Issuu

F O R M A N L E T T E R

SYNERGY The Power of Teamwork and Tech SUMMER 2016

Head of School: Adam K. Man Pâ€™15 Assistant Head of School for Internal Affairs: Mike Kowalchick Assistant Head of School for Institutional Advancement: Justin Solomon Address corrections & Class Notes: alumni@formanschool.org

Editors: Kerry Durkin, Director of Communications and Sarah Pfeffer, Assistant Director of Communications Head Writer: Sarah Pfeffer, Assistant Director of Communications Photo Editors: Kerry Durkin, Director of Communications Class Notes Editor: Danielle Plante, Director of Alumni Programs Designer: Julie Hammill, Hammill Design Photography: Sarah Pfeffer, Gretchen Conyers â€™10, Anna Moller, Richard Schultz, Steven Valenti, John LaPerch

F O R M A N L E T T E R

Mission Statement Forman School is an independent, coeducational, college preparatory school for boarding and day students with identified learning differences.

2 Head of School Message 5 Coding for Sport 8 Infusing Love in Learning 10 Around the Green 12 Lion’s Pride 15 Commencement 18 The Art of the Grant 20 Events 26 Class Notes and Alumni Profiles

Forman develops the whole student, based on his or her unique learning profile, so that every graduate becomes an educated, confident, self-advocate throughout life.

Forman School Board of Trustees President of the Board Scott M. Sutherland ’69, P’93 Vice President David D. Walter ’69 Treasurer Thomas G. Sorell P’12 Secretary Michael L. Cook P’15 Pamela H. Alexander P’16 Barbara Chace ’87 Elizabeth Garber Daniels ’93 L. Laird Davis Kenneth I. Deane ’93 Anthony C. Everett P’18 Annette R. Jenner–Matthews, Ph.D. ’87 Preethi Krishna P’16 Frederick M. Lione, Jr. P’91 Adam K. Man P’15, Head of School David H. White ’71 Jon E. Zagrodzky P’18, P’19

Trustees Emeriti J. Seward Johnson ’49 and Mrs. Cecelia Johnson P’91 Diane F. Kessenich P’86, Chairman Emerita Kenneth R. Latham ’48 John A. Meyers P’84 Peter L. Phillips ’65 Monroe B. Scharff ’42, P’69 This page: Students take a stroll by Baillie Dorm and the Copper Beech tree. Cover: Elliot McGlew ’17 and Thomas Shimmield ’18 operate their robot.

HEAD OF SCHOOL LETTER

Litchfield is a wonderfully charming place to live. Not only is it the picturesque location of Forman School, but it is also the birthplace of Revolutionary War hero Ethan Allen, and author and abolitionist Harriet Beecher Stowe. Our own Beecher Dorm is named for and built upon the “footprint” of the house in which she lived.

This idyllic town is also home to the first law school in America, Tapping Reeve House and Law School. The school, which was named a National Historic Landmark in 1965, is open to visitors who would like to experience a student’s life there in the early 19th century. Inside, long benches and tables face a lectern. At the time of the school’s inception, founder Tapping Reeve created a systematized set of lectures for students to dutifully copy down as he spoke. This knowledge became each student’s central text that represented what he would need for success in his career. Reeve taught two future Vice Presidents, over 100 members of Congress, and three Supreme Court justices. It is astonishing to think that in 14 months, Reeve was able to transmit via lecture all that one would need to be a successful lawyer and potentially even a supreme court judge. This traditional way of learning may now seem antiquated by much of the general public, but how much has education truly changed since Tapping Reeve’s time? Maybe not so much. Many educational institutions still expect high school and college students to be vessels that are filled

with information rather than active participants in the learning process. Lecture halls are packed with students who furiously attempt to take down notes from their instructors. Teachers click through slide presentations instead of bringing their lessons to life. At Forman, we see that these methods are ineffective. We embrace different. A School dedicated to empowering students who learn differently since its establishment in 1930, Forman continues to lead the way in individualized, problem-based learning. Our students are building confidence and succeeding knowing that a meaningful, fun education is at their

“Our students are building confidence and succeeding knowing that a meaningful, fun education is at their fingertips.”

Head of School Adam K. Man gets on the students’ level during the first assembly of the 2016-’17 year.

fingertips. This concept, that we so firmly believe in, is strengthened through the strategies in The Institute for Cognition and Learning, as well as growing programs like Robotics, Ingenuity, and the Arts, all of which are looking at brand new facilities. The Ingenuity Laboratory is now complete for the 2016-’17 academic year, and the foundation has been poured for the Visual and Performing Arts Center, which will be ready in fall 2017. These programs are changing the way we treat education, and the creative, innovative, and collaborative work that is resulting is amazing. Forman students are personally

invested in what they do here, and are able to carry their new skills with them as they transition into their higher education, career, and life. In this beautiful, historic New England town, Forman students are part of something revolutionary. I look forward to seeing firsthand and sharing with you what this bright group of learners will do next.

Adam K. Man Head of School

F O C U S

Christopher Mann â€™17 prepares his robot during the Regional VEX Qualifier.

F O C U S

Coding for Sport Forman’s New Robotics Program Takes Off One year since its installation at Forman School, the Robotics Program has already competed against top schools, earned an award, and gained a significant amount of student interest. But last summer, these successes were not a sure thing. “Last year at this time, I didn’t know if it was possible that we would be able to go to a competition the first time around,” Robotics Teacher Wendy Welshans says. “In the end, we could have gone to a lot more competitions if they fit our schedule, because the kids were ready.”

F O C U S

would come together in the fall of 2015 to learn how to build robots, and Head of School Adam K. Man knew that Welshans was the right person to lead the initiative. “I know Adam said that my innovation was one of the reasons he chose me. My forte is the engineering and the physics of the robot,” Welshans, who is certified through Carnegie Mellon University Robotics Academy, says. That innovation has been a common thread throughout her 25-year career at Forman, where she began the internationally recognized Rainforest Project as well as a Boat Building Program. And her desire to build things started long before that. “When I was a little girl, being in my dad’s furniture shop, I would spend each week creating these games with moving parts and we would have an unveiling at dinner with my mom and dad,” the passionate educator remembers, connecting her experience to Forman students today. “The challenge of having something out there that you need to solve is great for our kids because a lot of them have those innovative minds.” Robotics provides a new project-based learning opportunity for students here. Recent graduate Nicole Linse ’16 says, “This class isn’t one where you sit at a desk and take notes. It’s completely hands-on and you can walk around and do as you please. When you need something, go run and grab it. You work at your own pace and improvise as often as you need to.” Linse was excited about the class before it even began: “When I saw that Robotics was an option for my senior year, I jumped at the opportunity because I’ve always enjoyed building new things and wanted a challenge.” Although she had no prior experience in robotics, she was interested in programming, and it was the combination of different strengths among team members that encouraged active collaboration. “What worked really well was recognizing the skills that students came in with or developed quickly,” Welshans says. Junior Thomas Shimmield ’18 adds, “There was a greater emphasis on teamwork than I expected, which was a nice change of pace TUDENTS OF ALL SKILL LEVELS

from the solo work I had done in a Robotics Design class I took over the summer a few years back.” In teams of two, it is imperative that the individuals work well together and learn from one another, whether they are novices or more experienced robot-builders. Each person in the pairing has a pivotal role, and is also part of the larger Team Forman. Even in focused small groups, there are moments when everyone comes together. “When a group gets their robot working, everybody stops to watch the first shot. It doesn’t matter how well it does — it could hit the ceiling — everyone cheers each other on. They will say, ‘That’s smart, that’s great, that’s a good design.’ It brings out the best in them,” Welshans says. Robotics students learn programming, VEX language, what the different parts of the robot do, and how to program each piece. “Basically, I teach them how to talk to the robots. Our aim is to build our robots so they can throw balls from throwers or shooters for the competition,” she says. Before getting into complex programming, however, Welshans starts with the basics. “I instruct them about the idea of the cortex or the robot’s brain, that everything plugs into that brain. It is being programmed,” she explains. Each day has an objective that students must achieve and every week, new skills are added. “I think back to last September when we started, and they’ve come

Nicole Linse ’16 and Jonathan Silverstein ’16 in Robotics class

F O C U S

so far. In the beginning, just talking to the robot with Students were surprised by all of the rules for each simple programming commands was tenuous,” Welshan competition: “Everything is so intricate in the first place remembers. “By midyear, I could put up the challenge of when it comes to making a robot, and then making sure the day on the board and they would go right to it.” that everything fits and qualifies for the specific parameters These young minds, with an aptitude for design, see adds to it,” Linse says. Still, she says there is simultaneously the process from start to finish and employ both patience a “freedom” in robotics. “While I mentioned the specific and perseverance. Once confident in their foundational guidelines you must follow, you have free range in the knowledge, they build a maze and direct the robots by classroom to create and design in a way that works for you writing code on the graphical programming software, and your team. Ms. Welshans watches over, giving opinions RobotC. The learning process is solidified through hands-on and helping us bring our designs forward. The thought quizzes, testing new skills such as point and swing turns. process to bringing an idea to life with bolts and screws With repetition and tactile application, Welshans’ teaching can be a pretty daunting task, so the tools we had at hand methods have paid off, although she prefers to credit her this year were very helpful in making sure we reached our students. “As a coach, I can steer the practice, but it’s up to goals.” These tools included dremels, hammers, and clamps, their skills whether we do well,” she says. but soon, there will be even more at the This past February, Forman competed fingertips of eager Forman learners. in the CTEEA Regional VEX Qualifier at A new Ingenuity Lab was completed at the When a group gets the University of New Haven against 30 end of the summer and is already in use. This their robot working, other teams including top robotics schools addition to the Olson Outdoor Education everybody stops to like Choate Rosemary Hall and Notre Center houses a state-of-the-art space for watch the first shot. Dame High School. Two of Forman’s Robotics, which will provide more ways for robots competed in the event, aptly named students to elaborate their designs with tools It doesn’t matter #1930A and #1930B for the year the such as a CNC router, laser cutter, welding how well it does — it School was founded. Team B completed equipment, and an array of fasteners. “This could hit the ceiling the event with a 2-4-0 record in 24th place year is going to be completely different,” — everyone cheers and Team A ended with a 1-5-0 record in Welshans says, smiling. “We have students each other on. 19th place, but Forman didn’t walk away from last year who are more experienced now, empty handed. The School was honored and the program is growing. There is a limit with the Sportsmanship Award for and a lot of interest; we will only be able to respectful and ethical behavior, as well as camaraderie with take five or six new students this year.” other schools. Team Forman proudly presented their award Year two is bound to be an exciting one for this “brain to Mr. Man when they returned to campus. sport,” as Welshans calls it, and not just because of the new Keeping up with these long-established robotics programs facilities. More students will be given the chance to create goes beyond the expected preparation and planning. a working piece of technology with their own hands and Welshans and her dedicated students learned one very intellect. “Just to see something you’ve built from scratch important lesson about robotics last year: “It’s very serious.” with bars and gears and some coding actually performing When teams go to tournaments, the judges begin with a tasks is really something awesome,” Shimmield says. strict 10-20 minute inspection of each robot, searching Welshans adds, “When you’re designing, you’re never quite for parts that may come off, pieces that may either hurt sure if it’s going to work, but it’s like a boat: you have to the map or other robots, working on and off switches, believe that eventually it will float and track beautifully.” adherence to the 18x18” size requirement, and more. But And there is no question about it: Forman Robotics “once they hit the field, that’s a different story,” Welshans definitely floats. says. Add-ons such as extendable claws may be used after the robot cubes are inspected.

