Bulletin Spring 2010 by Williston Northampton School

T h e

W i l l i s t o n

N o r t h a m p t o n

S c h o o l

BULLETIN SPRING 2010

“All That Is In My Heart” A look back at Brian Wright’s tenure as Williston Northampton’s 19th headmaster

Please send class notes, obituaries, and changes of address to: Alumni Office The Williston Northampton School 19 Payson Avenue Easthampton, MA 01027 t (413) 529-3301 f (413) 529-3427 alumni@williston.com Send letters to the editor and other correspondence to the Communications Office at the address above, or send email to info@williston.com. CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER

Eric Yates DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING

Andrew Shelffo ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Kathleen Unruh COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE

Burns Maxey COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE

Kathryn Good-Schiff

Originally issued in 1915, the Bulletin is published by the Advancement Office for the benefit of alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends of the school.

Conroy Scores 1,000 Points

K 30%

Cert no. BV-COC-013529

ristina Conroy ’10 scored her 1,000th career point in Williston’s 46-19 win over Berkshire School. Conroy becomes the seventh Williston player to reach the 1000-point mark, joining Karly Gray ’06, Darrell Harrison ’05, Colleen Hession ’02, Abby Ouimet ’99, Debbie

Healy ’91, and Mark Timm ’76. Conroy scored the milestone bucket on an uncontested layup following a block by Kay Samples-Smart ’11 and a pass from Jenna Spooner ’10. Conroy ended the game with a season high 22 points as the Wildcats moved their season record to 4-2.

VOLUME 96 NUMBER 2

F E AT U R E S

The Farewell Tour Headmaster Brian Wright visited alumni, parents, and friends across the country and around the world

The Wright Times A visual timeline of achievements and memories Brian Wright, Wave Rider by Ann Vanderburgh

Shared Vision Brings Success by Chief Financial Officer Charles McCullagh P’10, ’13 DEPARTMENTS

The Right Choice 2

Headmaster’s Column

Campus News

Class Notes

In Memoriam

From the Archives

by Jim Cain ’64

Happy Trails, Ann Van by Peter Gunn

A Passionate Man by Andrew Shelffo

The Changing Role of the Headmaster by Richard Teller ’70, archivist

In the next issue of the Bulletin : COVER:

Meet Williston’s

Dr. Brian Wright, headmaster, teaches public speaking to all ninth graders. Photograph by Ben Barnhart

20th Head of School © Benjamin Porter

Robert W. Hill III

HEADMASTER’S COLUMN

Saying Farewell to Williston by Dr. Brian R. Wright

A few months ago, the world’s odometer ticked over from 2009 to 2010, a fact that precipitated a lot of looks back over the previous decade. I glanced at a few of these lists and found them wanting, not because of the philosophical problem I have with when the new decade actually begins, but because a simple list, no matter how long it might be, can’t possibly capture every important moment that happened in a decade, nor can it capture a decade’s worth of emotions. And I feel much the same way as I look back over my tenure at Williston and try to put a coherent structure around it to make it fit conveniently into a Bulletin column.The problems are compounded because it’s difficult to

measure one person’s impact or influence on a place like Williston, since a school is never about one person. At its best, a school is a place that shows everyone that they are the most important person in the world and that their dreams matter. And Williston is an example of a school at its best. I’ve often said that if you speak with two Williston Northampton alumni, you’re likely to hear two very different versions of what it was like to be a student here.That’s because this school does a marvelous job of providing students with outstanding resources, caring faculty, and a supportive environment, key elements that enable students to excel in an educational experience that is unique to them. And the same adage probably holds true for headmasters: ask any two of us what it was like to be the head at Williston, and you’ll probably get very different answers, because Williston often means different things to different people. As I look back over my time at Williston, I struggle for the right way to summarize my time here. I am obviously very proud of all we have accomplished together at Williston during my tenure.Working closely with the Board of Trustees and faculty and staff, we have developed a Master Plan and updated Aspire to give a focus to the future of this great school. We have achieved the practical and far-reaching goals of a successful fundraising campaign and organized an important marketing evaluation that fostered the remarkable Williston+ program that will continue to enhance our connections with the Five Colleges.We have improved many aspects of our campus, from the Homestead renovation, through the beautiful new 194 Main Street dorm, to major upgrades of our athletic facilities. All of these changes are tangible signs of a promising future for our school and have resulted in Williston’s increased visibility in the independent school world. Although I am extremely proud of these changes and of the improved economic stability of our school due to the success of our Campaign for Williston Northampton: Legacy & Vision, I hope that my years here at Williston will also be remembered for the ways in which we have all worked to improve the day-today lives of the faculty and students. We have come a very long way in our eleven years

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

together. Our faculty has done an amazing job adding to and enhancing programs and classes in academics and the arts. From establishing the Writing Center to adding AP classes and Chinese language instruction, we have continued to present our students with challenges and opportunities while providing the necessary support for our students to be successful. I hope that by making significant strides in raising faculty salaries, adding a second sabbatical, improving and expanding faculty housing, working hard to find ways to expand professional development in the face of difficult economic times, and, my favorite, creating the Children’s Center for the faculty offspring, we have done much to support our wonderful teachers. My years of teaching public speaking and entertaining students, faculty, alumni, and Williston Northampton friends in our home have provided me with some of my happiest hours at Williston. My close connection with the alumni has taught me that the spirit of this fantastic school is consistent with the generations of amazing people Williston Northampton has graduated in the past and I am sure will continue to graduate long into the future. But any list of activities or accomplishments couldn’t possibly represent all that is in my heart. In my heart I know that being at Williston has made me a better person, which is exactly what everyone here wants for themselves, and more importantly what we want for our students. The other day I was walking across campus during one of those moments of quiet that sometimes happen in the afternoon, at that time between classes and athletics when the students are either already at practice or are getting ready to go and the campus is quiet and seems deserted. I spotted a student walking along the path in front of the Reed Center. He was walking with purpose—it looked to me like he was late for something—but then he suddenly stopped, bent over to pick up something, and then continued on his way. Before going

into the Reed Center, he deposited whatever he’d picked up in the trash can—he’d picked up litter that someone else had left behind. I smiled to myself, because just that morning in assembly, Swanee had told the students to be on the lookout for litter on campus, reminding everyone that it doesn’t take much to make our campus look poor, and it doesn’t take much to keep our campus looking good.There was this student, with no one around to remind him, doing a small, selfless act to make the school a better place. If the true test of character is what we do when no one is watching, this young man proved that he has great character. I can’t—and won’t—take direct credit for this behavior— I couldn’t even tell exactly who it was because, well, my eyes aren’t what they used to be. But I do like to think that I can take at least a little credit for fostering an environment where this student—and all students—gain the necessary education in a supportive environment to make the right choices, even when no one’s looking.

I leave here with gratitude to all of the students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni, and friends who’ve allowed me to be a part of their lives over the past eleven years. I leave here with confidence that Williston will continue to provide an exceptional educational experience to students under the guidance of Robert W. Hill III the next head of school. I leave here with trepidation about the future but faith in the fact that Williston has prepared me—as it has prepared students for 169 years—to be successful in the next stage of my life. So I guess one thing we headmasters may agree about is that you can take us out of Williston, but you can’t take Williston out of us. Long may we cherish Williston. —Brian

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

A Growing Program Energizes the Campus

tudents and faculty have benefitted from the growth of the Williston+ program during the 2009-10 school year, the first full year of the program’s existence. Thanks to the hard work of Kim Evelti, Williston’s curriculum development specialist for Five College resources, Williston’s teachers and students have enjoyed lectures and hands-on learning experiences led by professors from the Five Colleges, visited the various college campuses and explored the rich resources they have to offer, and gained important insights into the academic expectations of college life. The Williston+ program brings Williston students in touch with the rich resources of the Five Colleges and in doing so enriches their educational experience while better preparing them for the next step in their academic lives.

One example of the positive experiences Williston students can have through the Williston+ program involves the Fine Arts Department. This year Department Head Deb Sherr brought in members of the UMass Graduate String Quartet to work with Williston’s Chamber Orchestra, in a mutually beneficial arrangement. The graduate students ran sectionals (separate meetings of the 1st violins, 2nd violins, violas, and cellos), during which the sections practiced their respective parts. Deb says, “The Williston members of the Chamber Orchestra really appreciate the presence of the quartet, and the quartet is pleased to be getting the experience.” The collaboration will continue for the entire academic year, and the UMass students will perform for the Williston community this spring.

“With no doubt, people from UMass are not only skillful musicians, but also great ‘peer eds’. They help us with any problem about music, like basic skills, and ways to control and express music through playing. (They even helped me fix my violin.) Their participation makes our music more beautiful, and I think our orchestra members are definitely making progress because of them. In rehersals, sectionals, or concerts, they [have been] a great part of us." –Haoshu Xu ’13

Deb made the initial connection with the UMass students and their teacher while on sabbatical last year. The endeavor is made possible by funding from the Henry M. ’52 and Judith M. Zachs Faculty Chair, awarded to Deb in 2006 for a period of five years.

Find out more — www.williston.com/willistonplus 4

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

campus news

Dr. James Wald, associate professor of history and director of the Hampshire College Center for the Book, discussed anti-Semitism with students.

The Natural History Museum at Amherst College is one of the numerous museums at the Five Colleges that Williston students visit regularly. Williston musicians practiced their parts in sectionals directed by members of the UMass Graduate String Quartet. The UMass students worked with the Chamber Orchestra throughout the year.

Students enjoyed an opportunity to learn some African drumming techniques and rhythms during a workshop offered on campus this fall by Faith Conant, director of the Five College West African Music Ensemble based at Mount Holyoke College.

Below: James Alic Garang, doctoral student at UMass, Amherst, spoke about his experience as a refugee and “Lost Boy” of Sudan and heard students in World Civilizations classes present their research in the Africa Museum project. His talk, “When Elephants Fight, It is the Grass that Suffers: Pithy Account of Sudanese Civil Wars,” gave students, faculty, and parents a window into his struggles and the determination and strong values he maintained throughout his journey.

From left, above: During one visit of several that he made to chemistry classes this fall and winter, Dr. James Chambers, assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry at UMass, Amherst, conducted a dissection lab. Dr. Chambers and graduate students working with him on research into memory and the brain met with all Williston chemistry classes.

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

Photographers’ Lecture Series 2010 Williston’s annual Photographers’ Lecture Series kicked off in January with renowned photojournalist Yunghi Kim. The series features internationally acclaimed photographers who present their work to the school and community. Advanced photography students participate in a class taught by the photographers preceding the public lecture. Past visiting photographers have included photojournalist Ed Kashi, who is known for his unique approach to storytelling with new technologies in his coverage of current worldwide political and social issues; Sean Hemmerle, an architectural and landscape photographer; and Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Ed Keating.

Yunghi Kim A Boston Globe photographer for seven years, Yunghi Kim continues to capture international conflicts through her images. In 1992 while covering the famine in Somalia, Kim was taken hostage by rebels. Days after being freed by the United Nations and CARE, she returned to Somalia to complete her assignment. She documented the lives of former South Korean Comfort Women who were forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese during WWII. She also photographed Rwandan refugees in 1994, political upheaval in Indonesia in 1998, the turmoil in Pakistan and Afghanistan in 2002, and the Iraq War in 2003.The recipient of several World Press Photo awards, Kim was named Magazine Photographer of the Year by the National Press Photographers Association. She is a regular contributor to US News & World Report, Time, and Fortune.

Serge J-F. Levy While Serge J-F. Levy’s work includes freelance photography for publications and projects of self-portraiture, he continues his personal visual journal of capturing the street by carrying a 35mm film camera through every waking moment. Levy is a self-taught photographer whose images have appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The London Sunday Times Magazine, Life, and Harper’s Magazine. His non-commercial work is acknowledged equally and has been exhibited in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Schroeder Romero Gallery in Chelsea, and the Leica Gallery in Tokyo. Levy is a member of the faculty at the International Center of Photography in Manhattan. He also guest lectures and teaches at Vassar College, where he was awarded the $25,000 W.K. Rose Fellowship in the Creative Arts in 2000.

EXAMINING THE CONSTITUTION n Saturday, January 30, Peter Gunn’s U.S. history students participated in the We the People Conference in Boston, a statewide academic competition sponsored by the Center for Civic Education.The program requires each group to prepare three research papers investigating substantive questions about different aspects of the history, philosophy, and development of the U.S. system of government. At the event, the students make a formal presentation and then defend their research without benefit of notes before a panel of judges. Among the judges were (pictured at right with Peter) Ceara Mahoney ’98, who participated in the We the People program in 1998 and now serves as

O 6

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

Assistant District Attorney for Middlesex County; and Jamie Gass ’87, Director of the Center for School Reform at Pioneer Institute, a public policy research firm in Boston. The Williston students finished third overall in the competition. Peter Gunn wrote in a school-wide email after the competition, “Their performances impressed me and the nearly two dozen parents in attendance for the depth of understanding and eloquence of expression. Our students engaged in a challenging intellectual opportunity and made the most of it.” In 2000, Williston won the championship and represented Massachusetts in the nationals in Washington, D.C.

Robert Lyons ’72 Robert Lyons’ recent project, Intimate Enemy, provides a rare look at perpetrators and survivors of the Rwandan genocide through black and white portraits. The project resulted in the book Intimate Enemy: Voices and Images from the Rwandan Genocide, one of Lyons’ numerous publications. During the past 25 years, his photographs have been widely exhibited in the United States and Europe and represented in permanent collections including The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Seattle Art Museum. Lyons lives and works in Berlin, Germany and western Massachusetts. He received a BFA from Hampshire College and an MFA from Yale University. Currently he is a guest lecturer at the OstkreuzSchule in Berlin.

Sasha Bezzubov and Jessica Sucher Sasha Bezzubov and Jessica Sucher have been artistic collaborators since 2002. Their work captures the politics of pilgrimage and destruction caused by natural disasters. They are multiple Fulbright Scholarship recipients for their projects, and much of their collaboration, such as the Searchers Project, looks at the role of western tourism in the developing world. Bezzubov’s apocalyptic landscapes of the aftermath of natural disasters have been exhibited internationally as well as at The Front Room Gallery in New York City. In 2009, Nazraeli Press published Wildfire, a monograph that captures the result of California forest fires in 32 color images by Bezzubov. His work is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Art of Giving Something Foundation, and has been featured in The New York Times Magazine and Newsweek. Bezzubov received an MFA in Photography from Yale School of Art. In addition to pursuing photography, Sucher has worked as a curator and Manager of Public Programs at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City. She earned degrees from Brown University and New York University. Listen to student interview podcasts with each of the visiting photographers at www.williston.com/podcasts. © Stewart Woodward

Parish Kohanim A commercial and art photographer, Parish Kohanim has been dedicated to photography for over 25 years. His clients have consisted of many Fortune 500 companies such as Coca-Cola, De Beers Diamonds, and Fossil. His images have appeared in the pages of Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue. After winning numerous Gold Addys, a CLIO award, and becoming a Canon Explorer of Light for his advertising work, Kohanim is now dedicating himself to his fine art photography. Whether his subject is a still life or a portrait, his images emphasize a detailed study of light, form, and color with a contemporary approach.

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

Thanks to their dedication, donations, and volunteer efforts, Williston’s ninth graders have raised a grand total of $1,310 for Haiti, to be donated in full to the Meds and Food for Kids Foundation, an organization dedicated to saving the lives of Haiti’s malnourished children and other nutritionally vulnerable people. The donations resulted from two fundraising events: $510 was raised during a Ninth Grade Program assembly, at which the effort was first announced, and $800 was raised subsequently through sales of wristbands and a refreshment table set up during the intermission of the children’s theater production in February. Ninth Grade Class Advisor Adrienne Mantegna ’94 congratulated all those who helped by buying bracelets, saying, “You should all feel incredibly proud of your efforts, your donations, and your empathy (the “E” in the freshman’s class theme C.O.R.E.). You’ve done an incredible thing!” A school-wide fundraising effort was undertaken by Pastor Daphne Burt, who urged the community to remember that “our brothers and sisters in Haiti are still in great need.” Pastor Burt organized an online auction of original artwork, goods, and services donated by faculty and staff. Auction items included those of particular interest to students, such as a “Golden Ticket” allowing a student to proceed directly to the front of the line on stir-fry night and home-baked cookies and cakes delivered to students. Faculty artists donated their work included photography teacher Edward Hing ’77, ceramics teacher Natania Hume, theater production manager/quilter Amy Putnam, drawing teacher Susanna White, and painting teacher Marcia Reed. See how the community supported Haiti relief efforts at www.williston.com/haiti.

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

EXCELLENCE, JUSTICE, AND HONOR: MARY ALCOCK ’84 ADDRESSES THE WILLISTON COMMUNITY

he following Williston Northampton seniors were inducted into the Cum Laude Society on February 2, 2010, at an assembly in the Phillips Stevens Chapel: Gillian Barker, Benjamin Cowan, Gabriela Garcia, Woo-Sung “Kevin” Jung, Huan-Ting “Tim” Lin, Qasim Mahmood, Deirdre Quirk, James Thomson, Brooke Yarrows, Kevin Yochim, Shikun “Aerin” Zhang, Hanyu “Jessica” Zhou, and Yan Zheng “Daniel” Zhu. Students and parents of inductees were invited to attend the assembly. Parents and family members who couldn’t attend watched the live webcast. A reception followed the event at Headmaster Brian R. Wright’s house. Mary E. Alcock ’84 was the guest speaker for this February’s induction. A Cum Laude Society member, Ms. Alcock is counsel based in the New York office of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP. A member of the New York State Bar, Ms. Alcock is recognized as a leading employee benefits lawyer by The Best Lawyers in America and The Legal 500. She received her JD in 1993 from Yale Law School and received her undergraduate degree summa cum laude from Yale University. Ms. Alcock spoke of her early years in Easthampton and the impact Williston and her family had on her life and scholarly pursuits. Those strong connections prompted her and her family, in 2007, to make a gift to the school by naming her mother’s childhood home, at 11 Payson Avenue, Daley House in her honor. She said, “When it comes to honor, please also remember it is not the ‘with honors’ on the degree or the name of the deed on the house that is truly important. It is community. It is caring. It is remembering, respecting, and cherishing of the past, but always looking to the future.” While at Williston, Ms. Alcock was active in the theater and formed Williston’s As Schools Match Wits team, helping to bring the group to the playoffs numerous times. Her awards included the White Blazer, presented at graduation to the “young woman who has distinguished herself with the greatest contributions to the academic, athletic, and community life of the school while exhibiting exemplary leadership and integrity.” The Cum Laude Society recognizes academic achievement by students in secondary schools for the purpose of promoting excellence (Areté), justice (Diké), and honor (Timé). Founded in 1906, the society modeled Cum Laude after Phi Beta Kappa, and in the years since its founding, Cum Laude has grown to 350 chapters around the world.

Photos © Janine Norton

SAVING LIVES IN HAITI

VISION IS THE ART OF SEEING WHAT IS INVISIBLE TO OTHERS n January, Williston held its eighth annual school-wide Diversity Conference. This all-day event focused on delivering diversity education to students, faculty, and administrators through a variety of perspectives and presentations by faculty, students, alumni, and parents.This year’s theme was “Vision is the Art of Seeing What is Invisible to Others.” The day began with a keynote address by Rodney Glasgow, director of diversity and community relations at Worcester Academy and facilitator, trainer, and activist in the areas of diversity, equity, and social justice. He spoke to students about his experiences of growing up black and gay and how his differences affected where he is today. He then role-played cultural characters who defy stereotypes such as an Asian girl who doesn’t like math and a gay football player. Afterwards students participated in two separate workshops of their choice led by faculty, students, alumni, and visiting guests. Jim Wald, a Hampshire College professor, led a workshop on anti-Semitism. Through dialogue about local and global examples of anti–Semitism, the class discussed how prejudices impact people daily. Nola–rae Cronan, director of student activities, has been leading diversity workshops since the conference began eight years ago. She says, “I do several workshops each year and I really love it. I think it’s an opportunity for students to try something new and talk about different topics they haven’t talked about before. The conference really gives them an opportunity to explore different opinions in race, culture, ethnicity, and language to expand their view of the world.” This year she led a workshop called, “Was I Always White?” a class on the history of the cultural definitions of whiteness. Other workshops included African drumming, a how-to of cooking Asian food, the history of hip-hop, and doll making for Nigerian orphans. The day came to a close with a performance by Sacred Slam, a non-profit organization that works with individuals, organizations, and communities to promote respect for diversity and the peaceful resolution of conflict. Their audio and video presentation included a compilation of stories, drawings, and animation contributed by students from many countries who have first-hand experience with conflict in their homelands.

POMMES FRITES, ANYONE? French students and teacher Claire Frierson had an opportunity to practice their conversation skills while visiting Quebec during February long weekend. They toured the Parlement du Québec, spent a day skating and sledding at the Village des Sports, and enjoyed the evening activities and massive snow and ice sculptures at the city’s Winter Carnival. And, perhaps most of all, they enjoyed the superb cuisine.

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

Photos © John Risley

Winter Sports Recap Williston athletes achieved many victories and postseason successes worthy of recognition during the winter season. We are also proud that all who wore the blue and green this winter represented Williston with the kind of respect for others that we most value in our community. Wrestling Under Coach Matt KaneLong, the wrestling team got off to a good start, winning three dual matches. At the Doug Parker Tournament, Ross Ewing ’11 took fourth at 189 lbs., Connor Adams ’12 took fifth at 215 lbs., and Walter McLaughlin ’12 took sixth in the 285 lbs. division. In the Class A League Tournament, Sean Lowney ’11 took fifth at 171 lbs. and Devin Clark ’10 took sixth at 145 lbs.. Tony Alvarez ’11 (at 160 lbs.) and Connor Adams both qualified for the New England Independent School Wrestling Association Championships, but were unable to perform at their best due to injuries. Skiing Led by Coach Ed Hing ’77, both teams enjoyed successful seasons. The boys’ team achieved a fourth place finish in the final league race of the season. On the girls’ team, Gabriela Garcia ’10, Lindsey Dirats ’11, and Madison Dirats ’14 finished in the top 20 at the New England Championships. 10

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

Swimming and Diving According to Coach Dave Koritkoski, the boys saved their best performances for the end of the season and at the New England Championships, they were crowned the New England Small School Champions. Reece Liang ’10 finished third in the 100-meter breaststroke with the third fastest time in school history to earn All-New England honors. The girls’ team had several wins, including victories over Northfield Mount Hermon, Kent, and Westminster. At the New England Championships, the girls swam well but narrowly missed winning the small school championship.

