Loomis Chaffee Magazine Summer 2014

Loomis Chaffee magazine summer 2014

19 14 2014

Loomis Chaffee at 100

summer 2014/ Volume LXXVi, no. 3

ON THE COVER Faces of Loomis Chaffee: (top row) English teacher Frederick Seebeck, Kieu Anh "Eliza" Hoang ’16, James Daring ’14, Olivia Fischer ’15, and Arianna Calabrese ’13; (second row) Alexandra Attanasio ’14, Isaac Guzman ’17, French teacher Sabine Giannamore, Lauren Horn ’13 and Sara Pipernos ’15, and math teacher and Associate Dean of Faculty Andrew Matlack; (third row) Nicholas Sailor ’13, Claire Kokoska ’11 with Fabindia School student in India, Spencer Congero ’12, Katheryn Hewitt ’12, and Samuel Fisher ’09; (fourth row) Derek Pang ’16, Keara Jenkins ’14, Patrick Afriyie ’14, a campus chicken, and Head of School Sheila Culbert; (bottom row) math teacher Allison Beason, student dancer in silhouette, Paul Lee ’13, and Karina Masri ’14

BACK COVERIllustration by Patricia Cousins

DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING | Lynn A. Petrillo ’86

MANAGING EDITOR | Becky PurdyDESIGNER | Patricia J. CousinsCLASS NEWS | James S. Rugen ’70OBITUARIES | Rachel AllenCONTRIBUTORS | Rachel Allen, Timothy Struthers ’85, Missy Pope Wolff ’04, Berrie Moos, Lisa Parsons, Ned Parsons, KeriAnne Travis, Lisa Salinetti Ross, and Alexandra Muchura SUBMISSIONS/STORIES AND NEWSAlumni may contribute items of interest to:Loomis Chaffee EditorsThe Loomis Chaffee School4 Batchelder RoadWindsor CT 06095860 687 [email protected]

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POSTMASTERSend address changes toThe Loomis Chaffee School4 Batchelder RoadWindsor CT 06095

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Richmond Hall Although brand-new, Richmond Hall, which opens as a girls dormitory in September, echoes architectural details, materials, and color schemes of some of the campus' venerable century-old buildings, giving the new building an immediate feel of continuity and warmth. Photo: Patricia Cousins

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Go to Loomis Chaffee online at www.loomischaffee.org for the latest school news, sports scores, and galleries of recent photos. You also will find direct links to all of our social networking communities. For an online version of the magazine, go to loomischaffee.org/magazine.

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Departments 2 | HEADLINES | At 100 Years, a School in its Early Prime

3 | AROUND THE QUADS

8 | THE BIG PICTURE

18 | ISLAND ARRAY

19 | OF NOTE | FACULTY & STAFF

21 | ATHLETICS

49 | OBJECT LESSONS | On the Trail of a Mystery

51 | ALUMNI NEWS

63 | IN MEMORIAM

72 | THE LAST WORD | News of Lindbergh’s Feat

24 | Loomis Chaffee at 100Who or what is Loomis Chaffee? As the Centennial year begins, today’s school answers this question.

36 | senior profilesFive members of the Class of 2014 share the stories of their Loomis journeys.

42 | Centennial essay: archaeology: the Omnivore’s Delight

Christopher H. Roosevelt ’90 shares insights into issues facing the eclectic and fascinating field of archaeology.

45 | parting Is such sweet sorrowThe Loomis Chaffee community bids adieu and pays tribute to three longtime faculty members who retired in June.

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Headlines | by SHeila Culbert

“We have a clear identity as a school that provides one of the best independent educations available to students anywhere.

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sheila Culbert and Commencement speaker Diana Farrell ’83 process on the senior Path, lined by the Class of 2014. Photo: John Groo

At 100 Years, a School in its Early PrimeEducational institutions are

among the most long-lived in the world. chengdu Shishi High School

in china, for example, dates to 143 BcE, while the King’s School in England dates to 597 and Gymnasium Paulinum in Ger-many to 797. Within the united States, the Hartford Public School, which opened in 1638, is the second oldest in the country after Boston latin School, which opened in 1635. the nearby Hopkins School in new Haven opened in 1664. nephew and uncle duo Samuel and John Phillips did not found an-dover and Exeter until more than a century later—Phillips in 1778 and Exeter in 1781—mere upstarts really.

So at 100 years old, loomis is old, but not that old. We have alumni who were alive in 1914 (although not yet old enough to attend the school) when nathaniel Horton Batch-elder first opened the doors of the loomis institute. it might be best, therefore, to think of today’s school as in its early prime—a new

graduate perhaps with all the opportunities ahead of it and poised to make the most of an excellent foundational century.

applications to the school this past year reached an all-time high with almost 1,900 prospective students completing the process. these engaging and talented girls and boys hail from all over the nation and all over the world. this year also saw the construction of Richmond Hall, our newest dormitory. now almost complete—it needs to be finished in time for the opening of school in Septem-ber—it will, along with cutler Hall, which will open late next summer, give the school a ratio of two-thirds boarding to one-third day students, close to the ratio of 1914.

one hundred years on, we have a clear iden-tity as a school that provides one of the best independent educations available to students anywhere; we are known for our outstand-ing arts and academic programs, a sense of

At 100 yeArs | continued 41

Around The Quads

D iana Farrell ’83, a director at McKinsey & Company and the global head of the McKinsey Center for Gov-

ernment, returned to loomis Chaffee in late May for the school’s 98th Commencement and, in her address to the 183 students in the Class of 2014, gave insight into the country’s economy and the role of the graduating class in shaping that economy’s future.

“in the choices that you make over the next several years, i hope that each of you, and your generation as a whole, will embrace the opportunity and responsibility to shape a bet-

ter society,” she said to the seniors. She urged them to “make hard choices and achieve bet-ter outcomes,” the theme of her Commence-ment address.

Diana’s address and remarks from Class Speaker nicholas aldridge, Head of School Sheila Culbert, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Christopher norton ’76 gave words to the mounting excitement among the crowd gathered between the Homestead and the Head’s House on a beautiful, sun-drenched morning. The anticipated awarding of loomis diplomas as well as the presentation of the six

Commencement prizes honored the dedica-tion and achievements of the Class of 2014.

Diana recounted the Great recession that began in 2008, noting that hundreds of thousands of individuals lost their jobs every month, millions lost their homes to foreclo-sures, tens of millions of families cut back on spending because they could not afford ne-cessities, and tens of thousands of businesses of all sizes lacked access to credit and went bankrupt. a member of President Obama’s

Photo: John Groo

Optimism Prevails as Class of 2014 Graduates

ClaSS OF 2014 | next page

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Around The Quads

economic team from 2009 to 2011, she recalled the difficult decisions facing the president in response to the recession, including the decision to bail out General Motors.

“that was five years ago,” she said. “today, as most of you head to college, our economy has truly stabilized. We’ve had 50 consecu-tive months of job growth, housing prices are rising, and confidence is growing. but we are still a long way from a robust and thriving economy that is sustainable and benefits everyone.” Although she cautioned that rebuilding the economy to its previous strength will be difficult and still in the distant future, she expressed a hopeful outlook. “i am optimistic about the future and about you, especially today as i look at all of you, the next generation, eager to embrace what lies ahead and ready to make a difference in the world,” she said. “May you do so boldly and wisely.”

nick emphasized in his address the importance of not only quantifiable successes, such as achieving a high score on an exam, learning a sym-phony, or scoring a winning goal, but also immeasurable achieve-

ments, such as happiness, passion, and ingenuity.

“it is tempting to go out into this imperfect, chaotic world full of half-truths and unknowns and seek to ascribe order to it all,” he said. “but some of the most important things in life are not rational or predictable, but rather abstract and elusive. some of the most important things in life are not governed by the logic of desire and action. so don’t try to catch everything because some-times the most important things are the things you find when you turn over a stone in the forest, jump into the ocean in the summer, and watch the sunrise with someone that you love. in these moments, you realize that the quantifiable stuff doesn’t really matter all that much.”

nicholas noted that high school is a time of change and growth, which can cause individuals to ques-tion what they believe in and who they are. “Me, i’m a member of the loomis Chaffee graduating Class of 2014, and i believe in seeing an incomprehensible world and slow-ing down to find the beauty in the chaos,” he concluded.

Commencement culminated with the presentation of diplomas. As Head of school sheila Culbert handed diplomas to the graduates, each individual in return handed her a small silver heart. the hearts will be placed in pelican figures being created for the school’s upcoming Centennial Celebration.

in closing remarks, sheila and Chris norton congratulated the graduates, wished them well, and reminded them that they always will remain part of the loomis commu-nity. “Our alumni are leaders in this nation and around the world, as you too shall be,” sheila said. “remem-ber, wherever you go and wherever you may be, that you always have a home here, and know we follow each and every one of you on your special paths.”

To read the full text of diana’s and nicholas’ speeches and citations for each of the prize winners, go to www.loomischaffee.org/magazine.

“it is tempting to go out into this imperfect, chaotic world full of half-truths and unknowns and seek to ascribe order to it all. but some of the most important things in life are not rational or predictable … .

”— Class Speaker Nicholas aldridge

Commencement dignitaries and prize winners gather after the ceremony: (standing) trustee John bussel ’87, trustee Andrew Carter ’58, Chairman of the board of trustees Christopher norton ’76, Head of school sheila Culbert, Xin Wen, Commencement speaker Diana Farrell ’83, trustee Peter seigle ’65, and trustee reginald Paige sr.; (seated) Cameron nelson, Keara Jenkins, Garrett esper, Kassidi Jones, reinaldo Maristany, nana Minder, rohin bhargava, and Claire Kim. Photos: John Groo


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COMMenCeMent took place two weeks earlier than usual this year as the school

moved to an early-graduation mod-el for the end of the academic year. the change meant that seniors bid farewell to loomis on May 25. the new year-end calendar also gave juniors the chance to take up the student leadership mantle as they looked ahead to their senior year.

to mark the occasion, loomis launched a new tradition, the Junior rising-Up Ceremony. On the first class day after Commencement, juniors attended a special break-fast in the loomis Dining Hall then processed up the senior Path to Founders Hall. Faculty and staff lined the path and applauded the school’s new student leaders, who were stunned by the reception.

“With the seniors graduating it was important to recognize that the juniors are rising up to take that leadership role,” says Patricia

sasser, dean of juniors. “it’s great to get them thinking about what it means to be leaders in the school.”

After traversing the senior Path for the first time “legally,” the juniors entered the center doors of Founders and continued to the chapel, where senior class meetings are held. there, senior deans Mary liscinsky and Aaron “Woody” Hess and Head of school sheila Culbert spoke with the Class of 2015 about the upcoming opportunities to make the school a better place and serve as role models for under-classmen. "next year the school is yours," sheila said.

With graduation events concluded and the Class of 2014 departed, the campus took on a quieter tone as the juniors, sophomores, and freshmen attended a final week of classes, celebrated springfest, and studied and sat for exams, conclud-ing the school year on June 4.

A s part of a new program encouraging students to de-velop a worldwide perspective, 16 members of the Class of 2014 earned Global studies Certificates along with

their diplomas.

these seniors were the first group to receive the certificates, which honor the students’ concerted interest in exploring a greater understanding of the world. A number of their younger peers — 19 at last count — are following their lead.

A student earns a Global studies Certificate by meeting a set of course and extracurricular requirements outlined by the Center for Global studies. each recipient must contribute significantly to an extracurricular group with an international focus, complete a mini-mum number of globally-oriented courses, take at least one two-week sojourn abroad or a combination of trips, give a presentation about his or her travel to the loomis community, and participate in the Global studies seminar. in the seminar, students meet five times during their senior winter and spring terms to discuss their varied academic, travel, and extracurricular experiences in relation to global topics.

“We hope to promote their active thinking about life beyond loomis — the implications of global interconnectedness for their own futures and how they can engage in ‘service for the nation and in today’s global civilization,’” says Alexander McCandless, the Christopher H. lutz director of the Center for Global studies, referring to the school’s mission statement.

seniors who earned certificates this year were honored at the spring Awards Ceremony, and their diplomas include the special designation.

Acknowledging Global Focus

Juniors Step onto Senior Path

Global studies Certificate recipients and the program’s administrators: (standing) Carolyn Gershman, lilian rosenberg, Karina Masri, Director of studies timothy lawrence, Director of the Center for Global studies Alexander McCandless, Harriet Cho, Alexandra smith, leah rubin, and simone Hugh sam; (seated) nicholas Kamm, shannon Deveney, Diomand Henry, Keara Jenkins, eliana Zhou, Jia ling “Jenny” li, Xin Wen, sara Gershman, and Zoe Miller. Photo: John Groo

Faculty applaud as rising seniors, led by student Council officers Gabriella roncone and William Parsons, take a ceremonial first walk on the senior Path. Photo: Patricia Cousins

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ClAsses ending in 4 and 9 gathered for reunion Weekend June 13–15, enjoying class dinners, golf, yoga, a

talk on the history of the school, a look at sustainability on campus, a panel discussion on the middle class, a business-to-business networking reception, a 40th reunion class art exhibit, a reunion Memorial service, a reception in recognition of reunion leaders, and an alumni lacrosse game, among many other activities. Approximately 900 guests, including 540 alumni, attended the week-end’s festivities.

For more news and photos from reunion Weekend, go to www.loomischaffee.org/magazine.

’4s and ’9s Reunite

1. the bagpiper leads the Alumni Parade of Classes. 2. Chaffee graduates celebrate at the 50th reunion reception at the Head of school’s home on Friday evening: Ann taylor Kemp ’64, suzanne sherwood Cane ’64, Jane torrey ’67, Jody torrey Hodges ’64. 3. Art enthusiasts enjoy conversation in the Mercy Gallery of the richmond Art Center during the Class of 1974 Art exhibit. 4. 5th reunion celebrants are all smiles on the Quad: Caitlyn Dawson ’09, Jennifer Zuza ’09, randee Johnson ’09, Plicy Perez ’09, Juliana Just-Costa ’09. 5. Alumni who have passed away are remembered at the reunion Memorial service. Curt Hart ’64, Jim Ponet ’64, and Hollis Huston ’64, all members of the 50th reunion class, served as officiates of the program. 6: Harry beaver ’64 (center), co-chair of the loomis 50th reunion, catches up with classmates Henry smith (left) and Peter Cosel (right). 7. laurie Perez ’89, joined by husband Jeff Collette (left), and Dave Case ’89 enjoy a 25th reunion moment. 8. Ariana Washington ’04, sydney Faulkner ’04, and Pooja Faldu ’04 reunite for their 10th reunion. 9. the tent is aglow for the Friday and saturday evening festivities on Grubbs Quadrangle.

Kayden Will ’89 warmly greets classmate Kristin Cuscela Siano ’89 at their 25th reunion.1

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THey are a special breed, loomis “faculty brats.” Growing up on the island,

they see nothing unusual about eating dinner with hundreds of big brothers and sisters or running the sidelines for every home soccer game or trick-or-treating around dormitories with a horde of fellow fac brats. For faculty children at loomis, the teachers are fam-ily, the students are babysitters, and Grubbs Quadrangle is their backyard.

the campus holds a place of nostalgia for many who spent their childhoods here, sentiments they shared during loomis Chaffee’s first Fac brat reunion in June. More than 40 former faculty children and their guests gathered on the island for the weekend event, featuring

a campus tour, the dedication of a Fac brat bookcase in the Katharine brush library, a driving tour of Windsor, a celebratory reception and dinner, and other highlights.

“everyone that came to the reunion was happy to be back. it was like a family reunion for us,” says seth beebe ’78, a former faculty child who is director of advancement services at loomis. Organized by seth and a committee of fac brats that included David Flash ’81, loo-mis Director of Athletics bob Howe ’80, Hilary House Carpenter ’82, and Jonathan Porter, the reunion brought together childhood friends as well as fac brats of different generations, all of whom shared the bond of growing up on the island.

“We were all sharing memories about growing up on campus and being raised by each other’s parents,” bob says. “it was a really great event. you can just tell that people love this place.”

When We WeRe VeRy young: A Fac Brat Reunion

REUNIONf ca tb ar

LOOMIS CHAFFEE

“everyone that came to the reunion was happy to be back. it was like a family reunion for us.

” —Seth beebe ’78

the Fac brat reunion crowd paused for a group photograph before dinner. Photo: Becky Purdy

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Poetry in Motion Members of dance Company II perform in this year's Spring dance revue in the norris ely orchard Theater. The showcase of student dancers delights sold-out audiences every year. Photo: John Groo

ArOUnD tHe QuadS | tHe big PiCture


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On earth Day this spring, students, faculty, and staff could be found canoeing

on the Farmington river, cooking sustainably in the head of school’s kitchen, hiking trails near campus, touring the UConn dairy farm, test-driving alternative-fuel cars, prepping the community gardens, and planting maple trees, among dozens of other earth-friendly ac-tivities that culminated the school’s year-long focus on climate change.

emphasizing experiential learning and the practical application of information from climate change experts who visited loomis throughout the year, earth Day brought a call to action: “What will you do with what you know about climate change?” the loomis com-munity devoted most of the day to answering this question through local activities.

A convocation kicking off the day's events highlighted ongoing student efforts to combat climate change. students presented information about the school’s sustainability program and initiatives funded by Gilchrist environmental Fellowships, such as an aquaponics project in

the greenhouse, installation of water filtration dispensers, and con-version to low-flow shower heads in the dormitories. students who traveled on a school-run trip to the Arctic Circle in March summarized their research work and adven-tures. Another group of students explained their participation in the 20/20 Challenge, through which they worked with students in india, virtually, to find local solutions to the global water crisis. student dancers also conveyed the neces-sity of teamwork and a sense of

urgency about climate change through a dance choreographed with the help of visiting professional choreographer sonia Plumb. (See related story on page 11.) And an original music piece composed by senior Cameron nelson accompa-nied video of the natural world.

Following the convocation, students took local action, participating in a range of eco-friendly activities on and off campus.

“it’s great to have the students be active members with nature,” says

Andrea rooks straccia, director of experiential learning and enrich-ment opportunities and an associ-ate director of college guidance, who got her hands dirty working alongside students in the commu-nity gardens. earth Day’s activities enabled students “to take what they’ve learned throughout the year about climate change and put it into practice, making a difference on a local level,” she reflects.

the day concluded with a Color run on campus organized by the Pelican service Organization. the fun run, complete with paint-splattering stations, raised money for 350.org, a global climate movement founded by bill McKibben, author of this year’s all-school read, Eaarth, and a speaker at loomis last fall.

Director of sustainability Jeffrey Dyreson, one of the event orga-nizers, was thrilled with the day’s success. “it’s a truly exciting time to be a part of the loomis Chaffee school,” he says. “there has been much progress made in the realm of sustainability on campus, and loo-mis Chaffee is an activist against climate change.”

School Community Takes Local Action to Combat Climate Change

A proud group of students and faculty constructed bird houses on earth Day. Photo: Mary Coleman Forrester

Sophomore derek Martinez readies the soil in the community gardens.


W Hile on dorm duty in Warham Hall this year,

faculty member Michael Murphy saw a teachable moment in a common

event: students ordering food from local restaurants to satisfy their evening

hunger pangs.

Mike, who teaches in the History and social science Department, began to wonder how much money the loomis community spends on food outside of the dining hall, and he decided to have his Applied economics class find out.

Giving his students real-world experience with the material learned in class, he asked his nine students to assume the roles of

project manager, project director, and analyst on a simulated management

consulting team.

the team took a representative sample size of the loomis

community and extrapo-lated data from

surveys, snUG

sales figures, and dorm de-livery receipts to estimate that the school community spends $550,000 during the academic year on outside food. the snUG has roughly a 36 percent market share, the students determined. the class also asked peers to rate the food establishments on the quality of food, price, convenience, and overall satisfaction. Once the report was completed, students contacted the local food establishments most frequented by the loomis community to “sell” the analysis in ex-change for a school discount throughout May.

“the project was a really good indicator of what i could be doing in the future since i want to be an economics major in college,” senior Maxine Offiaeli says. “the project, combined with the other material we learned in the class, helped me to un-derstand what is really going on in the world since economics really is everywhere and there are so many practical applica-tions.”

Food for Thought

GUest choreographer sonia Plumb began her work with loomis Chaffee danc-ers this spring with a question: How

does climate change make you feel? “scared,” “desperate,” “a sense of urgency,” the students responded.

With Ms. Plumb’s help, the students planned to create and perform a five-minute original piece for the loomis community based on the year’s school theme, Climate Change. Understanding their emotions about the topic was the first step. then, drawing on those feelings, the students choreographed their movements, and Ms. Plumb organized the movements into the final piece, which the students performed at the school’s earth Day convocation in April.

“the dance was meant to evoke a feeling, which

might not be the same for every audience member,” reflects Ms. Plumb, artistic director of the sonia Plumb Dance Company. “in a dance, it’s never that the specific turn means anything, but it’s in how the dancer turns and their intent behind it.”

the sonia Plumb Dance Company’s recent works have revolved around science, including a performance titled “Water Wars.” the company’s work and loomis’ focus on climate change this year fit together perfectly. “it was really great to work with the students throughout this collab-orative process,” Ms. Plumb says. “We wanted the students to take ownership of the piece, and they were very receptive and thoughtful about their work.”

the dancers performed the piece in groups to

demonstrate that, while most feel alone in the battle against climate change, everyone as a whole is affected.

“i was hoping to show the school that we can send a powerful message through art and that by working together, we as a community can help spread the message of climate change and make a difference,” senior dancer Alida ratteray says.

Dancers explore emotions of Climate Change

sonia Plumb. Photo: Patricia Cousins

Illustration: Istock

Around The Quads

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A t its May meeting, the board of trustees rec-ognized two longtime

trustees, Dang t. Phan ’79 and John M. bussel ’87, as each concluded his service on the board.

Dang, managing partner and presi-dent of Monday Capital Partners in new york City, was a trustee of the school for 12 years, serving as vice chairman of the Finance Committee and as a member of the investment Committee, the build-ings & Grounds Committee, and the education Committee. He also chaired a Profile task Force in 2005 and delivered the Commencement address in 2009. At a celebratory dinner for Dang and John, trustee nancy Collins ’91 spoke on Dang’s behalf, praising the impact he has had as a trustee of the school as well as in his unofficial role as a mentor for nancy.

reflecting on his trustee experi-ence, Dang comments, “i am stepping down from the board after

12 years and in the year of our Cen-tennial, during which we celebrate an extraordinary act of generosity by the Founders and its enduring legacy. My family and i were the direct beneficiaries of this act when we stepped ashore on this island sanctuary as Vietnamese refugees almost 40 years ago. i have learned that the best way to repay a debt of gratitude — to my parents, teach-ers, and those who came before us — is to pay it forward.”

John, principal and regional direc-tor at Hewins Financial Advisors in Miami, Florida, served as a trustee for 13 years. During his tenure, John chaired the Committee on trustees and the education Committee and served as a member of the invest-ment, Finance, and Admission & Financial Aid committees. trustee Jamie Widdoes ’72 spoke at the dinner on John’s behalf, highlighting John’s many contributions to the board.

John remarks, “it has been just

a great privilege for me to serve on this board for the last 13 years. since i joined in 2001 under russ Weigel and now conclude under sheila Culbert, loomis Chaffee has made remarkable progress in every aspect. it was such a proud pleasure to read all the board reports for my last meeting, from student and faculty life to admissions to col-lege placement to the curriculum, finance, facilities, and advancement

and communications. Our school is on a roll, and it has been a blast to have a front-row seat as a trustee to observe and oversee it all. i con-gratulate sheila for her outstanding leadership over these last six years.”

loomis has been the fortunate beneficiary of Dang’s and John’s combined quarter century of excel-lent service.

