Rafael Carbonell ’93, Co-President of the Alumni Association, ex officio
Margarita O’Byrne Curtis
Anne Matlock Dinneen ’95
Patricia Barlerin Farman-Farmaian ’85, P’21,’24
Elizabeth J. Ford P’11,’13
Alex Hurst ’97
Ignacio Jayanti P’26
Martin Kelly P’24
John Khoury ’95
Julia Tingley Kivitz ’01, Co-President of the Alumni Association, ex officio
Annika Lescott-Martinez ’06
Nisa Leung Lin ’88
Cristina Mariani-May ’89, P’23,’25
Michael J. Mars ’86
Naveen Nataraj P’24,’26
Aaron Oberman ’92, P’24,’27, President, The Hotchkiss Fund, ex officio
Carlos Pérez ’81
Christopher R. Redlich Jr. ’68
Thomas R. Seidenstein ’91, P’24
Roger K. Smith ‘78, P’08
Richard M. Weil ’81, P’23,’25
EMERITI
Howard C. Bissell ’55, P’82
John R. Chandler Jr. ’53, P’82,’85,’87, GP’10,’14,’16,’22,’27
Thomas J. Edelman ’69, P’06,’07
Lawrence Flinn Jr. ’53, GP’22
John Grube ’65, P’00
Dan W. Lufkin ’49, P’80,’82,’88,’23
Robert H. Mattoon Jr.
Robert A. Oden Jr. P’97
Kendra O’Donnell
Jean Weinberg Rose ’80, P’18
John L. Thornton ’72, P’10,’11,’16
Rebecca van der Bogert
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
AS OF NOVEMBER 1, 2024
Caroline Barlerin ’91
Rafael Carbonell ’93, Co-President of the Alumni Association
Julia Chen ’16
Ernesto Cruz III ’01, VP and Co-Chair, Admission and Engagement Committee
Danielle S. Ferguson ’97, VP and Co-Chair, Diversity and Inclusion Committee
Carlos Garcia ’77, VP and Co-Chair, Communications Committee
Whitney Gulden ’12, VP and Chair, Nominating Committee for Membership
Cameron Hough ’09, VP and Co-Chair, Nominating Committee for Awards
Julia Tingley Kivitz ’01, Co-President of the Alumni Association
Robert Kuhn ’75, VP and Co-Chair, Diversity and Inclusion Committee
Scott Meadow ’73, P’02
Keith Merrill ’02, VP and Co-Chair, Communications Committee
Daniel Pai ’19, Chair, Young Alumni Task Force
Colin Pennycooke ’89
Mark Pierce ’67, P’13, VP and Co-Chair, Admission and Engagement Committee
Gigi Brush Priebe ’77, P’06,’09
Sarah Thornton-Clifford ’76, P’07,’23
Alexandra Treyz ’04
Madison West ’05
Clara Rankin Williams ’89
Lisa Bjornson Wolf ’82
Whitney PakPour Zeta ’04, VP and Co-Chair, Nominating Committee for Awards
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS
Craig W. Bradley, Head of School
Robert R. Gould ’77, Co-President, Board of Trustees
Brooke Harlow ’92, P’28, Past Co-President, Alumni Association
Elizabeth G. Hines ’93, P’27, Co-President, Board of Trustees
Paul Mutter ’87, P’26, Past Co-President, Alumni Association
Aaron Oberman ’92, P’24,’27, President, The Hotchkiss Fund
ON THE COVER: A group of Pioneers—the women who changed Hotchkiss forever— returned to campus to commemorate 50 years of coeducation. Photo by Anne Day.
HEAD OF SCHOOL
Craig W. Bradley
CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
Hope Reisinger Cobera ’88, P’24
EDITOR
Darryl Gangloff
MAGAZINE DESIGNER
Julie Hammill
CONTRIBUTORS
Jordan Almeida ’27, Sarah Blodgett, Ira Buch ’25, Catherine Calamé, Robin Chandler ’87, Robert Chartener ’76, P’18, Maya Clark ’28, Anne Day, Eliott Grover, Jeffrey Hinz, Roberta Jenckes, Aly Morrisey, Randy O’Rourke, Ashley Opdyke ’26, Shaan Patel ’27, Erin Reid P’01,’05, Danielle Sinclair, Hannah Van Sickle, Brian Wilcox
PLEASE SEND INQUIRIES AND COMMENTS TO:
The Hotchkiss School 11 Interlaken Road Lakeville, CT 06039-2141 Email: magazine@hotchkiss.org Phone: (860) 435-3122
The Hotchkiss School does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, religion, race, color, sexual orientation, or national origin in the administration of its educational policies, athletics, or other Schooladministered programs, or in the administration of its hiring and employment practices.
Hotchkiss Magazine is produced by the Office of Communications for alumni, parents, members of the faculty and staff, and friends of the School. Letters are welcome. Please keep under 400 words. We reserve the right to edit and publish letters.
6
Women of Hotchkiss
Hotchkiss commemorates 50 years of
Enduring Gratitude
Denise Arcand McClintic ’76 shares how Hotchkiss changed her life
Temitayo Ifafore-Calfee ’99 makes a difference around the world
Inaugural MacArthur Fellows explore the globe
Under the Northern Lights
THE START OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR
marked my ninth autumn at Hotchkiss, and as always, it was filled with excitement. One hundred ninety-eight new students arrived on campus during Opening Days and were joyfully welcomed by orientation leaders and proctors. Classes, athletics, co-curriculars, clubs, and all things Hotchkiss were soon underway. Campus shone during Family Weekend, the Hotchkiss Bearcats carried Taft Day, and students rejoiced when I announced a Head of School Holiday. In many ways, this fall felt both joyful and familiar. Yet in other ways, it was a season all its own.
This year, we are commemorating the 50th anniversary of women at Hotchkiss. In September, 35 of the original female
students returned to campus for Pioneer Weekend (see their photo on the cover). A show of alumnae artists opened in Tremaine Gallery, alumni gathered in New York for an event focused on women in media, and more than 100 athletes attended a weekendlong reunion celebrating girls’ sports at Hotchkiss. We are only halfway through the year, and there is more ahead. I hope you will mark your calendars to join us in Lakeville for the gala weekend May 2-4.
In September, members of the great Classes of ’49, ’59, ’64, and ’74 came back for their respective reunions. It was particularly wonderful to see bonds of friendship that have endured for more than 75 years among members of the Class of ’49. Meanwhile, the inaugural MacArthur Fellows embarked on
their world travels over the summer, and we were delighted to receive their first reports from the field this fall.
We celebrated Temitayo Ifafore-Calfee ’99 as this year’s Community Service Award winner, honored dedicated volunteers at the annual Armitage and McKee Awards, and awarded faculty chairs to three outstanding educators. The Hotchkiss Philharmonic’s fall concert brought the audience to its feet, while HDA’s production of Chicago brought down the house. The Hotchkiss Swimathon celebrated its 30th year with visiting Special Olympics athletes and coaches from Slovakia, and thanks to the hard work of the St. Luke’s Society, we held the School’s most successful blood drive.
Seniors kick off an annual night of caroling with Craig W. Bradley at Frank House.
Above it all, in a spectacular October display, danced the Northern Lights.
Throughout the fall, students enjoyed meals and entertainment in the Ford Food Court as construction on the new Dining Commons progressed. Adding an element of fun, the campus community as well as parents of the Class of ’25 had a chance to leave an indelible mark on the new facility by signing a beam that was later installed in the new Commons. We also welcomed visiting sculptures by artist Joy Brown, on loan to the School through the end of the academic year.
In November, I had the great pleasure of returning to Beijing and Shanghai for the first time since the pandemic, and I visited Hong Kong. Erby Mitchell, assistant head of School and dean of admission and financial aid; Ninette Enrique, chief advancement officer; and Johanna Hahn, director of leadership giving, also spent time in Seoul. Everywhere we traveled, we were struck by the warmth of the receptions we received. Being among so many generations of familiar Hotchkiss faces, including grandparents, parents, current students, younger siblings, and hopeful applicants, was a powerful reminder of the strength of our global community.
As winter break approached, students, faculty, and staff enjoyed celebrations of the holidays. The community played in the first snowfall, gathered for Lessons & Carols in the Chapel, built gingerbread houses, made latkes, enjoyed Hanukkah
and holiday dinners, selected and donated gifts for area families in need, and a great deal more. A jubilant senior class visited Elizabeth and me at Frank House to decorate the holiday tree and kick off their annual night of campus caroling.
Since returning from winter break, school is back in full swing, and Long Winter Weekend is on the horizon.
As you may have seen, in January, I announced that I will retire at the end of the 2025-26 academic year. If you missed the communications from me and Co-Presidents of the Board Liz Hines ’93 and Bob Gould ’77, you will find them posted on hotchkiss.org.
Since Elizabeth and I arrived in the fall of 2016, the aspect of Hotchkiss that has been the most meaningful to us has been all of you: students, faculty, staff, trustees, alumni, parents, grandparents, and friends of the School from across generations. We are inspired by your excellence and uplifted by the unyielding love and loyalty that you feel for your School.
It is a special privilege to lead this wonderful community. I remain at the helm for the next year and a half, and I look forward to the good work to come!
All good wishes,
Craig W. Bradley
SAVE THE DATE:
Join us in Lakeville May 2-4, 2025 for a special weekend celebrating the 50th anniversary of women and coeducation at Hotchkiss. All are welcome.
Enjoy a variety of events in honor of this milestone, including the premiere of a documentary film in Walker Auditorium and an exhibition in Tremaine Art Gallery.
Activities over the weekend will include exhibits showcasing the history of coeducation and women’s contributions to our community; student panels; campus tours; home games; and an evening celebration with dinner, dancing, and toasts in honor of the alumnae and others who have shaped Hotchkiss since 1974.
More information is coming soon.
Fairfield Farm offers a spectacular view of the Northern Lights.
A MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
BY ROBERT CHARTENER ’76, P’18
The Board of Trustees met virtually on Aug. 21 and in person in Lakeville from Sept. 26 to 28. Here are some highlights from the meetings:
Dining Commons Update – Head of School
Craig W. Bradley led several discussions about the Dining Commons, a major campus construction project that is well underway. Some soil remediation issues necessitated a delay in the schedule, but the new Dining Commons is scheduled to open in December 2025. The interim dining location in the William and Martha Ford Indoor Tennis Courts—known as the Ford Food Court— has proved popular with students.
50th Anniversary of Coeducation – Two weeks prior to the September meeting, Hotchkiss celebrated the 50th anniversary of the first day of coeducation at Hotchkiss, which was Sept. 10, 1974. The School hosted a weekend attended by 35 of the original 89 female students. Alumnae had the opportunity to meet with students, attend classes, view an archival exhibition about the decision to go coed and the first year of coeducation, enjoy an art exhibit of alumnae work in Tremaine At Gallery, attend facilitated sessions on historical sexual misconduct issues, and enjoy a celebration dinner. Several additional anniversary events will be held throughout the year.
Admission – Hotchkiss is returning to standardized admission testing this year after relaxing the requirement during COVID.
College Matriculation – The Board had an extensive discussion with Christoph Guttentag, dean of admissions at Duke University, about the dramatic changes in college admission during the last 15 years in particular. Overall applications increased by 50 percent during a four-year period beginning with the 2007 recession, and they further increased at the beginning of the COVID epidemic. Duke saw its applications rise from under 12,000 in the 1980s to 54,000 today. Additional factors include a near-tripling of the number of high schools sending applicants to top colleges, changes in universities’ admission priorities, and diversity in its broadest sense. Guttentag commented on the need to choose the “most interesting students from among the smart ones,” leading to greater care in reading student essays.
Investments – Trustee Anne Matlock Dinneen ’95 reported that the Hotchkiss endowment returned a robust 10.7 percent on its investments in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, growing assets to approximately $600 million. The year was strong for public market securities, and Hotchkiss benefited from overweight exposure to the asset class and strong performance from individual managers. Hedge funds and gold also contributed double-digit returns during the
year. While private assets lagged behind their public counterparts, they did contribute positive performance in 2024; since inception, private equity and venture capital assets have generated a 20 percent annualized return for the endowment versus a public market equivalent return of 6.4 percent. While the Investment Committee remains confident that private assets will be a strong driver of long-term performance for the portfolio, the endowment is well-diversified and designed to weather a variety of economic and political environments.
New Trustees Elected – The Board welcomed two new ex-officio members, Rafe Carbonell ’93 and Julia Tingley Kivitz ’01. They serve as co-presidents of the Board of Governors of the Hotchkiss Alumni Association, which entitles them to serve as full trustees during the course of their terms. Margarita Curtis, Ph.D., and Roger Smith ’78 P’08 were elected as term trustees. A native of Colombia, Dr. Curtis was a department chair and later dean of studies at Andover, and she served as head of school at Deerfield for 13 years. She is an awardwinning educator and scholar who now serves as a partner of Strategic School Leadership. Smith served as a Hotchkiss trustee from 2010 to 2023; his many achievements include serving as chair of the audit and risk committee and as chair of the search committee that identified Craig W. Bradley. We welcome all four to the Hotchkiss Board.
Volunteers Honored for Distinguished Service
Jennifer Appleyard-Martin ’88, Renee Kaspar P’26, and Pragati Shah P’26 received awards for their service to Hotchkiss at a ceremony at the Harvard Club in New York City in October. The School is deeply grateful for their continued support.
Jennifer
Appleyard-Martin ’88
2024 ARMITAGE AWARD RECIPIENT
The Armitage Award is named in honor of the late Thomas W. Armitage, Class of 1925, in recognition of his tireless work for The Hotchkiss Fund. It is presented each year to an outstanding class volunteer for their distinguished service to The Hotchkiss Fund.
Jennifer Appleyard-Martin ’88 is a Class Agent for the Class of 1988, and her extraordinary leadership has been nothing short of inspiring. She has consistently sought to strengthen and maintain the relationship between the alumni base and the School, from sharing the perspective she gained as a volunteer and former member of the Board of Governors to partnering with the Alumni & Development Office on countless events. She ensured that every classmate from 1988 received a handwritten note inviting them to attend the 35th Reunion in the spring of 2023. Her personalized approach and tireless dedication to her classmates and to the School have led The Hotchkiss Fund to tremendous success. It is not surprising that she has followed in the footsteps of her legendary father, Bill Appleyard P’88, mirroring his impressive devotion to the School. He served as the director of alumni relations at Hotchkiss from 1968 to 1994.
Renee Kaspar P’26 and Pragati Shah P’26
2024 MCKEE AWARD RECIPIENTS
The McKee Award is named in honor of Hugh and Judy McKee P’78,’80,’84,’89 in recognition of their tireless work for The Hotchkiss Parents Fund. It is presented each year to Hotchkiss parents for their outstanding volunteerism and distinguished service to the Fund.
In the landscape of parent involvement at Hotchkiss, few figures shine as brightly as Renee Kaspar P’26 and Pragati Shah P’26. Their unwavering dedication and commitment go beyond traditional volunteer roles, uplifting and uniting the entire parent community. They make sure that every parent feels included and truly valued, regardless of the scale of the occasion. Through their personal outreach, whether it’s a warm phone call, a thoughtful text message, a friendly hello at an event, or a caring email, they have created an atmosphere of genuine belonging, keeping all parents informed and deeply engaged with one another. Their efforts continue to foster a sense of unity and connection that reverberates throughout the Hotchkiss community. The impact of their efforts is evident in the robust participation rates of the Class of 2026. Since their arrival at Hotchkiss, this class has achieved an impressive 90 percent involvement from parents in various activities and initiatives.
From left, Head of School Craig W. Bradley, McKee Award recipients Pragati Shah P’26 and Renee Kaspar P’26, Courtney Nataraj P’24,’26, Naveen Nataraj P’24,’26, and Mark Lufkin, director of The Hotchkiss Fund.
From left, Aaron Oberman ’92, P’24,’27, Armitage Award recipient Jennifer Appleyard Martin ’88, and Head of School Craig W. Bradley.
Fifty years ago, their story began.
The pioneers, the trailblazers, the boundary pushers. Through their grit and perseverance, the first 89 girls arrived in the fall of 1974, etched their names in the history books, and paved the way for generations of Hotchkiss women. Building bridges, surpassing milestones, and shattering glass ceilings—they did it all.
Throughout the 2024-25 academic year, Hotchkiss is reflecting on their inspiring legacy, paying tribute to the achievements of students who followed in their footsteps, and gratefully acknowledging all members of the Hotchkiss community who boldly helped steer the School forward.
PIONEERS RETURN to Lakeville
It happened 50 years ago on Sept. 10, 1974, when 89 girls entered Scoville Gate and changed the face of Hotchkiss forever.
BY CATHERINE CALAMÉ
WHEN FOUNDED IN 1891, Hotchkiss was a boys-only boarding school intended to be a feeder to Yale, where numerous graduates matriculated over eight decades. But changing times required different thinking, and in the early 1970s, discussions began around admitting girls to Hotchkiss. While some were shocked by the idea, others welcomed the change as an opportunity to expand the School’s mission. Fast forward a half-century and it’s hard to imagine Fair Hotchkiss without female students.
“This is a wonderful moment in
Hotchkiss history,” said Robin Chandler ’87, project manager for the 50th anniversary commemoration. “As we reflect on this half-century milestone, we celebrate the progress made and reaffirm our commitment to creating spaces where every female voice—scholars, athletes, artists—is heard and valued, ensuring that in the next 50 years we continue to build on our legacy of empowerment, resilience, and growth.”
Many of the 89 original female students returned to campus Sept. 12-13 to commemorate 50 years of coeducation at Hotchkiss, reconnect with each other, and share their stories with the School’s
community. The event included a reception and dinner in Katherine M. Elfers Hall, campus tours, an art exhibition, attending classes, sessions dedicated to discussing the unique challenges of being a female student at Hotchkiss, time in Courage Garden, and getting reacquainted with each other.
Pioneers Share Fond Memories
During the All-School meeting on Sept. 13, Lucy Hall ’25, Marisin McLain ’25, and Aaliyah Wang ’25 led a panel discussion with four of the first girls: Georgette “Gigi” Pan ’77, P’14, Sarah Eddy ’78, Eleanor “Duffy” Green Long ’76,
Left, Pioneers add their signatures to Dux Femina Facti, a piece of art by Marisin McLain ’25. Above, alumnae reconnect on campus.
and Cindy Schmidt Softy ’77, P’07,’09. Each woman kept the audience enthralled with her take on her experience as a girl entering Hotchkiss in the fall of 1974, including Softy, who said, “We had two days of bonding, and my recollection was how excited everyone was on campus. It was electric. Everybody was ready, and we were ready to step up to the plate and take advantage of the opportunity.”
Pan explained that her classics teacher, who was a Hotchkiss alumnus, always started his classes with a touch of drama: “Gentlemen, and lady—that would be me,” which received chuckles from the audience. When asked who their female role models were, Eddy said that many female students didn’t have even one female teacher, yet plenty of supporters and advocates could be found among the faculty, staff, and Hotchkiss families, including Jean Olsen, Sam Coughlin P’91,’93, and Ellen Torrey. Long offered that Dagney Soderberg St. John, dean of students, was a staunch supporter, saying, “We would all gather in the common room and she would talk to us about certain things that were unique to being a woman in a male-dominated environment. She gave us a lot of advice.”
The Pioneers attended the opening event for Threaded Together: Alumnae Artists Share a Moment, a Tremaine Art Gallery exhibition that featured selected works from 20 women from the Classes of 1977 to 2019. Its title came from Ami Mehta ’98, whose piece was included in the show. She said, “It will be so interesting to juxtapose what have to be drastically different kinds of work, threaded together with the thin but mighty thread of
our shared moment in time!”
Robert Chartener ’76, P’18, vice president of the Board of Trustees, who sits on the 50th Anniversary of Coeducation Committee, said, “The 50th celebration of coeducation recognized the remarkable changes that girls have brought to Hotchkiss. I remember that first day when girls walked confidently into the Dining Hall as we somewhat bewildered boys looked on, but the change was instantaneous and positive. Girls made Hotchkiss a far better place, and I cannot imagine the Hotchkiss of today without them.”
