PARK Pioneer: Winter 2020/21

PARK Pioneer

THE MAGAZINE OF THE PARK SCHOOL OF BUFFALO

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In this issue:

WINTER 2020/21

• Centennial Campaign Donor Report • 2019-20 Annual Donor Report • Park is Family • Neuroscience Education Initiative • A Tribute to Ann Burns ...and much more!

A note from the editor

The publication you are about to read details the generosity of hundreds of Park alumni, parents, grandparents, faculty, staff, and friends over the past 10+ years. With many accomplishments and exciting school updates to share, this publication also takes on a non-traditional twist in that it combines the Centennial Capital Campaign Donor Report, the 2019-20 Annual Report on Giving, and the Pioneer magazine.

To all of the donors listed in the pages of this publication: THANK YOU! Whether you led the way as an early donor to the Capital Campaign, made a gift to help bring The Knopp-Hailpern Science Center to life, or supported the Annual Fund with a yearly contribution, every donation helped Park to grow and succeed.

Though 2020 was a year of unexpected challenges for all of us, Park closed out the year as a stronger school with renewed energy, enthusiasm, and an increased focus on our community, which I hope you’ll feel as you read through this publication. The COVID-19 pandemic showed all of us at Park, as well as the Western New York community, the value of the education we deliver here and the importance of our incredible campus. On September 3, Park was able to reopen for five days a week of in-person education with more than 70 new families joining our community and wait lists for nearly every grade.

Word has spread about the amazing education our faculty provide and the thorough plan we have in place to keep our students and faculty safe. For too many years Park has been a “hidden gem” in our community, but that has finally changed!

In closing, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge a few people who provided me with great assistance and editing support as I created this publication: My most sincere appreciation goes to Kerry Reynolds, Patty Cohen Gelman ‘66, and Liz Foy. I welcome your questions, comments, and feedback and can be reached at 716.839.1243 x130 or kruppel@theparkschool.org.

Thank you for your continued support of this very special school!

Kim Ruppel Director of Development Postscript: Shortly before this publication went to print, Park’s Board of Trustees announced that Dr. Keith Frome was named Acting President and Ms. Lisa Conrad was named permanent Head of School, both effective July 1, 2021. This is an exciting next chapter in Park’s rich history. We are confident that Keith and Lisa will further enhance excellence at Park and hope you have the opportunity to meet them soon!

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Table of Contents 3

Centennial Capital Campaign Report on Giving and Honor Roll of Donors

5

Centennial Campaign Timeline

15

Praise for The Knopp-Hailpern Science Center

18

2019-20 Fiscal Year Report on Giving

28

A Letter from Lisa Conrad, Head of School

29

Meet Our Faculty and Staff

39

Park is Family

44

Proud Pioneers and Kadimah Scholars Parents: One Family’s Experience

45

Neuroscience Education Comes to Park

47

Why Are There Red Crayfish in the Pond?

49

The Children’s House: Montessori at Park

51

Our Adventure With Children Continues

53

A Tribute to Ann Burns

55

Remembering Departed Community Members

56

Alumni Class Notes

2

Centennial Capital Campaign Report on Giving and Honor Roll of Donors

Thank you for supporting Park!

The Centennial Capital Campaign Raised

$6,575,150 Thank you!

GIVING SUMMARY Knopp-Hailpern Center

$4,408,112

Debt Elimination

$1,121,529

Endowment

$ 350,437

Technology

$ 337,496

Unrestricted

$ 245,815

Green Programming

$

40,000

Campaign Expenses

$

39,561

Kind Programming

$

32,200

TOTAL

$6,575,150

THE COMMITTEE Park is exceedingly grateful for the Centennial Capital Campaign Committee, ably led by co-chairs Martin Berardi and Bob Montgomery ‘55, whose generous donations of time, talent, and treasure over the past ten years helped to make this the most successful Capital Campaign in Park’s history.

Martin J. Berardi, Co-Chair Robert L. Montgomery, Jr. ’55, Co-Chair David G. Brock ‘63 Gerald L. Cornish Peter B. Dow ’50 Patty Cohen Gelman ’66 Gordon R. Gross ’49 (d) Mark W. Karrer ’73 Trudy A. Mollenberg Kimberly J. Ruppel, Director of Development Former Committee & Staff Members Melissa G. Baumgart Julie R. Berrigan Jeremy Besch Christopher J. Lauricella Carolyn Hoyt Stevens ’81

The names listed on the following pages represent all donors to all phases of Park’s Centennial Capital Campaign. Every effort has been made to present a thorough and accurate listing of names; however, if your name was omitted or incorrectly listed, please accept our apologies and let us know so that we may correct our records.

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Dear Fellow Friends of Park, We are excited to share with you the results of Park’s Centennial Capital Campaign. This Campaign is Park’s most successful fundraising effort in the school’s 108 year history in terms of total dollars raised, number of donors, and number of individual gifts over $100,000. All those wonderful accomplishments resulted in something incredible: more than $6.5 million dollars raised for Park!

We would be remiss if we did not first extend our most sincere gratitude to our fellow members of the Centennial Capital Campaign Committee.

This dedicated group met on a regular basis for more than six years, giving generously of their time, talent, and treasure to create and implement a plan for the Campaign, and worked diligently to overcome obstacles and keep the momentum going. Thank you to those who were part of this group.

When the Campaign began, the goals set forth seemed out of reach, but as the Park community has done so many times, you once again stepped up and got behind this effort through your donations both large and small.

While the Campaign raised funds to eliminate Park’s long term debt, support the school’s Kind Program, enhance technology on campus, and build The Knopp-Hailpern Science Center, it has ultimately done so much more for the School by strengthening Park for the future and transforming our campus.

During the past 10 years, we heard from many Park alumni and friends about the impact a Park education has had on their lives or the lives of their children or grandchildren. With the completion of this Campaign thanks to your generous support, our school is stronger than ever, with a mission fulfilled daily in classes and throughout the community, and with leadership ready to advance Park to the next level in enrollment, strengthened programs, and significant facilities improvements.

Thank you for believing in Park,

Martin J. Berardi Robert L. Montgomery, Jr. ‘55

Centennial Capital Campaign Co-Chairs

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Centennial Capital Campaign: A timeline of our success The “quiet phase” of the Centennial Capital Campaign begins with a goal of raising $1.1 million to eliminate Park’s long-term debt and further strengthen the School for the future.

Park is awarded a $50,000 challenge grant from the Edward E. Ford Foundation, a prestigious national foundation that only supports independent schools.

Debt Elimination Campaign completed successfully; Park’s Centennial Celebration Weekend and Gala draws 600+ friends.

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

An Adventure with Children, Mary Hammett Lewis’s 1928 memoir of her years as the first headmistress of Park, is reprinted and mailed to all alumni, parents, and friends of the School.

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Park hits the road! Gatherings in Boston, California, Texas, Vermont, Washington, DC, Canada, and throughout WNY continued the Centennial year celebrations and introduced the Science@Park phase of the Capital Campaign.

The building comes to life as construction nears completion.

Groundbreaking Ceremony for The Knopp-Hailpern Science Center on June 16.

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

A snowy Buffalo winter didn’t stop construction!

Sunflowers bloomed on campus as we prepared to Plant Park’s Future and begin the public phase of the Campaign.

The building is complete and officially unveiled at the June 14 Dedication Ceremony!

Leadership Gifts Every contribution to Park’s Centennial Capital Campaign was received with gratitude and helped the School to surpass the Campaign goals. The generous friends listed below demonstrated a profound commitment to the School with their gifts of $1,000 or more in support of all phases of the Centennial Capital Campaign.

We are exceedingly grateful for this tremendous generosity.

$100,000+

Anonymous (d) Nancy Stone Barrett ‘51 (d) Melissa and Allan Baumgart Benderson Family Berardi Family Curtis Cravens ‘78 & Family Laura P. Damon ‘56 Mr. (d) and Mrs. Richard E. Garman (d) Elster Goldstein Family ‘54 ‘73 ‘77 Gretchen and Gordon R. Gross ‘49 (d) Carolyn and Bob Montgomery ‘55 Park School Foundation The Rev. & Mrs. David A. Rich ‘63 & Family Patricia Burns Richardson ‘58 Susan & Jan Suwinski ‘59 Steve and Barb Zillig

$50,000-$99,999

Anonymous Cameron and Jane Baird Foundation The Derrick Family Mimi and Peter Dow ‘50 Edward E. Ford Foundation Eric Hahn and Kelly Maurer (d) Hoskins Family Barbara and Mark Karrer ‘73 Thomas L. Munschauer ‘71 VIYU Foundation Stefanie and Richard L. Vogel ‘68 Margaret L. Wendt Foundation

$25,000-$49,999

The Baird Foundation Bell Fund Trust #2 at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Mark Chason and Mariana Botero Chason Robert and Patricia Colby Foundation Allison Sagraves and Daniel Gregory Connors III The Peter C. Cornell Trust at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Gerald and Michelle Cornish Mr. and Mrs. George I. Gellman Arthur Gunzberg (d) Joan and Guy W. Gunzberg ‘58 Humston Family - William (d), Joyce, Vicki Humston-Casas ‘88, Robert Humston ‘90 Jerome G. Jacobstein ‘59

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Kenneth L. and Katherine G. Koessler Family Foundation Leed Family - Nancy, Tom ‘61, Christina ‘93, Tom Jr. ‘97, Theresa ‘01 Karen and Todd Levin ‘86 James and Patricia Linehan John Lipsitz ‘71 and Maria Scrivani M&T Bank Marks Family Foundation, Heather Marks Palmer ‘83 Karen Seeberg Marshall ‘63 Van and Trudy Mollenberg George F. (d) and Carin Phillips Wendy Pierce Mrs. Harold B. Robinson Rupp Family Foundation, William R. Rupp ‘72 Alma C. Scully Simple Gifts Fund Dave and Anne Taylor Van Liew Family

$10,000-$24,999

Anonymous Mark Bailey and Suzi McGowan Barbara and Brian Baird Richard and Dorothy Hoffman Bergman ‘72 Marilyn and David G. Brock ‘63 Kate Brown and Michael Halberstam David N. Bunis ‘53 Family of Ann Burns - Mike ‘73, Rob ‘74, Dan ‘81, John ‘82 Carlos and Elizabeth Heath Foundation Nan and Will Clarkson (d) Taddy Taylor Dann ‘47, Mike Dann ‘75, and Jake Dann ‘71 Margaret Diamond and Jacob Schachtner Warren and Patty Cohen Gelman ‘66 Susanne Hecht Goldstein ‘54 John Greenberger ‘64 Gary R. Grelick ‘65 Hahn Family Foundation Hezel Family - George, Sally ‘66, Sarah ‘93, Amy ‘95, Rachel ‘99, Anna ‘06 Estate of Frederic Sanford Hubbard ‘42 Kent ‘71 and Mary Robinson Jewett ‘71 Lawton (d) and Linda Johnson Edwin M. Johnston Chip Johnston ‘62 and Cindy Smith Johnston ‘63

Dr. Kenneth R. and Linda Angert Kahn ‘62 Mrs. John G. Karrer (d) Knopp Family - Jacky (d), Eliane (d), Julie ‘73, David ‘81 Thomas H. Krakauer ‘59 David Laufer ‘62 and Ellen Gleberman Lauricella Family Holly and Jordan Levy J. Eric Maki ‘78 Marjorie and John Buyers Foundation Philip M. Marshall ‘63 Claire McGowan Molly (d) and Joseph McMahon ‘83 Rob and Nancy Montone Mulroy Family Foundation Douglas Levi Obletz ‘73 Obletz Family - Stephen ‘66 & Sally Hatcher ‘81, Thomas ‘69, Betsy ‘71, Douglas ‘73 Patti and David Patton ‘61 William W. Pfeifer ‘83 Zilly and Lee Rosen Vincent and Barbara Sanchez Lawrence and Michelle Schreiber Eugene M. Setel ‘46 (d) Barbara Sicherman ‘51 Mark and Sylvia Spelman Reed and Carolyn Hoyt Stevens ‘81 Robert Stevenson Harold E. Tweeden ‘47 (d) Family of Sally Keating Walsh ‘40 Demi and Rob (d) Ayres, Barney Walsh and Amy Clifton, John N. Walsh III, Michael and Debbie Walsh Western New York Foundation

$5,000-$9,999

Bruce and Susan O’Connor Baird Lana and Howard Benatovich Greta Benjamin Berkson ‘55 Jane and W. Lawrence Buck ‘65 Martha Eaton Cain ‘84 Deborah Bleichfeld Cohen ‘55 (d) and Gary Cohen (d) Sharon Cosimano and Ray Brady Daniel C. Cox ‘67 Laurie Dann and Tom Hunt Virginia Cohen Elvin ‘62 Fung Eng and Carol Hasegawa Kevin Eng ‘01 and Sara Schmitt ‘02 Family of Toby Grady Goodyear ‘51 Cameron and Christopher Greene Martha Robinson Higgins ‘74 Brian J. Horvath ‘90 John H. Hoyt ‘78

Michael and Jocelyn Hailpern Jackman ‘63 Mr. and Mrs. C. Toby Klyn ‘61 John and Bonnie Malone Doris Hailpern McKay ‘68 Jeffrey G. Meilman ‘61 Andrew A. Morrison ‘81 Barbara Dodd Murray ‘60 Karen Vogel Nichols ‘66 James D. Pacciotti ‘78 Park School Parents Association Rev. Lorene Heath Potter Ned (d) and Susan Ginsberg Regan ‘65 Kimberly and Andrew M. Roberts ‘90 Heather and Don Roberts ‘59 Cheryl M. Rosenberg Mr. and Mrs. J. Frederick Schoellkopf VI ‘84 Paul R. Shine ‘78 Eugene Sorets ‘80 Arthur R. Steinberg ‘54 A. Mark Taylor ‘83 Dr. and Mrs. Daniel Trock Linda Kittinger Wadsworth ‘56 (d) Paula M. Wardynski ‘75 Peter G. Wilson ‘76

$2,500-$4,999

David A. Bloom ‘63 Deirdre D. Booth ‘65 Janet Coletti Connie and Walter Constantine Dr. and Mrs. Marshall D. Fagin ‘62 Deborah and Timothy J. Finnell ‘58 Susanne Francis Ann Provenzo Freedman ‘72 Elizabeth and Douglas R. Goldstein ‘77 James and Stefanie Gramkee Hilary P. Harty ‘61 Henry G. Hooker ‘62 and Janine Roeth Helen Cox Jerauld ‘65 William T. Karrer ‘69 Carl Nightingale and Martha McCluskey Philip V. Oppenheimer ‘57 Michael and Holly Constantine Ortman ‘96 Bill and Liz Parke Patricia Morey Pratt ‘50 Miriam S. Reading Gonzalo and Nancy Rey Gregory S. Roberts ‘93 Trini Ross and Geoffrey Seals Trevor and Wende Mollenberg Stevenson ‘97

Donna L. Vogel ‘68 Raymond M. Wardynski ‘77 Carl Weissgerber ‘64 Ellen Ginsberg Yost ‘62

$1,000-$2,499

Anonymous David Anderson and Sharon Hauselt Tina J. Ball ‘70 Christie Witt Berardi and Christopher J. Berardi ‘03 Raymond S. Bernhardt ‘63 Jeremy and Rebecca Besch Henry S. Bradley, Jr. ‘61 (d) Barbara Brizdle ‘61 Cameron Brown ‘75 Ann P. Burns (d) Margaret Garbe Buscher ‘62 Elizabeth A. Buxton ‘18 Nathan Cefaratti and Macarena Fritz-Cefaratti Louis and Marnie Benatovich Cerrato ‘90 Jane Chapin (d) Alison H. Clarkson ‘73 Mr. and Mrs. Stephen M. Clement III ‘62 Jeremy and Kim Colby Michael and Danai Constantinou Rebecca and Collin Cook ‘93 George H. Cooley III ‘62 Mazin and Colleen Dhafir Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Diina Jeffrey W. Duryea ‘80 DreamCatcher Foundation Max Evers ‘66 Harold M. Ginsberg ‘74 Donald H. Grace and Catherine O’Neill Grace Susan Binford Grills ‘62 Margaret Walls Hamilton ‘61 Thomas and Joanne Healy Michael F. Helmstetter ‘82 Carl F. Henzelman III Judson ‘08 and Amanda Rosenberg Heussler ‘08 Suzanne R. Hirsch ‘65 Amanda Fisk Hobart ‘53 and John P. MacKenzie ‘48 Frederic and Marie Houston David and Mary Hunter Louis W. Irmisch III ‘66 Dean H. Jewett ‘62 Ben Johnson and Corrie Stone Johnson Sarah Johnston ‘82

Thomas and Michele Katsabekis James J. Kelly, Jr. Catherine Chapin Kobacker ‘67 Naniscah B. Koessler Pengyuan Lai ‘19 Dr. and Mrs. Hongpyo Lee Linda Buerk Matt ‘58 Dr. and Mrs. (d) Richard Munschauer John B. Nesbitt ‘66 Almerin C. O’Hara ‘55 Dr. Nnenna Kalaya “Sisi” Okereke ‘87 Benjamin Oppenheimer Roger (d) and Joan Peck Loretta B. Phillips (d) Praxair, Inc. Emily Buck Redman ‘98 David A. Rich, Jr. ‘88 and Terri Cockrell Rich ‘88 Nena and Ted Rich ‘88 Julianne Rizzo Arthur J. Roberts ‘61 Marianne Roche Jeffrey A. Rochwarger ‘71 Nelson G. Russell III ‘62 Robert and Ellen Scumaci Barbara Segal Michael I. Serotte ‘77 Lisa R. Shames ‘73 John ‘68 and Deborah Smith Sheedy ‘68 Guy M. Solling ‘76 Thomas H. Speller, Jr. ‘68 John and Aileen Spero Heather and Kody Sprague ‘03 William (d) and Glenda Sprague Lee and Elizabeth Rose Stanton ‘71 John and Erica Tank C. Bradley Tashenberg ‘60 Rebecca Taylor ‘03 and Allison Taylor ‘06 Corning Townsend III ‘60 Ping Wang Raymond (d) and Sue Wardynski Valerie B. Warren Mason C. Wille Lloyd and Cornelia Dodd Wilson ‘63 (d) Frances Forman Yardley ‘62 Max Zelikman

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Debt Elimination Thanks to the early support of the donors listed below, Park was able to pay off its mortgage in 2012. Together we raised more than $1.1 million and that is all because of the devoted friends of the School who came through with generous support. Instead of monthly debt payments, Park has been able to allocate more of our budget to students, faculty, facilities, and programs. We are so grateful!

Anonymous Allan and Melissa Baumgart Bell Fund Trust #2 at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Martin and Sarah Berardi Jeremy and Rebecca Besch Henry S. Bradley Jr. ‘61 (d) Marilyn and David Brock ‘63 Jane and W. Lawrence Buck ‘65 Martha Eaton Cain ‘84 Allison Sagraves Connors and Daniel Gregory Connors III

Curtis Cravens ‘78 and Family Mimi and Peter Dow ‘50 Susanne Francis Mr. (d) and Mrs. Richard E. Garman (d) Gretchen and Gordon Gross ‘49 (d) Margaret Walls Hamilton ‘61 David and Mary Hunter Kent ‘71 and Mary Robinson Jewett ‘71 Dr. Kenneth and Linda Angert Kahn ‘62

John Lipsitz ‘71 and Maria Scrivani Claire McGowan Jeffrey G. Meilman ‘61 Carolyn and Robert L. Montgomery Jr. ‘55 Park School Foundation William W. Pfeifer ‘83 Wendy Pierce Patricia Burns Richardson ‘58 Andrew M. Roberts ‘90 Arthur J. Roberts ‘61 Cheryl M. Rosenberg

Vincent and Barbara Sanchez Mark and Sylvia Spelman Reed and Carolyn Hoyt Stevens ‘81 John and Erica Tank Harold E. Tweeden ‘47 (d) Valerie B. Warren Wells Fargo Foundation Steven and Barbara Zillig

Kind Program In 2009, the entire Park community participated in a process to define our Core Values:

Respect • Responsibility • Honesty • Kindness These Life Rules permeate our interactions and curriculum, from our youngest learners to our faculty and staff.

Recognizing that the social-emotional curriculum is equally important as the academic curriculum, Park sought to raise funds through the Capital Campaign to invest in our Kind Program (ethical literacy, character education). This has allowed the School to continue training teachers in these critical programs so that they have the professional development and tools to guide students in PreK through Grade 12 into becoming good citizens able to be kind to all. This vital work is done through the Responsive Classroom program in PreK to Grade 6 and through our Advisory Program in Grades 7-12. This initiative was funded initially through the generosity of the Class of 1962 as a 50th Reunion Gift in 2012. Additional support from grandparents and others made this work the foundation of Park’s ongoing commitment to the Core Values in our second century.

Bruce and Susan O’Connor Baird Howard and Lana Benatovich Raymond S. Bernhardt, Jr. ‘63 George Blair David A. Bloom ‘63 John ‘63 and Anne Aga Boner ‘63 Marilyn and David G. Brock ‘63 Elaine Brown Margaret Garbe Buscher ‘62 Thomas C. Cary ‘63 Robert and Judy Stein Chick ‘60 (d) David and Marlene Cichon William and Christine Cline Ronald Cook George H. Cooley III ‘62 Althea Harty Corsini ‘62 Jane Cullen Cable ‘62

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Grier Livingston Curtis ‘62 James and Mary Ann Deitzer Ronald and Sally Doeing Sanford Eisen Virginia Cohen Elvin ‘62 Gail and Marshall Fagin ‘62 Michael and Ruth Ford Carole Andersen Foy (d) Anselm and Mary Lou George Margot Victor Glick ‘54 Chris and Camie Greene Thomas and Virginia Gregg Susan Binford Grills ‘62 Kate Brown and Michael Halberstam Harold and Susan Halpern Henry G. Hooker ‘62 Helen Howell Daniel H. Hurtubise ‘62

Anthony and Patricia Iuvino Jerome Jacobstein ‘59 Dean H. Jewett ‘62 Lawton (d) and Linda Johnson Karin Johnson Chip Johnston ‘62 and Cindy Smith Johnston ‘63 Robert L. Kleinschmidt ‘62 Kenneth and Paula Koessler Susan Hyman Kraut ‘63 David D. Laufer ‘62 Ann P. Locey ‘62 Ernest and Mary Longo Gail Sanford Lutz ‘62 Anthony and Annette Mancuso Karen Seeberg Marshall ‘63 Philip M. Marshall ‘63 Polly Alf Mathys ‘62 Claire McGowan

Trudy and Joe McMahon Van and Trudy Mollenberg Richard (d) and Ellen Narins Peter R. Potter ‘62 Peter and Gail Raynsford William Richardson ‘62 Nelson G. Russell III ‘62 Albert Sagraves (d) Doris Scheur Arlene Stone Peter Sukernek ‘62 John N. Walsh III Mary Wang (d) Randa Williams Lloyd and Cornelia Dodd Wilson ‘63 (d) Western New York Foundation Frances Forman Yardley ‘62 Ellen Ginsberg Yost ‘62 Donald and Barbara Zelter

All Donors to All Phases of the Capital Campaign Anonymous (3) Robert and Beth Adelman ‘88 Spencer B. Allen ‘76 Alla Alpert ‘95 David Anderson and Sharon Hauselt Isabelle Appleton Tracy and Cyrus Ardalan ‘83 Charles M. Bachmann ‘80 Lynne Bader and Nancy Jackman Justin D. Bailey ‘96 Mark Bailey and Suzi McGowan The Baird Foundation Barbara and Brian Baird Bruce and Susan O’Connor Baird Cameron and Jane Baird Foundation Diana Balconi John Balconi Tina J. Ball ‘70 Melissa W. Banta ‘71 Bruce and Patricia Barber Martha W. Barrett Nancy Stone Barrett ‘51 (d) Melissa and Allan Baumgart Lucas Baumgart ‘10 Henry Baxter ‘40 Bell Fund Trust #2 at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Lana and Howard Benatovich Cheryl Benzinger Andrea Berardi ‘04 Christie Witt Berardi and Christopher J. Berardi ‘03 Martin and Sarah Berardi John K. Beresny ‘89 Mr. and Mrs. John T. Beresny Richard and Dorothy Hoffman Bergman ‘72 Greta Benjamin Berkson ‘55 Carla and Raymond S. Bernhardt Jr. ‘63 Julie and Jim Berrigan Jeremy and Rebecca Besch Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Betz, Jr. Ellie Bibas ‘05 BIDMC Palliative Care Service Martin and Carrie Bielat Jason and Grace Bird Keith and Christine Blachowiak George Blair Jane Rennie Blake ‘68 Betsy Desbecker Blakeslee ‘68 David A. Bloom ‘63 Henry R. Bloom ‘64 Jamie N. Bommer ‘16 John and Anne Aga Boner ‘63 John (d) and Hinke Boot Deirdre D. Booth ‘65 Miles C. Borzilleri ‘74