F A C U L T Y

P R O F I L E

Infusing Love in Learning Lily Chen began teaching at Forman School in 2010, but her journey in the creative fields started long before then. Now the Chair of the Thinking and Writing Department at Forman, Chen has 20 years of experience in private schools. She also has a culturally diverse background, having been born in Taiwan, educated primarily by British teachers, and ultimately marrying an American.

Referring to herself as “an unyielding advocate for diversity in all its forms of manifestation,” Chen believes in planting the “seeds for embracing cultural legacies,” both in her sons, Kramer and Zachary, and in her students. This past January, she organized a special assembly in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., gathering the Forman community together to watch and discuss a short film on the 1963 protests in Birmingham, AL. Additionally, she held a “Penny for Your Thoughts on Diversity” contest in which students placed notecards with personal “Diversity is…” quotes on the department bulletin board. Each student received a penny to recognize his or her statement. “You are

celebrating diversity by simply being you...you matter!” she told students. Chen’s motto in teaching comes from an unlikely place: It’s from Whitney Houston’s song, “Greatest Love of All,” which reads: “I believe that children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way. Show them all the beauty they possess inside. Give them a sense of pride.” She remembers this daily and repeats the idea to her students. “Life is the greatest teacher and Love is the virtual subject that all teachers teach,” she says eloquently. Clearly, the personal and professional aspects of Chen’s

“Life is the greatest teacher and Love is the virtual subject that all teachers teach.”

– Lily Chen

life interweave fluidly, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. “I have directed, acted in, and costumed numerous theatrical productions in my career in private schools. In fact, my civil wedding took place on the second stage of the National Taiwan Theater, where I simply announced to the audience after my closing performance as the female lead, ‘The lighting designer [former Forman faculty member Robert Kwalick] and I would like to get married; we invite anyone who wishes to stay to join our celebration!’” she explains enthusiastically. Before transitioning to Thinking and Writing last year, Chen taught English at Forman for five years, and she found many ways to incorporate her various hands-on artistic interests in the classroom. “In my years of teaching English, students have been given opportunities to interpret literature by capturing elements of fiction through different artistic venues, such as movie trailers, stage performances, puppet shows, 3D sculptures, drawings, and summary slides,” she says. When it comes to teaching strategies such as thought organization and

paragraph structure, Chen incorporates tactile devices to encourage student interaction and understanding. “I make laminated cards of important concepts and strategies for students to manipulate, with the goal to arrive at (instead of being fed) an effective formula for written information processing and delivery. Students also work with magnetic individual sentences to collaborate on restoring the internal logic of a writing sample.” Before Forman, Chen earned her B.A. from Sun Yatsen University in Taiwan and then went on to focus on dramatic literature, literary criticism, and playwriting in her graduate studies at Northern Illinois University. Beyond her current role at Forman, she is also a certified ESL teacher, speaks three languages, and has international teaching experience. Although Chen was originally introduced to Forman through a mutual friend of Head of School Adam Man, she says, “My decision to merge and stay with the community is neither coincidence nor coercion. Every day, I find joy in exploring the possibility of making a visible difference in the lives of those creative young minds.”

A R O U N D

T H E

G R E E N

1 2

A R O U N D

T H E

G R E E N

7 6

1 Ethan Farrell ’16 and Alivia Derr ’16 converse on the Green 2 Students at Prom pose for a silly photo 3 Brooke McKenna ’17 receives an award from English Teacher Nick Poor at the Academic Awards Ceremony 4 Rachel Buchler ’18 in a Jewelry Making class 5 Maddie Reading ’16, Morgan Yanni ’19, and Alexandria Martin ’16 stop for a photo at the Breast Cancer Walk 6 Students are all smiles at the Strawberry Festival 7 Students enjoy an exhibition of paintings from artist Wilhelm Neusser at Forman School’s Risley Gallery 8 Lucie Regal ’17 and Danielle Oddo ’18 chat in their dorm room 9 Forman’s hit performance of Into the Woods 10 Brodie Tescher ’16 signs a National Letter of Intent with Presentation College to play college football 11 Science Teacher Shawn Mullen brings his dog, Calypso, and her DNA results to class for students to analyze

L I O N ’ S

P R I D E

SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS FALL Boys’ Varsity Soccer Housatonic Valley Athletic League (HVAL) Champions for the first time in Forman history. Three players were selected to compete in the Western New England Prep School Soccer Association (WNEPSSA) All-Star match. Four players were awarded the title of HVAL All-League. Two players were honored as Prep Class S All-State Players at the Connecticut Soccer Coaches Association (CSCA) Banquet. Girls’ Varsity Soccer Played in the Quarterfinals of the Housatonic Valley Athletic League (HVAL) Tournament. Two players awarded the title of HVAL AllLeague. Two players participated in the Women’s Western New England Prep School Soccer Association (WWNEPSSA) All-Star Match. Football One player earned the title of All-New England. Two players earned the title of All-League in the Hudson Valley Football League.

Cross-Country Competed at the New England Division IV Championships and placed 29th out of 33 teams. Three runners earned the title of Housatonic Valley Athletic League All-League runners. Volleyball Quarterfinalists in the Housatonic Valley Athletic League (HVAL) Tournament. Two players earned the title of HVAL All-League. Three players were invited to play in the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) All-Star game.

WINTER Boys’ Varsity Basketball Competed in the Housatonic Valley Athletic League (HVAL) Quarterfinals. One player was selected for the AllHVAL All-Star First Team, and one player was named to the HVAL AllLeague second team. One player was awarded the title of All-New England All-Star by the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC).

Girls’ Varsity Basketball Housatonic Valley Athletic League (HVAL) Quarterfinalists. One student named to the All-New England girls’ basketball All-Star Team by the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC). Two players were awarded the title of HVAL All-League. Hockey Had the most successful season since the start of the Forman Hockey Program. Two players were recognized for their achievements on MaxPreps, being awarded fourth in points and fifth in goals, as well as first in total saves out of the 76 participating MaxPreps public and private school teams. Alpine Ski Team 2015-’16 was the team’s first year as part of the Brigham Ski League, competing against Berkshire, The Gunnery, Salisbury School, Suffield Academy, Taft, and Trinity Pawling. Eight of our skiers attended the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Ski Championship. Forman’s boys placed third in the Giant Slalom race, fifth in the Slalom Race,

Ultimate Frisbee Were the Housatonic Valley Athletic League (HVAL) 2016 Champions. Earned the first place title at the Division II State Championships. Two players earned the title of HVAL All-League.

and fourth overall. The girls placed 11th in the Giant Slalom race, 10th in the Slalom race, and 11th overall. Our top male skier had a top 10 finish in both Slalom and Giant Slalom, and placed fifth in NEPSAC. Wrestling One wrestler attended the Western New England Independent School Wrestling Association (WNEISWA) Championship Tournament and came in 6th place.

SPRING Crew Competed in four regattas this season, most notably the Founders Day Regatta. At the Founders Day Regatta, Forman’s girls’ varsity four beat previous records by getting a 6:55 time. Baseball Competed in the Housatonic Valley Athletic League Semifinals. Two players were awarded title of HVAL All-League players.

Golf One player competed in the Housatonic Valley Athletic League (HVAL) Championship at Bull’s Bridge Golf Club and placed 7th in the individual competition. One player was awarded the title of HVAL All-League. Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse Competed in the New England Division III Semifinal Championship game. Played in the Housatonic Valley Athletic League (HVAL) Semifinals. One player was named a US Lacrosse High School Academic All-American. One player was awarded the title of HVAL All-League. Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse Competed in the Housatonic Valley Athletic League (HVAL) Semifinals. Two players were awarded the title of HVAL All-League.

Girls’ Varsity Tennis Competed in the Housatonic Valley Athletic League (HVAL) Semifinals. Two players were awarded the title of HVAL All-League. Equestrian Forman riders earned multiple awards, including Champion of the Beginner Hunter Division, Reserve Champion of the Advanced Beginner Division, first in the Open Equitation X-Rails Class, Champion of the Advanced Beginner Division, and Champion of the Long Stirrup Division. White Water Kayaking One paddler, the MVP of the team, won second in class at the Covered Bridge Slalom race.

Boys’ Varsity Tennis Competed in the Housatonic Valley Athletic League Semifinals. Two players were awarded the title of HVAL All-League.

Forman School Athletic Hall of Fame

The Forman School Athletic Hall of Fame is being established this year to recognize and honor student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and supporters who have made extraordinary contributions to Forman Athletics and/or have achieved athletic accomplishments that followed their time at Forman. These future inductees will have brought pride and distinction to themselves and Forman through their athletic endeavors, achievements, sportsmanship, and/or leadership in athletics. The Athletic Hall of Fame will celebrate female and male members of the community and will represent all eras of the Schoolâ€™s history.

Qualifications: n Alumni

who participated in Forman athletics and were in the graduation class at least 15 years prior to the election year (2002).

n Coaches

and athletic administrators whose careers have spanned at least 10 years at Forman.

n Faculty

and supporters who have made a significant contribution to Forman Athletics for at least 10 years.

Nominations: Nominations for the inaugural Athletic Hall of Fame are due by November 1, 2016. Please send a brief written description of the nominee and their accomplishments to Danielle Plante at danielle.plante@formanschool.org or Forman School Advancement Office, 12 Norfolk Rd., P.O. Box 80, Litchfield, CT 06759. Self nominations will not be accepted. The Athletic Hall of Fame induction will take place at Alumni Weekend on May 5-7, 2017.

Commencement 2016

“One of the things I learned from Forman is how to get things done even if I do them differently. I have used that same thought process with wounded warriors when I get them back on a bicycle. It’s not traditional. It’s not how most people do it. But it’s how I do it.” – Nick Kraus ’89 The Forman community was thrilled to welcome Nick Kraus ’89 back to campus as the commencement speaker. Kraus is a cofounder of the Soldier Ride and the Wounded Warrior Project, as well as a partner at the legendary music venue, Stephen Talkhouse.