The Pioneers who came
Head of School Holiday Honors First 89 Girls
Head of School Craig W. Bradley declared Oct. 1 a Head of School Holiday in honor of the 89 Pioneers—the first group of female students who arrived on campus 50 years ago. “Hotchkiss simply would not be the school it is today without them,” Bradley said, inviting Caroline KennyBurchfield ’77 P’08,’10,’18, director of community partnerships, to the Walker Auditorium stage during the surprise announcement. Bearcats cheered and sang Fair Hotchkiss for the Pioneers.
WATCH THE VIDEO!
back to Hotchkiss ended the two-day event by adding their signature to Dux Femina Facti, a piece of art by Marisin McLain ’25 that combines signatures from the Hotchkiss community into the shape of Main Building. Marisin describes the work as representing the different identities of Hotchkiss coming together to create a cohesive whole. “It is together that we build our thriving institution, just as this mural is only possible with the interlocking of the written names,” she said. “Up close, the viewer can see the unique individual and the unified whole in tandem, appreciating the harmony among them.”
By adding their signatures, the Pioneers once again made their mark on Hotchkiss.
PHOTOS
Students interview four Pioneers during an All-School panel talk.
“This was such an amazing event. It shined a light on the Hotchkiss legacy of outstanding female athletes following our celebration of Pioneers.”
—Robin Chandler ’87
ATHLETIC ALUMNAE Roar with Bearcat Pride
BY CATHERINE CALAMÉ
MORE THAN 100 ALUMNAE from the Classes of 1977 to 2024 celebrated 50 years in sports for female athletes and coaches during Athletic Alumnae Weekend, which continued the School’s yearlong commemoration of the 50th anniversary of women at Hotchkiss.
Athletes and guests arrived in Lakeville from Oct. 18-20 to reconnect with
teammates, coaches, and current studentathletes. The weekend was perfectly timed with a variety of Bearcats sporting events at home, including soccer, volleyball, cross country, and field hockey.
“This was such an amazing event. It shined a light on the Hotchkiss legacy of outstanding female athletes following our celebration of Pioneers,” said Robin
Chandler ’87, a former Hotchkiss athletic director and longtime coach. She now manages the 50th anniversary commemoration. “Those original 89 Pioneers truly changed the face of Hotchkiss.”
Off of the playing fields, alumnae enjoyed a welcome reception on Friday night. On Saturday morning, they were
Hotchkiss Alumnae Professional Athletes
Jordan Brickner ’09, hockey
Kelsie Fralick ’11, hockey
Keira Goin ’13, hockey
Faimie Kingsley ’09, volleyball
Stephanie Mock ’11, hockey
Young Soo “Ellen” Rim ’08, ultimate
Rohre Titcomb ’05, ultimate
Qxhna Titcomb ’11, ultimate
Theresa Yu ’19, ultimate
Chelsea Ziadie ’14, hockey
Hotchkiss Alumnae Olympic Athletes
Emilie Bydwell ’04
bronze medal as head coach of U.S. women’s rugby sevens, 2024
Caitlin Cahow ’03
bronze and silver medals for hockey, 2006 and 2010
Louise Van Voorhis Gleason ’87 fourth place for sailing, 1996
Gina Kingsbury ’00
gold medals for hockey, 2006 and 2010
excited to take campus tours and see everything that had changed since their time on campus. They also enjoyed squash and tennis clinics with their classmates, as well as a conversation with Amy Wheeler, executive director of Learning Courage, on the experience of being a woman at Hotchkiss. One of the highlights was a student panel discussion featuring Petal Hammam ’25, Eleanor Helm ’25, Kaila Richards ’25, and Coco Sheronas ’26, who talked about their experiences as student-athletes.
Later that afternoon, alumnae gathered to cheer on the younger
Bearcats as they competed on the fields and courts. As evening approached, everyone headed to Fairfield Farm, where toasts were raised in gratitude to all those who returned to campus to celebrate the rich tradition of girls athletics.
Lucy Hall ’25, a member of the coeducation council who helped plan the event, said, “We scheduled tons of activities for the returning athletes to participate in, from tennis clinics to breathing workshops. Overall, the committee aimed to create a weekend of memories and honor their legacies.”
During the weekend, a new display was installed in the hallway of the Mars Athletic Center between the squash courts and the field house. The plaques and banners honor the many accomplishments of alumnae athletes, including descriptions of professional and Olympic female athletes. These accolades highlight the impressive history of women in sports at Hotchkiss.
Shaan Patel ’27 contributed to this article.
Photo by Ashley Opdyke ’26
PHOTOS
A PIONEER’S Tale
Denise Arcand McClintic ’76 was a member of the first class of girls at Hotchkiss, and it transformed her life.
BY ELIOTT GROVER
“HOTCHKISS IS ON THE THRESHOLD of great change,” an article began in the May 1974 issue of The Record. “In September of 1974, the second chapter of the School’s history will begin.” The following autumn, Hotchkiss welcomed its first class of female students.
For Denise Arcand McClintic ’76, one of the 89 young women who started school that September day 50 years ago, it was the beginning of an equally transformative journey. “Hotchkiss is part of the fabric of my life,” says McClintic. “Its threads have been woven into me.”
McClintic grew up in Middlebury, CT, in a family that prioritized education. She attended parochial school through eighth grade before starting ninth grade as a day student at Westover School. She loved her two years there, earning high marks while learning how to play soccer. One weekend during the spring of her sophomore year, she boarded a bus with a group of classmates and headed north.
An hour later, they arrived at Hotchkiss for a dance. McClintic didn’t know much about the School at that point, but she knew it had a stellar academic reputation. When someone mentioned that Hotchkiss was becoming coeducational, her wheels immediately began to turn. A few weeks later, after applying for admission, she was back on campus.
“Driving to the interview with my mom, it was a beautiful spring day and we were giddy with delight,” McClintic recalls. “It was one of my favorite days with her and continues to be a very special memory.” She was accepted shortly thereafter.
Scholarships Provide Path to Rigorous Academic Experiences
While her parents could pay part of the tuition, financial aid made it possible for her to attend Hotchkiss. McClintic received the Charles Fleischmann ’15 Memorial Scholarship and the Watson Scholarship. Although she understood the significance of being among the first female students, her excitement was focused on the opportunities awaiting her in Lakeville. From the moment she arrived on campus, she felt as though she belonged.
“The boys were very welcoming,” McClintic says. “I found it really stimulating that even in the classroom there was a whole different perspective. I was coming from an all-girls school. It really made the experience richer. There was great support. I can remember the boys attending our sports games and cheering us on.”
McClintic was the first girls’ soccer captain in School history in addition to pursuing a number of extracurricular activities. As a member of the Social Committee, she helped plan dances. She also played guitar and sang, performing folk songs with fellow musicians at a number of events.
While McClintic’s transition to life at Hotchkiss was a smooth one, the rigorous academic standards thrust her into uncharted waters. “I had to refine my learning skills,” she says. “It was the first time I didn’t get the highest marks. It wasn’t necessarily a comeuppance, but I had to readjust, so it made me a keener student.”
McClintic has quick praise for the faculty members whose egalitarian approach to
“Hotchkiss had a limited number of female students that they could admit that first year. I am so enduringly grateful that I was one of them.”
—Denise Arcand McClintic ’76
the School’s newest students facilitated this growth. “Academically, the girls were treated the same as the boys,” she says. “That was really important. There were high standards for everyone.”
In the English classroom, McClintic developed a lifelong appreciation for language. She learned to become a more concise and persuasive writer, building a robust vocabulary in the process. An avid New York Times crossword puzzler, she often surprises herself with her ability to crack tough clues. “I’ll wonder, how do I know that word?” McClintic says. “And then I think back, ‘Well I must have learned it from the broad body of literature I read at Hotchkiss.’”
It wasn’t just her teachers who kept her on her toes. McClintic has fond memories of bantering with her peers or having interesting academic discussions outside of class. “The repartee in the Dining Hall was always great fun. Everybody was very quick-witted,” she says. “You really had to up your game to be there. It was wonderful to be intellectually challenged. My favorite memory is just the intellect and the caliber of the student body.”
Reconnecting at Pioneer Reunion
This September, McClintic returned to campus with many of her fellow Pioneers— the 89 girls who changed Hotchkiss forever—as part of the School’s year-long commemoration of 50 years of coeducation at Hotchkiss. It was a special reunion that presented these trailblazing alumnae with an opportunity to reminisce and reconnect.
(Read more on Page 8.)
“I’m sorry that I lost touch with so many classmates, both boys and girls, after graduation,” McClintic says. “We didn’t have cell phones. We didn’t have the internet. I can recall writing a letter to a friend to say, ‘I’ll call you on such-and-such a date from this pay phone.’ The connectivity that’s so important for a community can’t be overestimated. That’s something today’s students can carry throughout their lives. I don’t want to use the word ‘regret,’ but it was a missed opportunity not to stay connected because we didn’t have the tools to do so.” Whatever gaps may have formed in their correspondences as they ventured into the world, McClintic and her classmates have consistently made the most of opportunities to return to campus. She has attended almost every reunion. “My heart quickens as I drive up to the four corners crossroads,” McClintic says, noting the nostalgia that accompanies every visit to Lakeville. “There was so much positive energy there. I remember it as a formative experience for me. It really informed my future career and life in many ways.”
Hotchkiss Guides Career Path of Philanthropy and Education
After graduating from Hotchkiss, McClintic matriculated at Tufts University where she studied anthropology and political science. After her father inquired how she planned to make a living as an anthropology major, she stayed in the Boston area and earned her law degree at Suffolk University before receiving a second graduate degree in
ENDURING GRATITUDE
tax law at Boston University.
“I went to law school kind of as a backstop,” McClintic says. “I loved it, but I never really practiced law. That really gets back to the fact that Hotchkiss impacted my career choices. It took me down the philanthropy and education path.”
McClintic has worked in nonprofit fundraising and has served as the director of development for Cardigan Mountain School in New Hampshire and Phoenix Country Day School in Arizona, where she has lived since 1998. More recently, she worked in wealth management as a philanthropic specialist, helping individuals identify and execute their charitable giving interests.
“Being a fundraiser for an educational institution, I felt as though I was giving back because I understood what I had received as a scholarship student at Hotchkiss,” McClintic says. “And then with philanthropic advising, I felt that I was having an even larger impact being able to reach so many more people and so many more charitable organizations.”
Giving Back to Hotchkiss
As far as making an impact at the organization that remains closest to her heart, McClintic has demonstrated her appreciation for Hotchkiss by giving her time and financial support over the years. She has served as a Class Agent and Reunion Committee member and has regularly contributed to The Hotchkiss Fund. In 2010, McClintic joined the Town Hill Society, which recognizes individuals who have made Hotchkiss part of their estate plans.
For McClintic, the 50th anniversary has given her occasion to reflect on her time in Lakeville, two years that shaped the rest of her life. “It was a fabulous experience,” she says. “Looking back, I feel even more fortunate now than I did walking onto campus that first day. Hotchkiss had a limited number of female students that they could admit that first year. I am so enduringly grateful that I was one of them.”
Through her dedication to philanthropy and education, McClintic has carried forward the values she learned at Hotchkiss,
“Hotchkiss is part of the fabric of my life. Its threads have been woven into me.”
—Denise Arcand McClintic ’76
ensuring that future generations of students can benefit from the same transformative experience she did. “It’s part and parcel,” McClintic says of her own philanthropic activities. “It’s important that I feel connected and give back so that others can have the same opportunity.”
As part of the 50th anniversary of coeducation at Hotchkiss, a documentary is in the works to commemorate this momentous time in the School’s history. McClintic was interviewed for the film and looks forward to its release at the Alumni Gala Weekend on May 2-4, 2025. “I will enjoy hearing from the other Pioneers who helped forge those first few defining years that laid the foundation for the many female students to come,” she says. “Each of us in our own way wove our individual threads of experience into the rich tapestry that is today’s Hotchkiss.”
A GRATEFUL Pioneer
Meet Tina Test ’76, One of the Original 89 Girls Whose Bequest Will Pay it Forward to Future Students
BY CATHERINE CALAMÉ
Tina Test ’76 ventured to Hotchkiss in the fall of 1974 as an upper mid and never looked back. She arrived as one of the first girls, and now she is the director of leadership giving at Hotchkiss. She shares why she became a member of The Town Hill Society.
Why did you choose to attend Hotchkiss?
We lived in Northern New Jersey in a town that did not have a high school, so we would have been bused to the next town. My mother attended a boarding school, so my parents naturally thought my brother, Fred ’73, might benefit from a boarding option. Fred attended Hotchkiss while discussions were taking place about the School going coed. Applying to Hotchkiss felt right and familiar.
What was it like to be one of the Pioneer girls on campus?
I actually didn’t think we were pioneers back then. We were just new students who were nervous about a new experience and being away from home. Many of us had a connection to the School (a brother, uncle, grandfather) who attended, making it feel early on like it was our school. We did feel a little pressure to make coeducation work. We were all in this together, living in the same dorm, which helped us bond with each other quickly.
What did you do after graduation?
I attended Princeton University. Coincidentally, I went to another school that had only recently gone coeducational.
My graduating year from Princeton was the 10th anniversary of having female students there.
How has Hotchkiss helped to shape your life?
The friendships I formed at Hotchkiss have lasted 50 years and have expanded to include additional lifelong friends. Attending Hotchkiss connected me with students from around the country and the world, providing a much richer experience than was available at most day schools. I gained independence, learned time management, and how to get things done on my own.
Why have you chosen to support Hotchkiss financially through the Town Hill Society?
I want to give back. While I will never be in a position to name a building, I am very appreciative of the opportunity given to me by those who funded scholarships before me. I support the Annual Fund at the academic institutions I have attended, but I wanted to leave something more after I am gone. My bequest will be allocated toward financial aid so I can pay it forward to other students.
You’ve been working at Hotchkiss for many years. What have you learned while raising support for your alma mater?
I’ve learned that even the smallest gestures can have a huge impact. The reasons why people give are so emotional and inspirational, and I’ve really enjoyed learning the story behind each gift.
What would you like other alumni to know about giving back to the School?
When you give to Hotchkiss, you are not only making an immediate difference in the lives of students, but you are also ensuring that the impact of their experience here travels throughout that person’s lifetime. Everything you see today at Hotchkiss was given by someone else. Consider the Dining Hall, Mars Athletic Center, and scholarships—everything is because of the generosity of someone else. The idea of being part of that and helping to sustain our mission is incredibly rewarding and important.
READ THE FULL Q&A go.hotchkiss.org/tinatest
JOIN THE TOWN HILL SOCIETY
Members of The Town Hill Society have named Hotchkiss as the beneficiary of bequests, gifts from retirement accounts, gifts of life insurance, and life-income gifts such as charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder unitrusts. These gifts, no matter the size, provide Hotchkiss with critical and lasting support.
We would be honored to discuss with you how your own Town Hill gift can allow you to bridge your current financial situation with the gift you dream of making to Hotchkiss. Contact Director of Gift Planning Brent Alderman Sterste at giftplanning@hotchkiss.org or (860) 435-3263, or visit hotchkiss.giftplans.org to learn more.
HONORING THEIR STORIES Through Art
Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends are celebrating the women of Hotchkiss with art exhibitions, photography projects, and theatrical performances.
CHICAGO EARNS STANDING OVATION
The Hotchkiss Dramatic Association opened its season with Chicago Nov. 8-10. The HDA board and MK Lawson, instructor in theater and humanities and director of Chicago, selected the musical for its connection to this year’s celebration of coeducation.
ROTUNDA DISPLAY DELVES INTO HISTORY
The Rotunda features seasonal displays curated by Archives, Special Collections, and students participating in various co-curriculars. Ode to Fall 1974: The Road to Coeducation follows the history of coeducation and the 89 Pioneers.
TREMAINE ART GALLERY SHOWCASES WORKS OF WOMEN
Threaded Together: Alumnae Artists Share a Moment featured work from 20 women from the classes of 1977 to 2019. The 39 pieces were on view this fall and included sculptures, collages, paintings, and prints.
The Circe Effect: Women’s Creative Power Reclaims the Narrative highlighted the work of Madeleine Conover, Donna Dodson, Katiushka Melo, Dana Robinson, and Chelsea Steinberg Gay. This exhibition was curated by Sarah Anderson Lock P’24 and inspired by themes explored in the best-selling novel Circe by Madeline Miller.
STUDENTS EXPLORE COEDUCATION
Sea, Breath, Songs: Story of the Haenyeo, a national YoungArts award-winning photo exhibit by Remy Lee ’26, depicted the work, lives, and culture of the Haenyeo female freedivers of Jeju Island, South Korea. For centuries the Haenyeo have dived as deep as 60 feet underwater without oxygen tanks to harvest seafood to support their families. This summer, Remy traveled around Jeju, where he grew up, and immersed himself in the indigenous island culture. He also created The Mermaids, a documentary narrating his journey.
The latest issue of the studentcreated Analogue Photo Magazine, led by heads Jami Huang ’25 and Remy Lee ’26, honors 50 years of coeducation at Hotchkiss. “We believe that in the ebb and flow of history, few things are as powerful as narrative stories,” Jami wrote. “Through intimate interviews and recreations of archival senior portraits, this issue delves into the journeys of remarkable Hotchkiss alumnae from different graduating years.”
McLain ’25 and Aaliyah Wang ’25 curated Shared Spaces: Gender and Coeducation at Hotchkiss. The art and literary exhibition, which ran this fall, celebrated and explored the development of coeducation and its role in the current Hotchkiss community.
Artists featured in Tremaine Art Gallery’s The Circe Effect participate in a panel talk.
Grace Bristow ’18 poses with her work in the Tremaine Art Galley exhibition Threaded Together: Alumnae Artists Share a Moment.
“Regardless of where you go, there’s a way for you to give. There’s a way for you to make a difference. There’s a way for you to serve.”
—Temitayo Ifafore-Calfee ’99
COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD
‘A LARGE Ripple EFFECT’
Temitayo Ifafore-Calfee ’99 Makes a Difference Around
BY DARRYL GANGLOFF
TEMITAYO IFAFORE-CALFEE ’99 HAS DEVOTED HER LIFE to public service through her passion for health and travel. She is a division chief at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which she refers to as “the U.S. government’s do-good arm,” and she is proud of her work helping Liberia recover from the Ebola epidemic. She is this year’s Community Service Award recipient, selected by the Hotchkiss Alumni
the World
Association in recognition of making a difference throughout the nation and the world.
She received the award during a ceremony in Elfers Hall on Oct. 18, where she participated in an on-stage interview with Dr. Richard Kirby, instructor in chemistry. “Regardless of where you go, there’s a way for you to give. There’s a way for you to make a difference. There’s a way for you to
serve,” she told students in the audience.
Temi’s husband, Chris Calfee ’00, introduced her at the event and praised her passion for community service. “She will go to the ends of the Earth for the people she cares about and for others without ever thinking it’s a burden on herself,” he said. “For her, it’s just a small gesture. It happens to have a large ripple effect.”
Ifafore-Calfee says “it means a lot”
to receive this award. “I think about Hotchkiss and all the different graduates over the years, and it feels like an honor. It feels humbling,” she said. “It’s a big deal. It feels validating.”
Ifafore-Calfee is a first-generation American, born in Nigeria and raised in the Bronx, NY. During her summers home from Hotchkiss, her mother would tell her to volunteer with various organizations, from daycare centers to food pantries. “It started early, and then I gained a sense of satisfaction over time. It was no longer something that my mom was telling me to do. I was motivated, and I felt good about it. And then it became part of who I am.”
She didn’t plan to become a public servant, but her love of health and medicine led her to a career in helping others. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Yale University and a Master of Public Health from the University of Michigan School of Public Health. Prior to joining USAID, she held senior roles running health programs as operations lead at the Human Diagnosis Project, national program director for Health Career Connection, operations director at Johns Hopkins Medicine International in Panama, and regional director for the William J. Clinton Foundation HIV/ AIDS Initiative in Ethiopia.
