s incredible history of athletic success.

The plan identifies the need to ensure the financial health of the school. Are there specific goals related to that?

We were keenly conscious, as we went through the strategic planning process, that the long-term financial health of Thayer needs to be a priority. It is our goal to ensure that, financially, the school can remain nimble, can sustain itself through moments of challenge, and can remain receptive and able to take advantage of opportunities. And that means increasing the size of our endowment over the course of the campaign.

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Why is a school’s endowment so important? We know that the financial health of the school depends upon not being entirely dependent on tuition revenue. And so we want to make sure that we build an endowment that

allows us to compensate our faculty competitively and offer the benefits that are going to help them thrive in this environment so that we not only attract them but retain them.

How does Thayer’s 150th anniversary tie into the Forever Forward plan?

As we think about the 150th anniversary, it’s a wonderful time to think holistically about where we’ve been, consider the best parts of our history and our traditions, and look ahead to the next 150 years. Forever Forward and our 150th are tied together because both provide a wonderful launching point for us to look at who we have been and who we want to be.

Forever Forward was deliberately named. There are things that are forever Thayer that we never want to steer away from, but we’re also a school that needs to respond to the evolving realities and needs of our students, so we should always be looking forward.

The new Innovation and Collaboration Center will draw inspiration from the Middle School, most notably the large open space of the Forum, where large groups can gather.

I think that so many key parts of Thayer’s mission and values and history have put us ahead of the curve when it comes to building phenomenally

The multisport athletics complex will replace the grass football field with a turf field that will be used by the football, soccer, lacrosse, and field hockey teams.

The design includes lights so that Thayer can host night games on campus.

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“Every educational institution needs to be nimble. It needs to think about what its students need — what are the experiences that they need to be a part of in order to be competitive now and in the future?”

strong relationships between teachers and students. And some schools have not necessarily leaned into that as much as Thayer has for all these many years. As a result, I actually think that as we look at moving forward, it’s more about bringing forward the things that have always mattered while also being thoughtful, responsive, and attentive to what the landscape looks like around us.

Is there a timeline for implementing all of the initiatives of the strategic plan?

We have put a stake in the ground and said very clearly that everything we do should be seen through the lens of engagement. While we’re doing important work on that right now, schools of the future must create environments that are far more engaging than schools have been traditionally. The strategic plan, while it’s not set in stone, gives us an opportunity to look ahead at the next five years or so. We want to make sure that we are thoughtful and not capricious about the decisions we make, but I’m also keenly aware of the students who are here right now.

These are initiatives we want to move on as quickly and thoughtfully as we possibly can, and philanthropy will be an important driver of that timeline.

And so we’re looking to partner with our alumni, our families, and others in the Thayer community in order to make these things happen as quickly as possible so that our students can reap the benefits of these initiatives.

What are the biggest challenges you’ll face?

The biggest challenge that all schools face right now is that the landscape of what our students need to learn is evolving very quickly. Independent schools in particular are not known for rapid change, and at this moment, I think both tactical and strategic evolution is required. Our ability at Thayer to pivot as needed will be based in part on how successful we are in driving philanthropy to make these things happen. Thayer has a wonderful history of generous support, and we’ll need to call upon that legacy as we look to make investments at greater levels than we’ve made before. It’s a challenge that we’re excited to undertake.

We’re also charting new territory for schools, so one challenge is to engage in thoughtful research about what and how we teach and what programs we offer to our students. There are going to be moments when we’re going to be very excited about what we’ve achieved, and there will almost certainly be moments when we look at what we’re doing and realize we need to make some changes. There are always challenges when you take bold steps forward to do something that hasn’t been done before. But these are challenges that our faculty and staff and our trustees are ambitiously and enthusiastically looking forward to meeting.

Forever Forward is an ambitious and aspirational plan, and clearly Thayer can’t address all of its needs at once. How are you prioritizing the various initiatives?

Forever Forward is an articulation and a manifestation of our priorities right now. Whether it’s supporting the evolution of innovative programs or financial aid to make a Thayer education possible for more students, whether it’s supporting our faculty and staff through professional development and even more competitive compensation or supporting those capital projects, we have said that these are the priorities the school needs to focus on right now.

We know we can’t do every single thing all at once, but it’s our very strong expectation that we’re going to be able to move all of these priorities forward over the next five years. We didn’t set forth a plan without the conviction that we could implement it successfully.

And so I can say with confidence and enthusiasm that what we’ve articulated in Forever Forward, after a great deal of thought and a great deal of community involvement, is what the school will look like five or so years from now.

From what I’ve seen since I joined Thayer in 2020, this school is a place that continues to exceed my expectations in every way.

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Reunion 2025: A Weekend of Spirited Fun Thayer Academy classes ending in 0 and 5 shared old memories and made a few new ones during Reunion 2025 celebrations held this past fall.

Reunion weekend — which in recent years has been paired with Homecoming — kicked off the night of Sept. 19 with An Evening of Alumni Excellence, the well-attended, dualpurpose event held in Cahall Dining Hall. There, the Thayer Academy Alumni Association recognized five distinguished alumni while the Thayer 40

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Sports Hall of Fame inducted its Class of 2025.

On the following Saturday (Sept.

20) reunion classes attended an Alumni Memorial Service, enjoyed a Reunion Luncheon, took part in student-led campus tours, and mingled at a Reunion 2025 Celebration in the Middle School. The Class of 1975 enjoyed its 50th Reunion Dinner while the Class of 2020 enjoyed a cocktail party in the Middle School’s Thompson Hall.

Distinguished Alumni •

Morgan Bowling ’05 (Humanitarian Award)

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Sarah Cochran Taylor ’00 (Humanitarian Award)

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Chris Sullivan ’95 P ’28, ’28, ’33 (Achievement Award)

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Shailesh Shenoy ’90 (Achievement Award)

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Lori Tregoning Donnellan ’90 P ’17, ’19, ’21, ’25 (Loyalty Award)

Sports Hall of Fame •

Kelsey Johnson Abrahams ’09 (field hockey, basketball, and lacrosse)

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Karen Jodoin P ’22 (former head coach of girls varsity basketball)

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The 2002 girls track & field team

ADVANCEMENT & ENGAGEMENT

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1. Alums at the 50th Reunion Reception: Caroline Cryer, Dee Manning Cryer ’75, Dan Sullivan ’75, and Larry Fitzpatrick ’75

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2. Members of the Class of 2020: Gabby Grattan, Maddie Broderick, Kristyn Moran, and Alivia Kelly 3. Alums at the 20th Reunion Reception 4. Kelsey Johnson Abrahams ’09 5. The 2002 girls track & field team 6. A student panel at Reunion 2025 7. Shailesh Shenoy ’90

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8. Karen Jodoin P ’22 9. Lori Tregoning Donnellan ’90 P ’17, ’19, ’21, ’25 10. Morgan Bowling ’05 11. Chris Sullivan ’95 P ’28, ’28, ’33 12. Sarah Cochran Taylor ’00

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Reunion 2025 Class Photos Class of 1975

(Back Row L-to-R): Elizabeth Bailey ’63, Joshua Werner, John Robbie, Joseph Juster, Evangelos Papageorg, John Gallagher, Francis Fraumeni, Joseph Davenport, Brian McCormick, P.J. Mahoney Dodge, Seth Martin, Jack DiRico ’76, Jeff Mangan, Elizabeth Heidenreich, Sean Sweeney, Sally Shea Sweeney, Lawrence Fitzpatrick; (Middle Row L-to-R): Rick Willard, Robyn Geogan Noble, Eileen Costello, Elizabeth Huller Eisemann, Daniel Sullivan, Roger Bumstead, Malcolm Gale, Mark McLaughlin, David Freni; (Front Row L-to-R): William Sims, Dina Catani, Karen Connelly Gregg, Dee Manning Cryer, Sherry Valicenti Banks

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Class of 1955

Class of 1960

Anne McCusker Peirce and Bob Hopkins

(Back Row L-to-R): Donna Zeppetella Valicenti, Joe Serafini, Dan Reardon, Charlie DeSantis, Harriet Faunce Egan; (Front Row L-to-R): Barbara Stein, Nancy Beaton Grassilli, Adria Loftus Keneagy, Dee Dee Dunn

Class of 1965

Class of 1980

(L-to-R): Rick Aldrich, Peter Reynolds, Lois Hirshberg, Kim Berger, Bruce Thayer, Alissa Leino DiMartinis, Jeff Hall, Mike Ahearn, Larry Pearl, Paula Lombardo, Nia Sue Mitchum

(Back Row L-to-R): Paul Baker, John Callahan, Peter Fitzpatrick, Stu Beale; (Front Row L-to-R): Kathy Walker, Cheryl Spiegel Richard, Seana Kelley

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Class of 1985

Class of 1990

(L-to-R): Mark O’Sullivan, John Stoller, John Goldthwait

(L-to-R): Bill Hinkley, Lori Watson, Katherine Tinney Gong, Lori Tregoning Donnellan, Quentin Climer, Christopher Ryan

Class of 1995

Class of 2000

(Back Row L-to-R): Jack DiRico, Mark Shalhoub, Rich D’Isidoro; (Middle Row L-to-R): Chris Sullivan, Marisa Gioioso, Ken Greenberg; (Front Row L-to-R): Paul Nugent, Justin Murphy, Rachel Koppelman, Jeff Pickel

(Back Row L-to-R): Jackie Gott, Jaime Sabine Schuhmacher, Emily Eckner, Lou Eyster; (Middle Row L-to-R): Jess Leaver, Bea Murphy; (Front Row L-to-R): Allison Kent Trumbull, Mychii Snape, Will Conroy, MaryHelen Gustafson

Class of 2005

Class of 2010

(Back Row L-to-R): Pat Maloney, Rick Sullivan, Brian Conroy; (Middle Row L-to-R): Hannah Sussek, Chrissy Bevilacqua, Andrew Conroy; (Front Row L-to-R): Luis Castillo, Sarah Niles Gadbois, Yusef Khan

(L-to-R): Robert Geary, Nick Taylor, Anna Mandell

Class of 2020

(Back Row L-to-R): Miles Treichel, Jackson Humphreys, Grant St. Jean, Ryan Bogar, Adam Lazowski, Michael Nessralla, Meghan Webb, Izzy Potter, Sophia Ubertalli, Annabel Doherty, Megan O’Brien, Julia Guidone, Alivia Kelly; (Middle Row L-to-R): Aimee Matos, Gabby Grattan, Ally Deegan, Claire Weber, Stefanie McGrath, Megan Campbell, Charlie Wahlberg, Kara Walser, Sananca Shen, Cameron Walker, Alison Swiercynski, Caroline Horgan, Sophia Ubertalli, Kadyn Darrow, Kristyn Moran, Ciara Sage, Maddie Deluca, Maddie Broderick, Matt Scapicchio, Bradford Campbell; (Front Row L-to-R): Persia Peña Cruz, Jaylin Peña Cruz, Austin Bennett, Nicole Nessralla, Steffi Joe, Alanna Curtis, Molly King, Caitlin Caulfield, Laura Marcus, Elena Gosalvez

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Giving Thanks General’s Council reception recognizes leadership donors

The Thayer Academy Board of Trustees and Head of School Chris Fortunato P ’26, ’28 hosted the 28th annual General’s Council Reception Nov. 13 in Southworth Library to recognize and thank the school’s leadership donors.

Guests enjoyed drinks, great food, and a warm and

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welcoming atmosphere. Highlights of the festive evening included a piano performance by Grace Deng ’29 and remarks from Ana Sullivan ’27, who reprised her recent TA Talk for an appreciative audience. Pictured are: 1. Katie Lally P ’22, ’25, ’26, ’28, Carol Earle P ’01, and Greg Lally ’92 P ’22, ’25, ’26, ’28 2. Sarah and Scott Farrell P ’32 and Michelle Buckley P ’30 3. Head of School Chris Fortunato P ’26, ’28, Frances and Andrew Barrett P ’19, ’22, ’25 4. Jack Wu P ’30, Lena Qu P ’28, Jessie Zhang P ’29, Grace Deng ’29, and Nhat Le P ’30 5. Jasson Cohen ’95 P ’27 with Upper School Math & Computer Science Department Head Kevin Cedrone P ’22, ’27, Norma Atkinson GP ’07, ’11, ’16 (faculty emerita), and Safia Khan ’11

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5

ADVANCEMENT & ENGAGEMENT

Mike Babul Fund Honors Former Coach Thayer Academy has established the Mike Babul Memorial Fund to celebrate the life and legacy of their former basketball coach while providing financial support to student-athletes who play the game Babul loved so much.

A true basketball legend in the state of Massachusetts who devoted his professional career to coaching, Babul died unexpectedly Dec. 30, 2024, at the age of 47 after suffering a sudden heart attack due to undetected and untreated critical heart disease.

The newly created fund will help to support Thayer student-athletes with financial needs who embody Babul’s spirit; the financial support will allow those students to thrive both academically and athletically while carrying forward Babul’s passion for the game.

“Mike believed in the power of teamwork, discipline, and perseverance — values that will continue to shape Thayer’s basketball program,” said Athletic Director Bobbi Moran. “We’re thrilled to be able to honor Mike in this way. I’m so grateful for all those who have worked to create this tribute to Mike, which will have a lasting impact on Thayer and our boys basketball program. Establishing this memorial fund is something that will honor Mike and the impact he had on our program.”

Babul took the helm of Thayer’s boys varsity program in 2023. That first team made great strides under his leadership as his players quickly learned to trust their new coach. Those players and their families soon realized what so many already knew, namely that Babul combined a thorough understanding of the Xs and Os of the game with a gym rat’s passion for basketball.

“Coaching at Thayer has been a dream job for me,” said Babul shortly after the completion of that first season, boldly adding his goal to return the Tigers hoops program to the top tier of the ISL and NEPSAC. “I’ve driven past the school every day on my way to work and thought, ‘That’s where I want to work. That’s the program I want to step into next.’”

A standout athlete, Babul graduated from North Attleboro High School in 1996, his basketball prowess earning him the Gatorade Player of the Year award for Massachusetts and a spot on the National Parade AllAmerican fourth team in his senior year. He continued his basketball career at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he was a three-time A-10 All Defensive Team member, a four-time Academic All-American, and co-captain of the Minutemen. In 2000, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sports management.

After college, Babul coached Division 1 men’s college basketball at the University of Memphis, Youngstown State University, Drexel University, the University of Texas El Paso, Auburn University, and Wagner College. He also spent a year with the Brooklyn Nets organization in the NBA. Evan Carlson P ’28, ’30, Thayer’s current varsity basketball head coach, emphasized Babul’s passion for the game and his commitment to his players in the school’s basketball program.