Boys’ Basketball The varsity team faced its share of adversity but played hard throughout the season. The boys defeated the Masters School in the Kingswood Tournament, and won against a strong contingent of alumni in January. Joseph Donovan ’10 and Benjamin King ’13 received Honorable Mention recognition on the Western New England All-Star team. Girls’ Basketball Under Coach Kevin Kudla, the varsity team finished with a 13-8 record, including victories in seven out of nine road games. Highlights included a second place finish in Williston’s Ray Brown Tournament and gritty wins over Deerfield, Hotchkiss, Choate, and Westminster. For the second consecutive year, the team earned a berth in the NEPSAC Class B Tournament. As the #7 seed, the team played a competitive game before falling to the defending champions. Kristina Conroy ’10 and Kay Samples-Smart ’11 were named to the Ray Brown AllTournament Team and the NEPSAC Class A/B All-Star Team. Kristina, a three-time NEPSAC All-Star, finished her Williston career with 1,266 points, fourth most in school history, including 133 three-pointers. Boys’ Hockey Led by Coach Derek Cunha, the varsity team earned an 11-14-2 record. Highlights included third place in the St. Sebastian’s Christmas tournament, a hard-fought 3-3 tie

at Salisbury, and a 6-5 road win over Deerfield Academy—the first win against Deerfield since 1976. Benjamin Kravitz ’10 wrapped up a remarkable Williston career in which he played in 113 consecutive games. Girls’ Hockey The varsity team enjoyed its finest season since the program began in 1983. Under the leadership of Coaches Christa Talbot ’98 and Molly Ward ’82, the girls set two school records: 18 wins and a 10-game winning streak. The many highlights included winning all four games in the Exeter Tournament, defeating Tabor Academy for the first time in seven years, and an exciting 2-1 overtime victory over Berkshire. The team earned a #5 seed in the NEPSAC Division 1 Tournament, its first tournament berth in 15 years. Despite a valiant effort, the girls lost 30 to eventual champion Westminster. Goalie Meghann Treacy ’11 was named to the NEPSAC Division One All-Star Team. Girls’ Squash Led by Coach Andrew Keller, the varsity team achieved 9 wins against 4 losses. Highlights included 7-0 shutout wins over Berkshire, Kingswood, and Canterbury, and two 4-3 victories over Suffield. Sarah Fay ’11 held down the tough #1 spot all winter. The team earned an invitation to the New England Class B Championships at Pomfret, where the girls had an excellent showing: Jillian Grant ’11 finished sixth, Jennifer Arboleda ’10 finished fourth, Lindsay McDonough ’10 finished third, and Chen-I “Ariel” Ting ’11 finished in first place. Boys’ Squash Under the guidance of Coach Andrew Keller, the varsity team finished with a 9-3 record. Highlights included two 7-0 victories over Suffield and 4-3 victories over Salisbury and Pomfret. Woo-Sung “Kevin” Jung ’10 and Jacob Roscoe ’10 led the squad all winter, playing in the tough #1 and #2 positions. The team competed at the Class B New England Championships and finished in third place. Highlights of that day included Peerapatr “Putter” Sirichantaropart ’10 taking fourth place in the #6 draw, Kyung Jun “Charlie” Park ’11 taking third place in the #7 draw, Byung Ho “Ben” Ko ’12 finishing in second place in the #4 draw, and Jerry Lo ’11 winning the #5 draw.

www.williston.com/bulletin/webextras

web extras Watch video of these events at www.williston.com/video

Headmaster Brian Wright discusses leadership with middle school students in Springfield

Mary Alcock ’84 addresses students, and 13 students are inducted as new members of The Cum Laude Society

Students in the Film Club summarize the events of the Diversity Conference, including workshops presented by Five College faculty and Williston faculty, students, and alumni

Kristina Conroy scores her 1,000th career point Dredging mishap at Williston Pond

Read Ann Vanderburgh’s reflections on her 32 years at Williston at www.williston.com/AnnVan

See photographs of alumni receptions at www.williston.com/receptions

Williston students interview visitors in the Photographers’ Lecture Series at www.williston.com/podcasts

Learn more about Williston+ at www.williston.com/willistonplus

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

The Headmaster’s Farewell Tour Headmaster Brian Wright and his wife Janet visited alumni, parents, and friends of the school around the globe at receptions held in honor of Dr. Wright’s 11 years of leadership at Williston. Dr. and Mrs. Wright, who have visited families in Asia each year since the launch of the Campaign for Williston Northampton: Legacy & Vision in 2005, extend their sincere appreciation to all of the reception guests and the hosts, listed below, who so warmly welcomed them. October 27 – Hong Kong Waco Wai Kong Ng and Rebecca Ng P’11 October 29 – Shanghai Mark Li P’11 November 5 – Taipei Lung-Pin Ting and Chih-Jan Chen P’11 Ding-Hang Lee and Lee Wang P’11 November 8 – Seoul Yongsik Park and Younghee Goo P’11 November 12 – Tokyo Nobuko Ishii Hirata ’80 November 16 – Bangkok Chira Sirisamphan ’76 November 20 – Vietnam Richard Sherwood, consultant January 10 – Los Angeles Maria Burgee Dwight LeVesconte ’52 January 14 – San Francisco David Connolly ’83, trustee February 10 – Palm Beach John Hazen White ’76, trustee March 24 – Washington, DC Peter H. Cressy ’59 March 25 – Philadelphia Kevin Hoben ’65, trustee

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

Photographs © Janet Wright

April 7 – New York City Dan Cain ’64 and Jim Cain ’68 April 15 – Boston Ned Lynch ’65

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

Brian Wright, Wave Rider by Ann Vanderburgh

As I reflect upon Brian’s time at Williston, I consider the fact that I have worked under four headmasters over the course of my career here, and so I have seen some big transitions in leadership. Given all that Brian and I have navigated in the course of our work together, I guess that I shouldn’t be surprised that the wrench of departure is so much harder for me this time around. When I contemplate all that I have learned from Brian, I realize first and foremost that I have learned immeasurably from Brian’s ability to meet challenges; in particular, from watching him surmount each challenge that he faces. Like a boat riding huge waves, he rises to the top every time, intact if not unscathed. I have seen Brian take giant leaps of faith at numerous critical moments in making large and small decisions for the school, setting pivotal events in motion. From the start of his time here at Williston, Brian made his commitment to teaching very clear, describing it as “the real business of the school. ” In asking that all academic administrators teach at least one class, Brian has emphasized the importance of staying connected to the

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

classroom experience, and he has clearly demonstrated that priority through his own teaching. In my classroom observations as dean of faculty, I have seen firsthand Brian’s work teaching public speaking to our ninth graders in English 9. He shows our students how to look at their inner fears and find ways to work with them. He emphasizes with them the importance of practicing small actions—eye contact, physical gestures, posture—that will build their confidence not only for their classroom presentations, but for life. Brian asks his students to look at what makes them nervous or apprehensive about being in front of a group, and then he shows them how to minimize the impact of that through breathing, regulated pace and pitch, focus, and preparation. In asking his students to look at how they manage their own anxiety about speaking, he provides them with a rubric for facing potentially far larger life challenges, be they internal or external ones. Brian can size up in an instant the environment around him. So many times he has poked his head into my office and known right away if my day is a good one or a bad one. In my first year as dean of faculty, I worked all summer, navigated opening meetings, and then found myself facing the first day of classes. It was the first

time in 28 years that I was not jumping into the typical full-time teaching/coaching day, but had only one class to teach. I did not realize how unsettling that was, or what sort of an irreversible loss was entailed by this transition, until Brian came into my office that morning to see how I was doing. In that moment he knew better than I did the depth and finality of the move I was making, and all of the conflicting feelings of grief, fear, and excitement for the unknown future that such a new challenge brings. I remember all of those conflicting emotions welling up as soon as he asked me how I was feeling and what a difference it made to me that he understood where I was and what it was like. He sat with me and listened, and somehow I got through that morning. Occasionally, we have been at cross purposes with each other, which is never any fun. More often, we have been sad for each other, for the different difficult challenges that we have each had to face. But mostly, and at the most important moments, we’ve been in sync with each other, in that effortless way of communicating where we each can say something that has meaning on several different levels, and where we can each hear the reply that comes back in the same multifaceted way.

Photos © Edward Judice

THE WRIGHT

TIMES

This page, from left: the Zachs Admission Center, renovated in 2000; academic administrators were also asked to teach a class beginning in 1999; the Children’s Center opened its doors in 2000.

own huge waves, and he has made it clear at many different points that he is confident that I can do it. When my plans for my near-term future finally coalesced, he was relieved and joyful that my long period of indecision and soul searching had resolved itself into a clear vision and a determined excitement about a new path, with new challenges. I wish that same joy and excitement for him as he begins his new post-Williston life.

Shared Vision Brings Success by Chuck McCullagh P’10, ’13

Dr. Wright has taught public speaking to every class of ninth graders during his tenure. Brian has been a huge catalyst in my growth process, and I am enormously thankful for all that he has done to help me find my way. After catapulting me into a new and life-changing position, he has watched me forge ahead, perhaps wondering himself what was in store for me. As it

became increasingly clear to both of us that I would choose not to stay at Williston beyond his tenure, Brian became an even more active participant in my process, helping me to think things through and to have faith that the path ahead would unfold. He has shown me how to ride my

I first met Brian in Virginia, when I interviewed with him for Williston’s chief financial officer position as he was finishing up as headmaster at a day school there and preparing to move to Easthampton. I think we were both pleased with how that first meeting went, because Brian and I arrived on campus within a few days of each other in 1999 to assume our new roles at Williston. As I look back over Brian’s tenure at Williston, one of the reasons we have been able to work together so successfully is that we began at the same time and therefore went through similar adjustments to our new surroundings. I also think we shared a

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

similar vision, from the standpoint of the school’s physical plant, and had compatible ideas regarding the best way to position Williston Northampton for success in the 21st century. Under Brian’s leadership, we have seen a number of significant improvements. I am sure that at Reunion Weekend last year, when alumni from Brian’s first year returned for their 10th reunion, they found a campus noticeably different from the one they remembered from their student days. For those alumni, the most noticeable change on campus was probably the new dorm at 194 Main Street, which opened its doors to ninth grade boys in September 2008. The first new dormitory built at Williston in 35 years, 194 Main Street fea-

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

tures a design that fits in beautifully with the surrounding neighborhood and a geothermal heating system that is environmentally friendly and cost-efficient. What many people may not know is that in addition to being a campus jewel, the new dorm is part of Williston’s master plan, which Brian first authorized in 2001 and which was updated in 2006. A key element of the master plan is the creation of a residential quadrangle behind Phillips Stevens Chapel where the majority of our boarding students would ultimately live. The new dorm is an important first step towards making that vision a reality. Other improvements outlined in the master plan include moving language classes to larger, improved facilities, providing additional space for mathematics classes, and renovating the Robert A. Ward Schoolhouse so that it is handicap-accessible and air conditioned. There are also plans to renovate the Clapp Library to meet the ever-changing demands for research media and materials. Other important projects defined by the planning process under Brian’s leadership include continuing the improvements to the Lossone Rink and expanding the David Fitness Center.

The eight-lane, latex-cushioned track and synthetic surface field at Galbraith Field, completed in 2006; 12 all-weather tennis courts were built in 2006; the dedication of the Wilmot S. Babcock Pool in 2007; the Writing Center has seen thousands of student visits since 2005; Dr. Wright hosted students in his home after Cum Laude inductions and other formal events.

The list of campus changes that have taken place under Brian’s leadership is extensive. It includes:

Renovation of Ford Hall. Construction and creation of the Children’s Center.

Creation of Studio Theatre. The Haynes Building, the base of operations for the Physical Plant Department.

Renovation of The Homestead and the creation of the Zachs Admission Center.

Creation of additional playing fields at Galbraith Fields.

Squash courts renovation. Sawyer Field synthetic playing surface and Berube Stadium.

Conversion of Plimpton Hall to a stand-alone college counseling facility.

Since 2003, Brian and Janet Wright have hosted dinners for international students; lighted crosswalks help ensure safety on campus; Berube Stadium at Sawyer Field, dedicated in 2005, allows for all-weather play and games “under the lights”; the Community Garden, funded by Catherine Skove ’75, will one day sit at the heart of the new residential quad.

Dedication of the Robert A. Ward Schoolhouse.

Gateway signs at the major street entry points to campus.

Birch Dining Commons improvements—window replacement and air conditioning.

Galbraith Field synthetic field, a new eight-lane track, new tennis courts, and a new athletic grounds maintenance building.

Four new lighted crosswalks. Naming of the Babcock Pool. Numerous improvements to Lossone Rink, including new locker rooms, bleachers, boards, and glass.

Dredging of the campus pond.

At the heart of each of these projects has been Brian’s desire to keep Williston as one of the premier college preparatory schools in the country while ensuring that we build a community that faculty, students, staff, and alumni are proud to be a part of, one that is also a good neighbor to the City of Easthampton. Two of the projects that Brian has been most enthusiastic about—the establishment of a Children’s Center on campus and the faculty salary initiative, which sought to increase faculty salaries in relation to our peer schools—are directly related to improving the quality of life on campus. Additionally, one of the key physical plant efforts during Brian Wright’s tenure was to improve faculty housing, both the quality and quantity. In that regard, we have acquired seventeen contiguous properties over the past decade, many

of which provided Williston with additional faculty residences. Many of the oncampus homes and apartments received substantial improvements and upgrades, including lead paint abatement, kitchen renovations, and bathroom upgrades. Also, four residences were torn down to allow for other campus improvements. I know there are some projects that Brian would have liked to have completed while he was headmaster, most notably a new science building. The fact is, however, that sometimes it is just as difficult to say “no” to a project as it is to go ahead with one; the pressure to constantly build and improve has to be moderated with a sound fiscal policy which ensures that the school does not take on more than it can handle. Brian has had to walk this line during his time as headmaster, and the list of campus improvements shows his regard for discipline and his concern for the well-being of Williston’s community. It doesn’t do anyone any good if we have a campus full of new buildings and no one to live and work in them. More work lies ahead for Williston, but as Brian prepares to depart Williston, he leaves behind a stronger campus, one that is better than it was when he and I first set foot on it back in 1999, and a school that is poised to achieve even greater heights in the future.

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

The Right Choice by Jim Cain ’64 On a hot June night in 2008, alumni, faculty, and friends of The Williston Northampton School gathered on campus to celebrate the conclusion of the most successful fundraising effort in the history of the school. Board of Trustees President Chuck Tauck ’72 announced the final tally from the stage erected in the Athletic Center: The Campaign for Williston Northampton: Legacy & Vision had raised $36.4 million, surpassing the campaign’s $36 million goal. The money raised boosted the school’s endowment, provided more resources for faculty, increased financial aid, and funded various campus capital projects, most notably the new 194 Main Street dorm. That moment would not have been possible if a lot of people had not put in a lot of hard work to make it happen. And none of those people would have been able to work so hard towards such a worthy goal unless a few people had the vision that Williston could, indeed, launch—and more importantly, complete—a successful capital campaign. One of those people who was instrumental in moving the capital campaign from a dream to a reality was Brian Wright.

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

I was a member of the board when Headmaster Denny Grubbs announced that he would be retiring, and I was asked to become a member of the search committee to find Denny’s successor. After a series of meetings, visits to schools, and reference checks, we all became painfully aware that finding someone as capable as Denny was going to be a greater challenge than we had anticipated. When the search committee met in my office in New York with the intent to make a selection between our two finalists, our search consultant kicked off that meeting by announcing that one of the candidates had withdrawn her application, so we were left with only one. It was obvious that the remaining candidate was not the first choice of a clear majority. Someone on the committee had the nerve and foresight to recommend we step back and start over. In hindsight, it was the best decision the committee had made up to that point. Rather than feel defeated and deflated, we raised our sights and decided to pursue a seated head who would be attracted by both a change of scenery and the potential Williston held. When I met Brian, I was immediately taken by his energy, insights, and passion for making our school an even better place to educate young people. And that

impression has changed little over his eleven years as headmaster. When Williston’s Board of Trustees voted in September 2002 to go ahead with the $36 million Legacy & Vision campaign, there was considerable doubt among many people about whether Williston could pull off such an ambitious campaign. After all, Williston is a school that for many years relied on the largesse of its founder, Samuel Williston, and a true culture of giving had never really taken root at the

This page: The 194 Main Street dorm, housing ninth grade boys, is attractive and environmentally friendly; Chinese language instruction began in 2008 and continues to grow; hundreds of alumni, parents, and friends attended the “Thank You” gala that concluded the Legacy & Vision capital campaign in 2008. Facing page: Students enjoy healthy food in the Birch Dining Commons, renovated and named in 2005; renovations to Lossone Rink were completed in 2007; the Williston+ program expanded the school’s academic offerings.

T h e

W i l l i s t o n

N o r t h a m p t o n

S c h o o l

BULLETIN SPRING 2009

Amherst College UMass

Smith College

Mt. Holyoke College

Illustration © Celia Johnson

Hampshire College

Photos © Ed Judice

Left: Jim Cain ’64 speaks at Reunion 2009. Below: The Brian and Janet Wright Scholarship will allow more students to experience what Dr. Wright calls “the gift of a Williston education.”

school. I have to admit I was among the skeptics who doubted Williston’s ability to succeed in a campaign of the size being considered. Brian worked hard to help the board recognize that Williston needed more in the way of financial resources in order to keep pace with other schools offering similar opportunities for teenagers. At the campaign kickoff celebration in 2005, which also took place on a hot June night on campus, Brian stood at the podium and told the more than 700 alumni and friends gathered there that the time was right for a campaign. “This is an opportunity to ensure the next generation an even better Williston Northampton education by solidifying the strength and

reputation of the school,” he said. “Our goal is to ensure that we become one of the nation’s leading independent schools while maintaining our unique mission and culture.” Fast forward to a few years later, and we were celebrating the largest and most successful campaign in the school’s history. This June, when alumni and friends gather on campus on what we hope is NOT another hot June night, we will have the chance to say thank you and farewell to Brian and Janet Wright. We will celebrate the time they spent here, thank them for their service to the school, and wish them well in the future. And we will all remind ourselves that because of achieve-

ments like the campaign, Brian leaves behind a stronger school than the one he joined when he became headmaster in 1999. We owe a lot to Brian and also to Chris Biehn, Williston’s former chief advancement officer, who drove us to realize a potential in our school’s community we didn’t fully recognize at the time. We also shouldn’t forget to be grateful for the candidate who withdrew her application for the headmaster’s position that ultimately became Brian’s. Without her decision, who knows how things might have turned out?

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

Happy Trails, Ann Van by Peter Gunn

n June, after all of the students have gone home, the seniors have been sent on their way to college, and

the alumni who celebrated Reunion have returned to their post-Williston Northampton lives full of fresh memories, Ann Vanderburgh will leave Williston after 32 years of service to the school. She will mark the transition to a new phase of her life by traversing Vermont’s Green Mountains via the 270mile Long Trail, America’s oldest long-distance hiking trail. When she returns from the trail, she will

begin training to become a pastoral counselor, which means that people who find themselves in hospital will enjoy the devotion and compassion that has distinguished Ann Van’s relationships with nearly two gen-

Hiking the Long Trail is an appropriate way for Ann to commemorate her years of service to Williston, because not only is Ann an accomplished hiker, but she also appreciates the value of the journey and the lessons a person can learn along the way. Ann’s Williston journey began in 1978 when she was hired as a math teacher. Ann’s deep faith in human goodness quickly made her a vital member of the community, and she made a strong connection with one of the first classes to get to know her. The class of 1983 dedicated that year’s Log to Ann with these words, “She is more than a teacher, she is a friend.” Ann and I have been colleagues for twenty-five years, and I’ve always admired her. One reason why is that she challenges the stereotype of the traditional prep school teacher—she is not the scholar/coach/Pied Piper we see depicted in movies like Dead Poets Society. In contrast to that image, Ann strives to learn with her students, to help them grow through self-empowering athletic experiences, and to enjoy the quiet conversation with an advisee working through a tough situation. Ann and I have contrasting teaching styles, but when I came to Williston in 1985, she impressed me immediately with her empathy and her ability to support a diverse range of students. She showed me the value

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

erations of the Williston family.

in drawing energy from our students and that great learning comes from us being ready to be taught by young people. Despite the differences in our approaches, we discovered that our shared interest in social justice made us good allies. Ann and I worked together on the inclusion of sexual orientation in our non-discrimination policy. While in 2010 that may seem like no big deal, twenty years ago we stood alone before the faculty in asking for a vote that would open Williston up to many teachers and students who might otherwise never have joined this community. Ann deserves credit for believing that we could invite the faculty to say out loud what she knew we felt in our hearts. When the history of Williston over the past thirty years is written, that example will stand out and echo its testimony to the vision, courage, and dedication of Ann Vanderburgh. Ann began at Williston as a math teacher; she steps down as Dean of Faculty. In between, she’s also been a dorm parent, coach, advisor, mentor, and friend. Along the way, Ann has accumulated significant honors, including the Karin O’Neil Instructorship and being elected to Cum Laude by her peers. But anyone who knows

Ann knows that she measures her impact on the school not in terms of dry lists, but in hugs, letters, and warm memories. From the math classroom to the playing fields to the dorms and especially to those quiet spaces where we face ourselves most directly, Ann Vanderburgh has provided everyone she’s met with support, teaching, and love. She leaves behind her own long trail of students, parents, alumni, and colleagues who have been touched by her compassion, empathy, wisdom, and, of course, her famous, handwritten letters that she often began composing in her mind while out hiking. The poet Emme Woodhull-Bache remarked that you need special shoes for hiking, and a bit of a special soul as well. And after working closely with Ann for 25 years, I know that she does, indeed, have a special soul. Thank you, Ann, for making Williston a better place to be. Read Ann Van’s personal reflections on her 32 years at the school at www.williston.com/AnnVan.