This work led Ifafore-Calfee to “help serve people on a larger scale” at USAID, where “being a civil servant is part of my job title and, frankly, a part of my identity.” According to its website, the agency “leads the U.S. government’s international development and disaster assistance through partnerships and investments that save lives, reduce poverty, strengthen democratic governance, and help people emerge from humanitarian crises and progress beyond assistance.”
Ifafore-Calfee says her USAID division focuses on deepening
collaboration with the private sector and strengthening government staff’s skills to engage with corporate entities. She has also provided technical leadership on human resources for health systems and has overseen multi-country, $100+ million implementations.
She credits Hotchkiss for instilling in her a desire for travel and service. She chose to attend boarding school and says that selecting Hotchkiss was a pivotal moment in her life. “There’s a before Hotchkiss and then after,” she explained. “I felt very empowered being at Hotchkiss. I made lifelong friends and met my future spouse,” she said, referring to Calfee. Her father-in-law is David Calfee ’64, P’00. “Hotchkiss is a part of my family and my story.”
Her worldview changed at Hotchkiss through travel opportunities and meeting students from around the globe. She participated in community service projects in Mexico and Costa Rica. “I use Spanish every day now. Those experiences gave me a world lens that helped me realize I was going to choose a global career.”
Ifafore-Calfee reflects fondly on Eco Day, the annual School event focusing on environmental stewardship. “Hotchkiss has provided many opportunities for me to see what happens when you get a group of people working together for a common goal. It cemented for me that people can make a life out of service.”
Alumnae in Media
Reflect on Careers and Milestone Moments
RECORDING
Presented annually, the Community Service Award honors the service contributions that Hotchkiss graduates have made to their respective communities, whether local, national, or international. The award seeks to recognize individuals who—in the estimation of the Nominating Committee of the Board of Governors of the Alumni Association— demonstrate through their volunteer and/ or vocational endeavors an exemplary sense of caring, initiative, and ingenuity.
Alumnae in media participated in a panel discussion in New York City on Oct. 16. Their engaging conversation about their careers helped commemorate 50 years of women at Hotchkiss. The panelists were Alisha Davis ’91, writer and producer at Good Morning America; Brianne Dalton Ehrenkranz ’94, sports marketing consultant at Adobe; Susan Green Roberson ’87, CFO of The AntiDefamation League; Nailah Ellis Timberlake ’00, media consultant for Timberlake Enterprises; and moderator Cameron Hough ’09, VP of content development at CNN.
TRAILBLAZERS EXPLORE THE GLOBE
First Recipients of MacArthur Fellowship Embark on Yearlong International Adventures
BY DARRYL GANGLOFF
Jack Louchheim ’20, Elise Nam ’20, and Jacob Zweiback ’24 are the first recipients of Hotchkiss’s inaugural MacArthur Fellowship. These three Fellows received grants to fund an international gap year of their own design, and they are currently engaged in projects that focus on service, learning, internships, cultural immersion, and adventure.
THE MACARTHUR FELLOWSHIP, the only one of its kind among peer independent schools, was established to honor William MacArthur ’59 through a gift by his son, Andrew MacArthur P’23. It is designed to support ongoing growth and education by instilling competence in goal-setting; developing independence and confidence; enhancing problem-solving skills; supporting greater cultural competency; and helping Fellows gain a deeper and more nuanced understanding of what and how they want to learn in their post-secondary studies and professional lives.
The Fellowship has been carefully designed with input from leading educational experts to support a new generation of Hotchkiss graduates in deepening multicultural competency through world travel and service.
Rick Hazelton, director of The Hotchkiss School’s Center for Global Understanding and Independent Thinking and dean of Summer Programs, praised the generosity and inspiration of the MacArthurs. “Hotchkiss is honored to present these inaugural Fellows whose gap years reflect the heart of Hotchkiss’s
mission—to be lifelong learners committed to responsible citizenship and global engagement. As an institution, Hotchkiss is a leader in gap years and has a historical commitment to international engagement and cultural understanding. These Fellows are trailblazers in a new chapter of this legacy.”
Hazelton also thanked past trustee Tom Barry P’01,’03,’05, who “enabled Hotchkiss to be the first known boarding school to hire a full-time gap year coordinator, resulting in more than 150 students taking gap years.”
From left: William MacArthur ’59, Jack Louchheim ’20, Elise Nam ’20, Jacob Zweiback ’24, Millie Perry, and Andrew MacArthur P’23.
INAUGURAL FELLOWS
JACK LOUCHHEIM ’20 of Sagaponack, NY, is a member of Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service Class of 2024. He is exploring clean energy investment and development opportunities in Latin America—specifically the Andean region.
He began his Fellowship in Chile and plans to travel to Argentina and Brazil. Through internship experiences, he intends to “become knowledgeable about a variety of existing and emerging clean energy technologies such as solar, wind, geothermal, carbon capture, and green hydrogen, as well as the investors and innovators who are accelerating the energy transition in this region.”
He says his first three months in Chile were rewarding. He worked at an investment bank, made friends, and climbed a mountain. “I am making memories that I will truly never forget, and skills in relationship-building and emotional intelligence that I think will last me a lifetime.”
ABOUT THE MACARTHURS
ELISE NAM ’20 of Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ, is a member of the Barnard College Class of 2024. She is exploring permaculture in other cultures and studying “alternatives to Western ideas of the good life.”
She is volunteering in Australia, Costa Rica, Nepal, India, Ecuador, and Mexico to learn from indigenous cultures, “documenting their knowledge and witnessing firsthand the impacts of climate change on these communities.” Her objective is to deepen her understanding of permaculture’s application so that she is “educated and empowered to create change globally, to advocate for others and the planet, and to lead by example.”
She participated in a permaculture design course in Australia at the start of her journey. “I was excited to start learning the practical and foundational applications of permaculture. Little did I realize that this course would blossom into so much more than that. The laughter almost never
BILL MACARTHUR ’59 spent his entire career traveling the globe. This included a year after college teaching in the Philippines followed by a career practicing law in Japan, a stint in international banking, and 45 years of real estate investment and development in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the U.S. working with Saudi, Japanese, and Chinese partners. He has served as a board member or trustee with numerous charitable organizations involved in health, education, and conservation work in Tibet, India, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Central America.
ANDREW MACARTHUR P’23 was initially raised in Tokyo and spent a year traveling by VW camper van from Afghanistan to Amsterdam with his parents. He later spent 10 years studying and working in China and across Southeast Asia with The Wall Street Journal and International Herald Tribune
ended.” She also visited the Great Barrier Reef, noting that “seeing the rapidly disappearing ecosystem was a strong reminder of why I am pursuing the environmental work that I’m doing.” She attended a wedding in Ladakh and spoke English with children from a local school. “I am experiencing the ‘people care’ ethic of permaculture in full force.”
JACOB ZWEIBACK ’24 of Diablo, CA, is a member of the University of Chicago Class of 2029. He says his gap year is a “snapshot of a college professor’s responsibilities.”
He is dedicating portions of his year to research and teaching. He kicked off his adventures in London at the British Public Library, where he described his archival research as a “treasure hunt, scouring through hundreds of books, memos, letters, and even military dog tags.” He met people by rowing on the Thames and trying his hand at boxing, and he enjoyed sightseeing. He then traveled to Landheim Ammersee, a Round Square boarding school in Germany, to assist teachers in classes and help with extracurricular activities. Hotchkiss is a member of Round Square, an internationally diverse network of more than 250 schools in 50 countries.
“These first few months have truly been an incredible experience. In such a short amount of time, I have been able to explore my passions, meet new people, see the world, and grow as a person,” he said.
Elise Nam ’20, left, participates in a permaculture design course in Australia.
Jack Louchheim ’20 in Chile with the Andes Mountains in the background.
Jacob Zweiback ’24 enjoys rowing during his adventures.
Young Entrepreneur Excels in Pitch Contest
Marcus McGregor ’26 Helps Students Achieve Their Dreams Through His Nonprofit
BY DARRYL GANGLOFF
MARCUS MCGREGOR ’26 RECENTLY earned second place at the Pitch For Ya Life! entrepreneur pitch contest in New York City. As the youngest and only high school participant, Marcus impressed the judges and attendees with his nonprofit organization, Locked and Stocked. His innovative work to help underrepresented students achieve their academic and personal goals earned him a $2,000 prize and an additional $500 for being “most passionate and charismatic” at the event.
The competition, held on Dec. 3 in New York City, attracted more than 100 young entrepreneurs of color with small businesses. Marcus’s pitch stood out against college students and recent graduates, earning him a spot as one of the top four finalists.
“It feels great, and I plan on investing 100 percent of my profits back into my
organization,” he said. “The main prize was the connections I made at the event. I have always preferred being by myself and in smaller groups, so talking in a large setting at the event was something new for me. This made me excited for the future, and I know I can do better and strive to make even more connections.”
“The main prize was the connections I made at the ev ent.”
—Marcus McGregor ’26
Locked and Stocked’s mission is to “give back to students in underrepresented communities by keeping them locked in on achieving their goals and stocked with the necessary resources and support to achieve their dreams.” Through remote tutoring and mentoring sessions, Marcus’s nonprofit provides personalized support for students of color in the New York metropolitan area. Locked and Stocked is currently partnering with three schools, offering resources and mentorship to help students excel.
More than 30 tutors and mentors supported more than 50 students in Locked and Stocked’s fall virtual sessions. Over the summer, Marcus and his team hosted a successful program for 40 students at a local college in New York.
“I am proud to know my own personal efforts are paying off, and my work is directly helping those in need in my home community,” Marcus said.
Marcus McGregor ’26, right, mentors students through his nonprofit Locked and Stocked.
Marcus McGregor ’26, left, earned second place at the Pitch For Ya Life! Contest.
NEW SCULPTURES BRING JOY TO CAMPUS
BY DARRYL GANGLOFF
SCULPTURES BY ARTIST JOY BROWN are providing peaceful places on campus for the Hotchkiss community.
Brown’s seven-foot sculpture Sitter with Head in Hands found a new home on Oct. 15 just south of the crosswalk on Route 41, its gaze looking toward Ford Food Court. Students in Christine Owen’s prep ceramics and 3D design class watched as the bronze figure was gently placed on the grass. They closely inspected Brown’s work and spoke with the artist about her process; the huge statue began its life much smaller as wood-fired clay.
A month later on Nov. 14, Brown returned to Hotchkiss to install Recliner with Head in Hands near Main Building. A poem on the statue’s foot reads, “Be still here—listen now— we are you and me together.” A third statue, One Leaning on Another, arrived in January.
Brown works in her studio in Kent, CT, and will have a show in Tremaine Art Gallery from Feb. 15 to April 5 to help commemorate 50 years of women at Hotchkiss. The exhibition is curated by Owen and Joan Baldwin P’03, curator of special collections. The sculptures will be on campus through May.
Brown welcomes visitors to touch her sculptures and provide them with scarves, hats, or other apparel. Brown shares that her figures “speak to me of that peaceful place in myself— calm, open, aware.”
Baldwin added that when you visit these sculptures, “you’ll find that peaceful place, too.”
Making Waves of Hope
Hotchkiss Swimathon Celebrates 30 Years of Impact for Special Olympics
BY DARRYL GANGLOFF
THIS FALL, MORE THAN 60 swimmers— including eight special guests from Special Olympics Slovakia—completed a two-mile trek across Lake Wononscopomuc to mark the milestone 30th anniversary of the Hotchkiss Swimathon.
The event raised more than $37,000—a new record—for Special Olympics Connecticut and Special Olympics Slovakia to support the Dream Day Care Center in Slovakia, which cares for Ukrainian refugee children born with intellectual disabilities.
“I’m really pleased,” said Swimathon founder Keith Moon P’13,’16, who is the E. Carleton Granbery Teaching Chair, a Lufkin Prize recipient, an instructor in English, history, and Russian language, and head
coach of boys varsity and JV swimming. “This anniversary was something special. The most spectacular part was our eight Slovakian friends who joined us.”
The Swimathon was instrumental in the launch of the Dream Day Care Center in October 2022, and it has continued to raise funds for the center since its groundbreaking. That summer, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Moon traveled to Slovakia looking for a way to help. He was a board member of Special Olympics Connecticut at the time, and he connected with Special Olympics Slovakia. He knew Hotchkiss could make a difference.
“There are eight children—and therefore eight families—who have been very
“This anniversary was something special.”
Swimathon founder Keith Moon P’13,’16
positively affected at the Dream Day Care Center,” Moon said. “It’s remarkable to me that when we do something like the Swimathon, we’re in effect paying for about five months of life for those families. There’s a donor in Connecticut who matches what we raise, which helps support the center for an entire year. There’s a real outcome.”
To commemorate the friendship between Hotchkiss and Special Olympics Slovakia, a
The Hotchkiss community welcomed eight guests from Special Olympics Slovakia for the 30th Swimathon in September.
delegation of four coaches and four athletes arrived in Lakeville for the 30th Swimathon in September. They joined students in classes, attended Convocation, and, of course, swam across the lake. For the athletes, it was their first visit to America, and they enjoyed sightseeing in New York City and touring the School’s campus. Moon thanks actor Matt Damon, his old friend, for underwriting their trip.
“It’s unbelievable for us to be swimming in the U.S. at Hotchkiss for such a beautiful event,” said Eva Gazova, one of the Slovakian coaches and national director of Special Olympics Slovakia. “The emotions are so strong because it’s not just about the swimming, but it’s about what is behind it. Thanks to Keith Moon, we were able to fly here, have a great time, and swim for refugees. That is what connects all of us who jump in the water.”
In addition to the Slovakia delegation, a group of Choate students joined Hotchkiss in the swim. Participants raced against the rain, which started just as swimmers
returned to the beach. Everyone then celebrated with a barbecue at the Boathouse, where State Rep. Maria Horn P’15,’17,’19 presented Moon and the Special Olympics Club with a State of Connecticut General Assembly official citation in honor of the 30th Swimathon. The citation was sponsored by Horn and Sen. Stephen Harding and reads: “Through compassion, heart, and purpose, the community of Hotchkiss has shown up to support others in need. We are so proud to have you representing our community.”
The Special Olympics Club works each year to coordinate the Swimathon and host visiting athletes. “I joined the club in my prep year and have been a part of the leadership team for the past three years,” said club co-head Ella Johnson ’25. “I used to coach a neighbor with autism before coming to Hotchkiss, and I am glad that I was able to continue supporting the cause.”
“This is my third time participating in the Swimathon, and I feel like I truly make an impact,” said Oliver Johnson ’25. “With the connection with Special Olympics Slovakia, I have been even more inspired to participate.”
Before 2020, the Swimathon took place in the Hixon Pool. It moved to the lake during the pandemic and has been held there ever since. “Nobody was allowed in the pool in 2020. We went from 247 people down to one swimmer, because I swam across the lake by myself,” Moon said. “Ian Graham ’92 also swam at the same time in Nantucket Sound. We kept it going.”
Why did Moon kick off the Swimathon 30 years ago? “It started as a complete accident,” he said with a laugh. He noticed a blurb in The Hartford Courant requesting funds for the Northwest Corner Special Olympics swim team. “When I was a kid, we used to do a swimathon with my club swim team to raise money for ourselves, and it was always something that people got pretty into. I thought, ‘Let’s start a swimathon, and we’ll donate the money.’” Moon said 76 swimmers showed up for the inaugural event, and they raised $4,500 for Special Olympics. Thirty years later, the Swimathon has raised more than $300,000 in total.
The rest is history.
Maya Clark ’28 contributed to this article.
Right: Eva Gazova, national director of Special Olympics Slovakia, leads the delegation to the lake. Below: Swimathon founder Keith Moon P’13,’16 celebrates with a Special Olympics Slovakia athlete.
PHOTOS
LOOKING BACK ON A FUN-FILLED FAMILY WEEKEND
Thank you to all Bearcat families who joined us for Family Weekend in October. Campus was full of energy and pride— and beautiful fall weather!
MORE PHOTOS
Signatures Become Part of Hotchkiss History
COMMUNITY MEMBERS SIGNED THEIR NAMES into Hotchkiss history as part of the ongoing construction of the new Dining Commons, which will be the heart and hearth of the School when it opens in December 2025.
Students, faculty, staff, and parents used colorful markers to sign a white beam that was installed in the interior of the Dining Commons on Nov. 15. This time capsule will remain hidden as part of the building’s infrastructure. Parents of the Class of 2025 signed the beam as a group during Family Weekend.
In October,
the building by writing their names in wet concrete.
Honors Photography Portfolio students Katie Flynn ’25, Audrey Helling ’25, Andrew Hickman ’25, Gabe Quinn ’25, Ethan Shin ’25, and William Yee ’25, along with Greg Lock P’24, director of photography, film, and related media, visited the Dining Commons construction site to take photos during a tour. They also left their mark on
UKRAINIAN STUDENTS TALK WITH FILMMAKER FOLLOWING EXCLUSIVE MOVIE SCREENING
BY IRA BUCH ’25
THE HOTCHKISS COMMUNITY was moved to tears during an exclusive screening of Checkpoint Zoo in Walker Auditorium this fall. Director Joshua Zeman joined three students from Ukraine for a panel discussion to answer questions about his documentary, which follows a group of volunteers who risked their lives to save animals trapped in the midst of the Ukraine-Russian war.
The movie centers around the Feldman Ecopark animal refuge located in Kharkiv, Ukraine, just 30 kilometers from the Russian border. With the outbreak of the full-scale war in 2022, more than 5,000 animals in the zoo were trapped in the war zone between the Russian and Ukrainian frontlines.
The film offers insight into an oftenoverlooked aspect of this invasion. While many documentaries cover the grim realities of living in a war zone, Checkpoint Zoo addresses the unique challenges of evacuating animals who don’t understand the meaning of an air raid siren or where to seek shelter.
Ukrainian students Ira Buch ’25, Diana Kravchenko ’26, and Oleh Shtunder ’25 joined Zeman for a panel discussion following the screening, which was presented by the Hotchkiss Film Club. Ann Villano P’17, instructor in film and the Film Club’s faculty advisor, said, “The involvement of Ukrainian students makes it personal and helps us
“We are used to sad fiction stories, but the documentary presents the terrifying truths Ukrainians live through every day.”
—Oleh Shtunder ’25
to understand a war that might otherwise seem abstract.”
Villano noted that Zeman served as a juror for the Hotchkiss Film Festival twice. “It was during a class visit two years ago that Josh shared the beginning of his work on Checkpoint Zoo and his efforts to raise money to return to Ukraine for a second shoot,” she said.
The students described their experiences of life under occupation, discussed the motivations behind the film, and offered insights into the ongoing situation in Ukraine. Oleh shared his reflections about the documentary: “While it might be challenging for some to see the film, it is important to confront these realities. We are used to sad fiction stories, but the documentary presents the terrifying truths Ukrainians live through every day.”
Diana emphasized the value of the screening and the panel, stating, “Checkpoint Zoo sheds light not just on an isolated instance of animal evacuation; instead, it gives an idea of the critical decisions Ukrainians have to make in these difficult times. The panel with the filmmaker was both uplifting and inspirational, reminding me that my country is remembered and supported.”
Zeman, who is known for his documentaries Cropsey, The Killing Season, and The Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness, faced multiple challenges during the making of the film, including the language barrier. With the help of a translator, he documented the volunteers’ raw emotions of loss, bravery, and hope.
Checkpoint Zoo has been screened at the Tribeca Film Festival and the Ukrainian Action Summit in Washington, D.C., and it continues to raise awareness about the cruelty and destruction the Russian invasion inflicts.
From left, Diana Kravchenko ’26, Ira Buch ’25, Oleh Shtunder ’25, and Checkpoint Zoo director Joshua Zeman.
NPR’s Ayesha Rascoe Outlines the Power of Journalism and Community
BY DARRYL GANGLOFF
AYESHA RASCOE, NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO’S host of Weekend Edition Sunday, highlighted journalism’s role in giving a voice to the voiceless as the Beal Lecturer this fall.