“The Mike Babul Memorial Fund will celebrate that commitment by supporting basketball student-athletes for years to come,” said Carlson.

Mike Babul with Thayer’s 2024 basketball team.

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IN THIS SECTION 48 Alumni Profiles 52 Class Notes 61 In Memoriam

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ALUMNI PROFILE

DRESS FOR SUCCESS Alum crafts a successful career as a costume designer

By Craig Salters ’86 P ’24 Jessica Champagne Hansen ’01 wears many hats in her busy but rewarding life, but she also possesses a bit of a sartorial superpower: the ability to choose — or in some cases, simply make — just the right hat for the occasion.

“I can pretty much do any craft you can name,” says the award-winning costume designer without a hint of braggadocio as to her artisanal acumen.

And such talents, coupled with a creative eye and a level-headed drive to succeed, have allowed her to fashion a career for herself in a demanding industry where passion and pragmatism go hand in hand.

For Champagne Hansen, a Norwell native who began her Thayer experience as an eighth grader, the love of designing and making began early.

“I started sewing at the age of 4 or 5,” says Champagne Hansen, who remembers sewing for hours at a time as a child. “I made stuffed animals, and then I made costumes for those stuffed animals.”

At Thayer, she was drawn to the theater and took part in every production, among them Cabaret, Pippin, Big River, and Aristophanes’ The Birds.

Joining her were her brother, David Champagne ’99, and their mother, Joni Champagne P ’99, ’01, who served as costume designer for all the productions.

“It was a bit of a family affair,” says Champagne Hansen, who of course helped her mother with the costumes.

“That was cool.”

A dancer by training, Champagne Hansen acted in several productions but always felt reticent about performing.

“In every play,” she recalls, “I was like, ‘Don’t make me say anything. I’m a dancer. Can’t I just dance?’”

Then, for one production, Champagne Hansen didn’t land a role, which 48

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caused her to burst into tears. Wanting to know what she had “done wrong,” she approached Heather Hardy, the drama teacher at the time, who informed Champagne Hansen that she’d done nothing wrong but gently told her something that she probably had already known: her real talents lie in costume design.

“It was a gift,” Champagne Hansen says now of that difficult conversation, one which eventually led her to a BFA in costume design from Emerson College followed by an MFA in costume design from the University of California, Irvine.

Cut to the present day and Champagne Hansen lives and works in California as a costume designer and technician with experience in theater, dance, film, television, commercials, theme parks, and corporate projects.

She is the head of educational programming at the Garry Marshall Theater in nearby Burbank and a faculty member in costuming and makeup in the

Costumes from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. (Courtesy photo / Chelsea Sutton Photography)

Theater Arts Department of East Los Angeles College. She always has one or two irons in the fire and is particularly excited about her current project, Millennials Are Killing Musicals (book, lyrics, and music by Nico Juber and directed by Kristin Hanggi), which was scheduled to make its world premiere in the spring of 2026.

“Creating costumes for a show is all about concept development,” she says.

“First off, you need to know the story.

We’re storytellers. The [costuming] decisions have to be intentional and not just, ‘I like purple.’”

The next step, she says, is translating that vision to others, especially the director, which she does through a series of sketches.

“I have to put it down on paper so the director can see it,” she says.

Another requisite for doing a good job, according to Champagne Hansen, is the willingness to collaborate.

“You have to be a people person,” she explains. “You have to know your-

ALUMNI PROFILE

self and others. Theater is a team game.”

Champagne Hansen’s husband, Chris Hansen, is a production designer and art director known for NCIS: Los Angeles, Scorpion, CSI Cyber, and Castle. They have a daughter, Flynn, and a son, Wes. Juggling home life, work deadlines, teaching loads, and the logistics of the business is the norm and not the exception in the household.

“The trick is you have to be both left-brained and right-brained at the same time,” says Champagne Hansen.

“You have to be very creative, but you’re also an independent contractor, so you have to be very pragmatic.”

Teaching the nuts and bolts of the industry is why Champagne Hansen and Camille Schenkkan co-authored Navigating A Career in Technical Entertainment: Your Career Guidebook, which was published in 2022.

Champagne Hansen also teamed up with Schenkkan and Vanessa Mizzone Pellegrini to write a companion book, Navigating A Career in Performance: Your Creative Career Guidebook, which was scheduled for publication in February of 2026.

Champagne Hansen expresses gratitude for the many mentors who’ve helped her along the way, many of whom were her teachers at Thayer.

“As an adult, I’m so grateful for the breadth of classes that I took,” she says of her Thayer experience. “It was the rigor which prepared me for one of the world’s most volatile industries. It was invaluable.”

But she also expresses a well-earned pride that she was able to forge a career path so personally fulfilling.

“I absolutely love what I do,” she says. “I’m blessed.”

And that thought seems to remind Champagne Hansen of another important point.

“I want today’s theater students at Thayer to know how special it is for them to be doing what they’re doing,” she says. “I want them to know that there are places where they could be doing that professionally. If you love it, keep on doing it.”

Jessica Champagne Hansen ’01 at a recent gala.

(Courtesy photo)

Above: One of Champagne Hansen’s sketches for Cindy and the Disco Ball. (Courtesy rendering) Below: The actual costume from Cindy and the Disco Ball.

(Courtesy photo / Ginger Sole Photography)

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ALUMNI PROFILE

CHARTING A NEW PATH Former actress finds fulfillment as television casting director

By Marisa Procopio Follow your passion and it will lead to career satisfaction. Right?

It’s a familiar trope, to be sure. And, yes, sometimes it comes to pass. But more typically, that passion will need a new inflection here, or a major edit to the script there, before it can lead us to work that’s genuinely rewarding. Other times, it needs to be scrapped entirely to let a new one into the spotlight.

When Lindsey Kasabian ’99 transferred to Thayer Academy as a junior, she was sure of her passion — to act — and she jumped in wholeheartedly.

“At my previous school, it was sports or theater; you couldn’t do both,” she says. “It was the major reason why I transferred to Thayer, and one of my biggest regrets is that I didn’t start freshman year.

“I did lots of theater there, and I loved it,” Kasabian continues. “I loved the community, the friends I met, the acceptance of being able to do everything. I felt at Thayer, the possibilities were endless.”

So fulfilling was her Thayer theater experience that she enrolled at the University of Maryland, College Park as a performance major. But after a singular focus on treading the boards for four years, Kasabian had a revelation.

“By the end of my senior year, I was completely burned out with performance and back-to-back shows,” she says. “I had missed all of my senior-year activities with my friends.

That was a really big turning point: when I realized I wasn’t going to pursue acting as a profession. I graduated and never even attempted a professional audition. I knew I was going to change my path and didn’t look back.”

That new path led Kasabian to the renowned William Morris Agency in 2004, first as an assistant in Special 50

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Services and then as executive assistant in Television Business Affairs. One day, while overhearing talent reps on the phone as they booked appointments for their clients and discussed details of upcoming auditions, a bolt of clarity went through her.

“It clicked,” she says. “I thought, ‘I used to be an actor and I don’t want to be an actor. But why am I not working with actors, helping them succeed and get jobs?’ I sat down with my boss at the time and I said, ‘I want to cast.’”

After her boss set up several meetings with key players to get the ball rolling, in 2006 Kasabian began casting at 20th Century Fox Television. Today, she is senior vice president of casting at The Walt Disney Company’s Hulu Originals.

Kasabian found that many aspects of casting, such as reading and keeping a sharp eye on current television programming, feel natural to her. “It’s a lot of reading, which has always been a huge hobby of mine,” she says.

“I was always kind of a bookworm.

And my job is to know talent and watch a lot of TV. I was a couch potato as a kid, and now I get paid for it. It feels like a natural evolution of my interests.

“The most challenging aspect of the work is that casting is a business,” says Kasabian. “The best actor doesn’t always get the job; there are a lot of decision-makers behind the scenes; there’s politics involved; we have to think of the big picture, of the whole “‘big picture.’”

That ensemble also includes marketing, launching, and distribution.

“That was something that was challenging when I first started,” she says.

“But it was really exciting to learn that casting was this little part of such a big,

big project.”

Thoughtful, well-considered casting is essential to good storytelling. Kasabian is quick to emphasize, though, that every element in the project needs to be solid to build a good story.

“It’s a combination of strong writing, strong execution behind the scenes, and everything in post — from the editors to a strong ensemble with great chemistry,” she says.

And good storytelling is at the crux of Kasabian’s work. She argues that well-constructed and thoughtful narratives matter.

“Seeing authentic stories and all walks of life being represented on the screen is so important to the human race as a whole. Storytelling and TV and films were what got me through really hard times in my life. It was where I found comfort; there was no judgment there. I would shut off a film or a TV show and think about it for days on end.”

It may seem easy to dismiss television as not on par with traditionally service-oriented work, but Kasabian says being open-minded about what’s genuinely valuable to people helps.

“My best friend is a pediatric nurse, and when we both have a bad day, I think, ‘Her bad day was probably worse than mine,’” she says with a smile. “But when she goes home to watch one of my shows to decompress, I’m like, ‘OK, I’m doing something good because I’m helping people who are working really hard to relax and be entertained.’”

That sense of accomplishment underpins Kasabian’s career — in no small part due to her change of heart in the spring of her college senior year. Today, she’s grateful that she was able to look reality in the eye and had the courage to pursue something new.

ALUMNI PROFILE

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CLASS NOTES 1950

Joanne Sacco Pugh

Joanne writes: “Hi, classmates. I still live in Manhattan and love it. I can walk many interesting miles a day because of my wonderful walker. I move to southern France for six weeks in winter as I can’t manage the icy sidewalks. Next year, good health permitting, I’ll go to Marseille.”

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1954

Bob Belin

Bob and his wife Jo spent time with Wally at the Red Sox spring training game in Florida.

AN

Anne McCusker Peirce

Anne enjoyed the Red Sox spring training game with her daughter Michelle and Head of School Chris Fortunato P ’26, ’28.

AO

1959

Joyce DiBona

Joyce and Sue Rose Spurling took in the Red Sox game at JetBlue Park.

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1962

The Rader family returned to campus Feb. 20, 2025, to celebrate the naming of a classroom in Main Building in honor of their former teacher, the late Geoffrey Goodale ’62 P ’84, ’91, ’97. Thanks to the Rader family — Holly & Jim P ’01, ’04, ’07; Hillary ’01; MacKenzie ’04; and Chelsea ’07 — for giving Thayer the opportunity to celebrate decades of dedication to teaching by naming Room 218 the Dr. Geoff C.

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AQ

Richard Leach

Richard and his wife Jackie, along with classmate Bert Robbins, returned to campus in February of 2025 to celebrate the naming of a classroom in Main Building in honor of their friend, Geoff Goodale ’62 P ’84, ’91, ’97.

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John MacLennan

John writes: “I was fortunate to see Jon Robbins, Marshall Williams, and Randy Repass in November of 2025 for a Class of ’62 lunch hosted by Randy.”

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1955

Geoff Goodale (deceased)

Goodale ’62 P ’84, ’91, ’97 Classroom.

Mr. Goodale attended the ceremony; unfortunately, he died in October of 2025.

(Please see the Obituaries section for a full remembrance.)

1965

Richard Aldrich

Rick writes: “Still alive and well in New Hampshire. Planning on going to the reunion in September. Anyone who wants to chat, please feel free to call anytime.

I would love to hear from any of my classmates — 603.298.8177.”

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1966

Bill McGrath

Members of the Class of 1966 had so much fun at Trillium Brewery during Thayer’s alumni summer social that they went back for their “Bored Meeting.” Pictured clockwise from front left: Donna and Paul Samuelian, Bill McGrath, Ann Hoffman Scott, Renny MacKay, Warren Pierce, Howie Cutler, Dick Churchill, Penny Schwartz Grossman, and Wendy Cutler.

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CLASS NOTES

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E. Warren Pierce

1980

1984

Greg and his wife Carol returned to campus in February of 2025 to celebrate the dedication of a classroom in Main Building to honor friend and coach Bill Earle P ’01. The Class of 1993 made it possible to name Earle’s former classroom, Room 214, the William G. Earle Jr. P ’01 Classroom.

Andrea recently completed a master’s degree in mental health counseling, earned her LMHC, and completed a twoyear fellowship in psychodynamic couples counseling. In her private practice, Relate Mental Health, she focuses on working with relationships, with a subspecialty in counseling for bands and performing artists that builds on her decades of experience in the music industry. She also serves on the board of directors of the Massachusetts Mental Health Counseling Association (MAMHCA) and on the board of directors of the New England Association for Family and Systemic Therapy (NEAFAST). In her free time she loves to travel, shuttling between visiting friends in the UK and hanging out in LA with her daughter, Nina, a student at the University of Southern California. She sends warm regards to the Thayer fam!

Fifty years of Thayer grads were present at the Rochester Volunteer Firefighter annual clambake on Father’s Day. From left: Kevin Tedeschi ’66, Ralph Tedeschi ’14, Warren Pierce IV ’03, Warren Pierce III, and Tory Pierce Fait ’82.

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1976

Michael Connor

A big thanks to Mike for participating in Thayer’s inaugural Business Leadership Masterclass panel on Founders Day (Feb. 4, 2025). The panel of renowned industry leaders and business experts offered insights and shared stories for a unique look into the rapidly changing corporate landscape. This event was a prelude to Thayer’s new Business Leadership Masterclass, a curriculum which covers financial management & literacy, business planning, marketing, ethical leadership, cybersecurity and the role of AI, teambased problem-solving, and leadership communication skills.

1977

Andrea Katz Cohen

Congratulations to Andrea as she was awarded the Agent of Change Award, a McKnight’s Pinnacle Award for setting new standards, driving change, and inspiring others during her career spanning over 20 years in senior living, skilled nursing, home care, or affiliated provider fields. Andrea is founder and former CEO of HouseWorks, Bettercare at Home, in Waltham.

D. Gregory Wilson

1981

Megan Walsh Mooney

Megan and her husband Paul Mooney joined Julianne Mehegan P ’87, ’91 GP ’26 and Julie Mehegan ’87 at the Red Sox spring training tailgate in Florida.

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1983

Pamela Johnstone Boucher

Pam writes: “Hello, classmates! I hope this finds you all well. 2025 was another busy year of wonderful milestones in our family with the birth of our third granddaughter and our other son engaged! This phase of our retirement life has been very blessed with family, travel, and good health. I hope the same for all of you! I still reside in my hometown of Plymouth, and we continue to be avid boaters and pickleball players.

(Yes, I left my beloved tennis game!) I sit on two local boards — at the Pilgrim Hall Museum as well as at the Plymouth Yacht Club. If you’re ever in the area, please contact me. I’d love to see you and catch up! Warmest wishes for a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2026!