Awards Recipients 2016 The John N. Forman Award Davis Wingfield Ebbert ’16 The Julie Ripley Forman Award Alexandra Harrison DiBiase ’16 The Richard G. Peirce Award Cameron Swords Boyer ’16 The Jay W. Gilmore Award Allison Cathleen Herdje ’16 The Seniors’ Choice Award Nina Otti Logan ’17

The Avis Halsey Award Mia Lawson Donahue ’18 Grace Elizabeth Miller ’18 The Peirce Merit Scholarship Award Rene Elizabeth Burkert ’19 Caroline Thayer Mahan ’18 Zachary Raphael LaRocca-Stravalle ’17 The Headmaster’s Award Jacob Harrison Cloobeck ’16 The John Rogers Reinicke Award William Charles Dietrich ’16 The E.D. Hale Award Alivia Margaret Derr ’16 The World Languages Award Sydney M. Fisch ’16

The Ingenuity Program Award Jackson Deane Parker ’16 The Arts Award Visual: Claire Felice Sannini ’16 Music: Tucker Powell Fry ’16 Theatre: Alexandra Harrison DiBiase ’16 The Petrek-Halloran Science Award Alexandra Harrison DiBiase ’16 The History and Social Sciences Award Charles Kammer Tyson, Jr. ’16 The Anne R. Talcott Book Award Emily Grace Chandler ’18 The Mark B. Perkins Mathematics Award Jackson Deane Parker ’16

1 Tracy Van Hart, Shelby Van Hart ’16, and Jim Van Hart 2 Ram Sundaram, Aria Sundaram, Anirudh Sundaram ’16, and Forman Trustee Preethi Krishna 3 Ann-Marie Myers, Mimi Myers ’16, and Blake Myers

The English Award Cameron Swords Boyer ’16 The Athletic Award Thomas Joseph Gramando ’16 Lacey Ohynea McCaw ’16

Class of 2016 College Acceptances American University (2) Anne Arundel Community College Appalachian State University Arcadia University Arizona State University Auburn University Becker College Birmingham-Southern College Brevard College Bridgewater State University Bryant University (3) Carroll College Castleton University Central Connecticut State University Champlain College (3) Chapman University (3) Clark University Coastal Carolina University Colby-Sawyer College (8) College of Charleston Colorado State University (2) Columbia College Chicago (3) Curry College (6) Dean College DePaul University (4) DePauw University Dickinson College (3) Drew University (2) Drexel University (2) Eckerd College (2) Edinboro University of Pennsylvania Elizabethtown College Elon University (3) Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Emerson College Emmanuel College Endicott College (3) Fairfield University (6) Fairleigh Dickinson University (2) Florida Gulf Coast University Florida Institute of Technology Florida Southern College Franklin Pierce University Full Sail University Goucher College (2) Guilford College Hartwick College High Point University (7) Hobart and William Smith Colleges Hofstra University Humboldt State University Iona College Iowa Wesleyan College Ithaca College (6) John Carroll University Johnson & Wales University-Providence (2) Juniata College (2)

Keele University Kent State University King’s College L’Academie DE Cuisine Lake Forest College Landmark College Lasell College (2) Lesley University Lewis & Clark College Long Island University, Post Loyola Marymount University Loyola University Maryland (4) Loyola University New Orleans Lynchburg College Lyndon State College (2) Lynn University (9) Manhattanville College (9) Marist College (6) Marquette University Marshall University Marymount Manhattan College (3) McDaniel College (3) Mercy College Merrimack College (3) Miami University, Oxford Mitchell College (3) Moravian College Mount Holyoke College Mount Ida College Muhlenberg College (3) New England College New Jersey Institute of Technology New York University Newbury College Nichols College (2) Northern Virginia Community College Northwestern CT Community College (2) Pace University, New York City (3) Pennsylvania College of Technology Pennsylvania State University (2) Plymouth State University (2) Presentation College Prince George’s Community College Quinnipiac University (4) Rider University (3) Roanoke College (6) Rochester Institute of Technology (2) Roger Williams University (11) Rollins College (2) Rutgers University-New Brunswick Sacred Heart University (6) Saint Anselm College Saint Joseph’s University (2) Saint Michael’s College (2) Salem State University Salve Regina University Samford University

School of Visual Arts Simmons College Southern Vermont College St. Lawrence University (2) Stetson University (5) Stonehill College (2) Suffolk University SUNY Alfred State College SUNY College at Cobleskill Susquehanna University (6) Syracuse University Texas Christian University The Art Institute of Washington The College of Wooster The George Washington University The University of Arizona (3) The University of Texas, Austin Thomas College Towson University Trinity College Unity College Universidad Anahuac University of Colorado at Boulder (3) University of Connecticut University of Denver University of Hartford (2) University of Indianapolis University of Kansas University of Maine (2) University of Mary Washington University of New England University of New Hampshire at Durham University of New Haven (2) University of North Carolina at Asheville University of North Carolina at Wilmington University of Oregon University of Puget Sound University of Redlands (3) University of Southern California University of the District of Columbia University of Vermont (4) Ursinus College Washington and Jefferson College Wentworth Institute of Technology West Virginia Wesleyan College (2) Western New England University Western Oregon University Wheaton College MA (3) Wheelock College Whittier College (2) Whitworth University Willamette University (3) Wittenberg University (2) Wofford College (2) Woodbury University Worcester Polytechnic Institute

G I V I N G

The Art of the Grant Learn How Foundations Improve the Forman Experience Applying for grants is no easy process. It takes both passion and dedication to spend the long hours required to research and write these requests, but Charlie Albano is up to the task. “I’m so enthusiastic about what happens here at Forman School. It’s a matter of finding a project and the funding,” the grant writing professional says. He has spent over 30 years in both the public and private sectors constructing grant applications and/or writing grants. Albano’s behind-the-scenes efforts help Forman to remain a growing, vibrant community. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been granted to the School in recent years in the areas of facilities and grounds, program

development, infrastructure, and financial aid. Thanks to grants from organizations such as The Benedict Foundation for Independent Schools and the Hoffman Foundation, multiple students who would otherwise lack the financial means are benefitting from a Forman education. The Smart Family Foundation brought in much needed resources last year to Forman’s long-established Rainforest Project and its student-researchers. The Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority (CHEFA) has made it possible for the community to appreciate an updated WiFi system. “Our Cisco/Meraki wireless upgrade allowed our entire campus to be outfitted with a new wireless system that was overdue,” Forman Director of Technology

G I V I N G

Shawn McDermott says. “This provided much greater coverage of our classrooms, dorms, and overall campus. It also created much greater manageability and security to our wireless system.” These results have been far reaching and meaningful, but it has taken time, research, and analytical thought to get there. “If I get four to five grants approved out of 20 applications, I consider myself pretty lucky,” Albano explains. The process begins with identifying a need and then finding a source for funding. Working directly with faculty members, Albano learns from teachers and zones in on practical ways that Forman can be continually improved. Receiving these vital resources is an art form. “You have to understand what the School’s needs are and match them to a foundation’s funding priorities,” Albano says. “I create an application package specifically for each foundation including quotes for costs, a strong narrative, and letters of support from applicable authorities.” Recently, the Town of Litchfield wrote a support letter regarding the bid to the State of Connecticut for new security cameras, asserting that these devices provide a value to the entire community as several of them face public roads next to the School. This material is necessary to success, and Albano notes, “The competition is immense.” According to McDermott, it was all worth it: “The CHEFA grant has allowed us to increase our campus security coverage from just 11 cameras to 52. We now have security cameras mounted on all entrances and exits of every dorm building as well as several other locations.” Looking for foundation opportunities is an ongoing endeavor, but “the best way to get a grant is through a personal connection,” Albano says. “Knowing someone in the foundation is like getting a foot in the door. “With internal support, you can often get to the front of the funding line.” Forman’s grant writer is currently working with faculty members from various departments such as Director of Studies Jamie Dwan, School Psychologist Dr. Kelli Miller, and Ingenuity Program Director Chris Ford. “Charlie has been working diligently to get some Ingenuity funds,” Ford says. “He has applied to the Gladys

Brooks Foundation and is hoping it will bring in some large equipment, including perhaps a CNC machine.” Two new grants are being written to assist with financial aid. Through all of his tireless undertakings, Albano smiles, learns, applies, and hopes. And when he thinks about discovering new ways to enhance the Forman experience, his feelings are simple: “For me, it’s fun.”

We want to hear from you! Funds gained through grants help offset Forman expenses. If you are aware of any foundations or funding sources that could help Forman, please contact Charlie at csalbano@tds.net.

E V E N T S

ALUMNI WEEKEND Approximately 100 guests graced Forman School’s campus on May 6-8 for Alumni Weekend! Several alumni arrived early on Friday and enjoyed watching the student Dissertation Day presentations for the Rainforest Project. In the evening, attendees gathered for a reception at the Head’s House, followed by the “Golden Lions” 50th Reunion and Decade Dinner, which was hosted by Bart Curtis ’66 at La Cupola Restaurant in Bantam. On Saturday, alumni participated in a panel question and answer session led by Head of School Adam K. Man, visited classrooms, toured the campus, and enjoyed a barbeque lunch. The Alumni/Faculty vs. Student Lacrosse game followed with alumni and faculty suited up in white and students sporting Forman green. It was an exciting competition! Ultimately, the alumni were victorious with an 11-4 win! Saturday receptions included one for the Class of 2006 hosted by former faculty member Julie Lombardi and Assistant Athletic Director Craig Lombardi as well as a cocktail hour and dinner for all at The Litchfield Inn. The all-class reception included appetizers, a spirited silent and live auction, dinner, and dessert. The Golden Lions were also each honored to great applause and given a gift. The weekend closed with brunch and a meaningful Memorial Gathering to honor alumni, former faculty, and special friends of the School who passed away within the year. With another successful Alumni Weekend in the books, we would like to thank everyone for making this year special. A great time was had by all and we look forward to seeing you next year!

8 1 The alumni of the 1960s are all smiles at the Saturday dinner. 2 Henry Angle ’66, Don McLean ’66, Charlie Scarlett ’70, and Chris Stoecklin ’66 reminisce about the good old days. 3 Classmates from the 1970s catch up at the BBQ Lunch. 4 Don McLean ’66 and Brenda and Larry Smith ’66 enjoy time together at the Saturday dinner. 5 Phip Scheide ’86 and Sue Ehrhardt Oliver ’87 reconnected after all these years. 6 Stacy Tessler ’01 and Shana Hayward ’01 traveled long distances to join their classmates for their 15th Reunion. 7 Lindsay Callahan ’01 and friend enjoying the cocktail reception. 8 The Class of 2012 celebrate their 5th Reunion. 9 Several alumni took the field once again during the Alumni Lacrosse Game. 10 Brother and sister Bill King ’81 and Mary King ’83 take in the lacrosse game on the fields. 11 Peter Forte ’70, David Mueller ’71, Alison Petri, and Starr Tofil ’70 gather for a photo.