“I have leaned on Ms. Roscoe to help me interpret the news and understand the details of stories and politics as they emerge in our increasingly chaotic system. She’s doing the magic of bringing major stories to life, not with video or screen tricks. This is radio, and Ms. Roscoe is a true master of that medium,” said Keith Moon P’13,’16, who coordinates the Beal Lecture series. Moon is the E. Carleton Granbery Teaching Chair, Lufkin Prize recipient, and instructor in English, history, and Russian language.
Prior to her role as host, Rascoe covered three presidential administrations as a White House correspondent at NPR for 10 years. Her reporting included a number of high-profile foreign trips, including President Trump’s 2019 summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi, Vietnam, and President Obama’s final NATO summit in Warsaw, Poland in 2016.
Before joining NPR, Rascoe spent the first decade of her career at Reuters, rising from a news assistant to an energy reporter to eventually covering the White House. She covered some of the biggest energy and environmental stories of the past decade, including the 2010 BP oil spill and the U.S. response to the Fukushima nuclear crisis in 2011.
Rascoe is also the editor of HBCU Made: A Celebration of the Black College Experience, a book of essays about the impact of historically Black colleges and universities. She is an alumna of Howard University.
During her talk on Sept. 17, she stressed the need for financial support for trustworthy media, the importance of reliable news sources and transparency, and effective interview preparation techniques. She also advocated for an unbiased approach to reporting.
“As a journalist, my job is never just to paint a rosy picture. It’s to paint an accurate picture. And sometimes that picture will be messy and complicated,” she said.
“In Washington, D.C., I saw firsthand how journalism plays the indispensable role of informing the public on what their government is up to,” she continued. “We need to make sure that the news is accessible and understandable.”
During the Q&A session, one student asked how the American news media can be depolarized moving forward. Rascoe emphasized the importance of local news outlets. “When I’m meeting with a local member-station reporter, they know that community like the back of their hands. They know the people, and they know the places to go. It’s their home,” she said. “I think that it gives a different feel to the reporting when you’re not just dropping into a place—when it is a place that you know intimately.”
The Beal Lecture series was established in 1983 in honor of Thaddeus R. (Ted) Beal Jr. ’35 by his close friend, classmate, and former trustee John Shedd Reed ’35, P’73,’81, GP’85,’89,’05,’08,’12,’14,’18. Beal was the stepson of longtime and much-revered headmaster George van Santvoord, Class of 1908. Reed created the series because he believed that The Hotchkiss School community would benefit from exposure to visiting speakers addressing issues of national or global concern.
BEAL LECTURE
NORTHERN LIGHTS PAINT THE SKY OVER HOTCHKISS
“Aurora alert!” Bill Fenton, director of both the Observatory and the EFX Lab and instructor in physics and astronomy, sent that message to the Hotchkiss community on the evening of Oct. 10. “A solar storm sent a slew of charged particles toward Earth. Those particles have arrived and are causing the Northern Lights right now! Take a look while you can.”
Students, faculty, and staff heeded Fenton’s advice and ran outside to capture the memorable moment.
Photo by Jordan Almeida ’27
MORE PHOTOS
BLOOD DRIVE SHATTERS SCHOOL RECORD
ST. LUKE’S SOCIETY HOSTED its fall blood drive on Nov. 19 and collected 101 pints of blood, crushing Hotchkiss’s record. This drive will save up to 303 lives thanks to the overwhelming support of the School’s community and many first-time donors.
Hotchkiss’s previous record of 89 pints was set during the club’s spring drive on April 8, 2024, when Hotchkiss became the school with the state’s largest blood collection in a single drive.
“Whether it was donating blood, volunteering, bringing baked goods, encouraging others to donate, or just showing up, we really appreciate everyone’s efforts and cannot thank you all enough,” said Clemmie Morlock ’26, who coordinated the blood drive with Ellie Prinz ’27.
Blood Drive Participants
58% First-time donors
47.5% Faculty, staff, and external community members
THREE FACULTY MEMBERS were awarded endowed teaching chairs this fall. Head of School Craig W. Bradley said this honor is “among the highest forms of recognition an institution can bestow on a faculty member.”
Jane Herold P’17,’20,’24, the Class of 1964 Teaching & Learning Center study skills coordinator and instructor in English, received the Mary S. Tinker Chair.
Bridget Dixon Moon P’13,’16, instructor in mathematics, received the Huber G. Buehler Chair.
Nate Seidenberg, instructor in history and head coach of varsity and JV track and field, received the Edward R. Tinker Chair.
From left, Header of School Craig W. Bradley, Jane Herold, Bridget Dixon Moon, and Dean of Faculty Shannon Clark. Nate Seidenberg is pictured in the inset image.
Celebrating Diwali, the Festival of Lights
BY DARRYL GANGLOFF
MEMBERS OF THE South Asian Student Association hosted a Diwali celebration and dinner during Family Weekend on Oct. 25. Students performed a traditional dance to share a piece of the festival’s exuberance and hope with everyone in attendance.
Organizers Share Their Reflections
“For those of us celebrating Diwali far from home, the holiday is also about finding connection and belonging. Coming to Hotchkiss, I found that celebrating Diwali within the South Asian Students Association (SASA) has transformed this annual ritual. Being able to celebrate within a community that respects and shares these values has brought a sense of home, even as we’re miles away from our families. Within SASA, we’ve been able to create a space where these traditions are not just remembered but also shared and embraced by friends and faculty from all backgrounds.”
—JIYANI BHARVAD ’27
“Diwali, celebrated by millions around the world, holds a unique significance in Indian culture as the largest and most widely observed holiday of the year. While the festival’s name can be translated to Festival of Lights, it represents much more than illumination. It is a time for personal and communal purification, celebrated by cleaning homes, decorating them to invite divine blessings, creating intricate Rangoli designs on floors, and exchanging wishes for happiness and prosperity. No matter how it’s observed, Diwali symbolizes the victory of good over evil and a renewal of faith and optimism.”
—YOUDEN LAMA ’26
universal call for peace and resilience amid adversity. Much like the enduring message of Diwali, Eliot’s poem suggests that even when hope is dim and chaos seems unrelenting, the strength to pursue peace remains within us. As we celebrate Diwali this year, may we hold fast to its message: that light can overcome darkness, hope can dispel fear, and that within each of us is the power to choose kindness, compassion, and resilience. These are not just ideals but actions that strengthen the bonds of our community.”
—MAADHAVAN
PRASANNA ’25
“Every year, the Diwali celebration reflects the contributions of the students organizing the event. The cultural performances, decorations, and reflections are unique and differ from year to year. If we can treat each day of our lives as a day of brief reflection and renewal, it can be Diwali every day.”
“The principles of Diwali serve as a counterpoint to a world often in turmoil, much like the resolution at the end of T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land, which has been a focal point in the MacLeish Scholars seminar this year. While scholars debate Eliot’s intent, this closing moment feels like a hopeful endorsement of Hindu ideals as a pathway out of desolation, offering a PHOTOS
—ANJU TANEJA P’04,’09, INSTRUCTOR IN PHYSICS
Speaker Addresses Equal Rights for LGBTQ+ History Month
IN CELEBRATION OF LGBTQ+ History Month, Dr. Genny Beemyn, the director of the UMass Amherst Stonewall Center and Campus Pride’s Trans Policy Clearinghouse, explored equal rights for nonbinary and trans people across the United States during an AllSchool meeting on Oct. 15.
Beemyn has published and spoken extensively on the experiences and needs of trans college students, including writing some of the first articles on the topic in the 2000s. They began their talk by discussing an article they wrote in 2016 titled, Why Trans Rights Nationwide Are Only a Matter of Time. “Despite the negative climate, trans rights were inevitable,” Beemyn said.
They emphasized that societal attitudes often shift with increased visibility, drawing parallels to the history of same-sex marriage, which saw a dramatic transformation in public opinion over a few decades. Personal connection was a key theme in their talk, as Beeman explained how knowing someone in the LGBTQ+ community can lead to greater acceptance and understanding.
Beemyn also addressed the current challenges facing the trans community, noting the alarming rise in antitrans legislation. “In the last couple of years, we’ve seen a huge proliferation in the number of bills to limit trans rights,” they said. Beemyn maintained a hopeful outlook. “I still argue that trans rights are only a matter of time.”
The discussion also touched on the importance of education and community support. Beemyn encouraged students to advocate for trans rights and educate their peers. “Your generation is much more savvy. You all are a big part of making that difference.”
Following the talk, students asked questions about hope in the face of adversity and strategies for advocacy. “I’m hopeful that the more we educate people, the more people will be understanding and supportive,” Beemyn said.
Students Share Stories from Hotchkiss Community for Hispanic Heritage Month
TO COMMEMORATE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH , which was celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, Jose Jimenez Rodriguez ’26 and Nick Lucana ’26 interviewed Hispanic and Latinx members of the Hotchkiss community and displayed their answers on posters in Main Building.
“I wanted to make it easier for people to know who these amazing Hispanic/ Latinx members of our community are, where they came from, what they miss from their homes, and what their Hotchkiss experience is like,” Jose said. “It is important to make it easier for the community to know them so that we could all better celebrate their accomplishments and be in contact with them throughout Hispanic Heritage Month and beyond.”
Nick agreed, saying, “These stories not only open eyes but also bring a sense of belonging and home to members of our community. Each poster, more than just a simple description, encapsulates a culture and history completely different from our everyday lives.”
From left, Nick Lucana ’26, Stell Del Mazza Rocha ’25, and Jose Jimenez Rodriguez ’26.
Members of the Hotchkiss community participated in a Hispanic Heritage Month project.
VIEW POSTERS
Bearcats Victorious on Taft Day
FOLLOWING AN ENERGETIC SPIRIT
Week full of costumes, a pep rally, and a Blue Out dance, Bearcats traveled to Watertown, CT on Nov. 9 and roared to an 8-7 victory on Taft Day with the unwavering support and spirit of the Blue Mob.
HIGHLIGHTS
n All three volleyball teams made a clean sweep on the hard courts inside.
n Field hockey also swept the day capped off by a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory for varsity and a 4-0 victory for JV.
n Boys thirds soccer notched a 1-0 win.
n In Lakeville, boys varsity and JV cross country helped clinch the day with their performances in the New England Cross Country Championship.
SCORES
Varsity field hockey: 3-2 in OT
JV field hockey: 4-0
Varsity volleyball: 3-0
JV volleyball: 3-1
Thirds volleyball: 3-0
Boys varsity soccer: 1-7
Boys JV soccer: 1-4
Boys thirds soccer: 1-0
Girls varsity soccer: 2-3
Girls JV soccer: 0-1
Varsity football: 19-21
Boys varsity cross country at New England championship: 7th place, beating Taft
Boys JV cross country at New England championship: 7th place, beating Taft
Girls varsity cross country at New England championship: 14th place
Girls JV cross country at New England championship: 13th place
Athletes Dig Deep in Championships
Field Hockey and Volleyball Fight Hard in NEPSAC Tournaments
The varsity field hockey and volleyball teams both qualified for their Class A NEPSAC Championships. Field hockey defeated Loomis Chaffee at home in the quarterfinals on Nov. 13 and lost 0-1 in overtime to Taft in the semifinals. Volleyball lost the quarterfinal match to King School on Nov. 13.
Cross County Teams Race to the Finish in Two Championships
The boys and girls cross country teams traveled to Taft to compete in the Founders League Championships on Nov. 2. The boys placed second, and the girls placed fifth. Hotchkiss hosted the NEPSTA Division I Cross Country Championships on Nov. 9 (shown in the photos below). Both boys teams earned seventh place to beat Taft on Taft Day. The JV girls earned 13th place, and the varsity girls placed 14th.
Basketball Earns Holiday Victory
The girls varsity basketball team won the Groton School/Lawrence Academy Holiday Tournament. They beat Taft in the championship game on Dec. 21, and Morgan Jenkins ’25 earned MVP of the tournament.
Mountain Biking Rides to Third Consecutive League Title
THE VARSITY MOUNTAIN BIKING TEAM captured its third consecutive Housatonic Valley Mountain Biking League title on Nov. 6. Captains Tiger Mutter ’26, Maya Grogean ’26, and J.T. Popp ’26 led the team to victory.
Thatcher Meile ’27 won three individual races, including the championship race, and finished the season in second place overall. Tiger Mutter ’26 was close behind, finishing in fourth.
“Over half of the team moved up in race class during the season,” said head coach Michael Fitzgerald. “We lost our top rider, Asher Frankel ’26, to a seasonending non-bike injury, but we still finished first.”
The varsity mountain biking team celebrates its league title.
From left, captains J.T. Popp ’26, Maya Grogean ’26, and Tiger Mutter ’26.
Alioune Tandia ’28, right, and Huntyr Ammons ’25 race through Hotchkiss’s home course during a competition in October.
MO NUHU ’23 WINS NATIONAL SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
MO NUHU ’23 WON the 2024 NCAA Division III National Championship with the Amherst College men’s soccer team on Dec. 7. Nuhu scored the first goal in a nail-biting penalty shootout against
TITCOMB SISTERS WIN GOLD IN ULTIMATE WORLDS
ULTIMATE PLAYERS AND SISTERS
Rohre Titcomb ’05 and Qxhna Titcomb ’11 won gold together when Team USA defeated Colombia in the world championship in September. Rohre is a coach for the team, and Qxhna is on the defensive line.
Qxhna collected her fourth world title with Team USA. She had six assists and seven goals in the world championship, with one point and one assist coming in the 14-12 final game. Rohre has now won five world championships with Team USA— three as a player, and two as a coach. She was a starter on the 2016 gold medal team.
This is the third world championship the sisters share, following their victories in 2015 with the women’s national team and 2018 club worlds with Seattle Riot.
Connecticut College following a 0-0 tie that went into double overtime. Amherst won in penalty kicks 4-3.
Nohu, a sophomore forward at Amherst, also secured United Soccer Coaches AllAmerican Fourth Team honors in addition to being named First Team All-NESCAC and First Team All-Region. It is his first All-American honor.
As a first-year in 2023, Nuhu was named the NESCAC Co-Rookie of the Year. He was also a USC All-Region selection.
This season, Nuhu finished with 12 goals and eight assists for 32 points, leading the Mammoths in all three categories. Amherst ended the season with a 16-2-4 overall record and the program’s second national title—its first since 2015.
At Hotchkiss, Nuhu earned multiple
All-State and All-League awards, and he served as a team captain.
Mario Williams ’12, boys varsity soccer coach at Hotchkiss, told The Hotchkiss Record, “Mo left a legacy at Hotchkiss that highlights what is possible when we challenge ourselves to play at the upper limit of our capabilities. He always asked, ‘What more can we do?’”
Max Jennings ’21, Michael Leon ’21, Asa Tuke ’21, Anish Reid ’23, Ben Brown ’24, and Lawrence Taylor ’24 also competed in the NCAA Division I and Division III men’s soccer tournaments, showcasing their talent and hard work at the collegiate level. Jennings led Georgetown to the team’s sixth BIG EAST championship in program history.
Finding His Path Through Cycling and Community
Alex Takoudes ’20 excels in collegiate mountain biking thanks to wheels that began turning in Lakeville.
BY HANNAH VAN SICKLE
AWEEK INTO PREP FALL, when Alex Takoudes ’20 bailed on thirds soccer to join the burgeoning mountain biking team, he dropped onto a track that would shape the trajectory of his future.
He was traversing new terrain and found a community with his teammates during meals in the Dining Hall. These connections were instrumental in helping him find his place at Hotchkiss and beyond. This October, he capped his college career with a win at the Eastern Collegiate Cycling Conference MTB Championships—a goal he set freshman year as a B racer getting lapped by A riders.
Takoudes attributes his love of cycling to his mother, Tamara, an accomplished triathlete, who had him on two wheels from an early age. He credits experiential learning in a stunning rural setting with inspiring his love of outdoor education. Before becoming a Hotchkiss student, he spent four weeks studying environmental science in the Hotchkiss Summer Portals Program. After that, he knew he would follow in the footsteps of his father, George Takoudes ’87, P’20,’22.
Once enrolled, courses with Science Department Head Christopher Oostenink P’17,’20, including environmental science and stream ecology, solidified his affinity for the field. In fact, he received the Van Santvoord ’08 Environmental Prize during his senior year in recognition of his demonstrated concern, aptitude, and accomplishment in studying the natural environment and humankind’s relation to it.
“A shift in location and mentality, coupled with being fully independent for the first time, really brought out my leadership skills,” recalls Takoudes. As a lower mid, he enjoyed biking while modeling a progression of skills for an influx of new riders. Takoudes was named captain of the mountain biking team the following year, which was the team’s first as an officially recognized varsity sport.
“Mountain biking quickly became all I wanted to do,” says Takoudes. He thanks
Head Coach Michael Fitzgerald for helping him fine-tune the technical skills that were essential to his experience.
“Alex was instrumental in expanding our program and in setting the stage for the success we see in our league today,” says Fitzgerald of the strong, highly skilled rider who competed fiercely in races and modeled what a team leader could be.
“Alex’s enthusiasm was infectious, and he was always ready to help even the most inexperienced riders learn new skills, encourage them through tough training sessions, and fully embody what it means to love the sport.”
Following graduation, Takoudes took his passion for environmental science and mountain biking to Middlebury College in Vermont.
“The well-rounded experience I got at Hotchkiss prepared me to excel in college, where I arrived talking, writing, and contributing differently from many of my peers,” says Takoudes, who credits his time spent in Lakeville with making him a deep thinker. Outside of the classroom, he has served as past president and current advisor of student-run Middlebury Club Cycling and sits on the board of the Addison County Bike Club.
“The one community I consistently come back to is the mountain biking community,” says Takoudes. At Middlebury, he has given back to the
“The one community I consistently come back to is the mountain biking community.”
—Alex Takoudes ’20
nonprofit organization responsible for maintaining the trails where he and his teammates train while connecting with an inspiring web of local Vermonters. He compares it to taking a victory lap.
Takoudes ended up at this year’s championship race quite by accident. With nationals slated for the following weekend in the mountains of Asheville, NC, the original plan was to sit this race out. When Hurricane Helene hit, washing away the intended course and postponing the season-culminating race, Takoudes had a change of heart and headed to the championship in Pennsylvania.
“I showed up at that race feeling great, easily in the best shape of my life,” Takoudes says. He trailed the leader for most of the 90-minute race. After pre-riding the course, his strategy was simple: don’t crash and don’t pop a tire (the Keystone State is notorious for sharp rocks). On lap four of six, his closest
competitor did just that while Takoudes pedaled to victory—a whopping 4:57 ahead of the second-place finisher. In November, Takoudes and his team traveled to Bentonville, AR for nationals. He then enjoyed a three-week break, bike-free.
“We call it rest, reflect, and reset,” Takoudes said. He hiked with friends and enjoyed the last of the fall foliage. It’s a fitting end to his college athletic career. In February, Takoudes will complete his B.A. in earth and climate sciences at Middlebury. His sister Elizabeth Takoudes ’22 is not far behind. She attends Colby College, where she plays field hockey and majors in environmental policy.
“Getting skills coaching from Mr. Fitz changed my whole attitude about mountain biking,” says Takoudes, whose early frustration at not knowing how to properly maintain his first “real” mountain bike turned to pure joy under Fitzgerald’s supervision.
Both on and off his bike, Takoudes has grown to thrive in his community—a root he traces back to Hotchkiss. Looking ahead, his sights are set on bigger things than winning bike races (although that’s not out of the question).
“The goal is to continue being a pillar of whatever community I join next because, in the end, making genuine connections with others is what keeps me going.”
Alex Takoudes ‘20 with his father, George Takoudes ’87, P’20,’22
Takoudes competed on the mountain biking team during his time at Hotchkiss.
MAKING HISTORY
Emilie Bydwell ’04 Leads U.S. Women’s Rugby Sevens to Olympic Glory
Bydwell became the first female coach to guide a rugby team to an Olympic medal, showcasing her vision, leadership, and the power of a united squad.
BY DARRYL GANGLOFF
HEAD COACH EMILIE BYDWELL ’04 led the U.S. women’s rugby sevens team to its first-ever Olympic medal in Paris over the summer. The team won bronze in a dramatic 14-12 victory against Australia.