Jocelyn Bos-Fisher ‘06 Douglass G. Boshkoff ‘48 (d) David and Diana Bower Crystal Bowles Henry S. Bradley, Jr. ‘61 (d) George E. Brady ‘58 Candy Bredenberg William Bridge ‘50 Barbara Brizdle ‘61 Marilyn and David G. Brock ‘63 Cameron Brown ‘75 Kate Brown and Michael Halberstam Elaine Brown Ellen Ettlinger Bruck ‘63 Richard and Judith Bryan Jane and Larry Buck ‘65 Louis and Sally Budik Audre Bunis (d) David N. Bunis ‘53 Mark M. Bunnell ‘68 Ann P. Burns (d) Daniel J. Burns ‘81 John Burns ‘82 Michael E. Burns ‘73 Robert L. Burns ‘74 Margaret Garbe Buscher ‘62 Elizabeth A. Buxton ‘18 Martha Eaton Cain ‘84 Tonya Carr Robert T. Carroll ‘81 Bruce and Cheri Carter David C. Carter ‘68 Thomas C. Cary ‘63 Stephanie Castillo Nathan Cefaratti and Macarena Fritz Cefaratti Louis and Marnie Benatovich Cerrato ‘90 Jane Chapin (d) Kathleen Chapman Susan Charters and Mary Bradach Mark Chason and Mariana Botero Chason Robert and Judy Stein Chick ‘60 (d) Thomas and Tiffany AlexanderChilds Marilyn Ciancio David and Marlene Cichon Louis F. Ciola ‘66 John ‘55 and Martha Keeler Clark ‘55 Alison H. Clarkson ‘73 Nan and Will Clarkson (d) Class of 1964 Class of 1966 Class of 1968 Class of 1970 Mr. and Mrs. Stephen M. Clement III ‘62 William and Christine Cline

Charles Cobb and Maria Whyte Gary (d) and Deborah Bleichfeld Cohen ‘55 (d) Jeremy and Kim Colby Janet Coletti Kerima Callahan Collier ‘81 Gwendolyn Collins Ruth Collins Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Sarah W. Connaughton ‘77 Allison Sagraves Connors and Daniel Gregory Connors III Jeff and Lisa Conrad Walter and Connie Constantine Michael and Danai Constantinou Rebecca and Collin Cook ‘93 Ronald Cook Chaznique Cooks and Demetreaus Woodley George H. Cooley III ‘62 Alison Cooper Alyson and Kevin Coppola Sr. ‘03 Lisa Coppola The Peter C. Cornell Trust at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Dr. Stephen E. Cornell Gerald and Michelle Cornish Trevor A. Cornish ‘15 Althea Harty Corsini ‘62 Sharon Cosimano and Ray Brady Daniel C. Cox ‘67 Sharon K. Cox Curtis Cravens ‘78 and Family Michael Culeton Jane Cullen Cable ‘62 Grier Livington Curtis ‘62 Leslie Fisher Curtiss ‘59 Susan West Cutter ‘68 Laura P. Damon ‘56 Mrs. Chester G. Dann (d) Laurie Dann and Tom Hunt Jake Dann ‘71 Mike Dann ‘75 Taddy Taylor Dann ‘47 Barbara Hurwitz Davis ‘53 Adrienne and Jason DeGroat James (d) and Mary Ann Deitzer Mike and Rebecca Deitzer Joe and Maria Delaney James W. Derrick ‘64 Jennifer and William Derrick ‘68 Omar and Sue DeWitt Mazin and Colleen Dhafir Margaret Diamond and Jacob Schachtner Amy Diati Michael and Diane Dick Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Diina Angela DiSalvo Ronald and Sally Doeing

Thomas A. Doran ‘82 Mimi and Peter B. Dow ‘50 Chris Downey Mariely Downey Shelley Drake Molly Drozda Jason and Vanessa Ducato Mr. (d) and Mrs. Wesley C. Dudley (d) Charles and Julie Duggan Jeffrey W. Duryea ‘80 Charles Eaton ‘58 Chris H. Eggleston ‘64 Sanford Eisen Liana Ellegate ‘15 Elster Foundation Virginia Cohen Elvin ‘62 Fung Eng and Carol Hasegawa Kevin Eng ‘01 and Sara Schmitt ‘02 Lukas Eng ‘11 Camila Eskew ‘10 Edward Eskew ‘08 Ron Eskew and Kate Regan-Eskew Max Evers ‘66 Gail and Marshall D. Fagin ‘62 James and Judy Fanning Perry and Kathleen Fewell Fidelity Foundation James B. Fink ‘76 Deborah and Timothy J. Finnell ‘58 Terry D. Finnell ‘53 Beverly Fisher Mr. and Mrs. Michael Fitzpatrick Edward E. Ford Foundation Michael and Ruth Ford Carole Andersen Foy (d) Elizabeth Foy Susanne Francis Lawrence C. Franco ‘68 Ann Provenzo Freedman ‘72 Edwin Fremder Michael Frisch and Jo Freudenheim Naomi Frisch ‘16 Mr. (d) and Mrs. Richard E. Garman (d) Matthew Garozzo George and Bodil Gellman Warren and Patty Cohen Gelman ‘66 Zelalem Gemmeda and Gezahgne Derseh Anselm and Mary Lou George Stephan George ‘97 Lloyd and Connie Gerbush Natalie Gerich Brabson ‘11 Greg Germaine and Anna Monaco Anthony and Cheryl Giancarlo Harold M. Ginsberg ‘74 Ruth Jones Glascock ‘50 Patty and Arthur A. Glick ‘75 (d)

Margot Victor Glick ‘54 Pamela Glick ‘74 Leah Glickman ‘84 Lori Glickman and Roger Van Dam Rebecca Potter Glikbarg ‘79 James and Maryruth Glogowski David Goehrig and Tara Mancini Mark J. Goldman ‘82 Douglas R. Goldstein ‘77 Susanne Hecht Goldstein ‘54 Jerome (d) and Sydney Elster Goldstein ‘54 Family of Toby Grady Goodyear ‘51 (d): Jake Goodyear and Lauren Goodyear Schramm Sally Goris Donald H. Grace and Catherine O’Neill Grace Jessica Graham James and Stefanie Gramkee Dr. and Mrs. Ronald Grant Shane and Josh Grant John Greenberger ‘64 Amy A. Greene ‘66 Christopher and Cameron Greene Sharon Greenfield ‘64 Robert Gregg ‘16 Thomas and Virginia Gregg Timothy and Tracy Gregg Gary R. Grelick ‘65 Jane Griffin Susan Binford Grills ‘62 Marc Gromis and Julie Leatherbarrow Gretchen and Gordon R. Gross ‘49 (d) Jonathan F. Guillaume ‘59 Arthur Gunzberg (d) Joan and Guy W. Gunzberg ‘58 Kevin Guo ‘11 Elizabeth S. Gurney Nancy Hill Gurney ‘71 Ann Haber Paul and Sandy Haber Hahn Family Foundation Eric Hahn Rachel I. Halberstam Harold and Susan Halpern Margaret Walls Hamilton ‘61 Jim and Christine Hanlon Jocelyn and Charles Hartney Hilary P. Harty ‘61 Edward Hasegawa ‘07 Lois Farquharson Hayes ‘45 Chana Smith Hays ‘66 Thomas and Joanne Healy Carlos and Elizabeth Heath Foundation Andrew and Jennifer Hebrank Mary Hebrank Karl A. Heilborn ‘53 Maureen and Herbert J. Heimerl, Jr. (d) Michael F. Helmstetter ‘82 Carl F. Henzelman III ‘77 Mr. and Mrs. Sherlock A. Herrick, Jr. (d) Judson ‘08 and Amanda Rosenberg Heussler ‘08

Matt and Dawn Collier-Hezel Hezel Family - George, Sally ‘66, Sarah ‘93, Amy ‘95, Rachel ‘99, Anna ‘06 Martha Robinson Higgins ‘74 Tripp Higgins ‘90 Suzanne R. Hirsch ‘65 Amanda Fisk Hobart ‘53 Henry G. Hooker ‘62 and Janine Roeth Brian J. Horvath ‘90 Hoskins Family Frederic and Marie Houston Helen Howell Paris M. Howell ‘16 H. Austin Hoyt ‘55 John H. Hoyt ‘78 William B. Hoyt III ‘80 Estate of Frederic Sanford Hubbard ‘42 Sandra Mols Hughes ‘55 Mark and Rebecca Humphrey Humston Family - William (d), Joyce, Vicki ‘88, Robert ‘90 David and Mary Hunter Robert Hunter ‘96 Barbara B. Hurley ‘81 Linda and Mark Hursty Daniel H. Hurtubise ‘62 Abigail Potter Hutchinson ‘74 Lucinda Jackson Hylkema ‘61 Nancy Durrenberger Idzik ‘66 Louis W. Irmisch III ‘66 Anthony and Pat Iuvino Michael Jackman and Jocelyn Hailpern Jackman ‘63 Jerome G. Jacobstein ‘59 Jeanette M. Jafari Margaret Oles Janis ‘99 Helen Cox Jerauld ‘65 Beth Anne and Michael Jeswald Dean H. Jewett ‘62 Kent ‘71 and Mary Robinson Jewett ‘71 Ben and Corrie Stone-Johnson Karin Johnson Lawton (d) and Linda Johnson Matt and Jodee Johnson Chip Johnston ‘62 and Cindy Smith Johnston ‘63 Edwin M. Johnston Jr. Sarah Johnston ‘82 Leslie Wright Jones Suzanne Jones Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Jordan Dr. Kenneth R. and Linda Angert Kahn ‘62 Mrs. John G. Karrer (d) Katherine M. Karrer ‘10 Barbara and Mark Karrer ‘73 William T. Karrer ‘69 Thomas and Michele Katsabekis Susan Womer Katzev ‘58 Kevin and Alison Keane Bob and Ellen Keller Judith Ehrenreich Keller ‘55 (d) James J. Kelly Jr. Opal Avery Kelly ‘16 Kenneth L. & Katherine G. Koessler Foundation

Debbie Weinstein Kestenberg ‘72 Rana Khan Chung ‘85 Allithea Lango Killeen ‘66 Jason Kilonsky and Jennifer Scibetta Hye K. Kim Gabrielle Stevens Kimmel ‘56 Robin A. King ‘82 and Trevor Foote Richard Kleinschmidt ‘66 Robert L. Kleinschmidt ‘62 C. Toby Klyn ‘61 Knopp Family - Jacky (d), Eliane (d), Julie ‘73, David ‘81 Catherine Chapin Kobacker ‘67 Byron P. Koekkoek (d) Peter M. Koekkoek ‘75 Greg Koessler and Lisa Gelman Koessler ‘93 Naniscah B. Koessler Gary Kokin Hillary Konitsch ‘10 Michael Koren ‘68 Adam Kozinn ‘02 Flora P. Kraatz ‘16 Thomas H. Krakauer ‘59 Phyllis Lefcowitz Krasner ‘50 David Krauss Susan Hyman Kraut ‘63 Pengyuan Lai Colleen Lambros Joan Simon Landy ‘64 Benjamin Langhinrichs Connie Laport David Laufer ‘62 and Ellen Gleberman Lauricella Family Joseph C. Lauricella Pieter M. Lechner ‘64 Carol C. Lederman Charles Lee and Gary Boston Dr. and Mrs. Hongpyo Lee Leed Family - Nancy, Tom ‘61, Christina ‘93, Tom Jr. ‘97, Theresa ‘01 Karen and Todd Levin ‘86 Holly and Jordan Levy Lawrence Lewis ‘66 Harvey and Susan Lichtblau James and Patricia Linehan John Lipsitz ‘71 and Maria Scrivani Richard (d) and Rita Lipsitz (d) D. Jeffrey Lischer ‘82 Charles S. Little ‘58 Judith Warren Little ‘64 Ann Pedersen Locey ‘62 Ernest and Mary Longo David M. Loonsk ‘72 Erik and Mary Lugris Gail Sanford Lutz ‘62 David O. Lyons ‘55 Mr. and Mrs. James Lytle M&T Bank John P. MacKenzie ‘48 Liza Schreier Madden ‘83 Jesse Majewski J. Erik Maki ‘78 John and Bonnie Malone Anthony and Annette Mancuso

Nicole and Justin Marchewka Margaret L. Wendt Foundation Marjorie & John Buyers Foundation Marks Family Foundation, Heather Marks Palmer ‘83 Karen Seeberg Marshall ‘63 Philip M. Marshall ‘63 Andrea and Michael Martzolf John Marynowski and Kathleen Cain Polly Alf Mathys ‘62 Linda Buerk Matt ‘58 Mattel Children’s Foundation Tom and Jennifer Maxian Jim and Karen McDonnell Claire McGowan Doris Hailpern McKay ‘68 Ann Strong McKenzie ‘67 Daniel McMahon ‘10 Joe and Trudy McMahon Jonathan McMahon ‘15 Lucas McMahon ‘14 Molly (d) and Joseph McMahon ‘83 Frank H. Mecklenburg ‘66 Jeffrey G. Meilman ‘61 John W. Merkley ‘56 Bernadette Mesiah Jane Evans Meyer ‘50 Chantal Michaux-Kokin Seychelle Mikofsky ‘16 Penelope Smith Millar ‘66 Dan and Shannon Miller Janice Pantera Miller ‘65 Karen and Tom Miller Teresa Miller Van and Trudy Mollenberg Gary Mols ‘64 Susan Mols ‘66

Carolyn and Robert L. Montgomery Jr. ‘55 Montgomery Family Foundation Robin E. Montgomery ‘72 Rob and Nancy Montone Jay C. Morley ‘54 Andrew A. Morrison ‘81 James R. Morrison ‘68 Sandra G. Morrison Janet Aberdeen Mueller ‘58 Mulroy Family Foundation Richard and Sally (d) Munschauer Thomas L. Munschauer ‘71 Nevin Murchie ‘01 Barbara Dodd Murray ‘60 Gregory and Lisa Napier Ellen Narins Maud Naroll Karen Simon Neiman ‘66 Joseph and Sharon Nesarajah John B. Nesbitt ‘66 Karen Vogel Nichols ‘66 Carl Nightingale and Martha McCluskey Fumiko Ono Nishigami ‘66 Tai Nixa Peterson Sanford and Margery Nobel Greg and Jill Norton Emmekunla Nylander Benjamin N. Obletz ‘95 Douglas L. Obletz ‘73

James Obletz ‘99 Obletz Family - Stephen ‘66 & Sally Hatcher ‘81, Thomas ‘69, Betsy ‘71, Douglas ‘73 Leslie Occhiuto Almerin C. O’Hara ‘55 Nnenna Kalaya “Sisi” Okerke ‘87 Dan (d) and Jane Oles Alphonso and Marcia O’Neil-White Benjamin Oppenheimer Jordan and Donatella Oppenheimer Philip V. Oppenheimer ‘57 Mike and Holly Constantine Ortman ‘96 Michael and Meg Ovitt James D. Pacciotti ‘78 Park School Foundation Park School Parents Association Ho Hyun Park ‘13 Bill and Liz Parke David B. Parke ‘46 (d) Patti and David Patton ‘61 Risa L. Pearl ‘04 Katherine Peck ‘04 Roger (d) and Joan Peck Joseph and Amy Pecora William W. Pfeifer ‘83 David Phillips Carin and George F. Phillips, Jr. (d) Loretta B. Phillips (d) Shannon Phillips Walter Piepke ‘61 Wendy Pierce Kris and Kyle Polaske Stan and Karen Polaske Lorene Heath Potter Peter R. Potter ‘62 William R. Potter Patricia Morey Pratt ‘50 Praxair, Inc. Stephanie Hall Prewitt ‘86 Denise G. Prince ‘82 John ‘66 and Donna Sommer Purdy ‘67 Vladan and Marija Radovic Peter and Gail Raynsford Miriam S. Reading Emily Buck Redman ‘98 Ned (d) and Susan Ginsberg Regan ‘65 Eric and Cara Reich Bridgett Reid (d) David Reisman and Betsy Abramson Linda Reisman Martin Renzoni Gonzalo and Nancy Rey Afiya Rice The Rev. & Mrs. David A. Rich ‘63 & Family David A. Rich Jr. ‘88 and Terri Cockrell Rich ‘88 Nena and Ted Rich ‘88 Patricia Burns Richardson ‘58 William Richardson ‘62 Valerie Rico Bill Rider Candyce M. Rinaldo ‘76

Andrea Rivers ‘01 Julianne Rizzo Robert and Patricia Colby Foundation Arthur J. Roberts ‘61 Gregory S. Roberts ‘93 Heather and Donald C. Roberts ‘59 Kimberly and Andrew M. Roberts ‘90 Girard E. Robinson ‘67 Mrs. Harold B. Robinson Brian and Helen Roche Marianne Roche Jeffrey A. Rochwarger ‘71 Frances Golden Rodd ‘51 (d) Kelly P. Rodgers Cecily Rodriguez Michael Rodriguez and Dominika Tanianis Torrey W. Rogerson ‘60 Terrence and Karen Rose Lee and Zilly Rosen Cheryl M. Rosenberg Leslie Rosenberg ‘05 Trini E. Ross and Geoffrey Seals Karen Kittinger Rumsey ‘62 Rupp Family Foundation, William R. Rupp ‘72 Kim Ruppel Harold L. Ruslander ‘53 (d) Nelson G. Russell III ‘62 Betty Golden Ryan ‘48 C. Allan Ryan ‘46 Axel Sack ‘16 (d) Albert Sagraves (d) Vincent and Barbara Sanchez Doris Scheur David Schiess and Katie Danieu-Schiess Jerilyn Bradley Schnitzel ‘80 Mr. and Mrs. J. Frederick Schoellkopf VI ‘84 Bruce Schreiber Elizabeth Schreiber ‘06 Lawrence and Michelle Schreiber Kennedy Schultz Sharon Schultz William Schuman Willie Schutter Rebecca Schwarzberg Anna Scirri Ellen Warner Scott ‘63 Mrs. Donald B. Scully, Jr. Robert and Ellen Scumaci Barbara Segal Michael I. Serotte ‘77 Eugene M. Setel ‘46 (d) Philip W. Setel ‘81 Shirley Shalwitz Bruce S. Shames ‘74 Lisa R. Shames ‘73 Beth Shapiro and Tamara Van Wey John ‘68 and Debbie Smith Sheedy ‘68 Paul R. Shine ‘78 Janice Wolf Shultz ‘64 Barbara Sicherman ‘51 Mary Mols Siedman ‘73

Caitlin Size ‘06 Ned and Nina Smith Ellen Davis Smythe ‘66 Frank A. Soda Guy M. Solling ‘76 Eugene Sorets ‘80 Elinor Okoniewski Spalten ‘48 Thomas H. Speller, Jr. ‘68 Mark and Sylvia Spelman John and Aileen Spero Heather and Kody Sprague ‘03 William (d) and Glenda Sprague Lee and Elizabeth Rose Stanton ‘71 Arthur R. Steinberg ‘54 Reed and Carolyn Hoyt Stevens ‘81 Mia Stevens ‘16 Robert Stevenson Trevor and Wende Mollenberg Stevenson ‘97 John and Jean Stewart Eleanor Staniland Stofan ‘63 Arlene Stone Cynthia B. Stone Sarah Roberts Strouss ‘64 Peter Sukernek ‘62 Susan and Jan Suwinski ‘59 Judy Swadron Eli A. Swing ‘16 Sally Pitcher Sword ‘42 Parviz and Barbara Taefi John and Erica Tank C. Bradley Tashenberg ‘60 A. Mark Taylor ‘83 Allison Taylor ‘06 David J. Taylor ‘45 Dave and Anne Taylor Rebecca Taylor ‘03 Dirk Tempelman and Beatrix Souza Britton Thomas Theresa Thomasulo Kyla Threats ‘15 Hugh and Keisa Threet Corning Townsend III ‘60 Dr. and Mrs. Daniel Trock Barbara Siegfried Tschamler ‘78 Vitaly Tsur-Tsar and Maria Podebryi Meyer Tubin Gillian G. Turgeon ‘81 Harold E. Tweeden ‘47 (d) George P. Urban ‘61 Charlotte Keeney Valaer ‘50 Van Liew Family Terry Wilson Vaughan ‘59 Ann Beyer Vaughn ‘76 Kurt Venator and Kristin Campbell VIYU Foundation Donna L. Vogel ‘68 Stefanie and Richard L. Vogel ‘68 Bill and Anne Robinson Wadsworth ‘77 James M. Wadsworth Linda Kittinger Wadsworth ‘56 (d) Cheryl Skuller Wald ‘75 Lornie Walker ‘68 Donald Wallens ‘55

Lisbeth L. Walls ‘58 Family of Sally Keating Walsh ‘40 Barney Walsh & Amy Clifton, Michael and Debbie Walsh, Rob (d) and Demi Ayres, John N. Walsh III Sally Keating Walsh ‘40 E.J. Walton and Devonya Havis Mary Wang (d) Ping Wang Jane Robinson Ward ‘81 Kasia Wardynski ‘79 Paula M. Wardynski ‘75 Raymond (d) and Sue Wardynski Skip Wardynski ‘77 Valerie B. Warren Kevin Wartinger June Watt Dave Weeks Emily E. Weil ‘83 Kenneth and Debra Gross Weiner ‘73 Jane S. Weintraub ‘68 Nancy Morrison Weiser ‘55 Carl Weissgerber ‘64 Susan Weissgerber ‘66 Januarius K. Welch and Shannon McGrath Joseph and Tracy Welchoff Madeleine Welchoff ‘16 Wells Fargo Foundation Western New York Foundation Sylvia Lyman Whitcher ‘43 Bonnie McDougal White ‘60 James Whitehead ‘56 Edmund and Sharon Wiese Amy and Kevin Wiese John and Cheralyn Wille Mason C. Wille Randa Williams Rebekah Williams Lloyd and Cornelia Dodd Wilson ‘63 (d) Peter G. Wilson ‘76 Robert J. Wilson ‘55 Paul A. Wischerath ‘64 Patricia Koren Witt ‘73 Lisa C. Wolf ‘78 Lisa Wood Susan Scheu Woodworth ‘66 Albert J. Wright Nancy Townsend Wyman ‘57 Frances Forman Yardley ‘62 Pano Yeracaris ‘73 Ellen Ginsberg Yost ‘62 Victoria Yuzbasheva John Zamojski Nestor Zarragoitia and Timothy Chevral Max Zelikman Donald and Barbara Zelter Mrs. Franklin Zeplowitz Thomas A. Zierk ‘54 Steve and Barb Zillig Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Zittel Kim Zittel-Palamara and Victoria Barr

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Memorial and Honorary Gifts We extend our thanks to the many Park friends who designated their gifts in memory of or in honor of family members, friends, classmates, and teachers.