Andrea Wean Kremer

1985

Maria DiRico-Tempel

Maria’s daughter, Simone, graduated with Thayer’s Class of 2025 and matriculated at Central Saint Martins School of Art this fall.

James “Rusty” Miller

Rusty, along with Al Peltier ’85 and Sean Mastromatteo ’86, shared a moment with Athletic Director Bobbi Moran during the Evening of Alumni Excellence.

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CLASS NOTES

1988

Lisa Rooney

Lisa was joined by Lori Donnellan ’90 at the 30th annual General’s Open Golf Tournament at Black Rock Country Club.

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Kelley Tuthill

Congratulations to Kelley, president and CEO of Catholic Charities Boston, on receiving an honorary degree from Merrimack College and delivering the commencement address for the School of Education and Social Policy.

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1989

Michael Mignosa

Michael and Marie’s daughter Ally graduated with Thayer’s Class of 2025 and matriculated at Colby College.

1990

Lori Tregoning Donnellan

Congratulations to Lori who received the Alumni Loyalty Award for her extraordinary commitment of time, energy, and enthusiasm to Thayer. Lori’s youngest daughter, Eva, graduated with Thayer’s Class of 2025 and matriculated at Southern Methodist University this fall.

Shailesh Shenoy

Congratulations to Shailesh who received the Alumni Achievement Award, which pays tribute to a graduate who has demonstrated outstanding contributions in their career or field of interest.

1991

Class of ’91 Reunion Committee

Liz Ballard Boyd, Mike Jacobs, Tiffany Kearney, Sarah Slattery Sullivan, and Tony Tedeschi volunteered to join the Class of 1991’s 35th Reunion Committee and are working together to make their upcoming reunion in October a huge success. We’re looking forward to seeing the Class of ’91 back on campus.

GP ’22, ’26. Her brother, Jeff ’94; her sister-in-law, Amy Ryder Pickel ’94; and their family honored their father with the naming of Room 211 as the James B. Pickel Classroom.

Tiffany Kearney

In June of 2025 BrazilFoundation announced Tiffany as its new president and CEO. She steps into the role with a commitment to strengthening global presence and continuing to deepen social impact in Brazil.

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Mark Wainwright

Mark’s daughter, Grace, graduated with Thayer’s Class of 2025 and matriculated at University of Tampa this fall.

1992

Matt DiFiore

Matt’s son, Tom ’29, started in Thayer’s Upper School this fall.

Melissa Tuthill Forger

Melissa’s daughter, Taylor, graduated with Thayer’s Class of 2025 and matriculated at Santa Clara University this fall.

Greg Lally

Greg played in a foursome at the 30th annual General’s Open Golf Tournament at Black Rock Country Club in Hingham with classmates Matt DiFiore, Dave Hymovitz, and Matt McGuirk. Greg’s son, Teddy ’25, matriculated at University of Notre Dame where he plays DI lacrosse.

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Jodi McCoy Schofield

Jodi’s daughter, Sydney, graduated with Thayer’s Class of 2025 and matriculated at Rollins College this fall.

Lesley Leibowitz Snyder & Josh Snyder

Lesley and Josh’s son, Drew, graduated with Thayer’s Class of 2025 and matriculated at Babson College this fall.

1994

Elizabeth Brandon Fanelli

Congratulations to Liz on her new role as Fordham University’s Title IX coordinator following an extensive career working for the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office and then Ramapo College. “I have been in Title IX for over eight years, but my career started as a prosecutor for the City of New York, working with child abuse sex crimes,” she said. She added that from the start of her career, she wanted to play a role in trying to avoid these types of crimes, both in the public sector and in education.

She also worked in preventing class discrimination in her prior employment and is excited to focus specifically on the Title IX department.

Amy Ryder Pickel & Jeffrey Pickel ’95 Amy and Jeff returned to campus with their family and friends Feb. 20, 2025, to celebrate the naming of the James B. Pickel Classroom (Room 211) in Main Building.

1993

1995

Mike’s son, Charlie, graduated with Thayer’s Class of 2025 and matriculated at Cornell University this fall.

Sarah writes: “My husband Mike and I are excited to share that we are the owners of Baya Bar, a smoothie and açaí shop with locations in South Weymouth and Marshfield. While I continue working as a 7th grade inclusion teacher at the Curley School in Boston, Mike runs the stores full-time. We opened our first location last May and have loved becoming part of the South Shore community. One of our favorite parts has been seeing Thayer Academy students stop in for bowls and smoothies after school. We are incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received and are excited for what’s ahead!”

Michael Foley

Krissie Kelleher

Laura Pickel Drew

The board of directors at Team IMPACT proudly announced the appointment of Krissie as their next CEO. Krissie joined the team as chief development officer and shortly thereafter began serving as their interim CEO. She embodies Team IMPACT’s champion values from empathy and camaraderie to resilience and

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Laura returned to campus with her family and friends Feb. 20, 2025, to celebrate the naming of a classroom in Main Building in honor of her father, Jim Pickel II P ’91, ’95

boldness. Congratulations, Krissie!

Sarah Brandon Quatrale

Chris Sullivan

Congratulations to Chris on receiving the Alumni Achievement Award, which honors a graduate who demonstrates outstanding contributions in their career or field of interest.

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CLASS NOTES

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Erica Tritta

off whoever he wants. He is a close ally of Mayor Michelle Wu, tight with current Speaker Ron Mariano, and a master of state government spending.”

Erica switched careers from practicing law to opening a brewery with her family, and they just opened their second location in Revere. Twisted Fate Brewing’s first location at 120 Andover St. in Danvers opened in April 2022; their second location at 64 Salt St. in Revere opened in October of 2025. Both locations are taprooms with a variety of beer styles. Both locations are family-friendly.

BQ

Geoffrey Wilkinson

Geoff’s son, Charlie, graduated with Thayer’s Class of 2025 and matriculated at Providence College this fall.

1996

Class of ’96 Reunion Committee

Kaitlyn Morrissey Brosnan, Liz Britten Ginns, Meghan Mullin Harney, Michael Phalen, and Liz Shevlin Seita were the first to volunteer to serve on the Class of 1996 30th Reunion Committee and will be instrumental in rallying their classmates and building excitement for their return to campus this fall.

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Courtney Wilkinson Mottau & Mike Mottau

Courtney and Mike’s daughter, Rowan, graduated with Thayer’s Class of 2025 and matriculated at St. Lawrence University this fall where she plays volleyball.

Kenneth O’Hara

1997

Bridget Wilkinson Fernquist & Peter Fernquist

Bridget and Peter’s children, Lexi ’29 and Ryan ’29, started in Thayer’s Upper School this fall.

Eric LeClair

Eric’s daughter, Charlotte ’29, started in Thayer’s Upper School this fall.

After a successful career in corporate insurance, Kenneth has opened his own insurance agency in Connecticut and serves New England clients in their commercial and personal insurance needs.

The greatest perk is that his shift from the Fortune 4 to Main Street has allowed him to create deeper connections as a volunteer and leader in his community.

BS

Sarah Cochran Taylor

Tricia’s son, Harry ’31, started in Thayer’s Middle School this fall.

Classmates Johnice Graham Bristol, Colby Moore Reilly, and Katie Barry Speede were on campus to support Sarah as she accepted Thayer’s Alumni Humanitarian Award at the Evening of Alumni Excellence. Congratulations, Sarah!

Adam’s daughter, Lydia ’32, started in Thayer’s Middle School this fall.

1999

2001

Aaron Michlewitz

Saurev, Eric Crawley, and Rich Shay — all members of the Class of ’99 — visited campus to see the new bench in memory of Bill Earle P ’01. The trio used the visit to take a photo with General Thayer. From left: Crawley, Shay, and Bhattacharyya.

Jonathan returned to campus Feb. 20, 2025, with his mother, Carol P ’01, and family and friends to celebrate the naming of a classroom in Main Building in honor of his father, Bill Earle P ’01. Mr. Earle died in August of 2024, but we are comforted to know that before he passed away, he was aware that a donation from the Class of 1993 celebrated his legacy and made possible the naming of his former classroom, Room 214, as the William G. Earle Jr. P ’01 Classroom.

Adam Fairbanks

Congratulations to State Representative Aaron Michlewitz! According to Boston Magazine, Aaron is one of the Top 150 Most Influential Bostonians for the third year in a row. “Not many elected officials would demand that the local business community change their attitude on taxes, but Michlewitz — North End representative, House Ways and Means Committee chair, and presumed next House Speaker — has the power to tell

1998

Tricia Mah McCoy

Saurav Bhattacharyya

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2000

Jess Conahan Leaver

Jess’ son, James ’33, started in Thayer’s Middle School this fall.

BT

Jonathan Earle

BU

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CLASS NOTES John Powell

John’s children, Elise ’31 and Bud ’32, started in Thayer’s Middle School this fall.

2002

Girls Track & Field Team

Congratulations to the 2002 girls track & field team for being inducted into the Thayer Academy Athletics Hall of Fame in September.

2003

Justin Elliott

Justin was the guest speaker for the ninth annual Bailey-King Author Series held April 3, 2025, in Southworth Library. He

informed and entertained his audience with stories from his Thayer days, his years on Brown University’s daily newspaper, and his current work at ProPublica, a nonpartisan, nonprofit newsroom dedicated to investigative journalism.

MacKenzie Rader Fuhrmann

MacKenzie welcomed her son, Boone River Fuhrmann, on May 10, 2025 — just in time for Mother’s Day.

2004

Emmett Knox

Congratulations to Emmett and his wife Marie on the birth of Crescencio Thomas Knox Jimenez born May 15, 2025, at 12:07 p.m. and weighing in at 7 pounds, three ounces.

2005

Anthony Aiello

annual General’s Open Golf Tournament at Black Rock Country Club in Hingham.

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Morgan Bowling

Congratulations to Morgan on receiving the Alumni Humanitarian Award, which honors a graduate who demonstrates extraordinary contribution or service to humankind.

Nicholas Colia

Nicholas recently wrote and directed his first feature film, Griffin in Summer. The film premiered at the Tribeca Festival where it received awards for Best US narrative feature, best screenplay, and the special jury mention for new narrative director. He was recently nominated for the Someone to Watch Award at the 2025 Independent Spirit Awards.

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David Marr

David played in a foursome along with Patrick Maloney ’05, Patrick Marr ’07, and Nate Richman ’07 at the General’s Open Golf Tournament at Black Rock Country Club in Hingham.

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Tiffany Kelly Thorton

Tiffany was named one of the Top 30 Female Entrepreneurs to look out for in 2025 by The NYC Journal. “Dr. Tiffany Thornton is a powerhouse in modern healthcare, blending chiropractic expertise with cutting-edge functional nutrition and longevity protocols. Since earning her doctorate in 2012, she has fearlessly evolved her practice, tackling the most complex cases with tenacity and deeprooted passion. A relentless advocate for patient rights, true informed consent, and dynamic health education. Dr. Thornton refuses to accept surface-level solutions.

Anthony played in a foursome at the 30th

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She digs deep, learns voraciously, and presses forward — because people deserve better.”

2006

Jasmine Hicks

Jasmine, a member of the Alumni Board, traveled from Washington, D.C, to teach advocacy and civics to Thayer Academy Collaborative students in July.

2007

Taylor Trudeau Koch

Taylor welcomed Peyton Layla Koch on Feb. 3, 2025, with husband Kevin Koch and older brother Mason.

Patrick Marr

Patrick and Jenna welcomed baby boy Charlie Marr in June of 2025.

Kristen Mullen Timmins

Congratulations to Kristen, a member of the Alumni Board, on her promotion from vice president of corporate communications to head of learning and engagement at Hasbro. Best of luck in your new role!

2008

Kenneth Carberry

After nearly eight years with Alira Health, Kenny has taken the next step in his career as co-founder and COO of Clinical Trials of New England. Kenny had been laying the groundwork for this new venture over the past year and is thrilled to announce its official launch. He and his partner, Dr. Michael Lowney, have established a private clinical research site in Boston focused on advancing research and enhancing patient care through innovative treatments. Kenny spoke to Thayer’s Entrepreneurship II students in January about his career journey.

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2009

Kelsey Johnson Abrahams

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Congratulations to Kelsey and her husband Mike on the arrival of their second son, born Aug. 1, 2025. Kelsey’s family and friends were in attendance to celebrate her induction into the Thayer Sports Hall of Fame this past September.

Elizabeth Clayton Hoffman

Ellie welcomed Sophie Pendered Hoffman in March 2025. Sophie joins her siblings, Callie and Beau.

Evan Metzold

Evan made his directorial debut with Damned If You Do, which premiered at

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CLASS NOTES Screamfest LA on October 15, 2025, followed by a screening at FilmQuest where it earned eight nominations, including best feature film. Co-directed with Jake Rubin, the dark comedy stars Harvey Guillén (What We Do in the Shadows), Kate Siegel (The Haunting of Hill House), Ginger Gonzaga (She-Hulk), and more. A fellow alum, singer/songwriter Rosie Darling ’14, also contributed her song “Roomful of People” featuring Jake Scott to the film.

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Laura Naparstek

Laura writes: “I’m proud and thrilled to share that I’ve graduated from IESE Business School with a bilingual MBA and a finance concentration. I’m so glad I made the decision to take on the challenge of moving abroad to Barcelona and to invest in my education.”

Danielle O’Dwyer Stansky

Congratulations to Danielle and her husband Matthew who welcomed their baby girl Mia into the world Oct. 12, 2025. She’s already attended a couple of Thayer girls basketball games! (Photo by Ellie Clayton Hoffman ’09).

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2010

Julia Daly Kavolius

Congratulations to Alumni Board Vice President Julia Daly Kavolius and her husband John who welcomed their son August in March of 2025, joining big sister Isla.

at Newman Elementary School in the Needham Public Schools.

2012

Brad Peterson

Tim ran the 129th Boston Marathon in April of 2025 with Team IMPACT.

Congratulations to Brad and his wife Carolyn on the birth of their second son, Thomas “Tommy” Peterson, born May 13, 2025.

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David Skoler

The Class of 2011 represented at Homecoming, volunteering at the Alumni Table.

From left: Ify Chukwujama, David Skoler, Chiamaka Chukwujama, Safia Khan, and Brad Peterson.

Timothy Giarrusso

Cassandra Mahar

Congratulations to Cassie and her husband Chris De Thomas on the birth of their daughter Skylar on Nov. 27, 2024.

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Maeve Sussek

Maeve began as an assistant coach for Thayer’s girls cross country team this fall.

Michael Vassalotti

Michael played in a foursome at the General’s Open Golf Tournament with fellow classmates Charles Bowen, Matt Lerner, and Jay Lenaghan.