Bydwell was named head coach of the team in 2021 following years of experience as a coach and player. She was a three-time All-American at Brown University and made her USA Eagles debut in 2008. She has represented the U.S. in World Cups and won a senior club sevens national title with the San Diego Surfers. Bydwell was named USA Rugby Coach of the Year in 2016 and coached three consecutive USA Rugby Club Sevens National Championship teams. She most recently served as the USA rugby director of women’s high performance.
Head Coach Emilie Bydwell ’04, first row, second from left, and the U.S. rugby sevens team celebrate their bronze medal at the Paris Olympics.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE COACHING AT THE OLYMPICS IN PARIS?
It was my third Olympics, but this was my first time as the head coach. I think the biggest change was having a really clear identity of who we are as a team, what our values are, and what we want to represent on the field.
Our team has such a range of athleticism and this wonderful diversity of experience. I really wanted to create an American style of sevens, have that shine through, and make sure the players were really expressing their strengths and who they are as athletes. That’s what I focused on in the years leading into the games.
When we got there, it was just wild. You can’t treat the Olympics like any other event, because it’s not. It’s so special.
CAN YOU REFLECT ON YOUR TEAM’S NAIL-BITING VICTORY AGAINST AUSTRALIA IN THE FINAL SECONDS?
We needed to be united and resilient under pressure. That’s one of our critical success factors as a team. We just needed to get it together and be in the moment.
The cool thing about rugby is there’s not a buzzer, and what’s nice about rugby sevens is when you get scored on, you get the ball back. If we could retain possession, we were going to have all the time we needed. It was awesome, just awesome!
HOW DID IT FEEL TO WIN THE BRONZE MEDAL?
It was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. I know people talk about this all the time, but it’s the culmination of work, emotion, and pressure. This year was all about the process. We’re going to peak when it matters. To see the players and how they reacted to that, and how hard they worked, and how much they sacrificed to be in that position—yeah, it was really special.
YOU BUILT YOUR TEAM’S IDENTITY AROUND THE SONG THE HIGHWOMEN. CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT PHILOSOPHY?
I just knew that if we were able to get the culture right in this environment, it would unlock the potential of this team.
The song tells the story of four different women archetypes in history who sacrificed themselves for something that was going to be bigger than themselves. At the end of the day, our players resonated with that element. We dug into those archetypes and came up with our team values and how important that was going to be—how we wanted to inspire people and be successful.
I wanted everybody to feel that they could be themselves. That’s the strength of the group.
WINNING THE BRONZE MEDAL WAS ONE OF THE BEST EXPERIENCES I’VE EVER HAD.”
EMILIE
BYDWELL ’04
Emilie Bydwell ’04, right, waves to the crowd.
YOU’RE THE FIRST FEMALE RUGBY COACH TO WIN AN OLYMPIC MEDAL. HOW DOES THAT FEEL?
It’s really important that other unions and teams are seeing the value of having female leadership. For me, the way that I was able to develop the culture and identity around our team was unique. It’s so important for people to consider what the strength of a female leader could be for these teams.
IF I HADN’T GONE TO HOTCHKISS, I WOULDN’T BE HERE. I WOULDN’T BE DOING WHAT I’M DOING.”
The only way that anybody will think about that seriously is if the woman who’s in the role has a team that performs. Did having a female leading our program have a performance impact? I would argue that it did. It wasn’t the only performance impact, but it did have an impact.
HOW DID YOUR TIME AT HOTCHKISS HELP PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR ROLE?
Hotchkiss was really important in terms of my growth. I went into Hotchkiss having the identity of being an athlete, and I was given the opportunity to explore my passion for art, leadership, the outdoors, and other things that I
was interested in. It was really impactful. If I hadn’t gone to Hotchkiss, I wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing.
My sports experience was great. I played ice hockey and track. Hotchkiss has a good balance of a really competitive sports program and really strong academics.
I had the opportunity to meet so many different types of people from so many different backgrounds. That helped me start to understand how diverse this country is— and you can’t build a culture for a team that represents a country if you don’t understand the country.
WHAT CAREER PATH DID YOU TAKE TO BECOME HEAD COACH OF A NATIONAL TEAM?
The biggest thing is that it hasn’t been linear. I went to Brown, and that was a really important time. Then I found rugby. I’d already played a little bit in Montreal, but when I graduated I was playing for the national team for rugby. I didn’t think there were jobs in rugby, so I ended up working in a lab for three years at Harvard Medical School. I knew that was not going to be my career. I was playing rugby internationally, and that was great. Then I decided I wanted to teach, and I went to coaching pretty quickly.
It was not a clear trajectory. Now I have my dream job.
Emilie Bydwell ’04 competed in hockey and track at Hotchkiss. She is pictured with her hockey team in the 2004 Mischianza
Watch a video on the team’s philosophy
EMILIE BYDWELL ’04
Board of Governors Applauds Community Service Award Recipient
JULIA TINGLEY KIVITZ ’01, co-president of the Alumni Association, was honored to represent the Alumni Association and its Board of Governors at the presentation of the 2024 Community Service Award honoring Temitayo Ifafore-Calfee ’99 (page 18). Kivitz shared the following message at the ceremony.
Our school’s mission asks us all to exercise responsible citizenship through service, local, and global engagement, and environmental stewardship. Service to others is a common bond that unites generations of Hotchkiss students. It is at the heart of this award, which was established in 1992 on the occasion of our 100th anniversary at the school.
Annually, the Awards Committee searches a list of more than 10,000 living Hotchkiss alumni to identify those who have addressed the needs of their communities and enhanced the lives of others through medicine, education, mentoring, legal or political advocacy, environmental policymaking, and many other endeavors.
The award is presented to alumni who demonstrate through their volunteer or vocational accomplishments an
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
exemplary sense of caring, initiative, and ingenuity.
When you graduate from Hotchkiss and join the Alumni Association, you will have opportunities to practice responsible citizenship through contributions in your communities and in your professional lives.
Temi’s extraordinary dedication and work in public service around the world exemplifies all the qualities that this award represents.”
The Community Service Award honors the service contributions that Hotchkiss graduates have made to their respective communities, whether local, national, or international.
Julia Tingley Kivitz ’01, co-president of the Alumni Association, introduces Community Service Award recipient Temitayo Ifafore-Calfee ’99, right.
Louis-Philippe De Courcy ’15 and Maria Bravo ’16 wed on June 15, 2024, in Huntington, NY. Barrett Sogard ’15 was LP’s best man.
Brooke Lummis ’16 and Andre Kurtz ’16 were married on May 18, 2024, in Houston, TX. Bearcats in attendance were Jack Kagan ’16, Avital Romoff ’16, Isabel Leeds ’16, Claire Jennings ’18, Julia Chen ’16, Eden Schwartz ’16, and Marco Quaroni ’16. Brooke and Andre now live outside of Toronto, studying landscape architecture and veterinary medicine, respectively.
Miley Xiao Haywood ’17 and Tyler Haywood ’17 tied the knot at the Interlaken Inn, just a short distance from Hotchkiss, on Aug. 3, 2024. Among 150 guests, Miley’s closest friends from Hotchkiss were in attendance, with two of them being her bridesmaids. The day was a wonderful celebration of love and reunion, taking place right near where their journey began.
Send Us Your Hotchkiss Love Story
Hotchkiss is full of love stories, including these alumni couples who celebrated marriages in 2024. Did you meet your spouse or long-term partner on campus? Do you have an inspiring love story to share with our readers? Please send a short description and photos to magazine@hotchkiss.org for possible publication in a future issue.
ALUMNI RETURN TO CAMPUS
What a joy it was to have the Classes of 1949, 1959, 1964, and 1974 together in Lakeville for their milestone fall reunions. Thank you for bringing your laughter and stories back to campus.
Geoff Neuhaus ’44 visited campus over the summer to reminisce about his time at Hotchkiss.
’64
August 2024 Alum of the Month: John C. Virden III ’64, P’89,’91
For more than 30 years, JOHN C. VIRDEN III ’64, P’89,’91 served Hotchkiss in various positions, including associate head of school, dean of students, college advisor, and teacher. Perhaps most notable was his role as a coach and steadfast supporter of girls’ athletics.
Virden entered Hotchkiss as a prep. “I hadn’t thought much about going to Hotchkiss, but my father always envisioned me there. At times, I missed my family and wanted to leave, but due to my dad’s support, I always ended up staying,” he said, referring to his father, John C. Virden Jr. ’41, P’64, GP’89,’91. It was the right decision as Virden developed several lasting friendships, including a special bond with Jody Nachman ’64, P’91,’93,’00, GP’21,’23. He was also a member of the Student Council and was active in varsity swimming, baseball, and football.
Virden majored in economics at Lake Forest College and never considered working in education. But after marrying a Lake Forest undergrad, Martha Recht, in 1969, he took a job teaching math in a public school, followed by 11 years as
a math teacher at Lake Forest Country Day School. He was also Lake Forest’s business manager during his final five years at the school.
When the news that the Hotchkiss Board of Trustees had voted to admit women and girls, who first came to campus in the fall of 1974, reached Illinois, Virden was pleased. “I was proud of their decision and wished it had been so when I was a student.”
An opportunity to return presented itself in 1981 when Rusty Chandler ’53, P’82,’85,’87, GP’10,’14,’16,’22,’27 asked Virden if he’d consider running the Hotchkiss Annual Fund. “We decided to move our family to Lakeville—the fact that Hotchkiss had become coeducational was a defining factor as we hoped our girls would qualify for admission. By the time they applied, we knew Hotchkiss would be a great place for them with the quality of the faculty, the curiosity and positivity of the students, and the outstanding facilities. The timing was perfect.”
Virden loved athletics. As a coach, he was a natural. Virden started the girls varsity squash team in 1984, leading them to eight Founders League Championships. In 1987, he began his 16 years as head coach of girls varsity tennis, capturing the Founders League Championship seven times.
He received the Martin Williams Souders Memorial Award from the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council in 2015, one of only two awards given annually to a graduate of a New England independent school “who has a distinguished record in sports and who has since made a distinguished record in life through his/her high ideals, leadership, and accomplishments.”
Building character was a significant goal for him, on and off the field. His
time as dean of students brought some substantial challenges. “I tried to be fair in the Discipline Committee to respect the rules while at the same time helping kids to understand that we all make mistakes. I hoped those who made mistakes could move on to feel good about themselves. It is character that perseveres and has the greatest impact on young lives.”
Former Head of School Robert H. “Skip” Mattoon Jr. offered the following tribute: “When I arrived at Hotchkiss in the fall of 1996, I had the good fortune of having John just down the hall. I’d already sensed the depth of his commitment, but I soon realized how profound his dedication was. From the heavy student traffic into and out of his office, I could see students sought his advice. As chair of the Discipline Committee, John was both sympathetic and firm. When the verdicts for disciplinary action reached my desk, I almost always concurred. But even in the few cases when I did not, my working relationship with him remained strong. John made my job immeasurably easier by handling many issues, large and small.”
Virden says he will be forever grateful for his Hotchkiss experience and is happy that his life trajectory brought him home to Lakeville. “The mentors who showed me a better way from 1960-64 and from 1981-2015 were, and in many ways still are, so important to my growth as a man and professional. I would like to cite and thank three people, among many, who made singular impacts on my life: George Stone, Christy Cooper P’08,’11, and Rusty Chandler.”
July 2024 Alum of the Month: Jeannie Weinberg Rose ’80, P’18
JEANNIE WEINBERG ROSE ’80, P’18 became the first female president of The Hotchkiss School Board of Trustees in 2011. Not since Maria Hotchkiss, founder of the School, had a woman been at the helm.
The history of female trustees on the Board began the same year that girls arrived on campus. Marcia Hincks P’84 was the first, elected in July 1973. Dr. Alberta Arthurs, dean of admissions and women’s education at Radcliffe College, and Nancy Watson Symington P’76,’78, GP’00,’10, joined soon after. These women provided much-needed perspective and left remarkable legacies behind. Symington was the first woman to become trustee emerita, and Rose became the second (and the first female graduate) when this honor was bestowed upon her in 2019.
Rose arrived on campus in September 1977 as a lower mid in the infancy of women and girls at Hotchkiss. “Hotchkiss had been coed for three years. I didn’t truly appreciate the significance or implications of how new coeducation was to the School until many years later. I joined 150 other new students on campus (about 50 were female) to meet the everyday challenges of learning to live, socialize, play sports, and study away from home. There was a tremendous amount of adjustment taking place for everyone. Hotchkiss had been built for boys and was filled with teachers who were generally accustomed to teaching boys. Three classes of girls had paved the way prior to our arrival, and I think that made a big difference.
“I loved my time at Hotchkiss, and knew I was lucky to be there from the moment I arrived. What I didn’t know was how deeply, and in how many ways, my three years in Lakeville would impact me academically, socially, and as an individual.”
Following Hotchkiss, Rose graduated from Princeton University and earned
an MBA from Harvard Business School. She worked for a time in the corporate finance department at GE Capital, served as a product manager for Clairol and Bristol-Myers Squibb, and co-founded a now-closed art education and consulting business called Eye on Art.
Rose joined the Board in 1996 along with her predecessor, John Thornton ’72, P’10,’11,’16. Thornton became president in 2001, and Rose served as vice president and on the executive committee before taking the helm in 2011. “I learned a tremendous amount from John and have great respect for him,” she said. “I was also inspired by several women who served before me, including Sara Thornton Clifford ’76, P’07,’23, Lisa Cholnoky ’79, and the late Katha Diddel Sussman ’75, P’07,’09,’14, as well as some of the non-alumnae educators who served on the Board and shared their significant expertise, including Kendra O’Donnell,
Marjo Talbott, and Becky van der Bogert.” Rose believed that it was essential to unify the Board, collaborate with the administration, and communicate with alumni. She noted the Board’s focus on the School’s core values, excellence in teaching and learning, and continual self-evaluation and improvement. She is grateful for the many lessons she learned from past leaders such as Thornton, Bill Elfers ’67, and Forrest Mars ’49, P’77,’82, GP’09,’09,’11,’11,’14. “I wanted every Board member—as well as all other members of the Hotchkiss community— to know that their points of view were important, heard, and an integral part of a process to determine direction and craft the best solutions.”
Rose shared her perspective on the School’s evolution since 1974 and the beginning of women and girls at Hotchkiss. “I think that it is a kinder, broader, more caring and student-focused place than it was in the past. Girls and women are now an integral part of the fabric of the School. I also think that the current leadership is truly committed to constant and systematic evaluation and improvement. This, in my mind, is one of the signs of an excellent institution. Excellence and hard work remain a true standard.”
Rose says she is grateful to Hotchkiss. “It provided me with an incredible education. I made some great friends who remain some of the most important people in my life. What I didn’t expect is that I would continue to learn and make more wonderful friends through my work on behalf of Hotchkiss. I am indebted to the School and feel lucky to be able to give back to an institution and a place that truly changed my life.”
October 2024 Alum of the Month:
Dionne Cruz Miller ’90 ’90
DIONNE CRUZ MILLER ’90 is a healthcare professional who combined her admiration for physicians with the practice of health law, which sets regulations and policies. Currently self-employed as a healthcare expert, she recently served as chief executive officer of Presbyterian Healthcare Services of Albuquerque, NM, and chief operating officer at Kaiser Foundation Hospital and Health Plan in San Francisco, CA.
“Public health is the intersection of medicine and law where theory and practice come together, enabling you to impact vast populations,” she explained. “It is ever-evolving, meaningful, and important work.” She has enjoyed the opportunity to help people through her work on advocacy, policy, strategy, and direct care delivery.
Miller arrived at Hotchkiss as a lower mid from Taos, NM, with a strong sense of community and family. “While at an honor society conference, I met students from all over the world, many from boarding schools,” said Miller, who attended public school. Following that conference, she told her parents she wanted to go to a traditional New England boarding school. With their support, she was accepted at Hotchkiss and four other schools. “After visiting each, Hotchkiss stood out for us. We knew we had found our school. And that decision changed the course of my life.”
With Erica Hamlin P’91 as an advisor and mentor, Miller learned assertiveness and to speak up for others as well as for herself. “I attribute my love of biology to her and to Joe Merrill P’90,’93. Their teaching styles inspired curiosity and engagement,” she recalls.
“Tim Katzman opened our eyes in his International Political Hot Spots course and created a space to learn and respectfully discuss complex issues while having deeply divergent points of view,” she said. Miller
attended the world speech and debate tournament in London where she gained invaluable skills in developing succinct arguments and using humor to relay points with confidence when presenting to large crowds. Hotchkiss athletics gave her leadership principles and a sense of being part of a focused and united team.
Miller received a bachelor’s degree at Pomona College. She planned to major in pre-med or pre-law but had a change of heart after an ecology study abroad in Ecuador. “I worked with an organization that assisted Campesinas in the Andes with education and access to safe reproductive healthcare, so I switched and completed the requirements for biology, economics, and women’s studies. I petitioned the registrar to title it Women’s Healthcare Policy. Approaching issues from a multidisciplinary lens seemed a natural evolution from the education I received at Hotchkiss.” She went on to earn a master’s degree in public health services management from UCLA.
Miller was the first Hispanic woman to lead Presbyterian Hospital, and she reflected on that accomplishment during National Hispanic Heritage Month, which was celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. She oversaw the hospital’s recent $170 million expansion—the largest construction project in its history.
Looking back on years of experience in public health management, she says, “Whether being the youngest person in the room or the only female or person of color, I find success lies in seeking intersections of commitment and connection. You can build something if you have equal parts healthy competition, inspiration, and accountability. I intentionally work to create a space for diverse perspectives and experiences in all forms, knowing the end product will be synergistically better and more sustainable.”
Hotchkiss had been coed for a little over a decade when Miller arrived. “It still had remnants of having been a school for boys, and I think that, in some ways, it prepared me well as a COO and CEO. I learned to seek knowledge, be assertive, speak with confidence, and how to responsibly take action,” she said.
She applauded Hotchkiss’s educational opportunities, intentional commitment to social development and learning, teachers who “instructed and also cared” for her, “amazing” facilities, and the ability to meet and listen to world-class speakers on campus. “All of this set the bar for what is possible,” she said.
In light of the 50th anniversary of women at Hotchkiss, Miller notes, “At this time, healthcare finance, policy, and administration are predominantly male. I think those fields would benefit from having more young women consider these tracks, which are rapidly evolving with changes in technology. Their voices and contributions will only improve healthcare quality, access, and outcomes.”
’04
June 2024 Alum of the Month:
Libby Hubbard Stegger ’04
LIBBY HUBBARD STEGGER ’04 has spent her career helping nonprofits find collaborative, community-based solutions for their challenges. In response to “the cultural divisions within our country,” she is the founder and executive director of Move for America, an organization that promotes listening while encouraging people to move outside their comfort zones. The nonprofit’s ultimate goal is to catalyze a generation of leaders to bridge divides and strengthen civic dialogue.
Stegger bases her philosophy on something she learned at Hotchkiss. “There is no substitute for community values,” she explains. “Democracy is grounded in civic participation, mutual understanding, and community engagement.”
Her extensive ties to Hotchkiss include her grandfather, the late Sam Hubbard III ’36, P’72, her father, George Hubbard ’72, P’02,’04, and her brother, Ted Hubbard ’02. “Boarding school wasn’t a given for me, but after visiting Hotchkiss, I was struck by the strong academics and clear sense of community. Connecting with peers from different backgrounds expanded my perspective. When we look outward, we see ways the world can be better, if only we set about making it so. Hotchkiss helped me broaden my worldview.”
She found the thought-provoking academics she’d hoped for, but the lessons about civil debate proved to be far more important. “Hotchkiss cultivated a spirit of intellectual discussion that allowed us to disagree without disconnecting. This reinforced my confidence in the value of not only my viewpoint but also those of my classmates.”
While in college at Davidson, where she earned her bachelor’s degree with honors in political science, Stegger interned for a hunger relief organization
and gained a real understanding of entrenched poverty in the United States. She went on to Yale and earned an MBA. She started her career working at several other hunger relief organizations, including launching one of the nation’s first SNAP Outreach Programs at the Greater Chicago Food Depository and leading Hunger-Free Minnesota’s strategic grantmaking portfolio to increase access to child nutrition programs. Additionally, Stegger spent five years in K-12 education, working to create more equitable outcomes for students in Minneapolis.