IN MEMORIAM Ceil Goldfarb Allen Spencer B. Allen ‘76 Tom Bailey Andrew Roberts ‘90 Ed and Nadya Barnes Deirdre D. Booth ‘65 Sgt. Leonard Bell ‘66 Louis Ciola ‘66 April Dyett ‘66 Max Evers ‘66 Patty Gelman ‘66 Amy Greene ‘66 Chana Hays ‘66 Sally Clough Hezel ‘66 Nancy Durrenberger Idzik ‘66 Lou Irmish ‘66 Allithea Killeen ‘66 Larry Lewis ‘66 Frank Mecklenberg ‘66 Penelope Smith Millar ‘66 Susan Mols ‘66 Karen Simon Neiman ‘66 John Nesbitt ‘66 Karen Vogel Nichols ‘66 Fumiko Nishigami ‘66 Steve Obletz ‘66 Gayle Pauly ‘66 John Purdy ‘66 Ellen Davis Smythe ‘66 Susan Weissgerber ‘66 Susan Scheu Woodworth ‘66

John R. Grace Donald H. Grace and Catherine O’Neill Grace Dr. Raoul Hailpern Ann P. Burns (d) Daniel J. Burns ‘81 Grier Livingston Curtis ‘62 Jeffrey W. Duryea ‘80 Sharon Greenfield ‘64 Jonathan F. Guillaume ‘59 Michael Jackman and Jocelyn Hailpern Jackman ‘63 Doris Hailpern McKay ‘68 Maud Naroll ‘71 The Rev. & Mrs. David A. Rich ‘63 & Family William Schuman Terry Wilson Vaughan ‘59 Lorna Walker ‘68 Bonnie McDougal White ‘60 Bill Hoyt ‘56 Claire McGowan John Johansson ‘78 Barbara Siegfried Tschamler ‘78 Raymond R. Johnson Karin Johnson

Donald Bradley Jerilyn Bradley Schnitzel ‘80

Stephen Jones Mr. and Mrs. Omar L. DeWitt

Robert and Connie Carroll Robert T. Carroll, PhD ‘81

Mary Karrer Barbara and Mark W. Karrer ‘73

E. Barton Chapin, Jr. Jane Chapin (d)

Dr. Jacky Knopp Greta Benjamin Berkson ‘55 Raymond S. Bernhardt ‘63 BIDMC Palliative Care Service David A. Bloom ‘63 Henry R. Bloom ‘64 John (d) and Hinke Boot William Bridge ‘50 Marilyn and David Brock ‘63 David N. Bunis ‘53 Ann P. Burns (d) Daniel J. Burns ‘81 Ruth Collins Grier Livingston Curtis ‘62 Taddy Taylor Dann ‘47 Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Diina Timothy J. Finnell ‘58 Terry D. Finnell ‘53 Ann Provenzo Friedman ‘72 Edwin Fremder Susanne Hecht Goldstein ‘54 Sharon Greenfield ‘64 Jonathan F. Guillaume ‘59

Deborah Bleichfeld Cohen ‘55 Donald Wallens ‘55 Nancy Morrison Weiser ‘55 S. Douglas Cornell ‘31 Peter C. Cornell Trust at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Stephen E. Cornell Paula Dean Dr. Andrea Berardi ‘04 Bradley Fisk, Sr. Amanda Fisk Hobart ‘53 John P. MacKenzie ‘48 Judy Goldman ‘87 Mark J. Goldman ‘82

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Lynn Gunzberg ‘62 Arthur Gunzberg (d) Joan and Guy W. Gunzberg ‘58

Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Jordan Peter M. Koekkoek ‘75 Byron P. Koekkoek (d) David and Nada Krauss Carol Lederman James Lytle Mr. and Mrs. James Lytle Andrew A. Morrison ‘81 Maud Naroll Karen Simon Neiman ‘66 David Reisman and Betsy Abramson Linda Reisman Harold L. Ruslander ‘53 (d) C. Allan Ryan ‘46 (d) William Schuman Shirley Shalwitz Lisa R. Shames ‘73 Mary Mols Siedman ‘73 Judy and Cliff Swadron Meyer Tubin Terry Wilson Vaughan ‘59 Hugh, Greg ‘78, Andrea ‘79, and Joel Van Liew ‘81 Paula M. Wardynski ‘75 Nancy Morrison Weiser ‘55 Carl Weissgerber ‘64 Bonnie McDougal White ‘60 Cornelia Dodd Wilson ‘63 (d) Robert J. Wilson ‘55 Nancy Townsend Wyman ‘57 Ellen Ginsberg Yost ‘62 Piera, David ‘80, and Lynn Zeplowitz Jacky and Eliane Knopp Sharon K. Cox Harold M. Ginsberg ‘74 David Knopp ‘81 Julie Knopp ‘73 Philip V. Oppenheimer ‘57 Lorna Walker ‘68 Martha Little Charles S. Little ‘58 Rose Lauricella Joseph C. Lauricella Tom Medige ‘77 Raymond M. Wardynski ‘77 Herbert and Ruth Mols George H. Cooley ‘62 Sandra Mols Hughes ‘55 Gary Mols ‘64 William I. Morey Patricia Morey Pratt ‘50 Peter Munson ‘82 Michael F. Helmstetter ‘82 Robin A. King ‘82

Louise Levi Obletz ‘39 Obletz Family - Stephen ‘66 & Sally Hatcher ‘81, Thomas ‘69, Betsy ‘71, Douglas ‘73 Robert Parke ‘45 The Rev. David B. Parke ‘46 Lars Pedersen ‘55 Ann Pedersen Locey ‘62 Dr. M. Grosvenor Potter Jr. ‘43 Rev. Lorene Heath Potter Rebecca Potter Glikbarg ‘79 Abigail Potter Hutchinson ‘74 Anne Roche Marianne Roche Michelle Rochwarger ‘73 Kenneth and Debra Gross Weiner ‘73 Patricia Koren Witt Donald B. Scully Mrs. Donald B. Scully, Jr. Ann Cutter Sist ‘63 Susan West Cutter ‘68 Nina Glickstein Skuller ‘51 Cheryl Skuller Wald ‘75 Helen & Henry P. Smith, III Lucinda Smith Johnston ‘63 Kent Smith ‘75 Miles C. Borzilleri ‘74 Paul K. Taefi ‘96 Dr. and Mrs. Parviz Taefi Tita Townsend Corning Townsend III ‘60 Judith Van Liew Van Liew Family Marilyn Weintraub Mr. and Mrs. Omar L. DeWitt C.T. “Towny” Wilson III ‘41 Martha W. Barrett Cornelia Dodd Wilson ‘63 Marilyn and David G. Brock ‘63 Ellen Warner Scott ‘63 Glyn Wood Lisa Wood

IN HONORARIUM Chris ‘03 and Andrea ‘04 Berardi Martin and Sarah Berardi Jeremy Besch, Karen Miller, & Jocelyn Weaver for all the support they’ve given Emma Robert and Ellen Scumaci Ann Burns Daniel J. Burns ‘81 John Burns ‘82 Michael E. Burns ‘73 Robert L. Burns ‘74 The Clan of ‘62 Virginia Cohen Elvin ‘62 Gail Sanford Lutz ‘62 Class of 1966 50th Reunion Patty Cohen Gelman ‘66 Taddy Taylor Dann ‘47 Laurie Dann and Tom Hunt Extraordinary Park Faculty Harvey and Susan Lichtblau Frances Forman Yardley ‘62

Good Work of Patty Cohen Gelman ‘66 George and Sally Clough Hezel ‘66

Wedding of Amanda Rosenberg ‘08 and Judson Heussler ‘08 Cheryl M. Rosenberg

Elizabeth Gerbush ‘99 and Mathieu Gerbush ‘99 Lloyd and Connie Gerbush

Mia Stevens ‘16 Donald H. Grace and Catherine O’Neill Grace Elizabeth Gurney

Amelia Ayrelan Iuvino ‘07 Anthony and Patricia Iuvino

Don Grace Catherine O’Neill Grace

Sam Koplas ‘18 Ann Haber

Holly Stevenson ‘19, Ella Stevenson ‘28, and Van Stevenson ‘28 Van and Trudy Mollenberg

Grant Kids Dr. and Mrs. Ronald Grant Dr. Shane Grant and Dr. Josh Grant

Chris Lauricella Mr. and Mrs. Stephen M. Clement III ‘62

Eli Swing’s 2016 graduation from Park Patty and Arthur Glick ‘75 (d) Margot Victor Glick ‘54 Pamela Glick ‘74

Guy W. Gunzberg ‘58 Arthur Gunzberg (d)

Virginia Houston Meenan ‘83 Mr. and Mrs. Frederic K. Houston

Mary Doolittle Taylor ‘40 Sally Keating Walsh ‘40

Gunzberg Family Joan and Guy W. Gunzberg ‘58

Robert Parke ‘15 The Rev. David B. Parke ‘46

Max and Anna Halberstam Richard and Judith Bryan

David Rich ‘63, Alumni Service Award Recipient Marilyn and David G. Brock ‘63

Sally Keating Walsh ‘40 Demi and Rob (d) Ayres Barney Walsh and Amy Clifton John N. Walsh III Michael and Debbie Walsh

Glen Herman Mazin and Colleen Dhafir

Emma Scumaci ‘16 Mr. and Mrs. Robert Scumaci

Madeleine Welchoff’s 2016 Park Graduation Mrs. Richard B. Narins

Park is exceedingly grateful to the many alumni and friends who honored the lives of Dr. Hailpern and Dr. and Mrs. Knopp through gifts to Park in their memory.

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What are our science faculty saying about the new building?

How does this building set Park apart?

The addition of the fume hood in the chemistry lab has provided the opportunity for more advanced organic chemistry labs to give students a collegiate lab experience, and the mobile furniture makes for dynamic and interactive lessons.

-Apryle Schneeberger Lots of schools have new buildings and updated resources, but what I really think sets us apart is how it connects us to nature. Who else can say they look out onto a waterfall, stream, pond, and woods from their seat? We have always had natural resources, but now we are right in the middle of it.

-Adrienne DeGroat Park is one of only a few schools in all of Western New York that has a modern, designated space for science education. In terms of all local schools both public and private, it puts us in the top tier in terms of our longterm commitment to science education and preparing our students for future careers in the fields of science, technology, and engineering. Furthermore, the design and nature of the building allows us to continue to develop, adapt, and expand.

-John Zamojski

How does the new building differ from Stone Hall (former home of Park’s Science Department)?

Although I was able to teach all concepts in some way in Stone, it usually was very time-consuming figuring out how to make it work. With the new space and updated resources, it is so much quicker because almost anything I plan is easily doable.

-Adrienne DeGroat In my new classroom there is a significant increase in storage space. Now, multi-day projects and activities where students are able to try, make mistakes, and try again are feasible. In physics, the students completed a 3-day project of designing, building, and testing paper rockets and a 2-day project building model trebuchets. In forensic science, students completed a 4-day activity analyzing fake blood and how blood types and spatter can be used as evidence.

In my classroom, students have designated spaces to work on their projects and to store their work between classes, which means the only interruption is the end of the class period. When the next period comes, they can pick up right away from where they left off and continue long-term, experiential projects.

-John Zamojski 15

What is your favorite element of The Knopp-Hailpern Center?

One of my favorite things is looking out over the stream and down into the woods. It’s not just the scenery, it’s watching the students observing nature. Several times we have been in the middle of an activity and jumped up to look outside because something grabbed our attention, whether it is a fox running through the woods or a hawk swooping down to get prey. My favorite part of my classroom, hands down, is the flexible tables and seating because they accommodate our hands-on approach and can easily be configured specifically for a concept.

-Adrienne DeGroat The flexibility of the space – I can use it for freshman class meetings for 24 students, advisory meetings with eight students, group work, individual work, labs, class/lab combos, class discussions. We all arrange our classrooms differently in a way that fits the content and types of lessons we are executing.

-John Zamojski My favorite part of the new building is certainly the natural light, and many students agree. They love the views of the outdoors and we typically see foxes, deer, and squirrels dashing about!

-Apryle Schneeberger

Your support made this incredible building a reality.

Thank you!

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Centennial Capital Campaign: By the Numbers

731 16

# of donors who gave $100,000+

donors gave a total of

$6,575,150 to the Campaign!

28

# of donors who gave $50,000+

429 $67,000

donors contributed a total of

through gifts ranging from $1 to $999. Every gift matters!

8

# of donors who gave $25,000+

109

# of donors who gave $10,000+

100

pavers sold for the KnoppHailpern Center Plaza

262

# of donors who gave $1000+

1962 Class with the most donors (26!)

decades of alumni donors represented (1940s-2010s)

1 elevator in the new building... the first on Park’s campus!

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67

HUNDREDS

of animals spotted in and around the new stream and reinvigorated pond! Crayfish, baby turtles, fish, great blue heron, fox, deer, geese, geese, and more geese!

2019-20 Report on Giving The donors listed within these next pages represent gifts made to Park during the 2019-20 fiscal year, July 1 through June 30, for Unrestricted Annual Fund, Restricted Annual Fund, Scholarships, Events, and The Park School Foundation. Thank you for your support!

In 2019-20 you gave

$1,190,127 to The Park School

Thank you!

2019-20 GIVING SUMMARY The hundreds of alumni, parents, grandparents, faculty, staff, trustees, students, and friends who supported the School in a myriad of ways this past year are truly incredible. Whether you gave of your time, your talent, or your treasure (and many of you gave all of the above!), we are exceedingly grateful for your continued support of our School. It is your generosity that makes possible the magic of a Park education, and the impact of your contributions were felt more than ever during the 2019-20 fiscal year.

Though last school year certainly didn’t go as anyone planned, with the COVID-19 pandemic and a sudden transition to distance learning, our community stepped up like never before in support of Park. A particularly inspiring highlight was Park’s very first Giving Day on May 7. Over the course of 24 hours, Park received 178 gifts totaling more than $58,000! The outpouring of support for Park on that day was incredible yet not at all surprising. For 108 years, our community has continued to recognize and honor the benefits of a Park education through donations to the School.

Over the next several pages, we honor the hundreds of donors who gave during the 2019-20 fiscal year: July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020. Those supporting the School include nine decades of Park graduates as well as parents and grandparents of current students and alumni, faculty, staff, trustees, friends, and neighbors.

The Park community is second to none, and we are grateful to everyone listed here! THANK YOU!

Unrestricted Annual Fund

$552,032

Restricted Annual Fund

$361,997

Special Events

$129,271

Gifts to Park School Foundation

$ 12,750

Park School Foundation $134,077 endowment distribution to support scholarship, professional development, and more

TOTAL

$1,190,127

Park students and faculty immediately benefited from your generosity during the 2019-20 fiscal year.

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Mary Hammett Lewis

Leadership Circle Every contribution to Park is received with gratitude and directly supports our students, faculty, and campus.

The generous members of our Mary Hammett Lewis Leadership Circle demonstrate a profound commitment to the School with their gifts of $1,000 or more in support of the Restricted and Unrestricted Annual Fund during the 2019-20 fiscal year.

We are exceedingly grateful for this generosity.

$20,000 + Founders Council

$2,500 - $4,999 Centennial Club

The Benderson Family Martin and Sarah Berardi Dann Family ‘47 ‘75 / VIYU Foundation Jason and Sheryl Davies Jewish Federation Carolyn and Robert L. Montgomery, Jr. ‘55 Peter C. Cornell Trust at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Rev. and Mrs. David A. Rich ‘63 Steven and Barbara Zillig

Laurie Dann and Thomas Hunt Joan and Guy Gunzberg ‘58 Stanley Fernandez and David Harvey Humston Family - Joyce, Vicki ‘88, and Robert ‘90 K. Michael Maloney ‘78 Karen Seeberg Marshall ‘63 Martha McCluskey and Carl Nightingale Plail Family Reed and Carolyn Hoyt Stevens ‘81 Trevor and Wende Mollenberg Stevenson ‘87 David and Anne Taylor Stefanie and Richard Vogel ‘68 Susan Weissgerber ‘66

$10,000 - $19,999 Trustees Council Melissa and Allan Baumgart John and Amy Hoskins Deborah and Timothy J. Finnell ‘58 Roy and Jean Manno Christina Schindler

$5,000 - $9,999 Faculty Council Bruce Baird and Susan O’Connor Baird Fung Eng and Carol Hasegawa Sarah Johnston ‘82 John Lipsitz ‘71 and Maria Scrivani Van and Trudy Mollenberg Thomas L. Munschauer ‘71 Patricia Burns Richardson ‘58 Julianne Rizzo Cheryl Rosenberg Alma Scully Neville and Juanita Spring Paula M. Wardynski ‘75 19

$1,000 - $2,499 Orange & Brown Club Anonymous (2) Victoria Blanco Alfiero Howard and Lana Benatovich Christie Witt Berardi and Christopher J. Berardi ‘03 Jeremy and Rebecca Besch Jason and Grace Bird Marilyn and David Brock ‘63 Jane and Larry Buck ‘65 Ann Burns (d) Anna Buxton ‘18 Jon Chan and Joyce Lin Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Clement III ‘62 Becky and Collin Cook ‘93 Stephen and Shelley Coppola Gerald and Michelle Cornish Daniel Cox ‘67 Joseph and Trish Emhof Warren and Patty Cohen Gelman ‘66 Anselm and Mary Lou George

Constance S. Gerbush Gary Grelick ‘65 Hilary P. Harty ‘61 Michael Helmstetter ‘82 Suzanne Hirsch ‘65 Michael and Jocelyn Hailpern Jackman ‘68 Edwin Johnston Gordon Johnston ‘62 and Lucinda Smith Johnston ‘63 Kenneth and Linda Angert Kahn ‘62 Barbara and Mark Karrer ‘73 Greg and Lisa Gelman Koessler ‘93 Naniscah Koessler Jordan and Holly Levy D. Jeffrey Lischer ‘82 Judith Warren Little ‘64 J. Eric Maki ‘78 Claire McGowan Joseph McMahon ‘83 Douglas Levi Obletz ‘73 Ravi and Monica Padmanabha Patricia and David Patton ‘61 William W. Pfeifer ‘83 David A. Rich Jr. ‘88 and Terri Cockrell Rich ‘88 Heather and Donald Roberts ‘59 Kimberly and Andrew Roberts ‘90 Lawrence and Michelle Schreiber Barbara Sicherman ‘51 Eugene Sorets ‘80 Mr. and Mrs. Robert Stevenson Susan and Jan Suwinski ‘59 Parviz and Barbara Taefi Donna Vogel ‘68 Elizabeth DeWees Walker Scholarship Fund at The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Helen V. Walker Fund at The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Carl Weissgerber ‘64 Robert J. Wilson ‘55

2019-20 Donors The lists below recognize our generous donors who contributed to the School during the 2019-20 fiscal year, July 1 - June 30. We are extremely grateful to the supporters listed on the following pages for their dedication to Park and their gifts to the School, both of which continue to enhance the wonderful Park experience for all students.

Every effort has been made to present a thorough and accurate listing of all donors who made gifts to the School during the 2019-20 fiscal year. If your name was omitted or incorrectly listed, please accept our apologies and let us know so that we may correct our records.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES David G. Brock ’63, President Trudy Mollenberg, Vice President Cheri Carter, Secretary Jason Bird, Treasurer Christie Witt Berardi Sheryl Davies John Hoskins Jr. Karen Seeberg Marshall ’63

Jamie Obletz ’99 Julianne Rizzo Cecily Rodriguez David Taylor Isaiah Davies ‘22, Student Rep Macarena Fritz-Cefaratti, Faculty Rep Kyle Polaske, Faculty Rep Therese Smith-Cramer, PPA President

FACULTY AND STAFF Amber Anderson Liridon Asllani Cate Bearss Cheryl Benzinger Jeremy Besch Marnie Cerrato Dana Cohen Lisa Conrad Adrienne DeGroat Mike Deitzer Margaret Diamond Amy Diati Angela DiSalvo Chris Downey Molly Drozda Macarena Fritz-Cefaratti Steve George ‘97 Nate Gray

Tom Gruszka Kate Haq Maria Hardcastle Charlie Hartney Jennifer Henshue Joelle Hiller Tanja Ilic Beth Jeswald Matt and Jodee Johnson Bob Keller JoAnne Leugemors Andrea Martzolf Karen Miller Leslie Occhiuto Tanya Okoniewski Monica Padmanabha Kyle Polaske Bill Rider

Kim Ruppel Apryle Schneeberger Kennedy Schultz Anna Scirri Michele Shadden Michal Shmuel-Lewis Gregory Soden Carolyn Hoyt Stevens ‘81 Suzanne Thepaut-Hasselback Britton Thomas Jose Vega Kevin Wartinger Nirit Weiner Amy Wiese Lisa Wood Rachel Wright John Zamojski

DONORS TO THE PARK SCHOOL FOUNDATION OF BUFFALO Hertha Ball Fund Frederick and Carolyn Astmann Cheek Fund John P. Mackenzie ‘48 David and Marilyn Weintraub Fund Jane Weintraub ‘68

Park School Foundation Jane and W. Lawrence Buck ‘65 Laurie Dann and Tom Hunt Jason and Sheryl Davies Bill and Anne Metzger Reed and Carolyn Hoyt Stevens ‘81 Corning Townsend ‘60 20

ALUMNI AND STUDENTS 1940 Henry Baxter Sally Keating Walsh 1942 Arthur Meyer 1943 Barbara Morrison Feldman Sylvia Lyman Whitcher 1946 David Parke (d) Eugene Setel (d) 1947 Lois Farber Dopkins Taddy Taylor Dann 1948 Jack MacKenzie 1949 Marguerite Morey Zabriskie 1950 Charlotte Keaney Valaer 1951 Barbara Sicherman 1952 Mark Berghash Joan Plumb Reeves Carol Kellogg Wyndham 1953 David Bunis Barbara Hurwitz Davis Karl Heilborn 1954 Margot Glick Sydney Elster Goldstein Guy Kaldis Sheila Bleichfeld Ross 1955 Greta Benjamin Berkson David Lyon Robert L. Montgomery Jr. Donald E. Wallens M.D. Robert Wilson 1956 Sara Wyckoff Hurley P. Anna Johnson James Whitehead 1957 Richard Robbins

Peggy DeWitt Stokes Nancy Townsend Wyman 1958 George E. Brady Gail Haddaway Bramer Margaret Kimball Chapin Charles Eaton Timothy J. Finnell Guy Gunzberg Charles Little Janet Aberdeen Mueller Patricia Burns Richardson Carl Wagner Lisbeth Walls 1959 Charles Cheney Leslie Fisher Curtiss Jonathan Guillaume Jerome G. Jacobstein Thomas H. Krakauer Ellen Levy Schwimmer Jan Suwinski Donald C. Roberts 1960 Michael F. Dozoretz Corning Townsend Bonnie McDougal White 1961 Michael Alpern Hilary P. Harty Lucinda Jackson Hylkema Thomas H. Leed David Patton Walter Piepke Arthur Roberts Susan Russell George Urban (d) 1962 Stephen Clement III Grier Livington Curtis Henry Hooker Chip Johnston Linda Angert Kahn David Laufer Peter Potter Frances Forman Yardley 1963 Raymond Bernhardt David G. Brock Thomas Cary Cindy Smith Johnston Karen Seeberg Marshall Philip Marshall Rev. David A. Rich Eleanor Staniland Stofan

1964 Lisbeth Alpern Chris Eggleston Judith Warren Little Gary Mols Janice Wolf Shultz Sarah Roberts Strouss Carl Weissgerber 1965 W. Lawrence Buck Leonard D. Carrel Gary Grelick Jill Robinson Harper Suzanne R. Hirsch Charles Sawyer 1966 Patty Cohen Gelman Amy Greene Richard Kleinschmidt Frank Mecklenberg Karen Simon Neiman John Nesbitt Stephen Obletz Susan Weissgerber 1967 Joseph W. Allen Carolyn Clement Clark Daniel C. Cox Gregory D. Galloway Deborah Hoffman Kulok Gretchen J. Metzloff 1968 David Carter John E. Clark, Jr. Susan West Cutter Larry Franco Jocelyn Hailpern Jackman Susan Womer Katzev Thomas H. Speller, Jr. Nancy Teach Donna Vogel Richard Vogel Lornie Walker Jane Weintraub 1969 Richard Lipsitz Laura Olena Mixter Thomas B. Obletz 1970 Nancy Gurney Alden Meyer Francis T. Riforgiato Douglas Taylor Walter Zielinski

1971 Kent and Mary Robinson Jewett John Lipsitz Thomas L. Munschauer Maud Naroll Nancy Widzinski Shinder 1972 Dorothy Hoffman Bergman Ann Provenzo Freedman Katherine Pasco Lentz David Loonsk David Munschauer 1973 Randy Benderson Alison H. Clarkson Nan Lipsitz Haynes Mark Karrer Douglas Levi Obletz Patty Koren Witt 1974 Miles C. Borzilleri Cynthia Bradley Crippen Emily Kunkel Dahlstrom Eleanor Greene Reine Hauser Martha Robinson Higgins Cynthia Pearce LeMay 1975 Cameron Brown Louisa Herrick Crosby Mike Dann Peter Koekkoek Jennifer L. Smith Cheryl Skuller Wald Paula Wardynski 1976 Douglas B. Doolittle 1977 Donald Dudley Douglas Goldstein Carl F. Henzelman III DeWitt C. Ivins Anne Robinson Wadsworth 1978 John Hoyt J. Eric Maki K. Michael Maloney Spencer Patterson Peter Smith Greg Van Liew

1980 Jeffrey Duryea William B. Hoyt III Jerilyn Bradley Schnitzel Eugene Sorets 1981 Dan Burns Audrey Cohn Pamela Nichols Marcucci Andrew Morrison Sally Hatcher Obletz H. Paolo Reichlin Carolyn Hoyt Stevens Joel Van Liew Jane Robinson Ward

2001 Kevin Eng Nevin Murchie 2002 Devin Lipsitz Alec Meyer Sara Schmitt 2003 Kevin Coppola Rebecca Taylor McNicol 2004 Molly DeRose Kate Peck

1982 Michael Helmstetter Sarah Johnston D. Jeffrey Lischer Wendy Newman Pratt Alanna Rosen Edward Schwartz

2006 Jocelyn Bos-Fisher Anna Hezel Melany Piech Elizabeth Schreiber Caitlin Size Allison Taylor

1983 Christopher R. Adams Candace Lynn Bell David Lischer Joseph McMahon Heather Marks Palmer Stanley Panetski William Pfeifer

2007 Joshua Bach Edward Hasegawa Mikhele Roberts Melissa Schreiber

1984 Elisa Morgulis Appelbaum Leah Glickman 1988 Vicki Humston-Casas David A. Rich Jr. and Terri Cockrell Rich D. Charles Roberts Jr. 1989 Glenn Goldman 1990 Marnie Benatovich Cerrato Tripp Higgins Robert Humston Andrew Roberts 1993 Collin Cook Lisa Gelman Koessler 1997 Steve George Wende Mollenberg Stevenson 1999 Elizabeth Gerbush James Obletz Rachel Hezel Rzayev

2008 Akilah Carr Chelsea Coyle Judson Heussler and Amanda Rosenberg Heussler 2009 Jeremy Wadsworth 2010 Elle Emhof Camila Eskew Harry Lipsitz 2011 Shakila Braxton Madeline Connors Lukas Eng Natalie Gerich Brabson 2012 Clayton Baumgart Lauren Blachowiak Jordan Heussler Dylan Weiss Khadijah Cooper Winkelman and Saveon Winkelman 2013 HoHyun Park 2014 Luke McMahon

2015 Caroline Connors Trevor Cornish Liana Ellegate 2016 Robert Gregg Flora Kraatz Seychelle Mikofsky Kelly Rodgers Mia Stevens 2017 Michael Jeswald Lilly Martzolf Zizhao Yu 2018 Anna Buxton James Ellegate Sam Koplas 2019 James Mao Andrew Spero Josephine Stevens Holly Stevenson 2020 Nicole Ellegate Alec Rakas Jack Wille Qilu Zhong Current Students Roman Berardi Calvin Besch Fox Besch Paolo Cefaratti Ophelia Cefaratti Addisyn DeGroat Dylan DeGroat Arlin Rakas Ella Stevenson Van Stevenson Mason Wille Gabriel Wille ATHLETIC BOOSTER CLUB Bethel AME Church Tanya Burnett Becky and Collin Cook ‘93 Fung Eng and Carol Hasegawa John and Amy Hoskins Sheila Leavy Roy and Jean Manno Van and Trudy Mollenberg Michael and Claudette Rivera Christina Schindler Neville and Juanita Spring Trevor and Wende Mollenberg Stevenson ‘97

UNITED WAY PARTNERSHIP We are proud of our long partnership with the United Way of Buffalo & Erie County, which has been a beneficiary of Country Fair proceeds since the 1940s. Thank you to the following friends who designated gifts to Park through the United Way. Thomas and Stacy Beauford Marilyn and David Brock ‘63 Greg and Allison Sagraves Connors Jennifer and Ted Constantine ‘94 Walter and Connie Constantine Jesse and Emily Constantine Doren ‘00 Bill and Liz Parke

MATCHING GIFTS Park is grateful to the many companies who support their current and former employees’ charitable giving by matching all or part of the donation. Thank you to the organizations listed below for your generosity to Park.