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

A Passionate Man by Andrew Shelffo ou may have heard the theory of studying by osmosis—put the book on your head and the knowledge will naturally move from the area of high concentration—the book—to the area of low concentration—your brain. The merits of such a system are dubious at best, so if you happened to walk by his English class, you shouldn’t have been fooled into thinking that Paul Sonerson was engaging in junk science when he told his students to place their assignment books on their heads. Instead, this is just one method Paul used to help his student focus for the day, an exercise that had the added benefit of virtually guaranteeing that every student would bring their assignment book with them to school every day. It’s also part of the art of teaching, which often involves much more than just lecturing and grades. Ask Paul what teaching is about, and he’ll say that it is about the “daily work of trying to put skills into the hands of the student so that they can ask hard questions and engage hard questions.”

When the Middle School holds its annual Closing Ceremony in May, the eighth graders won’t be the only ones saying goodbye to Whitaker-Bement: English teacher Paul Sonerson has decided to retire after a 27-year career at Williston. Committed. Passionate. Energetic. Connected. These are the words people use most often to describe Paul, and if you’ve had the privilege to spend any time with Paul, whether in the classroom, the Dining Commons, or out on the quad playing kick ball or Ultimate, you know that those terms are spot-on. Paul brings his high energy and torchlike focus to whatever he does, whether it be organizing a Veterans Day assembly for students and faculty, working as a faculty representative for Williston’s Annual Fund, or teaching students in his fitness class how they can be healthy for the rest of their lives. Paul spent most of his time at Williston teaching English to seventh and ninth graders, and for the past few years, only

Refereeing the 2010 Dodge Ball Tournament

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

to seventh graders. He chose to focus on these grades because he sees them as crucial times to reach out to students, because they are transition times between elementary school and middle school, and between middle school and high school. And it is during these times when it is important to help “build a foundation of thought,” as he puts it. Paul will be remembered as a teacher who pushed his students to do their best work. Ann Vanderburgh, Williston’s dean of faculty and a colleague of Paul’s for all of his time here, states that Paul “clearly encourages students to push themselves, to take risks in their learning, and to reach for high standards.” But even as he pushes, Ann says, “Paul’s sense of humor and love of being with students shines through.” Director of the Middle School Sarah Kotwicki wrote in Paul’s 2009 faculty evaluation that Paul is “an invaluable part of the success of our Middle School.” Everyone at Williston will miss his energy, intensity, and his passion for teaching, but we will always value his friendship, and we thank him for what he has given to the school and wish him happiness and good health in his retirement.

Paul is “an invaluable part of the success of our Middle School.” © Robert Couch ’50

—Head of the Middle School Sarah Grubbs Kotwicki

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

rian Wright recalls a gathering of the Guild of New York City School Heads some years ago. “A longstanding head of school who must have been there for forty years got up and essentially said that he had been ‘the headmaster in the days of real men. When I was headmaster I was my own development director, my own business manager, my own admission officer, my own communications director. I didn’t have any of those people doing those jobs. I did them all. Clearly you’re all doing one sixth of the job that I did.’” It is unlikely that many in the room shared that point of view. In the 169 years since the first Williston head, Luther Wright (no relation), took office, the job has changed. As different responsibilities have been shed or delegated and new ones have arisen, the challenge of balancing the demands of different constituencies has also evolved. The first challenge came from founder Samuel Williston himself. Sam had certain expectations of his Principal, as the office was then called. In his Constitution of Williston Seminary (1841), he states, “No person shall be appointed Principal ... who is not a professor of the Christian Religion, and a man of reputed piety, of exemplary manners, of good natural abilities and literary acquirements, well acquainted with human nature, and apt to both govern and Luther Wright teach.” Beyond these character attributes, Williston set down few specifics in the job description, but the Principal was to offer “concurrence” in the adoption of rules and regulations established by the faculty, and to “exercise a general supervision over all the Classes and Departments.” He was to report annually to the trustees on the condition of the Seminary. In the beginning, the hiring of faculty remained the responsibility of the board. Samuel Williston wrote that “In consideration of the peculiar and responsible duties thus imposed upon him, it is deemed proper and even desirable, that the Principal not be employed during the entire period of school hours, in the work of immediate, daily instruction.” That ideal of remaining above the fray of daily class work was impractical from the start. Every Williston Principal throughout the 19th century spent the larger portion of his time in the classroom. Joseph Sawyer (faculty, 1866-1919; headmaster 1884-1886 and 1896-1919) was never happier than when he got out of the office to traipse around Easthampton with his surveying class. Sawyer himself commented on the difference in classroom style between the second principal, Josiah Clark (served 1849-1863), and the third, Marshall Henshaw (1863-1876): “With Josiah Clark a good recitation was a joy for all day. With Marshall Henshaw a mangled translation was highway murder.” But it seems clear that Samuel Williston was looking for a manager, rather than academic leader. Luther Wright, whom the founder had known since boyhood, had established an innovative science curriculum as principal of Leicester Academy in the 1830s. That credential got Williston’s attention. Moreover, Williston had pegged Wright as the man who could run the Seminary with the same efficiency that Sam’s

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

The Changing Role of the Headmaster by Richard Teller ’70, archivist

Joseph Sawyer with his surveying class, ca. 1905

plant managers ran the factories. It was not for nothing that the faculty called him “Boss Wright” when his back was turned. But there had really never been any question of who was in charge. Williston, backed by a board entirely comprised of his friends and relations, held the purse strings and expected to make the big decisions. Shortly after Marshall Henshaw began work in 1863, he was called into the Presence. According to Henshaw’s own account of the interview, Samuel Williston was blunt. “I wish you to understand, Mr. Henshaw, that I do not intend ever to give Williston Seminary another penny. I have often wished the whole thing at the bottom of the sea. It has failed to accomplish the chief object I had in founding it. I desired to establish not only a first class Classical school, Marshall Henshaw but especially an English [i.e., Scientific] Seminary, where young men, who could not go to College, could obtain the full equivalent of the English part of a College Course. Well, they tell me the Classical department does pretty well, but the English department is nothing more than a Country High School. I suppose there was no call for such a school as I proposed.” Henshaw, who had left a Rutgers professorship to come to Easthampton, and who was recently widowed with two children to support, must have been appalled. So he did what perhaps no one else had never done: he stood up to Sam Williston. In essence, he told

Williston that he ought to leave educational decisions to educators. Give me the money and the autonomy, said Henshaw, and I’ll give you a science program to rival Harvard’s. Williston was impressed, so much so that he immediately funded two new faculty positions, authorized the purchase of elaborate European laboratory apparatus, and, almost as a bonus, began construction on a gymnasium. Williston and Henshaw quickly established a good working relationship, which developed into a close friendship. In the wake of Williston’s death in 1876, factions on the faculty and a newly assertive board served to force Henshaw’s resignation. There followed two decades of retrenchment and mediocrity at the Seminary. Henshaw’s successor, James Morris Whiton, was a train wreck. Whiton had Henshaw’s assertiveness but none of his talent, plus a special gift for inspiring rebellion among his student charges. He lasted only two tumultuous years. The next two principals, Joseph W. Fairbanks and William Gallagher, appear to have been selected by the board because they were “safe.” Their records as leaders at Williston render them nearly invisible to history. For the trustees had co-opted the leadership, and with it, the potential for change. They seemed committed to preserving Samuel Williston’s original vision which, as the decades passed, became less relevant to the educational demands of the later 19th century. In addition, neither the board nor the principals were able to resolve the financial issues created by the absence of Samuel Williston’s bottomless checkbook. Williston had left the school an endowment, but much of it was pegged to long-term securities, or to industrial enterprises that were no longer productive. Whether by personal preference or board design, Fairbanks and Gallagher were content to focus on daily academics, without any real effort to create or influence long-term plans. During this time of front-office figureheads, much of the actual administration appears to have devolved to Joseph Sawyer, an apparently tireless polymath who appeared to enjoy day-to-day management and who had the respect and affection of virtually everyone. When Fairbanks suddenly resigned in 1884, the trustees asked Sawyer to serve as interim Joseph Sawyer principal. Two year later, Sawyer had to remind his handlers that they had intended his service to be temporary. The board hired William Gallagher. When Gallagher stepped down in 1896, the board again turned to Sawyer, and offered him the position in his own right. Sawyer had neither sought, nor particularly desired, the honor. Having served on the faculty for thirty years, he was well aware of the malaise under which the school had been operating. He appears to have accepted the position with one major provision: that he be given the authority actually to do the job. Perhaps a younger and less inward-looking board was more willing to accept this. Perhaps they assumed that Sawyer, at 54 already older than any of his predecessors had been when they stepped down, would stay on for a few uneventful years before retirement. But 22 years later, when Sawyer finally did retire, he had reformed the school top to bottom, from the curriculum to the budget, established such modern policies as school-sponsored athletics and in loco parentis, and

for the first time, begun serious fundraising among alumni and friends. A new model had been established, in which much of the vision for Williston’s present and future resided on the campus, while the trustees, in a strong partnership rather than supervisory role, provided the means and strategy for such vision to become real. Such a partnership enabled Sawyer’s successors, Archibald Galbraith (served 19191949) and Phillips Stevens (1949-1972) to accomplish, with their boards, extraordinary leaps forward in the expansion of the school, growth of the curriculum, improvement of academic standards, development of a new campus, and move to coeducation. That balance continues today. Brian Wright notes that, “we’re in a good place; I think there’s a role for everybody involved: the head, the board, and the faculty.” During his time, “the board has had some strong ideas, but at the same time they also were looking to me and to the school to make them real, and not to push us to do things that were not comfortable ... what are things we could do and still stay true to who we are? I think there’s been a really good push-me, pullyou dynamic going on between the board and the school for most of the big picture issues.” Joseph Sawyer ran his own shop. He was the last to do so. The tenures of Archibald Galbraith and Phillips Stevens saw the creation of positions for business manager, athletic director (initially the same person!), director of admission, alumni secretary, dean of students, director of college counseling, and director of development. Since the 1970s those offices have evolved and expanded, while the school has added associate and assistant heads, a dean of the faculty, and a variety of assistant deans, associate directors, and coordinators. There’s even an archivist. All these threads come together on the head’s desk. Striking the balance among day-to-day administration, long-range planning, and fundraising presents very special challenges. “Certainly all heads of schools these days have to be more concerned about fundraising and business matters,” notes Brian Wright. Some argue “that the model should change: They should no longer get school people to run schools; they should be looking for corporate people or business people or something of that sort. I think that’s wrong-headed, but I understand what they’re driving at.” It is for this reason that Brian has taught throughout his eleven years at Williston, presenting a three-week public speaking component in every section of English 9. He is the first Williston head since Sawyer to have spent significant time in front of a classroom.1 “I really felt that it was important when you’re being pulled [toward external matters] to keep your anchor at the other end, too; to keep your feet in the school, because if you don’t, you can very easily find yourself pulled entirely away from the day-to-day nature of what the school is.” 1

Northampton School for Girls founders and Co-Principals Sarah Whitaker and Dorothy Bement (served 1924-1962) taught, respectively, Religion and French throughout their long careers.

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

V a Ätáá

Éàxá

William Rittase (1887-1968) was a Philadelphia-based photographer whose modern reputation is based primarily on his industrial images, particularly of construction and railroad scenes. On several occasions between 1936 and 1945 he worked as a catalog photographer for both Northampton School for Girls and Williston Academy.

1932

Mary Kimball Holland Equinox Terrace 324 Equinox Terrace Road Manchester Center,VT 05255-9253 (802) 362-7213

1933

Donald Cook 16779 Timmons Road Spring Run, PA 17262-9704 (717) 349-7879 Ethel Ham Palmer 25 Neelen Drive Wyckoff, NJ 07481-2407 (201) 891-1595

75th Reunion

1935

Frank Conant 314 Bassett Brook Drive Easthampton, MA 01027-1077 (413) 529-0809

1939

John Williams 2423 East New York Avenue Deland, FL 32724 (386) 943-8692 snarvis1@juno.com

70th Reunion

1940

Irving Callman 239 N. Charlotte Street Lancaster, PA 17603-3403 (717) 299-2289 ibcallman@verizon.net

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

Sarah Showalter Hubbard 10964 SE Sea Pines Circle Hobe Sound, FL 33455 (772) 546-0940 stuart492@juno.com

As John Williams ’39 says, “Being in touch with classmates is fun. My recent phone calls have been long overdue and rewarding. Even with new hips and knees, impaired hearing, frail bodies and aches and pains, many sounded more positive about the hope of returning this June for our 70th Reunion than five years ago!” Priscilla August Glovsky hopes to come. She has five great-grandchildren. Can anyone match that? Doris Fitch Pendleton and Aileen O’Brien O’Donnell are, as always, enthused and hopeful. I believe Doris was our only representative five years ago. Let’s support her

this year. Annette Churchill Hodesh has two new hips and a knee but is not keen on flying. Any rides available from the Ann Arbor area? Barbara Dow Merrill will try to leave Florida early in order to attend. She travels by car with two dogs, but does not drive herself. Rebecca Grafton Sparks in Colorado visits her daughter, a retired doctor, in Maine each summer. Hopefully, she can combine her yearly visit with a stop at Reunion. Betty Huber Billings does as I do and comes north each summer. Last year it was her college; this year NSFG is calling. Nancy Traill Soderberg reports that June is a busy time for them in Maine, but she will try to come for at least part of the weekend. I had a delightful chat with Connie Moskal Litsey who sounds just as vibrant as I remember her. She is

Become a fan of your class, too class years with fan groups are marked

Back row L-R: Michael, Tristan (two), and Lorie Hokemas; Middle row L-R: June, Julie, and Bob Sunter ‘50; Front row L-R: Owen (five), Jane, Oliver (1 1/2), and Stephen Osborn.

not able to travel but sends her best wishes. I sent postal reminders to all with whom I spoke, and I shall still try to track down a few others of you for whom I do not have a good address or phone number. Let’s make a good showing. Stay well and make your plans to attend now. In this set of class notes, Aileen O’Brien O’Donnell and I also wish to join with all Northampton School for Girls alumnae who remember with great affection and appreciation the life of Charlotte Turgeon FF. She was named Alumnae Secretary in 1967 which was followed by her promotion to Assistant Development Director in 1972. Her enthusiasm and devotion literally saved us; no one could have been more dedicated and involved when it was badly needed before the merger with Williston Academy. –Sarah

65th Reunion

William McClelland 781 Colrain Road Greenfield, MA 01301-9704 (413) 774-4406

Kenneth Barratt 2059 W. Placita De Enero Green Valley, AZ 85614-5433 (520) 625-3568 sibk3@aol.com

1941 1943

Mary Ann Thomas Cash 2002 Battlecreek Drive Apt 11106 Fort Collins, CO 80528-6220 (970) 207-9373 Richard Pickett 431 Oriental Poppy Drive Venice, FL 34293 pickri4@aol.com Harding Reemsnyder 460 Saw Mill Road Guilford, CT 06437 (203) 453-9488 harding.r@sbcglobal.net

1945

William Williams 56 Birchwood Lane Lincoln, MA 01773-4908 (781) 259-8079

1946

Charles Burke 11 Winding Lane Springfield, MA 01118-1959 (413) 783-3301 ckburke@verizon.net Elizabeth Ockenden Loweth 76 Powell Street Richmond Hill ON L4C4S4 Canada (905) 883-8197 meol@sympatico.ca

1947

Caroline Gavin Arnold 172 State Street Amherst, MA 01002 (413) 549-0412 cgarnold@compuserve.com

1948

Lois Hicks Coerper 7315 Brookville Road Chevy Chase, MD 20815-4057 (301) 652-8635 wmcoerp@erols.com Stanley Gedney 27 Gatto Lane Pearl River, NY 10965 (845) 920-8131 sydcats@optonline.net

I’m writing this from sunny Florida as my wife, Fern, and I are spending a month with my daughter in Fort Lauderdale. It’s great to get out of the bitter cold for a little while.You may not

realize one of the key responsibilities of being a class representative is to ask you to make your gift to the Annual Fund. I think the amount of money that you give to our alma mater is important, but that you participate is even more important. This year we are undertaking the crucial challenge of increasing our alumni participation in the Annual Fund. Don’t forget our Annual Fund year closes June 30th. I urge you to make every effort to participate. I find it most satisfying to talk to you, my classmates, about what is going on in your lives. Because of the complexity of life in general, I would very much appreciate you contacting me when there is news that we would all be interested in. Lately, we have had some distressing news. Wally Novak ’49, not an official member of our class, but a good friend and teammate, had a medical setback from his service in the U.S. Army. For the last couple of months, he has been in a VA facility in Leeds, MA. I think he would be happy to hear from you. His phone number is 413-695-8700. Another classmate, Robert (Booper) LaPrade, who has been working in the government for many years, has had a couple of setbacks and has returned to Easthampton to reside with his sister on Plymouth Avenue. Mario DiMarzo’47 passed away on November 13th after a lengthy battle with cancer. Mario leaves us with fond memories of good times, a lot of laughs and winning ball games. Recently, I’ve spoken with Alan Carter who is living in Tampa, FL. Alan completed his tour of duty with the Air Force where he was a full colonel in the intelligence section. Al never fails to send me highly interesting and informative emails. He’s enjoying his retirement. Had a pleasant chat with Curt Richards at his home in Enfield, CT. He sends greetings to all of our classmates. Jim and Barbara Ubertalli have been spending time in Croton, NY, where their daughter, Donnalee, has bought a new home. Lucky for me, it’s close to our home in Pearl River, NY. We’ve been able to get together a couple of times in the past few months. It’s amazing to me that when we talk or get together, how comfortable it is to pick up where we left off some time ago. Old friends remain good friends. –Stan

1949

William Bushnell P.O. Box 483 Epsom, NH 03234 (603) 463-7882 bush@metrocast.net

60th Reunion

1950

Priscilla Ruder Lucier 30 Thyme Lane Osterville, MA 02655 (508) 428-0145 prlucier@comcast.net Robert Sunter 11066 French Creek Road Palo Cedro, CA 96073-9527 (530) 549-3371 sunter@frontiernet.net

Some numbers-crunching that I did with the Williston Class of ’50 roster revealed the following: Of our 80-some-odd classmates, there are 28 known to have passed on; 11 that the school does not know how to contact or who have requested that they not be contacted—perhaps some of these 11 are on the “passed on” list or maybe have spent time in prison and would prefer that it not be revealed; and 15 who have so far responded to my plea for updates since I became class correspondent in 2007. This leaves about 26 remaining to be heard from. If you are one of these 26, please respond to the requests stated at the end of this note. In Williston news, I received an email from John Anz ’82’s associate, Allison Gomes, that John, who served Williston Northampton for eight years as the Director of Alumni Relations, recently resigned to accept a position at Camp Becket Chimney Corners YMCA as Director of the Annual Fund and Alumni Relations. John, Allison, and I had developed a rapport through written and phone correspondence that was often a reflection of our shared sense of humor. For example, I often chided John about his being in charge of squashing programs at the school. (Actually he was a squash coach.) Even though I will really miss John, I am looking forward to a continuing correspondence with Allison. I received communication from two of our accomplished classmates. Ron Rubin recently stepped down after his 20-year tenure as Chairman of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the State University of New York. At an event in Saratoga Springs, NY, he had an opportunity to reestab-

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

1951

Sally Poole Farnham-Jaferian 308 S. Santa Anita Avenue Pasadena, CA 91107-5275 (626) 795-5890 sfarnha@earthlink.net Susan Cross Hunter 93 Glengarry Road Stratham, NH 03885-2152 (603) 778-7600

1952 Alan Galbraith ’52 (left) and Larry Ball ’52 (right) hike in the Colorado National Monument. Larry is sporting a WNS cap!

lish ties with some fellow Williston alumni. He credits his Williston experience as indirectly opening many doors for him. Ron hinted that he just might return to Easthampton for our Reunion in June. I also received a phone call from Bob Alden. At the conclusion of our lengthy conversation, I was struck by the observation that, while I find my own memory to be flawed and gradually fading, Bob possesses the most remarkable and detailed memory that I have witnessed in anyone our age. Bob’s accomplishments are so numerous that I cannot do justice to them all in the limits of these class notes. After Williston, Bob attended George Washington University where he earned three degrees with the highest standing. Following graduation, he embarked on a career as a reporter with the Cleveland Press, later moving on to The Washington Post (the newspaper sometimes jokingly referred to as the “Washington Compost”) where he worked for a time as a sports reporter. Bob rose rapidly in the Post organization and was eventually appointed editor, a position he held for the next 40 years. He retired from the Post in 2000 after a record-breaking streak of 3,300 days of not missing a day of work. Bob became President of the National Press Club in 1976. While living in McLean,VA, he and Diane, his wife of 47 years, raised four children and now have four grandchildren and one greatgrandson. In 1975, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors named the Robert Amps Alden Theater as an honor to him for his many community contributions. In other life events, Bob was acquainted with Bowie Kuhn who became the well-known commissioner of baseball, and he shared an honor bestowed by his

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

alma mater, George Washington University, with an old friend, Red Auerbach, the legendary coach of the Boston Celtics. In May 2005, Bob also received the distinguished alumni achievement award from GW. Bob is extensively involved with the Lewisville Presbyterian Church, holding a number of leadership positions there. Bob and Diane divide their time between their homes in Virginia and Vermont, and several years ago, Bob was invited by our own headmaster to give the annual convocation address at Williston. There is quite a bit more, but I will quit now. If you would like a copy of the full report I received, Bob can be contacted at bobalden@myexcel.com. Also, you can find further information in the class notes in the Bulletins of 2000, 2004, 2005, and 2007 submitted by Al Shuttleworth. In addition to Bob Alden, there are notes about Wally Sweet, Bob Couch, Clay Hardon, Bob Capece, Jon Rosner, and Bob Sunter (me). I will conclude these class notes with a repeat of the two requests that I stated in the class notes of the Fall 2009 Bulletin: Please make a concerted effort to join me and your other classmates at our 60th Reunion in June. Who knows how many of us will still be around and be able to be at our 75th Reunion in 2025? At age 93 I definitely plan to be there! And please, submit a brief biography of what your life after Williston turned out to be and what you are up to now. I am sure that I am not the only one of your classmates who is interested in hearing about you. My warmest regards to all. –Bob

James Walles 473 Lake View Drive Fort Mill, SC 29715 (803) 396-8088 jamesawalles@hotmail.com

Alan Galbraith and his wife, Diane, have been volunteering to help the Alpha Omega Institute (AOI) in Grand Junction, CO, for many years. Although their home is in Jackson, WY, their association with AOI has taken them to many states to teach Biblical Creation concepts. This year, they are teaching at a host church which is near the home of Larry Ball and Bobbi June Fisher-Ball. The Balls were thrilled to be able to make their Grand Junction home available to the Galbraiths for their teaching venue. It has been several years since Larry was able to visit with them, and they had many memories of Williston Academy and The Williston Northampton School to share. They shared a group hike in the Colorado National Monument where the scenery and weather were just spectacular. Larry and Bobbi June have been enjoying frequent church activities and abundant fly fishing on numerous western rivers.