Two Seasoned Trustees Conclude Service

JUst prior to its May meeting, the loomis Chaffee board of trustees elected erik A. Cliette ’84 to his first term on the board.

erik is the director of the Harlem Hospital injury Prevention Program, an initiative that works to reduce the injury rates of children in Harlem. As an entrepreneur, he is a co-owner of Alpha brothers, a residential and commercial cleaning business; is the senior partner with Fraternal Golf, a sports design and paraphernalia company; and is chief executive officer of CMG, a small business consulting firm that focuses on strategic direc-tion and communication.

Among his multiple volunteer commitments, erik has served as the former president of the board of the national Jack and Jill of America Founda-

tion, as a board mem-ber for the new york state Governor’s traffic safety Advisory board, and on the board of the Upper Manhattan empowerment Zone.

After attending the Al-len-stevenson school in Manhattan, erik was a three-year student at loomis Chaffee. He served as head prefect; was a member of the student Council; played varsity football, bas-ketball, and lacrosse; was president of the black student Union; played violin in the Orchestra; and was a chamber singer. He went on to the

University of rochester, where he earned a bach-elor’s degree in english and political science and a master’s degree in education. Most recently, he completed a post-master’s certificate program in not-for-profit management at Columbia Uni-versity’s school of business. in 2004, because of his many volunteer activities, erik was awarded Columbia’s Xanthos Prize for outstanding service in the community.

For loomis Chaffee, erik has served as a reunion volunteer and hosted an alumni reception in Har-lem in April to help reconnect the school’s gradu-ates of color. He and his wife, Dawn Hankin, and their daughter, Dylan, reside in new rochelle, new york.

Erik Cliette ’84 Joins Board of Trustees

Dang Phan ’79 and John bussel ’87 outside the Homestead. Photo: Lynn Petrillo ’86

erik Cliette ’84. Photo: Wayne Dombkowski


brilliant! Junior Jean lee was among the top 14 out of 397 high school students who took the local Chem-istry Olympiad exam this year. as the top-scoring female student, Jean received the anna J. Harrison award.

Students earning recognition in national language exams this year included 66 students in Spanish, 15 students in French, and 33 students in latin.

Sixty-four loomis community members re-ceived haircuts to help those in need during a May event organized by the Pelican Service Organiza-tion. Volunteers donated hair to beautiful lengths or Matter of trust, and others donated money to alex’s lemonade Stand in exchange for a trim. beautiful lengths, a partnership between Pantene and the american Cancer Society, creates real-hair wigs and donates them to people battling cancer. Matter of trust uses shorter lengths and chemically treated hair to help with oil spills. alex’s lemonade Stand is an organization dedicated to eradicating childhood cancer. local salon Hairdresser on Fire volunteered three hairdressers to help with the event. Sophomores Hannah McCarthy Potter and ellen O’brien led the Pelican Service Organization effort.

the following students were selected to the Connecticut Northern region Music Festival this year: juniors Michael Kim (bass vocal) and Mollie richter (alto vocal), sophomores ruthie Kornblatt-Stier (cello) and andrey Vdovenko (bass vocal), and freshmen deborah Feifer (trombone), gloria Yi (violin), and lily liu (soprano vocal).

a student-organized Oxfam Hunger banquet during lunch on May 1 raised awareness about hunger around the world. Sponsored by loomis Chaffee’s global Human rights Club, the event randomly assigned students, faculty, and staff to either upper, middle, or lower class brackets, proportioned according to u.S. statistics. the upper class was served a steak meal or vegetarian option. those in the middle class were given a bowl of rice with vegetables and an apple, and those in the lower class received a bowl of rice and an apple. While the loomis community ate, juniors and club co-founders isabel guigui, Ciera Hunter, and aswini Melekote spoke about the severity of world hunger and encouraged their listeners to take action by volunteering at food banks or shelters, donating to organizations that fight hunger, or raising aware-ness in their local communities.

It’s not What It Seems: They Were Framed!

UsinG a bucket and a few other props and confining yourself to a six-foot-by-six-foot framed

boundary, create a play that lasts no more than 10 minutes, incorporates the theme of a drop in the bucket, and includes the line, “i can actually feel what it’s like to not believe it.” those were the instruc-tions that student actors, directors, and playwrights received for Framed-in theater, a new version of the spring theater productions previously known as One Acts, on the stage of the norris ely Orchard theater.

Open to the entire student body, Framed-in theater enabled any interested student to participate in a small-scale theater pro-duction. Writing, producing, directing, and acting in the plays, participants worked in groups to bring their theatrical creations to life within the given parameters.

Freshman participant sydney steward never thought she would be involved in

theater, but she decided to give Framed-in a try. “this is the first play i’ve ever written,” she says. “i really enjoyed being able to connect with the actors and seeing everything come together.” she may have caught the theater bug; she says she is looking forward to participating in other theater productions next year.

Framed-in’s thematic requirement sprung from a familiar topic. “throughout the year, we’ve put on productions that tied in with the school theme of climate change with a focus on water,” says David McCamish, a teacher in the theater & Dance Department. “We thought it would be great to carry the theme into our Framed-in theater productions, where students needed to incorporate a drop in the bucket, which can be taken literally or figuratively, into their plays.”

seniors Dennis Joyce and lawson Kelly perform a short play on the neO stage as part of this spring's Framed-in theater. Photo: John Groo

14 |

Around The Quads

#selfiewar

THis spring, students and faculty posted "selfie" photos to

instagram highlighting differ-ent moments throughout the school day, creating a war to see which photo received the most "likes." the winner: a photo by senior nicholas Al-dridge (top left) taken during his Commencement address.

Check out Loomis Chaffee on Instagram: instagram.com /loomischaffee.

TWO slides lectures by visiting artists expanded students’ understanding of the art

world this spring.

Painter, printmaker, and public artist Jane Goldman reflected on her last 30 years as a professional artist during her lecture on April 23. And nancy P. Gladwell shared her extensive career in painting during her talk on May 14.

Ms. Goldman’s work ranges from commissioned public works to private pieces. One of her commis-sioned pieces is a three-part sea installation in terrazzo stretching across 60,000 square feet at bos-ton’s logan international Airport.

Originally from texas, Ms. Goldman has lived in boston for the last 30 years. she responds to the visual world by using light and nature as subjects, she says, and after moving to Massachusetts she adapted her painting to reflect the northern coolness while continuing to paint images rooted in flora, fauna, natu-

ral light, and water.

Ms. Gladwell, a recipient of numer-ous accolades for her art work, paints from direct observation and creates narratives celebrating the geometric organization of architec-ture as well as natural light, both of which are captured in her work.

A teacher at lyme Academy College for the last 20 years, she worked in italy before entering graduate school at Hartford Art school, University of Hartford. in italy, she painted landscapes that experi-mented with geometric space and

human scale. When she returned to the United states, she worked with pastels; painted boxes, paper bags, and tissue paper; and did a variety of paintings of interiors containing remnants of human activity.

“in grad school, i really tried to break the rules and worked with contradiction, something i would re-ally recommend,” she told students. in breaking the rules, Ms. Gladwell produced still-life paintings with varying perspectives. later, she experimented with proportions and texture, did narrative sketches, and painted memories from her dreams. Her works also include a summer series that portrays people and their vacationing endeavors and a series depicting rest stops on i-95.

Visiting Artists Share the Trajectories of Their Careers opening Space for Collaboration

THe second floor of Katharine brush library is undergoing renovations this summer to

open up more study and classroom space.

“We noticed a real need for study space for our students to allow them to collaborate,” library Direc-tor eric styles says. “We wanted to provide students with an experi-ence here at loomis that would mirror theirs as they move on to college.”

the second floor has housed primarily the library’s book stacks along with some study carrels. Once work is complete, by septem-ber, the second floor will have an open-concept layout with three his-tory classrooms, four study rooms, soft seating areas, and stack space as well as new carpeting, furniture, and lighting.

“We are really excited to see how students use the space once they are back on campus,” eric says.

the library, built in 1970, has under-gone several stages of renovations in recent years. the third floor, previously storage space, was transformed in 2007 into a hub for the History Department, with classrooms and faculty offices. A makeover of the main floor during the summers of 2011 and 2012 created a central circulation area and added group study rooms, the Pearse technology Classroom, and homes for the Center for Global studies and the Henry r. Kravis ’63 Center for excellence in teaching. the norton Family Center for the Common Good will move to the library's main floor from Chaffee Hall this summer.

nancy Gladwell with one of her paintings. Photo: Patricia Cousins

Jane Goldman applies paint to a plate to create a mono print. Photo: John Groo


Around The Quads

Lily Zhang carved and painted a totem pole. Gar-rett esper built a mobile chicken coop. Harriet Cho created raku pottery. seyun Kim, elizabeth

lee, and bambam singhasaneh built a nature-inspired generator from plastic, paper, magnets, and wires. Jae lee designed a coat of arms for each upperclassman dormitory based on the history of each building.

these and other varied and ambitious endeavors were the fruits of senior projects completed by 17 students this spring. each student dedicated more than 80 hours to the projects of their own design.

thomas lam built a custom desktop computer and learned programming. Dennis Joyce and Gilbran Okar wrote original poems, short stories, and essays. Hark

Kanwal and tory Peterson produced a clothing line.

Karen Cha and Juwon Jun engaged in a mutu-ally inspirational creative project on the theme of women of color: Karen wrote poetry based on paintings by Juwon, and Juwon created paint-ings based on poems by Karen. Diomand Henry and Maxine Offiaeli produced a video featuring interviews with their peers at loomis about their unique experiences. nana Minder and Merce Vil-larreal worked as interns at a bakery in Windsor.

A 19-year tradition at loomis, the projects enable seniors in good academic standing to propose topics they want to explore in depth for the last two weeks of the year. interested students submit proposals during the winter

term, and a committee of faculty and students evaluates the ideas. seniors whose projects

are approved are excused from classes for the two-week period while they advance their knowledge in their chosen topics. At the end of the projects, the seniors pres-ent their finished products and share their reflections on the process.

Delving into Senior Projects

totem pole created by lily Zhang. Photo: Patricia Cousins

16 |

Faculty member Peter Gwyn and senior Garrett esper outside the mobile chicken coop that Garrett built; raku pot by senior Harriet Cho. Photos: Patricia Cousins, Harriet Cho


LOOMis CHAFFee welcomed with gusto more than 900 Connecticut special Olym-pians for the northern spring time trials

in track and field, aquatics, and other events on sunday, May 18. More than 350 loomis students and faculty turned out as supporters and volun-teers.

the athletes competed on the Wilde track, in the Hedges Pool, and at other locations on campus. they also enjoyed Olympic town, set up near the competition sites, with an Olympic village atmosphere, a lounge area where athletes could gather during breaks, and 15 stations for arts, crafts, and other fun.

loomis students volunteered in numerous ways throughout the day, providing maintenance as-

sistance, helping with food, assisting at Olympic town stations, and providing vocal support of the athletes from the sidelines.

“being a fan in the stands was the most impor-tant job by far at the event,” says sophomore robert Cecere, who coordinated the loomis community’s volunteer efforts. “the athletes really appreciated the fans cheering them on and making it a really great experience. there is noth-ing like seeing a smile come across the athlete’s face knowing that you put it there.”

bobby and fellow sophomore Aidan scott took the lead in raising awareness and organizing the loomis volunteers with help from faculty mem-bers Michael Donegan, Jake leyden, roseanne lombardo, and Al Freihofer ’69.

loomis contributed to the pageantry of the day as well. At the opening ceremony, senior Claire Kim sang the national anthem, Head of school sheila Culbert was one of several dignitaries who spoke as part of the program, and Director of Athletics bob Howe ’80 officially opened the games.

“it was wonderful to give this opportunity, which changed many of the students in a very profound way and reminded us what we are all about as a community,” Mike says.

Loomis Community Turns out for Connecticut Special olympics Athletes

special Olympics sponsors and parents of alumni nancy and Jeff Hoffman, Dean of students Michael Donegan, special Olympics staff member sharon rozum, faculty member Al Freihofer ’69, senior Claire Kim, sophomore robert Cecere, Head of school sheila Culbert, Director of Athletics bob Howe ’80, and Windsor Mayor Donald trinks huddle at the track as the day begins. Photo: Bobbi Moran

Spring happenings, night and day, inside and outside, at Loomis Chaffee

ArOUnD tHe QuadS | iSlaNd arraY

InsIde

day

nIg

ht

outsIde

Mason hall prom prep: Senior Sarah regan gets ready for Senior Prom.

Sword-fighting rehearsal outside the neo

PrISM dinner on the evening of Class night

Photo ops in Grubbs Quad before the prom: (above) seniors Alexander Smith, Xin Wen, Cameron nelson, Whitney Smith, Jack Bradley, and Summitt Liu; (left) senior Kassidi Jones

A double rainbow over Grubbs Quad

Paint-splattered students and faculty kids sprint toward the finish of the Color run.

Canoeing on "Lake Loomis" (a.k.a. the Meadows) during the

spring flood

Freedom rider ralph roy speaks to a history class.

Passing the gavel: From graduating Student Council president rohin Bhargava (right)to successor William Parsons

Senior eliana Zhou shows off her hair donation and her new coif during a Pelican Service organization event in erickson Gym.

Alison hard ’08 makes smoothies for the Ammidon girls, demonstrating fast, healthy

snack prep for dorm living.

Seniors Minh Le and BamBam Singhasaneh enjoy Cultural outburst

in the SnuG.

"Two Men Falling: A Musical revue" in the hubbard Performance hall

Bowls of rice for the hunger Banquet

Photos: Patricia Cousins, Mary Coleman Forrester, Anita Richmond, and Joseph Straccia

18 |


Around The Quads | OF NOte | Faculty & staFF

Dean of Faculty Ned Parsons has been appointed head of school at rivers school in Weston, Massachusetts. ned taught english, coached girls varsity ice hockey, and served as a dean of students at loomis before becom-ing dean of faculty. both ned and his wife, lisa Parsons, an associate director of admission and longtime girls lacrosse coach, worked and lived at the school for the last 20 years. read tributes to departing longtime faculty at loomischaffee.org/magazine.

science teacher edward Pond received the school’s Distinguished teaching Award in June. Created in honor of former faculty member Dominic Failla, the award recognizes the dedica-tion and excellence of a faculty member with more than 10 years of service. Head of school sheila Culbert presented the award to ed and lauded his work in the classroom, as a former head of the science Department, as a dorm head, and as a boys and girls water polo coach. ed, she stated, “is ever the teacher, educating students whether in the pool, physics classrooms, or the dormitory.”

eric laForest, a history teacher and the associate director of the norton Family Center for the Common Good, received back-to-back honors at the end of the school year. First, the student Council named him teacher of the year, an award based on nominating essays submitted by students. the announcement at the spring Awards Ceremony prompted a standing, cheer-ing ovation from the students, faculty, and staff in the audience although eric was not present to accept the award because his wife had just given birth to the couple’s first child the previous day. three weeks later, eric received the Austin Wicke Prize at the Community Honors banquet. Given in memory of Austin by his parents, the prize recognizes a loomis Chaffee faculty member of less than 10 years of service who demonstrates a dedication to the discipline of teaching and a commitment to fostering the growth and development of young people. in announcing the award, Dean of Faculty ned Parsons praised eric “for the power of his connections across campus, for the bolstering effect of his positive presence in every space into which he enters, for his creativity in the norton Center and beyond, for the model he provides us all, even in this, year

two of a long loomis Chaffee career.”

Four faculty members received instructorships this spring. Head of the Mathematics Department Joseph Cleary was presented with the seymour C. lewis instructorship in Mathematics, which recognizes outstanding teaching, a commitment to young men and women, and innovative work in the classroom. History and social sciences teacher elizabeth leyden received the Henry r. Kravis instructorship in economics in honor of James M. Wilson for her skilled teaching, dedica-tion to young men and women, and inspirational devotion to excellence in all facets of school life. Chinese language teacher Naogan Ma was hon-ored with the Francis O. Grubbs instructorship in languages, recognizing masterful teaching, devotion to the success of every student, and creative work in bringing culture and language to life in the classroom. english teacher and head of the lC summer Program Jeffrey Scanlon ’79 received the Mr. and Mrs. John s. loomis Memo-rial instructorship in english in recognition of ac-complished teaching, dedication to his students’ success, and devotion to the development of keen, engaged minds. the instructorships were announced in June.

the school administration presented service to the school Awards to six faculty and staff members in June. thomas denno of the Physical Plant’s engineering staff, Admission Database Manager Natasha Campion, Chief Philanthropic

Officer timothy Struthers ’85, Director of Alumni & Parent relations lisa ross, Head of the science Department betsy Conger, and mathematics teacher elliot beck received the honors for ex-ceptional service and commitment to the school during the last year.

registered nurse Clare O’Malley was recog-nized this spring for reaching 20 years of service to the school, all of them as the night nurse at the Health Center. Clare “has been the keeper of lost luggage, counselor to the homesick and lonely, and tender to the sick,” Director of Human resources Kelly Hasenbalg said, honoring Clare’s two-decade milestone during the Community Honors banquet in June. “to Clare, the glass is always half full. Her positive nature and cheerful-ness is infectious.”

Five teachers departed the school for new opportunities at the close of the school year: english teachers Stella atufe, Monica Kirschmann, and anita rackovan; science teacher Hannah lyons-galante; and math teacher long Nguyen.

several administrative positions have changed this summer with the departure of Dean of Faculty ned Parsons. Faculty member and former associate dean of faculty Katherine ballard was appointed as loomis’ new dean of faculty, overseeing all faculty personnel matters, including hiring, mentoring, and assessment, as well as the Henry r. Kravis ’63 Center for excel-lence in teaching. the school also created a new position, dean of academic affairs, and appointed Webster trenchard to the post. Formerly the director of college guidance, Webb will continue to oversee the College Office and will take on supervision of the Academic Office, the Katharine brush library, the summer Program, and the Center for Global studies. amy thompson, previ-ously the senior associate director in the College Office, has moved into the role of director of college guidance.

Associate Director of College Guidance andrea rooks Straccia added a new role to her work at the school in July when she was appoint-ed to the new position of director of experiential learning and enrichment opportunities. in this ca-pacity, Andrea will help students to identify and secure opportunities to enhance their curricular

eric laForest. Photo: John Groo

20 |

Around The Quads | OF NOte | Faculty & staFF

experiences at loomis, including internships, scientific or schol-arly research, volunteer positions, shadowing, academic and scholarly competitions, summer programs and travel/study opportunities, online learning, conferences, and gap year programs. Andrea will split time between the new post and her continued work guiding seniors in the college process.

Missy Pope Wolff ’04 and ali-son Murphy have joined the Office of Admission as assistant directors of admission. Missy moved across campus from the Office of strategic Communications & Marketing, where she worked as social media manager for the last two years. Allie has worked part-time for the school since moving to campus two years ago with her husband, history and social sciences teacher Michael Murphy, and their four children.

After six years in the Office of Admission, Joshua Smith has moved from working with prospec-tive students interested in attending loomis to working with loomis students looking ahead to college. As an associate director of college guidance, Josh will advise, guide, and support students and families throughout the college search and application process; assist with college office programs; and develop and maintain relationships

with college admissions profession-als. before coming to the island in 2008, Josh worked in admissions at Colgate University.

dale Hubbard, the voice of the loomis Chaffee switchboard, has changed jobs from her role as an administrative assistant (and switchboard operator) in the Academic Office to administrative duties and student support in the Health Center.

the Alumni/Development Office welcomed two new members to its team this spring. erica lee joined the office as assistant director of event planning, taking on an important role in the planning of Centennial Celebration activities, Alumni & Parent relations events, and other programs. Cara Woods returned to campus as an as-sociate director of development after a few years working at other independent schools. Among her major responsibilities, Cara man-ages loomis’ stewardship program to ensure that the school’s donors are appropriately acknowledged and celebrated for their generos-ity. Katherine langmaid, formerly director of stewardship, now is an associate director of development, traveling for the school and meeting with alumni, parents, and friends to raise money for loomis.

in response to the school’s expanding sustainability efforts, loomis created the position of agricultural program coordinator and hired gratia lee to the post. Gratia will help design, manage, and further initiatives of the agricultural program and will spearhead expe-riential and classroom-based agri-cultural opportunities for students and faculty. Gratia and her husband, Associate Director of Admission William lee, live on campus.

intricate ceramic works, long-exposure photography, vibrant wa-tercolors, and detailed oil paintings filled the sue and eugene Mercy Jr., Gallery for the faculty art show this spring, featuring the work of loomis art teachers Jennifer McCandless, John Mullin, Mark Zunino, and Chet Kempczynski,. “Our own practice keeps us passionate about sharing the process with others,” says Jen-nifer, head of the Art Department. “the fact that we are practicing artists also helps to inform the way we teach.” Jennifer exhibited several of the ceramic pieces that she has created over the years, including two recent works. John showed two series of his sky and water long-exposure documentary photographs, one series done in los Angeles and the other in new york City. Mark showcased several of his drawings, prints, and paintings that

delve into the design elements he teaches to his students. And Chet created an installation of 250 of the 12-inch-square watercolors that he has painted each day for the last two-and-a-half years, documenting the horizon line from various locales near and far.

Colored pencil artist and former faculty member Marilyn rabetz was the featured artist at the bean runner Cafe Gallery in Peekskill, new york, and her pencil drawings were exhibited in the gallery from May 10 to July 6. Marilyn also gave a gallery talk and signed copies of her 2012 book Object Lessons: How to Draw Absolutely Anything at the cafe on June 21.

Four new members of the loomis Chaffee community were born this spring. Physical Plant staff member Wilford “tony” drew and Debbie Coley welcomed son De’Andre emanuel Drew, on March 14. Faculty members andrew and Marley aloe Matlack are the parents of baby daughter Malin Fair Matlack, born on April 19. Faculty members elizabeth and adrian Stewart and big sister Avery wel-comed Patrick Alexander stewart on May 5. Faculty member eric laForest and his wife, Charlotte, welcomed son John August laFor-est on May 19.

loomis Chaffee visual arts faculty opening reception. Photo: Patricia Cousins Colored-pencil drawing by Marilyn Rabetz


Around The Quads | athletics | by BoB howe ’80

StudEnt athletes lead their peers every day by word and by example. in

practices, in competitions, in the choices they make off the field, and in their interactions with coaches, officials, teachers, and each other, athletes have a profound influence on their teammates and their teams.

this summer 55 of our student athletes are taking an online leadership course that will help them to better understand what makes a good leader and

to develop skills they can use to lead their teams effectively. designed by loomis coaches for loomis student athletes, the course already has gener-ated excitement and positive feedback from the first group of participants.

Head girls hockey coach liz leyden, former head girls lacrosse coach lisa Parsons, and i developed the course over the last year through a new grant program that the school offered to faculty interested in creat-

ing online courses. the three of us have been excited to see the course in action this summer.

the online leadership course consists of four one-week mod-ules with a workload of about two to three hours per week. at the end of each week, students write self-assessments based on the material covered in that module. We offered the course in two sessions this summer, di-viding the participants between the sessions and further divid-ing each cohort into subgroups

Learning to Lead

the varsity girls lacrosse team huddles for their captains' final words of inspiration before a game. Photo: Tom Honan

22 |

ArOUnD tHe QuadS | atHletiCS

so that online discussions are manageable in size.

in week one the topic is defin-ing leadership. the course asks the students to write what they think makes a good leader and give examples of people they believe are effective leaders and why. the week closes with stu-dents thinking about who they are and what their strengths and weaknesses are.

in week two students interview someone they believe is an ef-fective leader. they are given prompts to guide them in the interview, but ultimately they hear first-hand from people they admire and respect about what they do consistently that makes their actions stand out. Students also tackle ethical scenarios and share problem-solving techniques with other members of their group.