E V E N T S

PARENTS’ WEEKEND Parents came to campus this year to celebrate their students’ achievements and meet with teachers and friends. A great time was had by all on the athletic fields and in the gymnasium for athletic events.

1 Jodi Schaiman, Griffin Shamanesh ’17, and Scott Shamanesh 2 Michael Chandler, Emily Chandler ’18, and Ellen Chandler 3 Parker Broadnax ’17 and Tracy Durrah 4 Lauren Bradley ’17 and Luanne Andreotti 5 Christopher Mahan, Caroline Mahan ’18, and Kristen Mahan-Kraut 6 AnnMarie Berger, Ben Berger ’16, and Stuart Berger

GRANDPARENTS’ DAY Over 150 visitors came to Forman for Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day! Everyone had a wonderful time on what we call “The Happiest Day of the Year!”

1 Jack McDonald ’17 with Arthur Simon and Patricia Simon 2 Nancy Rones and Harris Goldstein ’19 3 Jack Harned, Sarah Hobert ’17, and Jill Harned

E V E N T S

NIGEL DANIEL SOCCER GAME Alumni, past and current parents, students, faculty, and friends came together on Saturday, October 10th to honor Nigel Daniel and his retirement from coaching after 28 years. Our guests traveled from as far as the Dominican Republic to be here to share in the momentous occasion.

4 1 Spencer Daniel ’11, Nigel Daniel, Eduardo Rodriguez ’12, Scott McCarty ’76, and Graham Cavanaugh ’12 2 Brian Eisenberg ’92, Nigel Daniel, Robert Huften Sr., Rob Huften ’96, Doug Rosenblum ’93, and Jon Hanf ’92 3 Nicole Kossowsky ’96, Lauren Cuticelli Patton ’96, Jason Lansberry ’93, Brooke Labriola ’94, and Meredith McClean Fontaine ’94 4 Matt Ullman ’12, Eduardo Rodriguez ’12, Scott McCarty ’76, and Amelia Packard ’08

ALUMNI HOCKEY GAME Over 50 people came out for the annual Forman Alumni Hockey game on Sunday, February 21 at Rumsey Hall School’s Lufkin Arena. With a final score and student win at 9-4, it was a great game with a lot of laughs and camaraderie between both teams. Thank you to all alumni who came out and gave it their best shot!

E V E N T S

BERMUDA Ede and Jeffrey Conyers P’10, along with their daughter Gretchen Conyers ’10, graciously hosted a gathering for members of the Forman community at their home in Bermuda on Wednesday, September 16. In attendance was a mix of alumni, past parents, current parents, educators, and consultants from Bermuda.

1 A great group of past parents, current parents, alumni, and prospective parents gather together by the pool.

2 Gretchen Conyers ’10, Assistant Head of School for Institutional Advancement Justin Solomon, Head of School Adam Man, Bitten Dill, and Nick Dill ’50

BOSTON It was wonderful to see members of the Forman community in Boston on March 30! Thank you to everyone who came out to Central Wharf for appetizers, drinks, and great company.

1 Kristian Kolligian P’17, Page Kolligian P’17, and Zoe Kolligian GP’17 with Head of School Adam K. Man

2 David Thorn ’89, Sean Maguire ’89, Holly Jones Weisenburger ’87, Jenn Brown Anzelone ’89, and Richard Anzelone

E V E N T S

NAPLES

DARIEN

Members of the Forman community in Florida gathered for a lovely reception at the Port Royal Club hosted by Trustee Elizabeth Garber Daniels ’93.

Sara Zagrodzky P’18, P’19 and Trustee Jon Zagrodzky P’18, P’19 graciously hosted a reception for alumni and parents at The Country Club of Darien on October 14.

Trustee Jon Zagrodzky P’18, P’19, Nancy Lione and Trustee Fred Lione P’91, and Sara Zagrodzky P’18, P’19

2 Assistant Head of School for Institutional Advancement Justin Solomon with Kathleen and Dennis Manning P’00

Kimberly Ertag ’93, Stephen Bacharach ’91, and Trustee Elizabeth Garber Daniels ’93

NEW YORK CITY Alumni and parents gathered on Thursday, April 14 for a cocktail reception hosted by Linda and Dean Poll P’16. The event took place at Gallaghers Steakhouse in New York City, which evoked a classic New York charm.

Trustee Fred Lione P’91, Kevin Daniels, Trustee Elizabeth Garber Daniels ’93, Tyler Stevens, and President of the Board of Trustees Scott Sutherland ’69

Eileen Benwitt P’18, Marci Pere P’18, Glenn Pere P’18, and Michael Silberman P’18

CLASS NOTES

Walter B. Roberts Jr. vanb22@aol.com _____________________________

We are sorry to report the passing of Henry Milliken on July 18, 2015 at his home in Duxbury, MA.

S. Sherman Clark, Jr. shermclark@aol.com _____________________________

We regretfully announce the passing of Carolyn Frazier Sanders on February 15, 2016 at her home in Charlottesville, VA.

Michael N. Cohen _____________________________

Richard P. Barker msb463@msn.com _____________________________

Edward T. Marks Ted@AtwaterVineyards.com _____________________________

We are sorry to report the passing of Janet Dennison Frake in October of 2015. Ted Marks’ first two of 15 grandchildren have graduated from college, one is working for the Denver Broncos, and the other is working in New Hampshire. Ted reports that the wine business in the Finger Lakes of New York is exponentially growing and the winery, Atwater Estate Vineyards, was just named by Wine & Spirits Magazine for making the Best Sparkling Wine of 2016, along with only two other wineries in the U.S.

George K. Allison gallison70@gmail.com _____________________________

Todd Duff and his wife, Martha, live in historic Signal Mountain, TN. They have several grandchildren. Their son, Tommy, and his wife, Abby, have three children and Allie recently had twins, Culley and Max. In addition, Abby has two children, Olivia and Hannah. Todd and Martha say their home is quite busy and they thoroughly enjoy all the children and excitement! Todd and Martha also enjoy time cheering on their beloved University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and attend almost every UTC Men’s and Women’s basketball

games. They plan on going again to Asheville around the 1st of March for the Southern Conference Tournament. Todd continues to ride his bike and this past fall spent 10 days riding the Natchez Trace with a tour group. He is planning another similar trip in 2016. Jim MacCormac and his wife, Carol Aubry MacCormac, have been married now for 14 years. They enjoy their grandson who is three years-old and they love living in Montana. They always talk about the “good old days at Forman!”

th reunion

_____________________________

Eric Williams is a retired Coast Guard Captain. He is currently on the Board of Directors for SSU Oliver Hazard Perry, a full rigged ship built for education. You can check out the ship at www.ohpri.org. Peter Little is enjoying retirement and continues to work as a volunteer at the Salem Athenaeum and the Boston Athenaeum.

Alfred C. Body, Jr. skibumal43@gmail.com _____________________________

Al Body is retired and enjoying life. His kids are grown up now and he says, “Life is good.”

C L A S S

Eric D. Murray ericdmu@netzero.com _____________________________

George Christiansen has retired from his job at IBM. He has also retired from politics after 34 years as the Representative for the 1st District of the City of Stamford on RTC. He is now a Connecticut State Marshal.

Sara L. Fliess sallyfl47@pubgames.com

th reunion

Duncan Marshall dlmarshall@optonline.net _____________________________

Gregory Baecker and his family are enjoying their new home in East Sandwich, MA. His wife, Trish, is the Principal at Oak Ridge School, where children Maddie (fifth grade) and Tate (third grade) attend. Gregory has retired from the E.T. Flea Market and is now enjoying the Cape full time. He invites alumni to stop by if they are ever in the area!

Jeffrey T. Whipple _____________________________

Bartow S. Curtis Jr. bart_curtis65@yahoo.com Debora Gould Petersen Hugs38@aol.com _____________________________

Chris Stoecklin retired “again” in 2009 from the Army. He spends most of his time traveling, seeing friends (such as Don McLean), and visiting his grandkids in Florida. Congratulations to Sally Dunham Taylor, whose daughter Kristen gave birth to her first grandchild, Sierra, on August 13, 2015. She is thrilled to be a grandmother!

Duncan Marshall ’67 reminisces with classmates Carla McKay Lucey ’67 and Woody Mosch ’67.

Carla McKay Lucey, Woody Mosch, and Duncan Marshall got together to have lunch and reminisce about good Forman times. Duncan also caught up with Fred Downey for

Duncan Marshall ’67 has lunch with Molly and Fred Downey ’67.

N O T E S

lunch while he was in Long Island for a wedding. Fred is living in Ohio but spends as much time as possible on the family ranch in Dubois, WY. He is a Cleveland Cavaliers fan and is elated they won the NBA Championship. Julie Koehler Coopersmith is renovating and developing an apartment building in downtown Baltimore. Dave Connor recently hiked/backpacked through Glacier National Park for his 23rd consecutive year. He has hiked and backpacked thousands of miles over the years including Rocky Mountain National Park, Cascades, Glacier, Yosemite, Arches, Zion, Grand Tetons, Shenandoah, Great Smoky Mountains, Olympic National Park, Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, Banff in Canada and in Alaska, Denali, and Wrangle-St. Elias. He has detailed countless stories from his adventures in a book he wrote titled, Backpacking with God in our National Parks, and is now in the process of looking for a publisher. He writes, “The book obviously has a Christian focus in which I share how God directed our steps to deliver us from weather, bears, and our own stupidity. The dangerous, to the hilarious, the good times, the bad, the mountain highs and canyon lows with everything in between. Anyway, don’t wait for the movie.” He also reports on Alumni Weekend this past May saying, “It was so good to see many old friends back in May on Alumni Day. I challenge my classmates from ’67 to make it next May for our 50th. This year was a cool, damp day not fit for outdoor activities but just sitting and exchanging memories made the trip worthwhile. The hairs are whiter, the bodies wider, the lines deeper, Continued on page 30

A L U M N I

P R O F I L E

A Solid Foundation Trustee David White ’71 David White ’71 began attending Forman in eighth grade, having spent his foundational years in the Worcester, MA public school system. Naturally, he was nervous. “To be very honest, I was dreadfully homesick...and always looked forward to my vacations where I could be back with my family,” he admits. Although it took some time for him to adjust, White now attributes his days at Forman to the time when “it all came together,” and he thanks his parents for guiding him to the School.