Applied Materials Bank of America Davis Selected Advisers Fidelity Foundation HSBC Bank J.P. Morgan Chase Foundation Mattel Children’s Foundation Medina Foundation Merrill Lynch Foundation Microsoft Penguin Random House Praxair RBD Foundation TD Ameritrade Thomson Reuters Torrington Savings Bank Wells Fargo Foundation

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PARENTS & GUARDIANS Elizabeth Abramson and David Reisman Fred and Melissa Archer Liridon and Vjollca Asllani Lynne Bader and Nancy Jackman Diana Balconi Stacy and Thomas Beauford Cheryl Benzinger Christie and Chris Berardi ‘03 Jeremy and Rebecca Besch Jason and Grace Bird Mary Bradach and Susan Charters Carrie Brown Tanya Burnett Nathan and Macarena Fritz Cefaratti Louis and Marnie Benatovich Cerrato ‘90 Jon Chan and Joyce Lin Gang Chen Jeff and Lisa Conrad Rebecca and Collin Cook ‘93 Alyson and Kevin Coppola ‘03 Keith and Kathy Danser Stephanie Davidson and Georg Rafailidis Jason and Sheryl Davies Jason and Adrienne DeGroat Mike Deitzer

Mark and Sarah DiVincenzo Mariely Downey Jonathan and Judith Epstein Francis and Kishanie Fernando Jennifer and Adam Field John and Theo Ford Renee and David Fortuna Elizabeth Foy Jaume Franquesa and Marion Werner Grace Friel Steve George ‘97 Anthony and Cheryl Giancarlo Shane and Josh Grant Janeen Greene Frank Gullo David Harvey and Stanley Fernandez Andrew and Jennifer Hebrank Nicholas and Jennifer Henshue Larry and Joelle Hiller Shelley Hirsch John and Amy Hoskins Alan and Nikki Howard Joe and Stephanie Huffnagle Marc and Katherine Izzo Ben and Corrie StoneJohnson

Matt and Jodee Johnson Leo and Olesya Kaplin Thomas and Michele Katsabekis Barry and Jodi Latner Kenneth and Joyce Lott Karen Marsch John Marynowski and Kathleen Cain Thomas and Jennifer Maxian Barb Miller and Thomas Williams Daniel and Shannon Miller Emme Nylander Chanda O’Donnell de Ramirez Ravi and Monica Padmanabha Joseph and Amy Pecora Melissa Peterson and Mark Garrison Plail Family Richard and Emily Plotkin Kris and Kyle Polaske Perry and Melissa Pope Ari and Jamie Potash Jeffrey Rakas Cecily Rodriguez Steve Rosenfeld and Lisa Balderman Tim Schiesel and Shauna Bream

GRANDPARENTS Howard and Lana Benatovich Martin and Sarah Berardi Dianne Block Maggie Chan Kathleen Chapman David and Marlene Cichon Christine Cline James and Michele Conrad Ron Cook Stephen and Shelley Coppola Tom and Kathe Davidson Louis and Jacquelyn Ebert Sanford Eisen Carole Foy (d) Kathleen Garrison Charlotte Gendler Anselm and Mary Lou George Ronald and Lesley Grant William Gregory Donald and Patricia Harvey Mary Hebrank

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Cindy Henderson Robert and Linda Hiller Martin and Theresa Jablonski Mr. and Mrs. Richard Kuchta Dee Kysor Bill and Anne Metzger Van and Trudy Mollenberg Sam and Denise Nasca Randy and Cindy Oppenheimer Stan and Karen Polaske Bob Sack Susan Schneeberger Neville and Juanita Spring Mr. and Mrs. Robert Stevenson Arlene Stone Hawwao Wajed Alan and Karen Wexler Gerald Williams Ralph and Nancy Witt

Christina Schindler Paul and Apryle Schneeberger Tim Schuster and Frank Ciccia Max and Jayne Serebro Henry and Traci Shoemaker Tirice and Therese SmithCramer Ron and Dana Spradel Trevor and Wende Mollenberg Stevenson ‘97 John and Jean Stewart Becky Strathearn Marci Strathearn Yves and Suzanne ThepautHasselback Daniel and Lori Trock Edreys and Alexa Wajed Tom and Robyn Weed Manuel and Tina Welch Scott and Laura Wexler Kevin and Amy Wiese John and Cheralyn Wille Jimmiealice Williams Jerrold Williams and Kala Adams Brian and Rain Williams William and Maya Witnauer Victoria Yuzbasheva Michael and Sheryl Zorn

PARENTS OF ALUMNI & PAST STUDENTS Mark Abramaitys Robert Adams Bruce and Patricia Barber Kenneth Barnes Allan and Melissa Baumgart Howard and Lana Benatovich Randy and Lori Benderson Martin and Sarah Berardi Richard and Dorothy Hoffman Bergman ‘72 Peter and Denise Bloom David and Diana Bower Ann Burns (d) Tonya Carr Cheri and Bruce Carter Ron Cook Allison Cooper Stephen and Shelley Coppola Gerald and Michelle Cornish Susan Davis Leonard and Lois Farber Dopkins ‘47 Rosemary Elliott Joseph and Trish Emhof Fung Eng and Carol Hasegawa Ron and Kate Eskew Liz Evans Michael Frisch and Jo Freudenheim

Karl and Judith Frizlen Warren and Patty Cohen Gelman ‘66 Anselm and Mary Lou George Constance S. Gerbuch Judy Gerich Margot Glick ‘54 Leah Glickman ‘84 Lori Glickman and Roger Van Dam James and Maryruth Glogowski Chris and Camie Greene Ann Haber Jim and Christine Hanlon Michael and Susan Hartney Devonya Havis and EJ Walton Tripp Higgins ‘90 Richard and Honey Hopkins Elizabeth Horth Fred and Marie Houston Michael and Beth Jeswald Edwin Johnston Barbara and Mark Karrer ‘73 Krishnan Kartha and Phyllis Rzeznik Greg and Lisa Gelman Koessler ‘93

Naniscah Koessler David Koplas Connie Laport Nancy and Tom Leed ‘61 Katherine Pasco Lentz ‘72 Jordan and Holly Levy Harvey and Susan Lichtblau James and Patricia Linehan John Lipsitz ‘71 and Maria Scrivani Charlie Jones and Kerry Maguire Michael and Andrea Martzolf Martha McCluskey and Carl Nightingale Suzi McGowan Joe McMahon ‘83 Joseph and Trudy McMahon Arthur Meyer ‘42 Karen and Tom Miller Van and Trudy Mollenberg Sandra Morrison Stephen ‘66 and Sally Hatcher Obletz ‘81 Chinwe Okereke Bill and Liz Parke William W. Pfeifer ‘83 Wendy Pierce Joan Plumb Reeves ‘52

Rev. and Mrs. David A. Rich ‘63 Julianne Rizzo Heather and Donald C. Roberts ‘59 Cheryl Rosenberg Elisabeth Goldman Ruchkin Larry Scheur Lawrence and Michelle Schreiber Michele Shadden David and Cynthia Silverstein Roger and Joanie Simon A. Warren Smith Jr. (d) & Gretchen L. Smith (d) John and Aileen Spero Patti Stephen Reed and Carolyn Hoyt Stevens ‘81 Thomas and Patricia Symons Parviz and Barbara Taefi David and Anne Taylor William and Anne Robinson Wadsworth ‘77 Ping Wang Sue Wardynski Lisa Wood Steven and Barbara Zillig

FRIENDS Park is fortunate to receive support from many friends of the School each year, including former faculty and staff members, grandparents of alumni, neighbors, and local and national foundations.

Victoria Blanco Alfiero AmazonSmile Frederick and Carolyn Astmann Bruce and Susan O’Connor Baird Tara Bazilian Chang David Beppler Bethel AME Church David and Diana Bower Ann Burns (d) Peter C. Cornell Trust at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Laurie Dann and Tom Hunt Bonnie Dell Omar and Susanne DeWitt Shelley Drake Richard and Betsy Esser Expo 68 Loretta Fitzpatrick

Stephanie Fondoulis and Jennifer Serfas Greg Germaine and Annie Monaco Lori Glickman and Roger Van Dam Holly Goss-Betts Don and Catherine O’Neil Grace Amy Habib Mary Hartney Stanley Hupkowicz Jeanette Jafari Jewish Federation Benjamin Kae and Ellen Seaman Tim Kane Kiawah Island Photography Club Linda Kling Brian Kulpa

Sarah Lazarus Sheila Leavy Main Street Haircutters Roy and Jean Manno Ruth and Tim McCarthy Claire McGowan Michele McNamara Larry and Elizabeth McPhail Mike and Kinsey O’Brien William and Laura Prophater Ernest Ramirez Rachel Reichart Michael and Claudette Rivera Irv and Marilyn Ruppel Alan Saltzman William Schutter Alma Scully SEFA Brian and Kelly Aja Siefering Jim and Pat Smyton Eric and Heather Thomann

Julie Topolski TOPS in Education United Way of Buffalo and Erie County Marsha Villano Jeanne Vinal VIYU Foundation Elizabeth DeWees Walker Scholarship Fund at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Helen V. Walker Bequest at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Charles Weaver Fred H. & Lorene L. White Fund at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Barbara Yendall

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Memorial and Honorary Gifts We extend our thanks to the many Park friends who designated their gifts in memory of or in honor of family members, friends, classmates, and teachers.

IN MEMORIAM Hertha Ball Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Astmann

Lucinda Dudley Jennifer L. Smith ‘75

Bryan G. Meadows ‘61 Grier L. Curtis ‘62

Ann Cutter Sist ‘63 Susan West Cutter ‘68

Leonard Bell ‘66 John B. Nesbitt ‘66

Carole Foy Stephanie Fondoulis and Jennifer Serfas Jeanette M. Jafari Benjamin Kae JoAnne Leugemors Harvey and Susan Lichtblau Richard & Betsy Esser Family Fund Kim Ruppel Reed and Carolyn Hoyt Stevens ‘81

Herbert and Ruth Mols Gary Mols ‘64

Helen & Henry P. Smith, III Lucinda Smith Johnston ‘63

Julian L.S. Morrison Andrew A. Morrison ‘81

Kent Smith ‘75 Miles C. Borzilleri ‘74

Dr. Renzo Nylander Dr. Emmekunla Nylander

William G. Staniland III ‘61 Eleanor Staniland Stofan ‘63

Louise Levi Obletz ‘39 Thomas B. Obletz ‘69

Paul K. Taefi ‘96 Dr. and Mrs. Parviz Taefi

Giovanni Occhiuto Ann P. Burns

Peach Taylor Claire McGowan

Daniel Oles Ann P. Burns

Linda Kittinger Wadsworth ‘56 Pamela Nichols Marcucci ‘81

Debra Poles ‘73 Cynthia Bradley Crippen ‘74

Molly Bleichfeld Weissfeld ‘59 Ellen Levy Schwimmer ‘59

Morris Reichlin H. Paolo Reichlin ‘81

Manuel & Hattie Welch Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Manuel R. Welch Jr

Ella L. Roberts Hawwao Wajed

Dennis K. Wilson ‘53 Robert J. Wilson ‘55

Axel Sack ‘16 Mia Stevens ‘16

Donald R. Wilson ‘60 Robert J. Wilson ‘55

Paula Kahn Saltzman ‘60 Dr. Alan R. Saltzman

Xavier Wimes ‘12 Khadijah Cooper Winkelman ‘12 and Saveon Winkelman

Marcia Brown Beppler ‘45 David Beppler Donald Bradley Jerilyn Bradley Schnitzel ‘80 Henry S. Bradley Jr. ‘61 Mr. and Mrs. Richard O. Hopkins Audre Bunis Ann P. Burns Lawrence Burns ‘60 Patricia Burns Richardson ‘58 Theodore Burns Patricia Burns Richardson ‘58 Margie Cook Ronald H. Cook M. Adolphus Cheek Joan Plumb Reeves ‘52 Debby Bleichfeld Cohen ‘55 Ellen Levy Schwimmer ‘59 Gary Cohen Warren and Patty Cohen Gelman ‘66 Deceased Classmates from 1956 Sara Wyckoff Hurley ‘56 Helga Doblin Joan Plumb Reeves ‘52

Miriam Goldeen Leonard D. Carrel ‘65 Gordon Gross ‘49 Amy Habib Kiawah Island Photography Club Mr. and Mrs. William Prophater Ann Louise Jones ‘31 Richard Robbins Loren Keller David G. Brock ‘63 In memory of John Koekkoek, Byron and Martha Park Koekkoek Peter M. Koekkoek ‘75 Caroline Saunders Kritzer ‘61 Hilary P. Harty ‘61 Martha Little Charles S. Little ‘58 Molly McMahon David G. Brock ‘63 Mr. and Mrs. Joe McMahon

Joy Grady Simpkins ‘49, Gilbert Simpkins, and Toby Grady Goodyear ‘51 Holly Goss‑Betts

IN HONORARIUM All the wonderful teachers Calvin Besch Fox Besch Alexander J. Rakas ‘20 Arlin Rakas ‘24 John and Cheralyn Wille Everything about Park!

James Mao ‘19 Park faculty and staff JoAnne Leugemors Dr. Fred D. Archer, DDS Melissa and Fred Archer III Autism Awareness Carl B. Wagner ‘58 Ben’s birthday, Leslie’s marriage, and the birth of Charlotte Cheryl M. Rosenberg Future Park School Berardis Martin and Sarah Berardi Martin and Sarah Berardi Kate Peck ‘04 Jeremy Besch Donald H. Grace and Catherine O’Neill Grace Van and Trudy Mollenberg Ann Burns Donald H. Grace and Catherine O’Neill Grace Marnie Cerrato Dr. and Mrs. James Stephen Myles ‘25 and Talia ‘27 Cerrato Louis and Marnie Benatovich Cerrato ‘90 Class of 1962 Frances Forman Yardley ‘62 Class of 1968 Richard L. Vogel ‘68

Class of 1981 Carolyn Hoyt Stevens ‘81 Class of 2020 Gregory Soden Jeffrey ‘28 and Giada ‘31 Conrad Mr. and Mrs. James Conrad Jeff and Lisa Conrad Mr. and Mrs. Salvatore Nasca Chris Downey Mason C. Wille Oscar Fitzpatrick Loretta Fitzpatrick Patty Cohen Gelman ‘66 Sally Keating Walsh ‘40 Stephan George ‘97 Marsha Villano Elizabeth Gerbush ‘99 and Mathieu Gerbush ‘99 Dr. and Mrs. Lloyd Gerbush Tammy Giancola Seychelle Mikofsky ‘16 Grant Kids: Andrew ‘21, Oliver ‘22, Avery ‘24, and Chloe ‘26 Dr. Sanford H. Eisen Shane and Josh Grant

D. Cameron Hartney ‘98 & E. Matthew Hartney ‘00 Rev. and Mrs. Michael Hartney Bob Keller, a dedicated employee of Park School Barbara Yendall Sam Koplas ‘18 David Koplas Flora Pearl Kraatz ‘16 Leah Glickman Lori Glickman and Roger Van Dam Benjamin Little Charles S. Little ‘58 Virginia Houston Meenan ‘83 Dr. and Mrs. Frederic K. Houston Seychelle Mikofsky ‘16 and Teresa Miller H. Paolo Reichlin ‘81 Karen Miller Jack Wille ‘20 Trudy Mollenberg Tim and Ruth McCarthy Trudy Mollenberg and Wende Mollenberg Stevenson ‘91 Reed and Carolyn Hoyt Stevens ‘81

Ava Green ‘27 Shelley Hirsch

Dave O’Malley Ann P. Burns

Guy Gunzberg ‘58 Patricia Burns Richardson ‘58

Ethan Oppenheimer ‘28 Cynthia Oppenheimer

Dr. Kate Haq Jonathan and Judith Epstein

Nikhil ‘29 and Gabriel ‘31 Padmanabha Monica and Ravi Padmanabha

Charlie Hartney Reed and Carolyn Hoyt Stevens ‘81 Holly A. Stevenson ‘19 The Hutchins Family Ella Stevenson ‘28

Monica Padmanabha Van Stevenson ‘28 Gabriel Wille ‘28

Ember Perry ‘34 Anne and Bill Metzger Eva Plail ‘33 Jackie Ebert Shaina Potash ‘23 Dianne Block Ari and Jamie Potash Max and Lou Rafailidis Tom and Kathe Davidson Alec Rakas ‘20 Elizabeth Foy Bill Rider Reed and Carolyn Hoyt Stevens ‘81 Kim Ruppel Irv and Marilyn Ruppel Julie Topolski Patrick ‘32 and Jonathan ‘33 Schneeberger Tim and Cindy Henderson Willie Schutter Chris Downey Carolyn Hoyt Stevens ‘81 Ann P. Burns Dave Taylor’s retirement Lawrence C. Franco ‘68 Kevin Wartinger Gabriel Wille ‘28 Lyssa Wexler ‘23 and Zachary Wezler ‘21 Mr. and Mrs. Alan Wexler Max Zelikman, Glen Herman, Karen Miller, Kerry Reynolds Judy Gerich

Auction 2020:

A roaring good time in support of Park!

Many thanks to our attendees, volunteers, donors, and sponsors for supporting Auction 2020. A special thank you to our wonderful chairs, Becky & Collin Cook ‘93, Janeen Greene, and Amy & Joe Pecora, who dedicated months of hard work to make the event a success. Save the date! Auction 2021: Diamonds and Denim will take place on Saturday, May 15, 2021 (hopefully in-person on the Park campus!).

$132,269 DOLLARS RAISED (GROSS) 295 ITEMS SOLD 34 EVENT SPONSORS $26,000 RAISED DURING FUND-A-NEED TO SUPPORT UPGRADES TO PARK’S PLAYGROUND

1,000 ESTIMATED VOLUNTEER HOURS

Auction 2020 Sponsors & Advertisers Diamond Presenting Sponsor

Bronze Sponsor

Hodgson Russ LLP

United Insurance Agency, Inc.

Platinum Sponsors

Mobile Bidding Sponsor

Bengal Machine Ellicott Street Animal Hospital Mollenberg-Betz Inc. M&T Bank

Gold Sponsors

Eastman Machine Company Sheldon Precision Plant, LLC

Silver Sponsors

Howard Benatovich, DDS & Joshua Grant, DDS Buffalo OB/GYN Chason Affinity Companies Kavinoky Cook LLP Moog, Inc. Rich Products Corporation 716 Fresh

Cognizant

Wine Pull Sponsors Bayer Landscape Bengal Machine

Full Page Advertisers

Buffalo Jewish Federation Jason and Sheryl Davies Fung Eng and Carol Hasegawa

Pratt Collard Buck Advisory Group RP Oak Hill Building Company Inc. Thomann Asphalt Paving Corporation Webster Szanyi LLP

After Party Sponsor

Half Page Advertisers

Faculty Table Sponsors

Fred and Melissa Archer

Wine and Gift Gathering Party Sponsor

Trevor and Wende Mollenberg Stevenson ’97

Silent Auction Sponsor Lawley Insurance

Allied Mechanical Body Connection Massage Clearwater Restoration Illuminare Group Leadership Buffalo Park Parents Association Rez Blues Festival Zoom Copy

Cash Donations

Christie Witt Berardi & Chris Berardi ’03 Thomas & Stacy Beauford Cheri Carter Mary Bradach & Susan Charters Becky & Collin Cook ’93 Stephen & Shelley Coppola Warren Gelman & Patricia Cohen Gelman ’66 Greg Germaine & Annie Monaco Sharon Greenfield Janeen Greene John & Amy Hoskins Joe & Stephanie Huffnagle Ken & Linda Kahn Greg Nayor Julianne Rizzo Trevor and Wende Mollenberg Stevenson ’97 Reed Stevens & Carolyn Hoyt Stevens ’81 Cecily Rodriguez Tony Walker & Co.

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PARK Giving Day Our first-ever Giving Day on May 7 proved what we all have known to be true for 108 years:

Park matters.

Thank you!

178 gifts total $ raised

$58,436 # of gifts

raised for Park’s Annual Fund

Who donated?

Alumni (1950s through 2019 represented!), current students, current parents, parents of alumni, current and past grandparents, faculty, staff, trustees, and friends.

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young alumni donors (classes of 2005-2019) helped to unlock an additional $1000 gift from Guy Gunzberg ‘58.

1pm Power Hour

raised $3539 and unlocked an additional $1000 from Tom Munschauer ‘71.

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9am Power Hour

raised $3785 and unlocked an additional $1000 from a generous Park grandparent!

7pm Power Hour

raised $3310 and unlocked an additional $1000 from Park grandparents Marty and Sarah Berardi.

A note from the desk of

Lisa Conrad

Principal & Interim Head of School Hello, Park School friends I hope you have enjoyed the content in this edition of the Pioneer thus far. The pages that precede my message are a testament to the enduring generosity of the Park School Community. I hope to convey my gratitude here for all the hard work and dedication that has gone into allowing Park to continue to provide a world-class education to our students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

I would like to start by sincerely thanking all of our students, parents, faculty, and staff for a wonderful start to this school year. Everything we do during our day – whether it’s wearing a mask, wiping a desk down, staying socially distant during lunch, or bundling up to be outside – contributes to our success.

We know that Park has always been a special place, but in a year like no other, I think that has become even more clear. We’ve all realized what a unique position we are in with this beautiful 34-acre campus.

An investment made exactly 100 years ago allowed us to open our doors during this pandemic and provided us with a renewed approach to our educational model in the 21st century.

Although there are many people to thank and appreciate during this time, I really want to commend our students for all they have done in the past several months. In March of 2020, our students stepped up and answered the call to be brave, responsible, understanding, and kind when our beloved school went fully remote for three months. Now, as I walk the campus every day, I see our students following a new set of school rules while being mindful of and demonstrating care for one another. Park has always sought to do more than transform our students as learners. We have also worked to teach our students to be good, kind, and caring people who will go out and help improve our world. Never have the fruits of that labor ever been more apparent than they are right now. And these are lessons that will last well beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

For me, there have been so many wonderful elements to being the Principal and Interim Head of School: getting to virtually meet some of our incredible alumni, walking the campus during the day to see our students and faculty in action, and being able to talk to the broader community about why Park is an amazing institution. Even with those great things, a highlight of many of my days is the car ride home with my two children, Jeffrey and Giada. I get to hear about how their days went and what they learned. They are both so happy to have been able to return to school and see their friends again. I am so grateful for that and to our community for rising to the occasion and working together to ensure our continued success during this time.

The last few months have gone by so quickly that I have had little time to think about my role as the first female Head of School in 95 years. Reflecting on this today, what I feel above all is pride for our school and gratitude to be in this role. We have all been so focused on the current state of our school and the safety of our students, faculty, and families that it is hard to put into perspective what has happened the last several months. One thing I do recognize, though, is that the 2020-2021 school year will not be a footnote in our storied history, but a watershed moment.

I am thankful everyday for the opportunity to lead this wonderful institution, the ability to work with so many amazing people, and the chance to enjoy wonderful relationships with our students and our families.

Warmest regards,

Lisa Conrad Principal and Interim Head of School 28

Meet the Team:

Profiles of Park’s Faculty and Staff Park’s faculty and staff are dynamic, creative, and dedicated to their students. They model our core values of Respect, Responsibility, Honesty, and Kindness in everything they do. We are thrilled to introduce you to each and every one of Park’s employees for the 2020-21 school year. Because everyone below is so wonderful, they are listed in random order.

Cheryl Benzinger has taught at Park since 1996. Her first position at Park was teaching English in the Middle and Upper

School. In September 2000, joined the Lower School as the Kindergarten teacher. Cheryl also was a coach for Park’s cross country team for several years. She has a BA in Elementary Education/ English from Canisius College and a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Buffalo.

Cheryl incorporates Responsive Classroom and SEL methods into her daily teaching. She feels strongly that the social-emotional wellbeing of children goes hand in hand with academic success. One of Cheryl’s goals is to ensure students begin their academic career knowing they will be supported throughout their learning experiences. Providing positive early learning experiences that foster selfawareness and build confidence will set children on the path to becoming life-long learners. Cheryl thoroughly enjoys teaching children how to read. Through whole-group reading experiences and small-group reading clubs, she is able to meet children at their level and appropriately guide them through the process of learning how to read. To her, there is nothing more magical than seeing the look on children’s faces when they realize they can do it...they are readers! Cheryl’s two sons, Jack ‘22 and Noah ‘25, are Park students.

Beth Anne Jeswald came to Park in 2004 as a Middle and Upper School French teacher. Before coming to Park, she was a junior/senior high school French and Spanish teacher in a local school district for 17 years.

Beth holds a BS in French Education, with an additional certificate in Spanish Language. In addition, she holds a Master of Professional Studies degree, Reading Specialist, and is a certified prekindergarten through grade twelve educator. In the classroom, she believes in an interactive approach to language acquisition with an emphasis on communication and developing a broader understanding of cultural differences and similarities throughout the Francophone world. Students are encouraged to explore new cultures and present their findings to their peers, in French, of course! Beth has served on multiple professional and curriculum development committees and has worked in groups to promote better student success, particularly at the middle school level. At Park, she also serves as the Modern Language Department Coordinator, and has served as Immersion Program Coordinator, faculty representative to the Board of Trustees, student advisor, and Curriculum Coordinator. She is a proud Park parent of two alumni.

Caitlin Littlefield joined the Park School in August 2020 and has worked in progressive education for over a decade.

She is thrilled to be part of the Park Middle School team as the math and science teacher for Grades 5 and 6. She loves working with adolescents, and has worked with students in grades 6-12 for her entire career. Her teaching focuses on interdisciplinary investigation and metacognition, and she is passionate about equitable education, pedagogy research and math literacy.