Weeks three and four help students better understand themselves as communicators, learn the importance of non-verbal and listening skills, and consider their roles as leaders in the broader community. the students assess their skills and set goals for the upcoming year. the students can share the as-sessments with their coaches, and we hope these conversa-tions continue throughout the year. in addition to the summer course, outside speakers will be invited to campus during the school year to talk with our online module students about leadership.

So far this summer, feedback from the student participants has been very positive. Rising senior Gina Mangiafridda wrote this to coach leyden: “Just wanted to let you know that the

course is going very well. … the questions really force you to think deeply, and i’m discover-ing things i never really thought about.”

Rising senior Zach Giuttari wrote this in one of his first assignments: “leadership is not about standing atop a group of people. it is not about establish-ing your dominance. Becom-ing a leader is the luxury that certain people receive because they understand that the whole is more important than the individual and that establishing a cohesive unit is the ultimate achievement.”

liz, lisa, and i began talking about an interactive online leadership course in 2013 when the school announced the new grants for developing online courses. as we began putting together our proposal, we spoke with representatives from the athletic department at am-herst college, which already had a leadership development program well under way. amherst lEadS provides a comprehensive and educational view of leadership that can be used both during and after a

student athlete’s experience at amherst. We wanted to create our own program that would enhance the quality of athlet-ics programs at loomis and provide our student leaders with a better opportunity to be the positive role models we ask them to be.

ours was one of the four first proposals accepted for the online learning grants. then the real work began. the three of us took an online course ourselves last summer on designing the training modules we had in mind. then over the next eight months, we met regularly to shape the modules. liz was our captain as she produced much of the framework for the course’s homepage. together we designed the curriculum for the topics we wanted to cover, and in May we worked with our loomis colleagues Scott Macclintic ’82 and naomi ap-pel, our project coordinators, to launch the online course.

We also met with coaches to show them what we were do-ing and reassure them that the course was not intended to take the place of their captain/coach

relationships. What we were looking to do, we explained, was to provide senior leaders with a program that would help them build confidence, give them the tools for better self-awareness, and engage them in discussions about positive ways to lead. the coaches loved what they saw and heard. a short time later, we asked coaches to nominate players on their teams for next year who could be contributing leaders, and we invited these students to participate.

the collaboration among par-ticipating students is a crucial part of the course, and collab-orative learning has been an important part of teaching and learning at loomis for many years. Rising senior Brittany Bugalski noted these benefits in the first week of the leadership course. “So far it’s a great tool to help athletes develop the proper mentality that’s necessary to have in order to [become] a suc-cessful leader,” she wrote. “it’s especially beneficial to see what other peers are saying for other sports, which makes you want to try and correlate those ideas with your own.”

through this new program, loomis student athletes are being challenged to take a closer look at themselves and work toward becoming better leaders on and off the fields. What they learn and gain will resonate in their lives on the island and beyond. ©

“The online leadership course helps student athletes to better understand what makes a good leader and to develop skills they can use to lead their teams effectively.

”

VarsIty scoreboardsport record accolades

baseball 15-3 * Colonial League Tri-Champion * Founders League Championboys golf 17-8 * 1st in Bader Tournament * 1st in Coppola Cup girls golf 10-1-1boys lacrosse 4-12girls lacrosse 12-5boys tennis 9-7boys track 5-1 * Founders League Co-Champion * 2nd at Division I New Englandsgirls track 6-1-1 * Founders League Tri-Champion * Division I New England ChampionSoftball 9-9 * Western New England Tournament Quarterfinalist girls Water Polo 6-1

Sophomore pitcher bobby Cecere

Senior distance runners tate Knight and bobby turner

Senior all-american Julia Crerend

Junior pole vaulter C.C. lutz

Sophomore pitcher devon ide and coach Maggie Kennedy ’05 Photos: Tom Honan


I am Loomis Chaffee

at 1OO

19 14 2014

I am a freshman meeting my roommate in Richmond Hall for the first time.I am a senior packing up my room in Taylor Hall for the last time.

I am more than 10,000 living alumni from East Timor to West Hartford and from Calgary to Capetown.I am a student science experiment testing protein aggregation in microgravity, en route to the International Space Station.

I am students from 39 countries and 26 states.

Today's school defines itself.

By Becky Purdy

24 |

I am the Meadows at dawn.

I am Grubbs Quadrangle at night.

I am the 38 squares on the Senior Path, including the Class of 2014 design, in the shape of the Founders Hall Cupola.I am Sheila Culbert, head of school since 2008, and I am Patrick Stewart, newborn baby of faculty members Adrian ’90 and Liz Stewart. I am revered dining hall supervisor Enver Sisic and beloved Equip-ment Room manager Joe Billera. I am both math teacher/swim coach/dorm parent Liz Bucceri ’07 and music teacher/accompa-nist/associate director of communications James Rugen ’70.

I am a sculpture by Visual Arts Department head Jennifer McCandless and a keyboard riff by Jazz Band director Ken Fischer.

I am a bronze nose, rubbed to a shine by hopeful hands.


Commencement 2014. Photo: John Groo

26 |

I am 151 junior history research papers — each the product of many hours of searching, reading, note-taking, considering, analyzing, footnoting, writing, and rewriting — displayed on the main floor of Katharine Brush Library.

I am a three-sport athlete who plays cello in the Orchestra.

I wear track spikes, soccer cleats, and basketball sneakers; swim goggles, a football helmet, and a catcher’s mask. I carry a racket and a hockey stick, a golf bag and ski poles.

I am the football team, which finished the fall season 6-3 for the third winning season in a row.

I am the equestrian team, elevated to varsity status this year.

I am a wrestler who runs cross country, and I am a water polo player who throws the javelin.

I am 12 dormitories, from centenarian Mason and Taylor halls on Grubbs Quad-rangle to newly constructed Richmond Hall near Rockefeller Quad.

I am $8.9 million in financial aid granted this year to one-third of Loomis students.

I am a chicken, a Rhode Island Red hen, who lives with my brood behind the Clark Center for Science & Mathematics, eats bugs in the community gardens, and keeps the soil aerated and fertile. I miss the students when they go away for vacations.

I am three dogwood saplings planted this spring where the iconic Copper Beech called the “Elephant Tree” once stood near the west entrance of the dining hall, before it reached the end of its long and joyful life as a fac brat jungle gym. I feel the beech’s absence in the open sky, toward which I reach.

I am a video conference between seven Loomis students and a group of students at the Sanskri-ti School in New Delhi, India, working together to find local solutions to global water shortage problems.I am 16 members of the Class of 2014 who earned Global Studies Certificates at graduation through a new program coor-dinated by the Center for Global Studies.

I am a quiet moment in Founders Chapel before classes begin for the day.

I am a freshman Common Good Seminar discussion of the effects of social media on personal identity and community norms, a conversation that unfolds in the Norton Family Center for the Common Good.

I am the trackside shout of split times from coach Sally Knight.


Junior history research papers on display, Katharine Brush Library. Photo: John Groo

28 |


I am the backstage nod of dance instructor Kate Loughlin. At night, I am the train whistle, lonesome and comforting. I am also a coyote howl-ing in the hay field beyond Faculty Row.

I am a toaster bus, loaded with student volunteers, heading to the Asylum Hill Boys & Girls Club in Hartford.

I am the 851 Twitter followers of Scott MacClintic ’82, director of the Henry R. Kravis ’63 Center for Excellence in Teaching.

I am environmental proctors, dorm prefects, Log editors, PRISM presidents, team captains, peer counselors, class of-ficers, tour guides, international student ambassadors. I am leaders without these titles as well — recyclers, good room-mates, student writers, club organizers, team players, concerned classmates, friendly faces.

I am the Loomis Chaffee Pledge, ad-vanced by the Student Council and passed by the faculty: "I pledge to honor the school’s mission to promote the best self and the common good by living with integrity and by championing a respect-ful culture."

I am learning to speak Arabic. And Spanish, Chinese, and French. I can translate from the original Latin.I am milking a cow at the Mountain School in Vershire, Vermont.

I am the Color Run, a paint-splattered event sponsored by the Pelican Service Organization, raising money for the global climate movement 350.org this spring.

I am an ice core, carved from the Arctic Circle ice pack in March by Loomis stu-dents helping to research the effects of climate change.

I am “Where Rivers Rise and Fall,” the school’s Centennial song, composed by David Snyder ’80 and slated for its premier in winter 2015 by Loomis Chaffee musicians and vocalists.

I am chocolate chip cookie pie, a favorite dessert at Family-Style Dinner.

I am The Good Person of Setzuan at the Norris Ely Orchard Theater.

I am a movement from Mozart’s Piano Quartet in G minor, K. 478 played by the Chamber Music Ensemble in the Hubbard Performance Hall.

I am a team of freshmen who beat a team of seniors in a weekend dodgeball tour-nament in Erickson Gym.

I am 1,890 talented and eager students who applied for admission to Loomis for 2014–15, marking a 38 percent increase in applications to the school in the last five years.

I am a delegation of students who trav-eled to Budapest over Thanksgiving Break to participate in the Yale Model Government Europe.

I am a painting of the Italian countryside, created en pleine air by a student during a Global Studies trip to Umbria and Rome in June.

I am a “flipped classroom,” where students tackle difficult problem sets during class time, when their teachers and peers are on hand to help, and watch video lectures covering new material as homework.

I am the eight Saturdays when classes will be held during the 2014–15 school year.

I am a new digital monitor of energy use on campus, displayed in the Clark Center for Science & Mathematics.I am “Memory,” the theme for the 2014–15 school year, and “Climate Change,” the theme in 2013–14.

I am spring flood waters that transform a campus into an island for a few days nearly every year.

I am 71 campus fac brats, 26 campus dogs, and countless campus squirrels — though strategic deployment of Have-a-Heart traps in March significantly reduced the number of the latter bold scavengers, for now.

I am a dinosaur footprint encased in glass in the floor of the Clark Center for Sci-ence & Mathematics.

Dance Revue rehearsal, Norris Ely Orchard Theater. Photo: John Groo

Football game under the lights, Pratt Field. Photo: Tom Honan

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I am 18 alumni who are members of the faculty.

I am 25 buildings, 17 playing fields, 300 acres of land, and one Cow Pond.

I am the reigning Founders League champion in nine sports. I am also the New England cham-pionship team in boys hockey and girls track.I am an Experiential Learning Pro-gram and an Agricultural Program that will launch this fall.

I am an evolving and transformed Katharine Brush Library.

I am the LC Shakedown, a robotics competition hosted in the Olcott Center.

I am the 33rd annual Loomis Chaffee Debate Tournament, scheduled for winter 2015.

I am Harkness tables surrounded by a dozen students and a teacher dis-cussing Alan Paton’s Cry, the Beloved Country.

I am a two-lane, paved and side-walked causeway, flanked on one side by the Hockey Pond and the other by the Farmington River, who remembers being a narrow, steeply crowned asphalt strip set off by white pickets and, before that, a dirt-packed farm road and, before that, untamed wetlands.

I am a cupola whose inner woodwork bears the signatures of generations of students and whose view takes in the confluence of the Farmington and Connecticut rivers.

I am seven families with their third generations attending Loomis Chaffee this year.

I am also the first person in my family to attend an inde-pendent school — or to plan to go to college.I am the newest alumni, members of the Class of 2014, poised to embark on our next adventures at 96 col-leges and universities.

I am 168 faculty members, 63 per-cent of whom have advanced degrees.I am 57 Advanced Placement and advanced-level courses.

I am 10 English term electives.

I am 18 courses in philosophy, psychol-ogy, and religious studies.I am six interdisciplinary courses offered to seniors.

I am new stairs to the Meadows. I am also the doorstep of the Plym-outh Trading House, located near the entrance to Katharine Brush Library.

I am "Victory of Mercy," a work in bronze by renowned sculptor Evelyn Longman Batchelder, wife of the school’s first headmaster, Nathaniel Horton Batchelder. The monument is located outside Longman Hall.

I am “Minerva,” the fond nickname that the Chaffee girls gave to Evelyn Longman Batchelder’s “Columbia Holding the Torch of Enlighten-ment,” which moved from The Chaffee School's Palisado campus to the Island in 1970.

I am two Sellers Halls — one on the campus of the former Chaffee

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Math teacher Allison Beason and sophomores Ethan Twombly and Kirsten Mossberg. Photo: John Groo

School on Palisado Green, the other on the Island, where it is home to the Office of Admission. Both pay tribute to Florence Sellers, a long-time Chaffee headmistress.

I am 182 sparkly silver Pelican “hearts,” handed one by one to Head of School Sheila Culbert by members of the Class of 2014 as they received their diplomas at Commencement.

I am Gilchrist Environmental Fellow-ships, awarded each year to commu-nity members who have proposed sustainability projects on campus.

I am math teacher Barry Moran, the senior master with 42 years on the Loomis Chaffee faculty. I am also the four Penn Scholars, teaching interns who are working and living on campus in 2014–15 as part of the University of Pennsylvania graduate program in teaching.

I am LC Scholars, students identified in the admission process as dem-onstrating “exceptional leadership qualities, outstanding academic work, and an extraordinary commit-ment to ‘the best self and the com-mon good’” who receive financial support, summer enrichment, ongo-ing mentoring, and international travel opportunities through the LC Scholars program.

I am 3,908 alumni who gave to the Annual Fund in 2013–14, marking a record 38 percent participation, and I am the 1,203 additional alumni donors needed to boost participa-tion to 50 percent, the goal for the Centennial year, 2014–15.


34 |

I am 440 boarding students and 235 day students.

I am Kravis Scholars, students “with sig-nificant financial need from culturally, geographically, and ethnically under-rep-resented backgrounds” who “demonstrate leadership potential and consistent aca-demic achievement and seek to serve as influential leaders in their communities.” The program, created by Henry R. Kravis ’63, provides competitive need-based financial aid grants for those who qualify as well as summer enrichment experiences, grants for overseas travel, laptops, and access to a

mentoring program throughout each Kravis Scholar's time at Loomis and beyond.

Declaring that “erstwhile enemies of Writing Workshop become disciples upon college matriculation,” I am an interpretive sentence, honed in Sophomore English.

I am you.

We are Loomis Chaffee at 100. ©

Saxophone section of the Jazz Band, Hubbard Performance Hall. Photo: John Groo


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Senior profiles

r einaldo Maristany grew as a scholar, an athlete, and a leader dur-ing his four years at loomis Chaffee,

seizing one opportunity after another to tap his potential and turn his talents into accomplishments. an oliver scholar, lC scholar, football player, sprinter on the track and field team, and head resident assistant, reinaldo stepped up to each chal-lenge, whether academic, athletic, or social, and exceeded expectations.

during Commencement, reinaldo received the nathaniel Horton Batchelder Prize, one of the school’s highest honors, which recognizes a student’s industry, loyalty, and integrity. “every time reinaldo was ready to say ‘no’ to an exercise, he took a breath and said ‘yes’ instead,” Head of school sheila Culbert noted in his citation, quoting an anecdote from a faculty member.

When reinaldo arrived at loomis, he saw himself first and foremost as an athlete, in particular a football player as he had played

the sport since third grade. He picked up track in the spring of his sophomore year on the recommendation of adrian stewart ’90, a football and track assistant coach. Within the first weeks of track practice, reinaldo strained his hip flexor and was out for the majority of the season. at the end of the sea-son, though, one of his teammates was un-able to compete in the new england track and Field Championships, and the coaches asked reinaldo to run the lead-off leg of the 4 x 100-meter relay. Having returned from his injury only a week earlier, there he stood, in front of a large crowd, eyes wide as saucers, baton in hand, ready to sprint his heart out. nervous or not, reinaldo rose to the challenge, running a stellar first leg to help propel his relay team to victory.

taking the same approach to most things he does, athletic and otherwise, reinaldo awaits the next challenge and jumps in with both feet. recognized as an extraordinary student during his middle school years in the Bronx, reinaldo was selected as an oliver scholar in seventh grade. the oliver program helps prepare promising young students for academic success at indepen-dent secondary schools such as loomis. and when he applied to loomis, reinaldo was one of seven ninth-grade applicants named an lC scholar, a distinction offered to select prospective students who dem-onstrate exceptional leadership, outstand-ing academic work, and an extraordinary commitment to the school’s ideal of striving toward “the best self and common good.”

as part of the lC scholars Program’s emphasis on service learning and inter-national travel, reinaldo took his first trip outside the country in the summer after his sophomore year, spending two-and-a-half weeks in Ghana, a trip funded by the lC scholars Program and organized through an educational travel organization called rustic Pathways. in addition to exploring the african country, reinaldo and other

group members spent a week dedicated to community service, helping to build a school in a village, visiting an orphanage, and delivering donated shoes to middle school students.

the following summer, reinaldo took a trip to southeast asia, also through rustic Pathways, visiting Cambodia and thailand with a peer he had met on the trip to Ghana. the trip followed a similar schedule mix-ing exploration and community service, which again allowed for experiential learning. through both trips, reinaldo not only became more self-sufficient, but also broadened his horizons. and he discovered a passion for government. “in Ghana, i was able to see firsthand the disparity between the wealthy and the poor as we drove from the south to the north, and i started to think about it in terms of my hometown and how the government affects people’s lives.”

thoughtful and quietly confident, reinaldo has made a mark on the loomis community. Chosen to serve as a prefect in Kravis Hall in his junior year and a resident assistant in taylor Hall as a senior, he was elected by his peers as head resident assistant this year. He also served as a tour guide, was a member of PrisM (People rising in sup-port of Multiculturalism), and mentored underrepresented students through the Pelican support network. His leadership extended to the athletics realm as well. He was co-captain of the football and track and field teams as a senior. Meanwhile, he conquered a challenging course load that included advanced Placement literature, advanced Placement French iV, advanced Placement Calculus aB, Globalization (a history advanced term course), Microbiol-ogy, Molecular Biology, social Psychology, international relations, and death & dying. reinaldo earned a Founders Prize in his junior year as well as departmental honors in both mathematics and science.

reinaldo Maristany

Meet five members of the Class of 2014By rachel allen | PhotoS By John Groo

REINALDO | continued 41


reinaldo Maristany GoalKeePer abigail Pyne never thought she’d spend her senior year on the sidelines. a player on national

soccer teams since age 12, committed to duke with a scholarship to play soccer since her sophomore year, and an all-american selection as a junior, abby was on a non-stop track for success until a knee injury forced her to undergo intensive surgery with a 12-month recovery.

the physical demands of her position had caused extensive wear and tear on the car-tilage beneath her knee cap, she explains. she had to either give up her life of soccer or undergo a relatively new surgical therapy called Carticel knee cartilage implantation. she chose the latter, dedicated, determined, and eager to get back out on the field.

the surgery, done in two parts, first took cells off the cartilage, which then were grown in a lab for a month. once aggregat-ed, the cells were placed in a membrane and fitted to the cartilage left under her knee, where they then would grow with time. a large brace covered abby’s leg for most of her senior year as she underwent rehabilita-tion. “i remember the first time i was able to flex my quad muscle,” abby reflects. “i was so excited. Becoming injured really taught me to appreciate the little things.”

abby also had a large support network within the loomis community rooting for her recovery. From south-central Maine, abby came to loomis as a junior, seeking a more rigorous academic experience than her hometown school offered. While she ac-knowledges that she was somewhat nervous about the transition, she recalls now that the change went very smoothly. Moving onto campus for pre-season soccer before fall classes, abby notes that she quickly gained 30 friends on the soccer team and another 40 soon thereafter in her dorm. “What’s great about loomis is that there are students and faculty who actually live here,” she says. “i’ve become so close with the faculty members and students at this point that it feels as though i have so many different families.”

abby had an immediate impact on the varsity soccer team, which went 13-1 during the regular season and earned a berth in the new england tournament, losing in the quarterfinals. in a testament to abby’s skill as a goalkeeper, opponents scored a total of just eight goals against loomis over the course of the 2012 season and post-season, compared to the 54 goals that the Pelicans scored on their opponents that season. that winter abby proved her mettle on the bas-ketball court as well, playing a pivotal role on the varsity team.

Her injury caught up with her, however, during the summer between her junior and senior years, and the first surgery took place in the fall of her senior year. While abby faced a long road of rehab, she stayed active in athletics and excelled academically, and she remained a leader. despite being unable

to play, she was elected co-captain of the soccer and basketball teams, and she managed the boys track and field team. Her injury, while challenging at times, offered a perspective abby would have not have seen otherwise. abby says she is now “mentally stronger as an athlete and hungrier than i ever was [to get back in the net.]” she also has developed a more tac-tical understanding of the game of soccer. Watching from the side-lines raised her awareness of the game’s intricacies and cultivated her into a better player, leader, and all-around athlete.

one of her favorite pieces of advice, which came during her junior year, was from basketball coach adrian stewart ’90, who urged her to “be honest with everything,” whether it was a workout, with her teammates, in the classroom, or simply in facets of everyday life. after ignoring her body’s signals and pushing her limits too far prior to her surgery, she found adrian’s advice helped her to persevere and also be mindful of her limitations moving forward.

throughout her life abby has be-lieved that “if you work hard, you can achieve anything.” Her loo-mis experiences reinforced that belief. Whether on the sidelines or in the midst of action, abby con-tinually sets her mind and stays focused, determined to be her best and set an example.

an inspiration to and a positive influence on both students and faculty, abby notes that many more people made her life better at loomis than she could have hoped to touch.

abby says she plans to pursue

aBBy pyn

e

ABBY | continued 41

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no matter how busy a day, samuel Verney always found time to write. despite a challenging academic

course load, singing with the Concert Choir and Chamber singers, playing club soccer, and rehearsing in the norris ely orchard theater, sam dedicated a certain amount of time each day to working on his novel, A Dream of Broken Glass, which he completed during his junior year at loomis Chaffee. the novel follows the lives of five individu-als after their loss of a close friend in a plane crash. the idea was prompted by the death of a student in the class above sam and the ways in which his peers grieved and dealt

with the loss. sam used his writing as a way to process what had happened.

Writing is an interest that sam discovered while in middle school, where he could be found curled up with a good book when he wasn’t singing, working on math problems, or fencing. sam soon started to develop his own story ideas and to discover his passion for writing. He published his first science fiction novel, A Legend of Darkness, when he was in eighth grade. the novel follows 12-year-old adrian Cantor, who finds him-self at the center of an ancient struggle that snatches him away from earth and pitches him into the ruined world of Maltesque.

at loomis sam quickly found what he describes as his second home, a place where teachers are engaged with the subject mat-

ter they teach and look to form reciprocal relationships with the students they teach. among his favorite classes was advanced Placement literature, taught by Head of the english department Jane archibald, who also was sam’s advisor and mentor and served as his senior year independent study advisor in creative writing.

sam enjoyed his regular meetings with Jane, whom he calls a “very helpful guiding presence, someone who was a consistent face throughout my academic life at loo-mis.” they spent their time talking about books, writing, and life. Having read his rough draft of A Dream of Broken Glass, Jane helped sam to refine the content, of-fering her guidance and expertise.

in addition to writing drafts of his novel and attending to his many responsibilities as, first and foremost, a student at loomis, sam also found time to read recreationally. one of his favorite books is Infinite Jest, a mind-altering comedy about the pursuit of happiness in america, by david Foster Wal-lace. He says he rereads the book whenever he feels in a rut because it “grounds me and gets me back on track.”