1953

Donald Cutting 3940 Sierra Drive Honolulu, HI 96816-3343 (808) 732-0498 cutting@hawaii.rr.com

1954

Francoise Dearden Bartlett 5 Timberland Pass Chappaqua, NY 10514-1812 (914) 861-2065 fdbartlett@optonline.net Alan Lazarus 31 Carpenter’s Ridge Cincinnati, OH 45241-3273 (513) 891-1730 active@one.net

Lots of news to report at this time. Many of you already know that our Joel Schiavone has put us through an emotional ringer since New Year’s 2010. While skiing with his sons in Vermont

over New Year’s weekend, Joel took a bad fall. He could not get up on his own and had to be taken down the mountain by ski patrol. He was then transported to a Brattleboro hospital with a severe hip injury. Fortunately, his family communicated with his New Haven internist, who told them to have him moved to the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH, an outstanding trauma center. Almost four weeks and several surgeries and other procedures later, Joel has emerged from the Hitchcock ICU/Critical Care unit where he was on major life support most of the time. Joel’s feistiness helped him through that ordeal. Besides severely damaging one of his hips (now surgically repaired), he generally smashed himself up badly. Remember that a few years ago he had a major heart procedure? Since then, he has been on blood thinners, which probably intensified a lot of internal bleeding, resulting in at least two long surgeries. Other things happened while he was in the aforementioned unit.Ventilators, monitors, tubes…you can imagine his fears and frustration. Guess who ultimately physically removed at least some of the life support? You got it! What a man! Staff eventually determined that with the aid of a feeding tube, Joel was receiving and digesting food as he should. With that final step in place, they felt there was no medical need to keep him in New Hampshire, and he was transferred to Gaylord in Wallingford, CT, for a long period of rehabilitation (we are talking physical rehabilitation—mental/ moral rehab is probably not an option). Once he is stronger, he might appreciate a visit. My guess…he has a lot of work to do to get ready for our next Reunion. We are asking him to not chomp at the bit so much that it takes a further toll on him. We are tired of praying for his recovery. When Bill Opsahl first informed me of Joel’s accident I, in turn, contacted the family and, recognized as one of Joel’s frequent email exchangers, was asked to be their spokesperson to the Williston family. They have been besieged by all the people in Joel’s posse. He has quite a few friends… believe that? Please, those of you who are getting this news for the first time, send me your email address. Write to active@one.net and send some news on your life…good, bad, or whatever. Now for some sad news: Jack

McGrail passed away on October 13th. According to his wife, Carole, he had another stroke. “His ashes were put in the Bay he loved so much.” He lived in Key Largo, FL. Was there ever a nicer guy with a more perfect smile? Bill Opsahl and I have communicated regularly since Joel’s accident. He helped me set up the broadcast emails on Joel’s progress. Bill is busy with his singing (an actual Whiffenpoof) plus attending to his family which now consists of several nationalities and religions. Bill wrote that he has a Norwegian name, is part Boston Irish (mother’s side) and has Jewish grandkids. Jerry Rosen winters in a great area just west of Palm Beach, FL, plays a lot of tennis in the Florida Inter-Condo Senior League, and keeps his days full of activities. Ed Peters has retired from the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania as of June 30, 2009. He is now the Henry Charles Lea Professor Emeritus of History and lives in Guilford, CT, not far from the Schiavones. Ed Lonergan and his wife, Nancy, also live nearby in Old Saybrook. They have been great prayers for Joel’s recovery. Dick Lightfoot, who lives in Hadlyme, CT, helped me get in touch with the Lonergans. Dave Salzman is as active as anyone I know at our age. “Probably, like most of us, I have a few medical issues that have slowed but not stopped me.” He’s engaging in worthwhile activities as a traveler, sportsman, and volunteer, and divides his time between Florida and New Hampshire. Bill Childs lives in Dorset,VT, and plays that rugged game of platform tennis which, I know firsthand, can really do a number on one’s knees. Lucky him. Warren Rival P’78 and Jean Rival P’78 still live in Laconia, NH, and seem to be doing quite well. No complaint mentioned. Boynton Hussey checked in sounding just fine. Joel Katz is in constant contact with me and has been very concerned about the Banjo man. Likewise for Marc Richman. I just had an email exchange with Joe Topor who is spending January in Mexico. Cartel? Dodging bullets? Pun intended. I did speak with Kamel Hassan who we were happy to see at the 55th. Bill Judge and I spoke for quite awhile last week. Bill lives in Williamstown, MA, and was most pleasant to speak with. I am trying to catch up with Ray Montgomery who is an author. Let me say one thing that I mean

from the bottom of my heart: More than ever before, I have found out that Williston gave us a “tie that binds.” The response to Joel’s accident and news updates are only part of the emails that I have received.Your news is important as well. On behalf of Joel, Donna, and myself, I thank each and every one of you for being who you are and for sharing your deep, deep feelings. Hope to hear from more of you. Go Joel, go! –Alan (Laz)

55th Reunion

1955

Joanna Ewing Jones 1077 Washington Street Bath, ME 04530-2742 (207) 443-4405 jojones@suscom-maine.net Samuel Morey 2170 South Quail Run Cottonwood, AZ 86326 (928) 649-9515 sam@morey.us

On January 6, 2010, I contacted 29 of 67 classmates for whom I have email addresses. I reminded them of three things: Class Notes were due, the Annual Fund, and our 55th Reunion June 4 through June 6, 2010. I will try to be there, but I continue having locomotion problems due to osteoporosis. I’ve lost four inches in height. I hope it has stabilized. Steve Britt plans to be there and will work on the reunion committee. Jack Hathaway probably will not be there because of a conflict (wife Trudi’s 50th college reunion) but will work on the reunion committee. Howie Shea is iffy on being there, but probably would work on the reunion committee. He, and wife June, were very busy working on charitable causes such as the Salvation Army from prior to Thanksgiving through New Year’s. Chip Ide plans to be there, and I imagine he would work on the reunion committee. Finally, Guy Cambria will try to be there. He said, “I have shrunk four inches and am under treatment for multiple myeloma (a cancer of the bone marrow). The chemo hit me hard the first time, but an adjustment and subsequent treatments have been pain free. Everyone seems to fear the bone marrow test, but mine was almost painless so if you must have it, do not fear.” He also wrote, “Also have lost fifty pounds, which takes me back to Williston days.” His multiple

L-R: Andy Solomon ’59, Bill Haynor ’59, & Al Case ’59 share brunch at Junior’s Deli

myeloma is “incurable but manageable. I feel very fortunate. My family has responded very well, and, because my daughter can run her DC consulting business from her Blackberry, she has been here through the worst, which again, was not bad at all. My son teaches at Concord Academy in Massachusetts, and comes down once a week. I sold the boat and am making adjustments to daily living with the help of my wife, Barbara, who keeps track of everything.” Guy’s courage in the face of adversity is admirable. We feel someone out there may benefit from hearing his story, and I’m sure he would discuss his case if he were to be called at 860872-4678. PLEASE REMEMBER: Class Notes are usually due January 15 and July 15. I can’t submit them if you don’t send them to me at sam@morey.us. We need to know how many people will be at the 55th Reunion June 4 – 6, as well as who will work on the reunion committee. Call me at 928-649-9515, email me, or write me. –Sam

1956

Carl Woolley 1514 Martha Avenue Ann Arbor, MI 48103-5369 (734) 663-1752 c.t.woolley@juno.com

Steve Oberbeck attended Wildcat Weekend in Mystic, CT, in September and hopes to see others from his class at this year’s event. Look for the email announcement about Wildcat Weekend and mark your calendar.

1957

William Harmon 55 Court Street Westfield, MA 01085 (413) 562-0805 wharmon509@aol.com Luta Madison Hickman 6314 Gun Cap Court Centreville,VA 20121 (703) 502-8748 lutamh@aol.com

Curt Wright and Bill Harmon enjoyed meeting with Headmas-

ter Brian Wright at Wildcat Weekend in Mystic, CT, in September. Both of them hope to see more of their classmates at this alumni event. Look for the email announcement about Wildcat Weekend and mark your calendar.

1958

Elria Giamatti Ewing 24 Salter Street Portsmouth, NH 03801 (603) 433-6278 ege4@columbia.edu Robert Hutzler 2930 Florida Boulevard Delray Beach, FL 33483-4621 (561) 276-7371 bhutzler@bellsouth.net

The start of the New Year brings a new decade. Our class closed out the last one losing two members; Dick Morrison and Peter Knight both chose to leave us quickly. In fact, Pete Knight attended the annual Wildcat Weekend and left us a few weeks later.Time is getting short for all of us. Now for the news and a few editorial thoughts. Art Padmore was recently initiated into the prestigious R.O.O.F. (I don’t know what that means, but maybe Art will explain it to you.) Peter Young reports that his trip to visit Reed Fitkin in Oregon was wonderful. Peter and his wife had originally planned to fly to meet Reed and his wife in Hawaii for Christmas until he calculated the flying time from Nassau. Peter, Reed, and their spouses toured the northwestern states and Peter was educated about the benefits of not living in the United Kingdom. Peter thought Oregon was much like England, as it rained most of the time. Pete Knight, Dick Brady, Bob Platt, Peter Hewes, Don Barnard, Doug Gray, Gene Pfeifer, Jay Fraze, and Jamie Irvine were amongst the attendees at Wildcat Weekend in Mystic, CT, in September.They all enjoyed watching the grudge sailboat race between Hewes and Irvine. No results were published, but reports have it that the Coast Guard is seeking Irvine for ram-

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

L-R: Al Case ’59, Marilyn Case, Judy Staples, and Brewster Staples ’59 in Maine

Syd Williams ’59 and his wife Caroline with their extended family

where in the country that Jamie selected. No word on where he will go.Any suggestions? Speaking of the Irvine move, Jamie has moved from his historic birthplace in New England to sunny Florida.When Dick Sandulli and Steve Seybolt heard about the invasion, they immediately put their homes on the market. Attention all golfers! Gary Mullins is organizing the first Williston golf trip for the fall of 2010. Plans include a hotel with mammoth casino and an exotic golf course. Email him for further details.Another Florida invader during the winter months was Clem Salvadori, who attended some sort of questionable motorcycle event in St. Augustine. Rumor also has it that Charlie Lyons and Al Slawsby left the warm clime of Massachusetts for a few days’ visit to the sunshine state.Anyone visiting Florida should contact John Ossolinski when visiting the Gulf Coast. Oz has become the toastmaster of the Tampa-St. Pete and south area. He promises to organize a welcoming party in Bradenton for you with Dave Fasser and Denny Fuller. If you need Ossolinski’s phone number, send me an email and I’ll happily provide it, but only if you promise to bother him. Finally, the class will miss John Anz ’82 who resigned from his position as Director of Alumni Relations at the start of 2010. John was a tremendous asset for Williston and did so much to improve alumni relations during his tenure. John is too young for the Wildcat group, but he will always be welcome. Send more news for the next issue, or I’ll have to dream up something about you.Take care, everyone, and stay in touch. –Hutz

1959

Mary Beth Adams Dorsey 31 Shipyard Point Road P.O. Box 82 Franklin, ME 04634 (207) 565-3575 marybethdorsey@yahoo.com

ming an innocent vessel. Look for the email announcement about Wildcat Weekend and mark your calendar. As a post-Wildcat Weekend occasion, the annual Williston Christmas Luncheon was held at the Griswold Hotel in Essex, CT, with Mary Knight (Peter Knight’s wife), Peter Hewes, Irene and Dick Brady, Gene Pfeifer, Ceci and Jamie Irvine, Faith and John

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

“Winky” Moss ’57, Don Barnard, George Ryan, Curt Wright ’57 and Charlie Fairbrother ’63 in attendance.According to Brady, this event was ostensibly moved up to November as a Going Away Party for the Irvines, but, typically, Jamie decided not to move until 2010. The group’s gift for Jamie was a flight on Moss Airlines from any-

Andrew Solomon 5223 Braesheather Drive Houston, TX 77096-4107 (713) 721-3000 andy@houstonjewelry.com

On the afternoon of Halloween, I was in LA visiting with my son, Keith Solomon ’87, while for the third year he was in charge of building the Haunted Castle for his daughter’s magnet school’s

annual fundraiser. I had brunch with Al Case and Bill Haynor who drove over one and a half hours from where Al lives to join me for a few hours of getting back together at Junior’s Deli. Both Al and Bill also visited earlier in the year with Brewster Staples when they were in Maine. Al was on a Carnival Cruise of the eastern seaboard and Bill on business. They do get around! Dick “Pots” Potsubay writes that he and Ornie are enjoying their lives at Regency Oaks Retirement Community in Clearwater, FL, where entertaining and challenging activities, such as history and art, abound. Pots has taken to watercolor painting and loves it almost as much as the cuisine there. He regrets missing our Reunion because of health reasons but says that he is recovering nicely. Richard “Chip” Palmer and his wife Laurel are planning upcoming trips to the Newport area to visit their daughter Rebecca—a lawyer—and her family. Tom Korson writes, “Aside from the birth of our granddaughter in August, one of the highlights of 2009 for me was our 50th class Reunion. I was proud to be part of the decision to recognize Andy Solomon for his outstanding work on behalf of the school, dedicating the photography lab in his name. We take great delight in our son, Andrew, who is completing his time in medical school and who, as I write, is interviewing for residencies at a number of excellent programs around the country. Other news from me is that I am now teaching with an interesting, vital organization called Active Minds, which provides educational programs for seniors. My first lecture was on Japan, a happy coincidence, since when I was at Williston I took most of our sophomore year off in Japan where my father had a sabbatical. Check out my blog, apocryphalpress.com, a satirical slant on the news.” I had the chance to visit with Gil Knier and his wife, Norma, who drove to Houston to be with family during the holidays. It was a special treat as he had not been able to attend Reunion and we were able to share the weekend with classmate closeness.Alas, though we spoke on the phone several times, the press of family made face-to-face contact impossible so we are planning for better results next time. Syd Williams continues to write a daily column about politics, finance and the world in gen-

Become a fan of your class, too class years with fan groups are marked

Andy Solomon ’59 at “The Hoot,” an annual fundraiser for his granddaughter’s school

eral. It proves the Williston mind is an open book with profound depth and insight. He sent a picture of him, his wife Caroline, and extended family. What a bounty! –Andy John Harper, Syd Williams, Phil Fisher, Bob Stilson, Richard “Red”White, John Curtiss, and Alan Case were the only survivors from the 50th Reunion that arrived at Wildcat Weekend in Mystic, CT, in September. They all hope to see more of their classmates at this alumni event. When greeted by Headmaster Brian Wright, the class members apologized for the remainder of their class and promised that there would be more next year. Look for the email announcement about Wildcat Weekend and mark your calendar.

50th Reunion

1960

David DeLuca 306 Barrington Street Rochester, NY 14607-3307 (585) 271-6838 dd306@aol.com

1961

Barbara Curtis Baker 584 Stony Brook Road Brewster, MA 02631 (508) 896-4452 ebbaker@verizon.net David Shaw 38 Lavoie Drive Essex Junction,VT 05452 (802) 872-8305 dshaw42@gmail.com

After having career jobs, managing households and raising children, being responsible volunteers and creative individuals...we don’t just stop at retirement...so you’ll

see themes of activity and fun and available time for new adventures working through the NSFG Class of ’61. Retiring and making purposeful volunteer contributions, gathering family together regularly, helping to welcome new grandbabies, traveling to world desires, and developing new skills and talents seem to be themes for women in their sixties! Lindy Burr Bouffard is enjoying international travels with husband Arthur as well as spending time with one-and-a-half-year-old first grandson, Bode. Joani Montgomery Mihalakos wrote her holiday cards early in order to be with daughter, Staci, in Florida as they awaited the delivery of Joani’s first grandson, Gabriel. Stephanie Woodbury Clayton is our poet and photographer, spending time with her daughters and grandchildren and with husband, Ned Clayton ’59. Maribeth Perkins Grant seems to be busy balancing family time with church work...and I do the same with theater house managing! Where did that come from? And the stories go on. Can we believe that we’ll gather on the campus at Williston Northampton in a year and a half to celebrate friendships formed 50 years ago? Mrs. Cantarella FF, Mississippi Mud, the Christmas Concert in white dresses, the Sacred Lawn and May Court, the Angelus Bell, green tunics and bloomers, the honor code and so much studying.Time to gather and share. Plan to be with us. We look forward to that gathering. –Barbara

1962

Linda Stanton Maynard 154 N. Main Street West Lebanon, NH 03784-1114 (603) 298-8418 frank.c.maynard@valley.net Charles Vernon 218 Preston Street Windsor, CT 06095-3001 (860) 688-0408 chuck_vernon@loomis.org

Tom Louis writes, “All of the Louis extended family is doing very well, all six children (two Louis and four Buck), two grandchildren, Germaine and me. I keep stating that I’m going to taper professionally, only to find that I’ve agreed to do more. Either I must like what I do or I am in a severe state of dementia. Someday I’ll taper, but it probably won’t be this coming year. Recreation includes biking, sailing,

reading, traveling, and enjoying all family. Professionally, I teach, research, edit a journal, and am on advisory panels; Germaine was just appointed Director of the Division of Epidemiology, Statistics and Prevention at the NIH National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). She recreates as I do; mostly we do so together (a wonderful thing). Margit, Mike, Bridget, and Charlie are still in Hingham, MA, just having added to their great, old home. They are working hard and enjoying family and friends. Grandparenting is just wonderful. Erica just moved from Boulder to Steamboat Springs where she is the manager of an about-to-be-opened spa within the recently opened ‘1 Steamboat Place’ condo complex at the base of the main mountain. Yes, these upscale places always want to be number one! As we do every year, Germaine and I will be good parents and ski in Colorado. The children Germaine created are also doing very well. Mitch is a coastal engineer in Woods Hole;Ali is in her last year of law school at the University of Buffalo (Environmental Law is her goal); Katherine is a junior at the University of Michigan and is headed to Spain for a semester abroad; and Dan is a sophomore at Syracuse University, with interests in something biomedical. Now to the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay: In July we bought a ‘retirement home’ in St. Michaels, on the water, WSW exposure (Google World 9788 Pintail Place, St. Michaels, MD and you’ll see what we did). It’s perfect for us now and in the future. For the next several years we’ll have two places. We head there frequently, and our sailboat is there. Life is great in all regards. However, as friends and colleagues have health problems, I am reminded of the fragility of the ‘great’ and want to make every moment count.” John Marchildon writes of his own family, “We had a great Christmas on Cape Cod, and both our boys were able to get back home for a great time. Ted has left the active Navy, transferred to the Navy Reserve, and is hard at work enjoying the full-time MBA Program at BC. Dory and I had a great year in real estate here on the Cape and can’t believe the reduction in prices that has taken place—an awesome time to jump in the water with mortgage rates just under five percent. We are off

Spring into Williston’s Campus Store

10% discount for alumni logged into WillyNet

williston.com/store

Dave Stevens ‘66 won the Prospector/Developer of the Year Award from the New Brunswick Prospectors and Developers Association

to Boca for 10 days on the 30th.” And Pat Evans adds, “I’m still practicing law full-time in Watertown, NY. Son Rick is teaching lacrosse in England this year after graduating from Hobart and starting long pole in the National North South Lacrosse game this spring. Daughter Kate is home from two years’ volunteer work in India and working in Denver, CO, with disabled vets.”

1963

Richard Curtis 95 Bog Pond Road Brewster, MA 02631 (508) 896-9102 rwcdmc@verizon.net Eva D’Addario Franklin 59 Larkspur Drive Amherst, MA 01002 (413) 253-3453 John Vibberts 7 Moody Circle Sandwich, MA 02563-1819 (508) 888-4930 JDVibberts@aol.com

Charlie Fairbrother and David “Duff”Tyler enjoyed meeting with Headmaster Brian Wright at Wildcat Weekend in Mystic, CT, in September. Both of them hope to see more of their classmates at this alumni event. Charlie and Duff will be on the organizing committee for Wildcat Weekend 2010. Look for the email announcement and mark your calendar.

1964

Lydia Allen Kitfield 98 Cross Point Road Edgecomb, ME 04556 (207) 882-9880 lydiakitfield@gmail.com William Northway 1352 Chimney Ridge Traverse City, MI 49684-9215 (231) 223-7993 northway@umich.edu

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

I attended Wildcat Weekend in Mystic, CT, last September and was disappointed that other classmates weren’t able to attend. I am looking forward to seeing more from 1964 this year. Look for the email announcement about Wildcat Weekend and mark your calendar. After an article about JD Salinger’s death and a story from a ’61 grad (Sandy Campbell), a flurry of emails from members of our class resurrected some great stories and memories. We have an email list, so if you would like to be part of our reflections, please send me your email address. Lots of good connections. I am collecting the stories and will email them as an ongoing document. Residencies, among many, now include Australia, California, Nova Scotia, Florida, Arizona, Michigan, Texas, and of course Holyoke! Bernie Wharton ’72 stopped by and we had too brief a chat, but perhaps it will be a start. –Swanee

45th Reunion

1965

Pauline Eskenasy 3891 Laurel Park Highway Hendersonvlle, NC 28739-7991 (828) 963-4715 pollyjoe95@yahoo.com Charles Sullivan 1100 Jefferson NE Albuquerque, NM 87110-5724 (505) 255-5073 cwsullivan505@yahoo.com

Ned Lynch was the junior alum at Wildcat Weekend in Mystic, CT, last September. He hopes to see other classmates as well as alums from later classes this year. Look for the email announcement about Wildcat Weekend and mark your calendar.