Caitlin began teaching at Virginia Beach Friends School, in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and then moved across the country to join the faculty at the Gardner School in Vancouver, Washington. In both schools, she developed a place-based experiential curriculum, including exploring the Tetons in Wyoming, reflecting on civil rights in Selma and Birmingham, Alabama, and examining US history while traveling from Jamestown to D.C. She also worked at Buffalo Seminary as the Dean of Teaching and Learning, where she supported faculty in developing globally engaged, interdisciplinary curriculum. Caitlin is a graduate of the University of Toronto, with a BA in Mathematics, and of The University of Wisconsin, Madison, with an MS in Environmental Resources, focusing on atmospheric chemistry. She earned her teaching certificate from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA, with specialization in secondary mathematics and social studies instruction. Caitlin’s son is in Park’s Montessori program.

Dr. Margaret Diamond began teaching at The Park School in the fall of 2007. She has a PhD in molecular biology

from SUNY at Buffalo, Roswell Park Division, and spent many years in laboratory research before becoming a teacher. She also holds a Master’s degree in Zoology from SUNY ESF and a BA from the University of Rochester. She began teaching in 2001 and truly found her home teaching at Park. Margaret teaches both in Middle School (7th grade Life Science) and Upper School (numerous electives including: AP Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, Genetic Engineering, Forensics, Marine Biology and Plant Biotechnology). She believes that science is best learned by doing, and, to that end, includes as many labs and other “hands-on, minds-on” activities in her classes as possible.

Prior to coming to Park, she taught at several other schools in WNY, both at the middle school and high school level and spent several years as a postdoctoral research assistant in labs at both UB and Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

Michele Shadden joined the Park School community in 2000. She is a Registered Professional Nurse who has provided health care for our students and staff for over 20 years. Prior to coming to work at Park, Michele worked in the public school system, and various area hospitals and doctors’ offices. Her daughter, Savannah, is a member of Park’s Class of 2011.

Michele has served as the Medical Director of the Summer Scholars program since its inception, facilitates our Automated External Defibrillator and Blood Drive Programs, and is a member of Park’s Student Support, Emergency Response and Covid Response Teams.

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Dr. Hex Kleinmartin joined Park’s Math Department in 2020. Before coming to Park he taught at Buffalo State College, Niagara County Community College, and Medaille College. For several years, he taught upper level math through Catholic Charities. He has a PhD in Anthropology from UB, where he also got his MA and BA, but he started his college career at Clarkson School, a bridging year program at Clarkson University that replaced his senior year of high school. Hex has written textbooks, histories, and archaeological reports. He continually strives to find new ways to best impart his knowledge to his students, and inspire them to love learning as he does. Hex’s goal is to instill intelligence, skill, and character within each of his students, so that society will be composed of people who can think, act, and do intelligently and ethically. Hex’s teaching style aims to best fit the math concepts to the students’ views of how numbers work. Rather than only presenting the students with one path to the correct answer, he works to show the many paths they could take, so that they can better understand the subject and later be able to apply these skills in appropriate ways to solve problems they may encounter.

When not in school, he enjoys working on his school bus conversion, which is slowly making its way into being a fully-fledged RV, using self-taught skills of welding and metal fabricating, as well as his previous knowledge of electrical, plumbing, and construction skills.

Bethany Ward has been at Park since 2017. She teaches general music and chorus to grades Pre-K through 12, and

thoroughly enjoys working with students from a wide variety of ages. Her teaching style in the lower school grades makes use of methods including Music Learning Theory and Orff-Schulwerk. In middle and upper school grades, content is student-driven. In chorus, students select repertoire they are interested in learning, and in general music students are encouraged to suggest topics of interest to them. Bethany holds a Masters in Music Education from The University at Buffalo, and she previously taught general music and chorus at DeSales Catholic School. Bethany also worked at Nardin Academy’s K-8 after school music program and has been teaching private piano and voice lessons since 2010.

In addition to her passion for teaching in the general music and choral classrooms, Bethany has many years of experience vocal directing musicals. She has vocal directed Park’s musicals since 2018 and vocal directed In Good Company Productions musicals since 2014. She has been a pit member in shows for the Lockport Palace Theater and has accompanied various school choral groups. Bethany also sings in one of Buffalo’s top choirs, Vocalis.

Michal Shmuel-Lewis has been teaching Hebrew at Park as part of the Kadimah Scholars program since 2019. She holds

a BA in English and Education from Hakibutzim College and is also a certified ENL teacher. In addition, she holds an MA from the University at Buffalo in School Counseling and is a certified NYS school counselor. Michael has been teaching English and Hebrew as second languages for 25 years and has been a school counselor since 2007. She was the school counselor and Hebrew studies coordinator at the Kadimah Academy. Michal’s goal is to prepare her Kadimah Scholars students in grades K-12 to communicate fluently in Hebrew through speaking and writing and be able to interpret information in Hebrew through reading and listening. At Park, she teaches the Kadimah Scholars students from a beginner level — reading the Alef-Bet with vowels — to advanced level.

As part of her role as a Hebrew teacher, she also coordinates educational programs to get students involved with outside organizations through inviting guests to school and participating in a variety of Jewish organizations’ events. Her teaching philosophy is the Whole Child approach along with Gardner’s multiple intelligence theory. She emphasizes the social-emotional aspect as well as cognitive and academic development of her students to ensure that they feel safe and comfortable.

Andrea Martzolf has been the Associate Kindergarten Teacher at Park since 2004. Prior to coming to Park, Andrea

taught preschool for 10 years. In addition, she served as the director of Park’s after school program for 10 years. She holds an AS in Early Childhood Education from Villa Maria College.

Andrea feels has the best job in the world, working with some of Park’s youngest learners and being part of the kindergarten team with Cheryl Benzinger. In her opinion, Park’s Kindergarten is where the magic begins for children. She feels that Park’s Kindergarten is a friendly, safe, and fun space where the children are allowed to learn, explore, take risks, make mistakes and have fun! Andrea is the proud mom of Lillian, a 2017 Park graduate.

Macarena Fritz-Cefaratti joined Park in 2017 as a Middle and Upper School Spanish teacher. She is a native

Spanish speaker from Santiago, Chile, where she earned an Honors Bachelor of Fashion Design Degree from INCACEA. Throughout her studies she has tutored students and participated in educational programs in very diverse areas of Chile. Her background motivates her to create and design classes where students learn the language and the culture in a positive learning environment that excites students and encourages student investment in the target language.

Macarena started the exchange program at Park with Santiago College in Santiago, Chile. This program was a goal she had in mind since she started at Park. During her years here, Macarena has been working with the DEI program, where her knowledge of being a Latinx has helped her to understand how to make a difference in our community. She has motivated students to understand the importance of the language through her ability to see outside of just conjugation and vocabulary. In addition to her teaching duties, Macarena is the coordinator of Park’s Advisory Program. This program promotes meaningful relationships between advisors and students in grades 7-12 while providing academic, social and emotional support to students. Macarena is a proud Pioneer parent of Paolo ’30 and Ophelia ’32. She loves to travel with her family, try new food, and learn more about fashion.

Charles Hartney is Park’s newly-appointed Director of Grades 7-12, where he oversees program and curriculum, faculty

evaluation and development, and student support for those grade levels. He also currently serves as the school’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) coordinator and has been a member of the Park School community since 2010. Before this year, Mr. Hartney most recently served as Park’s Upper School Dean of Students. He was also a member of Park’s English department for 10 years, teaching in both Middle and Upper School. In addition to teaching grade 7 English and AP English Literature & Composition, Mr. Hartney has taught elective courses focusing on contemporary Black and African-American literature, feminist literature and thought, philosophy in literature and film, and the connection between writing and self-creation, among others.

Born and raised in Buffalo, Mr. Hartney is a product of both the Ken-Ton public school district and Canisius High School. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from Canisius College, a Master’s degree in English from the University at Buffalo, and is the recipient of an Outstanding Educator Award from the University of Chicago.

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Angela DiSalvo joined the Park community in 1998. Prior to becoming Executive Assistant to the Principal in 2020, she

served as Director of Academic Operations (2018-2020) and Head of Middle School (2012-2018). She also taught Spanish for nearly 15 years and served as Middle School Dean of Students and class advisor to seventh and eighth grade students, and was a member of many committees and groups including Emergency Response Team, Student Support Team, Immersion Committee, and Employee Council, among others. Angela holds a Master’s in Elementary Education from Canisius College and a BA in Elementary Education with a concentration in Spanish, also from Canisius. As Executive Assistant, Angela provides administrative support to the Principal, managing the school’s academic calendar, screening all incoming calls and inquiries, managing and coordinating student transportation, managing school purchasing, and recording student daily attendance.

A Buffalo native, Angela is a product of private school education, and values the importance of a joyous, supportive learning environment that celebrates student individuality. In her spare time, Angela enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and rediscovering all that Western New York has to offer.

Suzanne Thepaut-Hasselback has been teaching French at Park since 2019. She has a BA in French and biology from Mount Holyoke College in MA, a M.Ed. from SUNY Buffalo in secondary science education, and a BA-equivalent in life and earth sciences from the Université du Havre in Normandy, France. She also holds certificates in curriculum development and online teaching, and is certified to teach biology and French 7-12. Previous jobs found her teaching different combinations of French and sciences at Nardin Academy, Parker Academy (NH), Springfield HS (VT), and the Aurora Waldorf School in West Falls, NY. She taught English in France for seven years, and also worked in bookkeeping, translation, and grant writing in various places.

This year, Suzanne teaches French in kindergarten through grade 7, and is currently the lead teacher on the school’s exchange with the Thérèse d’Avila School in Lille. Her ongoing goals are to meet students where they are to move forward in achieving their language goals; to tell context stories that bring language and history to life for students; to encourage students to think about more than one way to reach their objectives; and to celebrate diversity and similarity between people, languages, and cultures, especially in the Francophone world. She also has relied on co-teaching and interdisciplinary opportunities to open the classroom beyond the four walls, and she loves to organize and run student exchanges! Her daughter, Mel, is in Grade 1 at Park.

Britton Thomas has taught at Park since 2011. She first worked in the Lower School as a floating teacher. She transitioned

to the PreKindergarten program as the third teacher in the Bungalow and worked there for 3 years before returning to the Lower School where she taught grade 4 for three years. Since 2019, she has been the Grade 1 teacher.

Britton holds a Master’s degree in Literacy Education from the University at Buffalo. She earned a BS in English-Creative Writing and holds New York State teacher certifications in Early Childhood Education, Childhood Education and Special Education from The College at Brockport. Her professional experience includes scheduling, developing and implementing lessons, assessments, behavior management plans, collaboration and co-teaching, and tutoring. She is also actively involved in learning about and implementing Responsive Classroom practices. Outside of the school day, Britton has coached the Upper School girl’s lacrosse team. She developed the lacrosse program in 2013. She also co-developed an after-school book club for lower school students to further develop their love for reading.

Adrienne DeGroat joined the Park community in 2007. Prior to that, she taught Living Environment at Starpoint High

School, middle school science at The Good Hope School in the US Virgin Islands, and was a substitute teacher at Bliss Carmen Senior Public School in Toronto, Ontario. At Park, Adrienne teaches 9th grade Environmental Science, 10th grade Biology, and electives such as The Science Behind Food, Science Seminar, and Advanced Science Explorations. She also serves as a class advisor, the Environmental Stewardship club advisor, and the Science Department Coordinator. In the classroom, Adrienne believes that students learn best by doing. One week you may find her students down by the pond measuring water quality parameters to determine the health of the pond, investigating possible sources of pollution and later creating and carrying out action plans to improve the water quality. The next week you may find them collecting air quality data on campus, analyzing the data, and launching a no idling campaign. This allows Adrienne’s students to be more engaged and establish deep, lasting connections to the material.

Adrienne has an Honors Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto with a double major in biology and anthropology, a Master’s of Science from D’Youville College with a focus in science education, and certification for Grades 7-12 Biology in New York State. Her daughters, Addisyn ‘30 and Dylan ‘34, are proud Park students.

Brianna R. Cornelius joined the Park community in August 2020. She is a doctoral student in the Linguistics Program

at The University of South Carolina. Her research centers around the interface of language and socially constructed realities (notably identity). Upon completion of her degree, she hopes to expand her scope by exploring the role of identity in the acquisition of Mainstream American English for minority youth with he goal of determining the vitality of language preservation to cultural survival.

She has extensive teaching experience with students ranging from pre-kindergarten to the university level. Brianna obtained her MA in Linguistics from SUNY Buffalo in 2013 and her BA in Romance Languages from Bowdoin College in 2009.

Karen Miller has been an educator over 40 years. She started working at Park in the fall of 1990 teaching Grade 6 English

and history. Over the past 30 years at Park, she has taught Middle and Upper School English classes, coordinated Middle and Upper Schools, and directed the college counseling program at Park. She also co-teaches senior seminar classes with a thesis coordinator, in order for all the seniors to successfully complete the graduation requirements above and beyond passing their classes. An important part of the senior seminar is guiding the students through a comprehensive college search and application process focused on the best fit destination for each senior.

Karen earned a BA in English at SUNY Brockport and permanent certification in education Nursery School – Grade 6 and English 7-12. She has taken a number of non-matriculated classes in school counseling at the University at Buffalo.

Cognitive science, metacognition, and motivational theory are professional development interests. Outside of Park, Karen reads voraciously, tends outdoor gardens, and nurtures house plants. Her daughter, Erin, graduated from Park in 2006.

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Kim Ruppel joined the Development Office at The Park School in August 2007. In August 2020, she was promoted to

Director of Development. In this role she manages all of the school’s fundraising efforts including the Annual Fund, Foundation, and special events as well as donor research, acknowledgement, stewardship, and appeal implementation. She also works to strengthen and grow the network of engaged and active friends of the School, plans alumni and donor events, and manages the school’s database of alumni, parents, and friends. In addition, Kim is responsible for the Pioneer magazine, provides graphic design services for the School, and assists with internal and external communications. Kim prides herself on maintaining strong relationships with Park parents, grandparents, alumni, and friends in order to strengthen and grow the community. She also successfully implemented Park’s first-ever Giving Day in May 2020, which raised nearly $60,000 in 24 hours!

Kim graduated summa cum laude from Canisius College in 2006 with a BA in Communication Studies with a focus in advertising, public relations, and marketing. A native of Buffalo, she enjoys traveling (her favorite place in the world is Maine!), calligraphy, reading, crafting, and spending time with family and friends.

Kyle Polaske has taught art at Park since 2001. Her interest in art began when she was five years old, drawing the cartoons

that she saw in the newspaper. She soon learned that she could take her own ideas and create something interesting. She also comes from a family of craftsmen and lived in a home where creating and building was something that surrounded her on a daily basis. She designs and creates her own art, to enjoy and sell, in her free time.

A graduate of Buffalo State, Kyle became an art teacher, knowing that it was an opportunity to share her knowledge and artistic experiences with children. She enjoys working with kids from PreK through the 12th grade, and seeing the moments when they discover something new. She has the opportunity to open students’ eyes to how art is involved in so much, be creative every day, and learn new things along the way. Kyle enjoys her role as a visual arts teacher, has her hand in the performing arts, and is a Park parent to Ryan ’23 and Griffin ’27.

JoAnne Leugemors has served as the Assistant Business Manager at Park since 2017. She holds a B.S. in Business

Administration and Accounting from Niagara University and an MBA Certificate from UB. Her role in the business office includes assisting the Director of Finance in maintaining and implementing business strategies that suit the interest of the School. Prior to joining the Park Community, she was employed at a fitness club as the Director of Finance and Accounting.

Her hobbies include cooking, traveling, hiking, learning the Italian language, and spending time with family.

Bill Rider came to Park in 2011 and is the School’s Director of Technology/CIO. He has more than 20 years of classroom

teaching experience ranging from prekindergarten through college. Additionally, he has worked as a corporate trainer, a web designer and web host, and as an IT specialist for private firms.

Bill was raised in the town of Tonawanda. He attended SUNY College at Old Westbury and earned a Bachelor’s in Education N-6. He did his student teaching in New York City schools. He returned to Buffalo and accepted a position as a teacher in a prekindergarten program. Several years later, Bill moved to Charlotte, NC and worked first as a 6th grade teacher in a rural school, then later as a Grade 3 teacher at a school for the visual and performing arts. He returned to Buffalo where he became the District Enrichment Coordinator for the City of Tonawanda School District. He continued his education, earning his Master’s in Educational Computing from SUNY Buffalo State. He worked for eight years as an adjunct instructor at Bryant & Stratton College teaching a variety of undergraduate tech courses. Bill has also worked for several private, secondary education schools in WNY. When Bill is not engrossed in his work, he can be found at one of his children’s activities. When not doing that, he is usually building something in his backyard workshop! One thing that Bill especially loves about being at Park is working with the Park community.

Anna Scirri has been a physical education teacher at Park since 1999. She holds both a BS and a Master’s degree in Science from Canisius College, as well as NYS Permanent Teaching Certification in Physical Education K-12 and Special Education K-12.

Anna prides herself on providing an atmosphere conducive to the intellectual, physical, social, and emotional development of children. She has developed classroom curriculum for a wide range of age and grade levels, across health and physical education spectrums. She also serves as a student advisor at Park, actively monitoring academic progress and providing regular academic guidance to advisees.

Anna has experience in all aspects of school-based sports teams and programs including budgeting, scheduling, equipment procurement, roster development, and transportation coordination. She has also coached a range of interscholastic athletic teams at varsity, junior varsity, and middle school levels. Her professional development experience is vast and includes Responsive Classroom training, Mindfulness and Engaging Schools Workshops, a NAIS Brain Conference, and a NYS Apherd Conference.

Rachel Wright is a visual arts teacher at Park. As an artist and educator Rachel brings a broad range of experience and expertise and has continued to develop progressive visual arts curricula in her role at the School since 2019.

In 2012, Rachel earned a BFA in Painting, a BFA in Sculpture, and a BA in Philosophy from SUNY College at Buffalo. In 2018, she went on to earn an MFA in Studio Art Practices from the University of Colorado, Boulder. In addition to the visual arts, Rachel also has a passion for interdisciplinary and progressive pedagogy. Her teaching practice in the fields of art and art history is influenced by the work of John Dewey. Most recently, Rachel worked in the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Colorado for three years. In this role, she taught Introduction to Studio Art Practices and Sculpture. Rachel’s teaching philosophy is informed first and foremost by her personal experiences as a learner. As an advocate of learner-centered pedagogy, her aim is to support the diverse artistic objectives of each student. In her classroom she creates an environment that celebrates diversity and facilitates creativity, inclusivity, and an openness in the discussion and execution of ideas. Rachel’s objective is to connect with each student and understand and support their individual artistic and academic needs so that they can excel not only as artists but also as critically engaged members of society. Rachel is thrilled to apply her experiences and interests at Park, a school that encourages community dialogue and investigates the relationship between visual arts and progressive education.

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Amy Wiese began her tenure as Prekindergarten teacher at the Park School of Buffalo in 2002. taught Grade 5 at Our Lady Help of Christians School in Cheektowaga, New York.

Prior to coming to Park, she

Amy holds a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from the University at Buffalo and a BA in Elementary Education from Canisius College. Her most recent professional development endeavor includes extensive Responsive Classroom training which she is currently implementing into her daily classroom activities. She is also passionate about creating a developmentally appropriate and experiential learning environment for the young children she works with in the Bungalow.

She believes that the most authentic form of learning is through hands-on experiences, therefore she is driven to create a learning environment that makes this possible. In addition to being Park Faculty, Amy is also a current Park parent of two children, Madeline ‘23 and Evan ‘25.

Kevin Wartinger came to Park in 2016. He currently teaches Health (Grades 5, 7 & 9), Physical Education (PreK-12), and has coached several sports throughout all three divisions in the Athletics Department. As a physical education teacher, Kevin focuses on the Physical Literacy model which is intended to help develop students socially, emotionally, and physically. As a health educator, his main goals are to study topics and create lessons that are relevant and helpful to students’ everyday life.

Kevin participates in NYSAHPERD, New York State’s Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, having attended three previous state conferences and 2018’s Western Zone Conference. Through these professional development opportunities, he has stayed current in the most effective methods of incorporating physical literacy concepts into the physical education curriculum. There has also been an intentional focus to educate members on best mindfulness practices, and Kevin incorporates that into his own practices at Park. Kevin received a BS in Physical Education/Teacher Education from SUNY Brockport. He followed that with a Master’s in Sport Administration from Canisius College. He is currently enrolled at the University of Buffalo in the LIFTS Program which is focused on developing educational administrators.

Nancy Fernandez is a native of Buffalo and a Nichols graduate. She joined Park’s English department in October 2020.

Nancy earned her BA in Film Studies from Emory University and her MEd in secondary English education from University at Buffalo. She began her career working with screenwriters and producers in Hollywood before transitioning into the classroom.

Over the past 19 years, Nancy developed curriculum for 11th grade American Literature, Film Studies, A.P. Literature, Career Studies, and World Literature courses. Outside of the classroom in past schools, she has directed school musicals, produced student film festivals, and ran National Honor Society chapters.

Nancy’s past eight years have been spent working with arts and educational non profits building programs for teens most at risk and leading professional development workshops for teachers across the country. This work has given her a global vision of education beyond the boundaries of ELA, as well as a visceral understanding of informal education and arts integration as a vehicle to deepen student engagement through a passion-based, student-centered and reflective pedagogy. Nancy is a Lincoln Center certified professional teaching artist, a published intuitive poet, musician, performer and co-founder of VR Buffalo, a local organization dedicated to the integration of emerging technologies into educational spaces. Her son, Benicio, is a member of the Park Class of ‘35!

Bob Keller joined the Park Maintenance Team in 2008. He currently serves as the Physical Plant Manager and Director of

the Maintenance Department. In this role, he oversees the daily behind the scenes routine that keeps the campus buildings and grounds moving forward. He is responsible for meeting with inspectors and contractors, and works hard to answer the requests of the teachers and staff at Park.

Bob is and always will be a Tonawanda guy, graduating in 1977 from Kenmore East High School. He earned a place on the Dean’s List at Triangle Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh, PA, and graduated with a degree in upholstery technology, a field in which he worked for 20 years.

Amber Anderson, Ph.D. joined the History Department at Park in 2019 after previously teaching anthropology,

archaeology, history, and general education courses at both the Rochester Institute of Technology and Medaille College. Her undergraduate degree from Hobart and William Smith Colleges focused on anthropology and history, with a minor in social studies education, while her Master’s and PhD came from SUNY Buffalo in Archaeology. Amber brings extensive archaeological and anthropological experience to Park, having undertaken archaeological or anthropological studies in Denmark, Northern Ireland, The Republic of Ireland, Ecuador, Peru, and WNY. She also has a long history of teaching at the collegiate level, and has been nominated for and/or won several excellence in teaching awards.

At Park, Amber teaches World Geography 7, World History 9 and 10, Introduction to Anthropology, World Religions, and African American History. She has also served as the thesis advisor for Senior Seminar. In the classroom, she focuses on exploring the lesser discussed or marginalized cultures of the world, and helps students develop critical thinking skills through questioning and close reading. She also emphasizes experiential learning through hands-on activities, such as artifact reconstruction, creating cuneiform tablets, writing in cuneiform and more, and uses field trips and guest speakers to connect students to the cultures they are learning about. Amber’s two children, Colin ‘33 and Hannah ‘35, are Park students.

Molly Drozda joined the faculty at Park School in 2004 and teaches PreK in the Bungalow. Previously, she owned and

operated a family childcare center for 12 years that served families with children ages birth through 5 years old. Molly holds a BA from SUNY Potsdam with majors in Art Studio and Psychology as well as an AAS. in Early Childhood Education from Erie Community College. Molly enjoys sharing her artistic background with the younger friends. Many of the project-based activities she creates provide artistic experiences that are not only developmentally appropriate but encourage successful and joyful learning. In addition to teaching, Molly was the founding instructor of the Messy Sloppy Art summer program, which ran from 2008-2018. This program offered a variety of open-ended art experiences to children ages 4-7. Molly also co-directed Park’s Summer Scholars Camp from 2011-2018.

Molly is an outdoor enthusiast and loves using Park’s entire campus as a teaching playground! She shares her passion for the outdoors with her husband and their three grown children.

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Monica Padmanabha came to Park in 2018 as a long-term substitute teacher in Lower School, and is now the Grade

4 teacher as well as Director of PreK-Grade 6 and Montessori. She has nearly 25 years combined experience as an elementary and middle school teacher, curriculum coordinator, and administrator, as well as a consultant focusing on teaching, curriculum, and mentoring. She has a BS in Elementary Education with a concentration in mathematics from the State University of New York College at Buffalo, a MS in Curriculum from State University of New York College at Buffalo, and an EdM in Educational Administration from State University of New York at Buffalo.

Monica is a strong believer that a school setting should provide children the opportunity to explore, investigate, and make connections across their learning. Their educational experience should be experiential within a supportive, academically inspiring, and respectful environment that meets the needs and readiness of each individual child. Her philosophy of education stresses that there is not a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to teaching and continues her own lifelong learning by attending various professional development opportunities. Monica’s two sons, Nikhil ‘29 and Gabriel ‘31, are Park students.

Rocio Fritz-Kelley officially joined the Park community in August 2020. She has been educating students of all ages for

the past 15 years in Santiago, Chile. Her most recent position was the Grade 2 teacher at the British Royal School, which she held for 5 years. Her passion for teaching comes from growing up in a family of teachers, which included her father, aunts, and grandparents. Rocio holds three Master’s degrees, two with concentrations in education management, and another in reading and writing. She also obtained teaching certifications in the Singapore Method, the Anti-Bullying Program, and in Special Needs Education. She credits her Masters Degrees and certifications with helping her create an environment to help students perform at a higher level, not only academically but socially and emotionally as well.

At Park, Rocio teaches her native language of Spanish in the Middle School. She’s looking forward to sharing her experiences with her students, coworkers, and becoming a permanent member of the community. Our youngest PreK friends may recognize her from her service in the Bungalow last year!