While writing and reading are most often

solitary pastimes, sam’s life on the island was anything but isolated. He was an active member in the neo, performing in Hair-spray his sophomore year and Urinetown his senior year; sang in the Concert Choir and Chamber singers; was the assistant edi-tor of The World Bulletin during his senior year; and contributed to The LOG. sam also took a rigorous course load, which in his senior year included advanced Placement literature, Multivariable Calculus, ad-vanced Placement Physics ii, Microbiology, existentialism, Contemporary literature, theory of Knowledge, satire (an english advanced term course), and Myth, dream & ritual.

sam is a national Merit Finalist, received High Honors every term, and earned a Founders Prize as a junior, a Junior english Prize, and a Junior Foreign language Prize. in his senior year, sam was inducted into the Cum laude society, received Math and english department Honors and won the norris e. orchard senior english Prize. in addition to his many accolades and academ-ic successes, sam says he most enjoys being a good friend, someone who is there for others when needed. throughout his years at loomis, sam has changed in a multitude of ways. “i’m definitely more outgoing and have gained a lot of self-confidence,” he reflects. “i’m more aware of how my actions affect others, and i’ve developed more of a stage presence. i’m not extremely uncom-fortable in front of large crowds anymore. i’ve learned how to manage the work-life balance, and i’ve also become a better reader, writer, and mathematician.”

When sam leaves for Princeton in the fall, where he plans to study creative writing, he will take with him a piece of advice from Jane that was instrumental during his years at loomis: Find some way to make life meaningful to you; otherwise, it’s just time. Continuing his journey, sam hopes always to find meaning in the good things, lessons in the bad, and opportunities to help others along the way. ©

Sam Verney


WHen Harriet Cho first arrived on campus for her freshman year —

after traveling more than 6,000 miles from seoul, south Korea — those native to the United states cocked their heads quizzically as she removed her shoes before enter-ing anyone’s dorm room. although the shoe habit is a seemingly small cultural difference, learning that americans don’t remove their shoes before entering people’s homes was just one of many adjustments that Harriet had to make in her initial weeks and months as an interna-tional student. she needed to adapt not only to the customs of board-ing school life and the vagaries of new england weather, but also to living in Windsor, Connecticut, far from her friends, family, and dog, Moongchi, or “Furball.”

still, Harriet says, it wasn’t until sophomore year that she became homesick. that same year, coinci-dentally, she picked up ceramics, which reminded her of home. in seoul, Harriet used to play with clay in a studio near her home, and as she grew older, she found tranquility in the craft, which has become a favorite pastime. Known on campus for her ceramics work, Harriet has refined her art over the past three years and earned recog-nition for her talent and skill. she received a Connecticut scholastic arts Honorable Mention for sculp-ture during her senior year, and she was awarded loomis’ sanford B.d. low senior art Prize. since her first art class at loomis, Harriet has “shown a personal awareness, a questioning spirit, a passion for ideas and techniques, and a care in her work that is exceedingly rare,” says Head of the art department Jennifer McCandless.

a participant in the empty Bowls

Project — an international grassroots effort to fight hunger — each year, Harriet decid-ed to bring the project to south Korea dur-ing the summer after her junior year. Her efforts raised $1,500, which she donated to United Help for international Children, a charity close to her heart. reflecting on the success, Harriet says she “really wanted to make a difference by donating with talent since most wouldn’t consider art a form of community service.”

Harriet is by no means merely a talented and thoughtful artist. Her academic achievement across the curriculum earned her induction into the Cum laude society in May, and she received the samuel C. su-isman senior History Prize. in her junior year, she received a Founders Prize and the Junior art award, and she served as a prefect in Harman Hall.

throughout her four years, Harriet has been surprised by herself — her trans-formation into the young woman she is today — as well as by the close-knit loomis

community, in which she thrived and which she ultimately made her own. an only child, Harriet found comfort in knowing that she had “30 other sisters in my dorm,” and that she could be “eating lunch talking to one student in Korean while a student from thailand was talking to someone from Viet-nam, who was also talking to an american student.” she appreciated the international mix on the island as well as the opportuni-ties to explore her interests, and she chose to pursue a Global studies Certificate, part of a new program through the Center for Global studies that enables students to earn recognition at graduation for academic, extracurricular, and experiential studies fo-cused on fulfilling the mission of the school in educating “its students for service in the nation and in today’s global civilization.”

While Harriet worked toward becoming a more global citizen, she enhanced the global mindset of students and faculty alike by bringing a little of Korea to Connecti-cut. seeking to share her cultural identity, Harriet participated in Cultural outburst, an annual tradition that highlights and cel-ebrates the cultural and ethnic diversity of the loomis community, and created Korean dishes for community dinners. “one of the most important things for me as a Korean student in an american boarding school was to show my background, where i came from,” Harriet reflects.

regardless of geographic location, Har-riet now has an arsenal of tools handy for whatever lies ahead. she considers herself to be more optimistic, better able to handle stress, better at time management, and more forgiving toward herself than she was before coming to loomis. she says she also realized that the end goal is as important as the sum of its parts and that it’s important to consider the meaning behind even seem-ingly trivial aspects of life.

When Harriet enters Columbia University in the fall, she plans to study art history, a decision she made after taking a few courses in the subject when offered during

harriet c

ho

HARRIET | continued 41

40 |

l iKe most students entering a new school, James dion pondered a host of questions and uncertainties before

his freshman year at loomis Chaffee. For him, many of the questions revolved around community and a sense of belonging: What activities will i participate in? Who will i gravitate toward? How will i form friend-ships? How will i manage my time? How will i find my place? now, looking back, he understands that not only did he find his place, but the vibrant and supportive community is what he will miss most of all about loomis. “i could have gone any-where for an education,” he reflects. “But i came to loomis because of the people.”

and of course, because of the academ-

ics. Jimmy, a national Merit Commended scholar, wholeheartedly took on a demand-ing and challenging course of study. His se-nior courses included spanish V advanced, advanced Placement Calculus BC, and term courses in Contemporary literature, Mi-crobiology, Molecular Biology (two terms), introduction to logic, american dream, and race, roles & religion. a High Honors student every term, he was inducted into the Cum laude society as a senior and re-ceived the Chéruy senior Foreign language Prize and the J. newfield senior science Prize. the previous year, he won the Junior Foreign language Prize and Junior Math Prize.

one of Jimmy’s favorite courses was his junior-year Pre-calculus/Calculus class, taught by andrew Bartlett, which chal-lenged him in a number of ways and taught him lessons applicable not just to math, but also to other subjects and to life as well. as he learned to understand the subtly of the subject, the course taught Jimmy to appre-ciate gray areas and to think outside of the box. “i now approach everything thinking of it as a puzzle where not all of the pieces are laid out in front of you, but instead you have to find the pieces and then understand

how they all work together,” he says.

receiving his first-ever B during his freshman year on a grammar test, Jimmy remembers the grade as “a wake-up call,” and he’s been flourishing ever since — something he attributes in large part to the loomis faculty. “i really admire the faculty simply for the fact that they make time to foster every student and encourage them along their unique path,” he says. “i never realized just how busy their lives are outside of the classroom. they could be do-ing anything else, but instead they are here, changing lives.”

Jimmy himself changed in a number of ways in the course of his four years at the school, from discovering his love for music after joining Concert Choir as a sophomore to becoming more self-aware and open-minded because of the culture of the school. He also became more environmentally con-scious through his service as an e-proctor, a student leadership position that involves shepherding environmental stewardship efforts on campus. For the past three years, Jimmy guided the school’s participation in the Green Cup Challenge, an interscholastic contest that empowers students to build community while increasing understanding

of climate change and the need for resource conservation. according to loomis sustain-ability Coordinator Jeffrey dyreson, Jimmy was instrumental in helping to raise aware-ness of the importance of sustainability. He was the face of energy on campus and “one of the most diligent and trustworthy e-proctors,” Jeff says.

Jimmy also played an important role on the baseball diamond. a passionate and driven outfielder who appreciates the thinking and strategizing behind the game, Jimmy has been playing baseball since kindergarten. at loomis, he continued to develop his talent on the junior varsity team as a freshman and sophomore and on the varsity team as a junior and senior.

thoughtful and humble in all he does, Jimmy has grown to enjoy the practical application for all that he has learned at loomis and feels prepared to tackle any challenges that lie ahead. thinking back to his pre-loomis days and the questions he pondered, he offers some advice for current and incoming students: find areas you’re interested in, take a risk, balance academ-ics with an extracurricular life, develop interests, and build intellectual curiosity. and as he ventures to dartmouth in the fall, he is optimistic that he will form relation-ships with faculty and students similar to the ones he formed at loomis. along with packed suitcases, he also will carry all the lessons he learned on the island. He hopes to remain selfless, open-minded, and help-ful to others. For those who know Jimmy, these qualities will never be in doubt. ©

Jimmy Dion


SHEILA | continued from 2

community that is second to none, our dedicated and professional faculty, and an athletics program that rivals the best. the 183 graduates of the Class of 2014 included an intel science talent search semifinalist, a gifted composer, and a published novelist. it included students who prepared a microgravity experiment to run on the international space station this summer and still others interested in global studies and sustainability who worked with their peers in india to ad-dress water deficit issues. it included tal-ented arts students who won recognition at the state and national level and students who traveled to Budapest to participate in the yale Model Government europe, to the arctic Circle to study climate change, to the dominican republic to help build houses, to italy to study art, and to China to study history, culture, and language. not surprisingly, these students will be at-tending some of the very best colleges and universities in the nation. one hundred years on from our opening, our alumni make a positive difference in the world around them.

in athletics this year nine teams emerged

as Founders league champions (the best record in the league); two teams—boys varsity ice hockey and girls track and field—won new england Champion-ships; the wrestling team won the Class a Wrestling tournament Championship with one member of the team named all-american; and the baseball team shared the Colonial league Championship title. Highlights of the year included the boys 200-meter freestyle relay team shattering a 22-year school record, the boys swim team beating exeter for the first time ever, the girls field hockey team defeating a previously undefeated deerfield team, and the girls lacrosse team winning in double overtime over perennial powerhouse Greenwich academy. there were also, of course, some heartbreaking losses, but our students presented themselves well, and never more so than when we hosted more than 900 special olympians from Connecticut during the special olympics’ northern spring time trials held on cam-pus. the entire school community came together to support these young athletes and their caregivers.

like any young aspiring institution, there is no shortage of new ideas or of energy to carry them to fruition. in the past

couple of years, we have added three new centers: the Henry r. Kravis ’63 Center for excellence in teaching, the norton Family Center for the Common Good, and the Center for Global studies, each of which has begun to leave a distinc-tive mark on the education provided to our students. We have replaced German language study with arabic, and we have introduced more interdisciplinary and elective courses for students (a combined history and physics course on the Model t being one of the most popular). this com-ing year we will be adding an experiential learning program to help match students with extracurricular opportunities on and off campus in a variety of fields. in addition, loomis will add an agriculture program component to its environmental studies and sustainability initiatives. this latter program has slowly been taking shape over the past few years with the reorganization of our environmental studies program, the reintroduction of chickens, and the growth of the sustain-ability movement.

one hundred years feels good, and i hope that you will help celebrate this important milestone with us next year. now what will the next 100 years bring? ©

the school’s emphasis on a well-rounded approach to life appealed to reinaldo. What he loves most about loomis, he says, is that the “teachers care about what the students are doing for extracurricular activities and that coaches care about what athletes are doing academically.”

although leadership seems to come natu-rally to reinaldo, he reflects that he con-stantly had to push himself to realize his potential, and he continually learned new things about himself in doing so. talented, hard-working, and admired, reinaldo is respected by his peers and faculty alike.

Come fall, reinaldo will attend Princeton University, where he was recruited to play football. in choosing where he would do his undergraduate studies, reinaldo says he was looking for a community similar to that of loomis and notes that he will miss the friends that he made and everyone who helped him on his journey during the past four years. “the community is what made loomis a second home,” he says. ©

her junior year. Harriet also would like to visit some of the world’s cultural melting pots, such as Japan, France, or italy, during her undergraduate studies. later in life, she hopes to return to Korea and work for the government restoring artifacts. she says she will miss the loomis community as she ventures to the next stage of her life but knows that she will always have a home at loomis wherever she may go, with or with-out her shoes on. ©

a medical track in college and be-yond, with the goal of becoming an orthopedic surgeon, a career aspira-tion solidified through her injury. she wants to help others who battle sports injuries as she has. For now, though, she is focusing on her own rehabilitation and preparation for her college career. after spending two weeks in Belize this summer working at an orphanage, she planned to begin training for the fall season at duke in July. ©

REINALDO | continued from 36

ABBY | continued from 37 HARRIET | continued from 39

CENTENNIAL ESSAY | by ChrISTophEr h. rooSEvELT ’90

Editors notE: over the next few years, Loomis Chaffee Magazine offers its readers a special feature: the Centennial Essays. these pieces have been commissioned from Loomis Chaffee graduates who have made their marks in various fields. they of-fer perspectives derived from their work at this, the school’s centennial mo-ment. some make connec-tions between the writers’ years at school and the ex-periences that have shaped their views. some focus on a national or global crisis. All present cutting-edge ideas. Most importantly, all bring to bear on their subject the insights gained from years of study and ac-tion, and from a compelling need to deepen understand-ing, shape opinion, and provoke commitment.

Christopher H. Roosevelt Associate Professor, Department of Archaeology, Boston University

19 14 2014

“WhAt is archaeology?” you might ask — and rightfully so. i came to the field with college

majors in classics and geology. A subsequent Ph.d. from a history of art and archaeology program apparently qualified me for a posi-tion in a department of Archaeology, the only one in the American academy, although such departments are more common elsewhere in the world. often confused with the study of dinosaurs, archaeology might be defined conservatively as the study of past human activities through scientific analyses of mate-rial remains. relevant remains are usually recovered through the process of careful excavation at individual sites or by travers-ing whole landscapes in search of more

regional understandings; relevant scientific approaches are increasing daily in number. More broadly, archaeology sits today at the juncture of the humanities and the social and natural sciences. it is usually served up from within one of these disciplinary homes, but in actuality it is not just a single course but an entire feast, and one most productively consumed by ravenous omnivores.

Little did i know in my early college years that i was eating from a table well set for archaeology, as classics and geology are counted among the varied foundations of the field. if not a feast, archaeology has often been seen as a scavenger’s meal, its defining methods and theories stolen from other disci-

ArchAeology: The omnivore’s Delight

Chris Roosevelt ’90 programs the survey path of a hexacopter, an unmanned aerial vehicle or UAV, that takes aerial photographs of archaeological sites to help in mapping the sites and locating structures hidden underground without disturbing the contents.


plinary plates, including those of anthropol-ogy, geography, and history as well as those that defined my own academic trajectory. rather than a scavenged medley, though, archaeology is better seen as an eclectic banquet for which the archaeologist, in idealist light, plays the role of gourmet chef or epicure, mixing and adding spices to and from various disciplinary dishes as needed or appropriate to enrich understandings of past human societies. Contributions from natural and material sciences have resulted in numerous hybrid sub-disciplines (or side dishes?) like bioarchaeology, geoar-chaeology, and archaeometallurgy, or even archaeogeophysics. And still other archae-ologies have been defined less by analytical flavor than by region or period (prehistoric and historical archaeology or classical and Andean archaeology, for example), or by theoretical approach (household archaeol-ogy, landscape archaeology, and archaeolo-gies of identity, materiality, and embodi-ment).

so archaeology is no longer just one thing, if it ever was one thing, and its omnivo-rous nature precludes easy labeling. the individual archaeologies of specific regions, periods, theories, and methods have their own specific historical trajectories just as they are faced with their own specific futures. rather than ponder the state of ar-chaeology writ large, then, a more realistic task for me here is to highlight just a few current issues facing the archaeological humanist and social scientist, biologist and geologist alike: modern data collection; data analysis; and training. these issues are by no means restricted to archaeology; on the contrary, their near universality highlights the increasingly collaborative nature that defines the field just as it provokes thoughts about its future.

Bullwhips and dusty fedoras or toothbrush-es and dental picks? these are the bookends that characterize two extreme views of ar-chaeological data collection in the popular imagination. neither endures by accident, of course, but lasers and digital cameras or tablets and “clouds” better characterize

the middle ground today. Computer science and geospatial revolutions resulting in the increasing accuracy and user-friendliness of computer vision, Global navigation satel-lite systems, and Geographic information systems are streamlining the collection, recording, and processing of archaeologi-cal data at a rapid pace. not only are real humans still excavating sites and consider-ing their distributions across landscapes, but now too robotic snakes and waypoint-programmable unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are extending archaeological reach into previously inaccessible areas and/or across large swaths of territories in more accurate and efficient ways than ever before. Lasers and multispectral scanners perched on airplanes and satellites record the microtopographies and spectral charac-teristics of sites and whole landscapes while their ground-tethered relatives and com-puter-vision-enabled digital photogram-metry systems do the same for sites and artifacts. in recording the precise surficial characteristics of such features and their contexts, especially – from artifacts to land-scapes – 3d recording systems are produc-ing more raw data than archaeologists have ever had to handle, described by “clouds” of billions and billions of points processed into digital clones of their material prototypes. Many archaeologists no longer ask when or

how to incorporate these new digital data collection methods into their protocols, but only which tablet, 3d scanner, UAV, or processing software to use and how quickly they can get it. similar phenomena char-acterize the collection of many types of archaeological data, from isotopic ratios to elemental signatures and dnA strands. the sheer quantity of data readily collectible today is mind-boggling.

An appropriate caution here is clearly one of ability versus necessity, of the tail wag-ging the dog. Just because archaeologists can now omnivorously consume terabytes, petabytes, or exabytes of varied digital data, should we do so? shouldn’t we rather eschew such data gluttony by focusing on what kinds of data are most significant and determining how much of it is enough to answer the types of questions we ask? isn’t a healthy meal with everything in appetiz-ing proportion better than the whole pan-try, in other words? Perhaps so, perhaps not. the questions put to archaeological data will certainly evolve over time and, given the often-repeated adage that “excavation is destruction,” perhaps “more is better” concerning the collection and archiving of archaeological data.

these questions also involve the meaning-ful stewardship (storage, analysis, and dis-semination) of vast quantities of digital ar-chaeological data, the realm of “big data,” a term developed in information and commu-nications technology for datasets so large that individual databases could not possibly handle them. here the “cloud” is again ap-ropos, but now it is associated with comput-ing in general, not with points. distributed or cloud-computing infrastructure enables archaeologists to leverage vast computing power in service of identifying structural patterns within large assemblages of data. not only are contemporary and ongoing archaeological projects uploading their data to online repositories for such curation and analysis, but historical datasets, too, are being digitized to the same end. this stan-dardized compilation of artifact, site, and region-level data will soon allow new and

“Only by understanding the archaeological context in which material culture is found can one then begin to address ancient cultural contexts of life, death, and the rest.

”

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evolving questions to be asked of old data in an ongoing, future-directed fashion.

“to what end?” you might ask. Long-term archaeological datasets, more than most others, can be brought to bear on some of the most pressing issues of humanity: hu-man-environment interactions and climate change, for instance; economic and political factors influencing quality of life and social inequality; modes of production, exchange, and economic systems in general; the de-velopment of urbanism and city planning; and the emergence and collapse of civiliza-tions. Additionally, such datasets will be employed for specific analyses of historical or anthropological significance and/or for method and theory building in any number of disciplines.

An appropriate caution here relies on another well-known adage — “Garbage in, garbage out” — this one first used in computer science, the field most closely associated with big data. to ensure the nutritious quality of the large archaeologi-cal datasets we work with, archaeology will always need specialists on the front lines of documentation at or near the time of discovery to describe, classify, and under-stand archaeological materials properly within their social, spatial, and material contexts. importantly, that type of special-ist must have both esoteric and general knowledge, requiring archaeologists to be trained to think both narrowly and broadly simultaneously. these points suggest that while having one’s head in the clouds is only a natural condition in today’s archaeology, one also needs to ensure sufficient face time with dirt.

Archaeology has become so many things that it risks spreading itself too thin and losing its core integrity. What is the essence of archaeology then? the conservative definition given above suffices, but the real essence of what we do is to record, recover, clean, conserve, analyze, advertise, publish, and preserve material cultural data that we find — covered in dirt, in an environment pervaded by similarly dirty data, its position defined by what we refer to as “context,” or

its three-dimensional position documented both by absolute references to known coordinate systems and relative references to surroundings. only by understanding the archaeological context in which mate-rial culture is found can one then begin to address ancient cultural contexts of life, death, and the rest. And this is where things get dirty as archaeology wrings dirt for biological, botanical, chemical, entomologi-cal, parasitological, scatological, and all manner of evidence that may help recon-struct its ancient human and environmental contexts. of course it’s not just dirt that we squeeze, but artifacts, architecture, settle-ment patterns, and more, requiring both varied and extremely narrow expertise in a wide number of subjects. And to make sense of the fruits of all our wringing and squeezing, we of course need to be familiar also with the literary and artistic products contemporary with our periods of inter-est, as well as their position within socio-cultural continua. Aha! our heads are back in the clouds again; but, not for long lest we risk severe marginalization. For in order to make archaeology relevant today and into the future, one needs to understand not just the ancient, but also the contemporary contexts in which archaeology is useful and how both skills and lessons learned in its service are capable of being broadly applied.

despite its clearly trans- if not hyper-disciplinary nature, archaeology falls prey to perceptions of prospective students and their future employers that see it only as a

narrowly conceived, arcane endeavor of the privileged, perceptions perpetuated by fe-dora and dental-pick mentalities and harm-ful to the current and long-term prospects of the field. Yet training in archaeology is training in cognitive versatility, a true ars liberalis that prepares one well for any life, with its ideally well-balanced integration of everything from humanistic philosophy to data mining, from geochemical analyses to historical investigation.

instead of bemoaning wrong-minded conceptions of its esoteric and ivory-tower qualities, then, archaeology should cele-brate its holistic essence, attracting students and their future employers alike with its of-ferings that provide both broad exposure to a variety of skills useful across many fields and extremely specialized use in specific applications. thus students specializing in the analysis of ancient dnA can prepare also for biomedical research; skills learned in archaeoparasitology or paleopathology have application in public health spheres; archaeological remote sensing and spatial analyses can lead to careers in engineering, climate, or demographic research; and min-ers of big data could take paths to computer science and information and communica-tion technology, if not also consulting and public policy. still other outlets include geodesign, bridging heritage management with urban planning and design, and inter-national relations and policy development. the traditional outcomes of cultural re-source management, museum, or academic careers are to be expected, too, even if the latter is increasingly rare in recent years.

the future sustainability of this broad-ranging thing we call archaeology, then, depends on a wide-ranging training that produces versatile thinkers and doers in ever-evolving scopes of application, all aimed at increasing understanding of what it means to be human. Who wouldn’t want to partake in such a rich feast of varied ex-perience? For those thus inclined, perhaps little more encouragement is needed than a simple invitation to get one’s hands dirty and dig in. ©

The author and boston University doctoral student Pınar Özgüner prepare to survey the bronze Age archaeological site Kızbacı Tepesi in western Anatolia, Turkey. They are using a Real-Time Kinematic GPS system. Chris explains: “With the help of continuous communications from satellites and between receivers on a base station (on the tripod) and on roving survey rods (the two held by us), we are able to survey the surfaces of archaeological sites with a precision of ±2.5 centimeters.”


Longtime faculty members Jane Archibald, Thomas Southworth, and Abigail Byerly retired

this spring. The community marked this bittersweet moment with tributes to Jane's, Tom's, and Abby's

many and lasting contributions at the end-of-the-year Community Honors Banquet.

Excerpts from those tributes follow.

Photos: Patricia Cousins

s

Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow

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Jane archibald

English teacher (1973–76, 1987–2014, English Department Head (1989–2000, 2013–14)

By Berrie Moos

Jane, I am honored to talk on your behalf but wish you were not retiring so early.

I have had much advice in com-posing these remarks, most of it from Jane. She has reminded me to:

“Keep it short, Berrie.”

“no more than a page.”

“really, just a few sentences.”

… Considering that Jane has dedicated 30 years of her teaching career to Loomis Chaffee, 30 enlightened years, and served twice as depart-ment chair for a total of a dozen years, keeping it short is quite a challenge. and challenge is something I should talk about. Challenge is just what she has faced in her smiling, good-natured way with those of us in the english department.