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Michael Vazza

Mike, a member of the Alumni Board, and his wife Emma welcomed baby girl Ava in May of 2025, joining her big brothers.

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Leigh Collins McCue

Congratulations to Leigh and her husband on welcoming their baby girl Grace to their family in March of 2025.

Kathy Marini Slutsky

Kathy and Harrison Slutsky ’08, pictured with Head of School Chris Fortunato P ’24, ’26, took part in Thayer’s annual visit to JetBlue Park to watch the Red Sox in Fort Myers.

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2011

John Bandera

Congratulations to Jack on his marriage to Joanna Chalsen on July 19, 2025, in Mamaroneck, New York. Groomsmen included Shane Cote ’11, Jeff Durkin ’12, Phil Mouchati ’11, and Riggs Raymond ’11.

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Patrick Gill

Patrick played in a foursome at the General’s Open Golf Tournament at Black Rock CC in Hingham.

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Alexandra Morey

Congratulations to Allie as she starts a new position as assistant principal Spring 2026

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CLASS NOTES Michael Pratt

Michael graduated in May of 2025 from Columbia Business School with an MBA degree.

Morgan O’Brien

Congratulations to Morgan, a member of the Alumni Board, on her engagement in July 2025 and on landing a new job a few months later as the senior program manager at Life Science Cares.

Melissa Piacentini

Congratulations to Melissa on being named video coach for the U.S. Olympic women’s ice hockey team at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games!

Kimberly Sportack

Congratulations to Kimberly who married Casey Payne in the fall of 2025. Thayer

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alumni, from left: Polly Fish ’70, Audrey Fitzpatrick Farinholt ’12, Sportack, Morgan O’Brien ’12, Jaclyn Flaherty Baglini ’12, Olivia Dilorati Matthews ’12, Jay Matthews ’12, Molly Caffrey Macfarlane ’09, Stephanie Sportack Sasser ’05, and Jim Fitzpatrick ’72.

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2013

Aaron Gilmer

Aaron returned to campus in December and spoke to Thayer’s football program at its end-of-season banquet.

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Jack Morey

Jack married Jefferson Barrett Sept. 9, 2025, in Boston. Front row from left: Laura D’Allessandro ’13, Molly McGlynn ’13, Emily Larson ’13, Morey, Bonnie Leta ’13, Linnea Nordgren ’13, Elise Sullivan ’10, and Allie Morey ’11 (sister of the groom and wedding officiant). Back row from left: Shane Cote ’11, Matt Cote ’16, Dan Costello ’13, and Josh Cote ’13.

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Callahan “Callie” Kent Tobin

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Callie married Luke Tobin, an English teacher at Thayer’s Upper School, on Aug. 23, 2025, in Green Harbor. She was surrounded by many family and friends who are Thayer alumni, including: Melissa Piacentini ’12, Christine (Gill) Verrochi ’13, Maddie (Lewis) Irwin ’13, Caroline Fitzpatrick ’13, Kathryn Keenan ’13, Allie (Hooley) Sweet ’13, and Kelcie Finn ’13.

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Christine Gill Verrochi

Congratulations to Christine and her husband Mike on the birth of their first child, Michael Joseph Verrochi Jr., born Dec. 2, 2025.

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2014

Nick married Tia Jean Patterson Sept. 27, 2025, on Cape Cod. Congratulations!

Ralph is engaged to Sophie Ballamare. A June 2026 wedding is planned.

Michael Ubertini

Congratulations to Michael who married Ben Jeffrey in the fall of 2025. Ben proposed with a scavenger hunt that included a big stop at Thayer with Upper School English Faculty Denise King P ’08, ’10 handing out an important “clue” in front of Main Building. The two held a party on Cape Cod — filled with many Thayer alumni and parents — and celebrated this fall with an intimate family dinner at the Inn at Perry Cabin in Maryland.

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Thayer Magazine

Sara Finnegan

Sara married Adam Gilmour in the fall of 2024.

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Mary Griffin

Congratulations to Mary, now an associate marketing manager at Jimmy Choo.

Michaela Mavromates

Michaela opened Harry & Lou, a South Boston boutique, alongside her classmates, Olivia Mavromates and Sara Finnegan. Harry & Lou began online and then added pop-ups before opening a physical storefront on East Broadway. Visit the store or shop online at harrylousouthie. com, and check out their recent feature on WBZ News Boston.

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Olivia Mavromates

Olivia, a member of the Alumni Board, volunteered at the alumni tent during the Friday Night Lights football game this past October when the Tigers beat the St. George’s Dragons 21-0.

2016

Laura Fiotto

Congratulations to Laura on her marriage to Matthew Kornack on Dec. 6, 2025.

Also, Laura, along with Anna Fiotto ’07, Dean Fiotto ’11, Dean’s wife Elizabeth, and their two children returned to campus Feb. 20, 2025, to celebrate the naming of a classroom in Main Building in honor of their grandmother, retired faculty member Norma Atkinson GP ’07, ’11, ’16, who taught history at Thayer for 32 years. Thayer is honored to have Room 307 in Main Building forever known as The Dr. Norma P. Atkinson Classroom.

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Nicolas Falkson

Ralph Tedeschi

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2015

Joseph Hooley

Jake writes: “Excited to share that after 4.5 years at Deloitte, I’ll be heading to Harvard Business School to join the MBA class of 2027. I’m grateful for my time at Deloitte and for the support I’ve gotten along the way, and I’m looking forward to starting up this summer.”

Kate Swanson

Kate writes: “I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as a senior consultant at C Space.”

2018

Tristan Amonte

Congratulations to Tristan who won the Beanpot Hockey tournament with Boston University in February of 2025.

CLASS NOTES Samantha Colman-Lerner

Samantha writes: “After concluding my master’s studies at EDHEC Business School, I’m thrilled to share that I’ve joined L’Oréal in Paris as a global assistant product manager for L’Oréal Paris Skincare.”

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Stephon Kindle

Stephon started as a Thayer JV football coach this fall.

2019

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Katharine Barrett

Katharine writes: “This summer I started medical school at Yale School of Medicine.

I’m thrilled and honored to be part of the fully funded MD-PhD Program at Yale, where I’ll pursue both my medical degree and a graduate degree in the biomedical sciences.”

2020

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Caitlin Caulfield

Caitlin writes: “I’m excited to announce that I’ve been hired as the growth marketing associate for Artificial Intelligence Risk, Inc.”

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Cameron Mannion

Congratulations to Cam on receiving the Father John McCarthy Leadership Award from the athletic department at Stonehill College.

Matthew McLoy

Matthew writes: “I’m extremely excited to share that, after graduating from Gettysburg College, I have joined PTC at their Boston headquarters as a business development representative for the Onshape team.”

Grant St. Jean

Grant joined up with classmate Griffin Lincoln to play in the General’s Open Golf Tournament at Black Rock Country Club.

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Meghan Webb

Congratulations to Meghan on her promotion in September of 2025 to senior behavior technician-team leader at Proven Behavior Solutions in West Bridgewater.

She now splits her days managing a small team of behavior technicians in the mornings and working directly with clients in the afternoons.

2021

Andrew Bennett

Congratulations to Drew on graduating from Colby College. He is now headed to get his master’s degree in architecture at Columbia University.

Emily English

Congratulations to Emily on her graduation from Boston College with a degree in communications and a minor in management and leadership. After

graduation, Grace will work at Fidelity Investments.

Elizabeth Kirk

Elizabeth writes: “I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as a financial services representative at Fidelity Investments.”

Melanie McCue

Melanie writes: “I’m so excited to share that on May 9, 2025, I graduated from the University of Miami with a major in marine biology and ecology and a minor in biology. The last three and a half years at the University of Miami have been some of the most impactful and memorable years of my life. I will forever be grateful to this university and am looking forward to beginning my master’s program at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School in August 2025.”

Alyssa Truckenmiller

Alyssa writes: “I’m excited to share that I graduated from the University of Central Florida this spring and am officially on my way to earning my Doctor of Pharmacy at Palm Beach Atlantic University.”

Reedie Warwick

Reedie writes: “I’m happy to share that after graduating from Washington & Lee University, I started a new position as a capital markets analyst at Newmark.”

Jane Salon

From Thayer classrooms to the courtroom: Jane Salon and Chuck Clayman ’62 are proving that the Thayer community reaches far beyond campus. After graduating from Colgate University in 2025, Jane set her sights on becoming a lawyer. While applying for paralegal positions before law school, she kept Thayer Academy on her resume — a Spring 2026

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decision that would prove pivotal. When Jane’s application landed at Clayman Rosenberg Kirshner & Linder LLP in New York, a colleague noticed the Thayer connection and flagged her resume to partner Chuck Clayman, knowing he was also an alum. Out of more than 100 applicants, Jane stood out, impressed in her interview, and was offered the role.

Today she’s working as a paralegal and building a promising future in law.

College, in Clermont, Florida, where the Division III softball teams were starting their seasons. Sophie plays first base for Bates and Alena plays left field for Wellesley.

Caroline Driscoll & Jefferson Driscoll ’21

Lindsey Wilmot

2024

“Thayer was such a formative experience in my academic career,” Jane shares. “The community was wonderful, as it taught me how to think independently, exposed me to a wide array of interests, and gave me long-lasting friendships.”

2023

Chuck reflects on the connection as well: “Since the happy addition of Jane to my firm, I’ve been reminiscing about my days at Thayer. What comes immediately to mind is the amazing faculty … Mrs. Saul’s love of poetry, Mr. Seymour’s introduction to calculus, chemistry with Ken Jones, English with Mr. Benelli, biology with Mr. Stergios, and so many more. Their dedication and erudition prepared me for college, law school, and life.”

Congratulations to Jane and Chuck. We’re proud to see how Thayer alumni continue to support one another and carry the Thayer spirit into every chapter of their lives.

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2022

William Counselman

Will is interning in Washington, D.C., this summer in the treasury department of a company called Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), which is the largest corporate owner of bitcoin — Upper School Math & Computer Science Department Head Kevin Cedrone P ’22, ’27 would be proud. Will is helping them to automate how they purchase bitcoin, etc.

Sophia Garber

A current softball player at Bates College, Sophie was reunited with her former Thayer teammate, Alena Mulhern ’23, current softball player at Wellesley

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Thayer Magazine

Congratulations to Lindsey and the University of Denver’s women’s lacrosse team on their fifth straight Big East Championship title!

Siblings Caroline Driscoll and Jefferson Driscoll ’21 ran the 129th Boston Marathon to benefit the Boston Public Library.

Teddy Cohen

Thayer alumni Teddy Cohen, Oscar Kester ’25, and Paul Dugan ’25 are Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity brothers at Wake Forest University.

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Izabella Amonte

Congratulations to Izzy, who plays for the BU women’s lacrosse team and who recently became the first Terrier since 2012 to score 20+ goals in her first 10 career games.

Alena Mulhern

See Sophia Garber ’22

Samson Okunlola

The Miami Herald recently highlighted Samson’s growth at the University of Miami both athletically and academically as he joined backup quarterback Emory Williams as the only current Canes football players to graduate in 2.5 years. Samson also played on the offensive line for “The U” in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship Game.

2025

Mary Fideli

Mary, along with other members of the Class of 2025, completed their senior projects with the Advancement & Engagement Office, volunteering at the 30th annual General’s Open Golf Tournament. From left: Mary, Ava Palma, Jack Cappadona, Charlie Wilkinson, Garr Long, Tyler Miller, and Shane Pike.

Addison St. Jean

Addi ran the 129th Boston Marathon alongside her dad, Brian St. Jean P ’17, ’20, ’23, for The Home for Little Wanderers.

SAVE THE DATE! Reunion and Homecoming will take place Friday and Saturday, October 2–3, 2026.

Classes ending in 1 and 6 will celebrate their reunions and the homecoming festivities.

www.thayer.org/reunion

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IN MEMORIAM Pauline McCusker Watt ’40 Pauline “Polly” (McCusker) Watt, age 102, passed away Aug. 19, 2024, in Palm City, FL. Born May 3, 1922, in Braintree, Polly was known for her vivacious spirit and adventurous nature. She attended Thayer Academy with many family members including Georgia McCusker ’31, Dorothy McCusker ’40, Paul McCusker ’41, and John McCusker ’60 — all of whom predeceased her — as well as Richard McCusker ’46 and Anne McCusker Peirce ’55 GP ’25, ’28. An honor roll student at Thayer, Polly participated in many sports including golf, bowling, badminton, riding, volleyball, tennis, and cheerleading.

After Thayer Polly attended Colby Junior College for Women, where she likely began developing her lifelong passions for golf, tennis, and bike riding. She was a regular at Woods Hole Golf Club, cherishing her time on the greens. Polly was also an active member of Saint Elizabeth Seton Church.

Polly was preceded in death by her loving husband of 60 years, John B. Watt, who passed away in December of 2007. She is survived by her son, J. Brooks Watt, and his wife Karen. Polly’s daughter, Leslie Watt, passed away in May of 2005. Polly has two grandchildren, Melissa Watt Tustin married to Jeff Tustin, and Jonathan B. Watt married to Elizabeth Bauer Watt; and five great-grandchildren, Sam, Eli, Liza, Mary Jane (Mimi), and Beatrice (Bea).

Polly’s life was marked by her enthusiasm, love for her family, and community involvement, making her deeply missed by all who knew her.

Elizabeth Leskiewicz Kirkpatrick ’41 Elizabeth Leskiewicz Kirkpatrick, age 101, passed away June 7, 2024.

Beloved wife of the late Joseph Kirkpatrick for 36 years.

Devoted mother of Stephen (Diana Papademas) Kirkpatrick, Melissa (Laura Brenner) Kirkpatrick, John (Erica) Kirkpatrick, Mary Beth Kirkpatrick, Laurel (Ben) Jones, and Ted (Jill) Kirkpatrick. Cherished grandmother of Ceci Kirkpatrick, Anna Jones, Samantha Jones, Kinsey Kirkpatrick, and Tyler Kirkpatrick. Sister of Rosamond Naylor.

Also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Elizabeth was born May 8, 1923, the daughter of Joseph and Miriam Ellis Leszkiewicz of Braintree. She attended Thayer Academy and was an active participant in hockey, performing arts, and the glee club. She completed one year of college at Earlham in Richmond, IN, before enlisting in the Marines where she met fellow Marine Joseph Kirkpatrick. They married in Braintree after the war before settling in Oxford where she continued college courses in art at Miami University.

Her passion for arts and crafts never waned as she learned to make lovely dolls and quilts as well as weave wicker baskets and chair seats. An avid watercolor artist, her paintings were displayed in numerous shows throughout the area.