“Today, I would probably be classified as a child who learned differently, and was pushed through the school system, one grade after another, resulting in low self-esteem and very poor academic results,” the successful R.H. White Construction President and CEO remembers. “My parents and one of their teacher friends knew of Forman School and decided to look into it. In the end, it was not my decision to attend, but my parents knew I needed help that I could not receive under the traditional educational system.” White, who is now on Forman’s Board of Trustees, says it was the full schedule that helped him feel more connected here. “As time went on, sports took on a new meaning, and filled that homesick void in staying very busy and active. We went to school a full six days a week, leaving Sundays for church, quiet time, and then back to study hall after watching the news with Walter Cronkite,” he remembers. “Learning how to study, realizing that I had

some athletic ability, and the rebuilding of my self-esteem allowed me finally to end up at the school of my dreams, Worcester Polytechnic Institute.” White graduated with a B.S. in Civil Engineering and went on to earn an M.S. and M.B.A. from the same school. It all started at Forman, where he finally began to believe that he could do what seemed impossible. “I learned the process of learning and to never give up, even though it was hard. Putting those together, I was able to learn and grow through the guidance of the Forman School family, using those strong skills, which I did not know that I had,” White says. At Forman, several teachers made an impact not only on his time at the School, but throughout his life. One such influence was Robert Wade, who encouraged White’s love for math and science, especially chemistry: “He helped bring the value of the sciences to my everyday life.” In addition to this academic mentor, White began a lifelong hobby

A L U M N I

P R O F I L E

at Forman. Former teacher Carl Sparfield shared a love White began his service on Forman’s Board of Trustees of photography with White, who now enjoys being the in 2014. “I have two top things to be thankful for in my designated photographer at all of the events that he attends life, putting aside my own family,” he says. “They are that and delights in the opportunity to capture memories with my parents never gave up on me, and that they sent me to his two new grandchildren. Forman School. I owe my success to Forman School, who Family is White’s first priority, and this, as well as the value helped me to become what I am today. It is now my turn of hard work, was instilled in him at a young age. “Being the to give back to Forman, with my time and experience as a third generation of a family business, it was always implied general contractor and business leader in the community.” that I would work for the family business,” he remembers. With all of the new facilities and programs at Forman, Thankfully, though, R.H. White was the perfect career to White says he “would love to turn the clock back and be aspire to and was in line with his natural interests. “I grew able to go back and really enjoy those same five years that up loving to run equipment, and working in the field. On all I had as a young boy.” And, he adds, that with the many my vacations from Forman, I ended up being put on a crew changes here at the School, “there are also many things that in the field learning some new task, and earning some much have not changed: giving opportunity to those who learn needed spending money.” Nearly 50 years later, he has no differently, as well as the building of self-esteem, confidence, regrets. “Now, I have three of my own children and one sonand the passion for creating and following one’s dream.” in-law who are following in my footsteps.” It’s the last part which he emphasizes to current students: David is the third White to successfully lead the “Enjoy the time you have at Forman. Take advantage of all construction company, which is one of the oldest in New of the great programs. Find your passion – and have fun!” England (established 1923), and he has continued to build quite a legacy. He is responsible for the overall operation of the company and is President of subsidiaries WhiteWater, Inc. and White Development Corporation. Under his direction, revenues have grown to over $100 million and the company has continued to invest heavily in technology, both in the field and in the office, providing the highest level of service. White has set a course for “sustainable profitable growth” for the company while maintaining its reputation as a recognized leader in the industry. With a life as full as his (including serving as Board Chair of multiple nonprofits and his hobbies of biking, boating, water skiing, snow skiing, fishing, and hunting), one might Tom White, David White and his wife of 40 years Shirley White, Jessica White, granddaughter think it would leave time for little Elizabeth Whitney, Heather (White) Whitney, granddaughter Callia Whitney, Jared Whitney, else. But, with a heart of gratitude, Alana (White) Giddens, and Dan Giddens.

C L A S S

N O T E S

but we are still who we have always been, ourselves. Hope to see you all in May. For those who haven’t been on campus for a while, you will be amazed at the changes and yet much remains as we remember it.”

Nancy Walton Marikar rakiram@aol.com _____________________________

Eleanor “Misty” Toby Gundeck is glad she made it through the 30 inches of snow she got in Harrisburg, PA. Her beagle, Harley, loves the snow. Her son, Jordan (39), is living in Boston and her son, Parker (36), was married recently to wife Kathleen and they are residing in New Jersey. She reports that Parker and Kathleen are expecting a child and she is extremely excited to become a grandmother!

Davis A. Dewey davisdeweysr@gmail.com Scott M. Sutherland jms208@aol.com _____________________________

Mike Finnely lives in Florida and has an active life as an arborist. He fondly remembers his days of rock climbing and the Forman crew team.

Craig J. Hanson craigjhanson@yahoo.com Andrew Krens Jr. drew_krens@yahoo.com _____________________________

Jay Petri has been married to Ali for 40 years, has three kids in three time zones, each married, and all are happy and doing well. Jay is retired from 30 years of Commercial Banking. He writes, “I was forced to retire in 2009 due to a diagnosis of stage IV lung cancer. I started experimental chemo immediately, which resulted in stabilizing this cancer. It allowed me to move on to, now, two additional experimental oral targeted therapies which have since been approved by the FDA. A diagnosis and notice of six months to live has turned into a gift of life and survivorship. It now has been six and a half years. I’m happy to see old friends. I have spent much time researching family archives that are extensive and recently discovered they go back to the 1700s. I also just acquired a 1955 MG TF 1500 for fun. David White and I have spoken to many classmates trying to get participants to come back for reunion. It has been great renewing old friendships!” Sue Grimm Weiner lives in Florida and traveled to the Cape to visit her family in June. Bruce Mark wrote in with thoughts of great friends and crazy times at Forman. He was a Broadcast Engineer but retired some time ago to be the family manager of the finances and real estate.

Kathy Lovett Weymouth is the Dean of Students at the Holderness School. Rosalie Maury Chanler reports that she has new grandchildren on the way! Margaret Emery Swingle is retired and enjoys relaxing in the log cabin her husband built. We wish her well on the total knee and hip replacement surgery she will be having.

th reunion

David E. Swift not_too@hotmail.com _____________________________

David Swift is living in Florida and is a 911 dispatcher for the South Walton Fire District. He started dispatching six years ago after retiring from a 38 year career as a firefighter. He has two grandchildren, Brandon (five) and Emmett (four), and says, “I love these little guys to the end of time.” David would love to be in touch with classmates – his contact info is in the notes above. Peter Jackowitz reports that all is well. His son, Matthew, is getting married this fall to his soul mate, Ashleigh, and Peter says he is equally as proud of his other children, Amy, Dana, and Shelby.

Joan G. Bielizna joanrealtor@snet.net _____________________________

Class Agent: Paula Nichols-Dille _____________________________

C L A S S

Diana Curtis Price Dcprice2000@aol.com _____________________________

Hilary L. Taylor Hilzo@aol.com _____________________________

Kendra R. Van Pelt sassyk105@gmail.com _____________________________

Lynsey Steineke-LaPlace has been living on the Connecticut shore for the last 30 years. She says, “I am married to a wonderful man and have three beautiful daughters ages 30, 28, and 14. I have five grandchildren who are my pride and joy and love having my family around.”

Peter G. M. Roberts pgmroberts@hotmail.com

40th reunion

_____________________________

Liz Vreeland recently moved from New Jersey to Pennsylvania. She has worked at Old Navy for the past 10 years.

_____________________________

We are sad to report the passing of Mark Holm in early May 2016.

Gardiner S. Mulford gardiner@mulfordrealty.com _____________________________

Bill McCoy is working and taking care of his kids and two dogs. He reports, “Life is good.”

N O T E S

th reunion

Matthew L. LaFlamme matt_laflamme@msn.com _____________________________

Andrew Y. Covert andrewycovert@gmail.com _____________________________

Peter M. Ahlfeld pahlfeld@gmail.com Christopher D. Gaynor cdgaynor@gmail.com Nancy Robinson Swift nancysunnyswift@yahoo.com _____________________________

Jeff Nichols produced a Comedy Night fundraiser for the Southampton, NY Fire Department Antiques Committee. The show raised $7,600 to help restore a 1937 GMC Hose Wagon.

Jeff Nichols ’84 and Chris Gaynor ’84 came together for the Southampton, NY Fire Department fundraiser.

Chris Gaynor is a Lieutenant at the SFD and the fire truck was bought new for use by Chris’ Company. The Antiques Chairman asked if anyone knew a comedian and the introduction to Jeff was made! Jeff brought in Sandy Marks, Dan Naturman, and Lynne Koblitz, all national acts, to do the show with Jeff acting as MC and producer. In the process, Jeff fell in love with the old trucks, especially the 1912 LaFrance City Ladder that has been in the SFD since it was delivered.

Jennie Alexandre Bono jenniebono@yahoo.com William L. Freeman freeman.will@gmail.com _____________________________

A L U M N I

P R O F I L E

Dyslexia as a Superpower Heidi Mayfield ’91 “I’m very dyslexic,” Heidi Mayfield ’91 exclaims proudly. She is certainly not afraid to talk about her learning difference. In fact, she says, “Being dyslexic has been my superpower in Hollywood.”

What many people might see as an obstacle in a person’s career has actually been an advantage for this television and film set decorator. “Being a movie decorator, when I am doing the walk-through with the director, I can just see it,” she says in regards to her imagination and eye for what will work. “I read once that dyslexic people can envision things that aren’t there yet, and their brains work on this very broad horizon that others can’t see.” This broad horizon she speaks of has landed her work on television shows like Ally McBeal, Felicity, Entourage, Longmire, Vegas, and House of Cards, and films such as This Must Be the Place, Power Rangers, 3:10 to Yuma, The Avengers, and The Homesman. And that’s just a small portion of her extensive portfolio. Mayfield has been a go-getter for many years, but wasn’t thriving academically before coming to Forman School as a junior. “At the boarding school I went to before, I was known as the ‘dyslexic person.’ They didn’t know what to do with me,” she says. Born in Santa Fe, NM, her family moved to New Hampshire and she found out about Forman through some friends who were already students at the School. The difference was palpable when she arrived on campus. “I loved being there because I didn’t feel different. The way I learned wasn’t an issue anymore. I felt like a normal person; I went to school, I played soccer,” she says.