We are a menagerie of 18 inde-pendent people, professional, irreverent, opinionated, and feisty colleagues, and Jane has not only worked among us and led us, but she has also gra-ciously mentored, formally or informally, every single one of us. Jane has taught every grade level and dozens of electives. In fact, she has designed most of our electives. She has single-handedly written the Writing Workshop program, shaping it, tailoring it, clipping and trim-ming it, and helping us use it as a center for our instruction of writing, grammar and, in many ways, reading. through her vision, we teach not merely courses or skills, but a program of study, the work of each year connecting to the rest with the strength and resilience of an interlocking chain, a pliable and flexible backbone. It is her

ability to see the big picture that keeps us on track … . With warmth and grace she has honored the contributions of each teacher, including those who have worked with us and retired, keeping their contribu-tions alive, alight, even though they have left the Island. …

What makes Jane archibald so remarkable is not only her modesty, as in “keep it short, Berrie,” but also her life force. If you are a morning person, up around 5:30 or 6 a.m. and stroll-ing around campus, you have passed the lighted window of her office and seen her en-grossed in her work. But once 8 a.m. rolls around, she makes teaching five classes look easy; she makes four preparations look perfectly manageable. …[W]hen students step across the threshold of your class-room and say they had mrs. archibald last year, you know

they are well prepared. Unfor-tunately, you also know they come with high expectations. they assume every paper will be corrected meticulously and returned within 24 hours. (It’s become legend.)

during the last few weeks I have had the pleasure of cor-responding with some of Jane’s former students, some of them now professors of english. …her students, too, have com-mented on Jane’s versatility, one humorously recalling her sponsorship of the Varsity Knitting Club, co-sponsored by dom Failla and russ Weigel. It attracted a loyal following, even luring in a couple of girls. another fondly recalled Jane’s help in making a prom corsage. But most of her students com-mented on her english classes. While her present students speak warmly in her praise, the words of her students who have

graduated five, 10, 15, or more years ago are even more valu-able because they are reliable. these men and women have ac-quired perspective. they have met other teachers and profes-sors, and a few bosses, and have come to recognize what they have taken with them from LC, what they have needed and what they have used. Jane, they tell me that they enjoyed your stories and the occasional jokes your classes shared in the spirit of camaraderie … but all of your students assure me you never sought to entertain them; instead, you inspired them. “our classes were quiet and calming because we were thinking. We were engaged. … thanks to her I know that intelligent silence is what turns an argument into a debate.” an alumna, 10 years out, says she found her voice in the personal narratives she wrote for you, month after month; her final autobiographical essay made her realize in a deeper way the truth of the saying that you are the author of your own life. many students recall that Jane told them to keep their papers, and one student, now in London, says that just recently she looked her essays over and was touched by the warmth, good humor, and intelligence of Jane’s comments. … another student admitted that she was scared to take aP seminar because she thought it was going to be “so hard.” Senior year she found herself falling apart, but ironically she looked forward to stepping into mrs. archibald’s room every day because “she offered us safety and comfort. her room was an oasis; we knew she loved each one of us.” …

To read the full text of Berrie's tribute to Jane, go to www.loomischaffee.org/magazine.

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Tom SouThworTh

Director of Admission (1997–2009), Associate Director of Development (2009–14)

By Lisa Parsons

In FeBrUary oF 1997, nancy Cleary and I called tom Southworth and invited him out to dinner in the hopes of luring him away from Choate and enticing him to Loomis. nancy and I knew of tom — not only because of the impact he had made in the admissions of-fice at Choate, but also because of the impact he had already made on the private school admissions world. Because we really wanted to woo tom in style, we took him out to dinner at Fern’s restaurant, one of Windsor’s finest — and the rest is history.

tom did an extraordinary job in his 12 years as director of admission [followed by five ad-ditional successful years in the development office]. not only did he increase the boarding applications by almost 500 per-cent during his tenure, but tom also built strategies to create opportunities for students from all over the world. … one of the very first admissions officers to travel and recruit in Vietnam, tom wasn’t afraid to recruit in non-traditional boarding school areas, and Loomis Chaffee reaped the benefits of tom’s connections with the hundreds of students he met each year from all over the world. tom could put any child at ease in an interview, and the confi-dence he exuded in his teaching colleagues on the Island sold this place and what it could do for young people in ways that brought great young Pelicans flocking to us. … [P]rospective families couldn’t help but get swept up in his enthusiasm.

those of us who worked with tom wondered how he ac-complished so much over the

course of a day, but we eventu-ally figured out that tom’s day started as early as 4:30 a.m., and he often arrived in the office by 5. [By 7:30 a.m.], tom was on his third cup of coffee and was busy analyzing admis-sions data, crunching financial aid numbers, or preparing for an admissions reception in a local town. In 2009, tom was awarded the hull maynard Presidential award in recogni-tion for his leadership, his com-mitment, and his extraordinary contributions to the Secondary School admission test Board. the award is the top honor that an admission professional can receive; tom shares the honor with only four others over the past 15 years.

tom’s impact, however, cannot be measured by numbers and metrics. rather, it’s tom’s heart and his character that have made the biggest impact on all of us who were lucky enough to work with him. …

erby [mitchell, assistant head for enrollment] notes, “Few deans of admission have the privilege of taking over an of-fice and having their beloved predecessor still around for much-needed support and mentorship. tom has been a wonderful colleague, friend, and exceptional sounding board for me as I navigated my first few years as a new direc-tor. I will never forget tom inviting me to join a group of experienced admission deans at his annual 'Conversation' to help me in my transition; I will never forget tom taking me on my first trip to asia to intro-duce me to families, a trip that he did not need to make, but one that helped me put my first year in perspective and gain some insights into the board-ing school world. … Lastly, no matter how much the world of admission changes, tom reminds all of us that we must remain focused on what is right for children.”

Former admissions associate Betsy tomlinson adds that tom taught her “to believe in the po-tential of teenagers, to always take the extra time to write a hand-written note, to sing your heart out even if you can’t carry a tune, to praise the effort, love the school, the students, and your colleagues. … Let your heart explode with pride at the accomplishments of everyone around you.”

… I think tom can best be personified by the way he handled the relentless pace of the admissions office. While most of us were buried in file reading in February, tom was also furiously reading and man-aging the entire applicant pool. But tom was also busy writing poems about his favorite kids in the pool, usually the kids he knew he’d have to sell in some way to the rest of us. …

tom set an admissions philoso-phy that was based on both his relentless desire to improve the school and to find the very best students — with an empathetic understanding that while test scores and grades matter, in our attempts to fill the school with interesting, exciting young people, character and heart cannot be set aside in our con-sideration. among other things, that was tom’s philosophy, and that same philosophy guides us today under erby mitchell’s huge heart.

tom has a way of making ev-erybody he meets feel special. he believes in the goodness of people. he believes that it’s nice to be important but it’s more important to be nice. … no mat-ter how busy the day, he always has time for an advisee, a col-league, or a prospective family — his door is always open, and his smile is always present. …

To read the full text of Lisa's tribute to Tom, go to www.loomischaffee.org/magazine.

48 |

abby byerly

English teacher (1990–2014)

By Ned Parsons

modeSt and Wary oF the limelight, abby Byerly has asked that we not speak at any length on her behalf as she retires. Instead, she has asked me to extend her grati-tude and appreciation to her colleagues for their support and camaraderie over the last 24 years of her stellar career here. a former LOG advisor, teacher of english, advisor to many students, and outstand-ing colleague to so many of us, abby leaves a legacy of solid classroom instruction, sound collegial advice and mentor-ship, and warm friendship. She thanks all of her colleagues for the outstanding educa-tion her sons Jackson ’06 and daniel ’99 received under their care and promises that she will return to check in in the coming years. abby, we thank you for your dedication and professionalism, your terrific sense of humor and tireless work in the service of our stu-dents over these last 24 years; we wish you well on the next chapter and hope to hear from you in the coming years.

s


Sometimes historical research looks more like detective work, and naming the artist of an unsigned work of art is

the historian’s version of a whodunit. When the mystery of an unsigned streetscape in the school’s collection came across my desk, it took a patchwork quilt-like group of sources to crack the case.

the painting, first published in the Con-necticut Historical Society Bulletin in 1959, was attributed to 19th-century artist osbert Loomis by school historian Lloyd “Lou” Fowles. Lou left no trace of how he arrived at connecting one of the Loomis school’s Founders with the painting. this wasn’t ex-actly a cold case, but it wasn’t a closed case either. time to reopen the files.

During my investigation (which lasted for more than a decade), the streetscape was a scene to which i returned many times. i recently settled in for an hour of observa-tion with a magnifying glass in hand, and new clues emerged. the riderless horse ap-pears at the midpoint of the street’s length, possibly the artist’s way of focusing our attention on this figure. Windows on the brick house’s first floor are shuttered closed. Another clue? the yellow house, painted in soft colors, is represented by crude brush strokes very unlike the almost photograph-ic-like precision used to depict the other buildings. And the small male figure wear-ing a long coat and top hat lurking near the

OBJECT LESSONS | By KAREN PARSONS

On the Trail of a

Streetscape Mystery

An unsigned painting attributed to Osbert Loomis depicts two Loomis family homes on what is now Broad Street in Windsor. Photo: Loomis Chaffee Archives

MySTEry | continued next page

50 |

OBJECT LESSONS

store? i’d seen him before.

A visiting curator saw this and another painting in the school’s collection and remarked on the connection between the visual qualities of the yellow house and the depiction — in the other painting — of the view through a window placed behind an African American woman sitting at a spinning wheel. same colors, same strik-ing contrast with the rest of the painting. A long-forgotten early daguerreotype in the Archives revealed an image of a woman wearing virtually the same clothing and fa-cial expression as the figure in the portrait. Could all three be connected?

the yellow house, according a 1906 news-paper article, was Col. James and Abigail Loomis’ home, which they shared with their children, the Founders, from 1805 to 1823. the brick house still stands on Windsor’s Broad street. the Loomis family moved here in 1823, and both parents spent the remainder of their years there.

An online search yielded more clues: early 19th-century newspaper ads for Col. Loo-mis’ store in Windsor; osbert Loomis’ 1881 submission to his Yale class of 1835 anniver-sary book telling of his painting career in Havana, Cuba, and of his being called back to America in 1862 in part because of his

father’s death; the 1860 Havana business directory listing o.B. Loomis as a photog-rapher, possibly one of the city’s daguerreo-typists.

A letter kept in the school’s Archives, written by osbert in 1862 to his brother, describes that summer, which osbert spent in Windsor looking after his nephew, Jimmy. And the man with the coat and hat? He was in the Archives too, sketched in ink alongside a drawing of the obelisk monu-ment that marks the Loomis family plot in Windsor’s Palisado Cemetery. the work of osbert, i suspected.

the clincher came in the form of a small sepia-toned print of Grace Church and its neighboring parish house on Broad street, not far from the Loomises' brick house. it shares a remarkably similar composition with the streetscape. And a Hartford Cou-rant article reported that the artist gave the original painting (from which the print was made) to Grace Church’s the Rev. tuttle in December 1865. the artist: none other than osbert Loomis.

the evidence put osbert at the scene — Broad street in Windsor — with paintbrush in hand around the same time he returned from Cuba and shortly after his father’s death. the riderless horse, a symbol of a fallen soldier, and the shuttered windows, consistent with 19th century mourning rituals, take on new meanings with osbert positively identified as the artist.

the streetscape may narrate the family’s material successes, and it may memorialize the life of Col. Loomis. it is a family story that Lou Fowles had a hunch about. He was right, and now the trail of evidence is in hand.

Case closed. ©

Karen Parsons is archivist and teaches history.

“This wasn't exactly a cold case, but it wasn't a closed case either. Time to reopen the files.

”

the 1915 Loomis arithmetic exam and answer key that appeared in a previ-ous installment of object Lessons, “entrance exams” (Loomis Chaffee Magazine, spring 2014, pages 43–44), contained two typographical errors. Question 3 should instruct test-takers to divide the given sum by “fifteen hun-dredths.” And the correct answer for Question 6 is “x = 4,000.” thank you to several careful readers for alerting us to these errors.

COrrECTION

MySTEry | continued from 49


1939“I turned 90 last August,” writes Nan Christensen Carmon. “I am blessed with good health and work every day in the office of our business of Carmon Funeral Homes Inc., which comprises nine funeral homes in the Greater Hartford area. I attribute a great part of my success in college and in life in general to my education at Chaffee.”

1942Douglas Freese Dorchester writes: “We are both 90 this year and in a lovely retire-ment community on Cape Cod, Thirwood Place in South Yarmouth. Janice and I just published our sixth genealogy on the Freese family in New England.”

1943At the time of his note, Win Nelson was preparing for his family to arrive and to observe his 89th birthday on May 25. “Blessings to Loomis Chaffee at 100!” he adds.

1947“Samples of my paintings can be seen at 510 Warren Street Gallery, Hudson, N.Y.,” writes Eleanor Young Lord.

From Dean A. McCallum: “Been retired for six years. Wife, Joyce, was located in an Alzheimer’s facility nearby. She passed about a year ago and is buried in a columbarium at our church, St. Michael and George, in Clayton, Mo. For about 10 years prior, we lived with Joyce’s parents in Barstow, Calif., caring for them until they passed. I have been retired as assistant general counsel of

General Dynamics Corp. since 1998. Son Mark and his wife run an eating disorder center and have four children. Daughter Elise is unmarried and lives in Hollywood, where she is an advertising executive.”

1948Patricia Beach Thompson writes: “This past year has been very eventful with my open heart surgery and the fire that destroyed the house we were renovating and were about to move into. It will soon be rebuilt. No one was hurt, and we lost nothing. My husband, Calvin, turned 90 and son Alexis turned 50 in 2014. We will celebrate our 55th anniver-sary July 18.”

1949“Celebrating 65 years since graduation!” writes Shirley Snelgrove Currie. “Hard to believe.”

Albert Hurwit writes that his latest composition, Are There Still Bells, had its world pre-miere in Hartford on December 22, 2013. The 86 orchestral and choral performers were conducted by Steven Mitchell at the Asylum Hill Congregational Church. For more information, see alberthurwit.com.

1951From Ted Cowles: “Jan and I will be spending our 41st summer at our cottage on Lake Winnipesaukee, followed by a Rhine River cruise in Septem-ber. Although the maple syrup season was extremely abbre-viated this year (three weeks rather than seven or eight), we had an outstanding result, pro-ducing over 50 gallons.”

1952Stephen M. Solomon reports that he turned 80, feels good, and plays golf every day.

Bill Thompson writes that he is retired after 55 years but still teaching. “Still writing,” he adds, “hopefully publishing — Southwestern Political Science Association.”

1953“All is well on the mid-coast of Maine,” writes John D. Little, “‘The Way Life Should Be.’ It’s not hard to meet expenses — they’re everywhere!”

1954Martin A. Clayman has been practicing law in Connecticut for 51 years. He resides in West Hartford with his wife of 55 years. He has four grandchil-dren, two of whom are married.

Loomis Chaffee alumni, parents, and friends gave $3,638,548 to the 2013–14 Annual Fund, a school record! For the second consecutive year, parents contributed more than $1 million. And this year 38% of alumni participated, a 20-year high.

Your generosity supports the school’s financial aid, academic, and extracurricular programs, ensuring that today’s students receive the best education.

Thank You!

2013–14 Annual Fund

ALUMNI News | EdItEd by James s. RugeN ’70

52 |

ALUMNI News

His oldest grandson just com-pleted law school and will prac-tice with the firm of Wilmer Hale in New York City.

From Willard Robb: “A few years ago, Mary and I moved from St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, to P.G.A. National in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. We love it: Mary with her croquet and I, tennis. One of our tennis team is a Kent alum.”

1955Cornelia Moore Williams writes: “Still loving California: playing pool, riding my bike, and knitting for needy babies. My younger daughter, who works on Late Night with Seth Meyer, is finally engaged to be married! Sometime! Maybe!”

1956The National Coalition of Concerned Legal Professionals presented Jonathan A. Weiss with a Certificate of Apprecia-tion on April 30, citing Jona-than’s “contribution to the fight for legal recourse and meaning-ful access to the courts for those who cannot afford it.” Jonathan has published more than 50 le-gal articles in such publications as the Yale Law Journal and the Columbia and Michigan law reviews; five of his articles have appeared in the National Coali-tion’s magazine, Verdict.

1957“In the interest of downsizing,” writes Dick Hughes, “I have moved to a log cabin in Bloom-field, Conn. Currently adding a first floor bedroom for retire-ment living. Mostly retired. Seems like most design work I do now is for myself, or pro bono.”

Peter Kennedy reports: “Moved to Asheville, N.C. Man-aging our two rental villas in Treasure Beach, Jamaica, keeps me very busy.”

David Long sends this update: “Rich Donnelly and I get

together quite often. Rich lives in Bonita Springs, and I live in Naples. Last year Jay Osgood and Dave Caley stopped by to see us.”

George O. Schneller IV writes: “I am semi-retired and still teaching mathematics at Rider University, which is near my home. My wife and I have three wonderful dogs, and we all enjoy the Jersey shore!”

1958From Marcia Goodale Mac-Donald: “We celebrated our 25th anniversary last year and continue to love life in Saratoga Springs — a very active and philanthropic city, voted one of the top eight downtowns in the country! Kids and nine grand-children are all healthy and happy. We are blessed!”

Historic New England’s travel-ing exhibit White on White: Churches of Rural New England, featuring photographs by Steve Rosenthal taken over a 45-year period, opened in April at the AVA Gallery and Art Center in Lebanon, N.H. Steve gave

a gallery talk on May 22. For more information, see www.steverosenthalphoto.com.

1959“All is well,” writes Debbie Savitt First. “Seven grands including the youngest, named Savitt! He’s the son of Richard First ’86. I’m still working as a communications consultant, active on arts and health care boards. Planning to ride with Bob on my 19th and his 26th Pan-Massachusetts Challenge bike ride for the Jimmy Fund, Dana Farber. Recently serving on the Loomis Chaffee Head’s Council and love it!”

David Impastato Jr. writes: “Still weaving between coasts to keep up with the grandchildren, ages 3 to 20; staying active in the Directors Guild of America and enjoying the literary life; grieved by the loss of roommate Andrew Stroud to cancer; at this writing, looking forward to our 55th (!) Reunion.”

“My seventh grandchild was born March 14 to my daughter Anne,” reports Fred McGehan.

“Her name is Gisel, and she is beautiful!”

Hansje and Charles “Chick” Twyman report that they very much enjoy life in Mexico. Chick is on the Board of Advi-sors for the local Red Cross clinic and ambulance service. He kayaks three times a week on Lake Chapala with the local club and also volunteers at their social club, taking blood pres-sure once a week. Hansje and Chick are in a bird-watching group that journeys to river gorges, volcanoes, mountain towns, and the lakefront. They recently went on a tour to visit the Monarch butterfly sanctu-aries in the mountains.

1960A concert of music by Barry O’Neal was presented at Rus-sell Library in Middletown, Conn., on May 3. In connection with the concert, Barry lectured at Middlesex Community Col-lege and at Middletown High School.

ChaffeeBook CluB

Save the date for the fall 2014 Chaffee Book Club, Wednesday, October 8

The spring gathering of the Chaffee Book Club on may 7 featured history teacher Lori Caligiuri’s selection of The Astronaut Wives Club: A True Story by Lily Koppel. Lori led discussion of a variety of important top-ics in the book, including friendship, marriage, perseverance, and the social status of women. Pictured: sue Fisher shepard ’62, elaine Title Lowengard ’46, anne schneider mcNulty ’72, Jenefer Carey Burrall ’59, Lynn Hayden wadhams ’61, history teacher and discussion leader Lori Caligiuri, Flo Ransom schroeter ’71, and Peggy Hansen sparrow ’50.

david Wilson ’61, Ned babbitt ’61, and bill Clarkson ’61, here in Zermatt, enjoyed skiing together in Switzerland in February.

Jim twitchell ’62 and Peter Eddy ’62 the late John Lawrence ’64 is honored in dunedin, Fla. For more information, see the newsnote for John’s friend Richard Rapoport ’64.

bruce blackwell ’69 has been busy working on a lengthy article for the Connecticut bar Association on early career planning for attorneys. He was one of three panelists at a recent Connecticut bar seminar on career issues for lawyers.

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Reunion 2014 — Chaffee Class of 1964 — 50th Reunion: (back) Ann taylor Kemp, Evelyne Jardon-Rossi, Suzanne Sherwood Cane, Amina Priddey derbali, Jane beckett, Merry Gage boone, and Meg Lines; (front) Susan Rogers, Joyce Fuller Macdonald, Rebecca Hudelson Fitterling, betsey McGee, Kathie boscardin Morrison, Jody torrey Hodges, Sue Sterling, Nancy budd-Garvan, and Ginger Loomis Parker. Photo: Wayne Dombkowski

Reunion 2014 — Loomis Class of 1964 — 50th Reunion: (back) Henry Smith, Scott taylor, Jim Pease, Harry beaver, John duncan, Reed Harman, travers Auburn, Rich Rapoport, don Hooper, tom banever, and Peter Cosel; (middle) Alex Roth, tom barefoot, Walter Fiederowicz, George Massey, Ron bogdasarian, Renwick tweedy, tom Quinn, Felix Springer, and Skip Alford; and (front) dick Wilson, Alexander Lepak, Curt Hickcox, dan Jones, Steve Howard, and Charlie Park. Photo: Wayne Dombkowski

Reunion 2014 — Class of 1989 — 25th Reunion: (back) brian byrne, douglas Willour, Karen Smith, Scott barger, Kayden Will, Gabriella Caputo Ramundo, Alyson Hulme Phillips, Peter bassler, Gay burke Engstrom, and Andrew Pickerstein; (middle) Carrie Venable, Mark Perzan, dan donshik, John bogdasarian, beth Micciche, Cheryl Smith benedetto, Shannon Leary Knall, Wells dixon, and david Case; and (front) brooksley Williams, Susannah Rinaldi, Karen Robbins donshik, Sara Rosenberg Jaworowicz, Caryn Schenker Solomon, Laurie Perez, Kathleen bolduc Schuster, Lauren Greenberg, Lisamarie Griebel Small, and Gary Garber

1961John D. Fenniman retired January 3 after 40 years with the U.S. Geological Survey. He adds: “We will keep our home in Lakewood, Colo., and will enjoy friends here as well as family, some still in New England.”

1962Peter Eddy reports that he hadn’t seen Jim Twitchell since 1977 in Vermont, “so we were glad to get together when Jim and Mary were in Portland, Ore., caring for their two grandchildren while their daughter, Kate Twitchell ’90, was recovering from surgery. We chortled for hours as we recalled the idiosyncrasies of colorful faculty and classmates. We also marveled at the endless compare/contrast essays we endured and how well Loomis prepared us for college. Jim was astonished to discover that Jack Sabin ’58, his University of Florida colleague, neighbor, and good friend, is a distant cousin of mine. I went to kindergarten with Allan Sabin, Jack’s younger brother, who at-tended Loomis our sophomore year. Fortunately, people don’t change as they grow older; they just become more so.”

“Still working part time as a marriage and family thera-pist in Flagstaff, Ariz.,” writes Cynthia Knox. “Horseback riding, gardening, and traveling in spare time. Celebrating 30 wonderful years with husband Bill Oxendine.”

1963Douglas W. Sterner writes: “Now that church and state (at least some of them) have caught

up with what God did 44 years ago in uniting my partner Leon-ard Paolillo and me, we were legally married May 18 in the Episcopal church in New Jersey to which we belong. The priest who performed the ceremony told us he didn’t think premari-tal counseling was necessary in our case!”