As a lifelong Unitarian, she was a member of the Hopewell Unitarian Universalist community. She was a World War II Marine Corps veteran.

Patricia Thompson Cooley ’47 Patricia “Pat” Thompson Cooley, age 94, passed away peacefully Aug. 26, 2024.

Pat was born in Milton on Aug. 14, 1930, to Charles Milton Thompson and Winifred Allegra (Costello) Thompson. She was the sixth of their seven children. At age 16, Pat graduated from Thayer Academy in the Class of 1947. While attending Thayer, she was a cheerleader, participated in chorus, and played basketball, field hockey, and tennis. She graduated from Lesley College at age 20 with a bachelor’s degree in education. While at Lesley she founded the community service-oriented Compass Club and was an active leader in student government and many clubs. She later obtained her master’s degree.

Pat and her family summered and sailed at Crow Point in Hingham. As a child she met her future husband, John Blake Cooley, at the Hingham Yacht Club. It was love at first sight for them both.

John told his parents he was going to marry Pat Thompson someday, and despite having many suitors, Pat knew John was the one for her. They married at The Old Ship Church in Hingham on July 19, 1952. They were married 69 years before John passed away in 2021.

Pat loved teaching elementary school and it truly was her calling. She began her career in Cohasset and after 39 years of teaching, she retired from Eames Way School in Marshfield. Being a wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother was her greatest joy.

She was always active, supportive, encouraging, and upbeat.

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IN MEMORIAM

Pat enjoyed tennis, gardening, horseback riding, traveling with her husband, and taking respite at their secluded home, Overlook Farm in Marshfield.

Pat is survived by her daughters Debra Ann Cooley Haislip ’77 (Pliny) and Lisa Joan Cooley Carpenter ’78 (Richard), her sister Barbara Thompson Trainor ’46 (Eugene ’46), eight grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by her husband John Blake Cooley, her parents, and brothers Charles, John, Robert, Paul ’44 (Constance ’45), and Donald Thompson.

A private burial was held at Woodlawn Cemetery in Wellesley.

Pat used to say that when she gets to heaven she’s going to slide up to the pearly gates and say, “Whoo-hoo!

That was one heck of a ride!” We take comfort in knowing she is reunited forever with her beloved husband John and loved ones.

Walter G. Bilowz ’48 It is with heavy hearts but with the hope of eternal life in Christ that we announce the passing of Walter G. Bilowz on March 4, 2025, at age 95.

Walter was born in Chelsea on Nov. 19, 1929. He was the son of Walter and Helen (née Czarniawski) Bilowz. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and brother. He is survived by his wife Phyllis (née Coffey) Bilowz to whom he was married for 54 years. Together they had three children: Brian Bilowz and his wife Amy and their three children Hannah, Joshua, and Noah; Peter and his wife Linda and their two children William and Brooke; and Stacie Siwik and her husband Douglas and their son Jacob. He is predeceased by his former wife Jean (née Wilson) Bilowz with whom he had two children, Craig Bilowz and his wife Gail and Gregory Bilowz and his wife Ann. He is also survived by his sisters Helen Smith and Barbara Campbell. He loved his family fiercely.

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many years. His family will remember him as an experienced outdoorsman. He had a love for hunting and river fishing as well as saltwater fishing and shellfishing in Chatham. He also was an avid gardener, something he inherited from his mother and passed down to his children. He was often found in the kitchen whipping up homemade soups and stews from scratch using what he’d caught and what he’d picked. He was an experienced carpenter and a talented tinkerer. He learned the craft from his father who built bowling alleys and homes and was an accomplished inventor. He chose to retire in Chatham, the town where he first met his wife, to be close to what he loved most, the Atlantic Ocean.

Others may remember him as a trial attorney. He practiced law for 40 years, from 1958 until 1998, in the Boston area. He litigated many jury trials in Massachusetts and the federal courts. He argued appeals before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, the Appeals Court, and federal appellate courts.

Walter embodied civic service, serving the Town of North Reading as a selectman (chairman 1968), town counsel, chairman of the Hillview Study Committee, and member of the Hillview Golf Commission.

Walter was proud of his work helping the town acquire the Hillview Golf Course and ultimately use profits from the course to build the Ipswich River Park, a lasting legacy. Walter served in the Republican Town Committee in North Reading and later in Chatham.

Walter had a love for life, his family, nature, community, and debate. His most important accomplishment was that he became a born-again Christian and was baptized more than 20 years ago. He was a member of the Cape Cod Bible Church in Harwich, where Jesus Christ is worshiped and His word preached and taught. We trust that one day we will be reunited with Walter in the glorious presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Walter graduated from Thayer Academy, Class of 1948, where he was active in the chorus and track. He went on to receive his AB degree from Harvard University and his JD degree from BU School of Law in 1956.

Margaret Woods Harrington ’48 Margaret (Woods) Harrington died peacefully in Weston, CT, on June 18, 2025, at the age of 94 with her family by her side.

Walter loved music, particularly playing the ukulele and singing with his wife as well as entertaining his friends and hosting cocktail parties. He coached soccer and hockey for his children for

Margaret was born in Boston on Sept. 15, 1930, to Eleanore O’Donoghue Woods and John Edgar Woods. She spent her childhood in Brookline and Cohasset before attending Thayer Academy. Her

Thayer Magazine

brothers John Woods ’52 and James Woods ’53 are also Thayer graduates.

At Thayer Margaret played tennis and field hockey; she also participated in the glee club.

After Thayer Margaret attended Georgian Court College. In 1952 she joined the editorial staff of the Boston Herald where she worked for several years before marrying Robert D. Harrington, MD, a general practitioner (and later, a psychiatrist) in Scituate in 1955. She eventually moved to Longmeadow where she and her husband raised five children with enormous love and generosity. Her adult life was spent busily corralling her husband and unruly children and cultivating the many deeply valued friendships that marked her life. Her marriage lasted a full and happy 33 years before she was widowed at 57.

Margaret was quietly brilliant and elegant. She answered Jeopardy! questions before the contestants, whizzed through the New York Times crossword, and gently redirected her children’s and grandchildren’s grammar when it veered outside the acceptable.

A spectacular self-taught chef and a connoisseur of the old fashioned, as well as other fashions, she presented as well as she spoke. After the death of her husband, she lived independently for 37 years, offering her own brand of informed wisdom, encouragement, and love to her friends and her family.

Margaret lived the later years of her life in Westport, CT, near her eldest daughters Meredith and Susan and with the incredible help, patience, and love of her aide Aphelele Pindelo. There she found new neighbors and made new friends, all of whom remarked at how happy they were to know her. She welcomed the many kindnesses others happily gave and cherished the deep friendships and connections she forged all her life. She was particularly happy to gain a new and wonderful friend in Jane Steiger, the niece of her lifelong best chum, Barbara Steiger ’48.

IN MEMORIAM

FORMER FACULTY Margery Hunt Price ’48 Margery Hunt Price, age 94, of Hingham, passed away peacefully Oct. 30, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.

She was the wife of the late George “Whit” Price of Hingham Centre.

Born Dec. 13, 1930, Marge was the daughter of the late Edward (Thayer, Class of 1919) and Catherine Hunt. She grew up in Braintree and was a 1948 graduate of Thayer Academy, where she participated in basketball, softball, badminton, chapel choir, and more.

Following high school, Marge attended Boston University’s Sargent College, graduating in 1952. She returned to Thayer Academy from 1970 until 1991 as the assistant director of athletics.

After retiring, Marge was thrilled to be inducted into the Thayer Academy Hall of Fame in 1994.

After living with Whit in Hingham for 40-plus years and then retirement in Lighthouse Point, FL, Marge moved to Linden Ponds where she enjoyed 20 active years and made many dear friends there.

Marge was a loving mother to Nancy Devine and her husband Matthew Devine of Scituate, Robert Price and his husband Steven Tessmer of Melbourne, FL, and the late Linda Heinzelman and her surviving husband Thomas of Queensbury, NY. She was a loyal sister to Edward (Susan) Hunt of Lynchburg, VA, Robert (Barbara) Hunt ’57 of Berkley, the late Eleanor Hunt Keenan ’45, and the late James Hunt ’57. Marge cherished her five grandchildren — Erin Devine, Kerry (Michael Cieri) Devine, Tracy (Nate) Hammond, Mark (Julie) Heinzelman, and Kevin (Mackenzie) Heinzelman — as well as being Gigi to her six great-grandchildren: Anna and Zoe Cieri, Harper and Charlie Heinzelman, and Quinn and Whit Hammond.

Marge was an active participant and member of the Hingham Congregational Church, Hingham Historical Society, and the Hingham Yacht Club. Marge will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing her.

Brewster.

Matthew Cushing Jr. ’49 With profound sadness, we announce the peaceful passing of Dr. Matthew Cushing Jr. on May 31, 2025. His sons Evan and Hugh were able to spend his last days with him in

Born in Salem in 1932, he spent his first years in Beverly with his parents Matthew Cushing and M. Jane (Teague) Cushing and was mostly raised in Quincy. He attended Thayer Academy and was a member of the Cum Laude Society. His short story “Finis Vitae” is featured in the 1949 yearbook. Matthew went on to attend Harvard University (Class of ’53) and Tufts University School of Medicine (Class of ’57). He married Mary Genevieve Connors (also raised in Quincy) in 1957 in Baltimore.

After an internship at the University of Colorado Medical School in Denver and residency in San Francisco at UCSF, he served as a lieutenant commander and flight surgeon in the US Navy at Moffett Field in Mountain View, CA. In 1963 Mary and he took a crosscontinent road trip to return to New England, settling in Andover and starting a private practice in internal medicine; he practiced there for the next 30 years. During this period he was chief medical officer of Lawrence General Hospital, head of the Merrimack Valley chapter of the Massachusetts Society of Internal Medicine, and president of the Harvard Club of Andover. In 1986 he became medical director of Suburban Healthcare in Andover, which he led until 1994. In that year he and Mary relocated to Marin County, CA, where he practiced for a further 10 years. He then retired to Harwich on Cape Cod. While in Harwich, Mary and he both were active members of the community.

Matt was a trustee of the Harwich Conservation Trust, chaired the Town of Harwich Trails Committee, and served on the Harwich Board of Health.

In addition, he was a volunteer with Nauset Neighbors and hosted a news radio show for the visually impaired with Audible Local Ledger (ALL) in Mashpee.

Matt loved sailing with his family, loved hiking and natural history (especially that of Cape Cod and Marin County), and had a keen intellect and truly insatiable curiosity. He is a shining example of optimism, compassion,

fortitude, and intelligence to all who knew him.

He is survived by his sister Nancy Meissner of Duxbury, his son Hugh Cushing, daughter-in-law Louise Dubin, and granddaughter Alison Cushing of South Orange, NJ, his son Evan Cushing, daughter-in-law Christi Ellis, and grandson Liam Cushing of Harwich Port, and many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews.

He was predeceased by his wife Mary Genevieve Connors Cushing and his brother Peter Cushing.

Carl Vitagliano ’49 Carl R. Vitagliano, age 95, passed away peacefully in his sleep March 4, 2024.

Beloved husband of the late June (Mirra) Vitagliano. Loving father of Jill McCaughey and her husband Brad of Rockland, Gary Vitagliano and his wife Kim of Braintree, and the late Carla Ambrose. Brother to the late Donald Vitagliano and sister Marianna Vitagliano of Randolph. Dear grandfather to Jaime McCaughey of Dorchester and Hannah McCaughey of Quincy.

Carl attended Thayer Academy where he played varsity football. He then earned his undergraduate degree from Boston State University. Carl was a long-serving member of the Braintree Fire Department, attaining the rank of chief prior to his retirement. He served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. Carl was a proud member of many clubs and organizations including the Sons of Italy, The American Legion Post 86, and the Men’s Club of Braintree; he was a past member of the International and Massachusetts Fire Chiefs.

Carl and June loved to travel and celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary aboard the Norwegian Spirit cruise to Bermuda. They also visited many places together, including the Panama Canal, Alaska, the Caribbean, Baltic capitals, Spain, and Portugal as well as a 14-day trip to China and Hong Kong.

Carl was incredibly independent, which allowed him to participate in his favorite activities, including his longstanding weekly poker game with the boys and weekly breakfasts at Stanney’s in Holbrook with his sister and grandchildren.

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IN MEMORIAM

Albert Birmingham ’50 Albert Joseph Birmingham, 92, of Monument Beach, devoted husband of the late Ann Kelleher Birmingham, died July 18, 2025.

Born Feb. 28, 1933, in Belmont, he was the son of Albert Joseph Birmingham Sr. and Ellen Blunt Birmingham. Albert attended St. Patrick’s Parochial School in Brockton and graduated from Thayer Academy, Class of 1950. While at Thayer Albert was involved in the play committee, photography club, and football. He began his college education at the University of Notre Dame. Upon the death of his father, he returned to Massachusetts and graduated from Stonehill College. He pursued an M.A. in English at Boston College and completed an M.A. in education at Bridgewater State College. During the Cold War Albert was drafted and served in the US Army 339th Engineering Battalion, where he assisted in the installation of radar systems in the Alaskan Aleutian Islands.

Albert began his career teaching Latin and then English in the Brockton Public Schools. Summers on Cape Cod and upon retirement, he worked for many years at the West Falmouth and Pocasset Hardware Stores.

Albert is survived by his children Lesley Birmingham Frankel and her husband Michael of Walpole, Ellen Sykes and her husband George of Falmouth, Hugh Birmingham and his wife Debra of Falmouth, and Maura Reed and her husband Mark. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Julia Frankel and her husband Eric Pinault, Caroline Echevarria and her husband Alejandro, Daniel Frankel, Nolan Reed, Molly Sykes, Bridget Birmingham, and Hannah Birmingham. Also surviving are two great-grandsons, Matthew Echevarria and Oscar Pinault, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. Albert is predeceased by his beloved daughter Jean and his brother James Blunt Birmingham.

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Vi Robohm Valicenti ’51 Viorine (Robohm) Valicenti, affectionately known as “Vi,” passed away peacefully on March 28, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. After five years apart, she is now reunited with her beloved husband of more than 60 years, Arthur Valicenti ’51.

Vi leaves behind a legacy of love and laughter through her devoted children and their spouses: Ron ’75 and Janet Valicenti, Sherry (Valicenti) ’75 and David Banks, and Dale Valicenti ’77 and Marie Shadduck. She was also the proud and playful grandmother of six: Morgan ’10, Dempsey, Olivia ’14, Nicholas, Daniel, and Michael. We also remember those who predeceased Vi: brothers Henry Robohm ’50 and Robert; and her sister and best friend for life Barbara (Robohm) Gray ’50.