“I started to feel like myself again.” Mayfield was also on the ski team, frequently went on school camping trips, and her interest in drama was sparked through the theater program. “I did a lot of plays, and I had the lead in The Crucible. I did a lot of drama, but in the end, I was way too shy to be in front of the camera,” she recalls. Her pursuit of the arts was encouraged by Theater and Language Training Teacher Sarah Bouchard: “If someone had that talent and personality to want to be out there in the world, she saw that. She saw your potential.” Mayfield began working on student films in college and asking drama students to act in them. Beyond the creativity it takes to work in her field, Mayfield says the practical skills she attained in the Forman classroom translated directly to her profession. “I’m incredibly organized when working on a film,” she says, and credits those executive function skills to her one-to-one teacher at Forman. On set, Mayfield has to keep track of every minute detail of her budget and research the history behind each piece she chooses. “My teacher taught me that organization would help me,” and she was right: “Now I’m one of the most organized people in my job.” With new tools to take with her, Mayfield returned to her hometown to major in Film at The College of Santa Fe, also known as Santa Fe University of Art and Design. While

A L U M N I

earning a B.A. there, she was accepted in the New York Arts Program facilitated by Ohio Wesleyan University, and was connected with internship opportunities in the entertainment business for the summer. “People told me there were only internships available at places like MTV, and I said, ‘I’m going to work at Saturday Night Live,’” she remembers. And at first they were right. Mayfield, who was an aspiring writer at the time, interviewed at Dateline. The interviewer told her there were no positions there, but that she had a friend at SNL who was looking. Heidi calls this part “destiny.” She first landed a photography gig with the famous Edie Baskin. Because most interns were only available part-time, Mayfield had a leg up. “I was full-time. That was my job,” she says. Through Emmy Award-winning producer Marci Klein (30 Rock), she ended up filling the rest of her work hours at, you guessed it, Saturday Night Live. With a place in the writer’s room alongside the likes of Adam Sandler, Norm Macdonald, Tim Meadows, David Spade, and Chris Farley, she says, “It was the most magical experience of my life.” Mayfield was the Research Assistant for Macdonald’s Weekend Update segment, and became close with Farley when they discovered the coincidence that their grandmothers lived in the same complex in Florida. “Chris took me under his wing. Everyone was so nice,” she says. From watching The Simpsons with Sandler, mentor sessions with Al Franken, grabbing a bite to eat with the cast after the show, to dinner parties with celebrities, she was in a self-described “mesh of glamour.”

P R O F I L E

With hard work and great collaboration, Mayfield assumed a career in Hollywood would be smooth sailing. SNL certainly kick-started her career, starting with an internship on the television show, Lazarus Man. As she worked on more and more sets, the young professional had a reality check: “Hollywood can be cutthroat, but I really loved my job and when you’re an eager beaver like I was, you keep going.” And she’s glad she did. Creating a world on sets transforms her into a historian of sorts, researching period-appropriate pieces and ensuring they are perfect. “I love the westerns I have worked on, like Appaloosa and 3:10 to Yuma. I researched all the stuff from the 1800s, from calendars, chairs, and clocks, to what color the paper in a mailroom might be,” she says. “I need things to be exact to their period from the wallpaper, to a sofa or a bed. My job is to make sure all these items are exact to the period that the film takes place. I have to do all the clearances and legal work as well and get everything approved. A lot goes into making the sets look right.” One might think that the most exciting work is on big blockbusters like The Avengers, but Mayfield prefers some of the smaller sets, such as Entourage and Fanboys. Mayfield has worked as a department head on films and series with the biggest names in the business, many of whom have won Academy Awards and Emmys, and believes that learning differently has made it all possible. “You can do anything that you want to do. Don’t let anyone stop you,” she says. “If you have a learning difference, use that side of your brain. There’s always going to be people who make you feel different, but remember that dyslexic people are really smart in ways that mainstream people might not be.” Mayfield says she is happy that more and more high profile stars are beginning to openly discuss their dyslexia like Keanu Reeves, Tom Cruise, and Jennifer Aniston. Busy as she is, the Forman alumna finds time for a quiet life away of the spotlight. Off set, she can be found hiking, swimming, or doing just about anything outdoors, and she is a life coach and blogger at heidielizabethmayfield.com. This superwoman seems to do it all, and she owes it to her “superpower.” To current Forman students, she says, “Dyslexia is your superpower, too.” Look out for Heidi Mayfield’s latest work on the 2016 summer thriller, Careful What You Wish For, starring Nick Jonas, Isabel Lucas, and Dermot Mulroney.

Late actor Chris Farley with Heidi Mayfield ’91 while working on Saturday Night Live in 1995

C L A S S

N O T E S

Eric Abramson continues to work on several projects including his documentary that explores firefighters and EMS technicians called Wounded Without Weapons. He is also shooting concerts and other content with 360 spherical video systems and is writing a television pilot script. Wilhelm Ostern took a holiday this summer to Akureyri Island where he spent two weeks circumventing the island of volcanoes and waterfalls. Stanley Bator is living in Stratford, CT and working at CT Transit. His son, Andrew, just finished first grade and attended summer camp at Ninigret Park in Charlestown, RI.

Sherman Finch is a professor at Texas A&M University in the Department of Visualization. We are sorry to report the death of Val Hammond, who passed away in 2014.

Rob P. Tarantino Rob_Tarantino@ML.com

Lisa Richardson Palmer larfal@aol.com _____________________________

th reunion

Holly Jones Weisenburger holly@theweisenburgers.com _____________________________

Holly Jones Weisenburger brought her family to campus this summer. They had a lacrosse tournament in the area and stayed with Paul Dowd. In this small world, her husband ran into Marie Spinnler Gooding and her family at a lacrosse field in Wellesley, MA. Holly adds, “Hope everyone has saved the date for our 30th reunion May 5, 2017! Looking forward to seeing you then!”

Neesha Nicks Allen nallen@ec.rra.com _____________________________

Sean P. Maguire smaguire21@verizon.com Curt F. Pfannenstiehl curtpfan@baystate.edu W. David Thorn Jr. dthorn30@yahoo.com _____________________________

Congratulations to Nicholas Kraus and his fiancée, Aubrey, on the birth of their daughter, Veronica, on November 18, 2015. Nick gave the Commencement Address to Forman’s Class of 2016.

Jennifer Winkler Balzi jenrwink@gmail.com Karine Opdyke Lawrence karinelawrence@yahoo.com _____________________________

STAY CON N ECTED 34

Amy Owen Stettner aostett@hotmail.com

Jenny Virgopia jennyvirgopia@aol.com _____________________________

th reunion

_____________________________

In August, Sara Jackson Mayhew started her 16th year of teaching students in the Exceptional Children Program. She and her husband have a 20 year-old (Maya) who is currently in the social work program at UNC Charlotte. Their nine year-old son, Jack, is starting the fourth grade in August. She writes, “Jack and I are planning to visit next summer (2017). I want him to see how wonderful Forman is. He needs the support, encouragement, and self-esteem boost that only Forman can give.”

Kenneth I. Deane kenneth.deane@gmail.com Gilah E. Gersten gilahg@gmail.com _____________________________

C L A S S

Christopher D. Kellogg Brooke H. Labriola bhlabriola@gmail.com Drew S. Weinstein weinstein.drew@gmail.com _____________________________

Marikay Geib marikaygeib212@msn.com Lauren Cuticelli Patton lauren@cuticelli.com Tyler Renn strenn@hotmail.com _____________________________

We are sorry to report the passing of Matthew Bandecchi on January 5, 2016 at his home in West Virginia.

97 Brian Semler ’95, Todd Fontaine, Jonathan Rosenfield ’95, Megan Rosenfield, and Meredith McClean Fontaine ’94 have a small reunion on Martha’s Vineyard.

Meredith Fontaine met up with Jonathan Rosenfield ’95 and Brian Semler ’95 during a summer trip to Martha’s Vineyard. Drew Weinstein reports that he is doing well and is working for Amazon and his father’s medical practice. His son, Ethan, turned one recently and his daughter, Emily, is three.

th reunion

Abbie Graham Durkin a bbiedurkin@gmail.com _____________________________

Abbie Graham Durkin is married with two little boys: Graham (six) and Archie (two). She owns a store that has two locations and they keep her working around the clock. Abbie says, “I do think Forman helped me. I got to spend four years with people I would never had met, befriended, and learned from if it weren’t for Forman.” Walker Terry is working in Atlanta, GA as a sales manager for

Alumni Class Agents Needed for the following classes: 1946 1947 1948 1949

1951 1952 1953 1955

1957 1958 1959 1970

1977 1979 1992 2002

If you are interested in reaching out to your classmates and collecting Class Notes, please contact Danielle Plante in the alumni office at danielle.plante@formanschool.org. We would so appreciate your help!

JobBoard. He has a beautiful nine year-old daughter named Emily. Congratulations to Konstantin Voswinkel who was married last year and has a ten-month old son. He is working in real estate and lives in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Susan A. Schonfeld suzy195954@aol.com _____________________________

Christina E. Bodine-Aysseh ChristinaBodine@msn.com

Elizabeth Hanway Johnson eahanway@gmail.com

Allison Herron Gsell allison_herron@hotmail.com

Jessica Davis Raitz jessica.raitz@gmail.com _____________________________

Elizabeth G. Thomas lizgthomas@yahoo.com _____________________________

Congratulations to Christine Bodine-Aysseh and her husband, Nick, on the birth of their baby girl, Charlotte June Aysseh, on April 25, 2016. Charlotte joins big brother Austin.

N O T E S

Congratulations to Brian Hastings and his wife, Heather, on the birth of their son, Becket Henry Hastings, born on December 9, 2015. Charlotte June Aysseh, daughter of Christina Bodine-Aysseh and Nick Aysseh, joins big brother Austin.

A L U M N I

P R O F I L E

Stairway to Success James Reiss ’91 James Reiss ’91 sees problems and solves them. Since the early days of his career, he has been assessing business needs and developing software to address them. Reiss has written in programming languages like C, C++, C#, and Java to actualize his ideas, from designing and prototyping to planning and implementation.