Four years ago, she was increasingly concerned about the impact of political and social division in the country and was compelled into action by founding Move for America. “We don’t have to look very far to see how division is catapulting us into a future few of us want. In a world where we are all constantly plugged in, we are more disconnected than ever,” she said. “Getting people to talk is a first step, but listening is what transforms. We are socialized to be thinking about how to convince each other of something. I like to tell people that in your next difficult conversation, try to reframe your goal— not to win or to change someone’s mind, but to try to gain a deeper understanding of what they believe and why they believe it. You may have then succeeded in opening the door for finding common ground.”
Stegger emphasized that “engaging young people and inviting them to be part of the solution is vital.” Move for America’s mission is to catalyze a generation of leaders to bridge divides and strengthen civic dialogue. The nonprofit offers an immersive fellowship program to equip emerging civic leaders with the skills and experience to bring communities together to find solutions that work
for local communities. “It is a learning experience for emerging leaders to move across America’s cultural, political, and geographic fault lines,” she said. Move for America is an innovation hub. The Fellowship model is informing national service practices around the country, and the organization plans to pilot new program models for high school and college-aged youth to inform the bridging sector in new models to promote civic engagement.
She is reflective following her 20th Hotchkiss Reunion. “I recently reread the Hotchkiss mission: ‘cultivate a lifelong love of learning, responsible citizenship, and personal integrity. We are a community based on trust, mutual respect, and compassion, and we hold all members of the community accountable for upholding these values.’ This describes a community I would like my four daughters to grow up in, and it reads like my hope for America, where we balance personal responsibility and mutual accountability, curiosity, and compassion, and we hold ourselves and each other accountable.”
September 2024 Alum of the Month: Leslie “Cakey” Worthington ’09 ’09
Hotchkiss provided LESLIE “CAKEY” WORTHINGTON ’09 an opportunity to immerse herself in activities and classwork in the area of her passion—the natural world of the Northwest Corner of Connecticut. A lifelong environmentalist, she focused her studies and career on forest management and now serves as vice president of carbon operations at Aurora Sustainable Lands (formerly Bluesource Sustainable Forests Company).
At Hotchkiss, Worthington was co-head of both SEA (Student Environmental Action) and the Outing Club, and she was also an inaugural member of the FFEAT (Fairfield Farm Ecosystem and Adventure Team) co-curricular with Charlie Noyes ’78, P’03,’07. Environmental science classes with Jim Morrill P’87,’89 allowed her to visit local forests, wetlands, and caves and learn about ecosystems by observing the soil, plants, and animals.
Worthington began her secondary education at an all-girls boarding school and spent her sophomore spring at the High Mountain Institute backpacking, skiing, and camping in Colorado and Utah. “I came to Hotchkiss as an upper mid looking for academic rigor and a
strong on-campus community. My parents prioritized educational opportunities for me—and Hotchkiss was a perfect fit.”
Classes around the Harkness table engaged and inspired her. “I also enjoyed humanities classes. Charlie Frankenbach P’12,’16 and John Cooper P’08,’11 come to mind as teachers who really challenged me to think critically and outside the box.”
The combination of activities and studies motivated Worthington to find a similar experience in a college: an academically focused school with small classes and an opportunity to learn and adventure in a surrounding ecosystem. She decided on Davidson College in North Carolina, majoring in biology with a focus on ecology and wildlife. “I volunteered for a land trust helping encourage private land conservation in the local community. Coming out of undergrad, I went to work for the Catawba Lands Conservancy which furthered my interest in ecosystem services and privatesector conservation.”
Worthington pursued a Master of Environmental Management and Master of Forestry at Duke University. “The MEM concentrated on landscape-level planning, whereas the MF focused more on specific tools, technologies, and techniques for managing a forest for multiple outcomes—timber products, recreation, wildlife, habitat, etc.”
She began her career as a project developer for forest carbon offset programs, helping large forestland owners enroll their forests into programs that would pay them to store carbon in their trees instead of cutting them down at market rate. “The modern forest carbon programs of today were just being established and tested when I came out of graduate school. This seemed like a great path to combine my interests and skills to help change an age-old industry (forestry) into a new era of climate and ecologically focused forest management.”
She decided to translate that work into the operations of on-the-ground management. “I was an early hire at a start-up forest climate investment company founded by former members of the project development firm I worked for right out of graduate school.
Aurora Sustainable Lands is now the seventhlargest private forestland owner in the U.S. and the largest forest owner managing forests for the climate, with 1.7 million acres of predominantly natural hardwood forests across the eastern half of the U.S.” Their focus is to actively manage their forests to sequester carbon from the atmosphere, become more resilient to disturbance from climate change, and adapt to the changing climate for the long term.
As vice president of carbon operations, she oversees a team of “boots-on-the-ground forestry professionals” who manage carbonoffset projects, climate adaptation and resilience strategy, wildlife and biodiversity, recreation, forest sustainability certification, and community partnerships.
It goes without saying that Worthington loves her work. “I make decisions impacting millions of acres of land. I get to tromp around in the woods and see the Monarch butterflies, black bears, and migratory warblers—all benefiting from our habitat management. I get to see former tree plantations regrowing into diverse natural forests and interact with the local communities who benefit from recreating on our properties.”
She returned to Hotchkiss this summer for her 15th reunion. “I continue to be impressed by the place-based learning opportunities and increased focus on sustainability and environmental initiatives. From the farm and sustainable dining programs, the greenhouse rooftop, and environmental classes, Hotchkiss continues to be a place where young minds can learn from their surroundings and think outside themselves.”
May 2024 Alum of the Month: Abby Fanlo Susk ’12 ’12
ABBY FANLO SUSK ’12 found inspiration for her career in responsible AI and technology governance from a Hotchkiss course linking history to politics. She now serves as the policy and strategy lead in the Responsible Artificial Intelligence Division within the U.S. Department of Defense’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office, which sits within the broader Office of the Secretary of Defense.
Fanlo and her colleagues oversee the development and implementation of department-wide guidance to ensure AI systems are aligned with ethical principles.
Fanlo “fell in love with Hotchkiss” after visiting several schools, and she found the faculty to be “quite remarkable.” Tom Flemma’s U.S. history course planted the seeds that would guide her academic journey. “He validated my love for history and showed me how it could help me understand the political world. He taught me how to craft an effective argument, marshaling historical evidence to explain particular political phenomena. I still remember being extremely proud of an essay I wrote for him on Jacksonian Democracy and the Era of the Common Man.”
She praised Charlie Frankenbach P’12,’16, the Russel Murray Bigelow Teaching Chair, instructor in English, and Lufkin Prize recipient, for bringing out her creativity “by mixing storytelling with literary analysis.” Looking back fondly at her time on campus, she continued, “I’m half Cuban, and Ana Hermoso P’16 taught me to read and analyze Spanish literature like Cien Años de Soledad and La Sombra del Viento!”
After minoring in military history and majoring in political science at Stanford University, Fanlo entered the university’s Ph.D. program in political science, where she also earned an M.A. She received a Stanford Interdisciplinary Graduate Fellowship. This, along with an Enhancing
Diversity in Graduate Education fellowship, funded much of her research.
Fanlo also participated in the International Policy Scholars Consortium and Network Junior Scholar program, providing her with the background to pursue work in foreign policy and national security within the U.S. government.
Toward the end of graduate school, Fanlo joined Meta within the product policy organization. There, she began working on issues related to artificial intelligence. “I realized that many political outcomes— including communal, civil, and interstate conflict—were deeply impacted and facilitated by emerging technologies. I had the opportunity to contribute to work surrounding the impact of recommender systems (a particular type of AI) on political cohesion and human rights.”
Her experience at Meta left her with an understanding of the crucial importance of end-user trust in an AI system. “Responsible AI and technology governance is something we should all care about. I’m concerned about the false dichotomy between developing
and deploying AI responsibly and creating products that are competitive on the market or in the international arena. Responsible AI work ensures that end-users trust that systems will operate as promised, have an understanding of how they work, and know that using the system will not introduce legal consequences or moral injury. Achieving those outcomes facilitates adoption of the AI system by end-users, and is thus essential. People will not leverage a technology that they do not trust or understand.”
She works closely with AI leaders across Department of Defense components in her current work. “This includes the military departments to get their feedback on the responsible AI resources we are developing and ensuring these resources can be integrated into their unique mission and operational contexts.”
Fanlo has been active in creating platforms for women to share their experiences of overcoming personal and professional challenges. “The aim is to empower each other to succeed despite gender discrimination in various forms.”
She keeps in close touch with her Hotchkiss friends. Brodie Olson ’12 officiated her wedding last year, and Abby Hanson ’12, Kate Albright ’12, Charlotte Belling ’12, Grace Gellman ’12, and Isabel Gomez ’12 all served as bridesmaids.
“The support and friendship I found at Hotchkiss, along with the work ethic and resilience the school instilled in me, has been instrumental in helping me as my career has progressed.”
Fanlo shares some advice for students considering a similar career: “Beyond a doctorate degree, working at a tech company or in national security, I am most passionate about public service. I promise you will find something profoundly special about giving back to your country that you won’t find in other professional endeavors.”
44
WILLIAM “BILL” PETERS KETCHAM died peacefully on April 11, 2024. Born July 9, 1925, to Henry Holman Ketcham, Class of 1910, and Katherine Ketcham, Bill was the second of three brothers: Henry “Pete” H. Ketcham Jr. ’40, and the late Samuel Kendall Ketcham ’48. Bill grew up in Seattle and on Bainbridge Island. He attended the Lakeside School, Hotchkiss, and Stanford University. Early in his professional career, he joined his father at HH Ketcham Lumber Co. After a fortuitous business and fishing trip in British Columbia, Bill and his two close brothers joined together to buy the Two Mile Planing Mill in Quesnel, BC in 1955. Over several years, they purchased other mills, gathered phenomenal people, and with humility, frugality, and humor grew the West Fraser Timber Company. Bill was proud of the company, its scope, and its culture driven by exceptional people, including family. He was deeply connected to his family and his lifelong multigenerational friendships. He was admired for his tennis agility and taught his daughters to play. He was a competitive golfer and squash player and a skilled bridge player who traveled to compete and was known for his sportsmanship. His skill and graciousness in all his hobbies made him the favorite company of friends and family. He was beloved by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Until only recently, not one of them could beat him in chess. Bill was tremendously proud of his four daughters, who worked alongside him and could always make him laugh. He spent the final days of his life surrounded by family and friends, who reflected on the integrity and genuine kindness he brought to every conversation. Those last shared stories of generations of Ketchams on Bainbridge filled him with joy. He is survived by his four adoring daughters and missed by his 11 grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Janet W. Ketcham, as well as his nieces and nephews, including Will Ketcham ’78; their spouses and their children, all of whom he cared for deeply.
MARVIN DECKOFF P’87 passed away May 17, 2024, at his home in New York City, surrounded by his family. He attended Hotchkiss from 1945 until his graduation in 1949. He then graduated from Yale in 1953 and earned an LL.B. from Fordham Law School in 1966 and an LL.M. from New York University. He also earned an MBA from Fordham. He ran the Tribune Printing Co. in Manhattan through most of his career, retiring as president in 1995, but his chief pleasures stemmed from his family, friends, and
passion for racquet sports and the beaches and bays of Long Island. He served as chairman of the Yale Alumni Fund from 1976 to 1978; in 1980 he was honored with the Yale Medal. He served as a Hotchkiss trustee from 1981-88 and also was a reunion agent. He loved the theater, classical music, travel, astronomy, fine wines, and Latin grammar, and served on the boards of multiple arts and educational institutions. He has donated his body to the Einstein College of Medicine for anatomical study. He is survived by his wife, Jane; children John, Anthony (Leslie) and Hilary ’87 (James); and four grandchildren.
JOHN J. “JACK” POLLITT , age 92, of Franklin Lakes, NJ, passed on March 17, 2024. Born in Paterson, NJ, he was raised in Fair Lawn, NJ. He attended Hotchkiss from 1947-49 and had lived in North Haledon, NJ, for most of his life before moving to Franklin Lakes. He served his country as a soldier in the U.S. Army. After his service, he was the owner/operator of Ribbon and Ticker Paper Company in Hawthorne. He later worked as a salesman for Mount Ellis Paper Company and Perkins Paper in Newburgh, NY, continuing with this work until 80 years of age. He was a true patriot who loved his country dearly. He was also an avid boater and a longtime member of the Brant Beach Yacht Club, where he served on the Sailboat Racing Committee. As a former Minor League player for the Giants, he loved baseball, attending gatherings with his former teammates, those visits proudly displayed to this day on the Dutch House walls in Fair Lawn. He was an advocate and supporter of education, serving on the North Haledon School Board for 16 years. Above all, he was a kind, dedicated, and loyal friend to many. He was the beloved husband of Thelma Kennedy and the late Judy (née Brown) Pollitt (2013). He was the loving father of two daughters and a son and their spouses, and dear grandfather of a granddaughter. He is also survived by his sister and a nephew. Additionally, he is survived by two stepsons, step-grandchildren, a greatgrandchild, loving in-laws, nieces, nephews, and a host of longtime friends. His brother, Jerome “Jerry” Pollitt ’53, died five weeks after Jack; his obituary also appears in this issue.
MICHAEL C. “MIKE” OR “MICKEY” STANLEY died peacefully on Aug. 1, 2024, in his home on Dublin Lake in New Hampshire, surrounded by family. Mike remained exuberantly engaged in life until his final days, reciting his poetry and singing with his many friends who visited. He adored being in nature,
whether paddling on a river, sailing, hiking, or, in later years, sitting on the deck of his New Hampshire cottage listening to loon calls. He drew those in his orbit into quiet conversations about what he considered important: family, good friends, the environment, and the healing qualities of the natural world. He was born in Glen Cove, Long Island, on Aug. 15, 1932. His mother taught him to ice skate, and he spent many hours figure skating and playing hockey on Beaver Dam, Long Island. He was an all-star hockey and track star at Hotchkiss and graduated in 1954 from Yale, where he captained the track team. At Yale, he was a champion mid-distance college runner, besting in a collegiate race in New York City a competitor who, just two years later, claimed gold at the Olympics. In 1961 he married Georgie Wilmerding (who died in 2003) and had three children. He served his country in the Air Force Reserves and was discharged as a captain. His first career was on Wall Street. At 55, disenchanted, he left to become an Outward Bound Instructor. In 2017, in recognition of his service, Mike was honored with the inaugural Outward Bound USA Service Award. In 2023, he was given the Distinguished Service Oar Award from Hurricane Island Outward Bound School. In 2003, he founded the Outward Bound New Jersey Youth Leadership Corps. In 2006, he married Sue Scott and lived with Sue and his stepson, Chase, in New York City and New Hampshire. Mike was an accomplished poet, publishing three chapbooks over the past 30 years. His style was wry, often tender, celebrations of life and the natural world. In addition to his wife, stepson, and children, he is survived by three grandchildren.
51
PETER LAWSON KENNEDY passed away at Hope Health Hospice in Providence, RI, on April 6, 2024. He was born in New York City on April 21, 1933, the only child of James and Ruth Emerick Kennedy. He attended the Allen Stevenson School in New York City for nine years and was a member of the Knickerbocker Grays. He attended Hotchkiss for three years before graduating from Harvard University in 1955. After serving in the Army for three years as first lieutenant, he attended Columbia University School of Law and moved to Rhode Island in 1961 to practice law. He was a founding partner of the Providence and Boston Law Firm of Adler Pollock and Sheehan, PC, where he practiced from 1961 to 2015 before he semi-retired to private practice. He was admitted to practice in the states of Rhode Island, New
York, and Massachusetts, and various Federal Courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. He litigated in 13 states and was named to “Best Lawyers in America” in several categories for every year published and was a member of the American College of Construction Lawyers. He started scuba diving when he was 60. After 100 dives, he decided to hang up his fins but remained a dedicated sailor. He was a champion trapshooter and voracious reader who enjoyed hiking, traveling, bicycling, and cooking global cuisine. He had a keen sense of humor and loved regaling family and friends with stories. He led a full and happy life. He is survived by his loving wife, Marie Wemyss, formerly of Lloyd Harbor, Long Island and New York City. As he often reminded us, “After the game is over, the king and the pawn go in the same box.”
GEORGE ARTHUR MORTENSON of Leominster, MA, passed away on April 1, 2024, at the age of 91. George was born on Nov. 26, 1932, in Great Barrington, MA, to Arthur and Bertha Mortenson. He was raised in Amesville in the town of Salisbury, CT. He grew up the eldest of five children. George graduated from Indian Mountain School and Hotchkiss. He left RPI to join the Marines, later transferring to the Navy to become a pilot and flight instructor. Following his military service, he became a computer programmer and systems analyst. George met his first wife, Mary, in Connecticut, and they married in 1959. They lived in Florida and Virginia before settling in Lexington, MA, where they raised their three children. Later in life, George married Mary Anne Williams; they enjoyed many years together and settled in Leominster, MA. George was a student of history, an avid reader, and a stamp collector. He loved the Red Sox and Patriots. He was a very kind and loyal man. He is deeply missed. George is survived by his wife, Mary Anne; his extended Williams family; his three children, James, Peggy, and Evelyn; his siblings, Bee Ann, Peter, and Suzy, and their spouses; his sisterin-law; extended Carney family, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was predeceased by his brother, Robert. 52
HERSTER BARRES , an internationally renowned forestry expert who pioneered programs to combat climate change and diversify crops for small farmers, died March 7, 2024, at Yale New Haven Hospital after a short illness. He was 90. Dr. Barres founded and directed the nonprofit organization Reforest the Tropics (RTT), which today manages more than 1,480 acres of research forests on 17 farms in Costa Rica. More than 100 United States forest
sponsors, including Hotchkiss, rely on more than 500,000 trees planted on these farms over the past 25 years to offset their carbon emissions. The Hotchkiss School Carbon-Offset Forest was a pasture planted in July 2007. In this RTT UNFCCC program, pastures are reforested to capture CO2 for its U.S. sponsors and to earn income for participating farmers. Each project is a research forest to develop economically sustainable farm forests that meet the needs of emitters and farmers. “He single-handedly conceived of an improved reforestation model that solved many of the historical challenges to long-term forestry projects on private farms,” said Greg Powell, who took over as RTT director when Barres retired in 2019. Powell credited Barres with developing systems and management techniques that were once considered radical and are now widely copied. “Dr. Barres possessed a unique vision, a conviction in his beliefs among a sea of doubters, and the perseverance to prove his theories over a lifetime of scientific pursuit,” Powell added. A 1997 article in The New York Times described how Barres introduced the klinkii tree, a fast-growing conifer native to Papua, New Guinea, to Costa Rica in 1968, as part of his research. He experimented for 27 years before determining that was ideal for offsetting carbon emissions that contribute to global warming. “Clearly, we have to work principally on reducing emissions; fixing carbon through forestry is only a partial solution. But if we started 40 years ago, we’d be far ahead,” Barres told The Times. President Bill Clinton’s Climate Change Action Plan chose Barres’s project as one of the most promising to help combat global warming, coordinating U.S. interests with those of farmers in Costa Rica. In addition, he believed in educating young people on climate change and possible solutions, including reforestation. “Dr. Klinkii,” as students called him, made frequent presentations at local schools in southeastern Connecticut, where he lived. He was born in Greenwich, CT, in February 1934, son of the Rev. Herster Barres Sr. and Dorothy Marshall; the Rev. Barres served for a time as headmaster of Viewpoint School, Amenia, NY, and chaplain of Hotchkiss. After graduating from Yale University and the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, Barres earned a doctorate from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland. While in Switzerland, he met Miranda Carlesso, a native of Treviso, Italy. The couple married in Martinique in 1961 and lived in Puerto Rico for several years during his first assignment as a tropical forester with the UN. After Puerto Rico, Barres was assigned to the Center for Higher Education and Agricultural Research (CATIE) in Turrialba, Costa Rica, as an FAO Forestry officer. It was there he taught and
undertook research in testing tree species for wood production on farms. He founded the Latin American Tree Seed Bank in CATIE and planted trees on farms in the Turrialba Valley. His next project, Diversificación Agrícola de Turrialba, developed and provided technical support for alternative crops for small farmers. These included macadamia nuts for export, a fast-growing eucalyptus tree for the production of utility poles, a tropical pine for the production of paper pulp, and aquaculture of tilapia fish and honeybees. After retiring from his career with the United Nations, he moved back to Connecticut and founded Reforest the Tropics. His body of research became the foundation for a mixed-species forestry model used by Reforest the Tropics today. The design maximizes profits for farmers, as well as biomass accumulation that forest sponsors can use to offset greenhouse gas emissions. A true Renaissance man, Barres spoke five languages and was an amateur cellist, a pilot who restored World War II airplanes, and an avid tennis player. Besides his wife, Barres is survived by his three children, Marco, Spyros, and Fiorenza, and spouses; along with three grandchildren. He is also survived by his three siblings, and predeceased by a sister and brother. A carbonoffsetting forest will be planted in his honor.