Born and raised in Abington, Vi attended Thayer Academy where she met the love of her life, Arthur ’51. Vi was inducted into the Thayer Academy Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002. She continued her education at Bouvé College, pursuing a degree in physical therapy. Later, she found her true calling as a kindergarten teacher at Pingree Elementary School in Weymouth, where she taught for many years. Her warmth, creativity, and kindness left an impression, so much so that, as adults, former students would recognize her and fondly reminisce about the joy she brought to their childhood.

Vi had a deep love for life’s simple pleasures: time with her family, warm weather, the color purple, the Celtics, outings with the girls, her sewing machine, sneaking frosting from birthday cakes, and her daily frozen Reese’s cup. To her grandchildren, Noni was a master of mischief and charm — teaching them how to get into just the right amount of trouble and how to melt hearts with a smile and a giggle.

In May of last year Vi was surprised with a 90th birthday celebration filled with laughter, hugs, and memories shared by friends and family from every chapter of her life. It was a moment of deep joy, made all the more special because she could bask in the love while her spirit was still sparkling. Vi was, in her own words, a hot ticket.

Gail Lawrie Buccini ’52 Gail Lawrie (Purdy) Buccini, age 91, passed away peacefully at home March 20, 2025.

Gail was the daughter of the late William and Lillian (Laitala) Purdy. She was predeceased by her husband, Joseph (Joe) Buccini, and brother, William Purdy. Survivors include: her children, Gregory Buccini and Maryann of Plymouth, Robert Buccini and David Buccini of West Newfield, Laurie Powers (Joseph) of Holbrook, Lynne Forti ’81 (Kevin) of Middleboro, Joseph Buccini and Sheila Curran of Palm Harbor, FL, and Michael Buccini (Kimberly) of Mansfield; 15 grandchildren; and 11 greatgrandchildren.

Gail was born in Fitchburg on March 8, 1934. She attended Thayer Academy and was involved in the arts, cheerleading, and field hockey. She was particularly interested in drawing and created all of the illustrations for the 1952 Thayer yearbook.

Gail went on to Rhode Island School of Design. She met Joe when they were both 16 and they spent 70 loving years together. They married in 1953 and raised seven children together in Quincy. After working by Joe’s side at Buccini’s Mister Sub, she opened her own store, Encore Quality Consignments, right next door. The family later opened a homemade ice cream shop next to that and named it Purdy’s, after Gail’s family.

Gail and Joe purchased their home, affectionately known as “The Farm,” in West Newfield in the early ’70s as a vacationing spot for their children.

The Farm became a multi-generational gathering place for the family, made cozy and welcoming by Gail.

Gail was an avid reader and enjoyed painting, playing piano, and doing crossword puzzles. But more than anything else, she loved being a mother and a nana. Her family was her pride and joy, and spending time with them was her favorite aspect of life. She embodied unconditional love that you could feel through her tight hugs and affectionate words. She always ensured that those in her life knew that they were welcome, appreciated, and loved as they were. She will be remembered for her bright, nurturing, and loving

IN MEMORIAM

personality that filled those who knew her with joy and comfort.

Lawrence W. Guild II ’52 Lawrence ’Larry’ Winfield Guild II, 90, of Ledgecroft Place, passed away peacefully July 4, 2025, at Ledgeview in Laconia, NH. Larry was born Nov. 26, 1934, in Milton, the son of Lawrence and Rhea (Coleman) Guild. His childhood was spent in Braintree and Gilford, NH, at Smiling Hill Farm. Larry graduated from Thayer Academy, Class of 1952, and from Dartmouth College in 1957 where he was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. His Fiji brothers, known as “The Dartmouth Group,” became lifelong, devoted friends and made many lasting memories together which Larry cherished.

A hardworking and dependable man, Larry was employed by Guild Mills before forming his own company, Hampshire Textiles. One of the proudest accomplishments of his career was producing the fabric for Kermit the Frog and other Muppet characters. And upon his retirement, Henson Associates commissioned a custom look-alike Muppet.

Larry actively contributed to his community through the Gilford Volunteer Fire Department as well as being a member of the budget committee, board of fire engineers, and Gilford selectmen. In addition, he was a longtime member of Gilford Outing Club, Winnipesaukee Yacht Club, and Laconia Rotary as well as a director of Village Bank & Trust.

He was passionate about antiques and had an extensive collection of fire memorabilia, fire trucks, cars, toy tractors, and model boats. He was a member of the PAL Automobile Club of New Hampshire where he enjoyed traveling to car shows and showing off his many classic cars to fellow enthusiasts. Larry was also an avid Boston sports fan and donated to UNH Wildcats, Laconia Sachems, and Gilford Golden Eagles teams. In addition, he enjoyed sailing on Lake Winnipesaukee, gardening, and birdwatching. His kindness, sense of humor, and deep love for his family and friends will be

missed beyond measure.

He is survived by his wife Sharon Guild; daughters Martha Jane Connelly, Mindy Paglierani (Joe), and Meg Edmunds (Scott); stepsons Ryan Duntley (Tina) and Scott Duntley (Bethany); grandchildren Parker (Stacy), Reed, and Kieran Gokey; Leo (Nicole), and Grace Paglierani; Mason and Marin Edmunds; Nick, Josh, Jillian and Jaelyn Duntley; great-grandchildren Ginny Gokey and Foster Paglierani; in-laws Margot Miller and Corky Higgins; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. Larry was predeceased by his wife Ginny Guild; his parents Lawrence and Rhea Guild; and his sisters Cynthia Kling ’50 and Marcia Gibbs.

Robert P. Andrews ’53 Colonel Robert “Pat” Patterson Andrews, MD, of Rye, NH, passed away at Exeter Hospital in the early morning of June 29, 2024, at the age of 88. He will be most remembered for his love of family and kindness to all.

Born at Newton Hospital on August 7, 1935, and raised in Quincy, Pat was the son of George Robert Andrews of Sanford, ME, and Helen Brown Babcock of Cambridge. He graduated from Thayer Academy where he participated in the dance committee, camera club, ski trip, football, baseball, and newspaper all four years of high school.

As a Thayer alumnus, he then served as a class agent.

Pat earned an A.B. degree in political science from Tufts University; he then attended Tufts University School of Medicine, graduating with his M.D. in 1963. Pat completed a rotating internship and a radiology residency at Maine Medical Center in Portland, ME, before beginning his practice in Bangor, ME, in 1967. He was a founding member of Andrews Lynch & Field PA, which later merged to form Spectrum Medical Group in 1996. Pat practiced radiology for 33 years in Bangor and DoverFoxcroft, retiring in 2000. He continued to work locum tenens from 2000 until 2008, primarily in Cooperstown, NY. A specialist in breast cancer diagnosis, Pat founded the Rosen Breast Diagnostic Center at St. Joseph Hospital in Bangor in 1978. He was board-certified in radiology and nuclear medicine and

served as chief radiologist at both St. Joseph Hospital in Bangor and Mayo Regional Hospital in Dover-Foxcroft. He also established the associate degree program in radiology technology at Eastern Maine Technical College, where he served as program chairman for 22 years.

Colonel Andrews had a distinguished military career, spanning 33 years of reserve obligation. He served active duty as a radarman in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS CK Bronson and as a flight surgeon in the Maine Air National Guard refueling F-16 fighter jets in flight.

He participated in the first Gulf War and the Bosnia Herzegovina Conflict, amassing over 1,500 hours as a KC-135 Tanker crew member. He was a life member of the DAV of America, retiring as the state air surgeon of Maine and receiving several medals, including the Air Medal for his service.

Pat was deeply involved in his community, serving on the Newburgh Fire Department, on the board of the Bangor Symphony Orchestra, as chairman of the Newburgh Planning Board, as a member of Senator William Cohen’s Republican advisory board, and as president of the Sugarloaf Ski Club & Ski Foundation. He played a key role in founding Carrabassett Valley Academy and was an emeritus member of the Eastern Maine Medical Hospital staff.

Airplanes were Pat’s greatest passion.

Over his lifetime he owned several small aircraft for pleasure and travel. As an enthusiastic and experienced pilot, Pat flew numerous charitable missions for the Environmental Air Force, LightHawk Conservation, and the Nature Conservancy. He also loved skiing, particularly at Sugarloaf Ski Resort in Carrabassett Valley, ME, where he built a family camp.

Pat is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 18 years, Debra A. Barrett Andrews; his children, Beth Andrews and partner, Jeff Bennert, of Cumberland, ME, Amy Buzzi and husband, Daniel, of North Kingstown, RI, Jeff Andrews and wife, Julie, of Denver, CO; stepdaughter, Kristin Barrett of Denver, CO; brother-in-law, Bruce Harrison of Sanford, ME; and former spouse, Bunny Thibodeau Andrews of Presque Isle, ME. As he often claimed, Pat’s immortality lies with his six cherished grandchildren: Lauren and Kyle Lamberson, Abby and Adam Brewer, and Sebastian and Audrey Spring 2026

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Andrews. He was predeceased by spouse, Polly Davis Andrews; parents, George and Helen Andrews; and brothers, King and Gary Andrews.

FORMER FACULTY Susan Walsh Bradbury ’54 Susan Mary (Walsh) Bradbury of Braintree (formerly of Randolph) passed away March 14, 2025, peacefully surrounded by her family and with the support of the caring staff at Alliance Nursing Home.

She was the beloved wife of her predeceased husband Robert Churchill Bradbury, with whom she shared 35 years of marriage. She was the loving mother of her late daughter Sarah Maloney, daughter Alice Bradbury Chisholm ’87 and her husband Jamie Chisholm ’87 of Scituate and their two children Matthew Robert Chisholm and Emma Grace Chisholm, and her son Matthew Bradbury of Weymouth and his two children Rhiannon Walsh and Tristin Bradbury. Susan was predeceased by her loving brother Richard (Dickie) Walsh and her sister Alice Haley Kelley ’48. She was the beloved aunt of Paula Haley ’72 and Beth Haley ’77 of Alaska.

Susan graduated from Thayer Academy and Boston College and began her career as a teacher in Braintree Highlands before her long career of more than 30 years at Thayer’s Middle School, where she taught grades one through six. She enjoyed many joyous years of teaching children and loved to talk about those years and the extracurricular activities she did at Thayer, including drama club, chorus, and ski trips. She also taught summer school and tried to make it a bit more tolerable for those kids who needed it. She had a great fondness for the “troublemakers.”

Susan was a great lover of the natural world and she loved ALL animals great and small, but she had a particular soft spot for her late German Shepherd, Socks. She also loved nature shows and donated every year to the ASPCA without fail. She instilled that love in her children and grandchildren. She even gladly embraced her house being filled with animals that were brought home by her kids, including a sick pigeon and a mouse her daughter found and

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attempted to nurse back to health.

Susan was creative and loved the change of the seasons. She would make a new wreath for every season with ease and enjoyed decorating her home to celebrate the change. She particularly relished the Christmas season. She often said, “I could never live anywhere other than New England”; and except for one great Alaskan adventure to visit her nieces, she spent most of her weekends in New Hampshire antique hunting with her late husband “Bob.” She enjoyed finding old tools, especially those that had been abandoned and rusted, and bringing them back to life to display on the walls of her home. She refinished three spinning wheels, 30 or more hurricane lamps, and furniture.

She sewed dresses and learned the old skill of braiding wool rugs. Susan also loved the garden and flowers. Come spring she would say she couldn’t wait to get her hands in the soil and feel the hot sun on her back.

Susan’s greatest love of all, however, was her family, including her nieces but especially her grandchildren. She often sat with them, teacher mode on, and helped them with their homework at the kitchen table. These times always included snacks and many laughs.

She had a great sense of humor that often included making fun of herself — another great skill she has passed on to her descendants. She loved to laugh and could laugh hard. That sense of humor remained with her till her final days.

Michael Holland ’54 Michael Holland passed away Jan. 5, 2025, at age 89 at home surrounded by family.

Michael was born in New York in 1935. He attended Thayer’s Middle School and Upper School where he played football and basketball. After high school he started college but was sidetracked by a life-changing accident.

He overcame his injuries, and after healing, he enlisted in the Army in 1959.

After being honorably discharged in 1961, he decided to move to Hawaii, where he worked as a bank auditor.

That is where he met his wife, Heide, who was a bank teller. They were married in 1964 and started their family together.

Michael really loved to surf when he first arrived in Hawaii. He picked it up quickly and impressed the local boys, who took him under their wing. He cherished those early friendships and his time in the ocean. Michael decided to finish his college studies and moved his wife and son to the East Coast for his last year at Babson College, where he graduated with a BA in business in 1967. He and his young family then moved to California, where his daughter was born. He worked for Matson Shipping, and when he was provided with the opportunity to move back to Hawaii, he jumped at it. He and his family moved back in 1970. Hawaii has been home ever since.

Michael was a hardworking family man. A pillar of the community. An accountant, businessman, and awardwinning tax preparer who continued to work as a tax preparer until the end. He started his tax preparation business, Holland Tax Service, in 1973 in Kailua and served tens of thousands of clients over the 50-plus years he was in business. His clients were also Ohana, many of whom were with him as clients for decades. He and his wife also owned and ran Golden Boy Donuts in the 1970s and 1980s with shops in Kailua and Nimitz.

He was a loving husband of 60 years, a great father, a caring brother, and a caring son. He is survived by his wife Heide, son Kai and daughter-in-law Destiny, daughter Michelle, and sisters Adele and Jane.

He is missed every day. May he rest in love.

Thomas A. Recupero ’54 Thomas Anthony Recupero, DDS, passed to eternal rest peacefully of natural causes at his Stoughton home on July 17, 2025, surrounded by his family at his bedside.

Tom shared the last 63 years with his beloved wife, Claudia, with whom he raised their eight children, Elizabeth (Bitsy) Recupero and partner Pamela Farmer, Alicia Recupero and partner Michael Waumett, Thomas (T.J.) Recupero, Stephen Recupero and wife Theresa, Peter Recupero and wife Carmen, Michael Recupero and wife Hope, William Recupero and wife Stephanie, and Christina Oliver and husband Jonathan. Together they

IN MEMORIAM

blessed him as proud “Papa” to his 12 grandchildren: Carolyn Recupero, Stephen Recupero Jr., Christopher Recupero, Amelia Recupero, Charlie Recupero, Sophia Recupero, Katie Oliver, Madison Recupero, Maya Recupero, Tommy Oliver, William Recupero, and Luke Oliver. Tom was also loved by many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Tom was born in 1935 in Boston and raised in the Fields Corner neighborhood of Dorchester by parents Thomas J. Recupero and Rose (Trifiro) Recupero, along with his sister, Anna (Recupero) Tretter. He attended The Mather School and Boston English High School, and he recalled his time at both fondly to his children over the years. Following high school and a brief time in sales, Tom received an earful of guidance from a friend and coworker, to whom he was forever grateful, convincing Tom to continue his education; first, with a postgraduate year at Thayer Academy, where he played varsity football. After Thayer, Tom earned a biology degree from Boston College, eventually leading him to Georgetown University Dental School and a career in dentistry. More importantly, it led him toward his thenfuture wife, Claudia, who was attending Trinity University in Washington, D.C., studying to be a teacher at the time.