In his current role as the Head of Software Development at JD Capital Management LLC in Greenwich, CT, Reiss is actively involved in the firm’s technology architecture, infrastructure, and security, and has built systems from the ground up such as a real-time risk management software platform. But years before he was an experienced technology professional, James was a student who struggled in school. At public school, each year became more difficult. Resource rooms hardly helped and homework was nearly impossible. His caring parents enrolled him in summer school and tutoring, which began to make a difference, but it wasn’t quite enough. “By freshman year of high school...I

knew I needed structure and hoped a boarding school would take away most of the distractions I had at home that kept me from my studies,” Reiss says. Originally from suburban New Jersey, he found out about Forman from a cousin and decided to give it a try. Change didn’t come right away. Adjusting to living with roommates and being away from family and friends was a challenge, and it reflected in his grades. “By winter break, my grades were still very low. I was just sliding by as I always had done,” he recalls. It was a heartfelt pep talk from his father that pushed Reiss to prove himself. That honest discussion, along with mentors at Forman, were just what

Reiss needed. “My roommate was so dedicated to his studies. At first, I was annoyed that he was staying up late studying while I was trying to sleep,” he says. “Thinking I’d give him a taste of his own medicine, I started studying late too trying to be the last one to turn off the lights. Turns out he was the role model I needed most in my life at this point.” As his grades improved, so did his self-esteem. With confidence came ambition, and Reiss soon discovered his interest in leading initiatives. He pitched and planned two major projects at Forman. The first was to make a direct path connecting Williams Academic Building with Peirce Dining Hall. “I knew this was something I wanted

A L U M N I

to bring to life and was eager to contribute something back that would be permanent,” he remembers. It was a grand undertaking including “cutting down trees, clearing brush, moving huge granite slabs of stone, and building a bridge to cross the stream and low wetland. We tried to be resourceful to keep costs down by recycling materials whenever possible.” Telephone poles from an old tow rope provided a structural frame for the bridge, and Reiss’s resourcefulness didn’t end there. The next concept came when he noticed that the path became slippery when wet, so Reiss pitched a rough design and materials list for a solution to the headmaster. The steep hill between the buildings was soon outfitted with stairs. “At the time, I felt I was giving back to the School, but in a sense, the School was also giving me the opportunity to grow my creative, planning, budgeting, and leadership skills,” he says. In May, Reiss visited Forman’s Ingenuity Program and was fascinated by the new course. “The class is structured much like my work environment, with each student being responsible for their project, giving status updates, and getting fine tuning adjustments and guidance from the teacher,” he says. “It is so key for young students to explore and experiment with their interests as early as possible.” At Forman, Reiss was able to do just that. Finishing with academic honors as well as the Richard Peirce and John N. Forman Awards, he went

P R O F I L E

on to major in Physics and minor in Computer Science at St. Lawrence University. He landed an IT support job shortly after, and his prospects continued to rise from there. Looking back, the software architect believes the recipe for success is to “never be afraid of failure, take calculated risks, and never give up,” all of which are lessons he learned at Forman. “I feel Forman not only provided every element I needed to be successful in my education, but also rewarded responsibility and leadership. All I had to do was reach for it, and it was at my fingertips.” If he could dream it, then he could achieve it. So he did. Reiss sits on his stairs during a visit back to Forman in 1992.

Reiss lives in upper Westchester County with his wife, Melissa, and three children, Sara, Krissy, and Tyler.

C L A S S

N O T E S

Lauren Manning O’Malley married Tim O’Malley in March 2012 at the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, FL. They have two children, Patrick (two) and Bridget (one). Lauren and her family reside in Riverside, CT.

Kevin T. Smallwood smallwkt@gmail.com _____________________________

Jesse J. E. Resnick jesse.res@gmail.com _____________________________

Matthew A. Bonzagni mattbonzagni232@charter.net Leith T. Sharp tennis315@yahoo.com _____________________________

th reunion

_____________________________

After 12 years in Indiana, Kipp Hoffman moved to Colorado to take a detective job with the Burlington Police Department. After a short stint with Burlington PD, he moved to Fort Morgan and took a job as a Sheriff’s Deputy with Morgan County, just northeast of Denver. In 2015, he proposed to his fiancée with a wedding date to be determined and started his own aerial photography company doing drone and fixed wing photography and video.

Elizabeth A. Monroe lizmonroe@comcast.net

Congratulations to Rajen Shah, who was married to Stacy Jaikaran, on July 19, 2015. They are currently living in White Plains, NY and Raj is a police officer with the Mt. Vernon Police Department. Jonathan Pace graduated with honors in 2015 from UC Berkeley, earning a B.A. in Political Science. Jon is now teaching English in Shenyang, China and loving every minute. Jordon Koshgarian lives in the greater Chicago area and he is excitedly awaiting the arrival of twin babies. Adam Grabish completed his mechanical engineering degree at Colorado State University and is working as an engineer at Tug Technologies in the Atlanta area. Ty Roberson is loving life in Portland, OR, and is making the world better as a licensed clinical social worker.

Pearse P. Matthews pmatthews@hillhooks.org Cyril P. Thornton thorntcp@gmail.com _____________________________

Courtney Powell Lupold and her husband, Mitch, are traveling the U.S. for their jobs. Mitch is an Iron Worker and Tig Welder and Courtney works at the same company as a traveling chef. They have been all over the U.S. and have enjoyed such sites as The Alamo, Bourbon Street, River Walk, Roswell, The Grand Canyon, and now the mountains all over California.

Laura J. Goodkind LJGoodkind@msn.com Kathryn S. John john.katie@gmail.com _____________________________

Patrick Coakley is married to his wife, Caroline, whom he met in college at Ohio Wesleyan. He works for his family business, Package Automation Company, and is responsible for sales across western New York, Ohio, and 38

northwest Pennsylvania. The business focuses on providing packaging equipment and line automation across several industries. Pat says, “I always think about Forman and hope everyone is well and happy.”

Alyson Vitiello Rebibo and new husband Jason Rebibo at their May 22 nuptials.

After graduating from Forman, Alyson Vitiello Rebibo attended the University of Arizona and then moved to Los Angeles, CA, where “due to the love and support given at Forman,” she pursued a teaching career. She has taught various ages and subjects,

C L A S S

but has found her calling in teaching preschool. She met her husband, Jason, in 2010 and we congratulate them on their recent marriage on May 22, 2016! Cyril Thornton is having a ton of fun in Washington, D.C., and is leading teams of software engineers for MS3. Mickey Nagle is moving in with his girlfriend in NYC and is working as a Senior Business Consultant for Protoviti.

Ian C. Hayward barret12.7mm@gmail.com _____________________________

Congratulations to Luke Bornheimer, who married Emily Glick on May 23, 2015 in Golden Gate Park’s Shakespeare Garden, and went on a three-month honeymoon to Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, and Colorado, exploring new areas and visiting friends and family along the way. Now, he is back in San Francisco and has founded a travel-related startup,

YourLocalMe, that gives travelers curated recommendations that are personalized to their tastes and preferences. He invites alumni in the area or passing through to contact him at lukebornheimer@gmail.com. Daniel Getz is living in Highland Park, IL and is working for Tesla Motors. Lindsay Callahan is a full-time Special Education teacher during the year, and during the summer, she teaches summer school and works at an ice cream shop. She is happy to report that she will be meeting Red Sox player David Ortiz.

th reunion

Shannon W. Hallenbeck shannon.hallenbeck@gmail.com _____________________________

Audrey Stout Micca is loving life in Vermont with her husband, T.J., and her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Chloe. She owns a childcare business that keeps her very busy. Parker Beard has been working at the Durham Convention Center in Durham, NC for over a year. He is the Operations Supervisor. He writes, “A few months ago, I had to temporarily take on the role as the Operations Director. It was a great way to experience the top level in my department, and it gave me hope to know I can move up someday! I still set up rooms for weddings, conference meetings, graduations, fairs, parties, buffets, etc. When I have the free time, I like to meet up with my classmate and friend Shannon Hallenbach!”

N O T E S

Hannah Dodd Morton hmorton1008@gmail.com _____________________________

Phil Cunningham is part-owner of Arts and Crafts Beer Parlor with locations in Greenwich Village and SoHo. ACBP claims it “is not your typical beer joint or sports bar. Rather, ACBP is the antithesis of a sports bar: an extension of your living room – a place to entertain guests with quality conversation in a warm atmosphere over a pint of great craft beer or a glass of fine wine. It is a cultural center where the art adorning the walls changes as frequently as the 24 beers on tap.” Slater Lawrence is living in NYC and working for a start-up private equity firm called Cavendish Global. The company invests in health and tech sectors, from pharmaceuticals to technology for clean water in Africa. Slater is the Director of Strategic Alliances. Amelia Packard is a vet tech at an animal hospital. She has a three yearold son.

Justin W. DeCausey justindecausey@gmail.com Candice R. Earlington wacky_candy@hotmail.com Kelly Solk ksolk90@gmail.com _____________________________

Jeffrey Bell completed an internship with The Film Connection last year. He has now been a grip on four movie sets.

Luke and Emily Bornheimer were married on May 23, 2015 in San Francisco.

C L A S S

N O T E S

Cameron S. Billik csbillik@gmail.com Gretchen G. Conyers gretchc23@gmail.com Dayne J. Price dayneprice@gmail.com _____________________________

th reunion

Lauren A. Morrow lauren.morrow1993@gmail.com Shelby L. Pierce shelby.pierce93@gmail.com

Rachel C. Hafer rcatharinee@gmail.com Nicholas V. Manzella nv.manzella@gmail.com Michael D. Satalic msatalic@saic.edu _____________________________

Rachel Hafer is studying Sustainability and Park Management in Fiji and Australia this summer, and will be a Research Assistant for The Body Project at Arizona State University in the fall, a body acceptance program clinically proven to reduce negative self talk and eating disorder symptoms among young women. Emily Johnson is working at an art center in Gaithersburg, MD. She taught middle and high school students during the school year and during the summer, she runs the mixed media camp. She is excited

alumni weekend

MAY 5-7, 2017 SAVE THE DATE!

about a future job opportunity where she could be working in art galleries on cruise ships.

Daniel S. Sotherland dsslandscaping@comcast.net _____________________________

Julia Lesser is a student at Northeastern University in Boston, MA, where she majors in Human Services. In addition to school, she works for an interior designer as a Design Assistant, which she loves. After graduation, she plans to apply to graduate school programs to receive her Ph.D in social work and will also join a certification program for interior design. Daniel Sotherland is working hard to grow his business, DSS Landscaping, and has an “A” rating on both Angie’s List and Home Advisor. Jake Ratkevich graduated from Skidmore College in May 2016, with a Bachelor of Arts, Magna Cum Laude in Mathematics. He will be participating in the premiere Skidmore Jazz Institute this summer, working with gifted educators and world class performers, and then will be heading off to NYC and Chicago to play some gigs. Lauren Morrow is a Nursing Assistant at the Veterans Hospital in Leeds, MA. She is also being reappointed on the Phillipston Fire Department as a First Responder/ Firefighter and is studying to take the national test for her EMT certification.

David R. Buckley davidB21@gmail.com Francis R. Fiore fffiore27@gmail.com Mark A. Malburg mmalburg@elon.edu _____________________________

Congratulations to Christopher Kelly, who made the Dean’s List at Stetson University. Tyler McGeehan is living in Pennsylvania and working for a small Internet Service Provider while studying to get certifications in the IT field. He plans to move to Boston, MA to pursue a degree in IT Management. David Buckley spent the summer interning with a public relations firm in London. In the fall, he will be going back to the East Coast to complete his final year at Fairfield University. Abraham Friedman is embarking on his senior year at the University of Denver. We are sad to report that Billy Ciccio passed away on March 9, 2016 after a battle with cancer.