Sangkoo Yun ’69 received The “Nairamdal (Friendship) Medal” from His Excellency the President of Mongolia on November 2, 2009

1966

Virginia Hopf West 317 Brentford Road Haverford, PA 19041-1718 (610) 642-4242 Play2xs@aol.com Louis Pellissier 977 Medinah Terrace Columbus, OH 43235-5028 (614) 459-1599 dee.pellissier@jimkeimford.com Peter Miceli P.O. Box 2141 West Hempstead, NY 11552-2141 (516) 565-1701 petertmiceli@hotmail.com

Dave Stevens ’66 won the Prospector/Developer of the Year Award from the New Brunswick Prospectors and Developers Association.

1967

Gail Reddin 6 Treehouse Circle Apartment 2 Easthampton, MA 01027 (413) 230-8866 reddin_gail@hotmail.com James Hitchings 49 Draper Road Dover, MA 02030 (508) 785-2230 Jhitchings@fdic.gov John Newton 35 Admirals Way Chelsea, MA 02150-4002 (617) 884-7805 jmn333@aol.com

1968

Louisa Miller Hoar 2916 Bluff Point Lane Silver Spring, MD 20906-3043 (301) 871-2954 Louisa214@aol.com

Rockwell Keeney 282 Ames Road Hampden, MA 01036-9110 (413) 566-8122 carkeeney@charter.net

1969

Elizabeth Odgers 154 Emery Road Lyndeborough, NH 03082-9726 (603) 654-2562 xoxobo@tds.net David Reichenbacher 786 N. Taney Street Philadelphia, PA 19130-2614 (215) 232-1319 augustskypilot@verizon.net

Jim Hustace writes, “Aloha, all is well here in Hawaii! Our two sons are home for the holidays. James just received his master’s degree from the University of Redlands, and Kip just returned from a semester at Stanford’s Florence campus (he will return to Palo Alto in January).” Dan Becker is appearing in Twelve Angry Men in January and February and is then off to Costa Rica to study drawing. He is also studying for a Captain and/or Masters Ship License and hopes that by the time he finishes, winter will end. Bill Morrison is “enjoying the SoCal life, i.e. great weather and lifestyle. Hate the taxes.”The Gary Mysorski clan celebrated its first Christmas with grandson Milo, and the holidays were very special “as we watched him decide which of the many gift items he preferred —e.g., a stuffed Smurf or the cardboard container that held it. The container won. We were also blessed with the arrival of my sister and her family from Iowa to spend the week around the start of 2010 in a slightly warmer Texas climate. My mother also traveled from her new home in Iowa and finally made a hands-on connection

with her first great-grandchild. This has been a year of very exciting reunions (with family and schoolmates) and a new era of life (as an in-law and grandparent). It’s a positive trend that I hope will continue for years to come.” Sangkoo Yun also had a positive 2009, as on November 2nd she received a medal from His Excellency the President of Mongolia. She writes, “The award is intended to be given to all Rotarians who made contributions to TRF, and in particular to all Korean and Mongolian Rotarians who participated in the Windbreak Forest project called ‘Keep Mongolia Green.’ The ‘Nairamdal (Friendship) Medal’ is the highest recognition given by the President of the Republic to a foreigner. President Elbegdorj was the Prime Minister when he paid a visit to the site on the occasion of the Inauguration Ceremony of the first year of the Keep Mongolia Green project at South Gobi in May 2005. It gives me great pleasure that our concerted effort has been recognized as being successful as we conclude the five-year project. Also noted were many other international service projects initiated by the Korean Rotarians such as the Gift of Life projects providing open heart surgeries in Korea for more than 130 Mongolian children with congenital heart disease, giving them a chance to lead normal, healthy lives and making the dreams of their families real. After the award ceremony, the Mongolian Rotarians gathered to celebrate the recognition won by Rotary. There were all PAG’s, all club Presidents, and members of the Steering Committee for the Keep Mongolia Green project. The award also made multiple nationwide TV news and daily newspapers both in Mongolia and Korea.” Graham Faiella writes in with his own professional news: “My ‘job’ (and I use that word advisedly...) as a ‘writer’ (ditto) has been a bit slow in the past year. I was doing a lot of work in recent years in the Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI), trying to produce social studies textbooks for TCI elementary schools, as well as editing a book on the history of TCI. In 2008 the government of TCI effectively imploded with the Commission of Inquiry into corruption there amongst government officials in general, and the Premier in particular. Not much will happen until they get back on their feet, and the book projects

are on the back burner. Otherwise, I have a private writing project that will take another year or so— depending on coffee breaks—to complete. All the best for twentyten (or whatever we’re calling this year).” Eddy “Brigotti” Mair, “the not so young rascal,” is still happy living by the sea on Plum Island. He adds, “I think it was our 25th Reunion in 1994 when I was on the Internet and was telling [former Headmaster] Denny Grubbs and some of you guys how cool the Internet was, and some of you said that it was just a fad! Of course, there was a fellow in my sixth grade class who thought the Beatles would never last! I am really impressed by many of you that have continued to make music a big part of your lives. Rock on!”Yours truly is one of those many. Last summer I switched over to keyboard in my band, but I still needed an outlet for my guitar. I decided to start playing as a street musician, a.k.a. busker. I figured I would get to share my music and make a few bucks. But it turned out to be a life-changing experience. It’s all about the people I meet. The variety of people is incredible. There’s an 87-year-old judge with his younger female companion who was an opera singer in China. She once harmonized in Chinese over my singing. Then there’s the woman from Tehran who has turned me on to Persian music. There was the Russian family who spoke no English, but we managed to communicate through the music. I saw a delightful movie called Julie and Julia about a young woman in Brooklyn who cooks a recipe a day from Julia Child’s cookbook and writes a blog about the experience, which turns out to be about much more than cooking. I’ve started a blog to share about the people I meet. Attention must be paid.Visit me at www.buskinginphiladelphia.blogspot.com and leave a comment, if you want. I’d love to see what you all think. –David

40th Reunion

1970

Sara Cornwall 212 Gillies Lane Norwalk, CT 06854-1059 (203) 866-1945 CTsails@optonline.net Diane Eskenasy 3891 Laurel Park Highway Hendersonville, NC 28739-8921 (828) 693-6196 dogsongs@pobox.com

L-R: George Triana ’74, Jimmy R. Triana ’72, the Trianas’ uncle Vincent, Eddie Triana (Kent ’76), and Freddy Triana ’73

L-R: Martha McCullagh, P’10 & ‘13, Sarah McCullagh ’10, Laura McCullagh ‘13, Chuck McCullagh P’10 & ‘13, Jim Tobin ’84, Mark Cutting P ’02 & ‘06, Christy Cutting P’02 & ‘06, Patricia Cohen Wiseman ’70, John Pomeroy ’71, Chad—a friend of Tiffany Cutting, Tiffany Cutting ‘02, Steve Williams ’87, and his daughter Richard Goss 186 Jack Frost Lane P.O. Box 1018 Conway, NH 03818 (603) 447-2220 richard.goss@roadrunner.com

1973

Edward Pytka 180 Ross Hill Road Charlestown, RI 02813-2604 epytka@aol.com

The big news, as a class, is the creation of a Class of ’73 website (www.wns73.com), designed and created by our own Charlie Moore. Classmates have been busy planning a remembrance for Eddie Meyer and others of ’73 who have passed on, and they are raising college funds for Eddie’s son, Jessie. Co-chairs for this endeavor are Jeff DeCaro, Chris Olson, and Jack (Kip) Tatelman. Eve Kummel has taken on the position of social chair along with

1971 1972

Otha Wills 516 Greene Street Ogdensburg, NY 13669 (315)-393-7880 omwills@gmail.com

Cynthia Archer 88 Columbus Avenue Holyoke, MA 01040-1811 (413) 532-0042 archercyn@aol.com

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

Ginger Phakos. (Thank you, Beaver, for alleviating my guilt by taking on this important role as it became evident that I couldn’t do it!) Bruce Lisle and John Sise are in charge of developing a memorial to the Class of ’73. So, check out the website and please contribute! We were and are a great class, and this is a tangible way to remember Eddie, others who have passed, and our school. In news from individual class members, Eve Kummel is starting a Community Garden in Otis, where she lives. The intention is to feed those less fortunate. Eve had to present her plans to the Board of Selectmen in order to gain approval for this fantastic project. Betty Chase Hyde and I have re-connected with Eve after all these years. We recently had dinner together with Penny Dods Molyneux ’74, and there are plans for more. Grant Randall saw Reggie Fuller ’75 and his wife in December at a fund-raising event for Community Caregivers Organization in Albany. Reggie’s wife is on the board, and Grant is an active volunteer. Reggie said he wants to get together with others from Williston at Saratoga

for the horse races this summer. Grant and his wife Ginny have a new puppy named Molly who is a Bernese mountain dog. Grant promises she’ll be on campus in June for Reunion! Kip Tatelman writes, “So at this very moment it is t-minus two days before the ‘Friends of the Class of ’73’ launches its cool website, thanks to the creative genius of none other than our classmate, Charlie Moore. I hope that by the time you read this we will be fully engaged with our fellow classmates regarding our two initiatives (go to www.wns73.com to learn more). Personally speaking, I have recently completed my house renovation at 1 Anchorage Lane in Marblehead.Yes, this will be my last building project, I swear!! My New Year’s resolution is to embrace every day with passion, commitment, and intention. (Three days into the new year as of this writing. So far, so good.) All the Tatelmans are presently healthy, which is incredibly good news to share. We’re looking to do some traveling at the end of this coming summer. Maybe Greece, maybe Italy. One last group family trip before my two

kids graduate college. It’s all about working out scheduling conflicts. Blessings to all.” And finally, I was recently hired as the Executive Director of the Holyoke Taxpayers Association. It’s a non-profit that acts as a watchdog for how our taxes are spent! In Holyoke, it’s quite an interesting position since we’re the poorest city in the Commonwealth with services galore for those who need it. It’s part-time, although it doesn’t feel like it, and a great balance since I continue to work with my elders, many of whom have dementia or Alzheimer’s. All the animals are doing well, amazingly, since Willa has feline leukemia and Lucy has kidney disease. Brinkley says hi to all! Be sure to check out the new website, www.wns73.com. –Cindy

George Triana writes, “I will always remember and treasure my year at Williston Academy. In fact, it is one of my most wonderful years…having such a wonderful education and to top it off—a year of playing soccer. My wife, my three children, and I reside in Charlotte, NC. I coach soccer and had the opportunity to coach a Club Team this past season. I also conduct my own soccer clinics on the side. It is physically exhausting at times but, amazingly, once I am on the field I get the energy somehow.”

Penny Dods Molyneux 58 Patterson Road Worthington, MA 01098 (413) 238-5547 pmolyneu@smith.edu

David “Segs” Segal wrote in December, “I look forward to the New Year and hope that the national employment situation improves, as my last position was eliminated in March 2009. I have been unable to obtain a paying position since then. In the interim, I have been volunteering one day

1974

Steven Simpkin 10 Ross Road Holyoke, MA 01040 steve.simpkin@gmail.com

35th Reunion

1975

Kathleen Krohn 920 Midway Road Northbrook, IL 60062 (847) 509-0504 krohnk@comcast.net

2010

R EUNION W EEKEND

Join classmates and former faculty for a very special Reunion weekend June 4, 5, & 6 Register online at www.williston.com/reunion2010 or if you prefer to register by phone, you may contact the alumni office at (800) 469-4559 or 413-529-4559

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

Alumni Connections Kevin R. Burke ’00 & COL Steve White '77

hen Williston’s Campus Store Manager Linda Midland P’10 got a request for a Williston banner recently, it took her a moment to realize that her customer was an alumnus in Afghanistan. First LT Kevin Burke ’00 told Linda that while on a Blackhawk helicopter heading into Kabul he struck up a conversation with another officer (COL Steve White ’77) and they soon realized that “not only were we both from New England, but we both went to Willy.” As it turns out, their offices are just across the hall from one another on the base and the connection has been a great help to the younger alum. Burke says, COL White has “gone out of his way to help me out… he’s been a great mentor.”

per week here in Rochester, with Flower City Habitat for Humanity. I put my construction skills to work this past Labor Day weekend when I visited Scott Nicholson and his wife, Robin, at their home in Portsmouth, RI. The day I arrived, as we enjoyed dinner together, Scott mentioned that he was planning some minor house repairs over the weekend and wondered whether I would assist. Since he was aware of my construction experience, he asked whether I could help him ‘either partially remodel the kitchen or replace a portion of the roof that had developed a leak.’ Tongue in cheek, I asked whether this was a paying job. He replied that they would feed me well and provide plenty of cold beer. Of course, I agreed immediately. Four days later as we sat together on the completed roof drinking a cold beer and enjoying the sunset over the water, we laughed as we agreed that next time a roof needed replacement we would definitely hire professional roofers to do the job. I have to say that if I were employed this year I would not have had the opportunity to volunteer with Habitat and to spend four days with my

friend Scott helping him to replace his roof. I am thankful to be able to have the time to give something to my community and thankful that I still have good friends—my classmates and teachers from my Williston Northampton days.”

1976

Dana Richdale 146 South Queenscliff Circle The Woodlands, TX 77382 (281) 419-6154 drichdale@yahoo.com

Another chunk of time has flown by since our last correspondence, and it makes me think that time is relative. The clock sure seems to be moving faster with each passing year. It might just be me, but I sense that it is becoming increasingly more difficult to get people on the phone. With caller ID and nuisance telemarketing calls being the norm, more and more of us are reluctant to answer. Happily, I did make some connections— one via phone and the other via email. I had a good and interesting conversation with Susan De St. Croix. She and her twin sister, Janet De St. Croix, came to Williston Northampton via Aramco, the large American oil concern that developed the Saudi

oil fields dating back to the middle of the 20th century. Susan mentioned that at first they went to school in Switzerland and later transferred over to Williston Northampton, sight unseen. From there, she attended Ithaca College while Janet headed south to Florida for school. Susan and Janet have remained close to each other since their days at Williston Northampton, and both have lived for many years in various Florida locales ranging from the Keys up towards the Orlando area. Much of Susan’s career has been spent in massage therapy with a current awareness of the world and forces around us causing her to focus her energies in new directions. We had an interesting conversation regarding 2012 and many of the prophecies foretold. My other connection was with Tiela Chalmers who replied via email. Tiela has lived for many years in San Francisco where she has practiced law, but more recently has been working for the Bar Association of San Francisco as their Executive Director of the Volunteer Legal Services Program (VLSP). She oversees a staff of 30 whose mission is to recruit, train, and mentor attorneys who volunteer their time, then match them up with low-income people who need free legal help. The non-profit VLSP focuses on safety-net issues such as housing, family law, and homelessness.Tiela spent her undergraduate years at Swarthmore College and earned her JD from UC Hastings College of the Law. She shares her life with two fine daughters (ages eight and 16) and a wonderful girlfriend. Her oldest daughter is oriented towards academics, and her youngest daughter is all about reading. That brings to mind a nice a quote I read recently, “Learn to Read and Read to Learn.” The following links provide a greater insight as to how Tiela gives back to the local community: www.sfbar.org/vlsp and www.probono.net/sf. I also tried to reach out to Richard Cernak, Judith Johnson Cordova, Carolyn Murphy Anderson, Jim Nagle, Dave Stevens, Nancy Peirce Harsch, and Elizabeth Murphy Dowhan. With a bit of luck, some of the above individuals will re-connect during the ensuing months and an update will be forthcoming. Referencing the Fall 2009 Bulletin, it is important to note and thank all that have either volunteered their time or

made a financial contribution to the Annual Fund. With the world’s economy still in flux, financial support of the school is as important today as it ever has been. Special thanks to the Silver Cup Society members and to those who have made commitments as Elm Tree Associates.A warm and special thanks also go out this year to John White (1841 Society Benefactor, Board Trustee, and Margaret Eastman French Award recipient), and Meladi and Robert Hagedorn P’06 (1841 Society Members). On a brief and lighter note, a quick check reveals that seven of our “76” classmates reside in California, and six of our classmates reside outside of the U.S. This combined total represents approximately 10% of our class members. Until next time, be well. –Dana

1977

Jennifer Carpenter Reid 238 Sawmill Road Brick, NJ 08724-1364 (732) 206-0761 jcarpe1458@aol.com

1978

John Intorcio 31 Marshall Street North Reading, MA 01864 (978) 664-9422 John@intorcio.org Jennifer McLeod Sleeper 45 Falmouth Road Wellesley, MA 02481-1216 (781) 431-7812 jennifersleeper@comcast.net

Shane Anderson writes, “Last year at this time or a little earlier, I had a disk replacement in my cervical spine at C6-C7. Seems I ruptured a couple of disks somewhere along the way. I am back to 100% according to a recent check up, so no more excuses, I’m working my way back to a daily pool mile or two. Liam and Ryan are in first grade and kindergarten, and both are doing very well scholastically. We have been trying to teach Liam the concept of ‘thinking ahead.’ When he lost his first tooth last week, I told him that after the tooth fairy came perhaps we could go down to the local store and buy something nice. His response was that he wanted to save the money. When I asked him why he was saving he told me, ‘So I can buy a house.’ OK, tables turned…classes start for Daddy next week! Anne is well and her book Flourishing with Food Allergies has now received a number of awards and critical ac-

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

claim. So what else can I say? This year I am grateful for, and blessed with, good health all around, two wonderful, smart kids, and a brilliant, resourceful, and beautiful wife. Warmest wishes and regards to all of you, and please do not hesitate to email me at shane.g.anderson@gmail.com if you’d like to catch up!” Roger Ramos writes, “My daughter Sylvia, 22, is a college junior and working for a non-profit organization. My son Michael, 17, is a high school senior, hoping to attend culinary school next fall. Josh, 15, and Justice, 15, are both high school sophomores. They are both very involved in music. Josh enjoys singing in the school choir and plays piano, while Justice plays drums in the marching band and JROTC drum corps. My wife and I are busy at work and raising our kids. During our 30th class Reunion, Pamela Picker found out that my wife once worked with her father at Paramount.” Steve Staggs reports, “I have recently been appointed Senior Director of AM Private Investments, Inc., a registered investment advisor that specializes in advising family offices and high net worth individuals regarding alternative, direct, and family business venture investments. For the time being, my wife, Sharon, and I will continue living in Westfield, MA. So we invite any old friends coming back to visit the school to give us a call or stop by for a visit.” Jen McLeod Sleeper says,“Our holidays were a little bit of a downer this year. Tom’s mom passed away on Christmas Eve. She was ill, so I guess you could say that it was a blessing, but it has been very hard on Tom and the kids. I am just trying to keep everything together for everyone!” Carol Adams Dupree wrote in January that until the beginning of February she was on a trip in Arizona, “the only place in the country that’s warm! We’re still working on our place in Georgia. Making progress, but we won’t move until we sell our place in Florida. Anyone interested? My sister and I are training for a two-day 160 mile bike ride for MS in October. Our brother did it this past October and we decided we could do that, too. At least, I hope I can. I’m enjoying the riding and getting in better shape. Other than that, life is good and I hope to hear from more of our class in the next Bulletin.” Paul Sigrist writes, “I performed with the New York

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

Gilbert and Sullivan Players on tour (Midwest, South, California, and Wolf Trap outside of DC) throughout the first half of 2009. Upon returning, I directed the opera students of the Lake George Opera Festival in a production of Ruddigore. After various singing jobs throughout the fall, I am performing three productions in repertory at City Center in NYC before going back out on tour in the South at the end of January, 2010.” Amy Holzer Irvin shares that “it has been a busy year with both of my boys graduating from high school and moving to a next step in their lives. My oldest son, Alex (19), is doing a year internship with Project Search (a transitional program for high functioning kids with special needs) at Anthem Wellpoint Insurance. Eric (18) is at Belmont University in Nashville planning to major in music business/performance. My husband, Dudley, is thankfully in remission from Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and is busy with the sport of curling. I spent the first half of the year preparing for graduation, the summer getting Eric ready for college, and the fall giving H1N1 shots and practicing for my concert with the Worthington Chorus. I am grateful for all of the friends I have reconnected with this past year on Facebook, and I hope to see you all in person at a Reunion in the near future. I think it has been long enough! Let’s celebrate turning 50 and have a big party!” John Intorcio says,“My family is well! Our oldest, Josh, is a high school freshman this year and is having a blast! Though he has to put up with classes during the day, he’s really enjoying the social and sports scenes. Unfortunately, after a concussion in November playing goalkeeper for the soccer team, he took a second knock to the head in January playing basketball and is going to have to sit out for the rest of the winter season. Our youngest, Jake, a seventh grader, was elected class representative and is enjoying the ski club again this winter while also playing on the travel basketball team! They’re keeping us busy! My wife, Shawn, was laid off in February after 12.5 years with the same company. She started a new job in July with Black & Veatch that netted four months of paid vacation, a raise, and a much improved commute to her new home office!”