In 1962, Tom and Claudia married and chose Stoughton as their new home, where Tom established Park Dental Associates while Claudia began a career as a teacher in Sharon Public Schools. Tom spent the next 63 years fully engaged in the Stoughton community through Lions Club, Sons of Italy, church groups, and the several terms he served in town government as an elected member of both the select board and school committee. With a vibrant dental practice, along with the expanded reach that comes with eight children and a gregarious nature he had since he was a young boy, Tom built a large family and so many friendships.

From Fields Corner in Dorchester to Washington, D.C., to Stoughton, he cherished them all.

Tom had a gift for connection, and everyone he met instantly became

a friend. He had a genuine love for people and warmly opened his home and dinner table to all. Tom brought joy and enthusiasm to everything he did — whether he was orchestrating airport pickups, hosting lively gatherings, or simply checking in on a neighbor. For those lucky enough to have known him, Tom was unforgettable — a bright light, an inspiring presence, and a heart wide open to all. Above all, Tom was devoted to his family and was endlessly proud of his eight children, 12 grandchildren, and many beloved grand-dogs. His light and legacy lives on through them and the many friends whom he considered family.

David Larkin ’57 David Joseph Larkin passed away peacefully July 7, 2025, in Edina, MN. Dave was born in Quincy on Dec. 11, 1939, and spent most of his first 40 years in the Boston area. Dave was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend. There was nothing more important in Dave’s life than family. Dave is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Robin, and his legacy continues through his children Daniel (Kirsten) Larkin, Elizabeth (Ben Speaker) Larkin, Michael Larkin, and Joseph (Jillian Fiore) Larkin. He became known as “Pop Pop” when he was blessed with grandchildren: Ryan, Lucy, and Penny (Dan/Kirsten) Larkin and Apollo Larkin Fiore (Joe/Jillian). He is also survived by his sister, Mary Jane Larkin, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Alice Murphy Larkin and Richard “Doc” Larkin; his brothers Dick, Jim, and John ’52 (Nancy) Larkin; and his sisters Nancy (Gerry) Dowling and Alice Larkin.

Dave attended Thayer Academy and remained close with many classmates, frequenting the annual Thayer alumni Red Sox spring training event. During his time at Thayer, Dave served as class president and class treasurer; he also played football and basketball.

After Thayer he went on to graduate from Harvard University (1961). Dave then reported to Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, FL. Upon graduation, he flew Grumman E-1 Tracers (“Willie Fudds”) off the USS Independence, the USS Enterprise, and USS Forrestal aircraft carriers as

a radar/interceptor controller. Dave was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) and the National Defense Service Medal (NDSM).

After his discharge from the Navy, Dave spent a long and successful professional career with Honeywell in New England; New York; Toronto, Ontario; and Minnesota. Throughout his career, he generously donated time to his alma maters and to philanthropic organizations: The American Cancer Society through Gentlemen’s Night Out, Greater Naples Leadership program, 50+ years as treasurer of his Harvard class, chairing Thayer Academy reunions, and many other causes close to Dave’s heart.

Dave was a happy, easygoing spirit who found immense joy in sports throughout his life — including watching his children participate in sports. From his younger days he enjoyed playing baseball and football. Golf became a significant part of his life, and he developed an enduring love for it. You could often find him at Interlachen, instantly recognizable in his Red Sox cap, whether he was on the course, watching from the terrace, or sharing stories in the men’s card room. He cherished his golf trips to Ireland, first with his dad and brothers, and later with his brother John, friends, Robin, and his son Dan. Dave was a devoted fan of his Boston sports teams, especially the Red Sox and Patriots, a loyalty that never wavered and was passed down to his children — in spite of relocations to Toronto and Minnesota. He held a special place in his heart for Notre Dame football, often making annual trips to South Bend for the games.

Beyond sports, Dave loved New England — the ocean, the seafood, the scent of saltwater, and even the “unique” experience of driving in Boston. He delighted in sharing his passion for fishing with his children, teaching them the art of catching flounder in the South River as well as bluefish and stripers in the ocean.

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IN MEMORIAM

Brenda Paulsen Davis ’58 Brenda Paulsen Davis, 84, of Hingham, passed away peacefully July 29, 2025, surrounded by her family and wrapped in love. Born in Weymouth, Brenda spent a lifetime spreading warmth, wisdom, and laughter wherever she went.

Brenda spent four years at Thayer Academy, graduating with the Class of 1958. She was generous with her time, quick with a smile, and always ready with a tissue, a mint, or a rain hat — just in case. A beloved wife, devoted mother, and truly exceptional grandmother, Brenda also touched countless lives as a home economics teacher, garden club president, and active member of the Junior League.

She was the friend you could call at any hour and the listening ear who somehow always knew just what to say.

Brenda had a gift for making people feel seen and cared for, whether during a heart-to-heart on the phone or while sharing stories with new acquaintances along Pompano Beach. Her lighthearted spirit and loving presence will be missed more than words can say.

Brenda is lovingly remembered by Brewster Dallas Davis ’56, her husband of 63 years, one month, and 12 days, and by her children: Gillian Bavis ’84, spouse Ryan Bavis of Lewiston, ME, and Lavinia Davis-Laux of Arlington, VA. She was the proud and adoring grandmother of Hayden Bavis, Matilda Laux, Isobel Laux, Gavin Bavis, and Spencer Laux, each of whom brought her endless joy and laughter.

Gordon Thayer ’58 Gordon Wallace Thayer, PhD, 85, of Morehead City, NC, passed away April 25, 2025, at his home with his family by his side.

Gordon was born in Weymouth on Feb. 28, 1940, to Gordon Oliver Thayer and Ann Campbell Thayer of Braintree.

Gordon was a lifelong academic. He went to school in Braintree with his primary education at Thayerlands and then high school at Thayer Academy, where his father was headmaster and mother taught music and choir. He received a bachelor’s degree from Gettysburg College where he met his future wife and the love of his life, Katharyn, two weeks after they

both began classes. He earned his Master of Science degree in biology from Oberlin College, where he received a scholarship to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution on Cape Cod for the summer of 1963.

There he worked on the importance of microscopic marine algae (phytoplankton), a scientific area that became the subject of both his master’s and PhD research projects. He earned his PhD in zoology from North Carolina State University in 1969.

Gordon’s PhD research was conducted at the US Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency’s laboratory on Pivers Island in Beaufort, NC. While Gordon was completing his dissertation, he was hired by NOAA and continued his research there for the next 36 years, retiring in 2005. During his career he served as project leader, program leader, chief of the research division, and deputy director of the laboratory, also publishing more than 85 papers in peer-reviewed books and journals, with over 120 total publications. He was recognized with several awards including two United States Department of Commerce Bronze Medal Awards and the NOAA Distinguished Career

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IN MEMORIAM

Award for excellence in scientific research and scientific administration.

He was internationally recognized as a world expert on seagrass ecology and its restoration.

important to Gordon, which included being a Rotarian, a longtime parishioner of First Methodist Church, and a member of the Morehead City Planning Board.

Gordon maintained partnerships with universities throughout his career, serving on graduate committees of numerous master’s students and PhD candidates. He was an adjunct professor at North Carolina State University and mentored graduate students from UNC Wilmington, the University of Virginia, and the University of Southern Mississippi. In 1990 he was asked to co-organize the NOAA Restoration Center centered in Silver Spring, MD, and served as its first director and then as science coordinator for many years. During his career he conducted research along the East Coast from Chesapeake Bay to Florida Bay and internationally in Australia, Belize, and Saudi Arabia, the latter following the Kuwait oil spill during the first Gulf War.

Gordon was preceded in death by both parents, his sister Susann Thayer Smart ’60, brother-in-law Ron, niece Cheryl, and sister-in-law Janet Flood.

He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Katharyn Mayes Thayer, their son Ronald Gordon Thayer and wife Kristen Dye (Kikki) of Mt. Pleasant, SC, and grandchildren Kyle, Jake, and Emmy; their daughter Megan Thayer GuardPikulik and husband Kenneth Charles (Ken) of Apex, NC, and grandchildren Jackson and McKenna; brother Bruce Campbell Thayer ’65 and wife Pamela Jenness of Mirror Lake, NH; and sisterin-law Sharon Victoria Mayes of Largo, FL. He also leaves nieces Cadence Anne Proctor, Lisa Smart HansenViglotti, and Victoria Elizabeth Flood as well as four grand-nieces and nephews.

Following his retirement from the Beaufort Laboratory in 2005, he was offered a contract position with NOAA as the coordinator and senior scientist at the NOAA Kasitsna Bay Laboratory in Seldovia, AK. Jumping at the opportunity, Gordon and Kathy moved to Homer, AK, for six idyllic months. A quote from Gordon: “It’s been a good run throughout my career at Beaufort; great people to work with and for, exciting and satisfying research, and I feel as though I contributed to science in a meaningful way.”

Gordon loved being with his wife and visiting their son, daughter, and grandchildren, whether it was during the summer at the beach or boating or family camping trips in the cold of November. He loved a gathering or social event. His family was the light of his life, and his first thoughts were always of and for them. He and Kathy were serious geocachers, solving puzzles and searching out clues in locations throughout the Carolinas as well as all around the United States when they traveled. Traveling throughout our United States was one of his great passions. Others included being a lifetime golfer as well as participating in his kids’ and grandkids’ activities such as scouts, soccer, and softball. He was also a big fan of live music. Community involvement was

Bruce Bowers ’59 Bruce H. Bowers, 84, a longtime resident of Dedham, died Oct. 7, 2025, after a long illness.

Bruce was born in Boston and grew up in Auburndale and Wellesley and spent summers at Westport Point. He was the son of Grace Humphrey and Kenneth B. Bowers. He is survived by his wife, Dedee MacDowell Bowers; son Jason (wife Nicole and grandson Louis); and son John ’91 (wife Stephanie and granddaughters Graham and Summie).

Bruce graduated from Thayer Academy in 1959 and then attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he met his future wife and played basketball under Dean Smith.

His career started in the insurance business and then as a bank trust officer before establishing his own financial planning business, Prefect Management.

He was very involved with the town of Dedham. When he first moved to Dedham in 1972, he got a truck ban passed for the historic area of High Street (Route 109). He also worked to get the historic district commission established for part of Dedham and served as its chairman for several years.

In addition he served as a town meeting

member for many years. But his favorite achievement was coaching the Dedham boys 12-and-under soccer team and winning a state championship.

Bruce spent every summer growing up at Westport Point and was an avid sailor and loved his time at Westport. He enjoyed classical music and subscribed for many years to the BSO. His love of music also included jazz, especially the New Black Eagles Band. As a member and past president of the White Mountain Ski Runners, he enjoyed the camaraderie and time on the ski slopes.

He also liked antique cars and collected many, many well-crafted models in addition to owning a 1949 British Ford Prefect. He enjoyed living in a historic home and working on it and building reproduction furniture for it.

Bruce was a devoted father and grandfather and loved his time with family. We will miss his unique sense of humor.

hospice staff.

Richard D. Evans ’60 Richard D. Evans Jr., 82, of Naples, FL, passed away peacefully Dec. 4, 2024, at Hope Hospice in Lehigh Acres surrounded by loved ones and the compassionate care of

Born in Fall River, Rick was a proud graduate of Thayer Academy and Northeastern University. He served in the U.S. Naval Reserve, including an 18-month deployment to Morocco during the Vietnam War, before building a successful 30-year career with Gillette in Boston.

Rick was predeceased by his first wife, Virginia “Ginni” Evans, with whom he shared three wonderful children. He later found joy again with his wife, Ruthanne Hiltbrand Evans, enjoying their retirement together in Aiken, SC, and Naples, FL. He is survived by his children, Erica Evans, Kate Yates, and Richard Evans and his wife Julie along with two beloved grandchildren, Delaney and Reed Yates. Predeceased by his brother Bob ’63, Rick also leaves behind his siblings, David Evans ’72 and Jeanne Evans McNeil and his cherished cats, Bob and Rusty.

Rick had the natural ability to build and

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fix anything. He was also a talented gardner and landscaper. When he retired from Gillette, multiple employees credited him as one of their most trusted mentors. He was described as an innovator in bringing new technology to Gillette before it was common.

His true passion was restoring classic cars. He completed dozens of restorations over his lifetime, keeping detailed and copious notes going back to his teen years.

He loved being in his pool, especially over the last years of his life. His children have many fond memories of bike riding, driving lessons, sailing and boating, long car trips from Needham to Naples, family dinners, and lots of lobster and oysters.

FORMER FACULTY Geoffrey Goodale ’62 It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Geoffrey C. Goodale of Braintree on Oct. 3, 2025, at the age of 81. A devoted educator, colleague, and community member, Geoff died peacefully surrounded by family. He leaves behind a legacy of compassion, intellect, and service to his students and peers.

Son of the late Charles F. Goodale and Anne E. Goodale, Geoff was born in Boston and grew up in Milton. He was predeceased by his brother, Peter Goodale ’63.

Geoff graduated from Thayer Academy in 1962, where he formed lifelong friendships and developed a passion for literature, learning, and wrestling.

He went on to Brown University, where he studied English and was a proud member of the wrestling team.

A lifelong scholar, Geoff went on to earn his PhD in English from Boston University, where he devoted his studies to the works of William Shakespeare.

Guided by passion and purpose, Geoff transformed his love of learning into a long and meaningful career in education.

After completing his studies, Geoff taught at various Boston-area colleges from 1967 until 2004. Additionally, in 1981, Geoff returned to his beloved Thayer as an English teacher and

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continued his mission to guide young minds with patience, insights, and kindness. During a career at Thayer that spanned more than 30 years, Geoff served as acting head of the English Department, secretary to the Cum Laude Society, and advisor to the Black & Orange, Thayer’s yearbook.

He coached all levels of the wrestling program, including Middle School, and served as a JV tennis coach. In recognition of his devotion to his alma mater, Geoff received the Thayer Alumni Loyalty Award in 2017 as a celebrated alumnus and in February of 2025 had a classroom on campus dedicated to him.

In 1965, Geoff married the love of his life, Prudence (Buckley) Goodale ’63.