53
HENRY CHARLES (“CHUCK”) BARTLETT JR. , 89, of Middletown, RI, died peacefully on July 2, 2024, at his daughter’s home in Hamilton, MA, surrounded by his family. Charles, or Charlie, as he was known to his family, was born in New York City on June 22, 1935. He grew up in New York, Greenwich, CT, and San Francisco, CA, and graduated from Hotchkiss in 1953. Classmates Rusty, Lynn, and Jim remained lifelong friends, and together they enjoyed many reunions and rounds of golf over 70 years of friendship. From Hotchkiss, Chuck followed in his father’s footsteps and began his studies at Harvard College. While at Harvard, he took his first flying lesson at a small airport in Beverly, MA. He went home for Christmas break and told his father that he wanted to fly planes. His father replied, “Well, if you can get into flight school, you have my blessing to take a leave of absence from Harvard.” That leave of absence began a 25-year Air Force career, where Chuck pursued his passion for flying as a fighter pilot, combat veteran, and Purple Heart recipient, before retiring as a full colonel in 1980. Most importantly, Chuck was stationed in England in 1958, when he met Jennifer Ann Barnard-Hankey of Dorset, England, on a ski trip in Switzerland. As he said, she was the love of his life for 58 years of devoted marriage. They
loved to ski, hike, travel, play tennis, and serve in the many Episcopal churches that always anchored their multiple moves throughout his Air Force career. His daughters fondly remember family vacations that included many ski holidays in places as varied as Taos, Gray Rocks, Alta, and Garmisch. At the request of the Air Force, Chuck finished his undergraduate degree at Indiana University and went on to earn an MBA and DBA, and he attended the Naval War College (NWC) in Newport, RI. Upon his retirement from the Air Force, he returned to the NWC as a professor, and he and Jennifer spent 40 years happily settled in Middletown, RI. At age 70, Chuck retired from the NWC as a professor emeritus and told friends and colleagues he was going to become a “professional grandfather.” Boppa and Granny, as Chuck and Jennifer were known to their eight grandchildren, spent countless hours with them. He is survived by his two daughters and two sons-in-law, a nephew, eight grandchildren and their partners, and three great-grandchildren.
JEROME “JERRY” POLLITT , an admired teacher and scholar at Yale University and a distinguished historian of Greek art and archaeology who made ancient artifacts come alive by weaving them into their historical and literary contexts, died on April 24, 2024, after a long illness. He was 89. Pollitt, Sterling Professor of Classical Archaeology and the History of Art, Emeritus, was a scholar of the first rank. From his earliest days at Yale as an assistant professor in 1962, he published, in quick succession, The Art of Greece 1400-31 BC (1965), The Art of Rome 753 BC – 337 AD (1966), and The Ancient View of Greek Art (1974). His Art and Experience in Classical Greece, known by many students, appeared in 1972 and was called by J.E. Lendon and Elizabeth A. Meyer “[one] of the enduring monuments of that exciting time when the study of Greek art in context was young and unbeneficed, bold and heretical, dangerous and brave.” In all, his six books made significant contributions to his field at an important moment of its development. Mark Lawall, chair of the managing committee at the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, where Pollitt began as a research student, wrote that Pollitt “brought ancient thoughts about ancient art into the modern scholarly debate, and he brought order to the chaos of Hellenistic Art.” Throughout his career and the publication of six books and many articles, Pollitt was recognized as a scholar who integrated historical context into his analysis of ancient Greek material culture. He was also a wonderful teacher and mentor—learned, punctilious in his scholarship, serious but not pompous, frank but engaging, generous, and witty. For his combined excellence as a scholar
and teacher, he was awarded the Wilbur Cross Medal from the Alumni Association of the Yale Graduate School and the cherished William DeVane Award for scholarship and teaching by the Yale chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. Between 1986 and 1991, appointed by then-Yale President Benno Schmidt, Jr., he served a term as dean of the Graduate School. Born in New Jersey, Pollitt was a graduate of Hotchkiss, where he said he had such good teachers and classical mentors that his first years at Yale were “restful.” At Yale he was engaged and galvanized in his interests by mentors, including the renowned architectural historian Vincent Scully, who was known for bringing the world of ancient architecture alive for generations of students. The turning point in his career development, however, was certainly the “magical” year he spent after college as a Fulbright Fellow at the American School of Classical Studies in Athens (ASCSA). His study of the Greek world greatly contributed to his passion for art and archaeology, and galvanized his choice, after service in the Army, to undertake graduate study in the art history and archaeology program at Columbia. In 1962 he returned to Yale as an assistant professor and remained on the faculty until his retirement. Pollitt is survived by his wife, Susan Baker Matheson, the Molly and Walter Bareiss Curator of Ancient Art and Lecturer Classics, emerita, who herself published on Greek vases, ancient glass, Roman sculpture, and women in Roman art and society. Together they coauthored Old Age in Greek and Roman Art as well as Greek Vases at Yale.
JAMES CALLENDER “CAL” HEMINWAY
JR. , class agent for 1954, died on June 1, 2024, shortly before his 70th reunion, which he was registered to attend. Born in April 1935, Cal died at 88 on a glorious June day. He had rototilled his garden, planted more dahlias, declared he was mad to be dying, given thanks, and our beloved curmudgeon moved on. The youngest of James Callender Heminway Sr., Class of 1913, and Helen Greene Heminway’s three children, he spent his childhood in Chappaqua, NY. He was predeceased by his sister, Anne, and he is survived by his brother, Richard Merritt Heminway ’50, of Olympia, WA. Cal’s commitment to Granby, CT, and family started when he and his wife, Sue, moved to town in 1960, where they raised their four children. Cal was an attentive father and grandfather to his 10 grandchildren. For many years, Cal cared for Sue until her death from Parkinson’s Disease in 2020. After graduating from Hotchkiss, he earned his B.A. from Yale, proudly served in the U.S. Navy, and enjoyed the domestic and international challenges as an
IBM executive. Upon retirement, he pursued his Master in Public Administration at the University of Hartford and then enjoyed another 20 years as a financial advisor. Cal valued public education and dedicated 32 years to the Granby Board of Education (1981-2013), serving as chair for more than 10 years. He was an incorporator and treasurer of the Granby Education Foundation and was instrumental in the creation of the Salmon Brook Ecology Center. He served as Granby’s education representative to the statewide quality and diversity forums (mid-1990s), and as an officer of the Capital Region Education Council, the Connecticut Commission for Education Technology, the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC), the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE), and as an incorporator of the Connecticut Teacher of the Year Council. He also served as trustee and treasurer for Westover School and Marvelwood School. In 1963, he joined the nascent Granby Volunteer Ambulance Association, where he was a driver and EMT for 20 years and served on the board for many of those years. As president, he was instrumental in building the Ambulance Barn. As he served without discussion, this Granby volunteer list is incomplete: the Historical Society, Land Trust, Stony Hill Village, and many roles at the First Congregational Church of Granby. A lifelong student of history, he read voraciously and debated thoughtfully. With love and respect, Cal tended his gardens, split firewood, crafted furniture, traveled, and gathered regularly with his bridge group. A devoted family man and public servant, he showed a boundless energy, even in his later years as he fought pulmonary fibrosis.
DAVID WALTON PRATT passed away peacefully while traveling with his family on June 17, 2024. He was 89. He was born in Honolulu on Feb. 12, 1935, the youngest of the four children of Charles and Dora Broadbent Pratt. David grew up in Honolulu and attended Hanahauoli School and then Punahou School, graduating in 1953. He attended Hotchkiss before enrolling at Colorado State University, where he earned a B.S. in agronomy in 1958. He started his career in the Hawaii Sugar Planters Association training program in 1959 and 1960, then joined American Factors (AMFAC), where he worked until 1972 at Oahu Sugar, Lihue Plantation, Puna Sugar, and in the headquarters office in downtown Honolulu. In 1972 he began 28 years of work with Grove Farm Company, Inc. as a manager and administrative assistant. In 1974 he became president and chief executive officer, a position he held over two separate periods for 25 years. Under his leadership, Grove Farm phased out of sugar production
and became a land steward, envisioning and creating the Lihue-Puhi community, which includes residential neighborhoods, Puakea Golf Course, Puhi Industrial Park, a shopping center, and various projects in Koloa and Poipu, including the Grand Hyatt Kauai. He was president and a director of his family’s business, Niu Pia Land Company, Ltd., for the last 54 years. His grandfather, Edward H.W. Broadbent, founded Niu Pia on lands in the Wailua and Waipouli areas. For the last 50 years, David has been a champion for the Kauai community, serving on numerous committees and boards for organizations such as Kauai United Way, Hawaii Community Foundation, First Hawaiian Bank, Kauai Economic Development Board, National Tropical Botanical Garden, and G. N. Wilcox Hospital. He served on the boards of Hawaii Preparatory Academy for 32 years and Island School for 37 years. He was Kauai Chamber of Commerce’s Humanitarian of the Year in 2001 and was recognized as a Living Treasure by Kauai Museum in 2012. He was preceded in death by his wife, Deborah, his brother, and two sisters. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Carol Jesse Hinesly Pratt, two sons and two grandsons, two nieces and two nephews, and numerous family members and friends.
BENJAMIN FREDERICK “FRED”
REINMUND passed away peacefully on June 22, 2024, in Boynton Beach, FL, at the age of 88. He was born on Oct. 18, 1935, in Englewood, NJ, to Weatherly “Reinie” Reinmund, Class of 1927, and Frances Reinmund. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Juliet Hallock Reinmund; sister Marian Ulrich of Hanover, NH; sons Frederick Scott Reinmund and daughter in-law Kathy Devinne Reinmund of Boynton Beach, FL, and Michael Avery Reinmund and daughterlaw Stacey Lynn Reinmund of Oviedo, FL; and grandsons Blake Avery Reinmund of Lake Nona, FL, and Kyle Griffin Reinmund of Oviedo, FL (U.S. Marine Corps). Fred graduated from Hotchkiss in 1954 and Colby College in 1958. He started his career at the Bank of New York as a commodities banker in 1959. He retired in 1994 after a 35-year career on Wall Street. Fred continued his love for athletics throughout his life—tennis, squash, platform tennis, golf, and walking. He played hockey and tennis at Colby and was a member of the DKE Fraternity.
61
RAYMOND “RAY” FINUCANE died on Dec. 28, 2023, at age 80. He served in Vietnam as a highly decorated Marine fighter pilot. He then received his master’s degree in mechanical engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles. He began his professional career at
Hughes Aircraft, where he did original research in high-power gas dynamic lasers. He also worked on meter-scale metal mirrors for these applications. After Hughes, he went to Exxon and worked on offshore drilling in support of the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline. He came to Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the early 1980s to work in the Atomic Vapor Laser Isotope Separation Program. Some of his contributions were the basis for the transition from Nova-style steel space frame structures to concrete support structures used in the National Ignition Facility (NIF) to provide thermal and vibrational stability. He then took a severalyear break from lasers and went to the physics department. He did original work on high-speed gas guns as well as special projects in Z-division (now part of Global Security). He returned to lasers and the NIF in 1999 and played a key role in the design of the Beampath Infrastructure System. This work supported a renewed national effort in fusion energy. In his final years, he tackled the challenge of understanding medicine dosage and timing for his Parkinson’s Disease treatments. He instrumented his body and developed algorithms that showed it was often the temporal derivative of the dose, not the absolute level of the dose, that was important in the control of the disease and attendant side effects. This work resulted in inventions, publications, and transfer of his work to the private sector. A military funeral and burial ceremony were held for him at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery. Ray’s father, Thomas Finucane II, was a member of the Hotchkiss Class of 1931, and his three brothers also were alumni: Joe, Class of 1970; Pat, Class of 1973; and Barney, Class of 1980.
WILLIAM “BILL” CONRAD MADLENER II , 81, died in his home on July 26, 2024. Bill was born on May 11, 1943, in Chicago, IL, to Otto and Elaine (Wetmore) Madlener. He grew up in Winnetka, IL, and spent summers at his grandparents’ home in Wisconsin on Geneva Lake—the same home he would move to in the 1980s and make his own. In his youth, he enjoyed water skiing and swimming. Starting at a young age, he had a talent for pen and ink drawing and playing the guitar, both of which he pursued throughout his life. After graduating from Hotchkiss in the Class of 1961, he enrolled at Stanford University, Class of 1965, and majored in psychology. After graduation, he moved to Germany to study philosophy and the German language at the University of Heidelberg. He returned to Chicago in 1968, where he began a career as an early childhood educator. Over the last decade he developed a love of yoga and was a fixture at classes around Lake Geneva. Yoga not only helped
with fitness and flexibility but also led Bill to practice meditation, which he encouraged family members and friends to try. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Richard. He is survived by two nieces, numerous cousins, and dear friends in the Lake Geneva community.
WILLIAM STEPHEN “BILL” SLOCUM , a beloved husband, father, and friend, passed away peacefully on Aug. 5, 2024, at the age of 81, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on Dec. 29, 1942, in Greenwich, CT, to Walter and Elsa Slocum and grew up in Ridgewood, NJ, and Gladwyn, PA. After graduating from Hotchkiss and the University of Pennsylvania, he went on to pursue a successful career in the Navy, banking, and finally as a family business owner for more than 40 years. Bill was known for his enthusiasm, touching the lives of many with his kindness, generosity, and humor. He is survived by his devoted wife of 55 years, Betsy; his children Adam and Ceciley, and grandson Andrew; his daughter-in-law Taryn; and his siblings, Scott, Class of 1964, and Jane. He also had a firstborn child, a beloved son named Seth, who left this world too soon. He will be dearly missed by his family, friends, and all who knew him. Bill was happiest when sailing and being on the water. He also spent many wonderful summers on Martha’s Vineyard as a tennis pro at the East Chop Tennis Club. He will be remembered for his excellent squash and tennis playing, his love of history and travel, his Little League coaching, his infectious laugh, generous smile, and big blue eyes, which exuded his genuine kindness and gentle spirit. His legacy will continue to inspire all who had the privilege of knowing him. His ashes will be scattered in a private ceremony at Narragansett Bay in front of his Barrington, RI home (which he enjoyed with his extended family for most of his adult life) as well as alongside other family members at their family burial site. 62
JOSH HASKELL , beloved husband, father, and grandfather, age 79, passed away June 21, 2024, at his residence in Kirtland Hills, Ohio, after a battle with lung cancer. He was born Nov. 24, 1944, in Ashtabula, Ohio, to George Paine and Margaret (Merritt) Haskell. Josh graduated from Hotchkiss, Class of 1962; Yale University, Class of 1966; and Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Class of 1975. While at Yale he was co-director of The Exit coffeehouse and chairman of the Yale-in-Jail program. He was also one of only two students on Law Review who graduated in the top 10 percent of the class. After graduation, Josh worked at the law firm of Baker, Byron and Hackenberg, where
he became a partner. Later he started his own practice in Painesville. Josh’s law career included both private practice and dedicated government service. He served as assistant to the law director for both Kirtland Hills and Willoughby and as the law director for Perry Township. After a 49-year career, Josh retired from practice in 2023. Josh enjoyed diverse pastimes. After Yale, he led a discussion group on his favorite book, Finnegans Wake. Following his dad’s lead with ESNO (Epicurean Society of Northeastern Ohio), Josh and his friends formed SESNO (The Supreme Epicurean Society of Northeastern Ohio) to continue the tradition of planning and preparing delicious four-course meals for their wives. He and his friends also created The Friday the 13th Society, which met every Friday the 13th to enjoy prearranged outings. On snowy winter days, you could find Josh working on his Lionel train layout, the sounds of train whistles and clacking tracks emanating from the basement. However, when the weather broke and spring arrived, Josh’s focus was on his first love: gardening. He worked tirelessly to turn his five-acre property into his own beautiful arboretum, and he enjoyed every minute of it. Josh is survived by his wife, Susan Ball Haskell; son, Seth (Kristin) Haskell; daughter, Devon (Aspen) Gorry; grandchildren, Rowan and Sage Gorry; sister, Sheila (Lynn) Smith; his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Joanna Haskell Munger.
63
LEIGHTON R. LONGHI , widely regarded as the foremost dealer of Japanese fine art outside of Asia, died at age 79, on Aug. 22, 2024, in New York City. After battling illness for over two years, he passed away peacefully at home with his beloved wife, Rosemarie, at his side. Leighton and Rosemarie were married for more than 50 years. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. Longhi of Orange, CT, Leighton is said to have had an eye for rare and beautiful objects from the time he was a child. After graduating from Hotchkiss, he majored in Japanese and Chinese civilizations at Yale and nurtured an interest in Asian art. In a recent interview, he recalled his reaction when one of his professors at Yale brought a cache of Japanese weaponry to the class. Longhi recalled being especially impressed by the beauty and craftsmanship of the swords. After working briefly as a market analyst for a large Manhattan firm, by 1971 he shifted his career plans to focus on Asian art and became a recognized expert in Japanese arms and armor. In the late
1970s, he opened Leighton R. Longhi Oriental Fine Arts, specializing in Japanese paintings, screens, sculpture, and ceramics. In business for more than 45 years, he placed works in a number of major institutions in America, Europe, and Japan. Major museums owning pieces acquired from his galleries include the Art Institute of Chicago, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Cleveland Museum of Art. Throughout his career, he held fast to one firm rule: he never sold to anyone who lacked knowledge of how the piece should be stored and protected, or who did not have a collection that complemented the piece, the subject matter, or the artist. In doing this, he played an important role in building significant collections of Asian art at major institutions and museums. In honor of his efforts to promote Japanese art, Leighton was named a Fellow in Perpetuity at the Cleveland Museum of Art, a lifetime trustee at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, and appointed as a Sterling Fellow at Yale University for his efforts to expand the Art Gallery’s Asian holdings. The Longhis supported charities for education, including the Yale/Hotchkiss Fellowships, which provide scholarships to students from all over the world for a year at Hotchkiss prior to going to Yale.
66
FRANCIS “FRA” CURTIS THAYER JR. died peacefully at his home in Charlotte, NC, on June 26, 2024. Born on Sept. 1, 1948, in New York and raised in Manhattan, he spent summers with his family in New Marlborough, MA. It was a place he thought of fondly all his life. At Hotchkiss he was an athlete and accomplished member of the Blue Notes a cappella group. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on a tennis scholarship before enlisting in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He trained as a licensed practical nurse from 1971-72, achieving the designation of 91C, the highest level of non-commissioned officer medical certification. This would jumpstart his interest in and passion for healthcare. Following his time in the Army, he returned to UNC on the GI Bill, graduated, and went on to receive a Master’s in Health Administration from Duke University. He spent many of his years in Savannah, GA, where he was an HR executive at Memorial Health University Hospital. He would have a long career in hospital administration and physician recruiting. Frank never met a stranger (at times to the embarrassment of his daughters), but everyone who met Frank loved him and knew he was someone special. He was selfless, compassionate, kind-hearted, and sweet,
despite living in chronic pain from a car accident more than 40 years ago. He loved books, the Tar Heels, watching golf, travel (especially to Sea Island and Key West), ice cream, and New York-style pizza. More than anything, Frank loved his family. His proudest accomplishment was his family, especially his three daughters, whom he adored. He will be greatly missed by everyone who knew and loved him. Frank is survived by his loving wife of almost 37 years, Marilyn; daughters Lily, Maggie, and Lexi; two sisters; and his nieces and nephews. He cherished his four grandchildren and two “grand-dogs.” He was preceded in death by his father, Francis C. Thayer, Sr.; his mother, Constance Thayer Devens; as well as his stepfather and sister.