1964“I sold my financial planning practice last year,” reports Rip-ley Knickerbocker. “Spent the winter near Marco Island, Fla., where I enjoyed boating twice a week. Still micro-managing my own stock portfolio. Spend half the summer and all fall on oceanfront summer home near Bar Harbor, Maine. Wife, Carol, nurse practitioner, retired two years ago. One son at home working for U.P.S. and other son with master’s degree, teaching physical education.”

“Disappointed not to be able to make our 50th,” writes Richard Logan, “but I am still working part time, and the reunion clashes with an event I have to attend. We are enjoy-ing (semi-) retirement, which is split between our home in Nottingham, a ski apartment in France, and a flat in Edinburgh. Both daughters are married and working as doctors. We have four grandchildren so far. Our son is still single.”

Richard Rapoport writes: “John Lawrence died in August 2012. We had been good friends since junior high school. He was city manager of Dunedin, Fla., for more than 20 years. I saw him transform his sleepy little town into a thriv-ing destination city.” See the photographs Richard included

John MeTcAlFTAYlor SocieTY

The John Metcalf Taylor Society, named for the school’s first chairman of the board, honors individuals who have included Loomis Chaffee in their estate plans or

who have created life income gifts. Following in the footsteps of our Founders, these individuals are, with sincere apprecia-tion by the school, acting on Hezekiah Loomis’ words of 1877: “Hoping and trusting that some good may come … from the harvest of our lives.”

By the NumbersThe Loomis Family’s Bequest: $2 million

Range of Bequests to Loomis Chaffee: $100 to $7.8 million

Members of the JMT Society: 586

Classes with most JMT Society Members:

Loomis 1943 (14)

Chaffee 1949 and 1960 (5)

Loomis Chaffee 1982 (9)

Youngest class with a member: 2011

Number of Charitable Gift Annuitants: 29

Range of Gift Annuities $10,000 to $150,000

Current Gift Annuity Rate for a 75-year old 5.8%

Number of planned gifts that make a difference for Loomis Chaffee: All!

For more information, please contact Timothy Struthers ’85, chief philanthropic officer, at 860.687.6221 or [email protected], or Katherine langmaid, associate director of development, at 860.687.6822 or [email protected]. or explore the gift planning website at: www.loomischaffee.org/giftplanning.

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ALUMNI News

of Dunedin’s Pioneer Park and dedicatory plaque in John’s honor, on page 53.

1965“Looking forward to the 50th,” writes Haynes Johnson.

Jim Johnston writes: “Still teaching when I can. Would love to hear from my former students who went on to Loo-mis.”

“Settling in to retirement, oil painting landscapes, enjoying health and other of God’s bless-ings,” reports Philip Rose.

1969News from Franci Vinal Farnsworth: “I’m still working at Middlebury College, but due to a recent reorganization, I’m now associate director of grants and sponsored programs. My daughter Sarah is an R.N. with a bachelor of science in nurs-ing degree (BSN) from Johns Hopkins; she works in Benning-ton, Vt. I juggle, working full time; supporting my mother, who is in assisted living near me in Vermont; helping my brother manage our Maine cottages; and dreaming of retirement (probably 5–10 years).”

James Parton enjoyed seeing Peter Nelson at the recent Loo-mis Chaffee alumni gathering in San Francisco. “We both had no sympathy for the host, who commiserated with alums who were out 10 years (gasp)!”

Eric Ross writes: “I’m still working but looking forward to retirement, travel, and spend-ing more time with Karen, my wife of 27 years. I work as an administrative law judge for the state of California and when not

working enjoy reading, hiking, gardening, and hanging out with friends laughing at how quickly time has gone by. If you are in Sacramento, feel free to call and say hello. I’d love to see you.”

1970For a gallery tour, a sampling of his exquisite paintings, and his video talk, “Balancing Inspiration with Technique in Painting,” visit Peter Layne Arguimbau’s website: www.arguimbau.net.

1971Julia Ferguson Hulslander writes: “I am teaching preschool and directing a children’s play at our local community theater. Summertime finds me working and living with my dad, Charlie Ferguson, 95 — former Loomis teacher — at Fisher’s Island.”

“I had a wonderful time volunteering for the Easter Seals Volleyball Marathon at the amazing gym complex at Loomis Chaffee March 8 and 9,” writes Paul Murphy. “I think I made a new friend in Director of Athletics Robertson “Bob” Howe ’80. He and his staff were wonderful, and it was a pleasure to be back on campus and see all the additions in 43 years.”

1973“Glad to see Loomis Chaffee doing so well,” writes Philip Van Wyck. “Though neither of my sons was interested in going, one of my granddaughters is. Maybe I’ll bring Ava to our 2018 reunion and see where I spent three of my most formative years.”

19 14 2014

SeptemBer

20 Centennial Celebration, on campus

NOvemBer

14 Seoul

17 Beijing

18 Shanghai

20 Shenzhen

21 Hong Kong

23 or 24 Bangkok

DeCemBer

9 Dallas

10 Houston

11 Austin

JaNuary

13 Hartford

15 Fairfield County, CT

FeBruary

15 Miami

16 Vero Beach

18 Atlanta

19 Charlotte

marCh

9 San Francisco

11 Los Angeles

12 Las Vegas

18 London

april

9 New York City

14 Chicago

16 Denver

22 Washington, DC

23 Philadelphia

30 Boston

JuNe

12–14 Reunion Weekend, on campus

More details will be available as the event dates approach. Please note: Some dates may change as plans are finalized.

regional Centennial events 2014–15

alumNi GatheriNGS

Gear modeled by Emily Cranshaw, associate director of the Annual Fund. Photo: Patricia Cousins

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Centennial StyleC ELEbRAtE Loomis

Chaffee's Centennial in style. Sarah

Law '04, the creative force behind KARA, a New york-based accessories line, has designed limited edition canvas and leather tote and duffle bags in honor of the Centennial. these bags, along with a range of other items, are available at the Loomis Chaffee bookstore. Check out the growing line of Centennial gear at www.loomischaffee.org/store and show your Pelican Pride!


ALUMNI News

1974From Christopher Coley: “My son Alex finished his second year at Boalt Hall (University of California Berkeley School of Law) and was a senior articles editor of its law review. He will be spending his second summer working in Tokyo.”

Sally Hellerman continues to live in Hamden, Conn., and she is in her 26th year of working for Planned Parenthood.

Edward “Ned” McMahon has been at the University of Ver-mont since 2003. He continues his focus on global democratic development issues. His doc-toral dissertation was on the United Nations Human Rights Council, and he has co-authored a book on regional international organizations and democracy.

Randy Parks suspects that he holds the school record for college degrees, having recently completed his seventh, a mas-ter’s in management. He is an adjunct professor of psychology at Southern Illinois Univer-sity and writing for his second edition of Neuropsychology of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias, to be published by Oxford University Press.

Currently lecturing in inter-national relations, law, and public policy at the American University in Kosovo, Wil-liam Wechsler is founder and director of the Balkan Institute, a not-for-profit organization engaged in regional peace-building, post-conflict trans-formation, and development. In June, the Balkan Institute offered a two-week Academic Summer Program on War and Peace: Sarajevo 1914–2014, in

part to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdi-nand. As part of the program, Bill offered lectures on “The Lessons of Bosnia in Global Context.” He notes that the Balkan Institute is also work-ing on a regional initiative with young entrepreneurs in col-laboration with some professors at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. Bill holds a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth, a law degree from Georgetown University, and a doctorate in international rela-tions from McGill University. He has taught at McGill and Concordia universities in Mon-treal; at the University of Victo-ria in British Columbia; and at the University of Vermont. He has lectured in an international M.B.A. program for the Barney School of Business in Paris and taught and lectured in peace-building, post-conflict trans-formation, and development at several universities across Europe and North America. He also served as vice president for academic development at the American University in Kosovo.

1976From Kevin Edwards: “My wife and I are living in Moun-tain Lakes, N.J., and enjoy the benefits of fresh air, mountain trails, and lake/beach recre-ation. I work at SGS North America in the Food Safety Division, solving supply chain issues, and providing risk management services to U.S. corporations. My brother Keith Edwards ’75 and his son, Bran-don, are active outdoorsmen, and now scuba divers!”

1981Interior designer Leah Cantor was selected by the Room to Dream Foundation to spearhead an “extreme makeover.” The foundation focuses on making chronically-ill, inner-city and suburban children feel special and improve their quality of life by transforming their environ-ments, whether they are hospi-tal rooms, home bedrooms, or facilities for sick children and their families. Leah’s project entailed a complete makeover and redesign of a bedroom for a 12-year-old boy in remission from leukemia. Leah writes: “While the foundation sent the family away for a weekend at a Boston hotel, our ‘Dream Team’ along with a tireless crew

of volunteers completed the installation. It was thrilling to see the surprise on Sean’s face as he entered his new bedroom. I was honored to have been se-lected and was thrilled to have made a difference in his life as he continues to get stronger. With a calm space where he can regenerate, a cool environment that inspires him, and a func-tional space to study, Sean can concentrate on moving forward and enjoying his freshman year of high school. Sean’s parents don’t see him nearly as much as they used to, but they always know where to find him.” For images and more information on the Leah’s project, see http://roomtodreamfoundation.org/portfolio/seans-project/.

The Loomis Chaffee Alumni App

Coming soon, to a smart phone near you…

Stay connected with the Loomis Chaffee community from your iPhone, iPad, or Android device.

Look for download information in the fall!

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Since 1991, Ray Castoldi has performed on the organ at Rangers games at Madison Square Garden. He wrote the song “Slapshot,” which he uses to celebrate goals by the National Hockey League team. Ray was one of two N.H.L. organists who went to the Sochi Olympics, where he performed for all the men’s games during the 12-day tournament. Ray had also worked at the 2002 Salt Lake City and the 2006 Turin Olympic games.

1983“It turns out that Julie Clarke McManus lives close to me in North Carolina,” writes Linda Huang Tolentino. “We have met for coffee in Carrboro. My oldest son, Alec, will be attend-ing the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in the fall.”

1987James H. Kiley lives in Eugene, Ore., with his wife, Julia, and three children: Anya, 7; Hanke, 5; and Freya, 2.

Tara “TJ” Krawchuk Mar-tin lives on the north shore of Boston with her husband, Dirk; son Wyatt, 3; and Labrador puppy, Mason, 6 months. TJ is an associate principal at Dyer Brown Architects, Boston. She writes: “I keep in touch with my buddies from the class: Jarvis, Temps, and Parish. Sue Jarvis Hess is living in India with her family for a couple years as Rob, her husband, works there for Fidelity. Alyssa Temple Siar is in North Carolina with her husband and two sons. Judy Parish Oberting has five boys with her husband, Kip, in Ha-nover, N.H. I wish classmates

all the best in health, prosperity, and happiness.”

1988“Working hard in Miami,” writes Eduardo Halvorssen, “studying to get my GC license in the third quarter of 2014. Met with good friends Danny Cohen ’89 and Damian Drum ’89 for drinks.”

Rika Poor Stevenson enjoyed seeing Jen Hartley Johnson at swim meets last winter; their sons are on the same team.

1989“This past year has been very event-filled,” reports Albert Fox. “In February, my sister Diana Fox ’02 was married in India. The wedding was amaz-ing. (See photo and caption on page 61 for details.) In November 2013, I travelled to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, with Face to Face (a group of volunteer doctors affiliated with the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery) to provide teaching and surgical expertise to Vietnamese doctors and to care for patients with fa-cial deformities. We performed multiple surgeries for facial trauma victims (due to severe motorcycle accidents), nasal deformities, and congenital ear deformities (microtia repair). We were able to teach and demonstrate face lifting surgery for the plastic surgeons as well. It was a great experience for all. On the home front, my wife, Cindy, is a pediatrician helping the children; and our son Alex, 7, enjoys second grade, is an avid reader, likes tennis and golf, and absolutely loves the game Mine-craft! Looking forward to the 25th Reunion to see old friends

and make new ones!”

Sara Rosenberg Jaworowicz writes: “Caroline Lilly Jaworo-wicz was born June 6, 2013.”

Paula Daqui-Pitcher was disappointed that she was un-able to attend “our milestone Reunion” this June. She adds: “If anyone makes their way to the West Coast and would like to connect, please contact me at [email protected].”

1990Timothy Marshall recently started a new job as a manager of online sales with Pett Digital, the online division of Publishers Clearing House.

“I am still living in Larchmont with my husband, Sean, and our four kids,” reports Poppy Thrush Murphy. “I can’t be-lieve my oldest son will be going to high school in the fall. It is great catching up with my old LC friends on Facebook.”

1991Tamara Hartl writes: “I’ve been making a point to work less so I can exercise and travel more this year. I am going bik-ing in Nantucket for three days in July and will be visiting Tommy Hillman and his family in Minnesota over the summer.”

Josina Reaves was included in a photo feature in the Huff-ington Post (Parents), April 17: “Photo Series Captures the Part of a Teacher’s Day You Never See.” The feature by Rebecca Klein included photographs by Aliza Eliazarov taken at the end of the school day. Josina admit-ted that she felt “exhausted” but that the highlight of her day had been reading “some fantastic

student poems. Some were re-ally thoughtful, well done, and revealing.” Josina is an English teacher and dean at Poly Prep, Dyker Heights, Brooklyn.

1992Caroline Moore Broadfoot reports: “My husband, El-liot, and I are enjoying life in Charlotte, N.C., with our three daughters — 11-year-old twins and a 9-year-old. I still get to Connecticut twice a year to see family and friends!”

Former teacher of German at Loomis Chaffee Ingrid Mueller and her husband, Horst, report that they are glad to have moved to California to be near their sons, Mike Mueller and Erik Mueller ’93. “It is wonderful to be close to them and their chil-dren, our grandchildren Maisie, 6; Max, 4; and Tristan, 2. The weather is not too bad, either!”

1994From Lauren Sposito Truono: “I wish to announce the birth of our precious daughter, Lillian Ryder Truono. She was born March 27 in Boca Raton, Fla. She, Phillip, and I are doing well with the lifestyle change. Phillip and I were married December 4, 2010, in Naples, Fla. He is a PGA pro, and we enjoy traveling between the sun in Deerfield Beach, Fla., and Nantucket, Mass., with the seasons.”

1996News from Nancy Webster Gleason: “My husband, Al, and I are so excited about the ar-rival of our third child, Isabelle, in mid-April 2014. She is a complete joy, and her brothers are adjusting well. We are also excited to share that we are

Randy Parks ’74 was recently awarded his seventh college degree.

bernard Edwin Rosenberg was born February 14 to Jennifer Podurgiel ’96 and her husband, Ari Rosenberg. Jen reports that her neighbors Hugh O’Reilly ’96 and his wife, Caley had a baby boy, James, last december. “Lots of babies in our class this year.”

Claudine Stuchell Emeott ’00 and her husband, brian, welcomed their first child, Jane Loomis Emeott, named for Claudine’s late mother and the many Loomis family members on Claudine’s father’s side. Jane was born February 15 in San Francisco.

Laura Rickard ’99, assistant professor of environmental studies at SUNy College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, visited the Island in March, sharing her perspectives on climate change and the environment.

Adam Goldberg ’91 is founder and CEO of EnCompass Education Solutions Inc., which has partnered with bright Horizons to offer a new program for working parents of children with special needs. Adam’s company’s software solution, myEdGPS, powers the offering, providing automated navigation and tools to streamline processes for impacted families.

Five 1992 classmates gathered for a San Francisco bay Area mountain biking adventure on May 4: Mark Murphy, Adam Williams, Michael Mueller, Mark McCloskey, and Michael Chen.

Future Flash, a novel by Kita Helmetag Murdock ’92, was published in June by Sky Pony Press. In it, the protagonist Laney’s frightening visions of the future cause much suspense as she struggles to keep family and friends safe. Kita is the author of two other novels. She holds an English degree from boston College and a master’s degree from American University. She lives with her husband and three daughters in boulder, Colo.

Sean’s room, as redesigned by Leah Cantor ’81, provides a thrilling space for a boy’s recuperation, inspiration, and study. See Leah’s newsnote for more information.

Lacrosse coaches tim benson ’95, Eric Russman ’87, dean Charpentier ’85, and James “Grim” Wilson gather after a Kimball Union Academy–brooks School scrimmage. Eric and Grim coach at KUA; dean and tim coach at brooks. tim, Eric, and dean all played under Grim at Loomis Chaffee.

ted Jones ’90, Greg Szyluk ’90, and Martin Vulliez ’90 gathered for a small reunion in New york last winter.

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relocating to Singapore in July. I will be teaching at Yale-NUS and the National University of Singapore. We look forward to seeing Loomis friends in Asia in the coming years!”

1999In March, Laura Rickard visited Loomis classes and taught students about climate change and the environment from a social science perspec-tive. She is assistant professor of environmental studies at SUNY, and she focuses her research on why most people view climate change as an issue but fail to change their habits. Her current projects include research on cli-mate injustice, severe weather risks, and “One Health” con-nections between wildlife and human health. Laura’s visit to the Island was sponsored by the All School Theme Committee, the Science Department, and Project Green.

2000Nicole Amarteifio is the cre-ator, writer, co-director, and ex-ecutive producer of the Internet series An African City, which stars Nana Mensah ’01 as one of five beautiful, accomplished women who have returned to their home country of Ghana after years spent abroad. As a returnee to Ghana herself, Ni-cole is eager to present African women as intelligent, modern, and classy, rejecting unfair stereotyping. She has pursued a communications career in international development and has developed communication strategies for the government of Ghana as well as for the United States African Development Foundation and the Corporate

Council on Africa. At the age of 28, she became the first social media strategist for the Africa Region at the World Bank. In the series, Nana plays the role of Sade, a Ghanaian-Nigerian raised in Texas who works as a marketing manager for a promi-nent Nigerian bank in Accra. The character is a graduate of Harvard Business School. Nana is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and has appeared onstage with Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, Kevin Kline, LaChan-ze, Mandy Patinkin, Anthony Mackie, and Jonathan Groff, among others. She trained at The Actors Center, Public The-ater Shakespeare Lab. An Afri-can City has been described as groundbreaking and as Africa’s answer to Sex and the City.

Claudine Stuchell Emeott and her husband, Brian, welcomed their first child, Jane Loomis Emeott, in February. (See pho-tograph and caption on page 56.) Claudine adds: “We have been living in San Francisco for more than two years now and are very happy here. I am still working at Kiva as the director of strategic initiatives, oversee-ing our investment strategies with organizations working in clean energy, health, educa-tion, agriculture, and water and sanitation. I’ve been lucky to see various Loomis friends here and there (including Kathmandu and Nairobi) over the years, and very much hope that continues.”

2002For news of Diana Fox, see her brother’s 1989 newsnote.

2003Michele DeRossi lives in Sara-toga Springs, N.Y., and recently accepted a job in development at The Nature Conservancy.

2005John Adams went back to boarding school life when he started teaching at Dublin School in New Hampshire. He is chairman of the Mathematics Department and head coach of the boys varsity lacrosse team. At the school’s end-of-year award ceremonies, John was presented The Norm Wright Distinguished Coach Award and The Charles Latham, Jr. Distinguished Teacher Award.

On May 1, Bryan Jennings was promoted to the rank of captain in the U.S. Marine Corps and was in the midst of pre-deploy-ment training for deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

Lauren Robertson returned to the Island on April 22 to offer a presentation in Gilchrist Audi-torium regarding her work on stem cells. She also talked about her journey from advanced biol-ogy at Loomis to Smith College to Harvard Medical School, where she is studying for her doctorate.

Stephanie Sanabria reports that she ran in the Disney Prin-cess Half Marathon in Disney World and the Hartford Half Marathon, both in 2013. “Big accomplishment,” she adds, “because it was less than a year prior that I started running. It was an amazing feeling to know I could do it!”

2006Having completed a master’s degree in chemistry at The College of William and Mary, Carolyn L. Carta will continue art conservation research while pursuing a doctorate in materi-als science at the University of California-Los Angeles starting in the fall.

Kristofer Chenard graduated from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine on June 14 and is moving to New York City to begin residency in orthopaedic surgery at New York University and the Hospi-tal for Joint Diseases.

2007Alyssa Boehm works at Price-waterhouse Coopers in Boston. She loves the Italian food in the North End, and she still plays hockey.

Claire Galiette will attend the Tuck School of Business as a member of the Class of 2016 along with Jeremy Reich ’05.

Emily Rosenberg and Mitch-ell Nobel ’09 send kudos to their former debate coach and Island faculty member Curtis Robison. They recently finished their first year together at Yale Law School. “We couldn’t have done it without him.”

2008Jasmine Kehrhahn appeared as Joanne in the Connecticut Theatre Company’s production of Rent, which played June 20 to July 6 at the historic Repertory Theatre in New Britain, Conn.

Justin Murphy-Mancini received his bachelor of arts de-gree in philosophy from Oberlin College in 2013. This spring, he

John Carmon ’67, president of Avon (Conn.) dollars for Scholars, presents Cameron Nelson ’14 with a scholarship award. Cameron was the top male scholar in his class, the recipient of the Loomis Family Prize. He will matriculate at yale University.

Justin Murphy-Mancini ’08, Oberlin graduate and harpsichord contestant in the International Johann Sebastian bach Competition, continues his musical studies in the doctoral program at the University of California-San diego. Nicholas Pagani ’10 earns honors for his cancer research.

dublin School faculty member John Adams ’05 (left) is presented both coaching and teaching awards by Head of School brad bates (middle) and Athletic director brooks Johnson.

Joshua Schachter ’02 was part of a team at the National Football League that won a sports Emmy for “Outstanding New Approaches — Short Programming” for their work in the creation of the fitness website www.nfl.com/up. Joshua was the project manager and helped lead the ideation and product requirements on the site.

diana Fox ’02 and Anoop Kulshreshtha were married In February, in Jaipur, India. the wedding included elephants, musicians, a horse-drawn carriage, traditional Indian dancers, and wonderful food. the newlyweds are now back in the United States. Here Jai Krishan Kulshreshtha (father of the groom), Albert Fox ’89 (brother of the bride), the bride, the groom, Usha Kulshreshtha (mother of the groom), and Cynthia Fox (wife of Albert) gather in their finery.

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Members of the Class of 2014 with alumni parents and grandparents gathered on Commencement day: (front) seniors Jesse Joffray, Ryan Wilde, Anna Carter, tate Knight, tim Mahoney, Mia Scanlon, Carolyn Gershman, Sara Gershman, dan McNamee, Zoe Miller, Paige Mickel, Michael Giacco, and Charlotte blumenthal; and Sam blumenthal ’47; (middle) Rex Joffray ’76, david Wilde ’76, Richard Wilde ’81, Simon Carter ’82, Paul Paddock, Peter Knight ’85, Jeffrey Scanlon ’79, debra Shulansky ’77, Stephen Gershman ’07, George McNamee ’64, Janet Schaefer ’77, bryant tolles ’57, senior benjamin Pipernos, Patricia Pipernos-Schatz ’81, and Lisa Arons Aldridge ’76; (back) senior Laura Paddock, Miles Knight ’10, Jack Mahoney ’10, Alden Mahoney ’08, david Mahoney ’06, senior Owen dumais, dan dumais ’79, senior Jeremy bogle, bill bogle ’75, and senior Nicholas Aldridge.

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received two more degrees from Oberlin: bachelor of music in organ performance and master of music in historical perfor-mance. In September, he begins work on his doctorate in music composition at the University of California-San Diego. This summer, Justin journeys to Leipzig, Germany, to compete in the harpsichord division of the International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition. The winner of the 2013 Hartford Chapter of the American Guild of Organ-ists/Quimby Regional Competi-tion for Young Organists, Justin presented an organ recital May 11 at the United Methodist Church of Hartford.