Together for 60 years, they built a life rich in love, partnership, and purpose.

They raised three sons – Geoffrey ’84 (wife Julie), Nathaniel ’91, and Douglas ’97 (wife Sarah). Geoff was also a devoted and playful grandfather to Ryan, Alexandra, Eleanor, and Blaise, with whom he shared endless hours of storytelling, kayaking, treasure hunts, and joy.

Geoff loved life and embraced it with energy and joy. He spent countless hours on the water in his many kayaks, often winning the senior divisions of local races. An avid tennis player, he could be found on the courts, first challenging his children and later his grandchildren to spirited matches. He delighted in simple pleasures – taking walks in the park, riding bikes, and creating elaborate treasure hunts for his grandchildren – memories that will be cherished for generations.

Katherine Porter ’65 Katherine Orvis Porter, 78, of Vero Beach, FL, passed away Oct. 17, 2025.

Kathie was a kind, caring, funny, and loving wife.

She was the daughter of Richard (Class of 1931) and Helen Orvis Valentine Porter. She was born in Boston and attended Thayer Academy, Class of 1965, where she was an honor roll student and participated in student council, glee club, chapel choir, field hockey, and softball. She then went to college and began her career in the field of finance. She later lived in California, working as a certified financial planner with clients who were well-known entrepreneurs of Silicon

Valley. She later semi-retired, moving from California, eventually to make her home in Vero Beach, FL, in 2004 where she met her husband David. This was just in time for Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne which three months later destroyed her new home, from which she recovered quickly.

With her husband she enjoyed traveling the Eastern U.S. in their motor home, watching dolphins and manatees frolic from her porch, skiing, sailing, cruising, knitting, and many other activities.

She was predeceased by her mother, her father, and her brother Robert “Bob” Porter ’62. She is survived by her loving husband David W Johnston.

A poem recently found in her papers describes her perfectly: A little twinkling of the eye, as blue as April in the sky.

A little look shy and demure, But what it means I’m not sure. How much she knows I cannot tell, I know she knows I like her well. If she grows up then as she is now, how fortunate will be those she loves. Little girls grow to women, sad but true. How much we lose because they do. Unless when grown they chance to be, as nice a little Kathie P. {And that she was. DWJ 2025} By Richard Porter, her father, in 1954.

Francis Connors ’68 Francis J. Connors, 75, of Jamaica Plain, passed away peacefully May 28, 2025. He was the beloved husband of Martha Meaney of Jamaica Plain and the cherished son of the late Francis J. Connors Sr. and Helen (Joan) Dixon Connors of Milton.

Frank was born in Boston in 1949; spent his youth in Boston, New Jersey, and Milton; and lived in Jamaica Plain for more than 40 years. He graduated from Thayer Academy in 1968 where he was a member of the varsity football club.

Frank then completed his bachelor’s degree in 1972 at Boston College and earned his master’s in education from Boston University. He taught in the Newton Public Schools system for many years.

Frank loved the beach, boating, traveling, and Ireland. To that end, he and Martha explored the islands of Boston Harbor and the beauties of Long Island Sound; they also spent

IN MEMORIAM

numerous summers on Nantucket and a couple of decades on the Sheep’s Head Peninsula in West Cork, Ireland. They also traveled to many other venues in the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

Known for his quick wit and steadfast loyalty, Frank was an excellent friend to have and hold dear. Music, sports, and building projects fleshed out a busy and fulfilled life. Running was a passion. He was a regular around Jamaica Pond, entered the Doyle’s Road Race every year, and was quite proud of completing the Boston Marathon. He faithfully followed all Boston sports teams and was an avid fan of BC hockey. He enjoyed music all his life as he grew up in the ’60s and ’70s — interesting times, indeed, and the friendships formed during those years have happily stood the test of time. In moving to JP in the mid-’80s, he added new friends and neighbors to his wide circle. He will be sorely missed by so many.

In addition to his wife, Martha, Frank leaves his in-laws, Kathleen Meaney of Weston; Maureen Dietze of Williamstown; Joseph and Renee Meaney of Waterford, CT; and John Meaney of Tucson, AZ. He also leaves several nieces and nephews, godchildren, and many cousins and friends.

Gilbert F. Levinson ’72 Gilbert F. Levinson, of Canton, passed away suddenly at his home Sept. 6, 2025. He was 71.

Gil is survived by his wife of 29 years, Nancy Patelis Levinson, and their daughter, Sarah Marie Levinson. He was predeceased by his brother, Douglas A. Levinson.

The son of the late Sherwin and Virginia (Cotton) Levinson, he was born, raised, and educated in Quincy. He graduated from Thayer Academy with the Class of 1972 where he was a four-year track and weight lifting athlete. Gil was a lifelong lover of classic cinema and a devoted viewer of Turner Classic Movies. He had a deep appreciation for music, especially classic rock, jazz, and blues. Each day, he faithfully read The Boston Globe from front to back.

Patricia Malinowski ’72 It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Patricia Ann Malinowski, age 71, of North Falmouth on May 22, 2025, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.

Born in Abington on April 15, 1954, Paddy was the cherished daughter of Bruno and Marie Malinowski (née Hannon). Paddy was preceded in death by her two sons, Jamie Mello and Ryan Mello, and her loving parents.

Growing up in Abington, Paddy attended Thayer Academy where she was a three-sport standout. After graduating from Ithaca College, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in education, she also earned a master’s degree in education from Bridgewater State College. She returned to the South Shore, launching her teaching and coaching career in Hingham. Paddy taught elementary school in Falmouth and Harwich for more than 30 years before retiring in 2016.

During her younger years Paddy was an annual participant in the Falmouth Road Race along with other local races. In her later years, she was an avid walker and could often be seen walking her neighborhood with one of her friends or a family member.

Paddy loved the beach and spending time with her friends and family. During the summer months you could find her at Old Silver Beach. One of her happy places was Aruba, where she visited every February.

During the past six years, while a resident of Laurentide at Mashpee Commons, she took up painting with many of her creations decorating the walls of Laurentide and at her siblings’ homes.

Paddy will be deeply missed by her siblings Barry Malinowski ’69, Paula Malinowski ’73, Pamela MacNeil ’76, and Page Malinowski ’78.

Scott Bone ’75 Scott Cameron Bone, 67, of Duxbury, passed away from Parkinson’s disease on May 8, 2024, in Hingham.

Scott was born in Weymouth to Shirley and Douglas Bone on March 18, 1957.

He attended Phillips Andover Academy and Thayer Academy, graduating in 1975, where he played football and tennis, wrestled, and participated in the judiciary board, newspaper, and more.

He then earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Following college, Scott became a well-respected and honored news director at Channel 7 Boston and Fox News Boston. After retiring from television, Scott worked side by side with his wife, Liz, in the real estate industry. Scott loved sports, especially football and lacrosse, which he played in high school, but he had a particular affection for skiing and the ocean.

Growing up in Harwich Port, he became skilled at navigating the waters of Nantucket Sound, enjoying sailing and windsurfing. Music, skiing, and anything related to the water were his passions.

His proudest achievement, however, was being a husband and father. He cherished his family above all else and centered his life around his wife, daughters, and dogs. Planning family vacations brought him the greatest joy.

Scott is survived by his wife, Elizabeth (Liz), and daughter, Hilary Bone; two grandsons, Riggs and Macaulay; one granddaughter, Kertley; and his son-inlaw, Cole O’Shaughnessy. He is also survived by his siblings, Jeff ’69 and Greg Bone ’65, and sisters, Kendra Georges ’67, Cheryl Coviello ’63, and Kristin Mahoney ’69. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Heather Bone O’Shaughnessy; his parents, Douglas and Shirley Bone; and his aunt and uncle, Honey and Roger Severance.

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Herbert F. Philpott ’81 Herbert Francis “Herb” Philpott, 62, of Acton, died suddenly on June 13, 2025, while hiking Mount Greylock in Williamstown.

He was born Dec. 26, 1962, in Boston, the son of the late Herbert John and Sandra Simpson Philpott. Herb had lived in Acton since 2020 and previously lived in Waltham, Medford, and Canton as well as in San Jose, CA. He was the beloved husband of Sandra (Metcalf) Philpott, whom he married on April 12, 2008.

A 1981 graduate of Thayer Academy, he was a member of the Cum Laude Society and participated in track and cross country all four years of high school. Herb earned his bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College in 1985, where he was a proud member of Sigma Phi Epsilon (SigEp) fraternity.

His professional life was spent in hightech industries, beginning in California where he worked for Steve Jobs at NeXT Computer and later at Apple.

Upon returning to Massachusetts, he held positions including senior program manager at Teradyne and principal consultant and associate director of business relationship management at Wolters Kluwer.

Herb was a dedicated volunteer throughout his life. He served in several positions for the Alumni and Volunteer Corporation (AVC) for SigEp Alpha and was honored with the 2015 Distinguished Volunteer Award. A proud Freemason, he was a longtime member of Garden City (now Moses Michael Hays) Lodge in Newton and was named Mason of the Year in 2023.

He volunteered with the Cub Scouts in both Waltham and Acton and served as assistant scoutmaster and outdoor activities chair for his son’s BSA Scout troop, Troop 1 Acton, and he frequently supported his younger daughter’s BSA troop, Troop 12 Acton.

An avid supporter of the arts, Herb was active with Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston in Waltham for many years, serving as its production photographer and performing in numerous shows, including 1776, It’s Christmastime, Remembering the ’40s, Say It With Music, and A Little Bit of

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Ireland, often sharing the stage with his wife and children. He also served on the board of the Acton-Boxborough Friends of Music (ABFOM).

Herb was a devoted member of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Acton and served in many capacities at every church he attended.

In addition to Sandy, his wife of 17 years, Herb is survived by his daughter Rosemary Parker and her husband Nolan, of Tulsa, OK; son Ryan Philpott, 15, and younger daughter Katie Philpott, 13, both of Acton; sister Holly Costa ’87 and her husband Jim, of Cape Coral, FL; sister-in-law Pauline Belmontet-Philpott, of Vieux-Boucau les Bains, France; and nieces and nephew Kayla Costa, Valentine Philpott, Emma Philpott, and Troy Costa. He was predeceased by his brother Glen Philpott ’83.

Joe Dever ’85 Joe Dever passed away July 6, 2024, after a struggle with an autoimmune disease.

Joe, who was originally from Weymouth, attended Thayer at both the Middle School and Upper School. At Thayer Joe played soccer and was a member of the Cum Laude Society. His sisters Suzanne Dever ’87 and Lynn Dever ’90 are also Thayer graduates.

Joe received his undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and two master’s degrees from Cornell and Iowa State University. Joe worked for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and served overseas in Ghana, Senegal, and South Africa. In addition to his long-term assignments, he worked in Kenya, Bangladesh, Croatia, Benin, Ethiopia, Brazil, India, and Madagascar during his long career in international agricultural development. Joe also spoke fluent French, which he often used at work.

At the time of his passing, he lived in Silver Spring, MD. He is survived by his wife, Penney; children Caelan, Rowan, and Fallon; parents; sisters; and three nieces.

FORMER FACULTY Dan Levinson Daniel Jonah Levinson died Jan. 3, 2026, due to complications from a sudden and aggressive cancer. He was 76. A beloved teacher, writer, coach, and avid reader, Dan’s warmth and thoughtfulness led to lifelong friendships with peers, colleagues, and former students alike.

Dan was born in Indianapolis on March 24, 1949, and was raised primarily in Gary, IN. He studied journalism at Northwestern University and earned his master’s in philosophy from The New School.

In 1973 he married his wife Cindy, and their marriage would go on to last nearly 48 years. They raised their two children, Richard and Emily, in Newton, where he lived until he passed away.

Dan devoted 41 years to teaching at Thayer Academy where he made a tremendous impact on generations of students and colleagues. He taught English and history and served as chair of both departments, but his true passion was working directly with students. He advised the school paper and magazine, coached baseball, and wrote and directed plays performed at the school. He maintained close contact with many of his students decades after they graduated.

Dan retired from teaching in 2018 after Cindy suffered a brain hemorrhage, and he cared for her with great love, energy, and attention until her death in 2021.

After this difficult period, Dan found joy through his close bond with his grandson Hugo, his relationship with his loving companion Amy, and the simple pleasures of reading and spending time with family and friends who had been a part of his life for decades.

Dan will always be remembered by those who loved him for his kindness, his great intellectual curiosity, and his easy, dry humor.

THE SOUTHWORTH SOCIETY Planned Giving at Thayer Academy

‘THAYER FELT LIKE FAMILY’ Alumna’s Planned Giving Decision Will Help Future Students Lois Hirshberg ’65 knows perfectly well what the best part of Thayer was because, some six decades later, it still is the best part of Thayer: the people.

“The most important thing for me has always been the long-lasting friendships,” says Hirshberg, a retired elementary school guidance counselor

who makes her home in Mashpee and, as an accomplished potter, still serves as a workshop instructor at both the Cotuit Center for the Arts and the Truro Center for the Arts. “We (Hirshberg’s former classmates and other Thayer friends) may not see each

other as often as we used to, but when we do, it’s like we’re teenagers again.”

A Quincy native, Hirshberg credits Thayer for being a safe environment where she could find her authentic self.

It was safe for a number of reasons, she says, most notably because her older brother, Dr. Gary Hirshberg ’64, already attended the school.

And then there were the small class sizes. And then there were the strong sports programs — Hirshberg played field hockey and softball; she also played basketball “until everybody outgrew me, which didn’t take long,” adds the 4-foot-11-inch Hirshberg. And then there were the caring faculty who went the extra mile for their students. Here Hirshberg singles out biology teacher (and future principal) Marshall Litchfield P ’78.

“There was something so gentle and special about him,” says Hirshberg.

She recalls one class project that began hopefully enough with Venus fly traps but went so pear-shaped so quickly — “I’m still not good at raising plants,” she

says — that she switched the project to teaching fish to swim through a maze.

“The fish were more interested in jumping out of it,” says Hirshberg, “but Mr. Litchfield stood by me, no matter what I wanted to do in that class.”

Hirshberg developed friendships with students in her grade, above her grade, and below her grade. She says that dear friend Betty Bailey ’63 (later to become a beloved English teacher at her alma mater) served as a mentor to her in those high school years, and Hirshberg tried her best to pay that kindness forward to younger students at Thayer.

“Thayer felt like family,” says Hirshberg. “That really helped me through a lot.”

Which is why Hirshberg has made Thayer Academy a beneficiary of her trust.

“It was an easy decision,” she says.

“The Thayer education is so valuable. It’s so rounded — the academics, the arts, and the athletics. If I can help someone who might not otherwise be able to afford that education, then that’s a real legacy.”

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