Zubaida Altikriti joined the Math Department at Park in September 2020. She holds a Master’s degree in Biomedical

Engineering from Al-Nahrain University in Baghdad and also taught in the digital signal lab for the College of Engineering at Al-Nahrain. She most recently taught math to students in grades 5 through 10 at the Al-Rasheed Academy in Buffalo.

Zubaida has experience both teaching and tutoring students from all over the world in biology, anatomy, calculus, algebra, and Arabic. When she’s not teaching, she enjoys meditation, yoga, reading, and spending time with her family.

Sara Thomas began working at Park in the fall of 2020. Prior to this, she taught PreK for 12 years. She has also worked

with students in grades K-6 as a substitute teacher and tutor, and for 14 years, taught technology to students in grades 1-6 at a summer program. At her last position, as a PreK teacher, she also held the roles of Assistant Director and Technology Coordinator. She created the school’s website, integrated technology for both the teachers and students, planned professional development seminars, and co-wrote the school’s curriculum and progress reports.

Sara has a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication, specializing in Video Production and Design, and worked as a writer and editor at local video and publication companies. She also has a Bachelor’s Degree in Childhood Education, and a Master’s Degree in Education, specializing in Educational Technology. She is certified in both Early Childhood Education and Childhood Education. Sara has a passion for learning all that she can about the different stages of childhood development. Throughout the school year, Sara focuses on the whole child to meet their individual needs and encourage their unique abilities. She believes it is important to set the tone of a safe and nurturing classroom where children are not afraid to question, explore, discover, and express themselves.

Emily Yang is one of Park’s three new Montessori teachers, joining the School in August 2020. Her career in education

spans over 12 years as a teacher in both traditional education, kindergarten and reading teacher, and Montessori Primary (ages 3-6) education. She also has years of experience as a music teacher, and Montessori co-director.

Emily studied elementary education at Houghton College. After being a stay-at-home mom for ten years, Emily discovered Montessori learning. She furthered her education and completed her Montessori Primary Training Certification in 2015 with the North American Montessori Center. As a Montessori teacher, Emily continues to receive professional training and enjoys implementing those lessons into everyday learning. Montessori is not just a philosophy but teaches true life skills that create opportunities for students to shine in their personalities, self-awareness, and academics. It is Emily’s desire to instill a love for learning in her students. Emily teaches with a passion for Montessori learning so that the children develop a desire to become lifelong learners. She believes that the most rewarding part of the work is guiding the children and watching them discover, develop, and soar beyond all expectations.

Nirit Weiner began teaching Judaic Studies at Park in 2019 as part of the Kadimah Scholars program. She was born in

Israel and moved to Michigan in 1986. She attended the University of Detroit Mercy and graduated with a BA in World History and a minor in Women’s Studies. Nirit moved to Buffalo in 2017 and taught Hebrew, Judaic studies and 1st grade math at the Kadimah Academy for two years. Nirit has been working in Jewish education for the past twenty years, teaching Prek through grade 10. As a Hebrew Coordinator and supervisor at Tyner Religious School in West Bloomfield, Michigan, she developed and implemented all Hebrew programs as well as special needs programs. In addition, she created and taught education workshops, exploring Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jewish culture, art and cuisine.

Nirit and her husband reside in Buffalo and have five children ranging from 22 to 33 years old. They spend their free time traveling, and visiting their children in five different states!

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Steve George ‘97 has been teaching history and politics here at Park since 2008. His particular area of expertise is

American history, political science, and economics. He has taught classes such as Behavioral Economics, Public Policy, Presidential Character, and AP United States Government and Politics. Prior to coming to Park, Steve taught American History to 8th graders in Prince George’s County, MD for two years and History of the Western Hemisphere to 7th graders in Albuquerque, NM for one.

Steve is a long-time Buffalonian and attended Park for grades 7-12. For Steve, Park was a place where he could take academic risks without the social pressures common at other schools. His positive experience at Park left Steve deeply committed to the school as a nurturing community and a strong proponent of its philosophy of inclusive, student-centered learning. Steve holds a Masters Degree in Education from Canisius College and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from Allegheny College.

Mary Gjurich came to Park in August 2020. Prior to that, she was the Director and Primary Lead teacher at The Curious

Minds Montessori School. As a Navy spouse, her 20 years of travel took her to many Montessori schools across the country where she also taught in Montessori lower elementary (1st-3rd grade) and upper elementary (4th-6th grade) environments.

Mary has a BS in Finance from Canisius College and received her 3-6 Primary certification from the North American Montessori Society.

Her favorite quote from Dr. Maria Montessori is, “Free the child’s potential, and you will transform him into the world.” She lives by this sentiment, providing the Park students a Montessori environment that fosters independence and the opportunity to become lifelong learners. Outside of school, Mary is very active in the local theater community sometimes side by side with her husband, Gregory. Mary lives in Clarence and has two daughters.

John Zamojski rejoined Park in 2019 to teach physics, engineering, and middle school physical science. He previously

taught chemistry in the Upper School, coached cross country from 2014-2016, and served as the school’s STEAM Coordinator during the 2015-2016 school year. He currently teaches physical science in the Middle School and physics and engineering in the Upper School.

John earned his BA in Adolescence Education with a concentration in chemistry from Canisius College and his MS in Education from SUNY Buffalo State. He has NYS professional teaching certifications in Chemistry, Physics, and General Science. Since 2014 John has been a member of the American Modeling Teachers Association and uses the organization’s curricula for teaching physics.

He is also a member of WNY Physics Teachers Association and the Science Teachers Association of NYS. In between his two stints at Park, John worked at North Tonawanda High School from 2016-2018. Since 2010, John has been involved as a staff member or as a volunteer with the Double H Ranch, a summer camp in the SeriousFun network located in the Adirondacks in Lake Luzerne, New York and co-founded by the late actor Paul Newman for children with terminal and life-threatening illnesses. The camp has left such a mark on John that he loves going back to volunteer as a cabin counselor every summer and as a family pal for adaptive ski weekends whenever possible.

Jodee Johnson joined Park’s faculty in 2012, teaching middle school music and ESOL with an emphasis on developing

the reading and writing skills necessary for success both at Park and in college. She is Co-Director of Park’s International Program, a role in which she organizes extracurricular activities, communicates with international student agencies, and provides support for the host families who help make our international student program so successful.

Jodee was born in Australia and moved to New York City as a teenager. This experience gave her some perspective on the transition that Park’s international students are faced with as they integrate into American culture. She began teaching English in the Czech Republic then returned to the New York City area to teach music and ESOL and attend graduate school. She returned overseas to teach in international schools in Shanghai, China where she lived for nine years. She completed a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Concordia College, Bronxville, NY and her Master’s in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) at City University of New York. She and her husband, Matt, are proud parents of two sons, Caleb ‘24 and Gage ‘25.

Jerrold Miraglia has been an instrumental music teacher at Park since November 2017. His responsibilities include

teaching the recorder to Grade 3, Grades 4-12 instrumental music lessons, and Middle and Upper School bands. In the time that Jerrold has been at Park, he has created the Pioneers of Jazz, the Middle School Band, the Middle School Jazz Ensemble and Grade 3 recorder class. Jerrold earned the B.S. degree in Music Education from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Music degree in Music Education/Performance from West Virginia University.

He has extensive experience teaching instrumental music ranging from elementary through college. He has taught in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Vancouver, British Columbia, North Carolina, and New York, most recently in the Orchard Park Central School District. During his tenure with Orchard Park, the bands under his leadership received Gold with Distinction or Gold awards yearly from the New York State School Music Association Large Ensemble Festival. Jerrold has served as an elementary guest conductor for all-county bands for Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Genesee, and Erie County Music Educators Associations, and as a junior high guest conductor for Erie County Music Educators Association. He has participated in the NYSSMA Music Reviews, Standard-Based Teaching, and Learning Across the State, teaching elementary students Blues Improvisation.

Samantha Hutchins has been at The Park School since 2015. She assumed the role of an aide to a specific student for three years and has since moved to teacher’s assistant within the Middle School, specifically with Grades 5 and 6.

Prior to coming to Park, Sam was an educator at home for 11 years to her two children, Noah ‘19 and Caleb ‘21, until they joined the Park community as Upper School students. During this time she also taught part-time as an instructor at the University at Buffalo, as well as coached girls varsity basketball. Sam graduated from the University at Buffalo in 1999 with a BA in Early Childhood Development and a minor in Sociology. She was also a member and co-captain of the UB Women’s Basketball team.

UB is where she met her husband, Marcus, who is Park’s Athletic Director. Sam is the Park Girls’ Varsity Basketball and Volleyball coach. She also loves to spend time with her family, friends and all of the kids that are always around her house! Her motto is, “Stay positive, work hard, make it happen!”

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Stephanie Huffnagle joined the Park community as the Library Studies Teacher in October 2020. She works with our

Lower School students during their library specials. Her main focus with the youngest students is to foster a love of reading, focusing on each individual student’s interests and abilities. With the older students, Stephanie continues to encourage a love of reading, while exploring the library outside of the traditional book, including digital resources and non-fiction reference materials, as well as digital safety and healthy screen time habits. She has experience working with students of all ages from elementary school to college. Her most recent position is as a faculty member at SUNY Erie Community College.

Her teaching style is based on a growth mindset perspective where she encourages students to take risks and try new things in a safe environment. She has participated in professional development courses on the growth mindset, digital education tools, online/remote teaching best practices, and teaching and learning theories. Stephanie received her BA in Political Science and Master’s in Library Science from the University at Buffalo. Prior to her teaching career, Stephanie was an attorney and received her JD from Albany Law School. She continues to practice law on a pro bono basis. Outside of teaching, Stephanie enjoys camping and spending time with her family. She is an active volunteer with Junior Achievement, and she is a member of her Church Board. She is a current Park parent to Henry ‘30 and Emma ‘32.

Khaty Assar joined the Park community in October 2020 as an Associate Teacher in the Montessori program. She

holds a BA in French and a Montessori Teaching Diploma from North American Montessori Center. She started teaching for 8 years in a traditional school, before discovering and falling in love with Montessori teaching. She was fascinated by the differences between Montessori teaching and traditional teaching, which is the enormous trust Montessori teachers place in the developmental abilities of children.

Khaty started at The Curious Minds Montessori School as a teacher assistant in 2011 to follow her passion of teaching young children. She completed her Montessori training in 2013 and became a toddler lead teacher. She created innovative teaching techniques to make learning a fun experience for children. At Park, Khaty coordinates with other teachers to develop lesson plans for children to develop their emotional, physical, and intellectual skills. She applies her French knowledge in the classroom to make it interesting and fun. Khaty lives in East Amherst with her husband. They are proud parents of two honors college students. During her free time, Khaty loves baking, cooking, and spending time with her family.

Matthew Johnson joined the Park faculty in 2011 as an Upper School and Middle School history teacher. He has worn a

number of hats in his time at Park including Dean of Students and his current role as Co-Director of Park’s International Program.

In addition, Matt has served as the faculty advisor to the Model United Nations club, coordinated the Upper School Immersion Program, coached basketball, and has been involved in a variety of service projects.

Matt holds a BA in History from Concordia College, New York and a Master’s in Education from the University of Memphis.

He is originally from New York City and has lived in Memphis, Tennessee and Shanghai, China where he taught upper school history at an international school before moving to Buffalo with his family in 2011. His international experience sharpened his understanding of world history, international relations, and social justice. Matt has passion for Park’s International Program and the value it brings to the Park School community.

Marcus Hutchins has been the Director of Athletics at Park since 2015. Prior to this, he worked for 16 years at the

University at Buffalo in the Department of Recreation and Intramural Services. While serving in several capacities throughout his time at the University, he most recently held the position of Senior Associate Director for Facilities and Business Operations.

Marcus is a native of Monticello, NY. He holds a BS in Social Sciences Interdisciplinary/Legal Studies, a Master’s degree in Applied Public Affairs and Urban Studies as well as an Advanced Certificate from the Graduate School of Education in Teaching and Leading for Diversity, all from the University at Buffalo. Marcus was a Division 1 wrestler at the University at Buffalo and was inducted into the University’s Athletics Hall of Fame. He is also the founder of The Unit Promise, a non-profit organization that focuses on youth engagement and development. Marcus serves on the Board of Directors for Church Mission of Help and Ephesus Ministries.

Dr. Kate Shands Haq has been a professional educator since 1985 and a teacher at Park since 2019. She taught in

urban and rural schools in Western New York, primarily as a public elementary classroom teacher and literacy coach. Currently, Kate teaches English Language Arts and social studies to students in Grades 5 and 6 here at Park. Kate earned her PhD in Curriculum, Instruction, and the Learning Sciences with a focus on Literacy in 2018 from SUNY Buffalo.

Mother of three sons, community activist, and education advocate, Kate’s research interests include the intersection of homeless adolescents, literacy, and civic engagement as well as teachers’ work, policy, and identity. Kate and her husband Kushnood live in the city of Buffalo with their cat, Dexter.

Apryle Schneeberger has been a physical science teacher in the Upper School at Park since 2019. In addition to

teaching, she served as the COVID Coordinator to aid in the development and implementation of Park’s Reopening Plan, and is currently the Director of Marketing and Communications and Auction 2021 Coordinator.

After graduating from Waynesburg University with a BS in Chemistry and dual minors in Biology and Mathematics, Apryle studied organic chemistry at the University of Notre Dame. While there, she split her time between the synthetic and microbiology labs, as she researched, synthesized, and analyzed new antibiotics in vitro and in vivo. With a Master’s of Science with thesis from Notre Dame, Apryle then taught at Nichols for six years, earned her Certificate in Educational Technology from Michigan State University, as well as began a math and science symposium and organic chemistry program. She then spent two years raising her three sons while she grew her own business, Apryle’s House. She was more than excited to join Park and become part of such a diverse, progressive community, and has since established a rigorous organic chemistry program, an environmental entrepreneurial studies pilot, as well as the online Park store, ParkSchoolSpirit.com. A proud parent of three Pioneers, Apryle currently resides with her family and golden retriever in Lancaster, and she loves to read, travel, cook, and sew.

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Tanya Okoniewski has been an educator since 2008. She has taught and coached both middle and high school since

1994, and has been a member of Park’s faculty since 2018. Tanya earned her Master’s as a literacy specialist from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 2013, focusing on multicultural literacy and writing Birth -Grade 12. She also holds a BS in Childhood Education from Buffalo State College, and certifications in Early Childhood Education and ELA 7-12. Tanya is actively committed to the diversity, equity, and inclusion work here at Park, as well as Immersion experiences for these young adults.

As a teacher of multiple grade levels, she purposely creates a culture wherein students enjoy school and strive to achieve. She believes the love of reading will last a lifetime and nurtures that love by providing an environment where all feel welcome to study, learn, be inspired, seek help, or simply enjoy books for the pleasure of reading. It is her belief that every student should be valued and treated with respect and an education should empower students in making a positive contribution to our world.

Tanya grew up in northern Niagara County, is married, and a mother of three young adult children. When she is not teaching, she loves spending time with her cat Clara, reading, baking, fishing, or taking weekend trips to her dad’s cabin in the Southern Tier.

She is obsessed with Edgar Allan Poe and fall is her favorite time of year!

Jon Zelasko joined The Park School maintenance department in the fall of 2020. He currently serves as the part-time Grounds and Buildings Coordinator, working to ensure Park’s 34-acres are well taken care of. He has a passion for nature, horticulture, aquatics, and landscaping.

Jon is the proud father of five children — four sons and one daughter. He enjoys photography and coaching both basketball and football. He is an avid collector of sneakers, video games, bicycles, and vintage Buffalo Bills memorabilia.

Marnie Benatovich Cerrato ‘90 returned to Park in 2012 as Director of Enrollment Management. She is also an

active member of Park’s communications and marketing team. You may find Marnie leading a tour on our 34-acre campus, coordinating an all school picnic, or organizing a flash mob for our community. She is a strong believer in progressive education and feels passionately that the outdoors is a key component for a strong and balanced mind.

Marnie holds a BA with a dual major in Theater and English from St. Lawrence University and a Master’s in Social Work from the University of New England. She has worked as a mobile crisis clinician for youth and as a camp director in Maine. Her experiences at camp have taught her that children are always learning, whether they are in or out of the classroom. Marnie has an affinity for developing relationships with parents and students, as well as a strong expertise in community relations and event planning.

Marnie was in Leadership Buffalo, Class of 2014. She is currently the Chair of Social Justice on the Holocaust Resource Center and a Board member since 2012. Marnie is also the proud parent to Talia, ‘25, and Myles, ‘27. She enjoys hiking with her dogs, Matzah and Flo, going on family bike rides, watching HGTV, and eating lobster rolls in Maine (the way life should be).

Lisa Wood is Park’s Grade 2 teacher. She is a mom, teacher, and wildlife rehabilitator. Her two daughters graduated from

Park School - Ciana ‘11 and Linnea ‘13. Lisa has been a teacher since 1987 and has a Master’s degree as a reading and writing specialist. Lisa is trained in the Orton-Gillingham method of teaching reading and writing. She also has extensive training in building math curriculum.

Her first fifteen years of teaching were spent in the Buffalo Public Schools and the remainder at Park. At Park, Lisa has the joy of teaching second grade using a nature-based curriculum and taking full advantage of Park’s 34-acre campus. In recent years, as part of her role as Director of Environmental Education, she worked in conjunction with Earth Spirit to develop an environmental education curriculum for Park students from PreK to Grade 12. Lisa also developed and implemented a program that brings underserved inner city students on Park’s campus for hands-on outdoor education. Lisa has been a New York State licensed wildlife rehabilitator since 2002. She works as a rehabber at the SPCA serving Erie County, and has been a member of Buffalo Audubon Board of Directors since 2015.

Lisa Conrad began teaching Spanish at Park in 2012. She has since served as a Grade 7 homeroom teacher, Middle

School advisor, immersion trip leader, club advisor, and mentor to new faculty. In 2018, Lisa helped to conceive and coordinate Park Talks, a TED-style talk featuring members of the Park community. In 2018, Lisa worked with a Park colleague to develop and implement “Erase Meanness” in the Middle School. Designed as a series of five lessons to be delivered to students in grades 5–8, Lisa has helped to expand this program to support the school’s focus on values such as empathy, respect, bravery, leadership, equity, and social justice. She has also worked in Park’s Admissions Office, and most recently, was Dean of Middle School Students before being appointed Principal and Interim Head of School in 2020. Under her leadership, the School successfully opened for in-person learning in September and saw a significant increase in new families for the 2020-21 school year.

Lisa holds a Master’s in Spanish Adolescent Education and a BA in Spanish, both from the University at Buffalo, as well as a New York State Teacher Certification. A lifelong Buffalonian, Lisa resides in Buffalo with her husband, two children (Jeff ‘28 and Giada ‘31), and dog, Margot.

Max Davis began working at Park in the fall of 2020 and is a Technology Support Specialist. With experience in web

development and information technology, Max is always ready to lend a hand in the world of computers. He loves the ability to enhance both teaching and learning experiences through different technology avenues. He takes pride in setting up new technology for teachers to use, and then as a result, students are able to learn more effectively.

Max attended Park from Kindergarten through Grade 5 and went on to study music business at both Villa Maria College and Ithaca College. He has studied graphic design, computer programming, music theory, and more. Max has been playing music since he was five years old, starting with piano lessons here at Park. Over the years, he has become a multi-instrumentalist and has taught students of all age groups. He is currently a part of three live music groups in Western New York and when he is not playing live, he is composing video game and film scores out of his own recording studio. Max also enjoys cooking for his girlfriend, retro video games, and playing frisbee with his dog, Sport.

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Tanja Ilic has served as Park’s School Psychologist since 2016. She was excited to rejoin the school community after

completing her internship at Park during the 2011-2012 school year. Tanja holds a BA in Psychology and Masters with the Certificate of Advanced Study in School Psychology. As School Psychologist, Tanja is responsible for serving students across all grade levels and holding a wide range of duties at Park. She provides academic, behavioral, and social-emotional support, and manages student progress for students K-12. Tanja is a strong advocate for students with learning disabilities and mental health concerns. She conducts psycho-educational evaluations and works closely with the Student Support Team and Committee on Special Education to identify learning challenges and mental health issues in students and determine appropriate educational programming and social-emotional supports. In addition to providing direct support to students, Tanja consults and collaborates with parents, teachers, directors, and other mental health professionals in our community to address the needs of our students and to ensure that each student at Park feels safe, supported, engaged, and challenged in the school environment.

Tanja moved to Buffalo from Serbia in 1998 at the age of 13, along with her sister and parents. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling to new destinations and spending time with family and friends.

Shira Goldberg is one of The Park School’s new early childhood educators, working with students who are part of the

Kadimah Scholars program. Shira has worked with young children for nearly four decades. She was the inaugural director of the Infant-Toddler Childcare Center at the Jewish Community Center in Providence, Rhode Island and taught pre-school in classrooms from Rhode Island to Maryland and Missouri. Prior to joining the Park family, Shira led curriculum development and taught 3-and 4-year-old children at PALS, the Play and Learn School at Temple Beth Zion for 15 years.

Born and raised in Buffalo, Shira is a graduate of Kenmore East High School and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from University at Buffalo. She and her husband Rob are the proud parents of three adult children and six early-childhood-aged grandchildren.

Jordan Yendall is excited to have joined the Park community in August 2020. Before coming to Park, she taught both 2nd and 5th Grade at Our Lady of Victory Elementary School in Lackawanna, New York. Jordan holds a BS in Childhood Education from SUNY Fredonia, as well as a New York State teacher certification in Childhood Education. She is completing her Master’s degree in Educational Technology and Emerging Media from Canisius College. Her most recent professional development endeavor includes becoming Flipped Learning 3.0 certified by the Global Flipped Learning Initiative.

As Park’s new Grade 3 teacher, Jordan is creating a safe and supportive classroom environment where her students are given the tools they need to grow as individuals. She is using her outdoor classroom to enhance the Grade 3 study of the life cycles of plants and animals through connecting with nature on the expansive 34-acre campus. With her positivity and ability to turn curiosity into learning moments, our Grade 3 students are sure to have a joyful and academically fulfilling year!

William Fedirko was a member of Park’s Math Department from 2006-18, and returned in 2020. During his tenure,

William has received grants for integrating math curriculum with both the arts and the sciences. One enduring project is the development of a cognitive science curriculum which is now becoming part of the Neurological Education Initiative at Park.

William’s undergraduate work includes a BA in Asian Studies from Wittenberg University during which time he studied and worked in Japan for a three year period. His fluency with the language and appreciation for the culture have had a deep impact on his work with applied calculus and sustainability projects. Following this, William completed a BS in Engineering from Case Western Reserve University where he worked on biomimicking engineering projects for NASA Lewis Research Center.

He continues developing project-based work woven around Methods of Natural Optimization for his calculus courses. Currently, William is teaching Functions I to the freshman class in addition to teaching nearly 25% of Park’s Upper School student body dually enrolled in calculus courses for Buffalo State College. William’s teaching career before Park includes college and university level positions at Ursuline College, John Carroll University and the Cleveland Institute of Art. His son, Nickolas, is a member of the Park School Class of 2032.

Susanne Spatzer joined the Park community in July of 2020 as the Director of Finance. Prior to coming to Park, she was the Vice President of Finance for a Niagara County nonprofit that provided substance abuse counseling services. Susanne has experience with financial reporting, budgeting, and human resources.

She holds a BS in Accounting from the State University College at Fredonia. Outside of Park, she enjoys gardening and spending time with family and friends.

William Hilbert is a Technology Support Specialist in the Park School Technology Department. He works out of the STEAM Lab and has experience with coding, microcontrollers, and 3D printing. William is also a student at the University at Buffalo. He graduated in 2020 with his Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and plans to graduate with a Master’s degree in robotics engineering. He competes for the University at Buffalo Division I Cross Country, Indoor Track, and Outdoor Track teams.

In his spare time, William enjoys golf, snowboarding, tennis, ultimate frisbee, and anything food related. He hopes to help students realize their potential in the fields of science and engineering.

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Compiled by K. Reynolds

FAMILY STYLE FAMILY STYLE 39

It’s an undeniable cliché.

Park is a family place.

There’s a family feeling at Park.

Park IS a family.

We know each other’s names. We know each other’s foibles. And we share so many things — a love/hate relationship with orange, a joyful noise when it snows, the shivery between-class rush in winter, the welcome of spring sun on the playground or in an outdoor class, the allschool Thanksgiving Feast, the concerts, the games. Cliché it may be, but the metaphor of family runs deep here. Park also consists of a fair percentage of literal families, and so we explore some of those families and their relationships to Park. Here is hoping whether you had siblings at Park or not, this article puts you in mind of the familial connections that were woven into your Park years.

Domonique Griffin ‘13, Dorian Griffin ‘15, Deja Griffin ‘16, Destiny Griffin ‘18, and Desirae Griffin ‘20 (photo compilation by Pam Griffin) The Griffin family has had just one generation at Park thus far, but their legacy is long. For over ten years, there was at least one Griffin at Park, usually more.

Destiny, the fourth of the five Griffins to attend, shares some of her memories: “I believe Domonique’s going to Park was, in a way, the stepping stone for the rest of us. We were all at the same middle school for some time and since Dom, Dorian, and Deja were all at Park, it felt right, for me, to keep that going. In some ways, new experiences for me felt a bit less intimidating because there were already three different siblings who’d been through, a lot of times, the exact same thing. One of the best things about what Park has to offer is that it doesn’t take a one-size-fits-all learning approach. I don’t feel that concept was different for us just because we’re related. Park let me express my individuality while still being part of the ‘Griffin collective.’”