2009News from Alexandra Dowe: “After interning with the state’s Office of Policy and Manage-ment in the spring of 2013, I graduated from Eastern Con-necticut State University and accepted a position as special assistant in the Office of Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman. In January, I began work on my master’s in public policy at Trinity College, Hartford.”

2010Williams College senior Chris Lee garnered All-American honors at the N.C.A.A. Divi-sion III National Track & Field Championships, on May 24, finishing fifth in the 3000-me-ter steeplechase. Captain of the track and cross country teams at Williams, Chris became one of the Ephs’ first outdoor track All-Americans since 2011. He previously earned All-American status in cross country. From the Williams College website: “Lee led off for the Ephs on a

sunny summer afternoon in Ohio. Battling a deep field of steeplechase contenders, he took a patient approach. Biding his time in the early going, Lee surged up the leader-board with a late kick. Quickening his turnover, he picked off a num-ber of runners to capture fifth place and a podium position. His time of 9:02.06 was a new personal best and fitting ending to a storied career.” Williams Head Coach David Thompson was quoted after the meet as saying that Chris perfectly executed the race plan that Chris and Williams distance coach Peter Farwell came up with. “The coaching staff is very proud of him,” Coach Thomp-son added. “To end his career with a personal best and first track All-American award was fantastic. Awesome job by him to stay focused.”

A senior biological sciences major at the University of Notre Dame, Nicholas Pagani was awarded a meritorious honor at the 105th meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, April 5–9, in San Diego. He was one of only 10 undergraduates to receive the honor at the conference. The theme for the conference, “Harnessing Breakthroughs — Targeting Cures,” reflected on the translation of basic sci-ence into clinical advances for the benefit of cancer patients. Nicholas’ project focused on the formation of breast cancer cell aggregates as a protec-tive response to extracellular matrix detachment. His data indicate that oncogenic signal-ing through the ErbB2 receptor tyrosine kinase in breast cancer promotes the formation of cel-

lular aggregates that function to prevent the induction of anoikis (apoptosis induced by extracel-lular matrix detachment). This survival mechanism is thought to promote metastatic disease progression in breast cancer. Nicholas attended the confer-ence with mentor Zachary T. Schafer, Coleman Assistant Professor of Cancer Biology, and graduate student Raju Raya-varapu, and he reports that he received validating praise from other researchers and clinicians at the conference. Nicholas will attend Boston University Medi-cal School starting in August.

2011William “Gillie” Johnson re-cently won the Robinson Potter Dunn Premium at Brown Uni-versity. The award, given to a junior concentrating in English, was presented for “extraordi-nary academic promise.” Gillie is working on a double major, in English and history, and he will be cited in a new book by Brown University Egyptology profes-sor Leo Depuydt.

2012West Point sophomore Lindsay Gabow was recently selected to the Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Academic All-Patriot League Team. From the Army athletics website: Lindsay is “an International History major who carries a 3.769 grade point average. Gabow achieved an ECAC standard in the 10,000-meter run at the Patriot League Championships on May 2, crossing the finish line at 35:45.98 to place second. On May 3, the sophomore set a per-sonal record in the 5,000-meter run after clocking a 17:19.23 to

finish third.”

Haverford College junior Alex-ander Lafrance is spending the summer working as a member of the research team in the labo-ratory of cellular and molecular biologist Iruka Okeke. Under a National Science Foundation grant, Alex is investigating the role of the protein aap in inhib-iting biofilm formation in en-teroaggregative Escherichia coli (E.coli) bacteria and its modes of dissociation from autoaggre-gation facilitator protein hral.

Taylor Low has completed her sophomore year at Trinity, where she is a film and writing student and a member of the elite writing group. ©


IN MEMORIaM | by RachEl allEN

1932Frederic Bennett Stilmar, on January 25. Fred was a four-year student from Windsor, Conn. He was a member of the Concert Or-chestra, Jazz Orchestra, Chess Team, and Der Deutsche Verein. He was also secretary of the Chess Club and actively involved in tennis. Following Loomis, Fred attended Yale University and went on to receive a master’s degree in chemistry at the Univer-sity of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Fred worked for the DuPont Company first in Milwaukee and then at the Chamber Works in Deepwa-ter, N.J. His early work, for which he had a number of patents, was in the field of dyes. During the war years, he worked on the development of special lubricants used in the Manhattan Project. After 37-and-a-half years of employment, Fred retired in 1974. In his later years, Fred invented patented materials that were used with fuels, in the disposal of waste water, and in the manu-facture of rubber products. He was also an accomplished pianist, having played numerous local concerts as well as a concert in Merkin Hall, New York City. He loved to garden and filled friends’ and family mem-bers’ gardens with his plants, especially snow drops. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Catherine. He is also survived by his brother, Robert ’35; his son, Frederic; his daughter, Dorothy; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

1937Paul Trautman Sr., on May 8, 2011. A three-year student from New Orleans, La., Paul was the vice president of the Art Club,

art editor of Loomiscellany, and a member of the Publications Board, Choir, Glee Club, Radio Club, Le Cercle Français, and Darwin Club. He was actively involved in Ludlow senior football, hockey, and track. He was also the manager of the hockey team. Fol-lowing Loomis, Paul attended Yale and Tu-lane universities. He had an insatiable zest for life and loved to venture to new places, where he’d share good food and drink with family and friends, especially his wife, Roni, of 59 years.

Elizabeth R. Chamberlain, on March 28, 2012. Following Chaffee, Betsy, as she was known, attended Sweet Briar College, where she graduated summa cum laude in French. She was a lieutenant in the Navy, in the first group of WAVEs to enlist. During World War II, Betsy went to Massachu-setts for officer’s training in Northampton and training in communications at Mount Holyoke College. She was stationed in New York City in the eastern sea frontier. Betsy married and had three children. She moved to California in 1969 and worked for 20 years in San Francisco in labor relations in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. She volunteered for 20 years at the Hospice Hodgepodge thrift store and with the Marin literacy program. She won the admiration and love of her students and her friends at hospice, in the “Lark-spur Walkers,” and at Emeritus Bocce Ball, which she began at age 80. Betsy is survived by her half-sister, Emy; her three children; four grandchildren; and six great-grand-children.

Robert Edmund Cooke, on February 2. A four-year student from Windsor, Conn., Bob was secretary-treasurer of Junto, secretary

of the Student Council, vice president of the junior class, and a member of the junior French Club and the Dance Committee. He was actively involved in first soccer, first hockey, and first baseball. Robert went on to attend Yale University, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He served in the U.S. Army medical corps during his internship and residency at Yale New Haven Medical School and later served as pediatrician-in-chief of the Department of Pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University, vice chancellor for health sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, briefly as the president of the Medical College of Pennsylvania, and as chief of pediatrics at Children’s Hospital in Buffalo, N.Y. Bob was the medical advisor to President John F. Kennedy and President Lyndon B. Johnson. He was an architect of the War on Poverty program, Head Start, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development at the National Institutes of Health, the Rehabilitation Act of 1963, the Kennedy-Krieger Institute, and the world-renowned institution for children with developmental problems at Johns Hopkins University. He served on the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedi-cal and Behavioral research from 1974 to 1978, and during the Clinton administra-tion, he worked with the Social Security Administration, successfully restoring sig-nificant benefits for the disabled. For many years, Bob was associated with the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation and Special Olympics International, as medical direc-tor and advisor to Eunice Kennedy Shriver. He received the Howland and Bartholome Awards, two of the American Pediatric Society’s highest accolades in pediatrics

Photo: Loomis Chaffee Archives

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IN MEMORIaM

and bioethics; the Kennedy Achievement Award; the Surgeon General Award; and honorary degrees from Yale University and the University of Miami. Bob was a cham-pion for the disadvantaged, and he helped raise two profoundly disabled daughters, Robyn and Wendy. Predeceased by his daughters Wendy and Robyn; his parents, Ronald and Renee; and his brother Ronald ’36, he is survived by his wife of 35 years, Sharon; his children Christopher ’64, Kim, Susan, and Anne; two grandchildren; a niece; and his three dogs.

1938George Donald Steele, on September 15, 2012. A one-year student from Hamden, Conn., George was a member of the Radio Club, Plumbers Union 37, and Television Ra-dio Club. He was actively involved in Allyn club soccer. Following Loomis, he went on to attend Yale University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in 1942. He joined the Navy during World War II and worked in the Naval Ordinance Laboratory. George also worked for Page Steele and Flag Com-pany and the Office of State Fire Adminis-tration, and he was a substitute teacher in Durham, Cheshire, and North Haven. He was a member of the American Radio Relay League, the Quarter Century Wireless As-sociation, and the Mount Carmel Volunteer Fire Company, and he served as secretary of Nutmeg Chapter QCWA. He also was an amateur radio operator for W1NFG. He was recognized as the residential fire chief at Elim Park, where he taught fire preven-tion classes. He was also a member of St. Pe-ter’s Episcopal Church in Cheshire, Conn. Services were held on October 10, 2012, in Cheshire.

Lawrence Adler Schafer, on January 18, peacefully in his home, surrounded by family. A four-year student, Larry was vice president of the Chemistry Club, editor of The Loom, and a member of the cast of Bury the Dead and Waiting for Lefty. He was actively involved in Wolcott club soccer and the rifle team. Following Loomis, Larry at-

tended Yale University, earning a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. Larry served in the U.S. Army during World War II, repairing central control systems on bombers in the Pacific Theater. After the war, Larry earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He worked as an engineer in many industries, including chemical and aviation, often as a contractor focused on control systems. Larry married Alice Plumbridge and had two children. Alice predeceased Larry, and he later married Jean Rawlinson Hugh and acquired three stepchildren. Larry had a wide range of interests. He enjoyed Scrab-ble, crossword puzzles, basic program-ming, and making his various Commodore computers perform interesting calculations. He also liked to read and take photographs, enjoyed good music, and was active in his church and community. He worked many hours with various organizations that were focused on water and waste water for Newton, Mass., and Greater Boston, and he volunteered for Charles River cleanup activities. Predeceased by his first wife, Al-ice; his second wife, Jean; his son, George; and his brother, Charles; Larry is survived by a sister, Gretchen Schafer Skelley ’45; a daughter, Leslie; three stepchildren, Grayson, David, and Robert; seven grand-children; and many great-grandchildren, nephews, and nieces, including Susan Skel-ley ’69, Katherine Skelley ’72, and Joan Skelley ’76. A memorial service was held on January 25 in Newton, Mass.

Arthur Wood “Bill” DuBois Jr., on March 22. A four-year student from Barranquilla, Colombia, Bill was a member of the Glee Club, Plumbers Union 37, Rifle Club, Bad-minton Club, and Radio Club. He was ac-tively involved in the first soccer team, first basketball team, and track team. Following Loomis, Bill attended Cornell University until World War II intervened, and he flew for the Marines during the war in the South Pacific in unarmed C 47’s on evacuation and resupply missions. After the war, he joined Panagra Airlines, where he and other pioneering pilots flew DC-3’s carrying cargo and passengers through the Andes passes

before the days of pressurized cabins and civilian radar. Later in life, Bill experienced adventures that more involved the human spirit. He had an exuberant love of life, fam-ily, and history as well as aviation. He saw God in every person and was interested in the lives of those he encountered. He shared contentment with his journey, confidence in his destination, and a deeply resonat-ing faith. Prior to his passing, he published a memoir, Behind the Façade and a Peek at Panagra, in which he recounts stories from his life as a child of privilege, residing in various cities in Europe because of his father’s prestigious diplomatic positions; accounts of travel in Poland, Persia, and Communist Russia; and adventures from his career as a naval aviator and then as a pilot for Panagra. Predeceased by his wife, Alice “Sandra” Everill DuBois; and a grand-daughter, Kate DuBois; Bill is survived by his children, Judith Andress, Pamela Davis, Merrell Blackwell, Tracy DuBois, James DuBois, and Arthur Wood DuBois III; 17 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. A Burial Eucharist was held on April 15 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Bellingham, Wash.

Rodney James Robert Stokoe, on April 6. A one-year student, Rod came to Loomis from Hetton-le-Hole, County Durham, England. Rod was the president of Le Cercle Français, an exchange scholar, and a member of the Political Club, Plantation Club, and Foreign Policy Association. He was actively involved in first soccer and Ludlow senior baseball. Rod’s studies for the ministry were interrupted by World War II, when he entered nursing train-ing and then served on a medical ship in the British Navy. Following the war, he continued his studies in theology and was ordained in Durham Cathedral. During this time, he and his wife, Peggy, were mar-ried and began their family. After serving in parishes in Hartlepool, Edinburgh, and Sunderland, Rodney and his family moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, in Canada, where he became professor of pastoral theology at the University of King’s College and, later, at the Atlantic School of Theology. A dis-


tinctive mark of Rod’s vocation was his part in the establishment of Clinical Pastoral Education and of the Institute of Pastoral Training in the Atlantic region. He retired in 1985 and received an honorary doctor of divinity degree from the Atlantic School of Theology. After Peggy passed, Rod mar-ried Brenda Clark. The couple moved to St. Thomas, Ontario, and a short while after, Rod encountered a life-changing stroke that caused him to move to Bobier Villa in Dutton, Ontario, in 2011. Predeceased by his brothers Kenneth and Austin and his first wife, Peggy; Rodney is survived by his lov-ing wife Brenda; his children, Michael and Gordon; six grandchildren; and his brother Eric. Rod’s body has been accepted at the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology at the University of Western Ontario for medi-cal research. A memorial service was held on May 16 at St. John Evangelist Anglican Church in Truro, Nova Scotia.

1939Wendell Davis, on September 8, 2013. A four-year student, Wendell was a member of the Endowment Fund, Library Commit-tee, Musical Club, and Plantation Club. He was actively involved in Ludlow club soccer and the wrestling squad. Following Loomis, Wendell attended the Massachusetts In-stitute of Technology, where he graduated in 1943. He also earned a doctorate from Purdue University. He received an ensign’s commission and went into active duty in the naval reserve. He served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet, on minesweep-ers, landing craft, and the staff of Admiral Richmond K. Turner, commandant of the Pacific Fleet Amphibious Forces. Wendell taught from 1947 to 1974 at the University of Connecticut as a professor of mechanical engineering and as the academic dean of the Engineering School. In his 50s, he left the university to become a craftsman of fine reproduction furniture. He and his wife of 71 years, Alison, received the Connecticut Audubon Society’s Benchmark Award for volunteering. In Hampton, Conn., Wendell served as first selectman, prosecutor in the

town court, justice of the peace, and vol-unteer fireman. He served on several town boards as well as boards of the Fletcher Me-morial Library, Willimantic Food Coop, and the Audubon Society of Northeastern Con-necticut. Wendell is survived by his wife, Alison; his children, Mark and Beth; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchil-dren. He was predeceased by his brother Merriam ’38 and his cousin Ellsworth Davis Jr. ’51. A memorial service was held at the Hampton Congregational Church in Hampton, Conn., on September 14.

1940Richard Garon Johnson, on November 19, 2011, of natural causes at his home in Potomac, Md. A one-year student from Port Washington, N.Y., Dick was a member of the Political Club, Le Cercle Français, Maroons, and the Library Committee. He was actively involved in Wolcott senior football and Wolcott senior basketball. Dick went on to graduate from Yale in 1944 and from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in 1947. He served in the Army with the 849th Signal Intelligence Service and 88th Division Counter Intelligence Corps Detachment in Italy and the 430th Counter Intelligence Corps in Austria from 1943 to 1945. From 1947 to 1980, he served as a U.S. diplomat in Italy, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Algeria, and France; consul general in Asmara, Eritrea; deputy chief of mission in Sofia, Bulgaria; Brussels, Belgium; and Stockholm, Sweden; and deputy director of East Europe and Yugoslav Affairs in Wash-ington, D.C. He was also assigned to the NATO Defense College in Paris in 1964 and as diplomat in residence at the State Uni-versity of New York from 1970 to 1971. After retirement, Dick maintained his lifelong interest in diplomacy and foreign affairs and, until 2000, continued part-time work with the State Department’s Declassifica-tion program. He had an enduring interest in learning about and reaching out to other cultures — a quality he imparted to his two children who followed him into diplomatic careers. Dick was survived by his beloved

wife of 64 years, Adaline Rockwell Johnson; his children, Susan and Richard ’70; and three grandchildren. Services were held on November 23, 2011, in Washington, D.C.

Stephen Michael Donohue, on March 25. Steve was a four-year student from Wind-sor, Conn. He was a member of the Student Council, Glee Club, Activities Committee, Political Club, and Chess Club. He also per-formed in Julius Caesar and was involved in the second football team, Wolcott senior football, basketball, and baseball. Follow-ing Loomis, Steve attended Trinity Col-lege and also served in the U.S. Army as a medic during World War II. He married his sweetheart, Mary Clemens, in 1946, and they soon started their family. He graduated from Tufts Medical School in 1949 and re-turned to Windsor, where he spent the next 40 years caring for a great many people as their devoted family physician. In his retire-ment he loved golfing; gardening; summers at Old Lyme Shores in Connecticut; trips to Saratoga N.Y.; winters in Sarasota, Fla.; and above all, spending time with family. Prede-ceased by his wife, Mary; children Maureen and Girard; and siblings Margaret, Marion, Anne, and James; Steve is survived by five children, Sheila, Michael, Stephen, Tom, and Brigid. He also leaves behind 13 beloved grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and many loving nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Saturday, March 29, at St. Joseph Church in Windsor followed by a burial at Mount St. Benedict Cemetery in Bloomfield.

Jean McKay Eckhardt, on May 28. Jean was a three-year student at The Chaffee School, from West Hartford, Conn. Fol-lowing Chaffee, she graduated from the Hartford College for Women and went on to become one of the first flight attendants hired by Pan American World Airways for overseas flights. She met her husband, Edward Walter Eckhardt, through PanAm, as he was a flight radio officer. They spent most of their married life in Wilton, N.Y. Jean traveled extensively around the world, and her passions included bird-watching, gardening, hiking, reading, playing golf, and spending time with her family. Jean will be

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remembered for her positive and optimistic nature, seeing the good in all people, and her generosity to help others whenever she could. Predeceased by Edward; a daughter, Gretchen; and a sister, Ruth; Jean is sur-vived by her children William and Deborah; five grandchildren; and five great-grand-children.

1941William Henry Owen Kiekhofer, on October 13, 2011. A one-year student from Madison, Wis., Bill was a member of the Political Club, Chemistry Club, and Found-ers Committee. He was also involved in fall tennis, skiing, and Ludlow club tennis. Fol-lowing Loomis, Bill went on to Yale Univer-sity, where he received undergraduate and medical degrees. A doctor in obstetrics and gynecology, Bill worked in clinical hospi-tals at the University of Wisconsin Medical School, Michigan State University, Oral Roberts University, and Tulsa Medical Col-lege. He was a member of the Yale Alumni Association, the Loomis Alumni Associa-tion, the Oklahoma State Medical Associa-tion, and the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. Bill served in World War II in the U.S. Navy as a lieutenant on the U.S.S. Blackhawk. He was survived by his wife, Emily; his children, Emily Lockrem, Susan Belshe, Margaret Gray, and William Kiek-hofer III ’71; his sister, Emilie Dickey; seven grandchildren; one cousin; one niece; and one nephew. Services were held at Bellows-Falso Funeral Chapel followed by a burial in Forest Hills Cemetery in Madison, Wis.

1943Raymond David Sudarsky, on April 1. A four-year student from Hartford, Conn., David was business manager and vice presi-dent of The Loomiscellany and a study hall supervisor. He was a member of the Execu-tive Committee Publications, the Debate Club, and the Dining Hall Committee. He performed in H.M.S. Pinafore; was involved in wrestling, track and field, winter track,

and baseball; and was captain of Wolcott senior soccer. David served in the Navy during the Korean War. He attended Yale Medical School and did an opthalmology residency at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston followed by a retinal surgery fellowship with Charles Schepens. He brought innovations in retinal surgery to New York when he joined the staff at the Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital. He served as chief of staff and was presi-dent both of the New York and Manhattan eye societies. Numerous publications and medical device patents bear David's name. His interests were broad and encompassed contemporary art, American crafts, clock tinkering, music, and optical instruments. A devoted patron of the arts, he was a regular at the Metropolitan Opera, the New York Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Museum, MOMA, and other museums near his New York office. He is survived by his lifelong partner, Frank, with whom he shared his love of travel and the arts. He is also sur-vived by his nieces and nephews, includ-ing Lewis Sudarsky ’66, Betty Sudarsky Bradley ’69, and Deborah Sudarsky Wherry ’74, as well as his sister-in-law Edith “Gay” Gaberman Sudarsky ’39. A graveside service was held at the Emanuel Cemetery in Wethersfield, Conn., on April 3.

1944Lewis James Rose, on April 28. A two-year student from Scarsdale, N.Y., Lew, as he was known, was a member of the Chess, Rifle, Photography, and Bridge clubs. He was involved in Ludlow junior soccer, riflery, and winter track. Following Loomis, Lew served in the Army of Occupation in Wiesbaden, Germany, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Cornell University. Throughout his career, Lew most enjoyed his role as a com-puter specialist for the city of New York. He was known for his high intelligence, dry wit, and innate goodness, and he was pas-sionate about etymology, languages, travel, and spending time with his grandchildren. Lew is survived by his wife, Marie; three

children; and four grandchildren. Services were held on June 14 at the Benedictine Grange in Redding, Conn.

1945Joan Tilton Kenney, on December 13, 2013, surrounded by family at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, Conn., following a brief illness. Joan was born in Hartford and attended Noah Webster Elementary School and Chaffee and Oxford schools. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Vassar College with a joint degree in English and economics and a master’s degree in English from Trinity College. After graduating from Trinity, Joan spent a year working in the botany laboratory at Oxford University in the United Kingdom, and her interest in gardening lasted a lifetime. She taught junior high school in Cheshire, Conn., for three years. She was for many years the Avon and Canton correspondent for The Hartford Courant and The Farming-ton Valley Herald and an adjunct faculty member of the English Department at the University of Hartford. Upon retiring, Joan completed the master gardener program through the University of Connecticut and was a member of the Cherry Brook Garden Club. She was a docent at the Wadsworth Atheneum and recently was recognized as “docent emeritus” for her 20 years of ser-vice. Throughout her life, she was involved in a number of civic and volunteer organi-zations. She was a founder of the Canton League of Women Voters, was a member of the Canton Democratic Town Committee, and served on the Water Pollution Control Authority. She served on the boards of the local and state PTAs and of the Farmington River Watershed Association. Predeceased by her brother George ’46, Joan is survived by her five daughters, Elizabeth ’70, Anne ’71, Rebecca, Ellen, and Catherine; nine grandchildren, including Loomis Chaffee junior Charles and freshman Zayneb; two great-grandchildren; and a nephew. Joan’s life was celebrated on December 23 at Trin-ity Episcopal Church in Hartford followed by a private burial.


1946Walter Strong Mather, on April 16. A four-year student, Walter was a member of Deutsches Verein, the Nautical Club, Rifle Club, Senior Gymnasium Commit-tee, and the Fire Fighting Squad. He was active in senior soccer, Ludlow track, and Ludlow junior hockey and soccer. Following Loomis, Walter attended Bowdoin College and Harvard Law School. He went on to enjoy a career as a trust and estates lawyer with Davis, Polk and Wardell of New York and First National City Bank of N.Y. He served as trustee for the W.R. Grace family at Marine Midland Bank, was associated with Bessemer Trust, and went into private practice when he relocated to Glastonbury, Conn. Walter was also a trustee of the Hen-ry Viscardi School for severely handicapped children on Long Island and was a trustee of the Evergreen Cemetery in Brooklyn and Queens, N.Y. Walter and his wife, Nancy, both fellows of the University of Hart-ford’s Presidents’ College, attended classes, lectures, and events throughout the past 20 years. Throughout his life, Walter was a man of many interests and was particu-larly drawn to English literature, American

history, early New England Americana, and antiques. He enjoyed collecting books and weekend antiquing excursions where he’d acquire unique treasures. Predeceased by his brother, Linwood ’48; and an infant son, Giles; Walter is survived by his wife, Nancy, to whom he was married 34 years; his sister, Joan Mather MacIntosh ’49; his stepchil-dren, Stephen, Robert, and Nancy, and their families; 21 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. A memorial service was held on May 1 at the First Church of Christ Congregational in Glastonbury followed by a private graveside service.