1979

Claire Kelley Hardon 486 School House Lane Devon, PA 19333-1253 (610) 688-8560 ckhardon@aol.com Owen Mael 67 Ripley Street Newton, MA 02459-2210 (617) 244-1053 owensmael@cs.com

30th Reunion

1980

Thomas Pieragostini 2944 Nichols Avenue Trumbull, CT 06611 (203) 386-9238 tom.pieragostini@sbcglobal.net Holly Steuart Richardson P.O. Box 2707 Evergreen, CO 80437-2707 (303) 993-3811 holly1227@me.com

Well we did it! We made the move to Evergreen, CO, leaving the beaches for the mountains, and we couldn’t be happier with our decision. The boys love their new school, especially the fact that it’s within a quick bike ride versus the 40-minute commute we used to endure. The abundance of playmates right in our own backyard is another huge perk, but the hiking has been the biggest plus of all for our family. I look forward to seeing everyone June 4-6 and encourage you to visit our class Facebook site put together by Tom Pieragostini. It’s a perfect way to reconnect before we return to campus. http://www.facebook.com/grou p.php?gid=49095782980&ref=ts. See you on the quad! –Holly

1981

Katherine Mattison Moeker 5935 South Logan Court Littleton, CO 80121 (303) 797-3007 kmoeco@yahoo.com

Joe Scott shared his thoughts on Williston’s newly hired Head of School. “Turns out that Bob Hill, the new headmaster, is associate head at our local private school in Asheville called Carolina Day. I met Bob for a beer and told him every story of our misbehavior that I could think of. Bob taught at Westminster for a long stretch prior to moving to Asheville, so he was keen on New England prep school lore. Make no mis-

Ravenna (15) and Grayson (18), children of Deeda Hull ’81

take about it: Bob is the right man for the job. He’s bright, energetic, and loves making a difference. I encourage everyone from our class to get to know this fine man.” Deeda Hull Osgood often sees Virginia Barrett, her daughter’s godmother. “We went out to California to look at colleges with my son, and we spent Thanksgiving with Virginia. Good fun!” Her kids are now 15 (Ravenna) and 18 (Grayson). Deeda adds, “Boy how time flies—I feel like that was us not that long ago!” And Rick Moskowitz “reports” in: “Santa Monica, CA—It’s now official: Ryan Harry Moskowitz was born at St. John’s Hospital at 6:38 p.m. PST, on Wednesday, September 16th, 2009. He was 20 inches in height, weighed exactly eight pounds, and is perfect in every way, according to his father, Rick. Ryan and his mother, Stacy, came home from the hospital on September 18th and are doing great. He spent the weekend getting acclimated to his new surroundings and watching baseball and football on television. Ryan especially enjoyed watching his two favorite major league baseball teams, the Boston Red Sox and the LA Dodgers, advance toward the playoffs. When invited to comment on the Curse of the Bambino, still a sore point among some citizens of the Red Sox Nation even after the Sox officially put an end to it by crushing the hated Yankees in the 2004 ALCS, Ryan shrugged. ‘Bambino? What Bambino?’ he asked. ‘I’m the only Bambino around here.’ When asked his reaction to USC’s stunning loss to Washington even as UCLA improved its record to 3-0 with a victory over Kansas State, Ryan declined to comment. ‘I’m not going there,’

Become a fan of your class, too class years with fan groups are marked

L-R: Jim Tobin ’84, Chuck McCullaugh P’10 & ‘13, Patty Wiseman ’70, and John Pomeroy ’71

he said tersely, declining to take sides in the great cross-town (and intra-familial) rivalry between the Trojans and Bruins. ‘I have at least 17 years before I have to even think about filling out college applications, so what’s the rush?’ young Ryan added, twirling a pacifier in his fingers for emphasis. Unlike his older sister Lauren, Ryan is a prodigious eater and takes most of his meals au naturel, a la Mom. Thanks to his voracious appetite, Ryan has already unofficially passed his birth weight, which most newborns take two full weeks to accomplish. Lauren just adores her brother, who she calls, ‘Bayyyyybeeeee.’ When it’s time for feeding or a diaper change, she generally climbs on a stool next to the bed or changing table for a better view. She also likes to pat Ryan on the head any time he shows signs of distress. Like Lauren, Ryan aspires to be an international traveler and to host his own program on the Travel Channel. He originally wanted to call it ‘Ryan Air,’ but when told that this might raise some trademark and copyright issues, proposed ‘The World According To Ryan’ instead. Ryan is already planning his first airline trip, tentatively scheduled for February 2010, to visit his Aunt Jennifer and Uncle Max in Washington, DC, and to deliver his first major speech on the state of the nation. When told that Lauren had her picture taken with the pilot the first time she flew, Ryan said, with characteristic pluck, ‘Make sure the airline makes it worth your while if you do that again. Those photos will be quite valuable someday’.”

1982

Thomas Rouillard 1 Old Alewive Road Kennebunk, ME 04043 (207) 885-3927 tom@tomrouillard.com Margaret Espy Spurrier 1300 Champions Drive Rockwall, TX 75087-2301 mspurrier13@yahoo.com

John Anz writes, “While I already miss the daily interaction and support from my many friends on the faculty and staff at the school, I am happy to report that there is, indeed, life after Williston. I have moved on to assume the responsibilities of Director of the Annual Fund and Alumni Relations at the Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA Camps in Becket, MA. It is a wonderful organization with a rich history of excellence and achievement, yet also a place where there is so much hope and promise for the future...reminds me of another place I hold near and dear. I will keep a keen and enthusiastic eye on the many developments at Williston over the coming months and years, and I look forward to staying closely involved and to seeing many friends and classmates in the future. I will always offer my support, in any capacity, for as long as it is desired. Easthampton and Williston are my home. Finally, to Bob Hill, I pledge my personal support as well, and wish him great determination and resolve as he leads our fine school into this new decade and new chapter in its history. I will most definitely stay in touch—a promise— or a threat—depending upon your point of view. And, only weeks after leaving Williston’s

L-R: Chris Shields ’94, Madison Dirats ’14, Taylor Potasky ’14, Lindsey Dirats ’11, and Andrew Dirats ’82 at the Baystate Games Alpine Skiing competition at Bousquet Ski Area in Pittsfield, MA

employ, I had the pleasure of accepting an invitation to join the ‘Breakfast Club’ for their weekly debriefing on the good...the bad...and the medically invasive! Glenn Swanson (Swanee) ’64 hosted the coffee and muffin hour at his home during Long Weekend. Al Shaler FF, Dick Gregory FF, and fellow “junior” member Greg Tuleja were there for some good, clean (PG-13) conversation. Bob Couch ’50 was missed that morning, and Ray Brown ’55 will re-join the group again in the spring once back from Florida. I may not be a weekly participant, but I look forward to joining this motley crew often enough to retain an acceptable standing among them.You can find these legendary figures most Friday mornings between 9 and 10 in the Stu-Bop.Your friend, John [Anz].” Andrew Dirats competed in the Bay State Games Alpine Skiing competition on January 23rd at Bousquet Ski Area in Pittsfield, MA, alongside his daughters and current varsity skiers Lindsey ’11 and Madison ’14, fellow alum Chris Shields ’94, and current student Taylor Potasky ’14, daughter of Kris Mamulski ’81 and Todd Potasky ’81. Madison and Taylor finished 1st and 2nd, respectively, in their division. Go Wildcats!

1984

Jody Gutman Golden 288 King Street Cohasset, MA 02025-1620 (781) 383-2685 Rex Solomon Houston Jewelry 9521 Westheimer Houston, TX 77063-3369 (713) 721-4002 Rex@HoustonJewelry.com

25th Reunion

1985

Angele Hebert Myers 135 Heritage Avenue Ashland, MA 01721 (508) 881-8537 angeleh@comcast.net

1986

Geordie Dunnington 170 Centre Street Milton, MA 02186 George_Dunnington@milton.edu Ellen Rosenberg Livingston 215 Hickory Road Weston, MA 02493 (781) 416-7323 ebubu@aol.com Mijanou Malise Spurdle 5960 LaGorce Drive Miami Beach, FL 33140 (305) 864-4157 mijanou@bellsouth.net

1983

1987

Keri-Sue Baker 1315 Appleby Avenue Baltimore, MD 21209 (410) 207-3495 bakerk@rpcs.org

Stephanie Naess Kennedy 7533 Kamaomao Place Honolulu, HI 96825-2907 (202) 232-1301 thekennedy5@mac.com

Mark Berman 4030 Jebb Island Circle E Jacksonville, FL 32224-7916 (904) 992-4984 berm@comcast.net

Matthew Roberts 26 Devon Road Darien, CT 06820 (203)-353-3321 matthewjroberts22@msn.com

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

Bird Watching Justin Thomas ‘90 ustin Thomas ‘90 exhibited ‘Recent Paintings’ in the Grubbs Gallery at Williston in the fall of 2009. His work explores the birds that inhabit the area around his studio in Windsor, MA. Inspired by the changes of the landscape in the valleys and hills of western MA, Thomas depicts the birds not as a birdwatcher but as an observer connecting and relating the human experience with the bird’s evolution. “The birds I have chosen to paint are ones that live around my land in Windsor Bush. They build their homes, maintain them over time, and work very hard to sustain themselves and their loved ones. Some birds stay year round while others leave and with luck they or their offspring may return. I like to think they return to their same homeland because, like me, a deep attachment has been formed,” he explains. Thomas attended Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts and graduated with a BFA from UMass Amherst. He is co-owner of Ugone & Thomas Company, located at 1 Cottage Street in Easthampton, designers of fine lighting and home accessories catering to American fine craft galleries. Visit jannaugone.com for further information.

1988

Jennifer Hatch Gubbins P.O. Box 176 1709 Wild Apple Road South Pomfret,VT 05067 (802) 457-5834 jtgubbins@wildblue.net

1989

Carin Nelson-Yates 185 North Main Street Suffield, CT 06078 (860) 668-2219 cariny@earthlink.net Jeffrey Lovelace 1660 Euclid Street, NW #A Washington, DC 20009-5624 (202) 265-2322 jfrylove@yahoo.com

20th Reunion

1990

Dana Caruso 342 Southwick Road Apt. 17 Westfield, MA 01085-4791 dana5872@gmail.com Frank J. Purcell Swallowtail Farm 584 Clems Run Mullica Hill, NJ 08062 (856) 223-1277 frankjpurcell@comcast.net

Hey class of 1990! I’ve been letting Dana [Caruso] do all the 38

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

driving for a long, long time and it’s finally my turn to jump in and share a Bulletin update. The biggest news of course is that the rumors are true—it apparently has been nearly 20 years! Plans are under way for a terrific return weekend this summer, so if you haven’t already made plans to be in attendance then GET GOING! I’m looking forward to seeing everybody and catching up on what we’ve all been up to! Look for more updates in the near future from me, Dee [Deidre Griffin], Beth [Babyak], etc…Here’s how to tell if you are out of touch enough that you need to attend reunion: In the past year alone do you know who just became a new father? (John Bailey and Mike Olshansky) Just gave birth to twins? (Pam Lightcap Rentz) Travelled to Ethiopia? (Matt Frankel) Wrote and performed Running on Faith? (Quincy Coleman—available on iTunes). Launched a new line of “Jelly” nail polish? (Nonie Ramirez Creme—my wife, Fiona Proctor Purcell ’91, swears this is the world’s coolest job). Has a cool, new job? (Beth Babyak) Just quit his job after 15 years? (me) Ran for city council? (Jay Andrzejczyk) Gets to teach African

Dancing to 3rd graders? (Ashley Choate Walker). Never misses an episode of “Lost”? (Jenn Johnson & Stacy Rosoff) Teaches Japanese sword fighting? (Mike Mason) Of course…. this is just the tip of the iceberg, and if you didn’t already know all of this you should make immediate plans to come catch up this summer. On the other hand, if you did know all of this, you spend way too much time on Facebook, and you really need a weekend out with old friends! Hope to see as many of you as possible. I also wanted to acknowledge, for those who may not be aware of the somber news, that Adam Washburn passed away last fall. I still can’t fathom that Adam’s signature grin isn’t somewhere out there walking around Massachusetts. I’m also sure that no matter how long it has been since each of us talked to Adam, we all miss the charming antics that he was known for in school. It has been a good, long time since we marked the loss of one of our own, and plans are being made to find a special way to remember Adam when we are together at Reunion. Meanwhile, please keep Adam, Abby and the entire Washburn family in your thoughts. Make a note of my updated contact info here, and drop me a line as soon as you get a chance. My best to everybody! –Frank

1991

Reid Sterrett 710 Hinesburg Road Charlotte,VT 05445-9381 (802) 425-2777 reidsterrett@hotmail.com

1992

Danielle Maloney 26 Mystic Street, #3 Charlestown, MA 02129 (617) 424-0846 dann_maloney@yahoo.com Hope Nawada 45 E 25th Street, Apt 31A New York, NY 10010-2943 (212) 874-2241 hope_nawada@yahoo.com

1993

Kathryn Hicks Gulick 683 Clermont Street Denver, CO 80220-5023 (303) 282-3874 kategulick@gmail.com Sarah Griggs Swierzewski 416 Marlborough Street, Apt. 302 Boston, MA 02115-1559 (617) 267-0439 sarahsgriggs@hotmail.com

1994

Jade Brennan 328 Auburn Street Cranston, RI 02910-3315 (443) 838-2779 jadestone18@hotmail.com LaShandra Smith-Rayfield 7927 S.Vernon #2 Chicago, IL 60619 (773) 322-4527 LSRayfield@gmail.com

15th Reunion

1995

Stephen Hoyt 28 Pleasant View Drive Hatfield, MA 01038 shoyt1@gmail.com Martha Lewis P.O. Box 322 Winter Park, FL 32790 (407) 310-0003 mj20lewis@earthlink.net

The Reunion Committee is getting focused on the festivities in June.You will be seeing more activity from the committee both with the traditional methods and via Facebook. If you have missed the previous two reunions (like I [Steve Hoyt] did), now is the time to redeem yourself (like I will). If you are waffling about whether to show up or not, the answer is simple, you should show up. We are really looking forward to a great group coming back to Williston. Thanks to all of you who have been in contact so far. Pass the word to anyone you are in touch with about the festivities in June. Thanks! –The Committee

1996

Darcie Kauffman 21 Englewood Avenue, Unit #21-5 Brookline, MA 02445 darcie_kauffman@hotmail.com Danielle Saint Louis 299 Flatbush Avenue, Apt. #2 Brooklyn, NY 11217 dsaintlouis@yahoo.com

1997

Seth Kassels 180 Manhattan Drive Boulder, CO 80303-4243 s_kassels@hotmail.com Elizabeth-Anne Zieminski 265 Prospect Street Lee, MA 02138-1105 (413) 427-6858 ezieminski@yahoo.com

Hello there fellow ’97ers. Well, 2009 has finally come to an end, and here we are in 2010. It’s really difficult to believe sometimes that it’s been so many years since high

Erin Keefe ‘98 at Carnegie Hall

Emily Klug Bain ’97 and her family including daughter, Sage Carter Bain, born October 8, 2009

school. And some days it seems ages away. I hope this year brings much happiness, success, good health, and many Willys reuniting and enjoying get-togethers. Here are a couple Willys letting us know what’s going on in their lives. Steve Porter moved back from Manhattan to expand his DJing business in Holyoke. Steve bought a really cool old mill building in the canal district. Lots of storage in those renovated mills for a lot of records. “I’m still DJing quite a bit, but I’ve just signed on to produce the NBA’s playoffs and finals ad campaign. I will be recording the All Stars in Dallas and making music videos with them. It’s been a crazy year that all started with my remix ‘Slap Chop Rap.’ Other than that, I hope everybody is doing great, and getting younger than me because I’m starting to feel like an old fart!”To check out Steve’s NBA commercials, search on YouTube for “NBA Where Defense Happens (Defense! Defense!)” or “NBA Where Determination Happens.” Who knew at those Stu-Bop dances that we would all be getting a free spinning session by such a well-known and accomplished DJ! Rabia Bajwa got married this past July to a British chap and now lives with her husband in London. “I’m teaching Arabic at SOAS University while trying to finish up my dissertation.” Rabia’s PhD is in Arabic Linguistics, and her dissertation is about conversations in the Qur’an. Congrats Rabia, and good luck! Emily Klug Bain says hello to everyone

from Jackson, WY, where she and her husband had a precious baby girl, Sage Carter Bain, on October 8, 2009. Welcome to the world, Sage, and congrats, Emily! Brian Skehan had an eventful year. He received his PhD in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology in June of 2009.“Afterwards, my wife Nancy and I, with both our families, took off to Thailand to visit her relatives and relax before we returned to work at UMass Memorial Medical Center in November. On Christmas Eve, we were very fortunate to welcome our new daughter, Nora Anne, into our family and are enjoying all of the fun and challenges that come along with having a newborn! In addition to taking care of Nora, Nancy will be pursuing her Pulmonary and Critical Care fellowship at Brown University next year, while I will be attempting to finish my MD at UMass. Hope to see everyone at a Reunion soon and wish everyone a happy and healthy new year.” Congrats to Brian and Nancy welcoming darling Nora! I see Skehan MD on the horizon! Sean Durkin just moved to NYC for a one-year break from the tropics. “I don’t think you can get a more drastic change in environment than going from laid-back island life to city living, and I haven’t lived in a cold climate since I graduated from Williston, so this is taking some getting used to. I think the only thing that hasn’t changed is that I’m still living on an island of 20 square miles. So far so good, and would love to hear from any of you that are in the city in 2010.” I suggested a proper NYC Williston reunion. And in honor of the tradition of [current faculty member] Mr. Thompson’s English class thinking outside of the box, Sean suggested a bar or restaurant that would let us all sit under the table. Well, that’s it for now. Happy New Year to all, and keep those updates coming! –Liz and Seth

1998

Devin Koller 32B Round Hill Road Northampton, MA 01060-2124 (413) 527-2830 devkoller@aol.com Christa Talbot 85 Park Street McPhee House, Apt. 1 Easthampton, MA 01027 (413) 527-7001 ctalbot@williston.com

ro Musicis presented violinist Erin Keefe '98 in a live performance at Carnegie Hall on March 24, 2010. In this concert in Weill Hall, Keefe played Mendelssohn’s Sonata for Violin and Piano in F Major, Kodaly’s Duo for Violin and Cello, Op. 7, and Strauss’s Sonata for Violin and Piano in Eflat Major, Op. 18. Keefe recently won the 2009 Pro Musicis International Award following her audition in New York for the Pro Musicis Jury chaired by Pulitzer Prize winner Maestro Gunther Schuller. Winner of a 2006 Avery Fisher Career Grant, she has established a reputation and is earning praise as a compelling artist who combines exhilarating temperament and fierce integrity. After earning a Master of Music degree from The Juilliard School and a Bachelor of Music degree from The Curtis Institute, Keefe went on to collaborate with many of today’s leading artists. As a member of Lincoln Center’s prestigious Chamber Music Society Two program for the 2006-09 seasons, Keefe appeared in numerous programs at Lincoln Center as well as on tour throughout the US. In January of 2008 she and other Society Two members were featured on “Live from Lincoln Center” playing Schoenberg’s Verklarte Nacht. In the fall of 2009, Keefe released her first solo CD including works by Mendelssohn, Schumann, Ravel, Sibelius, Lutoslawski, and Hindemith, recorded with pianist Anna Polonsky. Her festival appearances have included the Marlboro Music Festival, Music@Menlo, Music from Angel Fire, Ravinia, and the Seattle, OK Mozart, Mimir, Music in the Vineyards, and Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festivals. Williston alumni and friends were invited to a reception following the performance.

1999

Corinne Fogg 3 Langdon Street, Apt. 41 Cambridge, MA 02138 foggco@yahoo.com Gregory Morrison 11 Shoreline Newport Coast, CA 92657-2005 (404) 805-6922 gregory.morrison14@yahoo.com

10th Reunion

2000

Katelyn Webber 4 Trenton Street #2 Charlestown, MA 02129 katelynewebber@gmail.com

Peter Whiteford 2 Grist Mill Road Norwalk, CT 06850 (845) 774-9683 pw3481@gmail.com

Joyce Kwong ’99, Kitana Andrews ’00 and Serra Aladag ’00 reunited at a karaoke bar in New York to catch up and sing a few songs from their Widdiger days.

2001

Adam Branch P.O. Box 304 Leeds, MA 01053-0304 adam.c.branch@gmail.com Katherine Ciejek 8893 E. 24th Place, #102 Denver, CO 80238-2839 (720) 837-8068 katieciejek@gmail.com

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

Back row L-R: Jon Waidlich ’05, Mike Waidlich ’02, Jared Brewer ’02; Front row L-R: Megan Griffin ’05, Brittany Sochard ’02, Naomi Waidlich, Laura Wilson ’02, Jessica Ward ’02, Allison Joseph ’02

2002

Devon Ducharme P.O. Box 1910 Newport, RI 02840 (401) 848-4007 deducharme@gmail.com Thomas Lucey 2200 Market Street Apt 514 Denver, CO 80205-2066 tlucey@analysisgroup.com Oluwatosin Onafowokan 33 Glendale Street Easthampton, MA 01027-2004 (413) 529-2378 oonafowokan@amherst.edu Evelyn Sylvester 8863 Salmon Falls Drive Apt B Sacramento, CA 95826-1944 evelyn.sylvester@uvm.edu

Michael Waidlich was married on October 10, 2009, in Millers Falls, MA, to Naomi Gendron. There was a small group of Williston alumni in attendance.