67
DAVID WARDEN HOLAHAN , 74, a longtime resident of East Haddam, CT, died June 11, 2024, from cancer. He was a seasoned writer, commentator, and reporter. In 1974, he co-founded The Gazette, an Old Lyme, CT weekly newspaper, which survived into the late 1980s. He also co-published The Compass, a newspaper in Mystic, CT. The Gazette was named the best newspaper in New England for its size. An annual April Fool’s Day article kept readers on their toes. The spoof caught the attention of The New York Times and is enshrined in the Museum of Hoaxes in San Diego, CA. Holahan went on to write articles for newspapers and magazines, great and small nationwide, among them The New York Times, The Hartford Courant, Newsweek, and the San Francisco Chronicle. In recent years he served as editor of the East Haddam News and wrote its nature column, “Wild Things,” to the last. A selection of his writings can be found at www. davidholahan.com. The son of Pamela Crawford Holahan and Richard Holahan, Class of 1929, of Huntington, NY, he is survived by his wife of 38 years, Kyn Tolson; his son and daughterin- law, Jackson and Sarah Holahan, and their son, all of Costa Mesa, CA. Survivors also include three older brothers and their wives, Bernadette and Stephen Holahan ’64 of Rocky Hill, CT; Kathy and Richard Holahan ’60 of Queens, NY; and Michael and Jane Holahan of Avon, CT; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by another brother, Thomas Holahan ’58. After Hotchkiss, he earned his B.A. in 1971 from Yale University, where he played varsity football and baseball. Holahan found great pleasure in the rural life, especially when gardening, birding, or hiking. He was an avid ice hockey player well into his 60s. Every year, except for one, he spent time on Martha’s Vineyard, where he first ventured during his Hotchkiss years to work one summer picking
berries and other field produce. Among his proudest achievements was capturing the blue ribbon at the Hadlyme, CT Derby’s Giant Pumpkin competition in 2004. Gorgeous George weighed in at 525 pounds. Holahan wrote about George, of course. He also wrote about serious environmental questions such as climate change and habitat and species degradation, not just near home in Connecticut, but worldwide as well.
CURTISS HARPER CLARK , longtime editor of The Newtown Bee, died unexpectedly on June 14, 2024. Born in 1950 to Harriett and Russell G. Clark, he grew up in Middlebury, CT. He attended Hotchkiss before graduating from Dickinson College in 1973. Thereafter, he found employment as a local journalist at The Newtown Bee, eager to immerse himself in local reporting. He would spend the next 43 years of his journalistic career working at that historic newspaper. During that time, Bee Publisher R. Scudder Smith remembered in 2016, “Curt engaged himself in virtually every area of company operations, including working in the press room.” He became its editor in 2009. Readers enjoyed his award-winning “Editorial Ink Drops” as well as his engaging reflections and photography in his “Field Notes” column. Curtiss was an especially thoughtful writer, one unafraid, on occasion, to “ruffle a few feathers.” Serving in that role was a defining privilege of his life. He loved Newtown. Never did Newtown need Curtiss more than after 20 children and six educators were murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec. 14, 2012. Though deeply shaken by those events, he, alongside so many other thoughtful residents of Newtown, helped guide the community through those days of unspeakable sorrow. Curtiss was ultimately awarded a 2013 New England Newspaper Press Association (NENPA) Allan B. Rogers Award for his editorial “Answering for Our Town” after those events. The Bee’s first special edition, published just three days after the Sandy Hook shooting to console the heartbroken community, received a NENPA Public Occurrences Award. The New England Newspaper Hall of Fame later inducted Curtiss into its ranks in February 2016, alongside more than 100 distinguished colleagues. Curtiss was a journalist of the first rank. He retired from The Newtown Bee in 2016 and shortly after moved to New Hampshire, where he spent time with loved ones and enjoyed long walks in the woods with his camera and dog. Curtiss was an empathetic soul who family and friends will always remember for his quiet wisdom and kind eyes, and his razor-sharp wit. Most importantly, Curtiss was a loving partner,
brother, stepfather, uncle, and step-grandfather. His family, friends, and loved ones will deeply miss him. He is survived by a brother and sister and their spouses; two stepchildren; a son-inlaw; and two step-grandchildren. He is also survived by companion Thyrza Whittemore.
NIMAR T. COURY, OR “TJ,” died at the age of 72 at his home in Waterbury, CT, on May 24, 2024. Born on Nov. 13, 1951, in Torrington, CT, he was the son of Nimar and Mary (Narsiff) Coury. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his six siblings, David, Marcia, John, Bill, Chuck, and Gerry. He is survived by many people who cared about him and loved him, especially his friends and the staff at Carriage Manor, and his nieces, nephews, and other family members all over the country. Nimar was known to all as a gentle soul. He was kind, genuine, and very funny. He was incredibly intelligent, earning a scholarship to Hotchkiss. He traveled the country and loved to take long walks. TJ was always patient, engaged, and encouraging to everyone. He was an example to all in overcoming obstacles and staying optimistic in hard times. TJ is already missed and will be remembered by all who loved him.
HUGH ALEXANDER MACCALLUM of Warsaw, NY, died on May 26, 2024. He was a graduate of Warsaw Elementary School, Hotchkiss, and Hobart College. Surviving are his brother and sister-in-law, John and Nancy MacCallum; nephew, Gordon (Stephanie); and cousins, Stephen, Sandra, Lisa, and Harry.
WALTER “WICKES” BREWSTER JR. died on July 14, 2024. Born on Aug. 3, 1954, in Baltimore, MD, he was raised on Millstone Farm in Glyndon, MD, where he enjoyed his stewardship of nature. He attended Gilman School in Baltimore before graduating from Hotchkiss in 1972. He then attended Franklin College in Lake Lugano, Switzerland, before graduating from the University of Virginia in 1977, where he was a member of the St. Anthony’s fraternity. Committed to the welfare of Baltimore, he worked at the First National Bank of Maryland prior to working as a fundraiser for Mercy Hospital. Coming from a prominent political family dating back to Revolutionary War hero Lambert Wickes, a captain in the Continental Navy during the Revolutionary War, he was also the sixth great-grandson of Founding Father Benjamin Franklin and the nephew of U.S. Senator Daniel B. Brewster. He worked on several Maryland political campaigns, joining the staff of the
successful Harry Hughes for Governor campaign. Brewster had a lifelong struggle with alcoholism and was assisted in that struggle by both Father Martin’s Ashley and Hidden Brook in Harford County, Maryland. After further treatment at the Hazelden Betty Ford Clinic in Minneapolis, he moved to Carbondale, CO, and participated in the Jaywalker Lodge recovery program. There, he enjoyed and helped others to enjoy the sports of fly fishing and downhill skiing, both of which were avocations from his youth. He also had a passion for world history and culture and was known as a voracious reader, with a wealth of knowledge that extended from the opera to national politics. He was active throughout his life in helping others. His contagious sense of humor, kind and caring demeanor, and genuine interest in the lives of others made him a much-beloved friend, counselor, and engaged community member, who always put others before himself. Brewster is survived by his sister, Marnie Brewster Phillips, of Weston, MA; his brother, David Brewster, of Halifax, VT; and his niece and nephew. He was predeceased by his parents, Walter Wickes Brewster and Margaret Perkins Brewster, of Glyndon, MD.
79
ELIZABETH GOURLAY , age 63, of Chester, CT, passed away on April 27, 2024. Elizabeth was a dedicated and talented artist who was always ready to pay it forward, participating in exhibits in Hotchkiss’s Tremaine Art Gallery and residencies in Hotchkiss’s Studio Art Program, as well as supporting Hotchkiss Special Collections. Two of her paintings were featured in the Tremaine Art Gallery’s fall 2024 exhibit, Threaded Together: Alumnae Artists Share a Moment, in honor of the School’s 50th anniversary of women and girls at Hotchkiss. For more on Elizabeth’s life and work, visit www. elizabethgourlay.com.
95
FRANCIS DANIEL O’HARA , also known as FRANCIS D. PAUL-CYRIL , was born in Brooklyn, NY, on April 10, 1977, and passed away on July 16, 2024, at the age of 47. His death was due to complications from a traumatic automobile accident that occurred on Feb. 25, 2022. He received his early education at PS 104 in Brooklyn, NY, graduating in 1991. He was a member of the National Honors Society and received numerous scholarships to some of the finest high schools in the city, state, and country. Upon graduating from Hotchkiss, Class of 1995, he continued his studies at the Brooklyn College Scholars Program, one of the oldest honors programs in the United States, where
he earned his B.A. in history in 1999, attaining a 3.9 GPA. From the young age of 14, Francis worked in many different capacities in retail, showcasing a strong work ethic and management skills throughout his life. Known affectionately as “Fran,” he was a remarkable athlete, excelling in hockey, soccer, and skating. His intelligence was matched by his deep passion for history, about which he read avidly. Fran’s kindness and generosity endeared him to many, earning him numerous close friends and the love of all who knew him. He was a quiet man, very humble, but very perspicacious. He is survived by his bereaved mother, Patricia O’Hara Paul-Cyril; his younger sister, Abigail Paul-Cyril; and his nephew, Dillon O’Hara. He is predeceased by his father, Jay Paul-Cyril of Sofia, Bulgaria, and his grandparents, Mary V. and Daniel F. O’Hara Sr. of Brooklyn, NY.
97
KAREN EDEY HUNTER , 45, a beloved wife, daughter, dog mother, friend, and esteemed professional, passed away on Aug. 16, 2024. Born March 15, 1979, in Barbados, West Indies, she was the only child of the late Kenneth and Eudine Edey. She spent her formative years in the vibrant community of Harlem, NY, a place she proudly called home. A true intellect at heart, Karen enjoyed early education and membership in the prestigious Oliver program for gifted students from New York City. This led her to continue her education at Hotchkiss. She continued her academic passions with fervor, pursuing an undergraduate degree at Harvard University and UNC-Chapel Hill. Karen’s education then culminated in a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) in 2017 from the #1 pharmacy program in the U.S., UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. On Sept. 26, 2009, Karen married the love of her life, Jonathan Hunter, in a beautiful ceremony in Asheville, NC. Their marriage was a testament to true partnership, love, and devotion. Jonathan was by Karen’s side, always providing unwavering support and love, and was with her until her very last breath. Outside of her professional life, Karen was an avid reader, often losing herself in the pages of a good book for hours on end. She had an adventurous spirit, traveling extensively both domestically and internationally. In January 2021, Karen’s life was forever changed with the adoption of her beloved fur “baby girl.” To know Karen was to experience her infectious smile, warmth, and unwavering support. Friends and family were drawn to her for her sage advice, self-described “introverted extrovert” nature, and genuine willingness to listen and provide perspective. She had the unique ability to make everyone around her feel valued and understood.
Karen leaves behind a legacy of love, kindness, and dedication that will forever be remembered by many friends who were fortunate to know her. She is survived by her husband, Jonathan Hunter; mother, Eudine Edey; and fur baby, Phyllis, as well as many aunts and uncles. She was preceded in death by her father, Kenneth Edey; grandparents, Edlene Moseley, Phyllis Edgehill, Douglas Brathwaite and Charles Walcott; and aunts/uncles.
Ginnie Mars P’77,’82, GP’09,’09,’11,’11,’14
GENEROUS SUPPORTER OF HOTCHKISS
Virginia Cretella “Ginnie” Mars P’77,’82, GP’09,’09,’11,’11,’14 of McLean, VA, passed away on Sept. 1, 2024, at age 94 after a short illness. From 1955 to 1990, Ginnie and her husband at the time, Forrest E. Mars Jr. ’49, P’77,’82, GP’09,’09,’11,’11,’14, were generous benefactors of Hotchkiss. Their gifts to initiatives and facilities at the School included support of scholarships, Summer Portals, art preservation, the Frank House renovation, the Monahan renovation, and the Mars Athletic Center.
Born on March 15, 1930, in New Haven, CT, to the late Albert and Josephine Cretella, she grew up in North Haven, CT. She shared boundless stories of her youth, all of which revolved around love and fun, bounty, and sharing as part of an extended family circle. Her years at Vassar, from where she graduated in 1951 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and teaching certification, were filled with learning and laughter and where she formed many deep and enduring friendships.
Upon graduation, she taught in the North Haven, CT, public schools from 1951-55 and volunteered at the Yale Dramat to help with costume and set design. This is where she met Forrest E. Mars Jr., whom she married in 1955. They were divorced in 1990, and he preceded her in death in 2016. Ginnie is survived by her four daughters, Victoria (David), Pamela (Mark), Valerie ’77, P’09,’11 (Philip), and Marijke ’82, P’14 (João), as well as 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Their grandchildren who attended Hotchkiss include Kyra Doyle ’14, Kimberly Spina ’09, Andrew Spina ’11, Chris White ’09, and Justin White ’11.
A passionate philanthropist and environmentalist, Ginnie founded the Virginia Cretella Mars Foundation in 1994 to support the arts, conservation, and education. She strongly supported the work of the Washington National Cathedral and was a longtime supporter of the National Symphony Orchestra, the Smithsonian, the Kennedy Center, Lake Sunapee Protective Association, and the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, among many other organizations. She believed in contributing not only her resources but also her time, energy, and brainpower, and she was a firm advocate for those responsible for running the organizations she supported. Ginnie’s passion for education inspired the creation of the Virginia Mars School in Barro Prêto, Brazil, to support quality education in the region. She also served on the board of Vassar College and on the board of trustees for Foxcroft School in Middleburg, VA.
Lewis H. Lapham II ’52, P’99
INFLUENTIAL WRITER, EDITOR, AND HOTCHKISS ALUMNI AWARD RECIPIENT
Lewis H. Lapham II ’52, P’99, author, essayist, and, for nearly three decades, the editor of Harper’s Magazine, died on July 23, 2024, in Rome. He was 89. A longtime resident of Manhattan’s Upper East Side, he had been living in Rome with his wife and other family members since January. In addition to his wife, Joan Brooke Reeves, he is survived by their daughter, Delphina Boncompagni Ludovisi of Rome; sons, Andrew and Winston Lapham ’99; and 10 grandchildren.
Lapham was a nationally respected journalist whose commentaries on politics, wars, and the wealthy were disparaged by conservative critics but often likened by admirers to the satires and cultural criticisms of H.L. Mencken and Mark Twain. As the Editor at Harper’s and later in his own Lapham’s Quarterly, a journal of history and literature, he denounced what he saw as the hypocrisies and injustices of a spoiled United States.
Lapham wrote for Commentary, Vanity Fair, Fortune, Forbes, and many other publications. He won the National Magazine Award in 1995 for his columns in Harper’s and the 2002 Thomas Paine Journalism Award, and he was inducted into the American Society of Magazine Editors Hall of Fame in 2007. He published 13 books, among them Money and Class in America, The Wish for Kings: Democracy at Bay, Theater of War, and Waiting for the Barbarians. Many of his 15 or so books had their genesis in his essays in Harper’s, including “Fortune’s Child: A Portrait of the United States as Spendthrift Heir” (1980), a collection of thematically unified columns around his metaphor of America as a spoiled rich kid.
For his many professional accomplishments, he received Hotchkiss’s highest honor, the Alumni Award, in 2001.
Lapham was born on Jan. 8, 1935, in San Francisco, the older of two sons of Jane and Lewis Abbot Lapham, Class of 1927. At Hotchkiss, Lapham turned his childhood delight in reading into learning how to write. In his prep year at Hotchkiss, Carle Parsons taught him “how to construct a sentence, assemble a metaphor, hold the line
of a thought, and compose a paragraph.” The School bookstore in those days carried the Modern Library editions of the world’s great books, and during his four years at Hotchkiss Lapham read through the whole of the collection in the store’s inventory. “I loved words; I enjoyed writing sentences, but I had no idea what kind of writer I might become.”
After graduating from Yale, Lapham went to Cambridge to study medieval history, but decided from that experience, “I didn’t have the temperament for scholarship and footnotes, and I abandoned all hope of an academic career.” Returning to the U.S. in 1957, Lapham took a job in his hometown as a reporter for the San Francisco Examiner. Three years later, in 1960, Lapham went to work for the New York Herald Tribune, which at that time was the best of what were then nine newspapers in the city. By 1962, chafing under the limitations of daily journalism, he signed a contract to write eight pieces a year for the Saturday Evening Post. “I was assigned to travel to different parts of the world and encouraged to write articles at a length of 10,000 words. It was a glorious job during the era of what was then touted as ‘the new journalism.’”
When the Post folded before the end of the 1960s, he signed a contract with Harper’s Magazine, initially contracted to write long articles on topics of current interest. He chose to stay with the magazine, the nation’s oldest continuously published monthly, covering politics, culture, finance, and the arts. In 1975 he became the editor. He offered a blend of high culture and populism: the fiction of John Updike and George Saunders mixed with reports on abortion fights, global warming, and the age of terrorism.
In 2006, Lapham retired from Harper’s and founded Lapham’s Quarterly, an intellectual journal that used the lessons of history and the persuasions of literature to dissect modern problems. Each issue of the magazine was devoted to one subject—war, crime, money, medicine—and its content ranged from the classical writings of the ancient world to contributions from modern celebrities. It ran writings by Aesop and Aeschylus, the medieval theologian Peter Abelard, John Adams, and
Lewis H. Lapham II ’52, P’99 received the Alumni Award, Hotchkiss’s highest honor, in 2001. Classmates and friends pictured in 2001 with Lapham are, from left: front row, Rusty Chandler ’53, Andy Emerson ’52, Lapham, Ernie Richards ’52, and John Rindlaub ’52; back row, Andy Euston ’52, Ernest Kolowrat ’52, and Dick Adams ’52.
Louisa May Alcott, as well as Renata Adler, Woody Allen, and Andre Agassi.
“The idea was to bring the voices of the past up to the microphone of the present,” Lapham told The New York Times in 2009 when asked about his magazine’s mission. “History doesn’t repeat itself,” he said, “but it rhymes.”
For many years, he produced a weekly podcast for Bloomberg News, “The World in Time,” in which he spoke at length with the authors of newly published history books. He also was the host and writer of a six-part PBS series, America’s Century, in 1989 and host of the weekly PBS series Bookmark from 1989 to 1991.
In his prolific and creative career over several decades, Lapham influenced and encouraged an uncounted number of colleagues and young journalists. In an essay, “On the Remarkable Legacy of Lewis Lapham: Elias Altman Remembers His Boss’ Advice on Writing, Editing, and When a Deal’s a Deal,” the former Quarterly intern and then staff member remembers: “Lewis inspired among people who worked under him a remarkable degree of allegiance. He possessed the politician’s or cult leader’s knack for making you feel it’s-just-you-and-me during a conversation—his trained eyes, that smile, the laugh. But it wasn’t a put-on or a ploy, it was a principle, and his pleasure.”
Paving the Way for Future Generations
A student studies four class photos in the Ode to Fall 1974: The Road to Coeducation exhibition in the Rotunda. These trailblazing girls in the Classes of 1975, 1976, 1977, and 1978 ushered in a new era, changing the face and trajectory of Hotchkiss.
LEARN MORE AT hotchkiss.org/alumni/events-reunions
GET READY TO CELEBRATE YOUR MILESTONE REUNIONS SEPT. 26-28, 2025. We can’t wait to welcome you back to campus! CLASSES ENDING IN 0 AND 5
For more information, please contact Caroline Sallee Reilly ’87, director of alumni engagement, at (860) 435-3892 or creilly@hotchkiss.org.
Classes of 1960 and 1975
HIT THE TRAILS
J.T. Popp ’26 flew through the Hotchkiss trails during a varsity mountain biking team competition. Read more on page 36.