Natalie R. Canterbury nataliecanterbury386@yahoo.com Grant A. Oslan grant.oslan@comcast.net Jacob Sussman jacob.sussman33@gmail.com Coleman C. Walker colewalker1@me.com _____________________________

Jake Sussman was inaugurated into Hillel International’s Student Cabinet alongside 21 other student leaders from around the world.

C L A S S

N O T E S

FACULTY NOTES

Sarah Auch sarahauch@aol.com Emily Cross emilycross9@gmail.com David Shaw davidshaw1213@gmail.com Dominic Weir domweir@gmail.com _____________________________

Ava May Bass

Bria, Alaina, and Brycen Langill

Allie Gluck is finishing up her first year at Purdue. She is in the process of becoming an EMT and is a member of the Purdue sailing team. Emily Cross finished her freshman year at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore. Her work was chosen to be shown in the school’s Foundation Show this coming Fall 2016. Emily is excited to see Forman’s art program expanding with the addition of the new Visual and Performing Arts Center!

Jeoffrey Langill and his wife, Ashli, welcomed their third child, Alaina Rose Langill, on April 2, 2016.

Christin and Matt Bass welcomed their first child, Ava May Bass, on May 6, 2016. Meredith and Jon Davis welcomed their first child, Benjamin Charles Davis, on June 3, 2016.

Lucie Plante

Danielle and Matt Plante welcomed their second child, Lucie Alexandra Plante, on March 16, 2016. Zack and Lindsay Zampaglione were married in Danbury, CT on July 8, 2016.

Jake Sussman (fifth from left) becomes part of Hillel International’s Student Cabinet.

Meredith and Jon Davis with son Benjamin

Zack and Lindsay Zampaglione

C L A S S

N O T E S

IN MEMORIAM Matt Bandecchi ’96 Billy Cicio ’13 Janet Dennison Frake ’60 Mark Holm ’78 Henry Miliken ’45 Carolyn Frazier Sanders ’50 Matthew Bandecchi ’96 passed away at his home in West Virginia on January 5, 2016. He was born in Concord on February 26, 1977, the youngest of three sons born to Edward J. Bandecchi and Linda Hitchcock Bandecchi. Matt grew up in Deerfield, MA and following high school, Matthew worked in AmeriCorps, where he made many friends while creating handicapped accessible trails in Hawley State Park in Massachusetts. Matt enjoyed participating in family conferences at the Isle of Shoals and Star Island. Matt was a rugged individualist with eclectic interests, including cooking, music, as well as sketching and painting natural scenes inspired by the woods of his boyhood home, the ocean, and the mountains of West Virginia. Matt was a special soul with a beautiful smile, an infectious laugh, and wonderful sense of humor. He is survived by his wife, Grace, and his beloved dog, Baily, in West Virginia; his mother, Linda; and brother Keith, of Naples, FL; and many other family members in the Connecticut area. He was predeceased by his father, Edward Bandecchi, and his brother, Michael Bandecchi.

William Michael Cicio, II ’13 passed away peacefully on March 9, 2016, at his home in Washington, CT, following a long struggle with cancer. He leaves behind his parents, Susan and William, as well as his siblings, Alyssa and Ryan, and his beloved grandfather, William J. Cicio, beloved aunts, Christine Standridge, Nancy Cassano, Clare Matis, Laura Healion, Virginia Matis, beloved uncles, Michael Matis, Michael Standridge, Anthony Cassano, Kevin Healion and beloved cousins Amy, Andrew, Anthony, Cami, Caroline, Elizabeth, Jessica, James Jae, Matthew, and Sean. Billy was born in Huntington, NY, March 21, 1995, the first day of spring. He attended several schools early on, while struggling to overcome his dyslexia. He graduated with honors from Forman, where he was elected to the National Honor Society and was selected to be a school ambassador and became the captain of both the Whitewater Kayaking team and the Boat Building team. He played bass and guitar in the school’s jazz and rock bands. As a senior, he traveled to Costa Rica to participate in the school’s Rainforest Project. He was a leader at Forman where he was universally liked and respected. Billy chose to pursue a carrier in law enforcement and was accepted to one of the top rated criminal justice programs in Albany. He decided to remain close to home and enrolled at Western Connecticut State University instead. He was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma in December 2013 and had to withdraw from school. He suffered and struggled mightily with his disease. Billy was an amazing child and young man. He faced adversity, his entire life, with unbelievable strength and courage. He touched many lives in his all too brief time on this earth.

Henry Milliken, Jr. ’45 of Duxbury, MA passed away peacefully the evening of July 18, 2015, at home, surrounded by his loving family. He was a graduate of Bard College and spent 40 years as an educator including headmaster of the Cisqua School in Mount Kisco, NY, and head of the Science Department at Derby Academy in Hingham. After retiring from his educational career, he became store manager of Bayside Marine in Duxbury. Never wanting to be described as a couch potato, Henry was a passionate gardener, avid reader, lover of cooking, computer whiz and wine maker. As a dedicated volunteer, he received the Presidential Lifetime of Service Award and the Duxbury Community Volunteer Award. His service included Meals on Wheels, gardening and being a good samaritan. He was an active member of the Duxbury Council on Aging where he served as chairman, director and committee member and was instrumental in establishing the Respite Program for Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers. He enjoyed world travelling with his wife, Sheila, was a proud member of the Duxbury Wharf Rats and served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II. He is survived by Sheila, his devoted wife of 67 years; his brother, George of Gig Harbor, WA; his children, Sophie Rogers and her husband, Pete, of Amherst, Paige Vinal and her husband, Cap, of Duxbury, Dana Sansom of Pittsfield, NH, and Henry Milliken III and his wife, Cheryl, of Monument Beach; his grandchildren, Jody Starr of St. Croix, USVI, Dustin Starr of Duxbury, Jennifer Molignano and her husband, Michael, of Maynard, and Trevor and Ian Milliken of Monument Beach.

I N

Carolyn Frazier Sanders ’50 passed away on February 15, 2016, at her residence in Charlottesville, VA. Born on May 2, 1930 in Richmond, VA, she was the daughter of the late Harry Frazier, Jr. and Eleanor Lightner Frazier. She was the wife of the late Richard Sharpe Sanders of Wytheville, VA. She attended St. Anne’s School in Charlottesville, VA and Forman School in Litchfield, CT. She also took courses at Temple University. She later worked in Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia, before happily settling in Wytheville, VA in 1981. Carolyn was a proud member and a Paul Harris Fellow of the Wytheville Rotary Club, and a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was an artist, an animal lover, and a philanthropist who passionately supported organizations in the Wytheville area, including the Wytheville Community College, the Wythe County Historical Society, and the Wythe Arts Council’s Chautauqua Festival. For many years she volunteered at the Wythe County Public Library. A strong advocate for education, in 1989 she established the Carolyn F. Sanders Scholarship Endowment at the Wytheville Community College, which has benefitted numerous students and will continue to do so. In addition, she made the lead gift and championed the construction of the William F. Snyder Auditorium at the College. She is survived by her niece, Agnes Frazier Richard, and her nephew, Harry Frazier IV, as well as by two greatnieces and five great-nephews.

M E M O R I A M

Remembering Carolyn Frazier Sanders ’50

Carolyn Frazier Sanders ’50, center, poses with a group of alumni as featured in a 1994 issue of the Forman Letter. Debra Gould Peterson ’66, Webster U. Walker ’51, Carolyn, J. Seward Johnson ’49, and President of the Board of Trustees Scott Sutherland ’69.

Carolyn Frazier Sanders ’50 once described herself as “just a country girl.” A philanthropist who gave generously, including more than $1 million to Forman School in her lifetime, she eschewed attending fancy dinners, including those that were major fundraisers. “I am just a country girl,” she declared when declining to attend a fundraising event on behalf of Forman to be held at the Waldorf Astoria in New York. But she loved the School that gave her many fond memories although she didn’t graduate. She supported Forman for many years, visited when she could, and cherished her honorary Forman diploma presented to her in 1991. Born to wealth, Carolyn enjoyed a simple life in Wytheville, VA, for many years where she was well-known for her generosity. She was a passionate advocate for giving people educational opportunities. Among her great joys after endowing a scholarship fund at Forman, was receiving letters from recipients about their activities and achievements. An artist, Carolyn was thrilled when a studio in Johnson Art Center was named in her honor. The daughter of Harry Frazier, Jr. and Eleanor Lightner Frazier, prominent residents of Richmond, VA, Carolyn married Richard Sharpe Sanders of Wytheville. He predeceased her. Carolyn died February 15, 2016, at the age of 85 in Charlottesville, VA, where she was then living. Survivors include her niece, Agnes Frazier Richard and her nephew, Harry Frazier, IV. — Mary Ann Martin Former Director of Advancement at Forman School 43

86 YEARS

Project 86: A Celebration 2016 marked 86 years of changing students’ lives at Forman School. In light of this occasion, alumni from the Class of 2015 all the way to

MORE THAN

86 GIFTS

1943 came together to celebrate with more than 86 individual gifts and 92 donors to the Annual Fund in March. This devoted support from Forman’s alumni body truly showed the unity of the Lion’s Pride. Throughout the month, we connected with our alumni and listened to countless stories about transformative experiences at Forman. Thank you to all of our alumni for sharing your lives with us and for believing in the spirit of Forman School.

PROJECT 86 “GRADUATION” AWARDS

92 DONORS

THANK YOU! 44

CLASS OF...

Valedictorian 1987 Salutatorian 1986 Citizens of Forman Award

1991

Alumni Leadership Award

1967

Alumni Excellence Award

1960

Project 86 Award

2013 & 2014

John Forman Alumni Award

1943

Special Recognition Award

1972

Decade of Forman Award

2000-2009

High Honor Roll

’67, ’85, ’86, ’87, ’89, ’91, ’07

Honor Roll

’60, ’62, ’64, ’65, ’71, ’72, ’81, ’96,

’97, ’04, ’06, ’13, ’14, ’15

Learn more about Forman giving at www.formanschool.org/giving.

Forman School 12 Norfolk Road P.O. Box 80 Litchfield, CT 06759-0080 Change Service Requested

A spirited group of the Class of 1986 celebrates their 30th Reunion at Alumni Weekend.

IMPORTANT DATES Grandparents’ Day October 5, 2016

Alumni Weekend May 5-7, 2017

Fall Parents’ Weekend October 28-29, 2016

Commencement May 27, 2017

FSC logo here

Spring Parents’ Weekend April 28-29, 2017 Printed on recycled paper.