2003

Jason Chandler 73 Claridge Place Colonia, NJ 07057-1207 Jason.chandler@rocketmail.com Elizabeth Kulik 314 Carroll Street., NW, Apt. 215 Washington, DC 20012 (413) 221-4521 elizabeth.kulik@gmail.com

Ezra Barnehama shares updates on a few classmates: Benji Borowski is currently attending Vermont Law School and made Law Review his first year. He recently sold his Bowflex to subsidize the purchase of his new Subaru. Colin D’Amour continues to defend this nation’s freedom as he serves as an officer in the USMC. Sam Astor is living

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

the dream and loving it in NYC. Carmen Silvestri is living in Boston and working to ensure we do not have another financial meltdown. Ezra himself has been in Boston since receiving his MBA from Clark University in 2008. I also heard from three other happy New Yorkers. Pete David is working as a physics teacher at the Trinity-Pawling School in Pawling, NY. He reports that he attended a weeklong workshop for AP Physics teachers at Taft last summer and ran into none other than [current faculty member] Ms. Rappold herself! He is just one of two members of her ’01-’02 AP Physics B class who are now physics teachers themselves, the other being Devon Ducharme ’02. Nikki Miller is working as marketing manager for an “aerial theatre” in NYC called The Sky Box in exchange for aerial training time and access to the equipment. She’s also thrilled to be studying a complex mix of body work and dance that reorganizes the relationship between cognitive and somatic intelligence in the service of either a particular movement discipline or simply being more efficient in daily life. Nikki’s ultimate goal is someday managing to fuse theater, film, dance, aerial, Shakespeare, and music! Abby Slotnick is living in NYC and loving her job at a company that does payroll and accounting for independent films including The Wrestler, Precious, and The Private Lives of Pippa Lee. She was recently seated next to Precious producer Lisa Cortes during the Gotham Independent Film Awards, and she has also represented her company at the Nantucket Film Festival and the

L-R: Serra Aladag ’00, Joyce Kwong ’99, and Kitana Andrews ’00

L-R: Ezra Barnehama ’03, Colin D'Amour ’03, and Robert “Benji” Borowski ’03 enjoy the Winter Classic at Fenway Park to welcome 2010

Hamptons Film Festival. Joe Vasicek will be graduating from BYU in April, and he is interning with the Washington Institute for Near East Policy this spring semester. He lived in Jordan for four months in the summer of 2008 as part of a BYU study abroad program, and he may be going back after graduation. Alli Arbib is working for Verité, an organization with whom she’s traveled to Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire in an effort to monitor the abuse of international labor rights. –Liz

2004

Alex Teece 92-1075 Painiu Place Kapolei, HI 96707-1457 (413) 587-0337 alex.teece@gmail.com

Danielle Wieneke 230 East 30th Street, Apt. 13 B New York, NY 10016 (518) 569-6088 dwieneke38@yahoo.com

5th Reunion

2005

Eleanor Etheredge Crystal Houses, Apt. 214-11 2000 South Eads Street Arlington,VA 22202 nell.etheredge@gmail.com Peter Higgins 49 Harbey Road West Springfield, MA 01089 (413) 739-3797 HigPeter@gmail.com

2006

Shawna-Kay Chambers 3055 Emerald Boulevard Long Pond, PA 18334 skay588@hotmail.com

Become a fan of your class, too class years with fan groups are marked

Volunteering Above and Beyond Lauren Noonan 325 Riverside Drive Florence, MA 01060 (413) 586-6258 lauren_noonan@yahoo.com

Amadi Slaughter 6902 Sussex Avenue East Orange, NJ 07018 (973) 674-1288 amadi.slaughter@richmond.edu

John Scannell 321 Cross Street Bridgewater, MA 02324 (508) 697-1865 jscannel@bowdoin.edu

Sam Grant continues his running as a three-season athlete at Colby College, participating in cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track.

John-Claude Wright, now a senior at George Washington University, is one of the nation’s top scorers in men’s water polo. He has 59 goals this season and 191 spanning four years. For two years starting in 2005, John-Claude played on Jamaica’s junior national team before moving up to the senior team, where he still participates. Another class of 2006 athlete, Kristen Dirmaier, captains her field hockey team at Connecticut College, plays ice hockey during the winter, and lacrosse in the spring. She played all three sports during her time at Williston, as well.

2007

Christian D’Amour 135 Ashford Road Longmeadow, MA 01106 (413) 567-3240 cdamour@smcvt.edu Kelsey Lindsey 620 Washington Street Franklin, MA 02038 (508) 523-5569 kelsey.lindsey@gmail.com

2008

Evan Davis 108 Dover Road Longmeadow, MA 01106 (413) 567-9542 ewdavis@syr.edu

2009

Sam DeMello, a first-year student at St. Lawrence University, was named to the second team of the 2009 Liberty League men’s soccer all-stars. A midfielder, Sam was the second leading scorer for the St. Lawrence Saints with seven goals, four of them in league play. His seven goals tied for fifth among all Liberty League players.

Former Faculty Cathleen Robinson 134 Middle Street Hadley, MA 01053 (413) 585-9336 cathray1518@yahoo.com

Cyrus Cook taught English at Williston Northampton from 1982 to 1990 before heading to rival Choate Rosemary Hall where he has remained for the past twenty years. He tells us, “For nine years, I was Dean of Freshmen Boys, and for the past five years, I have been Head of the English Department. I’ve also been assistant boys’ thirds basketball coach for the past four years! Megan Shea, my wife, crossed paths at Bates with Karen Brown Golding ’81, the oldest daughter of Ray Brown ’55. We have two children: Emma, 13, and Eben,

williston.com The best way to stay connected! FVideos FPodcasts FSlideshows

Julia Stifler ’06 ulia Stifler ’06, a senior at Colby College in Maine, spends much of her time as a program leader at SETC (South End Teen Center), a safe space for teenagers in Waterville, Maine. Recently Stifler, who is an international studies major and Chinese minor, devoted a weekend to taking six teens on an overnight retreat to the Leadership School at Camp Kieve in Nobleboro, Maine. CVC (Colby Volunteer Center) Assistant Director John Perkins commented, “Julia truly went above and beyond the responsibilities of the program leader position by organizing this trip for the girls. Her extraordinary efforts show just how much she cares about the teens at the SETC and are a true recognition of thinking beyond oneself.”

nine. This fall, I was awarded the Charles Rice Chair in English.” Cyrus would love to hear from his former Williston Northampton students. Former science teacher from 1982-1998 and Director of Intersession Lois Durso P’85 writes, “We are very happy living in Center City, Philadelphia, and I find I am delighted to be within walking distance of so many things John and I both enjoy doing. Museums and theater are important to us, and we attend music and dance concerts, plays, and exhibits quite frequently. The only teaching I am doing now is for Planned Parenthood. I am a Planned Parenthood Educator and have presented to classes ranging from 5th and 6th graders to visually impaired adults ages 25 to 82. I also spend a lot of time working with a group called Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia. We focus our energies on peace in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as on efforts to get Congress to re-assume its war powers. One of the projects of the Granny Peace Brigade is to knit socks for veterans. We have sent out close to 500 stump socks to amputee veterans here in Philly, in Wilmington, DE, and at Walter Reed Hospital. We are also working to see that 11th and 12th graders know about the Opt-Out Form which allows them to maintain their privacy from recruiters under the No Child Left Behind Act. We want war to end and the troops brought home to good mental and physical care. I am the email secretary for this

group. John and I do travel, but it is mostly visits to grandchildren with one trip a year to Europe. The most recent trip was to visit good friends in Germany and to tour a bit in Poland in the area near Gdansk and the Masusrian Lakes.We have 11 grandchildren, nine boys and two girls, and we just celebrated our 50th anniversary. Two of our kids are close by, one in Bryn Mawr with her two boys, and another in Lawrenceville, NJ, with three boys and a girl, and we can use public transportation to visit them. Our Denver daughter and her two boys and husband are a flight away. Our son, Tony Durso ’85, is now living in Fredericksburg, VA, with his wife Maria and their three children. He is Head of the Upper School at Fredericksburg Academy. To visit Tony and his crew we use the train.” Former French teacher and Director of Admissions from 1970-1976 Tom Evans writes, “Down here on the Cape, our Williston Northampton connection tends to be with the Bakers (Barbara ’61, and Ellis ’51) since they are in the next town over. For a number of years, they took our house in August while we vacationed a few weeks in Maine, and when they started looking to retire here, my wife Jan steered them to an ad for the house they ended up buying. In 2006, after 26 years in the job, I stepped down as head of Cape Cod Academy. It was time to turn things over. We’d gone from 75 students to 400; a rented, dilapidated building to all the buildings we

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

could dream of on 45 acres, all paid for; a faculty and staff of 11 to well over 100; graduating classes of three or four to well over 40; and a college matriculation list any great old school would be proud of! I was a lucky guy! Now I’m keeping busy as a bank trustee (a large, mutual bank based here on the Cape, NOT one of the problem banks we read about!), serving on several other local boards, and doing my ‘real’ work as a Head Search and Governance Consultant for independent schools. We’re a small firm of five, doing work across the U.S. and abroad.” Former Spanish teacher from 1991-1997 and current lawyer Julie Carroll Fay returned to do a professional day/in-service workshop on legal issues and professional boundaries for the Williston Northampton faculty before classes started in the fall. Current faculty member Claire Frierson remarked how well Julie’s teaching experience has benefitted her legal work. Julie is married to current history teacher and golf and hockey coach Mike Fay, so she and her family still live on campus in Mariner House on Brewster Avenue. Julie says, “After a year working in Northampton at Grife and Walaszek with Roger Walaszek ’65, I am back working for my old Hartford law firm, Shipman & Goodwin, three days a week. I am doing school law work, representing both public and private schools and doing a fair amount of work in the area of students with disabilities/special education law. As part of my practice, I continue to do a lot of training, workshops and seminars on a variety of education topics and have started teaching a school law class at Quinnipiac Law School. It is great to be able to still teach in this capacity. As for the family, the kids are terrific! Tim is nine (fourth grade), Jack is seven (first grade), and Maggie is two going on 10! We are busy as the boys are playing all kinds of sports: football, soccer, hockey, baseball. Mike, of course, has had them all (including Maggie!) out on the golf course so that he can start grooming some golf partners for himself.” Leanne Gravel, who taught Latin and coached swimming from 1987-1991, tells us, “Jim and I are headed into our 25th year together and live happily in Scarborough, ME, with our four teenagers. After staying home for 10 years to get the children to school-age, I returned to

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

teaching Latin at a parochial school and established a Latin program for grades 5-8. I also got back into coaching and ended up as Head Coach of a USA swim team for children aged 6-21. As my responsibilities grew enormously with the swim team, I had to back away from Latin, but I still home-tutor and am currently getting a student ready to take the AP exam in the spring. My husband works at UNUM, and my children are 19, 18, 16, and 14. The oldest, Danielle, is a sophomore majoring in Math at the University of Southern Maine and is also a coach for me. Robby is a senior at Scarborough High School is headed off on four recruiting trips for swimming next month to determine where he will go to college. Kip (James Jr.) recently got his license and is a junior at SHS, and Jerry is a freshman.” Alan Hall writes, “To bring you up to date on me and put ‘the Academy’ (as I think of it from those long ago days!) and me in some context, I had my first teaching job, hired right from Dartmouth in the spring of 1949 by Mr. (Archibald) Galbraith, probably one of his last headmasterly decisions. The new headmaster, Phil Stevens, was in on my job interview. I spent two happy, confusing, challenging, and exhausting years teaching English, coaching soccer, skiing, and track, and serving as an assistant housemaster. I was fortunate to have mentors like Chuck Rouse P’47, ’51, “Bab” Babcock P’58, and Howard “Boardy” Boardman to guide me. Those two years were when the move from the ‘old’ to the ‘new’ campus took place and my wife, Merry, and I lucked out to be the first couple to live in the new apartment—what then seemed to be luxurious quarters on the first floor of Ford Hall. A federal July 1, 1951, deadline threatened my WW2 GI Bill if I wasn’t enrolled in a graduate program. I needed to return to academic studies and therefore moved to an urban flat in Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania to obtain my master’s degree in English. From Penn I went to St. Paul’s School in Concord, NH, for the next 57 years as a teacher and administrator from 1952-1992 and then as a part-timer in fundraising and publications. I’m still on the payroll as a consultant. That means that these days I write obituaries for the SPS alumni magazine! After 1988, I moved from SPS to

Former faculty got together at Ariani's in Cape Coral, Florida, in January L-R: Bob and Mary Varnum, Cathleen Robinson, George Dunnington, Ray Brown, Ruth Stevens, and Dorothy Dunnington

my house in nearby Hopkinton, NH, commuting to the campus until last month when a longplanned move to Thornton Oaks, a retirement community not far from the Bowdoin campus, took place. I have continued to be in touch from time to time with Williston and with friends on the faculty. Ellis Baker ’51 and Bob Couch ’50 were students when I was there as a young master. Henry and Lorraine Teller P’70,’73 and Leon Waskiewicz ’42 were special faculty friends for years, especially when, for about ten years, I was a trustee across the river at Wilbraham & Monson. I continue to read every page of the Williston Northampton alumni magazine. That good habit led me a year or so ago to write to two then-youngsters on my corridor in ’49-’50, Lew Rabinovitz ’53 and Louis Stern ’53, whose names caught my eye on some Reunion page. They both wrote back, and it was a delightful moment of nostalgia to read of their successful and busy lives of over half a century—one

of the perks of having been a teacher!”After spending 19921994 at Williston Northampton teaching U.S. history and civil rights and coaching varsity baseball, boys’ varsity basketball, and girls’ soccer, Scott Jackson pursued law studies at George Washington University in DC where he met Rose, his future wife. They live in Oakland, CA, with their three children:Will, 9, Katherine, 6, and Sophia, 2. Scott is a deputy district attorney and coaches youth soccer, baseball, softball, basketball, and lacrosse. He remembers his days as dorm parent “in the infamous Ford Hall. We love the Bay Area but I often think of my days at Williston and what a great experience it was for me.” Former history teacher, college counselor, and wrestling coach Don Knauf writes,“I think of my many good times as a member of the Williston Northampton community and of the friends I had during that time in my life. [After] I left Williston Northampton, I spent 27 years coaching wrestling at Southern Connecticut

SEND US YOUR NEWS Send your notes and digital photos to your class representative Send your notes to alumni@williston.com by July 15, 2010, for the Fall Bulletin. If you have questions, or would like to volunteer as a class representative, contact Allison Gomes at (413) 529-3074 or agomes@williston.com.

State University, retiring in 1996. Now I find myself coaching a high school team in Stuart, FL. Summers are spent playing golf in Waterville, ME. We don’t do too much traveling except for our annual trip to Aruba each fall.” Don Lightfoot ’66, former college counselor, tells us that he and his wife Joanie have lived in St. Augustine, FL, since July 2008. “We sold our New Hampshire house, Joanie took retirement from HP after 23+ years, and I retired after 38 years from school, college, and private business careers. Last year’s former faculty update prompted past trustee Charlotte Bruins ’47 to reconnect with me. She, too, is now on the East Coast, and I enjoyed getting caught up on news about her three children. I volunteer at the World Golf Hall of Fame Museum one day a week and work part-time at the St. Augustine Golf Club.” While working there, Don bumped into former classmate Tom Hardenbergh ’66, and his brother Rick ’64, who were playing a round of golf on a rainy November day. Don adds, “My daughters remain in Connecticut;Taber is in the administration at Yale School of Management in VT and Courtney is in Burlington, as a marketer and sales director for the start-up business True Body Soap.” Joel N. Morse taught Spanish at Williston Academy between 1969 and 1971 with then Department Head Dave Thomas P’69 and under Headmaster Phil Stevens, “a Williams man like myself.” He tells us, “Currently, I am a full professor of finance at the University of Baltimore. Previously, I was Associate Dean and Department Chair. I also am a consultant on large complex litigation that involves corporate finance, securities cases, and personal injury (more defense than plaintiff). My daughter Megan was born while I was at Williston. Now she lives in Dallas with her husband, Mike Hiltabidle, and her two children Audrey and Max.” Former field hockey and girls’ lacrosse coach Buffie (Readinger) Race (1975-1981) writes,“I’m in my eighth year of teaching swimming at Seoul Foreign School in Seoul, South Korea. It’s a great school and I enjoy all the travel opportunities. I have also coached volleyball but gave that up in ’08 when I took a sabbatical year and started a master’s program in school counseling. That was a GREAT year! I spent it mostly at my farm in Shushan, NY, but was

able to travel while taking the courses online! My son Trevor, now 33 years old, married Tasha and had Cali, my first granddaughter, who was born in April. Kelly just turned 31; she and her husband Rob have bought their first home and now live in Wellington, CO. I still have pictures of both Trevor and Kelly when they were just toddlers that were taken by students in Couchie’s [Bob Couch ’50] photography classes! Pat Archbald P’76, ’79, ’81, GP ’13 and Mary Hart live close to Waldoboro, ME, where Trevor and Tasha live, so when I go up to visit I can often see Pat and Mary, too. I will be at SFS for at least another year after this one since that’s part of the sabbatical requirements. Unfortunately, they don’t play either lacrosse or field hockey here. They do play hockey in their PE classes but not as a competitive team. There is a stadium in Seoul built especially for field hockey, but I haven’t had any luck going to see them practice or compete. I’ve actually played badminton with the coach of the men’s field hockey China team, but with the language barrier it’s sometimes hard to communicate.” During winter break, Buffie went bungee jumping off the Kawarau Bridge in the south island of New Zealand. Chris Russell, who taught in the history department and coached varsity boys’ soccer, varsity boys’ hockey, and varsity girls’ hockey at Williston during his tenure from 1998-2008, is currently on the faculty of The Salisbury School. He teaches US history, coaches the varsity boys’ soccer team, and works with seventeen boys in college counseling. Chris and his wife Merrilee live on the campus of another rival, the Hotchkiss School, where Merrilee runs the economics program. They have a baby daughter, Adele Grace Mardon Russell, born September 21, 2009. With years of teaching and coaching experience under his belt and a family to focus on, Chris comments, “I’ll be honest. It’s the first time I have ever started a soccer season and not had anxiety dreams about games.” Joe Corry taught history at Williston Academy from 1960-1963 and coached football and basketball. He is now “happily retired from the University of Wisconsin (Madison) and spent the first seven years in retirement as the first executive director of the Retirement Association for faculty

The Breakfast Club, L-R: Bob Couch ’50, Dick Gregory, Al Shaler, and Glenn Swanson ’64 in the StuBop

and staff. Several of us helped found it [and we have] 1,000 members now.” Paul Laurent ’44 returned to his alma mater in 1947 to teach Spanish, French, and algebra and coach soccer and track. He remembers his years at Williston Academy fondly. He says, “A high point for us this past year was the concert dedicated to Herb Pomeroy ’49 at the latest Reunion [June 2009]. My wife Marge, children Holly and Hal, and the grandchildren all attended and loved the show. It was great to see the college-age grandchildren appreciate the wonderful jazz that was our generation’s music. The fact that it was done so professionally was a real plus. We wish to thank John Anz ’82 for setting this up.” Herb was a legendary jazz trumpeter and educator, spent most of the past fifty years at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, and is credited with creating their jazz curriculum. Last year, 2009, would have been his 60th class Reunion. Paul continues, “A note of interest in the photo of the hurdlers in the last Bulletin [Spring 2009]. I’m the one with the birthmark on his right leg. We noticed that there was a big blowup of it on the wall in the old gym and showed that to the grandchildren!” Rick Francis P’81, ’83 joined the Williston Academy faculty in 1958, and before retiring in 2000 he taught math, headed the athletic department, and coached football and basketball. “And for one year, was Carp’s [Dan Carpenter P’65 ’68 ’72 ’73 ’77] assistant in baseball.” But one thing he has not retired from is his passionate commitment to the Cape Cod Sea Camps, Camp Wono for girls and Camp Monomoy for boys. The summer of 2009 was his 61st sea-

son working with the camps, and he was proud to see three grandsons in attendance. This past fall, Rick and wife Marilyn enjoyed an eighteen-day repositioning cruise on the Princess Line, sailing from Copenhagen to Ft. Lauderdale with stops in Oslo, Edinburgh, Dublin, Belfast, Reykjavik, Qaqortoq (Greenland), and St. John’s, Newfoundland. Rick recently stepped away from his duties with NEPSAC (New England Prep School Athletic Council) and was thrilled to see Williston’s Director of Athletics Mark Conroy do a “fantastic job in his first year as president.” Recently, Rick was honored to be selected for induction into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame. He reminds us that Ray Brown ’55 was also elected as a “prep girls coach” in 2006, a few years after Rick’s late brother Frosty was honored for his contributions as a referee. Rick writes, “I humbly accept such an award for whatever recognition it brings to the school. I enjoyed my 22 years as a varsity coach and another 10-15 working with the younger boys.”