Father of the “collective,” Will Griffin, remembers when a school counselor called him and told him about Park. He came to visit and “fell in love with it.” He determined to send Domonique to Park and it became clear to him that all of his kids should attend. “My greatest investment is my kids. School and family is a partnership.” There were sacrifices along the way, but for Mr. and Mrs. Griffin, faith led them to Park and built the foundation of the partnership: “The school is only as strong as the family,” says Mr. Griffin, highlighting what is so powerful about a school where the feeling of family is at its core.

Liana Ellegate ‘15, James Ellegate ‘18, and Nicole Ellegate ‘20 In their collective thousands of hours at Park, the Ellegates each pursued specific interests. Literature and Model UN for Liana, science for Jimmy, and business and marketing for Nikki. The Park way nurtured each of them, through independent studies and the guidance of faculty members, as they explored their curiosities and passions to the fullest.

Jimmy puts it this way, “Park created an environment where I felt proud of and encouraged to be myself.” Liana emphasizes that they were able to “find ways to allow our individuality to shine through.” Nikki insists, “I carved my own path, developed into my own person, and because of Park’s role in fostering my interests, I am now a founding member, co-CEO, and CFO of a company that is working hard to develop a safety app for college campuses.” Liana is pursuing graduate work in her field and living in Prague. Jimmy is studying biochem at UB. Their mom, Julie Rizzo, adds: “I can say that I will be forever indebted to the loving faculty and staff at Park who became a part of my extended family and helped me shape my children into the successful adults they are today.”

Todd Levin ‘86 and Connor Levin ‘16 Both of the Levins, dad Todd and his son Connor, came to Park in middle school.

Even though their time at Park was separated by a generation, they report similar experiences. Both gained confidence at Park, through sports and academics.

Todd gives credit to his teachers for making him a good student. “When I started at Park I immediately realized there was no ‘back of the class’ and became engaged.”

Connor points out that he was already a strong student, but that teachers and administrators alike took time with him personally to hone his skills. Like his dad, Connor came to Park knowing no one, but “coming to Park was a dramatic turning point for me; my experiences helped boost my confidence, making it easier to make new friends and interact with those I didn’t know so well.”

Both father and son played various sports at school and felt grounded in Park’s small school teams. Both clearly remember the school fondly and with gratitude.

Kyle, Ryan ‘23, and Griffin Polaske ‘27 Kyle Polaske, who has taught art to hundreds of Park students of all ages, has also watched her own children grow up at Park. When tours come to the art building, she greets them with “Welcome to our home,” saying that she and Griffin (Grade 6) and Ryan (Grade 10) spend more time at Park than at their own house. Her kids have spent innumerable hours in her classroom, and as they became older students, they regularly helped their mom set up and clean up the art classes that take place during the day.

Mrs. Polaske remarks: “the best part of watching them grow up at Park has been seeing the bonds between them and both older and younger students. Doing community service, or working at Park camps, Ryan loves helping the little kids. Griffin, now a sixth grader, takes his turn reading to the pre-schoolers. Both still talk about ‘their’ seniors who took them to Zoo Day and continued friendly contact until the ice cream social at the end of the school year.”

Ryan says: “I like being at Park, because I have the freedom to be myself, and it’s just comfortable, because it’s like we live there. And...I get the chance to visit my mom and dress up together for things like Halloween!”

Griffin chimes in: “It’s good...it’s just the way it is...but...it might be different if Mom were a math teacher!”

Only now does Mrs. Polaske fully realize the impact of the decision she made, one that seemed natural at the time, to bring her kids to Park. “Looking back, it was a huge decision. Our lives would have been so different if they had gone to another school.”

She remembers years of school concerts when her kids would spot her in the audience somewhere. “They looked, so they knew where I was, and I think it was a comfort.”

The comfort of family is one of the hallmarks of Park.

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Marcus & Samantha Hutchins, Noah Hutchins ‘19, and Caleb Hutchins ‘21 The Hutchins family has become so much a part of the school that it is hard to believe it has been just five years since Noah and Caleb started at Park and their dad, Coach Hutchins, began his tenure as Athletic Director. The familial feeling is powerful as Noah and his mom make clear.

Noah: “Something that always motivated me to go all in at Park was my family.

Seeing my mom and dad sacrificing for my brother and me inspired me never to waste any opportunities presented to me, including my attendance at Park.

Growing up, all my brother and I have known is not to take things for granted, and to stay humble through all circumstances in life. Because of us being taught this at such a young age, it has and will continue to stick with us in anything we do.“ Mom, Mrs. Hutchins, agrees: “We loved Park because of what we saw and the potential we felt it had and still has, for each student! The opportunities are endless. We have learned in life that ‘To whom much is given, from them much is required.’ We had been given an opportunity to be a part of a community that not everyone had been given. We do not take that for granted. We also understood that if we wanted to teach in a way that our kids could understand, we had to be the examples, and we quickly learned that wasn’t just for our biological children.

Our doors are always open to whomever – whenever! The bottom line in this all is LOVE. Everything comes back to LOVE.”

Curtis Steed ‘08 and Leyana Steed ‘11 Curtis and Leyana Steed overlapped only one year, but they each remember becoming part of the Park family. Nervous at first, Curtis was surprised at how relaxed and laid-back Park was. Everyone wore what they wanted to wear and there was an ease to being at school. He got used to the feeling and found he could be himself, just as he was at home. “People could express themselves, and we learned to listen to one another, even when we did not agree. We learned to co-exist and help each other out, just as you do in a family.” Leyana was resistant to going to Park at first, but once her parents decided, she found that having her big brother at school was cool.

“He checked in on me — we always saw each other at lunch.” They were in the same advisory, and Leyana remembers laughing with Curtis, making advisory easy and fun. Leyana also remembers her class as close. “Ever since our first bonding day, we got along.” She feels that there was a familial bond among the class of 2011; so once her brother graduated, she still had people she could rely on.

David Parke ‘46, Robert Parke ‘15, Maggie Parke ‘17, and Mary Boynton Parke The Parke family has a long history with the school. Maggie and Robert are the most recent graduates. They fulfilled the wish of their grandfather, David ‘46, that they have a Park experience as he and his brothers did. They shared a great deal with him, and as Robert notes, when they talked about Park, “it made him so happy.” The family ties go farther back, to David’s mother, Robert and Maggie’s great-grandmother, Mary Boynton Parke, who was a teacher and Lower School Head at Park in the 1940s. As well as his own brothers who attended the school, David found a lifelong friend at Park, Al Ryan ‘46. These two remained close their entire lives and spent reunions enjoying one another’s company.

From left: David ‘46, Robert ‘15, Bill and Liz (parents of Robert and Maggie), and Maggie ‘17 Parke at Park’s Centennial Gala in 2012.

Amy Wiese and Cheryl Benzinger Amy Wiese and Cheryl Benzinger are teachers and sisters at Park. Amy says that their special connection makes a seamless transition for the PreK friends who go on to Kindergarten at Park.

Mrs. Wiese: “Teaching alongside my sister for so many years has been a gift. There is nothing better than having that little bit of unconditional comfort on campus every day. There have been countless times that I have visited my sister in the kindergarten classroom to ask a professional (or personal) question, make plans for a family dinner, drop something off, ask her to drive my kids home, or simply say hello. We have been our childrens’ teacher and favorite aunt all at the same time. Our children are cousins, classmates, and best friends. When I say that Park School is family to me, I really mean it!”

Mrs. Benzinger: “Throughout many of my years at Park, I have been blessed to call Amy my colleague, sister, and friend. She and I spent our childhood playing school using real desks that our parents had for us. We would change roles of teacher and student and create worksheets for the ‘student’ to complete and the ‘teacher’ to grade. Neither of us knew that those countless hours of fun were laying the groundwork for our future careers. We work closely together creating a curriculum that appropriately prepares and supports Park’s youngest learners. This work has been known to extend into our conversations over family dinners or celebrations — at times causing family members to playfully roll their eyes at our enthusiasm for our craft. There are no boundaries for late-day phone calls or texts when your sister is your colleague! I cannot think of anything more comforting during these challenging COVID times than knowing my lifelong best friend, my sister is teaching nearby.”

Lucas Baumgart ‘10, Clayton Baumgart ‘12, and Gabrielle Baumgart ‘16 Lucas, Clay, and Gaby Baumgart, like many other Park families, drove from the southtowns for many years to come to school. Lucas remembers those drives, as well as early and late departures, as part of family time all wrapped up in going to Park.

“Our rides to school were not only long, they were also early. The goal was to get to school early enough that our mother could continue on to work and be there at a reasonable hour. This meant that our rides involved a lot of napping, with the rambunctious sounds of Kiss 98.5 intruding on our semi-slumbers. By the time we were at the ‘bridge over the bridge over the road’ near the watertower by the highway in Williamsville, we were roused enough to chat and muster up the energy to properly start our days. In hindsight, getting there early was a blessing.

Park was so much more than a school, so getting to spend time with folks as they trickled in, work in the art building, or hang out outside before classes started came to be one of the best parts of the day. Since we all did sports or theater, rides home often involved homework or discussion of the day’s events and were often both late and long. Especially in the snow — I don’t think any of us will ever forget the time it took us over five hours to make the drive from school back home. Luckily, we now look back on it fondly.”

Steve Coppola ‘00, Jillian Petruzzi Coppola ‘00, and Kevin Jr. ‘32, Dominic ‘33, and Kevin Coppola ‘03 Family is also woven through the Park lives of the Coppolas, brothers who attended Park about twenty years ago.

Kevin writes: “Park has always been a family experience for me. I grew up here, learning and playing sports with my older brother, Steve, from Kindergarten through Upper School. I now have the privilege of watching our sons Kevin Jr. and Dominic begin their journeys together at Park. They love it and especially enjoy seeing each other around campus. We look forward to our youngest joining them next year in the Bungalow.”

His brother, Steve, tells a story short and sweet: “Jill (Petruzzi ‘00) and I met in sixth grade at Park and became friends, started dating in high school at Park, and the rest is history. We were married in 2004. Park was more than just a second family for us growing up; for us, we met the love of our life and it led to our current family!”

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Maddie Connors ‘11, Caroline Connors ‘15, and Greg Connors ‘17 The Connors siblings all attended Park from PreK through graduation and they seem to agree on what Park has meant to them.

Maddie: “Something we all value because of Park is tradition. Because we started in PreK, we grew up practicing the many traditions... Zoo Day, Country Fair, Winter Carnival, Coffee House. We love to participate in the Park traditions now as alumni when we can, and we value tradition highly in our family and in our own lives.”

Caroline: “We always saw Park as our home. It’s close in proximity to my actual home, so the boundaries were somewhat blurred. In terms of tradition, the sentimentality that came along with participating in events like the Thanksgiving Feast, the Halloween parade, and Clean-Up Day for fifteen years was personally meaningful, but sharing these traditions for the first time with new students and teachers made the events uniquely joyful each year. I even remember thinking, How was Halloween so fun again? Shouldn’t we have at least one off year? But we never did. The camaraderie even on a bad day in the community made it feel like a family.”

Maddie concurs: “The strong emphasis on community is the most powerful thing I took from Park. When I think about some of my biggest life decisions — what city to live in, what job to take, where to go to grad school — I have chosen the places where I felt a sense of belonging and a commitment to serving a community.”

Caroline finishes with a memory: “My siblings and I did not have much time together during any given school day, but would instead connect over the dinner table, talking about something funny a teacher had said that day, or maybe doing an impression of one of our teachers. Coming together to share our respective experiences became a tradition of its own, making Park all the more special.”

Christina Wan ‘13, Susan Yu ‘16, and Stacy Liang ‘13 Carol Hasegawa and Fung Eng sent their three sons, Kevin ‘01, Ed ‘07, and Lukas ‘11 to Park. They were also part of the sports family at Park for many years, even after their sons graduated. Beyond that, they, as many Park families do, took the idea of Park family to another level, providing a home and outside school activities for international students.

One of their charges, Susan Yu, lived with them for her junior and senior years.

She overflows with affectionate stories of life with the Hasegawa/Engs. “I was very shy, and they made it easier to blend in. They elevated my experience at Park, encouraging me to take part in sports. Mrs. H. was always there for me, and Mr. Eng came to every game and supported me. Older ‘brother’ Kevin toughened me up and helped me learn about American culture. We are still in touch. They visit me whenever they come to New York.” Her Park parents pushed her to try new things, and when a friend nominated her for Prom chairperson, Susan determined not to be a coward and give it her all. She learned to plan events and manage a team.

Overcoming her fears, Susan embraced her extended Park family.

Adrienne, Addisyn ‘30, and Dylan DeGroat ‘34 Adrienne DeGroat teaches environmental science and biology at Park. Her young daughters relish early morning time with her in ’the big kids’ classroom.

Mrs. DeGroat reflects: “I am so thankful that my kids are here with me at Park, I can’t imagine them at any other school. I truly believe in the education that we provide here at Park. I not only get to hear about it from my children, but I actually get to see it on a daily basis. I get to walk by and see Addisyn and Dylan enjoy learning every day. I get to see their teachers treating them like their own children. I get to work with my children in the classroom on cross-divisional projects, like the STEAM tree adoption project. It always brings a smile to my face when Addisyn knocks on my window to say hello on her way to art class or when I hear Dylan yelling ‘hello Mommy’ from across campus and frantically waving at me. I am definitely going to miss those moments when they graduate from Park. Even though that is still years away, before I know it, I will be giving the girls their diplomas on graduation day.”

Editor’s Note: The driving force behind this piece, Kerry Reynolds (“KR” to many), taught English at Park for 12 years before retiring in June 2019. She was an inspirational teacher to hundreds of Park students during her tenure at the School. We are grateful for her continued support of Park through the research and compilation of this wonderful piece. Although there are just 13 families featured in this article, there are enough familial connections at Park to fill hundreds of pages! If you would like to be part of a future piece, please send your Park story to development@theparkschool.org.

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Scholars Program @

Always Leading

Above: Maddie and Avery Weiss on picture day at Park.

Left: The Weiss Family; photo credit Ellen Goldstein.

The Newest Park Pioneers

This story is reprinted with permission from The Jewish Journal of WNY, where it appeared in November 2020.

By Mandy and Everett Weiss Every family has their nighttime routines.

For our 10-year old daughter, Maddie, each day culminates with an introspective recollection of the three best parts of our day. Without fail, every weeknight since her first day of school, she lists school as one of her three. It has undoubtedly been a long haul since the beginning of this pandemic. Last spring, the loss of school as we knew it was traumatic for everyone in our family.

Both Maddie and our 7-year old son Avery lamented having to sit through online video conferencing, even though it was for only thirty or sixty minutes at a clip a few times a week. Peers talking over one another or distracted by something else interesting in the home notwithstanding, teachers having technical difficulties with video, wireless bandwidth, or “why can’t I mute all?” All of this contributed to a real disdain to the start of each weekday.

Yes, we are fortunate. Our kids love school. Looking back, we have taken for granted the gift that each of our children’s schools have given to them. We teach our children plenty; but attending school is so much more than merely teaching students.

Attending school is an experience - and one that cannot be replicated in the home.

As summer break - if it can even be considered as such - came to a close, it became increasingly clear to us that our

public school district would be unable to meet our expectations in delivering high quality education. Without a doubt, a subjective assessment and a personal decision, but a grave realization at best.

We first sat down to identify what was most important to us: in-person education, demonstrated safe operational protocols and procedures (documented policies and procedures alone would not suffice), a demonstrated high-quality curriculum, and a successfully executed remote learning plan should the school be forced to close due to high local community viral load.

We immediately began to evaluate the school options available to us. The Park School checked all of our boxes and offered even more value with their partnership with the Kadimah Scholars program. Together, our children would benefit from high-quality in-person progressive education with thoughtful COVID-19 precautions and a strong supplemental Jewish education, offering Judaic studies and Hebrew classes a few times each week.

And so, today, we are very proud Park Pioneer and Kadimah Scholars parents. At 2:15pm every weekday, our children get in the car, remove their masks smiling ear to ear, and talk over one another about what they learned or did that day. They’re exhausted too! Likely the effect of outdoor classrooms, fresh air, and lots of activities.

On Kadimah school days, they come home singing holiday songs and the alef-bet, and cannot wait to show us their Hebrew letters and script or their homemade Sukkah. Their enthusiasm is unbridled, and we are thrilled that they are as excited to share with us their Judaic learnings as much as their math, science, and arts. We take little offense, and maybe exude a little pride, that our children want to call their out-of-state grandparents if only to share what they learned at school each day.

We feel fortunate to have The Park School in our community and are grateful to the Park School leadership for their extraordinary efforts during this exceedingly difficult time. After a difficult summer, The Park School and the Kadimah Scholars program have brought joy back to our children’s childhood. And for that, we are most grateful.

Mandy and Everett Weiss are the parents of two school-age children, Avery, 7, and Madison, 10. Mandy Weiss is the Director of Planning and Overseas at the Buffalo Jewish Federation. Dr. Everett Weiss is the Associate Chief Health Informatics Officer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and serves on the Board of Directors for Jewish Community Center of Greater Buffalo.

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NEUROSCIENCE EDUCATION INITIATIVE

Timothy Finnell ‘58 and Dr. Deborah Finnell have brought an incredible opportunity to Park.

Thanks to their generosity, Park students and faculty will have the opportunity to engage in neuroscience work in the form of independent studies, classes, and hands-on projects to gain a better understanding of the brain.

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n January 2020, Tim Finnell ’58 and his wife Dr. Deborah Finnell, approached The Park School with a proposal to initiate a neuroscience education program, K-12, with full funding support. Tim and Deb have functioned as mental health and addiction professionals throughout their careers as practitioners, scientists, administrators, and in academia. They have specialized in the neurobiological basis of mental health and addiction disorders and the translation of the science to patient populations and professionals. Park math faculty member, William Fedirko, has partnered with the Finnells and will be leading this effort at the School.

Since 1990, Tim and Deb have promoted through education, research, publications, and clinical practice the neurobiological basis of mental health and substance use and subsequent disorders. Utilizing this sciencebased framework has been instrumental in mitigating both the personal and public stigma of mental illness and addiction. This approach has far-reaching implications for all learning and transactional interactions within the human community, including how we order and prioritize ethical and ideological values.

MISSION

The mission of the Neuroscience Education Initiative (NEI) is to awaken in the faculty and each student at The Park School the abiding importance of learning about the brain structure, neuronal systems and neurochemistry that inform our individual thought, emotion, behavior, social and spiritual life.

Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system. It is a multidisciplinary science that combines physiology, anatomy, molecular biology, developmental biology, cytology, mathematical modeling, and psychology to understand the fundamental and emergent properties of neurons and neural circuits.

BRAIN

The brain is the operating system that ultimately governs our very being: our physical and psychological being, and our conscious and unconscious awareness.

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NEURONS

100 billion neurons, with 100 trillion synapses, interact to communicate and inform thinking, emotion, behavior, as well as social, spiritual, and physical life.

THE LAUNCH

The NYSAIS Brain Conference was held in March 2020, and the NEI provided funding for two Park faculty to attend. Other faculty had the opportunity to participate in a live-streamed keynote session, “Raising resilient, emotionally healthy students: Understanding the simple brain science.” As Park began to move to distance learning, Dr. Finnell joined several Park faculty in providing a webinar to faculty and parents on how stress impacts learning. Her focus was on how the autonomic nervous system and brain systems play a critical role in learning.

WHAT’S NEXT?

In January 2021, junior and seniors at Park will have the opportunity to engage in an independent study taught by Mr. Fedirko.

This course is designed to introduce the students to the anatomy and functionality of the brain and neuronal communication systems that act to form our emotional, cognitive, and behavioral experiences. Current working models, theories, and research related to neuroscience will be presented to form the foundation for further study. Dysfunctions and disorders of brain structures and neural communication systems will be explored to promote the understanding of the resultant symptoms and reduce the stigma often associated with mental, emotional, and cognitive problems. Throughout the course, students will be encouraged to view the content within the context of their personal experience and interests.

INDEPENDENT STUDY COURSE CONTENT Neuronal Communication System: Neuron, Axon, Dendrite, Synapse; Hormones and Neurotransmitters Metabolism: Amino Acids to Neurotransmitters Roles of vitamins/minerals Blood-Brain-Barrier

Pharmacological Impacts: Emotional, Behavioral, Physiological; Alcohol, Drugs, Prescriptions; Toxicity Primary Brain Structures and Functions: Hemispheres and lobes; Structures within lobes; Integration of functions

Neurobiological Diseases & Disorders: Neurodegenerative: Dementias, Epilepsy, ALS, MS, Parkinsons Mental: Anxiety, Depression, OCD, Schizophrenia, PTSD, Addictions Seeking Homeostasis

The NEI will provide monetary awards to students and faculty. Students taking the independent study will be expected to develop a scholarly paper focusing on an area they want to explore in greater depth. A prize will be awarded to the student writing the best paper. Faculty will also have the opportunity for monetary awards based on a formal report exploring the neuroscience of a classroom challenge. These projects are intended to extend beyond general concepts and push learners — both students and faculty — to “go under the hood” to understand the driving forces for human behaviors.

ABOUT WILLIAM FEDIRKO:

William Fedirko rejoined the Park School Math Department in September 2020, after previously teaching here from 2006-18. During his tenure, he received various grants for integrating math curriculum with both the arts and the sciences. One enduring grantsupported project included the development of a cognitive science curriculum which became known as “Informatics and Intelligence” serving as a research arm for the Park community. Some of the results and products of this early work will now find a new home within the Neuroscience Education Initiative.

ABOUT THE FINNELLS:

Tim Finnell graduated from The Park School in 1958, received his BA from Colgate University in 1962, and MSW from SUNY Buffalo in 1964. His early professional focus was directed toward delinquent and PINS adolescents in residential settings where considerable evidence pointed to the neurobiological basis for mental and addiction disorders. A research study of 250 adolescents and families developed and conducted

by Mr. Finnell in the early ‘80s confirmed the genetic influence of these disorders and subsequent behavioral problems. After serving as director of two addiction treatment centers, he entered private practice with a specialty in the translation of the neuroscience of mental and addiction disorders to his patient population.

Dr. Deborah Finnell is a graduate of Roberts Wesleyan, BSN, University of Rochester, MSN, and SUNY at Buffalo, DNS. She is Professor Emerita at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing, former President of the International Nurses Society on Addictions, and currently President-elect of the Association for Multidisciplinary Education and Research in Substance Use and Addiction.

She has practiced and served in administrative roles in hospital settings, including the Veterans Affairs, and is presently engaged as a consultant to various health care organizations throughout the United States.

Park is extremely grateful to the Finnells for generously supporting this incredible initiative at the School!

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Why Are There Red Crayfish in the Park Pond?

Last year, teachers and students spotted a bright red crayfish in the new stream at Park, an unusual sight in Western New York. This bright red color led to concerns that it may be the red swamp crayfish, procambarus clarkii, a species native to the Southern United States but an invasive species in this part of the country.

By Daltin D. ‘21, Emma S. ‘21, and Jenny H. ‘21 The Advanced Science Explorations (ASE) Class, made up of Park seniors and designed to let students explore scientific concepts in which they have interest, had been studying ecology when these red crayfish were starting to appear more and more frequently in the Park stream. Whereas at first they were an occasional sighting, found next to the brown crayfish more likely to be native to New York, they had become a frequent sight while the native species seemingly disappeared.

The class became concerned.

all match the red swamp crayfish. Their bodies are a dark red color. They have a triangular rostrum anteriorly, lack of black bands on the tail that would mark it as a look-alike, the white river crayfish, and reduced or absent spines on the side between head and thorax.

If they were truly the red swamp crayfish, they could significantly harm the natural environment at Park. Red swamp crayfish easily outcompete other crayfish species due to their aggression, resilience, and year-round breeding.

Their burrowing habits can weaken the shoreline and lead to erosion. They mostly forage, but also prey directly on fish.

Their foraging habits can aid in eutrophication, when a body of water becomes overly enriched with minerals and nutrients which induce excessive growth of algae, a known problem in our ecosystem.

However, one group’s identification is not enough. To get a true confirmation on the species of crayfish, Park invited crayfish expert Dr. Pennuto, director of WNY PRISM and professor at Buffalo State, to come to campus and, alongside Park students and their teacher Mrs. DeGroat, observe the crayfish.

In order to identify whether or not they were the invasive red swamp crayfish, the class took several out of the pond and observed their physical features. Using pictures and descriptions from reliable scientific sources online, they found that the color, rostrum, claw, areola, thorax, and leg features

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From this information, the class concluded that there is a high possibility the crayfish in Park’s aquatic ecosystem are the red swamp crayfish.

Upon an initial inspection of the specimens students had collected, he determined that it was highly likely that these crayfish were the invasive red swamp crayfish. He took several crayfish for closer inspection, and was able to confirm that the crayfish were indeed the invasive species.

After confirming that red swamp crayfish are in our ecosystem, Park ASE students developed a management plan. While it is unlikely we will be able to eliminate them

“... management is not enough, and it is important to prevent these red swamp crayfish from spreading to other ecosystems as well as prevent other invasive species from entering our ecosystem.” with any method short of draining the pond, we can mitigate the damage done by a large invasive population by eliminating as many as we can.

This means removal and euthanization. To capture the crayfish, members of the group with fishing licenses began to pull the crayfish directly out of the water. Since they are aggressive and do not usually run away from danger, they were easy to catch by hand. The class is also planning to place traps throughout the ecosystem to capture crayfish at a faster and more consistent rate.

The crayfish captured are measured, sexed, and recorded before they are humanely euthanized by being frozen. This is the most humane method of euthanization as they go into torpor, a state of inactivity, due to the cold, and do not experience pain. Through this management plan, the group does not expect to completely eliminate the crayfish but are taking necessary action to curb the threat to our campus’ water ecosystem this invasive species represents.