David Campbell Burnham, in his sleep, on June 5, the morning after the death of his wife, Anne Webb Burnham. (See obituary for Anne under Former Faculty Spouses.) A four-year student from New York City, Da-vid was involved in Student Council, Chess Club, Bridge Club, Senior Gymnasium Committee, Committee of Review, Nautical Club, and Debating. He also was business manager of the Stagehands Union. David was an active member in first team football, first team wrestling, and first team track. He went on to attend Yale University and University of Massachusetts. A lifelong edu-

cator, David started as an English and Bible teacher as well as a counselor at Mount Her-mon School for Boys, where he met Anne, a math teacher. He later moved to Loomis Chaffee as the vice president for academic affairs (1973–78), then to Moses Brown School as headmaster. He retired after 16 years and accepted successive one-year ap-pointments as an English teacher in Japan and interim headmaster at St. Andrew’s School in Barrington, R.I., and Northwood School in Lake Placid, N.Y. He then helped found a charter school in Providence, R.I., the Paul Cuffee School, which merged his love for education with his passion for all things maritime. David was an avid sailor who won the national championship of the Bullseye Class several times; he served as president of the Bullseye Class Association, as commodore of the Fisher’s Island Yacht Club, and as chair of the Board of Trustees of the Herreshoff Marine Museum. He was also on the board of the Providence Branch of the English-Speaking Union and was the long-time coordinator of its Shakespeare Competition. He was a devoted member of the Community Church of Providence and Union Chapel. Predeceased by his wife, Anne; David is survived by his children,

Photo: Loomis Chaffee Archives

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Paul, John, Stephen, and Louise; as well as 10 grandchildren: Elizabeth, David, Isabel, Olivia, Sophia, John, Margaux, Samuel, Daniel, and Anne. The Burnham memorial service was held at Central Congregational Church in Providence, R.I., on June 21.

Richard Newcomb Crawford, on June 6. A two-year student, Dick graduated from Severn School in Severna Park, Md. He enlisted in the Navy in 1946 and went on to attend the Naval Academy Preparatory School. He was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis and graduated in 1951. Following graduation, he was assigned to the U.S.S. Pittsburgh, a heavy cruiser. In 1954, he was selected for postgraduate training at Webb Institute of Naval Ar-chitecture, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in marine engineering as well as a master’s degree in naval architecture. He went on to attend Submarine School in New London, Conn. He married the former Barbara Ann Romano, whom he met while at Webb Institute. Dick retired from active duty in September 1970 and joined Lock-heed Shipbuilding Company in Seattle, Wash., in 1972, where he worked until the shipyard closed in 1986. He then joined Sundstrand Corporation as an internal auditor and retired from the firm when it was acquired by United Technologies. He then served as a consultant to the Marine Spill Response Corporation through 2000. He did volunteer work in tax preparation and computer skills for senior citizens. Dick loved traveling, reading, sports, bicycling, opera, dancing, the symphony, and at-tending his children’s and grandchildren’s events. He had a keen intellect, a love of learning, and a great sense of humor. Dick is survived by his wife of more than 56 years, Barbara; his children Laura, Maureen, Claudia, and Annmarie; and five grandchil-dren. Services were to be held on July 11 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bellevue, Wash.

1948Thomas Clark DePatie, on May 9. A four-year student from West Hartford, Conn., Thomas was the president of his junior and senior classes, vice president of Student Council, chairman of the Senior Execu-tive Committee, president of the L Club, chairman of the Spring Dance Committee, and a member of the Freshman Representa-tive Council, The LOG board, and the Press Club. Thomas was in the cast of Macbeth, York Nativity Play, Seventeen, and The Lost Elevator. He was active in first team football and Ludlow senior basketball and was cap-tain of first baseball as well as the president of the Athletic Association. Thomas went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Trinity College in Hartford and was a lieutenant in the Air Force based in Chicopee, Mass., following his graduation. Thomas had a 36-year career in marketing with IBM and, upon retirement, had a successful 20-year career in real estate with the H.D. Randall Company in Westerly, R.I. Thomas was a trustee of Trinity College from 1976 to 1981 and a class president for Loomis for more than 60 years. He was an active member of the Central Beach, Quonochontaug, com-munity where he and his wife summered since the early 1960s. Thomas and his wife became residents of the area in 1991. He served on the Board of Governors for the community for 20 years and was also a member of the Charlestown Wastewater Management Commission for the state of Rhode Island. He was a founding member of the Rhode Island Shoreline Coalition and an active Republican in Charlestown and the state. Predeceased by his beloved wife, Judith; and brothers William and Robert ’46; Thomas is survived by his children, Linda DePatie Buffum, Carol DePatie Piper, and Diane DePatie Consoli; his seven grandchildren; and his brothers Richard ’51 and Eugene ’59. A Mass of Christian burial was held on May 13 at St. Clare’s Church in Westerly, R.I., followed by a private burial in River Bend Cemetery, also in Westerly.

1949Daniel Dana Donovan Jr., on April 29. A three-year student, Dan was a member of the Rifle Club, Nautical Club, Bridge Club, Political Club, Athletic Council, Grounds Committee, Editorial Board of The LOG, Press Club, Founders Committee, Nominat-ing Committee, and Jazz Club. He was a cheerleader and a member of the cast of The Bat. He earned a letter as manager of the varsity basketball team and also participat-ed in intramural football and baseball. After Loomis, Dan graduated from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., in 1953 with a bachelor’s degree in engineer-ing. After serving five years on destroyers the U.S.S. Monson and the U.S.S. Grouper, he went to work in private industry as an industrial engineer. He earned a master’s degree from the University of Connecticut and joined Peat Marwick Mitchell as a consultant in 1965. Dan worked for KPMG for 42 years, retiring as senior partner in charge of consulting practice. Dan served as fiscal adviser to the mayor of Hartford, as a member of the West Hartford school board, and as a trustee of the Boston Institute of Contemporary Art. He also served as the vice president of the Boston chapter of the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and as a member of the Finance Commit-tee of the U.S.S. Constitution Museum. He was active on the board of directors for the Weston Golf Club and served on the Weston Finance Committee, both in Massachusetts, where he and his wife resided. Dan enjoyed spending time with his family at their cot-tage in Manomet, Mass., where he could be found playing golf, boating, gardening, and taking long walks with his family and beloved dogs. He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Sally; his devoted chil-dren, Dana Donovan ’75, Leslie Dono-van Shakespeare ’77, Gregory Donovan, Melissa Donovan ’81, Sarah Donovan, and Rosemary Lydon; and seven grandchildren. Services were held on May 3 in Weston.


1956Christopher Day Williams, peacefully, on April 4, surrounded by family after a long fight with cancer. A four-year student from Manchester, Conn., Christopher was a proofreader for The LOG, execu-tive SNUG member, president of the Book Exchange, and a member of the French Club, Scholarship Committee, and Elections Committee. He was actively involved in hockey, track, and Wolcott junior football, later becoming a captain of Wolcott senior football. Following Loomis, he attended Cornell University. He served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and worked as an architect for 45 years, designing buildings nationally and in the Hartford area, many of them award-winning. Christopher was a member of The Church of the Holy Trinity, serving as an usher, teacher, vestryman, and warden. Predeceased by his sister, Norma Madden, Christopher is survived by his beloved wife, Tracy M. Hallstead; their two children, Elise and Eva; four children with his first spouse, the late Brenda Williams: Megan, Matthew, Amanda, and Nathaniel; six grandchildren; his brother, Steven ’55; and his sister, Nancy. Services were held on April 12 at the Church of Holy Trinity in Middletown, Conn.

1959Andrew Stroud, on March 30, 2013. A one-year student as part of the English Speaking Union Exchange, Andrew was a reporter for The Log, editor for The Loom, and a member of Loomiscellany, the Glee Club, the Politi-cal Debating Club, the Chapel Committee, the Foreign Policy Association, and the Northfield Religious Conference. He also performed as a member of the cast of She Stoops to Conquer and Enemy of the People. He was an active member in junior var-sity football, rifle, and track. Upon leaving Loomis and returning to England, Andrew joined a respected construction industry trade body, becoming director of informa-tion and marketing. In 1987, Andrew set up his own consultancy and became founding

administrator of the prestigious British Construction Industry Awards, retiring in 2001. Andrew and his first wife, Valerie, who passed away in 1990, had two daugh-ters, Amy and Philippa. In 1998, he mar-ried his second wife, Sarah, who has two daughters. Andrew joined the British regi-ment The Honourable Artillery Company in 1962 and spent 25 years as a member of the Company of Pikemen and Musketeers — the official bodyguard to the Lord Mayor of the Corporation of London. Andrew volunteered at Lambeth Palace, the London home of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and with the National Trust at a local mod-ern movement house. Andrew was also a longstanding member of the city of London livery company, the Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers. Andrew made good friends while at Loomis and stayed in con-tact with many of them until his death. He was seen as an English gentleman, always encouraging regardless of need, constantly giving his best, and completely committed to his friends and family. "I was fortunate to have Andrew as my roommate. He opened my young world for me with his erudition, his vitality, and his mischievous English wit," wrote David Impastato ’59. "Our vis-its in later years, on both sides of the pond, were gifts of brotherly renewal for which I am thankful." In retirement, Andrew and Sarah traveled widely, from New Zealand to India, Rome to the Galapagos. Together they enjoyed music, opera, gardening, and family occasions. Andrew was a great walk-er and loved England’s scenic Lake District. He also walked the Routeburn Track in New Zealand and one of the pilgrim routes to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Ser-vices were held in Surrey, England.

Forbes Downer Lewis, on May 17. A three-year student from Ithaca, N.Y., Forbes was involved in the Stagehands Union, the Darwin Club, and the Press Club. He was a member of the Head Properties Depart-ment, Senior Scholarship Committee, and Senior Library Committee. Forbes was also active in Allyn soccer, of which he was a captain; first team wrestling; and lacrosse. After Loomis, Forbes earned a doctorate in

computer science from Cornell University. He went on to teach at Harvard Univer-sity and the State University of New York at Albany before becoming the chairman of the Department of Computer Science at the University of Kentucky. He helped with Native American educational efforts and devoted time to projects that encour-aged minority students to continue their educations. Forbes also served his country in the army with the 101st Airborne. Forbes loved folk music, and his other avocations were travel and photography. He traveled throughout most of North America and Asia, and he lived in Bangkok, Thailand, for part of each year for the last 15 years. He also loved the Kentucky Derby and made it a point each year to visit the state for the event. Forbes is predeceased by his father, William ’27, and uncle George ’34. He is survived by his partner, Mai; his brother Samuel ’65; his sister, Clare; and numerous nieces and nephews. Services were held in Kentucky on May 27.

1965Bruce Galbraith MacDermid, on March 28. A four-year student from West Hartford, Conn., Bruce was a work squad supervisor, the Loomiscellany business manager, and the Stagehands Union business manager. He was also a member of the Student Coun-cil, The LOG editorial staff, the Volunteer Committee, and the Independent Stud-ies Program. He was actively involved in varsity baseball and wrestling. Following Loomis, Bruce attended Bowdoin College, graduating in 1969, and received his com-mission from the Naval Officer Candidate School in Newport, R.I., before serving in the U.S. Navy aboard the U.S.S. Opportune as a lieutenant junior grade. Upon fulfilling his service, he enrolled in Boston Univer-sity School of Law and graduated in 1975. Bruce then returned to Connecticut and became a partner at Hoppin, Carey & Pow-ell and, later, Shipman & Goodwin. Bruce realized in 1992 that he wanted to work independently and opened a solo practice in Hartford, known today as MacDermid,

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IN MEMORIaM

Reynolds & Glissman. Under his steward-ship, MacDermid, Reynolds & Glissman initiated an annual service project, which focused on serving the Asylum Hill commu-nity, delivering food and gifts to families in need. Bruce was a literacy volunteer, a regu-lar blood donor for the Red Cross, and an avid fundraiser and supporter of his alma maters. He enjoyed hiking, canoeing, sailing in Long Island Sound, and splitting logs for the fireplace. A natural athlete, Bruce was competitive in tennis, paddle, and squash. He ran seven marathons, including the Boston Marathon, in under three hours. He is survived by the love of his life, Betsy Mallory MacDermid ’66, his wife of 44 years; their sons, Trevor ’94 and Chad ’96; and a grandson. A memorial service was held in Founders Chapel at Loomis Chaffee in early April.

1974Jonathan Graham, on March 2. Follow-ing Loomis, Jon earned a bachelor’s degree from Connecticut College and went on to found Graham Landscape and Design. He was blessed to have his passion for land-scaping become his livelihood. He was an intrepid adventurer and an avid outdoors-man who loved oysters, craft beer, cycling, soccer, and kayaking. Jon was the beloved husband of Betsy Gordon; loving father to Emily and Julia; devoted son of Joel ’50 and Nancy; adored brother to Jennifer Billings and Vanessa Benya; and cherished uncle to 11 nieces and nephews. A memorial service was held on March 7 in Bethesda, Md.

2009Yong Sang Soh, on October 26, 2013, in a fall from a building. A four-year stu-dent from Seoul, South Korea, Yong was a member of the International Students As-sociation and played clarinet in the Concert Band. He was also actively involved in var-sity skiing and soccer. Following Loomis, Yong attended Washington State University.

Former facultyMarguerite Murphy McTeague, on March 17. Rusty, as she was known, gradu-ated from College of Our Lady of the Elms with a major in chemistry and a triple minor in math, education, and philosophy and religion. She earned a master’s degree from Central Connecticut State University. After teaching in public schools in Spring-field, Mass., and Windsor, Conn., as well as a parochial school in West Hartford Conn., Marguerite worked at Hamilton Standard in Windsor Locks, Conn., until she began teaching at Chaffee in 1970. She retired in 1993. She served as head of the Math Department from 1979 to 1984. Marguerite was also an adjunct faculty member at Hartford College for Women and Capitol Community Technical College while she taught at Loomis Chaffee. She was a member of the Curriculum Commit-tee, Prize Committee, Review Committee, and Two-Year Study Group. She served as the freshman class advisor and coached the Math Team. Marguerite was also the president of the Independent School Math Organization and the math representative for the Planning Group of Connecticut As-sociation of Independent Schools as well as math planner for New England Meetings of the National Association of Indepen-dent Schools and the Association of Math Teachers in New England. Marguerite was the creator and first president of the Con-necticut Independent Schools Math Forum. Marguerite and her husband, Bill, retired to Somers, Conn., traveled the world, and spent many enjoyable years at their homes in Chatham, Mass., and Fort Myers, Fla.

Predeceased by her siblings Thomas, Wil-liam, James, Eugene, Henry, John, Daniel, and Mary, Marguerite is survived by her be-loved husband, Bill; her sons, Liam ’79 and Conor ’82; and granddaughters Meghan, Colleen, and Erin. She also leaves behind cherished in-laws, nieces, and nephews, and many dear friends who made her life special and complete. A Mass of Christian Burial was held on March 21.

David Campbell Burnham ’46, on June 5. (See obituary under his class year.)

Former Faculty SpousesCarol McCrann Proom (Dower), on May 21. Carol was born in Hartford, Conn., and grew up in Bloomfield. She attended the Oxford School in West Hartford and went to college at Emerson in Boston. She earned a master’s degree in management from Antioch New England Graduate School and went on to work in customer service at Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Company and as a vice president of human resources at American Nuclear Insurers in Farmington. Carol also worked as a volunteer at Saint Francis Hospital in Hartford, was the presi-dent of Saint Francis Women’s Auxiliary from 1995 to 1997, and served on the board of the Saint Francis Foundation. Carol’s first husband, William Barrett Dower ’56, taught at Loomis Chaffee from 1965 to 1971. The couple later divorced. Carol was an en-thusiastic world traveler since the age of 17, when she spent a summer in Switzerland as an exchange student. Carol and Barrett and their children lived in Paris, France, in the early 1970s after departing from Loomis. Carol also traveled extensively with her second husband, Burt Proom, and after his death in 2001, she visited China, Vietnam, Japan, Morocco, and South Africa. She developed a deep appreciation of foreign cultures from her many travels abroad. She also loved coming home after travel-ing the globe, to spend summers on Birch Island in Casco Bay, Maine. Predeceased by Burt, who brought love, happiness, humor, and warmth to her life, Carol is survived

Marguerite Murphy McTeague Photo: LC Archives


by her children, Betsy Dower Nickerson ’80, Meg Dower Kuhn ’82, Sarah Dower Fowler, Betsy Proom Lyons, and Bill Proom; her grandchildren, Molly, Charlie, Kate, De-clan, Charlotte, Will, Ellie, Wyatt, Katrina, James, Zoe, Lily, Zachary, and Annie; her brother Donald; and her cousins, Ken, Pat, Brian, and Marilyn. Services were held on May 28 at St. John’s Episcopal Church in New Hartford.

Anne Webb Burnham, on June 4, the evening before her husband of 62 years, former faculty member David Campbell Burnham ’46, also passed. Anne was born in Morristown, N.J. She and David lived in Providence, R.I., for 16 years before moving to Rehoboth, Mass., and they were long-time summer residents of Fisher’s Island, N.Y. Anne was a math teacher at the Lincoln School in Providence until her retirement in 1994. She had previously taught at Miss Porter’s School in Farmington, Conn., where she was the chair of the Math De-partment, and at Northfield School for Girls in Northfield, Mass. She was a graduate of Northfield and Oberlin College, where she majored in physics. An active member of the Community Church of Providence, Anne was both the moderator and the treasurer as well as a cherished member of the choir for more than 35 years. She was also a mem-ber of the Fisher’s Island Union Chapel, the Fisher’s Island Yacht Club, the Island People’s Project, and the Providence Branch of the English-Speaking Union, and she was longstanding secretary to the Ameri-can Friends of the Collège Cévenol. Most recently, her teaching gifts were shared with the Handicraft Club, where she taught knitting. Predeceased by her five siblings, including a twin sister, Ruth, Anne is sur-vived by her children, Paul, John, Stephen, and Louise; as well as 10 grandchildren: Elizabeth, David, Isabel, Olivia, Sophia, John, Margaux, Samuel, Daniel, and Anne. A memorial service was held on June 21 at Central Congregational Church in Provi-dence, R.I., to celebrate the Burnhams.

Former StaffVirginia Vialle Pratt on May 7, at Seabury Retirement Community, Bloomfield, Conn. Born July 30, 1917, Virginia was a native of Concord, Mass., and a graduate of Concord Academy and Pierce Secretarial School, Boston. Early in her career, she was em-ployed with E.W. Wiggins Airways at East Boston Airport, now Logan International, working for the Civilian Pilot Training Pro-gram. Later she worked for the Australia New Zealand Air Corps Club in Boston. Vir-ginia and Aaron P. Pratt Jr. ’35 met in 1942 when both were working as camp counsel-ors in New Hampshire, and they married in 1944. During World War II, Aaron joined the Army Air Corps, and the couple moved to Homestead Air Force Base in Flori-da before settling in Aaron’s hometown of Windsor, Conn., in 1947. While Aaron pursued his career as a longtime teacher of music at Loomis and Loo-mis Chaffee and as a teacher and administrator at The Hartford Conservatory, Virginia worked in many roles at Loomis. She served in the Academic and College offices and as school registrar. Professional, helpful, and efficient, she was always willing to undertake new responsi-bilities and to fill in for colleagues on leave. After her husband’s passing in 1990, Vir-ginia remained in Windsor until 1993, then moved to Seabury. Virginia is remembered as a vibrant woman with vivid memories of her Concord childhood and of sailing and spending summer months with her parents and brothers in South Dartmouth, Mass. She nurtured many interests: aviation and aviation history, all things equestrian, ar-chitecture, sailing and sailboats, the Boston Red Sox. A lover of music, she knew all the lyrics to the great songs of the Big Band era, and she attended hundreds of music events at Loomis, supporting her husband and his students. She especially enjoyed vacation-

ing at Cape Cod and appreciated all seasons there. Virginia is survived by her daughter, Virginia “Ginger” Pratt Root ’63; her son, David W. Pratt ’76, and his partner, Ro-gério M. Pinto; her granddaughter, Wendy Root Sowers, and her husband, Jayson Sow-ers; two great-grandchildren, Katharine and Zoë Sowers; and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. Virginia was predeceased by two brothers and their wives and by her sister-in-law, Mary-Agnes Pratt Wine ’39. A private graveside service was held at Palisado Cemetery in Windsor on May 14. A public memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on September 27 in Founders Chapel. Donations in Vir-ginia’s memory may be made to the Loomis Chaffee Music Department or to Fidelco, 103 Old Iron Ore Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002.

More newsThe Alumni Office has learned of the pass-ing of F. Russell Fette ’35, on August 31, 1998; W. Scott Bartlett ’37, on September 7, 2010; Burnley R. Elam ’37, on March 21, 2013; Joseph Wolfson ’38, on January 17, 2014; Franklin Lindley Couch Jr. ’39, on September 21, 2011; Gifford Havens ’39, on May 27, 2010; Albert de Chiara ’40, on September 21, 2010; Sidney R. Davis ’40, on August 30, 2007; Peter Salisbury Jennings ’40, on November 5, 2006; Louis Nash ’40, on November 22, 2009; Stephen Beard ’41, on August 23, 2010; Charles E. Hirsch ’41, on October 1, 2012; John Hoyt Seirup ’41, on March 4, 2014; William Ashley ’42, on August 27, 2009; Albert Lee Donnelly Jr. ’42, on August 12, 2008; Peter William Palmer ’46, on December 28, 2010; Edward Peterson ’48, on September 21, 2011; Peter F. Pruyn ’48, on April 2, 2011; Todd Tillinghast ’48, on January 6, 2006; Frank James Little Jr. ’49, on February 6, 2009; Cyrus C. Miller ’50, on January 19, 2004; Richard L. Devol ’51, on October 6, 2006; Harriet Hobson Mowshowitz ’59, on August 3, 2012; and Bruce Mitchell Brainard ’64, on December 16, 2013. More information, as available, will be printed in future issues.

Virginia Vialle Pratt

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The last Word | by James Parton ’30

James Parton ’30 Photo: 1930 Loomiscellany

News of Lindbergh’s FeatEditor’s Note: Like many around the world, Loomis boys and faculty celebrated Charles Lindbergh’s successful nonstop flight from New York to Paris in May 1927. Mr. Batchelder made the transatlantic flight the subject of his next Chapel talk, and a LOG editorial called Lindbergh’s voyage a “glorious” achievement.

In his 1962 Loomis Commencement address, James Parton ’30 recounted how the Loomis boys learned of Lindbergh’s feat:

“I recall one hot spring day in 1927 when most of the school was down in the bleachers watching a baseball game, and Chick Sellers came out between innings with a megaphone and shouted the thrilling news that Lindy had ‘made it.’

”

Faculty member Charles “Chick” Sellers at a 1920s Loomis baseball game. Photo: LC Archives

Nonprofit OrganizationU.S. Postage PaidLoomis Chaffee School

The Loomis Chaffee School4 Batchelder RoadWindsor, Connecticut 06095

ChaNge SeRviCe ReqUeSTed

the party you’ve been waiting one hundred years for …

september 20, 2014

19 14 2014

Centennial Celebration

Loomis Chaffee Magazine Summer 2014

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