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

\Ç `xÅÉÜ|tÅ Albion G. Hart ’28 Albion Hart died on December 3, 2009, at the age of 101. After Williston Academy, he graduated from Wesleyan University and New York University. He worked in New Jersey as a teacher and high school principal, retiring in 1976 as superintendent of schools in Atlantic City. After moving to Florida, he managed an information booth in Oak Bluffs for 12 years. He was an active member and trustee of Trinity United Methodist Church. Albion is survived by his daughter-in-law Virginia, three grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife Cora Ripley, and his son Albion (Pete) Jr. Katharine “Kitsy” Doe Chalmers ’30 Kitsy Chalmers died on October 21, 2009. After Northampton School for Girls, she graduated from Smith College. When the bill allowing women in the Navy was approved, she joined the war effort and served at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, FL. She helped name the Blue Angels, for which she became known as the “Mother” of the Blue Angels. She retired from the Navy in 1962 and served at the reorganization of The Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capitol. Kitsy is survived by her husband of 55 years David, her cousin Nat Barrows, his wife Ann, and their extended family of Ben, Abigail, Lydia, Isabella, and Hannah H. Barrows ’01. Helen Murray Ruschp ’30 Helen Ruschp died on August 2, 2009. A graduate of Northampton School for Girls, she was an avid sportswoman. She worked at the Mount Mansfield Co. in Stowe, VT, from 1940 until her retirement in 1978. Helen is survived by her stepdaughter Christina, her stepdaughter-in-law Carolyn, and her grandchildren Andrew and Allison. She was predeceased by her husband, Sepp, and her stepson Peter. Margaret Button Perry ’31 Margaret Perry died on May 25, 2009. After Northampton School for Girls, she attended Smith College. After her marriage and reloca-

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

tion to Louisburg, NC, she served on the W.R. Mills School PTA, the Louisburg Garden Club, and the Vestry of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. In later years, she studied art and became an accomplished oil painter. “Button” is survived by her sons William and Bennett, three grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Bill and her grandson David. Janet Wittan Spear ’35 Janet Spear died on November 18, 2009. After Northampton School for Girls, she graduated from Hollins University. She opened Jungs Flower Shop in 1948 and operated it for more than 20 years. She was an active volunteer with the American Red Cross, the Four Seasons Garden Club, and the U.C. Book Club in Gastonia, NC. Janet is survived by her sister-in-law Antonia Sperandeo, three nephews, and a niece. She was predeceased by her husband Guy. Jean Hendrian Craig ’36 Jean Craig died on July 29, 2009. After Northampton School for Girls, she graduated from the University of Michigan. When her future husband joined the Army, she joined The American Red Cross in Europe. After their return, Jean attended the University of Hartford and worked as an elementary school teacher, Sunday school teacher, and Girl Scout troop leader. She is survived by her sister Barbara Hendrian; her sons Peter, Christopher, Douglas, and Jonathan; and nine grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Frederick. Sidney G. Piness ’37 Sidney Piness died on October 17, 2009. After Williston Academy, he graduated from Johns Hopkins University and became a biology instructor at the University of Maryland. After graduating from Georgetown University Medical School, he served in the Army Medical Corps. He established an internal medical practice in Plainfield, NJ, and served on the staff of Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center. He was affiliated with the Medical

Society of New Jersey and the Union County Medical Society. He also served as president of the Plainfield Area Medical Association and the Union County Heart Association. Sidney is survived by his wife of 58 years, Carol, his son Andrew, his daughter Nancy, his nephew David Abrams, and his granddaughters Kara and Julia. He was predeceased by his sister Ethel. Philip Cushman Smith ’38 Philip Smith died on October 1, 2009. After Williston Academy, he graduated from Brown University and served in the Army during World War II. He worked in the printing business and had long tenures at the National Publishing Company, McCall Printing Company, and Corporate Press Incorporated. Philip was a lifelong musician, playing in the Roland Cumberland Band, the Olney Big Band, and the Rockville Concert Band in Maryland. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Ary, his son George, his grandchildren Philip and Alia, and his nephews David and Stephen. He was predeceased by his sister Katherine and brother Allerton. Paul W. Flagg ’39 Paul Flagg died on September 13, 2009. After Williston Academy, he served in the Army as a sergeant in military intelligence during World War II. He graduated from Bryant College, and retired as secretary-treasurer of Flagg Industrial Supply Co. in New Haven, CT, after 40 years of employment. Paul was an active member of the New Haven Gridiron Club and the Kiwanis Club. He enjoyed hockey, singing, and traveling. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Betty; his children Jeffrey, Leslie, Margaret Lumbard, and Andrew; and ten grandchildren. John “Jack” J. Tansey ’39 Jack Tansey died on August 24, 2009. After Williston Academy, he graduated from Brown University and the University of Maryland School of Medicine and served as a medical officer in the Naval Reserve. He directed the amputee and prosthetic clinic at Kernan Hospital (now Johns Hopkins

Bayview Medical Center) for many years. He was also clinical associate professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and became chief of orthopedics at St. Agnes Hospital. After retiring, Jack was a consultant to several agencies of the federal government and volunteered with Health Volunteers Overseas. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Shirley, his son John, and his daughter Sheila Hughes. He was predeceased by his brother James N. Tansey ’42. Alan S. Montague ’40 Alan Montague died on July 23, 2009. After Williston Academy, he joined the Army while attending The Citadel military college in Charleston, SC, and served in France during World War II. He successfully ran as a writein candidate for mayor of his hometown, North Bend, OH. After working engineering jobs at Seagram Distilleries and Portland Cement, he joined Hamilton County as sanitary engineer, became assistant county administrator, and retired as director of public works. Alan was active at St. Luke Episcopal Church and sang in the Sons of Dixie Barbershop Chorus. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Martha; his son Alan; his daughter Nancy Greer; his sister Mary Elizabeth Russell; two grandsons; and two step-grandsons. Maury Tuckerman “Tuck” Stadler ’40 Tuck Stadler died on July 10, 2009. After Williston Academy, he served in the First Beach Battalion of the Navy during World War II. He graduated from Yale University and had a successful career as a journalist, reporter, and news director. He worked for Stars and Stripes, The Kansas City Star, television stations in Oklahoma, and WINS in New York City. He published articles in The New York Times, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and other venues. Among his career highlights were interviews with Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, President Kennedy, and President Truman. Tuck is survived by his wife, Evalyn; his children Priscilla, Frances, and Gustavus; his grandson Christophe; his brother John; and his sister Joan Martin. He was predeceased by his brothers Henry, David, and Eliot. Priscilla “Peggy” Storer Hornberger ’41 Peggy Hornberger died on September 4, 2009. After Northampton School for Girls, she graduated from Wellesley College. She was an accomplished artist, specializing in oil painting. She loved wildlife, nature, and gardening and was an avid golfer. She also volunteered at libraries in the Bremen, ME, area.

Peggy is survived by her children William, Karen Hutchins, James, and Anne Cannon; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband H. Richard. James H. Lord ’41 James Lord died on August 23, 2009. After Williston Academy, he attended Wesleyan University and worked in France as a translator for the Military Intelligence Service. He spent most of his life in Paris and became what The New York Times described as “a kind of Boswell to the artistic and social elite.” In three memoirs, he wrote portraits of Gertrude Stein, Jean Cocteau, Balthus, Peggy Guggenheim, and others. He also wrote essential works on Alberto Giacometti and a memoir about Picasso. His fourth memoir, My Queer War, will be released in April 2010. James is survived by his adopted son Gilles Roy-Lord. John Roger Evans ’44 Roger Evans died on July 23, 2009. After Williston Academy, he attended Oberlin College and Case Western Reserve Medical School. He worked in general surgery practice for 39 years. In retirement, he helped build a bike trail, worked with Habitat for Humanity, and volunteered at an elementary school. He was an avid outdoorsman, once commenting, “The forest is my cathedral.” Roger is survived by his wife, Randi; his children Jody, Timothy, Peter, and Nancy; and six grandchildren. Donald M. Lowe ’46 Donald Lowe died on July 29, 2009. After Williston Academy, he earned degrees from Yale University, the University of Chicago, and the University of California at Berkeley. He taught courses on critical social thought and on China at San Francisco State University, retiring in 1992 as professor emeritus of history. He authored six books and was co-founder and associate editor of Positions, a journal of East Asian and American Studies. Donald is survived by his wife of 35 years, Tani Barlow, his brother David M. Lowe ’50, his sister, and his daughters Lisa and Lydia. Thomas J. Lynch ’46 Thomas Lynch died on October 23, 2009. After Williston Academy, he graduated from St. Michael’s College, the University of Vermont, and Georgetown University School of Medicine. He was the first hematologist at Hackensack Hospital and one of the first in Bergen County, NJ, to treat leukemia. He held numerous roles at the hospital, including di-

rector of medical education. He was also the assistant Bergen County medical examiner for 25 years. Thomas is survived by his wife, Barbara; his children Thomas, Susan, and Christopher; his former wife Nancy; eight grandchildren; his stepdaughters AnnMarie Wordelman and Joanne Faustini; and two step-grandchildren. Ellen Emery Beeson ’47 Ellen Beeson died on September 24, 2009. After Northampton School for Girls, she attended Goucher College. She was hostess or VIP guest at many industry and social events when, after several moves and promotions, her husband Dick became president and CEO of Colgate Palmolive Ltd. in Toronto. Dick was later recruited to Kentucky Fried Chicken in Louisville, KY, and ultimately became president and CEO of the Canada Dry Corporation in New York. Charlotte Bruins ’47 recalls that as the “first lady” of these companies, Ellen “was considered an outstanding contributor to the company’s image worldwide.” In addition to her husband of 59 years, she is survived by their children Gayle, Cathy Sweeney, and Scott; and six grandchildren. Mario D. DiMarzo ’47 Mario DiMarzo died on November 13, 2009. After Williston Academy, he attended Fordham University, Bridgewater State College, and Suffolk University Law School. He served in the Army during the Korean War. He also attended Bentley College and Boston College Graduate School of Education. He was a member of the Brockton High School (MA) faculty for 33 years and simultaneously practiced law with the Law Firm of Adams & Crosby. He served on the board of directors of Massasoit Community College and the Brockton YMCA. Mario is survived by his wife of 49 years, Joan; his children Lisa Danby, Karen, and Paul; and four grandchildren. Noelle (Cornwell) Gayer Sisson ’47 Noelle Sisson died on October 18, 2009. After Northampton School for Girls, she graduated from Boston University. She worked as a first grade teacher and counselor, and was also an “other mother” to numerous children by providing foster care for more than 20 years. Noelle was active in her church on the Christian Education Committee, the Board of Deacons, and the Ladies Guild. She is survived by her husband, Robert; her son Damon Gayer; her adopted daughter Diane Sevigne; her stepchildren Paul, Peter, Barbara Roach, and Jennifer Brown; and numerous grandchil-

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

L. Guy Palmer II ’53 uy Palmer died on January 16, 2010. After Williston Academy, he graduated from Yale University, served in the Army, and began a distinguished career in the investment industry. In 1966, he was a founder and president of the investment management firm Davis, Palmer and Biggs, Inc. After his company was purchased by Fiduciary Trust Company, he was a senior officer at Fiduciary and later at Ayco/American Express. From 1984-1987, Guy was director of the Internal Pension Asset Management Group of General Motors. He was a member of the board of directors of Atlanta Capital Management Company from 1987-1996. In 1996, he was a founding partner of Chatham Capital Group in Savannah, where he continued as a consultant until his death. Guy served on a number of corporate, charitable, and educational boards, including Williston’s Board of Trustees from 1976-1986 and 1988-1990. He received Williston’s Distinguished Service Award in 1986. Guy is survived by his wife of 51 years, June; his brother William B. Palmer ’49; his children L. Guy IV, Deborah Doherty, Philip, Edward D. Palmer ’86, and Dorothy Straub; and 12 grandchildren.

dren and great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her daughters Melissa Champagne and Leslie Gayer.

his daughters June, Liz, and Marian; and seven grandchildren.

Jane Mattas Christian ’48 Jane Christian died on November 27, 2009. After Northampton School for Girls, she graduated from Sweet Briar College. She was a successful realtor and champion of women’s golf. She belonged to the Country Club of Scranton and the Waverly Country Club, and was an active volunteer with the Girl Scouts and the Junior League of Scranton. Jane is survived by her children Marjorie Miller, F. Philip III, and Clyde; five grandchildren; and her sisters Peggy Comegys and Elizabeth Coughlin. She was predeceased by her husband F. Philip II.

Seward T. Highley ’51, FF Seward Highley died on September 5, 2009. After Williston Academy, he graduated from Middlebury College and Simmons College. After serving in the Army, he taught biology and chaired the science departments at Williston Academy and The Millbrook School. At Williston, he also coached soccer and skiing, and was master of Swan Cottage. A lifelong birder, he worked in retirement at the Center for Coastal Studies and the International Wildlife Coalition, both on Cape Cod. Seward is survived by his daughters Deborah, Susan, Carolyn, and Helen Matel; seven grandchildren; and his former wife, Patricia.

Philip B. Hill ’48 Philip Hill died on November 18, 2009. After Williston Academy, he graduated from Princeton University and the West Virginia University College of Law, and served in the Navy. He was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives and the Iowa Senate. After returning to West Virginia, he practiced law with Snyder & Hassig, and was president of the West Virginia Bar Association. Philip was active with numerous charitable and educational groups. He is survived by his wife, Lily;

John “Jack” R. McGrail ’54 Jack McGrail died on October 13, 2009. After Williston Academy, he graduated from Tufts University and the University of Connecticut Law School. He practiced law for over 35 years and was past president of the New Haven County Bar Association, CT Bar Association, American Trial Lawyers Association, and received the Yale Sappern Civility Award. He is survived by his wife, Carole, his sister Anne Koletsky, his sons John and Timothy, his daughter Nancy, and six grandchildren.

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

James “Jim” A. Jeffrey, Jr. ’56 Jim Jeffrey died on September 17, 2009. After Williston Academy, he began a career in broadcasting. He started in Concord, NH, at WKXL and went on to WPRO in Providence, RI, WDRC in Hartford, CT, KDKA in Pittsburgh, PA, WAVE in Louisville, KY, KHOU in Houston, TX, and KTVK and KFYI in Phoenix, AZ. He worked in many areas, from talk shows to sports reporting and directing. He was an original member of Ping Golf ’s Wall of Honor for coverage of the LPGA. Jim is survived by his wife, Diane, his sons James III and Mark, his sisters Jill Janas and Grace Nelson, his brother Edward, five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brother John R. Jeffrey ’55. Richard O. Johnson ’56 Richard Johnson died on December 13, 2008. After Williston Academy, he attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and worked in building and real estate. Together with his business partner, Jerry Gates, he developed residential areas throughout the Amherst area. Dedicated to many civic and religious causes, he served on the boards of the Hitchcock Center for the Environment, the Boys and Girls Club, Interfaith Housing, Kiwanis Club, Knight of Columbus, and other groups. Richard is survived by his wife of 42 years, Edna; his children Russell O. Johnson ’85, Jennifer Johnson Wilson, and Timothy; and five grandchildren. Peter D. Knight ’58 Peter Knight died on October 10, 2009. After Williston Academy, he attended Scarritt College for Christian Workers and Berkeley Divinity School. He was rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Southington, CT, until he moved to a career with New England Life Insurance Co. He was elected to the Williston Academy Board of Overseers in 1971. Peter and his wife owned and operated The Old Mystic Inn for nine years, and he was past president of the Mystic Chamber of Commerce. Peter is survived by his wife of 25 years, Mary; his children Susan Lapointe, Andrew, Karen Hardy, and Kelley K. Knight ’86; and five grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son Peter J. Knight ’81 and infant daughter Ellen.

Edwina W. Hatch ’60 Edwina Hatch died on November 7, 2009. After Northampton School for Girls, she graduated from Marjorie Webster Junior College in Washington, DC, and attended the University of Oslo, Norway. She was a physical education teacher and coach at private girls’ schools in New York for more than 25 years. An accomplished tennis player, she was inducted into the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame. She was also a winning golfer. Edwina is survived by her son William and daughter Diana. She was predeceased by her husband Raymond. Bart W. Perini ’60 Bart Perini died on May 1, 2009. After Williston Academy, he was employed by Perini Corporation. He retired as president and CEO of Paramount Development Associates and president and COO of Perini Land and Development Co., subsidiaries of Perini Corp. A sailor and sportsman, he belonged to the Ruffed Grouse Society, Falmouth Skeet Club, Addieville East Farm Hunting Club, and the Kingman Yacht Club. Bart is survived by his wife of 23 years, Carol, his children Heather York and Noelle, two stepchildren, and three grandchildren. Hunter Harris III ’61 Hunter Harris died on June 25, 2009. After Williston Academy, he graduated from Wake Forest University and served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. He lived in Hawaii and the Philippines, graduated from Angeles University, and worked at Sterling Drug International. He was a member of the Elks Club, the American Legion, the Manila Army and Navy Club, and the Reserve Officers Association. He is survived by his son Antonio. Willett Sherman Foster IV ’64 Will Foster died on February 5, 2010. After Williston Academy, he attended Colgate University, graduated from the University of Vermont, and enlisted in the Naval Reserve. After a series of construction jobs and co-owning a swimming pool franchise, he began working at Edlund Company (Burlington, VT) in 1972. At the time of his death, he was CEO of Edlund Co. Will enjoyed riding his motorcycle, iceboating on Lake Champlain, flying his seaplane, and racing vintage cars. He was an active member of the Young Presidents’ Organization. Will is survived by his wife Frances; his children Wendy Farrington, Mary-Elizabeth Foster ’88, Caroline S. Foster ’03, and Willett (Witt) Foster V; five grandchildren; and his brothers Stephen P. Foster ’66 and James. He

was predeceased by his former wife Pamela Lovell Snow. Eugene Charles Gadaire ’67 Eugene Gadaire died on January 15, 2010. After Williston Academy, he graduated from Georgetown School of Dentistry. He was rated one of the top six dentists in Washington, DC, by Washingtonian Magazine. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Betsy, and his sisters Sylvia, Diantha Ferrier, and Lila Forastiere. Robert David Murphy ’67 Robert Murphy died on December 20, 2009. After Williston Academy, he attended Boston College. He was president of the T. Robert Sullivan Insurance Agency in Boston and a longtime member of Hatherly Country Club. He is survived by his sisters, Constance Hughes and Laura Kensington, and six nieces and nephews. Christopher K. McCarty ’76 Christopher McCarty died on August 30, 2009. After The Williston Northampton School, he graduated from Union College and Albany Law School. He practiced law in Southampton, MA, for 15 years. He helped establish the Hilltown Ambulance Service and was an EMT and member of the Worthington Fire Department. He was also active in the Chester Theater. Christopher is survived by his mother, Phyllis; his brothers Dennis W. McCarty ’70 and Peter C. McCarty ’78; his sister Meredith Clanton; and five nieces and nephews. Adam Washburn ’90 Adam Washburn died on October 29, 2010. After The Williston Northampton School, he attended Elmira College and graduated from Holyoke Community College. A lover of history, he was a voracious reader and distinguished himself with knowledge of Nazi Germany and its role during World War II, a topic he first encountered in Glenn Swanson ’64 (Swanee)’s history course. Adam always enjoyed discussion and debate, using humor and wit to his advantage. His love of Williston was significant throughout his life, and friends and family were his guiding lights. John Bailey ’90, Lance Vachon ’90, Harry “Chip” Healey ’90, Simon Keyes ’90, Annie DeRose Westlund ’90, Leah Fasten ’90, and Gordon Couch ’89 attended a memorial gathering in his honor. Adam is survived by his parents, Timothy and Julie Jennison Washburn ’66 FF, his sisters Abigail Washburn ’91 and Anna Washburn Rayner ’95, his paternal grandmother Marion Washburn, his nephew Maxwell Timothy Rayner, and his uncle Jonathan Jennison.

Former Faculty/Staff Alphonse Barry Alphonse Barry died on December 22, 2009. He joined the Williston Academy Physical Plant Department in the late 1950s and shortly thereafter became the school’s chef, remaining at Williston until 1971. He last worked at Holyoke Hospital. Alphonse was predeceased by his wife. Charlotte Snyder Turgeon H ’77 Charlotte Turgeon died on September 22, 2009. A graduate of Smith College, Charlotte was a prolific author, editor, and translator with 53 published works. She attended the Cordon Bleu Academy in Paris and enjoyed a lifelong friendship with her Smith classmate Julia Child. At Amherst College, where her husband taught, her social and culinary skills were utilized by successive presidents in extending hospitality to many distinguished guests. Later in life, Charlotte worked as Alumni Secretary at Northampton School for Girls. Upon the merger with Williston Academy, she became School Secretary and assisted Headmaster Robert Ward with many ceremonial and practical duties. Dick Gregory FF remembers her as a “grand lady … one of the sturdiest and most imaginative presences” on campus. Retiring in 1977, Charlotte was presented with Williston’s Eminent Service Award. She is survived by her children Charles, Thomas, and Charlotte White; eight grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Frederick and her son Richard. The school recently learned of the deaths of the following individuals: Chia Yung “Charlie” Yuan ’25 Jane Ferris Fryatt ’29 Katharine Borden Lake ’31 Rev. Benjamin E. Berry ’39 Patricia (Bennett) Hoffman ’40 Arthur L. Reed ’46 Carol LaFrance Rockoff ’48 Andrea Nadle Lefkovits ’67 Robert E. Wheeler ’67 James “Jimmy” R. Triana, Jr. ’72 Melanie C. Hawrylow FS

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

from the archives by Richard Teller ’70, archivist

either the long-rumored Zamboni nor the missing Confederate submarine have so far appeared. But when the campus pond was drained earlier this winter, the first stage in a project to remove several decades’ accumulation of muck, pilings from the old wooden bridge were revealed, and have now been removed. This project was made possible by gifts from J.H. Maxymillian, Inc./Maxymillian Technologies, James H. Maxymillian ’56, Neal A. Maxymillian ’83, and Chuck Tauck ’72. Old photographs reveal that over the years, there were actually several wooden trestles connecting Sawyer Field with the main campus. Between weather and the wear and tear from cleated shoes, bridges didn’t last long. This writer, who grew up on campus, recalls that crossing could be an adventure. There were what appeared to a small child to be giant gaps in the floorboards. The whole ramshackle structure was replaced by today’s Parents’ Bridge in 1957. Williston Pond is the uppermost in a series of descending artificial ponds developed to provide water power for Samuel Williston’s textile mills in the mid-19th century. Beyond being the scenic centerpiece of a lovely campus, it has served as an outdoor biology and ecology laboratory, hockey venue, and from a time when the curriculum was very different, a project for the surveying class. (The sketch is from surveying teacher Joseph Sawyer’s notes, 1883.)

IT’S ALL IMPORTANT

The Archives collects school documents and memorabilia of all kinds. We’re especially interested in student journals and letters, academic work, photographs, and much more. We’d also like to fill gaps in certain school publications, notably Northampton School yearbooks for 1934 and 1956, many issues of the Northampton Annual Catalogue, Pegasus, and The Willistonian. Right now we’re particularly seeking summer reading lists from over the years. Don’t let these important pieces of our history be lost to future generations! If you have material you would like to share, or stories to tell, please contact Archivist Richard Teller ’70, at (413) 529-3288, or rteller@williston.com.

SPRING 2010 BULLETIN

Can they count on you? Think back. Remember the great teachers, coaches, and experiences that you had when you were a student at Williston. Generations of our students have enjoyed the support of alumni, parents, and friends of the school that made it possible for them to live and learn together. Your contribution to the Annual Fund will continue that tradition, helping to ensure that todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s students have the same great experience at Williston Northampton that you did.

Make your gift to the Williston Northampton Annual Fund by June 30. www.williston.com/giving Thank you!

The Williston Northampton School 19 Payson Avenue Easthampton, MA 01027 (413) 529-3000 www.williston.com

Parents: If this issue is addressed to your son or daughter who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify the Alumni Office of the correct new mailing address by contacting us at alumni@williston.com or (800) 469-4559. Thank you.

Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID The Williston Northampton School

Change service requested

www.williston.com/theater

The children’s theater program, Anne of Green Gables, delighted youngsters at sold-out shows during the public school’s vacation in February. The play, the third directed by Director of the Williston Theatre Emily Ditkovski, follows Anne’s misadventures as Matthew and Marilla of Green

Gables mistakenly adopt her rather than a young boy they wanted for chore duties. Anne uses her imagination to help her adapt to this new and very different life. Based on the novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery, this version was dramatized by Joseph Robinette.