However, management is not enough, and it is important to prevent these red swamp crayfish from spreading to other ecosystems as well as prevent other invasive species from entering our ecosystem. If the invasive crayfish spread to a nearby ecosystem, they could eventually make their way to

more and more waterways, ultimately threatening the Great Lakes.

For this reason, the group plans to launch a social media campaign. Their goal is to educate people about what is happening on campus, explain why these crayfish must be ethically eliminated, and discourage people from moving wildlife from one ecosystem to another. This will include Instagram and Facebook posts, a page on the Park website, and emails to our community. Plans also include making signs to post on campus explaining that the crayfish are invasive and not to remove them.

The class hopes that this unfortunate experience with an invasive species on our campus will serve to educate people about what an invasive species is and what they can do to prevent invasive species from damaging ecosystems.

Kudos to Daltin D. ‘21, Emma S. ‘21, Jenny H. ‘21, Colleen S. ‘21, Des D. ‘21, Noah S. ‘21, and Alyson W. ‘21 for their great work on this effort!

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Science: Lesson on color mixing; Secondary colors

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n early September of this year, Park officially welcomed the first group of students to campus as part of our brand new Montessori Program: The Children’s House. Located in a beautifully renovated space formerly known as The Annex, The Children’s House is currently at capacity with 18 students, ages 3-5, and three faculty members — Mary Gurich, Emily Yang, and Khaty Assar.

THE MONTESSORI PHILOSOPHY Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian physician, founded Casa dei Bambini – The Children’s House – the first Montessori school in Rome in 1907. Through her studies in psychiatry and educational theory, she designed a method in which the materials and the environment were specifically prepared to promote self-motivated learning through discovery. The “work” of the Montessori Method is active, purposeful, and joyful. It values the growth of the whole child: cognitive, physical, social, and emotional. All of which is in line with Park’s educational philosophies.

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MONTESSORI CORE PRINCIPLES Connecting With Nature: The outdoors is a natural extension of the Montessori classroom, and Park’s 34 acre campus houses a waterfall, pond, marsh, greenhouse, woodland, apple trees, gardens, and a plethora of wildlife to ignite children’s senses and curiosity. Connections to math and science surround the children as they explore the campus, and develop a sense of self and their relationship to nature and the universe.

Respect for the Child: Children are naturally curious, inquisitive, and ready to learn. The Montessori Program is intentionally designed in environment and materials to provide children freedom with limits. Every aspect of the program is specifically designed and personalized by certified teachers to promote the growth of the whole child, and as such, children have autonomy to choose their work, move freely and work at their own pace, and self-correct.

Sensitive Periods of Learning: A child’s growth occurs across scientifically based stages and planes, and through mixed-age classrooms, children are able to interact and learn from each other according to their readiness rather than their age. Once a skill or knowledge is learned during that critical window in which a child is receptive to acquiring it, it can then be reinforced and deepened as the child naturally becomes a teacher to another child, thus forming social responsibility.

Sensorial: Color matching with nature

Math: Working with the 100 Board

Geography: Learning the continents with the World Map Independence and Discovery: Child-directed learning empowers children to determine the what, where, and how long of their learning. This is made possible by the carefully curated environment that has been prepared by the teacher to meet children’s individual learning needs. As the children are able to explore, discover, and create in a supportive community, they will build confidence, independence, and a love of lifelong learning.

Prepared Environment: The Montessori environment is intentionally prepared to minimize distraction and provide children with developmentally appropriate activities to engage in individual, small group, or large group work. Areas of choice include math, language, sensorial, geography, culture/science, music, and art. Each area contains Montessori activities deliberately designed to develop skills and knowledge such as concentration, coordination, cultural understanding, and cognitive growth through an experience, rather than a giving of facts.

Music: Singing as a community Montessori and COVID: Montessori students use concrete handson learning materials that make abstract concepts more clear.

Lessons and activities are introduced simply and concretely in the early years and are reintroduced several times during the following years at increasing degrees of abstraction and complexity. Due to current COVID circumstances, our Montessori teachers knew the children couldn’t share these manipulatives in the classroom, so they prepared individual learning tools for each student. Students have been using them since the beginning of the school year making the transition to remote learning a little bit easier.

The Children’s House has been a natural fit at Park and a seamless addition to our campus. We look forward to seeing the program grow in the coming years and welcoming more new families to the Park School community.

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The Adventure with Children Never Ends

By Kerry Reynolds and Elizabeth Foy

T

he idea for The Park School was born of the wind.

The school’s founder, Mary Hammett Lewis, spoke of her conviction about a new kind of school coming to her on a windy rooftop. In her book An Adventure with Children, she writes about making children happy learners by freeing them of stuffy classrooms where rote education prevailed.

She compellingly describes a preschooler putting on “wanagans,” an outer boot worn over the shoes to keep little feet warm in her open-air classrooms.

Lewis convinced early-twentieth century mothers, concerned about their daughters learning grace, to exchange dance lessons for skating on a pond. She knew that laughing and whirling around on ice would instill grace and confidence as well as free her students from constricting white dresses, kid-skin gloves, and stilted dance steps.

Because of these beginnings, innovation, flexibility, and a love of the outdoors all come naturally to Park School denizens. We are creative beings who rise to a challenge. How often have teachers at Park called on their students to build a replica of downtown Buffalo, seek and photograph numbers and letters in details they find on a field trip, leave the classroom to go out and YAWP like Walt Whitman? The examples are too numerous to list. How often do students ask questions that lead to new lessons — what is a lie, what is the difference between lies and fiction, can we draw a Venn diagram or plot a chart? This is what we do, every day, at Park.

Everyone at Park goes outside for class, or lunch, or playground when spring finally comes to Buffalo. But, of course, there was a time when students spent the better part of their hours at Park outside.

The open-air school idea was imported from Europe, wrote Mary Hammett Lewis in An Adventure with Children. She determined that it built healthy, strong youth to have classes on porches, windows open wide, and to be in fresh air as much as possible. How many winter carnivals and sledding forays have there been over the years at Park? Being outside is in Park’s DNA. Just six years after Park’s founding, the 1918 influenza epidemic hit Buffalo. The city closed schools, both public and private, for about

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one month, and we have to assume Park was among them. The mayor ordered closure of businesses, restaurants and bars, movie theaters (Buffalo had at least eight) and recommended that church services be held outside. Ultimately, the clergy of Buffalo agreed to cancel services.

By Thanksgiving of that year, Buffalo was clear of the epidemic, though some cases of influenza were still reported. But the toll was heavy: 9% of the cases resulted in death from pneumonia or flurelated causes. Park weathered an epidemic in 1918, and is doing the same today. (Source: Buffalo, NY. American Influenza Epidemic of 1918 - 1919: A Digital Encyclopedia. www.influenzaarchive.org) Now, in COVID times, Park’s traditions come together to create a healthy, safe place for learning that celebrates innovation and the outdoors. Teachers and administrators alike put in long hours creating campus-wide plans and restructured courses to work around and through the current pandemic. We traded the warming bags of 100 years ago for masks, camp chairs, and yoga mats. Our portable white boards, used for small group work in classrooms, are now just what we need as we take our classes into the woods and the fields all around campus. Most of the fall of 2020 was spent outside. Each class had a designated space and marks on the ground indicated proper distances. Those distances were maintained when we had to go indoors, as well. With windows open to the winter chill, students adapt, dressing in layers, and perhaps wearing 21st century versions of “wanagans.”

Elementary students put on their masks and quickly adjusted, often forgetting they even had them on. Older students relished time doing physics on the soccer field; music students focused on listening, describing, and moving to music out in the sunshine.

French students also listened to the accents of their masked teachers while watching videos of how to make the sounds of French vowels. With a little imagination and a lot of hard work, Park has shown what its progressive roots can bring to fruition.

The winds blow through our hair and our classrooms. There are things we have missed, but we will always remember the year we came together and came to school in spite of the hard times, when being together and confronting the difficulties of the most challenging health crisis of a century called on and created our strength.

Above: Kindergarten teacher Mrs. Benzinger leads a lesson outside this past fall.

Left: Founding Headmistress Mary Hammett Lewis presides over a class at Park.

Above: The dock at Park’s pond became an outdoor classroom this year, as did the boardwalk in the marsh, woods, the quad, our three athletic fields, and more.

Right: Woolen sitting-out bags allowed Park’s earliest students to continue their studies outdoors despite Buffalo’s cold winter temperatures.

Remembering Ann Burns A force for Park for more than 50 years.

Compiled by Elizabeth Foy In the mid-2000s, Don Grace, then-head of The Park School of Buffalo, worked hard to help alumni accept and embrace the replacement of the historic but aging Lewis Hall. It wasn’t easy.

Lewis Hall was a beloved space that held many memories for countless alumni.

Today, the original thumbtack-scarred mantelpiece graces the fireplace in the current Dining Hall — a lovely memorial to beloved Lewis Hall. At the time, students made a video of the old building’s demolition and in the last scene, Ann Burns, a beloved school staffer for nearly 50 years, seated at the controls of a backhoe and wearing a hard hat, toppled the final chimney.

“At the next Park alumni reunion, there was plenty of demand for Park School orange gear, along with equal call for copies of that video,” Grace said. “Crisis resolved.”

Ann, 93, died September 23, 2020, in Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital after a brief illness. She worked at Park from 1959 to 2007, most of those years as assistant to the Head of School.

“There were many days when I considered myself Ann Burns’ assistant, in my role as head of school,” Grace said.

“To the countless Park School students, parents, faculty, staff, and alumni whose lives she touched in that span, Ann was the embodiment of Park and its mission of fostering active learning for life, inquisitiveness, free thinking, and respect for humanity

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and the world,” said her son Daniel. “No one knew more about Park, and she was the go-to source for information about its history.”

Ann Wainwright Proctor was born in Williamsville on November 1, 1926. She attended Williamsville public schools and graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the New Jersey College for Women, later Rutgers University, in 1948. Her career in journalism included working at the Lockport Union-Sun & Journal, The Buffalo Evening News, and WBEN radio.

She married James W. Burns in Buffalo on August 21, 1954.

Their four sons all attended and graduated from Park: Michael ’73, Rob ’74, Dan ’81 and John ’82.

When her two oldest sons enrolled at the School in 1959, Ann, too, came to Park where she worked in the Middle School library. But there was more. Here’s what Ann wrote about her responsibilities in the first couple of years: I contributed in other areas of school activities, for example, publicity, newspaper write-ups for Christmas programs, Upper School productions, Middle School day, book fair, scripting and typing plays for middle school classes… and nursery school lunch assistant when called upon.

Ann stepped up to every challenge presented to her. In addition to being the executive assistant to nine heads of school, she

worked in the Development Office, and served as editor of The Postscript, The Pioneer, Park NewsBriefs, and countless other Park School publications. She was a cheerleader, school grammarian, and for many parents and alumni, the very face of the School.

“For decades, no edition of the Park Pioneer newsletter went to press without passing muster under her meticulous editing,” her son said. “The Park School was the center of her life, and she served in innumerable volunteer capacities there as well as her paid position.”

At her retirement, Ann was given an honorary Park School degree along with the prestigious Alumni Service Award. The School, her son said, was “an institution that was dear to her heart and had become central to her identity.”

She embodied grace under pressure, waving to second graders as they passed her desk even as she simultaneously unraveled a snarl in the latest trustee mailing. In the old days, she could be found up to her elbows in ink at the Hamlin Hall printing press — yet she made the transition to computers with good humor. She knew everything, including the history of each building and most trees on campus, and she remembered everyone.

The School relied on her memory, her humor, her high standards, her loyalty, and her passion for Park for decades. After her retirement, Ann served on the school’s Board of Visitors and helped write and edit The Park School of Buffalo Centennial History, a book produced to mark the school’s 100th anniversary in 2012.

“Ann had an encyclopedic knowledge of Park’s people and history, and we relied on her heavily as we drafted and researched the Centennial History book,” said Chris Lauricella, former Head of School (2008-2018). “She had dozens of stories from her long tenure at the School, many of which she shared with us while we sorted through the archives. When she told these stories, it was clear how much she loved Park and how proud she was to be a part of its history. She was also an incredible proofreader and grammarian. I can still hear her admonishing us on the importance of publishing error-free articles because, ‘we are a school, after all.’”

“She was warm and witty and sharp as a tack all the way to the end,” her son said.

Don Grace and wife Catherine O’Neill Grace “were grateful to have known Ann Burns and to have lived in her pioneering light.”

Ann, we’ll miss you. We are more grateful for your service to Park than words can say. You embodied Park in so many ways that it would take more than 48 years to tell you everything we feel and everything we remember. You’ll remain forever in our hearts.

Afterward: Ann graciously and thoroughly proofread nearly every publication that came out of the Development Office since I came to Park in 2007 (and well before). In late fall 2019, I asked her to proof that year’s edition of the Pioneer magazine. Mere days later, 93 year old Ann returned to me 20+ beautifully handwritten pages of edits, questions, and suggestions. She caught every single typo, whether it be an extra space after a period or an incorrect graduation year. I kept those 20 pages of edits and will always remember Ann fondly when I look at them. Working on this year’s Pioneer, I have wished many times that I could pick up the phone and call Ann for advice. She taught me so much over the years and I certainly hope that I haven’t missed too many typos in this publication!

-Kim Ruppel, Director of Development

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In Memoriam We extend our condolences to the families and friends of these alumni and friends of the School. We also gratefully acknowledge the families of the deceased who recognized their loved one’s deep connection to Park by designating the School as a recipient of memorial gifts.

Mary Field Belenky ‘51 July 10, 2020 Marcia Brown Beppler ‘45 May 22, 2017 John Boot May 15, 2020 Father of Maren Boot ‘84 and Mark Boot ‘86 Tim Booth ‘65 February 24, 2020 Will Booth June 4, 2020 Son of Dee Dee Danahy Booth ‘65 and Tim Booth ‘65 Henry S. Bradley, Jr. ‘61 November 2, 2019 Stephen Brereton September 21, 2019 Father of James Brereton ‘09 and Will Brereton ‘09 Audre Bunis June 13, 2020 Mother of Leslie Bunis Ohl ‘75 Ann Burns September 23, 2020 Mother of Michael Burns ‘73, Robert Burns ‘74, Daniel Burns ‘81, and John Burns ‘82 Retired Staff Member Stephen Cary ‘59 December 27, 2020 Brother of Tom Cary ‘63 William Charters November 10, 2019 Grandfather of Max ‘27 Gary Cohen December 6, 2019 Spouse of Deborah Bleichfeld Cohen ‘55 (d) Susan Odiorne Cooney ‘52 April 15, 2020 Sister of Barbara Odiorne Metzger ‘48 (d) Ron Daniels ‘70 January 2, 2017 Tennant Glenn Davitian ‘55 June 2020 Sister of Sturgeon Glenn ‘54 (d)

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Myra Falk October 5, 2020 Former Faculty Sally Fink Mother of Jim Fink ‘76 Carole Foy December 27, 2019 Grandmother of Alec ‘20 and Arlin ‘24 Neil Goodman October 8, 2020 Father of Karen Goodman ‘81 and Jeffrey Goodman ‘84 Muriel Goodman December 5, 2020 Father of Karen Goodman ‘81 and Jeffrey Goodman ‘84 Jacqueline Cary Grant ‘50 Mary Matzinger Guffner ‘59 January 25, 2020 Sister of Jean Matzinger ‘59 Paul G. Horvath Father of Brian Horvath ‘90 June 3, 2020 Sandra Mols Hughes ‘55 November 29, 2020 Daughter of Coach Herb Mols (d) Sister of Brenda Mols Frasher ‘57 (d), Gary Mols ‘64, Susan Mols ‘66, David Mols ‘71, and Mary Mols Siedman ‘73 Nelson Isada July 3, 2019 Father of Nelson Isada ‘72 and Carlos Isada ‘77 Mary T. Jebb October 14, 2020 Former Athletics Teacher Caroline Saunders Kritzer ‘61 May 1, 2020 Benjamin Little ‘62 June 11, 2019 Brother of Charles Little ‘58 H. Park Metzloff ‘72 February 3, 2020 Brother of Gretchen Metzloff ‘67, Todd Metzloff ‘74, and Brant Metzloff ‘79

Sally Munschauer October 22, 2019 Mother of Tom Munschauer ‘71, David Munschauer ‘72, and John Munschauer ‘77 Giovanni Occhiuto June 11, 2020 Former staff member Grandfather of Antonio Occhiuto ‘12 and Stefano Occhiuto ‘16 J. Daniel Oles February 17, 2020 Father of Margaret Oles Janis ‘99, Andrew Oles ‘01, Benjamin Oles ‘02, and Pamela Oles Hull ‘04 The Rev. David B. Parke ‘46 June 6, 2020 Grandfather of Robert Parke ‘15 and Maggie Parke ‘17 Brother of Robert Parke ‘45 (d) and Andrew Parke ‘51 Arielle Reed ‘09 November 2, 2019 Sister of Gabrielle Reed ‘11 Torrey W. Rogerson ‘60 October 11, 2020 C. Allan Ryan ‘46 September 7, 2020 Axel Sack ‘16 March 11, 2020 Brother of Berit ‘21 Janet Williams Schulz ‘50 September 12, 2019 Joni Stovroff May 24, 2020 Mother of Julie Stovroff Schmuecker ‘78 Michael E. Stroman ‘59 August 28, 2019 Brother of William O’Neil Stroman ‘61 Mary Pitcher Sword ‘41 January 5, 2019 Sister of Sally Pitcher Sword ‘44 Jared David Tetz August 7, 2019 Son of Brooke Sullivan Tetz

Cynthia Doolittle August 20, 2020 Mother of Doug Doolittle ‘76

Ernest Montgomery January 11, 2020 Husband of Ellen Maddigan Mongtomery ‘47 Father of Robin Montgomery-Tehan ‘72

George Urban ‘61 November 11, 2020

Miriam Enis October 29, 2019 Grandmother of Ozzy ‘25 and Talula ‘26

Sandra Maddigan Moore ‘52 August 31, 2020 Sister of Ellen Maddigan Montgomery ‘47

Kim Ziegler ‘67 November 12, 2019

Maytham Vukelic ‘20 August 28, 2020

Shirley M. Zillig July 30, 2019 Grandmother of Ryan ‘07, Brooke ‘10, Robert, and Heather

ALUMNI CLASS NOTES 1952 - Joan Plumb Reeves writes, “Relieved to be in Canada but still voting in Buffalo. Park is obviously needed more than ever in this frightening time...be well!”

1955 - Judy Cochran Glenn writes, “After living in California for 40 years I have moved to Burlington, VT to live with my son Christopher Glenn, son of Sturgen Glenn (Park ‘54). I am sad to report that his sister, Tennant Glenn Davitian, also a 1955 graduate of Park, passed away in June 2020. She will be remembered for her performances in Gilbert and Sullivan operettas.”

1956 - Doug Johnston writes, “Retired in 2014; 53 years teaching secondary and collegiate English classes. Winter in Florida, summer at Keuka Lake.”

1970 - Rhonda Bachmann sang a recital as Marie-Antoinette to inaugurate the Versailles exhibit “New Look” on October 7, 2020 with official permission to have a socially distanced audience including city dignitaries. The Queen’s songs and arias by Grétry and Paisiello were arranged for her by her late husband the music director Arthur Hammond.

1975 - Cheryl Skuller Wald reports, “In June, my husband Joe and I celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary. Also at the end of that month we both retired.

Enjoying our time exercising, traveling, walking, golfing, and spending time in Northern Michigan. Lastly, but most importantly, we love being grandparents to our three grandchildren. Life is good!”

1981 - Carolyn Hoyt Stevens joined Gurney Becker & Bourne as a licensed real estate salesperson and is excited to help people in WNY find happiness in their homes. She encourages Buffalo ex-pats to move home and enjoy all that Buffalo has to offer! Pioneers can reach Carolyn at choytstevens@ gurneyrealestate.com.

1991 - Dan Meeker is celebrating 11 years in Portland, OR where he moved with his wife Katie, and kids, Margaret and John, in 2009. “For the past year I have been designing scenery for Laika, the stop motion animation studio responsible for last year’s Golden Globe winning film The Missing Link,” he reports.

1995 - Amy Hezel has recently been promoted to Associate Professor at Regis University in Denver, CO where she lives with her husband, Graham Foust, a poet and professor at the University of Denver, and children Merle (13) and Mavis (9) Hezel.

1996 - Preeti Shastri welcomed Noah Ganesh Spence on February 13, 2020.

She and her husband live in Boston where she is a sports medicine physician and Instructor of Orthopedics at Harvard Medical School.

1998 - D. Cameron Hartney is the lighting director for the show Love at the Mirage in Las Vegas.

Carolyn Hoyt Stevens ‘81

1990 - Christopher Spitzmiller’s new book, A Year at Clove Brook Farm, will be released in March 2021. “Three years in the making, I wrote the book to educate and encourage people to grow their own flowers, tend to flocks, keep bees and to entertain. I truly hope that the book will help you to find some inspiration to try some - or all - of the things I share from my life at the farm.

My good friend Martha Stewart wrote the forward, and the book is filled with all the joys of farm life throughout the year.”

2000 - E. Matthew Hartney is a digital lighting programmer working with major studios world-wide.

2002 - Devin Lipsitz is teaching a class of autistic kindergarteners at Buffalo’s Herman Badillo School. Sara Schmitt moved to Seattle in 2019 to start a position at Amazon focused on launching grocery delivery for the company’s new supermarket chain (Fresh). Rashida DaCosta Dowell was selected as one of Buffalo Business First’s “40 Under 40” award recipients for 2020. She is a business risk manager at M&T Bank and holds a BS, business, SUNY Buffalo State; MBA, University of Buffalo.

Rhonda Bachmann ’70

1974 - Cynthia Bradley Crippen writes, “I’m very proud to say that my experience at Park was so rewarding for me. I recently retired from Bank of America in Charlotte, NC after over 27 years in the mortgage industry.” Cynthia Pearce LeMay has completed her Ph.D. in International Conflict Management at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, GA, and will be teaching in the business school at Kennesaw beginning in the spring of 2021.

Rashida DaCosta Dowell ‘02 Chris Spitzmiller ’90

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Stay on top of all the latest Park School news and updates! To ensure you receive Park’s newsletters, please send your email address to development@theparkschool.org.

2003 - Chris Berardi and wife Christie welcomed their second son, Valentino, in March 2020. Big brother Roman is a member of Park’s Class of 2033.

the National Fuel Supply Corporation, Empire Pipeline, and Midstream LLCs.” Trevor reports. Liana Ellegate graduated summa cum laude from SUNY Empire State while living in the Czech Republic and is now attending Charles University in Prague for graduate school.

From left: Kathryn Manning ‘05, Jonna Sakowski ‘09, AJ Birtch ‘05, Leslie Rosenberg ‘05, Christopher Mikus, and Evan Smith ’05

Valentino Berardi

2004 - Jarret Izzo and wife Rebecca welcomed a daughter named Josephine on October 26, 2020. Baby Josie joins big sister Cecily.

2008 - Courtney O’Brien was promoted to Associate Marketing Manager at Reichert, Inc. Reichert is a global leader in the design and manufacture of high-quality diagnostic instruments and equipment for ophthalmologists, optometrists, opticians, retail eye centers, life science researchers, and analytical testing.

Liana Ellegate ‘15 during a past adventure.

2016 - Jordan Nwora was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Draft on November 18!

2010 - Harry Lipsitz was credited as casting associate for The True Adventures of Wolfboy, a feature film starring John Turturro which debuted in Buffalo recently. He also cast extras for Coldbrook starring William Fichtner.

2011 - Natalie Gerich Brabson earned her MFA in creative writing from Sarah Lawrence in May 2019. She is now living in Philadelphia, working at UPenn and writing in her spare time.

Jarret Izzo ‘04 and baby Josie

2005 - Dalphne Buckley Bell was named Director of Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Initiatives in the Buffalo Public Schools system. She had previously served as the Supervisor of Mathematics for several years. Leslie Rosenberg and Christopher Mikus were married in Waterville Valley, NH on August 31, 2019. They were joined by close family and friends, including several members of the Park School community: parents Cheryl and Gary Rosenberg, brother Ben Rosenberg ‘98, and friends Evan Smith ‘05, AJ Birtch ‘05, Kathryn Manning ‘05, Jonna Sakowski ‘09, Fung Eng and Carol Hasegawa, and Missy Baumgart. The couple met during business school at Boston University and live in Boston, MA.

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2014 - Willem Cohen graduated from Columbia College Chicago in 2018 and has since been working at a content marketing startup in Chicago, IL. Nicholas Constantinou was an officer for a student group at The University of Scranton that garnered national recognition. The Institute of Management Accountants recognized Scranton’s student chapter as one of just five outstanding student chapters in the nation for the 20182019 academic year. Nicholas was the treasurer for the University’s student chapter for 2018-2019.

2015 - Trevor Cornish is working at National Fuel as an Associate Engineer in the Engineering Services – Air Quality department. “We provide the air emissions management/support to

2018 - James Ellegate is attending SUNY at Buffalo and completed his sophomore year on the Dean’s list. He was the recipient of two scholarships in his sophomore year: 2020 Grace W. Capen Academic Award for outstanding academic achievement and 2020 Sophomore Organic Chemistry Award for Academic Excellence, based on his being in the top 1% of his grade level.

2020 - Nicole Ellegate is a sophomore at Clarkson University, majoring in innovation and entrepreneurship. She was named a Presidential Scholar for the fall 2020 semester at Clarkson.

Presidential Scholars must achieve a minimum 3.80 grade-point average and carry at least 14 credit hours.

The Adventure Continues:

Park students continue to benefit from a hands-on, joyful education.

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